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26 Common Beliefs About History That Turned Out To Be Completely False

Asli Akalin — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:12:02 +0000

History is a subject that many adored in school. Studying the past can change our perspective and explain why things happened the way they did. And learning fun tidbits like how Cleopatra’s beauty was out of this world or that Napoleon was extremely short made it even more intriguing, right?

Well, none of them are true. Yet, we repeat them so many times, we start thinking that they are. Redditor sad-talking_head wanted to know "What are some historical lies that people generally believe?" and hundreds of people rolled up their sleeves, revealing the truth behind the biggest fibs that are widely accepted to this day.

Some of the responses we selected will remind you to look at things with a pinch of salt. So upvote your favorite ones and be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below!

Click here & follow us for more lists, facts, and stories.

#1

The Pilgrims came to America for religious freedom and to avoid persecution. Half-truth, at best - they wanted the freedom to apply their religious more stringently - sort of an English Taliban. They were hounded out of England and weirded out of the Netherlands because of their puritanical practices - hence the derogatory Puritan label. They wanted to establish a community in what is now the US to be LESS tolerant than the communities they had in Europe. So - did they come for religious "freedom?" Yeah, kinda - as long as it was their religion, specifically. They definitely did not come in the spirit of "all religions should be treated equally," which is how this usually gets glossed over in US schools.

#2

That the Confederacy was fighting for "states rights." Their leaders said they were fighting to preserve slavery. And they wrote it into their own government documents. We should take those traitors at their word.

To learn more about common historical misconceptions, we reached out to Otto English, who recently published a book called Fake History: Ten Great Lies and How They Shaped the World. Otto English is the pen name of London-based author Andrew Scott. According to him, our textbooks are filled with little falsehoods.

"While academic history books tend (for the most part) nowadays to be very well researched, a lot of the 'general histories' that kids used to get brought up on (across the world) were littered with lies, bigger lies, and big fat whoppers," he told Bored Panda. "Some of those untruths are now so deeply embedded in the collective consciousness of nations that they have gained a general currency and are almost impossible to shift."

English explained that many people do believe "that when Columbus sailed to America in 1492, his sailors and indeed most Europeans thought the world was flat," which is completely untrue. "The Greek polymath Eratosthenes had worked out that the world was a globe as far back as 200 BCE! Nobody was in fear of falling off the edge of a flat planet in the 15th century."

#3

My favorite lie is Ultra. It's not really just one lie. It's a campaign of lies, probably more widespread and deep-routed than any in history, all leading to one collossal lie: Hiding the fact that the Allies broke the Enigma cipher. And, later, the Japanese "Purple" cipher, and the German Lorenz cipher, and the Italian C-38 cypher. Basically, the Allies had blown every code the Axis used out of the water, thanks to the work of the Polish Cipher Bureau, and the Bletchley Park mathematicians including Alan Turing, and the American Signal Intelligence Service. The collective intelligence from all these broken codes was called Ultra. But what do you do when your code gets broken? You make a new, harder one. The allies couldn't let that happen, they couldn't let the axis know that their codes were broken. So how do you use data from a broken code without revealing that the code is broken? You lie. If they wanted to take out an Axis supply ship after finding it through Ultra, they didn't just do that. They had a spy plane fly over where they knew the ship would be, then they sunk it. So the crew are all like "oh s**t we got spotted." They also had to hide the broken codes from their own soldiers, lest they be revealed under careless talk. So they sent out other spy planes knowing nothing would be found, so crews wouldn't wonder how mission found an enemy every time. They would never attack until they had a "cover story". Men undoubtedly died, by attacks the government knew were coming, because they would not compromise Ultra. One of the few times they were forced to sink ships immediately, they covered it by sending a message in a code they knew the Germans had broken, to a spy in Naples, congratulating him of his success. The spy didn't exist, but the Germans intercepted the message and assumed everything was still good with Enigma. The best part is, they didn't even reveal Ultra after the war. They saw to it that the Enigma machines were sold to potential enemies in the Third World, who continued to use the broken codes for years. Ultra wasn't revealed in its full extent until 1974, 29 years after the war. Never has a secret of such massive importance been so well kept for so long.

#4

That the Tiananmen Square massacre never happened. I studied in China and my teachers there gave me this watered-down, oversimplified story of what they were told as youngsters. You can't even find that section on Wikipedia when in China. Censorship is real.

So why did so many think otherwise? The journalist revealed that the explanation behind this could be "a very dodgy biography of Columbus written by US author Washington Irving in the early 19th century. He was forging a sort of national myth of early America with Columbus at its center and that's one very big reason why in the past, fake history was made."

"People are drawn to 'good stories' that shine a good light on them, and these fairy tales of our past are a sort of glue that binds nations together," English said. The more important and relevant the event is, the more likely it is that people will use it for their benefit. "Unfortunately, a lot of those stories have been weaponized over time which makes them very dangerous indeed."

While it’s impossible to tell exactly how much of our history is bent, one thing the author found while writing his book was that "a whole lot of stuff we take for granted is just plain wrong."

#5

"NASA spent millions on developing a pen for space. The Russians used a pencil." [suggesting NASA isn't very intelligent] They were perfectly correct to make a pen for space. A pencil would have released loads of tiny graphite particles during use, which would float around and interfere with electronics.

#6

That nobody would fund Christopher Columbus' voyage because they thought the world was flat. In 1492 people had known that the Earth was round for quite some time, and we actually had a very accurate estimate of how big it was. In fact there's some evidence that the reluctance to fund Columbus' voyage was because that most assumed you couldn't get to India by going west because, given the estimate of the Earth's size, there was probably a landmass in the way.

#7

Gillette invented the idea of women shaving their pits and legs and no one removed body hair before then. (Yet they never acknowledge things like sugaring, waxing, plucking, and threading that goes back hundreds of years.) Hair removal goes all the way back to our caveman days. Our ancestors of all genders removed body, facial, and even head hair during warmer months using sharpened stones and shells, pitch from trees to rip it out at the roots, or rubbing it off with pumice stones or handfuls of sand. This prevented parasite infestations and skin infections. In the Renaissance European women plucked their eyebrows and hair along the forehead to make their foreheads appear bigger so people would think they had larger brains and therefore were smarter. Victorians wanted to "be as pure as marble statues" which meant removing ALL body hair. So yes, all genders of middle and upper class Victorians went full Brazilian. So all Gillette do was make it easier to remove your body hair. They didn't invent it.

"In the UK, for example, millions of people completely misunderstand key events in WW2 and Britain's part in it," he added. "Most British people have grown up with a narrative in which 'Little Britain' stood alone against the Nazis and that we were nearly invaded in 1940. That narrative ignores the fact that our navy was twice the size of theirs, and that Britain was the master of an enormous empire that could pull on vast resources of men and materials."

English continued: "Also, Churchill has been raised up to the point of deification in the UK. To question his role in events or to doubt that he is our greatest Briton has become a sort of test of how patriotic you are. This is a very narrow way of defining loyalty to the group."

#8

That Cleopatra was some sort of otherworldly beauty who mesmerized every man she met. Ancient historians were more impressed/scandalized by her intelligence and ability to manipulate as easily as she breathed, and it wasn't until centuries later than she began to develop this reputation as a [attractive] seductress. Cleopatra's ancestors were big fans of i****t (the sixteen roles of her great-great-grandparents were filled by just six individuals), and members of the Ptolemaic dynasty had a reputation for being...odd-looking. Cleopatra, reportedly, was above-average-looking compared to others in her family, but according to historians like Plutarch, the general consensus was that “her beauty… was in itself not altogether incomparable, nor such as to strike those who saw her.”

#9

People today live twice as long, on average, as people half a century ago. It was 33 in the middle ages and over 65 today. While technically true, it's not because people live twice as long. It's because less infants die. Without all the 0's factored in, the average has risen, even though people live roughly the same amount of time. Factor out infant mortality, and the increase is relatively minor, more like 60 vs 65.

#10

That corsets were uncomfortable for women and they moved organs and made women faint. Women wore corsets for hundreds of years, they were the precursor to the bra. They were for support, they were not solidly boned, they were actually quite flexible. All women wore them, high ladies of society, working women, old women, young women. They can actually be quite comfortable. The myths that most people know stem from very high ladies of fashion. Corsetry and tight lacing are two different things. Most women did not have 18in waists. Just like today, the women that were placed in ads are skinny and unattainable. People were not shaped differently.

Another generally accepted idea in the UK is "that 'we' got through the war because British people had a special 'Blitz spirit'. Politicians propagate this wartime propaganda as if it's an actual thing—and millions of people believe it." After all, repeat a lie a thousand times and people will think that it’s true. The author explained that "exceptionalism" is the belief that your people and nation are better than everyone else's, and, unfortunately, it is "very far from unique to the UK."

Plenty of people believe in false facts and bogus theories without understanding they are incorrect. Otto English mentioned that if you "get the past wrong, you get your present wrong too", so it is essential to find the truth behind such historical lies.

#11

I still hear that a lot of people believe the pyramids were built by slaves. They were not, they were paid workers. They even had benefits like bonuses and health care and the more skilled workers were allowed days off. (In ancient Egypt they had four categories that all careers fell into which are: manual work, administration, priesthood, military service.)

#12

That humanity happily left the struggles of hunting and gathering to gratefully pick up sedentary agriculture. Historical evidence suggests early states had to constantly round up farmers who decided that agriculture sucked and fled to be seminomadic or nomadic pastoralists and hunters. Thus early war's focus on taking slaves, which usually were resettled closer to state centers and integrated culturally. Agriculture was forced on most of humanity, not picked up as an improvement. Plenty of evidence also suggests that agriculture was much less energy efficient and ensured poor nutrition. Nomadic barbarians were often larger and healthier than antiquity farmers. Some anthropologists even think sedentary agriculture was a last ditch survival tool taken up during a climatological cataclysm and not seen as some technological progression by early humans. Neat stuff.

#13

The Romans only briefly held Britain, they had occupied it longer than the USA has been a country.

"Many Britons see themselves as the heroes of the saga of history and thus disregard our terrible and critical role in slavery and Empire building," he noted. "How nations see themselves in the present is inexorably linked to their collective view of their history."

The author continued by telling us that history is the mountain stream that feeds modern politics: "Nationalism is a growing problem across the world—from Russia to the USA, from China to Britain. A lot of the thinking in those countries is propped up on fake history and an exaggerated sense of their past achievements."

#14

That Edison was the one who invented the lightbulb but rather he just bought the blueprints from two men that I don’t remember the names of and then paid fifty people to finish it and took all the credit. Also the fact that he’s the one that we owe for many current inventions which were invited by Nikola Tesla. Mostly Edison was known as an inventor while in reality he was just a good business man who took all the opportunities that he could which some later on came back to bite his a** ( invention of the electric chair, and the experiments used to prove Tesla’s AC was dangerous so people would continue to use his DC system )

#15

That the Roman Empire fell in 476 AD and then it was the dark ages. In reality, a peasant living through 476 probably wouldn't have realized they were living through the end of one age and the start of another. The beginnings of feudalism had already started back during Diocletian's reign, barbarians warbands and barbarian roman troops had been a fact of life for generations. The barbarian king who deposed Augustulus still considered himself a rightful representative of the Empire, etc. In some ways, the fall of Rome was sudden and traumatic (the population of Rome itself absolutely cratered in the 400's, after all), but it was really more of a gradual, centuries long transition than a fall.

#16

That Napoleon was short, he was of average height by those times. French just used the different scale of measurement.

#17

That knights in plate mail were big, slow, clunky bruisers. In reality plate armor is actually easier to move around in than what we think of in video games as medium armor like chainmail. Why? Because its fitted to the wearer and held on with a complex collection of straps and belts. This distributes the weight evenly across the body. In comparison to chain mail (or samurai o-yoroi which often comes up when this is mentioned), this is far more comfortable as the others put weight straight on the arms and shoulders. In a similar vein, padded or cloth armor is often portrayed in games as the lowest form of protection but a properly made gamberson of such is actually surprisingly good protection. The layers of tough textile, often stitched so the weave is going in different directions each layer, actually can really stagger a slashing blow.

So if you start to feel worried and wonder whether you need to rethink your education, remember that you have a powerful fact-checking device right there in your pocket. "At your fingertips, you have more ability to check and check again than any of your ancestors," English said.

