Coming from Latin America, I'm used to the 'trash bin rule' to avoid plumbing disasters. The US approach seems like a dream in comparison, but is it really universal? Are there any regions or older buildings where you're still expected to throw it away instead of flushing?

I keep seeing this on TikTok, where people say loss prevention just logs your face every time you take a $5 item until it hits $1000. Is this actual corporate policy or just scare tactics to keep teenagers from shoplifting?

To be clear, I would never cheat on my SO. We are both adults that work full time with a toddler and a baby. We are exhausted. I don't even play video games anymore. I barely have time for myself. Yet people in similar stage in life as me somehow find the energy and time to live a double-life. How?

Say someone was found not guilty in court, and immediately after the judge banged the gavel and closed the case (or whatever they do), they said, "Phew! I thought I was a goner because I totally did it!"

Would they be protected by Double Jeopardy? Or would they be in trouble?

It’s almost like the education system is a massive joke - spending 4+ years in education, being in debt and know nothing

So I (21F) will be 22 tomorrow. I’ve never really celebrated my birthday properly as nobody else in my family does (I had little family parties as a small child), so asking people to do something now feels weird and embarrassing. Anyways, I find the day pretty depressing. I do always get myself cake though, but when I mentioned doing the same this year to my mum she laughed and said that I didn’t need one. When I asked why she said “well they’re for children.” They bought a cake for me for the week after my 21st, but that was only because family were coming round. All my friends still have family who buy them cake for their birthday. I can’t see why you’d get to a certain age and suddenly start denying yourself cake? It’s literally the only way I celebrate

I remember when I was a kid I watched an episode of King of the Hill where Cottons veteran association was going to be shut down because of a lack of members, so Hank suggested inviting Vietnam veterans. In the episode, Cotton and his WW2 buddy’s were laughing and having fun talking about the war while the Vietnam guys were having ptsd attacks. The show for the most part is usually pretty grounded, so I don’t think they’re lying, maybe exaggerating a bit, but I don’t know. Were WW2 vets better taken care of? Did they feel more pride and purpose in the Second World War then compared to other wars?

Are there any specific examples of AI proving a math theory that humans couldn’t? Or coming up with a cure to a disease that we haven’t figured out? Anything along these lines of being smarter than the smartest person in that field?

I don't know where else to ask this.

I just constantly see this "we need to have the talk" trope on TV, but I'm 18 but my parents have literally never mentioned sex to me. I don't even remember how I figured out how reproduction works... Probably through leaning about animals or something.

Is there something in "the talk" that I probably don't know? I know how reproduction works... That's basically what "the talk" is supposed to be, right?

And no, I haven't done it nor do i really have plans to.

I know they interpret it as affection, but why petting specifically? Imagine if we all just went around stroking our loved ones’ shoulders without any scratches or massaging. That would be so annoying.

Meaning maybe they were nice to you for a while and acted like they were your friend but then became cold with you out of the blue.

I do this every single morning. I'll wake up, grab my phone, and check my notifications even though I logically know that:

1. It's 6am

2. I was just sleeping for 7 hours

3. Everyone else I know was also sleeping

But there's this weird hope that maybe something exciting happened overnight? Like I'm going to wake up to a text from a long-lost friend or some amazing news. It never happens, but I keep doing it.

Is this just me or does anyone else have this morning ritual?

I've been thinking about this for a while. I love eating alone at restaurants - I can order whatever I want, read a book or scroll my phone, eat at my own pace, and just enjoy my own company. But I notice that many people seem uncomfortable with the idea or even judgmental about it.

Meanwhile, going to a movie alone is seen as perfectly normal. Shopping alone is normal. Working alone is normal. But eating alone seems to carry this stigma of being 'sad' or 'lonely'.

Is there a cultural reason for this? Did I miss something? What makes dining solo different from other solo activities?

I’ve noticed that sometimes, instead of feeling energized, I actually get tired or sluggish after coffee. Does anyone know why this happens?

I recently asked why people go to work even when they’re sick, and many Americans responded that they:

- need to save limited sick days

- don’t get paid if they stay home

- could face penalties or negative consequences

That surprised me.

In much of Europe, paid sick leave is secured by law and considered a basic worker protection. Employees generally don’t risk losing income or their job for staying home sick.

How did the U.S. system develop differently?

Any post about the holocaust has a bunch of vomments saying “271k max” and any video criticizing Nick Fuentes has a bunch of people spamming gifs of him as well as comments saying “good goy”. A large majority of posts about black people or jews also have “well well well” comments. Ive seen more on instagram than I’ve met in real life, so are these mostly bots or is there really that many groypers out there?

So my past 5 girlfriends have all left me for the guys they were secretly cheating on me with. They always give vague or cryptic reasons as to why, and it befuddles me. My job pays well, and I go to the gym 6 times a week. I love to cook. I am straightforward on the very first date about not being religious, nor do I ever want children. I am attentive to their needs. While I have my interests, like jamming PS5 with guys, golfing, and scuba photography, I also spend time with them while they do their interests. Not sure what I'm doing wrong to push people away.

GF1's reason: You make me feel like I'm the bad guy. I always start our fights, and you never yell. (She left me for a lawyer that cheated on her and took her dog).
My take: Whenever something upset her, I logically assessed the reason she was upset and suggested solutions... calmly. I tried to resolve any and all issues she had so that she would be happy... and it just made her more mad.

GF2's reason: You're too you, and it's too much. (She left me for a guy named Bubbles, and they both later overdosed. I had no idea she even used drugs).
My take: I for one like me. I make myself laugh.

GF3's reason: I need to find myself and (I forget the rest of what she said, but it sounded very spiritual and stuff. She left me for a butcher. They broke up but I still go to the butcher he works at and we talk about cooking).
My take: I don't get it... at all.

GF4's reason: There's someone else, bye (She left me for a guy that was fxcking rich).
My take: Okay, I get her reason. No hard feelings. If the person you're leaving me for pays for every plane ticket and vacation expense, every meal you eat, and luxury items like a new car and phones, drink that well dry.

GF5's reason: We just want different things.
My Take: I wanted to be in a relationship; I feel I was getting exactly what I wanted.

I don't yell, I don't keep secrets, and I don't give the silent treatment. I keep everyone in the loop about who I am and how I am feeling. So it's not like they are getting into something they don't want. It's all on the table, and we date for +-2 years. If they didn't want to be with me in month 1, why drag it out and end things?