It's stuff like this which gives birth to the phrase, "This is why we can't have nice things."
Of course, you could always look past the unfortunate history almost every item possesses.
After all, it's not your fault the shoes you might be wearing were invented by Nazis or the car you're about to get into was developed by Nazis or the dealership you drive by was once run by a Japanese company who associated with the Nazis.
Manufacturing has a long, complex history.
Reddit user, Stoned_Black_Nerd, wanted to know what we use that comes from a dark place when they asked:
"What everyday item has a sick and twisted origin story?"
We don't have to know where something comes from to enjoy it.
After all, time passes, companies change hands, and the people in charge don't share the same beliefs as their predecessors.
Right?
Big Misstep There, Dr. Kellogg
"Sylvester Graham believed unwholesome foods created "impure" thoughts. So he created Graham Crackers to keep women from becoming sluts."
Superlite47
"Didn't Kellogg invent corn flakes for the same reason?"
theinsanepotato
"Kellogg believed we were facing an epidemic of masturbation that could only be curbed with a widespread combination of bland cereal (corn flakes, invented for this purpose) and.... circumcision. Non-religious circumcision in the US basically originated from Kellogg's campaigns."
wildfire393
The Most Kissable Lips
"The CPR doll that we use to practice CPR in most work places in the UK has the face of an unknown French cadaver found dead in the Seine river in the 1800s. She is known as The Most Kissed Woman in History. Bleugh!"
Adi3m
Let's Overthrow This Government Then Have A Banana. Good Day.
"Chiquita (banana company) is both directly and indirectly responsible for political violence and human rights abuses in south america"
Cheesydilfdog
"And the term "banana republic" comes from these practices. It's synonymous with an economy that almost exclusively produces raw materials, which are then shipped to more "developed" countries, turned into finished products, and sold back to them. Colonial era started it, and it continues to this day. It's part of why the homespun cotton thing was such a big deal in India during Ghandi's time."
WesternTrashPanda
Medical advancements requires years of research, experimentation, and trials done on volunteers, putting their own bodies and health on the line for the greater good of an advanced society.
Most of the time.
When You Need It Absolutely Clean, I Guess
"Lysol was marketed as a feminine hygiene product."
SidAndFinancy
"Listerine was marketed as a floor cleaner and a cure for gonorrhea."
NeedsMoreTuba
Open Wide
"The chainsaw was originally introduced to help during childbirth."
Environmental-Fix-71
"HOW DOES THAT HELP??"
Thick_Flan_7482
"It was a small chainsaw they used to cut away pieces of the pelvis iirc. The outcome is what you would imagine."
burymeinpink
At What Cost Do We Find Medical Breakthroughs?
"The modern speculum was created by a man named J. Marion Sims who performed invasive experimental surgeries on enslaved women without anaesthesia."
beerandbuds
Nazis.
Just, so many things we use come from Nazis.
And cults.
That Thing Your Parent's Are Afraid Of Happening? It Happened.
"The protective seal on OTC medications were a result of a round of murders caused by cyanide-laced Tylenol in the 80s"
throwingplaydoh
Shave And Some Bloodletting. Two Bits.
"Not necessarily "sick and twisted" but the red and white pole outside of barber shops use to be used to identify barbers who could perform bloodletting during the Middle Ages especially through the course of the Black Death."
OneOddOtter
"The red on the pole was originally the bloody bandages wrapped around a pole"
rock374
War Brings About Innovation...? Sigh...
"The founders of Adidas and Puma were brothers and were both Nazis"
Super-Noodles
"Volkswagen was literally, factually founded by Hitler."
DemSumBigAssRidges
"Don't forget Ferdinand Porche he designed and built tanks among other weapons. Also Mitsubishi Heavy Industries maker of the AM6 i.e. the Zero"
sd1360
Check Your Silverware, Folks
"Oneida silverware. Check out the Wikipedia page for The Oneida Community - it’s a real pearl clutcher. It was a religious communal society founded in 1848 in Oneida, New York."
"The community believed that Jesus already came back in AD 70 and they were creating paradise on earth. They practiced complex marriage (free love) and male sexual continence (read: don’t finish). Sex was mostly for pleasure, making babies was on purpose and the children were raised collectively."
"Older men had sex with young girls/women; older women sexually mentored younger boys. A local dad sued to get his daughter out of this scandalous cult, with claims of mental illness and violence surrounding the case. The community supported womens’ suffrage and free divorce. And eugenics."
"Aaaaand when the community split apart, some members moved out West to found… Orange County."
Digressionista
Don't feel bad if something you use in your everyday life was on this list. Like we stated earlier, the people who are in charge of the companies and organizations are not the same as those who developed them.
