One of life's golden rules is... "always remember, everybody is going through something. So be kind." The quiet kid isn't just weird, they are just doing their best or maybe they just don't like the rest of you. More often than not it's the quiet ones that will drop your jaw the farthest. They have hidden talents and hearts they wait to expose... it's all about the timing in life. The quiet kid maybe the one you remember most; hopefully for the right reasons.
Redditor u/Ryrylx wanted to hear about the classmates that took everybody by surprise when they inquired... What has the "quiet kid" at school done that surprised you?children's inpatient psychiatric facility....
I had a little boy enter my class during the year who always acted ostentatiously good. If the rest of the class was going to pot, he'd sit quietly with his hands folded, and make sure that I noticed him. [Note: I never asked the kids to do that - it's like something from olden times.]
I did smile and thank him quietly for being so helpful, but never insisted on it or mentioned it to the others.
One day he didn't come to school. Midway through the day I got a phone call from the nurse saying that this sweet little boy had been admitted to a children's inpatient psychiatric facility, and would I please get his books and schoolwork organized to send to the teachers there.
Apparently he had had some sort of an "episode" at home. I was shocked as I readied his work, because he had always been so well behaved in school.
I think that perhaps he had a bizarre home life, and school was his place to be safe and "normal." After his stay in the facility the little boy came back to school and resumed his pattern of responsible behavior. I sometimes wonder what ever happened to him. Swedishpunsch
Rocked.
Giphy
I was "the quiet kid."
I surprised myself when this girl who'd been bullying me threw rocks at my back and legs, and I stood up and threw one back.
It literally hit her in the center of her forehead, I kid you not.
I didn't mean to do that, but I did not feel bad. TheKidsAreSad
Shy Guy.
When i was in high school we had a kid who never talked. Seriously, never, got waivers for presentations, the whole nine yards.
He never did anything else weird... that was his weird thing. He definitely wasn't mute. I asked him and he wrote it on a slip of paper. I don't think it was a shy issue either. justaregulardude1989
Surprise!
The quiet kid surprised me alright.
He dealt with his depression head on, stopped smoking weed, he applied himself, got a job and moved out of a toxic home. He started working out and he traveled more, he also made more of an effort with women and over the past few years he had 2 beautiful girlfriends.
One dumped him and the other was dumped by him - both beautiful women inside and out and they were great experiences for him to mature and develop as a person.
He has his ups and downs, the last while mostly downs - but he's trying hard to be kinder to himself and be grateful for where he is now compared to before. TYIC2020
The Hard Kick.
Giphy
I was the quiet kid growing up. one day in p.e I was picked on because of my last name. One boy kept calling me gay while playing soccer. Well I got mad and just kicked the ball hard straight into his groin. He kneeled over crying. That was the last time anyone ever made fun of my name. Poor kid was teased for being beat up by the little shy girl. We were on good terms after that. derangedpenguins
the low key trouble maker.....
I am the quiet kid. People would be surprised if they knew this, but a lot of trouble mysteriously caused in the classroom was by me, the low key trouble maker.
Once, in middle school, we had to prep for a science test, and the teacher kept telling us to study because of how difficult it would be. People who've already took the test warned us about it. When it got to my science period (the last science period of that day, after lunch), the test mysteriously disappeared with no copies left.
The teacher sworn that they had it, but it was nowhere to be found. The copies of the test in her computer was also completely lost and gone. We ended taking a much easier science quiz she found on the same topic, and almost everyone that period aced it.
Who stole all of the test copies and went on her computer to delete the file? Me. That story was a sample from the things I do, but that was by far the riskiest thing I've done to protect my grade, because I could've got suspended if I was caught or something. Zer0M0tivation
7/10....
She never talked to ANYONE. One day, my school went bowling and my principal said if anyone could hit a 7-10 split, he'd take us all out to ice cream. After we finished bowling he asked if anyone hit a 7-10 split and I teased and shouted that this girl had and out of NOWHERE! She talked for the first time and said she had! We got ice cream because the first time the silent kid ever talked in school, she lied! Gymtoshi97
Just Nasty.
