When Hilary Clinton uttered the words, “My campaign is not going to let Donald Trump try to normalize himself,” she started a wave of "normalization” worldwide. The term has become so mainstream that it’s used every time something calls for social reform.
Normalize not folding clothes. Normalize gatekeeping. Normalize marriage.
However, people started noticing that some of the modern norms that we’re so familiar with are starting to cause concern. Like redditor Former-Session6405 who called out Brazilian butt lifts for pushing natural bodies out of style.
In agreement, members of the GenZ subreddit began sharing their opinions on everything from children addicted to technology to credit card debt. You can find more of their controversial takes on things we should stop normalizing down below.
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Standing around and recording while someone's life is in danger.
If it is for evidence, I understand, but usually it is not. Unless, of course, they are planning to take the fire to court.
Load More Replies...This is tough-footage is great for evidence in criminal cases, and if there are enough people providing aid and have called 911 etc, film away!
I've replied about this before - if there's someone attending to the person or the ambulance is on the way? I filmed so that I could show the ambulance team the video of their responses while they were being given help and attended to. It can help the ambulance team to assess their condition... BUT Delete the video after and for gods sake don't post it on social media.
To the non-Americans: Do yourself a favor, and look for police violence videos. They are almost always somewhere in the US, and not in Europe, etc. One of the themes you'll see is that cops don't like being filmed. It's because they don't like evidence than can be used to hold them accountable. They'll often lie about the legality of filming them (spoiler: it's legal). Getting involved is even riskier because you'll catch charges, injuries, or death as well. The US justice system is heavily biased towards law enforcement, and they have a thing called qualified immunity, which further protects them from accountability. Filming a police encounter in the US is often the only way to prove anything happened.
Except that most police departments now have body cams for all cops. That has cut down on the monkey business.
Load More Replies...A generation of voyeur behavior. Just record and watch rather than try to stop needless violence. It’s like people who watch a concert they are at rather than enjoy a show. I would rather do what’s right and potentially get hurt than do nothing. But that’s just me.
They’re the only ones who actually were punished for it
Load More Replies...I am one of the few that does not own a smartphone. I saw a white racist skinhead harassing a Black woman in her car at a gas station. I wished I had a phone to call the police and I was about to go into the store to inform the manager. But three Black guys who were the girl's friends came out of the store and started to beat the skinhead up. All the other people just started to film the beating. No one calls the police. After a couple of kicks to his head, the beating stopped , and the skinhead just gets up and goes in the store like it was just a typical day for him. People are weird.
A few years ago when my wife and I were on vacation in the mountains I was sitting near the river where a guy was fishing. He slipped and fell in the water, and I ran over to see if he needed help. His first question was "You didn't film that, did you?" It never would have occurred to me to do that.
Not only is it a frustration by this generation. It's cringe all over the place!
People thinking it’s socially acceptable to play music/videos out loud on their phones in public. Ain’t nobody wanna hear that s**t.
I regularly use public transport and I rarely see anyone doing this. (About once every 3 Months or so.) Usually they are kids about 13 to 18 years old but similar behaviour occurred at my generation too. So ... what?
You're lucky! In our metro and bus system in my city it's daily, often with multiple people in each car regardless of when you ride. TV shows, games, music, speakerphone calls, recording tik toks - relentlessly irritating, especially when they're at competing volumes
Load More Replies...For real! I remember getting off work and just trying to have a drink and dude is watching episodes of Seinfeld at full volume. BTW Definitely in his 50s. He was NOT Gen-Z. 100% Gen-X and I'm Gen-X and I hate that behavior. Always had that issue with that.
This ain't a gen z thing, the second boom box's were made in the 70's people have been blasting music in public spaces, the truth is it's actually calmed down since the 80's-00's. You couldn't go to a park or a beach without someone blasting music.
It's so bizarre-- I hear this more and more when I'm hiking and biking now. People will be out for walks or bike riding and blasting music. I adore music, but sometimes I just wanted to hike peacefully in nature and hear the sounds of the birds without listening to Taylor Swift.
Very interesting to me because where i live run public spaces ban that and you will be asked to leave.
Subscription based everything.
I'm tired of having to subscribe (even for free) to every newspaper, online news service, magazine just to read an article forwarded to me by friend. It's just a way of getting my email so that they can bombard me with ads.
I use an old version of Photoshop because it's good enough for my day-to-day photo editing but mainly because of the new subscription method. And do you know the seat heating is factory installed in BMWs, but in some models it will not work until you SUBSCRIBE for seat heating? It's crazy!
I have very few subscriptions. Those tend to bleed you dry before you notice it. So whenever I come across the subscribe to use the service box, I almost always opt out. I want to own my products, not let you poke the trunk directly into my bank account and make a permanent attachment.
as millenial, i am on this with you, everything today is on subscription, tv subscription, streaming subscription, internet subscription, phone subscription, car subscription, software subscription, game subscription then game pass subscription, and you have to buy the game also, and that copy doesnt even belong to you, i have seen even food on subscription, gym subscription, rental subscription,.... i hate it
Remember back when people used to OWN things? Pepperidge Farm Remembers. By that I mean they own the copyright to "Pepperidge Farms" and there is no farm, BUT you can pay them money to use the name if you want to.
It seems increasingly impossible to actually outright own anything these days.
At first I thought it was fun. Then my subscriptions started having subscriptions and then everything turned into a subscription.
Gimp > Photoshop. Photoshop is so much better but so f*****g expensive with a subscription. Gimp is ok but it's free
Since Trump’s election in 2016, research has found that people have used the word “normalize” twice as much online. However, they’re using it differently than they used to. According to Merriam-Webster, it now refers to the "redefinition of modern discourse to allow extreme views to be considered normal.”
While standardizing new things can be powerful, freeing, and positive, it also has the potential to be damaging to society. We’ve rejected and created a lot of “normal” ideas over the years, mainly because creating societal norms helps us navigate interactions with others and allows us to thrive together as a collective.
This biggest thing of all; refusal to accept other opinions, also people be taking opinions as facts.
Depends. We can have different opinions on pineapple pizza or Star Wars movies. But arguing whether, like, queer people deserve basic rights? That's not an "opinion".
