Digital Detectives Track Down Fellow Reddit Users Questions like Harriet The Spy
Digital Detectives Track Down Fellow Reddit Users Questions like Harriet The Spy
[rebelmouse-image 18347950 is_animated_gif=Ever scoured the Internet for something you know is out there, only to time and again end up with nothing? It's frustrating af when "Googling it" doesn't work. But you're not alone, and maybe this thread will help you.
Nerfman2227 asked, What's your internet "white whale", something you've been searching for years to find with no luck?
Submissions have been edited for clarity, context, and profanity.
This probably isn't what search engines have in mind. Image of "We Are All in the Hands of Goliath" attached.
[rebelmouse-image 18347951 is_animated_gif=This painting of a tiny guy walking through a valley made of huge menacing statues/beings? And the sky was reddish yellow if I recall correctly.
You'd think there would be more than one.
[rebelmouse-image 18347953 is_animated_gif=A comedy sketch video where Clark Kent is an idiot and everyone just pretends that they don't know he's Superman because they feel bad for him.
This is some Philip K. Dick shi_t.
[rebelmouse-image 18347954 is_animated_gif=An animated short of Pinocchio, where he never turns to a real boy but spends his life as a wooden toy, but people around him treat him as real. He eventually becomes a great psychologist but it's replaced by a robot. 70's style animation. Seen late at night.
Edit: found it!!! Thank you kind stranger! Been 15 years looking for it. https://www.nfb.ca/film/spinnolio
Well, this is certainly dark. "The Wraith of Cobble Hill."
[rebelmouse-image 18347955 is_animated_gif=This claymation movie about this kid who watches a shopkeeper's store while he's away. Kid steals from the shop, neglects the guy's dog for a few days, then finds out that the shopkeeper killed himself. Kid feels bad, locks up the store, takes the guy's dog home, movie ends. Won some awards, but could never find it. Was released between 2006 and 2009 IIRC.
A literal lost whale.
[rebelmouse-image 18347956 is_animated_gif=It's literally a whale video. A group of people rehabbed a seal and gathered on a beach to tearfully release it back into the wild... only for a killer whale to eat it immediately in a truly dramatic fashion. I have wasted many hours trying to find it.
This is a whopper considering the details. The mystery endures.
[rebelmouse-image 18347957 is_animated_gif=EDIT Nov. 5, 2016: I get emailed about this post like once a week asking if I've figured it out yet. Still haven't figured it out. I will edit this if I ever do.
The name of a movie I saw at a sleepover when I was probably 8 or 9. For some reason, my friend's mom kept renting this movie for her completely unaware it had nudity.
Basically, it was a thriller about this guy who was either English or American, I can't remember which, who was visiting France (I think?) and for whatever reason stopped at this one big house and stayed with these strangers for a bit. One of the people in the house was a woman who he sleeps with and then a day or two later went on his way.
However, every road he went on away from the house brought him BACK to the house, and every time he got back to the house the people wouldn't remember him. This happened over and over. It was basically like a dramatic European version of groundhog day.
I've tried searching for this movie basically since I started using the internet and I have no idea what it was called. I'm starting to think I dreamed the whole thing.
EDITED TO ADD A FEW MORE DETAILS:
- I would have watched this movie around 1994/1995, it wasn't a new release but I don't remember thinking that it seemed like a really old movie, so I'm guessing it was made in the early 90s or 1980s.
- This movie didn't have any sort of amnesia plot. A lot of people have suggested it. I BELIEVE there was some sort of ghost thing that happened (spoiler alert, but it's looking more and more like I imagined this all anyway).
- There weren't any major celebrities in it that I can remember. I think it was a European film though so there may have been some European stars in it that' I'm not familiar with.
- I remember it being really long. It was a cool movie but after the 6th or so time of him ending up at this house we were like, "REALLY?! AGAIN?!" so it wasn't a TV show.
- I believe it took place in the past, like the 30s.
MOVIES PEOPLE HAVE GUESSED THAT IT'S DEFINITELY NOT: The Dreamers, The Others, Tales of the Unexpected, Cemetery Man, Somewhere in Time, The Legacy, Killing Zoe, The Tenant, Novo
They are referring to "Wild Board Games." Nostalgic, isn't it?
