You try to do your best. Being a parent is already so hard. But sometimes, it just blows up in your face.
u/-Don-Draper- asked:
Parents of Reddit, what lessons have to tried to teach your kids that completely backfired?

Here were some of the answers.
A Logical Fallacy
Not a parent, but my in-laws love telling this story about my fiance.
He was resistant to potty training, and they eventually got him to start using the potty by telling him that he had to be out of pull-ups before a family trip to Disney World, because "Mickey Mouse only sees big boys and girls." And also who wants to log a diaper bag around Disney?
Anyway, it went great, they had a great trip... and the day after they got back, he took a sh*t in the living room. When asked, he said "I don't gotta use the potty cause I already saw Mickey Mouse." They very firmly told him that if he was old enough to use logic, he was far too old for diapers, and that was the end of that.
Great And Terrible Power
Saw a clip on local news about a toddler saving her mom's life by calling 911 when she collapsed. Figured it was a good idea to teach my toddler 911. Had two cops at my door 5 minutes later.
Payment In Kind
When my daughter was young I was trying to teach her the value of money and decided to start giving her an allowance. She had a few tasks to do around the house and afterwards on the weekends before we would go out, I'd give her 5$. I explained that because she helped out and did her chores, she had earned money to spend on whatever she wanted. She happily accepted and stashed her money in her room, I thought nothing of it. Later that evening before I tucked her in to bed after reading to her, she goes to her money jar, pulls out 2$ and hands it to me, and explains that it's for being a good daddy.
Formalities
My aunt and uncle were trying to teach my cousin manners, and wanted him to address people as Mr and Mrs. They used each other as examples, and consequently were known as Mr. Iannuccilli for ~ 2 months. One of the funniest moments of my life was hearing my uncle describe how in the middle of the night instead of 'dad' he started hearing 'Mr Iannuccilli!' Cracks me up every time.
Messy Consequences
My dad tried to implement the whole you MUST eat ALL the food on your plate in our house during meals. My mom was never a fan of that lesson, but my dad was stubborn so she just let it go. Well, one day my sibling had 2-3 bites of food left on their plate and was very clear that they were absolutely full and couldn't eat another bite. Dad wasn't having it and insisted they could not leave the table until all the food on their plate was gone. My sibling realized they weren't going to convince our dad that they were too full and finished the last few bites and then proceeded to upchuck on the table. He stopped enforcing the rule after that.
Monkey Biz
When my older son was about three or four years old, we realized he was starting to act very spoiled and materialistic. We always tried to make him see how lucky he already had it, but he constantly begged us for every toy, candy, and treat he saw anywhere and everywhere.
Around that time, I came across a great photo spread that involved the photographer traveling around the world and snapping photos of different children with their most prized possessions. Of course, the kids in the US, Canada, and Europe were mostly photographed in rooms filled with stuff. But there were also photos of children from impoverished nations, usually showing the child with only one old, dirty stuffed animal.
I thought I was going to accomplish this brilliant parenting move by sitting him down and going through the photos with him. I'd explain how the kids with rooms like his were beyond lucky and he should feel more than satisfied with all of the great stuff that he had. Then I would show him the other photos and he would finally understand that there are so many other children in the world with far less than he had.
We looked through the photos and talked about each one. We finally got to one with a little boy standing on his cot with his one possession, a well-loved, dingy-looking stuffed monkey. My son looked at if for a long time. I could see his wheels spinning. "Success!" I thought. After a long bit of silence, he finally looked up at me, gave me a sweet smile and said, "I want that monkey."
Honesty
In order not to teach him how to "lie better," I never challenged his lying and we just told him what needed to be fixed. I never told him how I knew he was lying, I just avoided confronting him and got to the point of what needed fixed, despite attempts to deny it.
For example, if someone ate all the brownies, and his mouth and fingers were stained with chocolate, I never told him, "I can tell you are lying because of the evidence," I just said he now had to make a new batch or do chores because the old batch was gone. I was figuring, "hey, he'll figure out that eating the brownies and lying about it still had consequences."
Thus, he never really got very good at lying. But he keeps trying, which is the part I didn't expect. He's 28 now, and just so terrible at it because he doesn't understand how people can so easily figure it out. This has socially crippled him in ways I did not understand when he was young.
I think learning how to lie is essential to social development, and I thought I was being all high and moral. Oops.