Everybody has an opinion on something, whether that is pineapples belong on pizza or not or whether queer folks deserve basic rights. That is their opinion, and they are entitled to it. Doesn't make it right or wrong - it is simply an opinion. Nothing more, nothing less. Personally, I think folks who go under the knife to have a sex charge are wrong. That's a personal opinion. I do not berate those who do, mainly because I don't know them, and it's not my business. It's just an opinion. On that same note, though, folks who disagree with me should not berate me for my opinion. That is wrong. All they need to say is "I disagree." We'll agree to disagree. End of conversation. Move on to something else.
Load More Replies...I miss the days when people with opposing political views could simply agree to disagree.
Bigger problem IMO is people taking opinions as fact. It's the Fox News Effect.
Agreed & it seems a lot of the commentors here like to peddle their hate filled opinions & except no backlash.
Load More Replies...Everyone is obviously allowed to have an opinion but when that opinion becomes apparent that it's a dangerous one to others? Then they need to be shut down. I'm talking about very serious matters such as Domestic Violence, Sexual Abuse etc.
"If society's practice of tolerance is inclusive of the intolerant, intolerance will ultimately dominate, terminating the tolerant and the practice of tolerance with them" - Karl Popper. Or in short: no, not every opinion has to be accepted!
So true! You don't have to hate someone just because their opinion doesn't match yours!
It depends on what that opinion is. If my opinion is that you should have no rights because of how you were born. I would expect hate.
Load More Replies...People must learn the skill of cordially disagreeing. The world isn't going to end, and I know some subjects are dealbreakers, but not every disagreement is the end of the absolute world.
I'm actually speechless on this one. Gen Z, I love you, I have 3 of you. Please stop conflating people not agreeing with everything you say as refusal to accept your opinion. Further, the respect needs to go both ways.
This should be on top. I don't get why someone's opinion is seen for a fact. Everyone should have their opinion, no exceptions. And everyone should be able to speak up. But an opinion is something vastly different than a fact.
I think just looking absolutely perfect on social media. We’ve been so accustomed to filtered faces with 10lbs of makeup on, that we forget things like dark circles and fine lines are perfectly normal. I mean, I saw this 28-year-old woman on TikTok get torn apart for looking like a 28-year-old woman and there’s kids as young as 10 investing in skincare?? Why are 10-year-olds afraid of aging? It’s like we don’t even want to look human anymore, and we have to cover up every little flaw whether it be with makeup or a filter and I’m sick of it.
Thank god I'm Gen X, none of this existed while I was young enough to care about my body image. What a mess
We DID have “heroin chic” and body shaming but yeah, not this kind of pressure 24/7. It must be awful
Load More Replies...What’s funny is that sometimes it’s the flaws that make good looks interesting, rather than more of the same. I certainly don’t want to look like anyone else but myself, flaws and all, because that’s all part of what makes me stand out. Make the most of what you’ve been given—-most importantly, your intrinsic qualities—-and you will do just fine in life.
Aging isn't 10% as creepy as whatever happens to people who try not to.
Can't Sephora and co. apply entry regulations for unsupervised teens below 16 or so?
I bought make up at 12. I experimented, didn't wear it outside. It's social media saying you're less than, or you have to change everything you are to fit in. Make up should subtly enhance your appearance, not change you into a clone. We prided ourselves on looking different, now they all try to look the same.
Load More Replies...10 year old are being groomed by social media. The biggest issue is the parents - they not only allow it, they ENCOURAGE it. They a FOMO by proxy. Truly parents do not want their child to have missed out, be different, so they make them sheep - and don't care one bit about long term ramifications. Children should NEVER EVER be on social media 18 will happen soon enough and hopefully by then they are fairly well adjusted people who have a decent sense of who they are
This is so true.A lot of them are idolising the Kardashian look .Beauty is subjective.There is no one ideal body.People are trying to achieve a level of perfection that is impossible to achieve without being fake.Dark circles,wrinkles,stretch marks,fine lines,some cellulite etc is normal!
Preventative care is one thing, sunscreen for example. Tweens could probably benefit from a basic routine with a cleanser and moisturizer. However, some brands or ingredients have no business being in their hands - completely inappropriate.
Social media is both a very cool medium, as well as it is a curse and an online pillory
I wish someone would have taught me to take better care of my skin at a young age. Can't count the number of blistering sunburns I had. My kids have always had good skincare routines because of my bad experiences.
applying sunscreen and moisturizer at a young age is great! But retinol and collagen?
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Tipping.
If you kids want to restructure the entire service industry economy of the USA I'm down to help. But I'm a bit busy right now trying to keep a fascist bastard from turning the entire country into the worst version of Handmaid's Tale. After Mango Menace is gone I'm totally down.
this custom should stay across the ocean in the america, dont bring that b******t to EU or other continents....
Hairdressers, nail techs, etc. They are artists and you are paying for their skills for individual, custom work on YOU.
Load More Replies...Tipping is always about your service, they provided a service. You should tip. The scene from Reservoir Dogs where they talk about tipping... "You hear they're counting on your tips to live?"
As a waitress in no-tipping-country, tipping sometimes for an exceptional service is nice gesture. But what makes it so special is that it's not expected at all. And when someone tips you it's usually truly deserved. I recently got 10€ bill as a tip from an older lady who thanked me for always finding the time to talk with her for a monent every time she visits. Truly made my day (and the thank you more than the money).
Ever since I moved back to the U.S. for work and family (I have family in both the U.S and U.K.), I feel like I'm pressured to tip almost everywhere. I walk into a coffee shop, pay for my overpriced coffee with my debit card, and the barista turns the screen around and a tip screen shows up. There are people behind me who can see said tip screen and I feel bad if I don't tip. It is so damned manipulative. So, I'm going to start paying with cash instead. Pay your workers a damned living wage, U.S. It's sad that you rely on public patronage to pay your employees.
I agree but keep in mind most people arent judging. A lot of times thats just the default settings and managers don't care enough to reach out to the providers to get it changed
Load More Replies...I believe I tipping well for good service, not because it is expected.
Even though a lot of these “normalize” posts we see online are jokes, there are also a lot of them that aren’t. This blurred line between sarcasm and genuine beliefs about societal norms creates a way to lure people into accepting concerning standards.
Working 50-60 hours multiple jobs just to get by.
Across multiple jobs because nobody wants to pay overtime anymore.
My partner was offered overtime this weekend, but understandably turned it down when he found out that he was to be paid with comp time.
lmao what the s**t that is not what that's for that's not how any of this works.