[rebelmouse-image 18347958 is_animated_gif=It was a late 90's pc game set in a house with different anthropomorphic animals, each would play a different board game with you and make a comment about each play (I believe the rabbit would get annoyed and accuse you of cheating at checkers).
Oh, also you could decorate cakes in the kitchen.
Awwww, remember Corduroy?
[rebelmouse-image 18347959 is_animated_gif=There's a very dark children's book series that I read when I was a kid. I can't remember much except for the illustrations. I think it was all stuffed animals, but there were good ones and very bad ones. The main character was a teddy bear that reminded me of Winney the Pooh, but with loose stitches and some stuffing maybe poking out. The main bad guy I think was a marionette that was very creepy. The illustrations were always very dark and the stories always had a sense of sadness and the futility of good trying to overcome evil. I checked out several of these from my middle school library but I just can't remember anything else about the series, much less the title.
Hint: it's not Minesweeper... what is it?
[rebelmouse-image 18347960 is_animated_gif=The program on windows that you could shoot up and bomb your desktop screen as much as you wanted. What was that called and where do I find it again?
It's Desktop Toys!
Paying it forward by paying homage to this AMAZING animated series.
[rebelmouse-image 18347961 is_animated_gif=I recently just found my white whale, and since I've seen no one hint at it I'll leave it here in case it helps someone anyway.
The Pirates Of Darkwater.
Change your life.
This is pretty depressing and will probably never be solved.
[rebelmouse-image 18347962 is_animated_gif=This'll get buried, but it's a story worth getting off my chest. My white whale is a girl from AUS (I'm Canadian.) We met on a fantasy RP chatroom and were assigned characters in different houses and over the next year we fell in love. It was 95% in-game that it happened, but in private messages and on MSN, it seemed like more than that. Everyone else in the channel knew who we were and what was happening and thought it was among the most adorable things they'd ever seen.
I never met her when voice chat was a thing. She only ever sent one picture, too. One day, she disappeared. I spoke with other people on the channel who were close to her who mentioned that she had problems at home. Whatever they were, we never spoke again. This all happened around 13-14 years ago. At least 8 years back, I sent a message out to as many Samantha Andersons as I could find on Facebook in Australia, asking if any had ever gone by "Lily," but it was something of a lost cause.
I haven't been searching of late, but I still wonder.
There were TV movies I saw as a kid that I can't find anywhere. I feel the hurt.
[rebelmouse-image 18347963 is_animated_gif=Back when I was a youngin (about 1998 or so) the Lord of the Flies was on TV and I was watching it. A song came on (apparently during a commercial because that movie doesn't have a damn soundtrack) that was the most beautiful sound, to this day I remember the tune because it was just like instant silken eargasm, but of course it had no lyrics and it was on a commercial and I've never been able to find it ever again.
Even on the whole internet.
If this sounds like an 80's flick... that's because it is.
[rebelmouse-image 18347964 is_animated_gif=A movie where a grandmother type nanny moves in with a family and she happens to be an Android.
She can pour tea out of her pinky finger that's all I remember.
The movie is called "The Electric Grandmother."
OMG, if only.
[rebelmouse-image 18347965 is_animated_gif=A download for Kid Pix studios.
If this is really a thing, I definitely want to see it.
[rebelmouse-image 18347966 is_animated_gif=A video where Jesus is at a swim meet and when the gun goes off, he takes off running across the water.
People Break Down Which Things Are Illegal In Europe But Not In The U.S.
Whenever a person is getting ready to travel, one piece of advice they should always listen to is to read up on the local laws of the place they're visiting.
Because there are activities that might be acceptable back home that will land a person in jail in another country.
Curious, Redditor Judgmental_Squirrel asked:
"What is something illegal in Europe but not in the US?"
Baby Names
"In Denmark, we can't just name our babies anything we want. We have an approved names list to pick from. We can request a name that is not on the list but it rarely gets approved."
- Healthy_Highlight_71
No Medicine Commercials in Europe
"Pharmaceutical companies marketing directly to consumers."
- ConstantlySlippery
Aesthetic Dog Changes
"Docking dog's tails and cropping their ears."
- Penguinair
Also Cat Aesthetics
"Declawing cats. Most countries here do not allow that."
- DreamingDragonSoul
Crate-Training Animals
"In Germany and in other European countries, it's illegal to lock dogs in cages or crates for extended periods of time. As in daily while you are at work, for example. It's considered animal abuse."
