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Our perspective on the world is shaped every day by everything we consciously and subconsciously see and experience. Some core ideas form in our minds that are rarely challenged later in life. But they should be. The general idea of 'right and wrong' that we see so often growing up doesn't really continue into the real world. Bad things happen to good people, bad people often face no repercussions for their actions: reality is harsh.

One Reddit user wanted to see what other 'hard to swallow' truths people have already learned. Over 31k people had something to say, sharing things that are difficult to accept, but are the actual reality once you step out of the dream world.

Bored Panda picked out the top raw and honest answers that are better to learn later than never. Scroll down and upvote your favorites, and make sure to share your thoughts; maybe you disagree with some of them? And if we're still missing out on some 'harsh realities', please tell us in the comments below!

#1

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Hard work doesn't always pay off.

y_notavailable , Andrea Piacquadio Report

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Колю Майката
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's the avocado toast's fault!!1!1!!! Not the fact that rich people get richer by stealing poor people's money, we totally don't do that!!1!!1!1 /s

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#2

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Bad things will happen to you for no reason.

Burnt_Smurf , MART PRODUCTION Report

#3

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Some people just can’t be saved, you could give them every benefit in the world and they still could choose to throw it all away and you can’t do anything about it.

IfTimeCouldDie , RODNAE Productions Report

#4

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Some parents just don’t love their children.

avaritze , Lenin Estrada Report

#5

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Your government does NOT have your best interest at heart.

CaptainD743 , Pixabay Report

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F. Jeske
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please specify the government you talk about. I have a complete different perception here in the Netherlands.

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#7

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Some people just don't get a happy ending, some people never find happiness or satisfaction. People tell you that there is light at the end of the tunnel but for some people there isn't, they never get to see any light, just darkness.

Kermitting_OOF-Side , Pixabay Report

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Firstname Lastname
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And for some of us, the light is like a cat laser pointer, enough to distract us and give us hope, but ultimately not much.

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#8

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Beauty matters in how people treat people.

NakedKittyAlucard , Andrea Piacquadio Report

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king raven
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I read some statistics saying that attractive criminals tend to receive shorter sentences than unattractive ones. Messed up.

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#9

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones That it’s more likely to succeed if born rich than if you born talented

anon , Thibault Trillet Report

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Stephen Smith
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would prefer to be born talented and succeed at becoming rich, than be born rich and succeed at staying rich.

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#10

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Sometimes, YOU are the problem in a relationship. And if people keep on leaving you, it may well be your fault. Even if you don’t feel like it is.

anon , RODNAE Productions Report

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Karl Baxter
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I work with a guy who’s been married and divorced 3 times. Spend an hour or so around him and there are many clues as to why but I don’t think he has ever considered himself to be the common factor in his failed relationships. He’s currently working on wife number 4 but I don’t hold out much hope for this marriage either.

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#11

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones The world goes on after you die.

Euro_Girl , Mike B Report

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JoyfulZebra
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"One generation passes away and another generation comes; but the earth is forever." (Ecclesiastes 1:4)

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#12

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones There is no karma. Bad things happen to good people. Bad people do bad things that never catch up to them. Good people do good things that screw them over in the long run. It’s all random.

Coach_Bolton , Mike B Report

#13

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Us 1st world citizens have it much better than we think we have it.

anon , Godisable Jacob Report

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Sandra Morison
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know I was lucky.......born white in the UK gave me so many advantages . I do try to appreciate it.

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#14

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones First impressions are a very f*****g big deal.

Robliterator_ , Cytonn Photography Report

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graham warley
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

On average you judge someone you meet for the first time in about 15 seconds. You are rarely wrong.

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#15

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Not everyone is going to like you, no matter how hard you try.

-eDgAR- , Keira Burton Report

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

Umm… am I crazy? Why are there two double posts with the exact same comments—

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#16

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Money and good looks matter

userid404 , Alexander Mils Report

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Колю Майката
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rich people: "money doesn't matter" | Poor people: OK then, if it doesn't matter can you give some of it to us? | Rich people: Nooooo this is not how you do it!!1!1!

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#17

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones We're not all special.

Some of us will not find love.

We're not all equal.

TheDevilsAdvokaat , Tan Danh Report

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badger
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

we're all special & different, just like everyone else.

simspawn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If everyone is special no one is. Get over that kindergarten level nonsense.

