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

Things Left-Handed People Deal With That Right-Handed People Never Do

Reddit user johnnyportillo95 asked: 'What’s something left handed people have to deal with that right handed people wouldn’t even think about?'

Left-handed person holding a Sharpie
Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash

Many of us who are right-handed never even think about how the world is designed to cater to us.

It probably doesn't even cross your mind that 10% of the world's population is left-handed.

Because of this, there tends to be a stigma for being left-handed since society tends to associate the left with negative things.

For example, the phrase "two left feet" applies to those who are clumsy and therefore, incapable of dancing.

Curious to hear more about the challenges facing those with the other dominant hand, Redditor johnnyportillo95 asked:

"What’s something left-handed people have to deal with that right-handed people wouldn’t even think about?"

If only manufacturers appealed to an ambidextrous world.

Furniture Obstacle

"Those desks or couch chairs that have a small desk attached. They do make left handed/sided ones but they are few and far between."

– Prussian__Princess

"And they’re only on one side of the lecture hall, and it’s never a good seat. There is ONE front row, lefty desk in the entire room and it’s in the far corner, obscured by an ancient overhead projector."

– earwighoney

Everyday Objects For Everyday People

"as a left-handed person myself, one thing we often deal with is finding left-handed tools or equipment. many everyday objects, like scissors or can openers, are designed with right-handed people in mind, which can make certain tasks a bit more challenging for us lefties. we also have to adapt to a right-handed world when it comes to writing on whiteboards or using certain computer mice."

– J0rdan_24

Dangerous Tools

"The biggest risk is power tools. I taught myself to use all power tools right handed because of risks using them left handed."

"Trivial, I love dry boards but they are super hard to write on."

– diegojones4

It's hard to play when you're born with a physical disadvantage.

Sports Disadvantage

"Allright, Sports when you are young. Every demonstration from PE teachers are right handed. You cant just copy the movements they teach you you need to flip them and your tiny brain struggoes to process it. As well, 98% of the cheap sports equipment the school uses is right handed."

– AjCheeze

No Future In Softball

"I tried to bat right handed for so long in gym class growing up because the gym teacher never asked me what my dominant side was and the thought never occurred to me as a child to mention it! Needless to say I never became a softball star."

– Leftover-Cheese

Find A Glove That Fits

"In softball and baseball we need a specific glove for our right hand that's often impossible to find unless you own one, and we have to bat on the other side of the plate."

– BowlerSea1569

"I was one of two left-handers in a 4-team Little League in the 1980s. Nobody could pitch to me. I got a lot of "hit by pitch" walks out of it."

– Jef_Wheaton

These examples are understandably annoying.

Shocking Observation

"Having right handed people make comments whenever they see us write, like we’re some kind of alien."

– UsefulIdiot85

"'Woah! You're left-handed????'"

"I find myself noticing when someone is a lefty, and sometimes I comment on it, but I try not to. I'm primarily left-handed (im a right handed wroter but do everything else left), and every single time I go to eat with my family, someone says, "Oh hey, give SilverGladiolus22 the left hand spot, they're left-handed," and inevitably someone says, 'Wait, really?' Lol."

– SilverGladiolus22

Can't Admire The Mug

"We never get to look at the cute graphics on coffee mugs while we’re drinking from them."

– vanetti

"I just realized…I always thought the graphics were made so someone else could read them while you drink. Hmmm."

– Bubbly-Anteater7345

"I'm right-handed and I often wondered why the graphics were turned towards the drinker instead of out for others to see."

– Material-Imagination

The Writing On The Wall

"Writing on whiteboards is a nightmare. I have to float my hand, which tires out my arm quickly, and I can't see what I've already written to keep the line straight."

– darkjedi39

"Also as a teacher, it means I'm standing to the left of where I'm writing, so I'm blocking everything I write. I have to frequently finish writing, then step out of the way so people can see, instead of just being able to stand on the right side the whole time."

– dancingbanana123

Immeasurable

"Rulers."

"How the f'k is no one talking about rulers? It's from 30cm to 0 cm to me, or I have to twist my arms to know the measure I want to trace over it."

– fourangers

Just Can't Win

"EVERYTHING. The world has always been based around people being right handed. As a Chef, my knife skills SUCKED until I worked with a Left Handed Chef. Then it all made sense."

"Literally, everything we do must be observed, then flipped around in our heads, then executed. This is why Lefties die sooner, on average, than Righties."

"I had to learn how to be ambidextrous, just to complete basic tasks (sports, driving a manual, using scissors, etc). I am used to it now, and do many things right handed out of necessity, as wall as parents and teachers 'forcing' it upon me."

"But, at least we are not put to death anymore, simply for using the wrong hand (look it up, it happened)."

"Ole Righty, always keeping us down."

– igenus44

The world doesn't need another demographic to feel "othered" for being different.

But if you're right-handed and tend to make assumptions about left-handed people, you may want to observe the following.

