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Over the course of thousands of years, our hygiene habits have improved to suppress outbreaks of diseases and protect our health. However, a handful of them somehow survived and have become quite the norm, despite being pretty gross

People in the AskReddit community were discussing such examples in hopes that others would give them up. Scroll down to find them, and be sure to let us know if you agree or disagree with them!

While you're at it, don't forget to check out a conversation with redditor, who started this interesting discussion in the first place.

#1

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Billionaires. You don't get that much money without seriously ruining some lives.

xTarot , freepik Report

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

The whole thing about 'rich men' and the 'eye of a needle'? Spot on..

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The redditor who started this thread was inspired to spark this discussion online when their partner noticed something gross they did by accident.

"I sneezed and wiped some snot on my sleeve, my wife found it disgusting and I thought it was normal," they share.

Fortunately, the Reddit user tells us that this was the only instance that their habits were found to be gross by others.

When it comes to their own tolerance for gross things, they say that not much phases them. "I’m pretty hard to gross out."

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#3

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Spitting. I feel physically ill when I witness someone hawking and spitting in public or see spit sitting on the pavement.

Melora_Rabbit , Polina Zimmerman / Pexels Report

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Ace
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The "hawking' thing, actually drawing snot down into your mouth, always makes me feel nauseous. Use a farking handkerchief, for dog's sake.

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No one is safe from other people’s questionable habits, especially not in the office. Online printing company Instantprint surveyed 1,000 UK employees to uncover the hidden truth about coworkers grossest habits.

It was found that more than 5% of Brits admitted to cleaning their computers or work areas yearly or never at all. Meanwhile, 1 in 10 employees never wash their mug, water bottle, or glassware when enjoying a beverage of their choice. Either they have an office cleaner who does it for them, or they feel content being surrounded by some serious crumbs, dust, stains, and bacteria.

#4

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Not washing your hands after going to the bathroom. Nasty.

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#5

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross The sound of people chewing.

sogajif653 , freepik Report

Only 16% of respondents revealed that they wash their hands regularly at the office, and a whopping 19% confessed to rinsing them solely after using the bathroom. It’s worth being cautious about who you shake hands with!

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When it comes to other gross workplace habits, almost a quarter admitted to taking off their shoes at work. And over 30% of Brits confessed to eating something from the back of the fridge that was way past its use-by date.

#7

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Employers paying new hires more than tenured employees. Having drastically different pay rates for people with similar credentials doing the same job.

BonnaroovianSky , Drazen Zigic / freepik Report

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

This is happening to me all the time. I am senior who is paid less then juniors because I have been longest in the company. Get that logic!

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#8

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross 5 foot long eyelashes.

LazerFile , Milangel Melendez / pexels Report

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

Not gross. But super-long nails on the other hand... How do you even keep them clean?

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It seems that not everyone learned the pandemic lesson, as 39% of employees said that they would still come to work if they had a cold. However, it’s not all that bad, with almost 60% of respondents having tissues on hand, 41% always having sanitizer, and 30% bringing deodorant or perfume to work.

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#10

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross People. Seriously, we are gross.

RandomNameGenFai1 , freepik Report

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CD King
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish I could up vote this a million times. The longer I live the more I realize how gross and stupid a vast portion of the population really is

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#11

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Maybe not “normal” but I am repulsed by the smell created by clothing not properly drying. The smell is on clothing that sat in the washer machine too long. Or dish towels and bathroom towels that dried without being spread out.

I smell it on people from down the isle in stores. And don’t get me started on drying my hands in someone’s bathroom and finding out the smell is lingering on my hands now.

heinz570001 , freepik Report

#12

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Long nails.

carrotwhirl , freepik Report

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Maryland
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pet peeve. If you keep long nails please scrub underneath. They are bacteria beds.

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#13

Lip fillers.

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#14

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Spitting, coughing without covering mouth. I have multiple sclerosis. Get sick really easy.

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Sedona
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not only people with MS get sick easy, the whole healing process takes ages and is much harder on the body, to the point when simple cold might land you in hospital.

