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“I prefer the concept of a 15-minute city.”
An Arizona neighborhood has banned cars and the residents love it.
The neighborhood of Culdesac in Tempe, Arizona is like any other American neighborhood. There are shops, restaurants, outdoor markets, and areas where children playing outside like any other functioning community, but there’s one catch: cars and other automobiles are banned.
When architect Daniel Parolek was hired to design and develop the area, he was influenced by the neighborhoods he saw in the Mediterranean while traveling. He loved how social and condensed the areas were, and how the American tourists loved being able to walk place to place. With that in mind, he asked himself why Americans would happily vacation in places like this rather than live in them?
– YouTube youtu.be
Parolek’s vision broke ground in 2019, costing $200 million dollars to build 288 apartment units and amenities within the 17-acre neighborhood to make it “car free, but mobility rich,” according to him. Aside from living spaces, the neighborhood is home to eateries, shops, a doctor’s office, a convenience store, a community pool, a gym, and a coworking space to ensure most day-to-day needs and comforts are met without the need of a car to get there.
Visitors can use the light rail stops just outside the neighborhood to get to downtown Phoenix or the airport, along with taking Waymo robotaxis or regular taxis to and from the area. There are also bicycles and e-bikes available to rent if a person wants to explore a bit more outside of town. So far, since the neighborhood opened in 2021, many first-hand accounts from new residents claimed that the move there has improved their lives and they don’t miss driving.
"Being in Culdesac has taught me that I much prefer the concept of the 15-minute city," resident Sheryl Murdock told BBC News. "I don't want to have to get in my car to do everything."
– YouTube youtube.com
While to some people walking anywhere might feel like a chore, it’s likely healthier for your body. Sitting idly in traffic regularly contributes to a more sedentary lifestyle linked to cardiovascular disease among other health issues. Living car-free helps lower a person’s contribution to air pollution and climate change, as car exhaust emits CO2 into the atmosphere that raises temperatures in gridlocked cities along with smog that’s bad for the lungs.
Living without a car eliminates a big expense, too. Not just the money needed to purchase a car, but being able to walk, bike, or reasonably use public transportation removes the need to pay for car insurance, fuel, maintenance, repairs, vehicle registration, and other expenses typically needed to operate a car regularly. Cars are especially a financial burden for rural communities that don’t have feasible public transportation in place.
– YouTube youtube.com
While it might be nice for all neighborhoods to operate like Culdesac, the fact is that American cities were built for automobile owners. It’s not outright impossible, but it would take a consorted unified effort to restructure these areas into walkable communities throughout the country. Bear in mind that it cost $200 million dollars to build Culdesac, which is just one neighborhood.
That said, if Culdesac continues to thrive and grow, it might inspire the powerful people, local governments, and community activists to push for reforms in cities, rural areas, and the like to invest in similar car-free neighborhoods, better public transportation, or a complete redesign in city planning to make their community less car reliant in general.
A teacher smiles for the photo in his classroom
School excursions often provide unforgettable experiences and bonding opportunities for students, but for teachers, they can be loaded with logistical headaches. So when a teacher was asked to single-handedly finance a field trip—with zero compensation—Reddit user u/Unfunded_Teacher took to the platform to vent about this bizarre demand.
“Want me to pay out-of-pocket to take students to the zoo? Okay, but you’ll miss out on a killer photo shoot,” read the title of their Reddit post. In 2017, the teacher oversaw a class of 18 children, and a sudden curriculum change mandated a zoo visit. However, the school insisted that, since the budget had been set months before, the teacher would foot the entire bill for all 18 students.
Administrators also insisted the teacher snap photos for the school’s Facebook page. With no reimbursement and an empty-handed budget, the teacher came up with a clever alternative: “I love my students but I love my savings too, not as much as my students but still. I couldn’t justify spending over €360 (approx $389) on a single, non-tangible thing. So, I took the kids down to a local farmer, Pete’s farm. All Pete asked for was a 5 euro ($5.46) donation per person and that too was voluntary.”
A young girl plays with a magnifying glass during a fiel tripCanva
Rather than blowing hundreds at the zoo, the teacher offered around €50 (about $54) to good old Pete, who let the students see an assortment of farm animals. “I gladly emailed the pictures to them, with a subject title of ‘Petting Zoo Pictures’. I got an email back simply saying that my conduct was not exemplary. No reprimand, no written-up warning but no photos for admin too. The kids enjoyed it though,” the teacher wrote. Although the original Reddit post was eventually deleted, commenters remained stunned by the school’s gall.
A young girl feeds a cow Canva
In the comment section, user u/saraphilipp suggested, “I’d have told them for $400 you can have the photos. You see, my budget was created at the beginning of the year and you’ll have to pay out of pocket for the photographer fees.” Meanwhile, u/GozerDestructor quipped, “You should make the photos look as bleak and Soviet as possible. A cold, grey field, with one sad child holding the tether of a single goat (Use the ugliest child and ugliest goat available).”
Reddit commentReddit | u/AmbitiousPirate5159
User u/river_song25 didn’t hold back: “I would have told the school flat out hell no. The zoo trip is the school’s idea, not mine, and I won’t be spending my money for myself and 18 kids (and probably some adults since no way am I dealing with 18 kids by myself at the zoo) … Either the school pays or the kids can simply NOT go to the zoo at all, because no way am I spending my money … to pay $360+ in admission tickets fees to the zoo for other people.”

