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The internet has given voice to millions challenging the oversimplified labels we've accepted for too long. From outdated gender roles to misunderstood mental health conditions, these persistent stereotypes shape how we view others and ourselves, often without us even realizing it. While some misconceptions seem harmless on the surface, they carry real consequences—limiting opportunities, damaging self-image, and reinforcing prejudice.

Many began as convenient shortcuts for understanding complex groups but hardened into "facts" that resist correction despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. This collection brings together forty stubborn stereotypes that internet users are actively working to dismantle. Some may surprise you, others might make you question beliefs you've held for decades. What makes these particular misconceptions so frustrating isn't just their inaccuracy—it's their remarkable staying power in an age when information to disprove them is just a click away.

#1

A person blowing bubbles outdoors with colorful cloths hanging, challenging common stereotypes.

That old people are out of touch. Some are. Some aren't. Some are way cooler than you.

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PunchinelloTX
Community Member
Premium
7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And some young people are, too.

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    #2

    A woman holding a baby while working on a laptop, challenging common stereotypes.

    One of the stereotypes I hate most about women, is that people assume that all women want children, that it's in their biology and they are naturally born mothers.

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    #3

    A tiger licking its paw, symbolizing strength and challenging common stereotypes in nature.

    That certain animal 'parts' have healing/magical properties. Like tiger whiskers protect the wearer or rhino horn cures impotence and hangovers.

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    Doctor Strange
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There is a company out there that I highly support. They are basically working on 3d printing rhino horns and elephant tusks using technology that makes replicas completely indistinguishable from the real thing. The plan is to then flood the ivory markets with it at extremely low cost, making poaching unprofitable. If there is no money in it, it will drastically reduce.

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    #4

    A woman in a pink shirt enjoying a meal alone at a candlelit dinner table.

    Doing stuff by yourself. Some people here get almost hysterical when they describe eating at a restaurant or seeing a movie by yourself. I guarantee you that if you’re behaving normally, no one else gives the tiniest of s***s if you went out by yourself.

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    Wang Zhuang
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I used to go to the movies by myself frequently when I lived in Florida. I used to work nights, and my days off were Monday and Tuesday, so I would go the movies for the cheaper matinees during what was a normal work day week for my friends, so of course they couldn't go. I had zero problem with this. I really don't see what the big deal is about going to watch a film alone.

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    #5

    Person in a striped apron holding a stack of pizza boxes, challenging common stereotypes.

    That fast food workers are dumb. Used to work in fast food and realised a good majority of the public are incredibly stupid.

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    nut nibbler
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This..... I hate it when people treat fast food workers like something they have just stepped in. Show respect to them.

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    #6

    Senior couple smiling and taking a selfie together in a greenhouse, challenging common stereotypes.

    Boomers, hands down. The vast majority of boomers are sweet elderly people who are nice to talk to. Not racist caricatures that spout nonsense all the time.

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    Lisa T
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My husband is 60, and a Boomer. He’s not “elderly”

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    #7

    Person in wheelchair working at desk with laptop, challenging common stereotypes about disabilities.

    Chronically ill/disabled people don't exaggerate symptoms for attention. Generally we downplay how much pain we're in.

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    StrangeOne
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People with invisible disabilities tend to mask their symptoms and how much pain, or difficulty they're going through, just to try to blend in with everyone. If they had the power, they would be as normal as possible. Generally, they want to be helpful, productive and independent as possible. This is why they get upset and snappy when someone unsolicited tries to help them. For example, pushing someone in a wheelchair without asking if it's okay. Those devices are an extension of their bodies, so it's incredibly invasive.

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    #8

    Person expressing frustration while another gestures in the background, highlighting persistent stereotypes.

    Women are just “on their period” when they get angry or sad. Like I’m sorry maybe I’m mad because you're an idiot.

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    Earonn -
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I always reply with telling them what they are doing "You try to devalue my justified anger about (how he f****d up) because you have no real excuse". No, unlike in the movies they don't instantly become better people, but at least it's clear that their b******t won't work on me. Also: "The fact that men say 'What if she's on her period and starts a war?' about a 60 year old political candidate shows why men should stay out of women's reproductive rights."

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    #9

    Construction worker lifting a heavy pipe, challenging common stereotypes with resilience and strength.

