People Share What They Hate Most About Their Company's Corporate Culture
How toxic can work culture get? In America, we work harder for less, and we are damn proud of it... sometimes.
yocallmewill asked Redditors of America: What do you hate the most about your work culture?
Submissions have been edited for clarity, context, and profanity.
Too many hours, too little work.
The fact that if I can get all of my work done in 6 hours or less, but if I leave early, I'm considered lazy. Someone else can spend 9-10 hours milking the clock doing the same work, but they get recognition for "being such a hard worker," because of all their overtime. We were paid hourly btw, so I was actually saving the company money by working harder and faster.
I already called this out. They say people perform better within the first 4 hours of work, 8 hours is too long. I have ADHD, stretching time out will make me work slower or I'll lose what I'm doing. I don't have high levels of dopamine in my brain and thus I have to do stuff in a rush to get it done. It's more than just procrastination, it's how my brain actually works. Telling me to stop what I'm doing and work to stretch the day out will make me perform worse and why would you want that? I work better with deadlines. Always have and always will. Deal with it. Companies need to understand this.
Worker benefits are my kink.
The taboo cultivated by management, and often perpetuated by employees themselves to their own detriment, against discussing compensation and other issues related to working conditions.
Only one entity benefits when workers can't or don't share information about pay, benefits, or workplace issues -- and it's not the workers.
Many companies have policies against discussing wages but they can't legally forbid it or punish you for it according to the 1935 Labor Relations Act.
Oh, I'm very much aware that it's illegal to sanction employees for failing to adhere to this norm they have manufactured... that's why corporate management has to work so tirelessly at convincing employees that the taboo is of the employees' own making and to their own benefit.
And I'll add that although this type of practice is extremely common in corporate environments, it tends to be transmitted via office culture and other informal mechanisms. If you, or anyone else, has encountered companies that have written or formal policies preventing their employees from sharing this type of information, that's something the NLRB would really like to know about, because it's not only illegal to punish employees for this conduct, it's also illegal to even have policies prohibiting it.
Sick people around food - great idea.
When I worked at a restaurant I hated that you were a slacker for calling in sick and you got "points" for it. Even though you are legally obligated to call-out sick if you work in the food industry. Basically you're penalized for following proper food safety laws.
This has been the case in every restaurant I worked in.
Always always always have diarrhea. Regardless of what's going on, you have diarrhea.
Quitting jobs is a necessary step toward success.
The only way to advance your professional career anymore is to quit and go elsewhere. It really f*cking sucks. Most big companies do regular wage freezes when their profits aren't big enough, have "flattened" their hierarchy so it's rare to find positions to move into, and would rather bring in external candidates who already have tons of experience than to train and promote people who have been with the company and want to move up. And if you do get promoted? Your bump in salary is going to be waaaaay less than if you were hired from externally for that same position.
As an engineer, the way to maximize your salary is to change jobs every 3-5 years. Loyalty is a determent to your profession. Sh*t, I hired an external person just to try to raise the wages of the rest of my employees because it demonstrated the complete disconnect in pay from external hires.
Stop giving away your time.
They count how many hours I take off for vacation and sick time, to the minute, but never bother to track the time I spend coming in early, staying late or working over the weekend.
never bother to track the time I spend coming in early, staying late or working over the weekend
You should stop doing those things.
I did.
Never truly being "off."
Availability creep.
Technology means you can call, text, email, bbm, slack, etc. regardless of where I am or what I'm doing. There is no turning off / being disconnected.
I literally ignore all the texts and calls that come in. I'm not on-call. If you wanted me to work, schedule me more. If you're short on hours because god forbid somebody call in sick, then its the company's fault for not giving you more payroll and hours to work with.
Decades ago, people thought that technology would increase our leisure time. But no, f*ck no.
We work too much.
Life imbalance. Give me Monday-Thursday 7-6. Or hell drop it down to a 32 hour workweek.
Let me live a little before I die. Don't make it so impossible to take a week off and go hiking.
My dream is a standard work-week of three 10's, and we go to a six day "business" week.
That way we all get to keep more than half the week to ourselves, and we all have three days a week to do our shopping and errands--no more going to the bank on your lunch-break.
Time off means time off.
A general expectation in salary is that you'll keep working after you leave the office. For f*cks sake, we have people here who took a week off for vacation due to the holidays and they're still working from wherever they are. They're actively using PTO days and working anyway.
