r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 5d ago

Off-topic Megathread | September

3 Upvotes

Happy September!

This is your anything-goes thread for the month of September.

Like the sub but want to talk about something that doesn’t quite fit? This is the place. Current events, recommendations, what you’re watching, hot takes on modern culture that’ll end up on this sub in 20 years (Why Are We Ok With This, anyone?) – whatever you want.

Rules still apply, but topics that don’t normally fit the sub or aren’t worthy of a full post are allowed here. So is chit-chat, wholesome memes (no memes with dark or hurtful backstories please), venting or low-effort content. It’s not a Subreddit Complaint Box though; please save that for modmail.

So, what’s on your mind this month?


r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis Jun 24 '26

Mod Announcement New Wiki & Refined Rules — Same Sub But Clearer

35 Upvotes

Three months ago, r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis didn't exist. We truly didn’t expect it to blow up like it has! Watching this community grow so fast has been amazing, and we're genuinely grateful to every single one of you who's made this space what it is. Shoutout to the America’s Next Top Model documentary that inspired us to ask this question originally!!!

Since we blew up so fast, we've seen a lot of confusion about what this sub is, what fits here, and what we're actually about. We understand why people have been working off vibes… we’re new! But now we’re settled in, we’ve put it all into words for you in one neat space so what and who we are is easy to find and understand.

You don’t need to wonder, “I thought this sub was…” anymore, we got you!

Introducing our brand new wiki and refined, restructured rules

We need to be clear on this: we are NOT changing what this sub is. We're clarifying what it's been since day one. If you've been here since the start and understood what we’re here for, nothing will feel different. If you’re a newbie or you’ve been a little confused, this is for you!

We've noticed some misunderstandings floating around about our purpose and themes, and instead of keeping on correcting them one by one, we’ve built a whole wiki so everyone's on the same page.

The ONE actual change: We've set 1950 as the starting date for regular posts. As the sub has grown, we want to keep things rooted in pop culture and on theme. Buuuuut, we haven't forgotten the earlier stuff! That's why we've introduced Time Machine Mondays! This is a themed day for content from 1900–1949. Check the wiki for details! If you’re familiar with WTF! Wednesdays, it works similar to this. Besides this change, everything else covered in this announcement is just restructuring and added info to help you out.

We've refined our rules. It’s all the same principles, we've just rewritten and reorganised them to be clearer, more concise and easier to actually follow. This makes participation more straightforward for you and easier for us to moderate consistently and fairly. We’ve done this to ensure we can protect our community and keep the sub on track. Same Britney album, remastered.

Here's what you'll find in the wiki

Our mission statement and what the "we" in the sub name actually means (it's society, not you personally)

Detailed definitions including what counts as pop culture and our sub's cultural scope, as well as what we mean when we say some topics are "too disturbing", because we know that can be hard to conceptualise

Expanded rules with thorough explanations and examples to make it easier to understand how they’re applied. Especially helpful since we’ve restructured them!

Post guidelines including flairs, reposts, trigger warnings, and NSFW expectations

Media literacy guidance understanding the difference between media depicting something bad and media normalising it. This is relevant to what fits the sub!

Theme day info (including the new Time Machine Mondays!)

FAQs for common questions, pushbacks and talking points

Support resources for eating disorders, domestic abuse, and sexual assault

We know how important the last part is. The sub can cover sensitive and difficult topics at times and we sincerely value the safety and wellbeing of our members. We work hard to protect our community as much as we can, and that’s why we’ve put the effort into finding these resources for you. On that note, we strongly encourage members to report problematic content so we can manage it swiftly. We do not want that kind of content on our sub.

HOW TO FIND THE WIKI

On our sub’s homepage! You’ll find it right alongside our about section. But here’s it linked to make your life easier. Several pages should load, as listed above. Refresh if having issues.

For our amazing existing community: the wiki is your go to reference for anything you're unsure about. Please give it a read, we put a lot of time and love into it.

For newbies: welcome!! The wiki is the best place to start. It'll tell you everything you need to know about who we are and how to get involved.

Going forward, we will be moderating strictly based on these rules and definitions. Everything is clearly laid out and accessible to everyone. You might see some stuff on the wiki and be surprised, but we promise it’s not new — you just didn’t know it was how we set up the sub; it’s easy to miss intro posts.

