LPT Request: What is something you’ll avoid based on the knowledge and experience from your profession?

keepthetips · 2023-03-25T16:42:55+00:00

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RN4237 · 2023-03-25T21:41:53+00:00

When you choose a medical power of attorney, choose someone who can be very rational and can make very unselfish decisions. Often a friend or someone outside the family. Discuss everything with them, and fill out a specific advanced directive (mayo clinic has a good one). No one wants to talk about death, but it is soooo important. Discuss living if you had to be on a ventilator, or never being able to eat again, or living the rest of your life in a nursing home.

Artarious · 2023-03-25T23:20:59+00:00

Buying the expensive vanilla.

Worked in vanilla manufacturing while the recipes had a slight difference between each label we did they were all pretty much the same thing. That trader Joe's vanilla you spend $15 for 8oz of? You can buy 16oz of the same exact thing from Costco under a different label for the same price. Oh and great value(walmart brand) guess what? Same as the others. We probably made the exact same vanilla for roughly 30ish companies all selling it at different prices.

HipityHopityHotSauce · 2023-03-25T20:42:20+00:00

I work in accessibility.

Do not hesitate or wait to put grab bars, a tub cut out etc in your house when you grow old or if you have mobility issues.

Put grab bars in your bathroom before you fall in the shower, not because you already had a fall in the shower.

Tank3613 · 2023-03-25T22:27:04+00:00

Bad friends. ER doc. The amount of people that hang out with the wrong people and end up paying the price is astounding. I teach my kids - whatever your friends do to other people, they will eventually do to you.

bplatinumm · 2023-03-25T21:45:07+00:00

Not getting a DNR or having and End of Life plan when I become elderly/if I become incredibly ill.

I'm a carer in elderly care and the idea of having my life extended just to live in pain and losing all my independence is horrific. I don't want to leave it to family members who might not be willing to let me go or be in denial about how unwell I am to decide those types of things for me.

Humans are emotional and it's totally understandable to go into shock/denial when you find out your loved one is dying, but forcing them to be resuscitated or to go to hospital to prolong their life regardless of the quality is painful to see.

TrainwreckMooncake · 2023-03-25T20:46:19+00:00

After working as a paralegal at an insurance defense firm, DO NOT TAKE ANY HELICOPTER TOURS. At least in Hawaii, a lot of the helicopters aren't well maintained and there are a surprising amount of crashes they manage to keep quiet. One of the evidence exhibits I helped put together for one case was a picture the family had taken in front of the helicopter before they boarded it and were all killed when it crashed. That was almost 20 years ago and that one sticks with me.

oroscor1 · 2023-03-25T18:35:48+00:00

Verbal confirmations. Always get it in writing via an email ,a text, carrier pigeon ,a letter I don't care get it in writing,!

SmashLanding · 2023-03-25T16:47:58+00:00

Always always always argue a claim denied by health insurance. They will arbitrarily reject claims with no justification.

EDIT: ALSO, insurance companies will always send you an Explanation of Benefits (EOB), which is not a bill, but has the amount that should appear on the bill. If there is any question in your mind about a bill, always compare the bill from the provider with the EOB.

Constant_Target · 2023-03-25T22:01:08+00:00

I am a professional caregiver in an assisted living facility. I will definitely drive off a cliff before being locked in a memory care unit for dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

DeusXMathematica · 2023-03-25T19:08:14+00:00

Thing to avoid, second mortgage. I've had two clients whose banks didn't want to renew the second mortgage and said "pay us out or we force a sale on your home."

Thing to do, get a will. Some people are fucking vultures and if you don't have a will that is clear on who gets what or how things are to be divided they will gleefully pick you carcass clean trying to get every penny they can.

kellogg888 · 2023-03-25T18:59:39+00:00

I do not swim in pools that make my eyes burn or smell like chlorine. Was a pool operator for 10 years.

antraxsuicide · 2023-03-25T19:27:01+00:00

I work in Ed tech.

