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35 Normal Things That Are Actually Pretty Horrific If You Think About It
Ready to feel a bit mad? The world throws away around 1.3 billion tons of perfectly edible food every single year. That's almost half a trillion worth of items destroyed, which, to add insult to injury, produces over 10% of global greenhouse gases.
Someone asked “What is something that is normalized in society when in reality it is horrific?” and people shared their best examples. So get comfortable as you scroll through, prepare to shake your head, upvote the worst ones and be sure to share your own examples in the comments below.
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#1
Your pug cannot breathe properly. Your poodle has joint pain. You are promoting genetic mutations that cause unbearable suffering to animals because you think its cute.
You drag them around, keep them in tiny apartments and make yourself the center of their lives to the point that they have anxiety every time you leave for work, you do this to validate yourself and yet you are not treating them with the respect they deserve.
Find a healthy breed, give it a home with space, and companions, ideally outside of a cramped noisy city, raise it properly and respect it as sentient being, or don't have a dog.
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#2
Worshipping billionaires as some kind of genius self-made men when they are mostly the reflection of what's worst about modern society.
winterwidow87 3 days ago (edited)
And they almost always aren't "self-made". For example Jeff Bezos' start capital came from his parents, not his own savings, if he didn't have parents who could afford helping him financially he probably wouldn't be where he is (not to mention not paying taxes and exploiting workers, that's really how the uber rich get rich).
#3
Sneering at single mothers instead of the deadbeat dads.
I'm childfree myself, but this infuriates me.
#4
Destruction of unsold or unused goods. I've watched some documentaries about it and talked to people who worked at such jobs.
A warehouse full of unsold TVs, computers and other such items - scheduled for destruction. An excavator comes and squishes it, throws everything into trucks and off to the landfill. Friend asked if he could take a TV but the other guy just pointed at guards and told him not to even try.
Unsold shoes, all perfectly fine and wearable. Saw a documentary of trucks full of branded shoes leaving them at landfills. I believe they cut them open in beforehand so no one could take any for themselves.
Food thrown away after the day.
I've read articles of bakeries giving stuff they'd usually throw, for free to homeless. They get hefty fines for that.
I know brands will do it to keep the price up. But how is it for the enviroment? I bet it's way more ridiculous than my plastic straw.
#5
Denial of medical care because of inability to pay
#6
The fact that we possess the medical technology for people to die painlessly (and at the time and manner of their choice) and yet there's some sort of taboo to try to legalize it. I understand why but it is what it is.
Shannon Donnelly 3 days ago
We all agree that it is the compassionate thing to do to euthanize our pets when they are suffering and there is no way to make them better. But when it comes to humans, most refuse to acknowledge the same thing, I think for two reasons. First, religion. I think it’s a power trip by the higher ups in all the major (mainly Christian/Catholic) religions. But mainly I think it’s the health insurance companies & hospitals that have lobbied Congress to not approve legislation for euthanasia in most states because of the amount of money they would lose if people were given the choice of euthanasia instead of being kept alive by machines and endless rounds of brutal “experimental”treatments. I’m not saying people should just give up when given a terminal diagnosis, but too many people are guilt-tripped into believing the quantity of days you have left is more important than the quality of days you have.
#7
Watching or recording as people are being hurt or dying. Instead of someone acting to help you see everyone pulling out their cell phone or walking away. Obviously there are times where helping might [be dangerous] so I understand someone not jumping in at those points. Last year there was a IG post showing this exact scenario.
There was security footage of a man whose wife died in a car accident. While he was on his knees crying and holding her hand people were walking up behind him and taking pics and video. This man is having the worst day of his life and people are taking video to post online. Somewhere society stopped caring about others and it is horrific.
Teachzebra 3 days ago
A few years ago I was at a high profile parade on a very hot day. A member of one of the marching bands was clearly struggling, vomited, and nearly collapsed. Several people helped him to a shaded area, gave him a folding chair, and numerous people walked over and started fanning him and giving him water bottles. One person went to get nearby medical personnel. I felt a little restoration in my faith in humanity since everyone’s first instinct was to help this individual, and even though there was a large crowd I didn’t see anyone filming what was No Doubt a very scary and somewhat embarrassing moment for this individual.
#8
That everyone and anyone should procreate. It affects another person's life who can't consent to it. If you can't give a child a good life you shouldn't have children, as they have rights too.
Lyone Fein 3 days ago
My (very unpopular) opinion is that people who want children need to adopt. There are so many parentless children in need of loving families. And they are suffering. If you are truly motivated by love, and not by the desire to photocopy your DNA, there is someone out there right now in need of that love.
