Category: Society & Laws

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What’s Illegal but People Act Like It Isn’t? Here’s What People Said.

We sure live in a weird world, huh?

Some people obey the law and some don’t.

And then some folks choose WHICH laws they choose to obey, which is a whole different issue…

What’s actually illegal but people act like it isn’t?

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

1. Not cool.

“Teenagers with leaking each other’s nudes.

I’m a teen myself and seen it happen to many classmates.

Lots of kids don’t realize you can get charged with CP as a minor.”

2. Interesting…

“In the US, telling non-managerial employees not to discuss wages. The National Labor Relations Act — which was passed in 1935 — makes it illegal for an employer to prohibit you in any way from discussion of your wages with others.

Nnless you’re management; as in, actually have control over others’ salaries. Then they can tell you not to disclose those.”

3. Pick it up!

“Not picking up after your dog.

There’s an awful lot of doggie landmines in the dog walking trails where I take my dogs.”

4. It’s not free.

“Stealing artwork and photos from the Internet and using it for commercial purposes without permission (logos, t-shirts etc.).

I’m talking artwork done by currently living artists who are most likely trying to make a living off their work.

Too many people think that just because it’s on the
Internet, means it’s free to use.”

5. Not good.

“I work in downtown Seattle a lot.

So heroin and having your d*ck out.”

6. This scares me.

“Texting while driving.

I live in a college town, and I take a mile walk every morning, and I like to people watch while waiting at crosswalks. It’s infuriating how people can just stare at their phones while driving.

I could understand if it was just when stopped (though you shouldn’t do it even then) but these people roll up to a light, head tilted 90 degrees to the side, one hand on the wheel and it drives me nuts.”

7. Out of the road!

“Jaywalking.

I always wondered where this was actually enforced. Thought it was big cities like New York.

Then I went to New York and realized you cross the street whenever you think you can do so without dying.

Still wondering where it’s actually a thing.”

8. Litterbug.

“Dropping the cigarette butts on the ground.”

9. People do it.

“Recording a baseball game without the express written consent of Major League Baseball.”

10. Pretty trashy.

“Stealing.

Holy sh*t, the amount of people that I saw when I had Tiktok actively encouraging and giving tips for shoplifting was f*cking insane.”

11. Gross!

“”Sampling” bulk candy in grocery stores.”

12. A dumb move.

“Drinking and driving.

It’s actually frightening how many people drink and drive regularly.”

13. Too much red tape.

“Giving a homeless person a place to sleep.

Incredible amount of regulation involved in putting someone in a sheltered bed for the night, yet the general public assume it’s an easy process.”

14. Sounds bad.

“In South Africa, literally everything.

It’s not illegal if nobody important sees you and even if they do see you they either dont care or you can probably bribe them.”

15. Weird.

“In the Netherlands, scaffold theft.

It is insane how much scaffolds get stolen.

Worth of thousands of euros.”

What do you think?

What do people not think is illegal, even though IT IS.

Talk to us in the comments!

The post What’s Illegal but People Act Like It Isn’t? Here’s What People Said. appeared first on UberFacts.

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This Teacher Is Fighting Back After Her District Banned Pride Flags in the Classroom

Flags are a staple of classrooms. American flags, of course, but also usually a state flag. Sometimes the school flag, other times a military flag of some sort, or a college banner, if the teacher is a proud alum.

There don’t seem to be many rules (as long as one is not trying to fly, say, a Nazi or Confederate flag), but even so, this Nevada school district took it upon themselves to ban Pride flags from their classrooms (along with any perceived political speech).

One teacher in the Washoe County School District in Reno, Jennifer Leja, is speaking out against the new policy. She’s the only openly LGBTQ teacher at her school, and sees herself as a point person for students who are looking to explore their own identities.

Image Credit: Pexels

She keeps a Pride flag in her classroom, along with an assortment of other rainbow paraphernalia that students have given her, as she just really likes rainbows – and is proud of who she is.

This year, though, a new, district-wide policy banning “partisan political activities” during school hours meant that her Pride flag had to go back in the closet.

Seeking to clarify, Leja reached out to Trustee Andrew Caudill to clarify whether or not the policy included LGBTQ issues, and if it was ok for her to talk about her personal sexuality at school.

Image Credit: TikTok

She received this email in response:

“The courts have held LGBTQ+ issues to be political speech and thus, the rainbow flag [is considered] to be political speech, so it cannot be expressed through clothing and other means, such as displaying a flag in your class.

Who you are is not impacted by this policy, only what is expressed in class through visual aids.”

