If one were to really think about it, the villains might be the true hero of any story.
Of course, their actions remain indefensible and their behavior appalling, nor should we ever be rooting for them to succeed.
However, without the villains, where would any story go?
It's the villains who create conflict in our favorite books, films, and television series, and ultimately draw us into the story and keep our attention.
Even if we don't find ourselves sympathizing with villains portrayed by certain actors, it's hard not to find ourselves fascinated by them!
Sometimes, it's hard to even take our eyes off them.
What Keeps Everyone "Watch"ing...
“'You don’t think I’d explain my plan if there was the slightest chance you could stop me do you? I did it 35 minutes ago'.”
"Purely based on that, Ozymandias from Watchmen."- Reddit
What keeps everyone going down the "Portal"...
"GLADOS" .
"'We both said a lot of things you're going to regret'."- nitol91509
The Nurse No One Wants On Call...
"Nurse Ratched, just because of how implicitly she tortured the inmates."- soladi6766
You Never Know What You'll Get From Him...
"Gul dukat."
"He goes from evil Hitler type to loving father on the run from his government to crazy possessed madman in a single series."- soladi6766
His Smile Makes You Quake In Your Boots
"Christoph Waltz in 'Inglorious Bastards' is the first that came to mind."- jwps28
inglourious basterds eating GIF by The Good FilmsGiphyDefinitely Not One Of The Boys
"Homelander is definitely one of them."- PrettyMuchDeceased
Perhaps The Greatest Of All
"Hans Gruber."
"Alan Rickman portrays him so well."- rirop27057
Even If His Behavior Is Anything But Justified
"Boyd Crowder (played by Walton Goggins) in 'Justified'."
"He's not particularly strong in season 1, but by season 2, you just want him to keep getting away to have more."
"The fact that he's Raylan's frenemy, and not just a generic evil guy was such a nice touch."- dvoecks
Timothy Olyphant GIFGiphyFOUR!
"Shooter McGavin."
"Do I need to even describe why?"- xacayeg163
Effortlessly Creepy
"V.M. Varga in Fargo Season 3."
"I think he gets forgotten a bit because most thought the third season as a whole was a step down from the first and second seasons (and everybody loves Billy Bob in Season 1), but every time Varga was on screen was incredible."
"The teeth, the bizarre yet intimidating manner of speaking, the general weirdness and obscurity of who exactly he is and his background was so well done."
"Thewlis is amazing."- TJTrapJesus
Tragic And Horrifying
"Magneto."
"There are times when you are able to sympathize with him and his actions almost seem justified."
"Most likable villain in my opinion."- rirop27057
x-men apocalypse GIF by 20th Century FoxGiphy"Wrong LEVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
"Yzma from 'The Emperor’s New Groove'."- phantom_avenger
That Quill Though!
"Dolores Umbridge."- soladi6766
In His Defense, He Was Defending His Home...
'Al Swearengen from 'Deadwood' played by Ian McShane."
'It’s the story of a villain defending his village."- fallonyourswordkaren
ian mcshane deadwood GIFGiphySometimes a smile can be even more terrifying than a scream or a yell.
Honestly, who's been able to get any sleep after seeing Pennywise smile through the sewer?
Good scents are powerful things. They can remind us of something we associate with a pleasant memory.
Certain smells also have the potential to be an aphrodesiac that puts us in a trancelike state of calm.
Whether it is the aroma of piping hot coffee in the morning or something intangible like an ocean breeze, an appealing smell can instantly affect our mood.
It's no wonder why scented candles are so popular.
Curious to hear about the appealing fragrancies in life, Redditor omegamiles420 asked:
"People of reddit, what is your favorite smell?"
The smell of nature and the elements provides calm for the following Redditors.
It Is Heaven-Scent
"There is a meadown near my house and there are certain colder summer nights when the trees and flowers give off an addictive smell. I just keep wanting to breathe the air in."
The smell of mouth-watering food cannot be ignored from mention.