I just make it known that when I'm out for a PTO day or vacation, you will be 100% unable to reach me. Don't even try. Nearly 7 years and it hasn't been an issue yet.
I took a 2.5 week vacation a couple months ago. I got one email that I had to answer.
I CC'd my boss on it and ended the email with
Regards from [city, country 9000 miles away]
I also sent it as Urgent and at 3:15 am home time (3:15 pm local)
My boss and colleagues got the hint.
Lack of trust.
How superficial we all are because it's a professional setting. Its hard to open up to people out of fear they will use personal info against me. It's been done before. Its unfortunate. I hate the office paradigm we are in.
You're 100% right. There's something about an office setting that brings out the most back-stabby, petty parts of people.
Work to live; don't live to work.
That we're expected to put work above everydamnthing thing else or we "don't care about our job." I care about my job.
But I also care about my relationship, my hobbies, getting healthcare that I need, my friendships, having a reasonably clean home with food in it, my pets.....
If I so much as hint at wanting more time for any of those things (and granted some are higher priority than others) I'm NOT DEDICATED.
I work what's supposed to be 9-6. It's usually 7 or 8 to 730 or 8. I walked around for over a month with a tooth cracked clean in two that hurt like hell and then got infected because "we're too short to let anyone off" and if I'd called in it would have been an attendance write up because I "obviously didn't care about the team".
I do care about the "team" but I also care about not dying of infection.
When work owns you.
Lack of vacation time. The fact that we can't work at home when most of our job is done on a computer. The fact that we have to use our limited vacation time for weather events like snow or hurricanes. The fact that someone has to be at the office on holidays for "what ifs" that never occur.
> The fact that we can't work at home when most of our job is done on a computer.
I'm a purchasing agent. I use ZERO paper, I need zero face to face time, all my communication is done via email or phone. Why THE F*CK do I need to dress up and sit in cubicle for that?
Not just lack of vacation time, but the implicit pressure not to use it because it anyway, especially if you're at the point where you have 3+ weeks accrued.
Picking up other people's slack.
When your coworkers laziness becomes your problem.
I'm a detailer at a car dealership. Just yesterday I was told I'd have to also do a quick wash of an interior only detail because the porters forget sometimes. But I wouldn't be paid for that extra time it takes me. (I work flat rate).
Had that conversation once when I was a grocery clerk.
"Rinnaul, can you go around and make sure the bathrooms are clean?"
"That was J's assignment this morning."
"Well, sometimes he doesn't get it done, so you need to go behind him and make sure it's done."
...what's he getting paid for, then?
My response is always "great, can I have their salary too?"
This is by far the worst part about it. I work Parts at a Dealership and I'm constantly having to keep the place together when others decide to slack off. That joke of "If you're good at your job you get to do other's jobs too" is far too real.
The whole 9-5 but not really 9-5 thing.
The 9-5 work day as a rule. My work deals largely with a time zone 2 hours ahead of mine. I could feasibly work from 7-3 and be even more productive than I am now but my company won't allow it because "everyone works 9-5." As a result my commute is long as hell meaning I have to leave the house around 7:45 and don't get back until 6-6:30. If I could move my schedule up two hours that commute is cut in half and I have way more time off.
I'd settle for "9-5" actually meaning 9:00am to 5:00pm.
Not being allowed to get sick. WTF?
Lots of companies combine paid time off for vacation & time of for illness. Don't you dare get sick. If you do, it's coming out of your vacation time. So everyone comes to work sick to hold onto their precious 15 days accrued annually which makes everybody else in the office sick. You end up with an office filled with people who feel like crap but have to keep working or they can't take longer vacations.
And yet they continuously say that if you're sick it's just better to stay home. I'd love to, but they've made it so that's not feasible.
Basically, all of the following.
Tough question, there are so many to choose from. I'd say how little f*cks companies are able to give about employee work life balance and personal happiness. I hate that we never get any time off even when we're lucky enough to have jobs where you technically get it. I hate that nobody balks when companies start demanding your personal time outside of work for free. I hate that they demand we pretend to have a deep abiding passion for our company's mission when we all know deep down what our company does is trivial bullshit that really doesn't add anything to human civilization, or in some cases is actively negative and predatory but just not illegal because it's so profitable. I hate that we're supposed to give two weeks notice to leave on good terms but it's perfectly acceptable to just lay us off without a minute's notice. I hate the obsession Americans have with being busy, like having a lot of stuff to do somehow gives their lives meaning. I hate that our corporate laws allow owners of companies to be divorced from moral responsibility for the acts of the companies they own and profit from.
