Traveling on a budget doesn't have to mean eating instant noodles in a hostel — you can still enjoy great food, unique sights, and comfort if you know where to look. A redditor prompted the r/Shoestring community to share their best budget travel tips, asking, "What’s a budget travel trick that saves you money but doesn’t make your trip feel ‘cheap’?"

In the thread, redditors share their favorite strategies for cutting costs while maximizing the quality of their adventures.

1. Shop where the locals shop

One of the most popular tips involves skipping restaurants for daytime meals. Redditors point out that browsing foreign grocery stores isn't just cheaper — it's a fascinating way to understand local culture, find unique souvenirs, and try authentic snacks.

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I love shopping at local grocery stores for breakfast and lunch (or I find a cheap street eat for lunch), and save restaurant meals for dinner.

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I really like looking around in supermarkets. It feels like a museum of sorts because I love food. You can save money buying ready-to-serve meals too.

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Exactly this. Cote D'Or chocolate in Belgium. Haviianas/Ipanemas in Rio. Aguardiente in Bogota. Utensils in Paris. Unique condiments and candy everywhere. A grocery is a microcosm of the society it's in. I visit them everywhere, and my pantry reflects this.

2. Embrace the art of "slow travel"

Trying to see everything can lead to seeing more of the inside of transit stations than of actual sites. Experienced travelers suggest picking fewer spots and lingering longer, which naturally cuts down on entry fees and transportation costs while improving the vibe of the trip.

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Taking it slow. The faster you're moving / doing things, the more it generally costs you. Slowing things down can both save you money, but also let you experience the local culture and environment more fully.

For example, rather than trying to cram in 4 - 5 paid sights in a single day, necessitating traipsing around the city, pick 1 or 2 and spend more time with each. Meander around the city, window shop, hang out at a cafe people watching, etc. You'll 'tick off' fewer list items, but probably enjoy your trip a lot more.

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YES. We always do a max of 1 major site, museum, etc. a day so we have plenty of time to be slow and just appreciate where we are without stressing ourselves out and spending too much money. These trips are so much more relaxing and fun than some of our first major travels that felt much more anxiety-inducing making sure we hit timed-entries on time or plowed through another activity that we were actually too tired or frustrated to appreciate.

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Only schedule one sightseeing activity per day if you can help it. This gives you time to actually enjoy the place you’re in. Sit down and enjoy a long lunch at an alfresco cafe, watch people play tennis at the park, go into a local market, etc. if you’re packed with museums and activities you don’t have time to do these things. Very often just being somewhere is free or very low cost, and a very fulfilling experience.

3. Hack your dining budget

Smart travel dining is about finding high-quality food in unexpected places rather than defaulting to pricey tourist menus. Travelers can enjoy gourmet meals at a discount by going to restaurants for lunch instead of dinner, or exploring upscale food halls.

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Go to fancy restaurants for lunch and not dinner. Most places have lunch specials.

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Food courts in luxury department stores. You’re getting really high quality food in a luxurious environment for less than most restaurants.

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I mark bib gourmand restaurants on a map. Bib Gourmand is a Michelin designation that indicates quality food at affordable prices, or at least is supposed to.

You get unique quality food that doesn’t break the bank. It hasn’t let me down yet although not every city will have these

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Great example is Harrods in London! Was pleasantly surprised by their bakery and deli!

4. Escape the peak crowds

Timing is everything. By avoiding peak tourist seasons, you can find dramatically lower prices on accommodation and enjoy popular sites without the crushing crowds.

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Go at a time that isn't the peak travel time.

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I love off-peak travel. A place feels less hurried and the fact it's cheaper is a plus.

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Agreed, for example ski towns in spring and fall. Accommodation is usually cheap and place is not lousy with tourists.

5. Travel through the night

Combining your accommodation and your transportation into one purchase is a classic efficiency hack. Sleeper trains and ferries allow you to wake up in a new destination without wasting daylight hours or paying for a hotel room.

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Overnight travel rather than wasting a day so I can save a night in a hotel room. Overnight ferry in Greece, bus in NZ, etc

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My kids LOVED the overnight ferry in Greece. Renting a cabin was about €100 cheaper than buying plane tickets and we saved money on a night in a hotel. Then we didn't have to deal with the hassle of going through airports or even stressing about baggage/carry-on allowances. Great experience! 

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This! Traveling overnight helps me enjoy more without the hassle of booking another accommodation. Obviously it isn't the same as sleeping in a bed, but I like to bring along a few comforts to help sleeping on the plane more comfortable. I typically buy lower priced plane tickets (economy most often; occasionally a business class splurge), and then just bring my own blanket and neck pillow rather than paying for their use on the plane.

6. Take advantage of bundled passes and free tours

Individual entry fees add up fast. People recommend checking for multi-attraction city passes and going on gratuity-based walking tours, which often provide better local insights than expensive guided packages.

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Check for multi-attraction passes online if you’re hitting up a major city. GoCity, CityPASS, etc. It’s often quite a bit cheaper than paying for all those individually and sometimes you get priority entry.

You can find websites or social media pages that will alert you if a flight destination from your home airport(s) is at a major discount from what it usually is. Most of the time they don’t line up for me but when they do, I can save hundreds of dollars on the flight.

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Go on free walking tours. They're offered in many cities. They're actually tip based, with suggested amounts usually being 5-10 €/$. I've been on more than i can remember and jave never beem dissapointed. They're great for suggestions and recommendations as well as learning what things to be suree to avoid.

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Yes!! Even smaller cities have those city passes, some of which will include public transit which can be HUGE savings

7. Bring your own essentials

A few simple additions to your luggage can transform a basic room into a self-sufficient and comfortable hub. It is about bringing the comforts of home with you to elevate the overall travel experience.

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When I travel in the US I stay in really cheap hotels that often don’t have coffee or free breakfast. I have a travel kettle that I always travel with and bring a small container (old small repurposed spice jar) of the instant coffee I like and my coffee travel mug and also some instant oatmeal. Free breakfast and unlimited morning coffee plus a roadie coffee when I’m ready to leave the room. I bring a small container to make the oatmeal that can be double used to take leftovers if I eat out for lunch or dinner. I like to combine my cheapness with environmentalness 🤣😻I also bring ramen sometimes to make in my room. I take it out of the container and put in a reuseablw ziplock so it fits flat in my bag if I need the bag space. A few free meals allows me to enjoy the meal out I budget for myself even more!!!

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I love my collapsible electric travel teapot. In addition to my teabags I sometimes even bring bullion cubes for nighttime when I'm traveling in colder places.

Saving money on travel can actually lead to a more authentic and relaxed experience. By slowing down, eating locally, and spending intentionally, you can stretch your budget further than you might expect. What's your go-to trick for saving cash on the road?

Want more budget travel ideas like this? Read the full recommendations in r/Shoestring, and find similar conversations in r/solotravel, r/budgettravel, and r/TravelHacks.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Flying is often a test of patience, but it isn't just the headline-grabbing delays that grate on a traveler's nerves. In a thread on r/airport, redditors weigh in on the specific, overlooked frustrations of navigating a terminal. While logistical hurdles like security and pricing are common complaints, the true pain points are often found in the smaller details of airport architecture and the behavior of fellow passengers.

Architectural oversights

A lot of the “hidden” airport misery is just basic design: Airport infrastructure often fails to meet the basic needs of travelers, with physical layouts that seem to prioritize aesthetics over actual utility. Whether it is the baffling arrangement of essential facilities or the unreliable state of modern amenities, these design choices create unnecessary friction throughout the terminal.

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Not enough seating at the gates. It’s even more annoying when it’s a brand new remodel and somehow there’s less seating.

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lack of outdoor space and/or spaces to work out / burn energy. i wish for a nice gym inside of the airport with showers and lockers. i’d get there 3 hours early…clear security…get a great workout in…shower…gate by boarding time.

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When the restroom is just far enough from the boarding gate to be inconvenient.

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Never enough charging ports.

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When flying internationally, the long walk from the plane to immigration. No bathrooms along the route and workers pushing you through the corridor and won't let you stop.

Carry-on struggle

Redditors express deep frustration with airports ignoring the universal presence of carry-on bags. Essential spaces are often too narrow to accommodate luggage, forcing passengers into a physical struggle just to utilize basic amenities.

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People have had carryon bags for decades. This is not new.

So why do so many airside restaurants have zero room for luggage?

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Bathroom stalls with no room for suitcases was my first thought too. It's so frustrating.

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This is my such a frustration for me! I hate having to straddle the toilet just to get me and my bag in and close the door. I’ve given up and will take the Handicapped stall as long as there is no one who needs it more (though I did have a bathroom cleaner in CLT yell at me and anyone else who wasn’t old or handicapped trying to use it).

Minneapolis by far has some of the best designed general public bathrooms.

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Traveling solo problem: You can’t leave your bags with anyone so you have to lug all your stuff/luggage to the restroom (where there is often not a lot of room to maneuver your luggage into a stall or no hooks to hang your backpack on). I’m not a fan of placing my stuff on the restroom floor, cause I’m weird like that.

Crisis of spatial awareness

Redditors note that their fellow travelers seem to abandon basic decency and situational awareness the moment they clear security. They cited this as the reason for crowded gates and blocked walkways that turn the terminal into a chaotic social obstacle course.

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People's total lack of spacial awareness. Stopping in the middle of walkways. At the tops/bottom of escalators. Trying to enter a train or elevator without letting people out first. Standing directly in the way at the exit end of a busy moving walkway. Crowding the jetway exit during deplaning of an arrival flight

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People listening to social media without headphones!!! The audacity is unreal.

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It’s always the people who are oblivious to those around them. *Walk one way while looking in another direction, usually on the wrong side. *Stop short in a busy concourse or at the end of an elevator every time their phone rings. *Crowd the boarding gate before their group is called, the end of the TSA conveyor, or the luggage carousel. Look around, people.

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People that feel they need to stand right up against the luggage turnstile to wait for their luggage to arrive (no matter how long). If everyone stood back 10 feet we can all see and get our luggage when it comes out rather than having to climb over someone to get to my moving bag.

Terminal labyrinth

Modern terminal layouts often prioritize commercial foot traffic and retail exposure over basic passenger efficiency. This profit-driven design forces travelers through winding shopping corridors and places essential facilities at frustratingly inconvenient distances.

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For European airports, the forced walk through the duty free store, I really hate it when I just want to get to my gate especially when they've already started boarding and you got held up in security for awhile and now needing to rush to the gate and have to wind through the duty free shop to find the exit.  For christ sake, give me the option to skip walking through the store if I'm on a time crunch.

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And the pathway through the duty-free is never straight. It meanders side to side so we get to see absolutely every store front, smell every strong perfume & aftershave.

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Instead of having an actual bookstore and an actual convenience store, you get a couple Hudson News (or equivalent) stores every 100 feet. I’d rather walk a little and have a better selection than have the same crappy selection next to every other gate.

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1.) As a solo traveler; Having to take all your bags everywhere, including the toilet.

2.) Terminals not being connected airside. There's nothing worse than finding out your terminal has a Dunkin Donuts and nothing else, while the other terminal has McDonalds, Chick-Fil-A, Burger King, and an Amex Centurion Lounge but there's no airside connection between the two.

The consensus among redditors is that while travel hurdles are expected, it's the small, persistent design oversights that drain a traveler’s energy. From a bathroom stall door that prevents a suitcase from entering to a fellow passenger’s lack of awareness on a moving walkway, these minor irritations define the modern terminal experience. What part of the airport experience do you find the most frustrating?

Want to weigh in on airport annoyances for yourself? Read the full discussion in r/airport, and find similar conversations in r/flights, r/travel, and r/SoloTravel.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Nothing stings quite like a perfect show that falls apart during its final stretch, turning a great binge into a series that is suddenly hard to recommend. In a thread on r/netflix, a redditor asked the community, "What was the worst ending to a Netflix Original series?"

These stories started as cultural phenomena, but ended as cautionary tales about the difficulty of maintaining quality until the very last episode.

[Warning: Spoilers ahead!]

1. The Umbrella Academy

Some endings make viewers want to rewatch from the beginning. This one had the opposite effect. Many fans felt that the superhero drama suffered a significant decline in quality after its first two highly praised seasons.

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Genuinely cannot fathom a worse ending. Season 1 and 2 were phenomenal imo. Season 3 was a little less enjoyable for me but still very entertaining. Season 4… I truly don’t have the words to describe, what a letdown.

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As far as shows that got an ending and not cancelled, The Umbrella Academy is still my number one pick. What a god awful ending to an otherwise great show. Really unfortunate how badly they botched it.

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I watched it and have 100% forgotten it. I recall the ending of the penultimate season, but the actual finale is lost to me.

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It becomes all about Elliot, pretty much, and Elliot saving their brother from destroying the world with this woman who he's instinctively drawn to that will cause all life to end and rebirth the universe without the special atoms that gave everyone powers. It's ridiculous nonsense, especially when they had a perfectly fantastic comic book series to go off of. I watched a few interviews with Gerard, after the show had ended, and it really feels like he got contractually forced after the first season, to make alterations that Netflix wanted and that kept happening, followed by Elliot wanting all that screen time later on.

2. You

Fans can forgive a long-running series for getting a little messy. Here, the frustration came from a sense of squandered setup, with viewers describing a final stretch that felt disconnected from what made earlier seasons click.

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You.

First 2 seasons were great, 3 was incredible, 4 was weird but fun (it at least gets points for trying something different, despite not entirely sticking the landing).

The end of s4 set up a premise for what could have been an excellent final season.

Then Season 5 came along and it was truly, truly abysmal. I can actually barely remember the plot because it was so awfully put together.

Edit: typo

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Victoria Pedretti elevated You, she is an incredible actress, when she left it went downhill.

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I couldn't even finish season 5. Episode 5 just was too stupid that I couldn't be bothered to finish the show.

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I tried to watch season 5 at least 4x and can never make it past the first episode. Sounds like I didn’t miss anything

3. Sex Education

After starting as a witty, multilayered love letter to high school comedies, redditors say the final season of this series felt like a completely different show. The lack of resolution for the main characters and the introduction of new, less interesting figures left a sour taste for longtime viewers.

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Sex Education. The whole final season was a disaster.

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The final season of Sex Education was massively average, they got lost in the identity politics for the sake of it instead of the solid and well written representation and diversity which made the prior seasons so relevant and captivating

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I didn’t even finish the last season. After just a few episodes I was completely turned off. The show completely lost the plot and the magic of the first season.

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This was one of my favorite shows the first two seasons on Netflix. Then S3 happened and it was not great but still watchable. I barely finished s4 and never rewatched the whole show since it ended. They even managed to waste Gillian Anderson's character.

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Seriously wtf happened there? The last season was a completely different show.

4. Ragnarok

Few storytelling choices divide an audience faster than a late-game twist that reframes everything. In this conversation, this finale landed as less “bold swing” and more “rug pull,” especially for viewers who felt the show had built a rich world that deserved a more grounded conclusion.

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utterly horrendous final episode. if u just watch all the episodes except for the final episode its an enjoyable show though.

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apparently, the Ragnarok ending was chosen from the get go. But it makes no sense because come season 2 and 3 and a lot of side characters were having a lot of storylines outside of the main characters. So the reveal that he just has schizophrenia and suddenly imagined it all is so fucking silly.

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That type of twist ending can work really well if it's done right - see the 6th Sense and Fight Club. But for a TV series with a whole group of characters we become invested in I just don't see how they could pull that off.

It would have been far better if they'd left it as an ambigous was he or wasn't he having schizophrenic episodes? That I could have gotten behind, because it still gave a chance of it having been real but a modern way of explaining some things that may or may not be true.

Also why bother to modernize Nordic mythology then pull the rug out from under everyone like that. Like hahaha, no of course there's no Odin or Loki or serpents dummy, it's always just been mental illness that created these stories. It kind of broke my heart to be honest.

5. Stranger Things

As a massive cultural phenomenon spanning a decade, the expectations for the finale of this sci-fi series were sky-high. However, some redditors who watched the finale felt it was a lackluster conclusion that didn't live up to the show's massive budget or long development time.

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I’ll go out on a limb and say stranger things. A show that had gone 10 years long, an estimate $480mil budget for S5, and the just the rather lackluster final episode just really did my head in.

Since it’s only recently out, I won’t spoil it with my thoughts, but it really did not leave me satisfied as a finale.

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Stranger things was in a steep downhill the more it went since the first season for me but the last one is so bad it takes the cake . The ending is so cliché that it was hard to see.