Danger, Stranger
When I was about 2 years old my family was at a game in Angel's stadium. My mother went to the restroom and left me and my siblings with my dad. While he was busy watching I wandered off. When they eventually found me I was halfway around the stadium. A crowd had gathered to watch as a police officer held me out at arms length while I screamed "call the police, this man is not my daddy" over and over again. My parents had taught me stranger danger, but forgot to teach me what police look like.
It All Worked Out
Taught my now 16 year old to always compliment people who insulted you. We were in a Burlington Coat Factory in Michigan when my mother was shopping for a bathing suit to take to Florida. There were few to choose from, so she was complaining. My kid was 4.
A woman trying on pants and said something rude to my mom who was asking my opinion and my daughter caught on that my mother was agitated. She squeezed out behind me and told the woman,
"Your teeth are such a pretty yellow!"
Animal Crust
I told him no food downstairs. He had to eat at the table if he wanted to and not his play room. When the second kid came I would bring down his bottle and snacks so he could eat solid foods that helped his teething while we played. My older kid flipped out because there is no food downstairs that was like a basic rule of life to him. When I said it's ok because his brother is a baby and I'm here he took advantage of some shared snacks the kids had later. He would try to give his brother snacks that he liked so he could eat them downstairs too because his brother was.
So I see him sitting in his play tent eating animal crackers and giving his brother one as they hide from me because he knows it's technically wrong. But he eventually saw the reason why I made the rule because although the younger kid would eat 1-2 he would then mash the third into a paste and rub it over the toys.
City On Fire
My friend's 10 year-old daughter was going over to a friend's house in the same apartment complex, but a few buildings away.
Mom: "Ok, what do we do if someone tries to grab you?"
Daughter: "Kick him in the balls and yell 'FIRE'!"
Mom: "Ha, right, but that's not a good word, it's 'testicles'."
Daughter: "Ok, kick him in the balls and yell 'TESTICLES'!"
Mom: "You know...that might work too."
Good Idea, Bad Execution
Trying to keep.my 4 year old in bed. He gets up 4 or more times saying he has to go to the bathroom. Most of the time he doesn't have to go and we send him back to bed. 5 minutes later, he does it again. He knows that he can get out of bed this way. My wife decided to make tickets. He could use the tickets if he got out of bed. Once the tickets were done, so was he. If he could stay in bed the rest of the night he got rewarded with stickers. The first night we tried it, he sh*t himself.
A Fair Question
Not a very big backfire, but here's a true story:
My grandmother died a few years ago. My brother decided to use this as a teaching moment for his two daughters, and he did his best to explain what was going on. He told them that he was flying out to Florida to attend the wake.
"What's a wake?" His daughter asked.
"It's a thing that happens before the funeral, where we go to see Nana's body."
His daughter's eyes widened with fear. He had a moment of panic, like maybe he'd made a mistake. Then she asked, "... What do they do with her head?"
Teamwork Makes The Dream Work
Due to a last minute adoption (long story) my wife and I went from one kid to two kids very quickly. They are close in age (18 months apart) so we tried reading books about how to avoid sibling rivalry and encourage a positive sibling relationship as they got older. One of the books said to teach the kids that they are a team. That's what we did.
It resulted in my daughter getting pissed at me any time I would discipline her brother because he was her baby. I would try to explain that discipline is part of learning but she wasn't having any of that. She agreed that she should be disciplined for bad behavior but not her baby brother. You have to stand up for your teammate afterall. That's really the only times she would ever throw a full blown screaming tantrum, so then I would have to deal with my son crying because he is being disciplined and my daughter crying because her brother is being disciplined. As they got a little older any time I would try to break up an argument or settle a dispute, both of them would get mad at me. They needed to work it out together. Teammates stand up for each other and work things out together (unless you are Odell Beckham Jr.) so parental involvement wasn't needed in their view and only worked to make them both angry at me.
Both of them are well behaved teenagers now and despite being very different from each other, they are still very close and value each others opinion. My son has been able to convince his sister to audition for a solo in her orchestra concert and for the school musical and she is the first one to comfort him after his team loses a tough loss and helped him with his successful class VP campaign since he couldn't make a poster that didn't look like it was made by a deranged monkey. I wouldn't discount the method completely because I am happy with their relationship but when you have two toddlers screaming bloody murder because you put one in time out, you question what the hell you are doing wrong.