I used to be one of the quiet kids and my only friend was a fellow quiet kid, they started a rumor that I self harm and within hours teachers were checking my arms to see if it was true, they got really popular after that and I fell into a pit of disappear because people bullied me even more for it. Cuteness_Overload-
WINNING!!!
Giphy
Got a decent job, lost weight, started handling his depression, planning on college now, is currently spending his life with the woman of his dreams, and is currently on reddit.
Luckily, for me, I was the quiet kid at my school. Lol. themajor24
Chatty Kathy.
Suddenly started being really chatty during senior year. Turns out he had a great sense of humor and could roast the crap out of the rest of us because he had spent the previous two years quietly observing. It was so awesome to see him come out of his shell. I don't know what he's up to now, but I know his home life was pretty rough. I really hope he's doing well. NudlePockets
Regina Georging It!
Giphy
Stopped being the quiet kid. He went from never speaking to anyone to one of the most popular kids. Although he was not a fool ring leader type either. khodor2012
Everyone was just blown away.
How about a happy story?
There was this kid I saw in my middle school and high school. Very creepy looking. Very thin for his age, caucasian, unkept oily hair, had a weird mustache in HS, and would twitch/fidget all the time. People didn't want anything to do with him because he was always talking to himself with quiet unidentifiable mutterings. Well fast forward some years to the senior high school talent show.
He walks on stage and busts out the best rapping I've ever heard in my life. Everyone was just blown away. My last memory of him in HS was seeing him with two girls. From creep for nearly all of your schooling to popular during the last 2 weeks of public school was amazing. I hope he's gone on to do great things. EconArch
The Bodyguard.
in 6th grade i sat next to a quiet girl in my Italian class, i took a liking to her because she was the only person who would put up with me. two girls sitting near us started harassing me, i didn't even say anything to them but they were just being really cruel because they thought i was annoying. the quiet girl didn't hesitate to stick up for me and tell them to leave me alone.
i was so surprised that she did that, she was so shy and gentle and unassuming but she immediately defended me from these really mean girls. i was so grateful for the fact that she actually cared about me enough to put herself in a scary situation just so that i wouldn't be alone. She's now one of my best friends 7 years later. :) 12wolfie
Young Hannibal.
They told me how they, as a small child once squeezed their hamster till it's guts came out then shoved them back in and acted like nothing happened and their parents thought it died of natural causes.
edit: for clarification, they stuffed the entrails back into the hamster then put the hamster back into its cage. justawiliBeanSprout
Michelle.
Giphy
My dad said the quiet kid at his school was also awkward, lanky, and didn't get paid a whole lot of attention to. Well... she turned out to be Michelle Pfeiffer. He told the story many times to us growing up and said it's important to be kind to everyone for many of reasons, including one being you just never know who they'll turn out to be one day! alyloohoo
"he was in our class"
Married me.
He was the quiet kid who never really interacted with the other kids. I was a nerd but pretty outgoing/chatty. I knew him in high school because it was a really small school and sometimes I would basically force him to talk to me since I sat by him in homeroom. But we weren't really friends. I thought I annoyed the crap out if him.
Fast forward to college and even though we went to different schools we wound up in the same friend group. Most weekends we'd all travel to visit friends at other schools. He turned out to be hilarious. Still a bit quiet but funny as hell and the nicest guy on the planet. We both dated other people in college but after graduation we both wound up single at the same time and he made his move. I knew right away that I'd marry him.
Sometimes we laugh and are like, in high school did you EVER think you'd wind up with me? Because never in a million years did I envision that.
He was so quiet that a couple times I've run into old classmates and they've asked me who I married and they don't recognize his name and I have to be like, "he was in our class" and they draw a complete blank. He's way more outgoing now. Works in sales, loves dealing with people and is super charming. Meanwhile I'm the crabby one who doesn't like to deal with people because these days they annoy me. Never would have predicted that switch. People love him. Beginning_Friendship
Puffy....
