ADVERTISEMENT

What makes us give other people credit evolves as we get older. Thankfully.

But to really drive this point home, let's take a look at a Reddit post by user Jelz where they asked everyone to share all the things that make you cool in school but have the opposite effect in adult life.

Like buying alcohol for kids. Or playing with Beyblades and carrying around a giant arena for them at all times. Or just scroll down and check out the rest of the replies!

#1

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult It didn't make me cool, but an old friend of mine (we're no longer friends) was far cooler than me. Why? Because he didn't care about grades, was openly hostile to authority, smoked weed all the time, had a criminal record, and generally just had that "I don't give a f**k, I'm a badass" confidence.

That's cool in high school. Nowadays, though, that guy is thought of as being very uncool. Why? Because not caring about your job performance (the adult equivalent of not caring about grades), being openly hostile to authority (such as your supervisors, or the cops), spending most of your waking life stoned, having a criminal record, and somehow still thinking you're a badass definitely isn't cool in adulthood.

somepeoplewait , cottonbro Report

#2

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult You were really cool if you were missing a tooth in school. If you’re missing a tooth in adulthood you just look like a crackhead.

stutterguy , pxhere Report

Add photo comments
POST
lyuboiv avatar
Vorknkx
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, it is expected to be missing teeth as a kid, since they get changed. As an adult, a missing tooth is an indicator of illness or trauma.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult In 3rd grade I broke my arm and got a glow in the dark cast, I also had glow in the dark shoes, I think it was the most my peers have ever liked me in my life.

PhrohdohsBabe , bakhar Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#4

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult Bragging about sex. Did it highschool, friends thought I was cool. Did it as an adult, everyone thought it was gross and my dad threw the family cat at me

77skull , https://www.pexels.com/photo/happy-young-multiracial-friends-smiling-while-walking-on-street-with-takeaway-coffee-6147077/ Report

#5

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult Laughing at weird people.
Socially awkward people often make good friends and are very warmhearted.

Timmaele , Keira Burton Report

#6

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult I was cool because I had a DSi in fifth grade. I would flex on my friends by drawing pictures in rainbow on pictochat. I have a nintendo switch now. No gf, no friends, and no rainbow drawings. :(

Madkatruss , ZaidimuParduotuveUrmas Report

#7

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult I did 1000 bounces on a pogo stick when I was 12. As a 33 year old today, people would probably be concerned for my mental health.

ivl3i3lvlb , Joe Shlabotnik Report

Add photo comments
POST
anyabeboop avatar
Anya Beboop
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They might be concerned for your mental health, but would they be able to be concerned about your physical health?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#8

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult Burping really loud in the cafeteria. Kids from other classes knew my name because of that. I haven't tried that in the office, and I don't think I'm going go.

ModularPersona , cottonbro Report

Add photo comments
POST
staphgirl79 avatar
Mistiekim
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was also cool if you could keep the burp going and recite the alphabet at the same time.I have no idea how those kids did it and whether or not it could carry into adulthood.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

When I was eight or nine I found a huge stack of p**n mags in a paper recycling container. I had them hidden away in the woods close to school and would bring friends there to look at them during recess.

Imagining adults doing this gave me a chuckle 😆.

Anders_A Report

#10

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult Being the "class clown" in any sort of instructional setting. It's funny when you're a kid but seen as obnoxious and attention-seeking when you're an adult

bnoone , Nothing Ahead Report

Add photo comments
POST
ryanteoh91 avatar
Peacemaker21
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Probably because when you're an adult you want peace and quiet, no distractions like an obnoxious clown but when you're a child you're bored in school and the class clown brightens the mood

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult Owning an absurd amount of Pokemon cards.

IDK what more a woman would want than a raquaza EX.

CoochieCacher69 , CLazarom Report

Add photo comments
POST
staphgirl79 avatar
Mistiekim
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some of those cards are worth thousands as collectibles - it’s like collecting baseball cards so I don’t have an issue with it.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult I was voted "Most Likely to be Out of Dress Code" in high school, because I was always getting detention for breaking dress code. It was a pretty cool honor to have for a senior superlative, because it was about as rebellious as you could get at a Jesuit high school.

As an adult that would just get me fired if I was constantly breaking the dress code of a place that had one.