Everybody Loves Louie
When my oldest kid was 3 or 4, a few months after I separated from his mom, I found a home with a couple of these DJs who needed a roommate to split the bills. Mike was terminally ill, Louie was a pothead. I was a young divorced dad. Pretty suave home amirite?
One day after cleaning the kitchen I stepped out to pick up my kid, came home and the kitchen's a f*cking wreck. Louie got high and decided to make himself a smoothie. He left milk, ice, bits of juice and just gross crud, everywhere.
I told Louie he needed to clean it up, he told me he'd get to it in a little bit, I told him I needed to make my kid dinner now and needed to work in the kitchen, he told me so clean it up yourself, one thing led to another and pretty soon we're in each other's faces, really close, almost bumping chests, fingers pointing at each other, yelling really loud, lots of cuss words, before we both storm off.
I go up to my room, and kiddos up there with a quivering lip and eyes welled up. He bravely tells me "Louie is our friend and you yelled at him very mean."
Dammit.
I go back to the living room. "Louie, could you come down here please?"
"WHAT??!" .. he stomps into the living room
".. sigh .. I was very frustrated because I worked hard to clean the kitchen, then I saw it messy again, but I did not ask what you were doing or how your day was before getting mad about the kitchen. I should not have yelled at you or said bad words. You're my friend and I will try to use nicer words from now on."
Louie looks at me and says, ".. the F*CK??!"
Then he turns and sees kiddo watching both of us. "Oh god dammit! Fine .."
And he cleaned the kitchen.
My kid asked us to hug each other afterward.
Louie and I are still friends. He's got his own baby now. Karma's a b*tch, Louie!!
Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are
Not a parent, but my I remember when I was 17, my parents thought I was lying about where I was when I was going out. Like I wanted to extend my curfew or something. Backstory, I am from a REALLY small town, with really not a whole lot for teenagers to do. So my friends and I liked to hang out at the waffle house by this bar. Every Friday/Saturday night, it never failed, like 3 or 4 drunk people would get arrested and my friends and I liked to watch. It was 10/10 entertainment.
So one night, sh*t was going DOWN one night at this particular Waffle House. So I called my parents and asked them if I could extend my curfew. I told them why and they didn't believe me, so they called the Waffle House where I was and asked for me. When the waitress (who knew me well, because I was there A LOT) handed me the phone, my mom was like, "...Oh, you really are at the Waffle House." I think that was the first time my mom realized that I was a loser. Needless to say, I got my curfew extension.
Culture shock is an understatement.
Have you ever gone abroad and seen something just... so out of whack and strange that you couldn't help but fixate on it? Like, yes, other countries are very different than the United States. But different is not the reason that we are so perplexed and somewhat horrified.
Like It's No Big Deal
<p>The guy that flashed my friends and me in a very nice park in central Europe. </p><p>We were having a picnic. </p><p>He was very polite about it, saying "Excuse me girls, I'm just going to do this in front of you." And then did so.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/pozzledC/" target="_blank">pozzledC</a></p>Saving A Stranger
<p>In the middle of the winter, flying back to Canada, from a Caribbean Island, a middle age man was ready to board the plane with a very thin teenage girl wearing flip flops, shorts and a poncho.</p><p>The girl had a shaved head, the man wouldn't let go of her, she was staring at the floor he entire time, everything looked just odd.</p><p>The flight attendants were doing all sorts of delaying maneuvers. My family and I were late and boarded right after them. Before the flight took off, the police came into the plane and started asking questions, and took the man and girl off the plane. The girl didn't speak any English, Spanish or French.</p><p>I'm convinced that the airline personnel saved a girl being trafficked into Canada.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Mission-Cloud360/" target="_blank">Mission-Cloud360</a></p>An Eye For An Eye
<p>Cyprus in the mid nineties, I was 15 and on holiday with my parents.</p><p>I saw an old Cypriot guy getting beaten within an inch of his life by a young Russian guy, after a row over unpaid rent. As i understood it the Russian was renting an apartment of the victim.</p><p>Police promptly turned up and dragged the Russian guy into the nearest building.</p><p>The Cypriot guy was taken to hospital by ambulance and a short while later the Russian guy was brought out of the building on a stretcher and was also taken to hospital once the police had dealt with him.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/irv81/" target="_blank">irv81</a></p>Just A Bit Of A Disagreement
