Top Stories

People Break Down Which Common Things They Do In The Most Uncommon Way

The internet has a nasty habit of stifling creativity. While it'd be nice to say the internet actually pushes us to think more outside that old box, most of the time it reminds you that someone else has that idea. How can you truly break out when it's so easy to see someone else have the exact same thought as you on the other side of the planet? Only they had it 7 years ago and posted about it as a joke. Fortunately, there are still innovative thinkers out there, breaking the mold and shattering expectations.


Reddit user, u/CounterintuitivePaw, wanted to hear how to be different when they asked:

What's something common you do in an uncommon way?

At Least You Know You Aren't Missing Anything

I go to the grocery store hungry and walk every aisle in a masochistic exercise in self control.

Rabidleopard

Traumatized For All Glassware

When I was a kid, my uncle bought a brand new house. In addition to buying the house, he bought all new glass-wear. Well, I poured myself a glass of coke and took a big swig, not realizing all of the plastic/debris from the insulation into the glass was still in the cup.

For the last 20+ years, I now blow into the glass before pouring myself a drink. I will also blow into the glass if someone else would like to pour me a drink and the glass is in my sight.

Super weird but it was a traumatizing at the time...

Good question!!

Jack_Tha_R1ppir

Cereal Science

I drink milk with my cereal, but not in a bowl together, rather I eat cereal dry and chug a tall glass of milk when needed. I have done this my whole life and find the "normal" way gross.

Chickenbrik

Systematically Take It Apart

Eat pizza.

I pull off the toppings one by one and eat them individually. I then pull the cheese off and eat it like a quesadilla. After that, I lick the tomato sauce off and proceed to scrape the soft bread underneath with my teeth. I then eat the rest normally, until the crust, which I eat like a hot dog. The hole time, I was eating around bubbles, just to eat them at the end.

56789ya

We Don't All Eat It Like Bugs Bunny?

I eat carrots weirdly, i eat the outside first, nibbling around until i hit the core, seperate the core and the outside, eat the outside, then the core, the core tasts was sweeter and its juicer that the outside Most people dont even know there are 2 layers of a carrot, 3 if you count the skin as a layer

Laughterforever

Eat As Fast As Possible

Oh eating for me that's the thing that throws people off. I feel like I'm eating at leisurely pace but according to everyone I apparently "inhale" my food

My favorite moment of this was going out with a few of my cousins to our favorite bar and I got a burger there. The burgers aren't small patty alone is 10oz. Waiter sets the burger down walks away for a minute comes back "So guys how's th- ITS ALREADY F-CKING GONE!?" He then walked away for a good while my cousin nearly choked on his food and my other cousin was depressed because when we walked in she declared she would "see me eat the burger this time!" Instead of it just magically disappearing like Pavlovs burger.

Rat192

Flat As A Board

Not sure it's that uncommon outside of Western culture, but I sleep without a pillow. I don't really get how people are able to sleep with a pillow. Looks very uncomfortable.

moobellob

Pure. Unadelterated. CHAOS.

Writing in a notebook. Instead of in order, I just open the notebook and write on whatever page it opens on. Everyone I know thinks it's absolute chaos, but I keep the page open while I need it, and hardly ever have to find it again, and it feels quicker so it works for me.

ck2107

This Must Take Over An Hour

I eat Kit-Kats by nibbling the chocolate off of the edges first then eating the wafers layer by layer...I'm a heathen

a_poodle_moth

Crab Arm Writing

I hold pens/pencils weird when I write, but not because of what fingers the pen is between, but my hand position; I essentially put my arm opposite myself and curve my hand back around towards myself, my hand resting way above the line I'm writing on. I can't explain why, but I remember always writing like that when I first learnt, and my teacher would always tell me my hand position was awful and try to get me to change, but I just couldn't write any other way. People have commented on it all my life, saying I look like I'm impersonating a crab or something, but it doesn't affect my handwriting it all, it's quite neat.

