Bored Panda

Woman Finally Notices Disgusting Detail About Her Boyfriend, Turns Out Her Friends Were Right

Jonas Žvilius — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 03:00:03 +0000

Sometimes it doesn’t take that much to end a relationship, it can be just simple incompatibility or boredom. But some folks have dating stories that sound so impossibly nightmarish that one really just wants to learn more.

A woman ended up going viral for sharing why she broke off an engagement and dumped her boyfriend. After she shared that it was because he didn’t wipe after using the bathroom, the internet was not at all satisfied and needed more details.
More info: TikTok

There are some red flags that really can’t be ignored

Image credits: Lisa from Pexels/Pexels (not the actual photo)

She described what actually happened

Image credits: lil_tachy

You can watch the full video here

@lil_tachy It wasn’t something that I was willing to believe at first because why on earth would someone choose not to wipe their a-s? It makes no sense to me to this very day #xyzbca #relationship #storytime #ex #dating ♬ original sound – Kirsten🏳️‍🌈

Some hygiene norms are there for a reason

Image credits: Sora Shimazaki/Pexels (not the actual photo)

How does a grown adult man reach this point? The answer, frustratingly enough, is more common than most people think. According to one survey, nearly 60% of men report not knowing how to fully tend to their personal hygiene. That is not a rounding error. That is most of the room. And while no one is born knowing how to take care of themselves, most people absorb the basics long before adulthood. So what goes wrong for some men?

A big piece of it starts in childhood. Gender socialization is the process through which children are taught to behave in ways that match the gender they’re assigned at birth, and it extends far into what is considered appropriate self-care. Girls are expected to be clean and quiet, while boys are broadly allowed to be messy. It gets treated as charming, even as proof of a healthy, boyish spirit. The problem is that when nobody corrects that messiness, it simply follows them into their teenage years and then right into adulthood.

A few guys see cleaning themselves as not masculine

Image credits: cottonbro studio/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Research conducted across 56 countries found that women consistently hold stricter hygiene norms than men almost everywhere in the world. The gap isn’t small, and it doesn’t appear to be purely biological. It tracks closely with how hygiene expectations are modeled and enforced differently for each gender from an early age. When cleaning up after yourself gets quietly framed as a feminine concern, some boys absorb that message and carry it straight into their adult relationships.

There’s also the cultural weight of toxic masculinity to account for. Some men genuinely internalize the idea that hygiene and cleanliness are unmanly. Grooming, washing properly, keeping a tidy space, these get filed under “things women do.” We’ve featured lists where, for example, one man shared how, growing up in a rural community, caring about personal hygiene, diet, and cleaning the house were all considered feminine. It took a stint in the military, where immaculate grooming was mandatory, to rewire those assumptions entirely. It’s a pretty clear reminder of how arbitrary and genuinely harmful those ideas can be.

Then there’s the fact that some men were simply never taught the basics properly. A Slate investigation into the topic found that it’s genuinely common for men to have been given only the vaguest bathroom guidance as children, a quick shower, some shampoo, a bar of soap waved in the general direction of the body, and nothing more specific than that. If no one in your life ever modeled or reinforced more thorough habits, you can reach adulthood with real gaps in your routine and not even know they’re there.

It’s not always just about cleanliness

Image credits: Rupinder Korpal/Pexels (not the actual photo)

It’s also worth noting that for some people, poor hygiene is connected to mental health in ways that go beyond simple laziness. Conditions like depression and ADHD can significantly affect a person’s ability to maintain regular self-care routines, and executive dysfunction, which affects the ability to plan, initiate, and complete tasks, can make even basic hygiene feel like an overwhelming hurdle. This doesn’t excuse neglecting hygiene in a relationship, but it does add some important nuance to a conversation that tends to go straight to disgust.

Of course, none of this is a get-out-of-accountability-free card. Research consistently shows that women are significantly more likely to wash their hands, use soap, and scrub for a longer period of time than men after using the restroom. Those habits have real consequences not just for the individual but for everyone around them. A partner raising a reasonable hygiene concern deserves to be heard and taken seriously, not dismissed or laughed off. And if the response to that conversation is doubling down on the status quo, well, the woman on TikTok had exactly the right idea.

Viewers were rightfully shocked

82 Incredible Discoveries That Open Windows To A Completely Different Era (New Pics)

Evelina Šiukšterytė — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 05:00:00 +0000

We usually learn history through the written word. While those sources can tell us a great deal, there’s something different (and oftentimes more powerful) about seeing the actual objects that people once forged, carried, and treasured. Suddenly, distant events and long-gone civilizations become much easier to imagine.

Luckily for us nerds, there’s a subreddit dedicated to sharing fascinating historical artifacts from around the world. Whether we’re talking about ancient artwork and weapons or everyday tools and personal belongings, it’s packed with all sorts of remarkable gems. Here are our favorites.

#1 Cylindrical Hematite Weights From Warka In Iraq. Old Babylonian Empire, 2000-1600 Bce, Now Housed At The British Museum

#2 A Men's Gilded Leather Shoes From Norfolk

Dating To 1890-1899 Ad. Crafted With Meticulous Attention To Detail, These Ankle Boots Are A Blend Of Silvered Leather, Black Silk Brocade, And Gold Gilded Accents.

The subreddit that collects these pictures has more than 172,000 members, and its popularity echoes the words of the American Historical Association, which said that most people care about history for reasons transcending classroom requirements.

“There are obviously many reasons why people take [an] interest in history,” the organization wrote. “These interests can be deeply self-serving or altruistic, conscious or subconscious, voluntary or compulsory, to list just a few competing possibilities.”

According to its survey of 1,816 Americans, 39% say they are driven mostly by the desire to be more informed about past events, 33% find learning about the past entertaining, 19% view it as important knowledge to be shared with children, and 2% claim it’s because something is required for class, while the rest (roughly 8%) report having no interest in past events.

#3 Roman Statue Of Two Greyhounds, Discovered In The Villa Of Antoninus Pius, Mid 2nd Century

#4 Portrait Of A Woman. Faiyum, Egypt, Roman Period, 3rd-4th Century Ad

#5 The Marlik Cup, Dating Back To Around 1400 Bc, Features Four Mythical Winged Bulls In Lifelike And Dynamic Poses, With Their Wings Extended Outward As If They Are About To Take Flight

Discovered At Marlik Village In Northern Iran, It Is Housed At The National Museum Of Iran.

You might wonder why we are still finding so many of these traces, but the truth of the matter is that we likely have much, much more to uncover beneath us as urban development, natural environmental shifts, and the use of advanced scanning technologies continue to reveal what was previously hidden.

For example, a group of scholars from the University of Colorado, the National Museum of Mongolia, and partners from around the world analyzed melting ice patches in western Mongolia, which function as natural “freezers,” preserving organic materials that would normally decay.

The team’s fieldwork has revealed artifacts such as woven ropes, hunting tools, and animal remains that can be dated to more than 1,500 years ago! These objects, often astonishingly well-preserved, are helping researchers reconstruct aspects of ancient pastoral and hunting cultures in the Altai region, including the technologies used and the importance of big-game hunting alongside herding practices.

#6 Meymand Is A Very Ancient Village In Iran

It Is Believed To Be A Primary Human Residence In The Iranian Plateau, Dating Back To 12,000 Years Ago. Many Of The Residents Live In The 350 Hand-Dug Houses Amid The Rocks, Some Of Which Have Been Inhabited For As Long As 3,000 Years.

#7 Dagger With Openwork Blade And Carved Ivory Handle Depicting Hindu Figures. Madurai, India, 1600-1645

#8 The Hoxne Hoard, The Largest Hoard Of Late Roman Silver And Gold Discovered In Britain

It Was Accidentally Found By A Man When He Set Out With A Metal Detector To Find A Hammer He Had Lost In A Farm. The British Government Rewarded Him With £1.75 Million. He Found His Hammer Afterwards.

#9 Turkish Tent Captured By Polish Forces During The Battle Of Vienna (1683)

Created C. 1683, Made Of Linen And Cotton, Richly Decorated, Wawel Royal Castle National Art Collection, Kraków, Poland.

And sometimes, even artificial intelligence—which has been receiving a lot of criticism and is constantly questioned over whether it can truly benefit society—can also prove itself useful in unexpected ways.

Last year, AI was reported to have helped identify traces of ancient civilizations more than 5,000 years old hidden beneath some of the world’s largest deserts, including areas in the heart of the Dubai desert, all without a single shovel being used.

In simple terms, new technology like AI is now being used alongside advanced ground-scanning tools to make archaeology faster and more effective. Special radar systems can “see” through sand, plants, and even ice to reveal shapes and structures buried underground. When this radar data is combined with AI that is trained to recognize patterns from past discoveries, it becomes much easier to spot possible human-made structures across huge areas.

#10 Jade Cicadas, Meant To Be Placed On The Tongues Of The Dead To Signify Rebirth. China, Han Dynasty, 202 Bc–220 Ad [2323x3000]

#11 A Kimono Decorated With Skeletons, From Japan, 1840-1860 Ce, Now Housed At The Victoria And Albert Museum In London

#12 The Wine Cellars Of Hercegkút In Hungary, 18th-19th Century Ce

#13 The Medieval Tombstone Of A Bride And Groom M*rdered At Their Wedding Along With All Their Guests

The Scene Depicted Here Is Their Wedding. 10th Century Ad, Noratus Cemetery, Armenia.

However, it may be worth not focusing too much on the “sparkle” alone. The aforementioned survey from the American Historical Association also found that people prefer to encounter history on its own terms and actively investigate it, rather than passively receive it.

This is reflected in the 64 percent who said they would rather learn by reading or examining historical documents and artifacts, compared to the 36 percent who preferred to receive information directly from an expert.

But, “how well those results would hold up in practice, especially when learners encountered ambivalent, confusing, or even contradictory readings and evidence, is debatable,” the organization writes.

#14 Dress Worn By Archduchess Mary Of Austria On Her Wedding To Louis II Of Hungary In 1515

#15 The Building Of Wells Cathedral In England, Dedicated To St. Andrew The Apostle, Started In 1175 Ce And Went On For Almost 300 Years

In 1338 Ce, The So-Called St. Andrew's Cross Arches Were Added To The Building To Support The Central Tower, Giving The Cathedral Its Unique Appearance.

#16 The Ancient City Of Hegra, In The Arabian Desert, C.50 Ce

This Rock-Hewn City Was Built By The Nabataeans, And It Originally Served As A Center For International Trade, But It Was Later Transformed Into A Necropolis With More Than 100 Monumental Tombs.

#17 The Bracelet Of Pharaoh Amenemope Has Been Stolen By A Restoration Specialist At The Egyptian Museum And Melted Down

Dated Back To 1000 Bc, It Contained Spherical Lapis Lazuli Beads And Was Sold For Only $4,000 At A Gold Workshop In Cairo.

Looking into history and examining artifacts on your own often reveals contradictions to what you already think you know. And that shouldn’t be avoided.

When we challenge our understanding rather than simply sticking to what we already believe, we strengthen our critical thinking skills.

But to do that, we also need credible expert perspectives to help guide our interpretation and separate reliable information from misleading or incomplete accounts.

#18 At Persepolis In Iran, Dating 518 Bc

This Stone Lion Greets The Viewer With A Smiling Face From The Front, Yet As You Move To The Side, The Same Lion Appears Fierce And Angry. It Is A Masterpiece Of Ancient Persian Art That Captures Both Serenity And Aggression.

#19 Lock Of Lucrezia Borgias Hair On Display At The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana In Milan, Italy

#20 Calculating Machine Made By Philipp Matthäus Hahn

It Was The First Calculator That Could Add, Subtract, Divide And Multiply In One Machine, And Had An 11-Digit Capacity. Germany, Duchy Of Württemberg, 1770-1774

#21 A Roman Temple-Theater Complex Located 450 Meters Above Sea Level In Caserta, Dating Back To The 2nd Century Bc

It Was Accidentally Discovered In 2000 By A Local Pilot Flying His Ultralight Helicopter, Who Noticed Its Unusual Layout From The Air After A Fire Had Cleared The Vegetation.

#22 The Wallace Amethyst. In The 20th Century, Wallace Chan Developed The Wallace Cut Technique, An Inner Layered Intaglio. China

#23 Double Chromatic Harp With Two Sets Of Strings That Cross Near Their Midpoint

One Row Of Strings Has The Naturals For A C Major Scale, Like White Notes On A Modern Piano, While The Second Set Of Strings Has The Accidentals, Or Black Notes, Late 19th Century.

#24 Dornröschen, A Marble Sculpture By German Artist Louis Sussmann-Hellborn

Created In 1878, Depicts The Fairy Tale Character Sleeping Beauty. She Lies Surrounded By Roses, With A Spindle Resting At Her Feet

#25 Detail Of The Right Foot Of Hercules, From The "Hercules And Lichas" Marble Statue Made By The Italian Sculptor Antonio Canova In 1795

The Sculpture Is Now On Display At The National Gallery Of Modern Art In Rome.

#26 In 1994, Archaeologists Uncovered A Life-Sized Marble Statue Of Roman Emperor Hadrian, Clad In Full Armor

Remarkably Well-Preserved, The Statue Highlights The Importance Of Troy Under Roman Rule And Recalls Hadrian’s Visit To The City In 124 Ad, When He Sponsored Major Renovations.

#27 James Vi Of Scotland's Earliest Surviving Letter, Thanking His Foster Mother For Sending Him Some Fruit (1570s)

#28 A Remarkable 2,000-Year-Old Parthian Statue, Likely Depicting A Queen, Has Been Seized By Iranian Police While Being Smuggled

Experts Are Currently Analyzing The Statue To Determine Its Exact Date And Identity, Which Is Expected To Provide Significant Historical Insights.

#29 On The Left Is A Photo Of Juana Maria, A Native Californian Woman Who Was The Last Surviving Member Of Her Tribe, The Nicoleño

And Who Lived In A Whalebone Hut (Pictured On The Right) On San Nicolas Island Alone For 18 Years Before She Was Found In 1853 And Taken To Santa Barbara.

#30 Napoleon's Private Bathroom, Featuring A Unique Recessed Bathtub, Located Within His Apartment At The Villa Pisani In Stra, Northern Italy

#31 Archaeologists Unearthing A Remarkable 2,700-Year-Old Assyrian Lamassu At Ancient Dur-Sharrukin, In What Is Now Modern-Day Iraq

#32 Byzantine Mosaic Of A Man Feeding A Donkey. 5th Or 6th Century Ce. Housed In The Istanbul Archaeological Museum In Turkey

#33 A Woman Is Attacked By The Kamikiri ("Hair-Cutter") On Her Way To The Toilet. Translation In Comments. Print By Utagawa Yoshifuji. Japan, 1868

#34 The 3,200 Year Old Hypostyle Hall Of The Karnak Temple In Egypt, With 134 Massive Columns Covered In Hieroglyphs (And My Son To Scale)

#35 The Golden Larnax (Chest With The Remains) And Crown Of Alexander's Father, Philip II Of Macedon

#36 Chapel Of San Baudelio De Berlanga, 11th Century, Soria, Spain

It Was Built In The Middle Of Nowhere, In Lands That Were Frontier Between Christianity And Islam. A Plain Stone Square From Outside, Its Palm Tree Shaped Central Column And Frescoes Make This Church Next To Unique...

#37 Mummy Portrait Of A Woman. Fayum, Egypt, 2nd Century Ad

#38 Between 2008 And 2014, Scientists Rappelled Down Cliffs, In Southern Spain, To Reach A Dozen Bearded Vulture Nests And Begin Analyzing What Was Inside Them

They Discovered A 750-Year-Old Shoe, Along With More Than 200 Other Human Artifacts

#39 Hellenistic Greek Cast Glass Pomegranate Vase, Tinted With Colloidal Gold To Achieve The Burgundy Shade, 2nd Century Bce

#40 The Flooded Crypt Of The Basilica Di San Francesco In Ravenna, Italy,10th Century

#41 The Criel Mound In West Virginia, Built In 250–150 Bc. Inside The Mound, There Was 2 Skeletons Near The Top, And 11 At The Base

#42 Close Up Of Pictograph Of European Man, Probably A Spaniard, At Vaquero Alcove In Texas

This Was Obviously Painted By A Native Who Had Personally Witnessed The Man. Photo: The University Of Texas At Austin Texas Archeological Research.

