Category: life

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A Man Made His Employer Pay for Their “Use It Or Lose It” Vacation Policy

It can seem like no one really thought some corporate policies out before they implemented them, and the whole “use it or lose it” school of thought on vacation days feels like one of those things.

So does, incidentally, the idea that sick days can’t be “cashed in” to retire a few weeks or months early. If you force people to take their sick days or lose them at the end of their tenure, what exactly do employers think is going to happen?

Personally, I love this r/malicious compliance story quite a lot, so I hop you do, too.

A man’s daughter who clearly loved him tons, and has heard this story often, tells us the tale.

Image Credit: Reddit

The backstory is that he was a dedicated, lifelong employee of an oil and gas company, working his entire career as a valued electrical engineer.

Image Credit: Reddit

During one of many buyouts, the new bosses asked Gary to travel to D.C. in order to help integrate their new systems.

Image Credit: Reddit

He changed around some of his vacation plans to accommodate the new position.

Image Credit: Reddit

Gary never complained about many of the inconveniences this new arrangement caused him.

Image Credit: Reddit

A few months into the new company’s tenure, they decided to change the vacation policy.

You could no longer roll over 2 weeks of vacation as was previously allowed, which would have caused Gary to have to cancel those plans he’d put off to make this whole transition work.

Image Credit: Reddit

He tried to go through the right channels to get an exception, but corporate was having none of it.

So.

Image Credit: Reddit

Gary found a way around it by basically arranging for 2 day work weeks for the remainder of the year.

Image Credit: Reddit

Things started to go to hell fairly quickly, and by the end of week 2, corporate was ready to talk.

Image Credit: Reddit

In the end, Gary got what he deserved, and was able to keep his vacation time to spend time abroad with his wife as he’d planned.

Image Credit: Reddit

If you’ve got the leverage and support from your immediate superiors, there’s no need to take corporate “policy” changes lying down, people.

Lesson learned.

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Do You Feel More Like an Observer in Life Than a Participant? 14 People Share Their Thoughts.

If you haven’t realized by now that it takes all sorts of people to make the world go ’round, well, you probably haven’t been paying attention. We’re all made up a bit differently – some introverts, some extroverts, some who want attention and others who shun it.

Those are just a few examples, but what happens when you’re dissatisfied with what seems to be your lot in life?

This OP (original poster) is wondering whether feeling like an observer of life instead of someone living their life is normal…and if it’s ok.

Does anyone else feel like they’re just an observer and not an active participant in life? from NoStupidQuestions

These 14 people have some great thoughts on the matter.

14. It could be anything. Or just a human thing.

Really! I’ve been saying this about myself for decades. I looked up depression and every definition or take on it. I know that’s not a diagnosis but I feel like I’m not depressed. A pussy maybe? An avoider of tangled webs? Sure. Someone who just doesn’t really care? Definitely. I remember reading that people felt weird eating alone or going to the movies alone. It never crossed my mind just like this.

I’m just generally amused by observing. I hate to say it but it’s the only thing that fits. Nihilist maybe? Cringy, I know.

I sleep because I’m sleepy. I eat because I’m hungry. I do whatever I feel is bothering me the most in the moment. That is as far as purpose as I’ll go. As far as meaningful stuff in the future that will inevitably come up, I’ll cross that road when it comes but try not to look back in regret.

Go ahead and give me an online diagnosis based just on what I wrote. It’s ok, it’s free so I’ll take it with a grain of salt!

13. Get out and do it…someday.

i feel that way because i never really do anything. even though i want this life full of adventure and crazy stories.

i never go out and make them happen.

i kind of just exist, like i always have

12. It might be depression.

High functioning depression sounds like this.

I’ve always enjoyed people watching and observing rather than doing. But then I force myself to do a lot of things even though I never truly enjoy them, seeing my friends/family enjoy that I’m there is something.

Making others happy around you makes you feel like your life has more meaning and a purpose.

11. The grass is not always greener.

I lead a life that most people think is full of adventure and crazy stories, and somehow I often feel like the observer too.

10. It might be the worse kind of depression.

as someone with severe depression who gets dissociation, depersonalization and derealisation I disagree.

dissociating is extremely unpleasant

9. No one’s life is all highlights.

One thing I’ve read is, “Don’t compare someone else’s highlight reel to your behind the scenes footage.”

I think that’s important to remember.

8. Some people are just happy being alone.

Yeah, I feel like I’ve observed my whole life and never really participated, but I’ve pretty much always been ok with it. I never thought it was a problem. I’ve always been ok with being the only person in my life. I love doing things alone.

When I’m with others, especially groups, I very much struggle to find meaning in the interactions so I basically just observe, but not in a sad way, I just don’t feel the need to participate unless I’m doing so in a way that is meaningful/helpful.

I was diagnosed with depression a few years back and I’ve been “managing” it ever since. But the funny thing is, when I look back to when I was a child, I felt the same. And even looking into the future, if I end up with someone, or have kids or whatever, I feel like it won’t change the core of my default mode.

But like I said, I’m not unhappy with it. It just is what it is and I don’t mind haha

7. Being left behind doesn’t feel great.

Yeah.

For a couple of years I’ve kind of just feel like I’m invisible or something.

Or like I’m stuck in place while everyone else goes on without me. Feels bad, man.

6. Don’t worry about pretending.

I’m on the exact same page, man.

I don’t care about diagnoses.

My behavior is the result of my nihilistic perspective and I’m fine with it.

I’m not happy about it. I’m not sad about it. But I’m definitely over trying to pretend that I care about things that I don’t.