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Michael Largey
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That really depends on how many competitors there were. Fifth place out of five is failure. Fifth place out four billion might qualify as an achievement. I, having quite modest ambitions, would settle for being the fifth richest person in the world, or the fifth most attractive, or the fifth most talented, Heck I'd settle for being the fifth most of those things in my local zip code.

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Id row
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The vast majority of people are not special. Unless you're a prodigy or truly unique in some way, there are millions of people just like you, despite what your mom and teachers tell you.

Natalie Gibbs
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow. Here I was thinking it might be a good year... I'm going back to bed.

Stephen Smith
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think we all are special. We all will love someone or something. All human's are equal what ever race religion or sexuality, don't look at them and think they are not, we are all human remember that.

K- THULU
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We are not special..... We are the same but the our circumstances are oh so different..... We all want the same things, but we don't always get them..... Love, belonging, healthcare, education, employment, security, stability, food in our fkn stomachs? A future for our kids? The right to love whoever we want? Our success as a species comes from selfishness not altruism......

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Jessicah
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would go so far as to say most of us are not special. Unique, sure, but not special. And that's ok. We need hordes of average citizens to make the world work.

Marie Orlando
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are what you invest in yourself. If you don't invest in yourself, do not expect a good return.

RM Ker
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Im not sure what "were not all equal" is supposed to mean. Every typical newborn human has the same potential as any other. The parents you get and how much money have determines everything else. Some people are far more culturally advantaged than others while some places on this earth are a living hell. There is no such thing as "equal opportunity."

Laura Probst
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tell me about it. 45, soon to be 46, and I've never been in love. I have a feeling I'm gonna die alone, with my cats nibbling on my body in the week it takes for someone to find me. 😶

Cassi Lyris
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We are all unique, and while that doesn't necessarily mean "special" we are all granted the ability to determine what that means for each of us. And in order to find love, you must love and understand yourself first. That isn't some new age gobbledy gook. It is true.

M Vee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Frankly, even if you are special, it doesn't mean you should have special rights.

Remen Zack
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ouch, the love part though. Well, good thing I have enough books to love.

Dawnieangel76
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you're a fat & ugly woman you'll be alone forever, no matter how many other great attributes you have.

Ron
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow this author really needs meds, it's evident they have issues

Verona Bingham
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We are all Unique Not Special, Special implies you are entitled to something more for being Special. And l don't believe anyone is more entitled than anyone else.

Pamela Leigh
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Define ;"special" . Celebrities? These people get wwaaayyy too much attention. I think everyone is loved at some point. "Equal" how,? This list is getting very vague.

Maya Heet
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

we are special and equal- jist some people think were not equal :/

Parriah
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

True, I was always a puzzle missing some peices. They didn't get lost, they were just never there. I can't fulfill my purpose. Maybe in my next life? I'm hopeful.

T1Oracle
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We are all equal and love starts with loving yourself. The moment you love yourself, you have found love. From there, you can expand that love to others. Now you have found more love. In time, that love will come back to you. Although, there is no guarantee of romance and you will never control what others do for you.

Mary G
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But what we all deserve is equal opportunity to rise to the level of our own expectations and fulfill our potential. That might be ditch digger or it might be heart surgeon.

Ann M Clinkscales
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love the Indian Motorcycle sweatshirt! We really are all special in our own ways!

GES
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Although I do agree...what does special and finding love have to do with eachother?

Spudrump Jaymartinstein
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The truth here stings. All I ever wanted was not wealth and fame, but to marry and have children. To see those trusting eyes full of love look into mine and say daddy, knowing I'd always love em and be there.... unfortunately... well... that one thing is what I'll never have. Oh well

Dan Bexell
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Constitution says we're all equal, But does anybody really think that politicians, millionaires, movie stars, don't get preferential treatment ? Rich people and politicians for example, aren't subjected to drug tests like factory workers are. Animal Farm had it right: All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others, or something like that. It's just a fact, get used to it. Another example, at the Democratic convention, well known politicians and others are made Super Delegates, and their votes count more than yours do. Bernie supporters are still pi**ed about that one.

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

The desire to be special is a great thief of joy, IMO. I try to revel in my ordinariness.

Seiun-kitsune
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We all deserve equal rights, though we are all special and different.

LuLuBelle
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, but we should all be equal under the law. That's the basis of a just society.

Aaron Dodd
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We're all special and equally deserving. None of us are entitled to anything, though, and our actions towards others have consequences.

Lisa Intally
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you adopt an animal or a human, your chances of finding a fulfilling love are better.

