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30 percent of U.S. adults are single. This number jumps to 51 percent if we look only at gay, lesbian, or bisexual people, and to a whopping 63 percent among 18- to 29-year-old men.

Interested in how to recognize them, Reddit user Riff_lick601 asked everyone on the platform to share what they believe to be the telltale signs of a solo lifestyle, and in just a few days, they have received over 4,500 replies.

To cut through the noise, we've sorted the most popular and interesting ones. Continue scrolling to check them out and don't miss the chat we had with psychologist Dr. Bella DePaulo — you'll find it spread in between the entries.

#1

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single I used to work in the film industry, meaning I got fed two very good meals a day + snacks. So when I went to the supermarket it was basically some cereal for the weekend, toothpaste, maybe some chocolate and a lot of beer.

I'd get to the checkout (this is in London) and a large Jamaican lady would scan my items and say.....
"tsk ohhh, you live on your own don't you?"

I'd shyly nod "yes".

"You don't have a girlfriend??? You want a girlfriend?"

Then she'd shout to the till 2 away "Sylvia! SYLVIA! you want a skinny white boyfriend?".

pinpinipnip , Michael Burrows Report

#2

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single Incels, mostly. They never shut up about it.

I don't play golf, but I don't spend my life complaining about not playing golf, or how I'd be a really good golfer if golf only gave me a chance, or how golf is such a b***h and doesn't want me because golf doesn't know what's good for it even though I've never bothered to make the slightest effort to learn how to play golf.

Portarossa , Engin Akyurt Report

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Psychologist and author of Single at Heart: The Power, Freedom, and Heart-Filling Joy of Single Life, Dr. Bella DePaulo is considered to be the leading expert on single life, and she says that for a long time, singles have been viewed mostly negatively.

"Over the past decade or so, that's been changing, probably in part because of the growing number of single people," DePaulo tells Bored Panda. "When nearly half of all Americans 18 and older are not married, it is hard to make the case that there's something wrong with that many people."

DePaulo says single people are also starting to push back on the stereotyping and stigmatizing that they endure, which she calls singlism. However, that "generates backlash, and then you start to see the demeaning of single people and people who don't have children (e.g., 'childless cat ladies') and the glorifying of married people."

#3

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single When I need my laundry chair to game, I move everything to the laundry bed. Then bedtime comes and my laundry chair is reborn.

SSBradley37 , neP-neP919 Report

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Diolla
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't have this. But that's because my cat helps. If I leave ny laundry lying around she will immediately cover it with cat hair. She has drilled me.

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#4

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single Soup for one, salad for one, wine for three.

benji_76 , Anna Shvets Report

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As you can see from the things shared in the online discussion (and probably your own friends), for some people, being single is much more difficult than for others.

"Their experiences growing up are part of the answer," DePaulo says. "If you are part of a family or culture that reveres marriage and looks down on single people, it is going to be harder. If you have never had role models in your life who stayed single and were happy and flourishing as single people, it will be harder. If you are a people-pleaser, or if you find it daunting to try to go against social norms, living single will be harder for you."

But "if you've never stayed single for long, you may have never had the chance to discover that single life is something that suits you."

#5

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single I'm going to be positive and say "Doing whatever you want all the time".

AVBellibolt , Alex Urezkov Report

#6

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single When your trash stinks. Not because you threw something stinky in there but because as a single person you don't produce enough trash to fill and take out a bag of trash before it all rots and stinks...

ReddGoat , Suparerg Suksai Report

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As the title of her latest book suggests, DePaulo studies people who are "single at heart."

The psychologist says they are the ones who are happy and flourishing because of their status, not in spite of it. "They love their independence. They also value solitude — spending time on their own refreshes and fulfills them, it doesn't scare them."

"While people in conventional romantic relationships have 'the one,' people who are single at heart often have 'the ones' – a whole circle of friends and relatives, and other people who are important to them."

The key thing, according to DePaulo, is that single at heart find it easy to be single. "Coupled life is what would be hard for them. It would feel more constraining and inauthentic."

#7

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single The other side of my bed is used for keeping my water bottle, it’s where my phone sleeps, my emergency midnight bag of crisps, I take my bra off just before bed and stuff it there.

There’s no room for anyone else to sleep on that side.

Unusual_Disaster_725 , Natalie Dupin Report

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#8

Guys that are really into Andrew Tate.

