Comments
PdxClassicMod t1_j9gfq5s wrote
You forgot the best byproduct, the CD plastered ceiling.
nod_dy t1_j9l5xvc wrote
Oh we loved our those frisbees back in the day here in Germany. They had dozens laying around at mediamarkt checkout (electronics store) . We didn't have a pc anyways!
HPmoni t1_j9g593o wrote
CDs were shiny discs with information on them.
fergablu2 t1_j9g3161 wrote
I could’ve roofed my house with the free ones they sent in the mail.
Jeraimee t1_j9gaogy wrote
I keep my Office Space DVD in an AOL case. Also, I have an Office Space DVD.
milkysway1 t1_j9gxja9 wrote
I remember when they sent out floppy disks. For a few years, I didn't need to buy disks or pay for internet access. Just cancel after the free month, and they would ask if you wanted just one more free month trial. Rinse and repeat. Perfect, because I was a teen with no money.
bothunter t1_j9h3zkg wrote
Except those disks were absolute trash. You could only write to them a few times before they started flaking out. But as long as you didn't need reliability, they were a nice cheap alternative to the store bought disks. Just needed a piece of scotch tape to cover the write protect tab.
bellendhunter t1_j9hjfhm wrote
They literally weren’t designed to be written to.
gefmayhem t1_j9gax6f wrote
I still use my aol account as my main email address.
[deleted] t1_j9gelbk wrote
Does it say “you’ve got mail!” when you log in?
Skip1six t1_j9gjz2m wrote
And I delivered them to your door. Week after week
mnmason83 t1_j9gk7x7 wrote
That song sucked, too.
bolanrox t1_j9g6pfq wrote
the best coasters
TheLuminary t1_j9gphhu wrote
They also made great throwing stars..
paul-d9 t1_j9h2f9r wrote
Yeesh it sounds like such a massive waste from an environmental standpoint.
death_by_chocolate t1_j9g6xr2 wrote
I know a fella who pannelled his computer room with those things.
k-laz t1_j9gsvac wrote
. . . . And two-tenths of one percent of CD's actually used.
PM_ur_boobies_pleez t1_j9gtbd5 wrote
I think around 10% of those showed up in my mailbox.
Kidding aside, there were people who actually collected those CDs like baseball cards or coins.
nomoregroundhogs t1_j9gdb79 wrote
I’m sure there’s no way to know, but I wish I knew what percentage of those CDs were ever actually used. Seems like it can’t possibly have been worth it.
PM_ur_boobies_pleez t1_j9gu9l1 wrote
Even if they only made one new subscription out of 100, they probably made a lot of money, especially when you factor in how hard it was to cancel an AOL subscription once you had one.
It was harder to cancel than Columbia House Records and Tapes.
[deleted] t1_j9gjv0p wrote
[deleted]
happyklam t1_j9guscf wrote
My friends and I used to AOL CD people's yards in high school. You could snag a whole stack of them at the grocery store and then arrange them to spell out things on the lawn.
Sorry Zach.
eskihomer OP t1_j9gwmi2 wrote
Haha that is pretty great. Wholesome fun!
ds_afk t1_j9h5v90 wrote
CDs nuts, AOL!
Stunning_Delay9811 t1_j9h79i3 wrote
Welcome! You've got mail.
monkeypox_69 t1_j9hi6w4 wrote
I believe it. Those things were everywhere.
TheDefected t1_j9hos3b wrote
Also responsible for 80% of the plastic burning smell from the microwave.
streamfresh t1_j9hxgue wrote
And 80% of dorm room decorations.
Eroe777 t1_j9i88ia wrote
I wonder if those guys who were trying to collect a million AOL CDs ever came anywhere near their goal.
Kusanagi-2501 t1_j9ijpfp wrote
I used them and still don’t understand how they worked. Was AOL the ISP? Did the telephone company I got home phone through, get paid at all? How did AOL even make money?
snakesoup88 t1_j9iv9qf wrote
I still have a stack of AOL discs in tin can. Still looking for a purpose for them.
clc1992 t1_j9k2yp1 wrote
I used them as ninja stars as a child
IBeTrippin t1_j9kc7ry wrote
The tins they sometimes came in were pretty cool.
MorsesTheHorse t1_j9g36fp wrote
That's seems low. Figured it would have been high 90s.
HarlanCulpepper t1_j9gaif2 wrote
They were EVERYWHERE - unsolicited mailings, inserted into magazines, stacks of them for free in every store checkout lane from supermarkets to Blockbuster VIdeo. You couldn't avoid them if you tried. We used them as drink coasters and ninja frisbees.