Americans Who Moved To Canada Reveal How They Feel About Their Decision Now
With the sociopolitical climate being what it's been lately, I'm pretty sure a ton of you dear US readers have grumbled (some more seriously than others) about potentially moving to Canada.
Have you ever wanted to talk to someone who actually did it and get their take on it? Now's your chance ... or at least as much talking as an awesomely informative Reddit thread can be.
Reddit user Therubikmaster asked:
Americans who actually moved to Canada: How would you rate the decision and why?
Interestingly, almost everyone was happy with the decision - even the people who came back to the states. There are the expected answers - like the cold is really, really hard to deal with. But there are also things here that many of us wouldn't even consider ... for example the total lack of access to a decent avocado and how relatively bland the food can be. So here we go; the good, the bad, and the bland about moving to Canada as told by Americans who made the journey.
Civility And Healthcare
Just moved to Ontario a few months ago.
Two really positive things, so far:
- I am amazed by how civil everyone is on the roads. People actually merge calmly and sensibly. Yeah...there are a few aholes, of course, but generally speaking--the stereotypical niceness is real.
- My husband broke a bone on a Saturday. We were at the hospital for less than a full hour before he was ready to go home. Total cost (no healthcard for us) was about $50. NOT $50 copay and 250 bill for radiology later. Actually just $50. Even without access to the health care that Canadians get, it was still faster and cheaper than any hospital visit we've had in the states.
A Cold Blessing
My friend moved, reluctantly, to Canada because his visa renewal didn't get approved about a year ago. Now says it was damn blessing in disguise that it happened. They had some health issues and they are all taken care of pretty much for free. The only complaint he has is the cold climate but he says the pros outweigh the cons by a large margin.
- Ani625
Cost Of Living
Been here since 2002. Am generally very happy to be here. People are kinder, less religious nutbars, more respectful in general. My son was born with rare disorder and we did not pay one penny for his nicu stay. After any baby is born a nurse comes to your house to check on how things are going and will come back if you need a bit of help (maybe this was because our child was more fragile). Friends in the states were blown away by this. families get a child benefit subsidy based on income (even moderate incomes get this extra $)
Excluding healthcare, cost of living is higher. Gas, food, booze, housing. Big discounts in shops (like bargain racks with 50-75% off stuff) are few and far between. Wages don't always keep up compared to U.S. I live in border area so I can always do some cross border shopping.
We have a housing crisis where I live but at least here I feel there is political will to do something about it unlike most cities in the US where they seem paralyzed by competing interest groups.
It has always bothered me that in the states people who struggle in any way are looked upon as moral failures instead of a reflection of a failed society and in need of support.
We Sit Here And Laugh
Wonderful. Have run into a few health problems since moving up here that would have left me bankrupt in the US. And, for the record, no, there is not a months and months wait to see a doctor here. There is no real longer wait than what you'd get in the US. Wanna know how easy it was to get my healthcare card? I walked into the non-government run registry place, waited maybe 5-10 minutes, showed proof of residence and my visa, they said, ok, here's your temporary card, a permanent one will be mailed out to you soon. And a few hours later I went out and used that temporary card with absolutely zero issues. Talk about no stress. Wonderful experience.
Would definitely recommend.
And we get to sit here and laugh at everything happening down there.
More Freedom In Canada
GiphyI moved in 2008. I'm now a citizen.
Warning: Generalizations ahead.
My reason for moving is I felt better in alignment with the Canadian culture than the US. I feel there should be safety nets, we should pay into a medical system everyone can benefit from, we should have programs to help those in need. I work, I make money, I pay taxes. I want some of those tax dollars to help the people who can't work or can't make a living wage (for whatever reason). Morally, this feels like the right thing to do. .
Honestly, moving was the best thing I've ever done. There is a cultural respect and freedom in Canada I never really felt in the US. In the US I always felt like I was moving 2 steps forward and 3 steps back. Some of this was due to the ever growing cost in healthcare (seems like I was forever in debt for past medical or avoiding getting medical attention because I felt I couldn't afford it).
I've been through both healthcare systems in the US and Canada. Canada has some problems (some provinces more than others) but I will take Canada any day of the week over the US. Here is a good example: I had to get an MRI in the US and I got one in Canada. Both were for non-emergency reasons. In the US my insurance provided for pre-approved MRIs. The doctor submitted the request, we had to wait for the insurance to OK it, we did the MRI, insurance was billed, they billed me back the full amount, and I spent quite some time on the phone with insurance sorting it out. At the end of the day I think it cost a few hundred. In Canada, I probably waited an extra month or two over the process to be approved in the US, I got the MRI. Done. That was it. Simple. Easy.
If I needed the MRI for an emergency reason, I would have one that day.
My aunt lives in Canada. She waited about 4 months for a new hip. She has no waiting when they thought she had cancer - which she did and they successfully treated. Total cost, zero.
A month after I moved someone rear ended me rather severely. I remember arguing with the EMTs on scene about getting in their ambulance and going to the ER. I didn't know how the system worked and I was more concerned with crippling debt over a possible spinal injury. There is something very, very, wrong with this mindset.
Before someone says "yeah, but you pay more in your taxes for it". No. No, I don't. I did the math. My taxes, medical insurance, and copays in the US were more than just my taxes in Canada. My overall overhead is lower here. The cost of living is a bit higher, but so is my wage.
The ability to have vacations was huge. It wasn't until I moved did I have two weeks off IN A ROW. In the states there was always this pressure to not take vacations because if the employer could do without you for 2 or 3 weeks, then they don't need you. Also, no fighting for time off. If you need a day for a family emergency, need to go to a dentist, vote, or take care of some other personal thing you can arrange it. I've never had an employer in Canada give me sh*t about it.
