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“Pluto Was A Planet”: 30 Millennials Share Things They Learned As Kids That Turned Out To Be False
Every generation has its own set of unique characteristics and events that shaped them. For example, millennials are known as the first tech-savvy generation because they literally grew up with the Internet and figured out how to use it.
Despite all the things they enjoyed, growing up as a millennial wasn’t easy. They were taught so many things about life that made no sense, and it’s only now that they’ve grown up that they’re realizing the truth. This list explores all the realizations Gen Y has had to come to terms with.
More info: Reddit
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#1
Be loyal to a job and stay there for your entire career and that job will look out for you. .
UncleJohn3000 1 day ago
The last time this was true in the US, Willie Loman was at the height of his sales career.
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#2
The DARE program told me that around every corner there was someone looking to offer me free d***s. 40 years later and I'm still waiting for my free d***s.
Did I say that out loud? (he/him)cis/het 1 day ago
We never had anything like this when I was at school. Maybe it was considered, but they thought it wasn't a good idea to tell us where to go, who to find, and what to ask for.
#3
That no man in this nation, even the president is above the law.
Generations are separated based on their collective attitudes, significant happenings, and even popular culture. Anyone born between 1981 and 1996 is considered to be a millennial or a part of Gen Y.
The reason they are called millennials is because the oldest members of their group became adults at the turn of the millennium. Even though Gen Y folks still consider themselves to be incredibly young, what’s shocking is that they’re predicted to make up the majority of the workforce by 2029!
Gen Y has had to learn and adapt to so much with changing cultures, trends, and attitudes. The only thing is this list definitely makes it seem like a lot of what they were taught about life was really misleading.
#4
You won't always have access to a calculator.
Roland Nijveld 1 day ago
My teacher said that when half the class already had mobile phones. This was like 1999/2000.
#5
"Don't swallow gum, it will stay in your stomach for x years".
UncleJohn3000 1 day ago
I was awake for my first colonoscopy and they turned the monitor around so I could watch live and in color. No chewing gum. No piles of red meat. Just pink and shiny colon.
#6
The food pyramid. That thing was everywhere .
WindySwede 17 hours ago
"The first pyramid was published in Sweden in 1974.[3][4][5]" - wikipedia 🙃
Even though people, at their core, are the same across decades, there are a few big differences between millennials and the generations before. Compared to baby boomers, research shows that Gen Y is more team-oriented but also a bit sheltered.
Millennials are definitely a lot more comfortable around technology and the Internet. They are also influenced by the culture and have grown up knowing how to communicate online. This is one of the reasons why this generation is so easily able to adapt to and accept new ideas.
The coolest thing about Gen Y is how diverse and more tolerant they are than other generations of different races, religions, and cultures. Luckily, this seems to be one valuable idea they learned well and that the next generations are following, too.
#7
All grown ups deserve respect.
#8
If you go to college you’ll be set for life.
Captain Kakapo 1 day ago
And so you will. No one says it is going to be happy and prosperous life.
#9
Boys tease you/bully you because they like you!
Holy f**k did that advice send the wrong message.
A big “lie” that Gen Y was told a lot growing up was that if they worked hard they’d be able to afford a house and live comfortably. Unfortunately, inflation and other factors have changed that concept drastically.
According to Pew Research, millennials have more student debt than Gen X or baby boomers. This could be attributed to the Great Recession, which is also why they have been slower to start their own households. Many Gen Y folks still live with their parents and are okay doing so for a longer period of time.
#11
“It’s illegal to have the light on in the back of the car while mom is driving.”.
Ge Po 1 day ago
Ahem, it may not be stated as such in the law, but it can be considered reckless endangerment, since having a light on inside the car while driving when it's dark outside, will severely diminish your ability to see the road, other traffic, or objects (people, animals) beside the road.
#12
Tongues have different taste zones. The tip of your tongue is where the Sweet taste buds are, up front on both sides is salty, back on both sides is sour, bitter is in the very back and the middle tastes umami.
Turns out that’s b******t.
Baby boomers and Gen X were definitely doing their best when it came to raising millennials. The only thing is that they seemed to skip out on teaching them certain essential skills. A few gaps that research has identified are in things like budgeting, sewing, car maintenance, woodworking, and even survival skills.
This might be due to the fact that the older generations took such things for granted and grew up using all of those abilities. They might not have seen it as essential to specifically teach young millennials how to do all of that.
#13
If you work hard you can afford to live.
Nils Skirnir 4 hours ago
If you work hard you have a better chance of surviving than if you don’t. That’s the only guarantee. The game is rigged
#14
"You're going to be expected to write in cursive when you grow up.".
#15
That quick sand is around every corner and super deadly. It turns out, that just ain't so.
Robert T 5 hours ago
Having lived next to a bay with a high tidal change uncovering vast areas of sand, quicksand is a very real issue and it will kill you - mainly because you will drown if you get stuck in it and the tide comes back in. You simply don't go out on the sands without a guide. It's not generally a problem is you stay on the land!!!
It definitely seems like millennials are doing incredibly well despite some of the weird things they were taught. Luckily, they were able to figure everything out for themselves and hopefully have passed their new learnings on to the next generation.
What is something you learned as a kid that you now feel makes absolutely no sense? We’d love to hear from you, so do share your thoughts in the comments.
#16
Margarine > Butter
Ya… okay… what a load of c**p.
Apatheist Account2 20 hours ago
This was understood in the 1980s. Not sure who was still peddling that nonsense years later.
#17
People hide d***s in Halloween candy.
Kare Deter 23 hours ago
My mom used to "check" my candy. The next day half the bag would be gone because she found glass, razor blades, pins, unexplained needle holes etc. I grew up in fear of my neighbors because of this only to realize when I was older she just straight up stole all the good stuff!!