The biggest stressor in my life is my family trying to convince me that something’s wrong. I take care of myself. I eat well. I exercise. I have no debt or dependents.

I could disappear right now and nobody’s life would be interrupted.

5. There are ways up and out.

I felt like this for years.

Struggled with depression, anxiety, and a slew of other things during that time. Last year, I got a job at a Juvenile treatment center, more specifically a trauma center. Got some promotions, started making good money and became pretty well liked at work. Since then I’ve made a lot of really good friends (funny how stress and really crazy situations bring people together) and I’ve been a lot happier.

Helping kids and having people who look to me when shit hits the fan has really done a lot for my confidence in life. Doing odd jobs before, and going through the motions, without putting effort into work or my relationships really did make me feel like I just kind of existed. I’m like, waaaaay more tired all the time now, but at least I have a lot of good reasons to wake up in the morning now.

4. Huh.

Depersonalization.

Everything is so surreal and I feel like I’m watching my life play out. I’m aware, but not aware. Often I’ll know where I am physically, but not know where I am physically. It’s pretty f*cking wack just basically being a ghost unable to grasp the world around you.

3. Hold your breath and leap.

The “stuck in place” part hit me hard. Wanting to change and develop yourself, but never really getting closer to where you want to be is a shitty feeling. I don’t have the perfect plan for overcoming this, but i do think that the “just go for it” method is a possible solution.

Going for opportunities and being in uncomfortable situations made me happier and more socially active. Creating opportunities, like finally getting a job was also helpful and made me feel a bit of accomplishment.

I wish you the best, truly and i hope you find yourself in control over your life soon. Stay strong my man.

2. Find your meaning.

This happened to me when I went to University. I was the second best student in my class in college, I was proud of that fact.

As soon as I went to Uni I realized just how small I am how pointless everything was as there’s another 300 people just like me doing this course, another 30,000 around the country doing the same thing. Why should I try If someone else could easily replace me. If theres another 30,000 people doing this course then why should I try, why should I bother with anything.

I actually dropped out of Uni after my second year because of depression. Went to a therapist for a handful of sessions before going on antidepressants for a year.

Feel much better now and really enjoy life, especially the new course im doing at uni ?

1. It never hurts to get a professional opinion.

I went through this big time in college. The best description I found was from a song. “Have you ever walked through a room But it was more like the room passed around you? Like there was a leash around your neck that pulled you through…”

But yea. That’s a sign of depression. Start by putting extra effort into connecting with friends and family. If that’s either too hard to do or not enough to help you out I suggest talking to a professional.

I think everyone feels this way sometimes, but it would be disconcerting to feel this way all the time.

If you’ve got thoughts of your own, share them with us in the comments!

The post Do You Feel More Like an Observer in Life Than a Participant? 14 People Share Their Thoughts. appeared first on UberFacts.

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Memes for Anyone Who Really Doesn’t Like Their Job

Jobs are things most of us have to keep through our years wandering this planet. There are great, amazing jobs and there are horrible jobs, but the truth is that most of the jobs you have over the course of your life will fall somewhere in the middle.

Which means there’s a good chance that most people, at once time or another (maybe right now!), can relate to these 13 workplace memes.

13. If only we were allowed to make this face.

Society, am I right?

Image Credit: Someecards

12. You’re off the clock.

No harm, no foul.

Image Credit: Someecards

11. Try not to think about it too much.

Unless you want to be really depressed.

Image Credit: Someecards

10. You wouldn’t want to make us both miserable, would you?

They definitely would. Watch out.

Image Credit: Someecards

9. We’ll miss this about remote working.

At least, some of us will.

Image Credit: Someecards

8. You don’t want to be involved.

Involved is never the best place to be.

Image Credit: Someecards

7. Seriously don’t you have a job?

Oh…right.

Image Credit: Someecards

6. I think that’s a fair request.

Your boss probably feels the same way.

Image Credit: Someecards

5. How have we not learned our lesson?

It’s never going to happen, is it.

Image Credit: Someecards

4. For more tips, follow this guy.

This might actually work.

Image Credit: Someecards

3. Sometimes closer than this.

Just don’t let it hit you until you’re ready.

Image Credit: Someecards

2. Less awkward for who, though?

Because I don’t think I’d want to be the friend.

Image Credit: Someecards

1. It might work.

Depends on how much work your boss wants to do to track you down.

Image Credit: Someecards

I’m laughing because yeah, we’ve all been there.

Which one of these really hit home? Tell us in the comments!

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Period Products Are Totally Free in Scotland

Women have been saying for decades that it’s unfair and classist and sexist to force women to pay for menstrual products.

We don’t ask to menstruate, after all, and without said activity, all of society would cease to exist.

In the way back, women were banished to a “red tent” for the duration, their only company other menstruating women, and I’ve gotta say, that sounds pretty sweet.

That would never work now, because our households would collapse in our 4-5 day absence.

Scotland, though, is the first nation to step up and provide period products for free to every woman under their care.

The legislation came about after four years of grassroots efforts that were spearheaded by Monica Lennon, Scotland’s Labour health spokeswoman.

The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act passed unanimously and demands that local authorities make period products available to anyone who needs them free of charge – and some town councils have already been doing that good work going back to 2018.

Lennon spoke about the landmark decision.

“This will make a massive difference to the lives of women and girls and everyone who menstruates.

There has already been great progress at a community level and through local authorities in giving everyone the chance of period dignity.”

The struggle to pay for basic sanitary products on a monthly basis has been a constant source of consternation for people, especially during trying times like the ones we’ve had recently.