He added that if you fall for misinformation and lies in 2022, you can only blame yourself. Don’t get played "like a p**n in the global chess game" and "use that device to fight back and make sure that what you are being told is true. There are reliable histories and fabulous fact-checking websites like Snopes out there all just one click away—so there's no excuse to get conned."

#18

Almost anything involving the Library of Alexandria. No, the Library of Alexandria was not the sole repository of knowledge in the ancient world. There were many other great libraries such as the one in Pergamum as well as many, many other collections. No, we did not lose countless important works that could only be found there. The Library worked on copying works, and any important writings could easily be found in other libraries around the world. No, we wouldn't be living in a utopia if it didn't burn because it was the centre of learning. The Library was in serious decline for almost a century before it burned. When Ptolemy VIII banned all foreign scholars from Alexandria, they moved to other libraries, and as Ptolemaic rule became less stable and the position of head librarian became a political position the prestige of the Library faded. No, Julius Caesar did not burn it down on purpose. While he was besieged in Alexandria his troops set fire to some ships on the docks and the fire accidentally spread. However, it is unsure of how much of the Library was truly destroyed, as we know the Mouseion survived, and at any rate we know much was rebuilt later, with Mark Antony supposedly gifting some 200,000 scrolls to the Library, and Claudius built an additional to it during his reign. No, the Christian Crusaders did not burn down the Library because they hated knowledge. First of all they didn't even attack Alexandria during the major Crusades (they would during a later minor one) besides they would be almost a 1000 years too late, as the last recorded evidence of the Library dates back to the middle of the 3rd Century, and any vestiges of the Library, which would have been a minor shell of its hight as Roman and Greek scholarship had long moved to other centres. At any rate what remained would have been destroyed during either Aurilian's attack of the city in 272 CE or Diocletian's in 297 CE.

#19

Salieri and Mozart actually got along quite well. If they did have a rivalry, it was merely professional. Salieri didn't promise his chastity to god, or if he did he didn't follow through because he got married and had kids. Salieri didn't have to manipulate the emperor to earn favour with him. He was a well respected composer, and one of the richest men in the country at the time. Amadeus is a great film, but it's a good thing that it doesn't start with "based on a true story". At least it's honest... I'm looking at you Braveheart!

#20

That Marie Antoniette proclaimed "Let them eat cake." In reality it seems to have emerged from a short anecdote in an autobiography published by french (edit: Genevan born) philosopher Jean-Jacques Rosseau and is frequently misattributed to her.

"People believe in historical facts that are not true when those facts support their worldview," history teacher Rebecca Brenner Graham, Ph.D. told Bored Panda. "For example, if they want to ignore America's legacy of racism, they might insist that the Civil War was not about slavery, though the Articles of Secession leave no room for doubt that the Confederacy aimed primarily to protect slavery."

According to her, the truth behind historical facts matters because history has real power. "For example, too many Americans today insist that enslaving an entire Black population was only a sideshow in early American history, though in reality, it was foundational," she explained. Failing to observe "the horrors and traumas of American slavery causes too many people to overlook the legacies of slavery, like mass incarceration and police brutality today."

#21

That Ancient Greeks and Romans were super gay, or super OK with homosexuality. The first and most important point is that they did not conceive of sexuality in any way similar to how we do. They didn't think of it as defined strictly, or even most importantly, along gender lines. They viewed sexuality in terms of dominant and submissive, or, more crassly, the one doing the f*****g and the one being f**ked. This was also heavily tied to their public life and roles, as well. It was normal for men to sleep with other men, so long as the older man in a position of authority over the other man was the dominant partner in the relationship. For example, if a Senator had a relationship with a young assistant, or a general had a relationship with a lieutenant, that would not be seen as scandalous. However, if the roles were reversed, say the lieutenant were the one penetrating the general, that would be incredibly scandalous. Another thing to add on to this is that these were incredibly misogynistic cultures. So while it was normal for two men to be in a sexual relationship (under the conditions I described above), women were always the submissive partner in a sexual relationship. It was incredibly scandalous for two women to sleep together because that would be two submissive partners. Finally, sexual relationships and marriage were not quite as connected as we see them today. Sure, technically, you weren't supposed to have [intimacy] with anyone other than your spouse, but men quite regularly slept with many partners of both genders without much controversy. Men would have sexual relationships with both men and women outside their marriage. You were supposed to be discrete with your dalliances, and not carry on long term relationships with someone else when you were married, but that, too, was regularly ignored. Again, though, touching back on the misogyny, if a woman were to cheat on her husband that would be grounds for divorce. Marriage was always between a man and a woman. So even if a man had a relationship with another man, marriage between two men (or two women for that matter) was just incompatible with how they thought about marriage. That's not to say there weren't examples of men having long-term permanent romantic relationships with other men, just that they would never have considered marriage as a possibility or something they wanted. Now there were certainly people we would consider homosexual. The 2nd century Roman Emperor Hadrian, for example, was absolutely a homosexual. He had a long term romantic and sexual relationship with a man (much younger than him, by the way). He had a wife, but that was more for political and public image reasons than anything romantic or sexual. They had no children, and the ancient sources even suggest they never even had [intimacy]. The only thing that was notable about Hadrian's sexuality in his time is how public he was about carrying on a sexual relationship with someone other than his wife.

#22

The myth that Titanic was in any way badly designed, badly built, or badly operated - by the standards of the time. In fact there are so many crazy inaccuracies surrounding Titanic that it's hard to list them all here... But I'll give it a go! She was an incredibly seaworthy ship - probably moreso than any passenger ship around today. The iceberg damage stretched almost a third of the way down her side, and she still stayed afloat for more than two hours! In that time, all but two of her lifeboats were launched - there wasn't time to launch any more. She could have had a hundred more lifeboats on board, but that wouldn't have helped without vastly more crew to operate them. Titanic's passengers genuinely did believe that she was practically unsinkable. When the time came to begin loading the lifeboats, many thought they would be safer staying on Titanic. There wasn't time for the crew to wait around convincing more people to get in, so when a lifeboat was ready, if there was no-one else waiting to get in, it had to go. This is why so many of Titanic's lifeboats left only half-full - it's not just because the crew were worried about over-filling them. Titanic wasn't travelling too fast for the conditions - by the standards of practice around at the time. Further precautions were put into practice after the incident, but no-one on board can be blamed for doing what anyone on any ship would have done the same. Titanic was by no means a fast ship, nor was she ever intended to be. The White Star Line (Titanic's owners) were in competition with one other big shipping line, Cunard. Cunard's liners (Mauretania, Lusitania and later Aquatania) were the fastest in the business. To combat this, instead of fighting for speed, White Star decided to try to make their liners the most luxurious in the world. Olympic and Titanic were famed for their splendour and comfort - passengers said that it was easy to forget that you were at sea, as there were very few vibrations from the engines, and the ships remained stable even in fairly rough seas. By comparison, Cunard's liners were very fast, but their quadruple-screw configuration made vibration more apparent. It's a myth that Titanic was ever trying to make record-breaking speed across the Atlantic. She wasn't built using sub-standard materials. This rumour goes around a lot these days because of an article that was written some time ago; what the article is supposed to mean is that there is much better quality steel available today. This was not the case in 1909. Additionally, Titanic's builders were paid on a fee plus materials basis - they were given a set fee to construct the ship, plus the cost of all materials used. There was no incentive to use anything but the best steel they could get their hands on. The shipyard had an excellent reputation and would not risk tainting it by using bad steel, which could easily be noticed on inspection anyway. Titanic and her two sister ships Olympic and Britannic were also surprisingly manoeuvrable for their size - much moreso than was expected. Some will tell you that Titanic's rudder was too small, but this simply isn't true. In fact, Olympic's wartime captain marvelled at her manoeuvrability, and was even able to throw her into a sudden turn, ramming (and sinking) a German U-boat. Olympic was the first of only two merchant vessels throughout the First World War recorded to have sunk an enemy vessel. While it's true that the lookouts' binoculars were misplaced (or rather, locked away in a cabinet that no-one on board had the key to open), this made no difference to Titanic's fate. The images of sea captains and pirates scanning the horizon through telescopes, while common in films, has virtually no stead in reality. Binoculars and telescopes narrow your field of vision down to a fine point, making it harder to spot anything. Lookouts on real ships will use their eyes alone to search for objects of interest, and once they've been spotted, will u

#23

People believe, that the ex soviet union nations liked the soviet union and wanted to be annexed. the soviets treated the ex soviet countries badly. deportings every day. freedom of speech doesnt exist. you couldnt even show your countrys original flag.

If you have any doubts, Graham advised you to stick to the primary sources. "Archival documents, letters, political cartoons, speeches, and many more sources serve as evidence. As secondary sources interpret the past based on primary sources, they should cite them." As readers, we need to check how the author supports their points.

"At the same time, listen to people from marginalized communities about their family histories. Oral traditions can help to fill holes in the source base," she concluded.

#24

That Iceland was named Iceland by the vikings to try to try to trick colonists into not colonizing when in fact the reason is that when the first people landed on iceland it was winter and the viking that named it saw a lot of ice and promptly named it as such

#25

That Anne Boleyn had six fingers. She would have never been a lady in waiting to Catherine of Aragon, or even a mistress to Henry if she did, as it would be considered an imperfection. Most of it was made up after she was executed.

#26

People believe the Catholic Church was routinely anti-science. In reality the church sponsored an lot of science. For example the big bang theory was the product of a Catholic priest and encountered atheist resistance because they thought it sounded too much like creation.

You might also like: 40 smart inventions that failed because no one understood them

19 World Cup Stars So Handsome, Fans Can’t Stop Talking About Them

Rocio Corsi — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 22:41:12 +0000

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already given fans plenty to talk about, from dramatic upsets and breakout stars to unforgettable goals.

But for many viewers, the action on the pitch isn’t the only thing grabbing attention.

Earlier, Bored Panda rounded up The Most Handsome Footballers At The World Cup, Including Trilingual King And Underwear Model, and readers made it clear that narrowing the list down was nearly impossible.

With 48 national teams competing across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, this year’s tournament has introduced fans to an endless lineup of talented, handsome players turning heads on and off the field.

Among those generating major buzz have been Rodrigo De Paul, Kai Havertz, and Leandro Paredes.

But these are the only ones. This year’s World Cup has brought in younger players who became overnight internet crushes, and social media has been flooded with edits, fan cams, and admiration posts throughout the tournament.

The World Cup has always been about more than football. Every four years, the competition introduces the world to new personalities, unexpected heroes, and players whose charisma extends far beyond their performances on the pitch.

And this year’s edition has been no different.

As fans continue tuning in for the drama, many have also found themselves keeping a close eye on the players lighting up timelines around the globe.

Here are 20 World Cup stars who have been driving fans wild throughout the tournament.

#1 Diogo Costa, Portugal

#2 Piero Hincapié, Ecuador

#3 Richard Ríos, Colombia

#4 Dominik Szoboszlai, Hungary

#5 Théo Hernández, France

#6 Rodrigo De Paul, Argentina

#7 Antonio Sanabria, Paraguay

#8 Kai Havertz, Germany

#9 Achraf Hakimi, Morocco

#10 Marcos Llorente, Spain

#11 Raúl Jiménez, Mexico

#12 Jurgen Locadia, Curaçao

#13 Leandro Paredes, Argentina

#14 Rúben Dias, Portugal

#15 William Saliba, France

#16 Yuito Suzuki, Japan

#17 Federico Viñas, Uruguay

#18 Milad Mohammadi, Iran

#19 Elijah Just, New Zealand

33 Uplifting Facts That Are Actually Really Nice To Think About

Asli Akalin — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:46:02 +0000

The world can be unfair and cruel—often more than we realize or care to admit.

But even in the midst of all the heartbreak and injustice, there’s still plenty of good, and that’s worth holding onto. So we’ve gathered some of the most wholesome facts people have shared on Reddit to remind you that kindness, joy, and hope still exist. Hopefully, they’ll bring a little warmth to your day and lift your spirits. Enjoy!

And as you scroll, don’t miss our conversation positive psychology coach Kelly Phinn for practical tips on building habits that encourage a brighter outlook on life.

More info: Website | Linkedin

Click here & follow us for more lists, facts, and stories.

