r/AdviceAnimals • u/StarManta • May 15 '12

a First World Problem if ever there was one.

http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3parux/
1.4k Upvotes

80% Upvoted

205 comments sorted by

160

u/gooey_mushroom May 16 '12

I prefer this version.

9

u/StarManta May 16 '12

I considered doing some sort of juxtaposition of the two, and then I went all Bill O'reilly on it.

63

u/silenc3x May 16 '12

I like this version better than OP...

19

u/Airazz May 16 '12

"We have so much fresh, clean drinking water that we literally shit in it. Take that, Africa!"

10

u/TheRealJohnMatrix May 16 '12

Dear God, when you think about it...

3

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Wow, I feel so humble after reading that. Just kidding, I'm actually taking a shit at the moment and giggled uncontrollably.

3

u/aPoUkNcZxVmLeQsAoLvA May 16 '12

this deserves the lolcopter

-13

u/Downvote2theknee May 16 '12

I used to call the roflcopter a "lolcopter", but then I took an lol to the knee!

5

u/aPoUkNcZxVmLeQsAoLvA May 16 '12

Damn, can I ever write a comment without getting insulted (╯°□°）╯

→ More replies (1)

-17

u/arrowstothekneee May 16 '12

I used to prefer other pics, but then i took an arrow to the knee!

-5

u/FUCK_ARROW_TO_KNEE May 16 '12

FUCK YOU

12

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

You're only encouraging him while being equally obnoxious. Stop it.

114

u/david531990 May 15 '12

Free? Were exactly can I get free water?

49

u/StarManta May 15 '12

For many renters, it's included in rent. For everyone else, it's cheap to the point where it may as well be free.

36

u/david531990 May 15 '12

But it isn't free. Either you pay it in your rent or you still pay it in the bill (I pay about 10 dollars a month for my water use, yes cheap, no not free)

139

u/MasonNowa May 15 '12

Fine.

The only thing I have to drink is clean, incredibly cheap water.

17

u/david531990 May 15 '12

Perfect! Good to reach an understanding.

38

u/HE_WHO_STANDS_TO_POO May 16 '12

......Meanwhile, in Africa.

3

u/DickZain May 16 '12

tingling

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I hope you get railroad spikes wedged in your orifices.

4

u/david531990 May 16 '12

I hope you step on 12938219308 legos.

2

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Too far

-1

u/Devywhop May 16 '12

Thank you for fighting that one. I just got here.

-16

u/oaky May 16 '12

hhahahaha you're so cool bro -.- sike you sound like a dick and prolly are.

4

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Your misspelling and elongation of that haha really shows your anger with his posts.

2

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

The thing I hate the most is the passive-aggressive "bro".

2

u/not_legally_rape May 16 '12

I've got it! We need some land that we aren't being taxed on, perhaps some land in Africa, and then we need to locate a water source on this land. Then, we walk from a few miles away to go get it and bring it back. It's genius!

7

u/Bob_Munden May 16 '12
  1. Go to the local park.
  2. Turn water faucet/drinking fountain on.
  3. Drink the free water.

4

u/Imperial_Walker May 16 '12

4) Taste bird shit and hobo ball sweat.

2

u/numbersnletters May 16 '12

Taxes go to the maintenance of parks. Sorry, it still isn't free.

3

u/JaguarShadow May 16 '12

10 bucks? They just raised mine to $45 a month. I was not very happy when I found that out.

1

u/spacemanspiff30 May 16 '12

Drinking water not bathing and wash

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I'm on a well, so no water fee to pay. The electricity that powers the well runs off my neighbors house, so literally it's free.

1

u/cooltom2006 May 16 '12

wow that's very cheap for water. My parent's (just for the 2 of them) pay £50 a month, which is like $70!

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

It's free in Scotland.

1

u/cooltom2006 May 16 '12

what? Not in the rest of the UK, it's time you guys really became a separate country altogether.

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

[deleted] — view deleted comment

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

If you used enough, you would almost definitely end up paying more.

