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Let’s not beat around the bush—living is a dangerous thing, no matter what you do. Accidents can and do happen. On the road. In the kitchen. At work. You have to be aware of the biggest risks you might face in your day-to-day life, so you can avoid most of them. Knowledge and practice are powerful and they help you remain calm in case there’s an emergency. It also means you’re not living in panic and paranoia, afraid to take a single step outside your home.

However, not all risks are immediately obvious. Some of them are quite subtle and insidious. Redditor u/figinjosejospe sparked an informative discussion on r/AskReddit after they asked internet users to share the seemingly harmless things and behaviors that are “actually incredibly dangerous.” Read on to see what they had to share. It’s a learning opportunity, as well as a chance to refresh what you might already know.

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#1

Bullying. Sounds dumb, and I might get downvoted for a few reasons, mainly because adults know that it's insanely stupid, and reason two being it's been cracked down on within the last decade or so, but for kids and quite marginally it still happens.

I'm sure almost everyone out there has poked fun or teased someone in their life but it's actually extremely serious how quickly and severely it can deteriorate someone's mental health and esteem, especially in their teen years, and how most kids don't even know what they're doing.

On top of that you never know someone's situation. Be nice. They could be going through something rough.

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freakingbee (they/them)
freakingbee (they/them)
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

one of the things i hate about people my age is that they'll be like "omg stop bullying me" to their friends and treat it like some lighthearted joke when there's people around them who have been severely bullied in the past, occasionally even by the people who are joking about it.

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#2

40 Internet Users Warn Everyone About ‘Harmless’ Things That Are, In Fact, Dangerous Tired driving is as dangerous as drinking and driving.

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Loverboy
Loverboy
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can drink coffee and tell yourself you won't fall asleep, but one second you're trying to keep your eyes opened and the next you've ruined the lives of others as well as yourself.

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#3

40 Internet Users Warn Everyone About ‘Harmless’ Things That Are, In Fact, Dangerous Pushing someone's face into a cake, even relatively lightly.

Some cakes have skewers inside to support them. A seemingly harmless prank could lead to being impaled, approach it from just the wrong angle and it's bye bye eyes.

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David
David
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've always thought that was an a-hole thing to do to someone. We didn't do it at our wedding even though some folks seem to view it as 'tradition'.

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So long as you’re aware that you’re not doing dumb stuff like putting your feet up on the dashboard of your car or driving while you’re exhausted, there’s no need to sweat over every teeny tiny possibility of something bad happening. It helps to get some perspective so you know what you should focus on. The world is full of risks, but you can’t hide in a corner somewhere, afraid to take opportunities and live to the fullest just because you might get hurt. It's your responsibility to balance safety with purpose and happiness.

For instance, the CDC reported that in 2021, the leading causes of death in the US were heart disease (695,547 deaths), cancer (605,213), Covid-19 (416,893), accidents (224,935), stroke (162,890), and chronic lower respiratory diseases (142,342). Meanwhile, that year, Alzheimer’s killed 119,399 Americans, while 103,294 people lost their lives due to diabetes.
#4

40 Internet Users Warn Everyone About ‘Harmless’ Things That Are, In Fact, Dangerous Having a loose animal in the car. A safety instructor once told me doctors had to dig dog bones out of a person after it got between them and an airbag.

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#5

40 Internet Users Warn Everyone About ‘Harmless’ Things That Are, In Fact, Dangerous Water on the roadway, way too many people don’t understand that it does not take that much water to turn your situation into life or death.

SoVerySleepy81 , veeterzy Report

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#6

40 Internet Users Warn Everyone About ‘Harmless’ Things That Are, In Fact, Dangerous For kids, someone online with a sympathetic ear for their problems. Responsible adults will try to put you in touch with real-life help, not encourage a pattern of reliance and inappropriate intimacy. Bonus danger points on anyone who throws down "You're really mature for your age." Predators online work just like real-life hunting predators; their first goal is to separate you from your herd.

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Clearly, taking care of your physical health takes priority here. The best way to fight back against becoming another victim of these statistics is to eat a healthy diet (less sugar, processed foods, and saturated fats) and get plenty of exercise (walking, lifting weights, and moving in ways that you genuinely enjoy).

Something else to consider is having an active social life because isolation and loneliness increase your risk of dementia, heart disease, stroke, depression, and anxiety. Meditation, spending time out in nature, and carving out some time for your passions and hobbies are also wonderful ways to improve your quality of life.

If all you do is study or work all the time, without making meaningful connections with others and ignoring your needs, you’re bound to burnout.

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#7

40 Internet Users Warn Everyone About ‘Harmless’ Things That Are, In Fact, Dangerous Putting your feet on car dashboard.

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#8

Herbivores

Just because they don't eat you doesn't mean they won't hurt you...

