Don't be fooled by the profession when judging one's intellect.
In all deference to the many jobs that require proper training and years of education, not everyone is qualified for the position.
There are people who seem capable and competent because of what they do for a living, but in actuality, they have managed to coast along in life—whether by luck or being born into a profession—and are clueless and are terrible at what they do.
Curious to hear some examples of this from strangers online, Redditor BandaidPuppet asked:
"What career seems to attract an unlikely amount of idiots, despite of being intellectually demanding?"
Adults may run the show in public schools, but it doesn't mean they're fit for the job.
They Work In Education
"school administrators."
"My significant other is a choir teacher and this year her music department received a lot of funding from a donation. The music department made a list of things they NEED. The school admins completely ignored their list and bought a ton of new music stands and smart boards for the band and choir rooms. Now they still don't have the equipment they need, but they have so many music stands they had to put all of their old stands in storage."
– bholzap
Deemed Discriminatory
"Our districts high school admin decided the best way to help low income students was to put them all on academic/disciplinary probation. They can't see how discriminatory this is especially in a small school where half the students qualify for free lunch. So, if your student doesn't qualify for free lunch they don't receive probation if they're failing classes or skipping school, etc. they get a pat and a "do better" but the low income students can't get off probation no matter their grades or attendance."
"Desperate For Support Staff"
"I've been working in special education for about a decade now and I've found that it unfortunately attracts a lot of complete idiots. Schools are usually so desperate for support staff they'll pretty much hire anyway."
"Sh*t, I think the first district I worked for lucked out with me [as being at the very least average, and based on my track record over the last decade], but the head of special education reached out to me after finding my job post on craigslist."
– egnards
Misappropriation Of Donations
"so much this."
"I was furious when I read articles about people who in the Will, gave money to their old school for a library but since it was not a binding contract, they basically said 'f'k the nerds' and used the money for football bullsh*t."
Hire Free-For-All
"I've been working in special education for about a decade now and I've found that it unfortunately attracts a lot of complete idiots. Schools are usually so desperate for support staff they'll pretty much hire anyway."
"Sh*t, I think the first district I worked for lucked out with me [as being at the very least average, and based on my track record over the last decade], but the head of special education reached out to me after finding my job post on craigslist."
– egnards
The integrity of lawyers were questioned.
For The Sake Of Argument
"Law. So many idiots running around as pseudo intellectuals who went to law school because they were 'good at arguing.' So many attorneys don't realize it's not about arguing and being an a**hole for the sake of being an argumentative a**hole, it's about achieving resolution under the rule of law. The biggest offenders are the oldest attorneys who have got away with sh*t practice for decades and now coast on their names while still practicing like it's 1982."
A Newer Attorney Weighs In
"I feel really seen right now. I'm a newer attorney and I'm not the best at arguing but I do try super hard to settle, which many people are not interested in. Like they'll throw out a single idea and if I disagree with it then it's like 0-60. WE ARE GOING TO TRIAL, MEDIATION IS A WASTE OF TIME."
"Also, any time I see opposing counsel's bar # starts with a 0, 1, or 2, I involuntarily clench my buttcheeks in anticipation of the fruitless conversation that is more than likely to ensue."
"I don't know if I have the patience for this profession and the obstinate, single-minded idiocy that goes on on a daily basis."
– seal_mom
The Best Questions To Ask During A Job Interview | George Takei’s Oh Myyy
When heading to a job interview, many candidates only prepare to answer questions about qualifications or past experience. But they should also be ready to a...We admire those in the medical field, and there truly are many who care and in recent times have put their lives at risk.
That being said, there are those who don't quite measure up to the level of many of their better colleagues.
We Trust Them With Needles
"Nurses."
"I've met a lot of really clever, friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable nurses. But for every 1 good nurse there's 5 idiots where you're amazed they're considered literate."
My Way Or The Highway
"There's also a bunch of older nurses who have been doing it for 20+ years and refuse to do any outside research/update their knowledge and then try to give patients advice that can be proven to be terrible advice with 5 minutes on Google."
Toxic Work Culture
"Both my sister and mom are nurses. Both describe it as toxic. My mom was a health care assistant and used to get bullied by nurses at the hospital she worked at. The thought of my 55y/o mom being bullied by 30 and 40 year olds because of her weight used to really upset me."
