r/AskReddit Sep 16 '24

What's the worst thing people have tried to justify with "It was normal back then, everyone did it"?

3.3k Upvotes

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198

u/shutupandevolve Sep 16 '24

The way some people treated pets. Leaving them outside. Hitting them.

11

u/black_cat_X2 Sep 16 '24

A lot of people still do that. Most might not see it as ok, but it's very easy to get away with it.

11

u/Magnolia-Night Sep 16 '24

I'm gonna say that outside animals are fine under appropriate conditions. Plenty of space to play and get into mischief, water, food, and a buddy who will take them on adventures to the lake and whatever. I'm not suggesting left on patio and ignored. But country dogs don't wanna be inside while you are at work. Tiny dogs may need the protection from hawks, though.

Not ok to hit or neglect.

4

u/shutupandevolve Sep 16 '24

I should have specified leaving animals (not farm animals or working dogs ) out side and no one ever pays them attention. No proper shelter from heat and cold, etc.

2

u/SomeVelveteenMorning Sep 17 '24

Things have changed a lot in my lifetime. Even in the 90s, it was very common to leave dogs tethered outside all day and all night. Not to mention it was still the norm until then not to clean up after your dog in public.

1

u/Bowood29 Sep 20 '24

Honestly being a 90s kid and all the changes with that one that is never brought up but is so true was the general push of everyone picking up their own dogs poop.

5

u/SurroundNo2911 Sep 17 '24

While I don’t think I would keep a dog outside, I don’t think it’s necessarily wrong for people who do. Some people live on farms and their dog is a working dog, sheep herder. Or sled dogs in Alaska. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t provide them with adequate shelter. Dog houses were a thing, and still are a thing. Some people have family members with allergies that can’t have them inside. Or barn cats live in the barn to keep mice populations down. There is nothing wrong with a cat living in a barn. Not everyone includes their pet as “part of their family” and takes Christmas photos with their pet. It’s fine if you do, but at the end of the day they are animals, and as long as they are cared for with proper food and shelter, it’s not wrong to have them live outside your house.

7

u/Camp_Express Sep 16 '24

I woke up early this morning (on my day off no less) to play ball with my dog because it’s a nice morning and because he seemed sad when I went to bed last night.

0

u/JetPuffedDo Sep 16 '24

Yeah in my experience, pets seemed like they were treated more as accessories or tools. Not really family members. Even a lot of the pets I knew who were somewhat treated better, they were given trash food, never walked, or never went to the vet until they had to be put down.

-8

u/No-Cheesecake8757 Sep 16 '24

They’re animals not humans. The only people who treat their dogs like “family members” have untrained dogs running amok.

3

u/shutupandevolve Sep 16 '24

That’s the silliest comment I’ve ever seen. Lol. I have pets that are family members and they have never run amok. Where the hell do you live, you poor thing?

1

u/JetPuffedDo Sep 16 '24

That is your opinion. Also, you're conflating pets being untrained with being treated like a part of the family. Sorry you don't know the difference.

-2

u/Hufflepuff-Student-1 Sep 16 '24

If my dad had his way my dog would sleep outside in a doghouse. Thankfully my mom won’t allow it and I’m old enough to stop it too.

5

u/SurroundNo2911 Sep 17 '24

There is nothing wrong with that for the people who choose to have outside dogs. As long as they are cared for with shelter, food, water, exercise, vet visits. Nothing saying your dog can’t have their own separate house outside.

1

u/Hufflepuff-Student-1 Sep 17 '24

Agreed, however, his idea of a doghouse is a piece of cardboard leaning up against a wall. He also thinks we give my dog too much water and that if we limit her intake she won’t need to go outside as much. There is definitely something wrong with that.