Oh How the Mighty Have Fallen: Once Darling Products that No One Uses Anymore

Some things run their course. Brands, ideas, and guidelines may shine like the brightest star, then lose their luster and public appeal. 

Although some highly respected brands destroy their image in a blaze of glory, more often than not, they slowly whither and fade from public perception as industry leaders. 

Read on to find out what internet users think no longer deserves respect. 

McAfee Antivirus

A woman updating her antivirus software on her computer.
Photo Credit: Rawpixel.com via Shutterstock.com.

McAfee was the original antivirus, and it helped protect many early internet users from spyware, spam, and viruses. Many users said that Microsoft’s advancements with Windows Defender made most third-party antivirus software obsolete. 

McAfee is one of the worst antivirus options now, though, according to Reddit. “I do some tech support for some software I maintain, and McAfee has been by far my biggest antivirus headache,” said one user. 

Sears

The entrance to a SEARS department store inside a mall.
Photo Credit: digitalreflections via Shutterstock.com.

Sears was iconic in the glory days of department stores. Sears was the big name in appliances, tools, and home goods. They even sold houses!

Some Redditors said it went downhill after being purchased by Kmart, while others blamed their inability to adapt to the internet for their demise. 

Learning Channels

Giraffe head looking at camera
Photo Credit: Lithium366 via Shuttrstock.com.

Many Redditors said the History Channel and all the other learning channels (TLC, Discovery, etc.) used to be valuable sources of learning and information that are now filled with trash. 

“TLC now (unofficially) stands for Terrible Life Choices,” said one user, while another said the channel is very uncomfortable to watch. 

Others added Food Network to the mix, saying it used to be educational, but now it’s full of useless competition shows. 

The Food Pyramid

The food pyramid made with examples of the types of foods in each layer.
Photo Credit: Mykola Komarovskyy via Shutterstock.com.

People used to respect USDA’s food pyramid but now realize the dietary guidelines are outdated at best. 

Others said it’s not just the US that got food guidelines wrong. “Found out the Canadian Food Guide was originally created as a rationing plan during WW1,” said one user. However, other Canadians stood up for their government, saying the recently revised standards are much better. 

Bank Managers

powerful female business executive to represent leadership skills
Photo Credit: El Nariz via Shutterstock.com.

“They used to have serious power in local communities,” said one user of the once highly respected profession. “Now they have to be glorified customer service reps a lot of the time,” they added. 

Others agreed that commercial banking has morphed into a sales position, with corporate headquarters pushing associates to upsell customers at every turn, adding to the profession’s decline. 

Craftsman Tools

Close up of an assortment of work tools on a bench.
Photo credit: kitzcorner via Shutterstock.com.

“OG Craftsman tools were something else,” said one user. “Those tools are so much better than anything I’ve bought for myself. Superior quality.” they added. 

Another said the return policy was terrific. “And if they did break, you could just walk into Sears, show it to them, and they’d give you a replacement, no questions asked.”

The quality and craftsmanship of craftsman tools are no longer top-rate. A former Lowes employee added, “Craftsman is far and away the brand of tools that get returned the most due to them malfunctioning or breaking. It’s crazy because my dad still has some craftsman stuff from when it was a Sears brand, and they work great.”

Facebook

Woman using her phone with social media icons floating out of it. She also has a laptop open.
Photo Credit: 13_Phunkod via Shutterstock.com.

Facebook may still be popular, but it’s not good anymore. The once exclusive network was a respectable networking app for college students, but now it’s a cesspool of negativity. 

“Facebook was very similar to Instagram back in the day. None of this commercial and advertised video spam, but actual pictures and posts of your friends.” said one user, lamenting Facebook’s downfall. 

Twitter

Silhouette of Elon Musk over the Twitter icon.
Photo Credit: kovop via Shutterstock.com.

We all watched Twitter’s massive decline in real time. A favorite social media app morphed into a cesspool of propaganda and hate. 

Landline Telephones

An angry older woman yelling into her wired home phone.
Photo Credit: TeodorLazarev via Shutterstock.com.

“The house phone used to be a vital link to the outside world. It’s how you’d talk to friends and family far away, interact with businesses, call for help in an emergency, etc.” said one user, describing the vital role home telephones played. 

They went on to say the rise in spam calls made landline phones virtually useless. Others said the mass movement to cell phones added to the demise of the landline.

Not everyone agreed that landlines lost their luster. Many said it’s a vital backup during mobile outages, such as natural disasters, or in rural areas. 

Blackberry

An old, turned off black berry device sitting on a table.
Photo Credit: Lenscap Photography via Shutterstock.com.

There was a time when everyone wanted the hot new mobile productivity device. Blackberry was an industry leader in mobile phones, offering users calendars, emails, and note-taking capabilities in one handheld device. 

However, as smartphones grew in popularity, Apple and Andriod rise in promise, outcompeting Blackberry. Although the company still exists, it’s no longer the leader in mobile technology. 

Wells Fargo

A large corporate building with lots of glass windows and the label "Bank" on the top.
Photo Credit: Anton_AV via Shutterstock.com.

One of the biggest names in banking is now among the least respected. Some said the original Wells Fargo was a great bank, but the company that took them over in the 90s was awful. 

“Norwest Bank acquired Real Wells Fargo in the late nineties but kept the Wells Fargo name as it had better brand recognition. All of the recent scandals have occurred since the takeover, in the Bank Formerly Known as Norwest.” claimed one user. 

Another said Wells Fargo exists to “wring every last cent they could out of a customer” and admitted to smiling whenever they see the banking giant hit with a fine “because I know they deserve it.”

All Banks Really

circular bank vault door open, with a glowing light shining from the inside.
Photo Credit: Golden Dayz via Shutterstock.com.

Most banks no longer hold the prestige they once did. Most, in fact, contribute to generational poverty by hurting poor people. 

Read it Here: How Banks Hurt the Poor

Hobbies

woman working on a cheap hobby, like making jewelry at home, to represent cheap hobbies
Photo Credit: Monkey Business Images via Shutterstock.com.

I am a hobbyist musician and will never try to make money off of my music. I simply enjoy creating it with zero expectations.” said one Redditor. They lamented the rise in hustle culture, where everyone tries to monetize their hobbies. “Time enjoyed is not time wasted,” they said. 

Although many Redditors added to the thread on hobbies, most agreed that enjoying something SHOULD be respected and lamented the fact that some folks want to make it all about money. 

Enhance Your Life With a New Hobby

cutting pieces for crafting with little craft boxes filled with tiny items
Photo Credit: LanaSweet via Shutterstock.com.

Hobbies don’t have to be expensive. Here are 62 more cheap hobbies you can try to enjoy your life in your spare time!

Read it here: 62 Free and Cheap Hobbies You Can Start Today

 

Is America Actually Dystopian?

Panaoramic of a city with the top mirroring the bottom in a fantastical manner.
Photo Credit: akimov konstantin via Shutterstock.com.

Although there are many fantastic things about living in the US, some of our systems and laws leave many scratching their heads, wondering if we’re already living in a dystopian nightmare. 

Here’s the evidence that makes us wonder if America is actually a dystopia.  
 

Author: Melanie Allen

Title: Journalist

Expertise: Pursuing Your Passions, Travel, Wellness, Hobbies, Finance, Gaming, Happiness

Melanie Allen is an American journalist and happiness expert. She has bylines on MSN, the AP News Wire, Wealth of Geeks, Media Decision, and numerous media outlets across the nation and is a certified happiness life coach. She covers a wide range of topics centered around self-actualization and the quest for a fulfilling life.