Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
People Online Are Tired Of Explaining Why These 40 Widely Believed Stereotypes Are Wrong
The internet has given voice to millions challenging the oversimplified labels we've accepted for too long. From outdated gender roles to misunderstood mental health conditions, these persistent stereotypes shape how we view others and ourselves, often without us even realizing it. While some misconceptions seem harmless on the surface, they carry real consequences—limiting opportunities, damaging self-image, and reinforcing prejudice.
Many began as convenient shortcuts for understanding complex groups but hardened into "facts" that resist correction despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. This collection brings together forty stubborn stereotypes that internet users are actively working to dismantle. Some may surprise you, others might make you question beliefs you've held for decades. What makes these particular misconceptions so frustrating isn't just their inaccuracy—it's their remarkable staying power in an age when information to disprove them is just a click away.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
That old people are out of touch. Some are. Some aren't. Some are way cooler than you.
RELATED:
#2
One of the stereotypes I hate most about women, is that people assume that all women want children, that it's in their biology and they are naturally born mothers.
#3
That certain animal 'parts' have healing/magical properties. Like tiger whiskers protect the wearer or rhino horn cures impotence and hangovers.
Doctor Strange 8 months ago
There is a company out there that I highly support. They are basically working on 3d printing rhino horns and elephant tusks using technology that makes replicas completely indistinguishable from the real thing. The plan is to then flood the ivory markets with it at extremely low cost, making poaching unprofitable. If there is no money in it, it will drastically reduce.
Vinnie 8 months ago (edited)
Rhino horn is made of keratin, just like human fingernails. I chew my nails after I've had 12 vodkatinis too many. As for tiger whiskers, the local cat lady harvests them for me from her little house tigers. No endangered species are harmed in the making of the beast with two backs.
#4
Doing stuff by yourself. Some people here get almost hysterical when they describe eating at a restaurant or seeing a movie by yourself. I guarantee you that if you’re behaving normally, no one else gives the tiniest of s***s if you went out by yourself.
Wang Zhuang 8 months ago
I used to go to the movies by myself frequently when I lived in Florida. I used to work nights, and my days off were Monday and Tuesday, so I would go the movies for the cheaper matinees during what was a normal work day week for my friends, so of course they couldn't go. I had zero problem with this. I really don't see what the big deal is about going to watch a film alone.
Doctor Strange 8 months ago
The difference is if you are going alone by choice, or because you have no one to go with. That distinction very much changes the experience.
Load More Replies...
Isabel Galvez 8 months ago
I like going shopping on my own or to the theatre or museum. I can concentrate and spen the time as I wish.
Little Bit 8 months ago
I often do stuff by myself. I'm an introvert and i would rather be on my own. Society, though, dictates that being alone or doing anything alone is a bad thing and people treat you deep suspicion if you do.
#5
That fast food workers are dumb. Used to work in fast food and realised a good majority of the public are incredibly stupid.
nut nibbler 8 months ago
This..... I hate it when people treat fast food workers like something they have just stepped in. Show respect to them.
V 8 months ago
A lot of people I know in fast food were actually really smart in highschool. They either just had no ambition or motivation, or they burnt out.
Load More Replies...
Emilu 8 months ago
I noticed this in retail too. My ex-manager was a qualified engineer, but he preferred the 'people' aspect of retail, which is why he did it. Wouldn't say I'm not dumb (😆) but working in law now I'd love to go back to retail and give $hit to the customers that spout incorrect consumer law at me. I can only imagine how much worse it'd be in fast food.
#6
Boomers, hands down. The vast majority of boomers are sweet elderly people who are nice to talk to. Not racist caricatures that spout nonsense all the time.
Ariom Dahl 8 months ago
Thank you. We just happened to be born WHEN we were born. And most of us realise just how lucky we are!
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 8 months ago
I mean… while both my remaining biological grandparents are lovely people, they do occasionally say some very out of touch things. My grandpa has bought into a couple weird but mostly harmless conspiracy theories and my grandma is… well. She once wrestled an anaconda and got fined for messing with it in its own habitat.
Ariom Dahl 8 months ago
I don't agree with you, but I'm a kind boomer so I'm giving you a + to negate that --.
Load More Replies... #7
Chronically ill/disabled people don't exaggerate symptoms for attention. Generally we downplay how much pain we're in.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
People with invisible disabilities tend to mask their symptoms and how much pain, or difficulty they're going through, just to try to blend in with everyone. If they had the power, they would be as normal as possible. Generally, they want to be helpful, productive and independent as possible. This is why they get upset and snappy when someone unsolicited tries to help them. For example, pushing someone in a wheelchair without asking if it's okay. Those devices are an extension of their bodies, so it's incredibly invasive.
