Why are people so dang rude? If you don't know somebody it's beyond improper to comment on their appearance whatsoever, let alone make a negative comment about it. But some people just have all the nerve in the universe.
u/LocalBogans asked Reddit:
What's the rudest or most obscure thing a stranger has said about your appearance?
Here were some of the answers.
Ten Second Rule
GiphySome lady was talking to me, and mid-conversation said, "Sorry, I just have to ask, do you have pink-eye or something? Your one eye is slanted." I blamed it on my contact, but I knew what she was talking about. My one eyelid has always been droopier than the other, and I'm a bit self conscious about it. But why would she think it was pink-eye? My eye wasn't even red...
The rule I have always stuck to is this: if the person can't fix it in 10 seconds, don't mention anything about their appearance. If they have spinach in their teeth, tell them! But if they have a zit or something, don't mention it! It's not that hard.
Just Really Not A Compliment
GiphyIn a group project. Some guy compared me to a gorilla from some movie. I wasn't really offended but I was also a little concerned. Then someone chimed in, "How the F-CK does he at all look like that gorilla?" And the girl in our group said, "I don't see it at all..."
I felt relieved that most people do not in fact think I look like a gorilla. In my opinion, I do not look like a gorilla much at all, definitely not more than a typical person.
Small Talk
GiphyI have cystic acne, I'm on meds and everything, and sometimes new people tell me stuff like "have you tried washing your face every day" and "when I have a pimple I put (insert product) on it and it disappears." Like I understand you're trying to help, but when you bring it up the second we meet it's a pretty mean reminder that my skin condition is the first thing people notice.
Thanks...?
GiphyI was trying on shoes at a marathon expo the day before the race. The shoe salesman asked if I was running the half marathon the next day. I replied, "No, I'm running the full marathon." He replied, "Huh. You look like a half marathoner to me." Weirdest insult I've heard.
Nothing Happened, Barbara
GiphyI have nystagmus (the shaky eyes) the amount of times strangers have commented is more than I could count. Usually "what's wrong with you / what happened to your eyes" are the standards but I've also heard freaky, gross, disgusting, and my favorite "you look like a serial killer".
Please Go Away
GiphyI had a woman in a bathroom tell me as I was washing my hands that I am "quite pretty, but not dressing to my potential." I was at a baseball game in a team jersey, jeans, and a ballcap.
I May Be Short But I Am Mighty
Giphy"Don't worry, short boys like you are kind of cute." Critical hit in the masculinity.
That's Not Why I'm Here
GiphyWithin the first couple minutes of the CPR/first aid certification course, the nurse leading it told me if I was going to need a c-section when I have kids because my hips are so narrow. I don't want kids and we hadn't even introduced ourselves yet. Such a weird thing to say to someone.
Ruined My Life
GiphyI was wearing a thin sweater when I was 13 years old, when a dude said "ew you have weird nipples"; because my sweater was just thin enough to see the outline of my nips (i'm a dude). Seventeen years later, I legit haven't taken off my shirt in public or wore clothing that showed nipples. It's become a full-blown issue that's affected my life with insecure thoughts.
Floored
GiphyNot about me, but to me.
"He's got Down Syndrome" while pointing to my infant son (not sure if she thought I hadn't realised)
"Yes he has."
"Aren't you too young to have a Downs?"
"Apparently not"
"Such a shame, he would be really cute as well"
I wish I had a witty comeback but I literally just stared at her in disbelief then walked off.
Lank
Giphy"Hello, loooooong boy!" - homeless guy I walked by at the park. I'm still trying to figure out what he meant by that.
Let Me Pizzaface In Peace, Yo
GiphyDuring the height of my acne problems I was shocked by how many elderly people would randomly approach me in stores, malls, restaurants, what have you and say absurd shit like, "You know what gets rid of that? Soap and water. Just a little bit, every day." They'd always seem so proud of themselves like they'd done their good deed for the day by telling a complete stranger basic, common sense information that wasn't going to help in my case anyway.
Just Dogs, Not Humans
Giphy"You need to f-cking eat, only dogs like bones"
Well, thank God for that. I'd jump off a bridge if dogs didn't like me.
How Much More Mexican Should I Be, Brenda?
