Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

The Worst Ways People Have Seen Someone Ruin Their Life

Every day, people are faced with small choices like what clothes to wear or what to make for breakfast.

They make their day-to-day decisions without thinking too hard, and the result isn't something that can drastically alter their lives.

But there are some decisions that can take a devastating turn that wind up being self-sabotaging.

Maybe they should've considered their decision more carefully.


Curious to hear from those who've witnessed people take a major misstep, Redditor hairyhedge asked:

"What Was The Worst Way You Saw Someone Ruin Their Life?"

It took an instant of carelessness to cause permanent consequences.

Fatal Swing

"A fellow barfly I knew was an MMA fighter. Had won some regional matches as an amatuer, his gym was promoting him, he was in talks with a MMA promotion."

"A guy mouths off to him. He replies. The guy takes a swing. He punches him and the guy hits his head on the pavement. Dies. 5 years for manslaughter."

– BakedTatter

Unprotected​

"A friend of mine decided to not use protection with a girl he’d just met… for a whole weekend… without asking if she was using any contraception at all. I often feel really bad for this poor baby dragged into this world out of sheer stupidity."

– Onelinersandblues

Misjudgment

"Drunk buddy climbed into bed with his Mother in Law because she thought she was into him…she wasn’t. Ended…poorly."

– Chance-Rush-9983

You always have a choice between a good and bad decision. These people chose the latter.

That's A Turnoff

"A girl I crushed on super hard in high school started doing meth, and began sleeping with her dealer, who was a Juggalo with a rapidly diminishing amount of teeth."

– littlebitsofspider

The Price Of Addiction

"I watched a mate lose 2 houses and $500,000 to cocaine in one year."

– ThunderClap_Fween

Breaking Trust

"19 yr old cousin. Started hanging with gangs, introduced to Meth and gained a gambling habit also, faked pregnancy and stole from family and made it look like others were involved which irreparable trust was broken between innocent parties that some have never recovered from."

– Superunkown781

Point Of No Return

"One of my friends turned to alcohol and all but gave up on life after his mom passed. It eventually caught up with him and he passed away at the age of 32. The sad part is that there were signs that he wanted to get better and wanted to get life together again. It was just too little too late and he went about it the wrong way."

– wert989

Remembered

"My brother. Heroin addiction. He was always an odd kid, but a very talented guitar player, and one of the most thoughtful, caring, funny, and unique people I've ever known. He passed away four years ago from a fentanyl overdose. I miss him everyday, but he brought so much joy to the lives of those around him that the memory of him isn't a sad one. I laugh way more than I cry when I think about him."

– Wepoozelator

Poor management of finances led to impoverished lives.

Sure Path To Bankruptcy

"A guy I used to work with got himself into crazy levels of debt."

"A local guy won the lottery. Nothing major, but still life changing. Something like $30,000. We were all on our lunch break, talking about what we would do if we won that much. I would pay off these credit cards, or I would trade in my car for a newer model. This guy says that it wouldn’t make a difference. At 23 he was already over $200,000 in debt between credit cards and personal loans."

"He would just get another loan to pay something off, and keep borrowing. A few months later he was complaining about how he was now an additional $50,000 in debt on top of it. This guy was only making around $40,000 a year."

"He got the bright idea to file bankruptcy. Lost his car, his house, his job. Last I knew he was staying at friends houses couch surfing, working for a pittance just trying to survive."

– flyingsusquatch

Bad Investment

"Sell their condo that was rented out, and invest all the profit in crypto in December 2021."

– Saugeen-Uwo

Popular Scheme

"I had a coworker that was supposed to move in england to work at his sister's bar. He gave it up for a pyramid scheme and tried to get me in."

– Aiizimor

Depending on the situation, we're not often given second chances in life.

So whenever something in your gut informs you not to do something–and you know what those actions are–you might want to pay attention.

Because once you cross the threshold of no return, there's no going back.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Winnie Harlow; Whitney Houston
PG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images; Peter Jordan/PA Images via Getty Images

Model Winnie Harlow Responds To Backlash Over Her Whitney Houston Halloween Look

Model Winnie Harlow is under fire for a controversial Halloween costume depicting one of Whitney Houston's lowest moments—or highest, depending on who you ask.

Harlow is firmly in the latter camp. But many Houston fans online are furious, even after Harlow explained that her intent was to honor the music legend, not mock her.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Donald Trump; Zohran Mamdani
60 Minutes; Andres Kudacki/Getty Images

Trump Dragged After Making Outrageous Comparison To Zohran Mamdani In Viral Clip

President Donald Trump was widely mocked after he asserted during a 60 Minutes interview with Norah O'Donnell that he's "much better-looking" than New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani—a claim that not a soul is taking seriously.

Trump isn't exactly known to be a looker but he has nonetheless declared himself a "perfect physical specimen" and boasted about his physical prowess, once noting that his own White House physician had declared him "healthier than Obama"—despite Trump's distaste for exercise and fondness for fast food.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gavin Newsom; Karoline Leavit
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images; Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Gavin Newsom Rips Karoline Leavitt After She Says White House Toilet 'Horrified' Her Before Renovation

California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and the GOP at large after she claimed to have been "horrified" by the toilet in the Lincoln bathroom before President Donald Trump's marble renovation.

Trump shared an update about ongoing renovations aboard Air Force One while en route to Florida for the weekend, even as the federal government remains shut down and his administration continues to refuse to release all of the emergency funds to sustain SNAP food assistance benefits through November.

Keep ReadingShow less
people seated at bar
Hai Nguyen on Unsplash

People Describe The Most Memorable Moments They Had With A Stranger Who They Never Saw Again

Chance encounters can be meaningful, even if you never see the person again.

Maybe they impart some wisdom or restore your faith in humanity or just entertain you for a little while.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jack Schlossberg (left); Julia Fox (right)
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for HIM Training Camp

Jackie Kennedy's Grandson Slams Julia Fox's 'Disgusting' JFK Assassination Halloween Costume

Of all the 2025 Halloween costumes in the world—from Labubus to K-pop Warriors to Glindas and Elphabas—Julia Fox went with the one soaked in presidential tragedy.

The Uncut Gems actress arrived at a New York City Halloween party in a replica of the pink Chanel suit worn by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy on November 22, 1963—the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.

Keep ReadingShow less