The Mall: America's Long Forgotten Past time

Where did you spend your teenage years? Presently many Gen Z'ers are questioning whether their youth was lost to social media, and in the United States a young woman in her 20's has taken Meta and others to court for knowingly creating a product addictive to teens. Was your youth spent online, a sprawling shopping complex, or driving past corn fields? Where ever you spent your youth, how did it shape you? Let's chat about it.

Music by Mound City by Coleman Hawkins (recorded 1929)

**

This podcast is recorded in a style that pays homage to talents like Miss Monitor (Tedi Thurman) and explores topics designed to stimulate conversations. 

Transcript

Speaker: 0:00

But there always seemed to be time for them all. And that was a time to discover oneself. I used to love going into Hot Topic and stroking the velvet capes. My name is the lovely Rae and I was born and raised in the U.S. I currently have the opportunity to speak with people from all over the world. Regular people just like you. And I'm always fascinated by our cultural differences and similarities. This podcast is voiced in the style of the sultry-sounding 1955 Weather Girl. It is a collection of thoughts inspired by my global conversations and aims to invite you to have those hard conversations out loud and with others. Thanks for stopping by, darlings. I thought we'd have a little chat about something other than the current president of the United States, after all. At times, it could seem that's all any American could talk about. At times, it could seem that's all any American could talk about. But, my dearest, I feel just isn't getting enough attention in the headlines presently. I feel just isn't getting enough attention in the headlines presently. And that is the current litigation in which social media companies are being asked to explain their practices and why exactly they have been creating applications that did in and of itself for young people. Now, being addictive in and of itself isn't really considered a bad thing in the United States. I mean, after all, alcohol and cigarettes, these are addictive substances. And yet, it is considered taboo to try to get young people to be addicted to these things. It is considered taboo to try to get young people to be addicted to these things. Now, when we look at, say, energy drink companies and a little vaping company, now these companies have been poo-pooed over the years, saying, please stop making fruit-flavored items that will drop this to them. Like, they're okay. Like, the sweet taste is, I mean, sure, maybe a little cavity, maybe a little toothache, maybe a little calories, but it can't really be addictive, can it? And I think we'll save it for another time where we talk about how American food is addictive in and of itself, and how families write into certain podcasts claiming how they love listening to certain podcasts, claiming how they love listening to the podcasts in the car with their children. Meanwhile, said hosts are constantly talking about how they use smokeless tobacco and they love their kids. And as bigwigs like Mark Zuckerberg take the stand in American courtrooms, and as bigwigs like Mark Zuckerberg take the stand in American courtrooms, and try to justify why it's okay for teenagers to be able to use these applications that they know will lead to low self -esteem, addictive use of these applications, well, let's just say that TikTok settled for a reason, well, let's just say that TikTok settled for a reason, however, I understand that maybe they were hoping, however, I understand that maybe they were hoping, however, they wouldn't put themselves in a situation in which they would be succumbing to lawsuit after lawsuit after lawsuit after he settled for a reason. Then again, one could say, then again, one could say, well, of course he did, because internal emails say so, that what he was doing was wrong, well, of course he did, because internal emails say so, and this episode is actually more focused on you, is actually more focused on you, yes, you see, as there is a young lady in court fighting her case right now against these big companies, trying to get the world to understand that she lost her childhood due to excessive social media posts, I found myself reflecting on my own teenage years, what was I doing, what was I into, what was I turning on, what was I into, that brought my mind back to the great American model, that brought my mind back to the great American model, Saturday afternoons, I used to spend, Saturday afternoons, or alone, window shopping, do people even do that anymore, I mean, after all, do people even do that anymore, I mean, after all, we're all so obsessed with going online, clicking, having it delivered, the perfect size, isn't it interesting how shopping is so convenient, how one can simply with the click of a button, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist online, you can even have your own personal stylist you play, or dance, or gymnastics, soccer, team, or basketball team, or whatever sport you play, or dance, or gymnastics, and that was a time to discover oneself. Instead of going online and sliding into someone's DMs, instead of going online and sliding into someone's DMs, instead of going on someone's page and liking something that looks cute, instead of scrolling endlessly looking for items that your favorite celebrity has promoted, looking for items that your favorite influencer has said you just have to have, looking for things that your favorite influencer has said you just have to have, not just something new in terms of what's popular in pop culture, not just something new in terms of what's popular in pop culture, but you could also discover something new about yourself. This feels a little itchy. Everything's so dark. This feels a little itchy. Everything's so dark. I don't feel like this is a story for my mom. I don't feel like this is a story for little kids. I don't feel like this is a story for my mom. I don't feel like this is a story for little kids. I don't feel like this is a story for little kids. This porridge is just goldilocks. This porridge is just goldilocks. I used to love going into Hot Topic I used to love going