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I had to admit this myself after watching. I do not understand the direction the show took, especially after so much time spent indicating differently. I feel like our heads would explode if a show left us feeling satisfied.

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I didn’t really expect answer to all questions cause some things I think you just choose to be ok with. But I couldn’t believe the lack of utilization in plot elements setup in S4. People are obviously disappointed because they are hoping for a fake episode 9

6. 13 Reasons Why

While the first season was noted as a hard-hitting piece about a community dealing with tragedy, fans say the show quickly lost its way by continuing beyond the original story. Many viewers felt that the transition from a grounded drama into a generic murder mystery felt unnecessary and stretched out.

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13 reasons why. It went from a hard hitting piece about the effects of suicide on a community, to a murder mystery..?

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Season 2 was at least watchable and was at least a direct continuarion of what went on in season 1.

Season 3 onwards just completely goes off on a new story which has next to nothing to do with Hannah. It just devolved into a generic team drama and for some reason 50% of the characters turn gay by the end

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It didn't need multiple seasons. Season 1 was enough

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I never watched anything after season 1. I couldn't even imagine it continuing after and didn't want to at all.

7. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

The dark reimagining of the classic teenage witch story was a hit early on, but later installments were criticized for becoming disconnected. This messaging, combined with a rushed plot involving Eldritch Terrors, left many viewers feeling that the show disrespected its characters and its audience.

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I loved that show because I love Michelle Gomez, and then season 3 starts as a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SHOW.

Like, hey, this is specifically a horribly written teen show that only cares enough about personal identities long enough to check off some boxes, so SORRY NOT SORRY that we're going to offend everyone. AND DON'T MENTION THAT THE BAND THING IS NEW.

That show always felt like they never planned on writing it past the first season.

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The rushed final season with the eldritch terrors was mind boggling bad. I felt disconnected as everything was happening so quickly that nothing felt meaningful.

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That last episode ... such bad messaging

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They disrespected everyone in that show, just genuinely terrible character writing. Even the cat got disrespected 

These critiques remind us that a series' legacy is often only as strong as its final chapter. While some viewers chose to switch off early to preserve their favorite memories, others watched until the bitter end and were left scratching their heads in confusion. Do you agree with these picks, or is there another show that broke your heart?

Want more TV talk? Read the full discussion in r/netflix, and find similar conversations in r/television, r/movies, and r/popculturechat.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

It's happened to every reader: They decide to skip a book because the cover is ugly, the page count is daunting, or simply because it's too popular. A redditor asked the community on r/books what is "a book you ignored for years for a silly reason but ended up loving?

In the thread, redditors share the titles they avoided for years due to trivial or downright hilarious reasons, only to finally read it and discover they were missing out on a masterpiece.

1. East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Literary giants like Steinbeck can feel like homework before you open the cover, yet once they finally read him, readers often find his prose surprisingly fluid.

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East of Eden. Its reputation precedes it and I really wanted to make sure I "got" it. Turns out it isn't a super challenging read and I blew through it in less than a week. Loved it!

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Thank you. That book feels intimidating until you start it. Once you do, the story pulls you along fast and the themes feel very human. It earns its reputation without being hard to read.

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Someone mentioned East of Eden, I finally read it this year. I’m a binge reader and this one I couldn’t put down. Steinbeck is one of my favorite writers and this one is a master piece. Reading 1984 these days. I never read it because it sounded like a boring science fiction type, but man was I wrong. I will probably read it again next year.

2. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Sometimes a visual misinterpretation of cover art can lead to a years-long delay in reading a modern classic.

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This is a really stupid one. I don’t particularly like books about animals and for some reason when I looked at the cover of The Handmaids Tale I thought it was an image of a mouse wearing a dress. So I didn’t read the book. For years. Because I thought it was about anthropomorphic mice.

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I was given an old, battered copy of “The Handmaid’s Tale” as a gift in high school from my favorite English teacher. I set it aside, thinking the cover and title were entirely disinteresting, and it landed in a box.

I read 20-odd years later, in 2017 or thereabouts.

I sometimes wonder if my life and choices would have been different if I’d actually read it back then, as a liberal girl with a latent activist streak.

3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

When you're young, sibling rivalries and teenage stubbornness might dictate reading lists more than the quality of the books themselves.

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Hunger Games. I didn't read it as a teenager quite simply because my sister didn't like it. This past year, my sister re-read it and loved it--and accordingly, I picked it up and I did too! The moral of the story here is don't ever listen to your sister.

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I'm in my early thirties and just started Catching Fire (wow, that's an unsettling sentence out of context). Anyway, I really enjoyed the first one - honestly surprised at how gruesome it was, even though I was already familiar with the premise.

The series was just never on my radar as anything more than "those books that became a big film franchise", but a couple of friends that I have a book club with told me earlier this year that it was worth giving it a chance. So far I'm glad I did - it's a real pageturner, and I've found a beautiful set of new paperback version.

4. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

Labeling something as "children's literature" can scare off adults who don't realize how emotionally complex young adult fiction can be.

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I ignored His Dark Materials for years because I thought it was merely a set of children's books and I was an adult when they came on my radar.

In fact , I only read them this year as something to wind down with after reading a very heavy book. Those who know, can imagine the emotional walloping I got when all was said and done.

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his dark materials is my answer too. my dad gave me the first trilogy when i was a teen because he liked them. they sat on my shelf untouched for many years. it took my dad being diagnosed with a fatal disease and me upending my life to be near him to give the books a try. i regret not reading them when he first gifted them to me!! but i’m so grateful it’s a series we get to enjoy together now.

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His dark materials took me 3 attempts to get into over a few years of my childhood. It's hands down my favorite set of books now. There are excellent audiobooks too. I was so devastated the first time I reached the end of book 3. I was so attached to the daemons too. I don't think any world has ever sucked me in like this one.

5. Discworld by Terry Pratchett

Readers skeptical of comedy in fantasy often miss out on Terry Pratchett's brilliance... until they finally give in to curiosity.

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I ignored Terry Pratchett's entire body of work because I didn't think I enjoyed comedy in books. As it turns out, I just wasn't reading very funny authors. Guards! Guards! was available on Libby recently, and I was stuck in an airport, and, well... The man was brilliant, and I regret not reading his books sooner.

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I remember seeing the first Discworld books hitting the shelves. I was more into science fiction at the time, so it wasn't until 1997 that I actually bought one. And then I tore through the series and waited for each new book to come out.

GNU

6. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

Entire genres, like Westerns, get written off by readers who don't expect them to deliver powerful, universal storytelling.

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Lonesome Dove because why would I want to read a western? Amazing book.

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And a 1,000 page western at that! I only read it because of how often it winds up in people's "best books" lists. Now it's on my best book list, too.

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I thought, by the title alone, that it was a freaking romance novel, so never picked it up. Until I did, and I’m SO GLAD I DID!

7. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Massive page counts are a frequent barrier to classics, even when the books widely considered to be among the greatest adventure stories ever written.

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For me it's gonna be The Count of Monte Cristo. I've started it several times and I know it's gonna be amazing, but the length is intimidating

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The Count of Monte Cristo. I think because of the 2002 adaptation, and from me being 10 years old at the time so only remembering fragments, I thought it was just another period drama, ballroom type.

There’s so much more depth to it and although some language and turns of phrase are a bit dated, honestly, every chapter has been grabbing. Loving this read.

8. Dracula by Bram Stoker

When a story is constantly being adapted into movies, readers assume they already know the plot — missing the depth and nuance of the original text.

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For me it was Bram Stokers Dracula .

I loved horror since I was a kid, but mostly ignored the more classic horror stories due to the old language despite reading H.R. Lovecraft and Egar Allen Poe stories.

In the past year I was on a vampire kick and decided to finally check out some classic horror stories and started with Carmilla. I enjoyed it so much i got curious about the book for Dracula. I had avoided it for so long partially because I had already watched so many adaptions and vampire properties based off Dracula already. Even though some of the old English of that era is a bit hard to understand (i had to look up what some terms and phrases ment), man was I missing out!

Not only was I surprised to find that a ton of adaptions for the story left out ALOT of elements regarding the lore, but I was given some very interesting character dynamics and characterizations I would not have expected for a novel written for that time. It's almost kind of progressive with how it writes certain characters (Mina being one of the biggest surprises). Laughed in particular when Lucy brought up wishing she could have multiple husbands🤣 Reading it also gave me many ideas why a huge chunk of people see almost as much homosexual subtext in it as Carmilla.

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Same for me! I kept thinking of the old movies/adaptations I had seen growing up and was kind of dreading reading it. I am in the middle of a few reading challenges and one of them is titles in order of the alphabet and as Dracula was my only book that started with a D, I finally gave it a chance. I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I expected and it wasn't as stodgy as I thought it would be.

9. Dune by Frank Herbert

For many readers, the hurdle to starting Frank Herbert’s sci-fi epic was often a visual one. Eventually, these redditors found that the "giant worm book" was far more than they expected.

Comment in r/books

Dune, all I ever saw about it growing up was pictures of a giant worm. That did not appeal to me. When I saw the 1984 movie I saw how much awesome world building was in the story and had to read the book. Probably my favorite book and I love all of Herbert’s Dune books.

Comment in r/books

Dune. I delayed the installation for years because the cover looked like a geology textbook. I assumed it was 800 pages of Sand Physics. I was wrong. It is actually the ultimate manual on Supply Chain Logistics and the dangers of a charismatic leader (the "Messiah" bug).

It turns out that judging a book by its cover, its page count, or its fanbase isn't the best strategy for finding your next favorite read. Whether it's a genre you think you hate or a classic you assume is boring, sometimes the best stories are hiding behind your own misconceptions.

Want more recommendations on what book to pick up next? Check out the full thread in r/books, and find more literary discussions in r/suggestmeabook, r/literature, and r/horror.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Old science-fiction and classic sitcoms are often revisited for their retro visions of “the future,” very little of which has actually come true. Yet every so often, a show surprises with a prediction that lands with uncanny accuracy. In a thread on r/television, one redditor sparked debate by asking "What are some TV shows that were strangely prophetic?" Commenters responded with some expected, and surprising, choices.

1. Star Trek

While flying through space at warp speed isn't a reality yet, redditors pointed out that the show’s smaller conveniences, from handheld communication devices to voice-activated assistants, have become mundane parts of our daily lives.

Comment in r/television

Star Trek had mobile phones and 3D food printers. Waiting impatiently for the rest to materialize

Comment in r/television

TOS predicted mobile phones, while TNG predicted iPads/tablets. Star Trek probably has the claim for most.

But one that blew my mind that don't get talked about as much because I think people just think this technology has existed for longer than it actually has is automatic sliding doors. Doors detecting a body approaching and opening by itself did not exist in the real world for at least a decade after TOS.

Comment in r/television

I would like to point out that the ship’s computer works a lot like modern voice assistants and AI. Sure, Alexa/Siri/Google assistant/ChatGPT can’t quite do everything the ship’s computer can do, but they can do quite a bit of cool stuff that didn’t exist at all when the shows first came out. Tracking where someone is on the ship by their comm badge, for example, is just a more precise version of tracking an AirTag.

Comment in r/television

There is a TNG episode where Data is in his quarters trying to work on what is essentially a laptop, but he gets annoyed because his cat keeps jumping up on his desk. That one really struck me as prophetic.

2. The Jetsons

While often remembered for flying cars, The Jetsons is cited by users as a surprisingly accurate depiction of modern domestic life and work culture. The show’s vision of push-button conveniences, robotic vacuums, and screen-based communication feels incredibly familiar to anyone navigating the work-from-home era.

Comment in r/television

The Jetsons is more prophetic than that.

George presses a button all day at work. He comes home and Rosie the robot cleans the house. Judy prepares dinner by pressing a button on the foodarackacycle. That's entirely familiar to the IT worker with a microwave and a roomba.

But what the Jetsons got more right was less about what would change and more about what would stay the same. George still gets exhausted by his job and frustrated by his boss. He still loves his family but they stress him out. His son is too smart for George to relate too sometimes, his daughter is growing up too fast, and he struggles to keep his wife happy. And 60 years after the Jetsons started, that all remains completely relatable.

3. Parks and Recreation

For a grounded sitcom about local government, Parks and Recreation had a knack for predicting specific pop culture shifts. Redditors highlighted the final season’s timeline, which casually integrated future events that eventually came to pass, ranging from major sports victories to trends in gaming technology.

Comment in r/television

The final season of Parks and Rec is shockingly accurate about major pop culture predictions

Comment in r/television

To name a few, the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series, VR headsets becoming popular and stupid looking, a Twin Peaks reboot (which was a long off sequel, previously thought to be never coming), Game of Thrones really going “off the rails”, and a bonus one- Patton Oswald’s Boba Fett monologue predicted almost shot for shot how he survived the Sarlacc pit.

4. 30 Rock

Viewers feel that Tina Fey’s rapid-fire comedy series was essentially a crystal ball for the media landscape. From predicting the rise of hyper-specific dating shows to the saturation of AI in creative fields, comments suggest that the show's absurdity has basically become our reality.

Comment in r/television

30 Rock.  

AI is brought up pretty consistently without being called AI. From computers writing song lyrics and jokes, to robots spitting out information on request, to Jerry Seinfeld footage being used to recreate him in any show they want.    

There's a show now called MILF manor.    

Biopicks without likeness rights.    

Meat bread at KFC. 

Death of the middle class. 

Short video format.  

 It goes on.

5. Doctor Who

Given that the show is about time travel, perhaps it shouldn't be surprising that Doctor Who got a few things right. However, users pointed out specific dialogue from the 1960s that accurately forecasted cultural and economic changes in the UK well before they occurred.

Comment in r/television

From Doctor Who in 1963, Susan (an alien time traveller) forgets that decimalisation hasn't happened:

"Don't be silly, Susan. The United States has a decimal system. You know perfectly well that we do not."

"Oh of course, the decimal system hasn't started yet!"

The UK decimalised its currency in 1971. Also from Doctor Who in 1965, Vicki (from the late 25th century) is familiar with the Beatles:

"Vicki, I had no idea you knew about the Beatles!"

"Of course I know about them. I've been to their Memorial Theatre in Liverpool."

The Memorial Theatre doesn't exist (yet) but they predicted the long lasting legacy of the Beatles back when they had only recently got big

6. Mr. Robot

When Mr. Robot first premiered, it was immediately hailed as a masterpiece of techno-thriller fiction. But rewatching the series today, it turns out that creator Sam Esmail wasn’t just writing a script; he was practically reading the tea leaves of the next decade.

Comment in r/television

Mr. Robot.

I can’t get into details without spoiling elements of the show, but dang, Sam Esmail is one prescient MoFo.

The season 1 finale had to be postponed for a week, bc the day it was supposed to air there was a tragedy very similar to a plot point in that episode.

In the pilot, Elliot mentions Ashley Madison. The cast didn’t know what that was- Rami thought it was just a woman’s name- because the big hack hadn’t happened yet. Later in the season it comes up again after the hack happens IRL.

In the show there’s a breakdown of society, and rewatching during/after COVID was super weird, bc so many things felt like he foreshadowed them. There’s even a scene where someone is wearing a mask, and it feels crazy bc that became our new normal.

There were just several parts of the show where Sam’s insight ends up playing out IRL, and it was really eerie. A lot of those things are missed if you didn’t watch the show as it aired, though.

Comment in r/television

Was looking for this answer. Also the Ecoin stuff in Season 2 was happening then Bitcoin took off like a month later after the episode with Price trying to leverage it as a legitimate currency to be used everywhere.

Whether by coincidence or brilliant foresight, these shows captured glimpses of the future that still surprise us today. Star Trek got mobile phones right, Doctor Who knew The Beatles would blow up, and 30 Rock had a hunch about AI. The craziest part? There’s plenty more.

Read the full discussion in r/television, and find more conversations like this in r/scifi, r/FanTheories, and r/AskReddit.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

It's always nerve-racking when a favorite book is turned into a movie. Will it be as good? But every once in a while, the movie actually surpasses the original source material. A redditor asked the community on r/movies, "When was the movie better than the book?" They explained:

We always hear 'the book was better than the movie,' but I’m curious about the exceptions. What are some adaptations where the movie really stepped up or even outdid the book? Could be better pacing, stronger performances, a more emotional ending, or just a case where the story worked better on screen. Would love to hear your picks! Maybe controversial...but my pick is The Lord of the Rings.

The popular thread stirred conversation, filling quickly with hot takes and great movies.

