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Life can be tough, and we all face our share of struggles. However, occasionally when you share your personal hardship with someone, their response seems so out of touch it makes you wonder if they have ever experienced a real problem.

From clueless comments to downright dismissive remarks, people online have shared instances that perfectly illustrate what happens when individuals who have never faced true adversity try to offer their "support." Get ready to cringe and maybe even laugh at these tone-deaf reactions.

#1

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles Anyone who says “but she’s your mother!” when you talk about going no contact.

I’m glad you can’t even comprehend needing to cut off an abusive parent for your own well-being, but maybe shut up if you don’t know what it’s like.

Arya_kidding_me , Alex Green/Pexels Report

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notlikeyou1971
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The world famous " but family" guilt trip card! Happens all the time. They don't have to see or put up with the person though.

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#2

This is considered controversial depending on your view on this topic.
I was pregnant with my father's child at 14 ( yes you read that right). I considered an abortion ( was too far along) but once I opened up about my decision, I was told countless of times by people who have NEVER experienced what I was going through and more than likely will never, that I shouldn't do it because "it's part of GoDs PlAn and I should be GrAtEfUL for such wonderful gift" and "there are stories in the Bible of incest so it's okay"

No. This wasn't a gift.
No one, especially someone who is a child should have to go through this.

For those who might be curious Baby A was adopted 7 years ago and is doing great in their home.

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notlikeyou1971
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a SA survivor I will repeat it till the end of time, you should not have to give birth to a baby that you didn't consent to making. Assaults are not a blessing or a gift. They are not a privilege. Anyone who says these things is a delusional nut

Vedette Aecus
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

God bless assault victims who choose to give the child life, and God blesses those who decide they can't.

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

Christians: THIS. THIS is why the non-religious loathe you as a whole. You may think of yourself as a "good Christian" who would "never" say or do something like this, but enough of you DO say and do stuff like this that they have destroyed the goodwill that the non-religious may have had towards organized religion as a whole. Please shut up and stop proselyting. We do not want to know what YOUR god thinks. YOUR god was chill with murdering countless non-Christians (in fact, he gave the orders to do so) and was also cool with telling a dude to kill his child and sacrifice him, and then was like "jk I was just testing you lololol".

Science Nerd
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don’t judge all Christians based on the word or actions of a vocal minority. I expect that you can be soundly condemned if one was to lump you in with some jackass or is similar to you.

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Anxiety Panda
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm a Christian and this sickens me. Your body. Your choice. Period. If that makes me a bad Christian, so be it.

LonelyLittleLeafSheep
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That makes you a good Christian. No judgement, condemnation. Too bad there are so few of you.

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Colleen Glim
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Abortion should be legal for any woman. Nobody gets to decide how somebody else lives their life

steaky
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Incest happens in the bible, so it is okay? I wonder what they did with their own children :/ They are a special kind of cruel.

LaserBrain
Community Member
2 months ago

This comment has been deleted.

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Socks Thecate
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am so sorry there was no sympathy for you. I can't believe there are people who clearly think they are "good people" that said that to a child.

Sand Ers
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, they don’t “think” they’re good people. They “know” they’re good people.

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Tara L.
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pedos, especially ones who rape their own children, should get the death penalty

Kael jones
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Another example of Christian’s being horrible beings. I know there are still a lot of good ones out there, I even know some personally, but there are too many examples of stuff like this.

Science Nerd
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some Christians are horrible people, most aren’t. Some Hindi are horrible people, as are Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, atheists , and secular humanists.

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C.O. Shea
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't imagine the horror for that child the day they find out who the biological parents are... sigh!

Winnie the Moo
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Words cannot describe how bad I feel that you have to go through this!! I hope you are okay now...

CrazyKnitter
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So much of this is just awful, but I'm a silver lining kind of person, so I'm really glad that the kid is doing well.

Virgil Blue
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry for you, hope you are doing OK. It's nice the child is fine, but you should be too.

Elvira394
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We need more kindness like this. Kindness, without judgement or politic.

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Tom Brincefield
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Know what else is in the Bible? Picking up a baby by the heels and bashing its head against the rocks until its brain comes out. Guess "post-birth abortion" really is a thing. D Christians support it!

