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Many cultures have proverbs about respecting your elders. In theory, they've lived for longer, so they automatically have more experience, and with experience comes knowledge, right? Maybe some people would like to argue that wisdom doesn't come from how old you are. Yet you can't deny that people who have more years under their belt might have a different perspective on current trends and events.

Well, one netizen had the idea to ask older adults which current social norms and things they find strange. The user u/-----Diana----- wrote: "What's socially normal now that you disagree with?" The people on r/AskOldPeople shared some things they're not entirely on board with. And their answers are actually insightful, not the old-man-yells-at-cloud kind.

To know more about the 'Grumpy Old People' myth and why older people tend to disagree with modern social norms, Bored Panda reached out to Dr. Julie Erickson, a clinical psychologist and author of The Aging Well Workbook for Anxiety and Depression.

We also managed to have a conversation with the Redditor who started the discussion, u/-----Diana-----. The user from Romania was kind enough to tell us why she was curious about what older adults think of today's social norms. Read both interviews below!

#1

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Our society being ok with total ignorance of science and some are even praised for it.

Sufficient-Grand3746 , Pixabay / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

It's natural for people to have differing opinions. Sometimes, these opinions can differ because of age. And that's completely normal, too. Clinical psychologist and author of The Aging Well Workbook for Anxiety and Depression, Dr. Julie Erickson, says that different generations commonly have conflicting views over norms, values, and beliefs.

"Each generation has 'cohort beliefs,' which are beliefs held by people born at a similar time period," Dr. Erickson tells Bored Panda. "These beliefs are shaped by a variety of different social, political, cultural, environmental, technological, and economic factors of the time."

But to say that "all elderly people hate technology" would be too simplistic and untrue. And, honestly, pretty ageist. There's much more nuance to it than that. "It's important to recognize that there is tremendous individual variability in the extent to which older adults accept new social norms," Dr. Erickson observes. "Some older adults are quite capable of evolving their worldview. It's an ageist assumption that older adults are stuck in their ways or more resistant to change."

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#2

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays The widespread inability to spell words correctly or use them properly ( e.g. Their , There , They're ) and don't get me started on grammar.

Highway-Organic , Ivan Samkov/ pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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Ace
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Was always the case, we just get exposed to it more because everyone has easy access to post all over the place. It's more the lazy ones like U and Ur that annoy me.

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The clinical psychologist says that some studies suggest the personality trait we call 'agreeableness' increases as people age. "That being said, as we get older, we tend to prefer what is familiar and personally meaningful," she also notes. "This can make some people less open to new experiences or worldviews."

When the world's changing so fast and in so many ways, it can become harder and harder to keep up with current trends. And that includes not only knowing who the most popular celebrities are or what the latest fashion trend is. It's more about things like what words or phrases might be inappropriate to use.

#4

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Kids (and some adults, but I mostly see kids) with tablets or phones at full volume out in public. I have no interest in hearing other people's games, videos, music or phone conversations.

Amesaskew , Julia M Cameron / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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

I see this far more with retirees than with younger folks. Phone on speaker, full volume, blabbing it up about nothing regardless of setting. I don’t need forty minutes of Sylvia’s infected toenails.

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#5

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Me: Hey, how have you been?

Them: Haven't you seen my posts on [social media platform]?

Me: I'm trying to have a conversation with you, not subscribe to your newsletter.

Myrindyl , Christina Morillo / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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ZGutr
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not even explaining myself. If that's the response I turn and walk on.

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#6

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Being mad at me because I don't automatically know your pronouns... Just tell me if I'm wrong in a nice way and I'll adapt.

BloopityBlue , Alexander Grey / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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Captain McSmoot
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People changing their naturally born pronouns and expecting the entire world to magically know something which took them years to find out for themselves and exploding on them is the biggest douche move. Congratulations! You know yourself more fully now, but it doesn't give you the right to be a rude a*****e about it when others don't know. They expect people to know in an instant what took them years, maybe even decades, to find out for themselves. You're an idiot who thinks you now have an excuse to be rude and the masses will back you up because you are "different". People aren't hating on you because your pronouns don't align with the "traditional" sense; they're hating on you because you are an obnoxious, entitled a*****e.

