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Change is constant. But it takes time. Especially when we're talking about society. After all, one person's idea of what is good or positive might very well be another person's definition of bad or negative.
Interested in which processes people would like to speed up if given a chance, Reddit user NewImprovement1160 asked everyone else on the platform to list the traditions and cultural norms they wish would disappear for good. And their call was answered — continue scrolling to check out the most popular answers.
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#2
Tipping. Just pay the waiter/waitress a real wage and stop leaving that up to the customer.
james stevenson 7 months ago (edited)
So true, apparently in america waiters/waitresses practically have to LIVE off tips.
#3
Chop off puppies' tail bones so they "look cuter" with stumps.
It's cruel and disheartening.
#4
Forced marriages.
flower petals 7 months ago
These abominations are destroying the lives of (mostly) girls/women around the world every day. 🥺
#5
Changing the damn clocks twice a year. Just keep one time.
TotallyNOTAFox 7 months ago
We should agree on the natural time once and for all - which is the winter time btw
#6
Any variation of "let's make animals fight".
james stevenson 7 months ago (edited)
Cruel and pointless. they'll probably end up fighting over something anyway
#7
All those familiy vloggers. Exploiting their children en putting them on the internet for all the creeps to see.
BoredPossum 7 months ago
Just because you give birth to someone it doesn't mean you own them and can use them for profit.
#8
Not sure if this counts as a "tradition"- but there are a lot of weirdly accepted social norms surrounding pregnancy.
* Asking newlyweds when they are going to try for a baby.
* Assuming a woman is pregnant because she is not drinking.
* Assuming a woman is pregnant because she has gained weight in her belly area.
* Touching (!!!?????) a pregnant woman's belly without her consent (!!!???).
Women are women first before they are mothers! Can we please remember that?
devotedtodreams 7 months ago
My godmother once said something along the lines of "being a mother makes you a real woman". I had been adamantly child-free for years before she dropped that one, and it infuriated me.
#10
Letting balloons go at funerals, it’s horrible for the environment and the animals that ingest it. Plant a memorial tree instead.
#11
Forcing children to give hugs and kisses bye to family members. Children deserve bodily autonomy and you would never force a grown adult to do the same so why a child?!
flower petals 7 months ago
*Never* teach *anyone* that they should accept being touched even when they don’t want to.
#12
I'd like to throw in stupid over the top gender reveals with all the wedding stuff. If you're literally killing yourself to let people know your baby's gender, it might be time to take a step back and plan something more quiet and simple. Or if you're just inconsiderate pricks who don't clean up all the confetti etc afterwards.
#13
Respecting parents/elders no matter what. Some of them are just bad people.
Stardust she/her 7 months ago
In my culture we show respect to elders by bending down and touching their feet. My parents only touch the feet of those who they actually respect and unless they know what character the elder person has they don’t force me to do it (unless I’m receiving blessings for important stuff)
#14
Expensive wedding and funerals, specially with funerals, that person is already dead.
#17
Bachelor and Bachelorette parties that are there to celebrate "your last day of freedom"
And also theyre weirdly sexual sometimes with the phalic shaped things or strippers. Id be pissed if MY husband was MOURNING what he could have had on the night before our wedding by ogling some half naked chick.
BoredPossum 7 months ago
This says a lot about how people see marriage. Why would you be less free after the wedding? Why would you see yourself as free in an exclusive relationship? Does not compute.
#18
For Americans, Black Friday shopping. It's stupid, dangerous, selfish, and ruins Thanksgiving. Go spend time with your families while they're alive.
#19
Having women doing all of the kitchen work at parties and get togethers.
Daniela Lavanza 7 months ago
Change your friends if they do so. Among my group, everyone contributes. Or tell the men you'll charge those who won't help, just to see their face.
#20
Piercing babies ears.
Upstaged75 7 months ago
This makes me SO mad! Inflicting pain on an infant for fashion? That's ridiculous! It should be the child's choice if they want them pierced or not. My parents waited until I was old enough to ask for them.
#22
Asking the father's permission to marry a woman.
In this day and age, it's just creepy.
#23
Paying for things as a males responsibility for a relationship. It should be a 50% 50% thing to do.
#25
Giving your kids the boot right when they turn 18.
BoredPossum 7 months ago
Is this tradition? Not a tradition I've ever heard of. Who does this, people who wanna have a bad relationship with their kids?
#26
Presenteeism at work. Even now, I have colleagues coming in when they’re sick.
#27
The father giving away his daughter at her wedding.
Women aren’t possessions.
#28
The idea that it's important to keep traditions.
Or just generally the overall line of thinking that "because a large amount of people have always done this/thought this/believed this, it must clearly be a good idea (for everyone)".
#29
Women changing their name. Seriously.
When I was engaged I floated the idea. Didn't really care a LOT. Mostly it seemed like an unnecessary administrative hassle
He said: it goes to commitment.
I wish I had said: you change yours.
MotherofGuineaPigs 7 months ago
My ex didn't really care about this. I hyphenated our last names and gave my daughter the same. Both of her families are represented.
#30
The husband stitch.
Dread Pirate Roberts 7 months ago
I had to Google that, and I almost wish I didn't. What kind of pig started this practice? It's f*****g appalling!
#31
Men must make the first move
In all fairness, it is already dying, especially in Western culture, but I want to end its misery. It is both a pressure on guys who will hesitate and spiral into crazy plans, but also on girls who can see "making the first move" as shameful.
