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The template of the meme consists of two WikiHow stock images: one with someone looking at a bottle of pills with a label that says "Hard to Swallow Pills" and another with the pills already in the person's hand, ready to be ingested.

People download it, slap a text of what they think is a universal truth on the second picture, and upload it back on the Internet, waiting for upvotes. And we often have to give it to them. Quite a few of these memes capture some universal law, most of which we know but don't want to accept. Like, "some of your problems are your own fault, and won't get better until you actively do something about it" or "you can't make someone love you."

Bored Panda has compiled some of the most popular Hard to Swallow Pills, so continue scrolling, check out the memes, and upvote your favorites.

#1

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backwards_savage_ Report

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Jo Cooper
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my favourite quotes; going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to the garage makes you a car.

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Clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst Mary Lamia, Ph.D., thinks that the notion that one is “in denial” seems to have taken on a life of its own as an agent of many ills and as a catchphrase for people who dismiss the implications of their behavior.

"Although denial is considered to be a defense often used by people with addictive tendencies, its attributions reach beyond those struggling with substances," Lamia pointed out. "Denial is also attributed to people who do not want to acknowledge that bad stuff is occurring in their lives, such as those who are attempting to cope with a tumultuous relationship, a life-threatening illness, obesity, a loss, or anything else that one may attempt to disavow."

Sure, we can deny a fact, deny responsibility, deny the impact of our actions, or even deny what is really going on by hiding from our feelings. But according to Lamia, when we use denial to defend ourselves or cope with what we feel, we contradict the reality of a situation or attempt to adjust to a circumstance by neglecting its impact. However, the extent of someone’s denial may not really be the issue at hand.

"What’s important is not that people recognize their denial, but that they are able to accept what they are feeling that leads to the denial in the first place," Lamia explained. "If someone excessively and habitually uses alcohol to medicate their anxiety, for example, we might emphasize their attempts to dismiss the harm that their use of alcohol will cause, rather than focus on the emotions they feel that motivate their denial. If that person stops drinking, one would hope the emotions that were formerly hidden by denial, which often have to do with shame, would be exposed and accepted by the individual."

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#3

Hard-To-Swallow-Pills

theschoolofsocialvalue Report

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postboredom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor people have to work even harder than others, just to get a daily meal and shelter

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We not only use denial to hide from any negative emotion, including shame, fear, guilt, or distress but to mute positive emotions as well. "Sometimes feeling positively may be just as threatening as negative feelings. We may want to deny the reality of our emotions, because accepting a reality that is uncomfortable, painful, or incongruous to what we expect means we must also alter our perception of ourselves. Thus, if you are in denial, perhaps you are simply trying to ignore the truth about what you actually feel, rather than about what you are doing or thinking."

But if you want to move forward, you have to swallow the truth.

#5

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awkwardpotatoo Report

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postboredom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This applies to both guys and gals. Nobody is as kind as they think themselves are.

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#7

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rexxar-tc Report

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Daria B
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's even harder to swallow the problems that are NOT your own fault, but it's UP TO YOU to clean someone else's poop to save your a*s.

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#8

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xrancorx Report

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ChimeraBubbles
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like this one. Re-evaluate your worldview every so often, visit other places, talk to people from other communities, read books, and so on. It's character building too.

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#10

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reddit.com Report

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

I'm all for praying for those in need if that's what you believe in, but send a donation with that prayer.

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#12

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petey_public Report

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Daria B
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

True. And the nearer the end, the more I think of it. Viruses don't plan according to human made calendars. This could go on and on. And even after it's gone, the damage repair will still take a while.

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#13

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heratiio_sherwood Report

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Monika Soffronow
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sadly, on several levels. Why should anyone have to work for tips instead of getting a decent pay for the work they do, regardless of gender? And ever more sadly if they have to put up with sexist c**p on top of it, and I bet that this applies almost exclusively to women.

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Amy Pattie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The tipping system does not belong in the developed world

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Brent Fisher
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a place for it...in Ancient Egypt with the slaves. It does not deserve to be legal in a place where slavery is abolished.

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Monica Michelle
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because like many things it effects one group at a far higher percentage than the other

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Jon S.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sadly, for some people, the only time they receive a mote of human kindness is from a server eager for tips.

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

I mean some of them might be flirting with you...but not because they like you

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Talie Bocci
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or anyone working in the service industry, for that matter. We're paid to smile, dammit.