Something I didn't expect after I moved, but getting away from the guns was huge. Guns are a way of life in the US. Hell, I even had them when I lived there. Guns just aren't a thing up here. I know people who have guns and go shooting, but it isn't cultural necessity. That fear of needing a gun is gone. I guess since I grew up under it, didn't realize it until after I was away from it. Americans carry around a ton of fear. It's a huge weight off your shoulders to not be afraid all the time.
There is a more relaxed feeling up here. People are more interested in the pursuit of happiness than this weird crab bucket mentality in the states. Up here it's "I got mine, and you should have yours as well" where the states feels more like "I got mine, fuck you." That's a wide sweeping generalization, I know. But if I have to generalize an average population, that's sort of how I read it. Yes, there are wonderful, fantastic, warm people in the states, but you do have Trump as a president, with 40% support, and that says a lot.
Canada has it's fair share of weirdo idiots as well. We are not immune to this. I know a couple of Canadian Trump supporters. The nice thing is these people brag about not voting - which I don't argue with.
Overall, I work, I pay taxes, I'm starting my own business soon. I own a house. I'm a functional member of the society I live in. I want to contribute to the society I agree more with.
Moving was the best choice I've ever made. When in Canada, I feel like I'm home and not just crashing on someone couch.
I Don't Miss Anything
I moved to Canada in 2011 from California and received my citizenship two years ago. I don't regret it at all. Of course the healthcare situation is nice, I've never had a problem getting the care I need. Most of all, people are lot calmer, less religiously zealous, and there are fewer people who have gone off the rails due to their political beliefs. I honestly don't miss anything in the US, all the family I cared about in the US are now dead, I had no real job prospects until I came up here, and I married the love of my life here.
- Derut
I Will Never Go Back
10/10. I will NEVER go back to live in the US. Looking at relinquishing my US citizenship but that's like $2500+.
I moved here in 2010 at age 18. Met a really great guy. Later on we had two kids and one has a medical condition requiring 24hr monitoring (t1d). Because of the medical care alone, I will never move back. I remember paying $40 copay, $2500+ deductibles and that was on my parents plan (which they paid an insane amount for).
I also received maternity leave for a full year (both pregnancies) with a bi-weekly pay of $1000ish. I think the amount has increased, I'm not 100% though.
I can walk in to most clinics and get an appointment, the longest I've had to wait in the ER was like 3 hours? It was for severe flu, so not a big emergency. But I remember waiting 7 hours to get seen in Houston so NBD.
Cannabis is booming. My spouse is a Sr. PM at a large LP and makes bank.
Also, my favorite part - I had a coworker complaining about immigrants (I guess she assumed because I'm white, I would take her side?) and how they didn't pay taxes, didn't work, and just wanted to live here for free. I told her I was technically an immigrant and the look on her face was priceless.
Anyways, Canada is awesome. Move if ya want. It's cold as balls And I have yet to see a bag of milk.
Not Utopia, But Still Trying To Get Back
I left when I was 18, lived there for 10 years. I've been back in the States for about eight years.
It was a great decision that gave me the best years of my life (so far). I intend to move back. However, it isn't at all what my extremely idealistic and liberal younger self expected. There's this idea that Canada is like a liberal utopian version of the U.S., hence the stereotype about moving to Canada when a Republican gets elected.
Canada is not a utopia. There's poverty, racism, crime, and despair; just like everywhere else. Furthermore, thinking of Canada as "a ______ version of the U.S." also fails completely, because it's very much uniquely Canada. My love for it is stronger now, because it's stood the test of realizing that utopia doesn't exist, and because I discovered such profound and solemn beauty in nature, the people, the culture, and my own sense of isolation there.
If we're being honest, I think of myself as half Canadian. I apparently speak with a noticeable GTA accent, even after all this time. It's difficult to really describe my relationship with the place, but thinking about it never fails to make me smile.
Life Before Was Inadequate
Good decision. Mine was less America vs. Canada and more about living in Flyover Country vs. a cosmopolitan, bilingual, and Urban city (Montréal). The experiences I've had here make me realize that living life the way I used to seems inadequate. Wouldn't trade it for anything.
Interior British Columbia Weather
I moved from Florida to the central interior of British Columbia 17 years ago. Considering that I only get more liberal as time passes and I love the health care... 9/10, would do again.
The only reason that it isn't 10/10 is because winters are balls cold and summers can be smoky due to wildfires.
No Good Avocados
I moved to Toronto but returned to US. Here's the stuff that pops into my mind when I think about the experience:
-People are almost always polite (but not genuinely nicer than folks in the US- that's a myth.)
-Healthcare was mostly free but poorer quality vs having good insurance in the US... Lots of hoops to jump through. And prescriptions are VERY expensive without Rx insurance (which no one tells you.)
-Weather was absolute garbage (not much can be done about that.)
-Food is very bland, on average; this aspect is hard for Americans/ other expats who like spicy or even just really complex, flavorful food. Even when eating ethnic cuisine it is tempered to appeal to the Canadian pallet. Unfortunate, but true.
-Good avocados are rare. Most Canadians don't seem to like them.
-Liquor is heavily regulated and expensive.
-Dairy is expensive but regulated in a good way because they don't do a bunch of terrible things to the cows (by law.) The milk is really fantastic. No need to buy organic!
-Catholic schools are funded by the government, which seemed amazing to me.
-Traffic was a nightmare and housing was insanely expensive. What you see on HGTV... Those prices are real. And so is the panic over finding a decent house in places like Toronto or Vancouver.
-There seemed to be far more smokers, which was disappointing. Canada is 15-20 years behind the US on a few things- this is one of them.
-To most Americans, the taxes on everyday items (even groceries) would seem astronomical.
-It is very safe... That was an outstanding benefit of living there.
-Great municipal recycling and composting programs; on average people seemed more concerned about being "green"
-Wonderful 1 year long maternity leave!
-Canadians are proud of their country... And for good reason. It's a pretty nice place for the most part.