A Transpotive Memory
"Freshly picked tomatoes - takes me straight back to my grandparents' garden, which was one of my favourite places as a kid."
They may be unusual, but for these specific Redditors, these aromatic items just make scents.
It Serves Them
"It's a bit strange, but I find the scent of new tennis balls to be strangely satisfying. . . ."
Fresh From The Printer
"Freshly photocopied paper."
"I remember all the kids in my class shouting 'It smells like bread!' each time the teacher gave us a fresh warm photocopy. Good times."
Whiff Of History
"Old books"
"True I love that too I stopped sniffing then though because my mum told me its caused by mold."
Something redolent of moments in time can bring much peace.
Where Love Once Inhabited
"The smell of my grandparents house. I'd give anything to smell it again."
All The Right Fixins
"The smell in my house when Thanksgiving dinner is being made."
Illuminating Comforts
"Campfire."
"Adding to this, coal fire as well. Different, but very cozy somehow as well."
You know you're talking to an unabashed Disney-phile when he says he loves the smell of the chlorinated water from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland.
I am not alone in this.
Many Disney parks fans I've spoken with—particularly those who have frequently visited the original park in Anaheim, CA—have expressed the same thing about the classic swashbuckling pirate attraction that later inspired the eponymous blockbuster movie franchise.
The water flowing through the potentially moldy interior of the building has sent thousands of visitors plummeting over a waterfall back to the age of the pirates since the 1960s.
It's not necessarily a pleasant smell, but it's one where fans like myself feel like we've come home whenever we ride the historic attraction that appeals to most of our senses.
Food and culture are often tied closely together. Tradition is built around what is available in your area. Globalization has allowed us all to have easier access to different foods from around the world however, you just can't beat locally made goods.
If you asked me what dish from the U.S. everyone needs to try ASAP I'd have to go the full Mainer on, you bub. Lobster rolls go without saying however, one in particular from a tiny shack down the coast apiece has the best. It's a toasted buttered roll with tempura-fried lobster covered in spicy Mayo, bacon, and fresh green onion tops. Pair that with an ice cold Moxie to drink and some hand-cut potato fries from the County and you got yourself a wicked good meal ayuh.
Fellow foodies this one is for you.
Redditor be4u4get wanted to know what dishes people from around the globe would recommend.
They asked:
"What is a meal native to your country that we should all try?"
The replies will have you drooling while you buy your plane ticket.
An Edinburgh breakfast…
“Square sausage (also known as lorne sausage). Pair with potato scones (also a native thing) and bacon on a crispy roll, smothered in salty butter. The best Sunday morning breakfast you'll ever have.“ jasontredecim
“Gotta be a morning roll too. Damn I miss living in Edinburgh.” smakledawbed
East Africa…
“EAST AFRICAN COUNTRIES: An omelette made of fries, eggs and spices (chips mayai). Spicy sugarcane juice." Maya-Sydney
“with redgold tomato sauce." nnfhjs
Brazil…
“Coxinha (breaded and deep-fried dumpling filled with chicken and, sometimes, a cream cheese-like paste called catupiry). Feijoada (a hearty pork and black beans stew served with rice and other sides). Pão de Queijo (bread balls made with tapioca flour and infused with lots of cheese). Just to name a few. Brazil has dozens of amazing dishes.” guiporto32
Germany…
“Käsespätzle with Speck. Like Mac n Cheese, but with hand made quality noodles and quality cheese like Bergkäse, emmental and cream, with bacon like bits. Goes well with beer. Germany has some great foods.” neverfarts
“Curry wurst club! On top of that, it may not be traditional but late-night doner kebab food truck is part of modern German living, like taco trucks in America.” MechaDesu
Turkey…
“I'm from turkey, so here is a list the you have to try: 1. Manti - Turkish dumplings 2. Lahmacun (no clue how to spell it) - kinda like pizza but with no cheese or sauce, just beef. 3. Any kebap 4. Künefe - no clue what the English word for the stuff on the outside but the inside is filled with cheese. It is a dessert, sweetened by hot sugar water (not caramel) 6. Grape leaves wrapped around rice 7. Literally any Turkish food. It's all amazing." LeopardHalit
“the whole Balkan region, not just Serbia…”
“Most of these that I will list will be common for the whole Balkan region, not just Serbia, but here we go: Pljeskavica - it's technically a type of burger. The patty is usually mixed pork and beef, but it can be just beef or just pork. It's served in a bun that's half bun half flat bread called a somun. It has a very open crumb, and usually some char on top and bottom.”
