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Traveling medicine shows and questionable or even harmful "medical remedies" may seem like a thing of the past, but there's plenty of its 21st-century iterations.

While MLM marketers are not promoting tonics of cocaine or opium, they are trying to convince people that essential oils will cure cancer.

Obvious pyramid-scheme nonsense aside, plenty of people on social media for some reason think of themselves as doctors and spread ignorance to whoever will listen. Just don't let all that BS seep into your brain. Instead, try to laugh at their ignorance; it can be quite funny!

Just scroll through the Twitter account Bad Medical Takes. It shares user-submitted screenshots of some of the most ridiculous misconceptions "online health professionals" have to offer. Here are some of them!

General practitioner, medical researcher, and founder of PrimeHealth Clinical Research, Iris Gorfinkel, M.D., told Bored Panda that social media and the Internet are not a one-size-fits-all. "On the one hand, it improves patient education and can improve public health. It brings people together who are in very wide apart places, so it overcomes geographical barriers... It's a tremendous educational tool for patients," Gorfinkel said.

Yes, it promotes awareness and encourages patient engagement, and it can provide quality information. But at the same time, people are searching online for the next big thing. "So what is more likely to be shared?", the doctor asked metaphorically. What is novel, she immediately answered. Or what is unusual.

Gorfinkel also pointed out a study done in 2018, published in Science by three MIT scholars, which found that falsehoods are 70% more likely to be retweeted on Twitter than truth. It also discovered that it took the truth about six times as long as falsehood to reach 1,500 people. This proves that falsehoods are simply alluring.

But even if many of us know not to trust what uncle Bobby is saying about vaccines on his Facebook page (I hope), reading a scientific paper can be really challenging and time-consuming. "I think there are some websites that are fairly trusted," Gorfinkel said. "Medscape, for example, tries to bring information to people in their own language. It's not perfect, but it is available in German, Portuguese, Spanish, and French. Then there's WebMD, MedlinePlusDrugs.com. There's a whole bunch of these websites that are actually quite good."

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For the so-called orphan conditions — diseases that are so rare, there isn't enough resources on them — Gorfinkel suggested Orpha.net.

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Helen Haley
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least it was a polite way to inform you of their stupid. Makes it easier to avoid them.

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If you are still concerned about the validity of a certain piece, you will probably have to inspect it yourself.

What is to stop any doctor or professor from writing an opinion piece? Nothing, but this is where peer reviews come into play. "That's where other doctors and professors who have nothing to gain from what's published, look at the paper and say, 'Yes, this is actually true.' So look for things that are peer-reviewed, look for at least an editorial board. Again, that's a safeguard to prevent any one person's opinion from becoming a fact because peer reviews and editorial boards keep doctors in line in terms of making sure that what is said is accurate," Gorfinkel explained.

The sources that Gorfinkel mentioned earlier, like WebMD, publish some research studies that require huge funding. So looking at the funding source matters too — is there a conflict of interest?

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Of course, when a particular paper was written is important as well because, as Gorfinkel highlighted, what may have been relevant, say for COVID-19, even in 2020 is, for the most part, not relevant at all in 2021.

Generally, when you notice medical information online, it's probably best to approach it with caution. "If there is a promise of a miracle cure, that should ring alarm bells big time," Gorfinkel said. "A lot of complex problems, including depression, anxiety, hair loss, acne; a lot of these problems are actually complicated, and they don't have one single solution. This is especially true when things promise very quick answers, and often at a price."

It's always a good idea to run these ideas by either your family doctor or a pharmacist before investing in them.

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I I
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

really ? this has to be a troll , people are not this dumb are they?:?

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Doctor Gorfinkel also added a very important piece of information: the United States and Canada do not monitor natural products. "Whether or not it's made in trusted countries, understand that they generally will fall under a separate category that does not have to fulfill the requirements of standard drugs."

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This can become a problem because there's really nothing to stop natura-ceuticals and that includes the entire vitamin industry and the mineral industry. "There is no one to police what's in that stuff. And for the most part, there's no one there to pull it off the shelves," Gorfinkel explained.

"Moreover, these products tend to be some of the highest profit margin products available in stores. Often, they're placed right next to the normal pharmacy so that people can 'self-medicate.' But much of that has no evidence base whatsoever."

Because no one's watching, the potential for having these products adulterated with potentially toxic elements is very high. This is true for the probiotics industry as well as the prebiotics industry.

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I I
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

what do i get every year ? are they putting fresh trackers in my arm ? or magnets ?

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"I don't think people realize what's happening," Gorfinkel said. "There was a study done in the United States where they went into Walmart, and pulled off natura-ceuticals just off the shelf, and found that there was no correlation between what was on the label and what was actually in the bottle."