The busy thing is too true. We call it being a busyholic. Someone who is always so "busy" with things to do but never seems to actually accomplish anything. I've grown to hate the term busy because it's almost become in style to be busy all the time and no one is actually as busy as they tell you they are (and they LOVE telling you about how busy they are).
When I was first sent this article I told my editor, I'm not sure this topic will have much there. I figured there would only be a handful of answers. I opened Reddit and child... I found 8000 comments to start. Some of y'all people are scandalous! SCANDALOUS!! Now I am in no way judging, believe me, my house on these matters is made of the clearest kind of glass. I'm just stunned at the amount of people who "date" a little too close to home.
Mama's Boy
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTcxOTAwOS9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MDk4NzU3N30.btsIZufjNOuYHT7VoVosHGDNXsKNDO5TUcm-YqGfgjU/img.gif?width=980" id="bc1de" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="aa272d9abeb825fc1bdce26c95b75fe2" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="500" data-height="281" />Season 7 Oops GIF by WorkaholicsGiphy<p>I have slept with two of my Mom's friends. The first one she just asked if I wanted it and it happened. </p>FB Issues
<p>Friend's mom going through some tough times with her husband, "accidentally" added one of our friends on Facebook, she started flirting with him and eventually they did it. After this kept going on for a couple of months, dude decided to tell his friend (son) about it, at his house. The son cried, they threw hands at each other and everything was alright moments later. Don't really know what happened after that, lost contact with both of them. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lryi5j/serious_people_whove_had_sex_with_their/gop1r66?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">antoniocmf</a></p>Family Fued
<p>My brother's best friend from high school dated my Mom in his 30's.</p><p>She had my brother really young, when she was barley 15, so when his friend was in his 30's, she wasn't yet 50.</p><p>I will always remember the night he found out. They fought, and my brother's friend left the house, and got into his car. My brother followed him out, and punched him in the head <em>though the driver side window</em>.</p><p>He managed to go through the window and still connect with enough force to knock him out cold. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lryi5j/serious_people_whove_had_sex_with_their/gop2fhr?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank"> Knytemare44</a><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Knytemare44/" target="_blank"></a></p>Party Foul
<p>In my late 20s, I had a friend in a small mountain town in the Western US. His Mom gets separated, moves in with him. She's mildly flirtatious with me, no big deal. Not enough to raise any red flags. Job changes and I move to the city, 90 miles south. He comes on weekends to party a few times, normal stuff. Then he comes to party and brings her. At her request we have a late night romp while he's passed out in the next room. Major violation of bro code by me, but she asked nicely. No surprise we weren't friends after that. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lryi5j/serious_people_whove_had_sex_with_their/goozzav?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank"> mytmatt2112</a><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/mytmatt2112/" target="_blank"></a></p>A Pro Tip
<p>I got super freaking drunk at the friend's mother's house, we all did really, but mainly me and the mum...</p><p>But I'd come as my friend was going through a bit of a tough time and it was supposed to be a nice surprise, my friend was going to her mum's for a nice night of merriment and the mum told me I should come to cheer her up, which I agreed was a good idea. <span></span></p>Years Later...
<p>A good friend of mine had this happen to her back in high school. She caught her (also high school aged) boyfriend sexting her 40-something year old mother and it led to her mom and her step dad's divorce. All while she was 17 years old.</p><p>She still has a strained relationship with her mom to this day, we are 25 now so this happened almost 10 years ago. </p>Devastation...
<p>After graduation, she joined the Air Force (US) and continued long-distance style with her boyfriend she's been with for over a year. She was at her first duty station (where I met her), away from home for the first time. Serving in the military and trying to make a life for herself. And then she got a call from her dad. Turns out her boyfriend and her mom had hooked up. She was devastated. Her parents divorced. <span></span></p>It was Inevitable...