Roberta Bray-Enhus
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You’re not special!! That’s the problem with many adults today because their parents kept telling them they’re special. You’re not and get used to it,and stop telling your kids they’re special. Unless you have some spectacular talent that no one else has,or you are a genius,stop giving your kids medals for loosing.

TAM204
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh? And you somehow know who will and will not find love? O wise one, do tell how we can identify those who will find love from those who won't. What's that? You can't? Sheesh ... then why'd you even sprout such nonsense in the first place? If you're not finding love, maybe step back and take a good hard look at yourself and do a thorough self-inspection first. Then ask others to evaluate you (but consider their responses carefully and with a grain of salt). And then change those behaviors you have identified as problematic.

Sperenity
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the romantic sense, some people prefer to stay single. That alone is no indication their behavior is poor.

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#18

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones You will likely be lost to history. In just a few centuries, nobody will remember or even knew you existed. Sad, I know, but you just have to accept it.

Timyoy3 , Pixabay Report

#19

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Mistakes do define you. The little ones don’t, but if you make a big mistake, it will alter your life to an extent. Saying that they don’t matter is a lie that will prevent you from diagnosing life problems later down the line.

CaptinHavoc , Liza Summer Report

#20

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones You don’t always keep the good friends you meet. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make more later on down the road!

viking162 , Matheus Ferrero Report

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#21

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones You’re the bad guy in someone’s story, so many of your enemies will never admit to doing anything wrong, but the thing is neither will you in some situations.

People justify their own behaviour to themselves. That’s why so many people can’t apologise and double down on the s****y things they do.

the-salt-of-dungroon , Monstera Report

#22

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones All human beings are capable of being viciously immoral. There’s a point where we can be forced or force ourselves to become completely animalistic. We can perpetrate murder and genocide, as just one example, and if justified to ourselves correctly, we will feel no remorse. We like to think that the only people capable of such horror are a minority but the truth is that we are all capable of it given the right circumstances.

viktor72 , Anna Shvets Report

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Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dehumanizing someone, considering them an animal, a rabid animal, is how humans justify killing them—-and spinning it that “the rabid animal” actually deserved to be put down. It’s totally f****d up, but it’s what we do. Soldiers in a war are sent there to kill as many of the enemy as possible. That enemy is vilified by being portrayed as less than human, as vicious animals, as deserving to be killed—-and people applaud them for killing more of the enemy than the enemy kills them. I know it’s a way to dissociate, to justify going against everything we’re taught about not killing people so we don’t go insane from committing an act that society would otherwise consider aberrant. But maybe by not dehumanizing others, by retaining the context that we’re all humans and shouldn’t be committing acts of violence against each other, maybe we might finally leave our worst tendencies behind us, and finally take the next evolutionary step—-one that the knuckledraggers continually keep pulling us back from—-by becoming a truly elevated species that doesn’t give in to our more animalistic tendencies. (Hey, I can dream, can’t I?)

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#24

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones People refuse to accept that this IS the reality. Lots of time and money is spent cushioning that blow.

We live here. We live now.

Best get used to it.

Wyrdeone , Keenan Constance Report

#25

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Pain is inescapable. Not even acknowledging that pain is inevitable and preparing for it ahead of time can lessen it.

You will be taken by surprise, you will be hurt, you will not enjoy it, you will not be able to numb it, and there is nothing you can do except take it on the chin.

Cryptids4Sale , Inzmam Khan Report

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K- THULU
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, the Buddha said all life is suffering.... And he wasn't fkn wrong....

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#26

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Very few people truly accept their mortality, and most of the time when it truly sinks in, people get scared and want to avoid it.

MettaMorphosis , Pavel Danilyuk Report

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Rupp
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Making your final plans is the best time to mess with people. For example, I'm stating I want my remains scattered, but I don't want to be cremated....

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#27

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones People can just simply fall out of love with you for no reason.

You fretting about whether it's you or something else or the investment is basically you giving them the reasons to strengthen the reason why they stopped loving you. When they could very much not have a reason at all, feelings and priorities can change.

anon , RODNAE Productions Report

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K- THULU
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And some pretend to so as to not harm the one's they love....... Rather be a martyr than a millstone.....

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#28

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones People like to be lied to. They don’t like finding out they’ve been lied to

cozygo , Teona Swift Report

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Miss Frankfurter
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do not like to be lied to! I CAN (for emphasis) handle the truth. Whatever you do, don’t lie to me. Whoever has lied to me will find out how much I don’t like it.

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