#9
Not horrific, but I hate that drinking alcohol is so normalized that people think something bad happened or something is wrong with you if you don’t drink.
#10
In the USA, tying health care to your work / ability to produce at a high level.
Health insurance is not even offered at lower-paying jobs.
Kristy Marion 3 days ago
Mixing health insurance and employment just seems like a bad idea to me. I had a hotel manager in the US who had to work with terminal cancer until her final 2 weeks because her treatment/insurance was tied to her employment. Similarly, a good friend is continuing to work past retirement due to the superior benefits his insurance provides for him and his wife. He is ready to retire but is worried a medical issue could bankrupt them. Crazy.
#11
Referring to humans as illegals and then treating them as if they aren't humans and as if you yourself haven't benefited from immigration even your existence is partly somewhere down your bloodline the result of immigration. The us and them mentality disgusts me.
Shannon Donnelly 3 days ago
The same people who b***h about the US being overrun by immigrants who don’t speak English are the same people who will 1) brag about what countries their grandparents came from to the US not speaking English and only having $50 in their pocket; 2) complain about immigrants taking all the good jobs from hardworking Americans but at the same time claiming they don’t work & are milking the system; 3) Are so proud to take those Ancestry tests to prove that they themselves have as much claim to the US as anyone else, with the exception of the Indigenous Peoples of North America.
#12
People not caring about the poor. Thinking they got where they are because they're lazy, or d**g addicts. In reality, if we made some poor choices we could be in the exact same position.
AtMostAFabulist 3 days ago
You don't even have to make a poor choice. This is my biggest fear, I will have an accident or some sickness and lose my job and then my house.
#13
Women getting iud’s without legit pain meds. F****n barbaric.
Orange Frosting 3 days ago
And uterine biopsies. Absolute agony and definitely not just a "pinch".
#14
Child brides, are mortifying to me. I remember one time there was this three year old girl getting married off to a 36 year old man. I thought how horrible to myself and aloud. A guy at work thought I would be comforted by the fact that her husband shouldn't have [intercourse] with her until she was of age. I wasn't because it's not guaranteed he won't consummate the marriage with his toddler bride just because it's frowned upon.
#15
Male victims of domestic violence. A lot of people just think it’s funny.
Black Cat 3 days ago
Domestic Violence is a scourge on society. If you're a violent f****r, prone to jealousy, insecure and so entitled you can't cope with not getting you're own way, do everyone a favour and stay single and DON'T breed! Men or women. Penalties for domestic abusers need to be a helluva lot tougher and there needs to be a register like there is for sex offenders so people know who they are getting involved with.
#16
For-profit medicine. Doctors don't have to work for free, but selling stock shares based on people seeking medical help is absolutely unethical.
#17
Religion and the indoctrination of children and vulnerable populations (poor, sick, incarcerated, etc)
Teachzebra 3 days ago
And in the most hypocritical way imaginable these are many of the people that accuse public schools of trying to indoctrinate children and demand books be banned and that things like critical race theory, gay pride, etc. never be taught
#18
Well, normalized in the USA at least - Declawing your cats
#19
The abuse of animals in the horse and dog racing business. So many d***s and injuries causing death to innocent animals. Then an abundance of non productive animals to get rid of.
Jessica SpeLangm 3 days ago
Abuse of animals, period. Especially using them to test products only meant for humans and the results from said testing being absolutely USELESS. Therefore, a lot of animals suffering needlessly for 80+ years.
#20
Forcing kids to show physical affection to anyone.
Lousha 3 days ago
I used to embarass my parents a lot with this when I was very little, because I would protest loudly that I did not want to give a kiss to a bunch of relatives because "auntie is prickly!" (she had some remarkably strong hairs on her chin), "uncle smells!" (he was not averse to a little glass of any alcohol, anytime), etc. I was too little to understand that it's not nice to say things like that, and I saw these relatives maybe once a year, they did not feel like family to my little mind, just weird, unattractive strangers. Up to this day it makes me very uncomfortable when anyone (partner's family, overly friendly new acquaintance etc) comes up to me to greet me with a peck on the cheek and a hug. I have a huge personal space and hate any touching from anyone other than maybe 3 people in this world. I'm 100 percent sure that this would not be the case if I was allowed to choose who to hug/touch/kiss when I was a small child.
#21
The payday lending industry.
Giving out loans at completely unreasonable interest rates to the people least likely to be able to pay them back, leading them further down a path to misery is an evil business model, and that regulators seem so willing to look the other way is disappointing if not surprising.
#22
In the us ?
criminalizing not only being homeless, but *helping* people who are homeless. feeding or housing or even just providing respite.
winterwidow87 3 days ago (edited)
Not a very christian behavior coming from the country with the largest christian population in the world.