Carnivore look at you and think are you a good prey and are they hungry ...if they think no ,they will just leave you.

Herbivores gets a flight or fight response..99% they preferred flight but God save if they decide to fight..

Carnivores are designed to kill you in one instance to save energy but herbivores willl keep attacking you killing you slowly and might even do after death..

No wonder , hippos have a higher kill count than lions in Africa

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David
David
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Edit: It seems we have some Monty Python fans. Makes me smile. TIM: Well, that's no ordinary rabbit. That's the most foul, cruel, and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on. ROBIN: You tit! I soiled my armor I was so scared!

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#9

40 Internet Users Warn Everyone About ‘Harmless’ Things That Are, In Fact, Dangerous Kids picking flowers in the park. I am a conservation Technician for a county park system, at least once a year I have to stop parents with kids picking flowers off the trail because I see kids with either poison hemlock (one of the deadliest plants if injesting even a tiny amount) or wild parsnip, which can cause some serious permanent scarring, burns, and boils if the sap gets on to your skin and is exposed to sunlight. Don't let your kids pick or eat anything you aren't 100% sure of.

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The CDC reports that back in 2020, there were 24.2 million emergency department visits for unintentional injuries. Back in 2018, the numbers were very similar, standing at 24.8 million.

Some of the leading causes of death due to accidents included falling (44,686 in 2021), traffic accidents (45,404), and unintentional poisoning (102,001). So when it comes to mitigating the risk from accidents, the top things to focus on are being safe behind the wheel and when crossing the street, making sure that that you’re careful when you’re walking down the stairs, climbing ladders, and getting out of the shower, and ensuring that you don’t ingest any harmful chemicals.
#10

Backflips into a pool.

As a lifeguard I can tell you, you WILL break your neck. I don’t care that you’re good at it. Stop doing them.

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Loverboy
Loverboy
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like to swim, but even I know that doing s**t like this is dangerous and irresponsible. I'd rather not be a vegetable for the rest of my life, thank you.

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#11

40 Internet Users Warn Everyone About ‘Harmless’ Things That Are, In Fact, Dangerous Pool covers. It's like being wrapped in a bedsheet underwater. You cannot get free and you cannot scream for help. Once you're in the only way to get out is to be incredibly lucky and get free or have faith that someone saw or heard you fall in and hope that they get you in time.

It's a lengthy, terrifying, death that's completely avoidable.

Dominic7o , Michael Coghlan Report

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#12

40 Internet Users Warn Everyone About ‘Harmless’ Things That Are, In Fact, Dangerous Not getting enough sleep

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Roger9er
Roger9er
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's easy to say, but some people have no choice and just can't get enough sleep, no matter how much they'd like to, for a variety of reasons.

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#13

40 Internet Users Warn Everyone About ‘Harmless’ Things That Are, In Fact, Dangerous Moose

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#14

Poor fitness levels.

There are so many things that go wrong with the human body later in life based on activity levels throughout midlife.

Additionally, this has nothing to do thinness. People of all sizes should strive to exercise appropriately to their ability and life situation.

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E Menendez
E Menendez
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Walking is the best, but most underrated, exercise out there. Walk at a moderate pace 30 minutes a day and it will do wonders for you.

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#15

40 Internet Users Warn Everyone About ‘Harmless’ Things That Are, In Fact, Dangerous Getting into a car is one of the riskiest things we do on a daily basis.

notmyting , Taras Makarenko Report

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Loverboy
Loverboy
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No matter what you do to keep yourself and others safe, like wearing a seatbelt and driving at the speed limit, there's always a chance some f**k will come along and change your life in an instant.

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#16

Voting without doing any research

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Tucker Cahooter
Tucker Cahooter
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, who knows what clown you will end up with. Mind you the average voter doesn't really have much capacity for independent research. Usually all the bad things come to light after the clown has been elected

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#17

Getting in and out of the shower/bath. One slip can be all it takes to sustain some very serious injuries.

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Steve Robert
Steve Robert
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And glass shower doors. I was in the shower once and one of the sides dislodged and fell in pieces on me. Fortunately it was the one in front and not the back where I was standing. Glass shower doors can be deadly!

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#18

News edited for us. when i was growing up i could read what was said. now al that is found is an opinion

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Steve Robert
Steve Robert
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is why you need to determine the source and why critical thinking is so important!

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#19

Sitting all day long

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#20

Ai algorithms and deep fake technologies. It can be use for far more nefarious things than creating videos about three presidents arguing about videogames.

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David
David
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But isn't "it can be used for evil" true of just about every technology ever from guns and tanks to cell phones and satellites?

