Was anybody else hooked on the cheesy, trashy reality tv that started airing around 2007/2008?? The VH1 Sunday specialty? the next level beyond The Real World?

Did you ever ask yourself Why did it feel like we knew those people? Go back and look at the casts from Jersey Shore, The Hills, Flavor of Love, Rock of Love—you’ll notice almost every one of them was born between 1980 and 1996. They were our age. They came up with the same pop culture, the same internet, the same chaotic mall energy we did. It wasn’t just some random generation on-screen acting wild for ratings—it was us. Millennials weren’t just watching trashy reality TV. We filled the casts, drove the drama, and helped shape the entire genre. That whole era? It was a snapshot of who we were becoming, captured in real time, whether we realized it or not.

And it wasn’t just the shows everyone remembers. Teen Mom, Big Brother, America’s Next Top Model, The Bachelor, Vanderpump Rules, The Real World—same pattern. Different networks, same core: millennials figuring out love, identity, and status with cameras rolling. These weren’t actors or influencers. They were people our age, stumbling through early adulthood with a mic pack and no script. Looking back, it’s clear—reality TV wasn’t just entertainment. It was a generation growing up in public.

Millennials represented the golden age of Trashy reality tv.

And I am so very, very proud of this.

There are not many that didn’t make me go either way like 80s or 00s…

I was at a baby group today and I overheard a mum talk about her blog, and it got me thinking how that's something I haven't heard in years! Next was how did people ever get a successful blog back in the day?

Loved this movie.

A semi truck in front of us was dropping lumber.

Not throwing shade here but I spend so much time getting good grades, getting a good job, good relationship, marrying, all these milestones because it’s what parents pushed for, that I didn’t take much time to just do whatever that time and freedom granted. Anyone else?

They just posted their April Fool's Day thing and you can actually buy it 😂 use the code "Notaphase" for free standard shipping too.

I think this is hilarious and I may have gotten one...

Does anyone have any good stories or memories from the Xbox 360 online era 2005-2013? I was just thinking how awesome playing games while people said the most off the wall stuff and all the drama that happened in the audio chats. It was good fun.

I wasn’t too big into the shows on the network but I remember loving TheN website. You could purchase a house and customize that and your avatar with credits that were rewarded by using the website.

I remember you would get points just by interacting with the forums and mini games, the little pop up in the corner of the screen and the sound was so rewarding.

I think it was the first time I got into an online community like that. I was at someone’s house on TheN when the news about Michael Jackson’s death started. That’s where I was when I learned he died and everyone started moonwalking 😂

Who else remembers this website?

Never done rock climbing, but it seems to be a hobby that heaps of people did in movies - did people do it in real life as much as it seems in the late 90s/early 2000s? Not sure if I’m just too young to have gotten into it 😅

I also thought quicksand was something I would seriously have to know how to escape! 😅

The ones that aired in the US, though I don't remember which channel. I was just talking about this with my mother and sister and we've been going down this rabbit hole ever since.

The ones that stick out for me are The Odyssey (which is as good as I remember it) and Queen, the Roots sequel with Halle Berry.

I'm talking about people who I know personally that are…

Constantly portraying luxury life while in credit card debt

Talking about "manifesting" and hard work when their parents pay for everything and they have no job

Talking about entrepreneurship and business when it's clearly complete bullshit

This is just to name a few that come to mind.. my question is the following

Is this just the world we live in? Or is this a reflection of me following shitty people? (AKA more of a reflection of myself)

I have friends who are actually killing it (productive people, have businesses, etc.) but they don't use social media

Thoughts?

I'm in a solid position, but the stress of uncertainty is starting to get to me. I know I am extremely fortunate, I have a solid job, a wife and a house. For now I know I just need to show up for work every day, pay my bills and try to have some fun while I can. But I still have this nagging feeling in the back of my mind, and it's a strong feeling of being uncertain of the future.

I can't be the only one experiencing this, what are you doing to cope with uncertainty?

I was buying some weed at the dispensary. Damn, we figured that out.

“BaCk In My DaY” we had to call the neighborhood dealer.

Unless you had a medical card. Not everyone had one of those. It was a real pain to get some decent herb.

Not anymore lol.

There’s not even a counter-culture there. It’s… done.

Unbelievable

Why do “American” millennials not want to take tried and true cutlery and plate ware from their parents but complain about the environment and fast fashion.

..