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#15

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross When someone else 'washes' my dishes for me and I drink from a 'clean' glass and it smells of rotting food and I look at my sponge and it's covered in food because someone thought that smearing food around my dishes with a sponge somehow made them clean you're all fired I never want to see you again.

cajaye3260 , Racool_studio / freepik Report

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LakotaWolf (she/her)
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I use one of those net-ball-scrubby things (I think they're made of nylon?) and I literally wash it after I finish washing the dishes with it XD It gets a regular soak in vinegar as well, and I switch to a new one every other week. I cannot STAND when I look at a scrubby or a sponge and SEE bits of food stuck to it. I use a regular scrubbing-side dish sponge for washing my pets' dishes and bowls, but that bad boy ALSO gets washed and rinsed after use, and I microwave it to sanitize it every day. And I replace it every other week. I can handle a lot of gross things (I have four pets, and they produce a variety of bodily substances from every orifice) but food residue on sponges/dish-cleaning tools just squicks me out. I'm with OP on this one.

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#16

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross On colder days when my dad walks the dog he’ll sometimes hold the dog poop bag in his hands to warm his hands.

Agreeable-Abalone328 , Lisa Parker / flickr Report

#17

Smacking gum. I hate it. And loud chewing/swallowing noises.

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

God, I hate that sound. When I am in the bus and someone is puckering the damn gum, I just want to yell them to stop! I have misophonia so I can't stand that sound.

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#18

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Not washing hands before a meal. You have been in filth and you are going to touch your food with those hands? Yuk.

Linamoon22 , freepik Report

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The Other Guest
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wash before eating, wash before cooking, wash during cooking if you've handled raw meat (especially pork or poultry) with your bare hands.

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#19

Sitting on a warm toilet seat.

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#20

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Washing dishes in a tub of soapy water and not rinsing off the soap suds. Or not scrubbing the outsides of pots and pans as well. Makes me want to vomit. I'd rather not taste stale soap and bacteria in my cup of tea or food thanks. I can always tell as well.

Holy s**t thanks for the 1000 upvotes. I've never had a post get this many upvotes.

Rare-Park-6490 , gpointstudio / freepik Report

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Dimp1961
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We wash with washing up liquid in the UK and leave to dry in a dish rack. Can't say I've ever tasted soap.

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#21

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Leaving the toilet seat up when flushing.

freakerbell , https://www.flickr.com/photos/gtzecosan/3110646027 / flickr Report

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#22

Talking while eating. You get to see the inside of their mouth, and its disgusting

Just eat and swallow the food and then talk 🙄.

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#23

Spitting, especially loogies. I literally almost throw up when I see someone doing it.

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#24

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Childbirth.

We're all here because of it, and it's currently my day job to catch a baby or two per day, but goddamn is it like watching a woman's genitals go through Vietnam each time.

sogajif653 , wavebreakmedia_micro / freepik Report

#25

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Licking their fingers to turn a page. Turns my stomach!

lanurk , RDNE Stock project / pexels Report

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Alexis Pandas
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I once stopped by a combined bakery/butcher shop (should have been a red flag) in a rural area on my way to a gig. There was an elderly lady in queue before me who asked the clerk about a larger order of meat. The clerk took out her ledger and licked all over her middle three fingers before turning every single page. She didn't find the order immediately so there was a lot of licking and flipping. Used that hand to take and bag my croissant. I was too perplexed to react properly, paid, and left. Didn't have breakfast that day.

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#26

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Wearing those big a*s engagement rings and never properly cleaning them. Especially in a hospital, nobody should be wearing anything below the elbow for good hand hygiene. I can’t imagine how many germs live between all those diamonds that now are spreading to my patients. Just take it all off, leave them at home!

LaAndala , [deleted] Report

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Ace
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some TV chefs that are always so keen to get their hands in, like when dressing a salad or just mixing stuff, rather than just using a spoon like a normal person, but then leave all their jewellery on, make me cringe every time.

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#27

I see so many videos of people letting their cats walk all over their kitchen counters and I want to vomit. Do these people think their cats are washing their paws and butts after they use the litter box?