Kariali
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m just nursing my 5 weeks old, and s**t like this sickens me to the core!

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Elvira394
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just because there are some bad christian's out there, it's not right to lump them all together and assume every one of them is bad. Imagine if such comments were being made about Muslims. Or First Nations beliefs. I doubt people would feel so good about making those comments.

Farah the Turtle
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

DO you know how much times I've been harassed for my hijab?! Every time I walk into my classroom, all the guys yell "9/11 Allahu Akbar!" Its been so hard for me imagine going anywhere and ppl staring at u as ur Athan (prayer reminder) goes off and says Allahu Akbar and everyone starts backing off bc they think Im gonna throw a bomb at them? Im a f*****g highschool junior. I would never want to hurt anybody! And I HATE how uneducated ppl always assume that all muslims are s****y bc NOT ALL OF US ARE! PLEASE! STOP LUMPING ME AND TERRORISTS TOGETHER JUST BECAUSE WE ARE BOTH MUSLIMS!

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Dragons Exist
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Once heard someone who said that there "wasn't a problem" with the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami cause the flood in the noah's arc story was bigger. Like how does christian mythology (or any other mythology) matter when it comes to a natural disaster????

Snazzy Smurf
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG! Forcing a SA survivor to carry/keep a baby of SA is just as cruel as the incidents themselves.

Christopher Crockett
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fvck the bible and fvck god's plan. Anyone who needs a book to determine right and wrong is either a fool or a coward. Anyone who listens to anyone preaching from a book is both.

Nimitz
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope the OP had a great 21st birthday. And I hope her father dies painfully and alone

Nikole
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope he dies surrounded in prison by prisoners who know why he’s there.

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Science Nerd
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it too much to hope for that the father is still in prison?

Robin DJW
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That kind of self-righteous comment is cruel, pure and simple.

williamszita
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh my! I can't even begin to comprehend the absolute terror and anguish you went through...I hope you're doing OK now

Georgia Ireland
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My adopted daughter was a victim of childhood SA, and I understand why you wanted to have an @bortion. Folks like you are why I'm pro- choice.

Broadredpanda
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the very reason I hate religion!!!!! Those who preach and pray for people like this amazing girl, just don't have a clue! How can anyone believe in god when "he" lets all this suffering happen, and children that have illnesses they don't deserve! The evil deserve them, but that doesn't happen. The very worst thing is that these god fearing people, judge every single person and unless you're like them, you are nothing more than s**t on their shoe. The churches where some of these Christian people go, sometimes the preacher is not very Christian if you know what I mean

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

OMG. OMG. OMG. I hope that social services was called and got you out of that house and that he is in prison. I agree that abortion is ok for rape, incest, a danger to the mother or SEVERE birth defects with the baby where it would always be in pain or situations like that.

Sami-Jo Ross
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So OP was raped by her father and they considered her carrying to term a GOOD thing...

zovjraar me
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

omg it's totally the person carrying the baby's decision. i can't even imagine the turmoil and trauma!

Sharkbait1313
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm so sorry you had to go through all of this trauma. I can't even imagine how incredibly hard this was for you. I hope that you have a good support system now and that although this will always be a part of your story, it won't be your only story.

Cindy Brick
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm so sorry. Thanks for having the courage to hang in there.

Hana Hajská
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is also a commandment to k*ll people who have committed incest in the Bible. And many others that only a madman would follow. Jesus only gave us the commandment of love, but geez it's hard sometimes.

Veronica Dixon
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm so sorry someone(s) said that. Yes, there were times of incest in the Bible, but these people are miss using said times. No, in today's times it is unacceptable. No, it should not have been stated that this is God's plan (He is not that way, for what you had endured while living with scum like that). I personally don't know what that is like, but I would never have said anything ridiculous as that. A 14 yo is still a child, not a plaything. Again, I'm sorry this happened to you.

Regina Holt
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Veronica, I had that "but incest must be ok because how else would they be able to be fruitful and multiply" from the beginning.

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Key Lime
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am so sorry that you had to go through that. I hope you have had a good support system since then. I wish you a long happy life of making your own decisions.

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#3

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles When I tried broaching the subject of depression with a friend in hopes that I could tell him about my struggles and he hit me with "depression isn't a thing, people just need to appreciate what they have" which was basically just a "stop being sad, just smile more" argument (i.e. stupid argument) so I just gave up.

