7 things people thought they were forced to do in life until someone showed them otherwise

“Quitting an event that sucks rather than sticking it out because you’ve already paid for it is maximum freedom.”

By

Ryan Reed

Dec 17, 2025

By Ryan Reed

December 17, 2025

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Photo credit: Canva, pocstock (main image, cropped) / anlomaja (box) – People thought they had to do these things until someone showed them otherwise.

Most of us walk around following unwritten rules even if we’re not aware of it. Maybe it’s a common social custom we mistakenly assume everyone else cares about. Perhaps it’s an office policy that doesn’t technically exist. But every so often you meet someone who seems to follow their own code, causing you to rethink what’s obligatory and what’s optional.

That’s the basic premise of a recent online thread where someone asked the intriguing question, “What’s something you always assumed was mandatory in life—until you met someone who just…didn’t do it?” The responses seem to tackle every aspect of life, from work to casual conversation.

People thought these things were mandatory until they saw the light

Here are some of the top Reddit comments:

“Sharing a bed and a room with your partner (if you have a partner). I have a friend who lives with her boyfriend, but they each have their own bedroom (and, therefore, separate beds). Turns out it’s not just a silly Hollywood trope from the 1950s.”

“I always assumed people needed coffee every morning until I met someone who never drank it and seemed perfectly fine.”

“Having a house or apartment that you return to in the same place every day. I have some friends who are essentially nomadic. They travel all over the country working events and have no house aside from the camper they live in. I think I never really pictured this as a possible lifestyle before this. I just assumed that people would like, leave their real house for a few months at a time and then come back, but nope. Their camper is their full time house and they just move it every 2 months or so. Blew my mind a bit.”

“Not ‘mandatory’ but listening to music. Met someone when asked what they like to listen to replied, ‘I’m not really into music.’ I pressed the issue because I couldn’t believe it. Same response.”

“Only celebrating yourself on your birthday. Had a friend who took off work on the same day each year, just to celebrate another year, it wasn’t his birthday. He said his birthday is full of people wanting to celebrate with him, and he loved that, but this chosen day was his day just for himself. I started doing the same shortly after, my special day is the first day of spring where the weather hits 75 or higher. I’ll be kayaking at the lake.”

“Several people focused on the pressure to finish something you started. “Quitting an event that sucks rather than sticking it out because you’ve already paid for it is maximum freedom,” one person wrote. Someone gave an example in reply: “Walking out of the cinema when the movie is shit.” Another added, “Putting a book down when you aren’t enjoying it. Going to bed half way through a crap tv show.”

Do you owe an explanation for how you use PTO?

One of the top replies focuses on the use of paid time off (PTO). “I used to give my bosses full reasons about why I was requesting PTO or calling in sick,” someone wrote. “Or if I didn’t want to attend an event I felt like I needed to have an excuse why I didn’t or couldn’t go, then I met a coworker who just didn’t do that. She would call out sick with the reason ‘I won’t be in today’ and that’s it.” (This person also took the same less-is-more approach in their social life: “She declined coming to a dinner I was hosting by just saying ‘I won’t make the event.’ Which is 1000% fine by me. It just blew my mind, and I love it.”)

Lots of other users used the PTO example as possible red flag for pushy bosses. “I had a great boss who taught me a lot about setting boundaries and expectations,” someone added. “The first time I called in sick, I was about to explain why I couldn’t come in and she just cut me off: ‘Just tell me you won’t be in today. That’s all you need to tell me, and that’s all you need to tell anybody.’”

This is a particularly relevant topic, given that the “PTO reasoning” subject went viral in 2025, with The Huffington Post even inquiring with career coach Keni Dominguez. “How you choose to spend your vacation or paid time off (PTO) is your choice and does not require an explanation,” she said.

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Photo credit: Canva – A new guide has been introduced on how to respectfully broadcast woman athletes.

Culture, Film & TV

European Broadcasting Union offers guide to reduce sexualizing camera angles of Olympic women athletes

Focus on the performance over the athletes’ bodies.

Erik Barnes

7/15/2026

Being an athlete is tough, especially if you’re an Olympian. They sacrifice their time and bodies in order to achieve peak physical condition. There is also the mental pressure to compete against the best. The last thing they should worry about is being objectified and sexualized online.

