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Tballz9 t1_jbrjoc8 wrote

As a kid of that era it is hard to explain to people just how big the Rubik’s cube was at that time. The things were everywhere. It doesn’t surprise me at all that this was the best selling book, as we didn’t have the internet yet, and books were how people learned things. God, I feel old. Lol.

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[deleted] t1_jbrm5p6 wrote

They come with a little pamphlet now with the beginner algorithm to solve it. I'm kinda of surprised they didn't back then as well.

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ppface t1_jbruto5 wrote

I think part of the allure was that most people didn't know how to solve it.

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GrandmaPoses t1_jbt8d3s wrote

That wouldn’t have made sense at the time. I get why they do it now, but it would’ve been counterproductive in the 80s.

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anrwlias t1_jbugh8e wrote

Back then, being able to solve a cube was a major flex. It was considered a hallmark of genius because very few people knew how and there weren't a lot of resources that would give away the trick.

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Sevla7 t1_jbrm6gn wrote

I used to think the Rubik's Cube was kinda stupid. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit I found myself playing chess again, becoming a backend programmer and trying to beat the Rubik's Cube speed record on a daily basis.

I don't even know who I am anymore.

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3pbc t1_jbrq5o5 wrote

I used to solve it for people for 25 cents. Made a killing that year in junior high

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mike_e_mcgee t1_jbt1h6a wrote

The Rubik's Cube was the top selling toy in the UK in 1980, and 1981. For a few it was a puzzle to be solved. To many it was a fidget spinner. We'd just aimlessly spin hoping we'd randomly get somewhere with it.

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Next-Age-9925 t1_jbtc4m1 wrote

I just bought the 'training set' of two junior cubes and one regular for both fidgeting and also working on logic skills.

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sahmushie t1_jbsjdtz wrote

Middle school teacher here, Rubik's cubes are always phasing in and out of popularity. Right now, kinda in, but not nearly as much as chess lol.

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AgentElman t1_jbs1paa wrote

Rubik's cube was like the fidget spinner craze except that it lasted for years.

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Nurokatt t1_jbsy1mt wrote

I remember there even being a Saturday Morning Cartoon.

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