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Some people grow more anxious as they age because they feel like the world might be leaving them behind. Dr. Erickson says that this is a concern for people who subscribe to the narrative that it's all downhill from a certain age.

"We forget about everything we gain as we get older: wisdom, maturity, emotional stability, a clearly defined sense of self, not sweating the small stuff as much, and plenty of experience solving problems. It's about finding a way to use these strengths in a changing world," she explains.

#7

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Its now socially normal to not use caps or punctuation so that your thoughts are all one single stream of consciousness and really hard to read like reading ulysses but the kids dont even know or care what that is because they just want to get their thoughts all out at once without any regard for the reader and the annoyance it is to try to figure out what they are saying Signed: A pained English major.

ktappe , Charlotte May/ pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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#8

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Being around others while obviously sick. It’s been normalized because we have a garbage safety net that doesn’t allow people financially to take care of themselves and not make others sick. Or allow them to be off work to care for sick children. 40 years ago when unions were strong there were lots of sick days in lots of jobs and people mostly were able to stay home when really sick, in professional or union jobs anyway. There’s always been a segment of the working population that got screwed. But now more than ever we need generous sick leave policies in place for EVERYONE.

Reneeisme , Andrea Piacquadio / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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Marion Vambre
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one should be much higher in the ranking. It's completely normalized and unbearable. Teachers have already told me about cases of very sick kids whom parents still bring to school... then they have the nerve to complain when we call them to pick them up because they've vomited or have a high fever. The other day, I saw a lady at the supermarket coughing heavily into her hands before picking up items and casually putting them back... She continued to cough heavily and handle all the items 😒 It's selfish, disgusting, and frankly, I hate it.

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#9

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Since this is the Ask Old People category, I disagree with people being dismissive because I am old. I have at least one more sucker punch left in me for the next ‘ok boomer’ comment I get in person.

MissHibernia , Nashua Volquez-Young/ pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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JoNo
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When my father was in his 70s & 80s, he would get annoyed by the "ageism" shown to him when out in public, at stores and even in the nursing home lived in for the last six months of his life. I'm not saying it's worse than the other "-isms" but it definitely is the one that seems ignored. This isn't about being treated differently because of dementia (how those people are treated is a whole other story), it was a much wider range of behaviours shown to him, including being talked to like he did have dementia, because people would presume he did. He would get frustrated and tell me "they treat me like I'm stupid" when an incident happened. He wasn't, his only crime was being an older person.

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Bored Panda also had a short chat with u/-----Diana-----, the author of this thread. "I got the idea for the question one morning when lying in bed," the young Redditor tells us. The user shared how she lives in a Romanian village where a big portion of the population is over 50. "They have lots to complain about," the Redditor chuckled.

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#10

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays I'm really not comfortable will all the ads for betting and sports book platforms.

Flaxscript42 , Jose Francisco Fernandez Saura/ pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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Kristy Marion
Community Member
8 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We can’t advertise alcohol, pharmaceuticals or nicotine in my country. However, we can advertise gambling. Guess which country has the highest amount of gambling losses? Edit to give more facts… we have HALF the entirety of the worlds slot machines, and the government gets 30% of every dollar put into them. And then add another 40% of tax from the owners of the slot machines for any gains on said slot machines.

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#11

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Not being willing or able to just be superficially nice in social settings. Sometimes it's *okay* to just be pleasant instead of making your unique and specific viewpoint heard.

stealth_bohemian , Yan Krukau/ pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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Stephanie Barr
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pretending we're all fine when we're not has, in my opinion, acerbated a lot of mental health issues. Better to talk them out then act them.

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#12

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Tipping on everything. Especially with those iPads that spin around and awkwardly ask you for 10% because someone got you a muffin from behind the counter. Make it end.

larryhood35 , Dan Smedley / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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Megan Curl
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is an everybody thinks this thing. It’s making for a hostile purchasing experience.

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The inspiration for the question came from a lady in her mid-70s, u/-----Diana----- tells us. She overheard the woman complaining about how her grandchildren were always on their phones. The Redditor then went to r/AskOldPeople to ask the older adults what things the younger generation does nowadays that bother them. "The answers there tend to be intriguing generally," the user adds.

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#13

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays The assumption that if you say one thing you automatically believe something else. For example if you say that we should look at tightening up our gun control laws, that automatically means you're anti-gun and want to take away everybody's guns.