into Hot Topic and stroking the velvet bejeweled cross. And fingering the bejeweled cross. Something wicked must be happening here. And something wicked must be happening here. the mall became the hub for going to places like Abercrombie and Finch. And then there was Abercrombie for Kids. Oh yes, the mall. Abercrombie for Kids. Oh yes, the mall. So many ways to explore and to learn about one's self. And make me and my friends stay fit because we walked around the mall. And make me and my friends stay fit because we walked around the mall. A gal could spend hours walking around. A gal could spend hours walking around. Oh, the entertainment was joyous. Oh, the entertainment was joyous. What's going on with malls today in the US? Quite surprise, in fact, I didn't see a lot of clothing stores. Quite surprise, in fact, I didn't see a lot of clothing stores. A children's party center, a gym? A children's party center, a gym? Oh yes, there was a little energy spot for kids with things for them to write on. This highway was free. There was a little energy spot for kids with things for them to write on. This highway was free. But where were the clothes? There were food establishments, a bookstore. I remember when I first moved to New York City, and I was so excited to see, well. If New York is the fashion capital of the world, I was so excited to see, well. If New York is the fashion capital of the world, what's the mall like here? And which is only what there is at J.C. Penney's, which is only what they just wasn't much to desire. And there just wasn't much to desire. There was nothing edgy about that mall. And there was nothing edgy about that mall. No one goes to the mall just to get a smoothie. Now, when you're a broke teen, you're going maybe for that smoothie. That's where you'll spend your cash. But you also want to go and explore. That's where you'll spend your cash. But you also want to go and explore. See different sides of youth being presented at you. And, well, New York City Mall just wasn't making me crave anything. And, well, New York City Mall just wasn't making me crave anything. And New York City malls have definitely improved. But I still wouldn't say they have a go-to spot for younger generations. I still wouldn't say they have a go -to spot for younger generations. Because having a place to spend one's time, a physical place, a place to spend one's time, a physical place, something outside of social media, having a place to converge, that doesn't just include consuming empty calories. This is what helps us dream. And this is what helps us dream. But, alas, New York City malls seem to be on two different ends of the spectrum. We have the mall for the working class family. There's going to be a Target in that mall. Maybe the working class family. You can go in. There's going to be a Target in that mall. And there's also going to be a number of family clothes. And there's also going to be a number of expensive eateries. But you'll have some trendy noodle shops as a part of that mall. But you'll have some trendy noodle shops. And it'll be you. And some moderately priced food. Moderately priced food for teenagers. But expensive for teenagers. Food too. But in terms of trends and clothes, crave -worthy clothes. But in terms of trends and clothes, crave -worthy clothes. Not so much at the mall. Maybe a few little boutique shops. Hand-drawn hoodies. Some uniquely decorated sneakers. Hand-drawn hoodies. Uniquely decorated sneakers. And on the other end of the spectrum, one would have the mall for tourists. And so these were where you would find the mall for tourists. And so these were where you would find stores for retailers. And places where one could spend to peruse. Places where one could spend to peruse. And that's definitely worth investing in. And is that a Pandora store over there? Gonna need some more chimes. And is that a Pandora store over there? Gonna need some more chimes. The average teenager could not afford. Items that the average teenager could not afford. It's something that they crave, to be honest. I suppose if all these influencers are showing off their $5,000 handbags, that becomes crave -worthy. But not many teens are able to save up their hard-earned money from working after school in order to go buy a $5 ,000 handbag. In order to go buy a $5,000 handbag. And yet, you see, we have the malls of the half-nots and yet, even the mall of the half-nots doesn't have much to offer those who have very little. Even if you only had $5 in your pocket, still walk away feeling like you had a good time. Even if you only had $5 in your pocket, still walk away feeling like you had a good time. Outside of New York City, where all's like? Outside of New York City, where all's like? Well, as I mentioned, there are the malls where you'll find the Playstation for kitties. At another, at a bookstore in a library which I found. Good? Interesting. At another, at a bookstore in a library which I found. Good, but interesting. Because a number of American malls are closing. Closing because no one posts them all. Closing because no one posts them all. Closing because fashion brands have their outlet posts where they are selling their products at a discounted rate. The product just closed their regular stores because it was cheaper just to sell things online. And whatever you can't sell online, go ahead and put in the outlet. People in America are always looking for a bargain. And yet, people in America are always looking for a bargain. And yet, the fact that these malls are closing, they have closed, abandoned. The fact that this same country that is presently at trillions of dollars in debt, meanwhile, the president of said country is making billions of dollars off of said presidency and is making billions of dollars off of said presidency and is still spending money to change the Kennedy Center and to pay for troops and to go and change the Kennedy Center and to pay for troops to go into cities where the military cities themselves have said we don't need troops to help with our policing of the government that also seems to be the same of the government that young people have become accustomed to that young people have become accustomed to not only flaunting their