Not personally in the market for more degrees lol, but I tell people all the time who ask for tips: look into the faculty and curriculum of any program you're considering. If you're doing CS for example, you should avoid any CS program with outdated curriculum or faculty who have been teaching for decades without engaging with industry.

In a previous life, I almost went into research in a math subfield that my university was pretty great at. But thankfully some faculty steered me elsewhere because that subfield is so niche, there are only a handful of universities who actually do that work. I'd have had a really awful time finding a job.

tehlaurent97 · 2023-03-25T17:45:36+00:00

Opening any links or attachment of an email without verifying the sender mail address

TJtherock · 2023-03-25T20:16:42+00:00

Historian here. Not labeling anything.

Meta data is your friend. Always better to add too much information rather than have too little. Label the backs of your photographs. Write clearly. For the love of all that is holy WRITE CLEARLY!

Iamdickburns · 2023-03-25T20:05:35+00:00

I'm a firefighter, if you get stuck in an elevator call 911 immediately. Casinos, hotels, apartments, etc will fumble fuck their way trying to get you out or await the elevator company for HOURS! I avoid elevators if I can and if I got stuck, I'd avoid their maintenance people trying to get me out.

Tanttaka · 2023-03-25T20:49:17+00:00

Getting a french bulldog, or any other flat-face dog. You will spend a fortune on veterinary bills. Same with white dogs with pink skin, which are more prone to allergies.

annajoo1 · 2023-03-25T18:51:03+00:00

Texting/emailing anything negative to anyone I work with about anything.

I work in HR.

Sharp-Pop335 · 2023-03-25T20:56:11+00:00

Used to work at FedEx ground.

Pack your shit like it's gonna get dropped off a cliff. Package handlers do not care if your box says fragile or has orientation arrows. Stuff it with whatever, packing peanuts, expanding foam, bubble wrap. Pack. Your. Shit. Or even better pack that box and put a bigger box around it. They will toss your shit, put heavy stuff on top of it. Use it as a step stool to reach higher boxes.

Pack. Your. Shit.

KaBri29 · 2023-03-25T18:31:55+00:00

Not getting agreements in writing when it comes to loaning substantial amounts of money. Family, friends, doesn't matter. A loan without an agreement is a gift.

Devilpig13 · 2023-03-25T18:04:42+00:00

Don’t volunteer info to anyone that you haven’t solicited to assist you.

Not the cops.

Not your employer.

Not your vacation plans on FB.

Information will be used against you, limit your exposure.

Cormano_Wild_219 · 2023-03-25T17:25:23+00:00

I used to work for a ver large casket manufacturer. The deathcare industry (funeral homes) are some of the most predatory businesses I have ever dealt with. They pressure people who are usually an emotional wreck into making quick decisions about products that are ridiculously marked up by telling them “your mom is literally on ice and we need a decision”.

Funeral home reps hang out near hospitals and end of life care facilities like vultures that swoop in the minute someone passes OR they have agreements with these places to push their services. I’ve seen the sheets of paper these funeral homes gives to hospitals to pass on to literally anyone who just passed aways family. They aren’t snatching the bodies they are pushing their services as soon as someone passes. It’s usually just a “menu” of what they offer but I know for a fact some places do this. The markup on caskets is near 1000% in some cases. They promote a “white glove” service and I can tell you that is complete BS. We threw those caskets around as quick as we could and repairs were made in house with whatever we could use. We fixed scratches and dents in wood caskets with meted crayons and painted imperfections in metal caskets with nail polish. The rule of thumb was “if you can’t see it in dim light through watery eyes it’s fine” because most people stop paying attention to the details of the $3000 casket once it’s been “bodied” and the service starts.

When I die, cremate me and spread my ashes somewhere cool or just throw me away. If you put me in a Batesville casket I will haunt you.