When experts checked probiotics in Toronto (this was the Department of Family Practice at the St. Michael's Hospital), they just took 12 random things off the shelf, gave them to the microbiology lab, and found the same: no correlation between what was promised to be in the bottle and what was actually in the bottle.

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"So if there are promises that sound too good to be true, bottom line, they probably are," Gorfinkel said. And this sadly applies to more than just online medical takes.

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qwerty
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Alright. I never liked PETA, to put it mildly. But I thought that even they would be above this udder bullshit.

carsoncasper_1 avatar
Carson Casper
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am autistic, and this is so incredibly offensive I cannot even express it.

mepotter avatar
Me Potter
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me too, the milk thing is just stupid, the antivaxx argument is a lot worse - do parents really rather want their kids to die than for them to be autistic?

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wendillon avatar
Monday
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm convinced PETA's main goal is to bash veganism so nobody will take it seriously and that they are run by key members of the meat industry.

tiari avatar
tiari
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I sometimes get the feeling that PETA is run by the farmer‘s lobby just so people start to hate and ridicule animal right activists and such…

malagotelli avatar
Eslamala
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, they are just that stupid. All extremists are. We see it everyday in politics, religion and even sports... When people become fanatics, they just stop thinking!

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James016
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes he is autistic and PETA can find a long abandoned tunnel and seal themselves in.

kayrose avatar
RoseTheMad
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm lactose intolerant and as a baby/child didn't have real milk whatsoever (I do occasionally as an adult though, because yay for pills to help me digest it) and I'm autistic (aspergers) so pretty safe to say I didn't get my autism from dairy products. Stfu peta.

sofiemsalklint avatar
Sofie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to be a fan of Peta as a teen, but then I realized they could be extremely toxic so I lost my interest in them.

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Claire
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I say this whenever PETA comes up, but please remember that PETA doesn't represent all vegans! They are the vocal minority that's giving us a bad reputation.

bloatednoone avatar
qwerty
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know. In my mind there are types of vegans- the crazy batshit type, which PETA belongs in and is also a minority. There's also the vegans who don't eat animal products out of their own moral obligations and allow those who aren't vegan to eat animal products, which is the majority.

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jeannette
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

PETA... such a group of wise people. Actually, they are mostly known by their performing naked in internet than for any other thing

fxnglhl avatar
Fxnglhl
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

is that the organisation that kills 2000 cats and dogs a year?

iarlaithmorton avatar
Hotdogking
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What’s next, standing near a pride flag will give you autism?

troux avatar
Troux
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When your reference material is your own website.

jack_bonner80 avatar
ThePracticalSarcastic
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yeah i've grouped them in with flat-earthers for quite awhile now. Their rabbit holes are just too deep and too many.

absepa avatar
Stephanie Cunningham
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am an animal lover and strong supporter of animal rights. But it should be criminal for PETA to spread misinformation like this.

brendanroberts avatar
Brendan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What's with the uber-sad face? I get that being diagnosed with autism is never welcomed news, but they are still human beings.

claireharper avatar
AlmightyOne
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me, and autistic who hates dairy: your point is? Also I really hate the PETA. They infuriate me on a level I cannot express without screaming.

ryleighc2008 avatar
-Sunflower-
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Has your parent lost their brain, check in the back for a spare.

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Ninette
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It feels as if spreading misinformation like this should be a criminal offence.

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Dre Mosley
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I cannot take PETA seriously. At first, I supported them until I knew better.

dontlook avatar
Don't Look
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It'd be funny if you got to the link and it just says "Turns out there's no link. Have a nice animal-friendly day" or some s**t like that. :-P

isobellagourlay avatar
Isobella GOURLAY
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Right. This is one of the single dumbest things I've seen in years.

mourlie avatar
Mourlie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That can't be real...Right? This has got to be fake. Or is PETA a million times worse in the US than it is in Europe?

pusheenbuttercup avatar
pusheen buttercup
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have autism. Never had dairy in my life. Literally can't have dairy

christel_3 avatar
Lora Beth
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was shocked ... A sad face? I know a lot of people with autism who are wonderful and amazing. Nothing sad there.

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RandomBeing
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At this point it's kinda like some sort of random generator for these kinds of people. One one side we have the random cause (vaccines, certain foods, television, GMO's, etc) and the other side we have the random unrelated thing (autism, cancer, death, whatever).

julietemily64 avatar
Chaotic-Pansexual-Gemini
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Damn, it wasn’t vaccines. I got my autism from all that milk I’ve been drinking. Wish someone had told me sooner

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Penny Kemper
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

PETA tells some of the most ridiculous lies. I don't know a lot about corporate farms, but on family farms animals are treated poorly.