expensive items but saying that they had to buy them not only with credit on loan but saying that they had to buy them with credit on a little loan or they're not sure what they're going to do and oh well or they're not sure what they're going to do and I think of how much I enjoy law and yet how much I enjoy law and yet I'm probably a little bit older than the parents of these same parents mind you because these same parents mind you were probably maybe this problem of not being able to afford anything is not a new phenomenon I mean I remember stepping onto the college campus is not a new phenomenon I mean I remember stepping onto the college campus and being offered a credit card seeing tons of tables where they were just expensive and you're going to be able to need to be able to pay for things and I just thought and you're going to be able to need to be able to pay for things and I just thought and yet why is it that in America we want to have our kids and eat it too we want to shop so we drop our kids and eat it too we want to shop so we drop and yet someone else to pay for our mistakes someone else to pay for our mistakes and those teens who have found themselves those teens who have found themselves wondering where their childhood went if they were cruising around the mall would those teens have been better off if they were cruising around the mall I mean would we not be treating one vice for the other I mean in a world of debt many young people are and in a world of debt one could argue that spending so much time and hanging around the mall one could argue that spending so much time hanging around the mall contributed to the consumerism problem we have today contributed to the consumerism problem we have today and one could argue that if you weren't working you didn't have much cash to spend at the mall maybe $20 in your pocket you didn't have much cash to spend at the mall maybe $20 in your pocket and hopefully maybe maybe a pair of earrings at Claire's and then and hopefully you could still have a little bit to take back home for your next trip and then you could still have a little bit to take back home for your next trip well I must confess there must have been some days I went to the mall and didn't spend anything well I must confess there must have been some days I went to the mall and didn't spend anything would bringing back the mall actually give young people something to do and to look forward to would bringing back the mall actually give young people something to do and to look forward to could that be part of our social media solution I mean with we'll take you there let's set up a play date with your friend we'll take you there let's set up a play date with your friend as a society but what about teenagers to make sure that they can what are we doing as a society to make sure that they can discover themselves without being at risk of explore themselves discover themselves without being at risk of without being at risk of requiring getting addiction to something that's going to be harmful without being at risk of getting addiction to something that's going to be harmful cruising around town in your friend's car maybe your teenage years were spent looking for something to do cruising around town in your friend's car trying to see if you can get somebody to buy you guys some beers looking for something to do oh trying to see if you can get somebody to buy you guys some beers your friend's parents are out of town oh what's that maybe you can go and hang out at their house your friend's parents are out of town because you know there's a liquor cabinet there maybe you can go and hang out at their house because you know there's a liquor cabinet there and yet presently many abandoned American malls are trying to be turned into many abandoned American malls are trying to be turned into housing and Americans are short on affordable housing and no one's going to the mall and Americans are short on affordable housing many malls are sold to commercial areas and and so there is the process of appealing to the local governing boards in order to change the laws so that way said commercial buildings can also be turned into housing or mixed use facilities speaking of facilities if you've ever been to the mall then know there's only so many bathrooms and the plumbing is not exactly throughout the entire building so the conversion process is not cheap and it takes time but still seems a bit fun though doesn't seem like it's lot of fun and it's a lot of fun and it's a lot of fun and it's fun it's a lot of fun Talking about how she spent her weekend hanging out at the mall. Who also spent her weekend hanging out at the mall. Who also spent her weekend hanging out at the mall. And I thought, oh, the joys of youth. Exploring the joys of hanging out. And exploring one's likes and dislikes. Learning one's likes and dislikes. Learning impulse control. I didn't have $75 to buy that purple faux fur coat. But I saved up for it. And I went back to that store again and again hoping it would still be there. And I went back to that store again and again hoping it would still be there. And I did. That one day, I could buy that coat. Well, darlings. And I did. I hope this little episode has got you to think Well, darlings. About how I hope this little episode has got you to think About how About how You should spend your time today About how And you think About You should spend your time today About And Americans Spin Why is it The way they do That Americans If you are an American You might have some ideas on that But I ask you If you are an American You might have some ideas on that Teach you Spin that way But I ask you Because Teach you Part of your youth Spin that way Was spent in a mall Because Part of your youth Well, babies Was spent in a mall It's been delightful Well, babies I Do hope Today's Little Conversation Sparked a little something in you I Today's Little Chat About something so tepid Sparked a little something in you With someone you love To go chat About something so tepid Even with a stranger With someone you love Until next time, darlings Until next time, darlings Even with a stranger It's been lovely To chat Until next time, darlings It's been lovely To chat To chat