People who have never struggled with mental health often can't phantom that it could be a problem.

AlecsThorne , Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels Report

We all have highs and lows in life, and having someone to share the joy with or lean on during difficult times makes it so much better. Studies have shown that the support and companionship of friends and family enrich our lives and boost our mental health.

That is why, after spending time with our loved ones, we tend to feel better. Just a single cup of coffee or tea shared with your best friend can turn a bad day into a good one. A talk with your sister or brother might instantly brighten up your mood and bring about comfort and joy.

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#4

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles “I’m sorry that your wife passed away, I just recently got divorced and I know what it’s like to lose someone”.

No. No you don’t. Not even remotely.

Monthra77 , KoolShooters/Pexels Report

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

One of my managers after my dad died: "Oh, I'm sorry for your loss. I had to have my 3-year-old rat put down last month, I know how you feel." Dude, no, you don't. I've lost pets (one of my cats was almost 20 when she died) and yes, it's traumatic, and yes, you grieve like mad. But it's NOT the same as watching one's parent slowly decline over the course of 20 years due to catastrophic brain damage/strokes and then finally die of staph/double pneumonia while horrifically gasping for air as you hold their hand. My manager was well aware of my dad's situation and condition and still likened it to his pet rat.

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#5

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles When I told a male friend about how I got catcalled by grown men (at 15) right after it happened and how it affected me, and he went "Just enjoy it" and then proceeded to make fun of the situation.
These men where like 50, I was 15!!!

Nein____ , Luke Miller/Pexels Report

#6

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles I had a friend who was incredibly upset with me and started a fight because I “wasn’t there for her” when her friends with benefits called it quits with her. I wasn’t there because my 3 year old was hospitalized with pneumonia, my grandmother died, and I wad 3 weeks postpartum. It was the worst and hardest week of my life. Needless to say I took that as a sign to end the friendship.

shakelcus , Liza Summer/Pexels Report

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Like these posts, many of us often share our problems with those close to us. This could be for advice, emotional support, or to get a different perspective. However, sometimes we don’t know how to comfort someone who's feeling low.

Clinical psychologist Kathryn Gordon points out, “When we are not equipped to support loved ones through a hard time, our discomfort can compel us to point out a bright side or offer a simple solution, which may come across as dismissive.”

#7

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles I started a job about 2 months ago. My dad is 60 and was in the hospital dying and I didn't make it home because I felt like until he was on his deathbed I'd just go on weekends. My current boss told me the day of his funeral "We will be happy to let you make up the days you miss for his death". After returning to work she hasn't said a word to me and was upset I used my bereavement days.

Currently looking for new employment.

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#8

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles I was once discussing how expensive rent was with my employer (I'm a nanny, they write my paycheck, they know my financial status). I told them that if I hadn't moved in with my boyfriend and was still in my apartment, I don't think I could afford it because it's increased so much. They said, "It's called inflation, everything is more expensive, our cost to fly has nearly doubled."

They fly private. For leisure and business.

ThirtyLastCalls , Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels Report

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#9

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles I'm disabled and have been struggling financially while waiting to get approved on disability. Had a friend tell me how "smart and articulate" I am and she "hates to see me waste it on disability".

Kangaroowrangler_02 , Marcus Aurelius/Pexels Report

Imagine your friend is complaining about something that’s bothering them at work, and you interrupt them and say, “At least they pay you well.” As much as that might be seen as motivation, sometimes people just want to vent their frustrations out verbally. When you tell them not to continue talking, they will end up feeling like they’re being ignored.

#10

When my child was born, he had a liver decease that needed a surgery with only 30% chance of success. Even if the surgery worked my son was hospitalized for almost 150 days throughout the years 2020 and 2021. If the surgery had failed he might have died or required liver transplant.

Through all this ordeal I missed about 12 days of work. I kept getting meetings from my boss telling me that my performance was subpar and that I should leave family problems at home. And that another employee from the company was still performing despite having cancer.

I remember during this ordeal hearing my boss talking with a female employee and her telling him her day was ruined because the starbucks employee didnt get her order right and my boss being so empathetic with her. I was boiling with rage.

