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What Toxic Behaviors Do We Still Encourage?

Szőke Angéla3 min read
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What Toxic Behaviors Do We Still Encourage? — Lifestyle
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Pets

Pets
Not training dogs—or any pet—is a problem. “Fluffy scratched your clothes? Sorry, but look how cute! The dog chewed your shoes? It wasn’t on purpose! Fido bit you? That’s just how he is, but look how adorable.” When owners can’t discipline their pets, it’s harmful and dangerous for everyone, including the animal.

My boss’s newly wealthy family bought their daughter a foal, even though no one knew about horses. They loved when the animal reared up and “hugged” the child. Now, the horse weighs hundreds of kilos and, without proper care, doesn’t understand why it’s dangerous to jump on people. It now lives alone in a field by the house, wild and untouchable. Responsible pet ownership needs to be taken more seriously.

Alcohol

Alcohol
Being "drunk" is never an excuse for bad behavior.

Overworking

Overworking
“Pete’s skipping lunch to finish a report.” When did you finish? 8 p.m.? I was still here at 9, haha!” “I even came in sick!” “I answered some emails on the weekend; you should work ahead too…” Work isn’t home, and your employer isn’t your friend. You owe only what you’re paid for—nothing more. Bragging about overworking doesn’t earn respect; it just makes me roll my eyes. You don’t deserve a medal for burning yourself out.

Social Media Like-Chasing

Social Media Like-Chasing
Using kids to chase likes on social media.

Constant Contact

Constant Contact
Not long ago, couples met in the morning, went to work, and reconnected in the evening without constant texting or calls. Today, nonstop messaging, photo sharing, and video calls are the norm. If someone doesn’t reply within two minutes, feelings get hurt and conflicts arise. In modern relationships, there are no secrets or surprises; we follow every moment of each other’s day. This can quickly lead to burnout in a relationship.

Bad Day

Bad Day
Being rude because you’re “having a bad day” isn’t okay. Take a breath, pull yourself together, and treat others with respect.

“When They Grow Up”

“When They Grow Up”
When parents decide in advance what their child will become—“a lawyer, artist, doctor, like everyone else in the family”—and everyone agrees. But what if the child wants to be a carpenter or a pastry chef? Let’s avoid setting expectations from infancy.

Location Tracking

Location Tracking
Couples or families setting phones to always see each other’s location. It’s understandable for parents to track kids, but partners? If I decide to grab a drink with a colleague after work, do I have to explain? Or if I’m planning a surprise for my partner’s birthday and they ask why I’m in another district, should I lie? It feels completely unhealthy.

Kisses

Kisses
If a child doesn’t want to kiss an uncle, neighbor, or anyone, don’t force it.

“Blown Away by the Wind!”

“Blown Away by the Wind!”
“Oh my gosh, you’re so skinny, your bones are rattling, eat something!” Just as commenting on weight gain is off-limits, so should remarks about thinness be. Maybe the person has a naturally slim build and was teased all their life, or maybe trauma affects their appetite. The key is: don’t call attention to it.
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