“Now, for fillings the most common are: sour cream, tomato slices, cucumber slices, shredded cabbage, lettuce, urnebes (a type of creamy hot condiment, I think it's made of paprika and sour cream), pickles - pretty much anything you want, but most fillings are fresh veggies. Since the patty is very thin, it will always be well done. Highly recommend this one.”
“Ćevapi - more of a Bosnian thing, but they are eaten everywhere. Some are made from pork, but traditionally they are made of 100% beef. Imagine them as 2 or 3 inch long (5 to 7 cm) casing-less sausages. They are grilled, usually until well done. They are served in a somun, with diced onion and kajmak (kinda similar to ricotta, it's made by skimming a layer that forms on the milk while it's pasteurized). Bosnians in passing, please correct if I forgot something. These are also great.”
“Sarma - again, common across the Balkans, usually in different forms. The type served here in Serbia is usually made from a beef or pork mince, mixed with rice, rolled into pickled cabbage leaves (sauerkraut) and then cooked for a while. Not one of my favorite dishes, but I have been spoiled by foreign cuisine (I dislike the mix of sauerkraut and the beef/rice mix. I prefer the Greek version, made of vine leaves). Still a classic."
"And I have to give a mention of krompiruša. It isn't a Serbian dish, it's from Bosnia, but it's my absolute favorite thing. It's a pie, made of thin dough that's made and stretched by hand. The dough is then filled with grated potato, most commonly with just black pepper and salt and some oil, then closed into a sausage shaped.... sausage of dough and potato. It's then spiraled into a round baking sheet, and either baked in a normal oven, or a sač (a metal dome, placed on top of the pie, it's then covered in hot coals and baked like that)."
"The dough on top is nice and crispy and crunchy, while the bits that were touching are nice and chewy. It's usually eaten with yogurt (our yogurt is much runnier, almost like kefir). I've probably missed a few steps, but my Bosnian grandma hasn't taught me how to make it yet. BTW, this dish makes zero sense to me (from a culinary sense). If you eat it without the yogurt, it's literally just carbs and a bit of fat. It's a calorie bomb with little nutritional value. The yogurt adds some protein and fat, but that's about it. Again, highly recommend this, it's one of my favorite dishes to eat." RaccKing21
Lithuania…
“(Lithuania) Saltibarsciai / Cold borscht This garishly pink soup is incredible popular, particularly in summer when the weather can be quite hot. ... It is made using a cultured milk called kefir (kefyras in Lithuanian), which is like a cross between yoghurt and buttermilk.” edgarb159
Eastern Europe…
“Плов - Plov (Pilau, Pilaf) is a popular food in eastern Europe, although popular in different varieties around the world, obviously. The particular kind I'm used to is made by first essentially cooking a soup with just enough liquid to cover the meat and veggies, then placing a layer of rice on top, adding more water (carefully to not disturb rice layer) to go ~1 inch above the rice, and lastly covering with a towel and lid to let it steam until the rice is finished.”