Ronald Yeo, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Texas-Austin told CNN:

"We shouldn’t assume much about people’s personalities or health just because of the hand they write with."
"And we certainly shouldn’t worry about lefties’ chances of success: After all (as of 2015), five of our last seven U.S. presidents have been either left- or mixed-handed."

Word.

Dog lying down on a bed
Photo by Conner Baker on Unsplash

Not all pet owners have the same relationship with their pets.

While anyone who decides to become a pet owner, or pet parent as some say, love their pets equally, some never ever let them leave their side.

Taking their pet with them to work, running errands, even on vacations.

Many pet parents even allow their pets to share their bed with them when going to sleep.

For others though, this is where a line is finally drawn.

Redditor Piggythelavasurfer was curious to hear whether pet owners allowed their pets to share their bed with them, as well as the reasons why they do/don't, leading them to ask:

"Do you let your pet sleep in your bed? Why/why not?"

The Tiny Issue Of Water...

"Absolutely not."

"I have fish."- Senior-Meal3649

Everyone Gets Lonely Eventually...

"I adopted an eleven year old cat the day before Halloween."

"She has mostly lived in my closet since I got her, and she hasn’t been too interested in coming out."

"Last night, she came out of my closet and jumped up on my bed, and crawled under my covers and curled up by my feet to sleep."

"I was so happy!"- YellowBeastJeep

The Comforting Reminder That You're Not Alone...

"I recently lost my Greyhound but I used to let him sleep on my bed with me."

"The company was nice and he was no trouble to have on my bed."- HoodedMenace3

Hungry Cookie GIF by De Graafschap Dierenartsen Giphy

What Do You Mean Allow?

"I have no choice."

"She is a cat, cats do whatever they want."- Small_cat1412

"He lets me sleep in my bed."- Poorly-Drawn-Beagle

Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way

"I carry my old boy upstairs to bed every night."- worst_in_show

Hug GIF by The BarkPost Giphy

Who Needs An Alarm Clock?

"I let my two cats sleep with me."

"They're so full of love and just want cuddles all the time."

"And so do I."

"We've all developed a lil routine."

"Get to bed, oldest sleeps on my feet to keep them warm, youngest lies in my arm while I lie on my side (she the little spoon), then when I snooze my alarm for work in the morning the youngest paws at my face and meeps loudly to wake me up."- GhostofaFlea_

Whose Bed Is It Anyway?

"Yes."

"They're also kind enough to let me squeeze into whatever space they've left for me."

"Although I do get a few dirty looks off them."- Therealkaylor

"I found this tiny kitten screaming her head off under a car."

"Would not come out."

"Got some food and some water in dishes."

"I stood by the tire so she couldn't see my feet."

"She got curious about the food and water and started gobbling it down."

"I thought she would bolt when I squatted down."

"She was too busy eating."

"I grabbed her by the nape of the neck and all four legs went straight out and she tried to scratch me to death."

"I got her in the door and tossed her toward the couch."

"She ricocheted off the couch as if she was a ping pong off a table and I lost sight of her."

"I put out food and water and a sandbox and did not see that kitten for three days."

"On the third day, I came home and she was on my bed pillow."

"I thought she would bolt when I came near, but she didn't."

"I wanted to sleep so I tried to scoot her little butt off my pillow."

"She would not go."

"I put my head down to sleep and that is the way it was from then on."

"She ran the roost."- Logical_Cherry_7588

sleepy kitten GIF Giphy

Sleeping Is A Prerequisite...

"No, he's a cat and he cannot keep still during the night."

"He walks across the headboard, opens the closet doors, jumps into the windows and rustles the blinds, etc."

"If he would sleep he could stay, but alas, he's a ramblin' man."- Spong_Durnflungle

Saying No Just Isn't An Option...

"'Let'."

"Lol."

"It's a cat's world and I'm happy to be on her good side."- milaren

Felines Only!

"The cat does, the dog doesn't and the horse certainly does not either."- Xcrowzz

Angry Tom And Jerry GIF by Boomerang Official Giphy

Is That My Hair On That Pillow?

"My dog is perfect."

"She comes up, cuddles til we start to fall asleep, then gets down to sleep on her bed so she doesn't get too hot."

"Jumps back up in the early morning for wake up cuddles."

"The hair everywhere is the only downside but she is so cozy, what can you do."- HoodieWinchester

It is easy to understand how some people are able to fall asleep more easily knowing their friend and protector is there, in bed, with them.

Though we can't blame others who don't want to run the risk of being scratched or bitten in the middle of the night either...


Close up of an owl tilting their head to side, looking bewildered
Photo by Josh Mills

The old wives' tales.

They are the stories of legend.

I think we all need a big DEEP Google dive though.

Where did they originate?

WHO ARE THE OLD WIVES!

You don't hear about them as much anymore.

It's like science and logic are suddenly a thing.

