Be it in our early youth when we believed that we could run for president or just recently after viewing a touching vid on our social media feed – at some point, everyone has thought about how they’d love to change this big world for the better.
We all know this feeling, all high on motivation and ready to tackle any mountain – however, realistically speaking, you won’t be able to “change” anything until others share a similar mentality.
That said, for it to work, people need to break those generational patterns that do us no good and inspire those who come after us to do things that’ll benefit our society.
“What’s something that needs to stop being passed down the generations?” – this netizen took to one of Reddit’s most thought-provoking communities to ponder about the thing that society should avoid passing down to other generations. The post has managed to receive 25.5K upvotes and 15.7K comments, as well as an array of intriguing and sometimes wacky answers.
More info: Reddit
#1
Religion, I don’t think religion should be forced upon your children, it should be a choice when they grow up.
Image source: felixrocket7835, Ihar
#2
Racism
Image source: wreckinballbob, Life Matters
#3
The notion that “BOYS will be BOYS” and “Lil girls are Princesses.”
Image source: SilentRunning, Devon Rockola
#4
The “I suffered through it, so you can suffer too” mentality.
Image source: thegreatgatsB70, Matthias Zomer
#5
The whole ‘blood is thicker than water” idea. If people in your family suck, remove them from your lives. Just because you are related doesn’t mean you have to put up with them. (This usually only applies for extended family mostly, but can still apply to immediate-family)
Image source: AUSpartan37, Maria Lindsey Content Creator
#6
Making kids hug/kiss/snuggle relatives even if they don’t want to because “grandpa/grandma will have their feelings hurt if you don’t”. Shows kids that their own bodily autonomy is worth less than someone else’s feelings. Also gives them a messed up view of what consent is
Image source: _shes_a_jar, Virginia State Parks
#7
The whole narrative that because someone is older they deserve blind respect and obedience
Image source: jazzraccoon, JoshBerglund19
#8
This damn cookie jar, I told my gram it creeps me out.
Image source: Barbarossabros, slgckgc
#9
‘i was beat and i turned out fine’
no you clearly didn’t, because you’ve grown up thinking hitting little children is an acceptable form of discipline
Image source: V1V1IDREAM, Leah Kelley
#10
The idea that a two party system works, and that politicians actually care about you.
Image source: GreasyJeff, realdonaldtrump
#11
The idea that one generation is better/had it better than another. Every generation is vastly different and there will always be struggles.
Image source: fart_fig_newton, RODNAE Productions
#12
**Expectations.**
We all have our own goals, desires and dreams.
We shouldn’t be expected to:
– Carry a family business
– Marry a certain kind of person
– Attend a particular college
– Earn a specific amount of money
– Live in a certain neighbourhood
Don’t let the opinions of older generations – family or not – dictate your life.
Image source: YLRESS, The Lazy Artist Gallery
#13
Yelling and slamming doors , cursing at your children and getting angry at them when you’re teaching them things.
Image source: indica_crash, Budgeron Bach
#14
The ‘bottle up your emotions manliness’
Image source: gareths_neighbour, Inzmam Khan
#15
The “Stay in school, go university, Get a good job, get married & buy a house” mentality is very old school & it’s not easy as people think
Image source: unknowninvestorr, GT#2…Off permanently
#16
The practice of circumcisions…
Image source: AndrewE21, DebMomOf3
#17
Political affiliation. Think for yourself. Choose for yourself. Not because your parents, grandparents, etc. “have always voted for the ______ party.”
Does that party, as they stand today, really represent your values? Will that politician who associates with that party actually vote the way you want them to?
In my area, there are several local politicians who run under the umbrella for a particular party because the vast majority of locals will ALWAYS vote for that party, so the election is effectively set by the primary.
Image source: patentmom, Steve Rainwater
#18
The idea that what you like to do isn’t worth anything
Image source: theperksof-being, Cristian Ungureanu
#19
Mental Illness
Image source: sparklingshanaya, Alex Green
#20
At least in my family, the fancy wine glasses. No one ever uses them, everyone keeps them hidden in cupboards because they’re too nice to use. They’re not even sentimental, someone just picked them up one day and handed them around the family.
Image source: DeliciousKoala8290, Pixabay
#21
Boys having to make the first move.
Image source: Iulian_333, Artem Beliaikin
#22
Being forced to spend time with distant relatives. It’s ok not to be around those that live polar opposite lifestyles than you. I have relatives that will never know where I live and for good reason, yet family is always “you need to keep in touch….” The heck I do!
Image source: Exciting_Ad4858, Ryutaro Tsukata
#23
Debt
Image source: WonderWeeble, Keith Cooper
#24
Making your child as your retirement fund.
Image source: Substantial_Top_27, Barry Walker
#25
Trauma
Image source: Sieepsaand, Pixabay
#26
Names. Especially since credit reporting (US) is such a gamble. My husband, father, grandfather…all have mismatched credit information. I didn’t want my son to inherit his dads bad credit reports (better now, but still). I knew this from experience because my mom and I shared a first and last name and had the same address,etc.
Long story short, my husband’s family’s older generations ostracized my son and hated me for a long time.
I apologize for nothing. It was the right decision, and my son has their last name and not mine, and not even a hyphenated last name. Theirs. That’s more than enough respect to their legacy. My husband and I didn’t take the decision lightly, and I’m the only one catching hate for it anyway. Still no regrets.
Image source: ChelleDotCom, Heiner
#27
Dangerous advice for pregnancies, babies, and young children.
Most common examples I have seen:
– castor oil for inducing labor
– blankets for sleeping babies (not swaddled)
– rice cereal in bottles (unless doctor advised)
– making your own formula
Survivor’s bias is big on why this c**p still gets passed around despite plenty of research proving they aren’t safe. A lot of women don’t even bother doing any research or taking free classes their healthcare offers that goes over a lot of this!
Image source: magicrowantree, Tony Alter
#28
Baldness. Thanks gramps!
Edit: Glad to hear bald is sexy. Actually been buzzing mine since my early 20s and love it.
Image source: StevenTheFancyVance, Joel Kramer
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