#1

Hundreds of retired Japanese engineers volunteered to fix the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima power station so young people wouldn’t have to be subjected to the radiation.

#2

Pandas aren't on the endangered species list anymore.

#3

The Netherlands sends Canada 20,000 tulip bulbs every year to thank them for their help during WWII.

Getting a break from bad news and stress, even for a moment, can be a relief. But the truth is, we have more control over our mindset than we realize. By being intentional about our mental space, we can create more joy in our daily lives. To learn how, Bored Panda reached out to positive psychology coach Kelly Phinn.

“We can begin with a simple gratitude practice each day,” Phinn suggests. “Doing so will elevate our positive emotions so we can start our day in a more positive frame of mind.”

She recommends committing to the “Three Good Things” practice:

Find three good things in your day that you’re grateful for, no matter how big or small.
Journal them at the end of the day and reflect on why you’re grateful for each one.
“This will train your brain to focus on the good,” explains Phinn.

Another helpful habit is positive affirmations. “Upon waking, tell your brain, ‘Today is going to be a good day.’” At night, as you settle into bed, think about what went well and let your Three Good Things be the last thoughts before you fall asleep.

#4

All of Mr Rogers sweaters were knit by his mother.

#5

Volvo created the three point seatbelt, but specifically gave away the patent and information so that it could save as many lives as possible.

> The reason the three-point seatbelt is so widely adopted is actually because Volvo opened up the patent so that any car manufacturer could use it in their design. They decided that the invention was so significant, it had more value as a free life saving tool than something to profit from.

> Volvo’s managing director Alan Dessell is quoted as saying: “The decision to release the three-point seat belt patent was visionary and in line with Volvo’s guiding principle of safety.”.

#6

The Mars rover sings happy birthday to itself every year.

The people you surround yourself with play a major role in your overall well-being. To feel more supported and energized, Phinn recommends seeking out “your positive cheerleaders—those who lift your spirits and your energy, and those who give a listening ear when you need it the most.”

At the same time, it’s important to step away and recharge. “Protect your energy, turn off the news, filter out the noise on social media, take a break from your phone,” Phinn advises. “Simply sit in silence, even for five minutes. Spend time in nature—step outside, take a deep breath and think thankful thoughts. Remind yourself, ‘I am exactly where I need to be right now.’”

Doing something kind for someone else without expecting anything in return can also have a powerful effect. “This is the ultimate positivity boost!” Phinn adds.

#7

The number of public libraries in the US is far greater than the number of McDonald's.

#8

Humpback Whales instinctively protect other small sea creatures from Orcas. Apparently it's a mechanism that originates from wanting to keep their babies safe but this means they will also rush over and protect Seals and even fish from the scary predators.

#9

Studies show that cats love people more than food.

#10

J M Barrie gave all the rights to Peter Pan to Great Ormond Street Hospital, a hospital dedicated towards the intensive care for children, in 1929, and this was later confirmed when he died in 1937.

Since then the hospital has received royalties every time a production of the play is put on, as well as from the sale of Peter Pan books and other products.

While the copyright of the Peter Pan has expired in the United Kingdom, it was granted a special exception under the Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988 that requires royalties to be paid for commercial performances, publications and broadcasts of the story of Peter Pan within the UK, as long as Great Ormond Street Hospital.

#11

There is a waiting list for Belgian families to adopt graves in the US military cemeteries in Belgium. Families have taken care of the same graves for decades.

#12

Dogs have learned to understand laughter.

#13

Choctaw Native Americans raised $170 to send to Ireland in 1847 to help provide relief during the Irish famine. This was only 15 years after they lost their land and 50% of their population died on the Trail of Years.

#14

People are training rats to detect landmines. The rats are too light to set the mines off and can small the explosive compound extremely well. The rats detect and mark each mine for a reward treat. The rats are very fast and can clear an area 3 times faster then use of electronic mine sweepers and with higher accuracy.

#15

Rabbits will jump and dance when happy. It's called a binky. They also gently grind their teeth when they like how you pet them. Oh! If a rabbit throws itself onto one side, feet kicked out, it feels safe around you.

That's three facts, but, like rabbits, these things multiply.

Also, rabbits can be litter trained! They can also learn simple tricks, like coming when called, hopping in a circle, and jumping over obstacles!

#16

Whales will bring their whale babi0es to visit heir grandparent whales. So like a whale will have a baby, and that whale will have a baby, and the first whale will help care for the youngest whale.

#17

When cats rub their little face against you, they're claiming you as their property. They also have specific meows for humans (they create this on their own and is specific to their human). They also bring their owners dead animals because they don't think we know how to hunt.

#18

Beavers are *incredible*. They're not just huge, adorable rodents with log cabins. Their tree-chomping and dam-building alters whole ecologies, effecting animal migrations and plant life for miles around. They're environmental engineers, architects, and look at those tails!

#19

Astronomer here! I always get a warm and fuzzy feeling remembering that all the elements in us and in everything around us, save hydrogen and a little helium, were forged billions of years ago in a star. Carl Sagan said it best when he said this meant "we are all star stuff.".

#20

Last time Liechtenstein went to war, they sent 80 soldiers to Italy to fight against Prussia. 81 came back, since none of the soldiers died and they brought an Italian "friend" with them.

#21

Otters hold hands while asleep to stop drifting away from each other.

#22

Dogs look at you when they p**p because they're in a defenseless position thus trusting you to protect them if a dangerous situation occurs.

#23

After Heath Ledger's death, who was still filming The Imaginariam of Doctor Parnassus, Terry Gilliam (writer and director of the film) thought the film was over. That was until he had the idea to for Jude Law, Colin Farrell, and Johnny Depp (all close friends with Ledger) to be brought in to play Ledger's character after transformations. They all said yes with out hesitation, opted to redirect their wages to Ledger's family.

Bonus fact, Tom Cruise showed interest in playing one of these character transformations, but was turned down as he had never been a close friend of Ledger's. Gilliam is quoted saying "I just wanted to keep this [in the] family—it's as simple as that [...] There were people even offering to come and help, they didn't know Heath. It had to be in the family somehow, I don't know why; it was my attitude".

#24

Waaay late to the party, but children who are deaf, and raised by deaf parents will sign repetitive sounds and words at about the same rate hearing babies acquire language. Deaf babies basically sign goo-goo ga-ga the same way hearing children babble when developing language.

#25

I was on vacation in Germany over spring break. They have these "frog fences". These fences keep the frogs from crossing the roads and getting run over. At the end of the day somebody comes by and gathers the frogs and helps them cross the road.

#26

Sometimes when they're out gathering, bees will fall asleep in flowers.

#27

I've seen a lot of fireflies lately. Haven't seen them since I was a kid in the 70s.

#28

When babies first start to smile, they do it because they notice it makes their caregivers smile back. They do their best to make you happy.

Babies cry in their native language. That is, babies born to French speaking parents cry with different tonal patterns than babies born to parents that speak English or Arabic or German.

#29

Even though they're mostly seen as an annoyance, Pigeons are extremely faithful.

They mate for life and if their mate dies, they don't take another.

Almost makes me want to feel respectful of them when they build their nest on my balcony. Almost.

Then they s**t all over my patio furniture.

#30

The nation of Bhutan doesn't report GDP but instead Gross Happiness.

#31

Central Park Zoo had a bonded gay pair of male chinstrap penguins, Roy and Silo. They carried around and attempted to hatch a rock like an egg, so the zookeepers gave them an abandoned egg to care for. They had a baby called Tango!

Goats will learn the name humans give to them and will respond to it.

Gentoo penguins make their intent known to their beloved by giving them the nicest pebble they can find, and then they mate for life.

Seahorses mate for life, travel with their mate by entwining tails, and the male seahorse carries and labors the baby seahorses.

Male puppies will let female puppies win during play fighting so that they can spend more time with her.

Worms like to snuggle each other.

Female elephants dig a pit when they're in heat, line up tasty fruits and leaves around the border of the pit, then lay in it and trumpet softly to attract their mate. They breed over a period of a few days, and eat the fruit to keep up their energy.

Dolphins have "names", which is a specific whistle pattern that is unique to the dolphin. Other dolphins will mimic these patterns to get the attention of the dolphin they want.

Baby chimpanzees make dolls out of sticks, and have been recorded playing make-believe with the poppets: scolding them, rocking them, pretending to bathe and feed them, and putting them to bed.

Sheep recognize human facial expressions and will exhibit happiness if they're smiled at by their caretaker.

Polar bears will share their meal with other polar bears, but only if the other bears ask politely by touching nose-to-nose.

Baby elephants [be bad] on the tip of their trunk as a comfort stim, similar to how babies and children will [be bad] their thumb or fingers.

Giraffe moms will travel all the way back to their own birthplace to give birth to their babies.

Macaque monkeys have snowball fights!

Mayor Stubbs has been the mayor in a town in Alaska for the past fifteen years! He is also a marmalade tabby cat.

Grizzly bears, upon setting out on their own as adults, will mark territory as close to their mother's territory as possible. Grizzlies just love they mamas!

Unborn chicks are able to communicate to their mother and siblings while still in the egg.

There are dedicated babysitters in wolf packs. They stay in a group and protect the pups of the pack while the parents hunt.

#32

I always liked the story of Leo Messi and his wife. He is probably one of the most famous and richest stars in the world (he is a big footballer/soccer player). He had to leave his home country, Argentina, as a young teenager because he had pretty severe medical problems and a Spanish club offered to pay the treatments if he joined. He always was in love with the cousin of his best friend from home, and as soon as he was old enough to be able to afford to go back to Argentina regularly he went back to woo her and they fell for each other.

They kept the relationship secret for a long time, so nobody knows how long they have really been together, but it's at least ten years (since they were 19 or 20). He never wanted some super model or big star, just her. They seem to have a really happy, peaceful life together with two little boys. He almost completely shields them from public life, insisting they live just as a normal family. Part of this means that he doesn't reveal much in interviews, but it's clear that for all his professional success, being a husband and a father is what he cares about most.

EDIT: Added wholesomeness, after ten official years together, they finally got officially (or at least publically) married, [with their 5-year-old standing up for them](https://www.instagram.com/p/BWYLqnyB60x/?taken-by=antoroccuzzo88).

#33

There's a post office at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, because there's people who live down there, and the post office is required to deliver the mail to every citizen in the U.S.

They have to hike the mail in using people or mules. Apparently they get Amazon packages and junk mail, just like all the rest of us.

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48 Subscription Scams That Got Exposed By Furious Customers

Asli Akalin — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:40:03 +0000

These days, it seems there’s a subscription for everything—from music and video streaming to photo editing, and even monthly boxes of exotic snacks. Signing up is a breeze, but canceling? That’s where the trouble begins.

Companies know the harder it is to stop paying for their services, the more money they’ll make from people who either don’t realize they’re subscribed or are too busy to opt out.

The folks you’re about to hear from faced unreal difficulties with hidden fees and impossible cancellation methods. We’ve rounded up some of their most outrageous experiences below. Check them out and share your own subscription battles in the comments!

Click here & follow us for more lists, facts, and stories.

#1 People Are Sick And Tired Of All Their Subscriptions. Well Played, The Wall Street Journal, Well Played

#2 Walmart Is Charging Me 10 Days Before The Free Trial Ends. This Is Why I Don't Use My Bank Card For Free Trials. I Also Keep It Locked, Just In Case. Google Is Bad About Doing This Too

The average American spends almost a thousand dollars each year on subscriptions. With so many to keep track of, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the costs, but stopping them is a whole other challenge. Some companies create entire obstacle courses before you can finally click cancel. The New York Times, for example, is notorious for making you talk to a customer representative on the phone or endure a tedious online chat, as you can’t end your subscription directly through their website.

#3 After Going Through Five Pages To Cancel Your $4 New York Times Subscription You Get This

#4 Netflix Hides The "Happy Middle-Ground" Option To Entice People Into The Most Expensive Subscription

In some cases, businesses make their cancellation processes so confusing they end up facing legal action. Last year, Amazon was sued by the US government over how hard it is to cancel Prime and claims of ‘nonconsensual enrollment.’

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accused Amazon of repeatedly pushing customers to sign up for Prime during their shopping journey, often using big, eye-catching buttons for enrollment and tiny, easy-to-miss links to decline. The suit claims these Prime offers were often not clearly labeled, leading consumers to think they were choosing free shipping or a trial, not realizing they were agreeing to a paid subscription.