#43 Part Of The Letter From Persian King Tahmasp To Ottoman Sultan Suleiman

It Was Written After The Ottomans' Swift Retreat From Iran In 1554: "The Roman Entered Here, Shit Himself, And Left The Next Day. You Failed To Stay Even For A Single Day Here."

#44 Planetarium Table Clock, Circa 1770

#45 A Big Mad Letter Written By A Boy Called Theon To His Father In The 2nd Or 3rd Century Ad

Theon Was Grumpy Because His Father Was Not Going To Take Him To The Big City, Alexandria.

#46 Persian Cuneiform Lives On As Students Study And Write It At The Research Center For Cuneiform Studies, Iran

#47 Preserved Meat Sample From Franklin Expedition, 1845-1848

#48 This Paperweight, Made Of Haematite Carved In The Shape Of A Grasshopper, Looks Pretty Modern

But It Was Hand-Carved Between 1800-1700 Bc, In Ancient Babylonia (In Modern-Day Iraq) British Museum.

#49 90 Years Ago Today, Local Villagers In Shami Accidentally Unearthed A 2-Meter Statue While Digging In The Area

Shortly After, It Was Moved To The National Museum Of Iran And Dated To 50 Bc. The Shami Statue Is Now Considered The Single Most Important Work From The Parthian Empire.

#50 Unmaintained Portion Of The Great Wall Of China Slowly Being Reclaimed By The Gobi Desert

#51 The Canadian Ice Man Is A Naturally Mummified Body Of A Young Man, Found In British Columbia In 1999

With A Well-Preserved And Woven Hat, An Iron Knife With A Wooden Handle And A Coat Made Of 100 Small Pelts Of The Arctic Squirrel With Sinew From A Moose. C. 1450–1700 Ce.

#52 Victorian Era Radiator With Built-In Food Warmer

#53 Workers Excavating Persepolis For The First Time, Winter 1930, Iran

#54 Frida Khalo’s Prosthesis And Plaster Corset

#55 During An Invasion Of Naghadeh Around 1200 Bc, One Of The Soldiers Grabbed A Golden Bowl From The Treasury And Tried To Escape With It

He Fell And Died Clutching It, Bending The Bowl Under His Weight. Discovered Beneath His Skeleton In 1958, It’s Now Housed At National Museum Of Iran.

#56 A 17th Century Emerald (Colombian) Carving Of A Hindu Saint, With Ruby And Gold Inlays. Part Of The Lord Glenconner’s Collection

#57 Priceless Illyrian Gravestones In North Macedonia Are Kept Hidden From The Public, Smoked On, & Damaged By Trash And Other Objects

Museum Curators Turned Away A Reporter Who Wished To See The Gravestones, Telling Him - "This Has Nothing To Do With Illyrians"

#58 This Is The Gaddi Torso, A Fragmentary Ancient Roman Marble Sculpture From The 2nd Century Bce

#59 A 1,500-Year-Old Byzantine Mosaic Has Just Been Uncovered In Modern-Day Turkey During A Clean-Up That Turned Into An Excavation

Featuring Geometric Panels And An Inscription Reading “Tittos Domestikos,” It Likely Belonged To A Civil Administrator’s Building.

#60 Two 500-Year-Old Persian Helmets Crafted From Gilded Steel, Featuring Ornate Metal Face Masks

These Remarkable Helmets Were Gifted By Iran To Russia In 1534 Ad, And They Remain Preserved At The Kremlin Armoury Museum In Moscow.

#61 The Garmsar Salt Cave Features Massive Salt Pillars That Support Its Ceiling

Formed And Shaped By The Achaemenid Empire During Salt Extraction In 550–330 Bc. Located In The Iranian County Of The Same Name, The Cave Has 27 Mines, And The One Shown Here Is A Popular Tourist Attraction.

#62 The Moss-Covered Gravestone Of The Wine And Textile Merchant Antoine Michel Wemaer (1763-1837 Ce), Located In The Central Cemetery In Bruges, Belgium

#63 The Giant Bath Tub For Alexander Of Russia In Babolovsky Palace, St. Petersburg (1801-1825)

The Tub Was Originally A Chunk Of Granite From A Finnish Island, Weighed Over 160 Tonnes. A Team Was Given The Task Of Turning The Rock Into A Bathtub, And It Took A Decade To Get The Job Done.

#64 Vicars' Close Is A Mid-14th Century Ce Dead End Street In Wells, Somerset, That Is Reportedly Europe's Oldest Residential Street With The Original Buildings Still Intact

#65 Roman Anthropomorphic Dice In The Form Of Squatting Figures

The Silver Dice Work Much Like Conventional Dice, With Their Various Sides Numbered With 1 To 6 Red Dots. 1st-2nd Century Ce, British Museum.

#66 Portrait Of Two Brothers From Roman Egypt, 140 Ad

#67 Portrait Of Pigeon’s Egg Head

An Assiniboine Warrior Who Was Murdered By His Tribesmen Because They Couldn't Believe His Stories About The Settlers' Cities. Painting By George Catlin, 1831.

#68 Golden Wreath Of Greeks Dating Back To 300 Bc,the Hellenistic Era

#69 Portrait Of An Unidentified Man That Was Placed Over The Face And Upper Torso Of His Mummy

Dated To 150-170 Ad, It Is Painted In Encaustic On A Panel Of Linden Wood, And It Was Originated In Roman Egypt.

#70 A Photograph Of My Great-Grandfather, Who Served In The Military During The Qajar Empire, With A Note:

"At A Time When Only The Royal Family Had Access To Cameras, I Took My Family’s Very First Photograph, Hoping It Would Reach Future Generations. Friday Afternoon, August 12, 1896."

#71 An 8th-Century Quran Manuscript Being Restored In Egypt

Considered One Of The Oldest Surviving Quran Manuscripts, It Has 1087 Leaves Weighting Around 80kg, Each Made Of One Entire Animal’s Skin.

#72 Approaching The Temple Of Hatshepsut, A 3,400 Year Old Temple Built By Perhaps The Most Powerful Woman Of Antiquity

#73 The Display Of A Reproduction Of The Parthenon Or Elgin Marbles

Here Shown Is The Outward Facing Frieze. At The New Acropolis Museum. The Original Marbles Are At The British Museum

#74 Spider Web Snuffbox, Paris, 1747-48

#75 Breastplate Armor Of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor, 1549

#76 Mirror Work Inside The 1,000-Year-Old Shah Cheragh Shrine In Shiraz, Iran

One Of The Holiest Sites In Shia Islam, It Is The Resting Place Of The Son Of The Seventh Imam, Known In Persian As Shah Cheragh (“King Of Light”).

#77 A Cherub Carved In Malachite, With Inset Diamond Eyes, Mounted Over A Gold Ring. United States, Late 19th Century

#78 4000-Year-Old Ropes In An Egyptian Cave At Mersa Gawasis

Which Was Apparently Used As A Port In The Reigns Of Senusret I To Amenemhat Iv Of The 12th Dynasty, And Served As A Loading Point For Expeditions To Punt During The Reign Of Hatshepsut (C. 1479-1458 Bce)

#79 Swords Of The Aegean, The Intersection Of Anatolian And Mycenaean Cultures

These Blades Are A Distinct Category Of Weapons That Originated In The Aegean Region, Particularly During The Late Bronze Age Dating From 1600 To 1200 Bc.

#80 Ivory Sculpture Of A Fisherman With Net And Basket. Japan, Meiji Period, 1868–1912

#81 An 18th Century Bce Old Babylonian Letter Written By The Student Iddin-Sin To His Mother Zinu

In Which He Complaints About The Poor Quality Of Clothes His Mother Sent Him Compared To Those Of His Peers, Noting That Even The Adopted Son Of One Of His Father's Servants Had Better Clothing.

#82 In A Stunning Find Deep In The Woods Of North Jura, Poland, Metal Detectorists Have Found A Roman Sword From 2,000 Years Ago

The Sword Was In Three Pieces, Which Researchers Think Might Mean It Was Part Of A Burial Or Ceremony.

“Still Not Sure If That Was A Dig Or A Compliment”: 56 Unhinged Comments Women Received About Their Bodies

Mantas Kačerauskas — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 03:14:17 +0000

We like to share our opinions. And if it’s a review of something we just bought or a recommendation for a movie or a restaurant, that’s perfectly fine. However, there are moments when it’s better to keep our thoughts to ourselves, and not everyone seems to be able to draw that line.

Last week, Reddit user BowlerOk1871 asked women online to share a comment someone had made about their body in passing that they never forgot. The thousands of replies they received highlight just how comfortable society is with commenting on a woman’s appearance. Sadly, as the stories show, more often than not, these remarks leave scars rather than smiles.

#1

"If only you were a little thinner..." - an ex.

"I love all your curves" - my husband.

#2

I was a painfully shy child and still quite a bit as a teenager. I was talked about a lot at school because I went to a predominantly white school and I’m half black. I was in a math class and the seating chart sat me right next to one of the most popular girls in school one class ahead of me. Most popular girls are mean so I always they are until proven otherwise. On the first day of school she started a conversation with me and during it she said, “wow you’re like really pretty”. It was one of the best compliments I’ve ever had and it really grew my confidence as an insecure teenager. We are now in our 30s and are Facebook friends. I root for her afar now that we’ve both moved away from our hometown.

“Lately, I’ve noticed how often body comments creep into everyday spaces — places that should feel safe, supportive, even sacred,” says licensed marriage and family therapist Shelby Castile. “Sometimes it’s framed as a compliment, sometimes it’s just an offhand remark. Either way, it leaves me (and so many others) cringing inside”

When someone comments on a woman’s body — whether it’s “You look great!” or “Wow, you’ve lost weight!” — it might sound harmless. Some even think they’re offering a compliment. But according to Castile, that’s not okay because they do not know that particular woman’s life story.

“That weight loss you’re praising might be grief, illness, or stress,” she points out. “[And] that ‘healthy glow’ might be exhaustion.”

#3

I was at a floating bar in my bikini in another country. I have stretch marks on my hips and upper thighs. This random local guy just pointed at my bathing suit bottoms and said “I like those. I like those on a woman.” I thought maybe it was a language barrier and he was talking about the color or a bikini or something. I said what? And he pointed at my stretch marks and he said “the lines. I love them on a woman. They’re my favorite.” And that was it, he left.

Never been self conscious of my stretch marks ever again.

#4

Way way back around 2009 or so, I was walking through Kensington Gardens in late Spring, wearing one of my favourite floral wrap dresses. I was a size 12 at the time.

An Italian couple walked past me, and I overheard the woman say, “Che bella figura.” ☺️.

#5

I was having drinks with a man i dated. I showed him a picture I took using a Tiktok filter, one of the ones that put makeup on & just make you look gorgeous, i thought it was such a great shot. He said " you dont need filters. You are prettier than that".

Whatever the intention, such remarks also keep the spotlight on looks. “Our culture already tells us our worth is tied to our bodies. Each comment reinforces that old, unhelpful story,” the therapist adds.

“It can be triggering. For people who’ve struggled with disordered eating, trauma, or perfectionism, body comments can hit like a punch in the gut.”

#6

I have a nice one - not really about body but my hair. I was about 16, when my hair was at its longest, and it tends to go a more golden colour in the summer. An older lady came up to me as I was waiting at the traffic light outside my school, and said to me in the most charming Yorkshire accent "Don't ever dye your beautiful hair, it's lovely." And I never have.

#7

My bf tried to be romantic at a candlelight dinner "Your eyes are like the sky on a cloudy day" ...

I had laughter cramps and married him a few years later 1) because he made me laugh a lot and 2) he would be faithful, no romance.

We got 42 great years together.

#8

A guy said he liked my nose. Like most humans, I dislike my own nose, even though it's a fairly ordinary nose. But that guy liked my nose, and he must have been an expert on nose aesthetics because his nose was lovely too. So I guess my nose is okay.

These unsolicited comments illustrate a broader problem. According to a new survey of 2,000 women, more than one-third of them (35%) feel like they’ve been held back in life, simply because they’re a woman.

(Perhaps due to their willingness to try different things, which is true for 50% of Gen Z much more than any other age group.)

These women find that their ideas are more likely to be dismissed (45%) or that some things are considered “unsafe” for them (36%).

#9

A co-worker asked me why my face always looks ‘like that’. With tone.

I looked her in the eye for a minute, just to make it awkward.

Then answered ‘genetics’. With tone.

#10

I was 14 and a family member said 'i can't wait until you're 18 and i can pay to get that nose of yours fixed'

apparently they'd approached my parents already and they said no.

#11

My aunt telling me when I was 9 that I would be cuter if I wasn’t so chubby.

Other reasons why women feel held back include not being taken as seriously as men (35%), being paid less than their male colleagues (35%), or being underestimated by their peers (32%).

One-third of Gen Z have said that they receive fewer responses to applications than their male counterparts, or that they’re unable to get their health concerns addressed quickly and accurately.

Almost one-quarter of millennial women (24%) said they felt held back because they were expected to be parents, and 22% were expected to be stay-at-home parents, which meant giving up their career, just because of their gender.

#12

A guy pointed out a stretch mark on my hip that I did not know about. Now I see it all the time. Thanks.

#13

Walking down a street one day, some guy says to me, "Nice face, lose the weight". That was over 40 years ago.

#14

My friend's nan once said to me: "You've got fat. Oh no, I mean, you've had your hair cut"

However, younger women believe that change is not only possible, but on the horizon.

Almost three in five Gen Z think it’s likely that pay gaps (58%), health care gaps (58%), and leadership gaps (57%) will end before their time comes.

#15

So so many. Shopping with my mom as a kid was a humiliation ritual every time. She would make me try on clothes and then point out why each piece wasn’t flattering on “our” body type.

My ex husband told me that my eyes did nothing for him when I tried a new mascara. He also had a girlfriend while we were married and I found messages where they talked about how ugly I was.

#16

Told my then-boyfriend/now-husband I didn’t feel great about wearing shorts because I felt like my knees looked weird. He said “that’s stupid, everybody’s knees look weird, it’s a weird part of the body. Yours don’t even look bad. You have the least notable knees I’ve ever seen” and it made me feel bizarrely delighted. I’ve never hesitated to wear shorts or dresses since.

#17

During covid my workplace hired some medical staff to run daily covid tests on all of us. There was a phase where they did mouth swabs instead of nose swabs and one of the male nurses took my sample and then said 'you really have a picture perfect throat' in the most casual tone ever. He definitely wasnt hitting on me so i was just like uhh cool thanks and shrugged it off because guys say weird stuff sometimes and also what the fucc does that even mean lol. But like a week later or so, a female nurse took my sample and then added 'your throat is really textbook, wonderful color' and you best believe this is now forever stuck in my head. Two medical professionals who looked down a couple hundred throats every single day both commented on MY throat completely unprompted and on separate occasions?? Yeah this one i'll definitely remember forever lmao.

#18

A classmate once commented that I have very shiny knees that looked like newly oiled bald heads. Fifteen years later and I’m still not sure if that was a dig or a compliment.

And if you want to connect, encourage, or compliment someone, Castile recommends shifting the focus away from bodies and trying something along the lines of:

“I love how dedicated you are to your practice.”
“Your energy in class is inspiring.”
“You bring such kindness into this space.”

The key, according to the therapist, is to affirm who the person is rather than what they look like.

#19

Went to pick out a graduation dress with my mom, I was gravitating towards a statement red dress and she told me that red didn’t look good on me. It took years for me to feel confident wearing red again.

#20

Talking to my brother about why my relationship with my father was so strained and distant without us ever having argued or been at odds.
My brother then said that my dad had told him that he found it really hard that I was chubby.
So my body was so unacceptable to my own father that it kept us from having a meaningful relationship.