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Colleen Glim
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tell me you’re in the US without telling me you’re in the US. Hustle culture needs to die already

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#11

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles I was talking to my ex about my aunt who has cancer and she said among several other completely out of touch and insensitive things "you know, you can mentally will yourself out of illnesses like cancer, maybe you should tell her that".

anon , Anna Shvets/Pexels Report

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Socks Thecate
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Which puts the blame on the sick person for being sick. Apparently they can control their cells.

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#12

Back when I was in my senior year of high school I had a series of very serious traumatic events unfold within a few months, and I was a huge mess, I needed support, so I went to my then best friend of 8 years, I told him about the assaults ( SA) about the rumors people were spreading about me, and how I was having very concerning bad thoughts, his response was that he didn’t want to have to stress over me and my emotions, that he wanted to party and get the college experience he was promised and allllll that. No sympathy, just thinking of himself, he came from an incredibly rich family too, basically had no issues other than being gay, and I when above and beyond to defend him, support him, yet he couldn’t offer me a night to just spend with me to make sure I’d be alive the next day. It was awful, I truly don’t think you know how a person really feels about you till something seriously messed up happens to you.

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Magenta Blu
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly this is what everyone usually does. People often say to me i take things too personally and I'm oversensitive and should think only about myself. Support only exists when you have enough money to pay for a personal therapist, otherwhise no one would even notice

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It’s crucial to discern exactly what a person requires, especially in times when he/she is undergoing difficulties. “While putting ourselves in other people’s shoes and treating people how we want to be treated are generally useful principles, they are not always the most effective ways to cultivate compassion. It is hard to imagine being in a situation that you have not actually been in, and people differ in what they find comforting,” Gordon adds.

#13

I was lamenting about my financial troubles to my former employers father, and how I wasn’t sure how I was going to pay my rent.

This a*****e said “I feel you on your financial troubles, son. My home renovation is going over budget, and our elevator is going to cost $15,000 more than we were expecting.”

This f*****g guy told me he was spending what would have been a YEARS worth of rent for me on a friggn elevator.

Rich people have too much.

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#14

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles As someone with lifelong chronic illness, I missed just 2 days from work and my boss had a talk with me and said “I get sick and I still come to work. In the real world you have to push through it”.

I was slowly dying from complications (of a now treated disease!) and she knew that. The audacity.

amalaman , Karolina Kaboompics/Pexels Report

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Jill Rhodry
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nah, in the actual real world (aka not the US) you have sick leave and pto, and if you've used all that up you can take annual leave, maybe even at half-pay if you want - and then guess what your manager does - manages the work load and staff *shock* I KNOW!

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#15

My ex came from money (grew up in Brentwood). She had maids/butlers growing up.

Our relationship was great until we moved in together. She didn't know how to clean or take care of her menagerie of pets because she always had someone do it for her. I constantly sat her down and explained that it wasn't magically getting done, I was doing it and I needed help.


She cocked her head sideways and said "It shouldn't take you long to do it. *Enter Maid's name* could do all that in an hour."


I realized I was more of "The Help" then a romantic partner and got out.

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LB
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"That's great, that means *you* can do it in only an hour!"

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When someone comes to you with a problem, the first thing you should do is listen to them. Let them vent and speak about the things that are bothering them. “I think we all intuitively know that, when we’re deeply listened to by the kind and loving attention of another human being, healing is possible,” believes Lisa B. Nelson, Director of Medical Education at Kripalu. “Through empathic listening, we can actually affect the physiology and psychology of another person.”

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#16

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles This wasn't said in direct response to it, but my former friend said the following knowing full well that I was suffering from depression: "depressed people should just get over it. I had depression and that's what I did."

He was either lying about having depression in the first place or lying about "getting over it", both are equally plausible.

yeetgodmcnechass , Keenan Constance/Pexels Report

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

My mom straight-up didn't believe mental illness existed when I was a teen struggling with depression and suicidal ideation. She said depressed people can "just feel better if they WANT to" and suicidal people "just want attention". My dad had to sneak me to see a therapist and help me get (and hide) a prescription for antidepressants (both of which did help, thankfully.) Hilariously enough, now that my mom is 79 and can't handle the fact that she's actually ageing and has no friends (that one is due to her being an a-hole), she's "depressed". She tells me now that she is depressed and suicidal. I can't even describe to you how tempted I am to repeat her words from my childhood back to her, but I won't lower myself to her level.