I was that quiet kid. I think I got voted to be closet partier in my yearbook. Then after graduation, I pulled out a pipe at a party. Talk about about shock and awe. People looked at me differently after that. My_Dog_Rolls_In_Poo
Jengaed!
I was the quiet kid. Had horrible social anxiety, not many friends. I'm happy to say that I'm in a munch better place mentally now. :)
I still have some issues to overcome, but I'm proud of how far I've come from the quiet kid in the corner. Also, I clobbered a kid with a jumbo Jenga brick in Reception and I think that caused him to bully me for the majority of primary school. :/ CharaDreamer55
It was Me.
I was the quiet kid. Kept to myself, did art and wrote in my journal instead of socialized. After I graduated I took a solo road trip in my VW bug, worked at a ski resort for a winter - so I could Snowboard - then backpacked Europe for 3 months at the age of 21. I gave my art teacher an update about my life and she later told me she had to go look my name up in the year book because I was nothing like I had been in high school. SparrowsArt
No... you HANGRY!
Giphy
One of the quiet kids in my English class got up in the middle of class and left for like 15 min. before coming back with around 40 bags of chips. He went to all the vending machines in the school and cleaned them out on chips. When someone asked him why, all he said was "I'm kinda hungry." phantom_of_the_books
Reddit user SaifurCloudstrife asked:
"Redditors opposed to marijuana legalization and decriminalization: Why?"
Normally when these types of questions are asked, you get a bunch of people who are pro-the-thing chiming in and that absolutely happened here.
Interestingly, that opened up discourse that got people actually talking—probably more than they normally would have. The constant back and forth helped people get down to the core of their beliefs and reasons.
I can't say minds or hearts were changed, or even that people had particularly good reasons (and there were some not-great counter arguments, let's be real) when it came right down to it, but conversations were certainly had...
The 70's
"It's a drug."
"I have two examples in my close family that clearly show how devastating pot can be. This attitude to marijuana reminds me of the attitude towards cocaine in the mid to late seventies when everyone thought it was harmless 'nose candy.' "
"I'm against sentences for drug possession but many people would benefit from dealers serving 3-5 for selling pot."
"But how is it any different than alcohol? Or would you ban that too? (Serious question)"
"Honestly, I think everyone against it should come to Canada for a visit. It's been legal here for 4 years and absolutely NONE of the spooky stories have come true."
"The only real differences is that people buy their weed in nice, clean stores with clear labels and not on street corners and our tax dollars don't go towards harassing people for a weekend indulgence."
GiphyThe Smell
"It stinks and makes people lazy."
"It stinks"
"Smells bad"
"I hate the smell it gives me headaches and makes me wanna puke!"
"And often the weed smokers don't care if they are a pain in the butt to others and that kind of apathy is a huge no for me."
Giphy"I live in WA, where rec weed is legal."
"I rarely ever smell pot smoke. And I have the nose of a bloodhound."
"Yes, more often than as a teen when it was still illegal, but far less than any amount to be pro-prohibition about it."
"Plus, I mean, there's lots of smells I f*cking hate but wouldn't enact harmful laws over- Axe body spray being one."
"Laws can be made regarding where you can smoke."
"In Australia you can't smoke inside or within a certain distance to entryways. The only space you smell smoke is at an outdoor pub, designated smoking areas and occasionally when walking."
"It took years, but people become accustomed to new rules. Knowing Americans though, you guys will be on the brink of civil war if they brought in similar restrictions."
- IAMJUX
It's TOO Good
"I've read that the potency in pot these days is a hell of a lot stronger compared to say 20 or 30 yrs ago."
"The huge increase in THC levels should be a huge concern for people. The pot being legalized today is not the same I smoked when I was much younger."
"This argument has been rolled out again and again since I was in elementary school (~30 years ago) and I never understood it."
"THC is remarkably non-toxic, it's so much less toxic than many common substances people ingest on a regular basis (aspirin, and plenty of other OTC meds, as examples), to the point where actual THC toxicity is caused by physical rather than chemical/metabolic actions."