I met a female colleague who considered the boys HAD to make the first move, and that she will sit here for eternity waiting for someone to go to her instead of going for what she wants.
Want to know how my parents got into a relationship ? They were hanging out with friends, and after some time my mom jumped on my dad and said "You're the man of my life, we're going to get married and have kids". He obviously laughed, but still accepted to date her and eventually she proved to be right
It's not just that men want to sit and have the privilege to be the one asked out. It's that women aren't able to pick who they want, they can pick out of the few who asked her. It's a relic from a time where the women had no agenda and it must die for good. Also, yes I don't want to be the one who always ask !
TheElderNom 7 months ago (edited)
My grandma asked my grandfather out back in the early fifties. They were married for over sixty years.
#32
Using the same first names down through generations of boys. Isn't carrying on the surname enough?!
#33
Having to ask people to school dances in a "fun" or"unique" way (this one is mostly the Utah and Idaho area I think)
Setting the table in a particular way (who cares if my fork is on the right side?)
Not wearing hats while eating (why is this a "rule", I like wearing hats)
Baptizing children (they aren't old enough to choose to commit to any religion for themselves)
Asking what children want to be when they grow up (and expecting them to reply with a job)
Participation trophies
Child beauty pageants.
Dread Pirate Roberts 7 months ago
I agree, even with the baptism one. In my faith, baptism has to be a personal choice, since it's an action of voluntary commitment. And like OP says, a baby obviously can't make that decision. The participation trophy thing reminds me of George Carlin lol "You're the last winner!" 😂 Damn, I miss that guy
#34
Groom pulling off the garter with his teeth, throwing the garter into the crowd of single men, throwing bouquets at crowd of single woman. Yuck.
#35
I love my lawn but grass that has to be maintained is kinda dumb.
Nichole Harris 7 months ago
I'm slowly swapping my grass for a mix of clover, creeping thyme and mint..... Bout NEVER needs cut, smells AWESOME when you do and bunnies and stuff like it!!! And it still looks good
#36
Valentine’s Day. It puts pressure on relationships, especially if they’re new. It’s also terribly unromantic to be dining out with crowded restaurants while being up charged to do so.
flower petals 7 months ago
In Finland, February 14th is also Friendship Day, where people send cards and flowers to their friends, or get together for a special celebration. I like the inclusivity of this tradition! 💐
#37
We have an Easter tradition in Hungary and Transylvania where girls that day simbolise flowers and guys have to water the flowers. It used to be with actual buckets of water and guys just went around to all the girls' houses they knew and they said a poem and threw the water at the girls. Now they do the same but they buy perfume instead of water and grandpas usually perfume the girls' head instead of their clothes. It's an annoying tradition, I thought I didn't have to face it this year but I did. It always happens after you wash your hair. Who thinks girls like to think of themselves as flowers and like to be "watered"?
#38
Greeting each other by kissing both cheeks and even people you barely know. For me as an introvert, this was a Nightmare each time.
Nichole Harris 7 months ago
Start swinging! As a Southern woman, anybody comes trying to KISS me without my consent WILL be punched!!!
What do you think ?
WonderWoman 7 months ago
Wedding showers for people who have been cohabitating. You've set up your household, why are you asking others to upgrade your household stuff at a shower AND at the wedding? Wedding registries with over-the-top gimme sh!t. Showers used to be to help set the young couple up for living together. Baby showers for second child.
OneHappyPuppy 7 months ago
Showers in general, ones that do not include an actual shower and water, are wtf to me... Like, let's have a party where you'll give me presents, additionally to my wedding where you'll buy me another present?
Load More Replies...
Debbie 7 months ago
In the Netherlands: Kids doing their communion eventhough religion is otherwise not present in their lives, but the parents do it because they did it and it's tradition and there will be a big party. Kids like it because they get gifts. Do it because you practice the religion or think of God regularly etc, do it because you have faith, but when you're praticatlly an atheist or non praticing believer, why do this?
Amadiro 7 months ago
I'd say the one cookie thing! I love more cake and cookies!
Load More Replies... Say No to Downvoting 7 months ago
Men being the “primary bread winners” or women doing the vast majority of the household tasks despite hours worked outside the home and still being the “default parent”.
WonderWoman 7 months ago
Wedding showers for people who have been cohabitating. You've set up your household, why are you asking others to upgrade your household stuff at a shower AND at the wedding? Wedding registries with over-the-top gimme sh!t. Showers used to be to help set the young couple up for living together. Baby showers for second child.
OneHappyPuppy 7 months ago
Showers in general, ones that do not include an actual shower and water, are wtf to me... Like, let's have a party where you'll give me presents, additionally to my wedding where you'll buy me another present?
Load More Replies... Debbie 7 months ago
In the Netherlands: Kids doing their communion eventhough religion is otherwise not present in their lives, but the parents do it because they did it and it's tradition and there will be a big party. Kids like it because they get gifts. Do it because you practice the religion or think of God regularly etc, do it because you have faith, but when you're praticatlly an atheist or non praticing believer, why do this?
Amadiro 7 months ago
I'd say the one cookie thing! I love more cake and cookies!
Load More Replies... Say No to Downvoting 7 months ago
Men being the “primary bread winners” or women doing the vast majority of the household tasks despite hours worked outside the home and still being the “default parent”.
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