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LakotaWolf (she/her)
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How do you propose I STOP my cats from getting onto the countertops? XD I gave up on that decades - and three cats - ago (and I tried EVERY method.) Now I just, you know, WIPE OFF THE COUNTERTOPS before I cook/prep. And it's not like I'm putting food directly ON the countertop itself anyway.

Ace
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've had cats, usually three or more at any one time, for over forty years, and never allowed any of them onto kitchen work-surfaces. Shout and clap every single time they try it is all it's ever needed. Yes, they do sometime still get up if they think you;re not looking, and I'm sure when we're not home, so some hygiene measures are still needed, like yeah, I always use a clean chopping board and never the surface itself, except when baking and then make sure it's properly clean and sanitised first.

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

That's why you buy antibacterial counter cleaners. I wouldn't kick my cat out because I don't feel like wiping counters or places she walked over. It's my cat!

whiterabbit
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, I don't think my cats are washing their paws and butts after they use their litter box (well mine actually go to the bathroom outside mostly), but I don't care. I guarantee your cats are getting on your counters when you're gone so why fight it 😼

SDLT010
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cats or pets on the counter shouldn't be an issue if you just clean your counters like a normal person

Sartamix
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Has this person never heard of cleaning before you cook? It’s not just clean bc you don’t have cats.

Beth Wheeler
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My cats were trained with a spray bottle to not get on the table or counters.

fan of phish
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Water bottle at hand. I’ve been able to keep every cat I’ve ever had off all hard surfaces with the water bottle. Just have to squirt them a few times, then all I have to do is pick up the water bottle and they turn around. After a bit of that stage, they stop trying. I have a very firm “if it’s soft, you’re welcome, if it’s hard, stay off” rule. Love all my kitties and miss them.

Mez
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Vinegar and water mix in a spray bottle.....it's the only consideration I have for my partners sake as he is not a fan of cats...

jmdirks
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think it's disgusting to read/listen to people whining about things they don't like.

Learner Panda
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

None of my cats step on the worktop. Or the dining table. They are all indoor outdoor cats, because I live in the UK. They are trained from day one.

Lisa Delgado
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And these same people want you to take off your shoes when you come into the house.

🇫🇮 Goth Nurse 🇫🇮
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have cleaning products for ths. And since cats are CLIMBERS, they live in 3D and they are supposed to climb on stuff. It's cruel to try to keep them off things.

Barry
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't let my cat on the counter but do you think I can stop him every time?

Bat cat in a hat
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

None of my cats are/were allowed in the kitchen (for their safety more than hygiene tbh). I have a tall stool that I keep by the door and they are all trained to sit on it if they want to keep me company while I cook. Apart from that, yes, wipe the counter before preparing food even if you don't have pets!

LakotaWolf (she/her)
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That sounds like it would work perfectly in a home where the kitchen is walled off except for a door. Unfortunately, in the house where I currently live, the kitchen and "living room" are all one gigantic room XD No walls or doors or anything to keep the kitchen "off-limits". Even the hallway/areas that lead INTO the area are arches without doors (my mom is an idiot when it comes to remodeling; let's just say the master bathroom/bedroom is similarly horrifying: all one room, no walls or doors around the bathroom.) So, tl;dr I couldn't keep my cats out of the kitchen even if I wanted to - even if I put up tall pet gates/fences, they could leap right over XD I am vigilant when I cook, though - the cats are incarcerated in the bedroom (with the door closed) while I'm cooking - as you mentioned, for their safety XD

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deejak
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, this one is gross. Although, cats *do* groom themselves fastdiously, usually.

The Other Guest
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A former friend & her family used to allow their cats on the kitchen table while they (the humans) were eating dinner. Encouraged it, even, by handfeeding them bits of food off of their plates. So nasty!

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#28

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Blowing out birthday cake candles. Here let me blow my spit all over this cake, then cut it up and expect everyone to eat it.

Instead we should do a sheet cake for all and a cupcake with candle for the blower.

rodstroker , freepik Report

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Mrs Irish Mom
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never thought about this one before, was just at aunts birthday last week and she took her teeth out to blow properly 🤢

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#29

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Perhaps not gross, but I am repulsed by holding chalk and writing on a chalkboard. The touch, the feel, the sound, everything.

cajaye3260 , Diana ✨ / pexels Report

#30

Not gross but the sound of a dentist drill. Makes me shiver at the sound.