Edit: Anyone who tells you a casket is protected from the elements is full of shit. The gaskets on the hardware are cheap as hell and we NEVER replaced them when we were supposed to. Most of the caskets underground are full of groundwater and most of the caskets above ground will eventually leak remains. You don’t see the underground damage unless you exhume the casket and the ones above ground are placed in a way that the liquid collect and drips in a place you’ll never see. One more reason I want to be cremated is because I don’t wanna turn into a puddle of people goo and rainwater. Sorry to break it to anyone visiting loved ones gravesites but whatever is in there is disgusting.

Edit 2: I didn’t work at the production plant, I delivered finished caskets to funeral homes and had daily interaction with these people and when they get friendly they get talkative. Every single one was in it for the money and wouldn’t hesitate to brag about how much they could sell a casket for. We had one guy who was very proud of his ability to sell casket accessories that never went into the ground. “Oh your dad was a marine? For an extra $65 we can put a really nice metal and enamel EGA on each corner instead of those basic plastic ones bay are currently on there. And guess what, they are magnetic so you could even get it one for yourself to keep on your fridge that way you can always have something to remember him”.

EverChosen1 · 2023-03-25T21:40:27+00:00

Don’t build or buy a house in a floodplain or near a stream.

Glittering-Athlete81 · 2023-03-25T17:06:17+00:00

Not all confidential/anonymous surveys are as confidential/anonymous as you think

gloggs · 2023-03-25T17:40:15+00:00

The first production run of any product. I build and maintain automation. It's never perfect on the first try. Employees need time to learn how to assemble the product properly and trades need time to work out the kinks.

diagas · 2023-03-25T18:12:19+00:00

From a US lens: ALWAYS confirm salary in a first round interview. I make it a point to always confirm when I am the recruiter, but I can't tell you how many times other recruiters don't. If you really want to work somewhere and the recruiter doesn't ask, you are totally justified to ask what the salary range is. Time is invaluable and waiting until a 2nd/3rd round only to find out your expectations vs. their budget is misaligned is huge a waste of time for everyone involved.

PennyMarie27 · 2023-03-25T16:57:01+00:00

Meth-I’m a clinical social worker

greysnowcone · 2023-03-25T20:15:05+00:00

Where you get your healthcare is very important. Just because someone is a doctor does not mean they know what is best for your health. There are a lot of bad physicians.

It’s like the old joke, “what do they call the person with the worst grades in med school? Doctor.”

unbelievablefidelity · 2023-03-25T18:59:39+00:00

Michael’s art framing services. Just don’t. ESPECIALLY photographs. Go to a reputable custom framer if you care at all about what you are getting framed. A bit more expensive but your art/photos/memorabilia will be kept safe for years to come.

pollywantapocket · 2023-03-25T18:12:58+00:00

Avoid representing yourself in any court proceedings. If it involves the US legal system, yes, you really do need a lawyer. There are very few exceptions to this but even the exceptions (like a self help divorce where there are no assets, no kids, no contest), you are better off at least consulting with an attorney first.

Varthredalgo · 2023-03-25T18:19:19+00:00

Wearing contacts in the shower/pool/any body of water. Worked as an ophthalmic photographer in Pittsburgh for seven years. College students were coming in with ulcers and amoeba in their corneas from swimming in their contacts and then sleeping in them for days.

vonnegutfan2 · 2023-03-25T19:13:45+00:00

Being the first car out to an intersection after a red light.... traffic engineer.

streptozotocin · 2023-03-25T19:25:44+00:00

Going outside without sunscreen on my face if nowhere else. I’m a Pathology resident and the amount of ears, noses, lips and other chunks of face I see that surgeons have chopped off due to skin cancers caused by sun damage is sobering. Please in the name of all that’s good an holy find a daily sunscreen that works for you and wear it.

jyzenbok · 2023-03-25T18:25:50+00:00

Don’t get back surgery unless it’s absolutely last resort. You need to fix the root cause of the injury - usually it’s core strength weakness or Glut weakness. Go to PT first and really do the exercises. Most people who get spine surgeries have multiple ones over their lives because the level just above or below their surgery becomes injured for the same reason your first one occurred.

