Top Stories
People Break Down Which Gen Z Trends They Just Don't Understand

People Break Down Which Gen Z Trends They Just Don't Understand

Toxic Behaviors That Society Still Makes Excuses For

Toxic Behaviors That Society Still Makes Excuses For

Self-Care Advice That Is Surprisingly Toxic

Self-Care Advice That Is Surprisingly Toxic

People Describe The Moment They Lost All Respect For Someone

People Describe The Moment They Lost All Respect For Someone

People Break Down The Most Surprisingly Toxic Communities They've Encountered

People Break Down The Most Surprisingly Toxic Communities They've Encountered
Post Wood Keep Out - Free vector graphic on Pixabay

A niche community often arises organically. At it's best, a web of bonds in real life or on the internet establishes a safe space for people that share a common interest or life-defining characteristic.

But such a community, based so directly on a the presence of an essential detail held by all members, inherently includes a boundary. The space is only a space if it has an edge that defines it.

Often, that's no problem. The members of a community celebrate that contained spirit while allowing the boundary to be permeable to new members and well-meaning people who respect the space.

Some communities, however, are not so permeable. Their boundary line is stark, guarded aggressively, and makes non-members keenly aware of their place outside the group.

And most surprisingly, these gatekept, even toxic communities often exist to provide support for a very wholesome and vulnerable cause.

Filmologic asked, "What's the most surprisingly toxic community?"

A Good Thing Gone Too Far

"As a Personal Trainer and someone who basically lives in the gym, it would have to be the Fitness Community."

"While it is incredibly important to include fitness as part of your life, I see far too many people in my gym take it to illogical extremes."

"From drug use, to using the gym as a means to avoid their families, spending up 5 hours or more in here, there's lots of unhealthy behavior that goes on in here."

-- KJR506

Cliques of Oral History

"I was most surprised by the toxicity of an online community devoted to the history and memories of my home town. I thought it was going to be about people's reminiscences, interesting tidbits of information and old photos, but it turned out to be a lot of sniping and politics."

"There was a core group, kind of like the cool kids and they would have get togethers and inside jokes and they treated everyone else like they thought they were losers."

"It was very high school - actually worse."

-- Paddlingmyboat

Arbitrary Designations of Legitimacy 

"It breaks my heart to say this: the disability community. The amount of gate-keeping is ridiculous and insane."

"Example: I take pills for a condition that is psychiatric in nature, but has physical side affects if I'm not medicated (drowsiness, hand trembles, shaky leg, compulsive picking). I've repeatedly been told that it's not a 'real disability' because I have it under control, or worse yet, it's 'in my head.'"

"Not cool, man."

-- skynolongerblue

Wheel Hierarchies

"Bicycling. My ex has a bmx repair business, mostly for kids, and the amount of hate he receives from road cyclists is unfathomable. Not just online, but on trails and in bike lanes too."

"How little scope do you have when you're willing to run someone into traffic because you don't like their style of bike? Then try to high-five your friend about it?"

-- Laynebutnotlayne

When Hate Gets Hold of It

"The RuPaul's Drag Race fandom."

"What started as a bi***y distraction for gay men has turned into a phenomenon for sanctimonious straight teenagers who are either hysterical sycophants or obnoxious racists."

-- DoneDidThisGirl

Sexism in the Gaming Community 

"Gamers! Some man feel threatened by woman and they begin doing anything to kick hem out of the community."

"I've seen some exposing the girls personal life like photos, affairs, jobs in order to make them feel embarrassed enough to leave the games."

-- soloamotu

Snooty Sellers

"Poshmark. I'm a full-time seller on poshmark and mercari, and my God do some other sellers have a god complex."

"Poshmark allows buyers to offer on items and a lot of sellers take every offer (low ball or a reasonable offer) as a personal insult and will either blast the potential buyer or just straight up block them."

"Some sellers have a 'no response' self policy, where if someone asks a question they refuse to answer because they see it as a waste of their precious time..."

"...now I understand some buyers ask too many questions with no intention of buying but that's just how customer service is baby, sometimes you gotta answer stupid questions!"

-- ladies_and_jellyfish

Inaccessible Storytelling

"Dungeons and Dragons."

"You would think that nerds bonding together over something as wonderfully silly as pretending to be Dwarves and Elves wouldn't breed toxicity, but many of them are not only snobby but extremely elitist about how they prefer to run the games."

-- ASDirect

Ironic Intolerance

"The kink communities in some cities."

"They say they're all about acceptance and everything rosy but can be a toxic cesspool of cliques and power-hungry narcissists."

-- JonSnowsdirtyd***

"Local"

"Surfers. There are cases where someone gets beat the sh** out of/their car wrecked simply for surfing a spot whilst not being a 'local.'" -- FormerGoat1

"Was looking for this one. Everyone thinks it's all laid back and chill but in the water surfers are aggressive, selfish, and hostile to beginners."

"At certain crowded spots (i.e. spots in Santa Cruz) I'll count my session as a win if I go the entire time without some old guy or 'local' getting mad at me for some dumb sh**." -- Franklin-D-Bluth

Aggressive Rascals

Most kid game that have chat features. Club penguin, Roblox, wizards 101, etc."