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#21

40 Internet Users Warn Everyone About ‘Harmless’ Things That Are, In Fact, Dangerous Bison. Just go to Yellowstone, grab some popcorn, find a tourist route and watch. You'll see.

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Loverboy
Loverboy
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't need to watch anything to know that going near a 6 foot, 2000 pound mammal with horns is probably not a good idea.

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#22

Social media, espocially if you don't turn off notifications

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#23

Alone baby wild-animals. You many think they are alone but most of time mama is nearby.

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Katie Lutesinger
Katie Lutesinger
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Makes me think of that Far Side comic where two kids are tossing a bear cub to each other and the mother bear is approaching in the background. The caption says something like "And the [name] brothers were never heard from again".

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#24

40 Internet Users Warn Everyone About ‘Harmless’ Things That Are, In Fact, Dangerous A patch of calm, smooth ocean between sections that look rough.

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Sad Pumpkin Pie
Sad Pumpkin Pie
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok can somebody explain what this means and why it's dangerous plz? I'm not very familiar with the dangers of the ocean.

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#25

Staying with a crazy person because they are hot/the sex is good

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StrangeOne
StrangeOne
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imo, sex is overrated. It's not good enough to stay in a relationship. Learn to do it yourself the best way you can and you'll be forgetting what'stheirname.

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#26

Black ice. It seems harmless, because it's invisible, but deadly.

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Moo
Moo
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The first time I spun out I started sobbing. There was no one near me, my car didn't even get a scratch, but it was awful

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#27

40 Internet Users Warn Everyone About ‘Harmless’ Things That Are, In Fact, Dangerous Playing with a blue ringed octopus.

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Julia Mckinney
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

AND, the blue rings only show up when the octopus starts feeling stressed.

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#28

Distracted driving

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#29

Breathing in cinnamon.

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Melissa Hollowell
Melissa Hollowell
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Inhaling cinnamon can cause inflammation in the lungs, a thickening of lung tissue, and scarring which may lead to pneumonia, a collapsed lung, and/or permanent lung damage.

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#30

Staying up all night. Humans are not nocturnal and it can really take a toll on your mental health long term.

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Burnt Bagel
Burnt Bagel
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’ve found that just existing takes a major toll on my mental health…

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#31

40 Internet Users Warn Everyone About ‘Harmless’ Things That Are, In Fact, Dangerous Colorful and pretty wildlife you’re unfamiliar with.

If you wouldn’t eat a berry you’re unfamiliar with, why would you pick up an animal you’re unfamiliar with?

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Heather Daugherty
Heather Daugherty
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd be so unalive cause those teeny, colorful dart frogs are the cutest widdle ribbits ever!

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#32

Always threatening to fight people. If you’re first go to is to threaten to fight someone. You may actually come across someone who severely hurts you. Also you look like trash always threatening to fight people

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Loverboy
Loverboy
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People who pick fights for no reason, just to seem tough or cool. One day you're going to find someone who's bigger and stronger than you, and if you're in America there's a large chance they strapped.

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#33

40 Internet Users Warn Everyone About ‘Harmless’ Things That Are, In Fact, Dangerous Coconuts. You are 20X more likely to get killed by a falling coconut than a shark!

JonnyRottensTeeth , esrageziyor Report

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David
David
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well duh! Everyone knows sharks don't hang around in trees.

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#34

40 Internet Users Warn Everyone About ‘Harmless’ Things That Are, In Fact, Dangerous Garage springs and hippos

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Tucker Cahooter
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Strange juxtaposition. Why not "Chinese finger traps and crocodiles"?

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#35

40 Internet Users Warn Everyone About ‘Harmless’ Things That Are, In Fact, Dangerous The home. 100% of household accidents happen in or around the home.

Stairs. my serious answer is stairs. I've fallen down a lot of them in my day and can confirm they are dangerous.

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Burnt Bagel
Burnt Bagel
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

“100% of household accidents happen in or around the home.” Seriously?!

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#36

Giving honey to an infant

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Loverboy
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Clostridium is a bacteria found in raw, unfiltered honey that is extremely toxic for babies that don't have a fully developed immune system, and it will cause infant botulism upon consuming.

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#37

40 Internet Users Warn Everyone About ‘Harmless’ Things That Are, In Fact, Dangerous Oil painting in a closed studio

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E Menendez
E Menendez
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

IIRC Bob Ross died of lymphoma linked to the oil paint and turpentine he used.

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#38

Sunbathing

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StrangeOne
StrangeOne
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's nothing wrong with the colour of your winter skin. That's the colour you're meant to be. Embrace it.

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#39

Eating too much sugar.

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#40

40 Internet Users Warn Everyone About ‘Harmless’ Things That Are, In Fact, Dangerous Not boiling dried kidney beans long enough.

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