People Are Calling Out Dating And Relationship Things That Are Considered "Normal" But Shouldn't Be

"The idea that cheating is part of the 'highs and lows' of a relationship."

We recently asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us which things about dating and relationship should be de-normalized — and people made a ton of points that are worth thinking about.

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Here are some of the most eye-opening ones:

1. "Trying to emulate relationships you see on social media."

"Also, reprimanding your partner for NOT emulating what you see on social media. Don't try to copy other people, because not everything you see online is perfect."

—bosslaydee

2. "The idea that their world must revolve around each other."

"I am a part of my S.O.’s world, and he is a part of mine. Together, our experiences outside of our relationship contribute to it, good or bad, whether we like it or not. How we use/apply those to make it better is up to us."

—SuperPickles

3. "The 'clumsy husband' and 'annoying wife' cliché."

"No, constant complaining about what your spouse did 'wrong' isn't cute and isn't normal, even if it's just made up for a stupid Twitter joke."

—kaa

4. "The idea that cheating is part of the 'highs and lows' of a relationship."

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"No, cheating is the END. NEXT!"

—lailai

5. "Fighting about small things. I hate hearing a friend of mine saying that fighting about the little things is normal and healthy."

"You shouldn't be fighting about small things; you should be fighting about big things, like having kids or buying a house — not who left the milk out. Fighting about little things shows how little patience and tolerance you have for each other."

—jane_angela

6. "I hate how common ghosting has become."

"Don't get me wrong, there are definitely times where ghosting is okay (like in the very beginning stages of online dating or when a situation is potentially dangerous). But ghosting when you've spent considerable time and energy on someone is rude and immature. Just a simple 'Hey, you're a great person, but I don't think we're compatible' is better than suddenly dropping the other person, leaving them wondering what went wrong."

—zippyflyer

7. "We should normalize healthy discussions around boundaries and expectations and consent."

"And we should normalize being straightforward in discussions, instead of assuming adults can't handle their emotions, and hiding things from them or [avoiding] issues."

—rachelmarcotte6

8. "Women in male-female relationships doing all of the emotional labor."

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"Such as planning the vacations, remembering people’s birthdays or anniversaries, making grocery lists and keeping track of chores, managing schedules, etc.

"Even when dudes are like, 'Just ask me when I need to help with something,' that’s part of the problem! She shouldn’t have to be the only one actively thinking about these things, and she shouldn’t have to ask every time."

—ladyofthelake

9. "Clocking each other’s location in a relationship."

"It's not normal. I mean, maybe it is for some, but I really think it’s mostly controlling."

—antibeingkilled

10. "'You have to love yourself before someone will love you.' I hate that mentality."

"I get it to a small extent, but I don’t love myself all the time, and that mentality makes me feel like my boyfriend won’t love me the days I don’t love myself. Like, you’re important, and you should feel important to yourself, but don’t ever think you can’t be loved when you don’t love yourself. An AA meeting said it best: 'Let us love you until you love yourself.' That’s a way-better mentality."

—rosesonmyarm

11. "Making fun of your partner, putting them down, or insulting them and playing it off as a joke."

"My ex did this all the time; there wasn't a single day in 10 years that he didn't make fun of how short I am, and he would tell his friends that I was 'insane' or 'a psychopath.' I let him get away with it for so long because I was used to it."

—Retrocrebbon

12. "I feel like a lack or fear of communication is sometimes normalized, and it shouldn't be."

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"There are so many times when I see or hear people asking for relationship advice, and the only piece of advice I can think of is, 'Talk about this with them.'"

—bunnyrabbit123

13. "Outdated gender roles that somehow still exist."

"I had bariatric surgery, and now I can only eat very small meals and just don't care to cook. Why should there be any expectation for me to make dinner if I hardly eat???"

—jbotinovch

14. "'All you need is love' to solve your problems. I hate that idea. While love in a relationship is important, so are trust and respect."

"When things aren’t working, and one person doesn’t love the other person 'enough,' it is so damaging. Love doesn’t mean you have to toss your boundaries, be belittled, gaslit, or put down because someone claims to loves you. The most common thing I heard, as a former domestic violence prosecutor, from victims who went back to their abusers was that they were 'in love, and that’s all that matters.' It’s so hard to make someone see the danger in something when they have been manipulated by the media and their abusers into thinking love is enough."

—samanthae4ef54d0a6

15. "The idea that couples should be together 24/7."

"Like, when you plan to hang out with your friend, they automatically bring their partner without asking. I would feel so suffocated if my BF joined me in literally everything. Give each other some breathing space."