#21

As a teenager, I struggled with my complexion. Add to that I grew up in a predominantly Hispanic area, am half Hispanic, and look 100% white, I was always uncomfortable just existing. Lots of bullying because I "faked" being Hispanic when everyone knew my dad couldn't be my dad. He is: I was so insecure about this that I encouraged my whole family to do Ancestry DNA tests. My primary skin tone is paper white unless it's hot pink (also have rosacea).

Anyway, I was at a local strip mall and this young adult woman with gorgeous dark, even skin and hair stopped me to tell me I have a lovely peaches and cream complexion. Out of nowhere. After that, anytime my head got dark about looking wrong her voice followed and kept me from being too sure I was all bad.

Her and all the old ladies who stopped me to tell me how pretty my hair was over the years kept me from hating myself completely for a long time.

#22

My favorite complement was some random guy walking past me while I was on a smoke break at work. He didn’t stop to try and talk to me, didn’t ask my number, didn’t do anything but say “girl, you got good bones” before walking away. 10/10 would experience again.

#23

I was in sixth grade and I remember clear as day looking at my Mom to smile at her. In front of multiple people she said “Yeah, you need your eyebrows and mustache waxed”

I was a little girl in freaking sixth grade - I was insecure and awkward enough without that comment.

Tore my self confidence up.

#24

I've always struggled with acne throughout my teenage years. they made me especially insecure since they were mostly around my cheeks, and I couldn't hide them because I wasn't allowed makeup back then. still have acne now at 20 but it's gotten better. one time in 8th grade, a friend's classmate told me, "your freckles are so pretty!" I was surprised because I don't have any freckles. it took me some time before I realized that they were pointing out my cheek acne and scars. that forever changed the way I saw my acne, and also partly why over the years, I've come to be confident even when my skin flared up. I still have some light scarring on my cheeks, and sometimes I love accentuating them with makeup because some kid back then told me they look like freckles.

#25

“Babe, your thighs are getting big” from my then bf. He was in Marine ROTC and headed to officers training in a few months. Before the semester ended, I challenged him to race a mile in the armory. I beat him in front of his friends nine days after getting a cast off my foot for a broken metatarsal. Priceless.

#26

Wanted to get my nose pierced, mum said “no you don’t want to draw attention to that nose”.

#27

In college I went to my first gyn appointment to get birth control. The doctor said she wanted to run some labs. She said she could tell by looking at me that I had PCOS because I had a "basketball belly." And since that's how men gain weight, not women, it was a sign of high testosterone.

I did indeed have PCOS. But what an *awful* way to diagnose anyone, especially a 19 year old who hasn't even finished her first quarter of college.

#28

I was a year younger than the kids in my grade, and where I live at the time you had elementary school split from high school, so grade 7 was elementary then you were in high school in grade 8, no middle. I hit grade 8 at 12 years old and immediately was targeted by the girls in school. Gym class I recall specifically. I was asked why I hadn't shaved my disgusting legs. I was 12.

#29

In my teens I was bragging to my friends about how little I ate. It was something stupid like “I only have eaten a snickers and I’ve lost 5lbs!!!” And one of the girls in our friends group told me I didn’t need to change my body she thought curviness was beautiful. I started seeing myself in a different way.

#30

I have a lot of negative ones that I could share, but I'll go with one that wasn't. 10 years ago a friend said I have beautiful shoulders, and as silly as that sounds, it completely changed the way I percieve my body. It made me realize that there *are* parts of it that look genuinely good and that people appreciate, and that I had been so hyperfocused on my not-so-attractive features that I never even noticed there might be some to appreciate as well.

#31

In 7th grade a boy called me "chisel chin". I had never seen a sideways view of my face, but you can be sure I looked in the mirror very carefully that night. My chin is (or was, since that was decades ago) indeed a bit chisel-ish. But the thing was, I didn't think it was ugly. I don't know why it didn't bother me, because at that age everything did. However, I never forgot it, and I can still recall exactly where it happened.

#32

I was on holiday in Hong Kong about 30 years ago. I was a size 14 UK size, at one of the markets, one of the women shook her head and me and said ‘no no no’. When I looked confused she said ‘we have no clothes here for a fat lady like you’.
I mean she was right all the clothes were tiny, but ….

#33

I was trying to recover from an eating disorder. My then boyfriend laughed, poked at my stomach and called it my snackpack. So yeah, relapsed right then

#34

It's so small but still lives in my mind. I was an ugly duckling during puberty. I had severe acne, glasses that didn't suit me, braces, etc. I was already getting bullied but that's another can of worms.

I was interested in babysitting to make some cash to fund my hobbies at the time. My local library was hosting CPR classes. So my mom signed me up for it and off I went. The class was mainly catered to teens so there were a lot of teenage girls in the class.

As soon as I walked in, I knew I stook out like a sore thumb. I remember making eye contact with one girl. I thought she was really pretty but she obviously didn't think the same about me. She just said "Ew.".

#35

A female massage therapist asked if I've ever been told I have the softest skin they've ever touched. I said yeah, 4 people have told me that.

She responds with well I can assure you if they haven't told you they were thinking it.

#36

A bus driver said he liked my legs. I have the wrong kind of Scandinavian ancestors and those trunks are STURDY, but I guess he appreciated a girl he couldn’t easily run over.

#37

My mother had knitted me a jumper - it was the 70’s - but it was brown and green horizontal stripes. The first day I wore it, she said to my grandma ‘she looks like a little fat bumble bee in it, but never mind’.

It was the first and last time I wore it and she kept asking me why I wasn’t wearing it…. I was 9 yo. Now 59F.

#38

In 5th grade I was eating lunch with a girl who randomly said “you’re fat”. I instinctively said “no I’m not?” to which she doubled down and said it again. I stopped eating my lunch and threw it in the trash. My perspective on my appearance was forever altered.

#39

I sent a pic to a guy friend years back of my dog that was snuggling with me. My arm was around him. My friend saw the arm and said it looked like it should be on a corpse.

#40

Someone I was seeing told me I had a "grandma face" and started laughing while claiming it was a compliment. Things went south but we somehow rematched on Tinder a year later. The moment I saw who it was I blocked them. I still feel bad for anyone who has to look at me.

#41

My mother would say keep your weight down, you’ll get broad shoulders. After her menopause she started to put on some weght. Her shoulders are broader than mine.

#42

"There is nothing beautiful about her. Maybe hair is ok".

#43

I was 18 my sister was pregnant with her first and she had gained about 70lbs, I had just lost almost 70lbs. I had gotten to my goal of 135lbs size 5 pants. My sister was hormonal and crashing out to my mom. She was upset that she had gained and I was losing. My sister was always the tall, thin, blonde attractive one. When she was crying about it my mom said "you'll lose the weight and you'll always be the pretty one". I know my mom didn't mean it that way as she's the type to say anything needed if fix a problem. I'm 40 and still think about it.
She was right, she lost all the weight, I gained some back (I gave up after hearing that).

#44

A teacher once said “you’d be so pretty if you smiled more” in front of the whole class. I was 12, and still think about it sometimes.

#45

“I like your hair better straight” - traumatizing curly-haired girls everywhere. Disappointed in myself for staying with that boyfriend another year when it was clear he didn’t love my authentic self.

#46

Been marveled over like an animal in a zoo when one of my friends in 5th grade was like "wow you have so much arm hair!" 😭 one of my first insecurities lol.

#47

Recently on a date he asked how many guys I was dating because “I’m so beautiful”. I’ve always been insecure and it was really nice to hear the compliment. It’s stuck with me as a reminder not to be so hard on myself. Most of the things we worry about no one else notices.

#48

There's a little circle bone in your wrist. In 7th grade, someone told me the reason I couldn't see mine is because I was fat.

I still look for that bone subconsciously.

#49

I was crawling/playing on the floor when I was 10 and my dad said, “Look, your belly hangs down to the floor!” I’ve hated my belly for 33 years because of that comment.

#50

I’m going to take this in a different direction but compliments on my hands (look and feel). It’s kind of an unusual compliment to get in general but particularly how often it comes from strangers.

#51

My husband told me I had nice legs once 3 years ago and I still think about it.

#52

A boy in high school told me I have “pancake hands”. Idk what that even means.

#53

My family has told me I have nice full eyebrows, but once in 7th grade a girl looked at me and asked “oh did you have a shaving accident?” pointing at the end of my eyebrow. It has a slightly uneven dip as the hair thins out. I never noticed my eyebrows nor thought about shaving them until that point. She laughed thinking it was a silly mistake, not meaning any harm. I can’t look at my eyebrows the same anymore. I can never unsee it.

#54

"you look prettier with some weight", I've always been incredibly insecure and wanting to change things about how I look, this comment made me feel like no matter what I did or didn't do was good enough.

#55

A drunk guy at a party in uni told me that it was a good thing I had a chubby face because it stopped me appearing anorexic. I've grown out of that late teen gangly phase but I learnt that my face is just the first place I show any weight gain. For my body to be in a healthly place, I have to accept the full face and slight double chin. Reality of a recessive chin. I've never like how my face looked since though, genuinely repulses me.

#56

Immediately after birth in the nincu the nurse was looking back and forth and baby and me. And said oh yea I guess he has weird ears like you. I never thought my ears were weird. What a strange thing to say to someone immediately after birth when holding baby for the first time.

“They Can Stuff Their Mouths With Potatoes!”: Audacious 85YO Gives Right-Wing Pharmacies A Piece Of Her Mind

Mantas Kačerauskas — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 03:07:32 +0000

Often, many of us grow up listening to fascinating stories from our grandparents. Some are funny, some are dramatic, and some sound so unbelievable that they could easily be the plot of a movie. There are the classic tales about walking miles to school, making do without modern technology, or growing up in a world that looked completely different from the one we know today. No matter what the story is about, there’s something special about hearing firsthand accounts of the challenges, victories, and experiences that shaped the people who came before us.

For one woman, however, her grandmother’s story is about much more than nostalgia. It’s a story of courage, determination, and standing up for what she believed was right. The woman shared how her grandmother became an advocate for women’s rights at a time when many people were afraid to speak up. According to the family, she visited more than 400 stores, educating pharmacies about the importance of allowing women to make decisions about their own bodies and futures. Keep reading to discover the remarkable story of a woman who refused to stay silent and left a lasting impact on those around her.

Many people grow up viewing their grandparents as superheroes

Image credits: Colin Lloyd / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

But this person’s grandma is actually out on the streets advocating for women’s rights

Image credits: aleksandarlittlewolf / Magnific (not the actual photo)

Image credits: halfpoint / Envato (not the actual photo)

Image credits: Liv_hanna

Access to morning-after pills can be especially important for women and teenagers who need timely options after unexpected situations

“Don’t wear that.” “Don’t stay out so late.” “Don’t talk like that.” If you’ve heard some version of these phrases more times than you can count, there’s a good chance you’re a woman. For generations, women around the world have faced rules, expectations, and limitations that often didn’t apply to men. Whether it was restrictions on education, careers, voting rights, clothing choices, or decisions about their own bodies, women have repeatedly had to fight for freedoms many people now take for granted. While tremendous progress has been made over the years, many of these conversations continue today. The history of women’s rights is filled with individuals who challenged social norms and pushed for change. Their efforts helped create opportunities that benefit millions of women today. And as this story shows, some of those advocates made a difference one conversation at a time.

One issue that has sparked debate for decades is access to emergency contraception, often known as the morning-after pill. For many years, obtaining emergency contraception was far more difficult than it is today. Part of the controversy stemmed from widespread confusion between emergency contraception and abortion. In reality, the morning-after pill works by delaying or preventing ovulation and does not terminate an existing pregnancy. However, misconceptions about how it works contributed to significant stigma surrounding its use. Many people incorrectly viewed it through the lens of larger political and moral debates, making open discussions difficult. As a result, some women felt embarrassed or reluctant to seek it out even when they needed it. Misunderstanding often creates barriers, and emergency contraception was no exception. Education has played a key role in helping people better understand its purpose and function.

Beyond misinformation, several other factors have historically limited access to emergency contraception. Religious beliefs, political ideologies, cultural attitudes, and restrictive regulations have all influenced how easily people could obtain it. In some places, women faced age restrictions, prescription requirements, or social judgment when seeking emergency contraception. Yet healthcare experts continue to emphasize that timely access can be incredibly important.

Kelly Cleland, Executive Director of the American Society for Emergency Contraception, highlighted this importance in an interview with The Progressive. She explained, “Any delays in accessing EC can mean the difference between becoming pregnant and preventing pregnancy.” Her statement underscores one of the most important aspects of emergency contraception: timing matters. Unlike many other medications, emergency contraception becomes less effective the longer a person has to wait. Even short delays caused by transportation issues, pharmacy restrictions, or administrative barriers can reduce its effectiveness. This is why many healthcare advocates support making it easily and quickly accessible. When people are already dealing with stress and uncertainty, additional obstacles can make an already difficult situation even harder. Ensuring prompt access allows individuals to make timely healthcare decisions for themselves.

A woman should be able to make informed decisions about her own body, health, and future without unnecessary barriers or stigma

Cleland also emphasized that barriers can be especially difficult for younger people. “This is especially important for teenagers,” she noted. “They are usually already stressed out because they had unprotected intercourse or were assaulted, and having some pharmacist force them to jump through hoops, show an ID, and ask for the pills out loud, makes everything so much worse.” Teenagers often face unique challenges when seeking healthcare, including concerns about privacy, transportation, judgment, and lack of information. For someone already experiencing anxiety or fear, additional scrutiny can discourage them from seeking help altogether. Healthcare professionals and advocates argue that compassionate, accessible care is critical in these situations. Reducing unnecessary barriers can help ensure that people receive support when they need it most.

Deborah Evans, a pharmacist with more than 30 years of experience, echoed similar sentiments in an interview with EllaOne. She pointed out that hormonal emergency contraception has been available in the United Kingdom for nearly four decades and has provided an important option for women and people with uteruses. As both a healthcare professional and a mother, she expressed appreciation for having another option available to help people manage their reproductive health. Evans described the introduction of emergency contraception through pharmacies as a landmark moment in women’s healthcare. Easy, walk-in access helped give women more autonomy and control over decisions affecting their own bodies. For many advocates, that accessibility represented a significant step forward in reproductive healthcare.

Today, access to emergency contraception has improved in many countries, although availability still varies depending on local laws and regulations. In some places, it can be purchased directly from pharmacies without a prescription, while other regions continue to impose restrictions. Healthcare experts generally agree that providing accurate information and timely access allows people to make informed decisions about their reproductive health. Increased public awareness has also helped reduce some of the stigma that once surrounded emergency contraception. While debates continue in certain areas, many healthcare organizations view it as an important component of reproductive healthcare. Education, accessibility, and informed choice remain central themes in these discussions. Ultimately, ensuring people understand their options empowers them to make decisions that are best for their own circumstances.

Coming back to this particular story, the 85-year-old woman showed remarkable determination by standing up for a cause she believed in. Regardless of how challenging her views may have been at the time, she was willing to spend time educating others and advocating for what she felt was an important issue. Fighting for greater awareness, access, and personal choice takes courage, especially when facing opposition. Her story serves as a reminder that social change is often driven by people who are willing to speak up and take action. Sometimes, those efforts begin with something as simple as having conversations. What are your thoughts on her story, Pandas? Do you think individual activism can make a meaningful difference in shaping society over time?

Readers absolutely loved the story, and the author joined in on the conversation in the comments section

Unemployed Man Trapped In An AI Echo Chamber While Wife Tries To Keep Up With Reality Alone

Laura Radavičiūtė — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 03:06:39 +0000

Excessive use of AI is becoming a new worry for people. As of last year, 57% of Americans said they use artificial intelligence tools “constantly or about once a day. In some couples and families, people are noticing that their partners might be relying on AI a tad too much and foregoing human interactions in favor of chatbots.

This wife worried her husband might be going into AI psychosis after being unemployed for seven months and spending all his time with his AI agent “Max.” While she was working two jobs, he was getting up at 6 p.m. and spending his nights working on his AI endeavors. The wife finally reached a breaking point and decided to ask for advice online.