DearQueenie

You Have A Flow And You Stick To It

Eating toast. I rip off the crust and eat it first, then sort of peel the rest so that the two crispy sides are separate (so it's split down the flat edge) and fold both halves so the crispy part is in the middle and the softer middle part is on the outside. I prefer the texture that way.

BookWyrm27

Selective Dining

I eat all of one thing on my plate and then move onto the next thing

TheRelevantElephants

I also save the best bite for last, to end my meal on a good note. If I'm eating a pepperoni pizza, I eat the crust first, since it's my least favorite part, then work my way over to that most beautifully crisped piece of pepperoni.

ghost0427

Uncommon Or Future Trendsetter?

When I make my bed, I hold the blanket by the top with my arms outstretched and belly flop onto the mattress.

Boom. Bed made.

WatchTheBoom

Seeing How The Other Side Lives

Holding fork and knife like a left-handed person, I am actually right-handed.

0FighterPhoenix0

I'm left-handed and I and every other left-handed person I know holds a fork and knife like everybody else. Fork in the left hand and knife in the right hand.

I guess the difference is that if I only have a fork or a spoon I'll hold it in the left hand and not in the right hand.

_wittgenstein

Combining The Best Of Both Worlds

I lie in the tub while taking shower. It's a nice easy way to wake up from the early morning dizzies.

MongooseProXC

Early morning dizzies?

97hands

You know, first thing in the morning when you have brain fog, your eyes are barely open, and your equilibrium isn't 100%. It usually lasts about 10 min for me.

MongooseProXC

Slowly Enjoying One Of Earth's Greatest Gifts

I put the milk in my bowl first and then the cereal. But not all the cereal at once. In 3-4 small batches. I like my cereal wet, but not soggy.

moongirlxo_

This Feels Like More Of A Trot

I walk down stairs with an irregular rhythm where I have the momentum of my first foot lead my second foot rather than actually stepping with the second foot.

michhoffman

Like a galloping sort of feel? Same

Forestt9922

Be Warned. This Is How The Great Butter Battle Started.

I eat certain things upside down. Pop tarts, frosted cookies, crackers with cheese, any cracker that has salt on top, and lately I've been eating burgers upside down. It helps them hold together more.

PM_ME_UR_FLOWERS

A Very Particular Way To Eat

I eat the skin off of my grapes and then eat what's left. It takes me 30 minutes to eat a small bowl of grapes.

stargazer504

I do this too. Don't you think the skins make your mouth dry a bit?

Costner_Facts

Yes, then you get a bit that sits flat on the back of your tooth like its welded to it.

I love the texture of the peeled grape.

picklesmick

This Is So Brilliant I'm Mad I Didn't Think Of It

I eat burgers upside down, because the structural integrity of the burger is better maintained if you can let all the juices soak into the (usually) thicker top bun.

Portarossa

Don't Just Be Different. Break The System.

I make instant noodles in a frying pan.

Put the noodles in the pan along with about a half-inch of water (depending on the size of your pan), then sprinkle the flavour packet in. Stir it through, and let the water boil off. Now you've got a delicious even coating of flavour across all your noodles, and they're just at the right consistency without having to drain any water and lose the flavour. If you want some egg with it, you can just crack one over the top and stir it right in. Wonderful.

(It's also useful if you want to add things like fried mushrooms or chicken or bacon to your noodles; you can just fry them up, then put the water in the pan and cook the noodles as before, scraping up all of that delicious crispy goodness.)

Portarossa

People Explain What They Bought With Their First-Ever Paycheck

Reddit user MisterChiTown92 asked: 'What did you buy with your first ever work paycheck?'

Person fanning out wad of $100 bills
Alexander Mils/Unsplash

Working a first job is an important part of growing up.

Whether it's working a paper route (do kids even do this anymore?) or working at a video rental store (do those even exist anymore?) first-ever part-time jobs establish important life values and lessons to the youth.

Also, there's nothing that validates accomplishment at a young age more than being able to buy something with their hard-earned money.

Curious to hear examples of this, Redditor MisterChiTown92 asked:

"What did you buy with your first ever work paycheck?"