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#31

Expecting their older kids care for the younger siblings without consideration of the older kids desires and wants.

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iseefractals
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's called preparation for adulthood. Life is filled with $hit you don't want to do, and people you don't want to be around. Your job as a parent is raise functional adults, capable of understanding and accepting responsibility. Not because they want to, but because it's required to be able to survive on their own. If that doesn't happen, you get adults who post video's on tiktok crying about not getting a job because they asked their potential employer what allowances would be made for their "time blindness"

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#32

Heat/fan hand dryers in public bathrooms. Yuck.

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#33

When people don't wear underwear under their gym clothes. I don't care who you are, you better be wiping the seats of the equipment off because you know you got your liquids on it.

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leendadll
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I knew a guy doing a study of germs found on gym equipment. The seats of stationary bikes were the worst.

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#34

Kissing pets in their mouth.

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Susie Elle
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People letting their dogs lick their faces or sometimes even inside their mouths. YUCCCKKK

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#35

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Posting uncensored pictures,videos or text messages of other people online to make fun of them.

anon , freepik Report

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#36

Biting your nails as an adult, I get that it can be self-soothing behavior, but it still grosses me out. Was in a meeting yesterday, in person, 75 people. The lady next to me was playing with her nose and biting her nails non-stop and I was repulsed.

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That_One_Harry_Potter_Nerd
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't chew my nails, but I do pick at my lips, which I understand is gross, but when I get anxious, I have to find something to do with my hands, and if i'm not wearing a necklace or bracelets to play with, that's unfortunately my go-to. I try not to do it in public though, because I know how gross it is. and harmful to my lips, which are already often chapped.

#37

Pregnancy

Like how can women be OK with this?
I just don't understand.

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#38

I wouldn’t say everyone finds this normal bc more and more ppl are starting to side eye it but using words like “baby” or “daddy” or “mommy” in a sexual context.

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Ace
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mommy and daddy are a specific and very odd thing, but 'baby' has long been a normal affectionate term between couples, as evident in popular music for at least the last seventy years or so.

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#39

Going to the toilet in front of your partner. What the hell is up with that? So gross.

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Val
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean...pee is fine. I've been with my husband for almost 20 years. Poo is a 'shut the door' for sure.

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#40

Wearing sneakers without socks. Ugh! The sweat, stink.

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#41

Kids with food on their faces. Then making it worse, snot in front of you.

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Andy Pandy
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Saw a kid with the green train tracks down the nose to the mouth and the parent straight up just wiped it off bare handed and wiped it on their trousers, I was sick in my mouth a little

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#42

Shoes inside UK houses with carpet

At least on hardwood you can mop???

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#43

Using your phone in the bathroom seems very common and I don't get it at all. I have never once felt the need to use my phone there, and it never even comes into a bathroom with me (unless I use a public washroom and have my purse, but then the phone stays in my purse).

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#44

Dog licks.

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#45

Long nails. Acrylic nails are fine imo but naturally long nails that are yellow, crusty and not filed are not okay.

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#46

Touching the toilet seat to bring it up or down. I need to wash my hands immediately or I convulse in disgust lol.

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Geoffrey Scott
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Could someone in this community please explain why restrooms don't have sanitizer AND soap in mens public baths? If I use the urinal, I would prefer sanitizing over washing. I mean, I KNOW where my junk has been.

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#48

Family/friends talking about their poop. When they poop, or that they can’t poop, or their stomach aches and they need to poop. I don’t want to know about it.

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Gourdeous
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is one I disagree with. We'd all be healthier and less likely to literally die of embarrassment from bowel cancer if we just talked about a totally normal thing.

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#49

People older than like 25 dating an 18/19 year old.

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#50

Shoes in house. Like wtf??

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#51

Washing other peoples dishes. No idea why but I hate touching them.

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featherytoad
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think it's disgusting when I get food floaties in the dish water. I just can't until I find it and throw it out.

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