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THE TRUTH ABOUT: Unpopular opinions hot takes | History Defined
Having an opinion that goes against the grain can be awkward. Even if speaking up comes naturally to you, being met with boos or a room full of side-eyes is hardly a pleasant experience. Unless, of course, that’s exactly what you enjoy.
But for those who need somewhere to get their thoughts out, the Unpopular Opinion subreddit offers a space to do just that. Its members freely share their controversial takes, and we gathered some of the most interesting posts. Scroll down to read them and let us know whether you agree or disagree in the comments.
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There are definitely some spicy takes in this list. It probably helps that the subreddit is anonymous, so people can post whatever’s on their mind without stressing over who’s reading.
Whether their opinions are actually correct is another story, since that comes down to personal perspective, but they did speak their truth. If any of these conversations happened face-to-face, chances are they’d be a lot harder to voice out loud.
#4
Powerful Katrinka 2 days ago
Animal behaviorists have determined that the fish who are caught and then released usually have a much shorter lifespan. They feel pain and end up deeply traumatized.
Research backs this up. A 2021 study by Crucial Learning, a company that runs courses on communication and leadership, found that 9 out of 10 people had felt emotionally or physically unsafe speaking their mind multiple times in the 18 months leading up to the survey.
It’s worth noting this took place during the pandemic, so people were probably a bit more on edge than usual. Still, instead of actually speaking up, most respondents chose to stay silent even though it felt inauthentic. Others admitted to stewing about it on their own or faking agreement just to keep the peace.
#8
T'Mar of Vulcan 2 days ago
There have been studies on the benefits of homework and the conclusions each study came to is... there aren't any. I'm a teacher and I've known since I started teaching that homework is literally only given because someone higher-up says there must be homework. The only time I assign homework is if something cannot be finished in the allotted class time, and even then it's maybe 15 minutes of work. Hours and hours of homework does not benefit children at all.
According to psychotherapist Nancy Colier, these fears are wired deep into us. Our nervous system goes on high alert the moment we’re about to share something unwelcome, often when the actual threat is nowhere near as big as it feels.
At the root of it all sits our most primal drive, which is to survive.
#10
Glen Ellyn 3 days ago
Throw the parents in there, too. They've abandoned their responsibilities to their children. Too many are more concerned about their phones and social media than what and how their children are doing in school. These days they expect teachers to raise their kids. 🙄
#11
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 3 days ago
I salute this idea! Maybe some board games and bad movies? Break out that old Nintendo Wii. Play some Mario Party.
#12
Rural Alberta Mama 2 days ago
I've been saying this my whole life. People in general are all uniquely good looking! It's when you get to know someone and they suck that you begin to view them as ugly
Think about it from an evolutionary angle. Back in tribe days, being disliked by the group could get you kicked out, and being on your own in the wild meant you probably weren’t going to survive. So we learned to keep the people around us happy, because if they stuck around, we were safe.
Fast forward to now, and disagreeing with your manager in a meeting is nowhere near actual danger. But your nervous system doesn’t really know that. It still reacts like your life is on the line.
#13
Powerful Katrinka 2 days ago
God yes! I have a medical condition that causes me to feel nauseated almost all the time. I’d rather be in pain.
#14
Luke || Kira (he/she) 2 days ago (edited)
I'd just change the wording: TRADITIONAL weddings are horrible. The formal clothes, hopelessly cringeful "traditions", sappy speeches, drunk people causing chaos, all for no other reason than "that's how it's done". I do want a wedding, but in informal clothes (or cosplays), rock music, no alcohol, no traditions, just a casual get-together for the closest family and friends.
To get more comfortable speaking honestly, Colier suggests slowing down before your body jumps into emergency mode and shuts the whole thing down. Take a breath and actually question what’s at stake here.
Ask yourself things like, “what’s the real threat if I say this?” or “have I ever lived through a conversation like this before?” and “realistically, what might actually happen if I share this?” Once you actually think it through, the fear usually feels a lot less intense.
#16
Glen Ellyn 2 days ago
We're all different. Some people do well being alone. Others, not so much. To each their own. And for Pete's sake, stop judging people on this!
#17
Paul C. 2 days ago
I worked with a woman who was very nice but I would say either had ADHD or OCD either way she would often come into work earlier or stay late. All good but rather reflected badly on the rest of the team as managers would always quote what she had done as a goal for others, ignoring the fact that much of her work was done "out of hours". It did cause a fair bit of friction.
#18
Bored Jellyfish 3 days ago
It súcks when a series you’ve been anticipating watching releases the whole season at once, and the VERY next day, the media is littered with spoilers from reporters who stayed up all night binging it so they could get the scoop and the clicks.
