By definition, reality should be the same for all of us. And if your social media feed is an echo chamber, you might feel confident that we're all experiencing the same world. But setting foot outside of your community might give you a stark reality check and remind you that some people out there are on a completely different wavelength.
Redditors have been recalling moments when they realized that we may all be living on the same planet, but some of us are in completely different worlds. Whether it's because of fake news running rampant on social media or conspiracy theories infiltrating certain communities, we are not all perceiving reality in the same way. So enjoy reading through these eye-opening stories, and be sure to upvote the ones that make you wonder what in the world happened to critical thinking!
#1

A cousin of mine thinks Muslims are inherently evil, and that the only solution is to e**cute them all. Even babies, as he says they are literally born evil.
The irony there is that wanting to m****r babies is kind of a textbook definition of being evil.
The irony there is that wanting to m****r babies is kind of a textbook definition of being evil.
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29points
#2

The whole anti-vaccine movement out in the west. Especially for diseases like measles. I grew up in position of privilege in a third world country. One thing I noticed is that everyone clamoured to get their kids vaccinated. The rich, the poor, the destitute. I remember back when I was 4 there was a measles outbreak in my community. I remember kids mysteriously dropping out of my class and never returning. It wasnt until years later I learned that some of them d**d. Others suffered debilitating injuries so crippling they had to drop out of school.
Then I move to Canada and I quickly find out that im one of the few people in my age bracket who has the measles vaccine scar. Then I hear stupid parents saying they are not going to get the measles vaccine for their kids while we're in the middle of an outbreak and I want to beat their asses so much because of how their stupidity is endangering the lives of their children.
Edit: As several people pointed out, scar was the result of the smallpox vaccine rather then the measles vaccine. Still doesn't change the fact that people refusing to get their children vaccinated for any disease infuriates me.
Then I move to Canada and I quickly find out that im one of the few people in my age bracket who has the measles vaccine scar. Then I hear stupid parents saying they are not going to get the measles vaccine for their kids while we're in the middle of an outbreak and I want to beat their asses so much because of how their stupidity is endangering the lives of their children.
Edit: As several people pointed out, scar was the result of the smallpox vaccine rather then the measles vaccine. Still doesn't change the fact that people refusing to get their children vaccinated for any disease infuriates me.
28points
#3

The whole United Healthcare CEO a***ssination showed a clear divide between the upper and lower classes. No matter the politics, the rich couldn’t fathom why the middle and lower classes reacted the way we did. The media is controlled by the rich and was saying one thing meanwhile social media where the lower classes are given platform are saying something else. That time felt like I was in a dystopian novel.
26points
#4

My wife and I are staunchly liberal. We are both activists and we do our best to be understanding and spread love. Somehow, this is all evil to her very Christian mother.
My MIL literally dropped the line "it's so hard to argue with you because you bring these 'facts' and numbers and I just need you to trust me. I know I'm right."
My MIL literally dropped the line "it's so hard to argue with you because you bring these 'facts' and numbers and I just need you to trust me. I know I'm right."
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24points
#5

Climate change. There is an overwhelming amount of evidence that climate change is real, is happening, and is driven by human actions.
Differing opinions about how we should handle climate change (including to do nothing at all) is politics.
Denying that climate change exists in the face of the mountain of evidence that we have is delusion.
Differing opinions about how we should handle climate change (including to do nothing at all) is politics.
Denying that climate change exists in the face of the mountain of evidence that we have is delusion.
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23points
#6

Canadian here, who visited the US recently for work.
I was in an Uber and the driver picked me up from the airport. Once I told him I was Canadian visiting, he asks me how Canada is taking the 51st State stuff.
I say that we as a country are mad, and he tries to tell me I’m wrong bc some folks in Alberta support it and would separate. Plus, the 'president' would charge Canada to be in the Golden Dome.
I ended the conversation with saying that Texas has a bigger chance of seceding from the US than AB has with leaving Canada, and that maybe he’s not getting the full story.
I was in an Uber and the driver picked me up from the airport. Once I told him I was Canadian visiting, he asks me how Canada is taking the 51st State stuff.
I say that we as a country are mad, and he tries to tell me I’m wrong bc some folks in Alberta support it and would separate. Plus, the 'president' would charge Canada to be in the Golden Dome.
I ended the conversation with saying that Texas has a bigger chance of seceding from the US than AB has with leaving Canada, and that maybe he’s not getting the full story.
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22points
#7

I was doing bedside nursing during covid. All the people who’d never stepped foot inside a hospital in their lives telling me it was all a “hoax”.
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22points
#8