"She moved to a different hospital closer to where they live. She loves it there. Due to the insecurities about her weight she started cycling for fitness. 7 years later she recently cycled 66km along the coast of Ireland. Everybody is proud of her."
Nurses Prevail
"After reading the comments, it's all careers. We are so overwhelmed by idiots that no career or corner of this planet is safe. But nurses seem to prevail as the most mentioned. So good luck with that information."
– TheJWeed
People in finance are often perceived as big shots. But are some of them really all that?
We Count On Them
"Finance really runs the gamut from super bright to dumb as a hammer."
"Finance is confusing on purpose (lots of acronyms, lots of numbers) and requires salespeople. That's a potent recipe for sneaking dummies into an intellectually demanding profession."
Family Business
"I know a few people who are in finance because they grew up in wealthy families or married into money, and were really failures at whatever they had studied in college."
"I saw that one guy I went to high school with was now a 'financial advisor' and could only think, 'Sh*t, he's going to ruin someone,' and a few years later, got wind of someone suing him in federal court for losing about half a million dollars of their money."
Complex Jargon
"This… the financial industry also creates new words and acronyms in order to increase the perceived complexity which we can then justify fees because the consumer surely cannot do what we do (sarcasm). I'm also jaded because I'm just tired of the financial industry and working an incredible amount of hours and probably will quit and move into an easier profession and make 1/2 of what I do now."
Mind-Boggling Emails
"I can second this about advisors. I do trade supervision and some of the stuff they say, in emails, and on documents is just mind boggling. Some of the products they sell a ton of, well, it won't end good for client, or advisor. Perhaps the firm too, but it's OK, we're making money, right?"
"Arrogant Morons"
"I work for an investment company and have to deal with financial advisors every day. For a profession that requires multiple qualifications and can make you a shit load of money, you apparently don't need to be very smart. So many of them are complete and utter morons (and arrogant to boot)."
I'm in awe of nurses and basically of anyone with a job focusing on care-giving and helping others.
However, a few years ago I went for a physical and there was a changeover in medical staff.
I was assigned to a very friendly nurse who was going to take my blood—something which I've never had a problem with as the veins in my arms are very prominent and jab friendly.
After exchanging pleasantries, the nurse stuck the needle in my arm...but no blood flowed through the tube.
She apologized and tried a second time. "it happens," I told her, even though it was new to me.
Again, she missed the mark. When she jabbed me a third time and was unsuccessful, she left the needle in my arm and ran out to get the doctor, who eventually came in successfully withdrew my blood.
I recall seeing him rolling his eyes when he was done. Who knows, maybe I was a freak-accident scenario, but I did seriously question her integrity that day.
- People Confess Which Corporate Buzzwords Drive Them Absolutely Crazy - George Takei ›
- People Divulge The Things They Think Are Completely F**king Stupid - George Takei ›
- People Break Down Which Professions Are Completely Overpaid - George Takei ›
- People Divulge Which Professions Get A Bad Rap - George Takei ›
- People Share The Best Trade Secrets They Know About Their Profession - George Takei ›
- People Explain Which Professions They Have Absolutely No Respect For - George Takei ›
Experiencing death is a fascinating and frightening idea.
Who doesn't want to know what is waiting for us on the other side?
But so many of us want to know and then come back and live a little longer.
It would be so great to be sure there is something else.
But the whole dying part is not that great, so we'll have to rely on other people's accounts.
Redditor AlaskaStiletto wanted to hear from everyone who has returned to life, so they asked:
"Redditors who have 'died' and come back to life, what did you see?"
Sensations
Happy Good Vibes GIF by Major League SoccerGiphy"My dad's heart stopped when he had a heart attack and he had to be brought back to life. He kept the paper copy of the heart monitor which shows he flatlined. He said he felt an overwhelming sensation of peace, like nothing he had felt before."
PeachesnPain
Recovery
"I had surgical complications in 2010 that caused a great deal of blood loss. As a result, I had extremely low blood pressure and could barely stay awake. I remember feeling like I was surrounded by loved ones who had passed. They were in a circle around me and I knew they were there to guide me onwards. I told them I was not ready to go because my kids needed me and I came back."
