People mean well, but not all advice imparted by even the wisest of acquaintances may not always apply.
Curious about the experience of strangers, Redditor Not-an-Ocelot asked:
What's the worst advice you've ever received?
Some of the responses were eye-opening while others were laugh-out-loud hysterical.
One Redditor was encouraged as a teen to drop out of high school by someone you would never expect.
A woman who was trapped in an undesirable relationship was encouraged to do the unthinkable.
And one user who wanted to impress his date regrettably followed the advice of his mother that may have cost him the prospect of having a girlfriend.
Do any of these examples seem familiar to you?
Higher Learning
"You don't need to go to college, you're a girl. -spoken by my favorite high school teacher."
Roll With The Punches
"Just ignore your bullies and they will get bored and stop."
"This was my bane in elementary school. 6+ years of heavy bullying and people telling me ThEy WiLl StOp If YoU iGnOrE tHeM."
"No, they f'king don't. It just marks you as a spineless victim."
Dropping Out Of High School
"from my dad when I was 16 y/o"
"'You might as well quit school and take that job at the plant while it's still open.'"
Fake Pregnancy
"When my marriage was in trouble a friend of mine suggested I fake a pregnancy. Couldn't believe the words came out of her mouth."
"I did not take her advice and we're not friends anymore for a number of reasons - her line of thinking being one of them."
"For anyone interested, the marriage eventually ended in a loving, peaceful, kind and respectful manner. My ex-husband remains a good friend and I consider myself blessed to have been able to remain friends with such a wonderful man."
– LasRua
Fashion Faux Pas
"Mom: Tuck your shirt into your boxers for this date. It will keep your shirt from becoming untucked."
"Wondering why my date seemed in a rush to leave, when I got home, looked at a mirror, and to my horror, spotted the RESOUNDINGLY visible underwear wedgie I was sporting."
Remain Calm
"You're having a panic/anxiety attack? You're fine dude just relax and calm down."
"Best Days Of Your Life"
"'Make the most of your school days because they're the best days of your life.' I can confirm that my school days were not the best of my life and since leaving school, I've become a happier person and made more memories than I could've imagined. Yeah, school can be good but don't go around thinking it's not gonna get much better than that, because it does."
Starting A Family
"Get married and have kids ASAP."
"Ah well, grandparents do come from a different age...."
Perfect Practice
"'Practice makes perfect.' I was told that many times throughout my life until my martial arts instructor taught me 'Perfect practice makes perfect,' as though if you have been practicing something an improper/less than efficient way you will be accustomed to doing it incorrectly very well. If it's worth practicing, then its worth ensuring you are practicing it correctly."
Fake Wisdom
"Passed on to my father from his father."
"Never say 'I don't know' because it makes you look stupid. Make up an answer if you don't know."
"Uh, no. Making sh*t up is what makes you look stupid."
– Askeee
Abusive Relationships
"'Stay with him because he'll provide for you and he's good to you' family responding to me leaving a (known) abusive partner."
@Rob Schneider/X
@Rob Schneider/X
@pancho_runs/Instagram
@risheeee/Instagram
@nickwetzel10/Instagram
@bailey_marie1212/Instagram
@atrain29730/Instagram
Soldier for Life/Facebook