A wife was worried that her husband might be going into AI psychosis

Image credits: Mikhail Nilov / Pexels (not the actual photo)

After seven months of unemployment, he spent almost every waking minute chatting with his AI agent “Max”

Image credits: Matheus Bertelli / Pexels (not the actual photo)

Image credits: Gustavo Fring / Pexels (not the actual photo)

Image credits: Purple-Factor-3743

“He does dishes and handles the trash, but the house is never filthy,” the wife clarified in the comments

Nevertheless, many commenters saw his behavior as worrying, pointing out his unhealthy dependance

42 Examples Of Gen Alpha Showing Concerning Levels Of Illiteracy, Shared By Teachers

Gabija Palšytė — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 03:02:26 +0000

As one of the first generators to grow up with social media as a fact of life from the moment they were born, Gen Alpha have recently come under some scrutiny over some reports that they don’t engage with text or algebra the way previous generations did. But is there any truth to this?

Someone asked “Teachers, Is the “Gen Alpha can't read (write, or do math, etc)" crisis real? If so, how bad is it?” and they weighed in with their experiences. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote the most interesting responses and be sure to add your own thoughts and observations to the comments down below.

#1

I've been teaching high school English for nearly a decade. It's bad. I go home and cry on nearly a weekly basis. Granted, I work in the toughest, poorest high school in 100 miles, but it shouldn't be like it is.

This is the first year the MAJORITY of my class cheated on their first essays. I had to go back to timed, paper and pencil essays for the rest of the year. It STILL took most of them 5 full class periods to write 5 paragraphs, ON AN ARTICLE WE HAD ALREADY ANALYZED TOGETHER, *with* multiple scaffolds. (I gave them sentence frames for their thesis, and they were allowed to use a notebook we made together that shows how each paragraph should be structured, sentence by sentence) Even with those tools, it took MOST of my 10th graders 5 full days to write 5 paragraphs. I STILL had a kid crash out and tell me I didn't give them enough time. I STILL had 25% of the overall class not pass the final.

It was also the first year a kid yelled "We don't care about your books, Miss!" while I was in front of the class presenting books they might be interested in for their book reviews. Even the most capable and the most bright kids side-stepped my attempts to get them to read anything at all. Almost all of them cheated on the book review they had to write. It was a major grade and I just dropped it from the grade book.

I tried to get very honest with them about what this is all going to mean for their future but when I did, I was reported to my boss-for the first time ever-by a group of kids. I had to go in and explain that I had given them a quote about literacy for them to write about, and I had to bring all the receipts.

I got into teaching because while I was a big reader as a kid, I hated school. I wanted to help kids and be someone in the school system who empowers children, rather than enjoys having power over children-there are plenty of those kinds of folks in school, too. I wanted to be one of the good ones.

But right now my job is the most difficult part of my life. I don't know if I can do this until retirement. Our school has experienced waves of cuts. We don't have enough custodians, we don't have enough bus drivers, and we don't have enough security. I have to stand out in the halls and tell kids to put their phones away and get to class every day during my prep period, and every day I get cussed at multiple times. There are no consequences and there are no real expectations that kids have any academic discipline or stamina.

I think unless we get rid of ALL screens, the 1-to-1 Chromebooks, the phones, we are going to lose an entire generation of people who will live Wall-E style. Seriously, I can't stress enough how damaged these kids are, and they don't know it because they don't have anything to compare it to. No one but school staff sees it, because we're the ones dealing with the entire collective of young people day in and day out. They don't even bother to get to know their teachers' names. They are THAT buried into their phones all the time. They don't bother to get to know their classmates, 90% of the student body doesn't go to football games or dances or prom. The social aspects of school have been almost entirely gutted by online culture. Even at assemblies they mostly ignore what is going on in favor of staring at their screens.

As a society, we need to regulate it and DEFINITELY regulate AI, or we may very seriously lose the country for good. We simply won't have informed voters who know how to stave off political or financial propaganda.

The more I write here, the more upset I feel. I need to unplug and go stand in my garden awhile. .

#2

Eh, depends on where you teach. I went from a low income school, where most students were 2-3 grade levels behind, to a private school last year. My students are all reading and writing at a high school level in 6th grade.

The difference (in my opinion) is education level of the parents, which is also tied into socioeconomic factors. Parents have more time (flexible jobs, paid time off) to spend with their children. As well as access to extracurricular activities.

It’s an unacceptable (to me) inequality in 2026- the parents of the students at my old school don’t love their kids any less, the cards are stacked against them.

#3

I’m a high school teacher. Specifically AP and regular level physics. Been at it for 15 years now.

I’m not teaching alpha yet, but I’m starting to wrap up the last parts of Z.

My perspective is interesting because I’m still interacting with the top kids of each group, but also each “level” of kids all the way down to the bottom.

The very top kids are about the same as they ever were, and potentially even more impressive than before. More access to technology and resources have done wonders. My biggest worry for this group is that college admissions are now completely broken and they don’t always get into great colleges.

The run of the mill AP/honors kids have sort of gotten worse, but not by that much. COVID hit them in the fundamentals, cheating is more rampant because of easy it is, and culturally there’s less pride in “overachieving” so it doesn’t happen as often. These kids are perfectly content doing the bare minimum and seem to lack internal true motivation.

HOWEVER, the run of the mill non honors kids have gotten really bad. Very low tolerance for working hard, very short attention span, very short stamina for active listening. This is the brainrotted/fried dopamine group. Blame the screens, the social media, and the parenting for this group. It’s the group that is the most worrying because a decade ago, I’d estimate that maybe 10-20% of kids at a school are like this, and now it’s probably 40-50% of each graduating class. THIS IS NOT THE GROUP that viral TikTok’s are talking about with being illiterate and not able to do math, but it’s the group I’m most concerned with. When I hear about the Gen Z stare and the general inability for minimum wage workers to do their jobs, I immediately recognize that it’s the same kids in this category, just a few years older, and they still haven’t made any progress. They don’t care, they’re AFRAID to look like they care, they seem depressed as a cultural baseline, they’re super socially awkward, and they don’t seem to feel like they need to change any of this. They can do basic math, but they’re far below what kids in this category were able to do 10 years ago. They can read, but their comprehension and analysis of it is low. They can write, but their writing is filled with errors and their thoughts seem incoherent or simple.

Then there’s of course the bottom 10-20% kids (excluding the special ed/severe/moderate learning disability kids). This is what the viral videos are about and it’s not an exaggeration. They can’t read, write, or do very basic math like multiplication or division as a 17 year old. When they read, it’s obvious that they are just looking at some of the letters and then guessing, and it’s obvious that they aren’t processing it while they say the words out loud. They write like 1st graders at the age of 17. If they have to add even basic numbers together, they’re still using their fingers. They seem to actively think school is stupid and that they’re not the problem at all. These kids existed 10 years ago, but there weren’t that many kids. In a class of 40, maybe 1 or 2 were like this. Now it’s like 4-6 kids in each class.

Now, I’m at a “good” school. Top 10% type of school in an affluent state, serving a moderately affluent suburban community. I believe the teachers who are teaching the inner city/rural communities where their entire class can’t read/write/do math. I don’t think they are exaggerating. Those kids do exist and it seems that it’s been a consistent trend my entire career that it’s heading in this direction.

#4

I work at a library. The good news: I see many families there from varying socioeconomic backgrounds. The common thread is their parents are making the effort and leading by example.

Now onto what I see anecdotally. Many older kids and teens have a gap between the mechanics of reading and the actual real world component. If you ask them to fill out a form, they don’t understand how to format a street address (or what their own address even is — crazy), they fill out the wrong lines with the wrong information, too. Partly it’s because they don’t know what phrases like “zip code” mean, partly because they just zone out at the first sight of a challenge. It’s like they stopped learning/progressing beyond a certain point.

They do not have the mental endurance to read instructions and follow them when it comes to novel experiences. For example, they go to website with a list of instructions…they exclaim it’s all too confusing and ask how to do the thing. Only for me, who also has never seen this page to glance at the same instruction and figure it out in a couple of minutes. It’s actually very similar to dealing with the boomer population.

This is the issue with literacy. It’s not just being able to identify a bunch of words, it’s being able to utilize them, decipher context clues, etc. So many adults are walking around who can read words, but cannot comprehend or take action on documents that will affect their lives.

ETA: my goal was not to send people into an existential crisis. As I said I see kids here everyday who devour books and are brilliant.

I was simply answering the question with some of my personal experiences of what seems to be sticking out as unusual. For example, teenagers not knowing their home address. And yes, the literacy issue is far beyond kids. It’s something we have been grappling with in the US for quite a while.

#5

Teacher in Sweden and it's pretty freaking bad here too. Parents have failed their kids by not having them read more at a young age, instead they gave them phones and social media. We the teachers can see that the kids that aren't always on their phones perform, in general, WAY better.

#6

Elementary principal here. It is bad.
Parts of the issues:
For the last five years, the only teachers I have been able to hire were those barely in a teaching program. It’s a challenging job even with the degree, but it’s near impossible without the education OR experience. They’ve been skipping their student teaching due to this. Bright side - this year was a high turnover year and all the teachers I have hired are fully licensed and with experience. I’m in a more rural area, but I have lived in various states across the US and hear similar issues in those states as well.

Parents. Parents. We are no longer professionals in their minds. I will call home, explain the investigation I’ve conducted and the conclusion. Nope, not my kid. He would never. Ma’am, I have him on video and with 3 witnesses. They will hold them out of school to avoid ISS, take them for ice cream, for “standing up to a bully.” They think every kid that looks at their kid wrong is a bully. Bullies are still in existence, and it’s challenging to deal with those situations as an administrator, but they aren’t all bullies, I promise. Sometimes it’s just a kid who is mean to everyone and I am trying my best to get a handle on it.

Laws. In special education, there are so many laws our hands are tied in most, if not all, cases. Sometimes kids hit, bite, kick, and sometimes that is toward adults. We have to put hands on kids to keep us and others safe. Yes, I get it. They are children. And some of those children kick, spit, threaten, pull hair, climb walls, turn over furniture. If I mess it up, I’m suddenly an educator with a case on my record. Who wants a career ending risk like that hanging over them? And also, there are a ton of crazy teachers out there who should NEVER put hands on kids. So I also get it.

Society. School is no longer school. It’s the only way some of our parents can work. It’s become daycare. We really need more universal supports like pre-k for all, which would help prepare students for school as well as help parents not have to afford an entire mortgage payment for daycare.

I’d share more but it’s summer break and my cortisol levels have been high for 220 days so I am going to zone out a bit longer.

#7

Its not even that. They have the virtual library of Alexandria on the palm of their hands and when i told them to google it, they asked me, how?

#8

Not a teacher, but I find it odd my middle school kid's reading class listens to the audiobook, rather than, you know, reading.

#9

It’s pretty freaking bad. I always go back to the instance where a junior in my class was giving a presentation and couldn’t read the word “thought”.

#10

As a teacher of 13 years in middle school reading/language arts, short answer is yes.

A LOT of things have gone into this not just covid. Kids aren't forced to read to alleviate boredom or learn like previous generations. Smart phones and tablets from a young age have eroded attention spans and boredom tolerance. I can't compete w tiktok or YouTube and shouldn't be expected to.

Parents can't or don't want to be involved in their kids education, don't value it bc they got picked on/weren't smart but turned out ok/teachers are indoctrination kids.

All of the standards/skills that used to be in 2nd grade have been pushed into K. K is no longer socialization and fine motor skills w phonics exposure, it's expecting them to be full reading by mid year which isn't developmentally appropriate. Until a few years ago elementary wasnt teaching phonics so kids dont have tools to decode unfamiliar words and they definitely dont care enough to look it up. Things we did regularly like weekly vocab, themed units have gone away entirely.

If you took a middle/high level reading test you might not pass; the reading snippets sometimes require background knowledge students might not have, I don't always agree w the answers and I have a masters. Curriculum is usually written by one of the major publishers, is absolutely trash that everyone hates, but has to be followed due to state mandates for "high quality materials of instruction". Novels are usually only used in advanced classes in favor of articles and snippets.

It used to be we'd have several sections of honors/advanced classes; now we're lucky to fill 2 sections in a grade level. We have kids in high school working on phonics and they just get passed along through middle school bc of metrics and some old study in the name of equity.

I'm sure there's more but it's summer and this post is eating my pool time.

#11

I worked in a library for a few years. The highschoolers would come in with the “my teacher said I can use any book for the project” and just stare at me. I’d ask them what they like to read they say they don’t. I ask if they like any show or movie and they’d name one. Here would be the conversation:

Ok so you’ve watched fantasy show through like 20 times. Do you like fantasy?

What’s fantasy.

Like magic? Elves? Creatures?

What does that have to do with show?

Literally the entire show? Like the main character does magic constantly? And is friends with magical creature?

Oh I didn’t know that.

What do you know about it?

Uhhh.

I thought you watched it??

Yeah I’ve watched it on streaming like 20 times.

Ok how about I just get you a book similar to it.

Why?

So you enjoy it because you like the story?

I do?

You’ve watched it 20 times!!!!

#12

Yesterday I bought something with cash, and not only could the cashier not calculate the change, she had to ask her older coworker which coins were which.

#13

My son is in kindergarten and was having issues sounding out words. The issue was that he couldn't sound out words at all. Show him a word, and he would guess a different word that didn't even start with the same letter.

Turned out, they weren't teaching the kids phonics, they were just doing sight words. So the kids only knew the words on their lists. They called in some high paid expert who said "yeah kids need phonics" and they changed it, but the school has been open for three years, I feel bad for the kids who had that foundation for 1-3 years already. My son went from being below level to above level in reading.

#14

Teacher for the last 15 years. Taught in a title 1 school for a decade and a fancy suburban school for the last five years.

It’s not a Gen Alpha crisis it’s a poverty crisis. It’s just much easier to blame kids and iPads than the systemic problems that got us here.

Teaching in my high poverty school all of the statements on this thread were true. High schoolers could barely read or do math. I regularly had 17 year olds who had never read a chapter book in their entire lives.

Teaching 45 minutes away in a fancy suburban school my students are all high scoring, thoughtful, and emotionally well rounded.

When you don’t grow up with both parents working 70 hours a week in minimum wage and constant threats to your housing, food insecurity and violence, turns out you’re great at school.

We burned down the middle class, shifted the entire tax burden of education onto property taxes and gave huge tax cuts to businesses that used to pay for them. Then we blame iPads for why kids can’t read.

#15

I had a university student who didn't understand that 50% was the same as 1/2.

#16

I teach Pre-K (4.5-5yo getting ready for kindergarten) and I am genuinely worried for my current group of kids. To give an example, the other day we were doing an open ended craft where they had to make trees out of materials. One boy looked at me and asked how to do the craft I told him to use his imagination! He then looks me in the eyes and goes "how do I do that?". I've also realized that a lot of these kids don't know how to handle boredom or how to play by themselves. So it's not just an academic thing, its a social-emotional thing as well.

#17

In first year college chemistry we gave students the same exam in 2023 that we gave in 2015. The average went from 73% to 35%.

When I was teaching these classes I notice kids put up their hands and ask for help before they have even bothered to read their worksheets. .

#18

I am not a teacher, but I do have a job in government working with a lot young kids.

It’s bad. Exceptionally bad.

I have had a 12 year old kids come to swim that walk up to the desk with a phone and just hand the phone to me, because they don’t understand how to pay for admission and assume the phone will just… do it for them. I have had a 16 year old dump eight $1 bills on my desk because he couldn’t count to three to pay for a $3 admission. I’ve had a 14 year old that injured his ankle need to sign an incident report ask me how to “draw the letter a” because they forgot how to spell “Matt”, his own name. I have witnessed numerous teens not be able to read the “Pool is closed on X/Y” with the date, and they didn’t understand how to interpret the numbers let alone know a 4 would represent April.

It’s crazy bad.