1. Jaws (1975)

Steven Spielberg's masterpiece is often cited as the definitive example of an adaptation improving on the source material.

Comment in r/movies

This is easily my top answer.

Jaws is one of my favorite movies ever. Amazing characters, beautifully shot, perfectly paced, and legendary performances from the 3 leads and much of the supporting cast.

I don’t even like the book. Not even a little. I love the movie so much that I read the book twice just to try and like it and I can’t.

The characters are awful and the pacing is screwed by the side stories that were cut out of the movie.

Comment in r/movies

Jaws is a ok book with a shark in it.

Jaws is an amazing movie about a shark with great characters in it.

Comment in r/movies

Jaws.

The book is fine, but the movie is tighter, cleaner, and way more tense. Cutting the side plots was the right call. Spielberg turned a pulpy story into something timeless.

2. Forrest Gump (1994)

The film turned Winston Groom's novel into a heartwarming walk through history, but the book itself was a very different beast. And the sequel caused even more hand-wringing from fans of the movie.

Comment in r/movies

I liked the forest gump book, but yeah it’s silly and the movie is better. My favorite part of the book is when he becomes a pro wrestler who wears a dunce cap and a diaper or something ridiculous

Comment in r/movies

Forrest Gump. People should read the book, it's a wild story. Its a good book but way more unbelievable than the movie. Forrest is very different in the book.

Comment in r/movies

God, the sequel just amped up the zaniness - Forrest was responsible for the Exxon Valdez oil spill, invented New Coke, went to space with a monkey, and ended up in the middle of the OJ Simpson police chase, among other things.

3. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Stephen King's novella is widely respected, but the film adaptation is often hailed as one of the greatest movies of all time. The consensus is that the movie took a great story and elevated it to perfection.

Comment in r/movies

Having one warden and making him evil was a masterstroke.

Comment in r/movies

Yep. The book is great. But adding so much to Brooks, as well as giving the warden a comeuppance is better.

Comment in r/movies

Not only did they film in a real prison that had only closed a short while previously, many of the background supporting actors were former inmates. The insults they hurl, the way they stand around, and the looks they give are all based on their lived experience. They’re not normal extras drawn from the local theater kids club, which is why they feel so much more real.

4. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

Sometimes a movie succeeds simply by making the main character bearable. Viewers noted that the book's protagonist was difficult to root for, while the film balanced the characters' flaws with charm.

Comment in r/movies

The answer to this for me is always The Devil Wears Prada. The protagonist is actually unbearable in the book, but it works on screen.

Comment in r/movies

The Devil Wears Prada film is a big improvement on the book. So much so that the author wrote sequels where she tweaked her characters to be more like their film counterparts

6. Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

The film is a beloved mix of live-action and animation, but the source novel, Who Censored Roger Rabbit?, is a much darker and stranger mystery.

Comment in r/movies

Blade Runner was going to be my answer until I remembered even the author preferred the Roger Rabbit film to his book and wrote a sequel to the film instead

Comment in r/movies

I didn’t know there was a book. I just read the wikipedia summary and it doesn’t even seem like the same story

Comment in r/movies

Because it isn't. About the only things in common are a lot of the main cast (except Judge Doom, he's not in the book) and the idea that cartoon characters have day jobs making entertainment for normal people (only it's photoshoots for newspaper comic strips, not movie pre-show skits).

7. The Prestige (2006)

Christopher Nolan's thriller captivated audiences with its twists and rivalry, overshadowing the original novel. Fans of the film noted the original author had mixed feelings about the adaptation's massive success.

Comment in r/movies

The Prestige. Christopher Priest praised the movie for a long time until it completely overshadowed his work and he got salty about it.

Comment in r/movies

The Prestige is barely an adaptation of the novel. More like ‘vaguely inspired by some plot points of a novel of the same name’.

That said yeah, the novel is somewhat bloodless. But I’m not sure what I would have said if I’d read the book first.

Comment in r/movies

hardly an adaptation considering it's so loosely based (similar to the prestige being very loosely based on the book) but true regardless.

8. Goodfellas (1990)

Adapted from the nonfiction book Wiseguy, Martin Scorsese's film is legendary for its energy and pacing. Redditors praised the director's ability to cherry-pick the right details to create a focused narrative.

Comment in r/movies

Scorsese knew exactly what to cherrypick from the novel to keep the narrative lean and well paced.

Comment in r/movies

Great answer, I didn't dislike the book but it wasn't particularly good either. Goodfellas might be my favorite movie ever

9. Jurassic Park (1993)

While Michael Crichton's novel is a techno-thriller classic, Spielberg's adaptation captured the wonder and terror of dinosaurs in a way the text couldn't. It streamlined the story into a tight, character-driven adventure.

Comment in r/movies

Jurassic Park has my vote. The movie made Hammond a much more interesting character.

Comment in r/movies

Already mentioned, but Jurassic Park. Book is really interesting and a total page turner. Great ideas and tense writing. It’s definitely more of a horror scifi. But the movie is just perfect. The character changes made are great decisions and it’s the perfect blending of a genuinely scary monster movie with fun adventure.

10. The Mist (2007)

Controversial endings can make or break an adaptation, and Stephen King's film's gut-punch conclusion set it apart. Even Stephen King himself has expressed admiration for the movie's darker finale.

Comment in r/movies

The Mist. Mostly because that ending...

Comment in r/movies

Stephen King said he loved the ending, so this is a good answer.

Comment in r/movies

I love both the novella and the movie. Both are fantastic! The book ending works great for a book, the movie ending works great for a movie. It was a perfect change.

In some cases, like The Mist, the author admits the movie is better. In others, a film is so good it’s hard to remember there was a book at all. What movie do you think outshines its source material?

Looking for more movie discussions? Read more in r/movies, and find similar chats in r/books, r/flicks, and r/TrueFilm.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Visual fidelity in cinema is higher than it has ever been, yet many audiences feel less immersed than they did decades ago. Why do some big-budget movies look like polished video games while others feel gritty and real? One redditor asked in r/movies:

We’ve reached the point where ‘Background CGI’ is more distracting than bad practical effects. Which modern movie was ruined for you by a ‘clean’ digital look?
...
am i just getting old or do movies just look like digital sludge now?? i miss when movies felt dusty.

In the resulting popular thread, commenters dissect the "uncanny valley" of modern production design, debating whether the problem is CGI itself or just how it is being used.

The curse of the “clean” look

The primary complaint was not necessarily about computer graphics, but about the lack of texture and grime that grounds a story in reality.

Comment in r/movies

GDT's Frankenstein and Wicked. Both have amazing practical effects, props, wardrobes, makeup, etc just to end up looking fake as a whole because they keep using crappy CGI backgrounds for every dang shot that fill up most of the frame, rendering all that physical work to just looking meh.

Comment in r/movies

For me its all the Volume in Disney properties at the moment. Its instantly recognisable to me, because it doesn't have any depth. The go-to example is of course Ant Man Quantumania where no-one in the cast ever like... interacts with anything! They just stand around talking, occasionally running and punching the baddies. But I'm sure there's like single figures moments in that film where an actor interacts with their environment.

Comment in r/movies

I definitely agree with things looking too "clean" these days. Look at the recent live action Avatar series on Netflix, all of the outfits look like they still have the tags on, they don't look like "real" clothes at all. It very much feels like it's just a person in a costume instead of the character wearing their normal clothes.

The practical effects paradox

What many viewers think of as "practical effects" today may include more CGI than people realize. The original poster had cited "Mad Max: Fury Road" as an example of good practical effects, and commenters noted that the practical effects were supported by good-quality CGI.

Comment in r/movies

I think people would be in for a shock if they knew how much VFX/CGI goes in to some of the movies they praise as practical.

There's a massive disinformation between studios and the audience when they say something is practical when marketing their movie because the people in this thread simply don't have a clue what goes into making a movie with a sizable budget.

When movies look practical they are usually done by directors who know what their doing on set and know how to use CGI as a tool. Take Top Gun: Maverick for example, there's so much VFX and CGI jets in that movie but it's seamless as the director knows what he's doing.

Comment in r/movies

There's a lot of CGI in Fury Road that people don't realise is CGI. A lot of what people assumed to be practical effects was just very good CGI.

Comment in r/movies

It's also objectively hilarious to use Fury Road as some example of peak practical effects when the movie has 2000 VFX shots.

Invisible ink

Ultimately, the thread suggested that we notice the bad CGI because it stands out, but we don't notice if there is excellent CGI — because you're not supposed to.

Comment in r/movies

With CGI is like plumbing, you do not think about it, until it leaks. The better the CGI, the less you see it. I wonder how many movies have actively used CGI to complete shots or modify small things, but goes unnoticed because they did an excellent work.

Comment in r/movies

You'd be amazed how many films have CGI backgrounds/sets. But you just don't notice the good ones.

Comment in r/movies

What is somewhat funny, majority of teams that did CGI for Stranger Things season 4 didn't work on season 5. They did Welcome to Derry instead.

Fincher is able to shove full CGI human double right into viewers eyes and nobody notices, like he did in The Killer.

The consensus among the comments is that CGI is a tool, not a villain. When used to enhance a scene with invisible grace, it is magic; when used as a crutch for rushed production schedules, it creates the digital sludge look that audiences have come to dread. As long as studios prioritize speed over artistry, the debate over visual quality here to stay.

Want to dive deeper into film analysis? Check out the full discussion in r/movies, and find more passionate debates in r/TrueFilm, r/filmmaking, and r/boxoffice.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

We are living in the golden age of speculation. With years-long gaps between seasons of high-budget television, fans have ample time to dissect every frame, analyze every line of dialogue, and construct elaborate predictions about how their favorite stories will end. But is this collective detective work destroying viewers' ability to enjoy the payoff?

In a popular thread on r/Stranger_Things, redditors discuss whether the modern obsession with predicting the ending is ruining the joy of watching everything unfold. The conversation highlights a growing tension between the story on screen and the high expectations people develop while they're waiting.

"Headcanon" creates false expectations

Fan theories, sometimes called headcanon (personal ideas about how a story or character works that aren’t officially confirmed), can set viewers up for disappointment when the story diverges from expectations.

Comment in r/Stranger_Things

You don't have to participate, true. But when post-release discourse is driven by disappointment over theories not coming true, the story isn't being judged on its own terms anymore. That's less "fun speculation" and more crowd-written expectations.

Comment in r/Stranger_Things

I 100% agree with you. Theories can be fine and fun, but the second those theories create expectations for how something will be written and people get unreasonably emotionally attached to said theories that they’re upset when the theory isn’t real, it’s a problem.

But, in all fairness, that’s a problem mainly for those people because they weren’t able to engage with theory without being willing to / okay with being wrong.

Comment in r/Stranger_Things

Totally agree.

Advice for watching TV/films, heck, even some life advice is that fantasy is almost always better than reality.

May be due to the fact you get so wound up in your own thoughts that you imagine all the possible scenarios or get drawn to 1 or 2 that you like/believe in that you almost convince yoirself this is how it will be or how you want it to be. Then when it comes and inevitably differs from your overthinling or imagination that it just becomes a bit.. meh.

There are a lot of creative people out there and fanbases all pulling different theories from one another that this is what writers/directors are fighting with. Eric Kripke (writer of The Boys tv show) has been very vocal about this and his own fear of the show being too big for him to satisfy the fanbase with the ending.

Audiences expect main characters to die

Many point out that shows like “Game of Thrones” and “The Walking Dead” fundamentally shifted audience expectations for characters' deaths, creating a landscape where viewers believe a story lacks value unless main characters are dying.

Comment in r/Stranger_Things

That may be a small part of the problem, but a large one is that GOT and TWD seemingly convinced viewers that multiple deaths were necessary for a story to be “good.”

Movies/shows used to regularly have all protagonists survive or a single noble sacrifice, but after those shows everyone is convinced that unless half the characters die that the show is “bad.”

Folks are bloodthirsty now.

And they all love to scream about “plot armor” whether it’s a relevant concept or not.

Comment in r/Stranger_Things

Yeah it’s beyond annoying that people complain a story has no stakes if main characters aren’t constantly dying.

Lord of the Rings is regarded as one of the greatest fantasy stories and it basically never kills good people. You have one major death in the first book/film and a “fake” out but that’s it. None of the hobbits die, despite being in constant danger, no one else from the fellowship dies despite also being in countless battles.

If it were released today I feel like social media would tear it apart. “I can’t believe how much plot armor Legolas has!”

Comment in r/Stranger_Things

There is an unnerving thirst for the death of these characters that is borderline sociopathic on some of these posts. Feels like some viewers are so desensitised that they almost need the most egregious horrors in order to feel something. 

Social media amplifies the noise

While speculating with friends has always been a part of fandom, redditors argue that the way these conversations take place has changed. The shift from water-cooler chat to algorithmic feeds creates an echo chamber where theories are presented as leaks or certainties. 

Comment in r/Stranger_Things

I’m not referring to fan fiction specifically. I’m talking about theory culture as a whole. You don’t have to engage deeply with it for it to affect how stories are received. Algorithms push predictions, “leaks”, and speculative takes constantly. The issue isn’t how many people write theories. it’s how loudly those theories become the default narrative before the story is finished.

Comment in r/Stranger_Things

I used to handle online publicity for a major studio. This happened all the time. There have been fan theories for decades. It's just that social media, as it always does, injects them into our veins.

It's not the fan theories themselves. They're mostly harmless and often fun. It's that social media is designed to show you the ones you'll want to interact with. So, you'll see the most controversial ones or the ones that pull you into a mini-echo chamber cult.

Comment in r/Stranger_Things

I keep saying it's not the fandom but the fact that nowadays anyone can stumble upon a fandom, whereas in the olden days we had to specifically seek out the fandom.

We used to speculate and the vast majority of the audience was oblivious to these crazy theories. Now they become mainstream, and even get lazy articles in dying "entertainment news" websites.

Defending theorists

Not everyone agrees that the fans are the problem. A passionate number argue that theorizing is a core component of the mystery genre, and a healthy way to engage with art. For them, the issue isn't that fans are guessing wrong, but that writers sometimes fail to deliver logical or satisfying conclusions. 

Comment in r/Stranger_Things

One of my fav things to do when consuming ongoing media is to theorise. With the caveat that IDC if I'm wrong. It's fun to think about characters and plots. To chat with fam and friends. But it's not mt art and I have to accept that no matter how airtight my theory is, the creators are telling their own story.

That freedom of imagination means we can say loads of fun ideas but we don't hope our own fantasy theories play out.

Sounds obvious but....

Comment in r/Stranger_Things

Same, I used to love the IMDb boards back when the Saw movies were coming out in a yearly cadence. I actually only ever came to Reddit because the discussion boards were shut down on IMDb. I love to theorize and I’m wrong regularly, but the moments I guess what comes next is a fun little boost.

I get what OP is saying though, the people who are borderline unhealthy about reading into stuff can be an issue.

Comment in r/Stranger_Things

People aren't angry because they didn't predict the ending correctly. And that's not why they're saying it's bad writing. They're calling it bad writing because it is bad writing. It is not subtle. It is treating the audience like they are stupid and they need to be smacked in the head with a frying pan to understand the point. The dialogue is wooden and over the top. The subtlety is lost. It reads a lot more like a soap opera now or a cartoon than stranger things.

While social media has amplified fan theories, the impact isn’t one-sided. Some viewers feel spoiled or disappointed, while others thrive on speculation. Ultimately, fan theories can enhance the excitement of watching a show or make the ending feel like it was written for someone else’s headcanon. What do you think?

Interested in more TV debates? Read the full discussion in r/Stranger_Things, and explore more conversations like this in r/FanTheories, r/television, and r/AskScienceFiction.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

When there’s a silent letter in a word, is it just decorative, or is there a deeper, historical reason for it? One redditor asked:

ELI5: Why do certain words have letters that aren't pronounced ? What's the point of keeping them ?

This thread in r/explainlikeimfive discussed the mysteries of English spelling, offering a fascinating look into why English orthography often feels so illogical.

The case of "loanwords"

Many "silent" letters are actually present because the word was borrowed from another language where that sound is clearly pronounced. When a foreign word is adopted into English, the pronunciation often changes to fit English patterns, but the spelling is maintained to preserve the word's origin.

Comment in r/explainlikeimfive

The t in Tsunami is pronounced in Japanese. つ　is tsu as in tsunami as opposed to す　which is su as in sushi.