Young students get on the bus for a field tripCanva
When other commenters doubted the story’s accuracy, user squid52 retorted, “I’m shocked at the number of people who think this is unrealistic. It’s like… have you ever actually listened to a teacher? We all have stories like this… Every single teacher has spent their own money—often a lot—on things that should be provided by the employer. At the same time, having our time stolen by the employer. It’s a big mess.”
This article originally appeared earlier this year.
Professional businesswoman and 3 millennials.
Some benchmark achievements represent the stage at which society recognizes an adult. A new study found that fewer than a quarter of young people were meeting these representative, traditional markers. With an ever-changing economy and fewer opportunities, some of these milestones are just unattainable. Combined with new social norms, people might not find them as important. Their happiness suggests it's all a big mess.
The U.S. Census Bureau shared a report exploring the changes in modern young adults reaching these 5 markers. The study focused on the challenges linked to uncertain economic downturns as well as attitudes toward the modern family experience. The 5 markers traditionally considered to achieve adulthood are: moving out of the parents' home, completing higher education, entering the workforce, marriage, and having children.
Traffic sign.Image via Canva – Photo by Katie Piatt
Comparing the collected data from 2005 and 2023, the researchers found some considerable changes. The first discovery is that young people between the ages of 25 and 34 face difficulties in achieving education, jobs, and moving out. However, they are still, in general, able to achieve the basics of these three markers. The number of people moving out and purchasing a home has changed due to the burden of cost weighed against available jobs with better salaries. Secondly, financial independence is a strong determinant for young adults' willingness to marry and begin a family. Those numbers have significantly changed. In 2005, about 62% of adults were married, and by 2023, that number had dropped to only 44 %. Having a child in those homes went from 55% to 39%.
One particularly interesting fact was the effect of metropolitan areas. People in cities tended to have improved financial markers, but also a significant drop was found in marriage and children. Overall, the modern transition to adulthood still emphasizes career and education, with marriage and parenthood often being delayed.
Family shopping and single man ironing.Image via Canva – Photos by JackF and Tiero
Many people believe that being single offers them more financial flexibility. Studies show that cohabitation of wealth through a marriage or relationship is significantly higher. Oxford Academic shared a 2025 study that showed marriage was linked to wealth. In general, people with stronger finances are more likely to marry.
The question to be raised is whether financial independence is a key determinant for marriage. A 2023 survey reported in Financial Advisor found 65% of Americans considered a partner's debt a dealbreaker, and 19% married specifically for financial reasons. If fewer people are financially capable of marriage, what does that mean for the singles?
Multicultural young people having fun with a mobile phone.Image via Canva – Photo by View Apart
Lifelong singles with no history of long-term romantic partnerships tend to have lower scores of overall satisfaction. Research from Psychological Science revealed that singles suffered elevated loneliness and reduced social support from family and/or partners. These are general scores, so outliers most certainly exist. However, the National Library of Medicine shared a study on A Global Perspective on Happiness and Fertility, which covered 86 countries. People over 40 reported much higher levels of happiness after having had children. The National Bureau of Economic Research reported, once financial struggles have been managed, children increase their life satisfaction. This number was especially significant for parents under the age of 45.
Looking at a complicated market.Image via Canva – Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko
If studies show that the statistical likelihood of attaining all five benchmarks is reliant upon financial security, how are young people supposed to acquire the necessary capital? All these studies signify one very important consideration: it's complicated. As people attain greater control over their job choices, decisions are no longer attached to finances. HR Future shared a 2021 study that showed 71% of Gen Z would accept lower-paying jobs if they supplied more meaningful work.
Economic uncertainty is higher than it's been for decades. The communal norms are crossing new territories as people seek out life advantages that no longer follow traditional pathways. Getting a higher education, buying a home, getting married, and raising a family hold less importance. Young people want to find meaningful work, keep a flexible mobility, have relationships that require less investment, and push thoughts of building a family and having children for 'down the road.'
These new ideas will come with their own sets of challenges. There will be benefits and downsides. No one will know the true outcomes for these choices until studies tell us in the future.
In 2013, Prince borrowed someone's guitar—and then smashed it on 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.'
When Prince took the stage, anything was possible—from feral, shirtless screaming to hall-of-fame guitar solos to the kind of destructive rock-star showmanship that few others would be willing to attempt. One of his signature moves was throwing his instrument—sometimes into the air, where, on one memorable occasion, it seemed to vanish completely; other times over to a technician waiting in the wings. Many of these guitars—including his "Cloud" axe, built by Dave Russan—suffered a fair amount of abuse. "He would always throw them to the roadie at the end of the show, and they weren’t always caught, so they’d have to be repaired often," Russan told Alternative Nation. "They were hard rock maple but couldn’t always stand up to that."
But that was Prince’s gear. Not the case in a case from 2013, when The Artist performed on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, having borrowed a guitar from "Captain" Kirk Douglas of house band The Roots. The wild promotional spot ended with a bold toss, a broken instrument, and a supremely bummed-out musician. But the story is even weirder than you might expect, and it led to a surprisingly happy ending.