Lots of pros and cons. HOWEVER... If you live in a nice, safe US city with good weather and you've got excellent health insurance... You may find that moving to Canada is a significant step back. If you don't currently have these perks and you can live without decent avocados (only kind of joking)- Canada might be for you!
A Breath Of Fresh Air
GiphyOh neat. Something that applies to me. I moved from Memphis, Tennessee to Toronto three years ago, and the change has been like taking a breath of fresh air. In general everything just feels more comfortable and higher quality. And going to the doctor when I sick, instead of trying to ride it out, is just amazing.
I only wish it were warmer. And that people wouldn't ask me where I'm from so much because of my accent. lol
This is the second best decision I've ever made, the first being marrying my Canadian girlfriend.
Commercial Downgrade, Cultural Upgrade
I moved to Montreal to go to university in 2016, and I'm now transitioning into a work permit.
I love it here. The United States feels so...intense compared to here. There's so much pressure there, while here, people my age are far more relaxed and focused on enjoying themselves and doing the best they can yet being able to forgive themselves for their failures.
Also, I'm gay, so the social infrastructure is way more beneficial to me personally.
I'm probably not moving back to the US anytime soon, but I do miss having access to the same quality and quantity of goods/services. Here, places close at relatively odd times and the closest thing to 24/7 Walmar's or Meijers are small pharmacies or convenience stores. Everything commercial feels like a bit of a downgrade.
Also, my experience with the medical care is okay...I didn't need to wait as long for specialized doctors in the US, though I lived in a very small city. Here, I had some pelvic pain and the doctor referred me to get an ultrasound which would take 3 months or I could pay 300 dollars for a private clinic to conduct one. I didn't wanna pay 300 dollars, so I waited but after 2 months the source of the pain was revealed as a cyst that burst and I had to be hospitalized overnight because there was so much bleeding. I didn't pay a dime, but the hospital was a different experience to those in the US. Like, I had to wait in a big waiting room in excruciating pain for 3 hours while they tried to organize an ultrasound, I didn't get a bed or anything until they found out how much blood I was losing, then they gave me a recliner to sit in that was still in a big waiting area with lots of other lounge chairs around. Didn't get my own room until I had to spend the night. I'm not complaining, but in the US, it would've been a pretty different experience.
And...the taxes are insanely high.
Overall, 7/10.
Earned, Not Bought
American to Montreal here. Diversification is amazing: all races are more accepted here, the melting pot here is a true one (though you always get a bit here and there). The health system is lower in quality BUT at least it's complimentary.
My daughter is not of school age but from what I see so far, as long as she works hard: she'll be whatever she wants without the heavy burden of school loans I've acquired as an American. Education here is earned, not bought like the US.
Coming from NYC, stress level is a lot lower from day to day and one thing I noticed moving here is they don't sell fear on TV as much as the states. I feel it's a method to drive economy in the US.
One thing I truly hate about Montreal is there roads. Most 3rd world countries have better roads.
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
My partner rates it 11,000/10. They said it's because they finally feel like they're in a place where they can hold my hand.
- jwc1995
Worth The Immigration Hassle
I'd say it was worth the hassle of immigration. I moved here 9 years for school, stayed for work and met my fiancée. I work in home care and serve people of different cultures, age groups, and tax brackets but they all get the same services. In the US, your healthcare is largely dictated by your health insurance and income. 10/10 would do again.
A Few Complaints
I moved temporarily to take advantage of cheap undergrad tuition at McGill University (as a dual citizen) and don't regret it. Headed back stateside after 3 years in Montreal, but I have very few complaints.
Here they are: In terms of healthcare, it took a while to find a family doctor but once I found one it was alright. No urgent care clinics kinda sucks, but it's okay I guess. Other inconveniences include the fact that online shopping is more expensive and has less selection. Also, liquor costs more here. That's not the end of the world though, especially living in a large city like Montreal. Also, the winter sucks, but that is probably a function of my upbringing where winters weren't awfully cold. One of the bigger problems is the taxation situation for US citizens abroad. Sucks to have to file in both countries.
The good things? The exchange rate is marvelous and has been for a few years now, so transferring saved-up American money into Canadian money has been great. Montreal itself is one of my favorite cities because there's always something to do and it feels quasi-European. Plus, rent here is insanely cheap, which isn't the case in Toronto or Vancouver. Canadians, in general, are indeed friendly (albeit less so in Quebec). McGill was a great university with lots of opportunities. The summers here are wonderful and the city really comes alive.
I'd rate my 3 years in Canada an 8/10.
Open Racism
7/10. Awful healthcare, extreme and appallingly open racism against the first nations, lots of passive aggression. However, did make some good friends and the land is beautiful.
A Gateway Drug
GiphyI did my research before and as a result wasn't too surprised at how superior it was with regard to politics, general human decency, accessible healthcare (yes, it's as easy as walking in with your card, getting what you need, and leaving..just hope your private plan covers anything outside of the urgent care/ER that your default plan sure as hell won't.) Couple things stand out though:
There seems to be a general condescending tone about the neighbo(u)rs to the south. While a fair amount of this is warranted, it's to the point where I don't mention this upbringing in casual conversation anymore until I trust the person. To me, it's hypocritical to make sweeping generalizations about a people that you hate for being racist, bigoted, etc. Attack the issues, not the population.
It's not exactly some kind of cradle of intellectualism, either. Like anywhere else, there are smart people, dumb people, everything in between. It just seems better on average [than the US] as there's a different starting point in society, some kind of privilege, if you will. By not being born and having to deal daily with the mess and socioeconomic challenge that is living the US, it's of course easier to form opinions about how poorly everything is being operated. Issues still exist here too, from poorly maintained infrastructure, monopolistic phone companies, not-so-subtle genocidal activities toward natives. Same fallible people, different issues.