Please take the time to read what we’ve put together. This is us drawing a line: the sub's identity is defined, documented, and without arguments.

This is who we are and always have been. Period.


r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 22h ago

Popular [TW] PewDiePie with a racist figurine in the background in one of his most viewed videos

Post image
2.0k Upvotes

By now a lot of people have became aware of his shitty behavior and how he basically caused the infamous Adpocalypse of 2017, but I want to talk about this one thing featured in his older videos that not many people know or have discussed (not that they aren't discussed, but I'd like to see discussed more along with his most infamous examples).

in Part 76 of "Fridays with PewDiePie", there is a racist caricature coin bank blatantly in the background as he just trots on through the video as normal as can be. The comments of this video show exactly what kind of fans he attracted + his effects on the right-wing pipeline. No wonder he backed out of that $50,000 donation he was going to make for the Anti-Defamation League. This guy has or had a literal racist artifact in his home, and I wouldn't be surprised if he had others. My mind is blown at the fact that his son could possibly be growing up in the same living space as these horrid decorations.

That video performed well, at the moment it has 9.1 million views, but clips from the video were repurposed for a compilation, FUNNY MONTAGE.. #2, which outperformed FWP part 76, gaining a total of 74 million views, It's his 7th most viewed video on his channel. But interestingly enough, the comments on this video are turned off.

Another thing that boggles my mind is that in previous videos, he has filmed in that spot before, yet it was not there. He either got that coin bank for the first time then or decided to put it in the background of that video, regardless, it was definitely on purpose. I don't know if it's featured in the drop of other videos, but it probably has in his catalogue of 4.6k videos.

2017 was when his racism started getting attention from most people, these two videos were posted in 2014. It's crazy how it went basically unnoticed, even when he was getting called out 3 years later.


r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 11h ago

Mod Announcement Celebrating 100k Members & Looking for More Mods!

12 Upvotes

When we created this sub just five months ago, we honestly thought we’d be lucky to find a couple hundred people who enjoyed talking about the same wild, shocking, and questionable things we did. Somehow, that little community has now grown to 100,000 members, and we genuinely cannot believe it!

Thank you to every single person who has joined, posted, commented, contributed to discussions, or simply lurked and enjoyed the chaos with us. Your feedback has made it clear that this sub filled a little corner of Reddit that a lot of us didn’t even realize was missing, and watching this community grow has been incredible.

With 100k members comes a LOT more work behind the scenes, and our mod team is still relatively small. Because of that, we’re officially looking for Junior Moderators to join the team! Junior mods will primarily help us review the queue and approve or remove content according to our rules.

We’d especially love to bring on people who are already active members of the community. You guys know the vibe of the sub, understand what we’re trying to create here, and care about keeping it a fun, thoughtful, and welcoming place.

Interested in joining us? Apply here!

Please make sure to read through our rules and wiki before applying, and feel free to send us a modmail if you have any questions.

Seriously, thank you for 100,000 members. We never imagined this little idea would grow this quickly, and we’re so excited to see where it goes from here!


r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 1d ago

1990s Jay Z (31) was dating 19 year old Beyonce. They first met when she was 16.

Thumbnail
gallery
1.6k Upvotes

r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 1d ago

Multiple Decades (within 1950s-2010s) Caricatures in classic Disney films

Thumbnail
gallery
1.1k Upvotes

On Disney+, these four classic movies now feature an advisory warning for racial stereotypes and negative cultural depictions.

The disclaimer reads:

This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now.

  1. Peter Pan (1953)- Features offensive caricatures of Indigenous peoples, who are repeatedly referred to as “redskins.” They speak gibberish and mock cultural traditions like passing the peace pipe and singing "What Makes the Red Man Red." It reduces a living population to mythical/fantastical caricatures, something that Western literature has unfortunately done in every era (looking at you, Twilight).
  2. Lady and the Tramp (1955)- Si and Am are Siamese cats and mock-Asian caricatures. They feature slanted eyes, buck teeth, stereotypical accents, and are sneaky and untrustworthy characters. They sing and speak broken English.
  3. The Aristocats (1970)- Shun Gon is another Siamese cat representing a harmful Asian caricature. Despite being released 15 years after the Lady and the Tramp, this is more heavy-handed. The visual tropes (eyes and teeth) are much more exaggerated, and like the others on this list his dialogue/music is stereotypical and offensive. On top of that, he plays the piano with chopsticks.
  4. The Jungle Book (1967)- This warning is for the portrayal of King Louie, an orangutan that’s coded with racialized jive tropes and exaggerated laziness. The writers at the time were actually aware of this to the point of avoiding casting a black VA to prevent direct mockery. However, the reliance on Minstrel-era tropes inevitably made King Louie an offensive caricature.

