34 Things That Have Been So Normalized, You Don't Realize They're Actually Creepy

    "The whole 'We're all family here!' at the workplace. It's like some weird brainwashing to get you to enjoy your job more than you should. Like, no, you're not my family. I'm here to do work and get paid, and that's the only reason I'm here."

    Have you ever worried that you do things that actually kind of creep people out? Or, maybe you have your own list of seemingly normal things that you find kinda weird.

    Well recently, Reddit user u/Le_0n1e- asked the good people of r/AskReddit, "What's something that's considered normal that creeps you out immediately?" Here's what they said:

    1. "People making Instagrams for their babies and making captions as if the baby were writing it."

    fuma_puma

    A baby in a high chair with food on their face

    2. "I think it's weird that most couches don't come with washable cushion covers.

    "Everyone finds that normal, but they would think it's weird if someone just slept on a bare mattress without ever putting a sheet on it. In reality, it's exactly the same thing. I bought a couch with cushion covers you can take off and put in the washing machine for that reason."

    runningamuck

    Closeup of a couch cushion

    3. "Every company creating an ecosystem requiring my home address and credit card and my birthday just to listen to some music or use some software. Not a shred of my identity is unsold at this point."

    Broosevelt

    A woman on her phone and laptop

    4. "Telling young girls to cover up when male family members are visiting."

    shes_got_a_point

    People eating at a table

    5. "There's this sales technique called 'mirroring' where the salesperson mimics the body language of the customer to gain rapport. I think a lot of people also do it subconsciously to some extent. Anyway, this really creeps me out."

    heelspider

    A woman and man at a computer

    6. "Dress coding kindergarteners. Who looks at a 5-year-old in a tank top and thinks sexual thoughts to the point that the 5-year-old has to change?!?!?! Fucking gross."

    Sassysewer

    A kid's school uniform

    7. "When you’re chillin’ with your cat or dog at night with no one else home, and they suddenly alert and look super alarmed like they heard something."

    nautius_maximus1

    A dog looking at the camera

    8. "People standing next to or behind you when they can just wait or give you a bit more space.

    "I hate going to airports or any other public line and trying to leave space in front of me, and the person behind me just shuffles closer trying to get me to move. Trust me, you pushing me to move forward isn’t going to make the line move any faster. It just makes it more congested, and it’s weird in my opinion."

    chasethekt

    A line at the airport

    9. "Parents with no boundaries when it comes to putting their kids on social media. Anything for likes. Pics in the bath, etc."

    -Misspriss-

    A parent bathing their baby

    10. "Employers rewarding us with 8-hour staff retreats at work where we are expected to share personal info with each other all day. Staff bonding."

    anon0987654321anonn

    People in a group shaking hands

    11. "Whisper ASMR. I can't fucking stand it. It makes me gag and makes my skin crawl. Complete sensory hell."

    berripluscream

    A woman with a microphone

    12. "Child beauty pageants. It's fucking creepy."

    Archgaull

    A little girl dressed for a pageant

    13. "Influencers' toxic positivity on Instagram."

    Hexo_Micron

    A woman holding a yoga mat and smiling

    14. "Open door policies in families. My in-laws just walk in whenever they want, and I hate it."

    Storm0963

    People hugging

    15. "When people refer to kids/babies as 'flirting' when they are just being playful."

    Mental_Investigator3

    Two babies sitting next to each other

    16. "The constant fake happiness at work."

    Candycoatedmuffin3

    People smiling

    17. "Prolonged eye contact. And by prolonged, I mean more than 10 seconds."

    mamalion12

    A man staring at the camera

    18. "'What, no hug?' when saying goodbye to a person I'd never shown interest in touching."

    gottarunfast1

    A man reaching out for a hug

    19. "People who knock on my door."

    2xth

    Someone knocking on a door

    20. "The whole 'We're all family here!' at the workplace. It's like some weird brainwashing to get you to enjoy your job more than you should. Like, no, you're not my family. I'm here to do work and get paid, and that's the only reason I'm here."

    Ok_Tax7195

    A group of workers taking a selfie

    21. "Popsicle sticks. That fucking texture on my tongue...FUCKIN' AHHH!!!"

    Tim226

    A kid eating a popsicle

    22. "Getting a phone call from an unknown number."

    meemboi_marvelguy

    A woman sitting under a lamp on a phone

    23. "Feeling my own heartbeat."

    Suspicious_Drive6655

    A woman checking her pulse

    24. "The apparent competition to appear to be the busiest person with the most stuff crammed in."

    hdhdhdhdzjursx

    A woman massaging her eyes at her desk

    25. "When people document (video record, take a photo, or write an article) themselves or other people when helping the impoverished, especially those videos of influencers on YouTube vlogging and ‘helping’ the homeless, showing their faces and stuff. BS and creepy for me. If you help, just help. No need to let others know."

    infj_rbs

    People taking a selfie while giving out free food

    26. "When people come to your door and knock or ring the bell and then peer in the window."

    tossthisoff6

    A woman opening her door

    27. "Telling little kids 'Aww, is that your little girlfriend/boyfriend?' Like, a hard stop, no. Creepy and disgusting no matter the context."

    lunardarknes

    Two kids smiling at each other

    28. "Taking pics of strangers."

    Extra_Passage4609

    A woman taking a photo on her phone

    29. "The various poses from Instagram models. It's so cringe-y it actually creeps me out. Especially when their eyes are slightly squinted and their mouth is half open like it's some sort of seductive sexy thing, but it's just way off."

    stykface

    A model posing

    30. "Face filters."

    R_Sophie-A

    A kid using a face filter on her phone

    31. "The Pledge of Allegiance."

    mxxiestorc

    Kids doing the Pledge of Allegiance

    32. "Parents kissing their kids on the lips. 🤢"

    loxonsox

    A mom kissing her son on the lips

    33. "People with very quiet voices. Not soft-spoken and kind types, but the type whose voices are so quiet it takes you by surprise."

    dslgothicc

    A man with a hand on his ear

    34. And lastly: "Putting my hand in a chip bag or popcorn bag. Instantly feel dirty and have to wash my hands."

    trampush

    Someone's hand in a bag of chips

    What normal thing do YOU think is actually kinda creepy? Tell us in the comments.

    Answers have been edited for length and/or clarity.