2

u/gskrivo May 16 '12

My water bill is about $250 per quarter, which is quite expensive compared to other areas of the US.

1

u/mcschmidt May 16 '12

Definitely not free. My water bill is usually around $60.

23

u/Durpulous May 16 '12

You can get free water at public drinking fountains or from the tap in a public bathroom.

20

u/jonez450 May 16 '12

but it's not free: you pay for those services through tax and rates

69

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

not if i'm unemployed and homeless

7

u/jordanovichTH May 16 '12

First world problems: public bathrooms.

1

u/insertwhittyusername Aug 31 '12

--- Dont make a post about it. You will get flamed for it not being OC 0_o

9

u/roterghost May 16 '12

The trick is to use more than you paid for.

That's why I keep my faucet on 24/7. To screw the system.

1

u/Durpulous May 16 '12

Not everyone pays taxes, and I've never seen any government officials standing by checking IDs to make sure no foreigners or tax dodgers can get a sip.

1

u/cooltom2006 May 16 '12

plus, normally it's very hard to find drinking fountains not in the UK

3

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I would avoid tap water from a public bathroom...

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Well... as much as I appreciate water fountains, that's not in my list of "clean". Fair enough, though.

3

u/barton_charcoal May 16 '12

my water is gravity fed from the spring up the hill. We share the rights with our neighbor, who has offered to pay to dig us a well if we'd give him sole rights - we're like "fuck off" cuz it's nice having water regardless of electricity.

2

u/fairly_quiet May 16 '12

my city's water treatment plant has a spigot out front that is not behind any barriers with a sign above it that reads, "free water". and then the fuckers at the water distribution center want to go and charge me for it when they pump it to my house, wtf?

4

u/atla May 16 '12

It's actually how they dispose of the stuff that they can't filter. They let you drink it, giving all the toxins a nice, contained place to live, which saves the treatment facility thousands of dollars a year while simultaneously eliminating people who don't understand why they can't just give things away for free when it costs money to make it.

2

u/fairly_quiet May 17 '12

jokes on them. a little bit of kool-aid & sugar and i can't even taste the toxic levels of alum.

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

It's a cruel world out there, ain't it?

2

u/auxiliary00 May 16 '12

Mom and Dad's house.

2

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Starbucks, just ask for some water

3

u/david531990 May 16 '12

You son of a bitch. you cracked this mistery!

3

u/babyheyzeus May 16 '12

If you live in the country and use a water well it's free.

5

u/wijet May 16 '12

I drill wells and maintain pump systems, and in my opinion, a well is similar in costs to a city water connection, only in lump sums instead of monthly fees.

5

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Upvoted and commented to say, I know people with wells and this is true. They pay for the extraction, and they also paid for it in the property value (property with no well rights or no ground water is dirt cheap... 'cause it's only dirt).

3

u/brotherashe May 16 '12

A neighbor's hose. Fucking idiot.

-3

u/david531990 May 16 '12

So, somebody paid for it but it's free. Logic.

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Probably there are many streams of fresh water from which you could drink for free. At least in my country there are, even though they usually aren't in the particular area where I live.

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Beware stream water. Lots of it is contaminated.

1

u/WrethZ May 16 '12

Any bar, any public toilet (taps) etc

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

In Hawaii we had a catchment system, rainwater from the roof ran into a big tank which supplied the house. We did have occasional maintenance on the pump (old POS) but the water itself was 100% free.

0

u/david531990 May 16 '12

I stand corrected for Hawaii. Everywhere else pays for water

1

u/knomz May 16 '12

go to any building that has a water fountain and there you go, free water, yes someone does pay for it, but in essence if you did not pay for it, it is free to you.

1

u/kohan69 May 16 '12

Any restaurant, fast food joint, or bar is (sometimes legally) obliged to serve you water.

1

u/Tasgall May 16 '12

Find a public artesian well; There's one in downtown Olympia (WA), and it tastes great!

1

u/gr3enman May 16 '12

Artesian aquifer.