-eDgAR- , RODNAE Productions Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#13

Bragging about what your parents got you. New clothes, new toys, car, etc. Making kids jealous with the latest stuff
If you're an adult and bragging about still being dependent on your parents...definitely uncool haha

ivelynn Report

#14

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult Playing with beyblades and carrying around the giant arena for them at all times. You never know when a spin battle may ensue.

anon , abbs002 Report

Add photo comments
POST
lyuboiv avatar
Vorknkx
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never had these in my country... but we did have other popular stuff that was sometimes brought to school.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult God I used to impress people by smoking cigs up my nose.

I do not see that going over well at all now.

Guzzles , Arghquoi Report

#16

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult Knowing someone that would buy alcohol for underage kids.

dreamqueen9103 , Kindel Media Report

Add photo comments
POST
amytaylor_1 avatar
Amy Taylor
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember in the 80's my friend group asking someone in the parking lot of the local liquor store to buy us alcohol and 8 out of 10 they would. Shocking to think about now.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult At my school, bragging about how drunk you got at the weekend was a thing! People would take pictures/videos if their friends who were falling about the place/passed out etc and everyone would come in on Monday and laugh about what ‘scenes’ they were. At our prom we gave out prizes like ‘most likely to...’ and we had a few drink related categories and there was just generally a vibe that if you didn’t go out every weekend and get really drunk, you were a bit of a weirdo.

Now though (I’m 25), seeing girls tripping over their heals and being so drunk they can’t open their eyes properly/talk without slurring is just embarrassing.

phoral , Isabella Mendes Report

Add photo comments
POST
lyuboiv avatar
Vorknkx
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never found any pleasure in getting drunk to the point of being sick. Or doing something you'd regret when sober.

angelakrake avatar
Angi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me neither I said I was allergic to beer to help avoid peer pressure.

Load More Replies...
katkatkatrocks avatar
pink_panda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you're thirty you'll see those same girls and worry for their safety.

amytaylor_1 avatar
Amy Taylor
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All I can say is that I'm super grateful that smartphones didn't exist in my teens and 20's!!!

leannehailes avatar
Leanne Hailes
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was a teenager there was no such thing as caller ID; telephones had a dial & a long curly cord.

Load More Replies...
benitavaldez avatar
Benita Valdez
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I definitely enjoy drinking but I've never drank until I'm sick and dont understandhow people do it especiallyrepeatedly. I've had very few hangovers too because I'm a responsible drunk and I drink intermittently with water and I still maintain self awareness and dont act like a fool. And I think it's perfectly fine for people not to be into drinking; not your bag baby and I don't judge.

eds2 avatar
Doctor Strange
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you need to get drunk to have fun, you are a profoundly boring person.

hoodriverwolf avatar
Felix Pater
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This person doesn't sound like they participated with the language they used, and then modern judgment too. *pulls off mask* It was a Karen the whole time!

iamemilyboss avatar
Emily
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Used to work with a guy at Ace hardware, he was 19 or somewhere around there and he would always brag about how hard he partied, to the point of vomiting while unconscious and his "friends" would have to roll him over so he didn't choke on it....I don't understand how anyone could find that appealing

demanion61 avatar
No One
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've always thought it odd when people talked about what a great night they had and elaborate it turns out they got drunk and blacked out. Where's the fun in that?

ambrypetersen avatar
Ambry Petersen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never been drunk and never saw the attraction of being mentally impaired. I was considered the weirdo in high school, and I have no regrets from that title.

dianapahule avatar
Diana Pahule
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was 16 I met a guy who thought it was cool to get black out drunk. Even then I didn't think it was cool.

jbee02 avatar
Josh Lindberg
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I depends on the individual and what kind of drunk they are in my opinion. I grew up with speech impediment that gave me a wierd accent as an adult that goes away when I get a few beers in me and most people seem to find that hilarious.

chikinnippls710 avatar
Chikin Nippls710
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As someone who has had alcohol poisoning, seeing pictures of someone passed out from drinking is scary AF.

lauranowak74 avatar
Wicked Moon216
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me and my friends drank a lot in high school (not to the point of getting sick though), and every single one of them were in the gifted classes and ended up going to great universities and ended up with amazing careers (I am the exception to this), but because we drank in high school, when they all went to college, they said they had already had their fill of drinking and partying so it made it a lot easier to study a lot harder in college. By the time I was 21, I had no desire to drink.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#18

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult Back in the day, Hot Wheels was the s**t. We used to bring them into elementary school, show them off, and trade them.