Load More Replies...What's even more disturbing is when people "brag' about how many hours they work and how little sleep they get. No, it really isn't a flex to be overworked. I don't care if you think you need only four hours of sleep to function. Overwork catches up to you in strange ways. It's also incredibly sad that some employers can't pay their workers a living wage. I work in the languages services field where we are expected to have a Masters Degree at a minimum, yet we are paid s**t because translation and interpretation are seen as "commodities" and even pharmaceutical companies with all the damned money in the world just want to put everything through machine translation to "save money". It's pretty darn pitiful.
Pharmaceuticals is pretty much the one area where you'd think that actual human input would be essential to translation, for safety. I suspect people forget that it's not just word for word, that there are nuances that a machine just cannot replicate.
Load More Replies...So tired of this over the last 40 years. I don't know what this has to do with cohort generations.
I have a higher degree and work in Healthcare. It's the same in most industries. Exploit the workers and squeeze every penny for the greedy 1%. Folks who make statements like yours only enable the situation.
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Shaming short men for their height.
Basic good manners mean that you do not make comments about things people can't change.
i just dont get this i met a girl once we got on really well she liked me and i liked her but said she wouldnt date me because i wasnt taller than her
I keep telling my daughter and her friends that height is not a personality trait.
Load More Replies...Lots of upvotes for this, but as soon as someone posts a pic of a large truck the genital-shaming comments just pour in. If you want to downvote this comment or are feeling defensive, maybe you should ask yourself why you're so invested in being allowed to do this.
Tbf these people do need to be ridiculed - possibly just not in that way.
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People acting like the world revolves around them.
Main Character Syndrome. Sort of a proto narcissism. Met a few over the years and definitely predates Gen-Z. Although that's what they named it and it's a good name. I appreciate that.
I like that. Main Character Syndrome. Going to write that one down to remember.
Load More Replies...i get what this means but people also need to stop acting like putting yourself first is narcissistic.
If you see the world as revolving around you, that could explain your persistent dizziness.
I used to call it "people that think the equator runs through their a*se"
To be fair, Millenials and Gen Z normalized this in the first place. Gen X knew the world revolved around anyone *but* them, and Boomers were hit and miss, though the survivors of that generation *are* what the world revolves around now, since they have all the money.
When I was young, everyone in the music and entertainment industry were all narcissistic and self obsessed. Now with Tik Tok and Youtube, everyone has become an entertainer obsessed with themselves and their appearance.
Something to remember is their world does revolve around them, much like yours revolves around you.
Another danger that follows normalization is complacency, a sort of calm satisfaction with the situation we’re in. Once something becomes standard, we are no longer opposed to it, no matter what the thing is.
Let’s use Trump as an example again. Many people didn’t like that he became president, and some even threatened to move if he got elected. Those who said that obviously didn't, and the rest got used to the idea of such a person running the US, subsidizing their resistance and protests.
Selfishness and the whole idea of "I don't owe anyone anything" attitude.
Yes look out for yourself but people have become quite dismissive of others and then we end up in a loneliness epidemic...
Can go the complete opposite direction for some major empathetic people who always overdo taking care of others though (like my Mom who is a nurse). For them, they could use a little be more of a dose of taking care of themselves a bit before others (like oxygen masks on an airplane).
Don't let others manipulate you or walk over you, and prioritize your well-being, but if you're unwilling to inconvenience yourself for people you care about when necessary, you might find they're not willing to inconvenience themselves when YOU are in need.
Selfishness isn't a one-way street. Witnessing a crime being committed, yet not reporting it; being aware of domestic violence or child abuse in your neighborhood or apartment complex, yet convincing yourself that "it's not your business, just as a couple of examples. It eventually comes full circle. Too late, too many people find out that when THEY are the victim, they don't have the exclusive rights to selective sight and hearing.
It is a really tricky subject when it comes to domestic violence. Regarding getting the authorities involved, there are many examples of it only making the matters worse (e.i. repporting him may be what pushes him into the corner, where the only option he sees is killing her out of desperation). That is exactly why so many victims do not do it themselves, and instead stays in a really bad relationship.
Load More Replies...unless you made some kind of deal with someone, you don't owe them anything. also this "I don't owe anyone anything" phrase is almost always used when harassment and abuse is happening. you don't owe that creepy guy a text back, you don't owe that weird man a smile, and you don't owe anyone who makes you uncomfortable politeness.
☕☕☕ Nobody owes anyone anything. However friendship and relationships are give and take.
This is common on board Panda where the first 5 suggestions are to dump them and go no contact.
yes, and the wierd part is that that attitude often comes as a package with thinking that that person is also entitled to recieving a lot of things from other people. It goes both ways buddy, if you don't want to offer people around you anything, why shouldn't they feel the exact same way. The art to master is that of making "deals" where both people feel like they win, and where they gain more than they put in. What is worth very little to you, and doesn't cost you much to give, can be exactly what someone else desperately need in that situation, and it will mean a heck of a lot to them to get it. So if you want to receive when you need it, you need to give when you can, so you have something on your account to draw from. That is what relationships are about.
They always will with that attitude, and you’ll deserve it!
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Over consumption, fast fasion, factory farming, rampant homo-/transphobia or bigotry in general.
Welcome to late stage capitalism worldwide. Next stop: AI / Automation / Robot Revolution
I would like to welcome our automaton overlords and offer my services in enslaving the human race. :-)
Load More Replies...I agree with most of that, but I would like some clarification on what OP means by factory farming. There has been an astonishing change in the amount of food produced by each person working in agriculture in the last hundred years, so if we are going to make a radical change from current practices a large number of people who aren't currently directly involved in food production will need to change careers, or we will have worldwide famines. I welcome anyone who disagrees with me to down vote, but if you do so please explain your reasoning, and with facts, not feelings.
I found a seamstress down thew road from work, has saved loads of cloths for me . Not just the money I save but what gets used for to or three more years.
The idea that companies or economies should produce more each year when we are rapidly consuming every natural resource.
to many people? more sexual education and equal marrages over the world?
Load More Replies...When I used to managed pubs and bars every year we got a higher target to get are bonus. It made no sense, back the before the euro, the pound or Deutsche Mark being a higher or lower were big factors in spending. Important dates falling on weekends or week dates. Some managers would check turnover every hour, driving the staff crazy.