    Blue-collared jobs sometimes are looked down upon in media, but in reality, skilled trades are often in high demand and well-respected.

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    Agfox
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ..& many of them are very well paid

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    #10

    Two children playing with a wooden dollhouse, challenging common stereotypes through imaginative play.

    Boys playing with dolls (or other traditional feminine toys) will turn them gay. Or that anything will turn people gay or lesbian.

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    Ariom Dahl
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes. You don't get 'turned' that way. You are BORN that way.

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    #11

    Person sitting at a table with hand on face, frustrated, in a bright room, illustrating stereotypes.

    I can't stand the people that think you have to be physically disabled to be disabled. Mental disability is real, and its bs to get told "well you don't looked disabled" when you have to fight every second of the day, pretending to be normal and keep yourself together until you can get home!

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    and_a_touch_of_the_’tism
    Community Member
    7 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I’m disabled physically, but it’s not super obvious, and god does it p**s me off when people say “oh no you’re too young/fit/healthy to have that!!” Tell that to the excruciating pain I feel. Assface.

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    #12

    Red sports car parked on cobblestone street, challenging common stereotypes about luxury vehicle owners.

    That you have even the smallest chance of becoming a billionaire. People don't understand the orders of magnitude difference between even a low level multi-millionaire and a billionaire. At 100 million dollars, you're still 10 times closer to homelessness than you are to becoming a billionaire. Stop trying to get there. Stop voting for people and policy that promise you that opportunity. The only way these people achieve that wealth is through siphoning it away from everyone else.

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    Wang Zhuang
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Exactly! Just focus on becoming a millionaire and then stop :-)

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    #13

    Man reading at a desk surrounded by books, challenging common stereotypes through knowledge.

    That we use 10% of our brain. Power or capacity, this was actually proven to be not true.

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    #14

    Man dressed as a superhero in scrubs, challenging common stereotypes with a playful pose.

    Men who are nurses. Nobody cares in real life.

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    Emilu
    Community Member
    7 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love male nurses. F**k the matriarchy (or something, lol). But seriously, this person is here to help you if you're sick. Who cares what gender they are.

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    #15

    Two people smiling, one with braids and glasses, highlighting internet users challenging stereotypes.

    I have to say wearing glasses and having braces. No one called me four eyes. No one called me tinsel teeth. Believe me, I was made fun of as a kid, but those weren’t the reasons.

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    Lene
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When I got braces as a kid, the boys in my class thought it'd be funny to keep asking me to say "s" so they could hear me say "ssshhhhh" instead. Well, it was fun for a week and then they didn't care anymore. And when I got glasses all the girls in my class asked to try them on and then I got them back and that was it. 🤷‍♀️ I was later bullied for a whole range of other things, but never glasses or braces.

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    #16

    Bell peppers growing on a plant, showcasing vibrant red and green hues.

    That GMOs are bad. Without GMOs, we wouldn't have a lot of the food we have today.

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    and_a_touch_of_the_’tism
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Almost everything we use or eat, from cotton to tomatoes to corn to dogs, is incredibly genetically modified. Selective breeding is genetic modification.

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    #17

    Diverse hands stacked together in solidarity, symbolizing internet users uniting against stereotypes.

    That if you are not the stereotype of your race then you are trying to act like another race.

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    #18

    Two people in robes sharing a conversation and coffee by the window, challenging common stereotypes.

    I (white) married a black woman so I have a “thing” for black women. I just found a cool person to share my life with, it’s not that deep. I mean, I have a thing NOW, but I wasn’t looking for a black woman going in to dating.

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    Lost Panda
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This goes for any man marrying any woman/man from another ethnicity...

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    #19

    Person sorting clothes into boxes labeled keep, donate, and trash, addressing common stereotypes on decluttering.

    Don't donate to charities at and big stores that ask for you to round up. They take your money, donate it and then THEY deduct it from their taxes. Skip the middle man and donate directly.

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    Spannidandoolar
    Community Member
    7 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't think people are aware enough of this one and it's become so widespread now!

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    #20

    A person wearing glasses and a headset, engaging in discussion about common stereotypes online.

    That you have to wait 24 hours before filing a missing person report.

