Content for Monday, May 17
Poll Finds Over a Quarter of American Men Think They’d Lose a Fight With a House Cat
A new poll finds that over a quarter of American men think they would lose a fight with a house cat. Participants were asked, “What an animal could you beat in a fight?” Only 74 per cent of men said they could win a fight with a house cat, leaving 26 per cent who literally think they’d get a beatdown from the feline pet. Perhaps even worse, 24 per cent think they’d come off second best to a rat. Nearly a third of American men also think that they’d get their butt whupped by a goose. MORE: The YouGov survey puts 34 different animals – including humans – against one another to see which Americans think is the mightiest. People were shown seven random pairings of animals from the list and asked them which of the two they thought would win in a fight. Animals are ranked by their “win percentage”, that is, how often Americans thought that animal would win in a head-to-head matchup when it was one of the two animals shown. The results show that the elephant had a win rate of 74%, just fractions of a percent ahead of their single-horned cousins – the rhinoceros – in second place, also on 74%. Not far behind in third place is the grizzly bear, at 73%. Also performing particularly well are tigers (70%), hippos (69%), lions (68%) and crocodiles (67%). GENDERS: Men and women are about as (un)likely to think they could beat grizzlies, lions, gorillas and crocodiles in combat. The gender differences start to emerge with wolves and kangaroos, which 16-17% of men think they could beat compared to 9-11% of women. One in five men think they could beat a chimpanzee (22%) or king cobra (23%) in a fight, while only 8-12% of women feel the same way. The gap is biggest when it comes to medium sized dogs (which 60% of men but only 39% of women think they could beat) and geese (71% vs 51%).
$30K Raise or Work From Home?
If given the choice between a $30,000 raise or permanently working from home, employees at some of the biggest companies said they would choose the latter. A survey by professional network Blind finds 64% of respondents would forgo the extra cash for the remote work benefits. About 67% of Google respondents preferred permanent work-from-home, as well as 64% of Amazon, 62% of Microsoft (LinkedIn's parent company), 69% of Apple, 76% of Salesforce and 47% of JPMorgan Chase employees.
Should We Discuss Politics At Work?
The recent ban on "societal and political discussions" at work by Basecamp CEO Jason Fried has sparked the age-old debate about which subjects are taboo in ‘polite’ society. And that includes the workplace. Some argue political issues can’t be ignored and should occupy the same space as chats about footy team results and family life, while others suggest political discussions can be divisive and not conducive to happy work environments. So... Is it OK to talk about politics at work? A LinkedIn survey found: 27% voted Yes, absolutely. 51% said, No, it can be confrontational. 15% said, Only on breaks. 6% voted "Other" and commented
(Can YOU Relate?)... 15 Reasons Why The Older You Are, The More You Hate Everyone
Here's why you hate everyone the older you get: 1. The older you get, the more often people have let you down. By the time that you're 20, you've probably been dealt major blows by people you never thought would hurt you, and that makes you really jaded toward people which makes you hate people. 2. As you age, you become more burned out. Even if you're working your dream job, as a society we've become overwhelmed by seemingly never-ending to-do lists. It's all too easy to forget to take time to yourself to recoup, which can quickly lead to burnout. 3. You learn over time that people ruin the coolest things. Ever notice how it only takes one stupid person's actions to ruin a good thing? Ever notice how many good things get ruined this way? 4. You find that most people you meet are boring as hell. Their entire lives revolve around things that aren't important. They don't really make you think about anything in particular. They are boring, and there's a certain point where boring becomes a reason not to talk to them. 5. You discover that ninety-nine percent of the people you meet are fake. At the end of the day, most people will sugarcoat things that shouldn't be sugarcoated, and most people won't tell you the full truth, even if it's an absolute necessity. 