#5 My Free Subscription To Paramount+ Is Up Tomorrow And So I Was Going To Cancel Today. No Matter How Many Times I Try, Or Reset My Browser, It Won’t Let Me. This Has To Be Illegal, Right?

#6 I Don’t Print Much So I Canceled My Subscription… Now I Print Even Less

#7 HelloFresh Now Forces You To Talk To A Sales Rep If You Want To Cancel Your Subscription

With such deceptive marketing techniques, it’s no wonder people get so frustrated. Fortunately, the FTC is stepping in to help. In 2023, they proposed a ‘click to cancel rule,’ which would force businesses to make unsubscribing as easy as signing up.

“I’m sure this is an experience that all of you can relate to, where you tried to cancel a subscription and the company has made you jump through an endless number of hoops,” commented FTC Chair Lina Khan. “Companies should not be able to manipulate consumers into paying for subscriptions that they don’t want.”

#8 Trying To Cancel A Subscription, And Suddenly This Happens

#9 Ultimate Guitar Costs More For A Year If You Use The 7-Day Free Trial

#10 This Should Be Illegal. If You Allow People To Sign Up For A Plan On Your Mobile Device Or App, You Should Be Forced To Allow People To Cancel The Same Way

The ‘click to cancel rule’ is still in the works, but if it goes through, it will put an end to in-person visits, handwritten letters, and hours spent on hold on the phone. Companies would also have to clearly inform consumers they’re signing up for a paid service, get users’ explicit consent, and remind them before services automatically renew.

#11 For Weeks I Couldn’t Figure Out How To Unsubscribe

#12 I Keep Canceling, And For Some Reason, The Membership Keeps Continuing. This Is Already The Third Time I’m Canceling My Membership

#13 Netflix Won't Let Me Watch The Last Few Weeks Of My Subscription Without Resubscribing. There's No Option To Continue Watching Without Selecting A New Plan

Making it easier to end subscriptions could actually be beneficial for businesses in the long run. Some providers who are already transparent about their policies say honesty has helped them retain more customers.

“We had fewer cancellation requests, more saves, and less customer service time,” says Alex Brown, CEO of sustainable cleaning supplies subscription firm Truly Free. “That’s given us the latitude to take a little bit of the pressure off of them, and I think it’s caused more of them to come back in the future too.”

#14 My $400 Baby Monitor Has Locked Previously Free Features Behind A Monthly Subscription

The app used to send push notifications when the baby woke up. Now I have to pay $10 per month for that privilege.

#15 The Website For My Physics College Textbook Has A Subscription For The Solution Of Questions

#16 Imagine Paying For A Subscription And There Are 5 Unskippable Ads In A Non-Live Show On Hulu

While some companies have made the shift to be more honest and straightforward, others still use sneaky tactics to keep customers locked in. Personal finance expert Clark Howard offers some tips on handling your subscriptions.

“It requires a mental reset,” Howard says. He suggests reviewing your checking and credit card statements every three months to spot recurring charges you might have forgotten about. If there’s something you no longer use, cancel it.

#17 My New Truck Requires A $15/Month Data Plan To Use Features My Previous Model Did For Free (Maps, Basic Voice Commands, Text-To-Voice Messages)

#18 The Color Scheme Of This Email Spotify Sent Me

#19 Get Your 7-Day Free Trial For The Amazing Price Of 200 Dollars

More importantly, Howard urges consumers to research new services and their cancellation policies before enrolling. Look beyond the service’s website for its cancellation policy and see if there are any complaints about it. It might take some time, but it will save a lot of hassle in the future. “You have to look at how you get divorced before you get married,” he says.

#20 I'm Not Paying A [darn] Subscription To Watch DVDs On My PC

#21 Can’t Reset My Yahoo Password Because I Have A New Number. Went Online And Read That It’s A Premium Feature Now

I called a customer representative and was told I had to pay a monthly subscription fee for that service (he told me the price was $12.95).

#22 The Button To End Subscription Doesn’t Work

The FTC also recommends watching for prechecked boxes when making a purchase online, as they may sign you up for products or services you don’t want unless you uncheck them. If you cancel a subscription but are still being charged, dispute it with your credit card company and file a complaint on the FTC’s website.

#23 I Just Wanted To Cancel My Subscription, But Now I Have To Talk To Someone

#24 Learn How Subscriptions Are Getting Out Of Hand (Only For Our Subscribers)

#25 No "None" Option On An Unsolicited Email Subscription

So, the next time you consider starting a new subscription, remember to do your homework and stay vigilant about hidden charges. Hopefully, in the future, better consumer protection policies like the ‘click to cancel rule’ will make managing subscriptions easier and more transparent for everyone.

#26 We Refuse Your Unsubscribe

#27 Adobe Must Be Joking... £109.82 To Cancel My Plan. Honestly Ridiculous

#28 They're Trying To Make Us Pay Subscriptions On Everything. Greedy Companies

#29 Brand New Toyota Requires A Subscription

#30 The App I Paid Money For Discontinued Because Their New App Is Subscription-Based

#31 I Canceled My Netflix Subscription Last July Because I Didn't Want To Use It Anymore, And Ever Since, They Have Barraged Me With These Emails, Trying To Get Me To Come Back

#32 CAPTCHA To Uninstall And The Big Cancel Button Instead Of Continuing

#33 A Monthly Subscription And An App Are Required For Filtered Water

#34 HP Printers Won’t Let You Print Without A Subscription Even After You Buy The Printer

#35 Water Subscription At My Local Gym

#36 Can't Cancel My Subscription. Whenever I Try, It Always Leads Me To This Screen

#37 UltimateGuitar Shows A Fake Tutorial Video With The Title Of The Song You're Trying To Learn. Clicking It Just Brings You To The Sign-Up Page For Their Premium Subscription

#38 This App Doesn’t Tell You The Full Price Of A Subscription Until You Buy It And Start Paying It

#39 So I Paid $250 For A Fitbit Watch And Half Of Its Features Are Behind A Subscription Paywall

#40 What The H**l, Disney?

#41 Tried Canceling My Newspaper Subscription Online

#42 Imagine Paying $499 Just To Not Get A Single Match

#43 What’s The Point Of Paying For A Subscription? What’s The Point Of Paying For The Premium Family Plan If I Have To Pay More To Use It? I Hate Everything About This

#44 Is This Even Legal? Accept Cookies Or Pay 2.5€/Month

#45 Snapchat+ Says That You Save More With Their More Expensive Subscription Because You Get A Discount For The First 3 Months

#46 PlayStation Now Is A Joke. Pay For A Subscription And Then You Have To Wait In A Queue To Play

#47 Adobe Makes It So You Can't Cancel Your Subscription. Instead, You’re Forced To Contact Them Because There Is No "Cancel Plan" Option

#48 Tried To Cancel My Subscription Since My School Started Offering Access Two Weeks Into The Semester

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30 People Share Breaking Points That Mean You Need To Quit Your Job

Asli Akalin — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:43:02 +0000

If you are on the fence about your job, some HR specialists recommend something called the Sunday evening test. The simplified version goes like this, if you start to have a gentle feeling of dread for seemingly no immediate reason on a Sunday (assuming you don’t work weekends), it might mean you really need to start applying to other places.

Some internet users shared their own stories in this online group. We reached out to Alan at Undercover Recruiter to learn some more about red flags when searching for a job, to hopefully avoid some of the problems listed by internet users here. And if you want to keep reading job horror stories, Bored Panda has you covered, check out our other articles here and here.

Click here & follow us for more lists, facts, and stories.

#1

When you dread going to bed because you know you have to get up and go to work tomorrow.

#2

When the new person who was just hired is making more money than you.

#3

I was having a root canal. The doctor asked why I was smiling. Told him because I wasn’t at work. That’s when I knew it was time to quit

We asked Undercover Recruiter about some potential red flags in the job application itself. “This is a tricky one, because what makes a workplace terrible for one person might make it a great place for someone else. For example, the phrases 'like a family', and 'highly social' suggest that it's the kind of company where they hold a weekly potluck, and a 'happy hour' after work every Friday.”

“Some people love that. For an introvert, though, that kind of place would be horrible. A lot of very formal, bureaucratic language in a job posting - more like a job description than an advertisement - suggests that the company is highly structured, with a lot of processes and procedures. That's great if you enjoy working in those kinds of environments. If you thrive with more flexibility, though, it's probably not somewhere you'll enjoy working.”

#4

When the paycheck is late or bounces

#5

On Thursday my boss let me know I have to prove I’m worth my barely livable wage, so we’re going to have a meeting every day next week to see how I’m going to make the company more money. I had two interviews today.

#6

If they refuse to respect your health or your family’s.

“Generally, though, there are a few things that almost always indicate problems. A really vague job description - one that leaves you wondering what the actual duties are - is a bad sign. When a company is hiring, they should have a very clear idea of what they want the person to do, and should be able to articulate that. Spelling and grammar mistakes aren't a good thing. It suggests disorganization and a lack of attention to detail, in a public-facing place where everything should be pretty much perfect. Lastly, I'd recommend avoiding a company that emphasizes 'future earning potential' over the current compensation. Even in a sales position where commissions are part of the package, an initial offer should still be competitive,” they added as something to be on the lookout for.

#7

When you dont care if you get fired.

#8

When they say “and if you don’t like it, there’s the door.” I always take the door. It’s my hard red line.

#9

When none of the employees have been there a year, but all the managers have been their 20+ years.

Now, what about if you are already in a job, what might be some danger signs that it’s time to leave? “The big one to watch for, particularly at a time when we're (possibly) heading into a recession, is silence. If owners and managers begin having closed door meetings and hushed phone conversations, this can be a warning sign that the company is in financial trouble. This doesn't guarantee that your job is in jeopardy, of course, but this would be a good reason to at least keep your options open.”

#10

I'm a mechanic. One day I was at a yard sale, looking at some old tools. I started chit-chatting with the seller and he asked me where I worked. I hesitated for a minute, then said "I work for ...... one of the local tree services". He replied "You work for (company name), don't you?" I replied "Yes, how did you know?. He said "You were too ashamed to admit it". He was right. I put in my notice the following week.

#11

I am OUT if someone in authority has anger issues / yells at employees.

#12

When they start giving you more responsibilities with flashy new title, without any raise in pay.

“On a similar note, a lack of feedback at an individual level can be a warning sign that you're about to be let go. It might not be because of your job performance; the company might just be looking at cutting back in some areas. But if your manager seems to be avoiding you - giving you no feedback at all - it can be a sign that they're starting to cut ties. In that case, it's best to address it directly with your manager. To specifically ask for feedback on your performance, and 'read between the lines' for things you should be concerned about. Finally, a mass exodus at the management level is almost always a bad sign. If two, three, or more executives suddenly depart, and there's no good explanation for it, that's a good time to start brushing up your resume. People in management have the inside take on what's happening with the company. If they're leaving en masse, they probably know something you don't.”

#13

When a customer talks to you like garbage/sexually assaults you/does anything to treat you like a non human and management does not do anything about it.

#14

I've only ever walked out from 1 job. I decided to quit when I started getting to work early but ended up late because I would sit in my car dreading to go in.

#15

Invasive thoughts about work while at home and off the clock.

Alan was kind enough to share some other details and tips for those either looking for a new job or planning to leave their current employer. “First, no matter how bad a workplace was, remember that in future interviews, it's best to avoid being too negative. Complaining about your previous managers, or the company as a whole, can come off the wrong way. You can mention issues, of course (nobody leaves a great job that they love, after all), just remember that you're best to temper those with some positive attributes about the job. Secondly, when you're looking for a job and worried about 'red flags', review sites like Glassdoor are great... when you use them correctly. Remember that disgruntled employees are more likely to leave a review than happy ones. So just because a company has negative reviews doesn't mean that it's necessarily a bad place to work. Instead of just looking for the number of good vs. bad reviews, read a bunch of them and look for themes. If there's a common thread - employees being expected to work consistently long hours, to be available all hours of the day, for example - you'll pick up on it.”

#16

When they layoff the nicest, most loyal and experienced person in your department. That told me it was about his salary and nothing more. If they are cutting costs like that…time to go. It’ll only get worse.

