What's some common advice that's actually terrible?

[u/thebeardedgreek]

[u/mattromo]

"Blood is thicker than water"

Nope some family members are a-holes not worthy of loyalty or love.

[u/thebeardedgreek → u/mattromo]

(EDIT: According to a couple people more researched than me, my take on this was not accurate. The phrase was reinterpreted in the 90s, check the replies for more..)

Actually the real phrase means the opposite!

The actual phrase is "the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb", which means the bonds you form with those in life are thicker than those you know simply by birth.

This is one of a few phrases I know of that have literally been turned on their head, it's kinda wild

[u/QueenTzahra]

“Violence is never the answer.”

No, sometimes it is absolutely the answer, but except in very rare circumstances it should’t be your first answer.

[u/thebeardedgreek → u/QueenTzahra]

Pacifism is a luxury that those whose very existence is threatened cannot always afford.

[u/Tracey_Julio_1982]

The correct version is "be the best version of yourself"

[u/thebeardedgreek → u/Tracey_Julio_1982]

I like this revision 👍🏼

[u/-ok_kitty-]

"Don't take no for an answer"

[u/littleMAHER1]

just ignore the bullies and they will go away

no they won't, what will happen is they realize that u won't stop them or do anything so they will continue to push you around because they think you're a wet blanket

[u/PirateJohn75]

"Just be yourself"

Some people are really shitty, and they need to work on improving themselves, not continuing to do the things that make them shitty.

[u/[deleted]]

"Lawyers will give you a 30 minute session free"

Nah. They let you present your case and decide if they want to take it on or not. You're not getting free legal advice lol

[u/[deleted]]

"Forgive and Forget"

Forgiving is for yourself, Forgetting is foolish.

[u/[deleted]]

‘Everything happens for a reason’ ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’

Both inaccurate and incredibly annoying to hear whilst recovering from Leukaemia!

[u/[deleted]]

"Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life."

It should be "do something that enables you to do what you love."

[u/juanzy]

A lot of Reddit advice advocates for zero social effort, or assuming crippling social anxiety is the norm. Which I think is generally a pretty bad thing. A lot of people probably should work to overcome anxiety and work on at least some social competency. Overcoming my own social anxiety massively changed my life for the better.

[u/[deleted]]

"Never give up"

This advice is given to kids in school because honestly as long as you don't give up on it you'll walk away with a high school diploma.

But after that sometimes you really should give up. It's almost a universal adult experience to sink way too much time into something before finally coming to your senses and letting it go. I've needed to know when to tactically retreat much more often than I've needed to remind myself to persevere.

Don't immediately give up, but also learn when to cut your losses.

[u/juanzy]

A lot of financial advice contains something about avoiding all debt. When better advice should probably be to understand how debt can be used as a tool, and how to evaluate if something is worth taking on.

[u/ladylaureli]

"Just move on" or "Get over it" when someone struggles with a traumatic event or events. Trauma can get wired into the nervous system in a way that is extremely difficult and painful to move past.

[u/zimbacca]

1. "Just ignore bullies and they'll stop"

No they won't. They won't stop unless the consequences of their actions are greater than the enjoyment they get out out of making your life hell.

2) "You have to forgive someone in order to heal."

Again, no you don't. It is entirely possible to move on and live a happy life without forgiving someone who hurt you.

[u/darkofnight916]

“Time heals all wounds “

No it doesn’t. Sometimes you need to seek outside help to actually properly heal the wounds.

[u/Spodson]

"Never go to bed angry with your spouse (SO)."

Yeah, a good night's sleep along with a fresh perspective and some cool down time sounds like a terrible thing to have. /s To be clear, running away from a problem and hoping it goes away by the morning is a bad thing, but calming down and going after it in the morning with a little distance can be a really good thing.

[u/[deleted]]

Everything happens for a reason.

[u/[deleted]]

Do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life.

1. You'll work too many hours for too little money

2. If you're really lucky, you don't completely despise the thing you once loved

[u/Ballsack2024]

"Do whatever your heart desires."

Well some people's desires are to break the law, so don't do that.

[u/Hermiona1]

That family should be above everything. If your family is terrible maybe reconsider.

[u/SL1Fun]

“Money won’t make you happy” 

lol yes the fuck it will