GiphyIn high school I did well enough on my PSAT to earn recognition as a "National Hispanic Scholar" and one of my mom's coworkers told my mom I didn't deserve the award because I wasn't "mexican enough."
It's My Hair, Not Yours
GiphyMy sister and I were walking into an Italian restaurant a couple of years ago in November. I like do dye my hair crazy colors pretty regularly and most of the time, people wont say anything if they arent a fan. I decided to be a nice person and hold the door open for a family that was leaving. The father of this family looks at me on his way out and says "Halloween's over!" It was pretty rude imo, especially when I was holding the door open for this guy.
She's Still Married To Me, He He He.
GiphyI am not even sure how to word this without sounding hyperbolic or dramatic.
So I am an average AT BEST looking guy. I've gained weight as I've aged, but for most of my life I got teased for my non-chub attributes. Just not much of a looker. I get it. I don't even disagree.
My wife is NOT a supermodel. But she is a conventionally pretty, blonde haired, blue eyed thin woman. So like... I OF COURSE think she is gorgeous, but she is also not quitting her job for the runway.
That is the context I'm going for.
I cannot tell you how many strangers, or near strangers have joked about the disparity in our looks. I've had completely random dudes at bars ask me to set them up, only to have them laugh in my face when I say we're married. I've had coworkers be like THAT'S your wife!? I've had people be like "Wow you must be packing the goods if she's with you" to which I typically reply "I wish, but no."
So it's weird. By myself at a bar? Invisible, anonymous dude. With my wife at a bar? Hung Quasimodo.
I used to be insecure about it when we were younger. Now it's just like "Ya she has sh-t judgement, I donno what to tell you!"
Redditor Tight_Anywhere6794 wanted to hear about the things parents have said in the past that haunts everyone still, so they asked:
"What insult have your parents said, that is stuck in your head as an adult?"
I've been blessed with the mother I had.
So I can't speak from experience.
But I've heard parenting horror stories.
Bad Expressions
Sad Kid GIF by 1tvGiphy“'You’re so annoying.' Said to me as a young kid while I was expressing enthusiasm over some new interest. Later my father complains I never tell him anything."
foppishyyy
Mean Spirited
"What did I do to deserve a fat kid?"
Silosolo
"My parents also mocked me for being fat, and outright physically abused me as in forcefully grabbed my fat child manboobs or slapped me while calling me fat-related names."
"A lot of people at school did it too, so obviously I have a lot of self-image issues like I never let anyone see me without clothes these days. The worst part is that I legitimately internalized a lot of hate, I could never care for myself enough to actually get fit."
FoeWithBenefits
What's My Name?
"My parents divorced when I was young and they hate each other. My mom would call me my dad's name when she was really upset. What makes it worse is that I confided in her that I never wanted to be like my dad. She used that ammunition against me."
Discarded_Pariah
"That's awful. You are your own person. You aren't your father."
blksmnr
Unfunny
"'You can't even laugh right.'"
"My mom in a weird moment I thought we were bonding. There's something inherently extra evil when someone tells you your joy is wrong. Told her I'm engaged and hoped she could at least be happy I'm happy and she ghosted everyone to the point the family thought died. She's a mess."
BlindEditor
"I'll never understand parents that are so hard on their own children that they can't even be happy for them. So their sole function is to bring misery to their offspring?"
macabre_irony
Evil
Oh My God Wow GIF by The Roku ChannelGiphy"My little brother was drowning, I tried to save him but also almost drowned, we got rescued by a neighbor. My mom told me that they should've left me in the pond. I haven't spoken to her in many years."
Ilookbetterthanyou
Good Lord. How do people like this exist?
Tragic.
HIM
"She told me I was acting just like my father when I would get upset. I would just get kinda pissy and sulk. He would go on rampages and scream and hit and throw things. He pushed her down the stairs once. I would never lay a finger on my current partner. The worst part is I look just like him. I was wondering if my mother always expected me to turn into my dad. I prove her wrong every day."
rot_grl
10 Years Old
"When I was ~10 years old, my mum once said 'If I could go back in time and make sure I never gave birth to you, I would in a heartbeat.'"
"Never forgot it. Talked to her about it a couple of times years later and her responses ranged from 'That never happened' to 'Oh yeah and I suppose I’m just the worst mother ever' and finally 'Yeah but I didn’t mean it, you know that.'"