"Smoked cannabis is also much easier to titrate (dose appropriately), since the effects are nearly instantaneous - take a couple hits and you'll know if you've had enough within seconds."
Giphy"As opposed to an accidental edible overdose where you might not know for a couple hours that you've taken a heroic dose."
"So a higher % of THC by weight in cannabis flower shouldn't be an issue, especially considering that back in D.A.R.E. they used to tell us that smoking cannabis was SO MUCH WORSE than smoking tobacco."
"Cannabis was supposedly so much 'harsher,' one joint contains 'toxins' equivalent to an entire pack of cigs, etc...which is total bull, but even if that were true...wouldn't that mean that stronger cannabis is less harmful, since you don't have to smoke so much to achieve the desired effect?"
"Can't have it both ways."
It is high potency because it is illegal. It's easier to transport a half pound of skunk than 10 pounds of trash weed."
"Look at states that have legalized. There are low thc strains available and easily accessible."
- ADD-DDS
Like Cigarettes
"Because dipsh*ts will start smoking it in public places where others can not really avoid it, like is the case with cigarettes currently."
"Also yes: F*ck cigarettes."
"Yep my problem is drugs in public."
"I do not care if you do drugs as long as your doing them in a private place. I don't want to breathe in your smoke and get lung cancer."
- Tom_89n
"I don't really have strong feelings regarding legalization but people who smoke anything in public spaces are annoying."
"I don't especially care what folks get up to on their own, it's when they make everyone around them a participant that it aggravates me."
"Plus, depending on the setting, it's really inconsiderate."
"I have a friend whose job does random drug testing and he left a bar because a bunch of folks were smoking inside and he was worried about work."
GiphyGo Away, Government!
"I'm for legalization but as someone that worked for corporate cannabis, I'd loathe seeing those scums run the market."
"My state Governor tried writing a recreational cannabis bill on their own terms since we are surrounded by recreational territories."
"They stated they didn't want it to lead to a ballot measure because that's worst case scenario (didnt think voters were educated) than proceeded to write the most comically bad legalization bill that existed - before completely dropping it because they couldn't write a competent law."
"I am about as anti pot as they come, but if they are going to legalize it, why wouldn't they make it legal to grow your own? (Rhetorical- I know the answer… same reason "they" are legalizing it… tax money)"
- tmccrn
"This is what I am screaming. For them it's only about money."
"They are waiting for the rich to install a profit making infrastructure before they let us peasants enjoy anything."
GiphyThe Idiots
"If I had any good reason it's because idiots insist it's not addictive and it doesn't impede your senses. So they drive and do dangerous sh*t while high."
"My issue isn't the severity of the impediment. It's that people refuse to admit that it does alter the mind."
"I already have one person insist they smoke weed and drive because they know their body."
"Now imagine if someone openly said that about alcohol and how you'd react. It's a really dumb mentality to have."
"If anything I'd push for it to be illegalized ALONG WITH alcohol and cigarettes."
"But prohibition taught us that is not the way to go."
GiphyThe Same Path As Alcohol
"I believe that if it was legalized, it would become a much bigger part in society, much like how alcohol is now."
"I do have a problem with public drinking and personally view alcohol as much worse compared to marijuana."
"However, since drinking is already so ingrained in our society, it's not like we can get rid of it. I'm just hoping that weed doesn't follow in the same path as alcohol."
GiphySnake Oil
"Im so sick of all these CBD oil pyramid schemes popping up!"
"The testimonials are all, 'I broke my spine in half and had to get it surgically fused together. Now all I have to do is rub a drop of CBD on it, and the pain is gone!' "
"And I'm not against it, I actually use high grade CBD at night to help me sleep. I fucking hate going through a rep though, they always try to hard sell me on topical CBD for my back pain that's like $80 for a little jar, or $30 bath bombs."
"I have discs squeezing out of my spine, I'm pretty sure a dab of hemp oil is gonna do jack shit for that."