"My nurse later said she was afraid she’d find me dead every time she came into the room."
"It took months, and blood transfusions, but I recovered."
good_golly99
Take Me Back
"Overwhelming peace and happiness. A bright airy and floating feeling. I live a very stressful life. Imagine finding out the person you have had a crush on reveals they have the same feelings for you and then you win the lotto later that day - that was the feeling I had."
"I never feared death afterward and am relieved when I hear of people dying after suffering from an illness."
rayrayrayray
Free
The Light Minnie GIF by (G)I-DLEGiphy"I had a heart surgery with near-death experience, for me at least (well the possibility that those effects are caused by morphine is also there) I just saw black and nothing else but it was warm and I had such inner peace, its weird as I sometimes still think about it and wish this feeling of being so light and free again."
TooReDTooHigh
This is why I hate surgery.
You just never know.
Shocked
Giphy"More of a near-death experience. I was electrocuted. I felt like I was in a deep hole looking straight up in the sky. My life flashed before me. Felt sad for my family, but I had a deep sense of peace."
Admirable_Buyer6528
The SOB
"Nursing in the ICU, we’ve had people try to die on us many times during the years, some successfully. One guy stood out to me. His heart stopped. We called a code, are working on him, and suddenly he comes to. We hadn’t vented him yet, so he was able to talk, and he started screaming, 'Don’t let them take me, don’t let them take me, they are coming,' he was scared and yelling."
"Then he yelled a little more, as we tried to calm him down, he screamed, 'No, No,' and gestured towards the end of the bed, and died again. We didn’t get him back. It was seriously creepy. We called his son to tell him the news, and the son said basically, 'Good, he was an SOB.'”
1-cupcake-at-a-time
Colors
"My sister died and said it was extremely peaceful. She said it was very loud like a train station and lots of talking and she was stuck in this area that was like a curtain with lots of beautiful colors (colors that you don’t see in real life according to her) a man told her 'He was sorry, but she had to go back as it wasn’t her time.'"
Hannah_LL7
"I had a really similar experience except I was in an endless garden with flowers that were colors I had never seen before. It was quiet and peaceful and a woman in a dress looked at me, shook her head, and just said 'Not yet.' As I was coming back, it was extremely loud, like everyone in the world was trying to talk all at once. It was all very disorienting but it changed my perspective on life!"
huntokarrr
The Fog
"I was in a gray fog with a girl who looked a lot like a young version of my grandmother (who was still alive) but dressed like a pioneer in the 1800s she didn't say anything but kept pulling me towards an opening in the wall. I kept refusing to go because I was so tired."
"I finally got tired of her nagging and went and that's when I came to. I had bled out during a c-section and my heart could not beat without blood. They had to deliver the baby and sew up the bleeders. refill me with blood before they could restart my heart so, like, at least 12 minutes gone."
Fluffy-Hotel-5184
Through the Walls
"My spouse was dead for a couple of minutes one miserable night. She maintains that she saw nothing, but only heard people talking about her like through a wall. The only thing she remembers for absolute certain was begging an ER nurse that she didn't want to die."
"She's quite alive and well today."
Hot-Refrigerator6583
Well let's all be happy to be alive.
It seems to be all we have.
Trying to lose weight is a struggle understood by many people regardless of size.
The goal of reaching a healthy weight may seem unattainable, but with diet and exercise, it can pay off through persistence and discipline.
Seeing the pounds gradually drop off can also be a great motivator and incentivize people to stay the course.
Those who've achieved their respective weight goals shared their experiences when Redditor apprenti8455 asked:
"People who lost a lot of weight, what surprises you the most now?"
Redditors didn't see these coming.
Shiver Me Timbers
"I’m always cold now!"
– Telrom_1
"I had a coworker lose over 130 pounds five or six years ago. I’ve never seen him without a jacket on since."
– r7ndom
"140 lbs lost here starting just before COVID, I feel like that little old lady that's always cold, damn this top comment was on point lmao."
– mr_remy
Drawing Concern
"I lost 100 pounds over a year and a half but since I’m old(70’s) it seems few people comment on it because (I think) they think I’m wasting away from some terminal illness."