Comment in r/explainlikeimfive

Lots of reasons, but as stated it's often borrowed words. Take pterodactyl for example, in english we are allowed the 'pt' in a word (think septre) but not at the start of a word, unlike greek (it's etymological root is greek) where that sound is allowed at the start of a word.

More interestingly though, a lot of words have letters added to them by English scholars to make them more fancy, or french. Island is a good example this, as the s was added later on.

If this sort of thing interests you, 'words unraveled' on you tube is excellent 

The evolution of spoken language

In other cases, letters were once pronounced but became silent as the language naturally evolved to simplify or shorten sounds. English spelling was largely solidified by the time pronunciation began to shift in significant ways.

Comment in r/explainlikeimfive

In some cases they come from older versions of the same language when we used to pronounce things differently. In other cases they were added by early typographers because they felt having them there was true to their linguistic origins - in some cases those typographers were correct, and in others they got it wrong, but either way we just kept doing it that way.

Regardless of origin, language is the way it is because we use it to communicate with each other, and so maintaining language to be the same as it is for the others we communicate with makes the communication itself easier, even if the spelling and pronunciation is more difficult to learn. It does tend to change over time, usually slowly, but sometimes more quickly. You can change a language if you can get enough people to follow along with a change you want to make, but that is generally not a simple task.

Comment in r/explainlikeimfive

Pretty much all come from other languages, or the way it was pronounced before. Like queue comes from French, and according to the rules of spelling in French, you do need those four other letters

Why not change spellings? Cause everyone agrees how it is now, and who's to decide when to change it?

"What" was pronounced with an aspirated h before, now it is only rarely done so, but at what point do we change it to "wat"? It's easier to just keep it the same way until everyone pretty much agrees the old way is too old

The role of scholarly intervention

Sometimes, silent letters were intentionally added by early scholars or typographers to align English words with their Latin or Greek roots, even when it was historically inaccurate. 

Comment in r/explainlikeimfive

English is a bastard language. It has lots of words from different sources. One of the big ones is French. The spellings often stayed similar to French (which has many silent letters), so we ended up with them as well. Others come from other languages, e.g. pneumonia comes from greek. Still others are from words that didn't have silent letters originally, but people in the past wanted them to be closer to their roots in other languages as far as spelling. So the silent letters were added in. The B in debt is an example, since it has roots in the Latin debitum. At this point, though, it's inertia. The words have been spelled like they are for a long time, and it would look weird if we changed them all

Comment in r/explainlikeimfive

In the case of “island” it is because some scholars in the Middle Ages wanted to be smug and claim that the old English word for an island was somehow coming from the Latin word “insula” (hint: they were wrong) and thus added the s. It was actually something similar to the German word “Eiland” (a bit old-fashioned now), in case you wonder.

As for Tsunami and such - some people actually pronounce the “silent” letters. They are there for a reason.

The unwillingness to change spelling

The main reason English spellings remain inconsistent with their pronunciation is the collective reluctance to change a widely accepted system. In some cases, different spellings prevent confusion.

Comment in r/explainlikeimfive

Disambiguation.

Queue, cue, and "Q" are different concepts. If we chose to spell everything phonetically and as simply as possible at all times in English, we would have to add clarifying language to communicate meaning, which would be less efficient overall than the alternative spellings.

Comment in r/explainlikeimfive

They are in effect vestigial. However it should be noted that we don't read words by spelling out the letters. We recognise entire chains of letters at once. So if you were to remove them, every literate person currently alive would be impacted by no longer innately recognising these words, slowing down comprehension and just generally causing frustration. It wouldn't be an insurmountable issue, but it also wouldn't offer much of a benefit. So ultimately no one can be bothered to try and "fix" the issue.

Ultimately, the silent letters in English words are more than just arbitrary quirks; they are artifacts of a linguistic history shaped by borrowing, phonetic shifts, and the conscious decisions of early scholars. Many words were adopted from languages that had sounds English speakers struggled with, or they are relics of a time when the word was pronounced differently, giving the language a complexity that is difficult to change but rich with historical context.

Want more like this? Read the full discussion in r/explainlikeimfive, and find more conversations like this in r/AskHistorians, r/linguistics, and r/etymology.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Blockbusters are massive hits for a reason, but some cinematic trends today are driving viewers up the wall. In a recent thread on r/movies, one film buff asks, "What fad in moviemaking are you waiting for to die?" The responses poured in, with complaints that covered trends in every stage of filmmaking, from self-aware writing to ugly lighting and bad sound, to post-production visual effects that look fake.

1. Sound mixing that drowns out dialogue

Modern sound mixing often prioritizes booming scores and sound effects over clearly audible speech, forcing home viewers to constantly adjust their volume or to rely on subtitles just to follow the plot.

Comment in r/movies

Desaturating everything, and sound mixing that makes the dialog incomprehensible (looking at you, Nolan).

I like colors and I like being able to understand what the characters are saying.

Comment in r/movies

Well see it’s because it’s optimized for a calibrated surround sound system and not a standard televis…I DONT CARE, I CANT HEAR!

Comment in r/movies

I'm waiting for someone in Hollywood to decide that sound mixing is important in the streaming or Blu Ray release

99% of the time I watch a movie at home I'm constantly messing with the volume to hear the dialog while turning down the action scenes.

2. Flat, boring lighting

Viewers are noticing a trend toward muddy visuals, where scenes lack high contrast and everything feels washed out or inexplicably dark, regardless of the setting.

Comment in r/movies

TV shows have always been completely uncinematic in every way. Especially network TV shows.

This is the only way you can crank out 25 episodes a season. They don't spend an hour constructing a shot with nice lighting, they don't have the time. Only prestige TV has done this.

Comment in r/movies

Sourceless flat lighting. I want my movies to look like they exist in a physical space. Give me natural light sources. Give me shadows. Give me interior shots lit by the light fixtures in frame/that are part of the set.

Comment in r/movies

They light movies with bland diffuse light so that they can "fix" it in post, whereas in the past they used cinematographers and photographers to meticulously plan out the blocking and lighting for each shot.

3. Hyperactive editing

The art of the long take seems to be fading, replaced by rapid-fire cuts that make it difficult to appreciate the set design or an actor's performance.

Comment in r/movies

I hate that so many films can't stay on one shot for more than 5 seconds! Back - forth - back - forth... Your eyes never get the chance to take in a full scene, or to study the actor...you know, ACTING. In broad shots it's always focus centric where things are blurred out that aren't the center of the shot. Older films felt so much more immersive because you had a sort of voyeur perspective. It makes me actually lose interest when there's so much jumping around or I can't take in a full scene.

Comment in r/movies

It's like the opposite of 70's film where the camera would just sit on someone's face.

Comment in r/movies

I work in film and TV and tell this to young cinematographers and directors all the time. If your shot is strong enough or your dialogue interesting enough you shouldn't need to cut.

Some directors with less experience or confidence shoot way too much "coverage". They want every angle possible on the day so they can save themselves in the edit but this leads to less time for lighting, rehearsing, and shooting the more interesting setups.

I'll always cite this scene in Hunger as an example. https://youtu.be/aycGYu_8Hhw

4. The franchise machine

Storytelling often takes a backseat to universe-building, with movies serving as mere advertisements for the next installment rather than standing on their own as cohesive narratives.

Comment in r/movies

Treating a movie as a set up for the next movie instead of a cohesive narrative so it suffers, causing the box office to be shit and the next movie never gets made.

Comment in r/movies

I’ll add to this, having a middle movie where not much actually happens so that everyone can get to the next sequel movie where the things can happen.

Comment in r/movies

The endless stream of sequels, prequels, remakes, and reboots. There are barely any good original, standalone films anymore. Everything needs to be part of a franchise or some repeat or rehash of an existing story. We lived through the second golden era of television and while we were treated to some truly exceptional programs the crux is that films are worse now than they have ever been at any point since colorization.

5. Self-aware, "meta" writing

Writers increasingly use self-aware jokes to point out plot holes or clichés within the movie itself, a tactic that audiences find more lazy than clever.

Comment in r/movies

More screenwriting, but meta writing. Writers seem to think if they write something bad, they can get away with it by having one of the characters in-universe acknowledge that it’s bad.

There’s no cleverness or wit to it. It’s just “Hey look at that bad thing we put into the story, it sure is bad, isn’t it?”

Comment in r/movies

I also just kinda miss dumb action or sci fi movies that were completely earnest and didn’t feel the need to point out how funny things are every few minutes.

Comment in r/movies

As someone who used to write a daily comic strip for fun, I concur. It always pained me to write a meta-joke about something an idea sucking. I did it once, and then never felt right doing it again, because it’s literally the same joke no matter how I slice it.

6. Uncanny CGI de-aging

Instead of casting younger actors or simply allowing stars to look their age, studios are relying on distracting digital effects to turn back the clock.

Comment in r/movies

CGI de-aging. Just let people get old and use good casting for their younger selves.

Comment in r/movies

Movies even use filters now to smooth out the skin of older actors … freakier Friday is most recent example. Gives the entire movie an unnecessary soft look

Comment in r/movies

I forgot which director said it but I agree with them; even in cases where the digital de-aging looks pretty good, I’m not just in the movie I’m thinking “oh wow the digital de aging looks pretty good that’s almost how he looked in that movie from 20 years ago”

I feel like we’ve become allergic to just having different actors play one character for some reason. Just get a younger person, it’s fine

7. Fake digital backgrounds

The shift from location shooting to digital backlots and "The Volume" (LED stages) has resulted in environments that often look artificial and small, robbing films of real-world scale.

Comment in r/movies

CGI backgrounds and fake forest sets just go outside bro … Disney has a fake forest set they love to use

Comment in r/movies

One of the reasons California was where the movie business took off was the great weather and diversity of outside settings all within the state

Comment in r/movies

God yes, I cannot stand CGI backgrounds. I'll switch a movie off if most of it is cgi backgrounds. Give me shots on location or built out sets, this is just cost cutting

8. Excessive shallow depth of field

To disguise those digital backgrounds, filmmakers are blurring out everything but the actors' faces, creating a "green screen" look even in high-budget productions.

Comment in r/movies

Shallow depth of field because everything is shot on a volume or in front of greenscreens.

Comment in r/movies

The freaking soft focus / shallow depth of field fad. Low aperture and often special lenses like Hawk. Scenes focused on the pores of someone's nose and EVERYTHING more than 12 inches behind that is not just "out of focus" but just a mess of smears like an explosion at a paint factory especially all the outer edges of the sceen.

Shogun the TV show was an especially egregious example. Yes I understand the goal of the director here, but don't overdo it to the point of absurdity.

Comment in r/movies

Agree 100% with this. It makes movies feel very unreal. Even movies that are filmed without CGI/green screens don't feel like they exist in real spaces any more because everyone uses shallow depth of field.

9. The death of practical effects

From blood squibs to creature designs, the tangible charm of practical effects is being lost to slick but weightless computer-generated replacements.

Comment in r/movies

Worst part is that even if you think it looks real today, in like a few years it looks old and just bad. Whereas practical effects last a lot longer. 

You can see this pretty clearly in Jurassic Park. They used practical effects in parts, and CG in others. The CG looks dated but at least was done okay. But the practical effects, like the trex scene with the kids in the car, holds up really well. 

Film makers today are making ephemeral content. 

Comment in r/movies

CGI muzzle flashes and CGI blood. Bring back squibs.

Comment in r/movies

Being back practical effects god damnit. I find myself watching movies from the 80s because it’s way more fun to see how they manage to create special effects

10. Geographical color filters

Hollywood relies on lazy visual shorthand to establish locations, often applying heavy filters that distort the natural beauty of the setting for the sake of stereotypes.

Comment in r/movies

Mexico is yellow. The middle east is yellow. It drowns out how beautiful the world is. Watch the old James Bond movies...those things made you want to travel the world.

Now days you see something outside the west and it has the sterility of a hospital room.

Comment in r/movies

Also anything medieval has a desaturated blue filter on it. This is one thing that pisses me off about the Game of Thrones franchise. It started out colorful and bright but by the end the series was dull gray (I guess because it was supposed to be Winter). Now the prequel series have made everything all blue and gloomy. Uhg.

Comment in r/movies

James Cameron also uses blue filter for his night scenes. The night scenes in T2, True Lies, Titanic, Avatar -- they all look fantastic. Wish other filmmakers used it as well. It's old school and still cool.

Trends in movies are cyclical, and what feels tiring today might be nostalgic in 20 years. (Remember shaky cam?) But for now, audiences seem ready to trade today's digital polish for something a little more grounded and audible.

Is there a movie trend you simply can't stand? Read the full opinions in r/movies, and check out similar discussions in r/TrueFilm, r/flicks, and r/Screenwriting.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Finding a new pastime is often as much about the people as it is the activity itself. In a thread on r/AskReddit, users discuss which pastimes seem to cultivate the most welcoming, patient, and genuinely nice environments. If you are looking to take up a hobby with a community that will welcome you with open arms, here is what the internet suggests.

1. Fiber arts (knitting, crochet, and cross-stitch)

There is a consensus among redditors that fiber arts communities exude a welcoming, patient energy often described as "grandma vibes." Newcomers are frequently surprised by how eager veterans are to share supplies, offer guidance, and celebrate wins. 

Comment in r/AskReddit

anything that has ''grandma vibes'' (said by my sister). knitting, crocheting, cross-stitching, embroidery, sewing ... my coworker was hosting a cross-stitching gathering during lunch and initially i sat to just be another body in the room. but then it became so interesting. i told my coworker/the other coworkers who liked those hobbies that i wanted to begin cross-stitching. the next day? they all chipped in to buy me tools. thread, needles, backgrounds to cross-stitch on, patterns to follow ... & they said if i need more thread they'd buy it for me + buy my next cross-stitch pattern. its been so cozy and loving ever since!!

edit: i've never gotten awards before on a post! thank you guys! :D

Comment in r/AskReddit

Probably because it requires a ton of patience and willingness to admit to yourself when you mess up and rip out your past hard work to get back on track. Cant imagine too many crappy people that have those qualities.

Comment in r/AskReddit

When I started sewing a few years ago, I put a request on my Buy Nothing group for any sewing basics that people didn’t need anymore. I was expecting stuff like an old pin cushion. One of my neighbors gave me literally hundreds of dollars worth of stuff, much of it never used. Including nice new fabric scissors, hem gauges, a wool iron mat, wonder clips, fabric, fray check, a magnetic pin block, a magnetic wrist strap, and disappearing ink pens. Such a sweet older lady.

2. Metalheads and concert-goers

Despite an outwardly aggressive aesthetic, the metal community is widely cited as one of the most protective and caring groups, particularly during live shows. The contrast between the intense music and the gentle behavior of the fans was cited by many.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Was at a metal show a couple weeks ago in the circle pit (I’m a woman). Fell down and another guy fell on me and he was shouting apologises into my ear. Before I could worry about my head getting stomped he was lifted off me, a second later a giant of a man lifted me up by my shoulders asked if I was good, and when I said yeah thanks man he gave me a smile and threw me back in the pit.

Metal fans (esp in smaller shows) are awesome people!

Comment in r/AskReddit

culture in the pit is awesome. Just all super aggressive in the middle during breakdowns, but as soon as someone fell over, they changed traffic and 5 people volunteered to block and get them out safely to the open areas. it was a really cool experience for someone who doesnt go to those shows lol

Comment in r/AskReddit

YES!! 🤘🎸 the most welcoming community!!! You can show up in black, in colours, tall/skinny/short/fat, purple or orange, whatever, but if you’re there then you’ve got a team of good people around you to pick you up if you get knocked down.

3. Pottery and ceramics

Pottery studios are described as inclusive environments where the shared goal is simply to relax and create. Because the work is hands-on and often messy, the atmosphere tends to be unpretentious. 

Comment in r/AskReddit

Agreed! So supportive! Everyone always compliments each other and no one acts threatened by anyone else’s talents. I love my pottery studio!

Comment in r/AskReddit

Yeah, that’s been my feeling so far as well. Like all things there are definitely going to be assholes, but overwhelmingly the people going to the pottery studio just want to relax by making things.

Comment in r/AskReddit

pottery and ceramic arts. i've been taking a hand-building sculpture ceramics class and everyone there is adorable. people making gnome jars, little trees growing out of stump as a toilet paper holder, dog that is a candle holder. it's amazing to see the creativity and talk shit, while playing with mud.

4. Birdwatching

Birders are characterized by their eagerness to share knowledge and help beginners spot elusive wildlife. The community is generally seen as peaceful, with experienced members often stepping into mentorship roles to help novices appreciate the local ecosystem.