For Leja and other people who identify under the LGBTQ banner, their sexuality is not political.

“The issue I have with it is, I don’t think my existence and my identity is a political issue. I think that being able to have a rainbow flag is as much a part of my identity as anything else. It’s legal in every state to get married; it’s legal for LGBT people to exist in this country right now, so I don’t see how it’s a political issue.”

Image Credit: TikTok

She’s not just fighting for herself, either, she told Buzzfeed News.

“It’s important for me because I feel like there are students who spend their lives in the closet and especially in middle school; that is when students are starting to figure out where they are.

They go through that time period where they don’t know who they are or what they like.”

Leja posted about the issue on TikTok, and though many, if not most, people agree with her stance, the District Trustee remains firm in his response that the policy doesn’t target LGBTQ issues, but includes “other kinds of speech such as Pro-Life, Pro-Choice, NRA, etc.,” and saying the district believes a government entity shouldn’t be seen as taking sides politically.

@msleja

My response to this new requirement ? #tiktokteacher #middleschool #teachersoftiktok #lgbt #lgbtqteacher

♬ original sound – Jenn Leja

He did stress to Buzzfeed, though that Leja is not being asked to hide her identity on or off campus.

“But I want to be abundantly clear, the policy does not require staff to hide their own sexuality.

Teachers can let students know their sexuality, or mention their significant others, if they wish, regardless of sexuality.

The policy does not impact who a teacher is, it only impacts the advocacy for a specific political position.”

Teachers are also not allowed to take a stance on Black Lives Matter, a policy that has drawn criticism and petitions from students and teachers alike.

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Older People Talk About Which Year Felt Worse Than 2020 and They Explain Why

I’ve read quite a bit about the year 1968 and I’ve always said to myself, “wow, that must have been so exciting and interesting to live through such a tumultuous year.”

Now that we’re living through an awful year, my mind has definitely been changed. This is not fun, it’s not exciting, and it’s honestly pretty terrifying. But I guess that we should all appreciate that we’re living through some very interesting times that will be studied and written about forever.

What are some other years that felt worse than 2020?

Let’s get some history lessons from folks on AskReddit.

1. Crash in Finland.

“My parents still think the economic crash of the 1990s that happened in Finland was worse, and in Finland it killed more people in the form of suicides than Corona has thus far.

I was just born around that time. And lots of people just lost everything. Companies folded left and right. Loan intrests were crushing people.

Then right after that we got dot com bubble.”

2. The burst bubble.

“Personally speaking:

2002 the dot-com bubble burst and I lost a cushy job, that was pretty bad.
2008 great recession happened, again was laid off, that was pretty bad too.

2019 was awful. I found out my recently deceased father had an entire other family. I guess technically, we were his other family.

Met the ones he abandoned (my new older half siblings) last summer and it was incredibly awkward and for some reason left me hollow and extremely full of guilt.”

3. A personal story.

“I’m 42. I’ve had years that were personally pretty bad, but this is super weird times.

Like, late 1997, the day before my 20th birthday, my mom was diagnosed with cancer and the first 6 months of 1998 were especially very, very stressful and scary, but at least I could go out with friends, I threw myself in to school, I worked, I tried to be useful or out of the way at home. I didn’t have to think about it 24/7.

I deactivated my FB, Insta, and Twitter October 1 and I’m planning to keep them like that at least through the election, maybe longer. Can’t change what’s going on, but I can’t have all of this crap living rent-free in my head all the time.”

4. JFK.

“1963 because President Kennedy was shot.

My teacher cried and my father left home.”

5. Interesting perspective.

“The last quarter of 2001 was more intensely miserable.

2020 misery is more spread out and not quite as terrifying.”

6. Serbia.

“Bombing of Serbia in 1999.

NATO was only supposed to bomb military objects, but they bombed hospitals, markets, random populated areas. I was in the hospital with my dad when the sirens came on the whole hospital went to the basement, lucky the hospital wasn’t hit, after the danger my dad drove us back he told me not to look out the window, being a kid I did look only to see innocent people dead along the whole street as the flea market was hit on a weekend…

I am 25 y/o now I still have nightmares about it occasionally. Also NATO used prohibited weapons with uranium which also caused a lot of people to get cancer from the radiation years after…”

7. History in the making.

“The year 1970.

People dying or being maimed for life (both mentally and physically) in a stupid, nonsensical war. Richard Nixon was President. The government refusing to listen to hundreds of thousands of people protesting the war, and people of all sorts not just college kids and hippies.

