Windows XP
When Windows XP first released, people criticized it for having a theme that they hadn’t seen before in Windows. People thought it was very kiddish and appealing to children, not being taken as seriously for the large userbase of the time. There were also criticisms about how fragile Internet Explorer was (I’m not kidding, I was there and Internet Explorer back then was at its most insufferable.).
But these days, just because of how bad Windows 8, 8.1, 10 and now 11 have been, people have praised Windows XP so much.
There seems to be an interesting rhythm to perceptions. Things are what they are in the now, then the good gets realised as bad and vice versa with the benefit of hindsight. Then the past gets far enough away that hindsight dims and people switch to their nostalgia goggles.
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug. But its one we need to get past, its not getting us anywhere. We are not powerless and we are not weak. Our youth can have a better future.
Preaching to the choir, there. Nostalgia started out as a mental illness and needs to go back to that status.
“I’m 65 years old. Everyday the future looks a little bit darker. But the past, even the grimy parts of it, well, it just keeps on getting brighter all the time”.
― Watchmen