#23
Paying taxes to a government that doesn't keep you healthy, educated, and provide **guaranteed** security in retirement after spending a lifetime supporting said government.
Susan Bell 3 days ago
Ah, but you get a military, bigger than the next 8 biggest militaries, to protect the 1% richest people’s interests around the globe.
#24
Nudging females to have kids when they clearly don't want them.
General Anaesthesia 3 days ago
Then abandoning any responsibility once the child is born. Important until birth, then mother and child can drop dead.
#25
The way medication is advertised in the US directly to the consumer. "Ask your doctor about...."
Chich the witch 3 days ago
Just saw one of these commercials. They didn't even give a hint what the d**g was supposed to treat, but "it could be right for you"
#26
Treating addicts like they deserve to die
winterwidow87 3 days ago
Addiction is a disease, yet there are so many people who still treat it as a matter of choice and strength of character.
#28
Circumcision (when they're babies and not due to medical reasons).
#29
IMO, TV series being made of a serial [criminal]/ evil person being glamorized, played by some hot actor, and dramatized so that people become sort of “fans” of the real life person. Bonus points if not much sympathy or perspective is shown for the direct families/friends impacted by the actions of said evil person.
#30
Forcing autistic people to hide who they are, because how other people sees you is more important that your own mental health. This leads to anxiety, low self esteem, depression, and suicide being much more common in the autistic community.
Beak Hookage 3 days ago (edited)
I grew up forced to mask all the time and people did not understand why I would get so exhausted and surly after doing it for hours on end (and would not tolerate it). It's only just a few months ago, after more than twenty years, that I've felt safe openly telling people I will be working or studying with that I'm autistic. Because now I know they won't judge me for it but will show consideration toward my needs. Last year I was asked to give a speech to an audience of children, and for the first time ever I stood up in front of an audience and said "I am an autistic person, so this is really hard for me to do, but I'm doing it anyway". I later learned that a lot of those kids were themselves autistic, and now here was this impressive grown-up telling them "I am like you". And that's not something I will ever fail to give the next generation again.
#31
Housing as a commodity/investment rather than a basic need / shelter.
People need shelter to survive, and suitable shelter is a prerequisite to starting families or just not suffering without access to a basic human need in general.
Imagine if we started limiting access to drinking water and started hoarding to sell it for what the highest bidders are willing to take, even if it leaves behind a large chunk of our society. Imagine ensuring that a majority of people are unable to afford enough water if they were to have kids, just so investors can continue to make a bigger buck in the future. Imagine if we encouraged buying off any remaining available water, allowed corporations to hoard it, and encouraged people to hoard it as a means of storing their wealth, and as their retirement nest egg.
#32
Application fees for apartments
R.A. Haley 3 days ago
Somebody once put forth the idea that, if you have a property for rent, all you have to do is keep accepting applications(+fees) and never approve anybody. Easy side income, no worries about tenants wrecking the place.
#33
That 99% of processed foods have added sugar to help for profit companies to feed addictions
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 3 days ago
Even worse, corn syrup being used, there is a component in corn syrup which negates your ability to feel full.
#34
The chicken industry is pretty horrific. I eat chicken. But yeah when you really read about it it is sick. Billions of chickens born every year only to be forced to lay eggs for their life or slaughtered after a few days or weeks.
#35
Deaths by motor vehicle. +1 million people worldwide every year
What do you think ?
Mari 3 days ago (edited)
Why do women have to be beautiful or sexy to be accepted in society? And why are there still no rights for women to stay at home when they are having their period? Too much women suffer each month but it is still taboo in society.
Jane Doe 2 days ago
This reminds me of a BP (i think) article titled "Pink Tax is mostly on items for women." It's because people do not connect the dots.
Load More Replies...
Heffalump 3 days ago
How come no-one mentioned that it shouldn't be normal that you have the right to expect that, just because you can get in touch with someone instantly, and it's convenient for you at this exact moment, they should drop whatever they are doing to respond, rather than making you wait until it's convenient for them.
Mari 3 days ago (edited)
Why do women have to be beautiful or sexy to be accepted in society? And why are there still no rights for women to stay at home when they are having their period? Too much women suffer each month but it is still taboo in society.
Jane Doe 2 days ago
This reminds me of a BP (i think) article titled "Pink Tax is mostly on items for women." It's because people do not connect the dots.
Load More Replies... Heffalump 3 days ago
How come no-one mentioned that it shouldn't be normal that you have the right to expect that, just because you can get in touch with someone instantly, and it's convenient for you at this exact moment, they should drop whatever they are doing to respond, rather than making you wait until it's convenient for them.
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