Comment in r/AskReddit

At 45 years on this planet, by far the nicest group experience has been with bird watchers. The local club activities allow those who are enthusiastic and interested to guide beginners assume that role and they're very inspiring. The ones who take things very scientifically can decide whether to do that on their own or among their best buddies. There's simply room for a lot of approaches, ranging from first-timers asking "what's that cool bird" all the way to people who have ringed birds for scientific purposes for decades.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Two of the most remarkable people that I know are birders. You just walk around being quiet. I wish there were more of them. When I go out in nature, the last thing I want to hear is people noises. I go where there are no people to get away from that.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I'd agree with this. I'm not a hardcore birder by any means; maybe people who reach that level get pretty competitive about it? But casual birdwatchers are almost universally super nice people who just want to hang out in nature and admire the birds. Never had a bad experience with anyone.

5. Hiking and backpacking

The hiking community operates on a strong code of mutual support. Whether it is sharing first aid supplies or simply offering encouragement on a steep trail, hikers generally look out for one another.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Most hikers I’ve come across are kind, welcoming, and friendly. A lot of the community is based on the “today you, tomorrow me” thought process when assisting another hiker with either supplies for first aid / rescue (in worse case).

Comment in r/AskReddit

Hiking and backpacking. Everyone is just awesome on the trail. The harder the hike, the more awesome everyone becomes.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I found hiking to have a very kind and open minded community when I hiked the 2,650 mile pacific crest trail this summer. Everyone was so cool.

Riding a motorcycle across the continent is a little different with motorcycle riders seeming a little more uptight

6. Disc golf

Disc golf is highlighted as a low-pressure, accessible hobby that combines a nature walk with a game. The community is described as laid-back and helpful. For many, the appeal lies in the relaxing atmosphere rather than intense competition.

Comment in r/AskReddit

100% i recently started playing and people are almost shockingly friendly. The very first rando i met tried to leave me with half a dozen of his discs so i could find out what i liked. Said just call the number on em when im done. I met dude in the parking lot after his round. This has now happened 3 times to me which is just absurd to think about in maybe 8 trips out to play. Amazingly nice people. Long let it be that way. Also had the sad yet hilarious moment of 6 randos searching for ine guys disc in the woods for about 30 minutes all so we could just ham it up and help another out. Great community.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Anecdotally, my brother plays disc golf and since he started I think he's become a kinder human.

Comment in r/AskReddit

It’s true. I love disc golf. Couldn’t tell you the rules tho, because I just enjoy being in the woods, smoking weed, and tossing frisbees. The hunt for lost ones always turns into a fun adventure.

7. Fountain pens and stationery

This niche interest attracts a passionate and supportive group of collectors. The enthusiasm for the tools of writing seems to translate into a genuine excitement to see others join the fold.

Comment in r/AskReddit

My dad recently got into this hobby, and the community is so supportive! He is in a lot of groups for resources and I'm amazed how many friends he's made from all around.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Kinda like both, but it shows that people are encouraging and educating others if people want to get into the hobby and regardless of how much the fountain pen costs! Plus, they encourage people to get into writing and art in addition to getting into ft pen technical details!

Comment in r/AskReddit

While some pens can be in the thousands of dollars, I love that this community is happy to celebrate with someone who just bought their first $2 pen on Ali Express or Amazon.

The whole vibe is that they just want you to be happy with your pen.

8. Volunteering

Whether it is working at animal shelters, community gardens, or community committees, redditors found that shared service creates deep, humble friendships. While there can be occasional ego clashes, the majority of people in these spaces are there for the right reasons.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Volunteering & community work, people who dedicate time to helping others tend to be super empathetic. They’ve seen struggles firsthand and usually have big hearts.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Completely agree. I have met the kindest, most humble and genuine friends through volunteer and committee service. The ones with big egos mentioned above always get pushed out. At a certain point it’s not worth taking up staff time to deal with them, no matter how much they give.

For example, my ex’s wife creates so much drama that she gets kicked off committees and boards and asked not to come back from orgs/ events and she’s very wealthy. She co-chaired an event that raised $1M and burned so many bridges she was immediately banned.

I regularly volunteer for 4 nonprofits and I can count the toxic people I deal with on one hand. My friendships nearly 75% are from that community service.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I do volunteering in environmental stewardship (habitat restoration, invasive removal, etc) and I regularly meet the coolest nicest people. It’s been 7 years and no jerks yet.

While every group has its outliers, the consensus suggests that hobbies requiring patience, creativity, or a connection to nature tend to foster the warmest environments. And then, there’s heavy metal shows. Which new community would you be most willing to join?

What other communities come to mind when thinking about hobbies? Read the full discussion in r/AskReddit, and find related conversations in r/Hobbies, r/CasualConversation, and r/MadeMeSmile.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Parenting is mostly about keeping tiny humans alive. But sometimes, it also involves telling small untruths that can get out of hand. One dad recently confessed in r/Parenting a lie regarding his culinary preferences that he's kept going for 16 years, just to keep his daughter from feeling discouraged:

What's something funny that you do for your kids that they will never know about? (Maybe not never tell them but at least wait till they're older)

My oldest made pancakes when she was 5 and burnt the first few... She was pretty upset, so I told her, "No worries, I like the burnt part! So crispy!" I do not, in fact, like the burnt part... but 16 years later I still eat the burnt food mistakes (grilled cheeses, eggs, bacon, pancakes, etc.) But nobody feels bad about burning it anymore, everyone just says "dad will eat it!" and I don't have to throw money in the trash... 🤷‍♂️ I've gotten used to the flavor... I don't know that I will ever tell them about it, lol, my wife doesn't even know.

In the comments, redditors applauded the commitment and shared their own theatrics designed to create magic or avoid meltdowns.

Orchestrating the magic

Sometimes maintaining the whimsy of childhood requires logistical planning that rivals military operations. Redditors detailed the lengths they go to just to ensure the "magic" stays alive a little longer.

Comment in r/Parenting

I used to always stay up to "catch" Santa on Christmas Eve. Every year, Santa would outsmart me. One year my stocking had a mousetrap in it that "snapped" my hand when i reached in side. One year, I stayed up with Nerf guns, and fell asleep so Santa left me a note mocking me for not catching him. One year he left one cookie left on the plate and when I ate it in the morning in front of the kids, Santa magically made it taste like dog food.

It always got so many laughs out of them every year. I am sure they have forgotten about all that now that they are grown, but the absolute joy of "how will Santa get Dad THIS year?" was always part of the Christmas Morning Fun!

Comment in r/Parenting

My husband had our son convinced he had a fully working raisin factory in our house.

As a toddler our son would line grapes up on the window sill to "make raisins" and after bed my husband would eat the grapes and swap them for raisins. They kept that charade up for a long time!

Comment in r/Parenting

I change the head of her electrical toothbrush (different colours) when it’s time and she’s convinced this is the work of a fairy. It all started innocently, I had changed it without thinking much of it and when she went to brush her teeth, she came to me super excited telling me it was magic. I’ve kept the magic going since. 😁

Playing the fool

Nothing boosts a child's self-esteem quite like believing they are smarter or more capable than their parents. These redditors are happy to feign incompetence if it means giving their kids a win.

Comment in r/Parenting

I pretend to be helpless so they feel more confident when they get to help me. For example, there are certain steps in our Christmas LEGO sets that I just can't figure out, no matter how good I am at building LEGO or how many years we've put them together. But it sure makes my son feel great that he can rescue me from those tricky steps. 

Comment in r/Parenting

When someone tells me something I already know — either they’ve told me the story before or it’s a fact I already knew — I let them tell the story anyway and act like it’s new. it’s just nice to have people feel special and let them talk in a conversation.

I’ve done this for years with my kid, and they’ve caught me doing this trick on other people, we’ll be listening in a conversation and I’ll say oh wow that’s neat and my kid has said “dad, you already knew that… you told me about X before”. I’m hoping some day my kid will catch on that it’s just nice to spend time with each other.

Comment in r/Parenting

Oh gosh it's kinda silly, but our 5 year old has autism so he gets a little upset over really specific things, and one of those things is not being first. At everything. We don't indulge in this most of the time, because it's not realistic, but he would get super upset at not being the first one awake in the morning. It was a battle we were willing to let him win cause gotta let them have some victories, so he has an alarm clock and if we wake up before him, we literally dive back into bed before he wakes up and notices. Then we pretend we just woke up. Or we just lay in bed until his alarm goes off. There's been a few times where I straight up hid in the closet while getting dressed so dad could say "mom is still sleeping, let's go downstairs!"

Thankfully the kid has never noticed when the coffee is already brewed in the morning... XD Most of the time we all wake up at the same time but it has created some rather funny moments of pretending we just woke up, oh my gosh, you totally woke up before us!! I'm hoping this will be a funny story when he is an adult.

The unseen safety net

Real life involves heartbreak, wear and tear, and accidental damage. This parent works overtime to smooth those edges before their kids notice.

Comment in r/Parenting

The dog got her favorite stuffy and ripped its nose off - way beyond my sewing abilities. So we sent the stuffy to be fixed at a special stuffy hospital.

In reality, the stuffy hospital was me desperately scouring ebay for a Beanie Boo that they stopped making like 5 years ago(turns out Tiggy the Tiger is actually Pablo the Chihuahua) and inspecting each listing for the one with the most similar markings. After finally getting the replacement, I then spent the day rubbing the new stuffy on all sorts of random surfaces - the basement floor, a pile of dirt in the driveway, a scratchy blanket, etc. - scuffed up the eyes and ears, carefully removed the tag, and then put it through the wash like 5 times.

She has no idea she has an imposter Tiggy and she probably never will!

Comment in r/Parenting

When my daughter was little and we would get into the car in the winter she would ask us to turn on her “butt warmers”. We only had them in the front seats, so I would pretend to switch on her seat warmers in the back. This went on for years. She’s a teen now and sits in the front seat and just recently discovered there are no butt warmers for the back seats and I’ve been pretending all this time. 😬

The invisible makeover

Toddlers often want to mimic their parents' morning routines, but actual cosmetics can be messy. These creative parents invented "ghost makeup" routines that left their little ones feeling glamorous without using a drop of product.

Comment in r/Parenting

For about 2 years when I was getting ready for work in the morning my daughter would ask me to also put on her some ‘eyescara’ (mascara). So I would bring that wand very close to her lashes and pretend to apply it. She always seemed so pleased but never noticed it was even touching her. As she got older I told her about it and we had a good laugh.

Comment in r/Parenting

My 5 year old always asks to put on makeup for special occasions. I have a matte beige eyeshadow that I use as a base so I’ll brush a bit on her eyelids (totally unnoticeable) and say “oooh so fancy!” She’ll smile at herself in the mirror, gracious and happy as a clam :)

Parenting is full of invisible acts of love, small deceptions that bring joy, laughter, and confidence to children. From quietly eating burnt pancakes to creating magic raisin factories, these redditors show that care, patience, and creativity make their children's lives feel a little more magical.

What secret heroic parenting acts have you pulled off? Read the full story in r/Parenting, and find more conversations like this in r/wholesome, r/CasualConversation, and r/MadeMeSmile.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

There was a time in many gamers’ lives when they spent endless summer afternoons laser-focused on mastering a single video game. But as time has gone on, careers, relationships, and responsibilities inevitably chipped away at those free hours. In a nostalgic thread on r/ItsAllAboutGames, redditors discuss how their relationship with the virtual world has evolved over the decades, and asked the question: As gamers age, does the passion for gaming fade away or does it simply transform into something else?

Leaving competitive multiplayer games behind

For many redditors, the most significant shift as they’ve aged is their departure from the high-octane, high-stress world of competitive multiplayer. Players notice reaction times dip and patience for "toxic" players wears thin.

Comment in r/ItsAllAboutGames

Personally, as I've grown older I've more or less completely abandoned competitive multiplayer games. When I was younger I sank hours into CoD, Halo, etc.

Now, I'm in my 30s, and I'm far more interested in indie games and narrative adventure titles. I think this is actually less to do with my age and tastes changing, though - I think multiplayer games have gradually become worse as the publishers push for more and more monetisation. Battle passes, skins, loot boxes, and the like are just annoying. Stuff that was once unlockable through gradual grinding is now locked behind daily/weekly/monthly challenges or simply paywalled. I'd rather pay upfront and get a complete experience.

Comment in r/ItsAllAboutGames

I used to play competitively for years. I retired at 28 and got a new career i enjoy. I cant even play for fun online anymore because I dont have the hours to play a game like a full time job. Add in toxic players, pay to play/win and the fact the Ive lost a step with my hand eye coordination and reaction speed and it just isn't fun or feasible. I prefer storytelling and atmosphere, if im online its gotta be co op on game worth playing. Indie games have surpassed triple AAA games in quality over the last 8 to 10 years too. Dont get me wrong, there are still big publishers making amazing games for gamers but I'll always prefer a game made for gamers by gamers.

Comment in r/ItsAllAboutGames

For me, it was when my response/reaction time declined in my early 40s. It's just not fun when you can't compete.

I don't mind battlepasses and rewards in free to play games though.

Respecting your time

Redditors noted that when they were younger and cash-strapped, the primary metric for a "good" game was often hours per dollar: A 100-hour RPG was a better investment than a 10-hour action game. But as they became adults with disposable income and limited free time, that equation flipped. The ability to drop a game that isn't fun without feeling guilty about the money spent is a newfound superpower of adulthood.

Comment in r/ItsAllAboutGames

The two biggest things for me are that I no longer need to buy games at launch, and that's allowed me to take way more chances on games I otherwise wouldn't. Everything from Ubeatable to The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood both of which have been enjoyable.

The second of which is that I don't need to finish a game to have gotten my money's worth. Like I played probably 45 hours of Assassins Creed Valhalla and thought it was great.

Comment deleted

Comment in r/ItsAllAboutGames

I don’t know if it’s my age or the fact that we have access to millions of games, but I have very low tolerance for games that blatantly waste my time. Why would I do fetch quests in some MMO when I could do anything else with my time?

Comment in r/ItsAllAboutGames

The older I get the less I enjoy longer games with “tons” of things to do. I now like my games to be concise and deliver a refined, clear experience with little fluff or padding. As much as I love Breath of the Wild, if I played it for the first time today I don’t think I would like it nearly as much

Embracing "easy" and "story" modes

There is often a stigma in gaming culture around playing on "easy" or "story" modes; however, older gamers in the thread proudly admitted to dialing down the difficulty. For these players, gaming has transitioned from serving as a test of skill to a method of decompression. They want to experience a rich narrative and explore beautiful worlds without getting stuck on a boss fight for three days straight.

Comment in r/ItsAllAboutGames

I used to prefer fast-paced games. The kind that require great mastery of mechanics and a lot of free time to master.

Nowadays, I prefer games with rich storylines. I no longer have time to waste on hours of memorizing combos and tactics, so I prefer a good story — in fact, my favorite games are the ones where I can dive deep into roleplay.

Comment in r/ItsAllAboutGames

I'm with you on this. Sometimes I take a few weeks away from a game, and it's nice when I can just step back into the story without having to learn the whole game all over again.

The love of gaming remains

Despite the changes in genre preferences, platform choices, and available free time, one sentiment rang true across the entire discussion: The love for gaming isn't going anywhere. Many users described how, even if they now play differently, their passion has actually intensified. Whether it is building a massive backlog on Steam or introducing their children to classic games, these redditors view gaming as a lifelong part of their identity.

Comment in r/ItsAllAboutGames

It hasn't, and that's the point.

When I was younger l, my parents debated on whether or not I should be allowed to play games. I was gifted an NES, N64, and GameCube over the years, but they would always restrict WHEN I could play them. They were very vocal about how they thought games were a waste of time.

Well, I'm 37 now. I have two Pokemon home accounts. A steam account with over 300 games. An Xbox Series X, PS4, Switch, and hundreds of games from probably over a dozen consoles.

I will never stop. It is part of who I am, and if I die with a controller in my hand...

Then I will die happy.

Comment in r/ItsAllAboutGames

Having started in 1988 I’ve seen games change dramatically. I love how immersive gaming has become. I usually play on normal because my fingers don’t move too quick anymore, but I’ll be gaming until the day I die. No doubt about it.

Comment in r/ItsAllAboutGames

I started gaming when I was like 6 years old. I'm currently 39 and I play games even more now. Mostly narrative driven games, but to be honest, as long as it looks fun, I'll give it a go. Currently playing the PS5 version of Hades after dumping nearly 100 hours into the PS4 version. It's the perfect mix of gameplay and lore.