Th3TruthIs0utTh3r3 , Jessica Da Rosa / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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Jane Jayne Jain Jeign Jein
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, the total inability to appreciate nuanced arguments. "If you're not with us, your against us" mentality that just breeds polarisation.

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#14

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Playing with your phone while in the presence of live conversation.

aprehensivebad42 , Eliott Reyna / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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JoNo
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Parents looking at their phones while their young children play around them is a sad sight to see.

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#15

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Politics being your entire identity. They did this to us on purpose to divide us.

CatCiaoSki , Marco Oriolesi / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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kansasmagic
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Religion" being your entire identity, "ethnicity" being your entire identity...

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u/-----Diana----- also told us that she's heard her fair share of complaints about young people from her grandparents. "They're both about to turn 70 years old this year," she says. According to the Redditor, they like to talk about how the young generation is self-absorbed and how people became worse and worse after the demise of Nicolae Ceaușescu and the fall of the communist regime in Romania.

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#16

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Peak Cpitalism; the wealthy amassing even more wealth and not caring about a decent life for everybody.

theora55 , Daniel Thiele / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

#17

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Declarations of "body count" to dating partners. I don't like the violent implication of the term, and I don't like intimate history being tallied like a score.

meddit_rod , René Ranisch / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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Corvus
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's borderline dehumanizing, like some sick form of collecting trophies.

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#18

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Never saying NO not your child.

It sounds very «boomer» - I know.

But I have two kids born early 2000s and one child born 2015, and just wow how many more kids are brats now.

Don’t get me wrong, kids have always been kids and act out, but now they are more rude.

We have always had the whole class in kids birthday and it has always been insane and loud, but with my youngest class I just can’t do it.

HereWeGoAgain-1979 , Monstera Production / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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Megan Curl
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I call it laissez-faire parenting. No, you do need to teach your children respect and appropriate behavior.

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However, u/-----Diana----- agrees with some things the older people shared in this thread. She feels sad about how many young people of her generation seem to spend too much time on their phones and are not living in the moment. And while she thinks that the rise of loneliness might be imminent, she remains optimistic. All we need is some meaningful human contact, she says.

#19

My grandfather used to tell me that who you vote for is private. He and his wife never even shared with one another which candidate won their vote. I wish that was the case in modern times.

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#20

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays A couple of things but the biggest one by far is the ear bud culture which just bleeds into a level of rudeness and isolation that’s unsettling. You might find small talk tedious but I promise you, the connection to the outside world that small talk creates is a gift to you. Humans aren’t meant to be so isolated.

As a parent I give a lot of rides. I can’t tell you how many teens have gotten into my car without even a simple hi or hello and sat there silently with their head in their phone and their ear pods in.

Say hi. Talk about the weather for a minute. It might be dumb but we are human and civility and connection matter. Otherwise all you’ve got is that phone and your ear buds. It’s kind of a bleak existence.

WildIris2021 , Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 / unsplash(not the actual photo) Report

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#21

The way that men are starting to call women "females" but when referring to men they say "men".

We are not lab specimens dude.

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#22

That every white woman who complains is a Karen. Sometime it’s a legitimate complaint.
Calling someone a Karen on Social Media has become such a lazy comeback for when you don’t agree with someone who appears to be female online.

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#23

I don't get why it's wrong to use punctuation when texting.

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WonderWoman
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also why can't they spell out the words! Seriously, you don't pay by the character anymore. Misspelling and no punctuation, or the dreaded all caps/no caps is not a flex.

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#24

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Recording everything.

Recording fights. Recording car crashes. Recording traffic stops (your own or others) when cops have body cams and dash cams already. Recording people in the gym (yourself or others), recording in public and getting mad at pedestrians for ‘ruining the shot’.

Heck, people were even standing there like insane people recording the Super Bowl parade shooting. Like dude…LEAVE THE AREA OR HIDE. Don’t stand there drooling with a phone in your hand for internet clout or to sell it to the news.

anon , Sebastian Enrique / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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Tracy Wallick
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cops are infamous for turning off or obscuring their cameras when they know they're doing something illegal, people recording things has helped expose things that otherwise would lack the kind of evidence needed to take them to task. Additionally, while recording events like a shooting are terrible, footage like that has been used by law enforcement to apprehend perpetrators. It's not exclusively a negative thing.