 

Research by the grassroots group Women for Independence found that 1 in 5 women has struggled to pay for period products, a fact that impacts their hygiene, health, and wellbeing.

Lennon continued:

“There has been a massive change in the way that periods are discussed in public life.

A few years ago there had never been an open discussion of menstruation in the Holyrood chamber and now it is mainstream.

MSPs have enjoyed being a part of that, and it has encompassed the menopause, endometriosis, as well as the types of products we use and their sustainability.”

Women spend an estimated $18/month on period products, which really adds up between the ages of 12 or so and 50.

The Scottish government had originally challenged the idea that the products should be free to all women, regardless of means, but cross-party support grew in the face of pressure from activists, trade unions, and civil society groups.

Image Credit: Pexels

Schools, colleges, and universities will also be required to provide the products for free, and have largely been doing so since 2017.

Many businesses like bars, restaurants, and even football clubs have also been offering free products of their own accord – seeing it had become almost common in recent years.

Lennon and others believe this landmark decision will serve as beacon for other developed nations to follow suit. It proves the the rights of women and girls are important, and at the very least, belong on the agenda.

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Relatable Memes for Pleasant Afternoon Scrolling

It’s that time of day again – the time before the end of the workday when it’s impossible to finish anything. That means it’s time for meme happy hour! It’s five o’clock somewhere, so sit back, relax, and enjoy these 11 memes to kick off an easy-going afternoon.

1. Now that’s what I call projecting

Sometimes, the terrifying idea of us being truly known causes us to take out our insecurities on others. It’s a vicious cycle.

Image Credit: Pleated Jeans

2. Where’s my AARP check?

I could use some extra cash just for acting like a granny.

Image Credit: Pleated Jeans

3. A critical error

This is exactly why you turn your read receipts off.

Image Credit: Pleated Jeans

4. Too real

Let’s dispel the idea of “teacher’s pet,” shall we?

Image Credit: Pleated Jeans

5. Some wounds never heal

That emotional trauma cuts deeper than any amount of sulfates could reach.

Image Credit: Pleated Jeans

6. Yikes

How is this literally the only commentary my brain can ever come up with?

Image Credit: Pleated Jeans

7. Accurate

I’d blame my sleep schedule on Covid, but it was honestly always like this.

Image Credit: Pleated Jeans

8. This one stings

How did the internet find this photo of me?

Image Credit: Pleated Jeans

9. Not all heroes wear capes

Some of them wear personally enhanced crocs.

Image Credit: Pleated Jeans

10. Scandalous

Friendly reminder to get your mind out of the gutter when you’re going to the grocery story. There are children present.

Image Credit: Pleated Jeans

11. When your stealth is maxed out

Not that I’d recommend getting together in large groups during this time, but I’m sure this method might actually work.

Image Credit: Pleated Jeans

Well, that was a nice little reset. Sometimes, all you need is a direct hit of top-tier memes to power you through the rest of the day.

What are some of your favorite relatable memes? Share them with us in the comments!

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People Discuss How They Deal With Their Depression

We’re in the dark, freezing months of the year right now and this is when depression really rears its ugly head for a lot of people out there.

Gray skies, more hours of darkness, and freezing temperatures can really do a number on peoples’ mental health so it’s important to take care of yourself.

How do you cope with your depression?

Let’s see what folks on AskReddit had to say about this.

1. Seems to work.

“I like to go outside and write songs.

I act like I’m someone important that people need to survive.

It’s weird, but it works sometimes.”

2. The little things.

“I don’t suffer from major depression, so I know that this may seem rather flyweight. I go for walks.

I put my favorite music on while I’m driving and sing along. If I’m at home (alone–I get embarrassed), I’ll put on some really fun music and dance. I watch stand-up comedy for a laugh.

I’ll allow myself to indulge in some nice chocolate. And I give myself small tasks that I can easily accomplish and pat myself on the back for getting them done.”

3. Depression lies.

“I stubbornly keep on breathing and I ignore everything my head thinks.

Depression lies.

I have a check list on the fridge of things I forget: keep warm, drink tea, take Zinc, being overwhelmed is a symptom you are quite fierce in reality, wear hat, eat proteins before noon, brush teeth before noon.”

4. Dealing with it.

“I have been struggling with anxiety and depression throughout all of Middle School, and into High School. Except no one knows about it, so everyone just thinks I’m fine.

But I don’t talk about it, because I am concerned about how people would react. Which really just makes everything worse. But some things I have done to help my self. I focus on the things that I do have. I am lonely and don’t have many friends but, I realized that thinking senselessly about the people who don’t care about me, doesn’t help at all and makes things worse.

But focusing on who cares about me, make me feel happy and cared for. Additionally, I have started a journal to record my thoughts that I have, when I go through a mental breakdown. Writing it down, helps me think about it more, and cope with it.”

5. Belt it out.

“I sing.

I get anxious a lot and have problems because of it. But when I sing I feel like all my problems are gone.

Also, I read! When I read I’m not me anymore, I’m the book character and that takes all my problems away.”

6. Clear your head.

“I like to walk around outside, I feel like it clears my thoughts.

One of my main things to do is to pour all of my emotions into something physical, ie a drawing, and then destroy it. Listen to happy music, read, take a bath are standard go-to’s. Hope this helps!

And remember you’re loved, wanted and needed in this world. also If you feeling suicidal please call a hotline, the world needs you.”

7. All kinds of things.

“I like to sit and think. some times I will draw and listen to music. I will play my favorite video games and chat with friends. but my favorite thing to do was to make up a new friend in my head then I would talk to them as if they were a therapist.

