21 "Normal" Things Society Accepts That Are Actually Kinda... Weird

Alana Valko
·4-min read

A few months ago, we rounded up the most popular responses from this Twitter thread that asked: "What's the weirdest thing society accepts as normal?"

Twitter: @askblue_

From the silly to the downright harmful, people in the comments didn't hold back from sharing more weird things our society accepts as normal. Here's everything they added:

1."Paying for multiple streaming services to watch all your favorite shows/movies."

A TV screen showing several streaming apps including YouTube, Prime Video, Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, and Joyn. Text in German is at the top

—Crush27

Picture Alliance / dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

2."Our current gun laws perpetuating gun violence and mass shootings."

—luckylight67

3."Tipping instead of receiving a livable wage."

A hand holds a Clover payment device showing tip options for a $152.21 bill: 18% ($28.42), 20% ($31.61), 22% ($34.31), and 25% ($35.31). There are skip and custom amount buttons

4."Being a legal adult at 18, unable to rent a car, buy alcohol, etc, but can join the army."

—Crush27

5."Allowing a convicted criminal to run for President of the United States."

Donald Trump, wearing a suit and tie, in a stern-faced booking photo with a sheriff's badge in the background
Handout / Getty Images

6."Trapping people with disabilities (like me) in poverty instead of helping them, then punishing them if they have ONE FUCKING CENT over the measly $2,000 they're allowed. Is Darwin's ghost running this country or something?"

—Masha Parakina

7."Trick or treating. Every other day of the year, we preach, 'Don't talk to strangers. Don't take candy from strangers. Don't pretend to be someone you're not. Don't walk around after dark.' Then it's Halloween, and suddenly, it's ok to do all of those things at the same time."

Children dressed in costumes, including a ghost and pirate, trick-or-treating at a house while an adult hands out candy in a basket
Jupiterimages / Getty Images

8."Guilt-tripping people for sleeping in. I work better at night, plus it's so hot during the day. Just because you get up at 5 a.m. and go to bed at 8 p.m. doesn't mean you are better than the person who sleeps 'til 9 a.m. and goes to bed at midnight."

—leahm491b1c910

9."Treating each other like crap: what happened to good old fashioned common courtesy? And this happens—work, community, home, and the street. Come on, people. Be nice to your fellow human (I know… some are difficult, but the concept has always been there)."

Two women having an animated conversation. Left woman says, "I want to speak to the manager." Right woman in a red cap and vest replies, "I'm the manager on duty."

10."The fact that there is supposed to be a separation of church and state, but it conveniently doesn't apply to Christians."

—monikap6

11."It's socially acceptable for a man to go without a shirt and to see his nipples, but as soon as a woman does, it's bad. Even if she's just nursing a baby... which is what they were intended for!"

—leahm491b1c910

12."Colors dictating what gender your baby is. My 4-month-old daughter wore a blue shirt this weekend, and everyone acted as if I was abusing her."

Wooden letters spell "BOY" on a blue background and "GIRL" on a pink background
Prostock-studio / Getty Images

13."The number of hours teachers are expected to work beyond their contract hours, unpaid, to make sure lesson plans are completed and grades are done."

—lisap45222e4ad

14."Uber/Lyft – it's still strange for me to get in some stranger's personal vehicle and have them drive me around. Especially if it's in a city I'm unfamiliar with but don't otherwise have transportation."

—Keri1986

15."Everything digital. I'm tired of seeing everything and owning/holding nothing. Streaming movies and TV. Digital photos. E-reader books. Downloading music. Give me DVDs, photo albums, books, and CDs, please!"

A cluttered corner room with numerous stacked DVDs and Blu-rays, superhero and Pokémon toys on the shelves, and various decorative items

16."Laws that ban abortion but don't mandate vasectomies. In that same vein, laws that punish women for accessing abortion, but don't punish the men who get them pregnant."

–emowizard70

17."In the US: Not including tax in the listed price. In the same vein, any and all hidden charges. Don't lie by omission; just tell me what the thing I'm paying for is gonna cost."

A detailed itemized receipt showing accommodation costs: stay for 2 nights at $525, host fees $421.40, damage waiver $30, resort fee $30, booking $101.40, cleaning fee $260, service fee $116, tax $149.33. Total is $1,211.73

18."Taking pictures and video of everything and everyone and posting it on the internet for the world to see without people's consent. Children especially! There needs to be some kind of order for this. Privacy is dead."

—hiddencomet88

19."I live in Las Vegas. You can literally die from the heat, but the energy rates keep climbing... It's not an option just to turn off your AC."

—clevergoblin83

20."Award shows. They're basically 'employee of the year' awards for multimillionaires that none of us could ever be a part of."

Kanye West holding multiple Grammy awards while wearing sunglasses, a white shirt, a lavender jacket, and white gloves, posing on a red carpet
Kevin Winter / Getty Images

And lastly:

21."Honestly, our health insurance (at least in the US) being tied to our job. And if you're laid off or have to leave for the job due to outside circumstances, you just… better hope you don't need to see a doctor. It's wild that our employment determines if we get provided with healthcare and get to live or die."

A hospital bill showing a total amount owed of $22,964.55 with the caption "Why am I even paying health insurance."

What's something weird to you that society accepts as normal? Let me know in the comments or by submitting to this anonymous form.

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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