Wolfeman0101 Report

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If you also want to make the most out of being single, you have to approach it with the right mindset. DePaulo suggests viewing it as something that doesn't take away from your life but rather adds to it.

"Think about all that [it] has to offer you, the way people who are single at heart do," she says. "Invest in your single life. Take advantage of the opportunities your freedom offers you. Follow your interests and passions. Tend to the people who matter to you. Feel proud of yourself for not feeling like you have to be in a romantic relationship all the time."

It's about being yourself fully and not waiting for a better part to fill you up.

#9

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single (Straight) guys with long dirty fingernails. No woman would let those UTI daggers go anywhere near her fun bits.

OMG_Nooo , Kindel Media Report

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Barong
Community Member
1 month ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I learned as a kid to keep my nails short and clean. My grandparents, parents, elementary school teachers, all made sure my nails were clean and short, clean, and filed. Made sure we wash our hands regularly before eating and before leaving a restroom. My son too. I don’t know which people this person has been seeing. Manners, etiquette, and hygiene go a long way. Doing little things that help other people feel more comfortable is important for getting along integrating together whether it be at work, family, or out in the general public.

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#10

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single When I was in college, single, and broke, I went to the grocery store and they had these really...adequate frozen spicy chicken sandwiches on sale for like 25 cents a pop. I grabbed all of them.

I went to ring up, the cashier said "Wow, that's...a lot. These must be really good." I responded with "Eh, they fill the hole."

Dude scanned a couple more in silence and asked "So, you're like, really single, aren't you?"

KhaosElement , Sean Gallagher Report

However, the psychologist also warns to be aware of the stereotypes and dismissive comments even within these replies. Some of them, she says, are not just demeaning, but also plain wrong.

Take the one that mentions single people's supposed availability for last-minute plans, implying that they have more time than coupled people do. "Research shows that when aging parents need help, their grown single children are more likely to be providing it than their kids who are coupled. They are not always available for last-minute plans because they are doing the hard work of caring for other people."

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As with every online discussion, it's great for making us think about sensitive topics but don't take everything as fact.

#11

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single Believing in an Alpha/Beta/Sigma pecking order.

streethawk2000 , Amir Abbaspoor Report

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roepi
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's not a sign of being single. That's a sign of being pathetic.

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#12

Being able to wake up on a saturday morning, think to yourself "f**k it" and stay in bed for another half hour before you decide wether you'll be reading, gaming or going somewhere today.

Icy-Maintenance7041 Report

#13

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single I have two seats in my tiny apartment. One faces the tv. The other is for the computer. They don't face each other.

Oh, also, I have one pillow on my bed.

lestairwellwit , FlynnLive5 Report

#14

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single My first ever apartment after I moved out from home,

All I had was a TV, Xbox, and bed, no other furniture. My whole apartment was empty.

My fridge was full of beer and frozen foods

I'd say that's pretty bachelor.

Sufficient-Ad-3586 , Max Vakhtbovycn Report

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#15

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single Not finishing your groceries before they go bad because they don’t get eaten fast enough.

Pristine_Match457 , Mike Jones Report

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Pittsburgh rare
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You need to cook in batches and freeze. Almost everything can be frozen. Except cheese. But cheese is never gonna last so long anyway.

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#17

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single Actively looking around at parties.

MhrisCac:
That might be the worst one, having nobody to anchor to temporarily at a party is the worst feeling. Feeling like you’re a random free floater desperately searching for somebody to connect with blows.

Zestyclose_Most_8915 , olia danilevich Report

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Barong
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

See, I stopped feeling that way. I used to be shy and introverted. The. I realized I was hurting myself and enjoyment of life by feeling lonely for no logical reason. Being a floater, an outsider, isn’t perhaps as being the center of attention at your own birthday surrounded by friends cool, but with a bunch of new faces two things can happen. One, you make some new acquaintances which is the most likely, or less likely, you make attempts to get to know people where everything feels awkward and no one seems interested in talking but that’s ok, because you probably won't ever have to see any or most of them again. I stopped worrying and just go and talked to people. Most people don’t mind and if they do, it’s on them. Hopefully I make their day brighter because theirs a good chance they made mine.

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#18

I got teased for this at work recently, but “ordering a sh*t ton of takeout for Friday lunch so you don’t have to cook over the weekend.”.

Voltundra Report

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zak
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is just being wise with your spending. If I'm gonna pay a delivery fee, then I wanna make it worthwhile, so I'll typically order enough food to get at least 2 full days of meals out of it.