I like to do that because I feel it is easier to talk and vent to some that are not real then to talk to someone that might tell others. I do this a lot for more than just depression and it really helps if you have.

People say that I’m too old for an “imaginary friend” but I mean they are there for when you are sad and don’t want to talk o someone that’s real.”

8. Comforting.

“I do things that comfort me.

I mostly just watch RuPaul’s drag race, eat food and play video games.

I honestly just ignore it and let it build up. It’s not healthy but I like it.”

9. Ways to survive.

“I’ve dealt with major depression for almost 20 years now. A few ways I survive:

1. Give my dog (who’s passed away, so now my cat) a hug. I also talk(ed) to them

2. Read. Live in that world instead of mine

3. Listen to music

4. Journal (including keeping a gratitude journal), and just go back and reread

5. Sleep, so I don’t feel anything.”

10. Very aware.

“I try not to give myself to much importance. Meaning it’s okay not to succeed or to miss work.

The world doesn’t revolves around you. You are not that important.

For me, it takes all the stress off my shoulder and I can just simply be instead of doing and having.”

11. Escape from reality.

“Reading sci-fi and fantasy adventure books, the further they are from our reality, the better.

Also working with my hands, and doing something good for others (I’m currently renovating my mom’s apartment).”

12. Whatever works for you.

“I have depression & anxiety.

I used to believe it when I was told by media in various forms and by specialists that working or volunteering in something you care about, always helps people with depression. It Doesn’t. Never believe that something Helps Everyone. I had a breakdown, then started volunteering after a while – that caused things to get worse.

How do I cope with depression? I read, if I’m reading I can mostly forget the real world, my real situation, my real future, I feel a bit better. My other coping mechanism is to sleep, even with nightmares sleep is far better than being awake.

If the anxiety worsens at the same time as the depression and becomes very, very bad I lie on my bed and look out the window. I can’t do anything else except get to the bathroom as needed. It’s like a weird paralysis.

In years past, I would cope with depression by drawing a picture daily of how my day had been. Write down 5 good things each day. Write. Just write. Thoughts, fears, worries, hopes, regrets, anything.

Lie on the lounge with my doona and a pillow while my mother did things and I would just watch and we would talk unless I was too bad, then I just observed and Mum did her things and talked to me.”

Now we’d like to hear from you

In the comments, share some tips that you use to deal with depression.

Thanks in advance!

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Check Out an Eye-Opening Thread on the Real Dangers of Not Getting Enough Sleep

Almost every article about how to feel better, feel healthier, and generally enjoy your life more contains the advice to get enough sleep. Not just enough, either, but good sleep.

While there will be periods in our lives when this is all but impossible for one reason or another (like a new baby), it really should be a priority for every last one of us

This Twitter thread explains why, especially now, it’s so important.

Number one? Your health! Current health crisis aside, chronic sleep deprivation can affect Alzheimer’s chances, the development of pre-diabetes, and wreck your immune system.

Your arteries and your waistline could suffer.

It could put your mental health at risk, too.

And if you’re already struggling, not getting enough sleep could make it all that much worse.

Not only that, but it could affect the people around you negatively, too.

And you’ll experience mood swings that won’t be fun for anyone.

If you are or have a young adult in your house, sleep is doubly important, and too many of them don’t get enough.

Sleep deprivation could also predispose young people to addiction.

And yeah, there’s a reason it’s used as a torture device.

So, do your best in these trying times, my friends. There are many things we can let slide, and things we can course correct later, but taking the chance to catch some extra zzzz’s when you can is never going to hurt.

In fact, if these tweets are right, it could definitely help.

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This Minnesota Man Has the World’s Tallest Mohawk

There’s a Guinness World Record for pretty much anything you can think of; if you have a thing and are committed enough to do it bigger and better than anyone else in the world (because there are always a few weirdos just like you), you could find yourself as an entry.

Some things, like the world’s longest tongue, are just strokes of genetic luck (?), while others like being able to crush the most apples with your biceps, and lifting the most weight with your beard, are things you could definitely work toward, if you had a hankering.

The latter category is where Joseph Grisamore of Park Rapids, Minnesota, who is now the world record holder for the tallest mohawk in the world, settled in.

His hair stands at 108.2 centimeters (42.5 inches, or 3.6 feet) tall, according to the official Guinness entry – and this wasn’t his first attempt to make it all the way.

Back in 2006, Grisamore attempted the record but fell short. Time time, with the help of his wife and his mother/hairstylist at Family Hair Affair, he made it all the way.

He had to start from scratch, which means he grew all nearly four feet of that hair in just seven years.

Well I'll be GREASED and FRIED! It finally happened! After holding the Guinness World Record for Tallest full…

Posted by Eric Hahn on Tuesday, March 24, 2020

He takes the record from Eric Hahn of Omaha, Nebraska, who was very gracious in being usurped.

Who knows; maybe he has plans to try again!

If you were going to go for a world record, what would it be?

Muse with us in the comments!

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Barbers Describe the Moment When All They Could Think Was “Oh S**t…”

Pretty much every job where a person works with the public has horrifying moments happen, the ones where you realize you absolutely screwed up, and not only is the customer/client going to be mad, but they’re going to be totally justified in their anger, besides.

That said, not every job is giving someone a haircut they’re going to have to live with, for better or for worse, for the foreseeable future.

So, you can see why these 17 barbers probably had to live with their hearts in their throats for a good long while after these incidents occurred.

17. Way too many people, based on this thread.

My coworker at a salon was cutting a girls hair and found lice – the girls mom had left her for the trim and she had to wait for her mom in the lobby. We spent the next hour or so frantically cleaning around all of the other clients and stylists to sanitize the whole place top to bottom.

