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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.

#1

38 People Share Traditions And Social Norms They Absolutely Hate I'm Spanish, so bullfighting would be a great one to get rid of.

LeMaigols , Francisco Fernández / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#2

38 People Share Traditions And Social Norms They Absolutely Hate Tipping. Just pay the waiter/waitress a real wage and stop leaving that up to the customer.

naterzgreen , Sam Dan Truong / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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james stevenson
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5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So true, apparently in america waiters/waitresses practically have to LIVE off tips.

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#3

Chop off puppies' tail bones so they "look cuter" with stumps.

It's cruel and disheartening.

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#4

38 People Share Traditions And Social Norms They Absolutely Hate Forced marriages.

AnnemarieOakley , Spora Weddings / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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flower petals
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These abominations are destroying the lives of (mostly) girls/women around the world every day. 🥺

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#5

Changing the damn clocks twice a year. Just keep one time.

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TotallyNOTAFox
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We should agree on the natural time once and for all - which is the winter time btw

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#6

38 People Share Traditions And Social Norms They Absolutely Hate Any variation of "let's make animals fight".

Mairhiel , David Taffet / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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james stevenson
Community Member
5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cruel and pointless. they'll probably end up fighting over something anyway

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#7

38 People Share Traditions And Social Norms They Absolutely Hate All those familiy vloggers. Exploiting their children en putting them on the internet for all the creeps to see.

bananasareverycool1 , Julia M Cameron / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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BoredPossum
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just because you give birth to someone it doesn't mean you own them and can use them for profit.

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#8

38 People Share Traditions And Social Norms They Absolutely Hate 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?

catsandthat , John Looy / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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devotedtodreams
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#9

38 People Share Traditions And Social Norms They Absolutely Hate Celebrity idolatry.

Mr_Alan_Stanwyk , Chad Kirchoff / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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Bols
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never understood that tbh. They are people doing their job, ok they do it well and it gives us entertainment, but they are veeeery well paid for that, that should be enough, let's not worship them, they are just people.

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#10

Letting balloons go at funerals, it’s horrible for the environment and the animals that ingest it. Plant a memorial tree instead.

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#11

38 People Share Traditions And Social Norms They Absolutely Hate 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?!

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

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flower petals
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

*Never* teach *anyone* that they should accept being touched even when they don’t want to.

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#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.

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

Not only 'stupid over the top' ones, but the whole concept of a 'gender reveal. Just tell people if they want to know.

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#13

Respecting parents/elders no matter what. Some of them are just bad people.

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Stardust she/her
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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)

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#14

38 People Share Traditions And Social Norms They Absolutely Hate Expensive wedding and funerals, specially with funerals, that person is already dead.

ALI4MHR , Rhodi Lopez / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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#16

38 People Share Traditions And Social Norms They Absolutely Hate 5 day working weeks.

Whole-Bank9820 , Go to Alex Kotliarskyi's profile Alex Kotliarskyi / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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B
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I work 9 hours a day 5 days a week now. I would gladly work 10 hours 4 days per week to have Fridays or Mondays off

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#17

38 People Share Traditions And Social Norms They Absolutely Hate 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.

HelloCrazyFanfiction , Zoriana Stakhniv / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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BoredPossum
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#18

38 People Share Traditions And Social Norms They Absolutely Hate For Americans, Black Friday shopping. It's stupid, dangerous, selfish, and ruins Thanksgiving. Go spend time with your families while they're alive.

WeaponX-92 , Ashkan Forouzani / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

#19

38 People Share Traditions And Social Norms They Absolutely Hate Having women doing all of the kitchen work at parties and get togethers.

colleen2163 , Le Creuset / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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Daniela Lavanza
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#20

Piercing babies ears.

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

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.

Makenzie McNeal
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had mine done when I was little I'm unsure what's wrong with it.

HurlWurk
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's done for the parents, not the kids. Especially when they are still unable to crawl.

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Jaq Jack
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or they do it because they want everyone to know that she’s a girl. Why can’t the baby just be a baby?

