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Pretty much everyone knows the feeling of dealing with people who have no idea what your profession is actually all about. Sometimes it even becomes frustrating to explain the nuances of your job over and over again. But if people will pay attention to this post, many won't have to do it ever again.

Recently, Portland-based icon designer Louie Mantia started a very informative Twitter thread, asking people, "What's something that seems obvious within your profession, but the general public seems to misunderstand?" Many people rushed to debunk the myths surrounding their professions, and their responses are both hilarious and eye-opening.

"I was inspired to ask that question because I too have felt like there are misconceptions about what I do," Mantia told Bored Panda. "Earlier that day, I posted about best practices in app icon design, and was met with a lot of pushback. I realized a lot of others probably feel the same way about their own jobs."

"I remember when I visited Buckingham Palace a few years back, there was an insane amount of people," Mantia added. "The police officers had to continually keep their cool while telling different people to stay in a certain area. They couldn’t get mad at them because every time they had to say it was to a different person." He thinks a lot of people can relate to that. "They might have to repeat something to [their] customer, but that customer doesn’t have the knowledge or experience about the other side that often. They need a short explanation."

Mantia thinks there are many reasons why such misunderstandings are common, but pop culture is the big one. "Hospital shows portray hospital jobs inaccurately. Law shows do the same. And any show that has ever shown someone pounding away at a keyboard has contributed to some incorrect views of hacking or programming," he said. "TV and movies can do a lot of damage in this regard. For example, Lee Unkrich at Pixar noted that voices are recorded before the animation. But because of Mrs. Doubtfire’s opening scene with Robin Williams recording a cartoon character’s voice after the animation was finished, a lot of people now believe that’s the way it’s done."

Continue scrolling to read the responses Mantia has received and upvote your faves! (Facebook cover image: Marina Kuperman Villatoro)

More info: louiemantia.com | Twitter

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    Nurse

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    stellermatt
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    wait, you're NOT all sexy? well sorry, but saving lives and healing the sick is pretty sexy in my book.

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    #3

    Librarians

    Librarians

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    Holl Balls
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Do people not go to libraries? Our community library plays a big role in the community.

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    #4

    Programmer

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    Dysania
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yup, thats what my friend keeps telling me: "We are just much better in using google than anyone else."

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    #5

    Photographer

    Photographer

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    #6

    Environmental Scientist

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    N G
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Listen to scientists and don't vote for Trump

    Grumble O'Pug
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Exactly. Let's not mistake "belief" for "evidence" and "peer reviewed" research.

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    Dr. Cheri Hayes
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ah, the ol' 'comment section becomes political and argumentative' posts...give it a rest, will ya? People who believe that climate change is real will never change the minds of people who don't, and visa versa. This is not helpful.

    stellermatt
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    interesting fact, an ice age is defined when both polar caps are covered in ice, like now. so we're in an ice age (technically), from what I can gather the caps have been freezing then melting then freezing etc etc on loop, the issue is that we've dramatically sped things up this time around.

    Annie Tronetti
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Climate change is SCIENCE, not the Tooth Fairy. Regardless of what you believe, it is happening. If 9 out of ten oncologists tell your child needs chemo, do you go with the one that doesn't?

    Laugh Fan
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    NASA most recently state that ice losses from Antarctica have tripled since 2012. This link is to an article from June 2018. https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/ramp-up-in-antarctic-ice-loss-speeds-sea-level-rise. Oh, I'm not American so my voting only effects the drivel in charge of the UK.

    anarkzie
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I feel with the climate change debate that it's happening at two tiers at one level you have the scientific community in which it seems to be more about the extent of our contribution to the problem, and then you have the more mainstream debate between protestors and conspiracy theory types the latter of which seems to argue that the climate has remained consist until the industrial age and conspiracy theory types that just flat out deny that we are having any kind of impact at all.

    BlackestDawn
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I see it more as a question of how much is man made and how much is natural due to the evidence of such natural changes. Currently I would say most is man made.

    Master Markus
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Often that's not what the really vocal people are questioning though. Your query is reasonable, but they're like "It sometimes snows in hot places so there can't be global warming!", apparently not understanding that it's not just the world as a whole getting consistently hot - with air pressure and various weather patterns that's just not how it works.