When the mom came back and asked her why she didn’t have her hair cut, she replied “they found out”.

WHO BRINGS THEIR LICE RIDDEN CHILD TO THE SALON?!

16. Eh, it was just the tip.

While I was training at a pretty chic salon in London, there was a kid who came in for a cut with his mum. She was a regular, the typical biweekly blow dry client that was always dressed in the finest fineries and sent her kid to private school. He sat down in my colleague’s chair and the mum gave a fairly detailed and particular instruction of a short back and sides as if my colleague had never heard of a hair cut before. She then sat down in the waiting area and picked up a magazine and began reading. This kid was a little s**t. He squirmed and complained the entire time. My colleague, bless her, was very diplomatic, and tried to be firm, but fair to this kid (she was very experienced at this point, and dealt with a fair share of spoilt kids).

Towards the end of the cut, she very clearly told the boy to stay still as she was cutting the stray hairs around his ears. She told him that her scissors had just been sharpened and would hurt a lot if she cut him. He agreed to keep his head still. However – as previously stated – this boy was a little s**t. He suddenly turned his head to something and she caught the top of his ear. Now, she wasn’t lying about getting her scissors sharpened, and those things are hella sharp when they are. I will never forget the top bit of his ear just resting on the blades of her scissors and her wide-eyed pale expression of realization of what had happened. I don’t know if you’ve ever cut an ear, but those things bleed.

At this point, the mother put down her magazine, put her thunder-face on, and stormed over to my colleague’s section with the screaming and bleeding child in it. Wordless, she raised her arm with an open hand, and slapped the kid straight in the face. “That’ll teach you for not listening!” The whole salon was in complete shock. She pulled him up by the arm, and dragged him out of the salon without a word to anyone else. We never saw them again. Absolutely, the most mental experience of working in a salon. That, and the crazy color change I had to do, but that is a story for another time.

15. Communication is key.

Oh jeez. I’ve been barbering for 7 years and I’ve got a couple stories. Mostly communication errors. I had a client come in with a super tight haircut (looked like it had just been cut) and asked for a “zero on the sides.” I’m not sure what this guy was on, but a zero is bald to me. So I start my bald line for my fade and he freaks out that it’s way too short and I ruined his haircut. Since this never happens to me I got super upset and felt absolutely terrible.

I’ve had clients who text me and ask for an appointment and then I forget to book it, then they show up and I’m busy and they don’t have an appointment. (I always comp them because I feel terrible) I used to work in a low income neighborhood and worked at a black barbershop.

I was cutting a kids hair and since it was so curly you couldn’t see his scalp or anything. Started cutting into it and sure enough, he had ringworm. I have hella stories but those are just the ones that come to mind.

14. Good thing he was chill.

I was in school still at the time and was cutting this guy’s hair, he brought his girlfriend along and she was watching like a HAWK over me. I’m halfway through the cut and almost done with the fade when the person next to me has their trolley too close to me so I go to move it but I didn’t pay attention that my other hand had the clipper still running with no guard on.

I made a nasty line through the fade that didn’t look intentional at all and was sweating my a** off on how I was gonna fix this.

The girlfriend of course points it out and the client is actually super chill about it and has me basically just run a super high 0.5 on the sides and back. 3 years later and to this day I haven’t had an incident that bad.

13. That needs to be in a movie.

Brother of a barber who used to be a hair model? back when I used to have a good head of hair. His instructor told a story during one of the shows about a mobster falling asleep during a shave. While shaving him, he accidentally cut off a mole.

He said he kept on putting towels on him and then snuck across the street and hid in a bar watching through the window until the mobster left.

Since he was only renting the chair in the shop he grabbed all his stuff and found another place to work after he was sure the mobster was gone.

12. That’ll cost you one free haircut.

Barber here. I’m pretty experienced and a successful barber with my own place but I definitely made some mistakes along the way. This story still makes me die inside a little.

When I was training, maybe a few months in so I had a bit of confidence, enough for me to not realize I still didn’t know what I was doing, i was cutting this guys hair and I got to his fringe. He wanted it really short and I was standing in front of him cutting along his forehead whilst chatting away. I took my scissors away to comb his hair but like, flicked them(??) around my fingers and they swung round and hit the guy right in the f*cking iris.

I froze. He froze. Eventually i asked “did I just hit you in the eye by the way?” He said “I think so”. Trying to act like it wasn’t sore for some reason. It eventually blew up in the shop once his shock wore off and someone else got him out the door. Found out a month later his wife was a nurse and she used some kind of eye drop and his eye was only scratched.

Thank god because I thought I blinded him. I gave him a free haircut next time. Just the one though.

11. It only takes one mistake.

My mom was cutting my hair when I was younger (around second grade). She was only using the razor at one point (without the thing that makes it a certain length) towards the end.

A piece of hair fell on my nose and made me sneeze, my head moved, and I ended up with a bald spot. I ended up having to get shaved completely bald to “fix” it and she refused to give haircuts after that except for one time during covid.

10. That last one, though.

Started combing a guy’s hair to get ready to cut it. Shifted the comb over the left side of his head and the hair did not move the way it was supposed to. I pulled the comb down again and realized the dude did not have a left ear. Didn’t say anything about it. Gave him a cut that still worked with it and he left happy.

Had a blind man come in once who said that this haircut was his first stop after getting out of a 25 year prison sentence for murdering his wife. Gave his name and everything. We looked him up and he did indeed murder his wife who was also blind.