Emilu 8 months ago
So true. You're not going to catch someone in chronic pain being like "OH I AM SLAIN!!" every two seconds, whereas ol' mate over there is complaining about stubbing his toe on a table-leg.
AsylumWalker 8 months ago
Pfft, speak for yourself. I dramatically throw myself on a chaise lounge and cry about my pain all the time /s 🤣
Load More Replies... #8
Women are just “on their period” when they get angry or sad. Like I’m sorry maybe I’m mad because you're an idiot.
Earonn - 8 months ago
I always reply with telling them what they are doing "You try to devalue my justified anger about (how he f****d up) because you have no real excuse". No, unlike in the movies they don't instantly become better people, but at least it's clear that their b******t won't work on me. Also: "The fact that men say 'What if she's on her period and starts a war?' about a 60 year old political candidate shows why men should stay out of women's reproductive rights."
Lee Gilliland 8 months ago
I loved it when one of the airmen under me made a vocal comment about me "being on the rag" one day. You may get away with it in civilian life but, buddy, you just lost a rank if you're military.
Lene 8 months ago
I have grown men being SHOCKED that I listen to death metal and wear band shirts of the bands I like. As if I am not "allowed" to listen to this genre because I'm a woman? Anyways, I am as angry as men and I need an outlet for that just like men do. And my go-to is death metal (it also calms my racing mind). I do not listen to death metal only when I'm on my period. I listen to it all the f-ing time.
Annabelle 8 months ago
My former mother once suggested I "reschedule" my period around a family event. Of course, she was "just joking." My now-ex used to "joke" about building a "shame shack" in the backyard for me to stay in while I'm PMSing. "Joked" further about how he might put in a window for me.
Ace 8 months ago
Mood-affecting hormonal changes are real. Of course, not _all_ mood changes are because of this, but...
Annabelle 8 months ago
Yeah, some are from years of being silenced in abuse.
Load More Replies... #9
Blue-collared jobs sometimes are looked down upon in media, but in reality, skilled trades are often in high demand and well-respected.
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 8 months ago
An acquaintance of mine is doing a part time school/electrician apprenticeship. His grades aren’t great but he’s making like $20 an hour as a junior in high school.
Load More Replies... #10
Boys playing with dolls (or other traditional feminine toys) will turn them gay. Or that anything will turn people gay or lesbian.
Luke Branwen 8 months ago
"Playing with dolls will make you gay! Here, play with this half-naked, hunky action hero instead."
Strings 8 months ago
Someone CAN be "made gay"... takes quite a while, and some fairly intensive trauma (think t*****e). But it CAN be done.
Cerridwn d'Wyse 8 months ago
Don't download him because it can influence choice. Now I am queer so I'm saying this because of people that I know. I used to know a woman who had been r***d so many times in her childhood that she couldn't bear the touch of a man. She always said she wasn't lesbian she just loved women because they didn't give her PTSD when they just touched her. But it has to be some sort of surely heavy heavy trauma
Load More Replies... #11
I can't stand the people that think you have to be physically disabled to be disabled. Mental disability is real, and its bs to get told "well you don't looked disabled" when you have to fight every second of the day, pretending to be normal and keep yourself together until you can get home!
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 8 months ago (edited)
I’m disabled physically, but it’s not super obvious, and god does it p**s me off when people say “oh no you’re too young/fit/healthy to have that!!” Tell that to the excruciating pain I feel. Assface.
Emilu 8 months ago
And then you get told off for using the disabled parking spots because "you're not disabled"...
Load More Replies... Annabelle 8 months ago
"The worst part of having a mental illness is people expect you to behave as if you don't." Although I don't feel this entirely as 'the worst part,' it speaks so loudly to the people who are the ONLY reason this is even a problem, and who add MORE unseen problems to the unseen problems people are already struggling with.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
My daughter gets it a lot from her grandparents. They don't like it when she rocks in her chair, fidgets, doesn't look people in the eyes, talks too softly, is too quiet, and even getting upset with her for not understanding non-vocal social cues.
Load More Replies... #12
That you have even the smallest chance of becoming a billionaire. People don't understand the orders of magnitude difference between even a low level multi-millionaire and a billionaire. At 100 million dollars, you're still 10 times closer to homelessness than you are to becoming a billionaire. Stop trying to get there. Stop voting for people and policy that promise you that opportunity. The only way these people achieve that wealth is through siphoning it away from everyone else.
#14
Men who are nurses. Nobody cares in real life.