🤔 Currently, my most hours logged in a game is Minecraft, because I play it to relax and catch up on podcasts, but I've clocked like 3500 hours.

The thread paints a picture not of gamers "aging out" of the hobby, but rather aging into a more subdued version of it. While the competitive fire may dim and be replaced by a desire for artistic appreciation and relaxation, the joy of escapism remains constant. The simple act of pressing "start" becomes less about proving something to the world and more about enjoying some peace within it.

Want more gaming discussions? Read the full discussion in r/ItsAllAboutGames, and find more conversations like this in r/patientgamers, r/retrogaming, and r/truegaming.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Background music is supposed to be part of the scenery. But sometimes, a score hits so hard that it stops players mid-mission to listen and appreciate. A redditor asked the community on r/gaming, "What are the game soundtracks that made you stop playing and just listen?" They shared an example to kick things off:

Recently, it was in Expedition 33, "une vie a t'aimer". So powerful, I just stopped playing, turned up the volume, and listened.

Looking for more of this !

In the comments, gamers shared the soundtracks that made them stop and take notice.

1. Hollow Knight

While this indie game darling is renowned for its overall atmosphere, one specific part of the game stands out as the perfect marriage of visual design and melancholic audio.

Comment in r/gaming

This happened to me in hollow knight on a few occasions, but most notably when I first entered the city of tears.

Comment in r/gaming

Yup that's the special part of that game that makes you stop and listen to the music and the rain. One of the few "perfect scenes" from the hundreds of games I've played.

Comment in r/gaming

NGL, I'm not great at the game and put it down after spending four hours to beat Hornet... but that whole soundtrack is on my regular playlist.

2. NieR: Automata

The NieR series is legendary for its compositions, with fans often citing the bizarre yet beautiful carnival scene as a moment of pure auditory pleasure.

Comment in r/gaming

NeiR Automata, carnival scene. That was surreal

Comment in r/gaming

I will never forget that moment. When the lyrics started. I legit couldn’t do anything but listen. Pure chills.

Comment in r/gaming

Yeah

That whole sequence was something else. The way it just shifts from philosophical robots to this twisted carnival nightmare really caught me off guard.

Comment in r/gaming

NieR Automata / Replicant. I'd pay full game price msrp just for the soundtrack

The Sound of the End from Automata is a personal favorite

3. Persona 5

When the rain starts falling in Tokyo, this role-playing game switches to a track that perfectly captures the cozy, introspective vibe of a wet city night.

Comment in r/gaming

Persona 5 Beneath the mask

Comment in r/gaming

The rain version makes me pause for a moment every time I hear it. It’s so peaceful.

Comment in r/gaming

It's so relaxing I could read for hours listening to it

Comment in r/gaming

I've still got rivers in the desert on my Spotify playlist

4. Hades

While known for high-octane action, this roguelike contains a quiet, hidden chamber where a mythological figure sings a song so beautiful that players refuse to interrupt it.

Comment in r/gaming

My pick is definitely Hades. The first time I reached Asphodel and got to Eurydice's room, I had to stop on the spot because the music was so beautiful. It was like I had found a little piece of paradise in the middle of hell. I listened to the entire thing before speaking to her the first time, and I did so hesitantly because I felt like I was interrupting her.

No other game has made me feel like I had to stop and listen to the music before or since.

EDIT: Honorable mention to Risk of Rain 2 when it finally got out of early access and they added the moon level. Some people complained about the looooong hallway for being empty... but the song man, THE SONG. I wanted to cry, it really felt like the end of the journey at that time, since I had followed the game's development during the early access.

Comment in r/gaming

I scrolled too far for this. Overall Hades has an amazing soundtrack, but Eurydice was so hauntingly beautiful

Comment in r/gaming

The voice of Zagreus, Darren Korb, does the music for supergiant games. They're all incredible, but for me nothing beats getting to the end of Bastion and that song hits.

Comment in r/gaming

I played Hades with the music turned down because I like to watch something else while I play. After I beat the game the first time, the song in the credits was so good that I stopped everything and just listened to the whole thing. Then, I went in and turned the music back up. It's so good, and such a big part of the game's personality

5. Destiny 2

Fittingly for a game centered on travel and discovery, the adaptive score shifts seamlessly to match the player's movement, creating an emotional experience without words.

Comment in r/gaming

Journey.

The way the music flows and adapts within the gameplay so seamlessly is just so magical and emotion inducing.

Comment in r/gaming

It wasn't the only video game soundtrack to be nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media for nothin.

Comment in r/gaming

Destiny 2 at the beginning of the Red War campaign, when “Journey” starts playing after you wake up from getting kicked off of Ghaul’s ship. I stood around just listening because it’s such a beautiful song.

Comment in r/gaming

In Destiny 2, whenever I am in orbit and Journey (with the choir) comes on I just sit and listen. So beautiful.

6. Skyrim

The title melody alone is enough to make players listen before starting the game. Another favorite moment is the track "Secunda," playing while witnessing an aurora at night.

Comment in r/gaming

Skyrim - Title melody when you start the game. Always listened to it before I started playing, so epic.

Comment in r/gaming

Anytime Secunda comes on when playing Skyrim. I go from running around to just slowly walking through the forest or wherever I am.

Comment in r/gaming

Skyrim’s Tundra affects me pretty deeply. The soft female chanting chills me to the bone, but in a good way. Like I feel a new emotion that only occurs during that track. I’ve fully disconnected from real life and I’m born unto Tamriel.

Comment in r/gaming

Secunda from Skyrim. I just have to stop and stare at the sky until it finishes.

7. Death Stranding

Hideo Kojima's walking simulator uses licensed tracks to punctuation long treks, causing some players to abandon their vehicles just to prolong the moment.

Comment in r/gaming

Death Stranding 1 & 2 have great OSTs.

Comment in r/gaming

These are the only games where I was driving somewhere in a vehicle and after the soundtrack kicked in, I actually got out and went on foot. Honestly can't think of another game where I decided on a slower mode of transport just to take the music in.

Comment in r/gaming

Death Stranding - the original, not the director's cut.

Music was so rare that when it did happen I would become engrossed in it.

Comment in r/gaming

Oh for sure death stranding. The opening scene of just running and the music playing. Really sets the scene and emotion of what's being shown. So artistic

8. Outer Wilds

In a game about time loops and cosmic mysteries, the realization of what specific musical cues mean hits players with a heavy emotional weight.

Comment in r/gaming

Outer Wilds iykyk

Comment in r/gaming

That moment, five seconds after End Times starts, when it hits you that it’s actually Final Voyage.

Comment in r/gaming

Signal Simulator the main theme, Outer Wilds (the whole soundtrack has me sitting there and wanting to cozy up on a campfire), the radio in Pacific Drive... and more but I can't remember off the top of my head.

Comment in r/gaming

The Outer Wilds.

Especially the track at the end of the game, 14.3 Billion Years or The Campfire Song.

Gets you right in the soul.

9. World of Warcraft

Players often rush to the endgame, but certain zones in the Wrath of the Lich King expansion featured music so compelling that adventurers simply stopped to take it in.

Comment in r/gaming

World of Warcraft - Wrath of the Lich King.

Stormpeaks has the best music in the whole game, and, the first time I heard the theme, I stopped playing and just... listened.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38TA-X0dXr4

Comment in r/gaming

I still do that everytime I go there for the Time-lost proto-drake.

Comment in r/gaming

World of Warcraft. For the zones I go with Eversong Woods, Elwynn Forest, Wintergrasp. Arthas My Son is probably my favorite though.

10. Bastion

This indie classic pioneered the use of dynamic narration and acoustic "frontier trip-hop," creating unforgettable story beats driven entirely by song.

Comment in r/gaming

Especially that last level... I didn't see those feelings coming in so hot

Comment in r/gaming

Build that Wall is an all time favorite song of mine... and the instrumental playing until you find her and her humming... man what a great song and game.

Comment in r/gaming

This is the one. I got the CD of this soundtrack and it's still one of my top choices to listen to at work.

It doesn't matter if it's a high-budget orchestral swell or a quiet acoustic track in an indie gem, great music can do more than just fill the silence. What's your favorite video game soundtrack?

Read the full thread in r/gaming and find more recommendations in r/gamemusic, r/Soundtrack, and r/videogames.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Sometimes, the most effective productivity hacks aren't found in expensive apps or complex time-management systems, but in the simplicity of a snack bowl. In a thread on r/productivity, a parent shared a surprisingly effective study method discovered by their 13-year-old son involving nothing more than a bowl of pumpkin seeds.

Today, my 13-year-old son told me how pumpkin seeds help him get stuff done. We get big bags of the seeds from Costco, because they're a good snack. Apparently, he'll pour some into a small bowl and tell himself that he'll keep working until all the seeds are gone. Since they're small, it takes awhile to get through them all. He just eats one every few minutes as he works and ends up getting a solid hour or two of productivity. I might need to try this.

Creative problem-solving often comes from the youngest minds looking for a way to make deep focus more sustainable. While exploring this peculiar technique, redditors weigh in with their own unconventional rituals for staying on task, ranging from shelling pistachios to staring at themselves on Zoom.

The "snack timer" technique

The pumpkin-seed hack effectively gamifies focus. Others in the thread shared how they use food not just for fuel, but as a deliberate pacing mechanism to create natural breaks and rewards.

Comment in r/productivity

I did this with almonds at work. Refilling the almonds was a natural break.

My coworkers would do the same thing with coffee or smoke breaks.

Comment in r/productivity

He might have done more for productivity than 99% of gurus out there lol. Unfortunately I don't like pumpkin seeds so I will have to try this with oreos.

Busy hands, quiet mind

For many, the barrier to productivity isn't a lack of energy, but the urge to fidget or scroll. These users explain how unshelled nuts act as a crucial tactile distraction, keeping their hands too busy to reach for a mouse or phone while their brain stays engaged.

Comment in r/productivity

I like to use unshelled pistachios when I need to think about something at work. The shelling keeps me from mindless browsing the internet because my hands are occupied so I can’t easily use the mouse. The fidgeting helps me think. The protein helps me actually have the energy to do the thing once the thinking is done.

Bonus tip, when I am very distractable, I put a post it on the edge of my screen with the one and only thing I’m trying to do at that moment scribbled on it.

Comment in r/productivity

I do this with sunflower seeds when I'm out of medication. I have really bad ADHD and I constantly get distracted when I'm doing my readings. For some reason occupying my mouth with the cracking and spitting frees up my brain to concentrate. No idea why, but it's helped me finish a lot of assignments in my four years of college.

Comment in r/productivity

I always reach for the broom at work when I need to regroup. There’s always cleaning to be done, I can catch my breath, start plotting my next move, my area stays cleaner, and it shaves time in the long run becuase you can’t neglect cleaning.

Visualizing the "done" pile

While to-do lists can feel overwhelming, physical representations of completed work offer a hit of dopamine. Commenters detail their unique ways of tracking progress, from filling jars with paperclips to crafting origami stars for every finished task.

Comment in r/productivity

It reminds me of another redditor's tactic - they have a jar with paperclips.

Every done to do, they drop another paperclip into the jar.

Yeah, it's strange BUT - Different Strokes for Different People. If it helps get tasks done, do embrace it.

I've been reminding myself of DSfDP a lot, to better neuter the autojudge-y sector of my brain when it comes to other people's productivity hacks.

There was a thread recently about how its OP makes a "done list" instead of a "to do list", which made my brain automatically went ?!?!?! at because "to do lists" gradually turn into "done list".

That said, a done list is kinda similar to jar of paper clips and your son's pumpkin seeds tactic. Each of them represents done tasks.

Comment in r/productivity

i fold a paper star as a small reward and break for every task i do

Comment in r/productivity

I used to take great pleasure in making my daily to-do list at work on a piece of scratch paper and when the to-dos were finished I'd stab it on a nail. When the nail got too full to add more I'd flip through the lists and think about how much I'd gotten done in the past few months (even good reminders for performance review time) before starting afresh. So satisfying!

Whether it's the tactical consumption of pumpkin seeds or the satisfying act of stabbing a completed to-do list onto a nail, the consensus among redditors is that novelty helps the brain stay engaged. These unusual hacks work because they add structure, reward, and a little bit of fun to otherwise mundane tasks.

Want more productivity hacks? Read the full discussion in r/productivity, and find more conversations like this in r/GetMotivated, r/lifehacks, and r/DecidingToBeBetter.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Office birthday collections can be a sweet gesture, right up until the suggested “small contribution” turns into a workplace loyalty test. In a thread in r/AmItheA**hole, one redditor shared a situation where a coworker asked everyone to pitch in $20 for a birthday gift and cake for someone the redditor barely knew. When they declined, the office vibe shifted:

Throwaway Account , I'm 30M and i work in a mid-sized office, about 30-ish people total.

Last week an Susan 48F went around the office saying we were all chipping in for a birthday gift for a coworker( Jenna 38F or 37F not sure ) Anyways She works in a different department than me, and while I recognize her face we’ve maybe exchanged a few hellos in the hallway. We don’t work together and have never talked outside of that.

Susan (the organizer) suggested everyone pitch in $20 for a gift card and a cake.. I didn’t respond at first. Later that day, the Susan stopped by my desk and asked if I was in. I said I was going to pass, since I don’t really know Jenna and don’t usually participate in office gift collections unless it’s someone I work closely with.

She looked surprised and said, “It’s just $20 ” I told her I get that.. but it feels weird to me to pay for gifts for people I don’t have a relationship with. She kind of brushed it off and said okay, but after that things felt awkward.

Since then, a couple coworkers have been noticeably colder toward me, one even joked that I’m “that guy” (meaning who doesn’t put $20 in) , anyways I’m starting to wonder if I broke some unspoken office rule and came off as cheap or antisocial.

I don’t mind celebrating people I actually work with, but I also don’t think gift giving should be mandatory, especially for someone I barely know. AITA for saying no?

The dilemma, and the chilly aftermath, sparked a lively debate in the thread.

When “just $20” turns into a $600 gift

In the comments, redditors got stuck on one detail: the math. If the whole office is paying in, a “small” contribution stops feeling small fast and raises questions about where the money actually goes.

Comment in r/AmItheAsshole

30ish x $20 would be $600. That would be quite the gift card and cake. Susan must be quite the party planner and quite the office gossip. Feel free to be that guy -- the one who can do simple math and doesn't contribute toward office celebrations for people in other departments whom he doesn't actually know. The one who isn't intimidated by Susan, who never ever should have told anyone else whether or not you contributed. (But don't eat any of that gold-plated cake.) NTA

Comment in r/AmItheAsshole

NTA.

$20x30=$600.

Sounds like Susan is saving a lot of that money for herself.

Ask them what about Jenna makes her worth a $600 gift.

Comment in r/AmItheAsshole

NTA, “$20 for a gift card and cake” in that office comes out to $600 per birthday, a cake would be around $50 to $100 (depending on size) which leaves a $500 gift card.

Someone in that office is making out like a bandit and I doubt it’s the birthday girl/boy.

Work friends are not required

A second cluster of responses zoomed out from the situation and focused on workplace boundaries. To these redditors, office celebrations are optional, and the pressure to participate is the real problem.

Comment in r/AmItheAsshole

Yuck. NTA. I have never worked anywhere where we were expected to chip in for gifts. The company should take care of that, if at all. One company I worked at had a cake at the end of the monthly company meeting and sang happy birthday to everyone with a birthday that month. Voila. They also had “baby showers” for expecting parents (cake, onesie with company logo, gift card for Target or something—paid for by the company of course). It’s a much smaller cost for the company to do it and it avoids awkward situations like the one you’re in.

Comment in r/AmItheAsshole

Could we please normalize going to work to actually work and stop the artificial "we're one big family here" pretense?

Comment in r/AmItheAsshole

NTA.

"It's just $20." BS. Even if you knew Jenna well, it's still not an obligation to pitch in for someone's birthday at work. In this economy, $20 is the price of someone's home-cooked meal. Susan needs to accept no as an answer and move on.

The fear of non-reciprocity

However, when the original poster weighed back in and shared that their main worry was missing out on their "turn" after contributing to others' funds, the redditors raised questions of fairness and motivations.