#17

When my boss doesn’t trust me to do the job they hired me to do without breathing down my neck or micromanaging me. If you don’t trust me to do the specific thing you hired me for then do the s**t yourself.

#18

When you absolutely dread getting up in the morning, or are so stressed in the evenings that you can't sleep.

We also reached out to Nidhi Nagori, a career and finance expert to ask some more questions about bad workplaces. "The job description should not be very demanding. Candidates must match the job expectations with the pay being offered and the designation, and must analyze if the role is actually doable by one person. I've seen organizations dump too many responsibilities in one role, making it overwhelming for one person to perform. So always match the role against pay, doability, and seniority. If they are asking for too much, no matter what the pay on offer, it is not a good role because they are setting you up for failure," was what she recommended people look out for when assessing a potential job.

#19

When I start crying on the drive home

#20

When I am stressing my family because I cannot stop venting about how work is stressing me.

#21

When you have to be heavily medicated with anti depressants and multiple different anxiety meds. That's the boat I'm currently in

She also had some other tips for people job-searching. "As important as salary is, do not make your job about it. I have done it and suffered. Chase good people. Because good people attract growth, evolution, and money. This could mean people who can teach you, are invested in you, respect you, intellectually stimulate you, and make you believe in your career more each day."

We also asked her what might be some danger signs people should look out for while they are at a company. "If you are always looking forward to the weekend, have no interest in knowing how the top management is running the business, do not enjoy the company of your colleagues, feel extremely demotivated on Mondays, do not feel your supervisors are looking after your growth, do not align with the objectives of the organization - a mix of these is a good time to move out."

#22

When your boss happens to ‘forget’ about your planned vacation and wants you to work. Especially when it was discussed months ahead of time.

#23

Getting gaslight by a boss and seeing management close ranks to protect each other.

#24

When you are bringing home your frustration and it's impacting your personal relationships.

#25

When I start absolutely hating even waking up in the morning…I don’t like working in general, but when I start hating life every single day, I’m leaving.

#26

When things don’t change, there’s no progression in your position, and those with less experience are getting promoted to better positions over the ones with experience. Hence why I submitted my request for a lay off this afternoon. Too many options out there to stay stagnant

#27

When all you can think about is how frustrated you are, or how much you wished you weren’t there, or how much you hate your coworkers.

#28

When I get an offer for more money.

#29

Everyone should be looking constantly just to see what the market currently is. Money wise I'm leaving as soon as I can make a significant amount more than I currently do unless I really like everything else about my job then I'm going to try and get a raise and see what happens. Other than money the fastest way I'm looking for a job is when management starts going on a micro managing crusade. I don't need you hovering over me all day. Give me some metrics to hit and leave me to do my job.

#30

Management changing hands constantly.

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26 Fascinating Math Calculations That Serve Absolutely No Purpose

Asli Akalin — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:42:02 +0000

Mathematics as a concept—not even a discipline, though that too—is one of those things that is both science but also magic at the same time.

Science, because, d’uh, but magic because just look at the kind of mind-boggling shenanigans you can get into by simply assuming that one divided by three is one third, and one third is 0.(3) and times 3 it’s 0.(9). Who Houdinied that extra 0.(1) away?!

But outside the wonder that this scientific “logic” provides, it’s pretty much useless. And you bet there’s a dedicated community around useless math online—well, useless, but interesting.

Click here & follow us for more lists, facts, and stories.

#1 One 9 Inch Pizza vs. Two 5 Inch Pizzas

#2 How Tall Would This Tree Have Been, And How Visible Would It Have Been?

"So the ave stump height is cut to 0.45 m. Let's assume an oak, with an ave height of 20m. Thats about 2.3% of overall height. This tree would therefore be around 11.7km high using that ratio. Almost high enough to tickle the stratosphere at 12km So if I used the horizon calculator right, you could still see the [jerk] 387km away EDIT: Just to answer a few of the many questions. In American that'd be about 7.3miles, or 13,760 washing machines"

#3 A Natural Headache Cure

So, there’s a community on Reddit called r/TheyDidTheMath, which captions itself as “useless, yet interesting calculations.” The description smugly points out “and they said math has no real world applications.”

The subreddit is ranked in the top 1% on the platform and boasts 1.4 million members.

#4 What Does His Shirt Say

"The quote is "I'm [attractive] and I know it" sqrt(1+tan^2) can be verbalized as "sec" and so this formula is the "sec of c" "I'm sec C and I know it""

#5 Is This True?

"They’re called crinkle crankles. A single leaf wall over that distance would need brick piers approx every 1.5-2m if it was a retaining wall it would need to be at least 9” wide (2 bricks). The crinkle crankle has more strength due to it’s curved nature so can be 4” wide or a single leaf of bricks. For the maths if we can assume they’re true semi-circles then each semi circle would be 1/2piD or 1.57D whereas a double leaf wall would be 2D for the same length D Therefore using 21.5% less bricks than a double leaf wall"

#6 Approximately How Large Would The Car Have To Be In Order To Be That Curved?

"Quick eyeballing suggests a curvature of about 30°; that's 1/12th of a full circle, so given that the Earth's circumference is just over 40,000 km, the car would have to be about 3333 km long, or about the driving distance from Chicago to Los Angeles, or about 5.5 million washing machines (in case you're too American to understand kilometers)."

You can say the subreddit deals in very situational and contextual math where you’d probably only be able to use it in very niche cosmological occasions.

Like calculating the amount of toilet paper you’d need for 14 days of quarantine. Or what all the humans as fine goo would look like in Central Park. Or the number of small pizzas you’d need to substitute a large pizza. OK, that last one sounds useful.

#7 How Much Does This Kitten Weigh?

"One source says the “minimum actuation force” of a key is 47.6 grams. If we assume the kitten is standing on 4 keys (only one per paw) 4*47.6 is 190.4 grams or 0.4 pounds. Ao the kitten would be under that weight. It appears that the kitten is standing on more than 4 keys though so maybe 1/2 pound."

#8 How Many Combinations Of 9 Ingredients Are Possible. Using All 9 At Once Is Not Required

"Each ingredient can either be included or not -- that's 2 possibilities. Multiply out all 9 ingredients and we have 29 = 512 in total. I presume you'd want to exclude the 1 possibility where none of the ingredients are included, so that leaves 511."

#9 Is This True And If Yes How Deos It Work?

"Quite the opposite, it will leave you with less sandwich. Since no cut is perfect, some of the sandwich molecules will stay on the knife or there is more crumbs on the cutting board. Therefore, cutting on a diagonal (longest cut) will dislodge more material of the sandwich than cutting along shorter line"

Bored Panda has reached out to the founder of the subreddit, r/FragTheWhale, who was more than happy to tell us more about r/TheyDidTheMath.

"I was a part of the tool subreddit, r/toolband, and someone had made an actual calculated, in-depth analysis of a Tool lyric 'slide a mile six inches at a time on Maynard's [ding-dong]' and what length of time it would take," elaborated Frag. "Loved the idea so much, I created a subreddit for it with 1.54 million subs!"

#10 How Much Would This Actually Cost?

"Return flight JFK - Madrid: ~€750 Minimum income in Spain: €850/mo; 24 months amount to €20400. We'll assume that since a lot of people in Spain have to make do with this much, you will figure it out too. Learning Spanish is pretty straightforward, if you live in Spain for 2 years, you're practically guaranteed to pick up enough of it to get by, but let's say you spend €100 on a couple textbooks and a dictionary, just to get you started. Depending on where in the US you live, there might even be a solid chance that you already speak the language, after all it's the country's second language, with more speakers in the US than in Spain. You will also be spending a bit on visas and other bureaucratic requirements, let's call that another €200. Running with the bulls and getting trampled can be had for free. And then there's the hip replacement itself, at $7,371, or €7074. However, depending how you play it, you could actually take a minimum-wage job in Spain, and qualify for public healthcare, in which case the hip replacement might actually be covered. But let's just assume you have to pay for it out of pocket (which, frankly, is a pretty unusual thing in Europe, and typically only happens when people have to get treatement abroad and the insurance situation hasn't been figured out, or for a couple religious weirdos who object against having health insurance on moral grounds). So let's ring you up; grand total: €28524, that's about $29700. Not only does it fit comfortably into the US figure, you even have some $12,000 to spare"

#11 I’ve Always Wondered How Much Money Walt Actually Had

"Assuming those are $100 bill stacks at $10,000 each. I count 12 stacks across and 15 stacks deep and assuming that each stack is ~0.5 inches tall with a total height of ~30 inches. 12 * 15 * (30 / 0.5) * 10,000 = $108 Million dollars."

#12 A Lot Of Paper, But How Much

"36,567,729 sheets of letter sized paper according to Excel (single sided) According to Google a pallet contains 200,000 sheets Therefore 182 pallets of paper would be needed. A photocopier can apparently print 500,000 sheets in its lifetime, so you would need 73 photocopiers"

Despite the tagline "useless math", the subreddit actually serves an important educational function.

"I think it can serve an educational purpose! Especially in terms of shifting perspectives or addressing myths (something about too many bananas are bad for you? Turns out, you'd have to eat like 4,000 bananas in a day to overdose on potassium, something like that). Initially, people kinda used it as a tool to get others to do their math homework for them."

#13 How Many Nickels Would It Take To Crush You?

"According to a google search, it takes about 4,000 newtons to crush a bone, & I’m going to assume that an average person has a frontal surface area of 1 m2 for ease. A nickel weighs 5 grams, which equates to about 0.05 newtons of gravitational force… you’d need at least 81,578 nickels on top of the person, or about $4,078.90"

#14 What Are The Odds?

"Beginner: 1 in 102 million Intermediate: 1 in 6.1 million Expert: 1 in 477,000"

#15 How Much Would This Cool The Tea?

"Oh come on this is doable from an engineering point of view: One sip per second of 10ml (a shot glas' equivalent in a few seconds) 90°C tea, 0°C water (I see ice?), ∆T =90 Conduction in the thin straw is negligible, basically water-to-water heat transfer at a slow rate: the convection coëfficiënt for that is about 1000W/m²K (forced convection water to unforced water essentially) Straw is 5mm diameter, 150mm length is submerged. Total area = 5π*150 = 2350mm² heat exchange area. As such, the heat (power) transferred per second is = 9010002350/1e6 ≈ 211W 211W for 0.01kg water (tea) per second is ∆T = 211/4200/0.01 ≠ 5°C difference. This matches my experience: the straw is simply not big enough to offer proper area for heat exchange: Source: 10 years of steam boiler engineering Hope you enjoyed!"

When asked what the community is like, OP explained that it's hard to say for sure as they have taken a step back from Reddit as a whole. But, the community seems to thrive all the same, and, over the years, Frag noticed that there are essentially two camps of people: the crowd that's all about silly humor in math, and the crowd that's all about [intense] science and analytics.

It goes without saying that it is very entertaining to see people take silly discussions both seriously and scientifically.

#16 How Fast Would You Need To Go To Successfully Complete The Loop?

"Im gonna assume the loop is about 60m based on the height of the building next to it. At the top of the circle, the two forces are mg and centripetal force. The two together equal ma (a being v2/r.) So mg + Fc = m(v2/r). Set Fc to 0 as you would have to have a centripetal force slightly above 0 to complete the loop. This gives us v2 = sqrt(gr). For a 60m loop (30m radius) v = 17.1m/s. This is the speed at the TOP of the loop. Using conservation of energy, we can say that 1/2mv2 + mgh = 1/2mv2 (the first part is top of loop, second part is bottom of loop). Cancel m and plug in numbers. You would have to travel 38.34m/s or 138kph (85.7mph) to make the loop."

#17 If The Sun Turned Into A Black Hole Of Equivalent Mass, Would The Accretion Disk Disk Be Large Enough To Destroy The Earth? If Not, How Bright Would It Be?

"NASA did the math on this "If the Sun was replaced with a black hole that had the same mass as the Sun, the Schwarzschild radius would be 3 km (compared to the Sun's radius of nearly 700,000 km). Hence the Earth would have to get very close to get sucked into a black hole at the center of our Solar System.""

#18 How Much Would This Cost In That Time?

"He's a corporate executive of some sort and the trip was being paid for by the family member in Paris. His wife was also a fairly successful artist. A 800k house in Bay Area probably cost >5M today"

When asked about any favorite posts on the subreddit, the founder noted that it's hard to pick out a favorite. Whenever they pop on to the subreddit, it feels like everyone is still staying true to what the subreddit originally was and stood for nearly a decade back.