Anything with gold wheels was hot s**t. Anything that was a model of a real car was too. We used to just make stuff up that "boosted" the rarity of a car. Stuff like, "This one is in metallic white and only 10 were made!"

Collecting Hot Wheels now probably not so cool.

^(Although I still think they are cool.)

2ofSorts , Peak Time Racing Report

Add photo comments
POST
misstiwari92 avatar
BetterBitterButter
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know it's cool or not but I definitely love it.A family friend's 4 year old is crazy for these and loved it when he showed me his collection.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult In high school I sold pages of p**nography out of a briefcase that I named "Bob".

dabbindabzfordayz , Sean Winters Report

#20

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult Being an overall d**k, or rude to other people made people think you were cool or something. Now you're just an a** and everybody is an adult so they can see it.

BeatleBorg22 , Windo Nugroho Report

#21

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult Pretending to be a 1337 h4x0r by opening command prompt on a school computer, knowing a little bit of HTML and some similar trickery that may look cool until you know that it doesn't really do anything.

anon , Sora Shimazaki Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#22

During school lunch when a kid got in trouble I started the Jerry Springer chant and the whole class started chanting "Jerry, Jerry, Jerry".

Farty_Tardy Report

#23

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult In High School, I knew all of the lyrics to a ton of late-90s and early 2000s club banger rap songs. I was known for this throughout my entire school, and people would always dance near me at dances to watch me flawlessly lip sync these songs. I did the rapping hand movements too, and often some of the dances from the music videos, although I was a much better lip syncer than dancer. I am and was a tiny white girl from a small rural village.

It's so embarrassing to think about now. I do occasionally get asked to do it at the weddings of classmates, but I wiggle out of it by sticking to the bar. I can't imagine the brain power I wasted on this, when I should have been focusing on my studies. Probably one of the reasons that I had to take remedial math in college. Thank God I no longer live near where I grew up, I've been hiding from memories of my high school self ever since, I was so cringe.

Hey_its_me_your_mom , MattyB Report

Add photo comments
POST
staphgirl79 avatar
Mistiekim
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why be embarrassed? If you enjoyed it, no reason to. And as adult there are probably groups of people who will think that is fun, and some people who will think it’s stupid. It just depends on your peer group now.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

In 8th grade I made sure I had the HIGHEST heels out of all the girls in class. They were these clunky things from Payless. Not sure how I did anything in those considering I can’t even walk in heels as a 32 year old woman today...

ememwhy Report

Add photo comments
POST
benitavaldez avatar
Benita Valdez
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh man I wore heels, 4.5 inch platforms, everyday almost when I was 16-17 and even wore them to work at the supermarket. These days as I'm nearing 40 I can wear if low and if I'm not standing much at all.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

Blasting a boombox in the hallway.

EMPfeif Report

Add photo comments
POST
staphgirl79 avatar
Mistiekim
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The boom box has been replaced by a cell phone, but same thing. And very annoying in a workplace.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult Me and my friends showing up to school/ events dressed the same

Kescac , imgur Report

Add photo comments
POST
suuspuusje avatar
Susie Elle
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never really understood why people can be so anxious about possibly wearing the same as someone else. I once wore the same shoes as someone else at a festival (which means, out of 20.000 people) and I said to her "Nice shoes! Harhar" and the girl just threw me a death glare.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

30 Things That Are Cool When You're A Kid But Are Very Much The Opposite When You're An Adult Wearing sneakers with your prom tux.

anon , _AndyS_ Report

#28

Cheating and getting away with it was rad in school but if you cheat the IRS instead of getting cool points you get jail time

lilthickee Report

Add photo comments
POST
jasonleaf avatar
Jason Leaf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dunno, three generations of the Trump family have been cheating the IRS for a century and, so far, have got away with it.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

I was the best club penguin sled racer in my 6th grade class.

Oh_no_its_Joe Report

Add photo comments
POST
superheroesagainstandros avatar
LinkTheHylian
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It'd be really hard to consider this cool now, what with Club Penguin closing down and all.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

well, I would have to say trading card games.

In school: Yu-Gi-Oh
Later in life: Magic The Gathering.

Not s******g on MTG, its a great game, but doesnt really come off as "cool" per se

ThePeskyWabbit Report

Add photo comments
POST
ixozgjdgldioflemvv avatar
John Smith
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nothing wrong with non mainstream hobbies. But apparently binge drinking after a random sports team won/lost is the golden standard...

View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 49 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.