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#25

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Children having access to social media.

I think nothing good comes of it.

I got other parent friends who have no issue with their kids scrolling tiktok, or being on whatsapp groups (I was an older mum, my kid is still primary school age).

(She says, acknowledging the irony of posting this on reddit).

nettie_r , Tim Gouw / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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Corvus
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Schoolkids getting beaten up because of a comment under a FB post - it's becoming pretty "normal" nowadays...

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#26

I went for a walk at a park recently. There was a guy entering the trail while holding his phone out and talking into it. Everyone got to hear his c**p instead of the relaxing nature sounds. Isn’t he special?

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Eugene the Jeep
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Since he wants to share his conversation with you, feel free to join in.

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#27

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays People posting their entire lives online. I'm probably excessively private but it's really crazy how people are so willing and even eager to broadcast their personal lives to the world.

I don't think people fully appreciate how possible it is to string together little details from multiple sources and form a detailed picture of someone's life. That should scare people.

PicoRascar , Plann/ pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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PFD
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think that's about to get a lot scarier. I came across a tool that uses AI-powered facial recognition to search the web. I tried it with my own face using a fairly old low-resolution social-media profile pic in which part of my face is covered with a graphic. I don't have much of a web presence but it found pictures of me in a bar in another country, with different hair, beard etc, that my sister put on Insta. I couldn't help but think how easily this could be abused.

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#28

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Wearing pajamas and slippers to go shopping. People, if you can't be bothered to put on fresh clothes, don't go out in public. Also, do they then wear those pajamas to bed? Ew!

catdoctor , PNW Production / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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Tracy Wallick
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who cares? It's not affecting your life beyond the fact that you're choosing to pay attention to it.

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#29

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Emotional support dogs/pets pretending to be service dogs Dragging your dog every f-ing where. I love dogs,I foster dogs,I train dogs,I have 4 huge dogs....that don't go shopping/to festivals/everywhere with me. Also letting your dog with c**p recall off leash and thinking that screaming he's friendly makes it better. And not picking up your dogs s**t on hiking trails,that's just rude and ignorant. And petting strangers dogs,um no keep your hands to yourself please Those disgusting long nails some women sport like little wearable petri dishes. Talking about politics,money or religion in every social setting. It was so much nicer when people realized that not every gathering needed to be bombarded with contentious subjects.

WoodsColt , Frames For Your Heart / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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SingingCatMom
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree with most of this, if not all. It's just a little hard to decode without the use of punctuation.

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#30

The thought of if you can't accept me at my worst you don't deserve me at my best.

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#31

That the following are OK with a large swath of the population:

Shoplifting

Fighting

Shooting each other

Yelling

Using outdoor voices indoors and drawing everyone's attention to you

Lack of customer service.

ladeedah1988 Report

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JoNo
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am thankful this list is one shorter here in Australia - "shooting each other".

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#32

Vaping in public really bothers me. I hated it when restaurants and bars were filled with cigarette smoke before 1990 (or whenever that changed). Now, I hate seeing people vaping everywhere I go. I see it at concerts, in bars, restaurants, grocery stores, the gas station -- everywhere.

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#33

Basic manners. My gran must be affecting about 500 rpm in her grave, right about now.

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#34

Interrupting someone while they’re talking.

Maybe it’s just me bc it’s a huge pet peeve but I feel like I’m constantly being interrupted or people are always talking over one another. When I politely say, “excuse me, I was in the middle of talking” or “hold on a sec please so I can finish what I was saying” I get looked at like I have 3 heads or like I’m totally out of line when I say something about it.

Again maybe it’s just me, but imo interrupting people mid sentence and talking over others is now for some reason socially acceptable - by both adults and kids no matter the setting - and I don’t get it. Now I feel like the abnormal one for thinking that’s it’s rude or for feeling slightly offended when someone does it to me. Tbh I literally physically cringe when I’m there and witness it happening to someone else while they’re talking lol. It’s wild to me.

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VOTE if you live in the USA
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

By the length of this post, I can tell YOU are the talker, and people only interrupt because you won't stop talking. I have a friend like this. The only way we have a conversation instead of her just talking at me the whole time, I HAVE to interrupt.

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#35

Sharing every aspect of yours and also your children's lives on social media.

