When people think about bad habits, it’s often smoking and similar unhealthy behavior that comes to mind. But sometimes, something way less detrimental, yet far from praise-worthy, too, can get on people’s nerves.
Members of the ‘Ask Reddit’ community recently discussed bad habits that way too many people have. Their examples ranged from annoyances, such as lacking basic elevator etiquette, to more peculiar things, like nasal spray addiction, showing just how diverse bad habits can be. If you’re curious to learn more, scroll down to find more examples on the list below.
Bored Panda has reached out to the OP and he was kind enough to answer a few of our questions. You will find his thoughts in the text below.
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Just absentmindedly being in the way. Like just standing in a place without awareness of their surroundings. I work in a grocery store and it’s enough to make me go mad. I understand you’re weighing your options but sir/maam, you are taking up the entire aisle doing it pls pick a side.
Playing loud music or videos on their phone without earbuds in a community space like a library.
Grown adults littering like 60’s 5th graders. Extra points for doing it out of a moving car with people behind you.
The OP shared that the reason he decided to pose this particular question was watching a video about car repairs—that’s when he learned that almost 75% of people don’t maintain their car.
“There may be no proof of that number but still, it blew my mind how many people neglected their vehicles; I learned the hard way to take care of my car,” he told Bored Panda. “It made me think about other bad habits that are surprisingly common.”
Getting offended when someone makes a mistake. You're not going to die if some random stranger on the net doesn't know the difference between their, there, and they're.
Also getting offended by someone's personal preferences. So what if some people prefer iPhone over android, DC over Marvel, or cream in their coffee. There's nothing wrong with that. It's not like they listen to Justin Beiber.
Grammar. The difference between knowing your sh*t and knowing you're sh*t.
Not using their turn signal.
Almost killed by a guy yesterday because he wasn't signaling and wasn't looking where he was going. I'm running two headlights, two tail lights, and spoke lights on my bike and he still missed me by inches. And he wasn't signaling so I thought he was going straight through.
Car-related habits are not only why the OP started the thread, but also what he considers to be the worst of them all. “I think the worst habit that a lot of people have is bad driving. Not only is it frustrating but it is dangerous; yet it's so common. People don't seem to understand how deadly a car crash can be,” he pointed out in a recent interview.
As for the bad human tendencies that surprised him the most, the redditor said he was taken aback by people’s hygiene-related behavior. “I think the most shocking response was when someone stated that not washing hands was a bad habit and someone else agreeing and stating that they worked in a doctor's office and most of the doctors didn't wash their hands. Ick.”
Kids are talking to their parents, trying to tell them something they think is exciting or interesting Parents *staring at phone* ~mumble some kind of half assed response I know we’re all on our phones but if your little kid wants your attention you need to put your phone away and give them your time.
Poor appreciation and respect for other people's time. If you agree to meet someone or agree to attend an event you should be making every effort to be on time. Also stop double booking.
Be on time, not early nor late. Especially when going home to someone. If in a public place being early is fine. 👍
Stopping with their shopping carts in the middle of the grocery aisle and walking over to the other side while they browse the shelves. Move your f*****g cart out of the way so the rest of us can pass through.
I started ramming them a while back. Gives me some sort of dirty little satisfaction :D
Still continuing to drive while on a cell phone despite the dangers and fines associated with it.
Waiting to talk instead of listening.
Being checked out during social interactions. Phone in hand, not really listening, not present.
not washing your hands after going to the bathroom (look it up it’s acc scary how little ppl wash their hands after going to the bathroom)
Basic elevator etiquette. When an elevator door opens the people inside get out before those waiting to get in enter. Super simple. Amazing how many adults are unaware of this simple social norm.
Tailgating. Count out a 2-5 second following distance at highway speeds, folks. That ain’t it and you’re making traffic *much worse.*
Tailgating isn't a 'bad habit', it's highly dangerous. Top Tip: The pic doesn't show 'tailgaiting', it shows a traffic jam. In slow-moving traffic, it's perfectly fine to reduce the distance between yourself and the car in front. That said at speed/on the freeway it can be deadly.
No manners and bitter behavior when they are a customer/client.
Responding with defensiveness rather than curiousity to the unknown.