"And the cancer patient abuse!"
"Smoking or ingesting edibles with THC for pain management and appetite is super helpful for cancer patients, but cbd wont do anything. Not to mention getting an ounce of good weed wont set you back much, but getting a tiny vial of cbd can set you back a couple hundred bucks."
"With our healthcare system in the states, we know damn well cancer patients are already in a hole of debt. I'm worried legalizing will encourage these CBD lies."
"It's the new snake oil."
"My MIL is that person. She's was touting its Indica strains ability to outright cure cancer the last I saw her."
- aledayis
"Cancer patients get hit very hard with the cannabis oil scams. What kind of evil sh*t do you need to be to take advantage of desperate people?"
"I agree with you about people thinking its the grand cure all, but that's why I feel we SHOULD legalize."
"The main reason I want it legalize is so they can do more research on the things it does help. It's effect on tremors alone is fascinating."
GiphySo what have we really learned here? I'm not really certain.
Lots of people's reasons seemed under-informed, but just as many people had legitimate concerns.
Sure, those concerns could just as easily be applied to alcohol, but lots of Redditors admitted that and seemed to take LARGER issue with alcohol than cannabis. It was honestly difficult to find anyone (aside from the smell people) who was 100% against it.
And that, dear reader, is possibly the biggest takeaway from this. Attitudes are changing.
Sorry, D.A.R.E.—looks like we said yes to drugs. Well, cannabis at least.
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I've lost a few besties. Some through death. Some through personal growth and some just because it was time. That was an important lesson. Just like lovers, friends also outgrow one another.
I'm Exhausted
I Cant Modern Family GIF by HULUGiphy"I got tired of it being all about her all of the time. I couldn't tell her anything in my life good or bad because she would make it about herself." ~ Wide-Fig-1063
Jake
"He was the passenger in a single-car accident. The driver was drunk, showing off, and drifting on an unfamiliar dirt road in California. They found the car at the bottom of a 70-foot cliff. Everyone in the car walked away except my friend, who died instantly."
"He was already passed out drunk himself so he likely didn't feel anything, but it was still such a terrible senseless way to go. That was 10 years ago last June. He was barely 21, the nicest guy you'd ever meet, and one hell of a bassist. Miss ya, Jake." ~ FormerLurker3
No explanation...
"Best friends since we were 12. Best Man at my wedding when we were 28. Day after the wedding he never spoke to me again. No explanation. Calls and texts went unanswered. He would avoid being at any social event I would be at, which was a few because we had the same circle of friends. Tried for two years to keep that friendship alive." ~ Tionek
Trauma Tales
"I had a weird dynamic to continue because of trauma. We had been friends for most of our lives (26 years) and every conversation was all about her. I was fine with that because she had a traumatic childhood and I knew she wasn't super socially with it. I'm happy to listen when my friends need it."
"Then she just unloaded on me saying I wasn't listening enough to her problems and how I had mistreated her by not asking enough pointed questions about abuse she had suffered as a kid. This was days after a three hour call where she did all the talking and it was mostly about her abuse."
"I was six months pregnant at the time and all I could think was "do I really have the bandwidth to take care of two babies?" I haven't spoken to her since." ~ keepinitcornmeal
It's Weird
Friends Tv GIFGiphy"His wife tried to sleep with me. I didn't let it happen and I told him about it. They reconciled and had more kids, then it got weird whenever I was around so we drifted apart." ~ mycowild
Yeah, beware the partner of a loved one who is trying to trap you in a scandal. They are shady. Take that drama and run fast and far.
Why?
Peering Looking GIF by MOODMANGiphy"No idea. He slowly stopped answering calls, texts, emails... his wife, even more so. I'd occasionally stop by to see them and everything appeared to be OK. They never stopped to see us, even though his mother lived just a few miles away. I just quit trying." ~ NagromTrebloc
Jared
"It was October 16, 2015. I was working from home that day when I saw a call from him at around 9:15am. I had to ignore the call because I was in an online meeting. At 2pm my Dad calls my phone, which is unusual since he knows I'm working. I answer it."