#19

As a Gen Z (I'm 26), we had to spend a whole class period in high school learning how to tell time on a clock and doing elementary worksheets because most students in the class didn't know how... I can only assume it's gotten worse since then, unfortunately 😬.

#20

I personally know many parents who are not teaching their grade school kids and lower how to read or do anything.

#21

I’m a Kindergarten and 1st Grade teacher. I constantly tell parents that the best thing they can do for early literacy is to read to/with their kids every night, and to have real conversations with their child, where they ask them questions, and get them to think about their world and how things work.

Then I’ll have parents clearly blow that off and ask me if I can just print them some worksheets for their kid to do.

So, you just want your kid occupied and out of your hair? Got it. I won’t be doing that. Read with your kid and talk to your kid.

#22

The college I went to added two levels of remedial courses that didn't previously exist for math

Previously students wouldve been entirely rejected from the program if they couldn't meet the entry level math requirement, now they're deferred to what's effectively a "remedical year". They wouldn't be doing this is there were enough incoming students with sufficient knowledge.

#23

I teach high school (from freshman to seniors).

Obviously it depends from kid to kid, but as a general trend, it's pretty bad. Even just getting them to read a set of directions can be like pulling teeth.

"What do I do next?"

"What did you just do?"

(describes step 4)

"Alright, then what does step 5 say?"

"I don't know."

"Well... read it?"

(they try and read it)

"I still don't get it."

God forbid I ask them to read a section of a textbook or an article longer than two paragraphs. Even with guiding questions, it's a real struggle for them.

Similarly, but not nearly as talked about, I've noticed a trend as a science teacher that kids have no *spatial* skills as well. Like, I'm asking 18 years olds to make a free swinging pendulum and it takes them 2 hours to figure it out (I don't necessarily want to just tell them *how* because the struggle is their brains actually starting to learn these skills). I ask 15/16 year olds to make a ramp for a ball giving them boxes and cardboard and it's a big struggle.

Young children aren't playing with or building with blocks or toys they hold in their hands, many things that you used to have to open or close yourself are automatized (doors to buildings, vans, etc) and it's stunting their ability to not only visualize things and problem solve in a 3D manner, but instinctually understand things like momentum and forces (e.g. when a sliding door didn't close all the way, they don't have the instinct to push it *faster*. They just keep pushing it confused why it won't close).

#24

Every teacher I know tells me kids have no basic concept of right or wrong and no respect for authority. Like a kid will just sit on their desk with their phone out and the teacher will tell them to put it away and the kid will be like "why?" And not in an edgy contrarian way but in a genuine "I don't understand why" way. And they just don't listen to teachers and when the teachers speak to the parents the parents either go full Karen "you don't tell my kid what to do" or they basically admit that they don't listen to them either and they're just out of control.

This is in stark contrast with just a few years ago when teachers and parents were generally a united front and kids listened to them or at the very least understood why something was wrong even if they didn't care for it.

#25

Yes, it really is a crisis. They depend on autocorrect so much on their phones, spelling is atrocious. Handwriting is actual chicken scratch. They’re glued to their devices with zero questions about what the AI tells them is correct.

Some schools in California are working on banning screens and switching back to pen and paper. I think it’s the only way forward to fixing education.

#26

I’m not a teacher but I can see what other people in my college humanities class post. We’re absolutely doomed. 22 y/o with the hand writing of a 3rd grader.

ETA: I have bad handwriting, and what I’m seeing is absolutely atrocious. Paired with sentences like “I like dogs bcause they are dogs” type sentences. .

#27

The system has many ways to hide it. Grade inflation, grade bracketing, "rounding up", pushing them through, fudging the numbers, etc. Some of these are motivated by trying to meet funding requirements, some by avoiding liabilty created by legislative requirements and hyper-litigious parents.

A friend of mine who homeschooled most of his children sent his youngest to the public high school at which I work, per his child's wishes. He was surprised that over her freshman year she read one book in class, while her homeschool cohort read 14.

#28

My wife works at a bookstore/coffee shop and they hire highschool kids during the summer. She keeps telling me about this highschool kid who cannot make change, with a computer. Like, the computer tells him the correct change, he just can't count it..

#29

Not a teacher but I hire high schoolers at my place of work. I'm seeing kids use "here" instead of "hear" or something and it's absolutely insane.
It used to be limited to your/you're and there/their/they're. Now it seems like no homonyms are safe.

#30

Kids can’t even handle movie day. That’s how cooked their attention span is.

#31

Im a tutor and the things I see are concerning. One of the biggest concerns is that high-school students cannot understand poetry. Figurative language makes no sense to them. They do not know how to think critically.

#32

I'm a professor and teach intro economics at a mid-tier university. I would estimate the percentage of students who can multiply 17 by 3 in their heads to be about 15%. I once had a student argue that you can't make a number bigger by dividing it with another number (a decimal below 1) because "that's not how math works". I also teach a (upper level) data analysis class, and a student once asked me "What do you mean by right-click?".

Above all, the tragic part is the apathy. Most students don't even care enough to try and cheat.

#33

I had to rework a unit in which the whole path of the lesson was geared toward them eventually writing a review of their favourite book, after chatting about their favourite book and doing a reading activity about someone else's favourite book.

Problem was, they couldn't even get past the chatting stage. They didn't know any books. So I switched it to films. They didn't even know any films. All they knew was tiktokers and youtubers. At least they knew Doraemon and a handful of cartoons, so I made it write about the best TV programme you've ever seen

One of them started his essay with "the best programme I've seen is news." .

#34

Soon to be retired teacher here… it’s more than just a crisis, it’s an existential crisis right now.

Kids with a level of self entitlement that is beyond measure… parents who a) think their kids can do no wrong and feed into that self entitlement, b) are too busy just trying to survive today’s economy that they’re working multiple jobs to keep kids fed/housed that they’re don’t have time to monitor their kids, c) parents who should have never had kids in the first place for a variety of reasons… building administration that is terrified of the Stupidintendent in charge so that they’ll cook the books to make it seem like nothing is wrong… Stupidintendents who only care about “test scores” so that they can keep their extremely cushy jobs… and politicians who think they know better than the actual front line teachers who are in in the trenches day in and day out coming down with ridiculous mandates/laws that are practically unenforceable but hold us accountable to them anyway with a threat to our careers if we don’t follow their stupid rules.

All the while, everything is our fault?!? And for all you jerks out there that will respond about having summers off, etc… the vast majority of us go get summer jobs because a) don’t get paid for summer vacation and b) we don’t make enough to save enough to get through the summer without working because of the economy and just how much everything costs, especially nowadays! Let’s not talk about all the unpaid overtime we do because we don’t get enough time to take care of it during the day because of all the nonsense listed above

You ever see the documentary “Idiocracy” starring Luke Wilson? Yup… we’re heading there faster than it took me to type this out. And it seems like most of the USA is happy that it’s going to happen.

It’s a shame because there are really great kids out there that deserve so much better than to be stuck in a classroom full of kids that are walking, talking cases for retroactive abortion.

So yes, unless the USA actually starts to value what teachers try and do on a daily basis…this country is well and truly doomed.

#35

The assumption that kids can use a computer needs to be forgotten. Kids are growing up with iPads and no family desktop, so I’ve got 13 year olds turning up to class with a shiny new laptop and they don’t know how to create files, save to specific locations, drag and drop, transfer files to another drive or set out a word document.

#36

You guys have to understand that it’s not just the reading and writing. The reading and writing is just mentioned to much because it’s a definitive, objective metric.

As a teacher I can also tell you that they’re also terrible people that don’t know how to treat others whatsoever.

#37

Having a Gen Alpha kid, I can definitely say the issue is real. We think it's to do with how the learning process has changed so much from when we were little. The kids aren't taught to memorize their basic math tables (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) which is the foundation for all the other math concepts. I remember having to make our own flash cards in elementary as part of the learning so that for an entire school year we were focused on a particular math type. After seeing my youngest's school lessons over the years, the curriculum tries to cover all the maths all at once, introducing algebra and other concepts so that unfortunately the basics are glossed over instead of being focused on. And all of the other subjects are all over the place too. My school system had vocabulary all the way up through high school with a new word/definition list every week and a quiz every Friday. We learned the parts of speech, how to diagram sentences, synonyms, homonyms and all that. I had an in-law who was a teacher and a darn good one at that, but she was talking to me about the learning program they were introducing and it was more about keeping the kids' interest than really filling their minds with information. I understand wanting to keep the kids' focus but for some stuff you just have to sit down and write stuff out multiple times and ways instead of having dance time.

I will also add that the teachers are also burdened with the administrative side of things, always having to be focused on numbers instead of being able to relax and work with each of their kids. Since the administration pressures the teachers to keep test scores up and to pass every kid, the teachers tend to just do what they can to make sure that happens, again forcing them to artificially bump a kid up when they're not actually ready.

#38

Yes. As an education para, these kids have regressed so much. And they don’t want to learn or to be there. Their parents don’t hold any accountability, and don’t push their kids to learn or to study.

I hate to say it, but I feel like the phones and social media has a lot to do with it. It’s literally rotting their brains. Along with COVID and home classrooms of course. Society and learning slid back so much.

#39

I teach middle school. They can't tell time. They don't know the names or values of coins. Very few know their times tables. If presented with a problem like 20-18, they need to write it down.

Of course they're not all like that, but after 27 years of teaching, the percentage of helpless students is MUCH higher than it used to be.

#40

I am a high school math teacher, this comment will probably be buried under all the "not a teacher, but yes" comments.

When solving anything with call and response...
Me: "and what is 1× __" or "what is 0 × __"
Class: *crickets*
Me: *sigh* "you all have calculators..."
Class: *4 kids pick up the calculator, ask again what I want to know from them, and plug it in. The rest exist in their mental voids.*

They struggle to pass Algebra because they dont have their multiplication tables memorized. They dont know number families. They need to legitimately work hard at GCF/LCM. They can't mentally add and subtract numbers. They can't even fathom long division. Half their parents dont see the value in an education, the other half are too busy on their phones and social media to be any sort of a role model.

Granted, I teach outside of a major city on the east coast in a very transient neighborhood, students come from multiple run down areas to live in ours briefly. The amount of halfway houses in my district is actually insane.

On the other hand, I tutor a 6th grader weekly in a suburb closer to where I live and she gives me so much hope for society. She has a drive to learn, loves long division, can reduce fractions mentally, and all the things my high schoolers mentally quit over. She struggles with spelling and reading, but has made huge strides over the past 2 years and is ahead, again, of many of my high school students.

Parents need to step up. Don't buy them phones or tablets. Read with them. Encourage them to spent large amounts of time outdoors playing. Study and practice mental math with them. Or, guaranteed, they are going to be dumber than you.

#41

High School teacher.

Yes.

Students failing a class is by no means uncommon, it happens and there are supports to help with that.

Students should not be failing because they lack the fundamental skills necessary to survive *high school*. What I mean by that is they are failing classes because they cannot read or write full stop.

Some of the questions I have had alone just this year:

* What does "reverse" mean? I've never seen that word.

* I want to help clean up algay in the ocean.

* This is an example of hyperbowl

Other issues include:

* Students who cannot add basic fractions in high school.

* Students who don't know how to take a note. I mean they literally have nothing in their bag and when I am teaching, they will literally sit there staring at me as if this knowledge will just absorb into them via osmosis.

* Students who are genuinely shocked that I do not allow repeats for assignments I already cannot give deadlines for. In that they will hand in trash to me, I give them the failing grade and then they go "so I can do it again"

* Students take 2 weeks to write *a paragraph* in grade 11 and 12. These are not outliers either, this is the majority.

* Students handing in badly written tasks and asking if I think they will do well on it. I'm genuinely serious in that they are handing in sketches to me that have *none* of my checklisted items on it, I give them a literal checklist to check off their work and they will *still* not do it.

* I have grade 9 students who are *using their finger* to read my assignments.

* I have kids who would struggle reading even *half* of this and *most* would not even read up to this point.

So when I see a question of "is this crisis real" and "how bad is it?"

Yes it is real.

Yes it is bad.

Boomers often joked about how millennials and the next generation would be doomed because we don't know how to do anything.

I have kids that take *3 days* to tighten 2 bolts in auto class. Another teacher had to ban two of his classes from his actual auto shop because they could not pass the safety test.

Why?

Because they literally couldn't understand the question.

We are so colossally doomed in the next 20 years, I cannot even joke. Parents please reinforce with your children to read and write and do basic math.

My job as a teacher is to teach, your job is to reinforce what we do at school through homework and modeling.

#42

My step-son just graduated high school. He has *never* read a book. Never. Not a single one. Not even Dr. Seuss. Nothing.

Schools never assigned readings and almost every paper he had to "write" was a group project that the team leader would essentially write themselves.

On the other hand, his half-sister started reading a little early, finished all the Harry Potter books by age 8, and loves writing.

It's a combination of lazy parenting and schools not assigning proper reading guidance, IMO. .

“American Flags. Everywhere”: 79 Things In The US That Left Tourists Baffled

Mindaugas Balčiauskas — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 03:00:55 +0000

Landing in the United States for the first time is a lot to take in, no matter where you are coming from.

When non-Americans were asked to list the weirdest things they’ve experienced, these common suspects popped up online: the aggressive tipping culture, the mystery math of sales tax, and the bizarre public bathroom stalls.

The conversation has reached a fever pitch lately. With the FIFA World Cup drawing a fresh wave of international fans, many newcomers are expressing their confusion and surprise across Reddit.

But the list isn’t all bad. Tourists are also discovering the sudden warmth of the American stranger, and the traditions that make this country so uniquely charming.

Whether you’re trying to decode American life or a local who wants to see their country through fresh eyes, we’ve rounded up the internet’s most honest confessions. Here is what it’s actually like to experience America for the first time.

#1

We took our Saudi exchange student to the State Fair and the funnel cake was THE THING. He wanted video and to talk to the guy who made them... he was enamored.

#2

Free refills. I thought people were joking.

#3

Quoting my Japanese cousin who came to visit in Houston, TX: I thought those giant trucks were only in movies. Everyone drives them here.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup was supposed to bring the world to America’s doorstep. According to industry estimates, over a million international visitors were expected to pour into host cities, dropping a collective $6.4 billion and spending close to $5,000 each.

But high airfares, and visa friction for travelers from Latin America, Africa, and Asia have kept the numbers below expectations.

As The Telegraph puts it, “the event might not be the once-in-a-generation tourism boom that Fifa’s Gianni Infantino and his ilk have been promising for much of the past four years.”

#4

In-laws from UK, sister in law from Norway. Visited us in US on the 4th of July one year. Turned on the Nathan's Famous hotdog eating contest. Wonderful mix of disgust, confusion, and awe on their faces.

#5

A couple of years ago I took my cousins from Naples on their first trip to America to Medieval Times because I thought it would be hilarious and it was. They had no idea what was going on, especially because they don’t speak English, but they loved it.

#6

The air conditioning. It was 35c outside and Antarctica inside.

The tourism slump isn’t just a World Cup problem though. The cracks were already there.

The US saw a 5.5% drop in foreign visits in 2025 compared to 2024, despite being the largest travel and tourism market in the world. Even as 80 million more people traveled internationally that year, many simply chose to go elsewhere.

#7

I saw two guys with cowboy hats on going through a drive through.... On horses.... I had no words and still don't.

#8

My ex was Finnish and she was so shocked when two random girls we passed complimented her outfit. She was like "why did they say that? what did they mean by that?" We just do that in the Midwest. That was the only time she was so confused she had to ask me about it. Complimenting strangers.

Experts believe that the US has larger issues as to why it still lags with international tourism, despite hosting the World Cup.

According to the US Travel Association, soaring costs for flights, gas, hotels, and food are actively forcing prospective visitors to rethink their trips.

Hard-line immigration crackdowns and safety concerns are also keeping some travelers away.

“To avoid losing its leadership position the US must invest in promoting its attractiveness, both in international markets and during the summer of football; change perception and position the US as a welcoming destination,” Gloria Guevara, president and CEO of World Travel and Tourism Council, said.

