If you had to list 10 things that most defined the '80s to you, what things would you choose? I'm curious how many things we might all choose that are the same, as this can obviously vary from person to person. What defined the '80s for me might be irrelevant to another person, depending on their tastes, and what that person sees as important might not matter at all to the next person. Here's my list, in no particular order:

1. The Transformers

2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

3. Ghostbusters

4. the Indiana Jones movies

5. the Star Wars movies

6. Batman (the 1989 movie)

7. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

8. the Back to the Future movies

9. Super Mario Bros.

10. Pac-Man

1. Full House

Masters of the Universe

Miami Vice, Lethal Weapon, Blade Runner, etc. There was always a movie, show or whatever with a sax tune.

Big hair

Big glasses

Memphis group design

Toy cartoons

Pastels

Sanrio

Shoujo anime girls

Neon

Valley speak

Boxy cars

Nice to have you back, pika.

Cocaine and steroids

echidna! Marijuana was a big no no around these parts. Now everybody wants to legalize it

Action movie stars: i.e. Ford, Stallone, Willis, Schwarzenegger, Segal, Norris, Gibson, Russell, Weathers, and Van Damme.

Block Buster Movies: Spielberg, Lucas, Indiana Jones, Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, E.T., Rocky III, Rocky IV, Poltergeist, War Games, Ghostbusters, Romancing the Stone, Footloose, Gremlins, Goonies, Back to the Future, Top Gun, Crocodile Dundee, The Karate Kid, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, and Batman.

Toy lines: Kenner Star Wars, Mattel Masters of the Universe, Mattel Secret Wars, Hasbro Transformers, Hasbro GI*JOE, Mattel Clash of the Titans, Ertl Batman, Ertl Dukes of Hazard, Mego Dukes of Hazard, Toy Biz Batman, Mattel Hot Wheels, Galoob Micro Machines, Mattel M.U.S.C.L.E., Remco Universal Monsters, Tyco Dino Riders, and Parker Bros Nerf.

Cartoons: Filmation HE-MAN and the Masters of the Universe, Filmation Ghostbusters, Disney Duck Tales, Disney Chip N' Dale Rescue Rangers, Marvel Dungeons and Dragons, Marvel Spider-Man, Marvel Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends, Marvel The Incredible Hulk, Marvel X-Men Pryde of the X-Men, Marvel GI*JOE, Marvel Transformers, Marvel Jim Hensen's Muppet Babies, Marvel Dino Riders, Cosgrove Hall Films Count Duckula, Cosgrove Hall Films Dangermouse, Hanna Barbera Scooby Doo, Hanna Barbera The Smurfs, Hanna Barbera Shirt Tales, Hanna Barbera Snorks, DIC Entertainment Dennis the Menace, DIC Inspector Gadget, DIC The Littles, DIC Heathcliff, DIC The Care Bears, United Media Garfield and Friends, Rankin Bass Thundercats, Rankin Bass Silver Hawks, Murakami-Wolf Swenson Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Tracey Ulman The Simpsons, 20th Century Fox The Simpsons

Video Games: Arcades, Atari 7800, Nintendo, Sega, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Q-Bert, and Super Mario.

Boardgames: Fireball Island, Axis and Allies, Torpedo Run, Hero Quest, Crossbows and Catapults

Action T.V. The Fall Guy, Macgyver, The A-Team, Knight Rider, Magnum P.I., Airwolf, The Greatest American Hero, The Incredible Hulk, Simon and Simon, Remington Steele, Street Hawk, Manimal, Hardcastle and McCormick, Hunter, and Blue Thunder.

Comedy T.V. Cheers, A.L.F., Night Court, Full House, Growing Pains, Who's the Boss?, The Golden Girls, Perfect Strangers, Family Ties, WKRP in Cincinnati, The Wonder Years, The Jeffersons, Seinfeld, Diff'rent Strokes, Too Close for Comfort, Benson, Silver Spoons, The Facts of Life, Mr. Belvedere, Charles in Charge, Punky Brewster, Today's Special, and Small Wonder

Fashon: Big hair, pegged pants, acid washed denim, neon colors, leg warmers, spandex, members only jackets, checkerboard patterns.

Pop Culture: Break Dancing, Ninjas, Where's the Beef?, Pac Mania, and the Rubik's Cube.

Don't get me started on music or historical events of the 80s