But they sure are a good way to keep your kids and their behavior in line.

Redditor the_spring_goddess wanted to discuss the tall tales we've all been fed through life, so they asked:

"What is an old wives tale that people still believe?"

"Wait an hour to swim after eating."

What a crock!

So many summer hours wasted.

I want revenge for that one.

Say Nothing

Giphy

"An undercover cop has to tell you he's a cop if you ask him."

LonelyMail5115

"Pretty much most advice when it comes to cops are old wives tales. I’m not even a cop but most of the advice you hear is pretty off."

I_AM_AN_A**HOLE_AMA

Say Something

"That you have to wait 24 hours to report someone missing."

Severe_Airport1426

"I really think this one is important and should be the top regardless. As it’s a piece of advice that needs to be relearned and the only way to do that is through awareness."

crappycurtains

"This used to be true. I think they changed it after some guy named Brandon went missing back in the '80s or '70s. You used to have to wait 24 hours if the missing person was an adult because they had 'a right to be missing' and then everyone realized that was stupid and stopped doing it."

AlbinoShavedGorilla

Body Temps

"That drinking ice cold water after eating oily foods will solidify the oil and permanently remain in your body. I informed my coworker that if your body temperature ever reached that point, you’d have bigger problems than weight gain."

chriseo22

"Oh, I have a cousin who 100% believed this. One of those guys who believed every early 2000s internet rumor and old wives tale. One night I chugged a big glass of ice water after dinner and he started freaking out and saying my guts were gonna harden."

"I sarcastically told him to drive me to the hospital if that happened. Obviously, nothing happened and the next morning I said something like 'Thanks for being on standby in case my guts filled with hardened oil.' He just walked off muttering under his breath."

apocalypticradish

Arms Down

"When I was pregnant, I was told by young and old alike that I should NOT raise my arms above my head or exert myself in such a manner because it could cause cord strangulation to my unborn sons and daughters."

Fatmouse84

10 Years Actually

Unimpressed Uh Huh GIF by Brooklyn Nine-Nine Giphy

"Chewing gum stays in your stomach for 7 years."

REDDIT

"I remember accidentally swallowing a piece of gum when I was a kid in like 1995 and just accepting my fate like welp, gonna have this in my stomach til high school I guess."

Gecko-911

I was so afraid to sallow my gum when I was young.

This tale is haunting.

High/Low

Hungry Debra Messing GIF by Will & Grace Giphy

"You can tell the sex of the baby by how you carry."

LeastFormal9366

"Pregnancy certainly wins awards for the most old wives tales. So much absolute BS was repeated to us by everyone we talked to."

IllIIIlIllIlIIlIllI

The Cursed

"If you’re a woman and you wear opal jewelry but opal is not your birthstone (October), you’ll never be able to have children, or will be widowed, or just generally have bad luck or something. You can counteract this by having a diamond in the same piece of jewelry as the opal, though."

"I have a nice opal ring that my parents gave me years ago, and I’ve had other women give me this 'advice' unprompted more than once when I’ve worn it. I have absolutely no idea where it started, but I’m pretty sure this little chunk of silicate rock has no concept of what month I was born in, let alone of how my reproductive organs work."

SmoreOfBabylon

Stay In

"Going outside with wet hair will make you get pneumonia. Or an earache. Or maybe arthritis. Depends on which old wife you listen to."

"Jokes on them - I haven't blow-dried my hair in decades and usually leave the house with wet hair in the morning. On winter mornings, the tips of my hair get frozen. No ear infections or pneumonia or arthritis yet."

worldbound0514

Dreams and Facts

"You never make anyone up in your dreams you've seen everyone in your dreams somewhere else before and never make anyone up entirely."

"How would you possibly prove that to be true? My partner adamantly believes this and tells me this 'fact' whenever I have a dream about someone I've never met before."

mattshonestreddit

"My late wife used to tell me that before she met me she would have dreams of standing at an alter on her wedding day but could never see the guy's face, no matter how hard she tried. After meeting me the face was filled in with mine. Don't know if it's true but one of those things I like thinking of every now and then when I miss her."

Darthdemented

Cracked

Getting Ready Episode 2 GIF by The Office Giphy

"Some people still believe cracking knuckles causes arthritis."

Choice-Grapefruit-44

"There's a doctor (Donald Unger) that cracked his knuckles a couple of times a day for 60 years, but only on one hand, just to prove it. Both hands remained exactly the same."

MacyTmcterry

I love my knuckles.

Do you have any tall tales to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below.

lottery tickets
Erik Mclean on Unsplash

A lot of workers daydream about some day winning the lottery and being able to say goodbye to their job.

Far too many workers are unhappy with their job duties, workplace dynamics or company culture.

But with a taste for luxuries like housing and food, they keep plugging away, year after year.

However not everyone feels that way about their job.

So what are these compelling careers?

Keep reading... Show less