These generous Redditors found value in paying it forward.

Dinner's On Me

"It was 1976, I was making a whopping $2.50/hour at age 16 (20 cents higher than minimum wage, and it was an office job so I wasn't on my feet all day)....my family didn't have a lot of money (which is why I started working while in the 11th grade), so with my first paycheck I took my Mom and brothers out to dinner at Big Boy. I remember being all proud to say 'Get whatever you want, even the combo meal and a milkshake, it's on me."'

– Ouisch

Dinner Miscalculation

"I took my mom out to a fancy French restaurant. I had no idea how much it was going to cost, then plus tip, I didn’t even have enough! So she had to help me pay the rest. My mom still joke about that from time to time when we go out with the family."

"That was almost 25 yrs ago, damn time flew by."

– jonwtc

Gift For Mom

"I bought my mother a beautiful shawl. I never saw her wear it but it was in with her things when she died nearly 50 years later."

– WakingOwl1

These Redditors got to reward themselves with the things they enjoy most.

Creating Memories

"About twenty bucks of my first paper route earnings, for the pizza buffet and soft drinks, and some arcade games, with my best friend."

"While the shape I've been in has varied over the years, I've kept that stamina I built up hauling around damn near my weight in newsprint. For long endurance rides, hikes with a loaded-up pack, and running."

– ArmsForPeace84

Brand New Kicks

"I was 14 and got a job as a bus boy at a local BBQ joint. With my first check, I went and bought myself a pair of blue/brown Airwalk shoes. I remember how cool it felt to be able to buy something for myself and not have to ask my parents."

– johnnybmagic

Scoring Big Time

"A Playstation 2. Excellent buy, kept it for a over decade before buying an Xbox One."

– Birdo-the-Besto

"It was an Xbox 360 for me. Loved that console."

– HabeLinkin

"Still have a modded PS2. Had a hard drive with games on it too. It still turns on last I checked, I wonder if the hard drive still works..."

–DubaU

A Timeless Treasure

"My family owned a construction business, and my father had me on site for as long as I could remember. I don't remember the first thing I ever bought with what he paid me, but I remember the first thing I set out to buy and had to work for weeks to get the money for. It was a Lego castle set. $49. I'm almost 50 now, and I still have it."

– Spodson

Naughty Pleasures

"lol I bought a candy g-string so I could eat it off of my girlfriend while she was wearing it, and a black cowboy hat with spikes on it from Hot Topic hahaha"

dirtydickmf

Some recalled having to prioritize taking care of business over indulgences.

The Necessities

"gasoline and insurance to continue to be able to go to work."

– TurpitudeSnuggery

"I remember getting my first paycheck being so proud of it and my stepfather goes wow you don't have enough for gas. How are you getting to work for the next two weeks? Made me realize I needed to work more."

"I should also put in here that this was my first on the books paycheck. Made it feel a little different."

– truelydorky

Saving Up For Wheels

"Used to mow lawns and do odd jobs for cash when I was a kid. When I got my first 'real' paycheck that I had to cash at a bank, I saved every penny for several months until I bought my first car at age 16."

"Had zero expenses back then, which made it easy to save money. Fun memory."

– YupHio

Building A Wardrobe

"Clothes."

"I had to start working at the age of 12 because my parents could no longer afford to buy clothes for me."

– Opposite-Purpose365

I worked at a video game store in the mall when I was 15.

I was miserable being stuck behind a counter in a tiny corner store with hardly any adequate air circulation. Working with a personality-clashing co-worker didn't help things either.

But when I got my first paycheck, I remember thinking it was a major milestone and reward for enduring the unpleasant work conditions.

I used my first-ever earnings on a denim jacket from the Gap at the mall where I worked. I wore that stone-washed jacket with pride at school for years.

What was your most prized purchase from your first paycheck?

man and woman at wedding with balloons
Álvaro CvG on Unsplash

Weddings are built up to be magical events heralding a happily ever after for the newly minted spouses.

But like any major life event, a lot can go wrong.