#9

My elderly grandparents from India came to visit and were walking around our mostly white suburban neighborhood. They came back stunned at the friendliness of Americans. They all said good morning and smiled as they passed. One car stopped near them and asked if they were tired and needed a ride home.

#10

Any tourist here reading this. You need to see if there's any state fairs on within your vacation period.

The food is an experience.

#11

Cars were massive. Highways were wide. I felt like the streets were empty (I’m used to crazy density!). The menus and prices did not include taxes, so the final bill is always a surprise. And the grocery stores had way too many options.

To add, other things I learned as a new immigrant:

- I had to learn what drywall was, first time visiting my MIL’s house. It apparently gets damaged so easily. A simply bump by the bench, a toy thrown by a child.. (Sorry, mom 😅). The internet wasn’t exaggerating with its paper-like quality. lol

- Floor heating is only for the rich.

- Fully cement houses are very hard to find and unaffordable. Apartments had paper for floors such that you can hear footsteps above. Had to learn city codes for more informed decisions, like at what height a building should be to have concrete floors. Windows aren’t an insulated as EU standards.

- Make sure your stovetop vents are actually connected to vents and don’t just recirculate air.

- People here buy and sell houses like it’s a competition vs staying in your ancestral home and keeping it within the family.

- Banking is outdated.

- You get billed 3 months later after your dental/healthcare appointments.

- Nothing is free except your dreams.

- Neighborhoods are so segregated, you can feel the divide between ethnicities.

- There’s usually just one “Main Street” that’s walkable. You have to drive everywhere, even in the city, due to inefficient public transport.

- Poor biking infrastructure.

- Most of everything is more expensive, so it doesn’t matter if you have a huge take-home salary on paper vs in other countries.

- Government is corrupt, but legally corrupt. Gerrymandering, lobbying, etc.

- There is insurance for everything, but your paid-for security is just an illusion because they will find reasons to NOT pay up.

- Lots of locals not seeing how poverty is tied to widening rich vs poor gap.

- Military respect is expected everywhere, like sporting events may set aside a quiet moment for veterans or whatever.

- Military recruitment ads only seen in poor neighborhoods.

- Tiers of hotels under Marriott and Hilton, etc. In other countries, their hotels are usually 5 star tiers. Here, there’s so many tiers. Foreigners should always check what they are getting in the trip package because their expectation of a Hilton stay is going to be way different in experience.

- Most airports need a face lift, and TSA is inefficient.

For the tourists who did come, America is delivering something no itinerary could have prepared them for.

The sticker shock hits first. Prices are higher than most visitors anticipated, and the tipping culture — expected on top of already steep bills — has left many fumbling at checkout screens.

In a survey, 90% reported that they would feel obliged to participate in tipping if they traveled to the US. On the other hand, 71% of non-Americans said that they do not experience pressure to tip when in their home countries.

But the surprises cut both ways. First-time visitors have been floored by the sheer size of everything from portions, roads, pickup trucks, to supermarkets. Some were charmed by the warmth of total strangers, the magic of a Buc-ee’s pit stop, and the variety of food joints.

#12

I have to admit even as a Canadian close to the border, once I started travelling to the US I found people very decent. Media portrays Americans sometimes in such a negative way....

The American government is VERY different than most of the American people.

#13

Added Tax. Why product say 5 dollar but cashier wants 550.

#14

Buc-ee's. We were driving down to Florida from NYC and were just looking for a quick snack and nothing could've prepared us for *that*. At some point the whole staff did some chant because a pork has been put on a board?? I don't even know. Really clean toilets though, and I enjoyed the jerky they had and the lime fudge.

Culture shock is a psychological response to the loss of familiar social cues. It’s a feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes.

“It’s easy to attribute culture shock to external causes i.e. how ‘different’ our new environment is, but the truth is that culture shock is more about internal factors like how big we perceive the culture gap to be and how effective our coping skills are,” says Dr. Nicola Cann, an educational psychologist.

#15

This is from the other perspective, but some years back I was in my small hometown in central Pennsylvania and a couch surfer from Bulgaria was staying at our house for a few nights. I decided to show him around town one afternoon and the most perplexed question he asked the whole trip was why they were playing country music absolutely everywhere.

#16

Australian here who has family in the US so I'm a pretty regular visitor. These are things that still weird me out:

Pharmaceutical ads on TV for conditions I've never heard of. They're just making new stuff up to sell pills right?

The arcane tipping system. You tip the person who brings you food but not the one who makes the food?

Fetishisation of the military. They must hear "thank you for your service" 100 times a day.

Prices not including tax. Americans say it's because each state has different taxes, but what's stopping an individual store including taxes in their price tags?

This is changing now but why the penny still exists.

Obsession with being a taxpayer. Every time someone is angry they shout "I'm a taxpayer!" Yeah everyone is you jerk.

#17

American flags. EVERYWHERE.

You would think reading Reddit or watching TikTok would prepare travelers, but research shows it doesn’t.

The shock usually follows a pattern. First comes the high where everything feels exciting and new. Then reality sets in, and the small frustrations start to pile up. After that, a quiet adjustment. And finally, acceptance.

Research shows that most visitors never make it past stage two on a short trip.

Experts believe that although not all people experience these stages with the same intensity or at the same time, everyone experiences all of them at some point.

#18

My friends from Japan were totally blown away by the beauty and scale of our national parks.

#19

Through the news media you all seem like not very nice people with race wars, political upheaval and high crime.

In person, you're all super friendly, seemingly always in a good mood to help and chat, open, you love to smile at others, family oriented and just really happy people!

#20

We’ve hosted a number of German exchange students. We live in the southwest. Their biggest takeaways were:

• The huge yellow school buses, they thought that was just in the movies
• Iced sweet tea and free refills—I can just ask for another one?? One mom even asked me for the “recipe” after her child returned home.
• How far apart everything is
• Ceiling fans, and in every room, they thought this was revolutionary
• Every single building is air-conditioned
• The lack of nearby large places to hike and walk without taking a drive there
• Portion sizes
• Every kid having a smartphone
• Kids are rarely alone without parents—e.g. they don’t bike to school, or walk and wander around town together

They also have a fixation on Raising Cane’s. 🤷🏼‍♀️.

We’ve all heard about intelligence quotient (IQ) and emotional intelligence (EQ), but have you heard of cultural intelligence or CQ?

It’s your ability to function and thrive in unfamiliar cultural settings.

Experts believe that CQ can help us adapt to culture shock. The higher our CQ, the lesser the effect of culture shock on our ability to cope in new situations.

A study tracking travelers across 50 countries found that empathy and personality play a significant role in how much stress people experience abroad. The more open and agreeable you are, the softer the landing.

Relationships are the other big factor — the more genuine connections you build with locals, the faster the adjustment.

#21

My in-laws freak the F out every time I turn right on red.

#22

Visited New York and Boston last year and honestly didn't find anything too out there. Bit bigger, wee bit more brash maybe. Really nice people everywhere.
Then I tried to watch a bit of TV at night in the hotel: wholly hell there was an advert lasting 15 minutes for every 5 minutes of programming. Don't know why anyone bothers.

The good news is you can build cultural intelligence before you even board the plane. Read books by authors from your destination. Find online communities centered around the culture. Seek out genuine conversations with people who don’t look or think like you.

In a world that feels increasingly interconnected online, these bizarre and sometimes frustrating real-world friction points are exactly what make travel so vital.

They remind us that there is no single correct way to live… just different ways.

#23

I'm American but I had a funny interaction with a foreigner yesterday. I live in Seattle and the world cup is happening here so there are tons of people from all over the world visiting right now. Yesterday was the down town art walk and my girlfriend and I were sitting outside a gallery painting fridge magnets. This south American family walks by and the mom points at steam coming out of the manhole cover in the street and asks us, "this normal??" And we replied yes. She seemed flabbergasted. It was cute and hilarious.

#24

Public toilets lack of privacy, why no doors that close nicely but leaves gaps?
I could only go to the toilet in my hotelroom.

#25

The card aisle in supermarkets: condolences on the passing of your cat, sympathy following your miscarriage, congratulations on adopting a puppy.

#26

Probably not the biggest thing, but the thing that consistently still catches me off, even after nearly three years here, are the pharmaceutical ads on television. It’s just bizarre and seems completely unethical.

#27

That pedestrian walks would just lead into a street or the green. Tried walking to a supermarket once, everyone was staring at me like I was a homeless.

#28

The old homeless dude complimented my gf cap. I mistakenly thought he complimented both our LA caps and I said "Thank you." He assure me he wasn't complimenting us both by saying, "I was complimenting the lady, jerk".

#29

A coworker of mine from another country said he was blown away by the size of the freeways in California.

#30

Been reading twitter and instagram acconts of foreigners discovering what they've decided is pure, concentrated Americana: Buc-ees. Apparently there's a shuttle service in Texas currently specializing in taking world cup travelers there. Hilarious.

Oh and the Scots in Boston have discovered something called 'tailgate parties'. They simply can't believe total strangers will just hand them food for nothing, but absolutely love it.

#31

Family in town from Guatemala to watch the games. First thing they wanted to do when they landed is go to Target and Taco Cabana.

#32

As a non-American who gets along super well with you guys and has friends there, it's so nice to see some positivity about the US for once!

#33

As an Englishman:
- the sheer size of everything, the roads, the portions, the people
- why the price on items in a supermarket isn't the same as what you pay at the till
- (I think this one might just be me but) that the yellow school buses are real (I thought they were just in movies)
- the unwalkability of everything. To get to shops from my hotel I had to cross over a major highway if I wanted to walk, so I had to drive everywhere
- (also not really interesting but) in the UK, bottle lids are attached to the necks of the bottle, which is quite annoying, but in America I kept dropping lids, because they aren't attached
- and how friendly people were, making eye contact walking down the road, and people talking to me in the supermarket.

#34

How absurdly big everything is. You look at a map and think you can just drive to another city, then six hours later you are still in the same state.

#35

Had spent a month or so in Boston in ‘18, got the Amtrak down to NYC for a few days before flying back to the uk. Walking out of msg subway station to find myself at the bottom of a man made canyon of skyscrapers was like nothing else I’ve experienced. It was almost a sublime experience.

#36

First time we went, we were up in North Michigan and went into a bar there. Honestly we were a novelty, it was like they'd never seen a Brit before and were were showered with drinks and people kept approaching us all night. One guy asked us if we knew someone he knew in England, but no, it's small, but not that small.

Big empty roads was another novelty, but this was over 40 years ago so it's no doubt changed.

#37

Not necessarily non-American, but whenever someone sees Lake Michigan for the first time, their minds are absolutely blown by how HUGE it is. One girl from South Carolina was the funniest, "Ya'll have beaches here?!" Yes, babe. Lots of them!

#38

My brother-in-law is from Italy and his first time in the states we took him to a house party in Oakland. It was basically a kegger. But there was also a band and a karaoke room and a bunch of people smoking. His biggest takeaway... Those red cups are real? Not just in the movies? Those were red solo cups ladies and gentlemen.

#39

Portion size at restaurants.

Drive thru everything.

The amount of plastic bags given at stores.

The bs that is physical junkmail.

How kind and friendly Americans are for the most part. Opening doors, greetings, genuine concern for strangers. I had to ask my husband what they wanted from me!

#40

Wait staff at restaurants desperate to try and keep a glass of water filled on your table constantly. I'm used to having to ask for water if I need it.

#41

It wasn’t recent but on my first visit I was struck by how normalized the slightly overweight male physique was. Like you almost didn’t see any men in their 40s and 50s whose doctors wouldn’t say they should ideally lose 10lb or more.

#42

How big everything was. Cars, supermarkets, serving sizes, roads, parking spaces. Oh and don't even get me started of your traffic lights. Turning right on a red feels so wrong.

#43

Chocolate. The first time I tasted Hershey's I was completely bewildered. I'd never experienced anything like it.

#44

Years ago my brother in law (a lawyer) was hosting a lawyer from Russia. Like a student exchange program, but with lawyers. He stood stunned and wide eyed at the dog food aisle in the grocery store. Their dogs mostly eat whatever. Mostly what the family is eating.

#45

Inflammable actually means flammable.

#46

My British friend was surprised by all the lawyer billboards and the massive highway systems (like the over passes and stuff).

#47

My Norwegian friend “why are there so many mattress stores ?”

#48

My first visit to the US was kind of a culture shock. I did not expect to see all power lines overhead like in third world countries. The massive billboards everywhere littering the main roads, the amount of poverty you see driving through rural areas and on the other end the massive wealth and McMansions in more popular areas. I still have a hard time imagining how only 2 people live in a 4000 sqft home. In general homes are just massive, same with SUVs and Trucks. But the national parks and the vastness of land was just terrific.

#49

People casually chatting with strangers. Very friendly, very unexpected.

#50

A friend from Latin America asked me where all of the dogs were.

We don't normally have packs of roaming street dogs like they do.

#51

My cousin was in shock at the size of a "medium" soda at Jack In the Box - her words "No human needs this amount of soda." Also, she was very disappointed with the food from both Jack In the Box and Taco Bell.

--take it easy on me guys. She wanted to try them after watching and hearing about them in movies and tv. I'm not force feeding her trash as punishment.

#52

People have easiness on starting to talk with me, a complete stranger, in the middle of the supermarket. And it's just a casual friendly talk which isn't common on countries where that would be the equivalent of distract-and-rob.

#53

Americans are much nicer in person than they are online.

#54

The sheer size of everything. you look at the map and think you can drive between cities easily, then realize its an all day trip.

#55

Despite having 15+ booths at immigration, only three of them were staffed. That surprised me.

#56

Taco trucks in NYC

Holy hell I need those at home.

#57

That the entirety of the US is not like Miami or NYC.

#58

People's friendliness. I mean, just impressed most people are pretty open to talk and interract.

#59

Handing over your credit card to pay for things, that's an insane amount of trust you have in people. If we pay for a meal at a restaurant, the server will either bring a payment terminal to the table or they will take you to where the terminal is.
Also, credit card use in general. I only use my credit card when I'm abroad, I don't even have it on me most of the time when I'm shopping in my own country.

#60

In a restaurant, the menu had entrees and desserts, and I thought 'These starters are huges, and where are the mains'? Took me a minute and then I realised you guys use that word for the main meal.

#61

The portion sizes at restaurants are way bigger than anywhere else Ive been and I always have leftovers.

#62

When we found out that “bottomless” chips and salsa didn’t refer anything about our butts and it meant all you can eat - wow we don’t have that.

#63

80% of these observations on this thread feel like Americans just messing around TBH.

#64

The cars here are massive and everyone drives everywhere instead of taking public transport.

#65

Tip everywhere.

#66

A friend flew home to Austin Texas with her boyfriend who was from England and visiting for the first time. We picked them up at the airport and immediately took them to Ginny’s little longhorn saloon, home of chicken poo bingo.

We dragged this poor man into the most Austin experience you could have at the time… a tiny bar on a Sunday with every person you can imagine in Austin: hipsters, cowboys, goths, frat dudes, etc. Everyone grooving together while Dale Watson played, two stepping on the tiny dance floor. In the corner was a crockpot situation with make your own chili dogs. American football was playing on the tvs. The place was packed.

This was the day to come because Sundays is when they do chicken poo bingo. For this, they put plywood on top of the pool table with a numbered grid painted on it and chicken wire encapsulating it. For $1 you get a ticket with a number and wait. What are you waiting for? You’re waiting for the chicken that is in that bingo board cage to poo. And if that poo hits your number, you win. This is chicken poo bingo.

The look on this poor man’s face of the sheer, overstimulating Americanness of the situation was worth it. He was game and joined right in but you could just tell he was thinking what the hell am I doing here.

#67

The thing with the US is you gotta consider just how big and diverse we are. I lived in New England and got culture shocked in a recent move to Arkansas. There’s a ton of America, you could visit a different town every weekend and never run out of novelty for the rest of your life.

#68

Going to Buc-ee’s was the most overstimulated I have ever been in my life.