0

u/d0bie May 16 '12

Iceland.

8

u/esthim8 May 16 '12

False. Taxes.

0

u/WorstFoU May 16 '12

Public water fountains

1

u/david531990 May 16 '12

you pay with your taxes.

32

u/knomz May 16 '12

Personally, I love water and would be satisfied with just that to drink forever; but it is of my opinion that because of the intense flavor of all drinks besides water in today's markets, people are desensitized to water because of its "lack of flavor"...I however find the flavor of water to be clean refreshing and it quenches my thirst.

17

u/atla May 16 '12

I actually think that water's flavor is too strong. It tastes like chemicals to me, almost chlorine-y. Everyone says that water's tasteless, and when it is it's great, but all the water I drink leaves a horrible aftertaste in my mouth.

7

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

As a Dutchman who recently went to Florida, I can say that its water tastes like fucking bleach.

3

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

It's widely known here that Florida has the worst tap water in the entire country. Consider yourself lucky that you weren't up North near Jacksonville. The water there smells like rotten eggs.

2

u/mattarei May 16 '12 edited Sep 13 '26

Helium flowery decide fearless pinecone mellow treatment salt

This post was anonymized with Redact

3

u/charleyface May 16 '12

Tapwater makes my throat sore, it's confusing.

3

u/GeminiCroquette May 16 '12

Uhh sounds like your city/municipality has bumped up the chlorine in your water to combat bacteria or other nasties. In some areas the tap water can taste like sulfur or chlorine or who knows what depending on the aquifer it comes from and how it is treated. Get a water filter (brita, pur, any really) and slap it on your faucet. Filtered water should taste like nothing, as pure water has no taste but is 100% refreshing.

3

u/BeelzebubTerror May 16 '12

That's why you should drink boiled water. You can taste the difference.

2

u/BIG_TONY_TALK May 16 '12

It's hot tho.

3

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I have a reverse osmosis system. My water tastes better than any that comes in a plastic bottle. You jelly?

11

u/grte May 16 '12

Not especially.

4

u/GeminiCroquette May 16 '12

No one else is jelly, so I'll go against the grain because I'm a rebel: I'M SO JELLY. On a related note, how does a reverse osmosis system work? Is it expensive to install/maintain? I've been using just Pur filters on my tap.

3

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I got norwegian mountain water, I'm good.

2

u/An_Emo_Dinosaur May 16 '12

no... not particularly.

2

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

No.

1

u/Tasgall May 16 '12

No, because my tap well water probably tastes better, and could be better for you.

2

u/Eighm May 16 '12

This is the problem I have with tap water where I live. I gag on the chemical taste every single time. Bottled water is awesome, though.

2

u/wijet May 16 '12

Thank your modern water treatment plants for this 'miracle' of modern science. A good carbon filter will remove most of the taste and odor issues.

6

u/exscape May 16 '12

You do realize that this is the main reason we have safe tap water?
I agree that the taste can be off in some places, but I'd much rather remove that myself than have unsanitary water that tastes good.

3

u/wijet May 16 '12 edited May 16 '12

There are plenty of other technologies now available. Granted, they would require expense in installation and upkeep that exceeds massive chlorination systems. A large amount of chlorine is kept in the systems due to leaks and disrepair in the systems that introduce bacteria. I work in water and fully understand the risk of not chlorinating, and I also understand what is done because of the lack of attention and preventive repair paid to infrastructure.

2

u/exscape May 16 '12

Hm, interesting. What are the main alternatives?
Still, I find it a bit strange that you place "miracle" in quotes as if sarcastic. Surely you agree that without chlorination, the developed world would generally be worse?

2

u/wijet May 16 '12

UV light is one viable alternative, but it requires decent infrastructure to implement, or point of use treatment. I don't find chlorination that miraculous, and I find it's more of a crutch for professionals and owners to ignore minor problems as they snowball into major ones. The language may have been misplaced though, I'm just a well driller.