"So many people in the US do this and I've always thought it was abusive. It amazes me how they justify it as, 'Oh, my dog loves the secure feeling of being in his crate' when it's only done for the owner's convenience."
- KookyPiccolo1661
Enough Said.
"Flamethrowers."
- squirrelrap69
Predatory Pricing
"Selling something below the price you bought it for (with the intention to sabotage other businesses). For example, Walmart tried to do this in Germany to destroy their rivals, but they failed miserably and completely retreated out of Germany."
- Lord_Gelthon
Washing Eggs Pre-Sale
"I'm in the US, and a former workmate has chickens as a hobby and gives away the eggs, unwashed. They are in the carton and obviously straight from the nest, because there are all sorts of particles of an output nature on the eggs."
"In Europe, eggs at the stores have sometimes a bit of poop or even feathers on them. Either rinse them before or just wash your hands after. But usually, they're quite clean."
- rncookiemaker
Not Okay in Europe
"Well, Colorado just made it legal to grow psychedelic mushrooms in your own home."
- ITRabbitHole
Additives in Food and Drinks
"Brominated vegetable oil."
- Marijn_fly
Satire Not Allowed
"In the UK at least, showing footage from parliament in a comedy show. More specifically, 'No extracts from parliamentary proceedings may be used in comedy shows or other light entertainment such as political satire.'"
"I only learned that when I tried to watch an episode of 'The Daily Show' that was blocked in the UK for that reason.US comedy shows can show congress all they want."
- Moctor_Drignall
No Sick Days
"This is the main reason I quit my job at Walmart. I had strep throat, so I got a doctor's note and asked that my absences be excused. The managers there refused, and so I quit."
"By the way, Walmart counts your absences as points against you. For example, if you're absent and call in to let them know, you still get a point. Get five points and you're fired. Really makes you feel like a worker drone in a dystopian novel."
- stellaluna-37
The Impact of Additives
"The US has a use it until it's proven harmful policy, and the EU the other way around. Prove it doesn't harm (in given and reasonable quantities) and you can use it."
"Fun fact, some friendly Americans after moving to Europe started realizing they did not suffer from suspected lactose/gluten/you name it intolerance but simply had their guts harmed by additives and seen their symptoms improve here. Check your additives, kids."
- ArtichokeFamiliar205
Candy Distribution
"Various ingredients found in lollies/sweets/candy e.g titanium dioxide. There are tighter restrictions on food production in Europe resulting in American companies having to alter their recipes so they can be sold in European countries."
"A lot of US-based companies partner with foreign companies to meet these laws (so the healthier versions rarely reach US soil). In French Polynesia for example, Coca-Cola partners with La Brasserie de Tahiti, and all of it is made with real sugar and sold in glass bottles that you return to any store for a discount on your next purchase."
"I can't remember for sure if the glass bottles are a law or just the standard for La Brasserie de Tahiti. Either way, it's a great example of how easy it is to cut our reliance on plastic. The public will adopt it quickly, it's really just corporate greed getting in the way."
- A0ma
Sale Sale Sale
"Artificially jacking up prices of things only to then put them 'on sale' when the sale price is really just the always-intended price."
- peachpinkjedi
While the word "illegal" may make most people think of illegal activities that a citizen might perform, most of the illegal acts here were in regards to public safety, as well as allowing the general public to live a healthier life.
The moment we find out there's no Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny is when we are forced to become adults.
We lose our childlike sense of wonder, setting many of us up for perpetual skepticism.
But since believing in these mythic heroes is commonly embraced by kids all over the world, it does provides a sense of relief that we all fell victim to the same ruse that brought so many of us plenty of joy.
However, there are specific situations where being gullible was embarrassing because no one else was as impressionable as you were. Sound familiar?
Curious to hear about our childhood, Redditor Keke_Dudu asked:
"What's the dumbest thing you believed as a kid?"
Redditors thought they were going to be violently pursued.
Potty Monster
"I would be in a perpetual state of fear on the toilet because I thought an alligator would bite my backside."
– aeiou-i-love-you
Flotsam & Jetsam
"I had a recurring nightmare that the eels from Little Mermaid were gonna come up the toilet and go for my butt."
– Greylings
Having active imaginations is nothing surprising...up until a certain age.