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTcxOTA0MS9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyODQxOTUzN30.7avgk51F8GvYYAUHQ-CatSoBvdkQaMGHpplUykJWIrA/img.gif?width=980" id="639ef" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e9124723d3194458b03e2cc72e43ecc1" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="500" data-height="500" />Seth Meyers Whatever GIF by Late Night with Seth MeyersGiphy<p>A friend of mine's mom basically hit on a number of us in the group and sadly it just became kind of a matter of time before one of us caved and it eventually happened. He saw it coming I feel bad for him.</p><p>Recently divorced mid 30s hot mom and a group of 18 yr olds. It wasn't me who did it. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lryi5j/serious_people_whove_had_sex_with_their/goon5p1?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">burnerforsurevato</a></p>Thanksgiving
<p>I had sex with one of my best friends mom. It was Thanksgiving and I was driving her back home and she confessed that she didn't have sex in years since she was a widow. I told her that I didn't have sex in months since I was moving. We talked a bit more and we sorta flirted and once we got to her house, she asked me to come inside and we did the deed. </p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lryi5j/serious_people_whove_had_sex_with_their/goofeh1?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Marvel089</a></p>Like A Virgin
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTcxOTA1NC9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNjc4NTczMn0.hcGMHHeEsqX_WEsn-YYGo1ljr3lr3T1lvrCPzm9W6Bo/img.gif?width=980" id="2b051" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="fc838a1f49ece78d2e9e2cd092cbfcb9" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="480" data-height="359" />like a virgin hello GIFGiphy<p>One of my first girlfriends in high school. Her mom used to seriously tell her that she should give me her virginity. Often.</p>Seriously...
<p>This reminds me of the mom of my cousin's wife. When her kids were younger they used to bring home kids from school that had it really rough in their life. She would talk with them and help them, but one thing that was interesting she mentioned was that she was glad to have parrots around who would initiate physical contact with them. <span></span></p>The internet is an endless wealth of information. And that's both a great thing and a really stressful thing.
The moment you begin searching for information, the rabbit holes begin opening up. Rabbit holes are usually innocent, one moment you're researching how wine is made and the next you're watching old episodes of I Love Lucy to see it in action. But sometimes those rabbit holes take you somewhere you literally never intended to be.
Welp, This Product Works I Guess
<p>I bought my brother a taser from Amazon for his birthday one time.</p><p>Looking at some of the questions there was one asking if it hurt, the answer went something like "It does not I've tased myself in the neck 30 times."</p><p>Very very interested in this I go to his amazon profile where you can see what else he has reviewed and he reviewed a katana and stuff like that of similar nature.</p><p>Still interested so I type his name into Facebook and find a profile with a picture of him holding his katana. The first thing I notice is that HE'S FROM MY CITY.</p>Not The Drugs
<p>A straightforward guy wrote down his experiences with heroin. Basically he wanted to try it for fun and he was sure that he had enough willpower to stop after that. </p><p>Well he was wrong. Probably someone can remember the name of the guy or the Reddit post, it's fairly well known I believe</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/wuxy95/" target="_blank">wuxy95</a></p>Oh Not This
<p>Researching attachment therapy, as used on kids diagnosed with attachment disorders (aka holding time, compression therapy, coercive restraint therapy, rebirthing). I don't feel like typing out the details but a quote from wiki and link is below. It's messed up and has resulted in several child deaths and lots of long lasting trauma.</p><p>I have no idea why I kept reading and watching videos, etc., but I spent an entire night researching it. It was horrifying. Maybe I felt like I owed it to the victims to read their stories. I don't remember.</p><p>"A central feature of many of these therapies is the use of psychological, physical, or aggressive means to provoke the child to catharsis, ventilation of rage, or other sorts of acute emotional discharge. To do this, a variety of coercive techniques are used, including scheduled holding, binding, rib cage stimulation (e.g., tickling, pinching, knuckling), and/or licking." </p><p>"Children may be held down, may have several adults lie on top of them, or their faces may be held so they can be forced to engage in prolonged eye contact. Sessions may last from 3 to 5 hours, with some sessions reportedly lasting longer."</p><p><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_therapy" target="_blank">https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_therapy</a></p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/tuv0k/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tuv0k</a></p>To See What Nobody Has Ever Seen