Changing gears: One of the many reasons I wanted to move was that I thought I was going to be among my people with respect to embracing harsh winter weather. All the propaganda sold how cold and scary and snowy it was. I grew up in the southern US where snow was occasional but not terribly common. This seemed like a heavenly transition...but lordy jaysus everyone here is a little wuss. Just pick a random Canada twitter account or Facebook page about the most trivial of weather and everyone complains like they've never seen it before. It's embarrassing. Hell, while the southern infrastructure couldn't handle snow as well, they were at least far less cowardly about it. I get the inconvenience thing but this seemed to be a deeper-rooted hatred which is toxic for the cozy winter weather lover.
A couple of things I do miss: as a scientist--the lack of free data exchange..those with ready access to US government data don't know how good they have it. Another perk is tech and media in general (understandably less robust than the place with access to Hollywood and numerous tech research facilities).
All in all, however, I don't regret much; for whatever problems exist here are greater in number back south; I like to think of it as a EU Lite® where it still has some of the same issues the US does, just not as great in intensity or number--It's a good gateway drug for those considering full evil socialist European living.
Tex-Mex
Finally, one I can answer! Immigrated summer of 2017, moving from New York City to Toronto.
The good: Almost everything! People are nicer; I'm significantly less anxious given the social safety here, lots of great food and fun things to do and I love the culture up here.
The bad: No good Tex-mex (not "Mexican") food. Really bad drivers. Utility costs
Overall: 10/10 would immigrate again. I started a family here and have no intention of ever returning to America.
- Brefix
No More "Me First"
Moved to Quebec and never plan to return to America. I love it here. It's safe, even major cities like Montreal. It's super multicultural here, and people embrace it (for the most part, racism exists everywhere). I don't worry about my future children's safety when they will go to school. I have been sick many times, including bilateral pneumonia and have never paid a dime for treatment.
I work at a job that is dangerous for my unborn child so I am on leave for the entire 9 months of my pregnancy with 90% of my salary. After the baby is born I will take 18 months of maternity leave. Honestly, the social benefits are just so incredible.
Why in the world would I want to move back to a society that values a "me first" and "I've got mine, so screw you" mentality. Of course there are people who don't feel that way, the government and those who put them in power certainly do.
Moved Without A Job
I moved to Vancouver in 2015 and ended up returning to the States. Couldn't find a job and nothing was working out. The taxes were killing me and the cost of living is higher. Was not the best decision.
Great - Except The Lack Of Hot Cheetos
I moved to Canada from California to be with my boyfriend a month after we met, It has been over 5 years and we will be getting married on July 13 next month. I didn't expect much when I moved to Canada, I thought I would be living in a pile of snow. Boy was I wrong!! I love Canada even more than the US.
The best part of Canada is its stunning scenery. Banff and Jasper are the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my life. Banff has glaciers, very large mountains, a thick coniferous foliage covering the landscape, emerald and sapphire lakes, lots and lots of wildlife (bears, eagles, cougar, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, wolves, foxes...even more so in the Yukon, bears are like squirrels). Yosemite isn't nearly as pretty in comparison, it is blown out of the water. The only thing California has over banff are the redwoods.
Healthcare is a big one. I am still surprised it costs nothing when I got to the hospital, even feel very guilty for some reason. I severed all the tendons in my pinky finger when I was chopping vegetables and I got hand surgery and 20+ physiotherapy sessions free. Most I paid was 20 dollars for the cast. The waiting times are the same as in California. Literally noticed no difference at all. I was raised in a highly conservative seventh day adventist family and was convinced when I lived in the US that the healthcare was perfect and "lazy" minimum wage workers didn't deserve to be healthy. Living in Canada has left me much more open minded and compassionate. There are a lot less stupid billboard advertisements about jesus stuff and less churches.
I find the tuition to my university is much much cheaper in comparison to California, although the campus isn't nearly as pretty.
Mcdonald's also tastes much better, no gray patty.
Weird stuff about Canada: slightly racist sentiment against indigenous people. LOTS AND LOTS of Ukrainians (my fiance is one), everyone seems to love Kraft dinner (WHY!!!), they have an obsession with slurpees (no Icees!), only two seasons here: construction and winter, NOT ALL STORES CARRY HOT CHEETOS!!!
Safety
GiphyThe sense of safety - from crime, from medical and student debt, from the weird political whims of the US government - is what really stands out for me. I lived in Canada for 13 years and became a citizen. It was so good to me.
- ape_unit
The US Is A Better Option
I moved to Canada (Toronto and Vancouver) for a while and eventually came back to the US.
In Toronto and Vancouver, I think there's more of a sense of community than what I've experienced living major US cities like NYC, Chicago, SF. The people are a bit less self centered and more aware of their surroundings, and that manifests in the little things like doing a better job of cleaning up after themselves, being more courteous on the roads and on public transit, and just being a bit more friendly and helpful to strangers.
Stuff was definitely more expensive in Canada. Even considering I've lived in expensive US cities such as NYC and SF, non-housing things in Toronto and Vancouver were more expensive, like groceries, clothes, plane tickets.
Canada lacks a creative energy compared to what I've experienced in the US. Everything from the music, food, visual art, architecture, and fashion felt dull. A very sterile, generic feel overall.
People seem healthier and well rested in Canada. I'm sure that has to do a lot with having a proper healthcare system in place and more adequate paid time off (still bad in regards to PTO, but better than the US). I've always had a lot of PTO in my jobs in the US and it's been years since I've had any health concerns that a Costco-branded allergy pill or ibuprofen couldn't handle, so that didn't really affect me. But yea, the people as whole just seem healthier and happier.
Internet speeds in Canada are absolutely terrible. Both residential/commercial internet and data connections on phones. It's not great in the US either, but Canada's is a downright joke.
Salaries and overall job opportunities in my fields (tech/biotech/research) are very limited compared to the US. The top innovators by and large aren't in Canada so if you want to work with the best, you're likely not going to be in Canada. I felt similarly about most European countries (UK/Germany excluded) when I've looked at jobs there too.