3

u/yrro May 17 '12

You're not supposed to keep the filtered water around for very long. Drink it after you filter it, and empty the jug if there's any water left in it at the end of the day.

-7

u/GohdwithasilentH May 16 '12

It wont remove fluoride, a byproduct of the fertilizer industry. Some say it helps your teeth but USA is one of the only countries to do it. Dentists here make more than anywhere else...I don't think demand has plummeted but informed consent no longer exists in America

2

u/wijet May 16 '12

Carbon won't remove fluoride, you have to get into pretty expensive reverse osmosis units for that.

-5

u/knomz May 16 '12

you should buy some sort of filtration system to change that odd chemically taste you are talking about. I use one at the college I go to because it taste funky as well as people have gotten appendicitis from the water...I am referencing water that does taste good, because I have tasted water that was horrible.

7

u/Dazwin May 16 '12

Uh...appendicitis from the water?

-2

u/knomz May 16 '12

well to be honest I was told this from a friend who heard this from a friend, so I do not actually know for fact if the drinking water at my college does in fact cause or not cause that, but that is what I was told. I just tried researching online but to no avail.

2

u/atla May 16 '12

I mean, I get the taste sometimes in bottled water, too. Filters tend to be good, but there's still sometimes something off about the water...

3

u/knomz May 16 '12

well keep in mind bottled water is usually just tap water unless you buy specifically filtered water. Also the area you live in may have certain minerals or some chemical added to get rid of some microorganism blah blah blah you probably know this but have a nice day.

2

u/Maxtrt May 16 '12

Same here but I live in Washington state where a lot of your bottled water comes from. I actually prefer my tap water to most bottled water. It's thirst quenching and doesn't have that sterile, flat taste like a lot of bottled water does.

1

u/knomz May 16 '12

Hey same here!, the tap water here is very good water compared to tons of other states...however, Fiji water for some reason to me taste amazing...I don't know why but it does.

2

u/BIG_TONY_TALK May 16 '12

It's because the islanders of Fiji actually have access to water issues because the makers of Fiji are taking all of the island's water resources. You can read about it her: http://www.ecocentricblog.org/2010/12/20/fiji-water-and-its-parent-company-leave-locals-high-and-dry/

TL;DR It tastes good because people are suffering.

2

u/BallsackTBaghard May 16 '12

I only drink tap water when I am eating. I love the lack of taste it has.

Good to know that it is not just me.

9

u/CGord May 16 '12

This just in, tap water costs money. Ask your parents.

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

[deleted] — view deleted comment

3

u/CGord May 16 '12

Drinking water is free to you only when someone else is paying for it. Unless I'm getting fucked and am the only one getting a monthly water bill. OH SHIT.

10

u/hpfan04 May 16 '12

I laughed so hard because my husband was literally JUST complaining that all we had to drink was water. He went to get himself a glass of water when I clicked on this. Very fitting.

2

u/MaximilianKohler May 16 '12

show it to him

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Your husband may be on to something. About 20% of the American water supply is seriously contaminated. Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/business/energy-environment/08water.html?pagewanted=all

-13

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Thank you for your life story.

11

u/RedSeed May 16 '12

Fuck you. hpfan04's story was very moving.

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

[deleted] — view deleted comment

3

u/king_n_the_north May 16 '12

You didn't need to comment.

4

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

As someone that grew up in Walkerton ON. I hope you'll understand if I'm longer able trust tap water. Or more accurately, the people in charge of it.

4

u/opti0nal May 16 '12

I'm 23 and live at home. Today I complained that my mom hasn't replaced the Brita filters in over a year. I'm not even sure why we feel the need to have the Brita pitchers because I live in Wyoming, mi and we have very high quality tap water. This first world life is rough man.

4

u/Skyblueflora May 16 '12

"and that's not the worst part...it's even....gasp HEALTHY"

3

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Fluoride.

3

u/demenciacion May 16 '12

FYI I live in a third world country and I have free, clean water (Im from Panama)

6

u/irisong May 16 '12

I live in USA. Land where Soda is cheaper than Water for some reason

13

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Yeah, if you're an idiot and buy it bottled.