Interrupting.
"Knock knock" "Who's there?" "Interrupting cow" Interr.." "Mooooooooooooooo" 😅
Chewing with their mouths open. I hate eating out in public because the sound of people smacking their food is all I can hear.
Stopping. In. Doorways.
Like b***h! Do you want to get ran over? I will run over you.
Just kidding. I will silently get annoyed and let it secretly ruin my day.
In the same category, people who stop when they reach the top of the stairs, escalator, moving walk way, or exit a bus, train, or elevator. You might not know where you are going, but move to the side. There are people behind you that need to move into the space you are currently occupying. Move.
Materialism: buying stuff just for the sake of buying it, not because you need it.
I think a lot of people have this huge empty hole in their soul that they constantly try to fill with more and more stuff.
Smoking. It’s been known long enough that it [harms] you and can harm people around you too. Too many people still start the habit.
Well it's not exactly an easy thing to fix. There are many socio-economic factors, plus many people try cigarettes but not everyone gets addicted the same way. I, for example, became much much much more dependent than an average smoker and it was a looooooooong and hard struggle to finally kick the habit. And the urge to smoke a cigarette comes back periodically - Less and less frequently, and it's less and less intensive, but I expect that random urges for a cigarette will oxcasionally pop up for the rest of my life.
The socio-economic comment is totally true. Which seems counter productive seeing as how expensive cigs are now. I grew up pretty lower middle class, but I grew up in a really bad area. Like...the cops might not come if you call them kind of area. And a lot of my friends got into smoking because it curbed their hunger. They could find cheap cigs- or even cigarette butts on the street that still had some puffs in them- easier than they could get/steal food. Sometimes their parents wouldn't even come home from their drug benders for stretches at a time so... it's how they made due. I'm really lucky I never started smoking.
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A couple of points from a smoker - 1-, yes it is incredible difficult to quit. It IS a terrible habit, but it is also relatively inexpensive (compared to illicit drugs), AND it is still legal. 2 - I have been smoking for over 50 yrs. When I started, I could smoke at school, in my office, at the hospital, at the bank, while shopping for groceries, on a plane, etc, etc, etc - Now, I not only have to go outside, if it is even allowed on campus, I have to walk at least 50 feet away from a entryway. Do not think there have has been no consequences to me for this change in the social norm. 3 - People have a visceral reaction to smokers (and vapers) because they see smoke, can smell , etc. when we are outside in our "designated smoking area". But they are woefully ignorant (and silent) about the literal ton of carbon monoxide, carcinogens, particulate matter, etc spewing from the thousands of passing cars and trucks, simply because they do NOT see or smell it.
Oh, l'm well aware of poor air quality and its effects on my health. I just don't want to add whoever's smoke to the equation. And, on a different note, it stinks, and l tend to keep away from unpleasant smells like most people. Funnily enough, I've had smokers being offended because *l* move several feet away from them as they think l'm treating them as pariahs. Get over it, pal. Your cigarette smoke disgusts me.
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I myself don't care if you want to smoke your lungs out. I DO care that you do it where I can't avoid breathing your smoke. Rude, selfish, dangerous, etc.
"The bottom line is, smoking is cool and you know it." - Chandler Bing (Friends)
The numbers who smoke now are so much reduced from when I was a kid. We've definitely won the war on this one. But we have to remember why people start. Nicotine simultaneously relaxes you and stimulates you. It's extremely unfortunate that smoking is so bad for your health..
I'm a smoker and I hate it but it's incredibly difficult to stop especially since literally everyone around me smokes. I grew up in the 80s and 90s and literally every adult in my life smoked, it was just what happened, I was around 6 when I smoked for the first time and started smoking for real at around 12. Growing up in a poor area where everyone smoked, it was so normalised that it was expected and treated as a normal stage of growing older. All the way through school, college, and basically every job I had until fairly recently a huge number of people smoked. Now a lot of smokers have switched to vaping which is just as bad for you and I've seen kids as young as 10 walking around constantly puffing on a vape. I'd love to stop smoking but it's my only vice, I don't smoke a lot (around 4-5 a day) and don't think I deserve to be judged for having the occasional cigarette.