On taping day, Prince’s team had forgotten to bring his requested six-string, and Douglas—a huge fan of the rock/funk chameleon—was more than cool with sharing his own, a beloved 1961 Epiphone Crestwood. In fact, it's almost like the stars had aligned: "The crazy thing is the only reason that guitar was in 30 Rock [home of NBC Studios, where the show was taped] was because I was rehearsing for a Prince tribute at Carnegie Hall this week," Douglas later tweeted.
The performance itself is pure electricity. Joined by his back gin band 3rdEyeGirl, Prince brought a majestic psych-funk energy to 1979’s "Bambi," concluding with a wah-wah-heavy solo on the Crestwood. Afterward, he tossed the guitar into the heavens and confidently stomped backstage as it crashed to the floor, spurting feedback through the room. A giggling Fallon walked up to plug Prince’s latest single, and the camera briefly cut over to The Roots, including a somewhat confused-looking Douglas, as they played the show’s theme song.
– YouTube www.youtube.com
"And at the end of the song, he lifts the guitar up, and I think he’s about to play behind his head, but he’s not playing behind his head," Douglas reflected in a 2020 video on The Roots’ YouTube channel. "He lifts the guitar up and throws it in the air, and it comes crashing down to the ground, and it’s squealing in feedback. And he just struts off the stage. I was completely crestfallen, and I knew that there were cameras on me, and I knew there was nothing I could do about it, and I just had to sit there and be in it. I remember looking to my right, and Mark Kelley, our bass player, was laughing hysterically."
Naturally, Douglas was devastated—at least at first. "I went through some complicated emotions in that very moment," he recalled to Consequence of Sound in 2019. "Initially it was kind of negative. After it happened, I had my guitar in pieces. I went to Prince, and I was like, 'Hey, you broke the guitar. If you don't mind, could you sign it at least?' And he was like, 'Oh, I haven't signed anything since the '70s.'" After assessing the immediate damage, he tweeted a photo of the guitar with the caption, "Purple Pain…Maybe it's because I'm a dad," he added, "but I think framing the guitar is a little like rewarding bad behavior."
Prince eventually apologized for the ill-fated toss and arranged to have the guitar fixed. Plus, there were multiple silver linings to the heartbreak. As the guitarist told CoS, he wound up connecting with other music heroes, including Jackson Browne and Elvis Costello. And through conversations elsewhere (including one with Chris Rock), he realized he wasn’t the only one with a bizarre Prince story: "I feel like I'm part of this club of people who've been wronged by him," he said. "For all I know, he could have just even known, in all of his genius, like, 'Watch, I'm gonna hook this kid up. I'm gonna break his guitar so he can have this story and talk about it for the rest of his life.' If that was his thought, he would not be wrong about that."
He even ended up writing a song about it: "Little Friend," which he released on his debut solo album, 2019’s Turbulent Times. "'[It] was actually composed on the guitar I purchased with the money left over from the repair of the guitar he actually broke," he told Rolling Stone. "I recorded the song with the Crestwood. The lyric comes from the emotion of the moment of that time where I was upset, but in retrospect it’s one of the coolest things that has ever happened to me. He’s probably looking down, saying, 'I made your old-ass guitar way more interesting, paid you for your troubles, and gave you something cool to write about…You're welcome."
In the Roots YouTube video, Douglas rightly called the tale "one of the greatest guitar stories ever told," noting that the instrument had since been displayed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s as part of the "Plat It Loud" exhibit. "That guitar is bigger than me," he said. "But I’m so happy to have played a part in what’s now widely regarded as rock and roll history."
– YouTube www.youtube.com
Eric Clapton performing love on stage in Rotterdam, 2006
British rocker Eric Clapton has had a plethora of hits over his long music career. But one of his most famous songs, "Tears in Heaven", is getting an in-depth look in the musician's film special, Eric Clapton Unplugged… Over 30 Years Later. (The 90-minute film was released earlier this year on Paramount+ on Feb. 12.)