Weather, illness, natural disasters, relationship drama, family squabbles... you name it and someone, somewhere has seen it at a wedding.

Keep reading...Show less
assorted items at antique shop
Christelle BOURGEOIS on Unsplash

Growing up we used a can opener, toaster and hand mixer that my Mother received as wedding gifts. She was married in 1966 and those small appliances were still working well into the 1990s.

When Mum sold her house and downsized, she decided to get new small appliances that matched. The old but still functioning ones were avocado green, stainless and harvest gold.

Since then I've gone through countless electric can openers, toasters and hand mixers and none worked as well or as long as those ones from the 1960s.

The ones with moving parts don't have the same power as the old ones and the toasters all lose heating coils in just a few years.

My complaints about small appliances are mirrored by many.

Keep reading...Show less
angry girl in black and white striped shirt
Photo by Julien L on Unsplash

Double standards are an unfortunate part of society.

A double standard is when two or more individuals or sets of people are treated differently when they should be treated the same.

A good example is the difference in the way my brother and I are treated when we cook. I'm big on baking and have a natural talent for it. Whenever I bake anything, even something complicated, like cheesecake, I'm given minimal praise, if any at all. This is because I'm a woman, and in my family culture, women are expected to be able to bake.

My brother isn't as good a baker as me and rarely does it, but when he does, he is praised for subpar brownies because he's a man and it's amazing he can even cook as well as he does.

I'm not the only one who has experience with this.

Redditors have identified many double standards in society and are eager to share.

It all started when Redditor Extreme-Minute-4746 asked:

"What double standards make you angry?"

Civil Service

"As a federal government employee, why do I have to follow all kinds of ethics rules, but politicians and judges don’t?"

– mittychix

"F**k, right? I have to spend six weeks reviewing documentation and hearing out dozens of random companies to award a £100k contract but the minister who runs my department can give his mate's company a multi-million£ contract to run ferries without even getting quotes - DESPITE THAT COMPANY NOT HAVING AND FERRIES AND THE PORT IN QUESTION NOT HAVING CAPACITY FOR THEM."

"I left the civil service after that one."

– Disco_is_Death

"This. Yeah I could get in trouble for accepting a gift over $50 (like I have that much influence anyway) but politicians and judges get lobbied millions..it's infuriating."

– gtbeam3r

"Yes. And they get to keep their jobs for being completely dysfunctional, but if I pulled a fraction that garbage, I’d be fired."

– TrekJaneway

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

"That some people expect you to respect their no, whilst they will most definitely not respect yours."

– IvyBloodroot

"On that note, respecting someone as an authority is often equated to respecting someone as an individual."

"Eg. Teachers who say if you don't respect me (as a superior), I won't respect you (as a person), when they're really not the same thing."

– Paperonia

The Bullied

"School bullying."

"The kid getting picked on has essentially no power. Go to a teacher? Get labeled a snitch and tattle tale. Don't do anything? You're just made an easier target. The moment they fight back, they're the ones who end up dealing with detention, suspension, expulsion, etc. You have more power as a bully in the schools than the victim."

– FriskeCrisps

"It's because bullied people are usually rule followers, and the school wants the problem dealt with as quickly as possible. Best way to do that is to expect the rule follower to follow rules, rather than the rule breaker to suddenly change their ways."

"Fairness ends up on the chopping block."

– darsynia

Services Cliff

"I'm 41 years old and have Cerebral Palsy. If I try to find anything related to the disease - how to deal with it, any kind of ongoing care - it is virtually impossible because all the care is just for children with CP. It's like once you turn 18 the world just doesn't care anymore."

– Zechnophobe

"I’m autistic and in the same boat. “How to deal with a child who…” I'M ASKING FOR ME."

– aroaceautistic

A Two-Way Street

"People who are obsessed with the idea of kids being respectful towards adults, but don't treat kids with respect in turn."