"Usually if younger children are involved heavily in a games community I usually see a ton of racism and just plain hatred."

-- RTwistedReadsYT

Head on a Swivel Out There

"kpop. idk if it's a no-brainer to y'all now but when I joined I had no idea. the amount of cancel culture, bullying, gas-lighting, sh** talking... it made me so uncomfortable."

"I did not want to be associated with people who send death threats to others who don't like kpop or harass their idols. it makes me so angry and sad that the community is what it is..."

"....because I still enjoy some bands and songs. and I also feel bad that the people with actual healthy love for the genre and bands are ashamed to like what they like because of the shitty ass people."

-- NoodleBooOwO

Allegations of Overstepping

"PETA. They claim to be the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals but they tried to get Pokemon banned which is a fictional video game about collecting monsters (has nothing to do with animals). They also want to turn the whole world vegan."

"If they actually stuck to their core values of protecting animals they might actually be taken more seriously."

-- judas_crypt

Hiking Wrong

"Literally, Outdoors."

"Ever try to go on a quick run or a nice hike with an outdoorsy friend or relative? Or possibly even date?"

"Don't have the right shoes or expensive gear. Don't have the right drinks because water isn't enough anymore. Don't use the right running technique (whatever that means, I learned to run when I was 3 and never looked back)."

"And don't even TRY to find a nice serene place in nature that isn't gatekept by someone who thinks they own the land. It's outrageous."

-- Crowroth

Becoming the Enemy 

"Atheists (and I am one.)"

"If a major problem with organized religion is that it's very tribal (which it is), organized atheism has turned itself into just another tribe. One more version of 'us' against a different kind of 'them'. That's not an improvement."

-- Hysterical_Realist

The Prevention of Vulnerability

"Men to other men. Honestly it's sad how many men try and make others feel like sh**." -- Lethal_bizzle94

"Not surprising" -- Thoughtitwouldlast

"I think there's a fine line between ball busting and actual hatred. Also guys don't hold grudges much at all" -- Wes_Bugg

Only Advice for the Tight Coils

"Curly hair community. Gate-keeping is real. If you have loose, wavy curls or a mixed baby and you're trying to get some curly girl help online.... beware."

"They're coming for you."

-- bigmamaindahouse

DRAMA

"Community theater toxicity caught me off guard when I got into it in my town. Lots of ego, casting drama, and super right wing people with shi**y views."

"That last one is the one that got me the most. Maybe it's just a Florida thing but you'd figure that people into doing musicals wouldn't be the 'all lives matter,' 'I disagree with gay marriage' types regardless."

"Not everyone thankfully, my closest friends also came from doing it"

-- IniMiney

Want to "know" more? Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again. Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

toxic

Examples Of 'The Loudest Voice In The Room Is Usually The Dumbest'

Man yelling into phone
Icons8 Team/Unsplash

A person who loudly mouths their opinion about a certain topic with so much confidence isn't always right.

They're usually lacking self-awareness.

Or they're just being obnoxious.

We know who these people are. They are the ones who think they can get their point across effectively simply by raising their voice because that'll register.

Umm, no.

Keep reading...Show less
behavior

Things People Will Never Order At A Restaurant

Restaurant Dining Room
Photo by Nick Karvounis on Unsplash

Be it an old familiar, or a new establishment that has been the talk of the town, restaurant diners are always faced with a challenge once they are handed a menu.

Do they stick with what they know, and order the burger and fries or spaghetti and meatballs, which are both difficult to screw up?

Or do they get a little adventurous, and try the restaurant's specialité, even if it's something they've never tried before in their lives?

Generally speaking, it tends to be on a case-by-case basis based on the restaurant they are dining in.

Of course, some people have such an aversion to certain ingredients or dishes, that no matter the location, they will never order it.

Keep reading...Show less
restaurant

People Who Slept With A Coworker Share Their Experiences

coworkers looking at a laptop
Photo by Aleksandra Sapozhnikova on Unsplash

"Never dip your pen in the company ink."

An age-old cautionary saying urging people not to get romantically entangled with their coworkers.

Doing so used to be illegal at many companies, whereas now it's grown to become a bit more commonplace, and often results in some cases of wedded bliss and happily ever afters (as demonstrated by The Office's Jim and Pam.)

Of course, when entering a relationship with a coworker, be it a one night stand or a committed, multi-year relationship, there is always the risk that it might not end well, resulting in your being forced to see your ex every day at the office (Bridget Jones anyone?)

Keep reading...Show less
coworkers

Straight Men Confess How They'd React If A Gay Man Hit On Them

Straight Men Confess How They'd React If A Gay Man Hit On Them
Дмитрий Хрусталев-Григорьев on Unsplash

It can take a lot of courage to put yourself out there and let someone know you're interested.

As long as they're not creepy, aggressive, or crazy, it should be flattering, right?

If you're straight and a person of the same gender as you flirts with you, this should be easy to deal with.

In most cases, it took a lot more courage for them to ask than for you to hear.

The following question has been asked to many a straight guy over the years.

Let's see how the times and reactions have progressed.

Keep reading...Show less
fliritng