17 Things That Are Absolutely *Not* For Everyone, Despite What Society Wants Us To Believe

"All it did was make me uncomfortable and self-conscious to the point of anxiety."

No matter where you live, you may be familiar with the specific expectations society tells you you should adhere to for a "better" life. And since these "rules" do not work for everyone for a myriad of reasons, I thought it would be helpful to share the responses from Reddit user's u/TrooperJohn thread, where they asked: "What is not for everyone, but society acts like it is?" Here's what they had to say below:

1. "Hustle/grind/climb the corporate ladder culture. I just want to do what I'm good at, enjoy my life, and not kill myself getting to the top."

Willie B. Thomas / Getty Images

—u/Wishilikedhugs

"And also, (kinda on the flip side) the idea that everyone should start their own business and be their own boss. Not everyone can, should, or wants to."

—u/pumpkinpretzel

2. "Monogamy and polyamory. The main reason people think polyamory is bad is that non-polyamorous people attempt it and inevitably fail at it because they think polyamory is something you can just switch on and off and 'try out.' At the same time, society acts like monogamy should be the standard for everyone, when it’s just not suited to everyone."

—u/early_onset_villainy

3. "In my current place? I’d have to say marijuana. It’s actually interesting how many people are shocked I don’t do it. Like I get it’s a big business and A LOT of people partake, but it really isn’t for everyone."

Emilija Manevska / Getty Images

—u/Ozziwulf

4. "Working the same job/career for 40+ years."

—u/Dregnaught42

"I made some promotions, even got to team leader, but I went to the boss to get a downgrade, so I'm now a team leader's right hand. I get to do everything that I enjoyed doing as a team leader, but I don't get the stuff that I hated doing (i.e. telling people what to do, getting the complaints, making bigger decisions). The wage is a bit less, but I don't have the stress that comes with a team leader either, so it's really worth it for me. I guess I'm now at that point where I don't want any promotions."

—u/Snoo_37174

5. "Crop tops. Some of us still want the whole entire shirt, damnit!"

Jose Luis Agudo Gonzalez / Getty Images

—u/slpeach91

6. "Alcohol. Some people can't fathom that others don't want to drink it — or choose a sober lifestyle after a bad experience."

—u/zombsters

7. "Being extroverted and constantly craving social interactions"

Thomas Barwick / Getty Images

—u/lehmx

"This. I love being at HOME. I love my small circle of close relationships — those are the people who can recharge me.

I do not crave being in loud, overpopulated environments or making small talk with a bunch of strangers or distant acquaintances whom I have no bond with. Even being around extremely social, extroverted people that I do love dearly (my almost in-laws) gets exhausting, because they nearly always have their family friends over. I could never."

—u/Cute-Landscape7610

8. "Social media. Imagine being a 6th grader and having people think you’re weird if you don’t have an Instagram. That shit is poison. It can wreck our interpersonal skills, ruin relationships, perpetuate bullying into cyberspace when it used to end during the school day, and cement embarrassment if you get recorded. The list goes on."

—u/aSentientShadeOfBlue

9. "Having children."

J_art / Getty Images

—u/InsightfulBlonde

"I’m a woman who has never had that 'motherly urge,' and I never plan on having kids. People don’t seem to understand that can happen. It’s always 'you’ll change your mind once you find the right person.'

No, the right person will feel the same as me. People want to change me, but I’ve always felt this way."

—u/ServiceCall1986

10. "Sex. Nobody should be shamed for having sex or not having sex."

—u/Minute-Shoulder-1782

"Similarly, hookup culture. Not everyone glorifies the idea of 'anytime with anyone, anywhere.'"

—u/onemanmelee

11. "Marriage."

Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images

—u/Louis-grabbing-pills

"Add any kind of relationship to that. I’m so sick of people asking if I’m married or dating, and me proudly saying, 'single for life!' They gave me looks of pity and comfort and said, 'Don’t worry, you’ll meet them one day.'

Seriously? I’ve tried dating. All it did was make me uncomfortable, self-conscious to the point of anxiety, and then pissy because they wanted my attention when I would rather be doing something else. I would much rather be single, child-free, and happy doing my own thing than anything else."

—u/Nimeva

12. "College."

—u/DarkRose_92

"I don’t know about society, but the media acts like it. I swear it’s assumed the entire TV or movie cast went to college. And not a local college either: they left home, stayed in a dorm, and somehow in between all the studying, a lot of partying and weed was involved. And if it involves high schoolers, it's assumed they’re going to go, and if not, it’s cause they’re the stupid/trouble-making one."

—u/xSmittyxCorex

13. "Being connected ALL the time: WiFi, TV, streaming, etc."

Tatiana Meteleva / Getty Images

—u/Ob1cannobody

"I was in my 50s when my son gave me his old smartphone. He couldn't understand how I could leave the house without it. I kept telling him I've gone this long without one, I couldn't see the need to have a phone all the time."

—u/Upstairs-Radish1816

14. "40-hour workweek."

—u/Ambitious_Surround36

"I don't honestly think it's for anybody. People say there are a bunch of psychopaths out there who just love working every waking moment, but I kind of think they just tell people they feel that way to look like they're virtuous."

—u/xMadxScientistx

15. "The whole 'early bird gets the worm' mentality. Society tends to glorify being a morning person and waking up at the crack of dawn, but not everyone’s wired that way. Some of us are night owls who do our best work after midnight. So, let’s remember that not everyone thrives on the same schedule, and it’s okay to be a night-loving creature in a world that often praises the early risers. After all, owls are pretty cool too!"

Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images

—u/Stock_Strawberry2306

16. "A 9-5 job. I'm a bartender/server and a natural night owl. I honestly think that's why I even prefer the service industry because I just feel more normal at night lol. I have my degree and did the 9-5 for about two years but everyone's energy all day kinda makes me nauseous. However, the relentless judgment for being on a different schedule than the rest of society is constant."

—u/ServerAgent88

17. "Homeownership. Some people just don't have the budgeting skills, willingness, time, and knowledge to do maintenance, or the discipline necessary for homeownership."

Martin Barraud / Getty Images

—u/sconnie64

Is there something you prefer not to do even though society tells you you should? Tell us what it is and why in the comments below.