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#17

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles I have rheumatoid arthritis. Luckily it’s pretty under control. While there are far worse diseases it’s by no means a walk in the park.

When I told my colleague about my health struggles she didn’t hesitate to respond “I totally understand, it’s like when I used to have back acne.”

Yup. Totally the same.

emw515 , Julia Malushko/Pexels Report

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Moosy Girl
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is hard, having health issues is never a contest. While some illnesses can definitely objectively be considered worse than others, how people experience them can be very hard to quantify. Edit: An example: my mom has had cancer. She got incredibly lucky with treatment/recovery, and now occasionally (in the safety of her home) jokes she’d take cancer over a common cold any time.

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#18

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles When I was in college and depressed, I spoke about it to some people at a hangout. My ex's friend told me "Just travel, it makes me feel better every time. This year I went to Spain and Egypt". Yeah, let's just ignore the fact I had no money for therapy, and I should have used that non-existent money to travel, and twice in one year.

BaltazarOdGilzvita , Tomé Louro/Pexels Report

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We all yearn to be understood. When we speak with our family or friends and they listen to us patiently, we believe that they are taking us seriously. We feel validated and acknowledged. This not only helps us feel better about ourselves but also fosters a sense of connection with the listener.

#19

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles I lost my career, my wife, and my home, and all of my possessions at the beginning of covid and was functionally homeless and staying with a friend while I got back on my feet (I had been working in Beijing, but was out of the country when the pandemic hit, so China closed the border and I got screwed).

I was telling a friend about my situation, and when I finished talking, he flippantly said, "yeah, it's hurt all of us man. I made $10,000 less in commission than a normal year."

He was a realtor making 6 figures.

PsychonautAlpha , Pavel Danilyuk/Pexels Report

#20

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles I told a friend from college that I was living with my parents until I got a job and could afford to rent an apartment in the city, and she said 'but why don't they just buy you a apartment in the city?', and I explained they couldn't afford it, and she said 'But don't they realise it is an investment?'

She is actually very nice, she was just absolutely oblivious at the time that most people don't see buying a home for your kids as a normal thing.

BobBobBobBobBobDave , Maria Orlova/Pexels Report

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#21

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles I was homeless living out of my car. Would come to work before everyone else to get cleaned up before my shift. My manager (whom I confided in about being homeless) said “would it k*ll you to wear make up? You don’t have to look like what you’re going through.”.

ProfessionalMoney634 , Yan Krukau/Pexels Report

Nevertheless, when someone has not gone through what you are experiencing, it might be hard for them to fully understand the intensity of emotions and complexities tied to your situation.

For instance, if you’re dealing with financial difficulties and you confide in someone who never had such issues in life, they might say things like, “It can’t be that bad." This disconnection highlights how much shared experiences can be instrumental in giving meaningful support.

#22

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles When my mom committed s*icide over the summer in high school, I came back and a girl said she understood because she had totaled her car that summer.

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#23

I got SA by a woman.

One of friends I tried to talk to asked if I got her number after since she wanted me so bad.

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C.O. Shea
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Geessuusss! I'm sorry that happened to you... on both accounts.

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#24

I know it’s less “severe” than other problems that I’ve read on here, but I really hate when people invalidate mental struggles. I suffer from depression, and many times, the people I told it to replied with “you’re too young to be depressed” or “depression doesn’t exist, it’s all in your head”. These people never faced a struggle like mine. Truly infuriating.

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Pyxelle
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is NOT less severe. Mental health struggles are REAL and can be debilitating.Stay strong and remember there is help and you are worth it!

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Additionally, they might not be able to give you practical or helpful advice due to their limited understanding. Assume you are grappling with a knotty work problem, and you ask a friend who has never been in the same sort of situation professionally. They may tell you to “speak up” without appreciating the nuanced dynamics of office politics or the possible consequences of your actions.

