There are lots of things in the world we have to look out for. The "Dumb Ways" song laid it out for us pretty clearly more than 10 years ago. Yet, the Internet seems to find new dangers we should be aware of every other week. This time, we’re featuring submissions from people about the times they messed around and found out. One person online asked: “What, due to experience, do you know not to [mess] with?” And people came prepared with all sorts of stories and practical wisdom, from never engaging in road rage and never bothering a sleeping person to taking good care of your eyes.
#1
People, in general.
People. What a bunch of bastards.
Image credits: aluaji
#2
Iguanas. This happened about 25 years ago on a rare cold South Florida morning. My dad (big guy, with a soft spot for animals) found a "frozen" one in our backyard, and decided to bring it inside (in a closed off room) to warm up so that our dogs didn't get to it while it was offline. As soon as that thing warmed up, it was like a bat out of hell! Teeth, nails, and tail whipping cut him up pretty good. Eventually got it out with a broom, and all my dad muttered was "ungrateful bastard" lol
EDIT:
Alright this comment is getting more traction than I anticipated! Yes, I am aware that iguanas are an invasive species in FL. I am not aware if 25 years ago, if they were deemed as big of a threat as they are now and/or if that was as common knowledge back then.
What I DO know is that my dad took it as an opportunity to instill fascination and curiosity in me as a young child. He was able to safely show me it's spines and talons, and explain that reptiles are cold-blooded and what that meant. Even more than the mini science lesson, he showed me compassion for living things. Especially as a young child, I think I would have walked away with a very different impression if he just killed it. Would that have been the right thing to do? Maybe. But I think the happy memory and lessons I learned that day were more important than a single iguana being let free.
Image credits: danioof
#3
Men who say all their exes are crazy.
Image credits: duck_duck_goofs
#4
Intuition. If something feels wrong stop. It doesn't matter if it's stepping out onto a snow-covered slope, pulling up to a sketchy gas station, or putting too small of a piece of wood in a table router, listen when your brain tells you "This is a bad idea.".
Image credits: kolalikoa
#5
Not finishing antibiotics. Just because you feel better doesn't mean you stop taking them.
Image credits: Better-Ad5309
#6
Seatbelts.
Attended a friend’s funeral. He was riding the back seat and didn’t wear his seatbelt during a roadtrip, the driver was sleepy and hit a divider, the car spun out and he was flung out. He died during the ambulance ride, only 19 years old.
First thing I do when I get into any vehicle is to buckle up.
Image credits: fxcked_that_for_you
#7
Fanatical born again Christians.
Image credits: lemoncake3003
#8
Never challenge a goose.
Image credits: ITreeFairy
#9
Badgers.
they may look friend shaped and may also respond to psspsspss but no touchy cos they scratchy bitey.
Image credits: rainbowroobear
#10
The sea.
Image credits: Aggravating-Pound598
#11
Not listening to medical advice of a professional I am a nurse and have seen many people have horrible lives or deaths because they thought they were smarter.
Image credits: Unsichere-ziege-b
#12
Food poisoning. If you've ever had it for real, your personal food safety standards will rise significantly.
Image credits: Electric-Sheepskin
#13
Narcissists.
Image credits: PolyThrowaway524
#14
If you're traveling never f**k with the locals. I've seen people pick fights with one of the locals and 10 of his buddies came out from every shop around them.
Image credits: NaughtyNina23
#15
Take care of your eyes (wear eye pro, mind what you’re doing, change contacts on time etc). A few years ago I got a small piece of metal in my eye. This became infected. Navy ships are nasty.
The infection was misdiagnosed three times. After four days everything seemed ok. On day five I woke up with my eye basically rotting from a rare bacterial infection. I was fortunate enough to keep the eye so I appear unaffected but my vision was permanently damaged. Long exposure to sunlight causes migraines if I don’t wear sunglasses. I’ve had to learn to do a lot of things in different ways. All around a life changing event.
Image credits: thefluffyparrot
#16
People in the middle of a road rage incident. It is amazing how a grown adult can absolutely lose their mind when inside a vehicle.
Image credits: titsmuhgeee
#17
* People who believe they have nothing to lose. That could be a late-stage addict or your average teenager.
* Anyone with cauliflower ears.
Image credits: TheDadThatGrills
#18
People who cook, deliver or serve your food.
Image credits: Tantressa
#19
Don’t fight. You never know who’s carrying a knife or a gun until it’s too late. Life is not a fight scene in the movies, it’s 10X worse.
Image credits: AusTex2019
#20
Payday loans.
Image credits: Konaim
#21
Nature.
To many people think because they go camping and few times a year and shoot their gun from time to time that they can do whatever they want in the wild.
Nature only has one goal, to kill you and turn you into plant food. We spend millions of years to adapt and get away from nature. That doesn’t we somehow we have mastered nature or are immune to it. Respect it and take calculated risks when you’re out there by yourself.
Image credits: unk214
#22
Construction sites.
They are one of the most dangerous places to be so you have to be paying attention all the time you are in site.
Image credits: DrummerBob10
#23
Electricity.
Image credits: Ill-Lu
#24
Don’t f**k with someone sleeping, easy way to get beat up by the nicest person.
Image credits: Interesting-Onion787
#25
The thermostat at my dad's house.
Image credits: FuzzyPedal
#26
Alcohol. I had my run of ten years drinking, had an epiphany that alcohol was killing me, and nearly five years later, those in my life who didn't quit drinking are starting to frequent the hospital.
Image credits: takisokay
#27
Hydration.
Drink more water. Yes, you.
Image credits: DashCat9
#28
Garage door springs.
Image credits: Semi-Nerdy
#29
Swans during mating season. Think about a goose on steroids and three times bigger. They've been know to chase down jet skis and knock the driver into the water for getting to close to their nests.
Image credits: Linux4ever_Leo
#30
Gas station sushi. One impulsive night in college taught me that bathroom floors are cold and unwelcoming places for contemplation.
Image credits: TemptingTwinkle
#31
Cacti with fuzzy spines. Compared to the ones with big pointy spikes, these are the real terrors.
It took like a week for all the tiny little spines to get worked out of my skin.
Image credits: Morbidhanson
#32
Stray tom cats. I had one hand my butt to me. Had to get rabies shots and everything.
Image credits: Otherwise_Yam4094
#33
Bulls.
Don't f**k about with bulls. Even "relaxed" ones.
#34
Mentally unstable people.
You think you're crazy? Try arguing, fighting, or self-defending against a mentally unstable person.
Image credits: Make_Moneyyy
#35
Do not try to sit in some elderly person’s favourite seat. Do not try to change any table arrangements like placing the coffee pots differently than they have been used to for the last Thursday of every month for 20+ years. You will never hear the end of it for the rest of your sorry life. Just keep it as usual. Which can be hard if you’re new at your workplace.