During barber school I was the most eager to learn to straight razor shave of all the customers, so the instructor gave me all the hardest shaves, including an 80 year old dude whose skin was so loose and unhealthy that each time I pulled the blade over his flesh, it brought up just as much dead skin as it did hair. I wasn’t cutting him or anything, he just had that much dead skin just chillin’ on his face every other week.

Had a mom bring in her son, about 8 years old, with beautiful long hair. Told me to shave it all off as short as we could go, which is a big red flag. Being still in school, I missed the warning signs and buzzed up the back of his head in time to see a bug as long as my thumb nail scurry back into where the hair was long. I inspected more closely and found several bugs of similar size. My instructor chewed out the mother very harshly.

9. Hey, Hallmark…

Not a barber but my cousin worked in a salon when I was a kid and I would hang out there a lot after school.

One day she cut a guy’s head pretty bad with the clippers.

Lots of blood but it wasn’t too serious.

This led to them dating and eventually getting married.

8. They’ve hurt people.

Beauty school. This tweaker dude and his hippie girlfriend come in for $7 haircuts. Immediately, something seemed off about the girlfriend; she seemed a little not “all there” and was cross-eyed and had dreads poking out of her hippie hat. The appointments were a bit staggered, so I finished the guy’s 1-all-over buzzcut, and my classmate calls me over to “help” with hers. When she took off the girl’s hat, her hair was completely matted and filthy, and beneath the matted hair were stinking, suppurating sores COVERING her scalp. When we combed at the hair, her scalp would begin to give and split away wetly. We called over an instructor who tried to explain that we couldn’t service someone who was literally oozing. She didn’t seem to understand and they left without paying. I’ll never forget that smell.

Also beauty school; when bang trims go poorly. If you cut even slightly too high and a cowlick in the front goes “boing!” and springs the hair right up off the face. There’s literally no coming back from a bad bang trim. To be fair, if it was that important, she shouldn’t have been having students doing it. This also applies to colors. Local teenage girls would come in expecting a full head of highlights and then be shocked and angry when it goes poorly and takes forever and there’s huge lines near the root. Arguments between 17 year old clients and 19 year old jailbird beauty school girls were really common.

Lice. I’ve had three run-ins with lice on kids in my 8 years of cutting hair. You just have to stop cutting immediately, discretely send them back to their parents, and spend the next hour cleaning and feeling crawly. “Discovering” something like lice is like the classic “oh s**t” moment in haircutting

Years ago, I was working at a shop in SF’s Tenderloin. I was standing near the window looking absentmindedly outside. This drugged-out woman on the corner decides that I was looking AT her, so she shambles into the shop right up to the station and starts threatening me, inches from my face. I become acutely aware that my razors and shears are sitting in plain view on the counter next to us, and that I have to get them into my possession and away from her before she can use them against me. I decided that if I’d have to stab a crackhead in self defense, I’d use my trusty 8-inchers. Before it gets to that, my coworkers intervene and begin corralling her outside. At the doorway she starts swinging, punches one coworker in the face and bites the other on the chest. Cops showed up pretty quick and arrested her about a block away. I spent another year at that shop constantly looking over my shoulder, certain that she’d one day reappear.

Once had a dude pass out after a haircut. Based on what he told me, he had some sort of sensory issues, and the combination of heat, the neck strip, clipper buzzing and noise of the shop overwhelmed him. If you’ve ever dealt with a person fainting, you know what an “oh s**t” moment it is; one minute dude is standing up and looking a little worried, next he is crumpling to the floor. I’m a little guy, but I was able to sort of “catch” him and ease him down without anyone getting hurt. It was pretty scary, my first thought was that I somehow killed him.

And my personal worst story: I was cutting one of my regular’s hair, and he always insisted on scissor-over-comb instead of clippers on the side, which is fine and kind of my thing anyhow. I was working in the lower right corner of his nape moving upwards with my big a** 8″ inch dry-cutting scissors, and he sorta twisted toward me to say something at the precise moment my shears closed, causing me to close the pivot of my shears right onto the flesh atop of his ear. It wasn’t like a little common nick, I felt my tools puncture living flesh. The whole top chunk was like hanging off and bleeding profusely. My coworkers said I looked pale and panicked, and I still don’t know how I did it, but I managed to get the ear chunk back in place with surgical glue and staunch the bleeding with talcum power. The craziest part is he kept coming to see me, insisted on paying full price plus tip, and continued coming back up until he moved away a year later. About 5 years later, not a day goes by at work where I don’t think about the sickening sensation of metal on flesh, and I’m happy to say nobody has been hurt since.

7. Bless his heart.

One girl had never cut a white guy’s hair and her teacher asked if i was ok with it. I said sure she has to learn some how and its just hair it can be shaved and should grow back. Told her how i wanted the hair cut, pretty simple a little short and off the ears. Jokingly said do not take my ears off.

Long story short i left with a bald head and a band-aid on the top of my left ear, after bleeding like a stuck pig due to blood thinners!! where she nicked me with the scissors. Even her teacher couldnt save the hair cut. I did my best to try and help the girl calm down as she was ugly crying!!

Went back a month later and asked if the girl was there, thankfully she was and i simply smiled and said tound two…she did it perfect second time around.

6. That kid will sit still for the rest of his life.

I work at a small shop and there is a family who comes in mom, boy and daughter. So about 2/3 years ago the son probably 11 at the time was booked with me first thing Saturday morning. Chill kid but he used to move a lot while getting his hair cut.. until that Saturday morning when I snipped his ear pretty good.

It wasn’t hanging off but ears bleed a lot when snipped. The family still comes to the shop, I haven’t cut the sons hair since- totally fine with me. I have noticed that he sits much better for my coworkers.