I participated in a HUGE protest in DC and walked down Pennsylvania Avenue with a lot of other people, holding the hands of my two kids. “We are speaking to our government. Never forget.””

8. It was bad.

“2008 was a really bad year.

Big financial crash, lots of people lost a lot of money, especially from their savings and retirements. Lots of layoffs, including me, and really high unemployment and few jobs to move to.”

9. The Eighties.

“1983 was probably the year we came closest to global nuclear war. Even worse than the Cuban Missile Crisis.

There was a large confluence of circumstances and events (some related, some not) that could have spelled doom.”

10. Bad years.

“1994-95.

I spent a good bit of time homeless or living in a tent. I was in the US illegally and couldn’t get any form of assistance without being deported, and I was too small for most places to even consider employing me under the table.

Also, honorable mentions to 2016-17 for my divorce year and pretty much the entire period of 1992-1997 for me. 2020 doesn’t crack my top ten worst years, aside from the collapse of western civilization it really hasn’t been too bad on me.”

11. Way back when.

“It’s has to be 1947 when India got independence from britishers and then divided into Pakistan(Islamic country), India (republic nation).

People were forced to leave according to their religion. They were burnt alive and r*ped. Around 2 million people died, 14 million misplaced.

And my father told me that my grandfather who used to work as a ticket checker in railway had seen trains full of dead bodies.”

12. This is maybe as bad…

“Late 1960s and early 70s, we had the Vietnam war body count nightly on the news, for years. Everyone was worried about being drafted. I was too young.

There was plenty of angst to go around then. But I feel this year has probably been as bad or worse.”

13. Chaotic times.

“1968-1969.

Started with the Tet Offensive in Vietnam. It was a military disaster for the North Vietnamese, but a big surprise to the American public – they had been told the war was effectively won. And from there it just got worse.

Student riots. City riots. MLK was assassinated in early April and the ghettos exploded. Then in early June, I was on a South Vietnamese hilltop firebase. One of our less English-proficient officers came up to the American advisers in the afternoon. “You know Kennedy, ya? They shoot him!” The three of us looked at him. I said, “Yeah Đại Úy (Captain), back in 1963. So?”

“NO!” he said, “They shoot him now!” Then he got frustrated with us and stomped off. Weird. What’s up with the Đại Úy? We couldn’t get American radio (AFVN) in the daytime, but later that night we found out what he was talking about. Another Kennedy? WTF is going on back home?

I got back on leave in December. America was nuts. I couldn’t walk through the airport without starting a fight. I wasn’t fighting. Someone would want to yell at me, and someone else would start yelling at him, and eventually they’d forget I was there – because I wasn’t. My instructions were to keep walking. The war had come home. Racial justice had graduated to racial war.

It was almost a relief to get back to Vietnam. Seemed saner.

Bad year for the USA. 1969 was only better because some of the things people were expecting to happen, didn’t. But it wasn’t much better.”

Now we want to hear from even more older folks.

In the comments, please tell us what years you think were worse than 2020.

We’d love to hear from you!

The post Older People Talk About Which Year Felt Worse Than 2020 and They Explain Why appeared first on UberFacts.

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Check Out These Haunting Halloween-Related Lawsuits

If you watch TV, talk to human beings, or ARE a human being, chances are that you’ve realized by now that people can get their panties in a bunch about the smallest of infractions. Thanks to the way our court systems work in the States, that means that pretty much anytime you’re upset about something, you could at least try to parlay that into legal ramifications.

Here are 5 times that Halloween inspired people’s litigious sides, and yeah, the stories might just haunt your dreams.

5. Blinded for scares.

Image Credit: Pexels

If you think it would be super spooky to change your eye color to match your costume, here’s a fun fact: you’re not actually allowed to unless you have a prescription.

In 2016, Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster filed a lawsuit against Gotcha Costume Rental for selling colored contacts without a prescription, an act that violates state and federal law.

The lenses they were selling didn’t always fit properly, which led to scratched corneas, infections, and even blindness.

4. The Ferlitos v. Johnson & Johnson

Image Credit: iStock

Back in the 1980s, Frank and Susan Ferlito went as Mary and her Lamb to a Halloween costume party. Frank’s lamb costume, made from cotton balls and long underwear, caught fire when Frank lit his cigarette using a butane lighter.

He suffered burns over about 35% of his body, and the couple sued Johnson & Johson.

Initially they were awarded over half a million dollars in damages, but in 1992, a circuit court judge ruled in favor of Johnson & Johnson’s appeal. The company argued that the couple knew cotton balls were flammable, even if they didn’t come with a specific label.