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#25

Recently, my mom was asking me to forgive my sister and rebuild my relationship with her because it was important for her rehab. I have been asked this numerous times in my life, so I decided to detail out to my mom all of the times she tormented me and abused me. Locking me in closets for hours on end, choking me, she held a knife against my throat, verbally abused me, and would trash my entire room and destroy my stuff. It was never serious enough or bad enough to leave a mark, so nothing happened about it for years. The worst part was that my sister would just laugh through all of it. It wasn't an angry reaction, I was just a toy to mess with. After I detailed out all the stuff she did my mom just said, "How do you think I felt knowing this was going on?"

My mom has claimed she has all this trauma and been through some seriously terrible situations, but this was where I feel she confirmed that she was lying to be the victim. There is no way you can claim you went through abuse yourself and say this.

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

This sounds like my life, except family members reversed. My sister is my parents' bio child; I am adopted. Sister is mom's golden child and was never even spanked. I was beaten, thrown across the room, cut with knives, verbally and mentally abused, etc.(My dad was an awesome, wonderful parent, but my mom abused him too, yes, even physically.) My sister now tells me that our mom is "lonely" and "has no friends" (gee, I wonder why?) and sister says that I should "spend time with her". My sister says I will "regret it" when my mom dies if I don't spend time with her. HAHAHAHA. No, no I will not. I can guarantee that OP's mom will NEVER understand and will NEVER change her tune about OP's sister; my sister never has in regards to my mom and she WITNESSED my mom abusing me (and our dad.) As an aside to OP's last paragraph - my mom is big on telling everyone how SHE was abused and beaten as a kid and how horrible it was. It obviously didn't stop her from beating and abusing her OWN child.

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#26

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles I live in a nice area, but my wife and I are average income folks without family money. At the bus stop with my kids, another parent asked if they could borrow our housekeeper (we don’t have one) because hers was sick with COVID and the dishes/laundry were starting to stack up. She was in full crisis mode.

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#27

Had a wealthy friend (30f) complaining to me about how abusive her "narcissist" mother is... Mom pays her $3600 rent, bails her out of every tough situation, lets the friend use any of her 5+ homes in gorgeous places, free vacations, backup credit card, etc.

What did Mom do that was abusive? Gave her reasonable advice on her dating life and asked her to stop using the credit card to buy worthless garbage on Amazon... In other words, normal mom stuff.

This friend says she knows what it was like to grow up in an abusive home with a single narcissistic parent just like me... Except my parent did not keep food in the house, beat our a*ses, isolated us from friends and family, stole and sold possessions, etc.

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You might also feel frustrated or misunderstood when their replies come across as tone-deaf or dismissive. When you share your concerns and receive responses that are disconnected or overly simplistic, you start thinking that the person is taking you for granted.

It’s not helpful to get such dismissive replies, and these posts show how some people have never encountered real problems in life. When responses are superficial and lack empathy, it highlights the differences between your experience and theirs. Ultimately, we should find support from those who genuinely understand and relate to your challenges. Have you ever heard a clueless response? Tell us about it in the comments below.

#28

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles A family friend who was raised ultra privileged and has had a cushy SAHM life for many years, is going through a divorce. As part of the agreement to living in the home, she was told to get a job. She said to us "when will I have time to go grocery shopping?!?!"

My wife and I, who both run businesses, and work full time to support our kid, asked her what she thought *we* did.

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ShyWahine
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

After she finds time for grocery shopping, there's also meal preparation,, household chores, laundry, yard maintenance, assisting kids with homework, driving kids to sports practice, and sleep....

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#29

“I know you were close, but aren’t you glad you don’t have to deal with all that drama anymore?”. My sister died this July, that was the response of someone who is now an ex friend.

*editing to add that this friend had never even met my sister, has zero empathy for mental health or addiction, and truly believes we are better off without my sister*.

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#30

As a parent to 2 young kids, I've had people tell me "Oh you're not getting sleep? Just nap when the kids nap". Ironically, the only people who've ever said this have never had kids.

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Colleen Glim
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My oldest daughter didn’t nap from 18 months on. Thanks for the advice. Why didn’t I think of that?

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#31

I went out to lunch with a coworker and she mentioned her boyfriend wasn’t currently working and I said it must be tough to not have him contributing financially to the relationship (I assumed he wasn’t if he didn’t have an income) and she goes “well no he does, he’s a trust fund baby so even tho he’s not working he has a lot of money but we’re all kinda trust fund babies aren’t we?” Meanwhile she is the first person I met who actually has a trust fund and every penny I’ve earned I had to work for myself since I was 16 yrs old.