5. They don’t get paid that much.

Licensed cosmetologist here!

During my very first mens haircut when I was in school I accidentally cut this guy’s skin tag off. I was absolutely horrified but he was super nice about it and was genuinely stoked he only had to pay 5 dollars + a tip to get it removed! That’s the only real “oh sh%t” moment that’s been my fault that I can think of. I’ve had plenty, if not too many “what the f*ck” moments though.

I’ve had people:

-sh%t

-piss

-sh%t and piss

-vomit

-come in with c*m/sh%t/mold/blood and other fun fluids in their hair

-be high or drunk out of their minds

-get violent with me

-s*xually harass/assault me

And more in my chair.

Please be nice to the person who does your hair; we go through too much to make y’all look nice.

4. Tell your barber the truth.

Did you know that some hair dye chemicals don’t play well together?

Turns out the lady had used some sort of home hair dye chemical that basically has tiny bits of metal in it. She didn’t mention.

My mom goes to dye her hair and puts the professional dye on it… and the hair more or less starts melting as the dye reacts.

Her hair was totally ruined, there was no saving it. Only thing to do was to just get the new dye off as fast as possible. She was pretty understanding about the whole situation though.

3. He still cuts his own hair, though.

I’m not a licensed barber or professional by any means, but I have been cutting my own hair for about 10 years. I’m really good at it, save a lot of time and money, know exactly how to do it, and never have to worry about getting something I don’t like, anymore.

BUT, it has taken a lot of trial and error over the years. Especially when I was learning how to fade.

This was 3 years ago. I start cutting like I normally do and start fading my sides. At the top on my head the guard pops off, huge chunk falls down my face. So me, still learning, not knowing how to fix it, decides it’s best to just buzz it. Which I’ve really only had to do 3 times in my “career.”

I look dumb with a buzzed head, so for some unknown reason, I also decide to shave my beard, thinking maybe it’ll equal it all out. NOPE. Apologies if this offends anyone, but I look like I’m receiving chemo at this point. Bro I look like a thumb. Big toe looking a**.

So I hated myself, my wife still makes fun of me to this day, I got endless sh%t from my family, and was attached to a hat for like 2 months.

This was the moment that made me never f*ck up again.

2. That’s a fun, if unexpected, twist.

Also a stylist, but this reminds me of a story from one of my instructors. Lady comes into the school and wants highlights I think? Or it might’ve been a color remover actually now that I’m really thinking of it. Box color black, wants to be lighter is the short of it I suppose.

Now this particular instructor has been teaching for like, 20+ years and she insists on doing a strand test. They take a bit of hair, put the color remover on it in a foil.

And it starts smoking. Like immediately.

They open the foil and the hair is WHITE in like a minute, but also fried beyond repair. Chemical reactions are wild.

1. Sometimes hiding is the only option.

Been a professional barber for 2 years now. I like to tell my clients this story all the time but it is the first time writing it so bear with me

When I was in barber school I had a mother and her son come in to get a haircut for her son. They did not speak English very well so there was a bit of a language barrier. She told me she wanted a 2 on top which is very short, 1/4 inch left to be exact, and the little boy had close to 3 inches on top so I figured they did not understand the lengths. I did try to explain to her that the 2 would be very short by showing her the guard but she insisted he got a 2 on top.

Being the dumb a** I was I started my clipper down the middle of the kids head. I remember hearing the clipper take off a bunch of hair and the child knew something was wrong and starting screaming. “Oh s**t! The mother came over and scolded me for taking it too short. She told me that she meant she wanted 2 inches left not a number 2 guard. I apologized like 5 times and told them that I would at least make the buzz cut look good and get them a free haircut next time.

As I was finishing up the kids hair, literally on the last pass with my clippers, by an act of god or something the guard I was using popped off and I went straight to skin down the middle of the top of this poor child’s head. “OH SH**TT” I put my hand over the bald patch on this kids head and just pretended that nothing had happened.

Thankfully one of my instructors came by and i was able to flag him down for some assistance. I took my hand off the kids head and my instructor starting chucking and told me to go in the back and get some water while he sorts this out. He ended up getting in a big fight with the mother because she thought I did it on purpose for yelling at me earlier but it was and accidentally and she did come to a school and pay $5 for a student haircut.

I was holding my breath through some of these – they could have gone so much worse, honestly.

If you cut hair for a living, share your ‘oh crap!’ story with us in the comments!

The post Barbers Describe the Moment When All They Could Think Was “Oh S**t…” appeared first on UberFacts.

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People Debate Whether or Not It’s Lame to Play Video Games on the Easiest Settings

What I think is important to remember when talking about anything that’s a creative or mindless outlet is that people engage for all sorts of reasons.

Sure, some people log hours on video games with the clear intention of being the best, accumulating all of the rewards, and being able to say they “beat” the game quickly and well.

Other people want to lazily explore these amazing, virtual universes at their leisure, and don’t really care how hard the settings are or what they “get” in return.

It’s totally ok to play video games on the easiest setting to enjoy the story line. from unpopularopinion

According to this guy, any way you want to play is fine – but what did people have to say in the comments?

Keep reading!

16. It’s not either/or.

It may not make you a hardcore gamer, but it def makes your friends gatekeeping a$sholes.

I play lots of games over and over cause they’re fun. Like Witcher 3, but I’ve never played it on Death March.

Guess who cares if that makes me a weak gamer…

Enjoy your games.

15. It’s an option, so it must be ok.

Hell, Jedi: Fallen Order even made the “Story Mode” setting.