raspberryscum · 2023-03-25T20:52:35+00:00

I work in bridal alterations. Bridal stores and boutiques will mark up things based on the most random attributes. Gowns claim to be hand beaded a lot of the time aren’t. If it looks too uniform and the ends of the threads aren’t tied off, then it was probably machine beaded. Most people will not be able to tell if your dress is $5000 or $1000. Don’t overspend if you don’t have to

AK12thMan · 2023-03-25T19:04:32+00:00

1 - I wouldn’t drink water from the tap without letting it run a few seconds first. Especially first thing in the morning.

I used to work for my state’s drinking water compliance program and would collect and analyze drinking water samples from all sorts of public drinking water sources, including people’s homes. All the contaminants, minerals, etc. from the water source to the pipes and even the solder (especially if old) leach and accumulate the longer the water sits in the lines. Letting the tap run for a few seconds flushes out that “stagnant” water and draws fresher water from the mainlines.

2 - Don’t be an asshole to anyone in customer service - from retail to sales and food service - I worked in retail for many, many years. These folks are just trying to get by and aren’t responsible for whatever is that got you all upset in the first place. In fact, simply being nice to them in a difficult situation can more times than not actually work out in your favor as they may sympathize/empathize with you.

my_7th_acct_sux · 2023-03-25T19:36:31+00:00

Doctors and physicians are regular people, which means some of them really suck at their jobs (treating your health). Don’t ignore that feeling if you think you might have a bad doctor. There’s nothing wrong with consulting multiple professionals.

CreepyBlackDude · 2023-03-25T17:36:58+00:00

If you're a creative--actor, musician, painter, etc--avoid self-proclaimed coaches that charge you an arm and a leg telling you they'll get you into the industry quick.

I'm coming from the world of voice over. There are a thousand and one "I'll teach you everything you need to know!" type of coaches who charge hundreds of dollars for a single hour or two. They'll promise to train you, do your demo, etc. Truth is, their business isn't voice over, it's education. You are their job. And you will overspend and burn out for very little return.

If you want a coach or class, look for people who are known by everyone in your industry and who have verifiable results from their own work. And for goodness sake, don't wait for formal coaching to start doing what you want to do! A book or YouTube video is enough to get you started in almost every case; the best thing you can do is work on it every day.

Willow-girl · 2023-03-26T00:59:07+00:00

Organic milk. There are no antibiotics in regular milk. This is something farmers are VERY careful about because every tanker load is tested as soon as it reaches the processor, and if it tests positive the entire load is dumped and the farmer who screwed up has to pay the cost (which can run to $15,000).

Cows sometimes need to be treated with antibiotics to alleviate painful infections. Organic farming practices dictates the cow either has to suffer without medication or she has to be sold, usually for slaughter. It is a travesty to kill an otherwise healthy cow over a minor infection!

Organic milk is just a marketing ploy that allows farmers and processors to charge a higher price for a product that really isn't any different than the standard one. Meanwhile, it's much worse for the cows, and as someone who loves cows and has devoted her life to taking care of them, this bothers me.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and become informed!

JMO_12345 · 2023-03-25T21:17:16+00:00

You should sign your apartment leases in November and December. This is the slow season and apartment owners get desperate for occupancy. Often offering lower rates and higher concessions.