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Anna Ekberg
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So many rich people are completely clueless about the average persons economic troubles and yet they rule the world. 🙄

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#32

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles My boss at one job couldn’t comprehend why I wouldn’t buy a car with a payment and I had to explain that I couldn’t afford it.

She couldn’t understand that when you’re poor s**t’s disposable. This was back in the day you could drop 2k on a car and drive it for a year or two and go onto another.

She kept saying I was bad at budgeting and maths and was my own worse enemy, but I was making ~$12hr assembling medical devices and my health insurance alone was $500 a month. I was pawning s**t for gas money just to get to work.

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Socks Thecate
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, when the a*****e who underpays you pretends you are the one who can't "make it work" the a*****e needs to either stump up for a raise or be gone.

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#33

Was once telling someone how my genuinely obsessed ex bf was stalking me and would show up at bars he had been banned from looking for me and starting fights. One night he walked in, I had my back to the door so I didn't see him, and he slapped the guy I was sitting beside, called me a c**t, and ran out. He has had multiple felony convictions for assaulting strangers and a mountain of charges he slithered he way out of. He was abusive to me when we were together, and full blown stalker when I left. Dude climbed a two story building and punched me in the face while i was on the phone with 911 and had an active no contact order in place.

Anyways, I was telling someone how he was still showing up at the places he knew I spent time about a year after I left him. Their response was, "It's been long enough, you need to set some boundaries and he should respect that."

EXCUSE ME?! Did you miss the part about him being irrational and unstable? You think if I just tell him to leave me alone he'll go away????

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Moosy Girl
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Having a stalker is another one of those things that is near impossible to fully grasp until it happens to you, no matter how much you’ve read about it in the news, how many podcasts you’ve listened to or movies you’ve seen.

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#34

When my dad attacked my mom with a knife, I took a week off of work to make sure she was okay and safe and that he wasn't coming back to the house to threaten her. When I got back to work my hours were slashed in half and when I asked for them back my boss gave me a 15 minute lecture about how many problems I caused, saying "We all have bad days sometimes, but we still have to come in to work.".

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Luke Branwen
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We as a society made a big mistake when we didn't beat to death the 1st person who said something like this.

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#35

My friend's mother started working as a secretary at Comcast in the 80's by walking in and asking if any positions were available. She eventually became "good friends" with one of the founders sons and got access to a bunch of stock benefits and bonuses effectively making her a multi millionaire.

When I was finishing college I was applying for jobs and not getting any calls back and got told by her "Young people don't apply themselves enough! You need to show up early and ask for the job!"

I wanted to say not everyone had a chance to sleep with a rich CEO's son, but held back.

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Dread Pirate Roberts
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OP REALLY should've told her that. I bet the look on her face would've been priceless.

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#36

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles I’ve had a lot of odd jobs over the years, especially in my late teens/early 20’s. Most just different kinds of minimum wage stuff. One year when I was on summer break from college I was back home working 3 different jobs. I went on a few dates with a guy who had a trust fund and his parents black AmEx card. One day we’re at lunch together and I was telling him about the absolute random grab bag that was my employment history. Once I finished he looked at me confused and said “do you just really like working?”

There was not another date after that.

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Colleen Glim
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No. No I don’t. Sadly, I have an unfortunate eating habit and the grocery store doesn’t take pocket lint and rocks

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#37

Everyone I’ve ever met who expressed surprise that I have student loans. “Oh wow, really? I just assumed everyone’s parents paid for their college.” Ok, you.. are aware many people struggle financially right? “Well I just thought their dad got a second job or something”

MULTIPLE people.

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General Anaesthesia
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it possible to get to college without ever having heard of student loans? That oblivious to life?

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#38

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles A close friend lost her 21-year-old son, and her “friend” said, “I know how you feel. We had to have our cat put down.”

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C.O. Shea
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Repeat after me... "I'm sorry for your loss." And shut up about the dámned cat. 🙄

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#39

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles I have the kindest friend in the world, but she is very privileged. When one of our friends said she wouldn't be attending our college the next year due to lack of finances (her parents did not have the money but were too "wealthy" on paper for FAFSA), she told her to just ask her parents really nicely. When we tried to explain that no, her parents did not have the money, she doubled down with "but what if you tell them how much it means to you?".

