Curiosities,RelationshipsFEB 6, 2023

“I’m Not Racist, But…”: 45 Things People Have Said That Made Others Know Immediately They Wouldn’t Be Friends

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You know that feeling when you meet someone for the first time, and it just feels like kismet. You find yourself saying, “Me too!” more times than you can count, and it seems like you’re reading one another’s minds. You share the same interests, you laugh until you cry at the same jokes, and you agree on where you stand on hot topics. There’s nothing like that warm, fuzzy feeling of meeting a kindred spirit, pandas. But today, we’re not talking about that. We’re actually going to be exploring the exact opposite of that experience…

One curious Reddit user, DDelirium46, recently posed the question, “Have you ever listened to a person talk for less than a minute and known you weren't going to get along with that person? What did they say?”, and readers did not hold back in the replies. From extremely offensive comments to claims that will make your eyes roll, we’ve gathered a list of some of the most shocking responses to this query down below.

Keep reading to also find an interview with Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., ABPP, to hear her thoughts on the topic, and be sure to upvote the answers that would send you immediately running in the other direction as well. Then, if you’re interested in checking out a Bored Panda article discussing some similar immediate red flags people have encountered when dating, you can find that list right here!

#1

“I’m Not Racist, But…”: 45 Things People Have Said That Made Others Know Immediately They Wouldn’t Be Friends

New guy at work, first coffee break he started complaining about his ex who had full custody of the kids for some unknowable reason and also how he’d like to slash her throat with a rusty knife. Nice to meet you too, don’t think I’ll be taking breaks with you.

Barquebe, Product School

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289points

To gain more insight on this topic, we reached out to Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., ABPP. Dr. Whitbourne is a Professor Emerita of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Gerontology and Faculty Fellow in the Institute of Gerontology at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and she was kind enough to share her thoughts on these unfortunate first impressions. But according to Dr. Whitbourne, first impressions aren't always a great indication of someone's personality. "Many situational factors affect first impressions, such as what is going on at the moment around an individual. Also, it is also remarkably easy for people to put on a false impression," she told Bored Panda.

We also asked if it's typically a positive thing for people to show their true colors immediately, like the people featured in this list, or if we should all have the manners to be more polite upon first meeting others. "It is preferable to 'read the room' before you show your true colors, but in general, it's better to err on the side of being polite at that first meeting," Dr. Whitbourne says.

#2

She was complaining the 15 year old kid who just fled from the war in Ukraine wasn't working hard enough at his dishwashing job.

The kid doesn't want to be alone in a dishwashing kitchen all day, not able to speak to anyone. He should be in school at home with all his friends! Of course he's not excited about the stupid dishes!

The lack of compassion was astounding. And she was indeed a wretched person, so my initial impression was totally correct.

PoisonTheOgres

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282points

#3

"I hate that our boss is a chick. Bitches make the worst bosses."

Lunch break of his first day on the job.

MrsJuliusPepperwood, Daria Pimkina

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254points

Dr. Whitbourne also noted that it is wise not to form an opinion on someone else solely off of your first interaction. "You absolutely should wait to gather more 'data' on someone, although those first few vibes could be informative potentially (unless they are putting on a false front)."

And when it comes to how we can make better first impressions, Dr. Whitbourne told Bored Panda to remember to read the room. "That is very important, especially to determine what emotion to display to ensure that it is consistent with the situation (i.e. not laughing in a serious situation). Eye contact is always helpful as is attention to posture and other aspects of body language."

#4

Whenever someone is rude to the waiter/server/cashier.

Instantly you are my enemy.

TRock2008

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251points

#5

"Hi, let's talk about how my religion can change your life."

pinniped1, Thirdman

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242points

"Put yourself in someone else's place when you see them in a certain situation before deciding on what their personality is," Dr. Whitbourne added. "For example, It's very easy to be overly critical of others for engaging in the same behavior that you would in that situation, so in these cases, give them a break. If you're trying to decide whether to have a relationship with someone based on a first impression, keep the third point in mind and allow yourself to gather more information and then decide based on that."

If you'd like to gain more words of Wisdom from Susan Krauss Whitbourne PhD, ABPP, be sure to visit her Psychology Today blog right here.

#6

“I’m not racist but…”

theWildBore, Julia M Cameron

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214points

#7

New guy started at my job, we were outside smoking on first break. Keep in mind I have never met nor spoken to this dude in my life. He walks up, lights up his cigarette and says "you know, I think my severe arachnophobia has transformed into an arachnophilia. I've been watching a lot of spider hentai while masturbating."

Then he then began to describe his new waifu pillow he bought. Her name and his plans to marry her.

I was speechless...

Edit: I work in a distribution warehouse for a clothing company. We were forklift drivers. He didn't last very long, but not because of things he said. He was constantly late for work, and twice a week he'd show up in Crocs, knowing damn well I've told him 100 times he needs closed toe shoes. I'd have to send him home to change shoes, I told him just keep a pair of shoes in his car so he has something to wear at work. Didn't work, and eventually I had to let him go for excessive tardiness and absenteeism.