<p>Cave diving accidents. They're always tragic and sad and insanely common in the community due to the dangers of cave diving. </p><p>But they have been to some of the most untouched areas of Earth and I kind of get the need to keep exploring even if it's dangerous.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/effietea/" target="_blank">effietea</a></p>Basically True Crime Docs
<p>I have fallen down 2, both lasted about a week.</p><p>First was John/Jane Does who have never been claimed or identified.</p><p>Second was people who have disappeared without a trace. I feel this one tugged more on my emotional strings, especially stories involving kids. One that has stuck with me is a little boy who disappeared on a Scout hike, Jared Negrete. That is one of my greatest fears when I take kids hiking.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Smart-Connection6154/" target="_blank">Smart-Connection6154</a></p>TW: School Shootings
<p>I did a bit of research about school shootings around the world, from Columbine to the most recent one in Mexico at the time. It was terrifying to read the survivor's testimonies, I just imagined what would I do if that happened in my school, and ended up crying thinking about my little brothers' fate in those circumstances. </p><p>Also, the statistical analysis and studies about the topic are unnerving, since they seem to be more frequent globally every year.</p><p>And I hated getting to know about those groups that praise shooters. I would prefer if I didn't know those exist, it's frustrating</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/JChavez29/" target="_blank">JChavez29</a></p>The Dangers Of Tall Mountains
<p>Deaths on Mt. Everest and how a lot of the bodies are still up there. This was a wiki rabbit hole I fell into after listening to the Casefile episode on David Sharp. </p><p>Read not only about him but also green boots, this couple that got separated, etc. Due to the extremely cold temperatures, the bodies aren't that decomposed so they still look recent even though it's been years or decades. It's creepy and sad. Some bodies have been there so long they are used as markers for climbers. </p><p>What is also sad is that there have been efforts to remove them, but doing so is extremely dangerous because of the altitude, temperatures, and uneven ground. People have died attempting it in the past. Not sure if they've managed to succeed since I last read about it in 2018.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/NerdyGirlChicago/" target="_blank">NerdyGirlChicago</a></p>Why Make Up An Even Worse Timeline?!
<p>A sci fi timeline pdf I found awhile back, I think it was on the world building sub. It was a timeline of humanity that started it off relatively normal detailing human evolution as they colonized mars and the stars beyond. It descended into body horror when they came in to contact with a advanced race that for some reason I forget gene modded the majority of humans into non sentient species and seeded them across the galaxy. </p><p>It then went into great detail with each of these species separately and their climb back to sentience. It ended with one of the new humans that evolved back to sentience standing beside a original human skull. I haven't been able to find it since but sh*t got dark.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Deepfriedsalad/" target="_blank">Deepfriedsalad</a></p>Her
<p>There's this guy on Facebook I wish I could remember his name but he married his sex doll and has photos together of them everywhere at first I thought it was a troll account but the more I looked the creepier it got. </p><p>The dates on the photos dated back years and he showed off his dolls wardrobe and all the Possessions he had of hers and then... there were multiple "friend" accounts of different sex dolls on his page that's completely public but genuinely the weirdest part to me was that he lived on a farm in the middle of nowhere like imagine if someone accidentally ended up there.. </p><p>Edit : I spent an hour last night looking for it and surprisingly it's apparently more common than I thought wtf is wrong with people anyways I'll look some more today because it was a viral share</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/KateTheBestMate/" target="_blank">KateTheBestMate</a></p>Image by Felix Lichtenfeld from Pixabay |
Years ago a young woman told me about her grandmother, who had survived a home invasion in South Africa. It was a very unsettling story. Her grandmother was never the same afterward and became consumed by paranoia. There is something so horrible about having your home violated like that, of feeling like you'll never be safe again, even in a space that's supposed to be your sanctuary from the outside world. The young woman confessed that the thought of going through something similar continues to scare the hell out of her and honestly, I can't blame her. It's a frightening thought.
After Redditor Kingofthelosers asked the online community, "What are you terribly afraid of?" people shared their stories.
"Being randomly killed..."
<p>Being randomly killed or abducted and tortured.</p><p>Basically, I'm most afraid of people, because while most people are inherently good, there are a few who aren't - and all it takes is being in the wrong place at the wrong time.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lt7b0z/serious_what_are_you_terribly_afraid_of/govy1w4?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">immortalpinecones</a></p>"People look at me..."