<p>In a small town in Korea, I saw two guys run out of a restaurant. One of them was holding a 10 inch kitchen knife and shoved it into the other guy's belly. The guy's standing there holding the knife in his gut and an old lady comes out of the restaurant and starts hitting him in the head with her shoe.</p><p>Two other guys jumped on the stabber and held him on the ground. Ambulance came and loaded the stabbee and drove away, cops came and drove the stabber away, restaurant owner came out with a bucket of water and washed the blood off his steps.</p><p>Turned out it was a wedding party and there was a bit of a disagreement.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/standing_lamp/" target="_blank">standing_lamp</a></p>Dominoes
<p>Was in Mexico City for a work assignment. Had just gone to dinner in the Zona Rosa (pink zone). Walking back to the hotel I saw a hit and run. </p><p>A pedestrian was thrown thru the air and flung to the ground. A lot of people witnessed this and an ambulance was called. </p><p>The ambulance came screaming around the corner, going really fast, and hit another pedestrian. Who then was thrown thru the air and flung to the ground. It was awful.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Antique-Eye8029/" target="_blank">Antique-Eye8029</a></p>Unhelpful Cops
<p>I don't know if I qualify as a "tourist", because Barcelona is in my country and not far from my hometown.</p><p>Anyway, me and my sis were walking down the Ramblas in early afternoon, and the place was packed. A group of American teenagers was using an ATM. </p><p>And they were taking precautions, because the area is infamous for its pickpockets, so they were not to blame. But as soon as one girl took the banknotes from the ATM, a kid took them from her hand and raced to the adjacent streets.</p><p>We took the teens to the police precinct, but they weren't very helpful. The first thing they asked is that if we had apprehended the robber. And then we had to insist so they took a record of the incident.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Ramoncin/" target="_blank">Ramoncin</a></p>In Front Of A CHILD?!
<p>Back in 1978 when i was 10, i went to Jamaica with my Mom. One morning after coming out of the British embassy, I saw four baby mongoose in a rain gully about 5 feet deep behind where we were waiting for a bus. </p><p>I thought they were adorable and started feeding them by throwing them biscuits. Some guy saw me doing that, walked over and dropped a large brick on them killing them instantly. I was pretty inconsolable for several hours.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Judge-Giant-snr/" target="_blank">Judge-Giant-snr</a></p>The Horrors Of The Past
<p>I was walking through a forest in central France when I came across a group of old style horse drawn Gypsy caravans in a clearing. </p><p>They were obviously very old and looked like they had just been abandoned. There was a very eerie, unsettling feel to the place so I took a few photos and moved on. </p><p>A couple of days later I was talking to an old guy in the village and he explained that the Gypsies had been dragged from their wagons and murdered by the invading Nazis during WW2. Out of respect the surviving Gypsies in the region just left the caravans where they were.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Johhnymaddog316/" target="_blank">Johhnymaddog316</a></p>Crazy People In Every Country
<p>Was in Serbia and my collegue i was there with and i had rented a car to go explore the beautiful country. We followed google maps but end up on a dirt road in some small village like area and and had to make a turn. It was heavily raining and we got the car stuck. </p><p>We couldn't get it unstuck on our own so we wanted to ask for help and as we approached the first nearby house a large dog came running out barking loudly and an elderly looking man came out with a rifle yelling at us in serbian. </p><p>We decided next house was a better bet and they were the kindest people on earth. We told them that we had tried the other house with no luck and they told us we were lucky to be alive.</p><p> Apparently the man had a reputation but they didn't wanna to further into details.</p><p>No more dirt roads for me thanks.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/QuinteX1994/" target="_blank">QuinteX1994</a></p>The Price Of A Lifetime
<p>I was on a business trip, but had a couple days at the end of the trip for myself in New Delhi, India. Somehow, I got to talking with the bartender at my hotel about my hobby of keeping reef aquariums and that I was designing a new system. </p><p>He told me about an entire street in New Delhi where every shop sells nothing but various pumps. Pumps of all kinds and very cheap. (Pumps for reef tanks can push $1000, so I thought I would have a look. Besides, I had been wanting to try out New Delhi's metro system, and there was a metro station right near "Pump Street")</p><p>So I hop on the metro (very nice, actually. Highly recommended) and exit the station on "Pump Street". Sure enough...hundreds of pump stores line one entire side of the street.</p>People Explain How The Popular Jerk From School Got A Taste Of Their Own Medicine
It's remarkable when Hollywood stereotypes and plot dynamics are replicated in real life. It's remarkable because it's rare, so when it does happen we lose our cynical outlook of movies as far-fetched flights of fancy.