How you actually word things matters just as much as finding the courage to say them. There’s a difference between what Seed of Peace, a platform that runs compassionate communication training, calls Jackal honesty and Giraffe honesty.
Jackal honesty is when you throw out your interpretations and judgments at someone, like saying “You drive too fast. You think you’re a racing driver.” Giraffe honesty focuses on your own feelings and needs in the moment, so it sounds more like “I feel scared because I want to be safe, and frustrated because I want to be heard.”
#19
Jeff White 2 days ago
I actually think they should raise the rim height for men's bball. Maybe then they would play ball instead of seemingly constant one-on-one dunk contests.
#20
Daniel Atkins 2 days ago
The problem would be that an estate lawyer or a copyright lawyer might have to do criminal defense which is not in their area of expertise and they might not so so well.
#21
highwaycrossingfrog 2 days ago (edited)
This is only true if you believe the unknown is inherently more exciting than having information. I like information. I can get excited by it. Before the internet, I would buy movie magazines and watch film programs to get excited about a movie, not go in completely blind.
You’ll probably get a pretty different reaction depending on which one you use, and once you see how much better it goes, speaking up gets easier, even when your opinion isn’t the popular one.
Naming the fear out loud can help too. Seed of Peace suggests something like “I’d like to share something that’s been on my chest, and I’m afraid you’ll hear it as blame and get hurt. My intention is to care for our connection.” Opening with that shows the other person you’re being vulnerable and aren’t trying to attack them.
#22
Beak Hookage 2 days ago
Plus you can use your umbrella to fight other umbrella carriers in exciting street duels.
#24
highwaycrossingfrog 2 days ago
I love this! Broth and soup are so underrated. Although we do have cup-a-soups
At the end of the day, speaking up isn’t the easiest thing in the world, not because you’re weak or awkward, but because your brain is literally wired to keep you safe. It takes some conscious effort to catch that reaction and work through it before shutting down completely.
Until you get there, at least there’s a subreddit where you can drop your hottest takes without anyone knowing it was you.
#25
Beak Hookage 2 days ago
One of my former co-workers I'd been friendly with passed away, and a fellow former co-worker made a point of notifying me so I could come to the funeral. So yeah, definitely did care about her on a human level, poor thing.
#26
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 3 days ago
Things like this make me miss Napster and Kazaa. At least it was honest piracy. That song you are listening to on Spotify or Apple Music or whatever is money in the pocket of the people with no talent, but are still exploiting the system.
#27
Jeff White 2 days ago
Can be a bigger hack. Being easier to work with and incompetent is useless. But the main opinion is correct: being easy to work with is LOADS better than the alternative.
#29
Герберт Майн 2 days ago (edited)
I agree with that. Saying that a cult can brainwash ANYONE and you can do nothing gives too much power to cults and teaches people to be helpless. Saying "Cults usually target vulnerable people who tend to suffer from traumas and search for an autorative figure" is much more true and useful for potential victims. I was one, by the way. I got out.
#30
Ange Marsden 3 days ago
When I organise events and get rsvps, my expected turnout is 50%. It's leading to a huge waste in catering but the alternative is the rare event everyone turns up and you barely have any food
#31
Jeff White 2 days ago
Makes a lot of sense, but I don't do it. Need the morning shower to get moving and two showers a day is too much.
#32
Ryan F. Mercer 1 day ago
They fill planes from front to back because without proper balance, the plane can tip backwards.
#34
highwaycrossingfrog 2 days ago
Yeah, this doesn't work for me because I work short term contracts with no fixed timetable or schedule, and I don't get paid time off. If I miss a day of work, I have to find someone to cover me and they get paid instead of me. I literally do not know what I will be doing in 3 months and I could even be in a different country. It makes it very hard to plan theatre visits or dental appointments.
#36
Snackmachine 2 days ago
Or maybe you can't fit 48 years of life into the only 340 square feet of home you can afford.
#37
Andrew 2 days ago
Nah, I don't know what they are carrying or if they are disabled. If they are being obnoxious and acting entitled, that's one thing, but how many times have you personally been inconvenienced by having to help somebody lift something? As a tall guy, I get asked to lend a hand fairly regularly. It doesn't bother me and folks are usually pretty appreciative.
#38
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 3 days ago
Dogs do smile. they have facial expressions. It id definitely NOT a "Trait unique to humans. ". Dolphins smile too.
#40
Kelly Scott 2 days ago (edited)
Just make it a rule that stupid presidents with dementia can't interfere with scoring and things will be fine the way they are.
#41
highwaycrossingfrog 2 days ago (edited)
Off subject slightly, but a Michelin-starred restaurant would still call it ketchup. Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge's two Michelin-starred Hand and Flowers is famous for its triple cooked chips and ketchup. The restaurants of many well known chefs like Dinner by Heston Blumenthal serve things like mushroom ketchup or black garlic ketchup. Ketchup is not a dirty word, it's a common cheffy sauce.