Stardust she/her
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had mine pierced as a baby since it’s done to everyone in my culture. Some of my friends also had their noses pierced

Porribix
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Circumcision is much worse than this...children shouldn't be mutilated. unless they want to mutilate themselves when they are older.

Eve Mraz
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't really understand the issue here, my ears were pierced when I was a baby and nothing bad happened. I don't remember it, and if you don't like them you can just take them out and the hole will close up

alex_with_adhd
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

got mine pierced when i was very young. i dont wear earrings a lot, only for special occasions, and even then its 50/50 if i wear them!

Curbz81
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My kids are upset I didn’t pierce their ears as babies as they want them done now but are scared it might hurt. You cannot win lol

The Amazing Fluffernaut
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've read some of the comments for this one are consent vs prepared (like it already existing) and I think that's just the case with a lot of things, I feel some people won't due it do to fear of pain and so its a hard thing to have a right answer to. This is just my opinion and I could be totally wrong

Verfin22
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wasn't quite a baby, maybe toddler age. Everyone thought I was a boy, while wearing a dress in the 80's.

David
Community Member
5 months ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

This one is a "it depends" thing for me. When my then stepdaughter was a baby she had very fine, blond, thin hair. Even dressed in traditional "girl" clothing, strangers kept mistaking her for a boy. My wife pierced her ears. She'd also put those stick on or headband style bows in her hair (her hair was too thin for clip style to stay in). Even with all that - the 'boy' thing still happened. I am not personally in favor of piercing little kids, but I get why my ex did it.

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

Excuse me?!? Why has a baby to be tagged like a calf to show the gender? Does it matter at that age for strangers? Btw, lots of boys get their ears pierced here, too. It is tradition, but with consent.

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#21

38 People Share Traditions And Social Norms They Absolutely Hate Super extravagant and expensive weddings.

llcucf80 , Ahmed ツ / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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

Spend as much as you like, but only if you can afford it. Spending the equivalent of a deposit to buy a house and then being unable to afford one and living in rented accommodation instead is just plain stupid.

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#22

38 People Share Traditions And Social Norms They Absolutely Hate Asking the father's permission to marry a woman.

In this day and age, it's just creepy.

endorrawitch , Korie Cull / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

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October
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Allso: the bride taking her husbands family name. I kept my own name in marriage, but lots of institutions still instist on adressing me with my husbands name.

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#23

Paying for things as a males responsibility for a relationship. It should be a 50% 50% thing to do.

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Alexandra
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fortunately, this is already changing. Just give it another generation...

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#25

38 People Share Traditions And Social Norms They Absolutely Hate Giving your kids the boot right when they turn 18.

DeathbySnuSnu84 , Ketut Subiyanto / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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BoredPossum
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is this tradition? Not a tradition I've ever heard of. Who does this, people who wanna have a bad relationship with their kids?

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#26

Presenteeism at work. Even now, I have colleagues coming in when they’re sick.

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#27

The father giving away his daughter at her wedding.

Women aren’t possessions.

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#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)".

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#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.

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MotherofGuineaPigs
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#30

The husband stitch.

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Dread Pirate Roberts
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had to Google that, and I almost wish I didn't. What kind of pig started this practice? It's f*****g appalling!

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#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 !

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

My grandma asked my grandfather out back in the early fifties. They were married for over sixty years.

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#32

38 People Share Traditions And Social Norms They Absolutely Hate Using the same first names down through generations of boys. Isn't carrying on the surname enough?!

LucyVialli , Vika Glitter / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#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.

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Dread Pirate Roberts
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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#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.

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Nina
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The bouquet toss seems much more innocent to me, it's not like it was strapped to the grooms upper leg.

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#35

38 People Share Traditions And Social Norms They Absolutely Hate I love my lawn but grass that has to be maintained is kinda dumb.

bigmistaketoday , Kelly / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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Nichole Harris
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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#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.

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flower petals
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5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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! 💐

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#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"?

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#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.

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Nichole Harris
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Start swinging! As a Southern woman, anybody comes trying to KISS me without my consent WILL be punched!!!

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