It centers on Clapton's iconic MTV Unplugged set from 1992, where he performed an acoustic version of “Tears in Heaven.” And in a newly resurfaced interview for the special, he dives more into the heartbreaking background story to the song's lyrics that were inspired by his son Conor's death and subsequent grief journey.
– YouTube www.youtube.com
In March 1991, his four-year-old Conor (who he shared with Italian actress and model Lory Del Santo) fell 49 floors from his mother's New York City apartment window. In a previous heart-wrenching interview, Clapton revealed what happened the day of Conor's death after he received the news from Del Santo while he was in New York City visiting Conor.
“I remember putting the phone down and calmly walking from my hotel to that place as if nothing happened,” he said. “And I walked past the street, and this is a terrible thing of shame for me, which I’ll never, ever perhaps recover from and seeing that–seeing a crowd of people and a paramedic van and knowing that he was there [trying to be resuscitated] and walking by. I’ll punish myself forever about why didn’t I run? Why didn’t I go to see him? … the truth is I couldn’t. I was so frightened.”
Clapton wrote "Tears in Heaven" following Conor's death, specifically for the soundtrack to the film Rush. In an interview done before his iconic MTV Unplugged set, he shared more about how the song helped him through the grieving process.
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“It was really needed to illustrate loss because of what happens in the movie, and it was a good opportunity for me to write about my son, about the loss of my son, and also have somewhere to put it, to channel it,” Clapton says in the resurfaced interview obtained by PEOPLE. “And I really wanted to say something about what had happened to me and the opportunity the movie gave me was excellent, because it meant I could write this song for the film and express my own feelings.”
Eric Clapton performing on stage March 12, 2009Photo by F. Antolín Hernandez via Stoned59 | Wikimedia Commons
Clapton chose to be vulnerable with the audience about Conor's death after he thought they “would be very surprised" if he didn’t, and "wouldn’t want to insult them by not including them in my grief, in a way." Clapton went on to add, "I do intend to make these things known and I will play them in concert and put them on record. And it is, for me, a healing process and I think it’s important that you share that with people that love your music."
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In the film special, Clapton also reveals that Conor inspired his 1998 hit song, "My Father’s Eyes". Clapton shared the song was written to also honor his Canadian soldier father, Edward, who was never a part of Clapton's life.
"It’s a very personal matter, but I never met my father, and I’d realized it when I was with my son — the closest I ever came to looking in my father’s eyes was when I looked in my son’s eyes," he says. "So I wrote a song about that. It was kind of a strange, like a strange cycle thing that occurred to me and another thing that I felt I would like to share."
To this day, Clapton's Unplugged album is the best-selling live album of all time, having sold more than 26 million records.
This article originally appeared earlier this year.
A Tim Hortons and a biker.
We've all heard the saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover," but in reality, snap judgments happen every day. Whether it's based on someone's clothes, tattoos, or demeanor, these assumptions can often be unfair—and completely wrong. One Canadian biker experienced this firsthand when a mother at a Tim Hortons dismissed him as a "dirty biker" in front of her child. Instead of reacting with anger, he shared a powerful message on Facebook that resonated with thousands.
Luc Perreault, a burly, tattooed biker, had stopped at Tim Hortons for a coffee when he exchanged a friendly smile with a little girl. But rather than receiving kindness in return, he overheard the child's mother pulling her away and saying, "No, no, dear, we don’t talk to dirty bikers."
Perreault, who proudly embraces his rugged appearance, decided he needed to speak up—not out of anger, but to challenge the stereotypes people hold about men like him. He took to Facebook with a response that quickly went viral.
A biker rests on his Harley DavidsonCanva
In his post, Perreault addressed the family directly:
"To the family in the red SUV at Tim Hortons today," he began. Then, he described how he might appear to strangers.
"Yes, I am a big 280 lbs guy with motorcycles and full of tattoos. I am a welder, I am loud, I drink beer, I swear, and I look like I would eat your soul if you stare at me wrong."