We do lots of stuff that harms us. I eat junk food and don't exercise enough. That's probably just as bad for me as smoking. Although there's no second hand fatness that people need to worry about. :)
The poor person sitting next to me on the plane is impacted by second hand fatness, as I try to squeeze my generously proportioned a*s into a less than generously proportioned airline seat.
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The seven dwarfs.."nicotine is not addictive" while testifying in front of congress.
Nicotine is both an upper and a downer so it's very hard to kick the habit. But it can be done! Smoked for 25 years and quit cold-turkey on March 25, 2014. They started tasting like s**t to me and I was feeling terrible every morning so I knew it was time. Haven't looked back since! If you're trying to quit, don't give up....you can do it!!
Being outside in the sun is very dangerous, but people still do it.
The same thing can be said about sugar or alcohol or hundreds of other things.
I know what you mean. Bad enough to be allergic to cigarette smoke (filters), but I also had bronchial pneumonia in my throat and upper parts of my lungs when I was 19 years old. The five bottles of this new medication I was given by the doctor worked, but I still have the effects of the bronchial pneumonia in that if I run too long that I will start to cough and then wheeze like someone with asthma.
Quitting is HARD. I know because I have helped people do it. At the same time, I try to teach them to respect the health of others and not smoke near them.
My parents smoke do i not like it yes. But if they want still knowing the risks that's their choice I'm so tired of people wanting other people to respect their choice but not others
Ended my wife's life. She could not quit until she became quite ill. COPD took her from me far too early.
I accept it's designed to be hard to give up, but anyone taking it up now is just foolish.
Probably depends on where you live, but I on the other hand have made and often think about the opposite observation. I can still see middle-aged and older people smoking and I don't think much of it because of how used to it I am. But it's rare to see young people smoke anymore. So much so that I notice it in a kind of a shick/surprise every time.
Younger people, like teenagers, don't usually smoke cigarettes, but vaping is a problem in high schools right now. Maybe they think it's not as bad as cigarettes, but they are so wrong on that one.
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With so much health information available on the internet, I wonder why people still smoke, as well as eat all the unhealthy junk food.
I am quite sensitive to smoke, I tend to feel like choking, my nose gets stuffy, eyes and nose runny, and it stinks me up! But the amount of people on the street or other public places who blatantly just blow the smoke at me is like AT LEAST 10 a day! I can't get away!
Fair comment, especially if they're considerate about others around them. But, if you're making others breathe your second-hand smoke,you're a dįckhead and need a severe beating. Speaking as a smoker, myself.
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When I see someone smoking I immediately question their IQ and it drops
A little harsh, but it does make you question: "What other irrationalities could this person come up with?"
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Oversharing on social media. Privacy has become so rare and it is not helped by the fact that most products/services also require your personal info
Oh yeah, my mom pisses her facebook friends off by constantly oversharing. Well, if she had an actual outlet, she might not feel the need to 🤷🏽♀️
Peeing in pools, or in bodies of water while surrounded by other people.
Social media/phone addiction. How many of us do anything without our phones now? When’s the last time you left your house without it? The last time you forgot your phone or lost it, how anxious did you feel? Every time I try to slow down on my usage, I do good at first and then I have a day where I could be doing anything else and I still go to my phone and waste the day away. I’ll absentmindedly pull it out while I’m watching tv too. Or playing video games. Here I am at work on it again.
My phone broke earlier this week and I had to go about half a day without it. Yes, it was a huge inconvenience as far as contacting people was concerned, but there was something really blissful about my walk, because I wasn't stopping to take pictures to show anyone anything, and no one was interrupting my thoughts so I had to be 100% just in my moment. It's nice to take a break, but with society now, still gotta have it around.
The number of people who don't brush their teeth twice a day is deeply upsetting.
I'm one of these people. Not because I don't think I need to, it's just that dental hygiene as a whole is something I've always really had to struggle against my depression to get done. It's a bit better since getting an electric toothbrush and some prescription toothpaste.
Lying.
