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One of my secret pleasures (and feel free to chime in if you’re a geek like me) is looking through various colorful guides and infographics, from what plants are edible in forests to hypothetical explanations on how best to survive the zombie Apocalypse that 2020 promised but never delivered.

The multi-million-member ‘Cool Guides’ community on Reddit is the prime place to go to for (yup, you guessed it!) cool guides. From aesthetically pleasing and very informative ones to quirky and funny ones, you’ll find a bit of everything to keep those noggins of yours learning and yearning for more, dear Pandas.

Bored Panda had a lovely chat with redditor Dadschool, who founded the r/coolguides subreddit way back in 2014 and is still its head moderator to this very day. Having started the sub with no real expectations of forming a community around it, he filled a niche on Reddit that had been empty. "I had a bit of a compulsive habit of saving every guide I came across on Reddit with the idea that I'd somehow reference it when I needed it later. There weren't really any subs for general guides so I made one and uploaded all my guides at once. I think a lot of people have a similar affection for bitesize trivia and hoarding generalist knowledge." You'll find the rest of our interview with the founder below.

Upvote your fave guides as you scroll on down, drop us a comment with your thoughts below, and go and join the r/coolguides subreddit if it’s right up your alley. But a quick note of warning before we begin: this is a community mostly for guides; infographics are in a bit of a grey area.

#1

Inequality V. Equality V. Equity V. Justice

Inequality V. Equality V. Equity V. Justice

hannah15153 Report

#2

Hand Sign Guide For Loud Bars

Hand Sign Guide For Loud Bars

the_real_snurre Report

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Birgit M
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a good idea, but the fourth sign will be confusing in a Heavy Metal Club.

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The founder, Dadschool, was very humble about his role in expanding the community. "I can say it is only able to be this size because moderators like @etymologynerd and @robinsparkles18 are as active as they are, and the time they take out of their day to check in," he praised his colleagues. With a leader so supportive, no wonder that the mod r/coolguides mod team stands shoulder to shoulder, come hell or high water.

"The unique thing about Reddit is that subreddits really are independent and are autonomously moderated communities. I think our subscriber ranking is something like 190 across all of Reddit and it's not like there's monetization options after you break 200 or conversations with Reddit corporate. We're the same mod team we were a few years ago, excited that we broke 100k, and checking Reddit throughout the day to make sure no one uploaded the same damn apple guide uploaded 100 times that week," the founder claimed that things are still pretty much as they've always been.

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#4

Recognizing A Mentally Abused Brain

Recognizing A Mentally Abused Brain

halfs2010 Report

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Alex Bailey
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh dear... I didn't realise I was that bad. Thanks dad.

Ritchat
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same here. Still feeling most of these things on a daily basis although I stopped talking to my dad years ago.

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Mimi
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Helpful to see my problems united in a single chart. We're not alone, let us all make it better.

Leo Domitrix
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is something called cPTSD, or "complex PTSD", which occurs in those of us whose trauma was inflicted steadily, readily, constantly, throughout childhood or over decades in adulthood. We have no pre-trauma life, so we aren't typical PTSD patients in that sense. We don't have a "normal" we miss. We freak out at what others call normal. It's real. it sucks. Abused children often grow up to develop this type of PTSD, in my experience (and my peer support PTSD group).... Let us heal. We may not fully heal ever, but since some were hurt before they could speak words? ... It's harder than most think.

Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thanks bullies, I was hoping after forgiving and being logical would help improve all those things but sadly the damage has been done and it is and will continue to be a looooong road and mountain to get over.

Deborah B
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had all of these signs in my teens and 20s... and I wouldn't (then) have said I had been mentally abused. If you can get therapy, do. It does help.

Olivia Payne-Alatsari
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dad really managed to mess me up. So many of us, I wonder if anything will change for the next generation. I sure hope so

El Dee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hadn't realised but this IS me. Abusive relationship decades ago still affecting me..

Susan Widomski
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am an older woman that has held these feelings for 50 years. It has not been by choice.

Yo Muda
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

Erik Granqvist
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The same symptoms can also indicate ilnesses, such as anxiety dissorders.

Biljana Malesevic
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know such person. Where can you find how to help? It's much more difficult than it looks like here. It's not just "be patient".

Karin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Graphic is by The Depression Project. Maybe look for them online.

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Cheese Dinner
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i feel this way, but i am not mentally abused. Unless you count towards myself....

Fixin'Ta
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

AKA "Emotional abuse" -- had a boyfriend like that in college. Still have the emotional scars 30 years later.

Suzy the observer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is hating people part of it? Cause I have a hard time putting up with them. I find a lot of them revolting and damn annoying. One hour of socializing or an outing requires three days to recharge. I do love a few of them.