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    StrangeOne
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But I was told by 911 operators to call back in 2 days if he didn't show up by then. I told them he didn't come home and didn't show up for work, which is highly unusual since the guy was a workaholic and money hungry.

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    #21

    Man in a patterned shirt and headscarf standing in a desert, representing challenging common stereotypes.

    All Middle easterners assumed to be Muslims when there are many that aren’t.

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    #22

    Person smiling while washing face in the mirror, representing self-care against stereotypes.

    Not wearing makeup. The media and Internet are full of all the pressure to wear makeup but I work with HUNDREDS of women and maybe a third of us sometimes wear lipstick or eyeliner? I can count on one hand the ones who wear foundation. Nobody says anything. Even the college president was barefaced giving a plenary speech and at commencement. There's no stigma for me wearing some color when I feel like it either. It's just not relevant to anyone's interests.

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    Dusty's mom
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My stepmother was addicted to cosmetics. She would panic if she had to leave home without "putting on her face". She looked awful with her smear job.

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    #23

    Workers in a field, challenging common stereotypes, with one carrying a box on a misty day.

    That immigrants are taking our jobs. Like seriously. If every immigrant, legal or otherwise disappeared tomorrow, it wouldn't do a single positive thing for me personally, much less the wider economy

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    panther
    Community Member
    7 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Who would do the jobs if not them? They are generally overworked and underpaid, and very much unappreciated. Until they are gone.

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    #24

    Doctor playfully giving an injection to a teddy bear, challenging common stereotypes in a medical setting.

    Vaccines cause Autisim.

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    Dog Mom to Zoe
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I heard on the news yesterday (04.08.2025) that too many children are dying from the FLU! The Flu is causing deaths because idiot parents believe the hype

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    #25

    Smiling woman standing against a whiteboard, challenging common stereotypes online.

    Maybe wanting to stay single. Media portrays it as a desperate cry for love, but in reality, it's pretty liberating!

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    Wang Zhuang
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I agree. Sometimes I think about trying to date again, but then I start remembering all the obligations I'd have to that person and I'm like, nah, I just don't feel like it :P

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    #26

    Person wiping hands with cloth near a car; challenging stereotypes about women in automotive settings.

    Used to be ASE Certified and had an automotive career for two years before I left due to realizing I had no future in it. Most people won't admit it but they won't believe anything I tell them about what's wrong with their car despite my extensive knowledge and experience along with schooling and certifications, and an overall very conspicuous passion for working on cars. Doesn't matter, they see b***s and think I'm cosplaying as a mechanic for attention. I had to be perfect or I wasn't good enough while the 19 year old working next to me gets promoted with no certifications at all, and proceeds to cause a customers tie rod end to come loose. Stereotypes can hurt. They can ruin careers. They ruined mine.

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    Strings
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I work at an auto parts store. Boss is a woman, been there 20 years. All of us guys will routinely ask her questions when a customer ignores her

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    #27

    A person with an empty pocket holding coins, challenges a common stereotype.

    That tax breaks for the wealthy will allow some of their wealth to "trickle down" to us poors. Something is trickling down on us, but it's not money.

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    James Sherman
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What trickles down happens to be warm and yellow.

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    #28

    Bearded man holding a Father's Day card, challenging stereotypes about fatherhood in a touching moment.

    Slightly niche perhaps, but my kids always had trouble buying Fathers Day cards for me because I didn't spend my evenings down the pub, fish or play golf.

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    #29

    Man shaving his face in a bright bathroom, challenging common stereotypes about grooming habits.

    That shaving makes hair grow back thicker and longer.

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    #30

    Person in white sweater holding cash, sitting at a desk with a laptop and cup, challenging stereotypes.

    That your employer will be there for you when times are bad. Build a savings. Keep a savings. You are a liability to them, not an asset, and will ditch you the moment they can profit from it.

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    Emilu
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My employer is amazing and has done far more for me than they should/could have. Depends on the organisation, IMO.

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    #31

    Storefront window displaying various colorful items, combating common stereotypes through diverse product offerings.

    Dollar stores are generally a worse food value based on size/quantity. Sure it's $1, but the $2.25 box at the grocery store has 500% more food by weight, therefore is a much better value. You're paying a little less to get a lot less.