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#19

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single When the price of rent makes you physically sick to your stomach because all the places are priced for two.

DishwashingUnit , Photo By: Kaboompics.com Report

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Pittsburgh rare
Community Member
1 month ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

THIS. When the average rent is equal or higher than the average salary (looking at you, Spain), you realise single people or single parents aren't considered part of society. Honestly, f**k that.

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#20

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single Not being invited to stuff because everyone else is going with their SOs.

Real_Sir_3655:
Or being invited anyway but hanging out with kids or grandmas instead.

temptingtreat18 , cottonbro studio Report

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Barong
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hang out with the dogs. Or just invite someone even if they are a platonic friend. I used to hang out with four friends who were two couples (sounds awkward) and often I invited a friends and one friend, well, she became a regular sixth friend in the group. We were always platonic and our group got along fine until we at various times started moving away

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#21

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single I bought one of those “DiGiorno Pizza - for one” personal pizzas at Walmart and the cashier said “Fun night?” as she rung it up.

SupaFlyChunkFunk , Mike Maguire Report

#22

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single Going to the gym by yourself in the evening on Valentines Day.

Don_Pablo512 , William Choquette Report

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TotallyNOTAFox
Community Member
1 month ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or buying butt loads of chocolate for 50% off the next day

KatSaidWhat
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

tbf, most of my friends won't go out on VD because they know it's rubbish, busy and prices are hiked.

Riley Quinn
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Valentine's Day. What a crock of doodoo. It's the following day I celebrate, when the candy prices are slashed.

TheBlueBitterfly
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Valentines Day is our anniversary (we didn't plan it like that, it just kinda happened. Both of us hate valentines day!) so it sucks trying to go out for dinner to celebrate. We usually just stay home and make something we both love.

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#23

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single The lawn chairs in my living room.

propagandavid , axSupreme Report

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

Housing is expensive. You gotta do what you gotta do. Maybe add a sturdy cardboard box for someplace to set a coffee cup/wine glass

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#24

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single Always available for last-minute plans: No need to check in with anyone, so you're always down for spontaneous hangouts.

Aggressive-Union-628 , Jhosua Rodríguez Report

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

No, no, no, no, and did I mention no? I don’t do plans. Spontaneous or otherwise. Because people

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#25

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single Me eating lasagna straight from the pan.

sprinklywinks , Micheile Henderson Report

#26

Having "The Deal" with your opposite sex bestie that you'll marry each other when you turn 30 if neither of you are already married.

PilotKnob Report

#27

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single Posting those motivational comics or drawings to Facebook that more or less say something like "the right one will come along eventually, just be patient and stay true to yourself. You deserve to be loved" and what not.

Never seen someone in a relationship, or a healthy one I guess, post anything like that.

DIABLO258 , cottonbro studio Report

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Pittsburgh rare
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

😂 kinda true, every time l see one l know they're desperately single. BUT staying true to yourself seems good advice.

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#28

Asking the veggie vendor at the market whether I can split that bunch of veggies in half because I can't finish it all.

yodelingllama Report

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Tempest
Community Member
1 month ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One old lady (vendor at the market) once chased me off when I tried to buy a quantity (can’t remember of what it was) so small that she couldn’t even weigh it on the scale. That was embarrassing… And the constant need to split the veggies in half or, when they refuse to, end up having to eat just that veggie everyday for a week or more.

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#29

Receiving the "Microwave Cooking for One" cookbook as a Christmas present.

erikedge Report

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

I would love this! I’m now down to one child at home who is working all the time and I have no clue how to cook for just me

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#31

Having your bed in the corner of your bedroom instead of in the middle of a wall for access to both sides.

ithinarine Report

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Ladedah
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm starting to realize that my husband and I live like two single people... first, the fridge full of frozen food and beer... now this! ...though, technically, our bed has no sides... as we built it wall to wall and both climb in from the end like two kids getting in on the top bunk 🤣

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#32

My pinball machine in the living room.

kcook01 Report

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#33

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single Having enough money and time to enjoy your hobbies.

DuArVakaren , David Bartus Report

#34

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single People who constantly posts pictures of celebrities like its their f****n spouse lmao.

SimoneBrooks777 , cottonbro studio Report

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#35

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single Buying the small pack of toilet paper.

FiST49 , Sam Beckwith Report

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Peet
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I buy the big packages because they are often cheaper in comparison...and I don't have to buy for several weeks or months.