#19 As It Asks, Which One Is The Better Deal?

"A circle has 360 degrees, so 60/360 is 1/6th of a pizza, and 45/360 is 1/8. The area of a circle is (pi)r2 The area of the 6" pizza is 1/6(pi)(62 )=6(pi) The area of the 7" pizza is 1/8(pi)(72 )=6.125(pi) 6.125/6=1.021, so the 7" pizza is 2.1% bigger $1.70/$1.50 is 1.13, or 13% more expensive. The 7" pizza is 13% more expensive, but only 2.1% bigger, so the 6" pizza is a better deal."

#20 How Much Force Is Superman’s Key Putting Down And Shouldn’t It Have Its Own Gravitational Pull?

"500,000 tons is its downward force due to gravity. It has a gravitational pull, but minimal compared to the earth (6,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 tons)"

#21 Is It True?

"If only contacting the floor with the heel then yes. An elephant's foot is 15-19 inches across, so assuming it's vaguely circular gives an area of at least 0.114m2 per foot. Elephants when walking depending on the gait will have 2/3 feet in contact with the floor - so that's at least 0.228m2 in contact with the floor. (Going for minimum area as this will give the highest pressure for the comparison) 6000lbs under Earth's gravity is a force of 26.7kN, which when divided by area for a pressure of ~117kPa - if it's just standing still this could actually be halved to approx 58kPa If a 100lb woman (445N) is standing on only her heels (~1cm2 x 2) this is a pressure of 2,224kPa which is indeed about 20 times higher than the elephant on 2 feet. However that's not really representative of how heels are worn, even the picture shown has the shoes in contact with at least 20x the area of the ground than just the heels"

"I have basically never had a hand in moderating," elaborated the creator of the subreddit. "But for the first 5 or so mods I took on, I did encourage them to really just let the community sort out what they did or didn't want to be content. And especially after the first big influx of subs, straight from the get-go, I think the community understood what they wanted out of it, what they didn't, and the content reflected that."

#22 Is This Claim Actually Accurate?

"Yes, a 33 round single elimination bracket would have 233 participants, which is about 8.5 billion. So it is actually possible, since the world pop is probably just under 8 billion, that the winner would be someone who had the 1st round bye and only had to win 32 times"

#23 What Are The Actual Odds Of Winning 32 Hands Of Blackjack In A Row?

"I believe blackjack gives the house a 0.61% edge over the player on average when played absolutely perfectly. Assuming the same odds for every game, .493932 leads me to a .000000000157% chance of winning 32 games in a row."

#24 How Large Would This Bat Need To Be To Fit The Signatures Of Everyone Alive?

"Rough estimate: 8 *109 people , Assuming a 10 cm2 signature/person to make the numbers easy. This comes from a 10cm long signature 1 cm in width. Gives 8*1010 cm2 = 8*106 m2 in area. If we model the bat as a cylinder of length L, the surface area is SA = 2 pi r2 + 2 pi r *L, so if the bat has a length of 1 meter to fit in our hand, the second term is negligible, as r will be huge. So A / 2pi = A/6 ~ 1 *106 m2 , square root to get the radius, R = 1 * 103 m = 1 km So if the bat is a meter long, it would have to be around a kilometer in radius to fit everyone’s signatures."

Even if you don’t take math seriously, you can still have some fun with it. Introducing the Useless Calculator. It’s essentially a prank app that bamboozles and confuses folks with its chaos by scrambling all the number keys, sporadic jump-scares, creepy sounds, flashy images, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it also got the math part wrong too where 2 plus 2 is my left shoe on the moon. Or whatever.

#25 How Fast Could The London Eye Spin Like A Fan Before It Breaks?

"Each pod is capable of holding 25 people at maximum safe capacity. Assuming each person can reasonably be 100kg, that means the safe load placed on any one pod is 2500kg. The pods themselves weigh 10,000kg. The radius of the London eye is 67.5m. Since at the bottom apex of the rotation the total force from centrifugal/centripetal force is equivalent to weight, a centrifugal force equal to 2500x9.81=24,525N is the maximum safe level. F=MV2/R V=sqrt(FR/M) V=sqrt(24525x67.5/10,000) V=12.9m/s The pods could travel at approximately 28mph, or complete one rotation every 33 seconds, before the forces on the pods exceed safe levels. Theoretical maximum levels would be higher, but without stress testing the material cannot be precisely calculated."

#26 Did They Get Her Height Right?

"Counter tops are usually 34 to 36in. It was 5 phones to the top of counter 5.75"*5=28.75" So I think they are off by a factor of 1.18 (34/28.75) That would put her height around 5ft1in."

You might also like: People share 30 things they did wrong for years before learning the right way

Norwegian Soccer Star’s Hair Sparks Hilarious Comparisons As Fans Demand To Know His Hair Care Secrets

Rocio Corsi — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 20:19:42 +0000

Erling Haaland has been making headlines for scoring goals, but this time, it’s his hair stealing the spotlight.

The Norwegian soccer star recently went viral after a video showed him flipping his long blonde locks, prompting fans to compare him to everyone from a 2023’s Barbie character to the Wilson sisters from 2004’s White Chicks.

While some joked about his flowing hairstyle, others were genuinely impressed, with many asking how the Manchester City striker keeps his hair looking so perfect.

“What an absolutely gorgeous head of hair, for real,” one fan wrote.

Fans compared Erling Haaland to Barbie, ***White Chicks, and even Game of Thrones* characters**

Image credits: Bryan Berlin/Wikimedia

The viral clip quickly spread across social media, with viewers focusing less on Haaland’s soccer career and more on his striking blonde hair.

Many joked that the video looked like it belonged in a movie rather than a sports campaign.

“I was passing by quickly, and between the pink and the blonde hair, I thought it was some Barbie scene,” one person commented.

Another wrote, “If you tell me it’s a scene from the Barbie movie, I’ll believe you.”

Some viewers compared the Norwegian striker to Marcus and Kevin from White Chicks.

“Same vibes,” one user wrote while sharing side-by-side images of Haaland and the film’s famous undercover characters.

Image credits: erling/Instagram

Image credits: wherestappen

Image credits: malexlikesfilms

Others compared him to fantasy characters.

“He is the exact description of Brienne from Game of Thrones in the books,” one commenter joked.

“They could’ve called him to play Daemon in House of the Dragon.”

While many reactions were playful, many people were simply fascinated by how well-maintained his hair looked.

“The Viking Aura,” one fan wrote, while another added, “I didn’t know I needed a shampoo commercial for him.”

Erling Haaland’s hair has become almost as famous as his goals

Image credits: jkargento/X

Haaland has spent years building a reputation as one of soccer’s most prolific goal scorers, but his hairstyle has developed a fanbase of its own.

The Manchester City striker is known for wearing his naturally light blonde hair tied back in a bun, ponytail, braids, or headband during matches.

His flowing hair became one of the defining images of his early years at Manchester City.

One of the most memorable moments came during a crucial match against Arsenal in 2023.

Image credits: jkargento/X

Image credits: eastgorteau

pero qué linda que está esa rubia

-flaca soy haaland pic.twitter.com/f1e3mOpnkW

— agus 24/10 🇦🇷 (@jkargento) June 19, 2026

pic.twitter.com/LaHChFnpQn

— La Teacher Jenny (@JenniferTrochez) June 20, 2026

After removing his trademark hairband late in the game, Haaland sprinted through on goal and scored to seal a 4-1 victory. Images of him celebrating, his hair flying behind him, quickly went viral among soccer fans.

The look became so popular that many supporters began referring to it as his “Viking” style.

Over the years, Haaland has also experimented with braided pigtails, headbands, half-up buns, and shorter styles, though he has repeatedly returned to his signature long-haired look.

When one social media user passionately told him to cut his hair, Haaland’s response was simple, “No.”

A few fans also requested Haaland’s hair routine

Image credits: Sony Pictures Releasing

One question appeared repeatedly throughout the comments.

“I want your hair routine, your hair is absolutely divine,” one fan wrote.

The reality is that nobody knows exactly what Haaland’s personal routine looks like.

However, the soccer star is currently promoting Clear Men Lemon Shampoo, a product marketed for dandruff protection and oily scalps.

His hair accessories have also generated attention.

Image credits: erling/Instagram

Rapunzel is that you? pic.twitter.com/A3Al5EfqhC

— Orang Stress ID (@OrangStressID) June 20, 2026

Image credits: NachtGeher

Fans recently discovered that Haaland frequently uses hair ties made by Scandinavian brand KKNEKKI. The company gained unexpected publicity after close-up photos from matches revealed the accessory holding his famous ponytail in place.

The brand revealed its hair ties are designed to prevent pulling, breakage, and damage while remaining strong enough for thick hair.

Despite the admiration, some viewers expressed concern that Haaland’s tightly pulled hairstyles could eventually cause problems

Image credits: Fanksqrak

Image credits: fangirlingjoan2

“He’s gonna end up bald with less than 35,” one commenter predicted.

Another wrote, “In 2-3 years it’ll be bald, that scalp is begging for less tension.”

“That jerk is gonna end up bald, tying his hair like that,” another added.

Still, those concerns were drowned out by fans who continued celebrating his look.

“The hair flip is better than most shampoo commercials. Pure elegance from Haaland!” one person wrote.

Besides his hair, Haaland also went viral after making an unexpected Sydney Sweeney comment

Image credits: closertocomfort

Me hizo acordar a esta🌚 JAJAJAJ pic.twitter.com/zwunnmZW1g

— ♓️ (@27_Anita_) June 20, 2026

The hair discussion isn’t the only reason Haaland has been trending lately.

During a June 20 video with YouTube personality KSI, the pair were shown celebrity lookalikes and asked to rate how closely they resembled the real stars.

pic.twitter.com/ycgUAWK14G

— Silvina Escupidero (@Sil10k) June 20, 2026

@mancity Looking sharp 👌🖤 #ErlingHaaland #ManCity #Football ♬ LEGACY 2 – Ogryzek

When a Marilyn Monroe lookalike appeared on screen, Haaland unexpectedly admitted that he initially thought it was actress Sydney Sweeney.

“I thought it was Sweeney at first,” he said.

After KSI confirmed he meant Sydney Sweeney, Haaland laughed and replied, “I was thinking of her!”

“Looking like Thor,” wrote one netizen

48 Times Grandpas Were Being Their Cool And Wholesome Selves

Asli Akalin — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:39:02 +0000

As we get older, it’s easy to fall into routines and stick to what’s familiar—after all, with jobs, responsibilities, and family commitments, our days are often busy and predictable. But that doesn’t mean we have to let things become boring.

Take these spirited grandfathers, for example, who are living life to the fullest. From taking on extreme sports to mastering unique hobbies and dressing sharply, they show that aging doesn’t mean losing your spark. In fact, they might just be more energetic than most younger folks—scroll down and see for yourself!

Click here & follow us for more lists, facts, and stories.

#1 My Grandpa In Front Of The Plane He Flew In World War II. He's 97 Now

Aging is a natural part of life, but it can be a tough pill to swallow as we move into our later years and face changes in our bodies and lifestyles. Studies show that while our self-esteem tends to be at its highest in our 60s, it usually starts to dip in our 70s, making it harder for people to try new things or seek out exciting opportunities. Moreover, some research suggests that younger generations have grown more critical of older adults, raising concerns about how attitudes toward aging might evolve down the road.

#2 This 84-Year-Old Japanese Grandpa Let His Grandson Dress Him And Now He's Modeling On Instagram

To learn more about the difficulties of aging and how to tackle them, Bored Panda spoke with Dr. Francesco Pagnini, a professor of Clinical Psychology at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan and a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard University.

“As with all life transitions,” he explains, “the psychological challenges of aging depend on various factors, including personal, social, familial, economic, and medical aspects. However, some common challenges often arise more frequently than others.”

Many people experience a shift in their sense of identity, particularly when they retire or encounter other major life changes. “Retirement can alter a person’s social role,” says Dr. Pagnini, “potentially leading to a diminished sense of self-worth and purpose, as they may no longer see themselves as meaningful contributors to the community.”