Life is complicated. You shouldn't have to change your shoes.
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Truckers Describe The Strangest Things They've Ever Seen In Passing Cars
Truckers drive long stretches of road across the country, and the vista is not always a scenic one.
Thankfully, they share the road with other drivers who offer a passing glimpse into their world from inside their vehicles.
Curious to hear about some of the strange sights seen on the road, Redditor randomuser0375 asked:
"Truckers of Reddit, what are some of the stranger things you’ve seen from your elevated vantage point looking down into other cars?"

Peculiar sights briefly distracted these drivers from paying attention to the road ahead.
King Of The Road
"I saw a lion in a car. Real one."
– DeliciousRedStuff
Burger Holder
"Obligatory not a trucker but I saw a woman eating a cheeseburger from the front pocket of her shirt while driving."
"Thought it was hilarious."
– KuroiSuisei
A New Friend
"Well the strangest thing I’ve ever had happen to me was a woman trying to pass me (loaded going up a hill) she succeeded until I went down the hill. Then on the next hill, she drove by me, and smiled then waved."
"I was so taken aback I didn’t know how to react. Usually, they’re pissed, but she was smiling and waving while drinking her morning coffee."
– bL0oDlUsT218
Furry Passenger
"Strangest thing I've seen was a goat riding in the passengers seat like a person -- even had a seatbelt on."
– v3gas21
Variety Show
"In heavy traffic around Boston, on the Tobin Bridge, this guy reading a full-size newspaper, unfolded and completely obscuring his view. Every now and then he would fold down one corner slightly, and creep forward."
"A bunch of different women steering with their knees, putting on makeup in the rear view mirror. A guy watching a movie on his cell phone. He was all over the road, speed all over the place."
"Have seen people shaving, changing clothes, etc."
"A surprising number of people drive without pants."
– Scrounger888
Soups And Signing
"Came up next this slow-moving driver, looked over and she was eating a BOWL OF SOUP."
"I guess she was driving slow to try to reduce spilling as much as possible. Like... put it in a thermos or a bowl with lid or... eat something not liquid?!"
"Also, there's this couple I've seen a couple times near the yard. Passenger must be deaf, because the driver is signing to them, and has to look over for several seconds straight to see them signing back."
– xrbxwingless
A New Passenger
"Lady giving birth...so much blood."
– AH0LE_
It takes talent.
Strike A Chord
"Saw a guy practicing his guitar while driving."
– suburbanhero22
Showing Some Brass
"I once saw a guy driving on I-35 in a minivan playing a trumpet. And no, that isn't a euphemism for anything."
– Newbaumturk69
Pleasure Cruise Control
"As an aside me and some buddies were driving on the interstate through a tight gorge with winding curves and it had to be 3 or 4 in the morning. My friend who’s riding up front looks out the window and starts laughing hysterically. We finally get him to calm down enough to tell us what he saw. Come to find out, he saw a truck driver watching porn while jacking it all while pulling a 53’ heavily loaded flatbed trailer in the dark."
– smokeshowwalrus
Multi-Tasker
"A lady trying to change her baby's diaper while steering with her damn knees."
– No-Inspector-420
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"My dad is a truck driver for 20+ years. Many sex acts… but my favorite is: a lady with a cutting board on her lap, cutting up fruit and putting it into a bowl on the passenger seat. Yes.. while driving. Making a damn fruit salad on the road."
– jammf_is_bae
Exhibitionists? Perhaps.
Fast Clothes Change
"It was night time.. saw another truck driver with the interior cab lights on in texas on I35."
"Guy was using cruise control and was out of the driver seat butt naked and changing clothes while going down the road at 65mph."
– monofloyed
To See And Be Seen
"You got your bjs, girls flashing, arguments and throwing things at each other, applying make-up in the little sun blocker mirror while driving."
"But my all time favorite 2 is the little dog humping a subway bag in the front seat and the white kid that caught me catching him watching porn on his tablet in the back seat... hope 2022 is even better."
– Nymbus00
Pleasure Trips
"Over the years I’ve seen people (while driving) eating, writing, watching TV, doing crossword puzzles, getting dressed, putting on makeup and painting fingernails."
– slawhammer011
It Was Thanksgiving 2015
"Driving near midnight in Michigan around Thanksgiving 2015. The interstates in Michigan have a lower speed limit for trucks than for standard autos, plus average drivers speed more than truckers since a lot of the company rigs are governed anyways."
"So I was used to whatever cars were on the road blowing past me. Saw headlights in the mirror and expected to get passed in a minute, but no one passed me. Looked down to see a small truck like a ford ranger matched speed with me, interior lights on, pants pulled down to his knees as he drove."