#42
Ange Marsden 3 days ago
We have free Healthcare and get chocolate biscuits and tea while donating blood 😁 I think paying for blood would force people who need money into doing it, which could lead to the wrong people targeting vulnerable people for blood, plasma, and eventually other things
#43
Jeff White 2 days ago
I would say not in total. Yes, every self checker is slower, but for some big stores, having 12 or more people checking out in the same space as 4 lanes is much faster.
#44
#45
Anony Mouse 2 days ago
I’ve never met a Halloween adult. I’ve met adults who enjoy Halloween very much, but never one like described above. Disney adults, however, are very upsetting people.
#47
Bob Brezniak 2 days ago
I've got an idea... It's a crazy one. How about LET PEOPLE F*CKING ENJOY WHAT THEY WANT AND SHUT UP.
#48
Lyone Fein 3 days ago
In my 20s and 30s I used to go to parties that regularly turned into jam sessions. There was never only one person playing an instrument. There were 4-6 playing. And it was great foot stomping music! It always raised the energy levels of everyone around. People would clap along, dance, etc. if someone wanted to talk, they’d just go into the next room.
#49
Lyone Fein 2 days ago
Don’t make it bland. And usually they’re in the freezer, not the fridge.
#50
Kelly Scott 2 days ago (edited)
Spoken as someone who has never gone to a laundromat. Laundromats are expensive - I'm paying $27 every three weeks to do laundry. I have two large baskets I have to drag into my car, drag out of my car and into the laundry, clothes that have to be lifted into the washer, out of the washer and into the cart, out of the cart and into the dryer, out of the dryer and into my baskets which have to be dragged out again, lifted into my car, taken out of my car, and up 9 steps to be dumped on my bed for folding and my back complains about it non-stop. The next day is always a day spent in bed because of the pain from laundry. And no, I can't stand at the folding tables for the length of time it would take me to fold clothes at the laundromat. Next to sweeping and mopping, laundry is the hardest chore I do. At least I can sit while I cook and do dishes.
#51
Luke || Kira (he/she) 2 days ago
This person has, for sure, never been on a truly life-changing concert. I've only attended a few, but I consider all of them the best money I've ever spent.
#53
Devin Schmitt 2 days ago (edited)
I'm a pretty good cook. I mean, multiple people have said that I cook "restaurant quality food", whatever that means. However, I was defeated by tamales. The filling was good, the sauces were awesome, the corn meal tasted good - but somehow, when putting it all together, it was a complete disaster.
#54
Jeff White 2 days ago
All the Lord of the Rings books, while entertaining to many people, would have been much better with aggressive editing, like 20% of the words edited out. Seven pages describing the jewels on a hilt of a sword, etc, etc, etc was too much etc. To K**l a Mockingbird is THE book to read.
#55
Jeff White 2 days ago
Making friends as an adult is both more difficult AND requires more effort. So ...
#57
Powerful Katrinka 2 days ago
She’s an amazing athlete who didn’t take anything away from anyone. And comparing her to Lance Armstrong is just idiotic.
#58
Kelly Scott 2 days ago
With all the gunk in the soda lines because they never get cleaned, you're worried about a touch screen?
#59
Jeff White 2 days ago
This opinion depends way too much on your latitude. Dark at 4:30pm s***s
#61
highwaycrossingfrog 2 days ago
Because they're working in a place that has catering as part of the event. Are they supposed to sit in the corner with their pasta salad in Tupperware?
#63
Jeff White 2 days ago
This opinion is unpopular because it's wrong. Good corn beef hash is not easy at home. Eggs Benedict is not easy at home. Anything requiring a griddle or wide area grill is not easier at home. And none of them are nearly as good as a reasonable breakfast restaurant.
#65
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What do you think ?
DrBronxx 2 days ago
I got to around number 40 and stopped. I don't mind unpopular opinions; I mean, they can open my eyes to things. What I cannot stand is people presenting these opinions as objective facts. No, it's not a universal truth that football is outdated.
Ryan F. Mercer 1 day ago
Yeah, it gets pretty self indulgent. You say a few pithy things, people start to know you for it, and then you run out of material because you're not that insightful.
Load More Replies... DrBronxx 2 days ago
I got to around number 40 and stopped. I don't mind unpopular opinions; I mean, they can open my eyes to things. What I cannot stand is people presenting these opinions as objective facts. No, it's not a universal truth that football is outdated.
Ryan F. Mercer 1 day ago
Yeah, it gets pretty self indulgent. You say a few pithy things, people start to know you for it, and then you run out of material because you're not that insightful.
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