And one of the classic archetypes is the treatment of popular kids.
No One to Help When it Happened
<p>"Middle school when the bell rang to change classes the hallways were a horrific traffic jam. Everyone suffered through trying to get to their lockers and the next class on time."</p><p>"Enter the a**hole popular guy, who thought it was funny to sneak up behind some unsuspecting student who's at his locker and smack the back of the student's head, causing the student to bang his head into his locker."</p><p>"A**hole guy got several warnings to stop, but he didn't. He thought it was so funny."</p><p>"Then one day he picked on the wrong student. A**hole guy got punched square in the face, fell down and lost a tooth. Not a single person, from teacher to student, came to his defense."</p><p>"When A**hole's parents came to the school all upset, everyone told them their son got what he deserved."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/ln0tbd/how_did_the_popular_asshole_of_your_school_get/gnz1abd?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">maruffin</a></p>1, 2, 3, 4, 5
<p>"<strong></strong>He got kicked in the nuts five times in a row by the same kid" -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/ln0tbd/how_did_the_popular_asshole_of_your_school_get/gnyisup?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">xXawsomeguyXx</a></p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"JOHNNY CAGE CRACKER" -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/ln0tbd/how_did_the_popular_asshole_of_your_school_get/gnzbnhn?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">HeartAttackMemeGuy</a></p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"HE KEEPS KICKING ME IN THE D*CK! WHY? WHY DOES HE KEEP KICKING ME IN THE D*CK?!" -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/ln0tbd/how_did_the_popular_asshole_of_your_school_get/gnzjnnn?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Iceman6211</a></p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"I don't believe I've personally ever witnessed something as epic as that sounds , five times??" -- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/ln0tbd/how_did_the_popular_asshole_of_your_school_get/gnzqvto?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Quuaack</a></p>Immediate Justice
<p>"Star quaterback tried to assault his girlfriend..."</p><p>"She was a golden glove boxer."</p><p>"She put him in the hospital for a week."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/ln0tbd/how_did_the_popular_asshole_of_your_school_get/gnzi9t3?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">xxkoloblicinxx</a></p>The Last Can He Ever Stole
<p>"The teacher wouldn't let one guy in my classroom to go to the restroom to pee so he peed in an Arizona can."</p><p>"When the bell rang the guy started heading to the restroom to empty the can and the biggest bully of the school bumped into him, took the can and, of course, sipped it."</p><p>"He soon realized it didn't taste like tea... It was glorious."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/ln0tbd/how_did_the_popular_asshole_of_your_school_get/gnytqoa?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Citys_Bandaid_</a></p>The Teacher Jerk
<p>"My teacher. She loved to use humiliation against me (I was severely depressed at the time and she thought I was a slacker). I'm a little person, and she would get me to turn off the lights for the projector, or to write on the whiteboard, only to feign ignorance and apologise when I struggled to reach."</p><p>"One day she crossed the line, and I went to the deputy head teacher. He decided to reprimand her, during a lesson, in front of her entire class, to give her a taste of humiliation, too."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/ln0tbd/how_did_the_popular_asshole_of_your_school_get/gny8qol?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Usidore_</a></p>Subtle Payback
<p>"He copied my exams for English, Math, and Science in our junior year."</p><p>"Except he didn't know that I purposely put the wrong answers for 80% of the questions and then redid the exam after he turned his in."</p><p>"He failed all three classes miserably and when he confronted me to see if I failed too, I just shrugged and said we must have had different versions of the exam."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/ln0tbd/how_did_the_popular_asshole_of_your_school_get/gny674v?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">-InterstellarVoyage-</a></p>Watching Her Squirm
<p>"A popular girl bullied me all through middle school, then in high school she sat next to me the day we were given one of those "read the directions" tests. </p><p>"She was not so wise as to read the directions. </p><p>"I got to sit there for ten sweet, sweet minutes watching her panic more and more over the ridiculous tasks the test asked of her."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/ln0tbd/how_did_the_popular_asshole_of_your_school_get/gnynbzq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">an_ineffable_plan</a></p>Flip Flop