Collard-Greens · 2023-03-25T18:37:13+00:00

That certain plastics that we use regularly really shouldn’t be exposed to high heat and a lot of the disposable products we use aren’t as safe as we truly think. A lot of plastics break down when hot and a lot of our coffee cups and things are lined with plastic that also isn’t superb at high temps. Also, a lot of our “recyclable” goods can only be recycled in a handful of facilities in the U.S. which means most of this still ends up in the trash

PwnedByBadger · 2023-03-25T18:15:54+00:00

Liquor and spirits industry. Big name allocated bourbons (Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Blanton's, etc). If you can find them for MSR they're fine but it's almost become cultish. 5 years ago Buffalo was a pretty good $25 mixing bourbon. Now people travels STATES just to drop $100 on a bottle and they think they're getting a steal. They're decent whiskeys but nothing special. And Jose cuervo. There are MANY tequila under $15 I would happily pick. If Jose was 8 bucks it would still be over priced.

bigdaddyjw · 2023-03-25T17:53:55+00:00

Consultants. We get paid to interview your staff to document the issues and solutions they’ve already identified but can’t get approval to do. Then we put some cool slides and bogus ROI numbers around it so your executives will fund the work.

It’s super rare for a company to not have someone on staff who knows what needs to be done and has it 3/4ths documented already. Execs either don’t trust their own team enough or need an outside group’s recommendation to get through the political BS to implement change.

Ramtakwitha2 · 2023-03-25T17:10:20+00:00

If you get a name brand sunscreen, and generic sunscreen, and there seems to be nothing different except the label on the bottle. The generic is probably the exact same thing and from the same factory, and may even be the same batch as the name brand. Avoid the name brand and get the generic.

Literally all it took was flipping one switch on the machine I operated to switch from making [name brand here] to [store's own brand here], all it did was switch what label it applied.

---

If a convenience store has precooked food items available under heat lamps that you can just buy cold and microwave for a few seconds, don't go for the precooked ones, microwave a new one. It's still microwaved either way, but at least now you know you aren't eating something that was heated 3 hours ago.

tacocattacocat1 · 2023-03-25T20:56:57+00:00

As a nail tech I've learned too much about communicable foot illnesses. Bring cheap flip flops with you when you travel and wear them in every shower. Avoid water parks but if you must, always wear some kind of water shoe. Always wear socks at the airport so you don't have to walk your bare feet through security after like 200 other bare footed people 🤢

Warts and athletes foot suuuuck

negligenceperse · 2023-03-25T19:29:13+00:00

prison 💕 i am a defense attorney

IrrelevantTopaz · 2023-03-25T22:41:05+00:00

Actuary. Rental car insurance.

Entirely unnecessary.

Edit: I should say, so long as you have your own personal vehicle policy (which covers everything you need while renting a car).

tejojo · 2023-03-25T23:11:06+00:00

Booking a hotel through a third party. If you do that, it's not easy to change or cancel a reservation, as you're bound to that third party's terms and conditions.

Also, clicking on a hotel link through a web search. There are many scummy third parties that buy top ad space on Google and make their site look like the official hotel websites. That's why I directly type the hotel chain's url into the browser to book direct.

i_should_be_coding · 2023-03-25T22:27:37+00:00

[deleted]

Captain_Mom42 · 2023-03-25T19:07:58+00:00

Former CNA. I will do everything I can to not send any family to a nursing home. And hopefully my kids will someday do the same for me.

Edit: just to add, if someone I know is ever in a nursing home I will visit as often as I can. Especially if they are in a state where they can't advocate for themselves.

Edit 2: don't let some internet stranger make you feel bad if you have family in a nursing facility. I'm sure it is still the right choice for many families.

dark_slayer666 · 2023-03-25T18:58:13+00:00

I’m a gigging musician and I’m officially done with drugs and alcohol

So many musicians I know abuse drugs (including myself in the past)

I think it’s to cope with the weird hours and strange way to make money but damn is life so much easier without all that and also my guitar playing is so much better without

Perfect-Egg-9619 · 2023-03-25T19:07:51+00:00

Health and fitness field- don’t argue with people who speak in “absolute” terms. Example: “___ is bad for you.” You’ll never win and it isn’t worth the time nor energy

hicksreb · 2023-03-25T20:29:36+00:00

If the railroad crossing gates are down, do not go around them.

If a train is stopped over the railroad crossing? It's probable that they will be there awhile. Turn around and find another way.