3. One banana to rule them all.

Image Credit: iStock

You might think one banana costume is the same as the next, and the one after that, but in 2019, a 3rd US. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia said that’s not true.

They ruled in favor of Rasta Imposta, who claimed their banana costume was distinct and couldn’t be knocked off by discount and online stores around the world.

2. Inflatable pumpkin fail.

Image Credit: Pixabay

Milwaukee entrepreneur Jon Majdoch had made a tidy living for years by operating pop-up Halloween stores on a yearly basis. He advertised his shops with 100-foot diameter inflatable pumpkins on the roof.

When he opened a smaller store, in the parking lot of a home goods store, he wanted to do the same thing, and ordered a smaller inflatable pumpkin from a place called Larger Than Life.

When it arrived, House of Bounce assembled it on the roof.

A few days later, it rained so hard that water pooled on top of the pumpkin. It collapsed, and so did the store underneath it, ruining mos of Majdoch’s inventory.

The litigation, began by their insurance company Hastings Mutual, is still onging.

1. You get what you pay for.

Image Credit: iStock

Every time you visit a haunted house, you have to sign some pretty tight liability waivers to enter – after all, their job is to scare you within an inch of your life.

In 2011, Scott Griffin got more than he’d bargained for after a chainsaw-wielding actor scared him so badly he fell and injured his wrist. He sued the operators, but an appeals court judge wrote what we all are thinking, which is that he’d paid money for an “extreme fright,” and had gotten “exactly what he paid for.”

I had never heard of any of these before, and I can’t decide whether or not that was bad.

I suppose all information is good information, right?

Let’s go with that.

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This is Why Supreme Court Justices Serve for Life

If you’ve been paying attention to the news, you’re probably sitting on the edge of your seat and constantly grappling with your rising anxiety.

Also, you might be wondering why the judges who rise to the highest court in the land serve until they’re ready to step down (or until they die), without any interference from others.

I mean, if Presidents can appoint them, why can’t they fire them?

Image Credit: Pixabay

It turns out there are a few reasons the founding fathers agreed that Supreme Court jurists serve for life.

Article III of the Constitution sets up the court and outlines its powers, but leaves it to Congress to organize and staff them, stating only that the judges “shall hold their office during good behavior.”

The meaning of “good behavior” has been debated over the years, and judges who some feel have violated this standard can be impeached – though only one, Samuel Chase in 1804, have been.

He was appointed by President George Washington but was impeached by the House for allegedly partisan rulings. The Senate didn’t agree, and failed to remove him from the bench.

What’s for sure is that “good behavior” can’t mean their decisions being deemed right or wrong, because the point of the lifetime appointment is to shield the judges from the whims of changing outside pressure.”

Image Credit: Pixabay

Ryan Vacca, a law professor at the University of New Hampshire’s law school, explains what that means:

“The framers believed it important to separate the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of government, and they believed it was particularly important to create a judiciary that would be independent of popular opinion. If they had to be reappointed or reelected, they would have to worry that unpopular decisions could cost them their jobs.”

Of course, as with other Constitutional issues, it’s become more complicated in the modern world. We live longer, and jurists are being nominated and confirmed at younger and younger ages, which could mean some justices could serve for four-plus decades.

Image Credit: iStock

It could also mean that more justices will voluntarily retire, but it’s clear to see that the courts, set up to be non-partisan and fair, are always tipping one way or another.

What’s the answer?

I don’t know, but the Constitution definitely doesn’t have it.

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Is It Illegal To Remove The Tag From Your Mattress?

I know that, like the rebel you are, you probably cut tags off whatever you dang well please, no matter what they say.

First of all, they’re tags.

Second of all, who is going to come into your home and check your mattresses, hairdryers, and the like to make sure the warning tags are still attached?

I honestly hope the answer to that is no one, but with the way the world is sliding this year, I think it’s best not to tempt fate.

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Could you really get into trouble, though, or even arrested if some kind of authority found out?

The answer is not really.

The tags are there because in the late 19th century, mattresses and pillows were sold stuffed full of unsanitary materials inside, and the government thought customers should be aware of what they were bringing into their homes. In addition to listing materials, mattresses were not to be sold missing the tags – meaning it was illegal for the SELLER to remove the tag.

US Code states that it’s unlawful to remove the tags of modern stuffed items before they are sold and delivered to their final destination – a consumer’s hands or home.