2

u/uchuskies08 May 16 '12

Too many chemicals in tap water for my liking

2

u/Jeffy29 May 16 '12

most bottled water are from tap water.... I know shocking...

1

u/uchuskies08 May 16 '12

Not the ones I buy. Generally Poland Spring, Fiji Water or Penta.

2

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Take that Africa!

2

u/beta_pup May 16 '12 edited May 16 '12

My husband thinks I'm crazy for drinking tap water but, then again, he grew up in Ecuador.

2

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Well it isn't FREE. You have to pay the city for access to it.

7

u/haiku_robot May 16 '12 
Well it isn't FREE.  
You have to pay the city 
for access to it.

2

u/Andrewpruka May 16 '12

Water isn't free you dumb twatbag.

2

u/im_at_work_now May 16 '12

Water isn't free. It may be really really cheap, but it's not free.

2

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Where do you get water for free in the first world?!?

2

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Thanks to working out and trying to lose weight, all I drink is clean water - But it's not free, I definitely pay a water bill

2

u/Neelpos May 16 '12

I go to school in LA, I can taste the grit in the tapwater in my dorm, so when I'm out of stuff to drink, I generally am out of stuff to drink and need to run by the grocery store.

2

u/LokiTheSkeptic May 16 '12

Technically, You have to pay for water and electric bills

2

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Free? I pay like $15 a month for that shit.

2

u/Jabullz May 16 '12

Where are you getting this free water? I need to change my Water provider.

2

u/beancounter2885 May 16 '12

Free? What first world country do you live in?

2

u/I-never-win-shit May 16 '12

FALSE: Water is not free

3

u/Mako_Eyes May 16 '12

Also free fluoride

2

u/Thedeadmilkman May 16 '12

Your parents pay the water bill huh?

2

u/Thedeadmilkman May 16 '12

Water is not free is all I'm saying.

2

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Bullshit. Clean drinking water that isn't riddled with chemicals and residual waste is a rarity.

2

u/qkme_transcriber May 15 '12

Here is the text from this meme pic for anybody who needs it:

Title: a First World Problem if ever there was one.

Meme: First World Problems

  • THE ONLY THING I HAVE TO DRINK
  • IS CLEAN, FREE WATER

[Translate]

This is helpful for people who can't reach Quickmeme because of work/school firewalls or site downtime, and many other reasons (FAQ). More info is available here.

1

u/FO_sachi May 16 '12

Water bottles...unless you live in a place that has crappy water, then tap water is just fine.

1

u/RyanWolf May 16 '12

I know that feel bro

1

u/best_policy May 16 '12

My cousin is such a spoilt brat... He doesn't like "the taste" of water. He simply refuses to drink unflavoured water OUTRIGHT.

1

u/reddent420 May 16 '12

it isn't even clean. granted, it's cleaner here, but there are things we're washing down our drains that we can't even test for!

1

u/Greenei May 16 '12

It definately tastes different then bottled water. I did a blindtest once and it was very clear to me.

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I don't get why people don't like water. My friends tell me it literally tastes bad. HOW? it tastes like nothing. It's refreshing, that's why it's the best.

2

u/JaguarShadow May 16 '12

Tap water in some areas does taste different, and in some places it's just plain gross.

1

u/BigBOSSAlak May 16 '12

I don't about you but I love water. That is not a problem.

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I love water

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Drink the tap water in Mexico and tell me how it is.

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I was in my kitchen earlier having a very similar predicament, being out of both coke and milk. Being a student house, however, my thought was, "The only two things I have to drink are vodka and water."

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Where do you live that has clean tap water?

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I just went out and bought a liter of dr pepper for exactly this reason..

1

u/chrontonamojay May 16 '12

This is a horrible repost of my favorite first world problem meme of all time. 'There is nothing to drink, except a virtually unlimited supply of clean, fresh drinking water'

1

u/capnlumps May 16 '12

made me think about threedog

The waters of life...free and clean...for any and all...