A Tom Hortons restaurant in CanadaCanva
However, that rough exterior doesn’t define who he truly is.
"What you don't know is that I have been happily married for 11 years, my kids call me Daddy, I am a college graduate, my mother is proud of me and tells everyone how lucky she is to have such a wonderful son. My nieces and nephews are always happy to see their M'Noncl Luc. When my daughter broke her arm, I cried more than she did."
A biker gestures for a car to pass him on the highwayCanva
He further shared that he is a man who values kindness and compassion.
"I read books, I help people, I go out of my way to thank war veterans, and I even cried at Armageddon."
Perreault wrapped up his message with a powerful reminder that appearances can be deceiving.
"So next time I smile and say hi to your little girl and you grab her and tell her, ‘No, no dear, we don't talk to dirty bikers,’ remember that even though you hurt my feelings, this 'dirty biker' would be the first person to run into your burning house to save your little girl's goldfish so she wouldn't be sad!"


A boker cruising on the road at sunsetCanva
His words struck a chord with thousands of people online, many of whom shared messages of support.
Another commenter, Jim Maverick Morrison, praised Perreault’s response, writing, "Well put, brother. I'd still back you up any day. You are a good man. Take it with a grain of salt because it's their loss. Glad to call you a friend and brother."
His wife, Suzelle Perreault, also chimed in, saying, "Awwww… and yes, this is why I love my husband!"
Perreault was touched by the overwhelming support and responded with gratitude.
"To all, thanks for the wonderful words. I always knew there were great people out here."
The lesson: People are more than their appearances.
A little girl dressed up as a bikerCanva
In a world of snap judgments, Luc Perreault offered a moment of grace. He gently dismantled a stereotype not with anger, but with honesty and an open heart. He proved that what defines us isn't the tattoos on our skin or the clothes we wear, but our capacity for compassion and our willingness to protect someone else's goldfish.
This article originally appeared earlier this year.
Man flirts with woman on the street
There's a dilemma women face that most men will never understand. When a woman is nice to a man she has just met, they often misconstrue her kindness for a sign of sexual attraction.
A study published in Psychological Science found that men who are shown pictures of women misidentify their body language and facial expressions as sexually suggestive 12% of the time.
This poses a huge problem for women in customer service.

Man flirts with female employeeCanva
Reddit user XochiquetzalRose is having such a problem with men misinterpreting hr kindness for flirting, she asked the online forum for help:
"I work at a grocery store. I have excellent customer service and im really empathetic. Im kind and i try to make every 30 second – 5 minute interaction with a person a good experience for them. I'm starting to feel a little upset though because some of my regular men… older, sick, sad… have become too comfortable with me. They needed a kind ear but now they seem to feel it means more. They make comments about going out, or do i have a boyfriend or nothing sexual" but"can we be friends, can i have your number?" When i know the nothing sexual" isn't their true intention."

Frustrated woman talking to a manCanva
Reddit user XochiquetzalRose is having such a problem with men misinterpreting hr kindness for flirting, she asked the online forum for help:
"I work at a grocery store. I have excellent customer service and im really empathetic. Im kind and i try to make every 30 second – 5 minute interaction with a person a good experience for them. I'm starting to feel a little upset though because some of my regular men… older, sick, sad… have become too comfortable with me. They needed a kind ear but now they seem to feel it means more. They make comments about going out, or do i have a boyfriend or nothing sexual" but "can we be friends, can i have your number?" When i know the nothing sexual" isn't their true intention."