With this in mind, the European Broadcasting Union wants to help. They offered a booklet to broadcasters titled Raising the Bar: Guidelines for respectful media coverage in women’s athletics. The 23-page guide shows how camera placement choices and editing could potentially compromise an athlete. It also offers broadcasters guidelines for how to set up camera shots and show slow-motion replays that won’t sexualize or present athletes in undignified poses.

Screenshot

Focusing on the sport, reducing harassment

These guidelines come as multiple stories about women athletes being harassed online have surfaced. Many misogynistic posts about athletes have come from slow motion footage focused on certain parts of the athlete’s body.

“The sexualization of women athletes through selective camera angles and editing choices continues to be a significant concern across many sports broadcasts,” wrote Glen Killane, executive director of EBU Sport in the booklet. “Lingering shots on bodies, low-angle cameras that capture revealing views, and excessive slow-motion replays that serve no technical or storytelling purpose are among the issues observed in the media coverage of women’s athletics competitions today.”

These new broadcast guidelines and suggestions are backed by Serbian long jumper Ivana Španović, British Olympic pole vaulter Holly Bradshaw, and Croatian high jumper Blanka Vlašić. Vlašić has spoken out regarding the equal visibility of women’s sports. Bradshaw has spoken out against the discomfort and sexualization of Olympic women athletes due to their tight-fitting uniforms.

“I first-hand have received social media abuse and witnessed inappropriate videos online of myself and colleagues when slow motion content of us competing is captured,” wrote Bradshaw in the guide. “Athletes want to enjoy themselves doing the sport they love without feeling uncomfortable or anxious about the footage being shown live. Many athletes, myself included, have been in competitive scenarios where they are more focused on the cameras instead of their own performance.”

What the guide provides

The guide provides visual aids for broadcasters along with insights from the athletes to explain why certain shots would be preferred. Broadcasters are requested to avoid tight shots from the back of athletes. They’re also asked to avoid low camera angles from underneath. They recommend shots above the pelvis or ones that don’t linger onto commonly sexualized areas of the body. They recommend wider shots so the audience can see the technical ability being displayed by the athlete. Overall, the point is to focus on the athletic performance rather than close-ups of the athlete.

Currently, there is no enforcement of these guidelines or penalties if a sports broadcast doesn’t adhere to them. However, there is value in knowing which broadcasts will focus on the athletic contests rather than an athlete’s appearance. This will help the competitors focus on how they do rather than how they look when the cameras are on.

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Photo credit: Matthew Bolt // Icon Sportswire via Getty Images – ILLENIUM performs a free concert for fans prior to the start of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes on June 06, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Culture, Music

The summer concert state rankings: Which states pack more festivals, shows, and tours in 2026

These 15 states are dominating the 2026 live music calendar.

Good Partner

7/14/2026

Trevor Mahoney

Summer 2026 is shaping up to be one of the densest live music seasons in recent years. From packed festival calendars to a resurgent touring industry, a handful of breakout U.S. states are finally getting the traffic they deserve.

Not all states are created equal when it comes to live music density, though. ThatsThem has compiled per-capita concert data, venue infrastructure metrics, and festival schedules from leading sources including the Recording Industry Association of America, Pollstar, and the National Independent Venue Association to create a list of 15 standout locations this summer.

15 of the most concert-dense states in Summer 2026

1. Nevada

Las Vegas leads the nation in concerts per capita in 2026. According to an analysis on the website of Princess Polly, a clothing brand, nearly 3,500 concerts are listed in Las Vegas alone, translating to approximately 150.67 concerts per 100,000 residents. This is undoubtedly the highest concentration in the country. The residency model means the Strip always has something major running, regardless of the season, but the Las Vegas Summer Concert series is the standout event.

2. Tennessee

Nashville ranks second in concert density nationally, with 6.76 venues per 100,000 residents. This is the highest venue density among top-ranked cities and equates to 1,148 concerts in 2026. Bonnaroo’s return to Manchester, Tennessee in June anchors their summer calendar on top of nonstop club and arena action across the entire state.

3. California

California dominates by sheer volume alone. Research from the Recording Industry Association of America counts over 80,433 music establishments in the state, with music contributing more than $51.4 billion to gross domestic product. The summer calendar alone includes Outside Lands in San Francisco, a dense SoCal arena circuit, and Coachella’s long tail of satellite events that carry into the fall.

4. New York

New York generated $24.9 billion in music industry value and supports 210,878 music jobs in 2020, which is the highest job count among all states. The summer festival circuit reflects this depth. The Governors Ball, featuring Lorde and A$AP Rocky as headliners per Variety, is followed by a packed arena season through Labor Day.