Chaotic_pansexual
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’ve wondered why my friends worry about me, and now I realize: they knew more about me than I did

Emma Schultz
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

uh oh… wow i’m learning so many new things about myself :(

Me Oh My
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I didn't realize these were signs of being mentally abused..

Riolu Claw
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this is me but i haven't been mentally abused? i have several mental disorders though

Jeff Diamond
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm just coming out of an emotionally abusive marriage after 14 years. This is me 100%.

just a donut
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was never abused, but I do a lot of this and I don't know why.

Carmen Honacker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm struggling to ask for patience and with being honest in my new company, because you're not supposed to be vulnerable in business. Having worked for places that weaponized my honesty didn't help. I'm getting better, but it will take a minute.

Suzanne Haigh
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have been like this my whole life, doubt things will change now, just becoming worse

Party Poison
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i dont think ive been mentally abused, but i do all those things

Kathy Arnold
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, all of these! My dad learned from his dad. Six weeks in IOP and explaining reality to my mom in a kind way has helped. Too bad she didn’t obviously come to my defense. Thankfully my dad died in 2017, but I let him live in my head for three years.

L.j. Bus
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It takes tons and tons of patience and there doesn’t seem to be enough time in the world. When you start to get comfortable because you’re certain you’ve processed all that... turmoil... it comes back with a vengeance Don’t worry about the ones going through this if they haven’t come out the other side after a certain time that they “aren’t there yet” but be there for them, without thinking there is a max. timespan they might exceed. There is no end to that healing. There are a lot of levels and roads the healing process can lead you in and if you’re lucky, you won’t experience a certain trigger that will open up these trauma’s again no matter how well it’s processed or how stable you have become. It’s just a roll of a dice... like rubber bands you can be as strong as you are, the principe of max. strain until breakage still applies. Things that causes accute stress (like being tired or hungry) build up and either only strain or break that mental resilience healing turns in to

L.j. Bus
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry, don’t mean to be gloom. It’s just a big puddle of unmeasurable guidelines. Not everyone is prone to relapse/break again after that healing. It just utterly sucks when you break down (again) because you easlily feel flawed, not strong enough or at fault somehow when it does happen. Don’t think (that I mean that) you can’t work towards healing enough to prevent uncovering that trauma again. Keep working at it, eating and resting when needed, the more balanced the more successful. All the tools you have learned or still learn in therapy or anything/everything you might have figured out on your own does add to that resilience. It provides a barrier between all those bits of stress and that particular point of breakage that uncovers that trauma (and seem to negate all the good work you have put in to coping and healing). It only seems that way btw, you don’t unlearn or become immune to those lessons, it’s just not sufficient enough anymore at that time if that barrier has broken.

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pinkytoes
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

wow, I never put it together that my abuse and my way of reacting to things were connected. I thought I was just a bad person

Cherye Norris
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I understand what you're going through, you don't sound like a bad person to me at all.

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Sarah
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So very me...except I'm not good at hiding my feelings. But the rest? Oh yeah...

KombatBunni
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My daughter shows all of these :( One day soon I’m going to have words with her dad..and it won’t be pretty 😡🤬

Jeanne Sadler
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My daughter is pretty much all of those, but it's depression and anxiety plus she is on the spectrum. So this is not 100% of people who display this behavior.

D. Pitbull
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good grief. This is me... but no worries - regardless of this I'm still going to be told by "well meaning people" that I just need to: "open up more, you are shutting people out"... and "You're being really unempathetic, I can tell you're hiding what you really feel"... "Oh my gawd, I told you it's FINE already, why do you need to ask again? STOP APOLOGIZING" - because yeah... that all helps a whole lot.

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#5

How To Get A Scientific Paper For Free

How To Get A Scientific Paper For Free

slickanglican Report

#6

How Paint Can Change A Room

How Paint Can Change A Room

dartmaster666 Report

Dadschool revealed that the biggest challenge that he and the other moderators face is reacting in time to remove hateful and troll guides as soon as humanly possible. However, that's not always possible because they all have day jobs; moderating is something that they do during their spare time. "We all are working professionals so it's easy for something to slip by and stay out there for way longer than it should and that's always a total bummer—a total lose/lose for the community."

#8

How Masks And Social Distancing Works

How Masks And Social Distancing Works

PepeFrogLive Report

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Nowadays, the founder of r/coolguides is a tad more lax about infographics than when he first founded the subreddit. These days, he's more keen to let the community decide what direction it wants to go via upvotes and engagement. He trusts the community. "I see the moderator role as more akin to a landscaper: pruning [troll] posts, removing harmful posts, and moderating for content diversity. Subscribers are much better judges of content quality and validity than moderators and I think it's important to trust them in that role." He added (and this is a feeling that I completely agree with): "I will admit, however, that the majority of guides I enjoy most myself rarely break 50/100 upvotes."