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Stevie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair: that poster is a few decades old. Also to be fair: peta now links dairy "to asthma, constipation, recurrent ear infections, iron deficiency, anemia, and even cancer."

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John Carr
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

PETA are a cancer on society. They should be outlawed everywhere

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Cain Hargreaves
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Has your child...GOT AUTISM??? It's so bad and so scary! /s That whole attitude is such a weird concept. The vaccines-cause-autism crowd are just as bad about it. Your child is alive because of vaccines. "Yes, but he has autism now." Yes, but he's alive. It's like they really think having autism is a fate worse than death.

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Samantha PandaNotBored
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

§🤬 My child has severe autism. Things like this just make me want to run people like this over with a bus

skyrender avatar
Sky Render
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not sure what's more disappointing: that there's a driving desire to find a non-genetic cause for autism (hint: it doesn't exist), or that they want to find a way to cure it (hint: you can't and shouldn't).

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Brian Bennett
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Etiology for autism is unknown Everyone knows PETA strives to survive on this fecal matter.

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Meiko Shadow
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is amusing, cause I'm autistic, but also Lactose intolerant. I can only have a small amount of dairy products.

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Marianne
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always think PETA cannot ridicule themselves even more and then ...

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

PETA is dangerous. They make people believe - try to make people believe - that they care about animals. They don't. But this is just going too far.

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Your (kinda) friendly neighborhood Otaku
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I told my mom about This post and she said "Yeah!" Then I said "This reminds me of that time you said if I get a healthy diet I won't be depressed anymore" and she said "yes, it's all about the food it's all connected, it's science" Help the moment she takes me to the doctor and they tell she that I have maladaptive daydreaming and ADHD I'm f****d ;-; why is she like this

brettconnor avatar
Brett Connor
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Casein in milk products is real bad for any children with Autism and anyone with cancer. This is also true.

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Lyn Moffett
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My heartfelt apologies to anyone with Autism having to read crap like this.

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Bacony Cakes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope I̶n̶b̶r̶e̶d̶ Ingrid Newkirk is doing alright in the Earth's Inner core. That barrel must be feeling awful.

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Jjjane20
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many of us have survived baby blender, some of us shedding something disgusting from covid vaccine and autistic people have autism from eating yoghurt or from their moms eating yoghurt. Wow. Everyday you learn something new.

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Sarah
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think that once, a few decades ago, I may have sent them a few bucks. I really hope I'm wrong. They have proven to be utterly idiotic in their tactics, but this really takes the cake.

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Nubis Knight
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Heard other people claim wheat-products. So I'd get rid of the cereals and just drink the milk, how about that? %-)

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Lulu Lemons
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Technically this has some truth. Gluten, lactose and casein allergies/intolerances are common in autistics and can worsen autistic symptoms as the child is uncomfortable and more irritable. PETA got there facts a bit wrong tho For the record I know this as I'm autistic and have a glucose, lactose and casein intolerance. My behaviour, including the autistic traits, improved significantly when my parents cut these substances from my diet. I am NOT saying this is true for every autistic.

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cybermerlin2000
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Mmmmmmm Milk! Taste like fresh cow tiddies! (How to wind up PETA)

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qwerty
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can just imagine this person at the doctor. "Doctor, I have a problem." "Oh, what is it?" "I keep getting my period." "How often does it happen?" "Every month! Can you believe it?" "Ok. So, we're going to refer you to the psychiatric ward."

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Chris Wade
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Was this tweeted in 1860 or something? Cause, boy, have I got news for you, Andrea.

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Helen Haley
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do incels post everywhere, or is there just an alarming number of them?

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qwerty
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This isn't just a scientific error. It's also a mathematical error.

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Sonya Jersey
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

wait until you find out that you can die from badly infected and untreated teeth

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Eslamala
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some people should get sterilized as a favor to the rest of the world.

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tiari
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, at least this one is not *completely* wrong. He is just wrong about the amount of water needed for that, there is no risk with your normal everyday amount.

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Monday
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish the vaccine could be sexually transmitted...would be so much easier to vaccinate more people with a limited supply.

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Anyone-for-tea?
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WT absolute F? I feel sorry for her daughters having such a hateful, uninformed mother. And poor Taylor Swift, not that I think she would have seen this, but it reminds me of Ellen trying to shame her about her rumoured relationships, and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

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I I
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yeah , no wonder people wont get the vaccine with these dumb tw@s out there

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mulk
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, because women have more DNA in common with princesses and unicorns

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earringnut
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's an unpopular opinion because most people have a post dark ages level of education.

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Sofie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have brown eyes which is a darker colour which is strong like espresso, which means that I'm never ever sick. Well, starting now.

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