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    Caroline Driver
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The argument I get from deniers or unsures is, 'but what about the ice age? What about the climate changes in the past?' And also the classic 'but records don't go back that far'. They are ignorant of the records in the ice and the rocks, and they don't seem to get that it's the speed of the change that is man made, that we won't be able to recover from. The planet however, will recover eventually, and be just fine without us.

    Patricia Ross
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is ridiculous. Why on earth would I believe anyting scientists are saying about climate change when politicians are clearly the experts.

    Mimis Nachbarin
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why isn't that on top of the list?!! It is the most important point here.

    Clarence Moore
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So the changing climate prior to the industrial revolution never happened??? The question is not if there is climate change, it is how much is manmade!!

    Echo
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wait I am confused. Are they saying that not all Environmental Scientists believe this? Or that they all do?

    Rob Cornwall
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If people still believe we live on a 'flat earth' (The Flat Earth Society - https://www.tfes.org) and can have a religion called the 'Flying Spaghetti Monster' (https://www.venganza.org/about).... then arguing that climate change is fake seems obvious to such tiny-minded people. Even after a week of record-setting heat across the globe (https://globalnews.ca/news/4311444/heat-wave-weather-across-the-world/)

    Weezie Ray
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nobody believes there is a Flying Spaghetti Monster, buddy. That's the whole freaking point. (Flat-earthers DO believe the Earth is flat, unfortunately.)

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    r3dd3v1lL
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Real- definetely. Manmade- seriously doubtful and up for dispute. Was the last ice age also manmade? From wikipedia: "From 1950 to 2009, the American government's surface temperature record shows an increase by 1 °F (0.56 °C)," Half a degree increase for half a century. And people think it's manmade? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjlC02NsIt0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB0aFPXr4n4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change_in_the_United_States

    Tor Rolf Strøm
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, I don't doubt that we are f***ing the planet big time, but this is just not true. The whole 97% thing is a myth. I still haven't seen any real proof. It's all either anecdotal, or "if you don't see that it's true then you are just stupid". There is some proof that temperatures are rising, but not that we are the cause. to be clear, I'm not saying it's not true, but there is no really good proof yet. Anyway, the fact that we are destroying the planet in a thousand ways is still far worse, and whether the planet is heating up or not is not that important. We need to change our ways. Starting with eating less meat. (haha, I know you don't like that last part there, huh!)

    Meowton Mewsk
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This guy is saying that the belief that “climate change is certainly real and any doubt is manufactured by special interest groups” is a MISCONCEPTION. Meaning he’s saying that findings are still disputable and that there is doubt from legitimate sources.

    Hugo Raible
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Good point. Nothing should be indisputable in science, even when we are 95% sure about it.

    Christina Sersif
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    6 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    I can't agree with it being man made because it will happen even if no humans are on the planet, but humans do serve as a catalyst and speed it up or worsen it.

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    #7

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    Lola
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    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I certainly wouldn’t ask you for marriage advice if you were married 5 times though. Just as I wouldn’t go to a dentist who doesn’t have any teeth.

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    #9

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    BlackestDawn
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As my families IT-technician (because I do work in IT) I can relate to this so much.

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    #10

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    Mimis Nachbarin
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As a writer I got always a similar question: "Is your editor correcting typos and grammar?" Ehm, no, that is the job of the corrector. The editors job is.. see above

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    #12

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    Christina Sersif
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This 100000x. Yes cut your carbs, get skinny fast, but as soon as you start back eating them...

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    #13

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    Cat on a bike
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    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Massagists have unfortunately a bad reputation from all the frauds in this area :(

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    #14

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    sunnyrei82
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I could say the same thing about Graphic Designers. People want amazing logos, corporate image, websites, campaigns and all.... but they don't want to pay for it, because.. "their niece could do better in powerpoint".

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    #16

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    Kimberly
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes yes yes!!! I was going to add this if it wasn't here!! I'm a medical social worker. I work in a hospital and some patients have a terrified look when I say I'm a social worker. I work for a hospital not child protective services. It blows my mind that the general public has no idea how many different kinds of social workers there actually are.

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    #17

    High School Teacher

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    Mimis Nachbarin
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That is true (go, Jay, go!) - but is it eye-opening? I thought that was common knowledge.

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    #18

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    #19

    Cell Biologist

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    #22

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    Random Panda
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    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    One things that annoys me so much is when people translate idioms from one language by just directly translating the words. That's not how it works. You need to find the closest meaning of the idiom itself, not the words it contains.