"As soon as he saw me, he clicked the light off and sped away. Craziest thing I saw in my year on the road."
– captjacksparrowshat
It's an unsettling thought to think of so many people sharing the road who are not actually fully focused on driving.
Texting and driving is illegal in some parts of the country, but there ought to be regulations on other driving offenses, like, oh, pleasuring onself with one hand on the wheel.
Because how embarrassing would it be for drivers to get caught in a traffic accident with their pants down.
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People Share Which Inanimate Objects Actually Get Their Sincere Sympathy
I admit, I love my stuffed animals. They're the best.
Some of them have been with me for years and I have them proudly displayed in different spots around my apartment. And when I've packed them for a move, I've done so with all the tender loving care I can muster.
What is it about them that stirs up these feelings?
Believe it or not, it's quite possible to form emotional attachments to inanimate objects!
People told us all about their own feelings after Redditor MoneySquare5734 asked the online community:
"People of Reddit, what weird sympathies do you have towards inanimate objects?"
"Like dude..."
"Computers when someone's throwing a fit or tantrum over something like a game lag, buffering or general software issues. Like dude, get angry at the real cause not the hardware thats essentially just the messenger."
Geotre
We really mistreat our hardware sometimes, don't we? Going to apologize to my computer now.
"I think we're okay now..."
"I once slapped my iPad when it was being slow, then instinctively hugged it and apologised afterwards. I think we’re okay now but the level of trust definitely isn’t what it used to be."
KailTheDryad
Serves you right! You have a lot to make up for!
"I have way too much emotion..."
"I have way too much emotion invested in my Roomba. Especially as I only have one charging station, so when it's running in my living room/hallway, it can never get back to base as there's a step in the way."
"Usually feel guilty when I come home and find it stuck in some corner, knowing that it literally ran until exhaustion trying to find its home."
SaltyAd8451
I do not have a Roomba but my friend has one and I think he has the opposite reaction. I think he mistreats his!
"All my dollar bills..."
"All my dollar bills need to face up in my wallet, otherwise I get the feeling those Georges and Lincolns are uncomfortable."
phildendrin
I think I do this too. I did not ask to be attacked like this.
"If I see..."
"If I see a really ugly plush toy at a thrift store, I feel compelled to buy it because I feel like it will just get thrown away. So now I have quite a few ugly plushies. I love them."
MissReanimator
Aww, they now have a home with you and they must be so happy!
"I guess in general..."
"Abandoned toys. I guess in general I just feel so bad for any inanimate object that is no longer serving its purpose."
NeedsMoreTuba
How many toys end up in the dump each year, I wonder? And how many of them are plotting their revenge as we speak?
"So I transferred everything..."
"I got a new cellphone not too long ago. So I transfered everything to my new phone but I didn't turn off the old phone afterward."
"This happened late on a Sunday and the next morning my old phone still rang to wake me up and I was somewhat sad that it still thought it was my current phone and that it still had the duty to wake me in the morning."
PandaDerZwote
The feelings this stirred up... I did not know it was possible to feel this way!
"I am very appreciative..."
"Sometimes I give my car a pat on the dashboard and say thank you. It has carried me so many thousands of miles and i am safe. I am very appreciative of its hard work."
Deaxsa
Aww. I don't have a car, but I get this! And your car appreciates YOU!
"When I was a kid..."
"When I was a kid I spent a whole afternoon feeding pebbles to a small drain outside my house because I thought it was hungry."
juseda11
Okay, this is cute – and totally something a little kid would do!
"There's a thing I call..."
"There’s a thing I call 'mechanical empathy.' If you emotionally attach to your bike or car you’ll be kinder and more gentle to it."
"Some people are really rough on cars and other machinery, it’s painful to drive with them."
fractiousrhubarb
I was in a car recently with a driver who got a bad case of road rage and just slammed her hands on the dashboard whenever she was upset. That poor car!
Who knew we could feel so attached to the inanimate objects around us? Humans are fascinating creatures. We're capable of a lot of love and empathy, even for the smallest things.
Have some opinions of your own? Feel free to tell us more in the comments below!
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Driving places has become such an integral part of American life—I guess unless you happen to live in a city that has a decent public transit system—that it's no wonder people have some strongly-held opinions about the practice.
Let's face it, if you drive and especially if you've driven for a while, you know that driving isn't what it used to be.
There are many benefits to technology but it has also complicated things, according to these drivers, who were all too happy to answer after Redditor jacobgoldie asked the online community:
"What is something you hate about the modern cars we have today?"