#11

Just A Little Something For The Upcoming Holiday Season

Just A Little Something For The Upcoming Holiday Season

killswitch4987 Report

#12

A Restaurant Guide For How You Want Your Steak Cooked

A Restaurant Guide For How You Want Your Steak Cooked

madairman Report

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How about let people eat steak how they like it. The chef can shove the rare steak where the sun don’t shine.

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For those of you Pandas who are raring to post a guide on r/coolguides, head moderator Dadschool is all for it: "Go for it!" Just remember to avoid reposts, so have a look through the newest posts. "We do try to maintain some content diversity, so don't upload all ten of your favorite ab workout guides at once. If you have the source, be a buddy and list that too in the comments or title to give credit where it's due!" he gave some advice for newcomers.

#13

Paper Snowflakes

Paper Snowflakes

thealiensgotme Report

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troufaki13
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm so bad at crafting, mine would probably end up being just confetti :/

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#14

I Liked This One

I Liked This One

reddit.com Report

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Ozacoter
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The niqab and the burka should not be legal in our society. First because the face is the way of conveying emotions and covering it it’s dehumanising but specially for security. The other veils should be all legal for adults but not for kids since they cannot consent to them. I am heartbroken each time that I see a 8yo covered like if she needs to be hidden while her brothers run around freely.

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#15

Animals With Misleading Names

Animals With Misleading Names

fsterneder Report

The University of Bath has some excellent advice on how to create a proper guide that’s useful for your readers. Yes, it's a guide for creating guides: we're officially in meta-territory now.

They suggest that you address the reader directly, rather than in the third person (i.e. ‘you Pandas should upvote this awesome article’ instead of ‘Pandas may upvote this absolutely amazing article at the very bottom of the page’). 

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#16

Different Shades Of Light

Different Shades Of Light

rickypark Report

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Hans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good office lighting has a function to simluate daylight. Very warm with the early morning, going towards natural through the day, then back to normal in the evening. If you get good LED drivers, you can drive RGBW LED stripes like this.

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What’s more, you should aim to write concisely. Plainly. Simply. Structure and break up the content to make it easier to read. Give your guide some flow and make it easy for the reader to understand what’s what.

Meanwhile, some of the things that you should avoid are incredibly technical terms in the title and headings. Also, omit useless words and info. Less. Is. More. (Unless you absolutely have to add in those extra words for whatever unavoidable reasons.)

#19

How Untreated Adhd Causes And Traps You In Depression

How Untreated Adhd Causes And Traps You In Depression

dartmaster666 Report

#20

The History Of Confederate Flags.

The History Of Confederate Flags.

SFgiant55 Report

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Raven Sheridan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the age of cancel culture, I'm astonished that nobody's gotten to the Dukes of Hazard yet. 🤔

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#21

How To Treat People With Dementia

How To Treat People With Dementia

Snoo_3771 Report

The ‘Cool Guides’ subreddit celebrated its 7th birthday, a magical milestone if there ever was one, just over a week ago on March 20.

Since having been founded in 2014, the community now has nearly 2.1 million members and continues to grow. Despite the vast number of members, the team of moderators remains compact, numbering at just 5 (as far as we can tell from their page on Reddit—there may be more who choose to remain more mysterious and secretive).

#22

Cool Guide Of Words You Can Use Instead Of Very

Cool Guide Of Words You Can Use Instead Of Very

InfernoEclipse Report

#24

Tattoo Pain Chart

Tattoo Pain Chart

toletpainter Report

According to the mods, their online page is for “picture based reference guides for anything and everything. If it seems like something someone might print, physically post, and reference then it is a good link for this sub.”

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However, this doesn’t always include infographics. The mods explain that infographics are learning tools, whereas guides are reference tools. Sometimes, the area between the two becomes blurred.

If you do end up posting what the mods deem to be an infographic, they might decide to remove it. “An infographic is more educational in layout and content, finding something specific on an infographic is not as easy because it is designed to inform through more narrative structures. If your guide is more of a visual essay than a structured table or list, then chances are that is an infographic. Sometimes infographics can masquerade as how-to guides.”

#25

How Human Flesh Decomposes

How Human Flesh Decomposes

saladioo Report

#26

U.S. Flag But Each Star Is Scaled Proportionally To Their State’s Population, In Roughly It’s Geographical Position.

U.S. Flag But Each Star Is Scaled Proportionally To Their State’s Population, In Roughly It’s Geographical Position.