The breaking point is just that, -reality-.
Millions and millions and millions of Americans have been influenced to reject science, reject doctors, reject intellectualism, reject professionals, reject academia, reject research, etc… BUT to buy into endless insane conspiracy theories.
These influences are -the thing- tearing the USA apart.
Millions and millions and millions of Americans have been influenced to reject science, reject doctors, reject intellectualism, reject professionals, reject academia, reject research, etc… BUT to buy into endless insane conspiracy theories.
These influences are -the thing- tearing the USA apart.
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21points
#9

I mean... how much time do you have?
DEI, CRT, Immigrants ruining the country, Trickle Down, Party of fiscal responsibility, Jan 6 was peaceful, anti-LGBT, Abortion rights, Pardoning violent criminals, supporting dictators, covid, climate crisis, against parts of the constitution, racism, sexism, r**e ffs... the list goes on.
I mean... it's so far beyond the pale now and the fact so many of them still think he's the man for the job... I'm shocked the country is holding together as well as it is.
And that's a low d**n bar.
So I still get very incensed when they have the audacity to wonder why I find support of him vile and unforgivable. The only thing I'll accept is renouncing him and saying supporting him was a mistake. Then we can start to move forward. There is no middle ground.
DEI, CRT, Immigrants ruining the country, Trickle Down, Party of fiscal responsibility, Jan 6 was peaceful, anti-LGBT, Abortion rights, Pardoning violent criminals, supporting dictators, covid, climate crisis, against parts of the constitution, racism, sexism, r**e ffs... the list goes on.
I mean... it's so far beyond the pale now and the fact so many of them still think he's the man for the job... I'm shocked the country is holding together as well as it is.
And that's a low d**n bar.
So I still get very incensed when they have the audacity to wonder why I find support of him vile and unforgivable. The only thing I'll accept is renouncing him and saying supporting him was a mistake. Then we can start to move forward. There is no middle ground.
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21points
#10

My father telling me that “empathy” and “communication” are just buzz words for my generation.
17points
#11

My immigrant family being on the side of the oppressor, simply because “we were the good kind of immigrant.” Like w*f does that mean?
Also my stepdad doesn’t believe in dinosaurs.
Also my stepdad doesn’t believe in dinosaurs.
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17points
#12

In the late 1990s, I was clear to a conservative friend that Bill Clinton was a mostly s****y human, I just voted for him because he did things politically I liked. My conservative friend said couldn't get past the sleaze. Ok, whatever.
Now? She is skeptical that the current 'president' has ever cheated on a spouse, she believes in "locker room talk" and is skeptical he's a racist.
Now? She is skeptical that the current 'president' has ever cheated on a spouse, she believes in "locker room talk" and is skeptical he's a racist.
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15points
#13

My dad who hated me joining the military, including once comparing a 15 month Iraq deployment to boyscout camp, telling me that it isn't fair I'm not worried about healthcare in retirement because I stayed in for 20 years (I was Guard) so I get tricare and free VA care due to getting bunged up in the process (who other story).
But is still against universal healthcare. Even though he is on Medicare and had to work until 70 so my mother would be old enough as well and they could drop his employer.
And he wonders why my family has never been within a 12 hour drive.
But is still against universal healthcare. Even though he is on Medicare and had to work until 70 so my mother would be old enough as well and they could drop his employer.
And he wonders why my family has never been within a 12 hour drive.
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15points
#14

Had a family friend who swore up and down that covid was simply a Democratic sham, made to control us. He got covid and d**d.
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15points
#15
The reality is that MAGAts are mad are capitalism, but their politics have told them to blame the left and minorities.
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15points
#16
Gaza. The most well documented g**ocide campaign in modern history and yet so many cannot see it.
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15points
#17

My Dad maintained that there are no known incidents in all of American history of any Republican politician ever telling a lie or failing to keep a campaign promise. Except when they were forced too by a dirty liberal.
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14points
#18

My dad believes that UFOs are real. But not aliens. No, they're metaphysical evidence of demons interacting with our plane of existence. He learned this on youtube.
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13points
#19

The most extreme example, I think, was when my mom said she wondered if there really was a war in Ukraine because "you don't see any videos, just the after pictures." Like, Mom, there are a lot of videos, you're just not seeing them because of the websites you're on.
But the most consistent and ongoing example has to be COVID. I thought, when COVID hit, that here was something unshakeable, something real, that folks couldn't deny was happening. And then folks went out and denied it was happening. Several million d****s in America and there are still people who claim the whole thing was fake. I don't understand it.
But the most consistent and ongoing example has to be COVID. I thought, when COVID hit, that here was something unshakeable, something real, that folks couldn't deny was happening. And then folks went out and denied it was happening. Several million d****s in America and there are still people who claim the whole thing was fake. I don't understand it.
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12points
#20

Once had a convo with republicans who, with sincerity, brought up schools letting kids identify as cats and having litter boxes in classrooms for them.
This is fake. It never happened. But they genuinely believe it is actively still happening.
This is fake. It never happened. But they genuinely believe it is actively still happening.
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12points