5. Illinois

Chicago’s Lollapalooza remains one of the best-attended urban music festivals across the whole country, with around 100,000 people turning up per day. The city’s venue ecosystem, from the Riviera to the United Center, also keeps the calendar full beyond just a single festival weekend.

6. Texas

Texas punches well above its weight on music infrastructure, with over 127,993 songwriters and $26.6 billion in annual music industry economic output. In fact, it’s second only to California nationally. ACL Fest’s October dates are the main headliner event, but Austin’s live music scene means something notable is happening every weekend.

7. Colorado

Denver ranks fifth nationally for concert density, with 1,766 concerts listed in 2026 and 59.41 concerts per 100,000 people. The real draw, though, is Red Rocks. The event calendar of this outdoor amphitheater boasts a summer schedule that many serious concertgoers are planning vacations around this year.

8. Georgia

Atlanta holds the title of “premier U.S. city for music aficionados” according to one 2026 study highlighted by Spin Genie, scoring more than 8.74 points out of 10. The city boasts 188 upcoming events and 577 musical artists per 100,000 residents.

9. Florida

Florida’s music economy supports 169,706 jobs and adds $9.3 billion to the U.S. GDP, fueled by Latin, pop, and Southern rock scenes. Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach is their signature event, while the Latin and pop circuit continues to run year-round.

10. Washington

Seattle ranks 10th among top U.S. concert cities with 1,304 concerts listed in 2026. The city’s venue density, anchored by Climate Pledge Arena and a dense club circuit in Capitol Hill, helps to keep national tours running even in the summer months.

11. Louisiana

New Orleans ranks second nationally in SCCG Management’s live music city analysis, and The Big Easy plays host to three major festivals in 2026. With 302 concerts planned and an average concert attendance of 74, the city’s extensive live music culture is on full display this year, anchored by the genuine local community engagement as opposed to tourist capture alone.

12. Minnesota

Minneapolis ranks third among U.S. cities for live music in 2026 per the same SCCG Management study, with two major festivals, 1,055 concerts listed, and an average attendance of 52. The Twin Cities’ independent venue scene, most famous for First Avenue, is truly unmatched.

13. North Carolina: The first breakout state

Asheville has emerged as one of the most-cited breakout music cities in 2026, with more than 61 upcoming concerts and festivals listed on music resource Bandsintown alone, including AVL Sounds Fest in August and MAJACE Festival in July. The city is small enough that shows still feel like unexpected discoveries..

14. Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania supports 114,731 music jobs and generates $6.3 billion in music GDP, ranking among the top six states nationally for music economic contribution. This is spread across Philadelphia’s festival-heavy summer season and Pittsburgh’s growing independent venue scene.

15. Idaho: The second breakout state

Boise is also one of the most-cited “rising” live music markets in the U.S., with 2025 setting concert attendance records and 2026 already tracking to match or exceed them. What makes the city notable isn’t its scale, but the fact that national tours are now coming through as a primary stop.

The music map is changing nationally

The traditional top tier states of Nevada, New York, California, and Tennessee are all holding strong at the top of the list of most-visited states for music. However, the story of summer 2026 is the states on the rise. Colorado’s Red Rocks circuit, Atlanta’s per-capita chokehold, and the emergence of Asheville and Boise as new hot spots show that the live music scene is shifting dramatically.

This story was produced by ThatsThem and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

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Photo credit: Holger Uwe Schmitt/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA – St. Paul is one of the many Christian figures whose paintings have made an appearance.

Culture, Internet

The church fathers of early Christianity are showing their swag – on TikTok

Sacred art meets social media swagger.

Good Partner

7/8/2026

Denva Gallant

It begins with the music: a late 1990s rap song. Then someone appears on screen, moving slowly into a pose that can only be called deeply, theatrically serious. Then comes the reveal: The video fades from the person into a medieval painting of a haloed man doing almost the exact same pose.

Videos imitating “church fathers,” bishops and theologians who helped shape early Christianity have been popping up across social media since late 2025. Several versions have drawn hundreds of thousands of views.

In part, they’re funny because of the incongruity: hoodies, bedrooms and phone cameras, suddenly paired with the solemn authority of saints. As an art historian who studies Christian images, I know that these types of paintings were carefully made to communicate holiness through visual cues like books, clothing, gestures and posture.