I'm glad I did give Canada a shot and I don't regret it one bit. It's a really wonderful country that I could happily live in, and I think the majority of Americans would probably be happier in Canada than they are in the US just due to healthcare, PTO, and better education. But for me personally, the US is the better option.
Dual-Citizen
I'm a dual-citizen who's spent about half my life living on either side of the border. In my opinion, Canada is significantly better for many reasons including healthcare, culture (dumb, uneducated rednecks are few and far between) and natural beauty.
The only reason I reside in the states right now is because Canada (specifically Vancouver, where I grew up) is incredibly expensive. Their housing market is out of control and everyday items are more expensive. That being said, if/when Vancouver's housing market crashes I will likely try to move back.
Nowadays, the movie industry touts innovative cinematic experiences with advanced digital projection technology and sound systems to entice audiences back into theaters.
But during the advent of cinema long before home-viewing entertainment, people had to go to theaters exclusively to experience films on the big silver screen.
The movies that were filmed and shown in black and white at the time are now considered classics, and there is an enduring quality to these films that have inspired contemporary films recapturing a bygone era like the 2011 French comedy, The Artist.
Curious to hear from neophyte cinephiles, Redditor Zahirico1 asked:
"Which black and white movies are absolutely worth watching?"
These enduring classics are still being talked about among film aficionados.
The Brilliance Of Kurosawa
"Seven Samurai, original 1954 version"
– SKINNERNSC
"I mean, all of Kurosawa."
– DCDHermes
Class Film Noir
"Double Indemnity."
– shamwowj
"Every Billy Wilder movie."
– realteamme
A Comedy And Mystery
"The Thin Man."
– haveakiki
"The murderer is right in this room. Sitting at this table. You may serve the fish."
– hp640us
Mother Knows Best
"Psycho."
– CentralTown776
"I had the pleasure of going into this movie without knowing anything else but the shower scene, and my god, what a thrill ride. Go into this movie with as little information as you can, and you'll be in for a real treat. – JupiterTartsPerfect Romantic Comedies
"Roman Holiday and Bringing Up Baby."
– Stormy_the_bay
Mysteries in black and white are all the more ominous yet riveting.
Twelve Angry Men (1957)
"My dad with dementia has about a half dozen movies he watches over and over (and over and over). Twelve Angry Men is one of them."
– Listening_Heads
A Compelling Case
"To Kill a Mockingbird."
– MissionWide
"This. I have an amazing father and zero 'daddy issues' but Gregory Peck’s Atticus is the ultimate portrayal of what a good man should be. And that is apparent even when you are too young to have any concept of a man outside of a father figure but old enough to have a crush."
– SwissMiss90
Now Whodunnit
"Arsenic and old lace."
– IamAPottato
"One of the BEST films ever in my opinion! And funnier because the role of the killer always being told he looks like Boris Karloff — and going into murderous rages over it — was originally played by Boris Karloff. He wasn’t available to reprise his stage role when filming took place."
– Cephalopodio
The following films were deliberately presented in black and white long after the heralding of films in color.
One Of Mel Brook's Best From 1974
"Young Frankenstein."
– InsomniaDreams
"It’s pronounced Fronkensteen!"
– Maso_TGN
Cold War Satire
"Dr. Strangelove."
– shamwowj
"Dude there are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many scenes in that movie where Sellers f'king kills me every single time, and I've seen this movie at least 50 times."
"His facial expressions alone when he's talking to Brigadier-General Jack D. Ripper and the general is explaining to him how women stole his essence."
"It's f'king insane how talented that man was."
– ezypee
Schindler's List
"Best movie I’ll only ever watch once."
– Chaps_and_salsa
My favorite classic black and white film is Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard.
Interestingly, I saw the musical written by Andrew Lloyd Webber first with Glenn Close giving a satisfyingly ostentatious performance.
After loving the show, I watched the 1950 classic film on which the musical was based and I loved it ten times more than the theatrical adaptation.
Everything about the performances and Wilder's brilliant direction is why I love classic movies.
Not to mention, I don't ever care to see the color of blood on film.
People Reveal What Grossed Them Out So Much About Their Partner That They Broke Up
People end their relationships for a multitude of reasons.
Sometimes, two people just amicably discover that they are incompatible.
Other times, people realize their partner isn't who they thought they were, and remaining in this relationship isn't healthy or safe.
Then there are the extreme cases, where people make unpleasant discoveries about their partners.
Discoveries which can only be described as "gross."
What grossed you out so much in a relationship that you just left?
Not So Subtle Manipulation
"We were in one of many fights and I told him I needed space, so we hadn't talked in maybe a day."
"I get a text from a random number saying it was his sister and that he was in the hospital after a bad work accident."
"I ask which hospital (knowing that it is him texting me using a number app, lying about being injured - BUT you never know, maybe it's real)."
"'She' tells me the name of the hospital and then sends me a picture of JUST his legs which are bruised, but they looked like how his legs always looked."
"And then she says this is the last picture they took of him before he was life flighted to the hospital."
"She said he had severe head trauma, a cracked skull, and his back was likely broken in several places."
"So...I called the hospital and asked if they had any patients by his name - they said no."
"I asked if anyone was life flighted in in the last few hours - they said no."
"I blocked the number and went to sleep."
"A few days later I got a text from ANOTHER random number claiming to be his brother."
"He sends me a selfie of him in a hospital gown in an exam room at a doctor's office."
"He looked totally normal - no cracked skull or broken back."
"And it was cute because the room was ocean themed with crabs and fish on the walls."
"Anyway, the text said he was in the ICU (the crab room) and he had just woken up from a coma!"
"Again, I ask which hospital and the 'brother' refuses to tell me, saying he'll be RELEASED within the hour so there's no point in a visit."