"I realize that the larger pillars..."
"Gigantic A-pillars and tiny rear windows."
"I realize that the larger pillars significantly increase the crash resilience of the cabin (and they've got to cram an airbag in there) and the small rear window doesn't matter much with rear-facing cameras, but Good Lord do they create some massive blind spots."
"When I can lose an entire F350 in my A-pillar, maybe that's something to reconsider."
Gnom3y
Speaking as someone who doesn't drive (and had to look up what this meant)... ouch.
"Echoing the issue..."
"Echoing the issue with window size. 'Safety' has taken away our ability to look out of our vehicle, and transferred that responsibility to electronics to warn us. Ugh."
BrothersOats
Yeah, smaller windows aren't necessarily a good thing. At all.
"Touch screens, for two reasons."
- "As others have already mentioned, touch screens give no feedback, so you have to take your eyes off the road to find the right control instead of feeling around for the button."
- "Touch screens also remove the ability to "anchor" your finger on the control before actually pressing it. Cars bounce a lot, so it helps to put your finger on the button to stabilize your hand before pressing it. You can't do this on a touch screen since it will just activate whatever you happen to touch."
Honestly, I get nervous when I'm in a car and the driver has to look at the touch screen so much.
"I hate..."
"I hate how lazy designers just put a screen in the middle of the dash like it's a propped-up tablet or something rather than building/blending it into the dash properly."
SnarkyUsernamed
Yes, it's pretty ugly. It doesn't look sleek, if that's what they think they're going for.
"If texting and driving..."
"If texting and driving are illegal why are they putting 12-inch monitors in new cars? They have no buttons, so you have to look at the screen to make a selection."
Av8tr
Thank you! I thought we were taught about the importance of keeping our eyes on the road at all times?
"Glove compartments..."
"Glove compartments keep getting smaller and more shallow."
Back2Bach
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Sometimes an actor comes along that is able to reach the audience on a deeper level. The actor that immediately comes to mind is Robin Williams. Although it ...Soon they'll only be able to fit... wait for it... gloves.
"Every modern car coming toward me..."
Bright LED lights. And I mean BRIGHT! Every modern car coming towards me, or in my rearview, blinds the f**k out of me without even having high beams on. It's distracting and dangerous."
nstiger83
Every driver I know complains about this all the time.
Listen up, car manufacturers!
"As cars get more and more technological features..."
"Lack of digital privacy. As cars get more and more technological features, it is starting to present very large privacy concerns for owners."
"For example, it's not possible to own a Tesla without an active internet connection used to feed driving/usage data back to Tesla."
FinestTreesInDa7Seas
Digital privacy is only going to become even more of a flashpoint political issue in the coming years.
"You pay for a lot of tech..."
"You pay for a lot of tech that you never use. Also, no one makes a small truck anymore. Even "small trucks" today are midsize."
Tibujon
Yeah, what's up with that? A friend of mine rented a "small truck" for a move and it was pretty enormous. On one hand, it was useful, but on the other hand, it was a bit unwieldly for him to drive...
"I work for a roadside assistance company..."
"I work for a roadside assistance company and one thing that never ceases to piss me of about modern cars is the disappearance of the spare tire."
"No, that 'repair spray' isn't going to cut it and yes, you will be stranded until tire shops are open again and until your very specific winter low profile 35-inch tire is available after God knows how many days."
vitten23
Good luck next time a tire blows out on the highway!
Is driving all its cracked up to be? You're bound to hear conflicting responses to this but there's no doubt that technology has changed the way we drive... for better or for worse.
Have some thoughts of your own to share? Feel free to tell us more in the comments below!
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People Share Their Best Examples Of 'Buy It Before You Actually Need It'
Some things are fine to buy when you need them, but a lot of things are a lot handier to already have on hand—and some are practically essential.
Anyone who has had to trudge to the pharmacy for cold medicine when they have the flu will tell you they wished they'd had some at home already.
Reddit user IHaveGotQuestions asked:
"What is your best example of 'buy it before you need it'?"
Epi Pen
"Epi pen"
"(Pharmacist here) One of the most obscene things about the recent price-gouging is that this is an item that people purchase because they hope they never need it."
"What's worse is that they expire within a year. Then you can't find anywhere that will dispose of the expired, unused ones-at least in my area. My mom has tried and tried to find a way to get rid of her old ones."
Fire Extinguisher
"fire extinguisher"
"The only annoying this is they expire… usually before you need them!"
"you also have to shake them once a year I shake mine every July 4th"
Plunger
"Toilet plunger"
"Back in college my roommate lent his plunger to the girls next door. It was more than an hour later till they came back back with a brand new plunger. We asked what happened and she said they broke the plunger. We were surprised at the idea of breaking a plunger but we happily took the new plunger they bought for us."