See Title 15 – Consumer and Trade, Chapter 2, Subchapter V – Textile Fiber Products Identification, Section 70c – Removal of stamp, tag, label, or other identification Statute (a) Removal or mutilation after shipment in commerce states for more:

“After shipment of a textile fiber product in commerce it shall be unlawful, except as provided in this subchapter, to remove or mutilate, or cause or participate in the removal or mutilation of, prior to the time any textile fiber product is sold and delivered to the ultimate consumer, any stamp, tag, label, or other identification required by this subchapter to be affixed to such textile fiber product, any person violating this section shall be guilty of an unfair method of competition, and an unfair or deceptive act or practice, under the Federal Trade Commission Act. “

The tag on your pillow should give you an abbreviated code, and let you know exactly what’s inside your pillow or mattress.

As long as you’re cool with it, you – the “ultimate consumer’ are free to remove whatever tags you want.

Good news for everyone who has been trying to hide those tags on your throw pillows all these years, right?

Grab your scissors and go to town, my friends – there’s no jail time in your future.

Not for this, anyway.

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People Discuss What They’ve Learned From Living Through 2020

I know I’m probably preaching to the choir, but I’m ready to get this awful year over with already.

The scary thing is that we still have to live through the 2020 election and its aftermath, so who really knows what’s lurking right around the corner? Let’s hope things go relatively smoothly and we can go into 2021 in a somewhat calm manner.

But one thing’s for sure: this year has taught all of us a whole lot.

Let’s get real about 2020 with AskReddit users.

1. What to do with the time?

“There’s never enough time to do all the nothing you want.

I thought that with all the extra time I had I would get so much more done.

Turns out I just need to get a lot better at time management.”

2. It gets worse.

“Your day can feel bad but it can get worse.

Bart: This is the worst day of my life

Homer: This is the worst day of your life…so far.”

3. It’s important.

“How important saving money is.

We had a 6 month emergency fund saved up, and the peace of mind was priceless.

We’ve made sure we stay out of debt as well.”

4. Works for you.

“That I love isolation.

It’s so good for reducing my anxiety.

I would like it if everything was virtual for the rest of my life.”

5. Let’s get back to reason, people.

“People will decide their position on major political issues based simply on which cult they follow rather than any reasoning or logic even in the face of clear evidence.”

6. The way it is.

“I think 2020 shows us the great divide of the haves and have nots.

Some people are really hurting right now. Others are totally fine or are thriving.

You’ll see more of one group than the other depending on your socioeconomic class.”

7. Not a great time.

“Life kinda sucks.

We go to work, half of us hate our jobs, we go home, we do normal, mundane things, to go bed, and repeat. Covid has definitely made me realize there’s a lot more to life than just being a work drone.

And it also taught me that I don’t have many close friends. Quarantine has been very lonely, but it’s forcing me to make more connections with people, which I have needed to do for a while.”

8. It’s up to you.

“The person who will take the best care of me, is me.

People will come to you and you will have a social life without bending over backwards to try to make friends.

And also that some people will only live their own version of the truth even if reality it’s biting them in the *ss.”

9. This is unfortunate.

“That no matter how dangerous something is and how obvious the evidence is, there will be some people who just won’t listen.

Honestly we expect adults to listen to an end of the world scenario when they can’t even do the simple fact of putting on a mask and staying home?

10. Good advice.

“Future is unpredictable so build the skillsets, build hobbies that you can keep for longterm, and work on mental health.

Create a good schedule so you can always create time for things you want to do.”

11. Very true.

“Life is always subject to change.

Get out there and do the things you want to do because one day you may not be able to.”

12. Don’t know a thing.

“That I really don’t understand things as well as I thought.

I really thought I knew what to expect from pretty much everything around me but I was wrong so many times over this year. I thought my marriage was solid- it wasn’t.

I thought that people would come together in times of crisis- they don’t. I thought my family would stick by me- they didn’t.

I’ve realized I don’t know a thing.”

13. Ouch.

“That spending 24/7 with a romantic partner isn’t a good idea.

So many quarantine break ups and I just honestly wonder if my ex was the right woman at the wrong time.”

14. Life can be cruel.

“Life doesn’t care about your plans.

In short, this year would be huge for me, last year i dropped out of college because i hated it, decided to study home for the last 6 months left of 2019, then applied to the course i wanted in university, failed…

2020 starts i am going to a course to prepare for new university exams, basically high school but better in my case, and most important i had to physically take the bus and go there, which was so much better than staying at home and be extra depressed and bored… and then COVID came along.”

Now we’d like to hear from you.