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fainasKeturatis
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, they are if they use flirt for interacting with people in their work, however, people must understand that simple flirting is not nearly main focused on sexual relation/interacting. It's just a way to communicate. Also, do not confuse flirt and sexual harassment - the first one is nice and welcome when both sides agree and second starts with the same flirt but with no acceptance on one end (including everything from chatting up to raping).

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Charlotte Stewart
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Similar, but most women don't assume that those men are flirting with them. And most people don't seem so insistent that men have to smile in order to earn a tip.

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Pseudo Puppy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've seen bars with this sign on the register, so every time someone goes to pay for their drinks, they see it. It shuts down a LOT of idiots :D

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Hans (TheRealMoleman)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I disagree with this, because those waitresses ARE flirting with male customers in an attempt to get a bigger tip. It's happened to me many times. Back in the day, I actually had more than one waitress tell me she was only flirting with me because she thought I was cute, and I got a few numbers. (Granted, this was a long time ago, when I was much younger!) But men *are* guilty of thinking that just because a waitress flirts with them, she "must be into me" and that's not true at all.

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Mya Lugar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

but they are aware that being nice to you may get a bigger tip, or one at all, which they need to pay bills just like you and me.

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Niamh Gallagher Kerr
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People who work in hospitality and customer service are generally trained how to talk to people. People often misinterpret this as flirting especially if it happens in a social environment.

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

Sure, they are! Just they aren’t doing it because you are handsome but for the tip

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Elizabeth Gardner
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why was this raised sometimes tips are all you get to make up a lousy pay.

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Z Alexi
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep, tipping is anachronistic...no1 likes begging or forced smiling. After C~19, the remaining restaurants should be able to afford minimum-wage for wait staff w/o experience [NYC: $2.13/hr] & $15-20/hr for experienced staff. From Dpt of Labor: A tipped employee engages in an occupation in which s/he customarily & regularly receives more than $30 per month in tips. An employer of a tipped employee is only required to pay $2.13/hr in direct wages if that amount combined w/the tips rec'd at least =s the fed'l minimum wage.] Yikes!

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neonn_pieee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So true. I get this just for being nice. People think I'm shooting for a bigger tip just cuz I'm nice to them in my chair. Clearly they became jaded somewhere along the road. I've also had a guy who was effing delusional.. after EVERY haircut, men's and sometimes women's, I always use a hot towel on them to get all the loose hairs off their necks, face and ears and this one guy thought I was hitting on him because I was cleaning the hair off of him and around his ears. He NEVER tipped and the next time he came in he requested me and he said "so I'm confused about us" and I said "I'm confused as to what you are confused about.." and he went on to tell me that I am CLEARLY hitting on him because I was taking the time to wipe the hair off his ears and whatnot. Ugh.. I shut that s**t down real quick and he never came back.

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clive apps
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Then why do they call me dear, or honey. This one is definitely wrong. I even had guy waiters flirt with me to the point that I almost called them on harrassment. When they start that c**p I don't bother to tip. Trying to play on my emotions to get money is a type of whoredom. Too bad the society accepts this, because it is wrong.

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Jade Lynn - Panda's Brat
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Calling someone dear or honey does not mean they are flirting, they are trying to be nice to the customers so that the customer has a good time at the restaurant which is part of their job.

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Jonathan Litton
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine thinking only women work for tips. Had some guy want to fight me once because I walked up to their table & asked if they wanted any drinks. I worked at that bar.

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Dónal Ó Murchadha
Community Member
3 years ago

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Yes they are..... for tips. And there's nothing wrong with it unless you're you're on a date.

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John Smith
Community Member
3 years ago

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B******t they are and every stripper loves me

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#15

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postboredom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the one thing every teenager (including me) has to understand. Not everyone has to like you, nor do they have to hate you. We just gotta let it be.

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#17

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H Edwards
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Smoking is a good example. Children of smokers are much more likely to take it up themselves.

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#19

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istherenofuckingusernameleft Report

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Ray Martin
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Possibly so, but believing that the Earth is flat, or that vaccinations don't work does make you stupid and deserving of ridicule.

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#21

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TheLloydGross Report

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The three big things needed in a relationship are trust, compromise and respect. Of course there are more like having each others back, liking the other person etc. Relationships are hard work, you need to make the effort to help it grow.

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#30

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digitaldegenarate Report

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Daria Z
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A hospital in my city has recently received a complaint from the family of a man saved from covid complications. Apparently, they didn't like that the doctor who saved him had tattoos and a nose ring. Isn't it bizarre?

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Note: this post originally had 65 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.