"Messed me up tho tbh. Another one was '[older sibling] was the only child we actually planned for, the rest of you were accidents.' I don’t think it was intended as an insult, but being told your entire existence was an accident as a child kinda stung."
SpiderP*bes
Failures
“'You’re the biggest mistake I ever made.' - my mother when I was 5. I’m 32 now and it’s been the undercurrent for our relationship ever since, constantly wondering if anything I’ve achieved or struggled for is something she’s genuinely proud of or just relieved to say I wasn’t a total failure on her part."
thefaehost
Generational Issues
"Not a parent but a grandparent, I was adopted when I was 12 years old (my parents were both drug addicts so I was in and out of foster care most of my life) my adopted mother's father turned to me on Christmas Eve when no one else was around and said 'My daughter should have never adopted you, she should have let you stay on the streets where you belong'… he got nicer as he got older and sicker but I couldn’t find it in myself to forget what he said even almost 10 years later. Went to the funeral for moral support but was indifferent about his passing."
samweather227
Just Me
Sad Kids GIF by Cian DucrotGiphy"I was an only child and lonely. When I asked for a sibling, the response was 'If you want to know why we don't have more kids, go look in the mirror.'"
Responsible_Fly_3565
Some people should never have children.
Awful.
"What is something you no longer have patience for?"
Off The Clock Means OFF THE CLOCK!
"Working outside of work hours."
"I used to go above and beyond, now I only put in what is required."
"Life is too short to live only to work."- Chesterfieldcat
"The working world."
"My life doesn’t revolve around working here and it never will."
"It will never be a part of my identity."
"I come in, do the job, make money, go home."
"Don’t expect me to come to all the work happy hours so I can pretend how much I love working here."- nuclearsalt
Some Things Just Don't Get A Free Pass
"Sh*tty people getting a pass 'because they're family'."- cgulash
angry homer simpson GIFGiphySay What You Mean, Not What You Feel
"Having to guess what people REALLY mean by something they said."
"I take everything people say at face value now and don't replay conversations in my head to find out the real meaning anymore."
"Be passive-aggressive if you want to but talk to me like an adult if you really have a problem."- WateredDownSalt
EYES ON THE ROAD!
"People who text and drive."
"You're driving a giant piece of metal propelled by explosive liquid."
"Pay attention."- MasterfulNothasie
The Only Life That Should Concern You Is Your Own
"People and groups of people that only talk about other people."- Turf98
"People who can’t mind their fucking business and are always worried about what other people are doing."
"If it doesn’t effect you, f*ck off."
"It’s literally free."- wackwackwackjpg
GIF by WWEGiphySome People Didn't Mind Social Distancing
"People invading my personal space."- Mighty-Foreskin
Influence Can Be Dangerous
"Anything that has “influencer” in it."- chemistcarpenter
Indoor Voices People...
"Streamers screaming, losing their sh*t, breaking things, and having tantrums."
"I used to think this was so funny now I just can't stand it; I can't even watch a streamer if I notice they're not using their normal talking voice." - Reddit
Fail Oh No GIF by G2 EsportsGiphyTaking Responsibility Is A Sign Of Maturity
"People who constantly blame others for the situation they are in."- SuvenPan
Time Is Precious And Shouldn't Be Wasted
"Waiting on people who are constantly late to plans."
"I will wait 15 minutes then excuse myself."- Dabbles-In-Irony
There's Multi-Tasking, And Then There's Just Being Rude...
"People being on their phone while in a conversation with you."
"Seriously."
"Put your phone away!"- rosieblinkstime
Phone GIF by Poehlmann FitnessGiphyIt Takes So Much More Effort To Be Nasty...
"Bad manners, unkindness and general rudeness."
"It costs nothing to be a nice person and from someone who works in a customer-facing industry, attitudes, sadly, appear to be getting worse."
"It really makes me cross."- Bellamiles85
At Least They're Being Transparent
"Medicine commercials with worse side-effects than the thing being cured."- mrbbrj
Wasting our time and thoughts about things that we know can only bring us down is simply no way to get through life.
It's essential to live our lives by taking the present moment for what it is: a present.