Luke Branwen 8 months ago
It's funny in the Czech language because the expression for nurse literally means "medical sister". So male nurses either have to deal with being called "sister" or use "medical brother" which, trust me, sounds pretty funny 😁
#15
I have to say wearing glasses and having braces. No one called me four eyes. No one called me tinsel teeth. Believe me, I was made fun of as a kid, but those weren’t the reasons.
Lene 8 months ago
When I got braces as a kid, the boys in my class thought it'd be funny to keep asking me to say "s" so they could hear me say "ssshhhhh" instead. Well, it was fun for a week and then they didn't care anymore. And when I got glasses all the girls in my class asked to try them on and then I got them back and that was it. 🤷♀️ I was later bullied for a whole range of other things, but never glasses or braces.
Michelle C 8 months ago
Unfortunately, not all of us are so blessed, but I’m glad that OP was!
#16
That GMOs are bad. Without GMOs, we wouldn't have a lot of the food we have today.
and_a_touch_of_the_’tism 8 months ago
Almost everything we use or eat, from cotton to tomatoes to corn to dogs, is incredibly genetically modified. Selective breeding is genetic modification.
Moisés Tomás Rubio 8 months ago
Not by themselves, probably. Is the system they represent: do you really want trademark food? Not to be able to grow what you want because the DNA belongs to a biotech firm?
#17
That if you are not the stereotype of your race then you are trying to act like another race.
Vinnie 8 months ago
The comment is more about people from disadvantaged or minority groups being berated by others in their group. For example, "acting white". For context: https://www.reddit.com/r/ask/comments/xnwvm1/comment/ipw88iq/
Load More Replies... #18
I (white) married a black woman so I have a “thing” for black women. I just found a cool person to share my life with, it’s not that deep. I mean, I have a thing NOW, but I wasn’t looking for a black woman going in to dating.
Lost Panda 8 months ago
This goes for any man marrying any woman/man from another ethnicity...
lenka 8 months ago (edited)
I don't think you are wrong, but I am also not sure I entirely agree. There are a lot of middle age white men heading to asia to find a bride. My father did exactly that - he joined a mens group that held monthly meetings that were essentially a 'how to' on importing an asian bride. Some of them had a thing for asian women, some of them had a thing for obedient women. Either way, it's a thing.
Load More Replies... #19
Don't donate to charities at and big stores that ask for you to round up. They take your money, donate it and then THEY deduct it from their taxes. Skip the middle man and donate directly.
Spannidandoolar 8 months ago (edited)
I don't think people are aware enough of this one and it's become so widespread now!
StrangeOne 8 months ago
Just donate stuff to various shelters. Whether it's non-profit or for-profit thrift stores, your donations could end up at a for-profit, bought from a non-profit.
#20
That you have to wait 24 hours before filing a missing person report.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
But I was told by 911 operators to call back in 2 days if he didn't show up by then. I told them he didn't come home and didn't show up for work, which is highly unusual since the guy was a workaholic and money hungry.
#21
All Middle easterners assumed to be Muslims when there are many that aren’t.
#22
Not wearing makeup. The media and Internet are full of all the pressure to wear makeup but I work with HUNDREDS of women and maybe a third of us sometimes wear lipstick or eyeliner? I can count on one hand the ones who wear foundation. Nobody says anything. Even the college president was barefaced giving a plenary speech and at commencement. There's no stigma for me wearing some color when I feel like it either. It's just not relevant to anyone's interests.
Dusty's mom 8 months ago
My stepmother was addicted to cosmetics. She would panic if she had to leave home without "putting on her face". She looked awful with her smear job.
Lost Panda 8 months ago
I have to tell my wife multiple times that she doesn't need the make up, that she's perfect without it.
Emilu 8 months ago
I stopped wearing makeup when my health declined (because I ain't wasting that s**t when I'm lounging on a hospital bed), but it's honestly been such a relief. Added bonus: my skin has improved to the point that I don't feel I need to cover up anything any more. Just wish I'd had the courage to do it earlier.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
The more people see you without makeup, the less people notice and care. The moment you start wearing one piece of makeup, people, particularly other women, go nuts and demand you continue using that makeup. The next day you decide not to, they start asking questions and telling you to put that makeup on. That lasts for a day or 2.
#23
That immigrants are taking our jobs. Like seriously. If every immigrant, legal or otherwise disappeared tomorrow, it wouldn't do a single positive thing for me personally, much less the wider economy
Doctor Strange 8 months ago
Or that immigrants don't pay taxes/social security. Undocumented immigrants paid more in taxes and social security than Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos COMBINED.
James Sherman 8 months ago
DeSantis wants to amend the child labor laws in FL. because without illegals there's no one available to do some jobs.