If a train passes a railroad crossing and the gates stay down? Do not go around them. Another train may be approaching on the second main.

Do not walk on railroad tracks, especially with earbuds in. There are a million better ways to get somewhere that isn't walking on railroad ballast.

If you insist on walking on the railroad right of way? You are trespassing. If the rail is shiny? It's definitely used. A lot. If it's rusty? It's not used as much, but be aware that a train can come at any time.

Also, railroaders do not stop on crossings because they want to. The train length, lack of communication from the dispatcher, emergency situations, are usually the cause. It's very difficult to try to park a 14,000 ft train somewhere that doesn't block a crossing.

Bhaldavin · 2023-03-25T21:20:30+00:00

Sitting on random objects that can get stuck in your rectum. It happens to too many people I x-ray.

justletmesignupalre · 2023-03-25T18:27:57+00:00

Renting your home to a film crew.

- They have a crazy ambitious schedule for the day and being careful around the place is not a part of it.
- The people closer to the producer, who is responsible for returning the place in pristine condition, will be a bit more careful. Most people won't. And if they are having a bad day, they might handle poorly something and break it.
- And, last but not least, they are great at making something look unbroken at first sight. They have a whole department for that.

CanadianMcManager · 2023-03-25T17:52:48+00:00

Full service moving companies. Just read reviews and you'll see a lot of em are scams.

Edit - this is somewhat specific to long distance moves. The scam is typically centered around a quote at a certain weight, "weighing" the load, and declaring a much higher weight.

CoralPilkington · 2023-03-25T17:11:11+00:00

anything that's marketed as "audiophile grade"

Ok-Disk-2191 · 2023-03-25T19:40:41+00:00

If a film crew is in your neighborhood or near your business and they didn’t pay you, cut the grass ALL DAY and make as much noise as possible. When a PA comes up to ask you to be quiet, say you’ll stop for money. Producers give them wads of cash to stop noisy neighbors. Start at $1k.

Punkrock0822 · 2023-03-25T20:46:50+00:00

Not buying any appliance or vehicle made in 2020-2023 if I can help it. I work in HVAC and quality of EVERYTHING has seriously declined. Material shortages and government efficiency regulations cause manufacturers to use a different most of the time cheaper material to assemble appliances causing them to fail sooner, alot sooner.

TopTear5385 · 2023-03-25T20:10:35+00:00

Any hot drinks on an airplane like coffee or tea. I’m an airline pilot and that hot water comes from the “potable water tank.” Never gets cleaned only has cleaning tablets thrown in there every now and again and tested for E. coli. There was more than once I flew an airplane that had the potable water system deferred for E. coli.

NightOwlIvy_93 · 2023-03-25T17:37:08+00:00

Not setting boundaries for your child/ren - daycare worker

TheRealMcDuck · 2023-03-25T23:10:45+00:00

Never open an account with Wells Fargo. Don't even start filling out an application that causes you to have anything to do with that bank.

BZNATC · 2023-03-25T19:09:30+00:00

Hot air balloons. I'm an Air Traffic Controller.

bendvis · 2023-03-25T17:00:13+00:00

As a software engineer, internet-connected 'smart' home stuff. I don't need some internet random gaining access to my security cameras.

BiggerPrint · 2023-03-25T18:32:35+00:00

Definitely crystal meth

UnfilteredTap · 2023-03-25T20:08:39+00:00

Surgery. Do your best to look at every option available.

precious-basketcase · 2023-03-25T21:43:41+00:00

Don’t sleep in your contacts. Don’t swim in your contacts. For the love of God, do not substitute saliva for contact lens solution.

Far-Two8659 · 2023-03-25T17:30:36+00:00

This is the exact opposite of the post but I see/hear it so much. I've worked in a dozen restaurants and I have never - literally never- seen someone spit in or otherwise mess with someone's food.

Restaurants do a lot of not great stuff but that's not one of them, in my experience.

But don't order steak well done. You're getting expired meat AND it tastes bad.

