36 Surprisingly Healthy Habits That Unexpectedly Spark Judgment and Shaming
Isn’t it wild how some of the healthiest habits out there somehow earn people a side-eye or an unsolicited lecture? Shame is a sneaky little thing — it can kick your butt into gear or just make life downright toxic. We all need a nudge now and then, but when did offering unsolicited “advice” become the national pastime? Redditor u/Dodongicepick’s simple question on r/AskReddit — “What is a healthy behavior that people shame others for?” — opened a real can of worms, revealing that things as benign as spending time alone or choosing to see a therapist often come with an unexpected side of criticism. Seriously, since when is taking care of yourself a controversial topic? Let’s dive into this collection of eye-opening and oddly relatable confessions that’ll make you wonder why society loves shaming what it should be celebrating. Ready to flip the script and just let folks live?
Shame can be both productive and toxic, there’s no doubt about it. It may make us lift our rears and get things done, and sometimes we all need that extra push of “I am gonna show ‘em all.’’ But the truth is, people can get real nosy and may want to get into stuff that has little to do with their business.
So when Redditor u/Dodongicepick posed a question “What is a healthy behavior that people shame others for?” on r/AskReddit, it seems like it really hit a soft spot for many. People are now sharing all the eye-opening stuff that often becomes a target of undeserved criticism and it makes you wonder how on earth this has become the norm. Just let them live!
Below are the most interesting responses, so scroll through and be sure to share what you think of it in the comments section!
Spending time alone. Seriously, you think me spending a week talking to nobody is the issue? How about the fact that you can’t spend 5 minutes alone in fear of accidentally reflecting upon yourself?
Doing things that are normally thought of as social activities by yourself. Like eating at a restaurant, or going to a concert, play, or movie.
Being single. I had this horrible experience where I wanted to be single for a bit and also just wasn’t meeting anyone I was really interested in. I was perfectly fine with not having a boyfriend but my friends hounded me about it constantly. Always asking me why I was single, telling me I was too picky, would show up to hangouts with men and ask me why I didn’t go for it. Me saying I was fine with being single was never a good enough answer. So I started to feel self-conscious about being single, felt like I was under a microscope so if I did meet someone I felt uncomfortable having my friends cheering me on. I was young so I didn’t know how to handle it so I just kind of dealt with it but it sucked. Let your single friends be single unless they are asking for your help, advice, and opinions.
Choosing not to be religious at all, lacking the same religious intensity, or believing in a religion that the other person doesn’t believe in.
I got laughed at by my brother and his wife during Thanksgiving when I said I was starting to diet. Like, I get it. I’m a fat guy. Unfortunately, I can exercise, but that’s only half the battle. It actually really hurt my motivation, ngl.
Being wrong. It’s healthy to express opinions and ideas. When we shame people for being wrong, we tend to stop new conversations from happening. In this way, we lose opportunities to understand where others are coming from and squander opportunities to change minds. Further, we push all the wrong-headed people into groups where they can go nuts following their wrongness to its logical conclusion. Just stop humiliating people for holding opinions and having bad ideas. And remember everybody does.
Politely and respectfully expressing negativity. Bottling negative emotions just for the sake of “being positive” really eats you up over time.
Being slow to respond. I would rather respond correctly than quickly. Same for confidence level. If I am unsure it means I want to double-check. It seems more irresponsible to speak off the cuff. But I think the reality is that the fast talkers are rewarded more, even if they are wrong.
Calling in for a mental health day. There’s no good option. You call out and make yourself look unreliable or you go to work unstable and make yourself look unstable.
Walking away from an argument or tense situation. There’s no way I can have a proper and productive discussion if I’m wound up! I’d rather take a quick walk or have time to myself before I tackle the issue. A clear head is more important than figuring out a conflict quickly.
Human sexuality. All through high school my mom was all “stay away from boys! They only want one thing and they’ll say anything to get it! Don’t be one of those foolish girls who gets tricked and knocked up and has her life ruined!”
No parties. No dating. No makeup. I wasn’t even allowed to TALK about guys being cute without her side-eyeing me.
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