this post was submitted on 14 Nov 2024
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Showerthoughts

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The static on old CRT TVs with rabbit ears was the cosmic microwave background. No one in the last 25 years has ever seen it.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 22 hours ago

Many likely haven't seen a channel sign off for the night with a test pattern up til they come back on

[–] [email protected] 5 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Also, a lot of kids don't have the slightest idea of what the "save" icon in their apps represents. They just know it's the save icon because it's everywhere

[–] [email protected] 3 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

To be fair though, many kids nowadays have never seen a save icon as autosave is now practically everywhere. For example take anything on an iPad or other touch device.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago) (1 children)

DAE remember that movie White Noise? The climax was fucking horrifying and I have to admit that it haunted me for quite a while.
For better or worse, kids today probably won't get it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 21 hours ago

Is it worth scarring myself to know the context?

[–] Sendpicsofsandwiches 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

My grandpa always just called it "The ant races"

[–] TriflingToad 3 points 23 hours ago

I saw on 'how it's made' a conveyer belt of a bunch of apples and it reminded me of the TV static the way they all rolled around forming random structures like a crystal. From then on I always think of apples on a conveyerbelt when I see static.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago)

uhhh, yes i have? I'm pretty sure some of my younger cousins have lol

[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 day ago (8 children)

No one in the last 25 years has ever seen it.

I mean you can still find a CRT today and turn it on if you like, they're less common for sure, but they're still around if you're looking for one

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago)

Umm… I had a CRT until 2009 and even sold it to someone.

Was it just me or has anyone seen or make out patterns while staring at it? I sometimes found it amusing

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 day ago

My family had several tvs that did this until around 2013

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

I was born after 2000 (though not too long after) and this is actually one of my core memories. I think about the sounds of the static and the sound of the CRT turning off all the time.

Also, we had a really old tv in our basement till at least 2008 that had no remote, just knobs and I remember messsing with the “hue” dial all the time trying to figure out how it worked.

The only reason that tv worked so late is that we had a black box connected to the antenna which I later learned was converting the digital signal to analog for the TV.

Also, you’ve just reminded me that I remember the switch from analog to digital. Specifically, I remember watching Elmo talking with some adult on TV about the change. Now I really want to find that video. I think the guy was wearing a suit had short dark hair and glasses. I also think the background was pinkish purple. I want to know how accurate my memories from so long ago are. (I’ll add the link to the video in an edit if I can find it)

Edit: I cannot find the video :(

[–] [email protected] 3 points 21 hours ago

I have actually, we had a big old crt tv way back when

[–] [email protected] 3 points 21 hours ago

As person born after 2000, I used to play a lot of games on them Wii and GameCube mainly. The image and responsiveness really felt different. I do kinda miss them

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Opening line of Neuromancer doesn't make much sense any more "The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.”

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 day ago (9 children)

The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel. - William Gibson, Neuromancer

One of the most beautiful opening lines to a novel.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 day ago

CRTs were fairly common until the early-mid 10s

I'd say born after 2008ish aren't likely to be familiar with them, except seeing the odd one in their grandparents bedroom

[–] Cracks_InTheWalls 10 points 1 day ago (5 children)

On a CRT? Sure, probably a lot haven't seen it. On a modern TV? Still possible for some - mine does this if I hit the channel button rather than volume accidentally.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 day ago

yeah i have

[–] [email protected] 3 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

Maybe not directly on their TV set, but there are more than enough references to it in TV and film media that it's still known almost universally.

Everything from old beloved films to Modern period shows. Its literally an overused way to establish the narrative isnt taking place in the present.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I was born in the 90s, my brothers were born in the early 2000s. We had a CRT into the early 2010s . Maybe people who weren't poor haven't seen real TV static but even then I doubt it. Hell, remember those god awful "flat screen" CRTs? My old station still had one of those that we used to watch TV on in 2018-19. It's probably still there lol

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 day ago

I think they call it "analog horror noise" now, along with vhs cassettes.

...

Feel the passage of time XD

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Born 2000, yes i have. So has my younger brother

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