– dee-fondy
"Congrats on the weight loss! It’s honestly a real accomplishment 🙂"
"Working in oncology, I can never comment on someone’s weight loss unless I specifically know it was on purpose, regardless of their age. I think it kind of ruffles feathers at times, but like I don’t want to congratulate someone for having cancer or something. It’s a weird place to be in."
– LizardofDeath
Unleashing Insults
"I remember when I lost the first big chunk of weight (around 50 lbs) it was like it gave some people license to talk sh*t about the 'old' me. Old coworkers, friends, made a lot of not just negative, but harsh comments about what I used to look like. One person I met after the big loss saw a picture of me prior and said, 'Wow, we wouldn’t even be friends!'”
"It wasn’t extremely common, but I was a little alarmed by some of the attention. My weight has been up and down since then, but every time I gain a little it gets me a little down thinking about those things people said."
– alanamablamaspama
Not Everything Goes After Losing Weight
"The loose skin is a bit unexpected."
– KeltarCentauri
"I haven’t experienced it myself, but surgery to remove skin takes a long time to recover. Longer than bariatric surgery and usually isn’t covered by insurance unless you have both."
– KatMagic1977
"It definitely does take a long time to recover. My Dad dropped a little over 200 pounds a few years back and decided to go through with skin removal surgery to deal with the excess. His procedure was extensive, as in he had skin taken from just about every part of his body excluding his head, and he went through hell for weeks in recovery, and he was bedridden for a lot of it."
– Jaew96
These Redditors shared their pleasantly surprising experiences.
Shopping
"I can buy clothes in any store I want."
– WaySavvyD
"When I lost weight I was dying to go find cute, smaller clothes and I really struggled. As someone who had always been restricted to one or two stores that catered to plus-sized clothing, a full mall of shops with items in my size was daunting. Too many options and not enough knowledge of brands that were good vs cheap. I usually went home pretty frustrated."
– ganache98012
No More Symptoms
"Lost about 80 pounds in the past year and a half, biggest thing that I’ve noticed that I haven’t seen mentioned on here yet is my acid reflux and heartburn are basically gone. I used to be popping tums every couple hours and now they just sit in the medicine cabinet collecting dust."
– colleennicole93
Expanding Capabilities
"I'm all for not judging people by their appearance and I recognise that there are unhealthy, unachievable beauty standards, but one thing that is undeniable is that I can just do stuff now. Just stamina and flexibility alone are worth it, appearance is tertiary at best."
– Ramblonius
People Change Their Tune
"How much nicer people are to you."
"My feet weren't 'wide' they were 'fat.'"
– LiZZygsu
"Have to agree. Lost 220 lbs, people make eye contact and hold open doors and stuff"
"And on the foot thing, I also lost a full shoe size numerically and also wear regular width now 😅"
– awholedamngarden
It's gonna take some getting used to.
Bones Everywhere
"Having bones. Collarbones, wrist bones, knee bones, hip bones, ribs. I have so many bones sticking out everywhere and it’s weird as hell."
– Princess-Pancake-97
"I noticed the shadow of my ribs the other day and it threw me, there’s a whole skeleton in here."
– bekastrange
Knee Pillow
"Right?! And they’re so … pointy! Now I get why people sleep with pillows between their legs - the knee bones laying on top of each other (side sleeper here) is weird and jarring."
– snic2030
"I lost only 40 pounds within the last year or so. I’m struggling to relate to most of these comments as I feel like I just 'slimmed down' rather than dropped a ton. But wow, the pillow between the knees at night. YES! I can relate to this. I think a lot of my weight was in my thighs. I never needed to do this up until recently."
– Strongbad23
More Mobility
"I’ve lost 100 lbs since 2020. It’s a collection of little things that surprise me. For at least 10 years I couldn’t put on socks, or tie my shoes. I couldn’t bend over and pick something up. I couldn’t climb a ladder to fix something. Simple things like that I can do now that fascinate me."
"Edit: Some additional little things are sitting in a chair with arms, sitting in a booth in a restaurant, being able to shop in a normal store AND not needing to buy the biggest size there, being able to easily wipe my butt, and looking down and being able to see my penis."
– dma1965
People making significant changes, whether for mental or physical health, can surely find a newfound perspective on life.
But they can also discover different issues they never saw coming.
That being said, overcoming any challenge in life is laudable, especially if it leads to gaining confidence and ditching insecurities.