Time Machine Clicks: Photos That'll Transport You Back in Time

4. We Don't Know What the Purpose of These Was, but Every Kid Had One

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Though they clearly didn't do anything beneficial and Koosh balls didn't light up or make noise, none of the kids hated them. Perhaps it was the small rubber stands' pleasing squishiness or their frenzied jellyfish-like bouncing. Maybe it was simply the delight of belonging to the Koosh club; everyone had one, and you were rather deprived of the fun if you lacked one. These vintage Koosh toys were like the Kardashians of the toy industry: they were everywhere but nobody really knew why since they didn't really do anything. Still, their aimlessness was maybe their strongest suit. Koosh balls were rebels without a cause in a world when every toy appeared to have a definite application or educational worth. Existing just for the pleasure they offered, they rejected rationality and reason. Children would spend hours throwing them at walls, seeing them stick momentarily before flopping to the ground. Before fidget toys were ever a thing, they were ideal for spontaneous juggling acts, homemade stress balls, or just as tactile fidget toys. Running your fingers through the rubbery tendrils was strangely comforting, and the vivid colors were an eyes feast. Koosh balls also had a remarkable capacity to go beneath couches or under beds and then resurfaced months later, dusty but still as bouncy as ever. Everybody could appreciate a decent Koosh ball, regardless of their interests or level of ability, therefore they were the perfect equaliser.