#69

The giant pickup trucks. Some looked big enough to have their own ZIP code.

#70

Canadian here. Enormous restaurant portions.

#71

I keep visiting but 4 years ago when it was new it was wilderness. Like, real wilderness. With bears. Fascinating stuff, this time I wanna go camping.

#72

You don’t understand the left to right dances we do in the Netherlands. 🇳🇱.

#73

Americans are polite, friendly, and genuinely love hosting the world cup.

#74

Your homeless people are far more... energetic then my countries.

#75

Anyone in KC last night; welcome to the Midwest. We have tornadoes.

#76

The eye contact is so nice.

#77

If you're in the NY area for the games, welcome & enjoy. We might seem rude, but we really are not we just want to get where we have to get to and the art of ignoring your surroundings is typically.

If you're lost or need help finding something just ask.

Food stay away from the tourist traps they suck. You can alway just ask someone where you can get a good lunch at.

Just two things

Wearing your backpack on the front while walking makes you look like a tourist.

Don't block the sidewalk move the hell over to one side and let us pass.

#78

People are really friendly and give huge smiles and strike up conversation very easily. Everyone seems to have their volume up a little higher than mine. Portion sizes are very large. Grits are gross.

#79

I am not sure if this is just a New England thing but you can talk to anyone about sports. Everyone knows if the patriots/sox/celtics won last night, which player had a good game, the one dumb coaching move, etc. Coming from another part of the country, I’d never seen so many people care so much.

49 Moments People Realized It Was Time To Leave Immediately

Jonas Žvilius — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 03:00:20 +0000

Everyone always says to trust your gut, but it's hard to know exactly what that means until it’s put to the test. It can be difficult to articulate how it feels when you suddenly feel threatened or on edge. The hairs on the back of your neck might stand up, even though nothing around you is blatantly dangerous or out of place.

In these moments, it’s usually best to follow your instincts and get the hell out of Dodge. Otherwise, you might have some serious regrets in the future… Threads users have recently been recalling moments when they realized something was seriously wrong with the situation they were in. Below, you’ll find a list of their most unsettling stories, so be sure to upvote the ones that will remind you to always trust your gut.

#1

My ex-roommate asked me to come to her graduation ceremony, as she had no family or friends to attend. Before the ceremony, they brought the guests into a separate room, and told us we could not see the graduation unless we sat through their pitch. Every warning signal went off in my head. I got up and left.
It was a cult.

#2

How about the one time we should have and didn't.
I was pregnant only once - at 42, & was miscarrying naturally. On Christmas Day. My mother insisted we HAD TO come over. I'm doubled over, actively contracting in her kitchen. She laughs & says "you have no idea how much labor hurts! You've never had a baby!"
My husband gasped. I was in shock. We did leave. And I haven't spoken to her in years. To this day, she denies she ever said it.

#3

As a freshman in HS, my friends and I walked from school to the house where students were decorating a homecoming float. The parents were not home. It was 3:30pm. They had kegs of beer. My friend and I were 13 years old. We all looked at each other and said, “Let’s leave now!” Several people called us nerds as we walked away. One of our friends lives about a mile away. We walked to her house. On Monday, we heard rumors a girl had been SA’d. Never been so happy to be labeled a nerd.

#4

Walking home from school at age 9 with my best friend. A man next to a ‘broken down car’ asked for our help. Immediately grabbed my friends hand and ran telling her what man would need a 9 year olds help? He drove by us as we were running. Our parents called cops as we had first few letters of license plate and rough make/model of car. (Blue Camaro). He was pulled over the next day and there was a girl in his trunk. ALWAYS trust your instincts!!!!

#5

Backpacking in Colombia. Told my group we needed to leave immediately and we went indoors to a coffee place. Watched a group pass by and the owner said oh yeah they would have robbed you and hurt you. I suddenly just felt a need to go. We had set up a rule beforehand that if one of us felt unsafe we all listen, no debate. Glad we did.

#6

The summer before I went to college my house was the party house.
The last party I had got way out of hand. I knew like half the people there 😭 we were like 17-19 years old and caught wind the cops were coming.
I couldn’t leave cause it was my house, but every one shuffled out the windows to escape through my backyard. Like 50+ teenagers leaving expeditiously.
By the time the cops got there there was nothing to see but a big mess and me and my bestie standing there like 🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️

#7

On a hunting trip with two friends, the one guy hiked up to the car, but then he didn’t come back and then suddenly I hear a car horn honking three times.
We were in Gunnison, Colorado late November the end of elk season, and a storm is coming in. I continue to hear the horn honking three times and I said to the other guy we’re leaving and we’re leaving right now!
Turned out that the other guy was in the car with hypothermia and if we hadn’t hiked up there when we did, he would’ve died.

#8

We were in Rocky Mountain National Park. People had left their cars to look at a moose, and had it surrounded on three sides. We were standing back when my mother heard someone say they were going to put their child on the moose’s back for a photo. She hustled us out of there saying “we’re not watching a child get trampled, get in the car RIGHT NOW!”

#9

I was at an outdoor dog show, with my boyfriend, our 7 children and his out of town family. I live in a city known for sudden intense summer storms.
I noticed the air got still and the clouds in the north started building up, and stacking on top of each other. We still had clear blue sky above us, but I insisted we leave. Everyone was mad at me. The wind started picking up as we made it to our cars. 15 minutes later the hail and torrential downpour started.

#10

We were on a hike in the woods. Suddenly, just a few steps away, some young wild boars ran across the path, and a little further back, something large rustled in the bushes. “Let’s turn back. Right now!” was apparently so convincing that my husband just went along with it.

#11

I was walking home from the midnight shift at a drug store (20yrs old) and sensed someone following me. He yelled What’s up sl*t? over and over. I said f*ck it and walked into oncoming traffic. A car stopped and a dude got out. His girlfriend made him stop. Dropped me off safely. That was next to a huge construction pit. Weeks later they found the bodies of girls m*rdered and dumped there.

#12

I went to a coworker’s house. He and his lover were probably swingers but I didn’t know that at the time. We were in the living room having cocktails & hors d’oeuvres. My coworker came out and leaned over and started pinching the nipples of another guest. And then another guest laughed and joined in. I got the hell out of there.

#13

Hurricane Floyd 1999. Eastern NC. Naive, but only worried about wind, not water. But when the power went out ,thought I should head elsewhere. If I had stayed,by myself, no phone, I would’ve awakened to 3 feet of water in my house in the dark @2:30 in the morning. I probably would’ve panicked bc nowhere to go. I know others have had similar or worse in storms.

#14

I was driving home for Christmas, stopped at the usual stop, about halfway, and got the worst feeling and booted it out of there.
Less than 10 minutes later there was a domestic confrontation in the same store, and he then chased her and her friends up the highway and sh*t them all.
I was shown leaving on surveillance during the court proceedings as they fast forwarded through footage.

#15

My family was visiting my dad before his unit deployed. They were doing a training deep in the woods a few miles from us. The tornado sirens started going off. My mom called my dad just in case they hadn’t heard it. They hadn’t and started to pack up. While they were doing that a soldier was struck by lightning. A tornado did touch down near where they were. But they were gone. No one else was hurt.

#16

We were driving home from my FIL funeral, I was driving in 2nd lane from left. A pickup truck got in front of us with an open bed and huge monster tire in the back. I suddenly got as far over as I could and that tire flew out of the truck, hit car that had been behind me. K**led them.

#17

In a crowded elevator in Chicago. Two rough looking guys got in as the door closed, turned and faced everyone, and smirked menacingly. I got off at the next floor. Later we heard that they had g*ns and robbed the people who stayed on the elevator.

#18

A fire alarm went off again. We didn’t go outside right away. Most of them have been false alarms at all hours. Then I smelled smoke. I told my fiancé we should step outside this time. As soon as I open the patio door, a small amount of smoke started wafting in. We got out immediately. Once we stepped out we saw the flames from the top floor of our building. Our unit had smoke damage and water in the walls. We were displaced two weeks ago🙃

#19

So I am Chinese-American. I took a cross country trip and stopped in this small, affluent town and went to explore its antique shop. I was casually browsing when I saw a large wooden plaque with six carved Chinese figures. When I looked, the plaque said “Six Little Ch****. My mouth dropped open. I noticed the rest of the display cabinet was filled with racist memorabilia. I then looke around and realized I was the only non-white person in the shop so I speed walked/ran away.

#20

My mom’s big dog jumped on us in the water and I almost drowned trying to save my small child from drowning. We tried to scream help but the dog pulled us under. My instinct was to pull my kid up but the dog pulled me deeper. My mom nor my sister came to help but my ex did. When we got out of the water coughing and crying, my sister was screaming ”why tf they need to be so loud and scream there, it’s embarassing and the neighbours hear” and my mom said nothing.
We left immediatly.

#21

When the husband of the couple we were out with started hitting on me.

#22

I was with an ex and we went to another couples house they got us both very high off of 🍃 and put on rango with Johnny depp; they then started to get closer and giving us those kinda vibes we got tf outta there

#23

A dozen years ago i was camping with 3 of my kids while the other one attended a leadership camp next to the state park. At 2am it was still 90⁰F at 6 I got up and started packing up. 7am we left for home 3 hours away instead of staying all weekend. Later that day, the state park and leadership camp were direct hit from a massive derecho that affected Ohio through the Virginia's. Kid at camp was OK. But no power to half the state.
The destruction we saw when we picked her up was insane.

#24

New Orleans. The Golden State Warriors were at the Smoothie King Center to play the Pelicans. Members of my SF krewe and I scored tickets for the game. We all had our Warrior gear on and were taunted by the crowd. Warriors had a
horrible first half. I said we had to leave at halftime because Steph will come back and destroy them in the fourth. We went back to our B&B where we had TV and cold Abitas waiting. Sure enough Warriors came back and won. We’re sure we escaped death that night.

#25

Me and my boyfriend were at the uptown McDonald’s in Chicago. If you know its lore. We were about to get our food when a man began walking up to the parking lot. There was nothing outwardly menacing or off putting about him but me and my boyfriend both got this feeling of abject horror and just drove off no food. He ended up sh**ting someone minutes later. There's a reason it’s the m*rder McDonalds.

#26

My ex husband was at the bank and getting frustrated because of issues with the card. He wanted me to call TD BANK while he was there. I told him to forget about it and I’ll handle it later. 10 minutes later I get a citizen app notification that there was a sh**ting in front of the bank. Whenever I feel strange or like things will go wrong if I continue, I stop and leave.

#27

My mom and I were in this small town, antique shopping. The front of this building looked like a shop, but it was clearly someone’s house, filled with junk to sell. I immediately get skin-crawling vibes. I’m rushing my mom through, but she’s trying to look like she’s browsing to be polite. We turn a corner and there’s a creepy guy sitting by an open door, total darkness beyond. “There’s more stuff to look at in the basement.” NOPE. We left and suddenly saw dozens of posters for a missing woman.

#28

I was seven or eight years old and I was spending the night at my friends house for the first time. This was about 1987. No cell phones.
I had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. I turned on the light and saw 100s of roaches scatter off of the toilet.
I made that girl wake her parents up and made them wake my parents up to come pick me up because I told them I was uncontrollably vomiting. I still have nightmares.

#29

Back in 1973 I was with a group of Vietnam War protesters trying to walk at the end of Nixon’s inaugural parade with our signs. The police suddenly ran towards us with billy clubs and people were knocked down and running in all directions. My friend immediately grabbed me and directed me away and we ran back to our car. Over 30 people were arrested.

#30

Was at abparty as a teenager when we got told the Stepdad had pulled a knife on someone inside. Everyone left in seconds. I was so desperate for a ride I had to jump in the boot lol

#31

I walked into a very crowded ice cream parlor with my family on a Saturday. We walked in and the whole place went dead silent and turned to us. We backed out and left

#32

Was at a church party with pastors and elders. We sat down to eat and they all started telling horrible racist jokes! I looked at my husband in horror and we left. I never hang out with religious people anymore.

#33

Spent my teenage years with one rule. If you see someone coming towards you with religion pamplets run. it might bethe Cult that had moved in 2 blocks down the street. There were afew rumors that swirled around about the Cult and young girls, but it was never proven until the leader got caught in a sting trying to traffic an underage girl. The leader ended up in prison and the church compound they built got raided. The Cult, Tony Alamo Christian Ministries

#34

I attended a Disney College Program informantional seminar at my university as a favor for a friend since they were in the program. I quickly realized the cult aspect of the program and slipped out the moment I could and never looked back

#35

went to a frat party held in a disgusting, dim lit basement with only a bunch of strobe lights, 1 table and sheets covering the back with the kegs. The only way out was a really narrow set of stairs to the back door. I went to the back of the basement to get a drink when I smelled gas. Looked down & saw a propane tank just sitting on the floor, looked around at the amount of people smoking in this basement & quickly ushered everyone I was with towards the door

#36

Fourth of July and we were in a large crowd for fireworks. A firework went off into the crowd and hit the ground close to us. I grabbed my daughter and my husband ran. We didn’t even look at eachother. The fire was put out and no one was injured, but intuition took over for both of us.

#37

My dad was a truck driver. He always stopped at a certain truck stop to eat. That day he was eating and had a feeling he needed to leave. Tornado hit the truck stop about 15 minutes after he left and injured a bunch of folks.

#38

I was driving down a rural county highway home (late night) and suddenly headlights came into view in my rear view mirror, I realized they weren’t slowing down and at the last minute I got into the opposite lane and a split second the car went zooming by, then ultimately wrecked—flipped, driver was having a medical emergency. It was lucky he didn’t get injured & I reacted so quickly to get over.

#39

I was part of a Christian Summer camp as a councilor at the ripe age of 19.
We had the weekend off between sessions and we all wanted to go to some hot springs but they were far and gas was expensive (2008, lol sob).
Someone knew if an abandoned estate that had a hot spring that we could go check out if we didn't mind trespassing.
We got there and we literally all got the worst feeling and left. I have no idea what would have happened if we had stayed but I was bad

#40

In 2015, a game of “knock out” started at my local State Fair. and by “game”, I mean that a handful of people started randomly walking up to people and punching them. Fights broke out. At 15, I picked up my 9 y/o sister on my hip and grabbed my 10 y/o sister and absolutely booked it while a crowd was starting to panic. I didn’t even know what I was running from, I just knew we had to gtfo of there RIGHT THEN. My middle sister is legally blind, man. I just wasn’t willing to take a chance.

#41

Very large party out in the cornfield, party was really amping up, friend and I looked at each other and started the long walk back to our car, we agreed something felt way off, arrived back to the car and every city and county cop were gearing up for arrests, we froze until one of them finally yelled at us to go home, they even moved their cruisers to let our car out, 101 ppl were arrested and all cars were impounded, except the last ones leaving, us

#42

Dinner party at the house of a couple we had just met. Our Kids were school friends. Couple suggested an after dinner hot tub. No suits no problem apparently. Noped out of there quickly. Did I mention the school was a Catholic elementary school....

#43

My son and I was at an amusement park in Sweden called Gröna Lund, we were going on the rollercoasters etc and I had a bad feeling all day, even on my favourite coaster called Jetline, I refused to ride it after the first go. Normally would have gone on it multiple times. Day after two carriages flew off and a woman died, and several were injured.

#44

My now husband, but boyfriend at the time went to see one of The Purge movies during the day on the weekend. There wasn’t many people there, but this middle aged guy on our row was alone and had a backpack. He had it on his lap and kept reaching into it. I looked at my husband and said we’re leaving. I’m not dying today.

#45

I was invited to a party when I was 17 by a 21 year old guy who claimed all our friends were coming to his place (including the guy I liked). I didn’t have a car so he picked me up. When we got to his house there was only one other guy there and he was like “why are you here?” Cus he knew I liked their other friend and (shocker) there was no party. 21 yr old went to get me a “drink” and the other friend immediately was like “want me to take you home?” And we booked it out of there

#46

NM state fair in Albuquerque, on the midway with my young daughters. A random guy told me "y'all need to get out of here". We left immediately. Later that day, a huge gang fight occurred on the midway.