OmarZiada Report

#27

Cool Idea Of How Fresh New Babies See The World

Cool Idea Of How Fresh New Babies See The World

crescentcelledarch Report

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Sabienn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not like newborns are blind though. They can see sharp for a small distance, 30 cm as far as I know

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The subreddit also has a no-tolerance policy for any content that’s dangerous, harmful, hurtful, or destructive. It’s supposed to be a wholesome and informative community that adheres to morality, the rules of Reddit, as well as common legal structures.

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“Guides depicting harmful, dangerous, or destructive content will be removed. This includes guides describing the creation of dangerous items/materials and/or guides that are designed with the purpose to harm or hurt others do not fit the culture of this sub and will be removed.”

#28

A Simple Spell

A Simple Spell

thou_undercoverjack Report

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Kristal
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol before I read 'congrats' I thought it was referencing World of Warcraft. Cause, if you aren't tired or stressed, you can be after playing WoW for a while

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#29

For All You Dog Lovers Out There

For All You Dog Lovers Out There

mikeymikespeirs Report

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I I
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

got 4 dogs and one , Cali , she will put ANYTHING in her mouth , and if she thinks you want to take it off her she will try to eat it , this could come in very handy , she is also the most loving dog i know

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So, dear Pandas, which of these guides did you find to be the most useful (or, let's face it, the most intriguing because we all like looking at pretty pictures)? What's the most useful guide you've ever seen in your entire life? Is there a guide for something that you'd do pretty much anything to read through? Share your thoughts with everyone else below.

#31

How To Assert Dominance Over A Waterfall

How To Assert Dominance Over A Waterfall

reeces_geeses Report

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troufaki13
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope I never have to come to a point where I would need this information

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#32

Activities That Make Your Brain Release Happy Chemicals

Activities That Make Your Brain Release Happy Chemicals

Poohannes Report

#34

How To Turn Down An Invite.

How To Turn Down An Invite.

Falom Report

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troufaki13
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First you decline, then be gracious. Wording is very essential and people tend to pay attention to the sentence after the "but". For example "I won't be able to make it, but thank you for considering me" vs "thank you for inviting me, but I can't come". I think the first one sounds better, even if it's essentially the same.

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#36

Copper Through The Patina Process

Copper Through The Patina Process

reddit.com Report

#37

Communication 101: As A Ux Researcher, I Study How People Understand Technology, Content, And Messaging For A Living. During This Crisis, Vague Messages Like "Practice Social Distancing" Will Have Far Less Impact Than Concrete, Specific Messages Like "Stay At Home. Get Groceries Once Per Week"

Communication 101: As A Ux Researcher, I Study How People Understand Technology, Content, And Messaging For A Living. During This Crisis, Vague Messages Like "Practice Social Distancing" Will Have Far Less Impact Than Concrete, Specific Messages Like "Stay At Home. Get Groceries Once Per Week"

Hybrid_UX_Research Report

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varwenea
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Totally agree with NO on new term. Trying to teach new behaviors while using a mouthful of new words is weird.

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#39

How To Pack A Hiking Bag

How To Pack A Hiking Bag

sidhao Report

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Eva the Egg
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is very helpful because I go hiking a lot, next time I will pack this way!

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#41

What To Say To Kids Instead Of “Be Careful!”

What To Say To Kids Instead Of “Be Careful!”

something115 Report

#42

Biking Or Running In The Dark? Here's How The Drivers See You Based On The Clothes You Wear.

Biking Or Running In The Dark? Here's How The Drivers See You Based On The Clothes You Wear.

tamar Report

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Sabienn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And at night, you're much more visible if you have reflectors on your bike and two lights (white at the front, red at the back). And not on their blinking setting, because that's distracting for other traffic

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#43

I’ll Never Remember This Mid-Heart Attack But This Is Good To Know

I’ll Never Remember This Mid-Heart Attack But This Is Good To Know

sweet_potato_75 Report

#44

A Quick Guide To Tea!

A Quick Guide To Tea!

Relojero Report

#45

Explanation Of The Subtle Differences Between Equality And Equity

Explanation Of The Subtle Differences Between Equality And Equity

SocialPredicament Report

#47

Simple Guide To Staying Healthy

Simple Guide To Staying Healthy

esuuuu Report

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Ozacoter
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol. And I cannot do more than 2000 steps a day without massive pain for the next two days. I hate my body. Please healthy people, cherish your body and energy.

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#48

Different Forms Of Color Blindness

Different Forms Of Color Blindness

guilded-iron Report

#49

How To Make An Amazing Sofa Fort

How To Make An Amazing Sofa Fort

gmlg14 Report

#50

The Joker

The Joker

GhettoAvenueBoys Report

Note: this post originally had 72 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.