"Edit for example: I went to a very old-fashioned school where the rule was that when an adult entered the room, even in the library and break/lunch, every student in the room had to immediately fall silent - mid sentence, mid word, didn't matter - and stand up until we were given permission to sit back down again. If we didn't, we were chewed out and sometimes even given detentions. The argument was that it trained us into respect, but I was also brought up to believe it's rude to interrupt, and it felt like the teachers were constantly interrupting us."

– MerylSquirrel

"My father in law is like that. He’s “kids should be seen and not heard” type of old school."

"But then he wonders why the children in the family all steer clear of him and why they disregard most things he says."

– Macintosh0211

Doctor, Doctor

"This might be a bit controversial, but I’ve come across a couple of doctors who demand special treatment away from work but preach and practice treating all their patients equally."

– kimchi-pancake

"They charge you a fee or cancel if you’re 5 minutes late but have no problem leaving you waiting for hours. I’ve waited an hour in the lobby and another in the actual examination room."

– SadComfort8692

"Same! i can understand if it’s out of their control but i could hear her, clear as day, giggling with her coworkers about her weekend. i waited 20 in the lobby and 20 in the exam room. i love a good gab but, for f**k’s sake, do it later! if i yapped outside for 20 minutes, it would be a $50 fee and another 4 month long wait to be seen again."

"I suddenly had a $50 i-can-hear-you-nattering-through-the-wall fee. she laughed but it’s been collecting interest ever since…"

– manyfeetball

Alcohol Is Alcohol

"Beer drinkers act like they aren’t alcoholics because they don’t drink hard liquor. Ok sir you just drank 25 beers and then looked at me sideways for drinking a g&t at the family reunion."

– Brainfog_shishkabob

"Same goes for the “sophisticated” wine drinkers..."

"Stop judging me for enjoying a drink on the terrace a few times a year, when you empty 1-2 bottles each evening..."

– 2Madam_Mimmm

"That’s definitely the way it is. I’ve got a snotty alcoholic family member, that THINKS she’s sophisticated, because she drinks high dollar wine, out of very expensive glasses."

"Yeah, pissing yourself and passing out, in front of the mailbox, are definitely the traits of a sophisticated person."

– sweathogbrooklyn

Mr. Mom

"Fathers taking care of their kids."

"I take my kids to doctor appointments, dentist appointments, take them to school, and pick them up. I do all that stuff."

"Every single f**king time, it's, “Dad’s babysitting today?” Or some stupid comment like that. No, I’m not babysitting. I’m being a f**king parent!"

"I hate the double standard that dads can’t do stuff like that with their kids."

"I can’t take my daughter to the park without being questioned or looked at funny either."

"People need to give dads more respect. A lot of us bust our a**es too. I work hard. I take care of my kids, I play with my kids. I clean the house. I do laundry. I don’t stop. I don’t rest, I don’t relax."

– moms-sphaghetti

"Give us changing tables in the men's room!"

– Da1UHideFrom

"Nothing bugs me more than when a place only has changing tables in the women's bathroom."

"It's 2023, I take my son to the aquarium by myself sometimes... Looking at you London SeaLife centre 🤨"

– AstonVanilla

Household Split

"The laundry is always a wierd one. My wife is a much better cook than me. And she hates me cooking when she's in the house. So to compensate I do all the laundry, including ironing before someone mentions it, and all the washing of dishes."

"But even at work, this doesn't seem to be understood as possible. I complained my washing machine had broken and the comment was 'Oh no, what's wife's name going to do?'"

"To which the answer was 'Wonder why I haven't done the washing this week.'"

"But it's infuriating."

– RelativeStranger

Justice Is Bought

"The American justice system. You can afford the best and many more lawyers when you have money."

– TooAfraidToAsk814

"Justice is blind, but the b*tch sure can smell money."

– burgher89

Worship

"I am supposed to respect people's religion, but people aren't supposed to respect my non-religion."

"Particularly when their religion instructs them to not respect my non-religion."

– GeebusNZ

"It kinda makes my head spin that there are people who I get along well with who, per their religion, think I deserve to be tortured in agony for all eternity."

Daztur

Yup, me and my non-religious self have personal experience with that last one!