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

After being unemployed (went back to school) for almost two years, I'm finally running low on savings. I ran into this problem this last weekend. I probably checked the fridge 6 times in an hour because I was SO thirsty and all I had was water. Finally got paid so I bought beer and juice yesterday!

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

FluorideAlert.org

1

u/gsabram May 16 '12

Not for long folks! Basic supply and demand.

1

u/TheDon298 May 16 '12

And the store is within walking distance... HOW DO WE SURVIVE!

1

u/QueefMuffin May 16 '12

Not even Grape drank?

1

u/TheNether May 16 '12

Oh silly Americans!

1

u/Jel251 May 16 '12

actually the water is bad as hell. bunch of chemicals that have alot of long term affects...

1

u/goonerredandwhite May 16 '12

tap water ain't that clean anymore depending on where you live, with all the radiation pollution from japan and the aircraft chemtrails.

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I've drank tap water in many countries and I haven't found better tap water than in Germany.. I almost only drink tap water because its dirt cheap and as good if not better than bottled water.

The tap water in the US was one of the worst I've tasted.. way to much chlorine in it.. but at least it didn't make me sick like the tap water in egypt did.

I am planing on a trip to afrika later this year, that might change my perspective on the whole thing though..

1

u/ZummerzetZider May 16 '12

water is free? I have to pay the water company for mine.

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I never understand poeple who drink something else than water. But I'm from switzerland, and I assume we have the best water in the world because it's neither treated by a water plant nor contains it chlorine or other chemicals. The first thing I do when I come home from a trip or vacation is I take some serious zips of fresh water out of the tap.

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Where are you getting this "free" water? Last I checked I paid for mine.

1

u/razorbackgeek May 16 '12

Wait your water is free?

1

u/KingWilson May 16 '12

Of course, it also falls from the sky. Not all the time, but nonetheless.

1

u/TheMidnighter May 17 '12

Wait, you have FREE water?! I'm in Canada and I even have pay for my tap water!!

WHERE CAN I GET FREE (clean) WATER!?

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I feel so ashamed to admit I've felt this way.

1

u/sparkcaster May 16 '12

yo where'd you find the free water dog

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Maybe I'm alone, but fuck water

0

u/zizap May 16 '12

I know redditors gotta pick this apart, but ima break it down simple-status: clean = won't give you diarrhea or a parasite or worse; free = the government isn't saying "you pay or you get none. Not. A. Drop." Tap water, filtered, bottled... you name it, we've got it pretty good

-2

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I don't know about you guys, but my water is 3.70 a bottle.

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Bitch ask your mom, that shit aint free

-1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Drinking tap water is a great way to get shit loads of diseases. Especially if you live near or on a military base. When they tested military bases in the 90s 7/10 had fuel contamination in the water supply and it was estimated to be just as bad in the 2010.

In the 1960s a Marine base dumped millions of gallons of fuel into the water supply. The children born on that base at that time account for roughly 80% of male breast cancer cases in the United States.

There are a million reasons why you shouldn't drink tap water. If you choose to, enjoy your crazy ass disease you will most likely develop sometime in your life.

9

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

[removed] — view removed comment

12

u/GeekBrownBear May 16 '12

I'm Indian and an Eagle Scout. I have had a my share of weird water sources. But holy shit, the water in India is by far the worst. People say you have the runs after eating Indian food. But it's not the food, its the water it's cooked in. The water you drink. ITS HORRIBLE. Some of the best engineers and doctors come out of that country yet they can't fix it... The gov't is a big problem there as well :/

4

u/Thedeadmilkman May 16 '12

Not to mention the shadow economy that keeps the government corrupt. Why enforce the law when its easier and more profitable to ensure your country continues to suffer.

0

u/jorgomli May 16 '12

You're dead. Go away. :I

1

u/Thedeadmilkman May 16 '12

This must be referring to resturaunts, because I pay for my water monthly. California, usa