So that if you really wanna enjoy the story rather than combat or exploration or whatnot, you can!

14. There’s more than one way to play.

The words of a true enlightened gamer. No longer held down by petty beliefs and free to just enjoy the way they want. The point isn’t whether it’s easy or hard, it’s about you choosing to play through that experience which in turn helps spread the word and love of the game to others while also helping support the developers and game communities in indirect ways you will never fully know.

Gate keeping is not for a place of genuine love, it is those who want to one-up the other in a never ending game they find themselves in. Someone is always going to be better or worse but to educate and have them look beyond that. Cooperation and expression of respect for the other since we share the same love and want our favorite games to continue regardless.

13. Not everyone wants to rage in their spare time.

Every game I’ve played so far on the PS4 has a story mode.

It’s kind of nice because I like playing for story sometimes.

After all day at work i don’t want to rage at my leisure time.

12. You’re not doing chores.

My look on games changed over the years….at first I played on easy because I wanted fun and not my ass kicked.

Then I became a completionist and wanted a challenge.

Now it is enough to just experience the world again without major struggles and the necessity to collect all legendary flowers of Baba Yaga.

I play on hard sometimes, but if it isn’t fun I have no problem to dial it back.

The game is for me to enjoy not an additional chore in my life.

11. Preach.

You bought the game and have the right to play it however you want.

10. Make your choice.

To those friends I say, “just be grateful that you have a choice. Back in the day I’d have given anything to play NES Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on easy mode”

These days I play on whatever difficulty isn’t going to give me ptsd flashbacks to that seaweed stuff in the dam level.

9. I mean…

“HUr DuR it’S n0t SeA Of FreiNdz”

Buncha fu*king basement sociopaths living out their “Black Sails” fantasies while mom cooks up the tendies.

8. Reality bites.

See, I usually play it on the hardest setting I can handle so it’s more realistic.

I mean in fc3 you will die in a single shot if you are on the hardest difficulty, so you can’t just run in and spray Willy Nilly.

You have to do missions stealthily and plan your attacks.

I mean he’s wearing shorts and a teeshirt with 0 combat experience.

He’s not going to be bulletproof!

7. That’s not fun.

Yeah what is WITH this game?

My buddies and I are having a blast playing, and we’re super chill and polite, but man 95% of the people we meet are the sweatiest f*cking tryhards I’ve ever met.

Like, I’m not saying they’re trash-talking or something, I can handle that.

They’re just obnoxiously rude.

6. Splitting hairs.

Increases in difficulty are only fun when they increase… well, the difficulty.

But in shooters it tends to just mean you give less damage, take more damage, have less HP, and enemies have more HP.

I mean yes, this is technically harder, but was the game designed to be played at that difficulty?

Can you strategize your way out of it?

If there isn’t a way for the player to figure out how to survive, then it’s not really an increase in difficulty, it’s just an increase in bullshit.

It’s more difficult by the layman word “difficult” but in the context of game design I don’t like calling that sort of thing an increase in difficulty.

There may be a better term I’m not aware of.

5. Get satisfied.

It’s exciting finding other crews to sink.

Lots of folks play it for the naval pvp part of the game and prefer getting their treasure that way.

Way more satisfying than fighting NPC skeletons and bosses with crap mechanics.

4. Don’t suck the joy away.

I play normal bc i believe it’s how the game was meant to be played, not some ultra mega super hard difficulty that sucks the joy out of the plot.

3. We don’t all have the time.

I don’t understand why some are so anti easy modes. Some people want to play a game that they’ve been looking forward to but dont have the time to “get good”. What is the harm in making your favorite series more accessible, which creates more sales, which can help ensure a better future for that series while keeping in game costs low (not every publisher would follow that logic of course).

I dont speak for everyone, but when I find a game, film, or show that I love I want to share it with others. I LOVE the Deus Ex series but my good friend just can’t play stealth games very well. I got him to play Human Revolution on the easiest mode and he eventually beat it and really liked. Hes currently playing my copy of Mankind Divided

It’s been awesome to talk about one of my favorites series with a close friend which wouldn’t had happened if he had to “get good” to do so because his wife and 2 kids didn’t give a f*ck how good he is at video games, I’ve asked.

No one is trying to take away your platinum trophies or in game achievements, playing games competitively is awesome but not to everyone. Some just want to play a video game they think looks fun.

2. But I mean…so?

The whole controversy started because there was a fear of inaccurate review ratings.

For example, if a reviewer is awful at playing Dark Souls, making an easy mode for him will absolutely mess with his review of the game.
Suddenly, he’s not reviewing the Dark souls everybody knows and loves, he’s now playing a slow paced hack n slash game. Altering his review score and perception of what the game was designed to be.

1. You’re still a gamer.

I play most games in easy mode, and mod in grind-removing things when I can (crafting supplies and gold in DAI, or just outright using commands in Skyrim for the house building supplies for example). I’ve got a family, a full time job, and all the crap that has to get done because of it, and no time or inclination to grind elfroot or iron once I get to play my games. Plus it’s single player, so I’m the only one effected by it.

I’ve started playing Satisfactory recently (love it so much!), and the only thing I really want is a peaceful mode so that the animals stop kicking my ass when I go exploring. But I understand that lots of folks like combat, so having combat mode as default with a peaceful mode as an option for folks like me would be great.

Doesn’t make me less of a gamer though. Gatekeeping over what difficulty you play the game on reminds me of gatekeeping being a “real” gamer based on how much you enjoy min/maxing the game/character.

I agree with OP here! You do you, man.

But that’s what I think. What in the heck do YOU think? That’s what I want to know.

Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

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