#24
Vaccines cause Autisim.
Dog Mom to Zoe 8 months ago
I heard on the news yesterday (04.08.2025) that too many children are dying from the FLU! The Flu is causing deaths because idiot parents believe the hype
Marnie 8 months ago
Even if it were true, would you rather your child die, have permanent brain damage, go deaf, etc. than be autistic? I guess they would. Does this mean autistic people like me should just k**l ourselves?
AsylumWalker 8 months ago
Yes, they legitimately would rather their kid die than have to "put up with them" as autistic 😞
Load More Replies... Emilu 8 months ago (edited)
It's better to die from measles than get autism... /s Worst thing is when the anti-vaxxer's kids die because they didn't have a choice. Adults can go and be dumb and let themselves get mostly eradicated diseases from their idiocy; that's fine. But don't drag your innocent children into your stupidity.
#25
Maybe wanting to stay single. Media portrays it as a desperate cry for love, but in reality, it's pretty liberating!
Wang Zhuang 8 months ago
I agree. Sometimes I think about trying to date again, but then I start remembering all the obligations I'd have to that person and I'm like, nah, I just don't feel like it :P
#26
Used to be ASE Certified and had an automotive career for two years before I left due to realizing I had no future in it. Most people won't admit it but they won't believe anything I tell them about what's wrong with their car despite my extensive knowledge and experience along with schooling and certifications, and an overall very conspicuous passion for working on cars. Doesn't matter, they see b***s and think I'm cosplaying as a mechanic for attention. I had to be perfect or I wasn't good enough while the 19 year old working next to me gets promoted with no certifications at all, and proceeds to cause a customers tie rod end to come loose. Stereotypes can hurt. They can ruin careers. They ruined mine.
Strings 8 months ago
I work at an auto parts store. Boss is a woman, been there 20 years. All of us guys will routinely ask her questions when a customer ignores her
Emilu 8 months ago (edited)
Good on you and your colleagues for supporting her ❤️
Load More Replies... Annabelle 8 months ago (edited)
Oh my gosh I'd hire OP in a minute cause I f*cking loathe having to start over at a new mechanic, because apparently my b***s mean you can talk down to me, lie to me, overcharge me, think my basic human decency is flirting, etc etc etc. F*cking sucks so much sh!t happened to OP in just two years into their career.
#27
That tax breaks for the wealthy will allow some of their wealth to "trickle down" to us poors. Something is trickling down on us, but it's not money.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
Oh yeah. Just like when employees help bring in the company millions of dollars but wanting a raise is "too much for the company to afford".
nut nibbler 8 months ago
The only thing trickling down is what the wealthy do to their employees etc and that is dump on them from a great height.
#28
Slightly niche perhaps, but my kids always had trouble buying Fathers Day cards for me because I didn't spend my evenings down the pub, fish or play golf.
Doctor Strange 8 months ago
Yet one more reason I don't bother with cards. If anything, I'll make something. But I would rather people save the money and paper and just tell me.
WindySwede 8 months ago
No need for card, just the though is good enough sometimes, or even better?
#30
That your employer will be there for you when times are bad. Build a savings. Keep a savings. You are a liability to them, not an asset, and will ditch you the moment they can profit from it.
Earonn - 8 months ago
Some will. Others won't. I've seen employers do amazing things for their employees. It might be wise not to rely on it, but if you automatically see your employer as an evil enemy, well, what's so strange about you being unhappy in your job, no matter how nice your employer actually is?
#31
Dollar stores are generally a worse food value based on size/quantity. Sure it's $1, but the $2.25 box at the grocery store has 500% more food by weight, therefore is a much better value. You're paying a little less to get a lot less.
Earonn - 8 months ago
In Germany, companies have to give you the prices (yes, including taxes) per 100 ml / 100g on the price tag. Sometimes you get it per litre/ kilogram. And there has to be a price tag. The number of shops in the UK who failed to sell me something just because they couldn't be arsed to tell me what the item cost...idiots.
Cee Cee 8 months ago
Don't know which shops you are referring to but all UK supermarkets display prices per ml or gm on the shelf edge.
Load More Replies... SweetCheesySpaghetti 8 months ago
But if I only have $1.25, I don't really care about all that. People always make the argument of cost vs value. Value means a lot less when you have very little money to spend.
#32
That being out in cold weather will make you catch a Cold. The cold is a virus you catch from others and nothing to do with the outside temperature.
LilliVB 8 months ago
Yes and no. With cold weather you have a weaker immunity system, the mucus of your airways that helps to block viruses and bacteria is less thick and it's more likely that you are in a warm room with other people and no change of air. So yes, cold is not what makes you sick directly, but it's a big factor that facilitates the process.