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BlueBlazer999
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate when my parents share photos of me online. I can’t imagine how someone feels when their parents post 20 times that.

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#36

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Yaknow...... I wish people still dressed up *a little* more. I dine at some seriously nice restaurants and it's while overall I guess it's OK if someone decides to dine there in a t-shirt, cargo shorts and flip flops but I gotta say it sorta reduces my own experience, especially if we're celebrating a special occasion.

OK, I'll stop being grumpy now.

MrsChickenPam , Helena Lopes / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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Megan Curl
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is one I really don’t care about. You do you. As long as everyone is well behaved, my experience is unaffected.

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#37

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Texting instead of sitting down and having an actual conversation especially about difficult topics.

Th3TruthIs0utTh3r3 , fauxels / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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Dragon mama
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

On the flip side I have one child who struggles A LOT with expressing herself and talking about difficult or emotional subjects. Especially in person. So we text. It has probably saved her life.

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#38

Constantly doing stuff on your phone. The gym had to put up little signs on all the weight machines asking people to give others a turn instead of just sitting there on their phones – and the place is still full of people sitting on the machines glued to their phones. The effect when you walk into a room like that is eerie.

I’m much more of a phone addict than I’d like to be, but I’m trying to be more mindful and not just automatically reach for it every time there’s a lull, whether between sets or waiting for an elevator or whatever. Practicing my lost art of just looking around and thinking my thoughts and tolerating boredom.

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#39

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Mine is that nobody is taught cursive anymore, and they surely can't read it! My fdil's little brother (19) couldn't sign his name for his driver's license and had to ask her to do it for him.

Dangerous_Pattern_92 , Anna Tarazevich / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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

I was taught cursive but could never write it clearly. Gave it up in high school after a teacher insisted students write cursive, then gave me a 0 because she couldn’t read my handwriting. She called me an illiterate slob, so I later sent her a copy of my first novel signed (and printed) as such. Never received a thank you note. How rude…

RabidChild
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bad handwriting doesn't = illiteracy or slobbishness. I have a hard time reading my own handwriting sometimes but have higher than average reading comprehension skills and even tho pretty messy, not a slob. Your teacher was just a shrew and exceptionally rude.

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Megan Curl
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a boomer, this is how we are going to communicate when we retake over the world. No one will know our evil genius plan. Bwahahaha

HolyDiver
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a Gen X, I agree. Also maps... actual 'fold back up and put in the glovebox' maps

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Tracy Wallick
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Outside of using it to create a signature, does cursive have any real use anymore?

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

why yes; communication with 60% of our species.... oh, and also- the ability to directly read the writings of all humanity - before 1990... there were several years there.

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Corvus
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cursive is absolutely STILL taught in my country, and most other European countries as well.

Queeqec
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They are stopping it in schools in Austria. I think, that's a bad idea.

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Donkey boi
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But it's a completely unnecessary skill. And it only looks nice when it's done by someone artistic.

Scott Rackley
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a calligrapher who was taught cursive in school, I think now you should just consider it an artistic instead of communicative ductus. It's fine for motor skills, expression and such. The goal of communication is to have the recipient understand the message, if they can't read cursive why would you communicate in it? I know some crazy fonts that I can read and create, but others will have difficulty. They can see it's pretty (artistic) and appreciate that, but takes a while to work out what it says (communicative). There's a reason there's even a "font" for Draftsmen on technical drawings. Everyone can understand it readily.

WhatEvenIsLife
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do not understand the obsession with cursive. I learned it, and I literally never use it except to sign my name. It's a completely unnecessary skill but people act like we're failing as a society because not everyone knows cursive these days.

Zaach
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cursive was b/c of how the ink flowed; now you have to press down and that makes cursive a drag (pun intended)

Smiley!
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can read AND write cursive, and the only thing I've needed it for in my adult life is to sign my name, that's it.

Upstaged75
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same! I honestly haven't even seen anything written in cursive for ages now. I really don't understand how it really makes a difference. It's a bit like advanced math - there's nothing in my daily life that requires it either.

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Captain Kyra
Community Member
7 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My 18 and 20 year old offspring can read cursive. They both prefer not to write with it. Signing your name is not necessary. My 47yo brother in law prints everything. It is the only way his writing is legible.