"They also told us that the cashier was very confused when they were at checkout with 2 plungers."
"First thing I thought of. I've had friends who don't own a plunger and I'm like WTF?"
"Maybe you never use it, but that's one thing you do not want to have to go purchase in the moment of need."
"Also had a roommate who didn't want to keep the plunger in the bathroom (we didn't have a cabinet or closet in the room, she thought it was an eyesore to have it visible) and I was insistent because if you have a guest over who ends up needing it, the last thing they are going to want to do is come ask you where the plunger is.
"Best to have it accessible for anyone who might need it."
Jumper Cables
"Car emergency kit. Jumper cables, fix a flat, spare tire, Jack, basic first aid kit, road reflectors.
"Edit: fire extinguisher us a good idea to add, as well as the rechargeable "jump start yourself" pack."
"And a plug kit vs fix-a-flat is a good idea. I've never done a plug, so I'd have to catch up there myself. Air compressor for refilling the tire also."
"Some food/heat if you live somewhere where it could logically be a problem. A box of protein bars and some way to make a fire, blankets, etc..."
"I'm never that far off the beaten path that it would be an issue for me, but for anyone who is, makes sense."
"And, damn, how many people have had dad's who used jumper cables as a belt?"
CO Detector
"Carbon Monoxide detector"
"And a good one. I was in a small two-floor apartment building during a major early snow storm in which we lost power for days."
"My neighbors, being dumb as a box of rocks and cold from 0 degree temps, brought their charcoal grill inside. With the windows closed."
"Next thing I know I've got firemen in my bedroom with a detection device that's flipping out and a headache. The apartment the furthest away from this dude's place had their detector go off."
"Saddest thing is the main tenant was out cold. His daughter, who had stayed over, thought he was dead."
"I was evacuated and watched them take her kicking and screaming out of the building: 'LET ME SEE HIM!!!'"
"Feel bad for my parents when I called at 2am very, very distraught."
"Good news is everyone lived. Bad news is my detector was a piece of sh*t."
Cold Medicine
"Cold/flu medicine. Not fun stumbling to the drugstore when you feel like death."
"I've also found out the hard way that when your whole body aches and you just want some hot soup, that is NOT the time to find out that you don't have soup in the pantry."
"If you're planning ahead by having cough syrup and cough drops when you get sick, I also recommend having a few cans of your favorite soups so you can just put it into a bowl and heat up. (Personally, I like a nice can of chicken noodle soup or split pea soup)"
"Especially for all of us who are adults, not living at home, but also don't have a significant other. If I get sick, I gotta be the one to take care of me."
Dash Cam
"Dashcam, can easily prove you innocent in an auto collision - some insurance even offer discounted rates if the insured vehicle has a dash cam. I personally recommend a front & rear cam setup."
"Ordered mine after one day of browsing IdiotsInCars"
"I worked as a claim rep for an auto insurer for a mercifully brief period of my life, and I second this recommendation whole-heartedly. Human recall is atrocious, especially after a stressful or traumatic event."
"I also learned that 3/4 of people involved in accidents vehemently do not believe they are responsible for the accident, even if they very clearly are."
"As part of our training, we read the actual "facts of loss" collected by claim reps from both the insured and the claimant. We made our own assessments of liability as part of this."
"Then, we were shown footage from surveillance cameras that caught the accident. Neither party was even remotely correct as to what happened."
"As a result of that experience I have a dash camera, which is seemingly rare in the US. At the very least, it gives the opportunity to share videos of the crazy sh*t you occasionally see on the road."
"Maybe it'll burn you in the end if you're responsible for an accident, but it could very well save you if you find yourself in a he said/she said dispute over who had a green light and who had the red."
Heating And Cooking
"Backup means of heating and cooking that don't require electricity."
"I live in Texas. Not going through that again."
"Solar chargers for USB devices are really good to keep on hand for events like this. Make sure they are recharged every few months."
Condoms
"Condom"
"Just be sure to replace the ones you have stored after a few years."
"Finding your stash of condoms all expired a year ago is a depressing and sobering discovery."
Generator
"Generator. Ex GF said it was a stupid purchase and waste of money. Ended up using it for two days straight after a wind storm."
"Had the fridges, fish tank a few lights, TV and internet going the whole time."
Nonperishables
"Anything that doesn't have an expiry date, that gets used with regularity, I stock up on. Toilet paper, kitchen roll, dish soap, shower gel, hand soap, bleach etc"
It's good to be prepared.
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