Comment in r/AmItheAsshole

Oh in that case YTA - I’m shocked you have an expectation of a birthday gift. So is Susan supposed to note down that you didn’t contribute to Jenna’s gift and not to approach Jenna to contribute to your birthday?! You expect her to only approach the people that she knows you contributed for throughout the year? And she’s supposed to do that for everyone? It’s cool not to participate in the birthday Round Robin, but by refusing to contribute you’re also saying I don’t want a birthday gift for my birthday and I’m cool with that. 

Comment in r/AmItheAsshole

That is the risk you run. Also, make sure you do not have a single bite of Jenna's cake.

Comment in r/AmItheAsshole

You gotta pay to play. You don’t get to pick and choose when to participate and then call it a D move when it’s your birthday and you don’t get cake.

Start something new

Other redditors thought the poster could take the opportunity to create a new birthday system in the office, one they felt many people would be grateful for. They even provided suggestions.

Comment in r/AmItheAsshole

Screw it, it's not worth it even for the reciprocity. If she doesn't do your b'day, bring a big box of donuts for your department only and change the tradition. Then maybe organize the party (as in refreshments, not some crazy-ass gift as picked out by Susan) for someone who's on the same wavelength as you and an office friend. For which people can chip in 5 bucks or some sane amount for some sane refreshments for some sane number of people. Or maybe if your team goes out to lunch, the group can buy the birthday person's lunch and drinks at the celebratory meal. Ending the ridiculous Susan plan.

Comment in r/AmItheAsshole

My office had a thing that the person whose birthday was last would buy the cake for the next persons birthday. 

Everyone always got standard cakes, and it was sweet.

Mine comes along?

Mini cupcakes. The really tiny ones. 

At its core, the debate was less about being generous and more about expectations. Some workplaces treat birthday collections like a harmless tradition, but plenty of redditors argued that this stops being optional the moment someone follows up at your desk or once coworkers start keeping score. A lot of people also pointed out a basic issue: if the math is unclear or the process is inconsistent, even a well-meant tradition starts to feel like a shakedown.

Want more like this? Read the full thread in r/AmItheA**hole, and find more workplace conversations in r/AskHR, r/careerguidance, and r/workplace.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Every job has its own language and shortcuts, known only to those that work there; but sometimes that inside knowledge can be life-changing—or at least money-saving—for the rest of us. In a thread on r/AskReddit, redditors from every walk of life shared the one thing the general public should know about their work.

1. Always wash new clothing before wearing it

A garment might look pristine on the rack, but it has traveled through factories and shipping containers before reaching the store. The fabric is often coated in chemical preservatives or has been handled by dozens of people.

Comment in r/AskReddit

New, clean clothing is handled by people who come to work sick (because they need the money) and sometimes don't wash their hands after they use the restroom.

We don't wash it before it ships.

**Wash new clothing before you wear it **

Comment in r/AskReddit

Not to mention the chemicals/residue's that lots of clothes have on them from the manufacturing process!! Wash your clothes before you wear them folks!!

2. Children often behave completely differently at school than at home

Parents are often shocked at parent-teacher conferences when teachers describe a child who is completely different than the child they see at home. Teachers think parents should realize that the shift in environment and social expectations effects their children's behavior.

Comment in r/AskReddit

As a teacher for 8 years with a minor degree in Childhood & Adolescent Developmental Psychology...

your child is most likely a completely different person when at school as compared to how they are at home. When they're with you, they are "the son/daughter/little brother/ little sister, etc." At school, they fit into a different social hierarchy and can be either more or less assertive/involved when they are among children their same age and given a little more autonomy.

Comment in r/AskReddit

My son is a wonderful little boy but he is like a wild animal at home. He runs around like crazy bouncing off the walls, it's impossible to get him to start his homework or do any chores. But every year we go into his parent-teacher conference and ask about his behavior in class and every teacher fawns over how he is a perfect student. Apparently he's extremely respectful at school, follows directions well, engages in classroom activities, and is excited to do his work, but when he gets home he has completely exhausted his focus and control for the day. I'm really glad he's well behaved for his teachers, I just kind of wish you could save a little bit of that focus for when he gets home.

3. Restarting your computer really does fix most technical problems

It has become a cliché for a reason, but refreshing the system clears out temporary errors that users cannot see. Tech support suggests this first because it is universally the most effective quick fix.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I’m going to tell you to restart your computer 99% of the time, knowing that’ll resolve the issue.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I was training someone at work yesterday (nursing). His computer was acting up. He looked to me for help, and I said, “Oh, that computer probably hasn’t been rebooted in ten years. I’d start there.” He messed around some more and looked at me. “I would just reboot it.” This went on for about five minutes with me telling him to reboot the damn thing like seventy-eleven times.

Turns out he didn’t know how to restart a PC.

4. Most project delays are actually communication failures

When a construction job or corporate initiative falls behind schedule, it is rarely because of a lack of materials or talent; the real bottleneck is almost always a breakdown in how people talk to one another.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Projects don’t fall behind because of tools or materials, 90% of delays come from bad communication and people waiting on answers.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Too funny I landed my most recent position based on this question. What is the most important thing in project management. My answer open and clear communication. I later learned the reason I was brought on was because a project was 2+ years behind. The main root of the issue, nobody understood the PM. He spoke PM speak and degraded anyone who had questions, people were afraid to speak. We let him go, the team closed out the project in 10 months. Former PM had just stated the project would go on another 2 years.

5. Even master craftsmen make mistakes (they just know how to hide them)

Perfection in manual work is less about never messing up and more about knowing how to recover gracefully. Experience teaches a worker exactly how to blend a flaw so the client never notices.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Expert craftsman still make mistakes they’re just way better at hiding them.

Comment in r/AskReddit

There's this YouTube channel with a great woodworker. Really precise mostly with his work. But he has some extra sawdust on hand always. When a cut isnt perfect he mixes the sawdust with glue and fills in the gaps to hide it on the surface, after sanding it looks just as good. Less work and waste than having to cut over again when the piece is slightly wonky.

6. Librarians are eager to help you access resources beyond books

Public libraries are vast hubs of information and specialized equipment that go far beyond what is displayed on the shelves. Staff members can sometimes even source obscure items from across the country — all you have to do is ask.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Librarians love giving you free stuff, and you can often borrow way more kinds of things than you think. If you're polite and the desk isn't slammed, you can ask us damn near anything. Even if we can't find an answer, we'll at the very least point you toward someone more likely to get you one. What we can do directly depends on the library (public or not, how well funded, specialized, etc), but we can get...creative. 

Also, interlibrary loans. If your library doesn't have a specific book, we can usually get it from another library at little to no cost to the patron. Or, worldcat.org will tell you which libraries have what, if you want to go get it yourself.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Most libraries now offer a “library of things” and you can rent everything from power tools to tarot cards to baking pans to musical instruments to dvd/vcr players/recorders, museum or zoo passes, blood pressure monitors. For Halloween my kids checked out a ghost hunting kit and it turned into a core memory for all of us

7. Bank employees can often refund fees if you explicitly ask

While automated systems are designed to maximize revenue, human agents often have the discretion to reverse charges. The key is to be direct and polite rather than waiting for an offer that will never come.

Comment in r/AskReddit

In banking, don’t be afraid to explicitly ask for a fee refund. As a bank employee, my employer does not want me proactively offering fee refunds. But if you ask for it, I have to at least try to refund it.

If you do ask for it but are denied, know that that decision was likely made by a machine and request a manager to refund it. This works the first, maybe second time but will eventually stop working if you make it a habit.

These insights remind us that every profession is mysterious to outsiders, filled with quirks, inefficiencies, and shortcuts that only become visible with experience. Whether it is realizing that librarians can grant access to much more than books or simply remembering to wash a new shirt, these tips bridge the gap between experts and the public. One lesson learned: Just ask!

Find more insider secrets by reading the full thread in r/AskReddit, and find more conversations like this in r/careerguidance, r/lifehacks, and r/socialskills.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Staring down a 25-hour travel day is daunting for even the most seasoned flyer. But where does one even begin to prepare for such a journey? When one redditor had a super-long flight to South Africa coming up, they asked for help surviving it from r/TravelHacks:

I’m flying to South Africa in May and my total travel time is about 25 hours each way 😅 Any tips on making such a long flight more bearable? Things to bring, ways to stay comfortable, or how to manage sleep and jet lag would be super helpful.

In the comments, the community stepped in with a survival guide, breaking down their strict protocols for staying sane, hydrated, and reasonably rested at high altitude.

The nonnegotiable gear list

Experienced travelers believe comfort is something you can engineer with the right tools. Redditors insist that certain items, from footwear to audio equipment, can make the difference between a miserable flight and a restful one.

Comment in r/TravelHacks

You may be able to order your meals ahead of time. Check your airlines website for this. Special meals are usually served ahead of other people. If you manage to eat first, it usually means you can get to the lavatory before other people.

Get a good sleep mask. The one I use is called Manta Sleep. It is significantly more expensive than most out there but it is super comfortable because it has eye cups. It also blocks out almost all light.

Invest in noise cancelling headphones. Ones made by Sony or Bose are amongst the best, but they are also quite expensive. Opt for the over the ear style because they are more comfortable to wear over long periods of time and have long battery life. They also typically have 3.5mm cables that you can plug into the inflight entertainment system.

Wear a zip up hoodie with pockets during the flight to keep warm. It's also easy to put on and off. The pockets are handy to stash your phone, etc. Never store anything in the seat pockets because they're likely not cleaned very often and you could easily forget things in them. Consider a fanny pack, small messenger bag or backpack to keep everything organized and safe.

Definitely bring a USB battery bank, but make sure it meets your airlines restrictions. A 10,000 mAh unit will suit you fine. Please know that many airlines do not let you use or charge them while in flight because they are a fire risk. Do not put a battery bank in your checked luggage or keep it in your carry-on while it's in the overhead bin. You should keep it in a place where it's easily accessible.

Try taking a sleep aid like melatonin to help you feel drowsy. Also drink plenty of water during the flight to avoid dehydration.

It's a good idea to brush your teeth while on flight to help you freshen up. There are water free disposable toothbrushes that have toothpaste inside them too. They're a lot more convenient than dealing with your normal toothbrush, toothpaste and water. I wouldn't even brush my teeth with tap water in an airplane.

Try to stand and walk around the plane as much as you can to avoid stiffness. Do that as much as possible during your connections too.

When you get to your destination, get as much sunlight as possible to help with the jet lag. It's fine to take a nap if you need it, but limit it to 10-15 minutes or else you'll have trouble falling asleep. Jet lag tends to be worse flying Eastbound since you're losing time. Flying Westbound tends to be better because you're gaining time.

Comment in r/TravelHacks

I'll add a handful of personal hygiene items to this list. Toothbrush, mini toothpaste, deodorant, face wipes, lip balm, change of underwear and perhaps t-shirt.

You are going to feel gross after a long haul but even if it's only making use of transit time to freshen up as best you can, it really makes a difference.

Book/kindle, iPad with downloaded content. There are usually movies, shows etc but they might not be your interest and if you're very unlucky your screen might not work.

Source: Kiwi, pretty much everywhere is long haul for us

The hydration mandate

The airplane cabin environment is notoriously dry, and the community emphasized that a proactive, almost militant approach to drinking water is the best way to combat jet lag.

Comment in r/TravelHacks

I regularly fly 24+ hour routes. Sleep comes second to hydration on those flights. On a 13-16 hour flight, my only goal is consuming ~0.5L of water per hour. I generally get up to use the restroom once an hour (aisle seats are best for long haul) and take short naps in between. Every time I use the restroom I take a few minutes to stretch in the emergency exit area. Toe touches, squats, torso twists, arm swings. I’ve found compression socks help with the stiffness as well.

It may seem like a lot of water, but the air in the cabin is extremely dry. A lot of what makes jet lag unbearable is just dehydration combined with shifting your schedules.

Comment in r/TravelHacks

How has no one suggested electrolytes? I like Drip Drop (seems to have a better range of vitamins/minerals than other options). I drink some before boarding and then throughout the flights(s).

Comment in r/TravelHacks

Neck pillow, hydration pack like liquid IV. Empty bottle for water refill. Stay away from free drinks. It will make you dehydrated. Try to adjust and sleep during South Africa night time so that you can adjust easily. Melatonin for sleeping. There will be lot of breads will be served over the meal course. I would avoid eating all the breads. You can also do meal selection before travel on the airlines website. Please choose meal if you have dietary restrictions.

Choosing your territory

The debate between aisle and window seats is fierce, with valid arguments for both. However, everyone agrees that securing your preferred spot in advance is worth the extra effort or cost.

Comment in r/TravelHacks

I just did 30 hrs. If you can upgrade your seats it makes a big difference. Get lounge access. This is one of those times where it's worth paying extra for comfort.

Comment in r/TravelHacks

When you get to the airport ask about an upgrade. They will often sell premium seating for a fraction of the cost if they aren’t reserved. I do it all the time. My husband & I flew economy plus to Europe for free & flew home in First Class for an extra $200. I’ve also flown First Class cross country.

Comment in r/TravelHacks

book an aisle seat,  so you can freely walk whenever you want,  you will get a bit more space for legs amd elbows as well because of that.

I had a flight recently and got an autoassigned middle seat,   it was hard, the guy was sleeping in an aisle seat, so I didnt want to bother him every hour to walk.  

Comment in r/TravelHacks

Disagree - I always choose window seats for long-haul flights so I can sleep better. It allows you to lean against the sidewall / window of the plane with your pillow. Aisle seats only make sense for people who want to go to the bathroom or move around a lot. I prefer to try to sleep for as many hours as I can, then get up and stretch / move for a little bit before meals.

In the end, a daylong flight is less of a journey and more of an endurance test in which preparation beats luck. The strategy is simple: Drown out the engine hum, hydrate as much as possible, and find a way to get some sleep without annoying your neighbor. The goal isn't just to get to the destination, but to arrive with sanity and circadian rhythms relatively intact.

Want to master the art of the long haul? Read the full discussion in r/TravelHacks, and find more travel wisdom in r/solotravel, r/Flights, and r/Shoestring.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

In the chaotic, sleep-deprived reality of raising young children, most parents quickly learn that flexibility is a survival skill. Plans change, vegetables go uneaten, and screen time limits vanish when a kid is sick. However, almost every parent has a few core principles on which they refuse to compromise, no matter how difficult the day becomes. In a thread on r/toddlers, redditors weigh in on the "parenting hills" they are willing to die on.

1. Accidents are handled with grace, not anger

Many redditors described growing up in households where spilled milk or broken glass was met with immediate shouting or punishment, leading to a lifelong anxiety regarding accidents. The consensus among these redditors is that a child should never fear their parent's reaction to a genuine mistake.

Comment in r/toddlers

Things are just things. I got yelled at a lot for accidentally breaking dishes when I was a kid. I am very chill about things getting broken occasionally. We clean it up, talk about safety and being careful, and tell them accidents happen and I'm glad they're okay. I will never treat a spill or an accident like a big deal. I just store anything precious away till my kids are old enough to be more careful.

Comment in r/toddlers

Sometimes I will drop/spill/break something and get frustrated with myself. Without fail my 3yo will see and say “It’s ok mommy! We can always clean it up!” 🥹 heals my heart to hear him repeating what I’ve told him over and over.

2. Bodily autonomy is absolute

A major shift in modern parenting is the emphasis on consent and bodily autonomy. These redditors are adamant that their children are not obligated to offer physical affection to anyone, including their parents, if they do not want to.

Comment in r/toddlers

Body autonomy. If my child doesn’t want to hug/kiss someone, that’s perfectly fine, no matter the relation! And in the same vein body talk. There’s no ‘fat/thin’ in my house, only ‘healthy/sometimes food’- my eldest is slight and grandma used to constantly comment on his stature, I fixed that real fast, we don’t comment on that Thankyou very much

Comment in r/toddlers

This is ours too. I was always made to hug all relatives upon greeting or saying goodbye. It stuck with me, and nobody is entitled to forced affection from my kid.

3. Emotional expression is encouraged, not suppressed

Many users recalled being told to "stop crying" or that "crying doesn't solve anything" during their own childhoods. In response, they are adopting a vastly different approach with their own toddlers.

Comment in r/toddlers

My dad was a big proponent of “crying doesn’t solve anything.” I get the idea that crying often won’t fix situations, and it’s good to focus on being productive to problem solve, but damn. I was not allowed to shed a tear in his presence without having to hear that phrase.

I’m raising two boys and I refuse to say it. I tell them, “it’s ok to feel your feelings. And when you’re ready, we’re going to dry our eyes and try to solve the problem.” At 3 and 5, they’re already better at regulating their emotions than I ever was.