"I know it makes me sound like a bad person for not believing him, but this man lied to me on several occasions, told me he'd been shot, stabbed, poisoned."
"So many red flags and my mentally ill self was naive and lonely at that time in my life."
"Granted, this was a breaking point for me and I dove head first into therapy and never looked back."- coffeee_bean
Talk About Unhygeinic!
"(Briefly) dated a girl who never cleaned her adult toys."
"It was something I missed the first few times we were together due to lighting but once I did it was all I could do to not retch."
"I played it off like the batteries had died in it."
"Afterwards I took a peek at the rest of her collection and they were all the same, coated in crustyness.
"As far as I could tell she wasn't an otherwise dirty person either."
"He place was well kept and clean and every time we were together it was clear she had either just taken a shower, or we would take one together as part of our pre-game."
"Then again, I have anosmia and can't smell most things, so maybe she stank to hell, and I just couldn't tell?"- TheShandyMan
grossed out seinfeld GIF by HULUGiphyDoes She Even Own A Broom?
"Dated a girl for a while, always seemed really well put together."
"Nice clothes, hair and makeup."
"We usually hooked up at my place."
'Went to her apartment once."
"The smell when she opened the door should’ve been enough."
"There were dirty diapers overflowing trash cans in every room of the house."
"There was a super small walkway through the mounds of dirty clothes to the bathroom."
"And to make it worse , there were used paper plates on top of the MOUNTAIN of dirty dishes in 'the sink'."
"She proudly pointed out a moldy dish and said that it was from when she cooked dinner for two of our mutual friends."
"3 months prior."
'Noped the hell outta there."- Jammin_neB13
Tragic
"When she doted on my kids as though they were hers/ours but treated HERS like they no longer existed or mattered."
"MASSIVE MASSIVE red flag."
"I was sooooo happy to get out of that relationship but years later I feel badly for her kids and pray everything turned out well for them."- Pittman247
Good Thing They Noticed!
"The swastika I found under her left t*t."- vensik
Definitely Not A Keeper
"My ex used to say, constantly, that she wanted to be inside my skin."
"It was her way of saying she desired me, but it was weird and off-putting so I asked her to stop and she couldn't understand what was so uncomfortable about what she was saying."
"Pretty soon after that I went on a week long work trip and three days into it she called and told me the whole time I've been gone she wanted to cheat on me."
"Then she asked me if she could see other people while I'm gone."
"I broke up with her pretty much instantaneously."- BashfulArtichoke
Not What They Did, But What They Were Thinking
"She was jealous of me spending time with my sister and implied our relationship ‘wasn’t normal’."
"I was so grossed out by the implication."
"Dumped her the next day."- Tygoodnight
One Hopes She Got The Help She Needed
"It was two separate incidents, but long story short, one night she got super drunk at my sister-in-law's house."
"After spilling a second glass of red wine on my SIL's white carpet, we opted to move her glass further away from the edge of the table."
"As soon as we left, she screamed, like full-fledged raged, at me for 'not defending her'."
"The very next time we were together, she got drunk again and accused me of trying to cheat on her (I've never cheated on anyone) and threw her purse at me."
"I let things calm down and explained to her that I grew up in a house chock full of domestic violence and that was an absolute line in the sand."
"And for that reason, I was out."- Zutes
When They Admit To Stalking, GET OUT!!!
"He showed me, with excitement, a box of things he'd been collecting from me without my knowledge."
"This included strands of my hair taped up neatly, bobby pins and hair pins I had in from prom, my finger prints and saliva sample that he took out of the trash from our forensics class experiments."
"He thought this was a romantic gesture or something, but it just made me really realize how creepy and obsessive he is."
"He was also very controlling and got jealous/mad at me for hanging out with my sister or spending time on my laptop or with my dog."
"And he also admitted to me that he stalked my FB interests to pretend he knew and liked what I liked, researching the games I played and music I listened to so he could bring it up in conversation."
"Total psycho."- puppycatpie
Rendering His Showers Unnecessary
"I showered at his place after staying over and I asked for a towel."
"He gave me one which had literal skin flakes on."
"I asked for a clean one."
"He asked what I meant."
"He did not realize that you need to wash towels because 'they just have water on them so they clean themselves'."- G1ngerbeer
towel talking GIF by South Park GiphyComplete And Total Lack Of Sympathy
"My mom died just weeks before and I was tired as f*ck, exhausted, and in a traumatic phase of grief after a year of cancer treatments and all the fuss of being there for a cancer battle."
"The woman I was seeing told me I need to get over it and can't just be alone inside all the time."
"Never spoke to her again."
"Went through my phases of grief and have been a resource to ppl in my life that are going through similar loss since then."
"Grief takes time or it doesn't; it's different for everyone."- Stevenerf
Trolls Aren't Just Found Under Bridges...
"Found out gf had several fake social media accounts she’d use to bully strangers and harass women she knew including my ex wife."
"Instant dump."- Zen4rest
Some people simply aren't meant for one another.
After reading some of these cases, however, one could honestly say that some people simply aren't meant for anyone.
Working around or alongside dead bodies is not a job everyone can handle.
Indeed, it takes a strong stomach, massive discipline, not to mention bravery.
Of course, most people who are brave enough to work as a doctor, nurse, coroner, or a mortician usually also have a high level of compassion as well, honoring the life of the person they are working for.
Particularly if they are superstitious, and wonder if that very person might still be in the same room with them, just out of their bodies.
An idea easy enough to laugh off, but indeed, many of these people have first hand experiences of haunting, sometimes scary encounters of finding themselves in the presence of spirits.
"Redditors who have worked around death/burial, what’s your best ghost story?
Some Unfinished Business, Maybe?
"I used to be a security guard at a hospital."
"One night, while doing my rounds, I went into the surgery wing and was walking down a hallway when I saw a doctor looking at the whiteboard where all the scheduled surgeries are written down."
