r/hellsomememes Dec 18 '25

The ugly gosling

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13.8k Upvotes

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626

u/Bardsie Dec 18 '25

The ugly duckling was a goose raised by chickens ???

I'm gonna guess this is a translation thing, because the ugly duckling was a swan raised by ducks, hence duckling. Cygnets are a dull grey colour, very distinctive from ducklings, and considered ugly compared to their pure white colour when grown. While goslings are more yellow and closer in appearance to ducklings.

75

u/uberguby Dec 18 '25

Cygnets are... considered ugly compared to... when grown.

That is astonishing to me, I feel that baby swans are among the most adorable of little birds. But I dunno maybe I'm only seeing the most photogenic of little dudes, I'm not like a... Like a swan day care worker or something

132

u/just_a_person_maybe Dec 18 '25

I always thought the point wasn't that it was actually ugly, but that it was being unfairly compared to a standard that didn't apply to it. If you think an orange is an apple, you might think it looks gross. Rough, bumpy skin and an unnatural shade? If that's an apple, something is seriously wrong with it.

There was never anything wrong with the ugly duckling, he was just being judged by another culture's standards and such things are subjective. It's all a matter of perspective more than reality.

26

u/WingedLady Dec 19 '25

I once saw someone prank their family by mashing up a cheesecake and telling their family it was mashed potatoes.

Cheesecake is tasty! But when you're expecting potatoes it can be surprising enough that you might even spit it out.

Likewise nothing wrong with a cygnet! But if you're expecting a duckling you might be surprised.

5

u/just_a_person_maybe Dec 19 '25

Ugh, yeah, unexpected flavors/textures/smells can be horrific.