Yellowbug2001 · 2023-03-25T18:31:39+00:00

Large cruise ships. The number of suits against cruise lines filed in Miami by cruise ship passengers who got infectious diseases or food poisoning at sea is really staggering, only the absolute worst cases make the news but it happens ALL THE TIME, I've heard cruise ships described as "floating petri dishes" and that's putting it mildly.

Mauro_Ranallo · 2023-03-25T20:06:43+00:00

Allow a pet to fly as checked luggage. I haven't witnessed any mistreatment of animals during loading or unloading, but the whole process is generally stressful for them and most don't look very comfortable.

Amazing_Library_5045 · 2023-03-25T18:30:54+00:00

Never trust raw percentage, averages or "high level" business KPI

I'm a data scientist / statistician. Most of these are not wrong, in fact they are often the result of 'good intentions', but there is always layers and nuances underneath.

toekneeAT · 2023-03-25T21:44:03+00:00

I’m a athletic trainer. Never letting my kids play football.

as_an_american · 2023-03-25T22:26:49+00:00

Getting a PhD in political science: I work in a warehouse

ih8pkmn · 2023-03-25T17:59:52+00:00

I'll never work a janitorial job again. Janitors get absolutely zero respect from anyone else in a given facility, despite the fact that businesses would fall apart in a matter of days, if not hours, without regular cleaning. Not to mention that your accomplishments are never noticed, just your mistakes.

g15elle · 2023-03-25T18:48:12+00:00

Smoking
Unprotected sex- diagnosed way too many teens with HSV and other STIs after one night stands.

Fred_Whatever · 2023-03-25T19:33:53+00:00

I work for an energy supplier here in the UK. One of the absolute best things you can do to keep warm and use very little energy is to buy a decent electric blanket. They’re a smidge pricey, but they can save you so much in the long run, especially at the moment when energy prices are so wildly high (which I would like to add, your energy supplier has exactly 0 control over).

Also, get smart meters. The actual meters on the wall, I wouldn’t bother with the little in-home display screens, they’re more bother than they’re worth. Most energy suppliers now anyway you can monitor usage in the app or website much more accurately than on an in-home display.

Jethro_Cull · 2023-03-25T23:22:02+00:00

I will never buy cakes at a supermarket if they come in those cardboard cake circles.

I have been in probably 50 different corrugated box factories in my work. The biggest factories are highly automated and usually very clean and sanitary. They often have strict inspections for AIB certification for food-safety. The little “family-owned” sheet plants are almost always shitholes. Rodents, spiders, cockroaches, etc. They’re disgusting. Guess which kind of factory typically makes those little cake circles??

Good news for you pizza lovers. Pizza boxes are almost always made in the big, automated, clean factories. They’re also shrink-wrapped in bundles of 25 to keep them clean in transit.

Im_Here_To_Learn_ · 2023-03-25T18:04:47+00:00

Social media - I’m in marketing

Ghostdog2041 · 2023-03-25T18:47:11+00:00

As a person that works in a hospital, I really, really don’t want to go to the ER if I can help it.

ilikebaseballbetter · 2023-03-25T17:59:04+00:00

name brand grocery items - dairy specifically. 99% it's the exact same thing from the exact same farm/plant, just different packaging.

2023-03-25T18:04:29+00:00

No trach-n-peg for me. Just let me die. (Healthcare)

Synergy_04 · 2023-03-25T19:31:41+00:00

Public Spas/Hot Tubs. I service them and some nice hotels NEVER change the water, just complain that there is too much oil clogging the filters etc.

Bankzzz · 2023-03-25T21:20:18+00:00

I would not trust any branding, marketing, or advertising and any search results on any platforms and I would assume everything I’m doing on any piece of technology is being tracked with the purpose of selling to me.

The reality here is the companies spend a lot of money to manipulate you by making their brand appear to hold your same values and look appealing to you. For example, a lot of home and body products are being “greenwashed” to make them appear like smaller holistic and health conscious brands when they are still owned by the same big companies like P&G, J&J, etc.