<p>"Star athlete picked on the fat kids in gym. Fast forward a couple decades. He's fat and bald. Saw him using a Wal-Mart scooter recently, buying crap food."</p><p>"One of the kids he picked on got in shape, stayed that way and became a top tier endurance athlete. So sweet."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/ln0tbd/how_did_the_popular_asshole_of_your_school_get/gnybb6x?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SnoringDogsAndCats</a></p>The Other Side of the Peak
<p>"Never bullied me but apparently was a giant a**hole to everybody. Star football running back, had multiple scholarships to Division I. Then he broke his leg and all the offers evaporated."</p><p>"Went to a DIII school. Had a couple kids, got divorced, then posted all of his old scholarships to Facebook at age 40. Really sad to see."</p><p>"Literally argued with every single person on the reunion Facebook group, everyone told him how much they always hated him."</p><p>"He's now literally insane, posts 30-40 times a day on Facebook of foreign Instagram models with long diatribes about love and life translated into 10 different languages. Posts nearly-nude shots of himself also, most hyping himself up."</p><p>"A dark spiral."</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/ln0tbd/how_did_the_popular_asshole_of_your_school_get/gnz4b4e?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">powabiatch</a></p>Nothing Lasts Forever
<p>"He was the most attractive boy in the school. Girls would literally fight to be his girlfriend."</p><p>"Then like Prince William, his free trial of hair and premium face expired and he got downgraded. Basically went from a PS5 to Mr Game and Watch over the course of 5 years"</p><p>-- <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/ln0tbd/how_did_the_popular_asshole_of_your_school_get/gny3zlb?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Fullblackhabit</a></p>People Describe The Nicest Interaction They've Ever Had With A Stranger
Sometimes you can only open yourself up completely with a person you've never met and may never meet again. That is probably because you owe that person nothing. For a brief time you'll share an intimacy without judgement because there is no baggage. And these moments can be life changing and affirming. You never know how a quick smile or hello will change the course of a person's day.
Redditor u/v_rose23 wanted know about the people they've encountered that left a lasting impression though by asking... What's the nicest interaction you've ever had with a stranger?A Grand Family
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY3NDU5OC9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNzY2MzczNn0.aHhYF9fLkI0j1F09IYLrTyThPb7RTunEMWzOgdaK3aM/img.gif?width=980" id="5b0e6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a1c394d26cf82c4f7438f99f0eacc152" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="480" data-height="270" />Dance Dancing GIF by The WigglesGiphy<p>When I was a kid me and my family travelled around Ireland for a bit. When it came time to get the ferry back to England, our van broke down and we missed it. There wouldn't be another ferry for two weeks.</p><p>The Irish family whose house we broke down outside of took all six of us in for two weeks and never asked for anything in return. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lpo7ht/whats_the_nicest_interaction_youve_ever_had_with/gocq2l7?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Douglasqqq</a></p>"I've had a rough few days"
<p>i was staying in a homeless shelter and i'd just cut my abusive mother out my life. i felt like absolute crap and decided to sit in Mcdonald's for a few hours just to kill time. i'm sitting there and this wee girl (maybe about 5) comes up to me and asks me why i look so sad. i don't want to bum this kid out so i just say "i've had a rough few days" she says to me "wait there, i wanna ask my mum something" so she runs back up to me a moment later and hands me a balloon. i'm a bit confused and try to say "thanks but it's your balloon, I don't wanna take that away from you" but she's absolutely certain this balloon will make me happy. </p>Hours in the Rain...
<p>I spent 10 hours total in Ireland once and in that time I got rained on for three hours and wind destroyed my umbrella, had a splitting headache and nearly pissed my pants, saved an old guy's seat in the top tower of the St. James' Gate Brewery and he ended up giving my wife and I free tickets for a bus tour, came with us and became our tour guide for the day. Brian, you were awesome.</p><p>Ireland seems great for these moments but I hear stories like this from all over the world and it makes me feel so much better about things. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lpo7ht/whats_the_nicest_interaction_youve_ever_had_with/godqvvg?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">mechapoitier</a></p>Rock, paper, Scissor
<p>I was searching for a parking space in the city where parking spaces are rare.</p><p>Just as I found one and set my blinker another guy coming from the other direction set his too.</p><p>We looked at each other undecided for a moment, then I signaled a rock paper scissor game through my front window. He immediately understood and we played one round. He won the game so I still had no parking space, but the interaction made my day! </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lpo7ht/whats_the_nicest_interaction_youve_ever_had_with/goch2dr?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">JACKTheHECK</a></p>When in Walmart...