Comment in r/toddlers

My child will never be told 'you're fine' when she's upset, and she'll never be made to finish her plate!

4. Retiring the dreaded "because I said so"

The phrase "because I said so" is a classic parenting trope, but for many in this thread, it represents a missed opportunity for learning and trust. These parents prefer to explain the reasoning behind their rules and decisions.

Comment in r/toddlers

I refuse to ever say ‘because I said so’ to my kid! My mother in law and I had a huge argument about it she was so condescending and laughed saying that I will say it since all parents do eventually 🙃 I stood my ground and told her to either support me with it or don’t be around us so she now says if I’m ever struggling she will help me explain things so I don’t ever have to say it

Comment in r/toddlers

Because I said so truly takes away the learning moment! Am I telling you to pick up your toys? If you ask me why & I said because I said so - he learns nothing. If I say, because it’s not safe and if you trip, you can hurt yourself. He’ll get it.

So proud of you for standing your ground with your mother in law! And kudos to her for following along!

5. Shyness is not a flaw

Being quiet is often treated as a behavioral issue that needs correcting, but these parents are fiercely protective of their children's right to be quiet

Comment in r/toddlers

I’m with you on being shy! I hated that as a kid.

Comment in r/toddlers

I second this. Children internalise things they hear about themselves. I think it often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. I was a very shy kid but I honestly believe that if people would not label me as shy and repeat it to me constantly, I would manage this part of my personality differently and maybe with a better success.

Comment in r/toddlers

Me too! Or my least fav was when I was finally coming out of my shell a bit and someone would have to comment on it. “Wow I’ve never heard you talk so much!” Annnnnnd back into shell I go

6. Dining tables are screen-free zones

While technology is an unavoidable part of modern life, many parents in the thread are drawing a hard line when it comes to mealtimes.

Comment in r/toddlers

iPads in restaurants. No judgement, I don’t know the stories of the families we see at restaurants with iPads. But it’s not for us and it’s a hill my husband and I are both willing to die on.

Our other one is no social media until she’s at least 16 but there’s a solid chance it’ll be 18. No smart phone. Yes I know kids can find workarounds and we will have ongoing conversations about safe and healthy social media use, red flags to watch out for, all of that. But we’re not enabling it.

Comment in r/toddlers

My husband and I agree on the iPads at restaurants thing. Granted, our son is only 2 so there’s still time for me to eat my words lol but it’s the one thing we’re really trying to hold strong on. We don’t plan on getting him an iPad anytime soon and limit TV time as it is. At restaurants we bring 2 toys and 1 book and let him play with things on the table (stacking coffee creamers, pretend to read the menu and point out the pictures, if they give him crayons we’ll color together, etc).

We recently went out to dinner with family from out of town and my husband’s nephew (4yo) was literally just on his iPad the whole time. Granted my SIL said he didn’t take a good nap and was really cranky so the iPad was the way to keep him from having meltdowns during the dinner but alternatively our son was playing with his toy car, a book, coloring, and interacting with everyone the whole time. It was such a noticeable difference and in that moment it made me realize that I want to hold off on an iPad (or phone) for literally as long as possible for my son.

7. Honesty takes priority over punishment

Honesty is a core value for these redditors, but they approach it differently than previous generations. Instead of punishing lies, they are creating systems where truth-telling is rewarded or at least met with amnesty.

Comment in r/toddlers

No matter what a kid tells you they shouldn't get in trouble. If, of course, you want them to keep telling you.

Comment in r/toddlers

Yep same here. I will always honor my word when it comes to that, if you tell me the truth I won’t get mad.

My kid confessed to me she had been lying about something recently, nothing major. She was just worried we’d get mad or upset with her. I thanked her for telling me the truth finally and we talked about it some more. I asked why she was finally telling me the truth now and she said because I know lying is wrong and that I shouldn’t lie to you or daddy.

I stayed calm the entire time, I asked her if she learned any kind of lesson and i asked her that she please tell me the truth in the future.

There’s been a few times she’s broken something and she’s came to tell me about it. She reminded me that I told her if she tells me the truth I won’t get mad and I told her yes that’s right and I don’t get mad. And she will admit that she knows it’s not ok to keep secrets from us.

Comment in r/toddlers

What I tell my kids is that if they tell me the truth about what happened, the first time I ask them.. they will still get in trouble for what happened BUT if they lie.. they will get in 10 times more trouble. Lying is worse that doing something stupid in the first place. Usually that’s how I portion it to my kids. Tell me the truth, okay let’s apologize, there will be some appropriate consequences, let’s move forward. Lie to me?? Oh boy you’re in for a very unhappy ride!

It is clear that for this generation of parents, the "hills to die on" are less about obedience and manners and more about mental health, respect, and breaking negative cycles. These parents are hoping to send a generation into the world that knows their feelings are valid and their bodies belong to them.

Want more parenting stories? Read the full discussion in r/toddlers, and find more conversations like this in r/Parenting, r/Mommit, and r/daddit.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

One redditor in r/travel recently shared how a brief solo excursion to Portugal dismantled their previous ideas about what makes a trip successful. By trading "must-see" lists for aimless wandering, they discovered a level of peace they hadn't found in years of structured vacations. Here is the story of that perspective shift:

I just got back from a few days in Lisbon and it wasn’t even some big bucket list trip I’d been planning forever. I booked it pretty last minute, didn’t overthink the itinerary and figured I’d just see how the days unfolded.

What surprised me wasn’t the landmarks, but how different everything felt when I stopped trying to maximize every hour. I walked a lot, wandered into random neighborhoods, and sat in cafés longer than necessary just watching people come and go. At one point I was sitting near Miradouro de Santa Catarina, was playing on myprize and realized how rarely I let myself just exist somewhere without feeling like I should be doing something productive.

In the comments, redditors share their own experiences with "slow travel" and offered support to those nervous about going solo.

The beauty of the aimless wander

Many redditors agree that some of the best travel memories don't come from famous landmarks, but from the quiet, unplanned moments found while simply walking through a neighborhood. They argue that removing the pressure to "see it all" allows for a deeper connection with the actual atmosphere of a city.

Comment in r/travel

I had the same realization in Ghent, Belgium on a last minute, 3 night trip. Spent a few hours just sitting on a park bench in a gorgeous square, surrounded by medieval buildings while enjoying an adult beverage and people watching. Time well spent.

Comment in r/travel

Yesssss at least the first day or two if I’m somewhere new — that’s a feeling you only ever get once. No agenda, no plans, just aimlessly wandering around to see what’s up.

Comment in r/travel

I refer to it as slow travel, walk tons, enjoy people watching and self discover the new environment. When possible, try 3 weeks or more to really get the feel for a locale.

Comment in r/travel

I just spent 6 weeks in Cascais, Portugal doing the same thing. It was wonderful. I wandered the neighborhoods around where I was staying, walking at a slower pace because I wasn’t in a hurry to get somewhere. Looked at the buildings and the people and just relaxed.

I didn’t have a car so I stayed around there most of the time and took trains or buses when I decided to visit somewhere else for a day. Very relaxing and much less stressful.

I recommend it for anyone, if it’s a week or 6 weeks. Just go and try to enjoy the place you are without having to find all the “cool” things to see.

Mindfulness through solo exploration

Without the need to entertain a companion or stick to someone else's schedule, redditors found they could appreciate their surroundings with a level of intensity that is often missing from daily life or group trips.

Comment in r/travel

I agree.

I think that it’s easier to achieve mindfulness when traveling . First, because it’s a unique, special situation. Inevitably we appreciate the things we see and do in ways that are so difficult to achieve during daily life.

I think that’s why many crave travel. Once I figured this out, I’ve tried to do this more where I live, with varying results. A nice hike or a trip to the local zoo sometimes does it.

Second, this mindfulness thing is easier to achieve when traveling alone. Sitting in a particular cafe or park or staring at a particular painting can get me into a zone of just being and appreciating.

I love traveling with friends and family and sharing what I love, but some (not all) of my favorite memories of various cities are from traveling alone, doing simple things.

Comment in r/travel

I love traveling alone because you get these kinds of quiet, meaningful moments much more often. No stress, no plans, just enjoying.

Balancing structure with spontaneity

While the "no-plan" approach is highly praised, some redditors note that a tiny bit of structure can act as a helpful anchor.

Comment in r/travel

I like to strike a balance between planned activities and unplanned time. It's nice. I typically don't go on trips without any itinerary at all because there are usually some specific things that drew me to a place initially, so I want to make sure to see or do those things.

Comment in r/travel

Absolutely, if you allow yourself to be open to anything, everything is possible. I like to do a lot of research, make bookmarks on Google Maps so I have a vague outline of what I’m interested in doing and then just flaneur around the general area if I end up doing what I was aiming for great, if not maybe I’ll do a it next trip. I also take a ton of photos so I usually chase the light rather than catch the sites.

Comment in r/travel

There's a beauty to not planning every minute of a trip somewhere. I prefer to travel this way and I get to discover things I otherwise wouldn't if I planned everything in advance. Restaurants, shops, etc.

Some structure can be good, but not every minute needs to be optimized.

Comment in r/travel

This. I have a "packed" plan, but it's never rushed. Having a nice lunch or snack, walking between sites and down streets, taking public transport, etc. is just as important for a trip and getting to know a country as visiting a museum, so I always include time for that in the itinerary.

The shift from checking off tourist attractions to simply "being" in a new place seems to be a major milestone for many travelers. Whether it's sitting on a park bench for three hours or getting lost in the backstreets, these moments of stillness often stick in the memory far longer than any museum tour.

Want more travel stories? Read the full discussion in r/travel, and find more conversations like this in r/solotravel, r/digitalnomad, and r/PassportPorn.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.

Sometimes the truth is hiding in a dusty attic, a misunderstood conversation, or an open browser tab. Whether it's a close personal relationship, a past family history, or a workplace scandal, everyone's heard of a secret coming to light and blowing up someone's life. A redditor crowdsourced the r/AskReddit community, "What‘s a secret you found out by accident and were never supposed to know?"

Redditors weigh in with stories where a lapse in judgment or a stroke of luck exposed truths that had been hidden for years.

Transparency in the workplace

Strict confidentiality regarding compensation and internal strategy are often inherent to professional environments, ostensibly to maintain order and morale among the staff. However, when technical errors or administrative oversights provide employees with a sudden, unfiltered look at sensitive data like salary spreadsheets or layoff lists, chaos can ensue.

Comment in r/AskReddit

About a year before I was fired from an upper management job, I realized that the spreadsheet sent out from a new HR rep included a tab (of probably 20 tabs) of all employees salaries. The spreadsheet was sent to about 20 upper management employees to enter performance scores or something. Idk. I discovered my boss was making $600k a year, quite a bit more than me to say the least. I kept it a secret until after I was fired. Then I told the HR VP just to scare the crap out of her since she didn’t fight for me to keep my job. I let her believe that I still had a copy of the spreadsheet. I didn’t but it felt nice to know she probably lost some sleep. And I don’t feel bad about it at all.

Comment in r/AskReddit

When I started a new job in late 2019, early 2020, I was hired with 7 others for the same team. One of us new hires, I don’t exactly know who, found saved on the shared folders a file that ranked all the interview candidates of the job we were just hired for. This file was created by two of the seniors on the team who has been in all the interviews. Each person was ranked 1-whatever number they interviewed. And then notes and opinions about each person… definitely should have been deleted.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Once I accidentally opened a mislabeled folder at my first internship and found detailed bonus calculations showing who was secretly overpaid. I kept quiet, but it completely changed how I viewed office politics and “fair” work.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I overheard my boss praising my work to someone else when they thought no one was around. It completely changed how I saw myself at that job. Confidence boost unlocked.

Comment in r/AskReddit

We had a new accountant and when they sent the monthly project numbers to everyone authorizing them to work, she sent the company project masterfile with everyones pay, and full projected hours (which meant those who were being removed in 3 months now knew). They didn't last long with us.

Hidden family secrets

Family narratives can crumble when a single piece of evidence reveals a history far more complex than the version shared around the dinner table. These discoveries can surface during major transitions like moving or settling an estate, exposing everything from biological truths to carefully protected shames.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Found an old diary of my mum's when I was helping her move. Found out when she was pregnant with my brother, my dad left and said he didn't want to be married anymore as too young. This was 5 years before I was born so I guess he changed his mind.

Comment in r/AskReddit

That my aunt likely hawked a family heirloom, replacing a ruby with a fake before passing it so generously onto me lol. My dad made a big deal of the fact that she passed the ring on to me…the family never sold it, even in dire straights during the depression. What an honor. Im named after this aunt btw. I get engaged and inherit the ring. It has a scratch? Erm arent rubies suoer hard? When i went to get it polished, the jeweler confirmed it was a fake. My dad flipped out thinking the jeweler is a crook and had swapped the stones out himself to keep our oh so valuable one. I think he couldnt face the obvious alternative: his sis he idolized likely spent that stone in like the 80s and hid it. Poor dad! I super like my glass ring tho 👍🏽

Comment in r/AskReddit

When I was about 15, I found a box of old unsent letters my dad had written to his own father while I was looking for some camping gear in the crawlspace

Growing up, my dad was the typical stoic provider always had an answer, never seemed stressed. But those letters were full of him admitting how terrified he was about money, my health when I was a baby, and just feeling like a failure

It completely shifted how I saw him. It was the first time I realized he wasn't this invincible superhero he was just a guy trying his best and hiding his anxiety so I could feel safe. I never told him I read them, but I’ve been a lot more patient with him ever since

Comment in r/AskReddit

I have one of these.

My mother inherited her grandmother's ring in the 1970s. It was a sapphire set in gold and silver with diamond chips.

At some point, probably after she had to declare bankruptcy in the late 1970s, the sapphire was removed and replaced with blue glass.

I don't care. I still got my great grandmother's engagement ring. It's not just the stone. It's the thought behind it.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I found out I had a sister I didn't know about while reading my mom's medical records from when she was pregnant with me. She eventually told me and I pretended like I didn't know. We actually found each other a few years ago thanks to DNA testing. She grew up in the town right next door and I was in the same grade as her cousin.

Uncovering unfaithful behavior

Daily routines and digital footprints can provide a trail of evidence that contradicts a person's public image. An ill-timed glance at a phone screen or a decision to follow a suspicious outing can dismantle years of carefully maintained deception.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Saw my dad’s search history when I was in high school. He was searching about what to do or how to tell if your spouse is cheating on you. :( He and my mom are still together.

Comment in r/AskReddit

My father would disappear every Saturday saying he was going to visit his mother in Jersey. Then return on Sunday...as it was a long drive. Then one Saturday afternoon...Grandma called. She wanted to speak to him. I said...isn't he there with You???? She said in her best Scottish accent... "Are ya daft! I havent seen him in weeks! " .oh really?...so next weekend when he took.off to visit his "mother" again...I followed him. Didn't have to go far....he drove one town over to the house of a divorced family friend who always flirted innocently at parties and gatherings. Next weekend...I left first and waited at the end of the block....before he left for his "mother's"again. Sure enough...he pulled up shortly afterwards. That's how I discovered his affair. And the second one after that.

.

Comment in r/AskReddit

Found out my parents got together when my Dad was still married to another woman. Found the legal papers where his first wife filed for divorce on the basis of abandonment and infidelity, naming my mother as the person he was cheating with. Mom doesn’t know I know.

Comment in r/AskReddit

That my boss was cheating on his wife.

I sat beside him on a conference. I glanced at his direction and caught a glimpse of his phone screen. I noticed he was chatting away with someone on his phone and he's using heart emojis while at it. I got curious so I peeked discreetly. The text on his phone is set to large so I can read his texts clearly and I can see the name of the person he's texting. It was a colleague of ours who is HALF HIS AGE ffs. He was 50 at that time btw.

Comment in r/AskReddit

I was scrolling my moms computer when I was 13, to find out if she was cheating on my dad because I had an inkling and didn’t want to go to him without proof. She had returned to online college at the time to finish a degree, found out she was paying for papers to be written so she could pass for hundreds of dollars. Also found out she was cheating on him with two separate people.

These stories show how private information can surface through mundane accidents, revealing the hidden lives behind closed doors. Whether sparking professional shifts or personal clarity, these jarring discoveries can actually provide the insight needed to navigate situations effectively or to understand loved ones more deeply. Have you accidentally learned a secret you weren't supposed to?

Want to hear more confessions? Read the full discussion in r/AskReddit, and find similar conversations in r/CasualConversation, r/AskReddit, and r/Questions.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.