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When you live with something for a long time, it tends to become a part of your daily life, and you begin to accept it as normal. This is what has happened with many weird things in our society that probably shouldn’t be treated so casually.
The folks on this list share all the examples of things that have been accepted as normal that are actually pretty weird and bizarre. Some of them you might agree with, and others you might have opinions on. Maybe you might even come up with examples of your own!
More info: Reddit
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#1
Child beauty pageants.
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#2
Working until you're old, greying, and broken then using whatever time you have left for all the things you wish you could have done when you were younger.
LizzieBoredom 4 days ago
Good reason to take care of your younger self. Living a long time really pisses off the Social Security people.
#3
"Feel-good" news stories about how a kid makes a lemonade stand or something to pay for her mom's cancer treatment because no one can afford healthcare in America.
Among the most controversial things that are part of this list are child beauty pageants. Although people might try to justify it as an exciting and fun extracurricular activity for children, there are actually many sinister undercurrents to the whole affair. When little kids take part in these events, it might boost their self-confidence if they win or get an award.
On the flip side, being made to compete against so many other young children may actually negatively affect their self-esteem and confidence. Parents might also put a lot of pressure on their young ones to win, which might cause them a lot of worry or stress. Society might have accepted these beauty pageants as normal, but folks should be more concerned about their effect on vulnerable youth.
#4
Rich people being basically above the law.
Bored Trash Panda 4 days ago
*cough* *trump and elon* *cough* No one is above the law. Not even the freaking president of his d**n puppet. Even Vance is saying Elon is bad for our country. (And I never thought I would agree with him)
#6
Politicians blatantly lying to the people. We accept it so readily, it's as though it's supposed to be that way.
superfluous 4 days ago
I still liked it better when they had at least a pretense of not lying - they were spinning the facts. The blatant OBVIOUS s**t is astounding. Saying something one day then totally contradicting it the next! Having a press secretary spout lies that can SO EASILY be fact checked. It's INFURIATING!
One of the most widely accepted thought processes in society is about hustle culture. In capitalist societies, people are taught to keep working with all their energy to achieve every single goal that they have while also earning a lot of money. This might seem like a positive concept, but it can cause extreme burnout.
Individuals are praised for putting their work above their health and well-being, so they continue to give their job their all. They are also put in competition with the others around them and have to constantly strive to be the best. All of this turns people into workaholics who aren’t able to look after their own health.
#7
Giving tons of money to the rich people who don’t need it while explaining to the poor that there isn’t enough to go around.
Sue 3 days ago
I was wondering why gold was so desirable throughout humanity that we could use it for currency. Turns out, it's just cuz it's pretty & sparkly - those crazy tough guys fighting over a little sparkle! I figure most Americans will start trading goods & services among themselves & avoiding banks, etc..
#8
War and people profiting from war. When death and destruction are profitable it’s a sign that something is sick in the society.
superfluous 4 days ago
Look at how much the USA spends on the military when NOT at war. They have sold us on 'deterrence'. If the so-called 'department of government efficiency' (SO Orwellian) wants to go after fraud and waste, why don't they go after a department that can't pass an audit? How can so many US congresspeople be so rich? Figure that out, doge!
#9
"I know more than experts about this subject because of my gut or something I found online.".
An insignifcant but slightly weird thing that human beings have accepted as normal is the act of clapping. We all clap as a way to show joy and to encourage others, but this response has actually evolved from a primitive behavior. Earlier it was used by people so that they could feel like they were part of the larger group.
This is one of the most common gestures we do without having to use our voice and it can be done by just a few people or simultaneously by large crowds as well. Although it might seem slightly odd that we bang our hands together as a show of appreciation, it’s an old concept that has evolved and become a part of society over time.
#10
Taking way more than we need. From everyone and everything.
Savannah Newman 4 days ago
We don't need more than we need. That is an actual line I used when downgrading my internet service lately. I understood it was the persons job to upsell or keep me where I was but it was too much. After I said that she processed my downgrade and we had a lovely chat about life.
#11
That 2 out of 3 americans are living paycheck to paycheck.
Michelle C 4 days ago
The problem isn’t capitalism itself; crony “capitalists” who are doing everything they can to enrich themselves just short of breaking laws or actually breaking laws in their respective countries who were causing the problems.
#12
Social media.
Russell Bowman 4 days ago
There is a TV series "Black Mirror" ... season 5 episode 2 "Smithereens" which weaves a terrified view of the Social Media effect on peoples fate
Some of the things on this list, like hustle culture or working til you’re old are so ingrained in society that it can be hard to change or stand up against them. People might seem powerless against popular rituals and beliefs, especially if they don’t particularly agree with those thought processes.
In situations like this, it is important to take stock of how you feel and even talk it over with someone you trust. These feeling of helplessness might be overwhelming, so it’s important to understand and work on the emotions. Slowly, over time, you might be able to bring about small changes in the way things are done, or how folks think.
#13
That dead people need pillows in caskets.
Bored Trash Panda 4 days ago
that dead people need a casket at all. it's just a body, no soul or anything left in it, not like they care. it would be better for the environment and take up less space to bury someone in a biodegradable bag or something. I personally want to be cremated and planted with one of those trees or something.
#14
People having kids and trying to live their lives again through them, vicariously, forcing the kids to do things that the parents never got to do, even when the kids show no inclination, and even have an active dislike, for those things.
