People Are Calling Out "Toxic" Standards Society Should Stop Normalizing, And Honestly, Enough Is Enough

1. "The fact that people experiencing homelessness are seen as lazy, dirty, or that homelessness is a consequence of their own actions. Many of them were evicted, in an abusive relationship, kicked out by a loved one, etc. People who are homeless are looked down on like they're worth nothing, and treated as such most of the time, too."

—Anonymous, 24, Massachusetts

"I was employed the entire time I was homeless, as were most other people I knew who were also experiencing homelessness. It's shameful that this has been normalized."

—pamelaehn

2. "That all couples should be married and have children. Or if they are married, why don't they have children? None of your damn business!"

—Anonymous, 60, Florida

3. "Private equity: ruining companies and raising prices just so a few already wealthy jerks get richer. 🤢🤮🤮🤮"

—metallicghoul94

4. "The idea that older people are too much work to take care of and that the best place for them is a nursing home, even if they are still mentally sharp. Not everyone does this, but too many people shove their older parents or grandparents into an institution so that they don't have to be inconvenienced by having to take care of them. Lots of nursing homes are just places where old folks are sent to die."

"Institutional care is not the same as being in a loving home environment. Those old folks have a lot of life experience, and we can learn from them if we are willing to listen and not just shut them away somewhere!"

—Anonymous

5. "The idea that bullying is accepted, especially verbal abuse. Even people who say they are your friends bully you, and it's shrugged off as guys being guys. Or girls being girls. Why is this kind of behavior acceptable?"

—Anonymous

6. "Assuming a woman is pregnant because she has a little 'pooch' or larger tummy area. For me, that is where some of my weight goes, and I'm actively working on it (exercising, eating well, etc.), so PLEASE don't assume someone is pregnant and say 'congratulations' unless you know the person AND know for sure."

—Anonymous, 47, North Carolina

7. "People having cellphone conversations in gyms, restaurants, or other spaces on speaker phone, or allowing their kids to play loud games on tablets or phones. Very disrespectful!!!"

—Anonymous, 58

8. "The need for a busy social life. I'm 83 and an introvert. ... I'm perfectly happy with my alone time. Plus, with over 25 years of retail experience, I've had plenty of social interaction."

—Anonymous

9. "That it's okay to ridicule people over 65 for not being able to understand technology or current events. We have lived through a lot, and many of us are former hippies — not much shocks us, so stop trying."

—Anonymous, 68

10. "Dating being so superficial. People spend ages together before realizing they have completely different values and priorities, and then either have to break up or stay together, miserable for the sunk-cost fallacy. We could just make it the norm to talk about whether you want kids on the first date, or even before; then it wouldn't be so freaky when someone actually does. We don't have to keep wasting our own and each other's time."

—Anonymous, 25, USA

11. "It's utterly shameful that anyone in this country should be lacking for housing, food, healthcare, or any basic needs. There is ENOUGH wealth in the country to take care of it all. It's just concentrated in the hands of greedy people who don't care about anything but themselves."

—angelicovercoat587

12. "The fact that to be heard or right, I have to be exactly like everyone else. I shouldn't have to change myself to fit your picture of a person. I should be able to be 'weird' if I want, even if you don't like it. ... It's the same as when someone likes the color red; you don't tell them they're weird and bully them for the entire school year — because it doesn't matter if they like red. It doesn't do anything to you."

"So why do I get bullied for liking a 'nerdy' show? Or liking to read? Or being good at math? I should be able to be myself and like the things I like without being made fun of or told that I shouldn't like them. Let people be themselves!!!"

—Anonymous, 15, California

13. "The idea that you should WANT to celebrate with everyone you know. I opted out of a wedding and baby birthdays because it's the most ridiculous thing. I don't like you. You don't like me. But I'm rude for not inviting you to my child's birthday, even though we haven't spoken all year? Also, why am I having some extravagant birthday party for a 1-year-old who just wants milk, a stuffy, and to be left alone? All of the ridiculous overcelebrating is completely unnecessary."

"This includes the bridal shower, THEN the bachelorette party. The gender reveal, THEN the baby shower, then the push presents. Honestly, with the amount of money you spend giving a damn about other people's feelings, you could have bought the gifts for yourself."

—Anonymous, 32

14. "It's extremely unsettling to me that when we see and hear about children who are homeless, starving, and abused, we feel horrible for them and keep scrolling [and don't actually do anything]..."

—Anonymous, 55, Michigan

15. "Treating people differently based on appearance, certain physical traits, or other things a person generally can't control."

—u/Splitzei

16. "The idea that if you hang with your friends, you should be intoxicated in some way. If you don't, in many places, they ask you why you don't... It's weird, it's pushy, and it's peer pressure."

—u/PaintMaster-Sheo

17. "Parents justifying their toxic behavior by reminding their kids of what they've given them. 'I've let you stay here for free all your life and fed you.' Congrats! You did the bare minimum for raising a kid! If you hadn't done that, you'd be in jail, so it's not an accomplishment that you did. It doesn't justify your extremely verbally abusive habits and drunken screaming matches."

—u/FalloutAndChill

18. "Oil companies claiming insolvency instead of cleaning up their well when they're done. That's pretty toxic. And super normal."

—u/sarthurf

19. "The customer is always right."

—u/UglyLaughing

"That was always a hard one when working in retail. It always felt like a lose-lose to me. I could either be rude to the customer who won’t stop talking, or be rude to everyone else in line for allowing them to take everyone’s time."

—u/UglyLaughing

20. "Expecting people to answer messages immediately."

—u/sami_z99

21. "Destroying, arguing, cheating on, and fighting your romantic partners. I know it's been going on a while, but the rise of social media video 'comedians' and couples who make those ridiculous 'cheated on my bf prank' and 'beat my gf prank' are way too many. Seriously, you can look up on YouTube alone and find multiple 'cheated on my bf/gf' prank vids, some by the same YouTubers. Same with the fake arguments, destroying property, and 'beating' vids. A lot of young kids and teens watch these, and think it's not only funny but normal to do to another person."

—u/LaurdAlmighty

22. "Overworking. People are proud of it. It's unhealthy, and then everyone else thinks they should be working as much."

—u/OldSport02

23. "That it's considered rude to tell someone to pick up trash when he/she just littered. Seriously, wtf? It's bad to litter, and also bad to tell people not to do it?"

—u/[deleted]

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.

What are some other societal standards that are actually "messed up"? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. Or if you prefer to remain anonymous, you can use the form below.