In the comments, tell us what you think you’ve learned from 2020.

Please and thank you!

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People Talk About What the Crazy Year of 2020 Has Taught Them

What else could possibly happen in 2020?

Actually, I don’t even want to say that out loud because if we’ve learned one thing this year, it’s to expect the unexpected…and that’s a pretty scary thought, considering all the things we’ve gone through so far since January 1.

We’ve all learned a lot about ourselves this year, every single one of us.

What has this year taught you?

Here’s what people had to say on AskReddit.

1. Not so much.

“That I’m nowhere as much of a loner as I thought I was.

I may not be the most sociable person of the universe, but spending months holed up in my room with basically no IRL human contact got old fast.”

2. This is huge.

“Not to take travel for granted.

I am trying to learn French as something to keep distracted with, and to feel like I am doing something which will pay off when traveling in the future, but would give anything for a worry-free week abroad right now.

Getting very sick of the inside of my flat.”

3. All of it.

“That there are so many horrible people in the world, oblivious to everything around them and only concerned with themselves.

And also that there are so many kind and loving people in the world that are willing to help anyone.”

4. Hugs.

“Hug your spouse more.

Man on man woman on woman man on woman whatever hug those who are there for you. Wife’s an ER nurse I’m a firefighter working through covid non sense. The forced quarantine after contact with a positive pt has ripped us apart.

It’s hard to cope when your coping mechanism is behind glass out of reach. Hug your peeps.”

5. Keep your fingers crossed.

“That people will genuinely believe bad events will end just because the year is over.

Its overwhelming how many times I hear things like: “omg I cant wait for 2021, everything will be a fresh start” or “2020 can just leave”

Like, what do you really expect? All issues reset every January the 1st? Wtf.”

6. Keep your head up.

“That I can be a lot stronger and confident than I give myself credit for…

Gotta look for the positives, right?!”

7. Not prepared at all.

“That the United States is really REALLY not prepared for real sh*t to happen.

Most of the world is not.

We are held together by threads of a stretched out cloth ready to tear.”

8. Even worse now.

“The rich get richer while the poor get poorer.

It’s already bad enough under normal circumstances but in global crisis situations this applies even more.”

9. The process of weeding out.

“It showed me who my real friends are.

And some stuff about how stupid some people are, even if it is to protect the people who are at risk due to coronavirus.”

10. That is very true!

“People don’t know what Socialism really means.”

11. Hard knock life.

“That life is tragic, cruel, and absurd, to the point where it can completely break you.

But also that no matter how bad it all gets, there is genuine peace and comfort in real, platonic love and my friends are the light of my life. We have each other’s backs and we adore each other.

So in a way, despite having lost nearly everything, I am incredibly lucky. I’m never really alone.”

12. Sad.

“A common hardship won’t bring people together, like in Independence Day or Watchmen.

Rather, it’ll drive them to care only about their own interests.”

13. Big money.

“That big corporations that say they care about their customers don’t give a sh*t. All they care about is money.

When small businesses went bankrupt during the pandemic the big corporations amassed billions in wealth.”

14. Not much different.

“That my family would be fine on a confined spaceship traveling to Mars or somewhere else distant.

The lockdown has had little effect on us.”

15. Here’s the deal.

“Life is short.

There are too many things in this world that are out of your control that can punch you in the guts. So live your life, enjoy your family and friends, enjoy good food, focus on what’s important.

Save for the future but not at the expense of living a meaningful and rewarding life now. Money is a means to an end, not an end in itself.

Also, on the flip side from a cynical point of view, this past year has reaffirmed that the world is full of stupid people.

Opinions do not override scientific facts and the anti science agenda of those in power today takes advantage of the uneducated and those who give into fear mongering too easily.”

Now it’s your turn.

In the comments, tell us what this crazy year has taught YOU.

Please and thank you!

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People Talk About What “Good Guys” From History Were Actually Bad

History is written by the winners.

And, depending on where you grew up, you learn from a young age who are the “good guys” in history and who are the “bad guys.”

But sometimes those stories and legends don’t really jive with reality.

Here’s what folks on AskReddit had to say about historical figures who are not nearly as squeaky-clean as their reputations would have you believe.

1. Wow.

“Alexander Graham Bell pushed for the eugenics of deaf and hard of hearing people and was a major obstacle to fund schools for the deaf, which thankfully did persist despite this guy.”

2. Mr. Ford.

“Henry Ford was so anti-Semitic that Hitler considered him a hero.”

3. Cromwell.

“There’s a statue of Oliver Cromwell in London.