Sheep Exist For Real
"I thought sheep weren’t real when I was quite little. I thought they were mythical creatures like unicorns and dragons."
"My parents eventually figured this out and took me to a farm to see some real sheep, and my preschool brain was just like oh my god??? Are you fricking kidding me??? Sheep??? and was apparently just absolutely aghast at the sight of sheep."
– MatthewBrokenlamp
Fake News
"Not me, but my dad believed spaghetti grew on trees till middle school. All because he saw it on a TV commercial."
– KailerJ3304
Live And Work At One Place
"I thought ppl lived at their jobs. so mcdonald’s workers lived at mcdonald’s, teachers lived at school, etc. and that my parents just happened to be the exceptional weird discipline tactics."
– highuptop
Parents have wild disciplinary tactics.
Solo Snooze
"My parents had me convinced that if i don't learn to sleep alone when i was 8, I'd never be able to do it and I'll have to sleep with them even after I'm an adult. Idk why that scared me at that time but their little trick worked. Having a little brother is nice."
– kshay-
No More Loose Boogers
"My parents told me that they don’t let people who don’t know how to blow their nose into Disneyworld. We had a trip coming up so I learned fast. I truly thought that they had someone at the gate handing everyone a tissue to make sure they could blow their nose to be allowed in."
– OrangeTree81
Princesses Know How To Pee
"My daughter learned how to use the toilet real quick because I said only potty-trained kids could go to Cinderella's House. She didn't know we already had the trip to Disney booked, and I did not have a plan for if it backfired." - Reddit
What if these were true?
Conditional Teleporter
"A friend said he could teleport, just not when they were at school."
– Kerrminater
Delivering Bad News
"There was only one mailman. Idk wtf I was on but I remember telling my grandma 'look the mailman got on this side of town fast' she was like I know you don't think that's the same mailman. I said yea so she took me to the post office downtown and I saw all the mail trucks and was like oooooooooooo well I'm dumb."
– XxXWatchItAllBurnxXx
As a kid, I often psyched myself up and always thought of the worst case scenario.
My fears got the best of me when I went to camp as an eight-year-old.
The camp counselors would tell us about the "Unjai monster" or bigfoot snatching away the kids who didn't fall asleep when it was time for lights out.
I had the top of the bunk bed...right next to a window. I couldn't sleep that whole night because I was too afraid the Unjai monster would sense my restlessness and grab me through the window and take me deep into the woods and feed me to its family.
It was the worst.
I still can't tell if my bedsheets were soaked with night sweats or pee.
At the end of a long day, there is nothing better than unwinding to a TV show.
Escaping from your stressful reality for an hour or so, to catch up on a longtime favorite, or tune in to the premiere of a new show everyone's been talking about.
That is, until your relaxation abruptly stops, when something happens on the show that makes you want to scream uncontrollably at your screen.
Be it a decision a character made, a plot point that came out of nowhere, or realizing the episode you are watching literally makes no sense (most recent season of Riverdale anyone?), there is little more infuriating that witnessing a show ruin itself in one swift blow.
"What ruins a TV series for you?"
The Things Some People Get Away With
"Characters that do not make realistic decisions, and when there are no real consequences for characters who make bad decisions."- Sonarks
They're Not Quite Dead...
"When people keep dying and then coming back to life."- SuvenPan
They Could Do So Much Better
"Character A exhibits absolutely reprehensible behavior towards Character B, and then they both end up apologizing to each other even though Character A was the only one who did anything wrong?"- dreadnaut1897
Homer Simpson Reaction GIFGiphyYou'd Think They'd Have Learned By Now...
"Characters that don’t grow or learn anything from their experiences."- Embarrassed_Tax_6547
Not As Cute As People Think
"The 'super smart kid that talks like an adult' thing that so many horrible sitcoms do."- NastyLittleBagginses
There Can Definitely Be Too Much Of A Good Thing
"Two things."
"If they 'jump the shark' and the plot lines just get so f*cking ridiculous that, even for fiction you cannot suspend disbelief."
"When they just milk the f*ck out of it and run it into the ground with prequels, sequels, and off shoots."
"It's not the idea of making more series to build a 'universe', it's that most of the shows tend to suffer because the creative staff is being pulled in so many directions."