"He is speaking quietly and very calmly. He says, "Son, I love you very much. I have some terrible news. Jared passed away this morning." Jared's wife was calling me from his phone to say she found him dead. I couldn't process what he was saying."
"I said, "That's not funny. Jared, his wife and me and my wife were supposed to meet up next weekend for dinner." Jared had sleep apnea surgery that same week. He had taken a painkiller and Benadryl together. It stopped his heart. He died 2 days before his 40th birthday. We were friends since grade school."
"We did everything together, he was my brother. He was the best man at my wedding earlier that year. I had just shared my son's heartbeat with him via a text message 2 days before. Jared was so excited to be his crazy uncle. I miss him every single day." ~ SnooCapers1425
You First
"Codependency. I became basically obsessed with her and it just became too toxic. I had to cut it off because it was eating me up inside and she didn't deserve how I was treating her." ~ SuccessfulEggplant82
"Good on you for recognizing the problem you were having. It takes a lot (and I mean a crap ton) for an individual to come to this realization. Most people like to live in denial or fight it. I did the same thing and by the time I realized it, it was to late. I hope your able to get through it." ~ Nakanon85
Oh Well...
"I noticed that he never came to my place to catch up. I stopped going over to his place to see how long until he noticed.... It's been 5 years now 🤷♂️." ~ Mr_Nonesuch
"Over the years I have observed in number of friendships that its always me that makes the call. They always are delighted to hear from me. If I organise something they come. They just don't make the effort. I have been best man five times so I don't think that its because the friendships are not valued. I don't know, am I missing something?" ~ Yarray2
She's Gone...
"My ex wife. Even after we split we stayed close, co-parenting, helping each other out. She died 3.5 years ago. I could have made peace I think but after her death and our daughter was living with me full time I found out about how abusive my ex had been to her when I was around and it felt like losing her all over."
"Like I thought I knew who she was in the 13 years we'd had both together and separated, but it turns out I knew nothing. Now I'm just angry about it, like how dare you get to do this crap and then leave me to clean up your mess."
"How dare you have peace when my daughter has nothing but struggles and therapy. I felt like we were robbed of the good person, the good mother I thought she was." ~ Scarecrowqueen
Far Far Away...
Jake Gyllenhaal Reaction GIF by MOODMANGiphy"Friend moved to the other side of the planet, with their spouse, to be nearer to both their families. I never understood what real friendship was before friend was in my life; and now they're alive, but not here." ~ ClutchCrgo
One of the natural parts of life... saying goodbye. Or in some cases getting ghosted and forgotten. Either way, chin up.
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Reddit user Mompkey asked:
"Which species do you think would be dominant if humans didn't exist?"
Caninae
"Wolves. They can, and have, successfully adapted to most of the various biomes on the planet."
"There's a reason we domesticated them and took them everywhere with us."
Giphy
Blattodea
"Cockroaches"
"I would agree, but now I'm wondering if our presence is the reason cockroaches have thrived as well as they have."
GiphySelachimorpha
"Sharks, they are the dominant species on 3/4 of the Earth's surface already, they have survived mass extinctions and would thrive even more without humans mucking up their habitat."
Giphy
Nobody
"Humans are the only species that seek to dominate others. Other animals just want to live in the balance of nature. They're just trying to survive, they don't have time to take over the world."
"Pinky and The Brain theme song played in my head."
GiphyPrimates
"Other primates."
"We've killed off so many throughout history but of the ones that remains intelligence and versatility would be the key factors. Their food supply and habitat would greatly increase in our absence so with this being said.........primates."
"We are simply the superior primate therefore we are the dominant species. That opposable thumb is a mf when you have a large brain."
"Gorillas"
Giphy
Hominidae
"Wouldn't it be just another off shoot of humans like the Neanderthal or heidelbergensis?"
GiphyWhile we'll probably never know definitively which species would truly thrive without us around, it's still fun to speculate.
Do you have thoughts?
Comment below!
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