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    Earonn -
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In Germany, companies have to give you the prices (yes, including taxes) per 100 ml / 100g on the price tag. Sometimes you get it per litre/ kilogram. And there has to be a price tag. The number of shops in the UK who failed to sell me something just because they couldn't be arsed to tell me what the item cost...idiots.

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    #32

    Person in winter clothing enjoying skiing in the snow, defying common stereotypes.

    That being out in cold weather will make you catch a Cold. The cold is a virus you catch from others and nothing to do with the outside temperature.

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    LilliVB
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes and no. With cold weather you have a weaker immunity system, the mucus of your airways that helps to block viruses and bacteria is less thick and it's more likely that you are in a warm room with other people and no change of air. So yes, cold is not what makes you sick directly, but it's a big factor that facilitates the process.

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    #33

    Person in formal suit with a tie, standing on stairs, symbolizing internet users fighting stereotypes.

    That CEO’s and Owners should get X amount higher salary because they assume all of the risk. No they don’t. If the company folds they claim bankruptcy (difficult, expensive, long process for normal people, easy for the wealthy who have lawyers on retainer who specialize in it) and go try again. They really don’t have any risk once they hit a certain level.

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    #34

    A person putting a card wallet into a jacket pocket, challenging stereotypes.

    Credit cards are bad. If you use them right, you can actually come out ahead. Get a card with good cash back rewards and use it for everything. I mean everything. If you can pay your rent, bills and insurance with it do it. If you can use it for work and they reimburse you, do it. Pay the balance off at the end of every month and make sure you keep track of your ins and outs. It requires you to be responsible but in the end its worth it. I get at least a few thousand dollars a year worth of cash back to do with as I please. Trips, PS5, etc. Sometimes I use the rewards to pay my balance, and take the funds I had allocated to pay off the balance and put them in my RRSP and take the tax advantage.

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    Ian Shaw
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The problem is not the card, it's the user. I'm one of the 90% of people that shouldn't...I haven't the discipline. I have a number of friends in the 10% that do have the discipline and never give them grief for it.

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    #35

    Calculator and euro bills on financial charts, challenging common stereotypes about money management.

    Trickle down economics.

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    #36

    Person in a hooded sweatshirt overlooking city lights at night, challenging common stereotypes.

    Being Average looking, it seems like social media loves to see *supermodel like people* and forget that most of the public is average and or unattractive sometimes, and that's alright. I like that there are more people on social media that are vocalizing this issue and letting us know that normal is ok, Flawed is ok. ( No shade to attractive people, they're beautiful and everyone loves to look at them but my point is they are not the only ones that exist).

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    #37

    Person counting money over financial documents with a laptop and calculator, addressing common internet stereotypes.

    Turning down raises because "it means a giant jump in my taxes".

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    #38

    Two people discussing common stereotypes on a park bench, with one standing and gesturing animatedly.

    Karens. Hear me out! It went from being a thing of recording and judging actually rude and often racist women who complain just to complain. But as more videos popped up, people are recording and sensationalizing situations where if you were in her shoes, you'd be mad too! Karen isn't synonymous with "old lady you find annoying".

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    StrangeOne
    Community Member
    7 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That is very true. The people recording do instigate some of those situations. I've found myself in those shoes a few times. Some kid was goofing around with his friends and swerving into people on his bike. He got very close to my disabled daughter, who can't just move quickly. I just told him to be careful. He got lippy with me and made it out like I was trying to ruin his whole day. One of his friends got his phone out. I think all this social media validation is terrible for kids. That seems to be the motivation.

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    #39

    American flag waving against a cloudy sky, challenging common stereotypes.

    The American dream of social mobility/meritocracy prevents voters from addressing extreme inequality. Many think riches await them too or that if you are poor you must be lazy or  a a****t etc. and are undeserving of help.

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    Wang Zhuang
    Community Member
    7 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think a-d-d-i-c-t is the censored word here

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    #40

    Hands praying in front of lit candles, challenging common stereotypes.

    Religion, easily. I get that people believe in religion but they have zero proof that any of it is true.

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    Doctor Strange
    Community Member
    7 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "religion" isn't necesssarily a bad thing in and of itself. But when people use religion as a means of gaining power and/or wealth, That is when things start to go wrong.

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