<p>Losing my mind. People look at me like I'm crazy, but I'm legitimately afraid of losing myself and becoming crazy.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lt7b0z/serious_what_are_you_terribly_afraid_of/gowikv8?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Taylor12142</a></p>"I've never been in such an accident..."
<p>Driving off-road into a body of water and being stuck in the car as the water level inside rises. I've never been in such an accident, I've never known anyone who has been in such an accident, but somehow this fear has been with me for a very long time. And this has only gotten worse since having kids because now I picture them strapped into their car seats behind me as the water level rises.</p><p><span></span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lt7b0z/serious_what_are_you_terribly_afraid_of/govxej1?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">angeliqu</a></p>Terrifying. Utterly terrifying.
<p>Anytime I see this in a film, it unsettles me.</p><p>Then I see movies like <em>I Care a Lot</em>, which somehow managed to take something very scary and make it ridiculous.</p>"There's no way..."
<p>Being falsely accused of a crime. The power of the State against little broke me. There's no way I don't lose in this situation.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lt7b0z/serious_what_are_you_terribly_afraid_of/gowskxf?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">DuvalHeart</a></p>"Rather than risk failing..."
<p><span>Failure. My fear of failure can be crippling. Rather than risk failing, I all out avoid situations where I might fail. I hate it but self-doubt really kills my ability to accomplish anything in life.</span></p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lt7b0z/serious_what_are_you_terribly_afraid_of/govtosz?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">SavingsBall_6548</a></p>This is all too relatable.
<p>I remember feeling this way when I was younger. It was paralyzing. Thankfully, time and age has been kind to me. I'm so different now. Hopefully things improve for this person.</p>"If I ever go back..."
<p>Dying in a plane crash. I can picture it so perfectly - the way the air would be pulled out of your lungs as you scream, the feeling of weightlessness warring with extreme gravity depending on the way you're falling, and the certain knowledge that you are about to die horribly.</p><p>I moved to Europe and haven't visited anyone in the states in about 5 years. If I ever go back, I'm looking into finding some sort of passenger ship if it exists.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lt7b0z/serious_what_are_you_terribly_afraid_of/gox497c?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Lulu_42</a></p>"I don't know why."
<p>Fire drills. I don't know why. I have always had an irrational fear of them. Once the alarm goes off, it's fine, but it's like the anticipation that freaks me out. School was genuinely hard because of it and I know I can never be a teacher. That's okay though because I never wanted to be one.</p><p><span></span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lt7b0z/serious_what_are_you_terribly_afraid_of/gow0io4?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">whowhatwherewhenwhy6</a></p>Fire drills––any drills, really––have a way of amplifying your nerves.
<p>Growing up in the Columbine and post-Columbine world, fire drills and shooting drills were a way of life. And yes, they sucked.</p>"I've had sleep paralysis..."
<p>Losing control of my body. I've had sleep paralysis and I've been physically restrained/drugged in a dangerous situation, that kind of helplessness is just the most awful feeling in the world. My worst nightmare would be living in that state permanently.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lt7b0z/serious_what_are_you_terribly_afraid_of/gowwc5i?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">bijou_x</a></p>"I just can't do it."
<p>Sleep facing a mirror. I just can't do it. I will cover the mirror with a blanket if it is facing the bed. It just freaks me out.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lt7b0z/serious_what_are_you_terribly_afraid_of/gowzaqu?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">Nails_jello_2_a_tree</a></p>"But imagine..."
<p>Most people would want to die in their sleep when they're super old. But imagine being 95 or so, and night after night having to go to sleep and not knowing if you'll wake up the next morning.</p><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/lt7b0z/serious_what_are_you_terribly_afraid_of/goxb7he?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3" target="_blank">mrderpfrog</a></p>How do we face our fears?
<p>That's not an easy question to answer. Thankfully, time and experience can teach you a lot about yourself and what you can handle. It's a big world and there's so much we still don't know about it. The least we can do is take care of ourselves and try to live in it.</p><p>Have some of your stories to share? Feel free to write about them in the comments below.</p>There are few things more satisfying than a crisp $20 bill. Well, maybe a crisp $100 bill.
But twenty big ones can get you pretty far nonetheless.
Whether it's tucked firmly in a birthday card, passing from hand to hand after a knee-jerk sports bet, or going toward a useful tool, the old twenty dollar bill has been used for countless purposes.