Waste of food, while you think you are doing right thing. I live by one rule, never purchase more than I need. Maybe if states weren’t busy forcing farmers to lose their farms. We can’t farm to table if there are no farms left. Humankind will find a way to remove themselves from the problem.
Journalist Evan Hecht warns that if we agree to normalize everything, it desensitizes people to real problems around a certain topic. He urges us to think about words like “gaslight” and "trigger,” which both describe bad things that happen to people. Their overuse or misuse takes away the importance of what they communicate. Throwing this word around can hurt people in the long run, as they might not realize they’re in a situation where these things are happening.
Smoking/vaping. I understand cigarettes were a big thing in the past but now I see a lot more people vaping or casually smoking weeeds. Everything’s got pretty colors and fun flavors to appeal to younger and younger people. If I’m remembering correctly I saw an article somewhere that cigarette smoke is at an all time low while also mentioning vaping is at record highs.
"Hey kids do you want lung cancer and a nicotine addiction?" "No, ew" "But it's mango flavoured" "Then absolutely, yes"
I started vaping to quit smoking and it worked. But now I am finding it is harder to quit vaping than it was to quit smoking.
when I was a kid (90s) a lot of my classmates started smoking at the age of 12. Why should it be different for this generation? bad habits (as a rebellion act, or to be cool) will always pop up, no matter what.
There's rebellion acts that kids can do that don't slowly kill though
Load More Replies...Disgusting habits that can kill you. Would you like to have real fun? Get cancer and then chemotherapy and radiation. During treatments, remember how much fun it was to smoke.
Smoking is not edgy and rebellious.Cancer and addiction is not cool.Don’t do the try it once and leave it technique with addictive substances.You can’t miss something you have never had.Even the most self controlled and disciplined can fall into the clutches of addiction.
I honestly have to object to the whole "targeting children" thing. Adults can't like some variety in their d**g of choice?
They’re purposely marketing to children tho. Same thing happened with Camel cigarettes when they made a cartoon about the camel. They knew what they were doing.
Load More Replies...I vape because it allows me to continue my addiction and self destruction while also giving me back lung capacity and increased sense of smell and taste. Cigarettes really dulled my ability to taste and smell things. I breathe better, I smell better, and I taste better. Quit shaming vapers or whatever
The shaming isnt about people going from smoking to vaping... it's about the people who dont smoke picking up vaping because it's trendy and being marketed as safe.
Load More Replies...We spent decades trying to un-normalize smoking, and then the vapeheads appeared.
The constant dehumanization that everybody seems to do to the people they don't like.
That is a by-product of the digital world being as important or more important than the real world. Empathy and understanding go out the window when you are a online keyboard warrior.
While the digital world has been contributing to this in many ways, how many wars, genocides, enslavements, abuses, or other heinous acts have been rationalized as acceptable because the perpetrators deemed their targets as less than human?
Load More Replies...These two women been arguing all over the pages of BP for a while. For a while I thought one was winning but they seem to be at an impasse now.
This comes from Hitlers play book, if you dehumanize country it's much easier to invade and kill them. Inferior, rapist, murderers. Ring a bell???
Yea groups can be really damning. It doesn't mean anything except maybe shows that they are a******s.
hah, good luck getting rid of this. sounds like people who swear up and down they "don't hate anyone". that's not true.
This one is the worst for me. I remember there was a case her on the tram line where a 14yo girl in a hajib was attacked and her hood ripped off by a woman who was screaming "This is DONALD TRUMP'S country now", back in 2018. I saw her speak and tell her story and I cried. That kid was assaulted because she was Muslim. I'm an Atheist and I cried.
Don't criticize the person, just their actions if you don't like what they do.
Children obsessed with retinol products and thinking that 20 year olds look “old”.
OK this needs to stop! This is horrible quack medicine. Rubbing Vitamin A into your skin doesn't prevent wrinkles. Not only that but you can overdose on retinol supplements. Rubbing it on your skin is safe enough but some people are ODing from direct ingestion. You want to look younger, wear normal foundation. The way some of this is actually dangerous.
You want to look younger? Wear sunscreen and a hat and take care in the sun from an early age.
Load More Replies...Children have always, and will always think 20 is old. It's perspective. When you're 8, 20 is far, far far away.
It is fine for children to experiment with makeup and enjoy skin care. HOWEVER, children and young teens do not need to use harsh retinols, anti-wrinkle creams, AHA scrubs that can actually damage their skin. It makes me sad that there is so much pressure on children and teens via TikTok, Instagram, and their own peers to purchase skin care products they don't need in order to fit in.
If you hear any skin care advice in your life and implement it, let it be this; SPF. Every few hours or after you go in the water. If you don’t use a good sunscreen (and it HAS to be sunscreen, the one in your foundation isn’t enough), you may as well just forget all your other skincare, because it isn’t going to do s**t. You need to protect your moisture barrier with gentle cleansers and use f*****g sunscreen!!!
I was so shocked to see botox injection commercials for people in their twenties or thirties (not the age I think of when I picture botox users) talking about how much "better" they look but I don't see any different in the before/after images. It's insane.
I have never heard of kids that young using retinol products. This is a thing? Teens with acne maybe.
Back in my day children were seen and not heard. There is also a long running joke between the old and young to make fun of eachother. We all simply change roles.
He proposes that we should learn to embrace how to destigmatize things over normalizing. When you stigmatize something, you remove the association of shame or guilt from certain actions or behaviors. He further explains, “To destigmatize taboo things, such as sex work, creates an environment that can still acknowledge the benefits and consequences of the action while making it something widely accepted. Normalization simply removes the idea of consequences, as the act is now considered “normal.”
Credit card debt.
Credit cards have their place, especially if you live in the US, where credit scores are important. An example: my husband and I have both worked really hard to attain and keep a very good credit score. We just recently paid off our house and have no car payments. Now, our credit score is going down because we don't have a monthly payment. Enter a credit card. We purchase groceries and gas on the card, and pay the card off twice per month, which maintains the credit score. I find the whole thing irritating as hell, but it's what we've got to work with here. 🙄
I heartily agree. I never had a credit card, had a low credit score because I paid everything upfront and tried to avoid debt. Wanted to buy a house and couldn't. My rent was more than my mortgage would be and I had excellent payment records, but that doesn't matter, Had to pay to get a secured credit card set it up to pay my car ins. automatically every month, then set my bank to pay the credit card that amount evry month and guess what? NOW I am credit worthy. WTAF? Sooo dumb. Note to parents in the US. If you have a card that you maintain put your kids on as an authorized user. you dont give them a card or anything, but now because you make reliable payments you are helping to build their credit so when they go to get their first car, rent their first apartment etc they have a decent score.