Loads of movies about him and how he was a brave revolutionary.

Nah. He was an evil sociopath who committed genocide on Irish Catholics and turned the UK into a Puritan dictatorship.”

4. Haven’t heard this before.

“Bob Marley.

And there’s a very good story to back this up that also explains how he grew to be no.1 reggae singer of Jamaica.

He had a posse of friends that would intimidate radio networks of Jamaica into playing his music, as well as destroying the alpha discs of other newer artists (idk wtf they’re called but the copy the radio networks were given in order to play on the air.)

He might have been trying to promote feel-good music and peace and all that but he was a thug when it came to getting that music out.”

5. AA.

“Bill Wilson, the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous.

The guy did great things, and created a program of recovery that has saved millions of lives since it’s inception 85 years ago.

He was also an arrogant *sshole that cheated on his wife even in sobriety.”

6. Imagine that.

“In some aspects to the 60’s and 70’s when the Beatles were icons, (I’m talking about John Lennon) people who use his image and face for “peace” sometimes forget important details.

  • He abused women
  • He was a cheater
  • He abused his children (made one go completely deaf in one ear)
  • Total hypocrite on the “no possessions” when he lived one of the most lavish lifestyles of his time
  • Compulsive liar
  • Had a *exual appetite for his own mother
  • Almost killed a few people (look up Bob Wooler, he was almost punched to death by John. There were others but their stories have either been disputed or unclaimed.)

So whenever I see a bunch of people sing imagine I just shake my head in shame cause so many people don’t even know how bad he was but act like he was a saint.”

7. Not great.

“Sir John A MacDonald.

First prime minister of Canada.

Did a lot for the country in its infancy but treated indigenous people like garbage.”

8. A royal family.

“Joseph P. Kennedy, dad of John, Bobby, and Teddy, had one of his daughters lobotomized.

She was likely autistic but was considered an “embarrassment to the family”.”

9. Napoleon.

“Napoleon.

I’m French and I don’t get why people like him so freaking much here. He re established slavery and tried to conquer a huge part of Europe, leaving literal bloodbaths behind him.

Gosh, even the painting of his coronation reeks of narcissism, he’s putting the crown on his own head for f*ck sake.”

10. An American legend.

“Teddy Roosevelt.

Interesting quote of his, “I don’t go so far as to think that the only good Indians are the dead Indians, but I believe nine out of every 10 are””

11. The King.

“Elvis Presley.

He never wrote a song in his life, but his record label made any song writers hand over half of their writing fees, before Elvis would record their songs. He’s credited as a co-writer on the majority of his songs.

That’s why Dolly Parton refused to let him record I Will Always Love You.

She wouldn’t sign away any of the songwriting credit or future profits from her work. She’s a savvy business woman.”

12. Edison.

“Thomas Edison.

Biggest monopolist ever and took credit for other people’s work. He didn’t invent the lightbulb but bought the rights and advanced it. He monopolized the film-projector + most films at the time and it took a very long lawsuit to get that fixed.

He took many creations from his employees and put his name on it. This wasn’t illegal because of the contracts employees signed at the time but it’s not exactly a sign of good will.

I don’t hate the guy but his character is often completely exaggerated.”

13. A real showman.

“Not necessarily a “good guy”, but got lots of positive attention from the release of The Greatest Showman.

Apparently PT Barnum was a terrible person in real life.”

14. A great director, but…

“Hitchcock was SO f*cked up.

He was famous for pulling “pranks” like chaining a dude up over a long night and giving him a bottle of whiskey laced with serious laxatives, so he sh*t himself, painfully, in chains, for twelve hours or so.

He made the actress from Psycho, Janet Leigh, stand in the shower for almost a week; she only takes baths now. The degree to which he abused Tippi Hedrin during that scene from The Birds is… wow.

He literally threw birds at her for five days, eight hours a day, so that they were pissed off and actually attacked her, even after her doctor told him she couldn’t take any more. She still has scars. Not to mention the s*xual assaults and the threats to “ruin her career” if she didn’t comply.

He sent her daughter, Melanie Griffith, a really lifelike doll of her mother, dead in a coffin. She was eight.

Dude was f*cked. Behind the B*stards does a great couple episodes about him, those are just the ones I remember off the top of my head from 2+ hours of it.”

Okay, history buffs, now it’s your turn.

In the comments, tell us who you think is regarded as a “good guy” in history but was actually pretty terrible.

We can’t wait to hear from you!

The post People Talk About What “Good Guys” From History Were Actually Bad appeared first on UberFacts.