Young man tries to talk to distracted woman at schoolCanva
Here are the 11 best responses:
1. Ga_x:
"I'm very much like you, but I don't work in retail anymore (thank god). My optimistic take on it, is to be honest and gentle. 'I'm flattered but I don't give out my number. Thank you for the compliment though!'
If you want, you can hide behind imaginary boyfriends, or store policy, or not owning a phone, etc. But for me, owning my right to say no, without needing an excuse or an apology was very liberating.
You don't owe them anything. You don't even owe them a thank you for hitting on you. ( I only say thanks when the person is really polite and it genuinely flatters me) . And if it seems daunting at first, practice what you'd say in front of a mirror, say the words aloud and listen how it sounds. Find phrases you like and repeat them until you own them.
There's no need to compromise.
2. ughsicles:
"God, this is so real. I never realized how important this was until recently. I had a stalkery guy who would NOT leave after a party, even though my friends insisted he leave ahead of them. He lurked outside my apartment and called and texted asking if he could come back up. I told him all manner of 'No.' Said I wasn't interested. Told him to go home. Until eventually I gave up and texted, in response to his repeated calls: 'I can't pick up the phone because I'm on the phone with my BOYFRIEND.'
At the time, it was a lie (although I currently am dating the guy I was on the phone with lol). But he went away. I was SO PISSED that that's what it took. And that he unquestioningly accepted another man's dominion over me, when he wouldn't accept a simple, "I'm not interested." Guh, it still chaps me.
Upset woman walking away from a manCanva
3. dsmith1994:
"I worked in retail for most of my years in college. I started as a cashier and eventually moved into a stocking position. I worked in a resort community where there were many older people who were usually rude, acting like taking to you was a waste of their time.
Well while working there I was touched and awkwardly hit on almost weekly. I helped someone out to their car and they called me cute the entire time and asked me to get in their car. I had someone offer me a tip try to put in my pocket and then played with me while their hand was in my pocket. I was probably 17 for this one. My ass has been slapped, chest rubbed, and crotch grabbed multiple times. So I understand where everyone is coming from. The only difference is, I'm a man and had older women do all of this to me. I told my management about it and they usually laughed saying 'your a guy get over it'.
4. moolight:
"And it's funny, even when you decline politely they'll try to turn it around on you and make you the bad guy. I was having a drink and reading alone recently when a man came up to me and asked me if I smoked/offered a cigarette.
Me: "No, I do not, but thanks"
Him: "Oh, well can I can sit down with you and talk?"
Me: "I'm really focused on my reading right now, and don't feel like talking. I appreciate the offer though, you can even sit here to smoke if you want."
Him: "…Well fine. I figured you'd want the company"
Guy was flustered walked away for a bit, but made to sure to get my attention as he left, "I'm going to enjoy that cigarette now!
"Me: "…Okay!"
Obviously not the worst interaction in the world, but definitely made me chuckle how entitled this guy felt to talk to me."

Man walks away from an upset womanCanva
5. FeralBottleofMtDew:
"I have 'The Look' I give guys who can't or won't take a polite no. I can't always control it, but I try to use it as a last resort. Years ago I was working retail and a customer was being an arse, and I looked away from him and The Look slipped out while I was looking in the direction of a friend. She saw The Look and ducked!! After the arse left she came over and asked why I was so mad at her."
6. madge_pie:
"Goodness, you could have been writing this for me. I work with the public and have a lot of regular customers too (banking) and I always try to get to know people a little bit. I'm in my mid 30's and have a lot of older men start to become inappropriate after I've been kind to them. I have learned to curb their unwanted behavior to a degree and still be able to keep them smiling. I started replying with some semi-sarcastic come backs and they usually don't know what to say. Example:
Old man : you sure look nice today
Me : thank you

Old man : and you're always so sweet to me! (this is where I can sense it's gonna shift to being inappropriate)
Me : well, being helpful and happy is why (Bank name) pays me!

I know it's kind of stupid, but it changes the conversation and makes it harder for them to continue down their path. Just remain firm in saying no to their requests for 'friendship' and phone number requests. (when I get asked for my phone number I write down the bank number and say, you can reach me here!) Good luck, OP. Don't let the pervs get you down.

Frustrated womanCanva
7. Newsdwarf:
"I worked in retail and feel your pain OP. It got to the point where I had to be walked to my car after shifts as male customers would wait outside for me. It was horrible.

It's retail. My job involved being nice. You want a block of cheese, here it is + a smile and "hope you enjoy it, thanks for shopping with us". You want a lottery ticket? Here it is + "hope it's a lucky one for you, have a great evening". You want to tell me your dog died? "I'm so sorry to hear that. He had such a wonderful time with you, and I do believe in the Rainbow Bridge".

I give the same service, and same chat, to all customers. Yet the amount of men that latched onto it as "she smiled and said have a nice day, she must want to fuck me".
Approaches went from nervous "I really like you, will go out with me?" and phone numbers scribbled on receipts, right through to stalkers waiting after my shifts.
There were the ones that would hold back until no other customers were around so they "could have you all to myself" and the ones that waited for the queues so they could announce ownership of me.