#3 My Grandfather In Vancouver

#4 My Grandpa Skiing On His 91st Birthday

Understandably, medical challenges also become more prominent as we age. Our bones can shrink in size and density, making them more susceptible to fractures, while muscles may lose strength, endurance, and flexibility, affecting coordination. Vision and hearing might deteriorate, and a weakened immune system can leave us more prone to diseases.

“Physical health issues can have a significant psychological impact,” notes Dr. Pagnini, “such as reducing the perceived control one has over their life or increasing feelings of insecurity.” Additionally, people might perceive themselves differently to cope with physical limitations because they can no longer do some of the activities they once enjoyed.

#5 Presenting My Grandpa On His 89th Birthday

#6 My Grandpa And His Old Friend Wynton (Marsalis) Braving The Cold

#7 Saw This Photo Of My Mate's 99-Year-Old (98 In This Pic) Grandpa. It Belongs Here

Along with physical difficulties, existential fears can come into play. According to Dr. Pagnini, many people try to avoid thinking about death or their own mortality. However, facing medical challenges, losing loved ones, and becoming more aware of life’s limits can bring about deep psychological struggles as we age. Knowing that life might soon come to an end can also change our sense of time, making it feel like it’s moving faster.

#8 My Grandpa Just Moved Into A Retirement Home, He Sent Us This Picture

#9 I Want A Drink With This Guy

#10 My Grandfather Recreated Many Of His Old Photos. Bottom Right: In His 20s, Circa 1950. Bottom Left: In His 70s. Top: In His Late 80s

Growing older can also be accompanied by a sense of being disconnected from others. “With age, social circles may shrink due to the loss of friends, reduced mobility, or retirement from social settings, leading to feelings of loneliness and isolation,” says Dr. Pagnini.

These sentiments appear to be on the rise. Recent research shows that one in three adults aged 50–80 (34%) report feeling lonely. While this is a big drop from 2020, when 56% felt isolated during the pandemic, it’s still higher than the pre-pandemic level of 27%.

#11 My Grandfather At My Wedding, Looking Pretty Boss

#12 Saw This Awesome Gentleman Reading The Paper And Couldn't Resist Snapping A Shot. Smashing

#13 The Head Of The House... And Grandpa

Our society also limits the elderly by promoting many aging stereotypes. “We often perceive aging more negatively than it actually is, creating a risk of a self-fulfilling prophecy where individuals internalize these stereotypes, potentially worsening their psychological well-being,” says Dr. Pagnini.

#14 This Painting My Grandpa Made Of The Pope

#15 My Grandpa With His Sister. 55 Years Ago And Now

#16 Woodworking Fun With Grandad

Negative feelings towards aging have become so ingrained in us that we might not even realize how much we reinforce them in our daily lives—from the relentless pursuit of anti-aging skincare to making jokes about life ending when we're still in our twenties.

“For years, I sent my friends 50 and older ‘funny’ cards like this one, which read, ‘I don’t know how much time you have left, so I’ll keep this brief. Happy Birthday,’” writes journalist Steven Petrow.

“I complimented some of those same older folks by insisting they didn’t look their age (as if their real age were a bad thing). I tried to whitewash my résumé—and thereby my age—by lopping off early jobs and erasing the year I graduated from college and grad school. And after my divorce three years ago, I lied about my age when I signed up for dating apps.”

Petrow has since stopped these habits, but his reflections reveal just how pervasive ageism is in our culture.

#17 Grandfather Of The Season

#18 My Grandpa Was Very Excited To Show Me That He Grew A Tomato Plant In An Eggshell

#19 My Grandpa Caught A Barracuda And Is Kinda Proud

Embodying aging stereotypes can act like a placebo or nocebo effect, explains Dr. Pagnini. In other terms, how we perceive aging influences how we actually age. If we expect it to be a negative experience, we might end up living that way. But if we broaden our outlook and shift these perceptions in a positive direction, both our psychological and physical health can see significant improvements.

#20 Meet My Grandfather, Age 88

#21 My Sister Spent The Day Looking After Our Grandad (95) She Mainly Took Him To The Pub And The Bookies. He Bet £11 On A Yankee On The Horses And She Copied His Bet

They won £1100 each when 3 of the 4 winners came in.

#22 The Coolest Grandpa Award Goes To This Guy Right Here

Dr. Pagnini and his team tested beliefs about aging in a study inspired by the work of Ellen Langer, an American professor of psychology at Harvard University, who became the first woman to be tenured in psychology there in 1981.

“We had older adults live ‘as if’ it were 1989 for a week. The participants in the experimental group showed physical and functional rejuvenation by the end of the week!”

#23 Anyone Who Grew Up In The Country Understands What’s Going On Here

#24 My Husband's 82-Year-Old Grandpa Taking In The Eclipse On An Old Dirt Road

#25 Grandpa And His Buddies

Dr. Pagnini encourages maintaining a flexible mindset about aging. “Getting older does not necessarily mean becoming slower, less mentally sharp, or depressed,” he says. “On the contrary, aging can bring new and vital opportunities. Older adults can discover deep fulfillment in areas such as friendship, family, love, spirituality, and even physical activity. And let’s not forget sexuality!”

#26 My Awesome 83-Year-Old Grandfather With A Bald Eagle

#27 My Italian Grandfather, Christmas, 1969. Everyone Gave Him Wine

#28 This 72-Year-Old Grandpa

“Don’t buy into unnecessary limitations,” continues Dr. Pagnini. “I recall counseling an elderly woman who loved to ski, but at 80 years old, she felt it was no longer possible. We discussed how she could still enjoy skiing, perhaps with the support of a companion and on easier slopes. A few weeks later, she told me she had gone back to skiing and felt more alive than ever.”

This is a powerful reminder that with the right mindset and support, older adults can continue to engage in the activities they love. Aging, after all, is not just about what we lose but also about what we gain.

#29 My Grandfather And The Portrait My Aunt Painted Of Him

#30 Generations One And Three

#31 On Holiday In Devon. Wearing A Mix Of Things

#32 My Grandpa Was A Pilot For Decades But Had To Sell His Plane 15 Years Ago. This Christmas He Got A Chance To Fly Again

#33 You Know, Just Another Day Skiing With Grandad

#34 Just Getting More Fun With Age

#35 Ewis’s Grandad Has Got To Be One Of The Coolest Groomsmen

#36 My Mother's Favorite Picture Of My Grandfather, 1991

#37 Flowers Are Forever

#38 Me And My Grandpa. He Said He Wanted To Be On The Internet

#39 My 90-Year-Old Grandfather Conquering His Fear Of Snakes

#40 My Grandfather’s ’65 Shelby Cobra

#41 Cowboy Up

#42 Pretty Cool To Watch Grandpa Referee A Football Scrimmage This Morning

#43 Eating Super Long Noodles

#44 At 102, Grandpa Is Still Out Fishing With A Worm

#45 The Lone Cowboy

#46 Only As Young As You Feel

#47 Doesn't Every Grandpa Celebrate His 88th Birthday By Parasailing?

#48 Yeah, Those Are Some Cool Grandparents

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29 Times Adults Over 30 Should Have Known Better But Still Made These Mistakes

Asli Akalin — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:41:02 +0000

We all make mistakes in life. Nobody’s perfect. What matters is how we react to our failures, whether we let them take root and turn into shame or regret, or learn from them and do better in the future. But not everyone learns at the same pace. In some cases, it takes a long while for the lesson to sink in.

The r/AskOldPeople online community on Reddit opened up about the mistakes they’d made past the age of 30, after being asked to share their regrets by user u/otherworldly_mirror. Read on to see what pitfalls to avoid in adult life.

Click here & follow us for more lists, facts, and stories.

#1

Staying with my company over 15 years and being told I won’t be getting any raises going forward bc I’m at the top end of the range. It’s my biggest regret bc I thought (foolishly) loyalty meant something.

#2

Throwing myself into work and not being more present for my family. You can't ever get that time back.

#3

Ignoring childhood trauma and pretending everything is okay instead of dealing with it. It just ends up controlling you and eats you up eventually.

Living a life with no regrets whatsoever is next to impossible. Feeling regret is a very human emotion. It means that we still probably haven’t learned the lessons we were meant to.

However, as consultant Tchiki Davis, Ph.D., writes on Psychology Today, research is quite clear on one thing. Broadly speaking, people most often regret not doing something rather than doing something. Taking that to heart, making a mistake and learning from it is far better than never having had the courage to try.

In some cases, however, it’s better to be prudent instead of rushing headlong into something risky. Whatever the case might be, ask yourself whether you’ll regret (not) doing something before you make a decision.

#4

Financed a new luxury model vehicle late in life that caused me to extend how long I worked before retirement. The $ would have been much better utilized in retirement savings. Idiot.

#5

Believing I could get a guy to change if only I was "good enough" for him. Oof.

Vivid-Gur0822:

Ooh yes! THIS! This is probably the mistake in my life that caused the chain reaction of mistakes I made all through my 20s, possibly early 30s as well lol (I'm 39).

#6

I'm 63F now. When I was 32, I met and married my late husband. He was a genius (literally,) but ultimately a covert narcissist who abused me and our children for decades - while making it look like HE was the long-suffering victim. OP mentioned being able to afford one's mistakes. I worked to put my late husband through college. He took his BA with honors in Philosophy, Summa [bodily fluid] Laude. He was recognized at the Honors Convocation as having overcome drug addiction and homelessness to achieve great academic heights. Then, he went on to law school, moving our little family 3000 miles from home. Five weeks later, he quit. Not because it was difficult, but because he just didn't want to do it, he said. Looking back, I can see that as a covert narc, he must have realized that he could not become a successful lawyer while still playing victim. He had to shoot himself in the foot, so to speak. Well, he refused to work, Woe was him! But he became a master of the household budget and he pushed me to work as much overtime as possible. pported our family of 5 on my income alone. I paid off his student loan for law school in 12 years. I learned there is such a thing as financial abuse and he exerted that over our family. He convinced us that were were one stick of gum away from homelessness. Why did I not divorce him? Two reasons: 1) God hates divorce. 2) In our home state (to which we had returned,) I'd have had to pay him alimony to keep him in the lifestyle to which he was accustomed. Instead, I focused on the ways he actually served us well. He was an astounding chef and pitmaster. We ate so well, and still on a budget. He actually squirreled aside some $15K from all those "sticks of gum" he kept me from buying over the years. That money came in real handy when he died in the pandemic. My big regret in all of this is that the true love of my life had gotten a divorce the same year that I married this clown. I wish I'd been able to spend an extra 28 years with my Mr. Right. The moment my true love discovered I'd been widowed, he and I got married without a date, without a proposal, without a doubt.

According to Davis, it’s through accepting negative emotions like regret that we deal with them and then move on. Regret is what motivates us to correct our behavior so we don’t feel the same emotions again.

In the United States, the most common regrets among adults include missed educational and romantic opportunities, unwise romantic adventures, not spending enough time with loved ones, rushing into something too soon, and failing to “seize the moment.”

#7

Regaining 60 pounds that I took off in my late 40s. Fortunately, I took the weight off again about six years later and have kept it off since.

#8

Continuing doing extreme sports even after the 5th orthopedic surgery. I'm in chronic pain now.

#9

That is so easy for me. I left my husband and 3 young children for a [jerk] bag. It’s a good 30 years ago and our kids are all adults. I will never forgive myself for abandoning my family.

As we’ve recently covered on Bored Panda, as we grow older and our bodies change, it becomes more challenging for us to learn new information and skills. This is because our brain’s ability to form new neural connections, known as neuroplasticity, slows down. On top of that, the hippocampus (which we need to form memories) shrinks, cognitive functions are reduced as the blood flow to the brain decreases, and neurotransmitter systems can decline.

However, this doesn’t make learning impossible. Our bodies and brains adapt. And the more we take care of both of them, the better off we’ll be. Our brains are akin to muscles in that the more we practice learning, the better at it we’ll be.

#10

Trusting one diagnosis and not getting second opinions. Getting misdiagnosed for 7 years and used like a guinea pig for pharmaceutical testing almost killed me.

#11

Getting married. I'm happily divorced now, fourteen years. I'll never make that mistake again.

#12

Not taking the time to learn about myself and spending some time alone understanding who I am before getting married. This was a mistake in my 20s, but I did the same thing on my 2nd (in my 30s) and 3rd husbands (in my 40s). I am still married to my 3rd, but I really appreciate my alone time.