#47

He pulled and broke the handbrake on my car in a temper tantrum because I had no money for him to buy cigarettes. If it hadn’t literally broken we would have flipped, I was on a curvy 80kmph country road. Our kids were in the back. I stopped the car. He spat on my face, threatened to slit my throat. There were justified “we need to leave now” moments before this, so I still feel guilty that it took him endangering the kids for me to actually do it.

#48

A few times where we were-went or party- and the vibe changed & I said let’s go now. And heard later things were not great there. One time at a cafe in Europe I had to slowly tell my friend to get her bag and get ready to stand up & walk out. I put money on the table for the lunch and said go. I had noticed that the family that walked in before us & Everyone else had cleared out and we’d just ordered. Weird vibe & not everyone had finished eating. We just ran once we left

#49

At this hole in a wall and young man that I knew spoke to me and then pulled out this AR and said, yeah this is a robbery. Then turned around and told me and my friends that we could go. I’m pretty sure I ran out my shoes that night

Guy Tells Wife’s Affair Partner Is A Complete Idiot, But Not For The Reason Everyone Expected

Justinas Keturka — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 03:00:48 +0000

As kids, many of us grew up hearing the phrase, “Honesty is the best policy.” And while that sounds simple enough in theory, adulthood quickly teaches you that honesty can get… complicated. Especially during emotional, messy, or deeply uncomfortable moments in life. Sometimes the truth comes out at the worst possible time, in the worst possible way, leaving everyone stunned and scrambling to deal with the fallout.

That’s exactly what happened to one man who found himself caught in an unbelievably awkward situation while out at a restaurant with his wife. The problem? His wife had been having an affair with a colleague. Things took a dramatic turn when the colleague walked into the same restaurant… with his own wife, who had absolutely no idea about the cheating. Shocked by the situation and unable to stay quiet, the man blurted out, “Is that your wife? You’re really stupid for cheating on her.” Unsurprisingly, his honest comment sparked chaos at the table and quickly turned into a massive fight with his own wife. Keep reading to find out how this bizarre and painfully awkward story unfolded.

Sometimes, it’s possible to be too honest

Image credits: Think_Perception_329 (not the actual photo)

And after telling the truth, this man found himself in an incredibly sticky situation

Image credits: Think_Perception_329 (not the actual photo)

Image credits: Think_Perception_329

Studies have shown that seeking revenge can temporarily make people feel emotionally rewarded or satisfied

We’ve all seen those movie moments where the main character finally gets revenge on the person who hurt them (the toxic ex, the cruel boss, the manipulative mother-in-law) and somehow it feels oddly satisfying to watch. After all, pop culture has spent years convincing us that “revenge is best served cold.” When someone betrays us, lies to us, or breaks our trust, it’s natural to fantasize about getting even or making them regret their actions. In the heat of anger, revenge can feel empowering, almost like taking back control after being hurt. And honestly? Most of us have probably imagined the perfect comeback at least once in our lives. But while revenge may look dramatic and satisfying in movies, real life emotions are usually far more complicated. What feels good in the moment does not always leave us feeling better afterward. Sometimes, holding onto anger only keeps us emotionally tied to the pain longer than we realize.

Interestingly, there was actual research that seemed to support the idea that revenge feels rewarding. A group of Swiss researchers conducted a study where they scanned the brains of people who had been unfairly treated during an economic trust game. Participants had trusted others to fairly split money with them, only to discover their partners selfishly kept the entire reward. Later, the participants were given an opportunity to punish the people who betrayed them. While they considered taking revenge, researchers observed heightened activity in the caudate nucleus — a part of the brain strongly associated with pleasure, reward, and satisfaction. The findings, published in the journal Science in 2004, appeared to confirm something humans have long believed emotionally: revenge can feel good, at least temporarily. That little rush of satisfaction after “getting even” is not entirely imaginary; our brains actually respond to it. In simple terms, revenge can trigger the same reward pathways that light up when we experience something enjoyable or validating.

However, more recent psychological research has complicated this idea quite a bit. Scientists have found that while revenge may deliver a brief emotional high, it often does not provide the lasting closure people expect. Instead of helping someone move on, revenge can keep the original hurt alive by forcing the person to mentally relive the betrayal again and again. Behavioral researchers observed that people who dwell on retaliation tend to stay emotionally stuck in anger for longer periods. In many cases, the act of revenge reopens wounds instead of healing them. It can also create a strange emotional loop where the person becomes consumed with proving a point rather than focusing on their own peace or growth. What initially feels empowering may later leave behind guilt, exhaustion, or even emptiness.

Another issue is that revenge rarely creates the “fairness” people imagine it will. One person’s version of justice may feel completely excessive or unfair to someone else, which is why revenge often sparks endless cycles of retaliation. Hurt people hurt people, and before long, both sides feel justified in escalating the conflict further. Psychological experts note that revenge can trap people in emotional tug-of-wars where nobody truly wins. Instead of resolving pain, it often prolongs resentment and bitterness on both sides. That’s one reason conflicts between ex-partners, family members, or even close friends can spiral so quickly once revenge enters the picture. Ironically, many people who finally “get even” still do not feel the emotional relief they expected afterward. The satisfaction fades quickly, but the emotional damage can linger for much longer.

Image credits: Charith Kodagoda (not the actual photo)

For our own mental health and peace, learning to let go and move forward can often be the healthier choice

Simply put, revenge may feel satisfying in the moment, but it does not always lead to genuine healing. Temporary emotional validation and long-term peace are two very different things. Sometimes, the healthiest thing a person can do is stop giving their pain (and the person who caused it) so much power over their life.

Social psychologist Kevin Carlsmith of Colgate University has also explained why not seeking revenge may actually help people heal faster emotionally. According to him, when people choose not to retaliate, they are often better able to minimize the emotional weight of the event over time. In other words, if we do not obsess over “getting even,” our brains slowly begin to frame the betrayal as something survivable rather than life-defining. We can eventually tell ourselves, “Yes, it hurt, but I got through it.” That mental reframing becomes much harder when someone stays emotionally invested in revenge. Carlsmith suggests that letting go allows people to emotionally distance themselves from the situation instead of constantly replaying it in their minds. And honestly, that makes sense; healing usually begins when our energy shifts away from the person who hurt us and back toward ourselves.

Psychology research also shows that maintaining healthy routines and continuing to focus on personal goals after emotional hurt is strongly connected to better mental health outcomes. Whether it’s staying active, spending time with supportive friends, focusing on work, pursuing hobbies, or simply rebuilding confidence little by little — all of these things help people regain emotional stability. Experts often emphasize that healing is less about “winning” against someone else and more about rebuilding your own sense of peace. Channeling energy into self-growth instead of retaliation can reduce stress, improve emotional resilience, and help people recover faster from betrayal or heartbreak. Over time, growth itself often becomes the strongest form of closure. And honestly, there’s something incredibly powerful about becoming happier while no longer carrying the emotional weight of what someone did to you.

Ultimately, being hurt by someone (especially someone you loved or trusted) can trigger anger, sadness, humiliation, and even the urge to seek revenge. Those feelings are deeply human. But healing usually comes not from hurting the other person back, but from protecting your own peace, self-worth, and future. Sometimes the healthiest response is walking away, focusing on yourself, and refusing to let betrayal define your life any longer. Closure does not always arrive through dramatic confrontations or revenge plots. Often, it quietly arrives when you finally realize you deserve better and start building a happier life for yourself. And while forgiveness may not always be possible or immediate, emotional freedom often begins the moment we stop centering our lives around the people who hurt us.

Now, coming back to this particular case, it honestly seemed like the author was more shocked and emotional than intentionally vengeful. From the story, it did not really come across like he was trying to “punish” his wife by complimenting the other woman. Instead, it felt more like a blunt, emotionally charged reaction in an already awkward and painful situation. At the same time, it’s understandable why his wife got offended hearing him call her affair partner’s wife gorgeous right in front of her. The entire situation sounds messy, uncomfortable, and emotionally loaded from every angle. Pandas, what do you think here? Was the author genuinely being petty, or was he simply reacting honestly in the moment? And do you think pursuing feelings toward the other woman would only create more chaos or could it actually end up being something?

Image credits: cottonbro studiocottonbro studio (not the actual photo)

Readers were amused by the story, and the author joined in on the conversation in the comments

Many encouraged the man to shoot his shot, and some even shared similar stories of their own

75 “Desire Paths” That Show Human Stubbornness In The Best Way Possible (New Pics)

Evelina Šiukšterytė — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 03:00:45 +0000

City planners and architects might be great at their jobs, but even the most brilliant minds can’t always anticipate what people want and need, and how they move. The best proof is the existence of mysterious so-called ‘desire paths,’ which are worn into the ground by humans and animals to take the shortest path.

We are featuring some of the most gorgeous and interesting desire paths from a fantastic online group, as a reminder that people always want to save time and energy, so they’ll take the shortest route.

We know which of these paths we’d love to walk down the most. What are your favorites?

#1 Desirepath That Can Be Seen From The Sky

#2 They Think The Sign Will Help

#3 Desire Hedge

Desire paths are also known as desire lines, and they form when humans or animals take the most efficient route to get where they need to go. It is completely natural to want to have time and energy when you move.

The existence of desire paths is a fabulous opportunity for city planners and architects to look at how human movement naturally flows versus where they expect pedestrian traffic to go and what paths they should pave.

#4 Desire Path Frequented By Dog Walkers

#5 Students Desiring Food More Than Using The Intended Path

#6 When A Desire Path Slowly Becomes Official

Aesthetics are absolutely important, and living in beautiful (not just functional and minimalist) surroundings can empower and energize you, yes. But, as an architect or planner, you also have to look at how pedestrians naturally move and adapt to the reality of the situation.

If, instead, you simply go through with your original designs, without caring for the people who live in the city you’re designing, you are making the entire system more inefficient and unfriendly than it needs to be.

#7 I’m A Fan Most Of The Time, But This One Seems A Bit Much

#8 Desire Path With A View

#9 A Triple

Generally, it takes as few as 15 walks through an unpaved bit of ground to start wearing a visible trail. Then, people’s routes get guided down the new route much quicker because it is now visible. You intuitively want to follow it… and so you do. The desire path becomes even more visible, attracting even more pedestrians. The loop continues. And eventually, the trail becomes established.

#10 Because Walking Above The Path Is More Fun

This is on top of a wall that protects against high tides, Leo.org says its a sheet pile wall on english. Theres roughly a 3m drop to the right and 1m to the left. The moss on top of the wall is worn down where people and animals walk

#11 Nice One

#12 Oh No They Blocked It

Surprisingly, recent research suggests that when people are walking about, they naturally tend to turn to the left and walk in an anticlockwise direction.

“If you simply ask someone to start walking, whether they are wandering around a museum, a supermarket, or even an empty room, it is surprisingly likely that they will drift counterclockwise,” Dr Iñaki Echeverría-Huarte, at the University of Navarra in Spain, explains.

“Each of us carries a small personal bias to turn slightly to one side, and when many people share a space, those tiny biases add up into a net counterclockwise rotation.”

#13 To The Bus Stop

#14 That Little Tunnel Is Meant For The Elementary School Kids To Cross The Street (Taken At Eagle Springs Elementary, Htx

#15 It Belongs Here

“None of us is perfectly symmetrical, and the way each person’s brain gathers sensory information and coordinates it with the muscles seems to tip them gently to one side. I should be honest, though. “We have tested several ideas and the bias stubbornly keeps showing up, so the exact mechanism is still an open question,” Dr Echeverría-Huarte said.

#16 Beverly Hills, La

#17 Fun Sign At A School Trying To Abolish, Terminate, And End A Desire Path

#18 Wtf Kind Of Path Is This

During an earlier interview with the friendly moderator team running the r/DesirePath online community, Bored Panda learned all about the group’s history and the phenomenon surrounding natural foot traffic.

“Once people know they [desire paths] have a name, they start seeing them all over the place. It’s a ‘once you see, you can’t unsee’ scenario,” one moderator explained to us.

“If you haven’t noticed a desire path before, look for worn-down grass made by people who step off the sidewalk and decide to take the shortcut instead. They’re not the designated, paved paths. They’re paths that are trod on the grass in between,” the mod told the Bored Panda team earlier.

#19 Don't If Thus Counts, But It Looks Like The Pavements Were Built Thus Way In Purpose

#20 Which Path Do You Choose: Direct Or Panoramic?

#21 Does This Count? My Neighbours Cat Likes This Shortcut

The r/DesirePath moderator said that, in Dutch, some people call desire paths ‘elephant paths,’ though they’re not quite sure how common the phrase is. “I think the translation is Olifantenpaadje. Someone on the subreddit said they’re called Trampelpfad in German,” they said.

“When I originally joined the subreddit, it was about 3,000 subscribers deep. I’d seen someone mention it in a comment section, likely on a post of a desire path on /r/pics or a mention in r/AskReddit of these paths being paved following natural foot traffic on a college campus,” the mod told Bored Panda earlier.

#22 Classic One

#23 Shortcut Between A Hotel And Truck Stop

#24 Here Is My First Ever Post For This Community

“A user named SecularScience created the subreddit after someone posted a picture of a desire path on another subreddit, probably r/pics, and a commenter noted that they have a name! It [the online community] emerged out of curiosity,” the mod shared.

They added that the community continues to expand through word of mouth. “When someone unknowingly posts a picture of a desire path, people tag the subreddit and the community grows.”

#25 It Persevered Past The Hedge And The Fence

#26 Found A Rare Desire Path For Cyclists

#27 The Desire Path Across An Active Runway That LED To A Crash, Colón Island

Currently, the r/DesirePath community gets 34k weekly visitors. The online group has been around since 2013, and it will celebrate its 13th birthday later this year, in September.

According to the moderators, anyone posting photos in the group should focus only on the paths that pedestrians prefer, not the ones that humans create. What’s more, this particular online community mainly focuses on human paths, not ones made by motor vehicles or captive animals. Other animal paths might be fine, but it is up to the discretion of the mods and the community.

#28 This One Is Well Traveled, It Has It's Own Billboards

#29 A Grassy One

#30 I Don't Think People Are Listening

We can’t wait to hear what you have to say, Pandas.

What are the closest desire paths to your home, school, or work? How often do you take desire paths during your daily commute? If you were a city planner or architect, how would you improve your local area to be more people-friendly?

Share your thoughts (and photos if you have any!) in the comments at the very bottom of this list.

#31 Humans: Invent Roads. Also Humans: Nah, I Forge My Own Destiny

#32 Look How They Massacred My Boy

#33 Blocked A Path They Gravelled Before

#34 Path Created By Squirrels Traveling Between Bird Feeders

#35 A Fat One

#36 The People Have Spoken

#37 We’ve Been Betrayed

#38 Maybe An Overtake Path

#39 I Mean, Even Pedestrian Crossing Is There

#40 Newly Renovated And They Still Didn’t Plan For This

#41 At First, I Was Mystified

#42 Don't Mind If I Do

#43 Nobody Could Plan For This

#44 If Not Path Then Why Path Shaped?

#45 Never Used The Original Path In 11 Years

#46 A Desire Path In The Making

#47 My City Kinda Acknowledge A Few Disired Paths Near My House By Cutting The Tall Grass Next To Them

#48 Sophisticated

#49 Just Leave Some Huge Open Spaces And See What People Do With Them (Vratsa, Bulgaria)

#50 The Amount Of Time Saved By This One Is Insane

#51 Who Woulda Thought

#52 Does A Path Created By Ants Count?

#53 Why Only One When You Can Have Four?

#54 Through The Meadows

#55 Desirestaircase?

#56 I Was Wondering How The Hell This Desirepath Was Formed, But Then It Hit Me!

#57 Triple Desirepath At Work

#58 Saving Five Seconds Each Time

#59 Between Two Supermarkets In Germany

#60 Small Shortcut Is Still A Shortcut

#61 This Path Is Near An IKEA At My Grandmas Home

#62 Path From The Sidewalk To A Cinema Parking Lot Saving You 400m To Your Hotel