Load More Replies...In the USA having a credit card that you pay off monthly is a very good idea, as your credit score has a huge influence over the interest rate that you pay on future borrowing/mortgages/car payments. Using a credit card for large purchases gives financial protection and can also have some nice cash-back perks.
Load More Replies...Credit cards are amazing if you know how to utilize them. We're going overseas next month and our tickets are free! Paid with points.
No; that's the privilege of higher income. Most people do not qualify for the type of card you are talking about.
Load More Replies...Debt can work for you if circumstances are right. We bought a house knowing we would not be able to pay off the mortgage by the time we retired. The plan was to fix it up and sell it for a profit, then retire in a smaller house we paid cash for. The inflation of housing cost the last few years worked to our advantage and we made a huge amount of money when we sold that house.
Does gen z think they should not have to pay when they use their credit cards? The dept comes from spending more than you have.
If you incur debt, you have to pay it back. Nobody, government included, is going to rescue you from your poor decisions.
Loss of biodiversity. It's in your own back yard and nobody does anything. Every new project is a loss of ecosystem that many animals relied on.
Speaking of biodiversity in your own backyard....just this morning I watched 3 deer, one fox, 8 wild turkeys and a flock of geese in around the field in my backyard!
This is why I did not clear my entire lot, only what was necessary. I woke up one morning to find 8 deer in my backyard. I love sitting on my porch and watching the wildlife around me. Well, till the overly friendly squirrels chase me back inside : )
We've let the back yard kind of do whatever. Grandma liked to garden so we had some start with plants that look nice. Our neighbors immediately to the left and right have nothing, and it's so boring. Neighbors behind us are working on a curated selection of gorgeous plants. We get the best birds, and I like being outside and looking at the plants we have and the plants that have showed up.
College tuition.
If college costs are so high that only the rich can afford them, who does that benefit, I wonder?
Or having colleges and university having percentages of “minorities “ It’s not where you go for a higher education so long as it’s available to everyone (hey Stanford, Harvard, Yale, and Princeton have graduated some serious dumb bunnies, but mommy and daddy want to be able to say their children graduated. If your kids want to half a*s their way through and they are willing to pay, how about helping an inner city student not get beat down by a system designed for income over education.
Not only that, but the way interest is calculated on student loans...start out as a $30,000 loan somehow becomes almost $300,000.... that needs to be fixed.
The issue here isn't going to college. The issue is people going to expensive universities vs going to community/state colleges. Average cost of in-state community college ranges from $1k-$4k per year, whereas university averages around $20k per year. You can get an associates, and even a bachelor's degree at community colleges, and if you are going to a higher level of education, then go to a university. Most places don't care where you get your degree, as long as you have one. If my Googling is correct, Oxford and Cambridge aren't free, either.
I think you might be a bit confused? Community colleges don’t offer bachelor’s degrees. But public universities are much cheaper than private universities, and you can save more money by going to community college the first two years.
Load More Replies...To go to any kind of school costs money too in the Netherlands.... (maybe not as much and part of it is "voluntarily obliged". Like, very much supposed to pay it. And if you don't, you can still can go to school without missing on education or extra's. Yet, when too few people pay that - the extras can't be funded and will stop for everyone).
Load More Replies...But the question is: why is it so easy for us to normalize even the worst kinds of behavior and events? Well, the rationalization of morally bad things usually aligns with whatever society deems acceptable at the time. A good example is greenwashing, where a company makes its product seem as environmentally friendly as possible without making any changes to it. They do so because they’re aware that people care about the earth they live on, or at least pretend to.
Alcohol. Period.
Cracks beer. Sorry not giving that one up. Not downvoting either BYW. I don't tell you what to do with your body, you don't tell me what to do with mine OK?
Right! Alcohol isn't the answer, but it's worth a shot. ;)
Load More Replies...There's a fundamental difference in the way alcohol is normalised in countries where they binge drink and countries with a wine culture. Not giving names to not stir the pot 🙃
There's so many differen't ways to consume alcohol. As a Finn, we have a reputation of drinking a lot. And of course there's some bad drinking and alcohol problems, but also customs like having a beer/cider (usually beer, but I don't like them so I'll have my cider) after sauna to kickstart a weekend and there's nothing bad in that.
We've normalised a d**g you can kill yourself with in one sitting. We have allowed it to skate by while we've banned other things less or just as harmful and place less restrictions on it than smoking (in my country) You don't need to be an 'alcoholic' to shorten your life considerably with it. But a blind eye is turned..
The obvious solution is to decriminalize all those other things.
Load More Replies...Nothing inherently wrong with alcohol, in moderation of course. It is the culture that if you don't consume mass quantities you are "not cool/not a real man/party pooper/etc.". Some people feel like they have to get sloshed to fit in and have a good time, only to reveal some less than nice character traits. I prefer to have my one or two beers and let people think I am an idiot then get wasted and prove it.
Yeah I learned that alcoholics are NOT your friends! & Will just drag you down with them when they fall!
Some, thankfully, get back up, but they will try to use you as a life raft while poking holes in you at the same time.
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Children being obsessed with technology. sure as kids a lot of us were on the internet but i was never on it literally all the time. kids nowadays have actual meltdowns if they can’t be on their ipad rotting away their brains for 2 seconds.
u/nobearpineapples:
My youngest is brother 8 and if he’s not on the VR he’s on his computer, and he’s not on either it’s because he’s eating at the table with his tablet/ipad
Sorry but nobearpineapple’s parents are to blame for that situation. They should have restricted time on the iPad. Especially an 8 year old. A tablet can be a great creative and educational device. Just put the right apps on it and block the internet.
Absolutely, when I was a kid it was wanting to read a book or a little later wanting to watch TV. It was my parents job to tell me "we're at the dinner table just focus on your dinner and the people at the table". It's not different now, only the distraction has changed.