"Looking at you, 'Sons of Anarchy'/'Kurt Sutter' and 'Yellowstone'/'Taylor Sheridan'."- RunsWithPremise
sons of anarchy GIFGiphyThey Had So Many More Stories To Tell
"Premature cancellation."- poizn_ivy
"Netflix canceling it out of nowhere usually."- Howdydobe
We Can Only Suspend Our Disbelief So Much...
"When the story gets too outrageous."
"Like I watched a show about LAPD cops and they ended up going to Mexico to take down a drug lord."
"I’m like whaaaa? Why would the LAPD do that?"
"Lol."- Diesel-KC
What The Hell Snl GIF by Saturday Night LiveGiphy90% Of Writers Are Out Of Work At Any Given Time... And Yet...
"Bad writing, serialitis (where characters don't get to have arcs but become types of themselves because the cancellation/renewal cycle prevents writing a story with a beginning middle and end)."- Rememberwork
Give People Some Credit
"In Sci Fi shows where they are going to do something big and one guy has to explain it to the rest of the crew/group as if they're wall lickingly stupid."- The_Last_Ron1n
The Course Of True Love Never Did Run Smooth...
"Forced romances and drama from those romances."- JackOfScales
GIF by GoPlayGiphyLooking At You Jim And Pam...
“'Will they/won’t they?'”
"Garbage."
"Cut the bullsh*t and ask them out."- SaltySteveD87
We Know What You're Really Thinking
"When a guy reveals a pretty cool trait or secret and the girl says 'our whole relationship is based on a lie'."
"How about for once the girl says 'omg that's hot'."- Waste_Willingness461
Grow Up Already!
"Drama based solely on miscommunication, or characters that are overly jealous but it's painted as endearing."
"The writers think it's more entertaining to have their main cast act like a bunch of 1st graders when all the characters are in their 20s and 30s, but it's just annoying."- brightnessys
how i met your mother cheers GIF by WGN AmericaGiphyGenerally speaking, we like to indulge in TV shows that feature a reality far different from our own.
But there is a fine, fine line between Fantasy and stupidity.
...Seriously, can ANYONE explain the most recent season of Riverdale? We're begging.
Jane Austen famously taught readers not to judge others based on first impressions in her classic novel Pride and Prejudice.
As someone who may instantly turn you off when first meeting them could prove to be the love of your life.
That doesn't mean, however, that first impressions are always inaccurate.
Sometimes, we'll meet people who don't seem like the sort of person we would normally think we're going to be friends with but are willing to give them a second or third chance.
Only to discover that our suspicions were accurate, unfortunately.
Then, there are the times when it is loud and clear after one conversation that friendships with certain individuals are never going to pan out.
"Have you ever listened to a person talk for less than a minute and known you weren't going to get along with that person? What did they say?"
Merging Friend Groups Can Be Dangerous
"Yes this guy hopped into our discord group a few months back."
"He was a friend of a friend, but he didn't think to just add him to our server not our group chat."
"We all hop into a call and first thing he does is make some remarks that are very politically sensitive, sends some graphic photos and made some inappropriate remarks."
"Didn't expect to meet someone and have him offend 6 people in the span of 10 minutes."- tremors51000·
Offense Taken!
"Told me 'Yeah all women are b*tches, you included."
"No offense."
"Within the first 2 minutes of knowing me."- PotentialCranberry40
Lechery At It's Worst
"Years ago, me and my ex-husband went to see a movie with an older colleague of his."
"Before the movie we had dinner at like a chain restaurant/steakhouse type place, staff on the floor was all 20ish."
"I never met this man before but in the first few minutes of sitting down and looking at the menu he very confidently told us how he came there a lot and flirted with the female staff because 'they love the attention'."
"The best part?"
"His daughter worked there."
"All I could think was how I would literally cringe myself through the floor if I was 20 and my 50yo dad came into my place of work and perved on my co-workers because he didn't understand that they only put up with him 'cause they are paid to do so."- singingsilence
Alicia Silverstone Cherilyn Horowitz GIF by filmeditorGiphyJob Interviews Are A Two Way Street
"I was in a job interview once and the manager cut me off mid-sentence to jump to a weird conclusion.
"Him: 'What do you think the performance of this algorithm would be?'"
"Me: 'Oh, it'll be 'n' times--'"
"Him: 'Oh, you think it's going to be 'n'? You think it'll be 'n'??!! That's ridiculous, there's no way it would just be 'n'!'"