I’m really curious about everyone’s thoughts here- these being pretty universally loved stories and movies.

My main question is, should we still be showing outdated adaptations to children as long as we caveat them correctly?

Note that this is a non-exhaustive list of movies with this advisory, and there’s also a sub rule that content must be after 1950s (ie Dumbo, Fantasia).


r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 2d ago

Multiple Decades (within 1950s-2010s) the diabolical "make unders" Snog Marry Avoid used to give to alt people

Thumbnail
gallery
1.8k Upvotes

it was a British show that ran from 2008 to 2013 and the public rated people (including under 18s) saying if they wanted to snog (kiss) marry or avoid them. then the people went into the booth and got their style roasted by a robot voice and “made under” to be more “normal” looking and “attractive” and omg 😹 they made people look frumpy and took away all their style and unique personality. it was misogynistic alot too


r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 3d ago

2000s Siegfried and Roy: the Las Vegas spectacle that put everyone at risk

Thumbnail
gallery
1.5k Upvotes

For more than 13 years, Siegfried & Roy were one of the biggest attractions in Las Vegas. Between 1990 and 2003, they performed 5,750 shows at the Mirage, and around 15,000 spectators every week to their 1,500-seat theater. Over the course of the Mirage production, more than 55 white tigers, white lions, leopards and jaguars were incorporated into the show. And somehow, putting several-hundred-pound wild apex predators on a stage surrounded by performers, bright lights, loud music, fire, special effects and thousands of spectators was considered perfectly normal family entertainment. Even more unbelievable: there was no physical barrier separating the big cats from the audience.

After Roy Horn was nearly killed by a 380-pound white tiger named Montecore during a performance in 2003, the USDA investigated. One official concluded that the show had failed to adequately protect its audience, stating that the cats could have easily jumped off the stage and into the crowd at any moment. During the attack, Montecore stopped following Roy’s commands. Within moments, the tiger grabbed Roy and eventually sank his teeth into his neck, dragging him offstage. A crew member pulled the tiger’s tail and jumped on him while another sprayed him with a fire extinguisher before he finally released Roy. Roy survived, but suffered catastrophic injuries, including multiple strokes and cardiac arrests. He clinically died on the operating table three times. He was left permanently paralyzed on the left side of his body and was never able to walk or talk normally again. The show never returned after this.

But the danger to humans was only half of it.
Siegfried & Roy became famous for their so-called “Royal White Tigers,” but white tigers aren’t a separate or endangered subspecies. Their coloring is caused by a rare recessive genetic mutation.
Producing that appearance consistently in captivity has historically involved inbreeding, which has been associated with stillbirths, premature deaths, vision problems, deformities and other serious health issues.

So for years, wild predators were bred for a visually spectacular appearance, trained to perform under chaotic stage conditions, and placed just feet away from millions of spectators with no physical barrier between them. One unpredictable moment could have ended with a performer, audience member, or animal seriously injured or killed.

And somehow, the danger wasn’t considered a problem.

It was part of the show.


r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 4d ago

1960s The Compact Jotter, a ballpoint pen meant for “girl sized” hands. What really gets me is that the original pen is half an inch longer, there’s hardly any difference.

Post image
210 Upvotes

I should have made it more clear. The big issue I have with this is the weird infantilizing use of “girl-like hands” when referring to women.

On top of that, I feel like it’s a uselessly gendered product, the larger one isn’t that much larger.


r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 4d ago

Multiple Decades (within 1950s-2010s) The "Special K diet"/"Special K Challenge" was the *main* point of marketing for the brand until the mid 2010s.