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#36

Women who tell their friends to break up with someone the moment they have a small fight.

banomann Report

#37

Im 26, Never had any relationship. I have no confidence to approach anyone even for a professional or survival reason. I have avoided turning on the street while walking back home because there were girls there and fear of being judged. I have never been approached either. Because I look creepy on a good day. I have been ostracized by my friends and family for being different. I have tried to take up hobbies that I cannot enjoy just so I can fit into a friend group. I have no marketable skills to bring to the table in a relationship. I have always wanted to be a model human being. Studied hard party never. All the way to my masters. I keep to myself and don't speak unless spoken to kinda person.

I'm depressed and sad I'm losing friends. I have lost my job and Im not sure what to do. I know a relationship wont fix any thing like magic.

To answer your question. I caught myself thinking about designing a hydraulic arms fitted to a pillow to hug me. 😞. The sad part is choosing hydraulic because i could crush my ribs. But I have since stopped these thoughts by distracting myself. I have accepted the fact my bloodline ends with me and that's ok.

Sorry for the trauma dump and bad English.

ZWIN98 Report

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Pittsburgh rare
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you've been ostracised by *everyone* l suggest therapy, because there's clearly something going on.

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#38

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single Person in a party of three boarding a roller coaster.

ReduceReuseReuse , Valentin Sarte Report

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Tempest
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

True. You get paired up with a stranger and then through the entire ride you have to be mindful of not accidentally grabbing their hand or letting your T-Rex screams terrify them.

#40

Having repeated, very generalised and extremely bitter opinions and complaints of the gender you wish you were dating, no matter how much you try to disguise your wah-wahs as “just stating facts!”.

Odimorsus Report

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David Morgan
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is a big difference between traits of people who are generally or currently single (such as changes in their spending habits, sleeping patterns, diet etc) and traits that RESULT in being generally or currently single. This is the latter, and it is EXTREMELY offputting for everyone - if this IS you, then please, please try to control this behaviour. There is no conspiracy to frustrate you, you are alienating people who would otherwise be willing to spend time with you. There will always be bad people out there, and some of your relationships will end badly. If they ALL do, you really need to take a look at yourself to make sure you aren't causing your own problems.

#41

Wearing sweatpants and eating cereal straight from the box on a Saturday night. Zero shame, just vibes.

AlexaKkiss Report

#42

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single A long list of desirable and undesirable traits of a partner.

PetrogradkaIcedTea , Polina Kovaleva Report

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Nizumi
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People in relationships also have these. We're trying to figure out how we got so lucky, or how we got so unlucky, depending on the day.

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#43

Being a Reddit mod.

Alonebut-funny Report

#44

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single Showing up in the gym at the same time 6+ days a week.

NotLunaris , Mister Mister Report

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David Morgan
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This would also be the case if you had a job, or kids. Even single people don't have totally free calendars.

#45

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single League of Legends.

TeodoroCano , RDNE Stock project Report

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#46

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single The frozen food aisle. If you're going to put an ad up for the s*icide hotline, it's probably the place to do it.

paythefullprice , Austen Russell Report

#47

People spontaneously telling about their day, random stuff. 
People in a relationship know they haveca partner they can vent at when they got home.

Lord-Legatus Report

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Dolevaal
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So? My partner may know about my day but why does that mean I cant tell another person about my day either?

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#48

Ordering 27 pounds of Twizzlers from Amazon.

Silent-Friendship860 Report

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

Go to the dollar store and buy em. Cheaper and you get to tell everybody you went out today

#49

The “where’s my hug” people and white knights.

OutlandishnessOk2398 Report

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David Morgan
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a WORLD of difference between people who step in to confront bullying because they think it's wrong, and people who want ot be SEEN stepping in to confront bullies because it makes THEM look good. It can be difficult to tell them apart, so don't throw the 'white knight' label around too freely, we should all be calling out bullies.

#51

30 People Who Couldn’t Make It Any More Clear That They’re Single Desperation to see other people.

Professional-Fee-957 , Felipe Cespedes Report

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Zoe's Mom
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope. I'm okay with not seeing people for days, weeks. If I need the energy, I go shopping.

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#52

Adults that are really into my little pony.

baskura Report

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

And that’s an issue because? People gonna like what they like. We don’t get to judge somebody else’s preferences

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#53

Anime t-shirt, cargo pants and a neckbeard.

isolated_thinkr_ Report

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