—s463b03bd4

16. "Going through your significant other's phone."

Mangostar_studio / Getty Images / iStockphoto

"Every time someone says they do this, I cringe. It’s not normal. It’s not okay. If you don’t trust someone, don’t be with them."

—anniet40ac49967

17. "Faking a personality or lying about your intentions to manipulate someone."

"Again, you can just be single, and you could also find what you want a lot easier if you'd stop lying."

—justchillman

18. "Saying, 'You guys never fight? It’s healthy to fight sometimes!' Um, no, it’s not."

"My husband and I have never fought (as in, been mad enough to not talk for days) in our four years together. Communication, honesty, and trust go a long way. If you are honest in your feelings and communicate, you should be able to come to a resolution and compromise."

—caityjensen

19. "Sharing a bedroom! I think it's weird that if you're in a relationship, sharing a bedroom is what you're supposed to do."

Mangostar_studio / Getty Images / iStockphoto

"Sure, money factors a lot in your living situation, but if a couple is able to afford it, I think it shouldn't be looked down upon to have separate rooms."

—Sarah..

20. "Policing who your partner follows on social media."

"I was with my ex for a year, and it never even occurred to me to think about who he followed on Instagram, but I have a friend who regularly checks who her boyfriend follows. If you can't trust them, why are you with them? And if you do trust them but are still that insecure, are you really in a good place to be in a relationship?"

—rose

21. "Those cringey 'I hate my spouse'–type jokes."

"Tends to be common in heterosexual relationships the most — guys ragging on their friends about being 'whipped' or complaining about what a nag their wife or girlfriend is. They aren't even funny or original jokes, and they just make it seem like the relationship is unhappy."

—kamcalste

22. "Having specific timelines for relationships."

"Such as the third date is for sex. Every person and relationship is different; do things when you feel comfortable, and don’t worry that it’s too fast or too slow."

—rach_g_l

23. "Becoming totally absorbed in your partner and ghosting friends."

Maskot / Getty Images / Maskot

"A healthy relationship relies on space and encouragement of each other to maintain (or ideally strengthen) relationships with others. I feel like I know wayyy too many friends who disappear whenever they’re in a relationship, which also makes me feel like I’m not important to them or I'm just a placeholder between partners."

—emmmyy

24. "Not talking about important things on a first date."

"Obviously, don’t bring up what you want to name your future kids, but it’s so much better to know up front where someone stands on the big things."

—rach_g_l

25. "Couples should be in constant contact with each other."

"It’s not healthy to be texting every half hour. I hate the trend of people getting worried about the other not texting back if it’s been a few hours. I’m a medical student; I will answer anywhere between 6 and 24 hours later. This has nothing to do with the other person — I’m just busy. I get yelled at constantly for not replying, and it’s honestly so overblown. We should be able to date while still being respectful of each other’s boundaries. You don’t need to be in constant contact. It’s healthy to give each other space. I know couples who text each other all day long, and if the other doesn’t reply, they freak out. And I’m supposed to think that’s #RelationshipGoals? That sounds suffocating."

—katiet4e69249bc

26. "Feeling you need to get in someone's car or let someone buy you a drink on a first date."

Electravk / Getty Images

"They could lock the car or spike your drink. And especially that girls and women tend to be the ones told to be careful. Boys, men, and nonbinary people are often victims of assault too."

—Crizzy444

27. "Laughing off things that make either party uncomfortable."

"Even if it’s meant as a joke or 'That’s just how they talk,' it’s better to talk about it quickly and understand each other, rather than let it be the foundation of a larger argument later."

—Lalo

28. "I wish that women did not believe that the man should pay for everything. Dating when you’re younger and trying to establish yourself can put a huge and unnecessary strain on someone’s finances."

"It’s okay for the guy to pay for dinner and the woman to pay for the entertainment. Maybe the guy pays for this date and the woman pays for the next. This allows you more opportunities to go out and enjoy each other without him always feeling like he has to show that he could be the 'provider.' I’ve been married for 14 years, and everything that we have, we built together!"

—michaelgloverj

And finally...

29. "Thinking that you have to be in a relationship."

Letizia Mccall / Getty Images

"If you aren't in a place in your life to accommodate another person, it's okay to be single — dating isn't mandatory."

—justchillman

What are some other dating and relationship things that should be de-normalized? Let us know in the comments below. And for a chance to be featured in similar BuzzFeed posts, follow the BuzzFeed Community on Facebook and Twitter.

Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.