Aside from getting the basics like sleep, nutrition, and exercise right, you can also keep your brain in tip-top shape by carving out time for learning and new experiences.

You could, for instance, sign up for online or in-person courses to learn a new skill or sharpen an old one. But education doesn’t have to be so formal. You can listen to podcasts, meet new people, travel somewhere you’ve never been… Even making a meal you’ve never attempted before can spark new life in your mind and your life.

#13

Started doing c*ke in my early 40’s. Lost everything (kids, house, dog, cars and a lot of money). I had to move away from my home state. I’ve been clean for about 16 years.

#14

I took out student loans to go to college after I got clean. I was able to get my degree but now I’m in my late 60’s and I still have 46k in student loans. I’m not willing to work until I die just to pay them off. I’m not even using my degree for my job. I don’t have anyone to blame but myself, but I’m still [angry] that I didn’t know enough about money management until I hit my late 50’s.

#15

After a heart wrenching divorce at 50, I started dating three years later. Though I vowed to be careful going forward, I got involved with a sociopath who further destroyed any self-esteem I had left. Whatever possessed me to hang around such a self-absorbed, cruel man still haunts me. I knew what he was three months into the relationship, yet I stayed. That was 15 years ago. I never dated again. Why would a woman who had spent 28 with a man who destroyed take up with a worse nightmare? I am grateful my adult children were kept in the dark about Mom's foolishness. You can make terrible mistakes at any age.

#16

A couple years ago, I made the mistake of letting an ex-friend weasel her way back into my life. She came with all kinds of reasons/excuses for her bad behavior in the past, said she'd totally changed and gone through therapy, etc. So I figured I'd give her a 2nd chance. Within a year, she was doing exactly the same kind of things, even worse than before. After calling her out on a couple of bad acts, she went totally ballistic on me. So I dropped her again. My mistake. :-/

#17

Mine isn't as dramatic or serious as others, but I really hate when I've been an a*****e or s****y person. I really try hard not to be, but you know... human is human.

#18

Got into massive debt for the third (f***!) time in my life recently. Despite the fact that I had done so much reading about FIRE and other personal finance stuff. Just thought I was sooooo f****n' smart and yet I still went and did it anyway... I didn't figure it out until I used one of those debt payoff calculators online that shows you pie charts of how long til payoff, how much interest, etc. where you can plugin different payoff times and/or monthly payments. It took the visual of a pie chart and the rest to finally get it on a "gut level" and finally pull my head out of my a*s...

#19

Oh yea… getting involved with a co-worker. I was in my 40’s. NEVER again. Ever… and I can confidently say never.

odinskriver39:

Definitely the co-worker mistake. We were both separated and the story sharing date turned into fun for a while and then a bad marriage. Really glad I got out and listened to the friend who wanted me to meet her friend. Third time is the last and best.

#20

Marrying the wrong person for the wrong reason Met my ex at a church function. Hit if off 'okay'. Nothing great or friends whatnot. Just an odd 'attraction' that *somehow* turned to a brief dating before getting engaged 4 mos. later (huh? 🤔) Never once declaring any love. Just assuming we were. The relationship was compatible as Christians (it wasn't) Zero in common (didn't dawn on us) I wanted to wait another year, but he was impatient insisting we marry "now". Couldn't wait. Well, big mistake. Barely lasted 3-years with consistent arguing and disagreement because of our polar differences and delusion. Mercifully divorcing at 4, getting our lives back. To finally be ourselves. Lesson learned: ... Don't marry the wrong person for wrong reasons because "its time" or you're lonely.

#21

I fell for all the finance manager’s tricks when I bought my car about 10 years ago. I ended up buying a bunch of dealer extended warranties that I didn’t want because he snuck an extra 6 months worth of payments. I thought the sales guy was the one to watch out for, but he was easy. I bought a new car for my wife recently and I want in to the finance managers office expecting another ambush, but it was fine. I just got a real dirt bag last time.

#22

Still make friends that I am not compatible with, who have used and abused me, force me into friendships. Most of my psychological harm has been caused in the last 6/7 years by narcissistic or dismissive people. They latch on to you and don’t let go. I need to stand up and just cut them immediately.

#23

Not getting myself out of a long distance commute in my 50s, which probably caused me to retire sooner than I would have otherwise. Gripping the wheel for all that time also worsened the arthritis in my left hand to the point that I can’t work on cars.

#24

Dated someone else with bipolar again. I have bipolar so dating someone else with bipolar is a really bad idea. You would have thought I would have learned the first time around but apperently not. At least the second guy wasn't anywhere near as bad as the first one. Je is a halfway decent guy it's just when I date people with bipolar our mental health problems feed off each other. It's just not healthy for anyone in the situation.

#25

I didn't make the mistake but 2 people in my friend group did. There are 5 of us that grew up together and are still friends. Up to our late 20s none of us had real jobs or responsibilities. Every weekend was party time. I got married at 33, got a really good job and consider myself in a good place mentally and financially. But two of my friends are now nearly 50, have never had permanent employment and basically survive by help from friends and relatives. They still drink and smoke weed almost on a daily basis. As far as I know they have no mental or physical issues that would keep them in their current situation. I've just come to the conclusion that they are lazy. That could easily of been me. I credit my spouse and family 100% for helping me not make that mistake.

#26

People still drink and drive well past age 30. I doubt how much it will cost them (or whoever they [end]) ever enters their mind. BTW if you live and breathe you will make mistakes, growing wiser means you take responsibility for them ( meaning you stop whining "It's not my faultttttt) and limit the fallout to others.

#27

Yes, you are still capable of making bad mistakes past your 30's. But what does happen is that, *if you reflect on your mistakes and treat them as the learning opportunities that they are*, you make fewer mistakes and the consequences become less severe. For example, I used to say and do things during fights with my wife that really hurt her and brought us to the brink of divorce. I wasn't *trying* to. I just didn't have enough awareness of how I was hurting her. Now our fights are less common and less painful, even though I'm still not perfect. The same decrease in frequency and severity happens in your work life as well. It's why VP's and CEO's tend to be old. You don't want the people with the most power to sink your company to be people who haven't made enough mistakes in life to figure out how to reduce the frequency and severity of their mistakes.

#28

Cashing in stock options to pay bills; the employer who'd issued them has since become acquired X2. Lost just under $500K. So that's fun.

#29

Getting a better job a with a decent boost in salary when I was in my early 30s, then being complacent and not taking my career any further because (due to my low self-esteem) I assumed this was as good as it gets. So treaded water for 20 years until I was laid off (though did good work and was well-regarded by my employer). If I could turn back time I would have spent those 20 years networking, job hopping and aggressively doing everything I could to advance my career.

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Ariana Grande Sparks Debate After Viral Concert Clip Shows Her “Toddler” Running Across The Stage

Rocio Corsi — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 17:29:33 +0000

Ariana Grande’s long-awaited return to touring has been packed with emotional moments, sold-out crowds, and viral clips from The Eternal Sunshine Tour, but one short video from the opening night in Oakland has sparked an unexpected debate online.

The clip from June 6 showed the singer hurrying across the stage in a flowing white Givenchy gown during a performance of supernatural, prompting some viewers to compare her run to that of a toddler.

“This is not endearing, infantilizing grown a*s women are disgusting,” wrote one user.

The viral clip from Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine Tour quickly turned into a broader online debate

Image credits: iamkarinadasilva/TikTok

The video was taken on June 6 during the opening night of The Eternal Sunshine Tour in Oakland, California.

During Act V of the show, Grande appeared in an ethereal white floral Givenchy gown designed by Sarah Burton.

The dress featured layers of flowing fabric and was part of a wardrobe created to match the dreamy, cinematic atmosphere of the concert.

In the now-viral clip, Grande can be seen moving quickly across the stage before preparing for the show’s levitation sequence during supernatural.

Some viewers immediately focused on the way she was running.

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While several critics claimed the movement looked childlike, others accused the singer of deliberately acting younger than her age.

“‘Endearing’ no, we lost a baddie. I never liked her, but this is performative toddler sh*t, and it’s annoying how she changed everything people liked about her,” one commenter wrote.

Another added, “This girl needs another therapy because this one is clearly not working, she’s been through sh*t, but it doesn’t work like that, she completely changed her personality.”

“Yeah, she’s trying to be a child again. She’s probably drinking baby blood,” a third person wrote.

While the criticism gained attention, many viewers quickly came to Grande’s defense

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Several viewers argued that the singer was simply trying not to trip while wearing a floor-length gown and high heels.

“Y’all are so annoying. The dress is long af, she is making sure she doesn’t trip on it and fall. Please get a grip,” one supporter wrote.

Another added, “The dress is literally long af, she’s trying not to trip over it, and somehow y’all turned it into something else.”

Others noted that anyone who has tried to run in formalwear would likely move similarly.

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“Long dress + heels + running is almost impossible because the heels can get stuck on the fabric and make it easy to fall down,” one commenter explained.

“It’s not an act, it’s the fabric of the dress.”

That defense gained even more traction after fashion outlets highlighted the complexity of Grande’s tour costumes.

Stylist Law Roach previously revealed to Vogue that the show’s wardrobe was designed to function almost like costumes in a movie, with each look helping tell the story of the Eternal Sunshine era.

Meanwhile, the backlash arrived as Grande continues to face intense scrutiny about her appearance and extreme weight loss

Image credits: anniebaexquie/X

Since filming Wicked, the singer has repeatedly faced public commentary about her weight and appearance.

Those conversations intensified after she launched The Eternal Sunshine Tour, with photos from opening night leading some fans to express concern about her slim frame.

“She’s basically bones, it’s been concerning since the Wicked movie,” one commenter wrote after seeing images from the concert.

“This is my thought, what happened to my Ari? She’s so thin,” another added.

its so funny to me that ariana is doing this toddler run when she was literally jumping around and shaking ass on stage in heels a few years ago loll she acting like she can’t walk in them now it’s endearing pic.twitter.com/VSGynEL6We

— externalsunshine (@anniebaexquie) June 19, 2026

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Remember when she used to be so confident singing, dancing and even walking. None of that 5 years old baby running stuff. We lost a powerful baddie pic.twitter.com/2VcbdDqbPE

— leyyya ꕤ (@leyylair) June 19, 2026

Others criticized those comments and argued that the public has become far too comfortable discussing women’s bodies.

“Can we please normalize letting people just exist? This constant analysis of every single photo is honestly exhausting,” one fan wrote.

As reported by Bored Panda, Grande has previously addressed the ongoing discussion herself.

In a 2023 TikTok video, she explained that the version of her body many people described as “healthy” was actually one of the most difficult periods of her life.

Image credits: iPopCharts

“The body that you’ve been comparing my current body to was the unhealthiest version of my body,” she said.

“I was on a lot of antidepressants and drinking on them and eating poorly.”

She also urged people to stop assuming they know what is happening behind the scenes in someone else’s life.

“I think in today’s society, there is a comfortability that we shouldn’t have at all — commenting on others’ looks, appearance, what they think is going on behind the scenes or health,” she said.

Some viewers also said the reaction reveals more about the internet than about Grande herself

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For many fans, the debate was less about how Grande ran across the stage and more about how closely her behavior is analyzed.

Behavioral expert Dr. Patrick Wanis previously told Bored Panda that stars who become famous at a young age often face unique scrutiny because fans become attached to a specific version of them.

Gurl these were the fits she was wearing before.

She’s running like that because of the outfit she’s wearing so she doesn’t trip and eat sh*t on stage be so fucking real right now pic.twitter.com/kD7GaI4qai

— C.U.N.Tuesday (@CUNextTuesday_k) June 20, 2026

pic.twitter.com/MgNmkFHh2Z ok and this is what happened when she didn’t

— ‏ً (@AGIRLlNLUV) June 20, 2026

“Ariana Grande became famous as a Nickelodeon child star around age 17,” he said.

“The public has grown up with her and sees her through the lens of nostalgia, purity, and a fixed image of youth.”

According to Wanis, even small changes in appearance or behavior can become magnified because audiences expect celebrities to remain exactly as they remember them, which helps explain why the debate around Grande’s stage clip resonated so strongly.

People online shared divided reaction after Ariana Grande appeared to be running like a toddler

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