“You end up with a layer of rice on top of your meat and vegetables. Popular ingredients include pork, carrots (turns your rice orange), onion, a whole bulb of garlic (sliced in half, placed face down on the rice before adding water), and cumin. Very tasty and you can obviously add more veggies, spices, and/or proteins. Plus, sour cream on the side for extra flavor. It kind of ends up looking like Indian yellow rice or a Spanish paella in the end.” weatherdog
New Zealand…
“Aotearoa/New Zealand. Hangi is a pit you dig then line with coals and layer an animal and vegetables from thickest to thinnest then bury it all and wait for the whole day until it'd time to dig it up and eat it all with 100 of your favorite people. Not really a meal but anything that comes out of there tastes good.” imrzzz
Egypt…
“As an Egyptian myself I recommend 3 things Breakfast - Ful Medames with some hummus and falafel. Lunch - Koshary, A mix of rice and lentils (sometimes macaroni) and tomato sauce on the side or you can try Mulukhiyah and rice” ReaperSSO
Sounds like some good dishes to add to the bucket list. Thinking of all the different spices has us getting a little hungry. What was your favorite suggestion?
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Whether the person delivering the remark is joking or dead serious and miserable, chances are that we'll be insulted plenty of times in our lives.
And the worst thing that can happen is to freeze.
Nobody wants to be a dear in the headlights when someone decided to bully them. Instead, it's best to be prepared.
A recent Reddit thread asked people to pool their best comebacks to insults they could come up with. Thanks to them, we can walk around stocked with some return fire on the occasion we do fall prey to a person's put downs.
Redditor Concert-Extra asked:
"What is your go-to comeback when insulted?"
Of course, there were plenty of witty one-liners proposed. The hope here is that wittiness of the comeback trumps the intelligence level of the insult that provoked it.
It's all math.
Firmly Mediocre
" 'I've been called worse by better men' " -- Atbunyar
"Stealing that, thanks" -- GSavvage
Getting Literal
"If they say 'fu** you.' I say 'not even if you paid me.' "
"I say, 'I'm not that desperate, and you're not that lucky...' " -- webjocky
Free Reign
"If the insult is funny / good, laugh with them. If it's bad, laugh at them, and just go 'you know what buddy, we'll give you another crack at that one if you'd like.' "
Others advocated against getting into the weeds with a counter-insult. Instead, they advised a response that, above all, thrived on its absurdity to leave the insulter as puzzled as possible.
Just Nothing
"Complete silence… let the uncomfortable sizzle and sink in. It's debilitating to the ego." -- LivingBeneficial3814
"That's what I do. Insults only have validity if the issuer thinks it worked." -- trenchfootflyfisher
Annoy, Annoy, Annoy
"Ask them to repeat themselves. Then do it again." -- Global-Ad404
"This is the best one because a good insult relies on timing. Having them repeat it makes it sound dumb and mean." -- Elephinker
Keep Pushing
"i just say 'and then?' and i keep saying it after every insult until they run out of insults." -- snodnif
"and theeeeeeeeeeeeeen?" -- Ninkaso
Finally, some advocated the "kill them with kindness" approach.
Opening Things Up
"When somebody is insulting me without any purpose, I just tell them 'bad day, huh?' "
"I swear, 90% of the people almost immediately calm down and even apologise to me, beacuse they seriously had a bad day and they just had too much bad energy without a way to let it go."
"There's no need to fight back, sometimes we need a good approach to end the argument and calm down the attacker."
-- W4rr3n00
BUD
"You doing alright, bud?" -- 7788445511220011
"Oooo the condescending use of 'bud.' Nice touch." -- Kuli24
"noooooooo not the BUD!!!! he's to evil to be left alive" -- Kbirt24
Wind Out of the Sails
"I don't get insulted often but the odd chance when it happens I say 'God Bless You' It either enrages them or they look confused for some reason."
-- Hopenomo
Here's to you leaving here with 10 comebacks in your back pocket.
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Some of our possessions are no-brainer, have to have them, best things in the universe. Others are total beaters, through and through liabilities, that should have been trashed years ago.
But what about those possessions that fall right in between?
These are the things we love as much as we hate. Like some people or places in our lives, these objects and us have a love/hate relationship--and, surprisingly, almost as much baggage as the human version includes.
