15 Bits Of Trivia About Dwindling Friendships, "Platonic Parenting," And The Bart Simpson Bans
![15 Bits Of Trivia About Dwindling Friendships, "Platonic Parenting," And The Bart Simpson Bans](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/7/4/2/886742_320x180.jpg)
Ah, the 1990s. A simpler time, when the world was a much different place. Fast forward to now, and the world is a much different place. We are more isolated and cautious. We have fewer close friends, and we are more likely to stay in our comfort zones. But even in this new era, some things have remained the same. We still find solace in stories and entertainment, and we still find ways to connect with each other.
This list is, among other things, a tribute to the 1990s and all the unique things that happened during that decade. From Brad Bird's inspirational story of creating The Iron Giant to the rise of platonic parenting, these stories remind us of the importance of connection and creativity. We may be living in a different world, but there is still so much to learn from the past. So come along with me and take a trip down memory lane with this list of fascinating facts from the 1990s plus a bunch of others.
‘The Iron Giant’ was made in the wake of the director’s sister’s violent death.
![CRACKED A TRAGEDY INSPIRED THE IRON GIANT. Brad Bird's sister's death from gun violence inspired him to create a movie with an anti- gun message. Не pitched Warner Bros. the idea of a gun with a soul that didn't want to be a gun, and the rest is history.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/2/2/886022.jpg)
Warner Bros.
Banned, but beloved.
![GRACKED DOWN WITH HOMEWORK BART SIMPSON T-SHIRTS WERE BANNED IN SCHOOLS. In April 1990, U.S. schools banned Bart shirts, thinking his attitude made him a bad role model. But the shirts were a hit, and Matt Groening thought the ban was silly.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/1/5/886015.jpg)
20th Television
Python paydays in the Everglades.
![CRACKED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN FLORIDA HIRE PYTHON HUNTERS. Hunters in the Everglades can make $2,500 and get paid hourly plus a bonus for each python caught. The Water Management District has a program to hire python removers in certain areas.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/2/7/886027.jpg)
Onions: not a pup-friendly snack.
![CRACKED ONION IS POISONOUS TO DOGS. Dogs can get poisoned from onions, even if they eat just a little. Keep your dogs away from the bulbs, and get them to the vet fast if they eat any.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/2/6/886026.jpg)
Mama knows best - even for spiders.
![CRACKED SOME SPIDER COLONIES ARE HIGHLY SOCIAL MATRIARCHAL SOCIETIES. Delena cancerides is a social spider that lives in big groups of up to 150, led by a female. Her kids stay with her until they're grown.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/2/9/886029.jpg)
50,000 Romans dead in one day
![CRACKED ROME LOST 50,000 SOLDIERS IN ONE DAY. The Roman Republic suffered a massive defeat at Cannae in the Second Punic War - 50,000 dead in a single day. It's amazing Rome survived such a huge loss.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/2/8/886028.jpg)
Platonic parenting: the new normal?
![CRACKED LAWS ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH PLATONIC PARENTING. People not in a romantic relationship raising a kid together is becoming more common. Laws are adapting, and soon language and buildings will too, to fit these new families.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/2/5/886025.jpg)
“I should have let my wife drop him.”
![CRACKED THE U.S. NAVY HELD A GUY HOSTAGE FOR 30 HOURS. A couple sued the government for $6 million after the husband was kidnapped and held captive at a motel in 1986. Не was a civilian security officer who had no idea he was part of a military exercise. NITED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/1/9/886019.jpg)
Mice run free, even without a prize.
![CRACKED WILD MICE ALSO RUN ON WHEELS FOR FUN. Wild mice run on wheels in nature, even without rewards, and do it as long as captive mice. So it's a voluntary behavior.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/1/8/886018.jpg)
Monks in a tizzy.
![CRACKED MACHIAVELLI PRANKED A BUNCH OF MONKS. Machiavelli and a pal once hatched a plan to stir up the monks he was staying with. The friend kept sending him letters with random papers, and told the messenger to run the last quarter mile to make it look like something big was happening.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/2/3/886023.jpg)
Jail door meets 500 Japanese feet?
![CRACKED THE LAW & ORDER DUM DUM SOUND IS MADE BY HUNDREDS OF FEET. Mike Post created the sound by combining a jail door slamming and 500 Japanese men stamping their feet.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/1/7/886017.jpg)
NBC
Taxes: helping reunite families since 1913.
![GRACKED THE IRS HELPS FIND MISSING KIDS. The service works with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Photos of missing kids may show up in IRS stuff.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/2/4/886024.jpg)
Hair today, jail tomorrow.
![CRACKED A TEXAS COUPLE DUG UP A DEAD BODY FOR AN INSURANCE SCAM. The couple dug up a woman's body in 2004, put it in a car with the man's stuff, then set it on fire to get $110,000. They stayed in the area, but the man dyed his hair. They were eventually caught.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/2/1/886021.jpg)
If you have four close friends, you’re doing better than half of America.
![CRACKED FRIENDSHIPS HAVE DWINDLED SINCE 1990. As of 2021, half of Americans have three or fewer close friends, 36% have four-nine, and 13% have 10+. That's all way down from the 1990's. E](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/2/0/886020.jpg)
Wealth: the ultimate game-changer.
![CRACKED Rice WA R vena I 1 WEALTHY COLLEGE ATHLETES HAVE AN ADVANTAGE. College athletes tend to come from wealthier backgrounds and schools. Wealth and privilege are key to success in sports, like other areas of life.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/1/6/886016.jpg)