"Me: Uhhhh, you gotta let me finish speaking'."
"He then cut me off mid sentence twice more during our conversation."
"We... didn't get along."
"Dude was a total tool."- ArrenEnladCG
Meanwhile, They Could Tell They Wouldn't Be Friends
"'There are different levels to being a psychic, I'm on the purple level so I can talk to the dead'."
"Said a new employee at my previous job."
"Nope."- Lumisateessa
Duplicity Isn't A Good Look On Anyone
"They talk negatively about someone else in a very judgy way."
"There was this mom in my daughter's school who seemed to 'know" everyone, she talked to me and she spoke so bad about these people'."
"Then moments later I saw her interacting in a 'friendly' way, with those she was judging."
"My eyes rolled so much I could see my brain telling me not to get involved with her."
"And I was right, because by the time school year ends, her 'friends' hated her and they were talking behind her back too."- eveningsand14-1311
Go Away Goodbye GIFGiphyBarely Attempting To Hide Their Bigotry...
"'I know I'm not supposed to ask, but I need to know'."
"It's not for work or anything-- what religion are you?'"
"HR manager."- l0R3-R
Why Was She Even Invited?
"She showed up to a little get-together and the person who invited her said that they would be taking bets on who could sit with her for more than 30 minutes."
"10 bucks per person. Winner kept the pot."
"I assumed they were just being rude and planned to tell her of her 'friends' plans as soon as she showed up."
"She walked in, looked at me and scoffed, and asked if the grey car outside belonged to me."
"I said yes."
"She told me that with the money that car cost, I could have bought something nicer."
"Ok, well whatever."
"I went to get a drink and sat to watch the crowd gather around her."
"I already didn't like her but she went on to tell everyone about how she could never date someone who had a crappy credit score or couldn't pay their vehicles off after buying it."
"Someone who wanted to quit the contest asked for a cigarette, she opened up her purse and showed everyone a fresh pack of smokes and then told everyone why she doesn't smoke and why anyone who asks for a cigarette is either too broke to buy them or doesn't plan ahead of times."
"The guy asked her for one of her cigarettes, she said no and put them back in her purse."
"She talked about all the cars she 'bought' basically her parents would co-sign for her and pay the car off to build her credit and she would give them a few thousand to pay them back."
"She was nuts and wouldn't stop talking."
"I disliked her but was also fascinated with her. She was super weird."
"There was something like 15-20 people there and most entered the 'contest' I think the pot got up to 100-120 bucks."
"The winner was just some guy who I didn't know, he spent the money getting every one McDonald's and beer, so he was pretty cool."
"She was about 22-23, she had just finished getting her High School Diploma because she had dropped out to 'make money' according to her."
"I think she sold some milk shake things and fitness plans with some MLM."
"I'm not 100% what happened to her."
"She wasn't a my friend but she did show up to a few parties I was at and she seemed calmer."
"She used to bring her own bottle of liquor and wouldn't share which was kind of funny because on one occasion they caught her filling her bottle with a bottle of jack that some one had brought and left on the kitchen counter, but she swore that all she drank was Hennessey and Fireball."- Commentingunreddit
Cecily Strong Reaction GIF by Saturday Night LiveGiphyIt Is Never Attractive To Gloat
"I was listening to the NEXIVM podcast and the clip of the founder saying he has 225 IQ."
"If I walked into a room and heard someone say that I’d walk right back out."- Fabulous-Bandicoot40
Can't Say The Same About You Though...
"'You don't scare me'."
"Wasn't trying to scare you in the slightest."- That49er
Scared Saturday Night Live GIF by HULUGiphy...Both Could Still Be True...
“'Some people might say I’m an a**hole but I just tell it how it is'.”
"99% chance they are an a**hole that I don’t want to be around."- ProudMany9215
Negative Influence
"Was a customer at work, naturally I wouldn’t be friends."
"But even in a setting where we could become friends it wasn’t happening."
"I came up to her to see if she had any questions about our critters (I work in a pet shop) and the very first thing she asked was if parakeets could talk because she wanted to teach them racial slurs."
"Biggest nope of my life."- Quitechsol
It's fair to think that everyone deserves a second chance.
However, second chances must be earned, and not everyone is worthy of them.