Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Debate Which Traditions Should Have Never Existed

People Debate Which Traditions Should Have Never Existed
Andre Jackson on Unsplash
Make us preferred on Google

People like to say that there is nothing wrong with routine or tradition and generally there isn't... until there is, of course. The truth is there are myriad traditions out there actually inhumane and antithetical to human life.

Meanwhile, other traditions (like public proposals) are much more innocent but pretty annoying depending on who you ask.

Why not toss them all out and start over again, eh?


People shared their thoughts with us after Redditor bewarethechameleon asked the online community:

"What traditions should have never existed?"

"Those pricks..."

"Those pricks that slam a birthday cake in someone’s face."

Lumbers33

If I paid good money for a wedding cake, I'd be so, so annoyed if someone did this to me. Especially on a suit!

"Brilliant marketing..."

"Diamond engagement ring being X months' salary. Brilliant marketing, but utterly ridiculous. I say this as a girl who isn't inherently against sparkly rocks."

usuyukisou

Yeah... there's no reason why they should be expensive. Going in debt for an engagement and/or a wedding sounds absurd to me.

"Every bride..."

"Wedding industry. Every bride is a princess all of a sudden."

baloneycologne

Even those who aren't necessarily trying to be fancy find that it ends up costing a fortune anyway. Backyard weddings are the way to go.

"Removing..."

"Removing a woman's clitoris in some African countries."

PrimaryTry5326

Female genital humiliation is horrible. A horrendous practice that traumatizes young women the world over.

"Those ass backward cultures..."

"Those ass-backward cultures where it's 'tradition' for a bride-to-be's in-laws (usually male in-laws) check her for 'purity 'That needs to stop."

cullymama

A few years ago, the rapper T.I. revealed that he would go to gynecologist appointments with his then-18-year-old daughter to "check her hymen," an admission that exposed him to immediate criticism.

"Honor killings."

"Honor killings."

"The concept of honor killing doesn’t add up. Someone does something that smears your family name so you decide to off them. And this achieves…what? Now you’ve got a murderer in your family."

EveryStranger9696

The idea behind it is that if your family or family's name has been desecrated in any way, it is the honorable thing to do to defend your family in retaliation. If nobody in the family fought back, it is seen as being weak.

"Over the top..."

"Over the top public proposals."

Selinakyle91

I think I would be mortified. Putting someone on the spot like that is like giving them no other option BUT to say yes.

"Foot binding."

"Foot binding. One of the few things the Chinese communists did right was exterminating that practice."

tripwire7

When I was a child, I read Homesick: My Own Story, a memoir by the author Jean Fritz, who spent the first twelve years of her life in China. At multiple points, she spoke about her amah, a woman by the name Lin Nai-Nai.

The descriptions of Lin Nai-Nai's bound feet have stayed with me all these years later.

"No one on the internet..."

"Over-the-top baby gender reveals. No one on the internet cares about your baby's gender, so stop trying to overdo it to go viral."

JVHazard

I have never met anyone who has actually done one of these and I don't think I want to.

"I predict..."

"Influencers putting their kids on social media for entertainment's sake without their consent. I predict 10-15 years from now there will be a ton of court cases of grown up kids of influencers suing their parents."

carissadraws

Data privacy is going to be next major technological revolution, mark my words.

What a world we live in. While some traditions are humorous, even harmless, others are detrimental, even cruel to human life. What would it take to change them? The answer is undoubtedly complex.

Have some observations of your own? Feel free to tell us more in the comments below!

Want to "know" more?

Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Oprah Winfrey; Whitney Houston
Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images; Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Oprah Winfrey Sparks Debate After Sharing Untold Story About Whitney Houston Falling Off Stage On Her Show

Oprah Winfrey recently spoke at Cannes Lions about her success as a TV show host and personality, while focusing on the dedication and loyalty of her studio audiences over the years.

The example she used to demonstrate her audience's loyalty involved the final time Whitney Houston appeared on her show.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Mike Johnson; Folarin Balogun
C-SPAN; John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images

Mike Johnson Gives Mind-Numbing Response After Being Told US's Top World Cup Goal Scorer Is A Birthright Citizen

House Speaker Mike Johnson was called out for his response to a reporter who pointed out that the leading World Cup goal scorer on the U.S. Men's National Team is actually a birthright citizen.

The case of star player Folarin Balogun has sparked conversations on birthright citizenship as the Supreme Court prepares to rule on a challenge to the policy. Balogun is eligible to represent the United States solely because he was born on American soil, a right President Donald Trump has sought to end.

Keep ReadingShow less
Actors Zendaya and Tom Holland pose during a red carpet event for the film "Spider-Man: Brand New Day."
Andreas SOLARO / AFP via Getty Images

Tom Holland Helps Zendaya Avoid A Wardrobe Malfunction In Front Of Photographers In Viral Video—And Fans Are Swooning

Holy almost-wardrobe malfunction, Spider-Man!

Tom Holland and Zendaya continued proving why they're one of Hollywood's favorite on- and off-screen couples after sharing a sweet moment during a Spider-Man: Brand New Day press stop in Rome.

Keep ReadingShow less
Will Ferrell; Molly Shannon
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images; Michael Buckner/Variety/Getty Images

Will Ferrell Credits Molly Shannon With Saving 'SNL' With One Of Her Iconic Characters In Poignant Hollywood Walk Of Fame Speech

Picture this: Will Ferrell was just three episodes into his premiere on Saturday Night Live.

He join the show right after the SNL team decided to do a clean sweep and let go of its full cast, despite the previous era being one most fans deemed the funniest and most creative, with Adam Sandler, the late Chris Farley, the late Phil Hartman, Dana Carvey, Mike Myers, Chris Rock, and Rob Schneider, aka the "Bad Boys of SNL."

Keep ReadingShow less
Ariana Grande
Christopher Polk/2026GG/Penske Media via Getty Images

Ariana Grande Has Hilariously Iconic Reaction After Accidentally Sharing NSFW Photo On Instagram

At this point, most of us have had the experience at least once of letting someone look through our photos and realizing that—oops—there's some adult content in there.

Now imagine making that mistake in an Instagram photo dump. While also being one of the most famous people in the world.

Keep ReadingShow less