MarcusColwell, https://i.imgur.com/Cvnbuls.jpg

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213points

#8

I was listening to the NEXIVM podcast and the clip of the founder saying he has 225 IQ. If I walked into a room and heard someone say that I’d walk right back out

Fabulous-Bandicoot40, Mahdi Bafande

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213points

#9

“Some people might say I’m an a*****e but I just tell it how it is.”

99% chance they are an a*****e that I don’t want to be around

ProudMany9215

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210points

#10

I was the only woman at my last job and I was 2nd in seniority on our little crew. I did almost all of the training of the new people (all the younger guys loved me because I was like mom to the crew. Always had snacks and would always listen when they were having a problem or whatever). My biggest problems were usually with guys in their mid 30’s. In the morning meeting the bosses told everyone their job assignments. As we were walking out of the shop he said “yeah like I’m going to listen to some snot nosed 24 year old chick.” to one of the older guys and the older guy turned at looked at him and said “I suggest you say that to her face. And if I were you, I wouldn’t p**s her off. We will always like her more than we will ever like you.” And he was an absolute d**k to work with and never listened to anybody except for the managers. Lasted about 3 weeks. Still dislike that guy.

My favourite was when my husband and I were working together for a bit (he worked there before and we needed help so he came in on days off to lend a hand) and the one guy I was having issues with at the time said I was a huge b***h and he didn’t understand why they didn’t just fire me aside from my tits (thinking this new guy would be his friend). Husband listened to him all day and didn’t say a word. At the end of the day when the entire crew was filling out time cards he looks at the guy and says “thank you for telling me all day how much of a b***h my wife is. But you’re right, she does have great tits.”

Ankylowright

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198points

#11

Was a customer at work, naturally I wouldn’t be friends. But even in a setting where we could become friends it wasn’t happening. I came up to her to see if she had any questions about our critters (I work in a pet shop) and the very first thing she asked was if parakeets could talk because she wanted to teach them racial slurs. Biggest nope of my life.

Quitechsol, Andrea Lightfoot

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193points

#12

Parent of one of my kids friends at school. Said there was a mouse in their house and his wife wanted him to kill it but he didn’t want to kill any creatures - he wants to make friends with them instead. But wife insisted so he threw his shoe at it and eventually managed to hit it, but it wasn’t dead, so he threw his shoe at it another 4 times. It still wasn’t dead so he poured boiling water over it to kill it. It still didn’t die so he poured boiling water over it again. It STILL wasn’t dead so he decided to leave it alone in the hopes that it would peacefully pass away.

The logic of being too squeamish to kill something, and instead decide to torture it to death slowly in the most agonisingly painful way absolutely blew my mind.

CindersAshes

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182points

#13

"There are different levels to being a psychic, I'm on the purple level so I can talk to the dead". said a new employee at my previous job.

*Nope.*

Lumisateessa, cottonbro studio

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174points

#14

I started my PhD a few months ago and one of a common starter conversation with postgraduates you just meet is: “what is your thesis about?”. Well, I get asked the question first and after describing my dissertation theme, the other guy goes:”oh I see, well mine is actually important…” with a very condescending tone. Well pal, f**k you too I guess

Cynessi, George Pak

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164points

#15

1. 'I don't like women who burp. They should be ladylike'
2. 'Black people can't be racist'
3. 'you're going to hell if you don't believe in god'

All three were said by different people and they were all serious their statements.

asliceobread

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149points

#16

We had just moved into a new house. An older gentleman - he was 65 and I was 35 at the time - came across the street towards me and stuck out his hand. I shook it and he said "We love new neighbours! As long as they're white!"

dekogeko, Edmond Dantès

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146points

#17

Years ago, me and my ex-husband went to see a movie with an older colleague of his. Before the movie we had dinner at like a chain restaurant/steakhouse type place, staff on the floor was all 20ish. I never met this man before but in the first few minutes of sitting down and looking at the menu he very confidently told us how he came there a lot and flirted with the female staff because "they love the attention". The best part? His daughter worked there. All I could think was how I would literally cringe myself through the floor if I was 20 and my 50yo dad came into my place of work and perved on my co-workers because he didn't understand that they only put up with him 'cause they are paid to do so.

singingsilence

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142points

#18

The quiet boy at school sat next to me and told me how hard he felt when he took a s**t and how many times he ejaculated that way. I never sat next to him again.

SignificantLow4405, 99.films

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136points

#19

All time favorite was this girl they had just hired who would answer any question by responding that she had a fiancee. Like hi my name is Bill where are you from? I HAVE A FIANCEE! Like any of us were going to bang her in the walk-in cooler if she didn't.

ComedianRepulsive955, Colin Maynard

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135points

#20

Me at my first day on the job, on my lunch break

Coworker: Are you Chinese?

Me: Yeah

Coworker: I don’t like Chinese food -walks away-

Tennisnerd39, Jay Abrantes

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133points

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