They watch everything you do and they then try to sell to you in extremely effective ways. Some people don’t care but it’s getting bad because you cannot get honest results for even basic searches for “best products to do X” or honest reviews on various items because most of the time they are paid to say those things. Then they hammer you with ads on every platform you visit. A lot of the time these are not even good quality products. They’re just hoping you’ll make the purchase impulsively.

There is a ton of psychology at play. They use a lot of dark techniques to trick you into thinking that the product is running out to give a sense of urgency or maybe make you think so many people are buying it and love it by artificially inflating reviews. I do not trust reviews and ratings at this point anymore. I will read through some 3* to figure out pros and cons but many companies write fake 5* reviews. Ever see those random products show up in your Facebook feed and all of the comments are some variation of “I was skeptical but I tried it and I absolutely love it!!” Those are probably written by someone getting paid to do it.

There’s just a lot of weird manipulative stuff going on. Do your due diligence before making purchases online and support local small businesses whenever you can.

5p00n3r1 · 2023-03-25T21:35:16+00:00

Not wearing a helmet for a motorcycle or bike. Too much tramtic brain injuries that could have been easily avoided. I work with the neuro lab, and lots of patients come in for seizures because of previous or current injuries to the head.

delladoug · 2023-03-25T22:49:36+00:00

Never put ANYTHING but water, toilet paper, and human waste down the drain.

DrCarabou · 2023-03-25T19:54:46+00:00

Dog parks. Parasites can live in the soil for years. Lots are a fecal-oral transmission, some can be transmitted just by stepping on them. Hot bed for respiratory disease transmission. And lots of people with unsocialized dogs letting them roam in a pen and then break out in dog fights. Are the dogs being brought vaccinated? Neutered/spayed? Who knows, most of them have no one actually regulating that stuff. -a vet

Angelisaurus · 2023-03-25T20:41:17+00:00

Hamsters.

Worked at a pet store for six years that sold a variety of "specialty" pets, i.e. birds, rodents, reptiles, etc. They all could be nasty on the wrong day, don't get me wrong. Getting chomped by anything sucks. But no single animal bit as much or a fraction as hard* as the goddamn hamsters. Huge rodent teeth that would go right through to the bone of your finger, and then a little more. So many parents would come in looking for a furry little friend for their sweet Jimmy and I'd do everything in my power to steer them towards the guinea pigs, the mice, the rats. No, Jimmy wants a goddamn hamster, and he wants to hold it please. Jimmy gonna learn today. I'm sorry Jimmy.

I'm sure someone reading this will have the inevitable Not All Hamsters response. Yes, there are the odd sweet ones. Yes, hamsters raised by hand in a one-on-one environment with a human, as opposed to the meager chaos of a pet store, are probably fine. Yes, certain breeds were typically less prone to nastiness--typically. It changes nothing. I'd rather let a 5 year old hold a hundred snakes than one of those furry demon turds. It would be safer for both the 5 year old, and the turd.

*We did sell conures, a small type of parrot, which arguably have more crushing power per bite than a rodent. In all my years working there though I can never remember having a conure who was so ornery as to try to use that bite force beyond a stern nip.

Sea_Entrepreneur3719 · 2023-03-25T19:37:29+00:00

Homeowners’ associations. I’m an HOA manager.

chisox100 · 2023-03-25T20:44:18+00:00

TikTok and any short form social media video content. As a teacher I saw a rapid and significant drop in student’s attention spans when they got popular. It’s made me more self aware of the fact my own attention span is worse than it used to be when I started using them too. So I cut it all out and my attention span and general anxiety levels have dropped

phuktup3 · 2023-03-25T21:02:44+00:00

Cleanses and detoxes, your body does this with organs, lol. Specifically lungs, skin, liver and kidneys. Take whatever you want the body still needs those organs to get it out.

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