Load More Replies..."I'm a 21st century digital boy, I don't know how to read but I've got a lot of toys"
Unpopular opinion: If this is the way that our society is going and will be when these kids grow up (way too quickly I'm sure), then isn't in their best interest to be obsessed with this technology to be able to succeed, grow and work in that new insanely futuristic environment?
Knowing the technology and being obsessed with it are two very different things. Some kind of balance between indulging in tech and taking care of your body and mind would be preferable, I think.
Load More Replies...It is a behaviour that sneaked into our communities and families. Everybody, children and adults alike, IS Not able to live without digital devices for some quality time. We are at the table for dinner... the phone is nearby. We go out for a coffee with a friend... the phone is sitting on the table or in our hands. We are watching a movie in cinema... phones everywhere. And this behaviour is given to our children because they are watching their parents. It is normal so they just want to do the same.
How about an app that parents control that stalls out what their kids are doing at dinner time so actual, real face to face communication is used.
Parents let technology parent. Car ride, oh dear here is a DVD player. Grocery shopping, play with my phone. They have been giving kids technology since they could sit up. ENGAGE with your children. Car rides can and should be a time to talk and laugh and explore. If the kids are arguing in the backseat, what a great time to teach them about getting along. Grocery stores - ask your child for help, they can pick up things, they can check and compare prices and expiration dates. STOP HANDING THEM A DISTRACTION!
Exactly!! My niece has a no screen of any kind rule for her kids until they are 7 or 8. No TV, no ipad, no playing on mom's phone, no video games, nothing! If they go to a house and the TV is on, she will take her kids to another room to play. It's hard on a stay at home mom not to have screens as babysitters but it will make for smarter, more imaginative kids!
Load More Replies...You never see or hear kids play outdoors anymore. If it weren't for the school bus dropping off kids, I would swear we live in kid-free zone.
Thats propably a problem of the surroundings you live in
Load More Replies...Children have always been obsessed with technology and they always will be.
Very high tipping percents, like 20-25%. It will eventually get to a point where people protest due to the high prices. Hell, there are even some people doing custom 0% now!
The backlash against tipping is growing. So, SO many people are asking for tips now, expecting them, during a time when people are working full time jobs and still living in their cars. So many situations are at a boiling point right now, at least in my country (US), and tipping is one of them.
not sure why you got downvoted, its true and its not like YOU are responsible!!
Load More Replies...Me too! The complainers lie and say they want to help the workers. But the workers benefit from it. The complainers just want free labor.
Load More Replies...Allowing companies to not pay a livable wage forces you to make up the difference. People have to live. Either the employer pays them or your tips and public services pay them.
Its not tipping that's too high... It's the executive's and board members income... Man people are dumb and just don't understand math
Sorry, I don't think the minimum wage is enough, however servers in the US do essentially get base pay for if they don't make enough tips. The $2.13 is only applicable for when the tips cover or exceed the minimum wage. If they don't make money in tips they get paid federal.
if I have to tip I cant afford to eat or drink out so I don't, a beer can cost up to €8 and food for 1 person will be €20 so no I cant afford it, but its my once a week treat to myself so why should I feel guilty about not tipping
Load More Replies...It might not be an easy pill to swallow, but we’ve also normalized things that shouldn’t have been in the first place. Like racism or ableism, for example. The US still doesn’t make free healthcare or accessible architecture a given, and disabled people don’t have the same opportunities as able people. And when a black person gets shot or abused by a white policeman, we care for a while and might even think, “Something has to change.” But after some time, we move on, and everything remains the same until we see another victim on the news.
Predatory loans.
That's one that's been happening since the '70s. They should be outlawed. I rarely cite the bible, but usury is something Jesus himself was against it. Most American conservatives DELIBERATELY choose to ignore that one.
They ignore anything Jesus said that sounds "woke" to them. Which is almost everything He said.
Load More Replies...Scammers have been around since the dawn of time. Because we’ve come to accept sociopathic behavior as the norm. (Yeah I’m talking to you Patrick McGhee in India or the Philippines)
Payday lenders, store credit cards (up to 30% interest!) and rent to buy are the worst. I'd take a credit card with a low interest rate over any of them. Need a fridge or a washing machine? Don't rent it. Get a credit card and buy it. Then immediately destroy the physical credit card so you don't use it again. Pay off the credit card at the same rate you'd pay off the appliance rental (or higher if you can afford it). You'll be miles better off.
Just as an addendum, rental place here charges $15 a week to rent a medium fridge on a 3 year rental (you don't own the fridge at the end BTW). So that's $2,340 for a fridge that costs $749 to buy new (not counting getting lucky with specials) and you don't even keep the fridge. In comparison a 13% interest credit card would cost a total of $845 over 2 years at $35 a month. That's a lower payment per month, paid off a full year quicker, saving roughly $1500 dollars AND you get to keep the fridge. If you choose to pay it off at $65 a month (same amount as rental) it'd be paid back in a year for about $800 total.
Load More Replies...Dave is a really helpful app, it's $1/month and you can receive small advances which are then deducted from your next paycheck. I can currently access $75, and this service comes in handy.
Wonga collapsed in 2018. Thank gosh. It's interest rate on a loan was 5853%. If you're absolutely stuck though you can often end up looking up these loans if something really drastic or an emergency has happened such as a house fire.
Sharing your real name, face, etc. online.
I saw a post (I think it was a listicle here, actually) where a poster has asked "if your social security numbers were money, how rich would you be? And ppl actually answered with their social security numbers!!!! I mean how stupid do you have to be to blast that info out there?!?
Facebook? Your real name is shared online. I remember when you used to be able to use a nickname etc... But it caused problems, especially for people who were being stalked etc. But... I don't know... I'd like anonymity but the amount of people hiding behind fake names and accounts so they could harass and verbally abuse others? It got bad at one point.
Snapchat, tikTok etc with their first name (being careful, lol) their school, their city, their jersey number for sport, what sport they play, where they work. Yeah, that first name only will fool EVERYONE ::eye roll:: Then they add people just because they have *mutuals* . And the parents are NO WHERE TO BE FOUND or worse, they do the same and post pics and vids of their kids.
Developing parasocial relationships with celebrities.
Which is funny, considering all the celeb posts here at Bored Panda today and yesterday.
We all had our crushes long before even my generation. But we didn't have social media like today. You wanted to crush on Madonna in the '80s? You wrote her a letter. Gen-X BTW. Never really crushed on her anyway, but it was the first example that came to mind.