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Problems That 911 Dispatchers Face During Every Shift

It might not be the most glamorous job in the world, but answering 911 calls takes a special type of person.

911 receives about 240 million calls every year, and with some of the shifts lasting 16 hours – not to mention the content of the calls – you definitely need to be strong.

Here are 9 things they deal with on a regular basis.

9. Never hang up on a dispatcher.

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Every time someone calls and hangs up, a dispatcher is required to call back. So even if you’ve made a mistake, it’s best to stay on the line and explain instead of hanging up.

Bill Blume, a dispatcher since 2001, says that he understands wait times can be frustrating, “but at the same time people just don’t appreciate how much a hang-up can slow the process down.”

8. Most calls aren’t true emergencies.

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While dispatchers get between 300 and 500 calls a shift, veteran Amanda says “Ninety-five percent are nothing calls.”

“They’re not people who need help. They’re people who have low coping skills.

The fact you don’t know how to change the batteries in your fire alarm is not a 911 call. The fact you don’t know where you parked your car at the mall is not a 911 call.

But you’ll have days when it seems that’s all you get.”

Some states have penalties for abusing the system, but they’re usually only enforced with repeat offenders.

Amanda also says it’s not easy to tell right away whether a problem might be serious.

“The level of distress somebody is displaying is in no way correlated to how serious their problem is.

The people who are screaming the most generally have overflowing toilets.

But the calmest guy will call up and say, ‘I don’t really wanna bother anybody, but my wife isn’t breathing.”

Ugh. Please don’t do this.

7. It really helps if you know your own location.

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If you can’t communicate your exact location, a dispatcher can’t send help. Amanda says it’s very common.

“Maybe you’re stuck in a store and  you didn’t pay attention to the address. Or on the highway people are very fuzzy about where they are.

In hotels people don’t know their room number.”

Dispatchers with experience are pretty good at using vague descriptors, the sound of nearing sirens, and in their own lives, are sure to be aware of what’s going on around them at all times.

6. They have a call hierarchy.

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Amanda admits that “calls get triaged based on the level of immediate public danger,” which is to say, they may no be addressed in the order they are received.

They also make the call on whether or not emergency vehicles go out with lights and sirens.

5. The disappearance of landlines has made their jobs harder.

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Most 911 calls – around 80% – are now made from cell phones, which makes it impossible for the dispatcher to use the person’s phone number to pin down their address.

Nikki, a dispatcher for 9 years, says that some cell phone carriers are more accurate than others, though.

“We’ve discovered that Sprint and Verizon have the most accurate locations.

We were once trying to locate a man with a gun, and he had Sprint, and the map showed him on one side of a pine tree and that’s exactly where he was.”

In 2018, Apple and Google both added services that transmit location data from cell phones to 911.

4. They get a lot of butt dials.

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The FCC estimates that around half of the 911 calls from NYC cell phones are accidental – which adds up to 84 million calls every year.

FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly says,

“This is a huge waste of resources, raises the cost of providing 911 services, depletes PSAP morale, and increases the risk that legitimate 911 calls – and first responders – will be delayed.”

Nikki says it’s not all bad, though.

“We’ve had people call with the phone under their pillow while they’re having sex, or people singing while they’re driving down the road.”

On rare occasions, accidental calls have also helped lead to real arrests.

3. You don’t have to say a word.

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It’s entirely possible that someone calling for help may not be able to speak, like in a case where they don’t want to be overheard, or if they’re choking.

Dispatchers are trained to ask yes-or-no questions that the caller can answer with the push of a button.

Martha, a dispatcher from George, explains,

“…if there’s a domestic situation, we’ll ask, ‘Is he still in the room? Does he have a weapon? Has he been drinking?’”

Truly terrifying.

2. You might get a busy signal.

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If there is a large emergency that is experienced or witnessed by a large crowd, lines could be busy, says Amanda.

“When you have a very public incident going on, sometimes you’ll get busy signals because there are instantly 1000 calls.

The problem is that within those busy signals are some set of people calling for things that are not the public incident.”

So yeah, don’t call if there’s a BIG emergency… just your emergency.

1. Here’s how you get around it.

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If you can’t get through, try calling your police or fire department directly – Rachel Herron, a former dispatcher from California says they’re easy to find online.

“You should have that number programmed into your phone.”

I don’t think I could handle it, honestly.

If you’re a 911 operator or know someone who is, tell us some good stories in the comments!

The post Problems That 911 Dispatchers Face During Every Shift appeared first on UberFacts.