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#40

A girl I know posted herself crying for minutes on her Snapchat story after she *only* got mid level tickets to the Taylor swift concert. “THIS IS THE WORST DAY EVER”.

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#41

One of my absolute best friends once said to me in all seriousness that he was behind his peers because "the average person owns at least two homes and I don't even have one yet".

He was making a six figure salary and still living at home at this point. Meanwhile I was homeless at 16, we sat him down and had a talk.

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notlikeyou1971
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I suppose some of us are way way below average because we know that we will never own a home

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#42

As the lone parent on my team at work, a colleague asked my opinion about a pay disparity news article. I mentioned something about how pay inequality played a part in many mothers choosing to leave their careers to be a full time parent. My colleague excitedly told me that wasn’t true because her brother-in-law chose to stay at home so that his much lower-paid wife could stay in her profession. She didn’t see the the importance of mentioning that she had very wealthy parents who helped pay her sister’s mortgage.

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smugdruggler
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, and "helped pay " her mortgage probably means "PAID her mortgage ".

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#43

My close friend said "he felt the same" when his tinder date (they were not really dating, just chatting) chose another guy, this was after I told him my wife of almost 9 years cheated on me.

No, no you do not feel the same.

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Michael Largey
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And if the friend actually felt the same, he has problems far worse than indicated here.

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#44

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles “You can’t pay for it? Just ask your parents!” Hahaha oh honey. I wish.

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ShyWahine
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And she's a full-grown adult who still financially relies on her parents....

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#45

"Being poor is f*****g expensive *uses the terry pratchett boot story as an illustration*"

"Well why don't they just save to buy the more expensive option that will save money in the long run".

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notlikeyou1971
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You have to have money in order to be able to have that opportunity. To some of us. Even being able to have money at the end of the month would be a miracle

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#46

My son was born after 8 years of infertility, but I had him at a slightly more inconvenient time of year.

I was talking about this and some woman said “you should have planned better”.

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#47

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles My ex called me crying on Christmas because she asked for an Apple TV, and her parents didn’t get her the newest version….

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#48

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles “You don’t have money? Just go to an ATM!”

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BrownEyedGrrl
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This sounds like something a child would say. Years ago, I told my daughter I couldn't afford something. She told me to just write a check.

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#49

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles Lost my brother to an accident nearly 20 years ago. When telling what I considered at the time, a close friend, his response was, " Yeah, I'm going through a tough time right now too. One of my mates just broke up with his girlfriend."
I was too numb at the time to have any sort of reaction, but it turned out to be a remarkable insight into his concept of "problems."
I hope life has adjusted his perspective since then, I wouldn't know, though.

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

When my dad's accident happened, I was 18. He woke up from his initial coma, but he had sustained catastrophic brain damage in the accident and was clearly going to permanently need 24/7 care. After 6 months he was "ready" to be discharged from the hospital. I had a friend who was a year younger than me, and when I was telling my friend group that my mother and my sister and I had decided that we would care for my dad at home instead of putting him in a facility, she said "Oh, I would NEVER do that for MY parents. Fück THAT. I have my whole LIFE ahead of me! You're about to waste your entire youth for NOTHING." Her family was rich af and her parents weren't abusive or anything that she'd have a reason to not want to care for them. She simply couldn't comprehend that in some families/cultures (like mine), you take care of your family members when they become injured/disabled/elderly, you don't just shove them into a facility and out of sight. And, you know, I actually LOVED my dad. I'd have done anything for him. There was that, too.

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#50

“Not A Single Person In The Room Felt Bad For Her”: 50 Tone-Deaf Reactions To Serious Struggles My friend's aunt is rich and I had to sit and hear her complain to her family about how inflation is so bad she had to buy a BMW X3 instead of an X5 like she originally planned.


Not a single person in the room felt bad for her.

EDIT: Im seeing a lot of comments saying that if she’s downgrading, she’s not rich. I know a handful of rich folks and they STAY rich by setting a budget and sticking to it. I’m 100% sure that if she really wanted to, she could’ve spent the extra scratch. But it was clear at the time that other unavoidable expenses had cut into her car budget.

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