Ellinor 4 days ago
I was forced to play trumpet for 8 years. 8 very long and tiring years. It only stopped because I started to refuse playing and my teacher called my mother to tell her that I was taking the 2 hours class of maybe another kid who would be more interested than me. And it took me 6 months before she agreed to no longer force me to play.
#15
Destroying the environment that we literally depend on to live.
Savannah Newman 4 days ago
Destroying it all for perceived needs in the now..but the jobs, but the jobs! Seems like there would be many jobs created in the reclamation space if we could put our natural, life giving world first.
It’s interesting to see how many things we as a society have accepted as normal and don’t seem to mind. It’s always great when individuals question these long-held beliefs or ways of thought because it can then spur us to change or find better ways of doing things.
What do you think are some of the weird things that you can’t believe are widely accepted? Let us know in the comments below.
#16
Living to work vs working to live.
#17
Being on camera or recorded any time you are in public.
Jonathan Stuart 3 days ago
Just remember after Beijing, London is the second most spied on city in the world. (And China has more than 10 more cities bigger than London)
#18
The entire timeframe that we made up. Like how it’s gotta be 8+ hour work days 5 days a week etc etc.
#19
Alcohol is so normalized but d***s are not. It's so weird.
I say this as an alcohol loving Belgian, beer is half of our culture and I'm proud of it too but like... that's f*****g weird man.
#20
You lose your job and deserve to lose your health insurance. Because f**k you. Also, if you take a s**t job you deserve s**t insurance because, well f**k you twice. We can’t afford better healthcare so f**k you thrice.
JinxBox 4 days ago
Just demand a system where taxes pay for equal rights to public healtcare. I'm from Finland and have no personal insurance, I just call a number and get a time for a doctor and the bill is between 0-15 euro. 5 euro more if there's x-rays. Only the dentist is expensive here too. Did not pay anything for delivering a baby and I spent a night there with food served.
#21
Children mentally or financially not responsible for themselves yet having children themselves.
April Pickett 3 days ago (edited)
Schools need to teach all the grades in high school, classes on economics and civics. Economics - how to deal with credit card invitations, savings, budgeting, basic life skills, Civics - the three branches of government, elections, taxes, and I can't remember what else,, but it's necessary to know how your government works, or should work.
#22
College. We can’t trust them to buy beer but we expect them to understand every facet of the outrageous debt they’re taking on? Traditional college kids are exactly that, kids.
superfluous 4 days ago
Yeah no. They can buy houses and join the military. Lower the drinking age. You can't blame immaturity for taking on debt and not understanding the terms! I also don't think higher education should cost so much, but that's a different discussion.
#23
Spending 5/7ths of your life waiting for 2/7ths of it to come. we hate like 70% of our life, how is that considered fine?
StrangeOne 4 days ago (edited)
I refuse to think like this. I go to work, sometimes not having the best of days. Some days are absolutely terrible. But that can be any day if I were at work or on my own time. But I've realized sometimes my worst days were because of my own inner thoughts and attitude that others are picking up on, dragging down the whole vibe. So I started being of more help to customers, complimenting them, and finding ways to bring joy to myself that is getting noticed by others. The main thing for me is that I just go, do my work and go home.
#24
Megachurches.
Petra Peitsch 4 days ago
I have a strong feeling, that OP was meaning the US-style ones, and not the hundreds years old domes.
#25
Circumcision. Literally removing part of your genitalia is just deemed perfectly normal. Beyond wild to me.
#26
Sleeping 4 hours a night due to work and saying things like "it's all a part of the grind bro".
#27
As a non-American, I am amazed at their credit score system. As a third world citizen, credit cards are usually for rich (and slightly less rich) people who have more disposable money than the rest of us and could pay off their debt.
The way I see people on reddit talk about it is strange and somewhat scary. Everyone should have a card of his own as soon as he becomes an adult, you should always buy things with it and pay back to actively build your score. You're basically doomed if you don't have a good score, and living your life peacefully without a card is not an option, and lastly you'll be seen as an idiot if you know nothing about it.
superfluous 4 days ago (edited)
I (American) find it mind blowing. I don't remember ever opting into the system - it's all handled on the back end behind the scenes. I guess if you agree to borrow money it's in the very fine print, but not spelled out because the company you are borrowing from is the one making the deal with the credit bureaus. The credit bureaus hold information on me that I don't even REMEMBER! And they SELL IT, with NO notification or benefit to me!!! ETA: they also regularly LOSE data!
#28
That half the world are dying from obesity related issues and the other half are dying from famine.
Also- the monarchy.
#29
Clapping to show approval or happiness. Clapping is weird. Just slapping your hands together.
superfluous 4 days ago
Yes it's weird but I can't imagine doing anything else. Snapping fingers? Jazz hands? THOSE seem weird too, but it's what I just read are suggested alternatives! I've got it! Tuck money into performers clothing!
#30
We are the only animal that wear clothes. It's rather strange when I truly think about it.
In our daily lives, we often accept many societal norms without questioning their validity or impact. It's critical, however, to evaluate how such practices might affect us or those around us. For instance, when discussing the insidious nature of hustle culture, it's worth considering how society often overlooks the mental and physical toll it takes on individuals.
If you're curious to understand more about the standards we accept without questioning, you might find it beneficial to explore flawed societal standards.
Poll Question
What do you think about clapping as a social norm?
Necessary and meaningful
Just a habit
Kind of weird but harmless
Completely unnecessary
What do you think ?
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