"I said 'hello doctor' and kept going."
"The doctor didn’t say anything back, just kept studying the whiteboard."
"When I got back to the security office, I was telling one of the guys that’s been there for years about how I greeted this doctor and he didn’t say anything back, I asked if thats the a**hole they told me to watch out for."
"I was asked where I saw him and I said the surgery ward, and he gave me a smirk."
"He then explained that the surgery ward closes at 9pm and that all patients are moved into the monitoring wards; there should be no one there."
"He then asked me if this doctor was studying the schedule board."
"I said yes and he then told me that I just met Dr. Luisitti."- addictedpunk
A Sign Of Comfort, Or Foreboding?
"I worked within hospice and long-term care."
"The spookiest phenomenon was the man in the corner."
"It happens all the time for people actively dying."
"They see a shadowy man in the corner of their room."- LeftandLeaving9006
Poor Guy. Both Of Them.
"Not me, but a colleague found a dead person in a dark smoke filled burned out building during the mop up of fire fighting operations."
"As unfortunately happens sometimes, you find them by stepping on them."
"If they're still intact you kinda bounce off them."
"If they're fried, you can often crunch them up pretty bad under your heavy boot."
"Well this guy stood right on a badly burned corpse's sternum."
"Crunch, right into the chest cavity."
"When he tried to pull his foot out it got stuck on the ribs and the body came up at him."
"Burned up arms flailing about."
"He needed quite a bit of counseling, poor dude."- demoneyesturbo
All In A Day
"I have several stories from when I worked as a Mortuary Transport Tech."
"The job was basically transporting the deceased from where they were to where they needed to go."
"Turns out dead people can have a lot of appointments."
"One time though I had an experience I’ve never forgotten."
"I was dropping someone off at the Science Donation place."
"This is when you donate your body to science and they take it from there."
"So I wheeled in the deceased, unlocked the freezer, and did all my stuff I had to do in there."
"I placed him on the board, got the lift out, and placed him on the shelf."
"The interesting thing about the freezer was that most everything, once it’s processed, was wrapped in this blue tape type thing."
"And you could definitely tell what was inside."
"Legs, hands, feet, etc."
"Kind of interesting to me at the time."
"Anyway, I shut the freezer and locked it back up, and started wheeling the gurney back over to the garage door."
"The science drop off and processing area was a big L shape, with the freezer off to the larger long portion, and then you turn the corner and there’s desks and filing cabinets and whatnot."
"I about had a heart attack as I turned the corner and there is just this guy standing there examining files in the file cabinet."
"Looked just like you or me."
"Dressed modernly, but out of place for what people normally wear back there."
"I stopped and said that he’d have to forgive me but he almost gave me a heart attack."
"It didn’t look like he heard me at all, or even knew I was there."
"I should mention this was also about 1am, and I’d never seen anyone at the place this late."
"So I said, 'well, sorry if I startled you or anything', and went on about my finishing up stuff."
"Got the gurney back in the van, closed and locked the large garage door from the inside, all the while this guy is just standing there, staring at an open file in front of him, not paying any attention to me."
"I had to use the bathroom so I told him that’s where I’d be going and I’d be right back."
"Again, no response."
'I thought maybe he’s deaf and couldn’t hear me."
"So I went to the bathroom, and came back to the garage and the guy is gone but the file cabinet is still open."
"I didn’t know where he went, and I hadn’t heard anyone walk down the hallway past the bathroom."
"I checked and made sure everything I was responsible for was still locked, and it was."
"So I just announced that I was going to be leaving and locking up to set the alarm."
"No response."
"And that’s what I did, and left."
"I’m not sure who he was, or is, or what happened."
"But it was definitely an odd experience and one I still remember perfectly."
"I have a few other memories about my time at the job, if anyone else wants to hear."
"Nothing like what happened above though."- OlliverClozzoff
Unsettling Doppleganger
"I was once working at a mortuary and had to go pick up a man from the medical examiner’s office."
"When you do that (at least where I’m from) you get a receipt when they release the body to you."
"The receipt has all of the personal belongings that are with the deceased."
"When I brought the man back to the office I opened up the body bag to make sure all the belongings were there and double checking the receipt."
"When I opened up the bag I was stunned to find this dude looked almost exactly like me."
"He was my age, had similar tattoos In similar spots, had the same long hair I do, even had the same style of jewelry I was wearing."
"It took me so off guard that I stood there in an existential crisis until the embalmer came in and was like 'hey SpartanM00 how’s it goin—ahhh holy sh*t that guy looks like you!'"
"It’s the only case I’ve had nightmares about."
"I’ll be the one in the body bag with the deceased man opening me up."- SpartanM00
The More You Know
"Corpses move when you cremate em."
"People who don't know this get spooked a lot."- rocharox
The Unseen Help
"During my apprenticeship, I worked at a funeral home said to be 'haunted' by an old funeral director assistant who had a heart attack in the building and died."
"All he ever did was mess with the chapel lights and if you called him out, something like 'John the family is coming, please don't' they would return to normal."
"Not really sure if I believe it was really haunted, but saying something always fixed the issue so I kept doing it my entire time there."- _bobbykelso
Nightmare Inducing
"I used to work in a nursing home."
"The residents in certain rooms would complain about a man in their room at night but hallucinations are common in the elderly so it wasn't really noticed."
"One night I was moping the dinning room which had huge windows over looking the garden, it was around 1am so pitch black outside and low lighting inside."
"I had this horrible feeling of being watched so looked up and reflected in the window was a man behind me."
"He had a brown suit in, a bowler hat and the cruelest look on his face, he grinned and his mouth was too big."
"This happened in seconds and when I turned around there was obviously no one there but I'll never forget that look of evil on his face."
"I paid more attention to the residents after that and they'd all seen the same man, he just enjoyed terrorizing people."- mycatiscalledFrodo
Holding Out Hope
"I used to be a driver for a funeral home corporation."