But the humor also comes from how current they feel. These paintings may be centuries old, but the visual language is timeless. The raised hand, the open book, the severe gaze – they all communicate power. On TikTok or Instagram, a gesture once used to symbolize doctrine or wisdom starts to look like confidence, coolness, even swagger. The captions say as much: “They had swag fr,” one reads – for real.

When the trend crossed my feed, I had to try it. What better way to show how these images work than by stepping into the pose?

Church fathers

“Church fathers” were not “founders” in the simple sense, but foundational authorities: figures whose writings later Christians returned to when debating central questions about doctrine, scripture and religious life.

Today’s social media trend uses the term more loosely. In addition to early Christian authors, many of the videos show later saints, monks, bishops and theologians, especially from Eastern Orthodox traditions. Online, “church father” becomes shorthand for religious authority itself.

The paintings circulating online range from Eastern Orthodox icons to Western European Renaissance and Baroque paintings. In most cases, they were made long after the saints had died, so they don’t document what the men actually looked like.

Instead, this style of art was meant to inspire awe, surrounding worshippers with a sense of religious authority. The saints’ books, rich vestments and formal poses were visible signs of holiness, symbolizing their learning, discipline and eloquence. Such images did not merely decorate sacred spaces; they taught viewers what closeness to divine truth – saintliness itself – could look like.

Man of books and learning

Several of the videos show Athanasius of Alexandria, a fourth-century bishop and theologian traditionally considered one of the church fathers.

Painted by the Italian painter Domenichino in the 17th century, Athanasius stands in “contrapposto,” a pose inherited from classical art and common in Renaissance and Baroque painting. He leans back with his left shoulder, causing the right side of his body to project outward toward the viewer. The saint is dressed in a rich damask dalmatic – a long, wide-sleeved robe – over a white silk tunic.

An image of Athanasius by the 17th-century Italian artist Domenichino on the walls of the Santa Maria di Grottaferrata monastery outside Rome. The Web Gallery of Art

Athanasius’ shifting stance and sweeping vestments create drama. They also direct attention to the open book he holds in one hand and points to with the other – a reminder of his place among the great teachers of the church. In religious art, books are not just props. They help the viewer recognize the figure as someone whose words matter.

The Greek text on the page begins with the words “Whoever wishes to be saved”: the opening of the Athanasian Creed, a statement of Christian doctrine long associated with Athanasius. In the fourth century, he became famous for defending the idea that Christ was fully divine, a fiercely debated issue at the time.

TikTokers recreating Athanasius’ pose today use a Bible or another thick volume, wielding the book with as much swagger as the saint himself.

They lose the luxurious vestments, trading Athanasius’ sumptuous robes for hoodies and jeans. Yet their captions recognize the force of the look: Church fathers “knew the fit was hard,” one video says. The language is modern, but the point is old: Clothing, books and posture make authority visible.

Charged with meaning

Another star in the videos is Gregory Palamas, a 14th-century Byzantine theologian and Orthodox saint – and he presents another type of authority altogether.

Palamas is best known for defending Hesychasm, a mystical tradition in the Orthodox Church that joins repeated prayer with contemplation. He represented holy power grounded not only in learning, but also in spiritual practice.

An icon of St. Gregory Palamas from the 15th century. Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts via Wikimedia Commons

Unlike Domenichino’s dramatic Athanasius, the painting of Palamas appears still and distant. He is not turning toward the viewer with theatrical movement, but formally facing outward, set against a plain gold background – a sacred figure, held outside ordinary time.

Palamas’ image is an icon, a sacred image used in Orthodox Christian worship and devotion. The saint raises his hand in the Orthodox gesture of blessing, with his fingers forming the letters “IC XC,” a Greek abbreviation for Jesus Christ.

In sacred art, hands are rarely idle. Christ and the Christ child often hold up their hands to bless the viewer. Mary and John the Baptist draw viewers’ attention to Christ through their gestures and sometimes their gaze. Saints lift their hands in prayer, teaching or intercession.

To some viewers online, Palamas’ raised hand may simply look solemn or strange, charged with an unknown or mysterious meaning. But that gap in knowledge, I’d argue, is part of what makes the “church fathers” trend work. On social media, a hand gesture doesn’t need to be fully explained to feel meaningful: a slow point toward the camera, a hand over the heart, a peace sign.

TikTokers today may be a great distance from the church fathers, but their images still resonate – even, and perhaps especially, on the internet.

This article originally appeared on The Conversation. You can read it here.

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