I loved my job, but too many male customers treated me like a whore. Like their purchase of a packet of fags bought them the right to have no boundaries with me. Really unhappy memories."
Server has hostile interaction with customerCanva
8. phishstorm:
"I worked at a grocery store and I'd get so pissed if men did this. There is absolutely NOTHING appropriate about a 50+ year old dude hitting on someone in their 20s. It's disgusting, entitled, and beyond creepy.
As soon as they'd do it, I would become extremely cold to them. They want to make me uncomfortable? I'll make them feel every bit as awkward as I do.
And then they would hit on the fucking underage baggers who were usually 16. That would really send me into a rage, I always wanted to call them out for pedophillia. Disgusting.
9. HalfMoonSky:
"Hotel industry. This post has sparked a rant here, and I'm sorry. The gist is I relate so very much to this.
Helping a man in his late 40s? find a steak house for him and his friend has lead to a confession of love (I'm an idiot for giving out my number; he kinda tricked me and I fell for it). A shuttle drive to the airport lead to a guy constantly asking for dates (he gave his business card, I thought for a job opportunity).
I actually just gave my PSN after chatting video games and mentioning I cant find a competitive group for R6 Siege and am now realizing that this is probably a bad idea. Shit. I also just got a business card for what I thought is another job opp but this may also be a bad idea. Shit.
I think I'm I guess nieve? Because I try to be nice to everyone since most my life many werent nice to me… and I keep thinking that folks arent shitty just to be proved wrong time and time again. Yet I keep hoping for good in this world. I really need to not give out my information regardless of circumstances. I'm just desperate for actual friendship. And because I'm relatable, mildly attractive, a nerd and a fitness freak, it always always turns into this weird fucking affinity for me where I'm now "theirs" somehow? As if checking them in and handing them roomkey cards makes me somehow their future wife.
But it's also my job to be nice to folks. I'm not flirting, I'm moderately terrified of the idea of being alone with a man again, I'm just tryin to make their hotel stay start off with a smile. And yet, chatting about work woes or making a laugh or two or helping find stuff to do in the city (read: starting that smile) makes someone think I'm out to date them even when I explicitly say I'm not, I dont, I dont want to.
The worst is if I explain that I'm transgender. It either gets worse as I am no longer woman but now a fuck object that they have to have physically or it gets worse because I am now disgusting and they werent actually interested in me and I'm a piece of garbage that needs to kill myself. Like, look I've tried. Believe me, I want to. It didnt work, and now I feel like shit for being nice to a psychopath that didnt take a hint that's gonna ruin my life for a while.
… sorry. I relate to this post on the deepest of levels."
Server being polite to a customerCanva
10. mfball:
"I think you can give good customer service and then immediately detach to continue doing whatever other work you can find so that they don't have as much of a chance to monopolize your attention and create a narrative of friendship (or more) in their heads. I work as a barista and can see the potential for this issue in some of my customers, especially because my coffee bar isn't usually super busy so there's often time to talk to individual customers for several minutes if I feel like it. The second things start to feel overly familiar or sketchy in any way, it's "well hey, have a good one, gotta get back to work!" or whatever and without giving them an opportunity to answer, I start cleaning something, answering the phone, stocking supplies, etc. It sucks that people take basic human kindness the wrong way sometimes, but that's the unfortunate reality we're living in, so it makes sense to protect yourself where you can by withdrawing from the people you can see becoming problematic.
11.purplelephant:
"Yes.
Although I'm a stripper. But every single night I work without a doubt, a customer asks for my number or for me to go home with them. I too am incredibly kind and love to talk and flirt and listen to people's problems. But you'd think that men would realize I'm working when I'm interacting with them. NOPE! They want to take me home, they say we have a special connection.. it doesn't matter how old too. I've gotten this reaction from men in their mid 30's to old ass dudes too, and I'm only 25! It's really kinda sad to me when this happens because even though I'm a nice and personable stripper, they don't seem to realize I'm doing this for their money."
This article originally appeared 7 years ago.
Happy couple looking at a cellphone
Blending styles can be difficult. Naturally, when two or more people are brought together, their visions aren’t always going to mesh. Like getting a haircut then realizing, after they spin you around for the big reveal, that your barber actually didn’t “totally get” the inspiration photo you brought in. Or teaming up with some friends for a group project in school who you didn't realize were petrified of public speaking. Or, take One Direction for example. Five solo singers who at didn't get along at all at first, brought together only after Simon Cowell corralled them all into a boy band.
This frustrating lack of cohesion is also at stake whenever you move in with someone, whether that be family, a roommate, or a significant other. What kind of couch should the two of you get? (One that’s comfy and big, or something more trendy?) Where should the dining table go? (Up against the window, or tucked away in the corner?) And who’s in charge of doing the dishes?
Sharing a living space can often feel like a Machiavellian thought experiment—a constant dialogue between two people who are both trying to get what they want.
Couple in the middle of a disagreementCanva
But I digress. A refreshing new trend is sweeping TikTok, one that tackles this very issue head-on. Welcome to the wonderful world of the “boy and girl apartment."
This trend is perhaps best exemplified by a video from Emma Faye, a.k.a. @emmablogna on TikTok. On screen are the words “boy and girl apartment” and the caption reads “the perfect mix of both of us ♥️ #apartmentdecor #apartmentinspo”.
the perfect mix of both of us❤️ #apartmentdecor #apartmentinspo #interiordesign
In the video, she pans over her and her partner/roommate’s apartment: a fun, eclectic mix of decor that clearly represents both parties’ interests and one cohesive vision. There’s a small neon sign on the wall that reads “BADABING!” (surely, a reference to the famed institution from “The Sopranos”) in the living room.
A gorgeous white tulip table is decorated with dainty doily placesettings. A wall of vintage posters hang from the walls. A tiny candle sits next to an even tinier ceramic cowboy boot holding miniature matches. There's even a chocolate-colored Cleveland Browns coffee table book. That video has amassed 1.5 million views and approximately 367K likes. In the comments, users praise the duo’s video, writing “manifesting a space like this with someone I love” and “claiming this energy 🙏”.
Happy couple watches the sunset togetherCanva
At its best, the “boy and girl apartment” trend creates a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing living space for both parties. These apartments seamlessly blend both partners' unique styles and design sense, while also remaining functional and comfortable.
the perfect mix of both of us❤️ #apartmentdecor #apartmentinspo #interiordesign
A woman kisses her partner on the cheekCanva
A woman kisses a small baby
Blending families is never easy, especially when everyone comes from different backgrounds, but love and care can make all the difference. For Christie Werts, her journey is a testament to this, as reported by The Daily Mail. Christie, who grew up in foster care, found a new beginning with her husband Wesley. Already a mother of two, she joined Wesley and his two children to create a loving family of six. But life had even more in store for them—a new member was about to join their family, needing just as much love and warmth.
Little Levi was born to Wesley’s former wife and her partner after they had separated. Unfortunately, the woman passed away after struggling with addiction issues, leaving Levi with no one to look after him. The only option for the newborn was to get into a foster home. Werts had different plans and was not about to let Levi go through the same childhood she had as a foster kid. Instead, she came up with a heart-melting solution. “'I myself was a foster kid and, although for the most part I had a great experience, I did not want him going to foster care,” she recalled.
Additionally, Levi’s mum passed away a few days after giving birth to him, and it was heartbreaking to imagine him in the care of a foster home.