Faith Jacobs
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I tried to teach my students cursive even though it wasn't part of the curriculum. They just didn't care. A few years ago, one of them made it to the NBA. I was so embarrassed for him when I saw his autograph. It was just his first and last initials. His S looked like an L. 🙈

Bobert McBalls
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One thing that I hate is that w****rs put other people's ages in parentheses, especially on reddit.

Verena
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The goal of learning to write cursive is to train the fine motorics of your hand and fingers. It is difficult to learn with biro's or pens. Fountain pens are made for this, and - at least in Germany - special kid-friendly types are available. A signature is (where I live) a scribble which at its best let you identify parts of your family nane. No neat cursive necessary.

Melody
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I write in cursive just because I like it. It’s still completely unnecessary. It was developed because writing in print with a quill pen didn’t work very well. Now kids learn to type.

Richi Weiss
Community Member
8 months ago

This comment has been deleted.

gilded panda
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can read it, but writing it has always been bad for me. Never known why

Steve Hall
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't care about cursive writing at all, but if you are 19 and can't sign your name, maybe you don't need a driving license.

Brian Droste
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My handwriting is terrible. I usually write in print. Thatbus bad enough. If I write in cursive, that is even worse.

Cosmikid
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The other thing we lose by not teaching cursive is the occasional script genius. Their writing becomes calligraphy, and art. And is beautiful. We'll miss it.

Caroline Nagel
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I learned writing cursive with a fountain pen when I was 6 years old in 1970. Writing by hand is good for your motor skills, which are important.

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

My grandmother used to complain about young people not being able to write with a fountain pen. She said it's the most elegant form of communication and showed the recipient you valued and respected them. Things change. I'm perfectly fine with cursive not being the writing medium of choice for younger folks. They should be able to read it though.

Xenia Harley
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was fazed out of many schools because teachers are being asked to teach more and more material at a younger age. Speaking as a former teacher, here. Also, because funding cuts were implemented, especially with the charter schools. This happened when I first started teaching some thirty years ago.

Stephanie Did It
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a major educational and cultural fail. One's whole personality and intellect are expressed in their handwriting (or used to be). We now have an entire generation that is functionally illiterate and guaranteed to fail if deprived of its electronic devices.

WhatEvenIsLife
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's just cursive. There are so many more practical and important things we could teach kids.

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#40

Refusing to go one teenie tiny step outside your job description. If we all want to have a smooth work process sometimes you need to reach out to the other people involved in the process and work together to make things efficent.


Also, its no ones JOB to order more vacuum bags or sponges at work. If you see something that needs addressed for the good of the office, just f*****g do it.


This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine.. lol.

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WonderWoman
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You give an inch the company will take a mile and EXPECT it. Do NOT take on tasks that are outside your job or it will become your job. Tell your boss that there are no more vacuum bags or the coffee machine is broken. Send it UP the chain, not down.

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#41

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays Ghosting people, both professionally and personally. This is only appropriate if you’re in a dangerous situation where your safety is at risk, otherwise it’s a cowardly and inconsiderate way to handle a situation. If you need to break away from any kind of relationship or commitment for any reason other than imminent danger, you need to tell the person(s) so they don’t waste time waiting on you or wondering what happened to you. It’s common courtesy, and ghosting shows a huge lack of consideration for everyone involved.

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Cosmikid
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

suddenly disappearing from a relationship is not "new" in any way. It just used to be "the letters stopped coming" instead of "they blocked me"

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#42

Intentionally lying, then doubling down on it.

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#43

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays That elders deserve zero respect unless earned.

For some reason it is demanded that elders respect the every wish and desire of younger generations (pronoun choices for example), but I read constantly that elders deserve zero respect unless they earn it, and often distain unless they can prove their innocence. It’s a complete double standard. Even in many “ask” subreddits I will get aggressive and any responses like, “we’ve heard enough from your generation” usually calling be a ‘boomer’ even though I’m not. But there’s such hatred for older people that ‘boomer’ has become a standard put down for anyone over 40.

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Ace
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where exactly do you read this constantly? Nobody "deserves" respect; everybody should start out automatically respectful to everybody else, regardless.

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#44

Going no contact with anyone who moderately does anything you don't like.