My sister is a Musk fan girl, I'm sure if he asked her to spawn offspring and call it X$%^" she would.
Just because some clicks acceptance of friends does not make it so. It’s quantity over quality.
After all, normalization is partly normal, even biologically. Emotions come from our brains, and the mind wants to be happy in order to be productive. And it can’t be content and productive if they are forced to feel grief for everything that happens to strangers. So to adequately function, we "normalize.” But the media takes advantage of the brain’s coping and survival tactics, so people accept the way things are and remain nonchalant.
Going out in public and upset or annoyed at benign small talk or social interactions. I get it, we don’t necessarily feel social every time we are forced yo leave the house, but we’ve made it far to normal to react with disgust to simple friendliness.
Reaction with disgust isn't the best behaviour, but some people could still learn to leave others alone if they clearly don't want to interact. As an introvert with social anxiety, I try to be polite to everyone and I answer to the greeting/questions, but start to shut down with longer unwanted conversations. And if a person clearly is uncomfortable, avoids eye contact and answers in short words, the other one should really understand that they want to be alone.
BE KIND PERIOD. I hired a young woman who is on the spectrum. She is the friendliest, kindest person in this office! "Good morning, good evening, how are you"... to EVERYONE, every single day! However, I caught another one of my employees making fun of her and it caught me off guard, I couldn't believe it! But, without even thinking, I stopped him right there and I told him, in front of everyone, that if I ever hear him speak like that again about anyone, especially her that I would first, embarrass him on the floor just as he has done to her and then I would fire him... after about an hour, of course, me being me, I started to wonder if I was too harsh...? But, I didn't have to wonder long. He came up to me at the end of the day and told that he has done nothing but think about what I said to him and how right I was and how sorry he was and that he will never, ever do that again to her or anyone else. I will always stand up for those who need or deserve it.
Small talk is fine for acquaintances, but we need more substantial conversation if we will be friends. Greetings aren't conversation and I'm not satisfied by them.
Not everybody likes talking to strangers. Some find it awkward, some have trust issues/traumas/phobias/anything else, some are from cultural background where having small talks with strangers isn't normal. Do your small talk if you must but please don't be upset or rude when another person doesn't want to humour you. It isn't for everyone.
I think the difference is those sort of people aren't the ones in this story. The ones in the story are the sort who will loudly and obnoxiously grumble about having to talk with someone. The "UGH why are you so cheery" people, not the "Please just let me get through my day" type people.
Load More Replies...I think if somebody ignores your attempt at a chat, we should just leave it. I have yet to be offended by this.
I used to be a very social person to the point of putting tables together (if they want) and laugh out loud. Now? I don’t go out but when I do I try to have fun and make the most of my inner child (Marco Polo in a Walmart, sometimes we get extra players) People laugh, sometimes engage, but always let loose )
Some cultures don't casually interact with people they aren't acquainted with and react negatively if you engage them. The OP is probably from the US where casually interjecting yourself into other peoples conversation or chatting up a stranger is the norm. Bless your heart. :-)
Cheating on romantic partners.
Cheating isn't normalised. But - monogamy, as the *only* form of relationship shouldn't be. It works for some people - it doesn't work for some others. I think there would be A LOT less cheating if possibility of being in *healthy* polyamorous relationships would be normalised or at least not frowned upon.
Monogamy isn't normalised as the only form of relationship, as anyone who goes on dating apps can see when trying to find people who are strictly monogamous.
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Male customers recording me making their coffee at work.
In the US, if you're in public, yes, generally it is. The business can ask you to stop but that's about it.
Load More Replies...It's not necessarily a kink. Hell they don't even know if the person recording is straight, gay or something else. They may just think "wow it's really cool the way you make that latte art, I gotta put it on my socials". That said, I think there's room to ask the barista if they mind you filming them making coffee.
Load More Replies...We are allowed to kick customers out if they try to record us without permission. Actually we are allowed to even press our robbery button for that. (The secret button under every cash register that alerts the security officer immediately). Usually that's reserved for major disturbances, but apparently unwanted recording is major enough.
Alcohol. At the least, in the sense people think they NEED to drink to "fit in."
Cosmetic Surgery. People need to embrace their natural looks, IMO it's mostly fueled by insecurity. It shouldn't be "fixed," it should be addressed.
Hook-up Culture. At the least, people need to stop being tricked into 'you need to have sex,' instead of just waiting for the right person.
If you "need" alcohol, you have a drinking problem. From one who has been in recovery for 23 years.
Congrats that most be very hard. I used to over drink but I can slow down or not drink, it's hard in social setting but I can do it like the last month or so. I have friend who just can't stop.
Load More Replies...I actually think that alcohol is becoming less popular amongst youngsters.....I know a few parents who say that their 17/18 year olds are not interested in drinking at all. It's becoming more 'fashionable' to be teetotal, and it's great! This is just my opinion though :)
I'm just impressed I'm not the only one who uses teetotal. lol. I will have an occasional drink, but its not a norm.. my dad on the other hand is teetotal.
Load More Replies...I don't care what you do. Don't hurt those who can't protect themselves (children pets elderly) and you can poke cut snort watch drink do whatever you choose. Idgaf
Therein lies the problem. When you poke, cut, snort, drink, you don't CARE if you hurt those who are vulnerable and can't protect themselves.
Load More Replies...I live in Colorado and would much rather smoke a bowl than have a drink. Calorie-free and much cheaper. I sleep great and wake up without a hangover.
Why does BP always seem to have these “kitchen sink” sort of items in their lists? Especially when they usually have the same point as another item in the list?
The notion there is only one right person is toxic. Even if you do find this right person, circumstances can change, and you need to be prepared for that.
I used to feel the need for alcohol and woke up and realized that very same drink or a few into it made it easier to target me for an assault (I also found out I have an addictive personality) .. 20 + years of sobriety and life is a lot more intriguing. As for cosmetic surgery, it is sometimes necessary, but it’s always addictive. Hook ups used to be called one night stands, and everyone I know that that’s happened to, either it’s alcohol related or they admit in the morning they feel like they would rather gnaws their own arm off than wake what’s next to them. Maybe we should teach our children it’s better to be alone for the right reasons than with someone for the wrong ones. Besides, if you leave an establishment alone, you also leave that potential STD lottery there too. ( y generation called it “dodging a bullet”.