A newborn baby sleepingCanva
Werts and Welsey decided to take in Levi and accept him as their own. However, that was a difficult process. “We lived in another state at the time, so we sold our home in Ohio and rented a house in Texas because we had to officially foster to adopt him,” Werts mentioned. The family had to turn their lives around to welcome the little soul into their home. Werts is well-versed with kids after raising her biological children as well as her stepkids, but that didn’t make it easier. “This was different – I was going to walk into a child I never met and was worried the circumstances would hinder this 'instant love.’ But… he stole my heart. I also felt this intense need to protect him,” she recalled.
A young mother cradles a newbornCanva
The mom has been documenting her journey with her family and with Levi, who is now three, on her TikTok page. Several of her videos share bits of her journey. In one of her recent videos, posted on Levi’s third birthday, the mom went down memory lane and expressed her gratitude for having decided to welcome Levi home. “3 years ago today, we got an unexpected call that changed our lives forever,” the mom wrote.
Supportive commentTikTok | @terriphipps9
Supportive commentTikTok | @london.365
She mentioned her decision to bring Levi home to his siblings and noted that it wasn’t an easy process. “That tragic call turned into a love story. He brought more joy in our lives than we ever expected,” Werts added. “He taught us life is short and can change and to embrace the unexpected with love!” the mom concluded.
I love my kids but I always think about the baby I lost. Would I have grandkids right now? I miss that baby. #loss #grief #miscarriage #momlife #motherhood #fyp

You can follow Christie Werts (@cjthemom5) on TikTok for more content on parenting.
This article originally appeared last year.

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