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Bill Hankel
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This far down the list, my annoyance for "J rod" has turned to pity, and I truly feel bad for him/her. Your anger and bitterness is obvious, and I hope you learn to chill a bit ... it's no good for your long term mental and physical health. Yes, there are many injustices in the world that deserve shaking your fist at, but you can't fight, nor win, every battle. I hope you have friends, and I sincerely wish you peace!

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#45

“Total Ignorance Of Science”: 40 Older Adults Point Out Weird Things That Are “Normal” Nowadays I you work in customer service I expect you to acknowledge my existence and be polite. I don't care how oppressed you feel because you're "only" making $15/hour. I did the same job for $3.35/hour and managed to be professional. (And before you go off on my about the cost of living, my rent was $350/month at that time, meaning I had to work 105 hours to cover it. Sorry, Zoomers, but your generation isnt the first to experience poverty.).

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Anonymouse
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Agree about the basic politeness and service - so many people are expecting tips as a basic right, not as a result of superior service. Point here is NOT about accepting BS or rude behavior from customers, but projecting professionalism and competence - which may be a whole different issue...

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#46

Erectile dysfunction ads everywhere.

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frederick clause
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If carrying an unwanted pregnancy to term is God's will, then erectile dysfunction is also God's will.

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#48

Wearing headphones everywhere you go.

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#49

I read a book last week about climate change migration, one section of which dealt with seasonal flooding in a Virginia neighborhood.

people would buy a house in the neighborhood not knowing it was flood-prone. then they'd get flooded and either rebuild and sell or rebuild and stay.

those who wanted to sell were apparently not required to tell prospective buyers that the house was in a flood area (but not officially on a flood map). so the seller has a dilemma: keep quiet and sell the house for as much as possible, or tell and watch the offers and price dry up. the author described the situation as the seller holding a lit stick of dynamite: seller has to time it just right so that he/she hands off the dynamite to a buyer before kaboom (another flood), or get kaboomied him/herself.

as i'm reading, i'm thinking: is this who we are now as Americans? we'll just hand off the dynamite to the next guy and feel glad we escaped? we won't even warn others that this is, ya know, dynamite? do we bear no responsibility to others?

i get that it's a terribly difficult decision for those who got, all unknowingly, handed the dynamite themselves. the consequences of fessing up are pretty appalling and financially ruinous. i'm certainly glad i'm not one of those homeowners.

so that's what is apparently socially normal now that i disagree with. you can hand a stick of dynamite to someone else knowing that it's dynamite, but convincing them its a bunch of roses.

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Blue Bunny of Happiness
Community Member
8 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In England and Wales (Scottish and Northern Irish law may be different), you have to declare if your home has even been flooded when selling. Doesn’t stop developers building on flood plains though!

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#50

Going up to veterans to thank them for their service. It's not wrong, but my dad got very tired of it. He had to quit wearing his cap with his destroyer number on it.

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Ace
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He had to quit what? FFS. Going around making your previous service define your present identity, and then complaining about it? Something very wrong here.

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#51

Not being able to work your way up at a company.

Corporations going right to layoffs as a form of saving money, instead of a last ditch effort to stay in business.

Companies being bought out and half the staff being let go, while those who remain take on more responsibility without a chance to negotiate higher pay.

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RabidChild
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Companies laying off people, cutting their pensions then giving their CEO huge bonuses and golden parachutes.

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#52

The idea that people aren't grown-ups until their mid 20s, because their brains aren't fully developed until then. Adulthood used to start at 18, then 21, then 22 after college, and now who knows when. You can enlist in the military at 17-18.


I apprenticed at 17, married at 21, had two kids by 25. My career, marriage, and kids all turned out fine.

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#53

I notice there’s some younger people who just don’t say hi at work. You should say hello to everyone you work with.

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René Sauer
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Expecting to greet everyone is too much. But at least greet everyone you happen to meet/pass by when coming to work.

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#54

I don’t disagree with it exactly but using the word “f**k” and some other choice words has gotten to be used in every other sentence. It’s coarse and boring.

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#55

Mainstreaming/inclusivity. Kindness and humanity have to be taken to illogical extremes so that there is no chance of offending anyone different.

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Corvus
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But they aren't taken to extremes. This claim is very much like the false argument that "having equal rights means having more rights/privileges." No, dear, equal means equal... as in "the same amount."

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