Probably the biggest shock I got from the real world once I started adulting is how much people lie and try to manipulate. It’s disheartening
I don't believe OP has never said they liked a gift when they didn't, told a friend they look great just to make them feel better, said they like a dish someone has cooked when it's actually not great, made an excuse to get out of a social/family function they didn't want to go to, etc. 'Lying' is not a binary thing. It's not OK to try and manipulate people, but everyone 'lies'. The only question is 'to what extent?'
Insulting another person’s intelligence the second they feel insecure about their own. So basically, projection.
Drinking little to no water daily. Then they think that grumble in their stomach is hunger pangs, so they eat more salty food. And sometimes take ibuprofen for their dehydration-induced headaches. Can’t imagine that’s amazing for the kidneys.
Note: this post originally had 37 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
I hate with all the passion people who throw firecrackers! It's like a most stupid trend in my stupid country that whole freaking December and January, stupid a******s are throwing firecrackers of really big size and noise level all over the areas where people live, not parties, just areas where people live right under our windows! They do that day and night, and stupid parents even buy them for children (until someone loses a finger or worse) to "play". After each stupid explosion to make things worse, scared barking of all dogs in area then screaming of frightened small children. And no one reacts to stop that madness! Most stupid, most annoying, most polluting, most horrible and stressful thing ever invented!
Not moving over for emergency vehicles is high on my personal list!
The ones that are personal choices that don't effect others are ok with me. If you want to bite your nails, have at it.
EXACTLY. They might be bad habits, but as long as they don't affect me, go ahead. The same way, l'll try to be the most considerate possible to you in a public space but don't you dare to lecture me on binge watching series or eating too much pizza or picking ingrown hairs (totally made up examples, of course)
Load More Replies... I'd add engine idling: if you're not moving, switch it off - leaving it running doesn't exempt you from parking regulations. Also scraping someone else's car while parking and not bothering to say sorry. Both make me seethe.
this! there's someone who lives across the road from me, and every day at about 5am they sit in their car for 30-40 minutes, shining their headlights into my house. i don't know, due to the distance, if their car is running that whole time or just has the switch on, but it's rude either way!
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How about the copious and intrusive ads on BP that cause the page to reload 29 times.
How about people who sit on gym equipment for hours playing on their phone? If you want to play on your phone, go home.
"30 Bad Habits That A Shocking Amount Of People Have" - Should it not be "shocking *number" or *numbers? Unless you mince those poor people for a roast dish, but then that amount of pulpeople no has habits
For most of these, I just thought, "Oh, ffs,grow up, you wänker "
I hate with all the passion people who throw firecrackers! It's like a most stupid trend in my stupid country that whole freaking December and January, stupid a******s are throwing firecrackers of really big size and noise level all over the areas where people live, not parties, just areas where people live right under our windows! They do that day and night, and stupid parents even buy them for children (until someone loses a finger or worse) to "play". After each stupid explosion to make things worse, scared barking of all dogs in area then screaming of frightened small children. And no one reacts to stop that madness! Most stupid, most annoying, most polluting, most horrible and stressful thing ever invented!
Not moving over for emergency vehicles is high on my personal list!
The ones that are personal choices that don't effect others are ok with me. If you want to bite your nails, have at it.
EXACTLY. They might be bad habits, but as long as they don't affect me, go ahead. The same way, l'll try to be the most considerate possible to you in a public space but don't you dare to lecture me on binge watching series or eating too much pizza or picking ingrown hairs (totally made up examples, of course)
Load More Replies... I'd add engine idling: if you're not moving, switch it off - leaving it running doesn't exempt you from parking regulations. Also scraping someone else's car while parking and not bothering to say sorry. Both make me seethe.
this! there's someone who lives across the road from me, and every day at about 5am they sit in their car for 30-40 minutes, shining their headlights into my house. i don't know, due to the distance, if their car is running that whole time or just has the switch on, but it's rude either way!
Load More Replies... How about the copious and intrusive ads on BP that cause the page to reload 29 times.
How about people who sit on gym equipment for hours playing on their phone? If you want to play on your phone, go home.
"30 Bad Habits That A Shocking Amount Of People Have" - Should it not be "shocking *number" or *numbers? Unless you mince those poor people for a roast dish, but then that amount of pulpeople no has habits
For most of these, I just thought, "Oh, ffs,grow up, you wänker "