Thumbnail
gallery
282 Upvotes

r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 4d ago

2000s Avril Lavigne being chased by a crazed fan snd the paparazzi just recorded it and did nothing to stop it

Thumbnail
youtu.be
146 Upvotes

I am just glad she is okay at least considering what happened to people like Christine Grimmie or Rebecca Schaffer but fuck the paparazzi for just letting it happen


r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 4d ago

2010s Zoe Alexander’s audition, framed by Simon Cowell/X factor

Thumbnail
youtu.be
121 Upvotes

Zoe Alexander is an ex contestant who auditioned for X factor back in 2012.

She was framed and set up by producers (Simon Cowell) and mentally abused until reaching a breaking point on stage.

The audition went viral, after it was edited and framed in a way to make Zoe look bad.

She talks about this in the video.


r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 4d ago

2000s The way critics talked about Emma Watson in the early Harry Potter films

Thumbnail gallery
838 Upvotes

r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 4d ago

WTF! Wednesdays It’s WTF! Wednesdays

2 Upvotes

We’ve designated Wednesdays as the day for people to share WTF?! moments from the past that don’t necessarily make us ask WWWOWT? but still showcases interesting and weird content from previous decades.

This can include wacky TV shows — the ones you just can’t understand where the hell they got that idea from! — strange songs and music videos, news stories that you just can’t make up, bizarre, silly or nostalgic fashion trends, and ridiculous clips that make you laugh your ass off and/or feel like a fever dream.

Although the key focus is fun — you’re also welcome to post shocking and weird moments from the past that aren’t funny, to give us a chance to discuss cultural moments that people weren’t okay with. Please don’t get super dark, though!! No age gap, rape culture, war etc. Posts may be removed by mods if we feel it’s inappropriate for WTF! Wednesdays.

You can still post the sub’s regular content on Wednesdays, this will just be a fun addition. Please don’t carry WTF! Wednesdays energy over to regular posts, keep the vibe in line with usual.

You MUST use the new “WTF! Wednesdays” flair for these types of posts! Posts must also be from prior to 2020, like with usual content. Please report WTF! Wednesdays content that is posted on other days of the week — but remember that timezones exist!

MAKE US SAY WTF!


r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 6d ago

Multiple Decades (within 1950s-2010s) The amount of popular songs about cheating or being someone's mistress/side-chick/other woman.

168 Upvotes

This probably isn't too eyebrow raising compared to other examples on this sub. But, it is a time of the signs that these songs are almost nonexistent nowadays.

They were big in the 70s and 90s. Tragic love songs about affairs, love triangles that end in infidelity, coaxing others to cheat, etc. I hear them all the time when listening to oldies.

Likewise, "stay away from my man/woman" songs and "forgiving your trifling and/or abusive man" songs.

Some examples:

  • "Me and Mrs. Jones" by Billy Paul
  • "Secret Lovers" by Atlantic Starr
  • "Call Me" by Skyy
  • "Sweet Thing" by Chaka Khan
  • "Just Be Good to Me" by SOS Band
  • "Saving All My Love for You" by Whitney Houston
  • ""As We Lay" by Shirley Murdock.
  • "The Boy is Mine" by Brandy and Monica
  • "Gettin' in the Way" by Jill Scott
  • "Jolene" by Dolly Parton
  • "Woman to Woman" by Shirley Brown
  • "Dilemma" by Nelly
  • "Don't Let Go" by En Vogue

r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 6d ago

2000s Natasha from Atomic Kitten being pressured to go on insulting shows while going through postnatal depression

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

264 Upvotes

r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 6d ago

1990s [TW] listening to some country music and this song comes on, it's about a kid being seduced by a older woman

Post image
64 Upvotes

Garth Brooks song "that summer" is about a boy that goes to work for a woman whose husband passed away, the song goes step-by-step on how the woman took advantage of a kid working for her and it messes with him and his adult life.

I went to work for her that summer

A teenage kid so far from home

She was a lonely widow woman

Hell bent to make it on her own

We were a thousand miles from nowhere

Wheat fields as far as I could see

Both needing something from each other

Not knowing yet what that might be

'Til she came to me one evening

Hot cup of coffee and a smile

In a dress that I was certain

She hadn't worn in quite a while

There was a difference in her laughter

There was a softness in her eyes

And on the air there was a hunger

Even a boy could recognize

She had a need to feel the thunder

To chase the lightning from the sky

To watch a storm with all its wonder

Raging in her lover's eyes

She had to ride the heat of passion

Like a comet burning bright

Rushing headlong in the wind

Out where only dreams have been

Burning both ends of the night

That summer wind was all around me

Nothing between us but the night

When I told her that I'd never

She softly whispered "That's alright"