I have drunk a lot of alcohol in my life, I drank a few glasses of wine daily and suddenly one day about six monts ago I stopped. No reason for it other than I had no taste for it anymore. I do still drink a few glasses when I go out for a meal or to the pub or a concert. But at home I just don't fancy it anymore. I don't even miss it.
Sustained hopelessness in our generation's online activities and meme culture. I know we have it tough, but not enough of us seem to be operating on the principle that the human organism is a beautifully hardy thing that has historically weathered worse circumstances. Meditation is a great, free resource that channels the mystical properties of your imagination into a more comfortable internal projection of the world we live in.
I find this so sad, my 15 year old daughter came to me and said that she felt behind already because she doesn't have a job yet. She is already concerned that she will never have a house or be able to prosper because she isn't saving money already. I have reassured her as best I could, but I never felt that way at 15 and it makes me so sad for this generation.
You have it tough? The kids who got drafted into wars or lived through the great depression had it tough. The self pity of people nowadays is out of control.
A lot of us are probably gonna be homeless because of the economy, Gen Alpha are rude and will probably lead us into real life Idiocracy, Gen Z has the highest rate of mental illness with a lot of us having undiagnosed conditions. Oh! And all trauma is goddamn valid. Just because my great-grandfather had it worse during WW2 doesn’t mean my problems aren’t valid enough.
Load More Replies...Absolutely agree. Despite my generation's struggles (I'm a younger millenial), there are a lot of challenges I'm grateful my generation hasn't had to face. Why do we fixate so much on gloom and doom, then wonder why we're so depressed?
This one should be higher. I am dismayed by how many young people seem to be incredibly focused on the negatives (real and perceived) in their lives instead of looking for the positives. And yes, I know times are tougher for some people than they've been in the past, but they're also better than they've been at times in the past.
Well when the smartest people worldwide agree that humanity is going to fall civilization wise in 15 years and no one does anything that tends to have an effect on the subconscious workings of society...
It is not normal to be in the prime of your life and spending almost all of your free time alone, indoors, and addicted to video games and computers. That would be considered extraordinarily abnormal, worrying behavior in previous generations, a sign someone was extremely broken and depressed. Today it is the defacto norm for a *huge* swath of people.
Excuse me? Just because not everyone is a social butterfly and extrovert doesn't mean they should get called out like this. I just happen to be happiest at home and seeing as few people as possible. And no, I'm not addicted to video games and computers.
I think this is me. I'm not necessarily a couch potato or a gamer but I read a lot. And I'm introverted and a homebody. I always push people away and get a bit of anxiety when they get too close. It's the norm for many of us because we know we're dysfunctional and keep others at a safe distance. I just ended a romantic relationship of a year because I'm afraid. I just ghosted the person. Cats and books can't hurt us like people can.
Ghosting another person is not ok. Send them an email or something if you can't talk to them face to face.
Load More Replies...I disagree. There is no 'prime of your life' unless you mean young. This is a farce. I can be in the prime of my life while chiling with my cat on the couch reading a book on a saturday night if I want. Also, people form many meaningful friendships online. Just because it would've been considered as abnormal by previous generations doesn't make it the norm.
You need to know more before you pass such a sweeping judgement. Like any hobby, gaming is sometimes abused. But in my experience, that's rare. Most gamers I've met are responsible people who simply chose gaming as a means to unwind rather than sports, gardening, crafting, or whatever. And the online gaming community can be quite vibrant! You can keep up with friends who have moved away or meet new people all over the world while unwinding from a stressful day at work.
Gaming is escapism for me. I have friggin mental health issues and I shouldn’t be called out as “abnormal” by this article.
Load More Replies...When I was young they stayed home to read and watch TV. At least now they can play online games with other people.
BP on "childfree feminism": Yes, everyone should live as they please without others judging or even commenting on our choices. BP on computer games: Kids these days and their parents are utterly horrible human beings!!!
You should not worry what others are doing. If they choose to sit on a computer all of the time why do you care?
I have to disagree on one point, gaming isn't always a solo activity. In fact, most gamers find kindred spirits online, make friends and develop a long distance social life via their games. When I want my social fix, I just drop into voice chat and chill with people who are too far away to see in real life. I have no internet at home right now and I'm not missing my games, I'm missing the friends I play games with. But I'm sure to people who only know me from a distance, I just look like some sad loner who spends too much time gaming.
Bored Panda Staff: "Let's post this list every week. It's easier than finding new content."
Nonono, they have *brand new* celebrity tabloid stuff! I swear they do everything *except* what the users want.
Load More Replies...I don't like how sweeping generalizations and busybody moralism are "normalized", and yet here we are...
Acting like you don't like generalizations, but this list consists mostly of those generalizations. The scary part is that nobody can see that.
If you think Gen Z is annoyed by these things, ask a few boomers how they feel about it.
"We need to stop doing all the bad things...now." K...I'll add that to my list...thx.
Not my generation but I have one: Combatting an opinion you find offensive by making personal remarks/mocking the person. Eg. incel type makes a misogynist comment and people respond by saying something like “this coming from someone with a short d**k living in his mum’s basement”. What?! Making fun of someone’s physical attributes and economic status DOES NOT make you better. In fact, it’s just as bad. Be smart, be better. Address these things with robust, reasoned arguments - not insults. Grow up.
Bored Panda Staff: "Let's post this list every week. It's easier than finding new content."
Nonono, they have *brand new* celebrity tabloid stuff! I swear they do everything *except* what the users want.
Load More Replies...I don't like how sweeping generalizations and busybody moralism are "normalized", and yet here we are...
Acting like you don't like generalizations, but this list consists mostly of those generalizations. The scary part is that nobody can see that.
If you think Gen Z is annoyed by these things, ask a few boomers how they feel about it.
"We need to stop doing all the bad things...now." K...I'll add that to my list...thx.
Not my generation but I have one: Combatting an opinion you find offensive by making personal remarks/mocking the person. Eg. incel type makes a misogynist comment and people respond by saying something like “this coming from someone with a short d**k living in his mum’s basement”. What?! Making fun of someone’s physical attributes and economic status DOES NOT make you better. In fact, it’s just as bad. Be smart, be better. Address these things with robust, reasoned arguments - not insults. Grow up.