<p>I walked down the toaster aisle at Wal Mart a couple of summers ago and an elderly woman was trying to make a selection. She stopped me and asked me my opinion. Until then, I hadn't noticed that there were so many choices in toasters available nowadays. We discussed the various merits of each toaster and hit upon the type that also toasted bagels as her son's family visited throughout the year and they enjoyed bagels for breakfast and she would love to provide that for them.<span></span></p>Going Home
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY3NDYwMi9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MjMwNTcwNn0.3ESMS1o4XWeU6GLItmvo4yHAY4-fpJcchi_GIiIesv8/img.gif?width=980" id="64459" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1ffff378a0fbade33f3307bc7492e1bb" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="400" data-height="200" />Tom Hanks Hello GIFGiphy<p>I was in Denver's International Airport and me and my dad were on standby the entire day.</p><p>First flight home we tried was early 4am. Then we tried four more throughout the day. As an 7 year old little boy, i remember feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and just exhausted because i wanted to go home so badly. My dad bought food at one of the restaurants in the airport to cheer me up but i remember crying and bawling to my dad saying "i just want to go home."<span></span></p>Take my Handiwork...
<p>On weekdays when I did my daily practice, a lady I didn't know would sit in a pew knitting afghans.</p><p>She'd listen to the organ music and knit, sometimes for 2-3 hours at a time.</p><p>One day, she came up to the organ console in the church's choir loft and introduced herself, showing me her finished afghan - a truly beautiful piece of handiwork.</p><p>She said, "I knit this for you as a gift in appreciation for your music. I look forward to hearing you practice each day."</p><p>When I look at that afghan now, I still see her sweet face, smile, and genuine kindness. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lpo7ht/whats_the_nicest_interaction_youve_ever_had_with/gocof5o?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Back2Bach</a></p>the lovely soul
<p>15 years ago, I was on my first solo travel trip and I was walking along the pavement of this quiet residential area in Bangkok and it started raining heavily and this man with an umbrella who must have been walking behind me was suddenly at my side and we shared his umbrella for a few blocks and neither of us said anything because we didn't speak each other's languages and then when we parted ways we both smiled at each other and I remember thinking that this man's lovely, kind soul was visible both in his actions and his smile. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lpo7ht/whats_the_nicest_interaction_youve_ever_had_with/gocrc3t?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">kartoffelly</a></p>The Rear End
<p>I rear-ended a woman on my way home from work once. I was in the middle of a heated conversation with my passenger, came upon a line of cars at a red light, slammed on my brakes but just couldn't stop in time. The whole thing was my fault, nothing but stupidity and negligence. No serious damage but I hit her hard enough to make her car rock forward.</p>Good Luck Friend
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY3NDU3Ni9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3NjY0NDY5NH0.MUFILNbUaFgggXs3Lltqlb0bJKere_0z8HyxlpZbUOM/img.gif?width=980" id="810b2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="80f89579d5668b465f9f335f0502873d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="480" data-height="267" />Mel B Good Luck GIF by America's Got TalentGiphy<p>I took a motorcycle taxi in Bali. Haggled with the guy who wanted a bit more money than I thought the trip was worth. Jumped on the back of the bike and chatted as we rode along. </p>People Who Post NSFW Content Describe What Happened When Someone From Their Real-Life Found Out
Beware of every single flash bulb pointed in your direction. And think not twice, but five times before you post anything of yourself on the internet, especially if it's in a certain "delicate or salacious" nature. This isn't the twentieth century anymore, when you could just burn a poorly thought out polaroid. And of course there seems to be an uptick in everyone just freely exposing themselves to the world... for free. The internet means it all lives forever. Be ready.
Redditor u/BrixtonsFinest2 wanted to hear from everyone out there who has been witness to seeing their online and private lives collide by asking... People who post NSFW content: Has anyone from your real life ever found out? What happened?