Some Redditors sat down and shared their best examples of these kinds of possessions.
lliorca336 asked, "What do you have a love / hate relationship with?"
Some set their sights on the elephant in the room. They described their excitement as well as all the issues that come with the expansive, unbelievably powerful internet.
The Whole Dang Thing
"The internet." -- LM1120
"Yup. On one side, it can really help people who feel alone. However, it can also breed toxicity." -- RHCube
"Back down it was as simple as don't use it but thats not really possible anymore" -- Derpsterio29
Even More Whole
"Technology in general."
"On the one hand, it's nice that I was able to deposit a check just now while sitting down on my bedroom. On the other, screw anyone who has the audacity to call me and greet me with a robot."
Horrifyingly Convenient
"I have it with none other than 'Google.' "
"I hate it when Google tracks my every move. I even feel scared sometimes. Like just the other day, I was watching 'Padmavat' on Amazon Prime. It wasn't even my account, but my husband's. We had to stop in the middle due to something."
"And as soon as I opened my Gmail next, the very first email on the top was a 'Spam' email asking me if I missed out on watching 'Padmawat?' Really Scary!"
"And then, I love it when it takes me down the memory lane. Like just today, my Google Photos app asked me if I would like to see where I was on this day in 2010? I thought why not. Turns out, I was at my friend's wedding. Which reminded me, 'Oh! It's her anniversary today!' "
"I simply sent one of her gorgeous pics wishing her happy anniversary. We had a long chat, after which I sent over all of the pics from that day. She was really happy to re-visit them and tagged them as the best anniversary gift!"
-- toxasagt
Others chose to discuss those necessities of day-to-day life that they've actually come to love completing over and over.
But that doesn't mean they don't get annoying all the time too.
Procrastinating
"Showers."
"That weird thing where I'll waste time before entering the shower because it feels like such a chore that takes a long time, I'm gonna need 5 h to dry my hair afterwards etc., but then when I'm in the shower i never wanna get out."
-- Victoria749
Cruising, Until Your Not
"Driving is my biggest love/ hate relationship. I absolutely love the feel of driving when there's a small amount/ no traffic and the feel of being able to go wherever you want in your country is so freeing. Start/stop traffic, car maintenance costs, insurance, monthly payments, terrible roads, the possibility of an accident, driving through new places without clear signage etc..."
"Man, driving at its best is one of my favourite things in life but at its worst I wonder why I ever got my license and look toward busses with jealousy."
-- LTPfiredemon
It Will Never End
"Cooking. I hate the necessity of having to prepare food and the process itself, but I usually like the result, and if I cook for other people, I get many compliments for how it's good."
"You know, when I hate to do that, then at least it gotta be tasty."
-- Ziriath
Others spoke about the luxuries in life. It almost feels absurd to complain about such wonderful, unnecessary possessions.
And yet, they are luxuries with a slight catch.
The Nut Barrier
"Chocolate."
"Probably my biggest trigger to ruin my diet. Doesn't even have to be good chocolate. Doesn't even have to be mediocre chocolate (by American standards). I'm talking about, like Palmer's Double Crisp super-cheap, probably-not-even-actually-chocolate Chocolate."
"My only saving grace is that I'm allergic to peanuts, and a lot of the really really cheap chocolate has peanuts/peanut butter in it, so it's no longer a temptation."
More and More
"Having a home gym:"
"Love: Not having to go far and not having to deal with other ppl and their bs."
"Hate: Everything you want is much more expensive than you expect... and you keep wanting more"
Another Take on Tech
"Modern technology. For every way it makes our lives easier, there's at least five ways it makes things harder."
"But overall, it's generally worth it... if you can get the stuff to finally work, which might take you all day."
-- Arekai4098
So the next time you find yourself out of wits in frustration, only to come back to that same object or task the very next day, don't feel so alone.
Everyone out here is emotionally confused about their inanimate objects and abstract concepts.
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