#33
That CEO’s and Owners should get X amount higher salary because they assume all of the risk. No they don’t. If the company folds they claim bankruptcy (difficult, expensive, long process for normal people, easy for the wealthy who have lawyers on retainer who specialize in it) and go try again. They really don’t have any risk once they hit a certain level.
Wang Zhuang 8 months ago
Not to mention that fact that if the company does perform badly and the CEO is to blame, they often leave with outrageously generous severance packages that the average worker can only dream of.
WindySwede 8 months ago
And then they will exploit the shiit out of the company, to squish out the last 100 M dollars... or so.. sell of stuff, fire employees, and then have good numbers on paper, then take out a 100M dollar loan and then sell the company.. so they don't really care.
#34
Credit cards are bad. If you use them right, you can actually come out ahead. Get a card with good cash back rewards and use it for everything. I mean everything. If you can pay your rent, bills and insurance with it do it. If you can use it for work and they reimburse you, do it. Pay the balance off at the end of every month and make sure you keep track of your ins and outs. It requires you to be responsible but in the end its worth it. I get at least a few thousand dollars a year worth of cash back to do with as I please. Trips, PS5, etc. Sometimes I use the rewards to pay my balance, and take the funds I had allocated to pay off the balance and put them in my RRSP and take the tax advantage.
#36
Being Average looking, it seems like social media loves to see *supermodel like people* and forget that most of the public is average and or unattractive sometimes, and that's alright. I like that there are more people on social media that are vocalizing this issue and letting us know that normal is ok, Flawed is ok. ( No shade to attractive people, they're beautiful and everyone loves to look at them but my point is they are not the only ones that exist).
#37
Turning down raises because "it means a giant jump in my taxes".
JSD 8 months ago
They don't understand tax brackets, so they think they'll get hit with a higher percentage on their whole salary, and not just part of the salary that goes above a certain threshold. It's quite astonishing how many people don't understand this, or many things in general.
Load More Replies... #38
Karens. Hear me out! It went from being a thing of recording and judging actually rude and often racist women who complain just to complain. But as more videos popped up, people are recording and sensationalizing situations where if you were in her shoes, you'd be mad too! Karen isn't synonymous with "old lady you find annoying".
StrangeOne 8 months ago (edited)
That is very true. The people recording do instigate some of those situations. I've found myself in those shoes a few times. Some kid was goofing around with his friends and swerving into people on his bike. He got very close to my disabled daughter, who can't just move quickly. I just told him to be careful. He got lippy with me and made it out like I was trying to ruin his whole day. One of his friends got his phone out. I think all this social media validation is terrible for kids. That seems to be the motivation.
#39
The American dream of social mobility/meritocracy prevents voters from addressing extreme inequality. Many think riches await them too or that if you are poor you must be lazy or a a****t etc. and are undeserving of help.
#40
Religion, easily. I get that people believe in religion but they have zero proof that any of it is true.
Doctor Strange 8 months ago
"religion" isn't necesssarily a bad thing in and of itself. But when people use religion as a means of gaining power and/or wealth, That is when things start to go wrong.
Nichole Harris 8 months ago
Everyday I wake up is proof that God is real.... There's no earthly reason why I survived any of the c**p I pulled let alone all of it.
Add New Image
What do you think ?
FreeTheUnicorn 8 months ago
Most of these aren't widely held and would die a death if BP and similar would stop pretending they are usually thoughts.
Imran Ibrahim (Ultimatechamp) 5 months ago
A stereotypes that I will add is the youngest child being a spoiled brat. I am a youngest child and I hate seeing the youngest child always be a spoiled brat in movies and TV shows. My older brothers can always shift the blame for their actions and I get punished for them. And I am especially hate the memes of the youngest brothers
FreeTheUnicorn 8 months ago
Most of these aren't widely held and would die a death if BP and similar would stop pretending they are usually thoughts.
Imran Ibrahim (Ultimatechamp) 5 months ago
A stereotypes that I will add is the youngest child being a spoiled brat. I am a youngest child and I hate seeing the youngest child always be a spoiled brat in movies and TV shows. My older brothers can always shift the blame for their actions and I get punished for them. And I am especially hate the memes of the youngest brothers
You May Like 49 Body Things That Make People Panic But Are Totally Normal, According To Doctors 42 Rare Phobias That Sound Made-Up But Are Real "Terrible Advice": People Urge Others To Stop Believing In These 40 Dangerous Survival Myths
Justinas Keturka
Žydrūnė Trukanavičiūtė
Viktorija Ošikaitė
Related on Bored Panda