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    #23

    Intern

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    Jana Renner
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am tutoring an intern right now and make sure SHE benefits from this work experience. Coworkers who tried to give her their work to do would soon learn that they have to go through me...so this was nipped in the bud.

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    #27

    Pharmacist

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    Grumble O'Pug
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sorry Debbie, you kind of do. I was in pharma sales and guess what? unless you are not in a drug store or a grocery store, you are mostly paid to double check what under paid pharmacy techs do for you. And guess what? You get paid 6 figures and the Pharmacy Tech gets barely minimum wage. Yet they do the yeoman's work. Sorry. I know I'll get down voted, but you aren't mixing in a compounding pharmacy or working in a hospital, you are a pill counter and a consultant at the checkout window. And telling people on which aisle the cough syrup is at.

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    #28

    Psychologist

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    Mimis Nachbarin
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am sorry, but I love that. Did actually really someone ask you if you can read his mind? That's hilarious.

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    #29

    Creative

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    Laugh Fan
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Working on the client side I found I was frequently presented with ideas I'd seen several times before.

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    #30

    Veterinary Technician

    Veterinary Technician

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    Xina Imad
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The problem is the health care system for humans and non humans alike in the USA. I have lived in first world and third world countries. And only in the US are the costs the way they are. Countries with both free public (100% free) and non free private care, the latter is still 90% less than if you do have insurance in the US. For pet care, procedures and minimal routine care is not supposed to break the bank. And don't get me started on dental care. All you need to do is talk to others who have lived in countries that actually provide a standard of health care that is decent. Only in "America" there are horror stories of how unaffordable getting sick is.

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    #31

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    Lizard Queen
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    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Howard Goodall wrote the theme songs for Red Dwarf and every Blackadder series.

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    #32

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    Lars Lasersson
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Tell me about it... All the majors I know are actually somewhat grumpy or overly serious people, and a lot of the minors around where I live seem quite jolly...

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    #33

    Animator

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

    Neil, are you an expert animator? Obviously not, as Animation is Art, and to do it well takes time. BitCoin is make believe computer money, only supported by popular demand, which will disappear when the "next big thing" comes along. Quit being an a*s.

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    #34

    Chemist

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    Grumble O'Pug
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some are discovered and reinvented through stepwise processes in the lab.

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    #35

    Teacher

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    Luna Firemoon
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My moms a teacher/professor and an adjunct (I think that’s the word) and i can tell it’s really hard

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    #36

    Arborist

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    Patricia Ross
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Don't you tell me Dave still has that rickety ladder. I've told him 100 times to get rid of that thing.

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    #37

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    Helle T
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And for that same reason: No, I don't need a picture from the opposite side.

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    #38

    Linguist

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    Neill Powell
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Let's also agree, that by definition, English is the most "tainted" language in the Solar system. It is the most-spoken second-langauge by a huuuuuge margin. Germanic-languages aside, English is poorly understood, both grammatically and particularly, in tone by almost every other language. Slang lives outside the grammar and diction, and cannot be used to compare "right or wrong use" of English. The purpose of grammar, diction, and tone, (in any language) it to make sure the thoughts and feelings expressed in your mind, are verbally communicated as close as possible in your words. Less ambiguity, and a closer understanding of what the mind and heart are attempting to express.

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    #39

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    XoKMxO
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    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    aaaand its not easy to be creative all day everyday. Also we don't get paid enough :)

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    #40

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    #44

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    Mimis Nachbarin
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Only idiots could think such nonsense. Everybody who ever had a serious injured or ill kid (or once was one) knows otherwise.

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    #45

    Local News Reporter

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

    First off, Balls, you don't know for certain that they work for a local paper---they might be local TV newscasters. Second, I didn't see any grammatical felonies in the statement. Quit being a grammar narc.

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    #50

    Nonprofit Worker

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    Holl Balls
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sister in law worked for a nonprofit making near nothing for the area, while the Vice President pockets massive amounts and CEO lays low and acts like “oh, I only pay myself 40k a year” but we all know that’s not their only means of money (lives in huge house to say the least).

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    #51

    Urban Planner

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    Ben Smith
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Maybe if bike riders would actually pay attention to the rules of the road....

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    #53

    Ux Designer

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    #57

    Waitress

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    Mimis Nachbarin
    Community Member
    6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Tipping is not optional - in the US! In other countries it is. The system is very unfair in the US.

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