"Like, drive the hearse and pick up the bodies."
"Never had anything creepy happened, a few funny things, a few traumatic things."
"In general it was a chill job."
"However, I did get incredibly uncomfortable one night picking up a man who died at home."
"He still had the defibrillator leads on his chest and his eyes were closed, which is unusual because the eyes are always open."
"He just looked like he was asleep or unconscious."
"Not rigid or pale or anything."
"I just had this sinking feeling for about half an hour in traffic that he was going to suddenly gasp and wake up in the body bag."
"Then it hit me."
"That would be the coolest thing ever."
"I’d take him home and he’d be back with his family."
"So I just kind of drove slowly and turned up some music and sang along and talked to him."
"When I got him to the funeral home I left him out of the cooler for about an hour while I did paperwork and played on my phone."
"When I got another call I checked on him and his limbs had started to stiffen."
"I was kind of bummed."
"I put him in the cooler and went on my next call."- Chemistry-Least
Working alongside the dead is a challenging. poignant, and frequently scary occupation.
As you always have the feeling that someone is watching you.
And more often than not, you may be right.
Men Break Down Which Things They Will Never Quite Understand About Women
Men and women.
What a conundrum.
Or mess, whatever description makes more sense.
I don't believe this battle of wills and thoughts will be answered in this lifetime.
But maybe some headway can be made with a few honest thoughts.
Some guys out there really want to "get it," ladies.
And by "get it," they mean answers to questions and logic that escapes them.
So how can you help?
Redditor GrouchyResolution974 wanted to know what the boys can't quite seem to grasp about the ladies, so they asked:
"Men of Reddit, what’s one thing you will never understand about women?"
Thankfully, I like boys, but's it's a fascinating topic. I'm listening.
Follicle Issues
Giphy"Based on the amount of hair I have seen in the bathroom, and that I somehow still keep finding in my clothes/bu**crack, how do you still have so much hair on your head?"
shartnado3
mark your territory?
"Are you planting hair ties and bobby pins everywhere to mark your territory?"
"This actually came up in a previous relationship when my girlfriend (at the time) found a 'foreign' bobby pin in one of the bathroom drawers, and freaked out about it until I casually explained that she is in fact not the first girlfriend I ever had and that I don't go through and scrub every square inch of my apartment after a breakup."
onamonapizza
Chaotic Sizes
"Why are women clothing sizes all over the place? One store a size 4 could be a 9 at a different store."
Zihark53
"We don't get it either, and we don't like it. The fashion industry refuses to standardize sizes, make bras for well endowed women at a reasonable price, or put useable pockets on our clothing. It's freaking MADDENING."
TattooedWenchkin
"This is a topic most of us rant about at LEAST twice a month, if not every time we go clothes shopping. My best friend says women’s sizing depends on your horoscope and your immediate proximity to a chicken."
queenlesbian99
Why so Small?
"Why are their pockets so small? Who started this?"
GBgabe13
"Pockets went away because 20th century fashion silhouettes were too slim for pockets, cost of installing pockets makes manufacturers not include them in designs, and women’s clothing is made of weaker fabrics that aren’t suitable for pockets. The purse industry thing is a myth. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W2zSSE9pgC8"
butter_milk
Chatter
Mean Girls Gossip GIF by Paramount MoviesGiphy"Starting a conversation, then continuing the conversation after walking into another room where you can't be heard."
therealfrankpenny
Women have super sonic hearing, it's a gift.
Bruh!
Jersey Shore Dancing GIF by Jersey Shore Family VacationGiphy"I'm going to McDonalds, want anything? No. *Proceeds to eat all of my fries, bruh."
california-whiskey
"'I'll just have some of yours.'"
"No I want all of mine, that's the point. I'll just get 2 and finish yours."
Idontdanceforfun
0 to 100!!
"How a woman can instantly tap into the rage (with 0 energy loss) they experienced from an argument we had 2 years ago, and I don't even remember it happening."
whatchlookinat
"It's because of the implications of the past rage. I think women tend to connect behaviors into a pattern more, rightly or wrongly. So X things is seen as a warning sign for something negative."
"Something happen twice is a pattern of behavior that indicates negative thing. I think men tend to view each incident as an isolated event. I don't think either one is right or wrong. I think you need both kinds of thinkers in a social group. A lot of women just tend to lean one way and a lot of men the other."
jittery_raccoon
Location?
"Where do you want to eat?!"
WhenAllElseFail
"As a girl, I absolutely hate having to choose. I will never turn down a place when my husband picks. If I actually want something I will tell him. It should be simple. I get stuck making dinner at home most days and make those decisions- don't make me also figure out food out of the house too."
nickygirl19
"Frankly this is a fair take that I’ve never considered."
flaming_carrot12
Hats off y’all...
"Why the f**k you would ever want to be pregnant. I watched my wife push out two kids with no drugs, and y’all have my undying respect. No freaking way I’d do that dude. Courage is defined as a woman who intentionally get pregnant, knowing what that actually entails and all the terrifying risks associated with it. Hats off y’all."
ToastFromTexas
Bad Company
"Toxic Positivity. Why are you always hang around people you don't like and pretend to be nice to them."
Way_2_Go_Donny
"It’s not necessarily a good habit for sure, but women's networks rely upon collaboration so if you burn bridges, women can do a lot of damage to you socially with a bit of well placed gossip. Sadly. Women’s weapons are psychological devices, vs mens which may be more overtly aggressive."
Dry_Representative_9
Googley Eyes
Want You Love GIF by NICOLE DADDONAGiphy"How they can look at men and find them attractive. I’m an overweight turd and somehow I’ve managed to find one that finds me attractive."
mrtouchybum
We thank these ladies for answering these questions so candidly, in hopes of catching some of the men up to speed.
Do you have any burning questions or things you'd like to answer? Let us know in the comments.