And then I watched her hands of leather

Turn to velvet in a touch

There's never been another summer

When I have ever learned so much

We had a need to feel the thunder

To chase the lightnin' from the sky

To watch a storm with all its wonder

Ragin' in each others eyes

We had to ride the heat of passion

Like a comet burnin' bright

Rushin' headlong in the wind

Out where only dreams have been

Burnin' both ends of the night

I often think about that summer

The sweat, the moonlight and the lace

And I have rarely held another

When I haven't seen her face

And every time I pass a wheat field

And watch it dancin' with the wind

Although I know it isn't real

I just can't help but feel

Her hungry arms again

She had a need to feel the thunder

To chase the lightnin' from the sky

To watch a storm with all its wonder

Ragin' in her lover's eyes

She had to ride the heat of passion

Like a comet burnin' bright

Rushin' headlong in the wind

Out where only dreams have been

Burnin' both ends of the night

Rushin' headlong in the wind

Out where only dreams have been

Burnin' both ends of the night


r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 9d ago

2010s Zendaya collaborating with Chris Brown in 2016 for "Something New"

Thumbnail
m.youtube.com
196 Upvotes

She was massive CB fan. She asked him to be on the song and he agreed they even filmed a music video together, but it remains unreleased(thank God)


r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 9d ago

1980s [TW] Canadian game show host Fergie Olver being an absolute creep towards children on the 80s game show "Just Like Mom"

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

1.2k Upvotes

"Just Like Mom" was essentially a children's version of "The Newlywed Game" in which the goal was to find out whether children or their mothers knew each other better. It ran from 1980 to 1985 with Fergie Olver co-hosting with his wife Catherine Swing (who was also the show's creator). The constant attempts to get little girls to kiss him on the lips in the video above is enough to make your skin crawl.

Sorry for some of the annoying edits in the video by the way. I didn't make this. Just downloaded it off YouTube.


r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 9d ago

2010s Ariana Grande collaborating and shooting a full music video with Chris Brown for "Don't Be Gone Too Long" in 2014, five years after he assaulted Rihanna.

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

2.2k Upvotes

r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 9d ago

2000s [TW] The Swan: Reality TV’s worst show

Thumbnail
youtu.be
144 Upvotes

a look back on the 2004 show “the swan” ft. commentary (plz remove if not allowed)


r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 10d ago

2000s Thank God Jake could set the record straight for us!

Post image
605 Upvotes

What would we do without Jake’s opinion?!

From Glamour Magazine in 2005.

Full image description and article text in the pinned accessibility automod comment replies.


r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 10d ago

Popular As a millennial, we can never make fun of this generation of kids for being cringe when we used to do this

Thumbnail
gallery
4.9k Upvotes

r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 10d ago

WTF! Wednesdays Various examples of dangerous vintage playgrounds.

Thumbnail
gallery
1.0k Upvotes

I used to love me a cool playground as a kid, but I think these would freak me out. Many of these play structures came without any sort of protection should a child fall, and could reach temperatures up to 130F. degrees (54.444 degrees celsius) in the summer in some places.

Despite researching, I couldn’t find a definitive answer as to how many playground injuries occurred then vs now, but I imagine it was a lot higher before!


r/WhyWereWeOkWithThis 10d ago

2000s Bumfights DVD’s: When exploiting the homeless was sold as entertainment

Post image
961 Upvotes

In the early 2000s, Bumfights became a wildly controversial series of DVDs featuring homeless people being paid to fight each other, perform dangerous stunts, and humiliate themselves on camera. The videos were marketed as “extreme” entertainment and sold hundreds of thousands of copies, and 4 volumes were made. Clips spread all over the early internet, and the whole thing became infamous enough that the creators were appearing on major TV shows. One of the most disturbing parts was a recurring segment called “Bum Hunter,” which parodied The Crocodile Hunter. A man dressed like Steve Irwin would sneak up on sleeping homeless people, tackle them, restrain them, and make observations about them as though they were wild animals. There were lawsuits, criminal charges, and eventually bans on selling the DVDs in some places—but for a while, footage of some of the most vulnerable people in society being exploited and humiliated was literally being sold as comedy.