#18
That running in a zig zag pattern away from alligators works. As a Floridian, my world exploded when I found out that wasn’t true. They lied to us in school.
#19
That Beanie Babies would be worth a bunch of money when I got older. Am older. No such luck.
#20
"Homework is serious business. If you try to be creative or funny on your assignment you're just going to annoy your teacher."
Having briefly worked as a teacher, this is the opposite of true. The teachers think the assignment is boring too, and they have to get through a whole stack. As long as you demonstrate understanding of the material and assignment, making them laugh will generally improve, not harm, their impression of you.
#21
"If you make good choices, you will be rewarded"
Sure, rewarded with more responsibilities (more work).
#22
Good grades means better jobs which = better pay.
Far from true. I am seeing people in real estate and businessmen making way more money.
Not just that but I have seen people with 2.0 GPAs get 6 figure salary jobs meanwhile some with 4.0 GPA still working at a low end job.
Roland Nijveld 1 day ago
We have a mjllionar in our country and the guy came from a poor family and didn't even finish elementary school.
#23
“Just go in and ask for a job”.
Andy 1 day ago (edited)
It's not so much "debunked" as no longer relevant. Back in the days before the internet when you needed to rely on job adverts in newspapers or signs in windows, going into places to enquire if they have any jobs going and drop off your CV was one of the most efficient ways to find out who was looking for staff, especially retail.
Child of the Stars 2 hours ago
A lot of these on this list are like that. True at the time or at least an understanding of the data available, but things changed.
Load More Replies... Nimitz 2 hours ago
I got told this over and over last time I got laid off due to a recession. I explained that it's just not possible, got called lazy. Now my dumbfuq boomer parents are trying to find post-retirement work. I told them to do the same thing. They tried. They were asked to leave. My dad especially has lost his s**t with the online application process. "Why do I have to fill out this form when the information is on my resume?" Welcome to the hell your generation allowed to take root old man
Gatorraid 5 hours ago (edited)
My father does this but it's when applying for a school or coaching center. This started when my younger brother wanted to enter a specific center with his friends but needed a guardian or parent to talk with the head. My father said "Well why don't you talk to them then as you're the one who wants to join them? You're old enough to be independent (he is 16)" and then my mother chimed in saying it doesn't work like that and then argument with my mother who disagreed with my father and him insulting her so badly she didn't talk to ANY of us (despite my brothers and I trying to comfort her and ice our father), eat lunch (had toasted bread here and there instead, tried to get her to eat something other than carbs) for 3 whole days. Idk what he said because he spoke too fast in our native non-english tongue but it sounded BAD.
#24
The crust of the bread has all the nutrition which is why we have to eat it. .
#26
"You'll never get paid to play video games".
#28
The permanent record is b******t. You can have fake college, fake jobs, and fake references. Most jobs never call or look into them.
Murdocksgirl 19 hours ago
As a recruiter and someone who has handled onboarding for 7+ years, this is absolutely NOT TRUE. If you lie about a job, education etc, and we run the background there is a good chance (depending on company policy and any regulations they have to follow) that your offer would get revoke. Now obviously, if you put you started March 2024 at a Job but it was really April 2024 that is a different story, but I can personally attest to at least 150 people over the years (in both regulated and non regulated) who had offers revoked for flat out lying
#29
If someone does something you don’t like, just ignore it.
Doctor Strange 19 hours ago
Bullies Count on you turning the other cheek, because it means there are no consequences. It is tacit approval for them to continue.
#30
The focus on making as much money as possible, but not priortizing having a satisfying life.
What do you think ?
Bonesko 19 hours ago (edited)
Don't forget the if you run into a bear play dead. Personally I find this suspicious. I think this was made up by bears. 'Lay on the ground, cover yourself with honey and you'll be safe!' 😁
Nimitz 2 hours ago
In Canada we have a rhyme: If it's brown, lay down; if it's black, attack; if it's white, say goodnight.
Load More Replies...
Nice Beast Ludo 20 hours ago
You forgot waiting an hour to swim After eating. So pissed at all the swimming time lost. Just a conspiracy so the adults had A break from pool supervision
Sand Ers 1 day ago
Headline says "trickle-down economics". Not a single entry on the list has anything to do with that.
Nice Beast Ludo 20 hours ago
Now it says "30 wild myths debunked by millennials." unfortunately this is not because they listened to you but because they constantly change the titles so you think you are clicking on a new article
Load More Replies...
Kare Deter 3 minutes ago
I'm Gen X and was brought up with most of this, but a lot of it was still true at that point. The last 30 years has seen a LOT of change out-dating much of this advice.
Load More Replies... Bonesko 19 hours ago (edited)
Don't forget the if you run into a bear play dead. Personally I find this suspicious. I think this was made up by bears. 'Lay on the ground, cover yourself with honey and you'll be safe!' 😁
Nimitz 2 hours ago
In Canada we have a rhyme: If it's brown, lay down; if it's black, attack; if it's white, say goodnight.
Load More Replies... Nice Beast Ludo 20 hours ago
You forgot waiting an hour to swim After eating. So pissed at all the swimming time lost. Just a conspiracy so the adults had A break from pool supervision
Sand Ers 1 day ago
Headline says "trickle-down economics". Not a single entry on the list has anything to do with that.
Nice Beast Ludo 20 hours ago
Now it says "30 wild myths debunked by millennials." unfortunately this is not because they listened to you but because they constantly change the titles so you think you are clicking on a new article
Load More Replies... Kare Deter 3 minutes ago
I'm Gen X and was brought up with most of this, but a lot of it was still true at that point. The last 30 years has seen a LOT of change out-dating much of this advice.
Load More Replies...
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