6. You realize that dealing with people's drama is exhausting. I'd rather watch TV. The drama is more entertaining and it won't negatively affect me. 7. You become more introverted as you age. As you get older, you don't want to go out as much or meet a lot of new people and go to parties. You also might have more negative feelings about meeting new people as you age. 8. As years pass, your tolerance for people judging you and telling you what to do shrinks to zero. People always love to get angry when you don't live the way they want you to live. 9. The longer you've been alive, the worse people treat you in general. When you're a kid, everyone coos at you and coddles you. When you're a teenager, everyone hates you. When you're an adult, everyone hates you and expects you to do stuff for them. 10. By the time you're 30, you realize that your pets are more mature than the people you regularly talk to. That might be why I prefer to drink wine with my cats. 11. There's a certain point where you can't deal with people's shallow behavior. Knowing how shallow people really are made me really worn out when it came to talking to people. 12. People have really messed up expectations about how others should treat them, versus how they treat others. With most people, manners have gone the way of the dodo, but they have no problem expecting others to be nice to them. 13. When push comes to shove, getting older also means that you realize that most people aren't worth it. This makes the few people who are worth talking to all the more precious. 14. As you get older you become more stressed and you might become more depressed too. When you get older, the more things that you do in life and obligations or workload and family life might all add up on top of each other making you very stressed. Throughout time, stress can actually become more difficult to come and it can turn to anger and that anger can even make you depressed. 15. As you get older you might develop social anxiety. You might get more anxiety as you grow older. Going out and meeting new people can become more of an anxious thing the less you do it. Sometimes it comes to a point where you have so much social anxiety in social situations that you can't or don't want to meet people or go out anymore. SO... How do you enjoy the company of others again as you get older? You need to ask for help when overcoming social anxiety so you can enjoy the company of others again. According to expert, as we get older we learn the power of discernment in choosing how and with whom we spend our time. "... The process of developing self-trust and moving away from the constant concerns related to what others might think of us creates space for us to choose the people in our lives that bring us joy or allow us to expand and grow. This is in contrast to our experiences in early adolescence and young adulthood, which is typically mired in behaviors that are externally driven."
Lies You Were Told Growing Up
Reddit users are sharing the big fibs they were told while growing up: 1. "If I don't have my life figured out by the time I'm 25, then I have some serious problems." 2. "Get a bachelor's degree, and you are set for life as far as a job/career is concerned." 3. "The biggest lie we were ever told was that we needed to get a desk job to be successful and that it's shameful to work a trade job.” 4. "My nanna told me that the 'I'm feeling lucky' button on Google would put a virus on the computer.” 5. "I was told that the AIDS virus was smaller than the pores in a latex condom, so you had to wait until you were married to have sex.” 6. "Be loyal to your company. They'll take care of you.” 7. "You need to define yourself by your job.” 8. "Turning on the lights in the car was illegal." 9. "That the Dewey Decimal System is essential and that I would need to learn it to be successful in life.” 10. "Money doesn't buy any happiness.” 11. "That it will all make sense when you're older." 12. "That we'd be able to afford to buy a house when we grow up if we worked really hard and got good jobs.” 13. "There was a big fish that lived in the canal behind my house, and I was told that it hunted for the feet of children, so you should never walk on the banks of the canal, because then it will grab your feet and eat you."
(TOPIC STARTER)... "What Do I Do If My Girl Cheats On Me With a Famous Guy and Justifies It By Saying That It Was a "Once-In-a-Lifetime Opportunity"
Reddit user u/YourManArctic asks: "What do I do if my girl cheats on me with a famous guy and justifies it by saying that it was a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" and anyone would've done it?" Replies include: "You leave." -- "and go to the doctor to make sure she didn't give you any STIs." "Make her leave." -- "and consider it a bullet dodged." "Her saying that it’s a “one in a lifetime” is the cherry on top. It’s like you’re not as worth as the other guy." "I’d just say, “Hope it was worth it. Good luck - see ya. Is this hypothetical or did this really happen?" -- "Happened to friend of mine. His girlfriend slept with the lead singer of Train. She gave him this excuse. They were engaged. She was dumped." -- "Drops of Jupiter immediately starts playing…." -- "This is the saddest thing I have ever read online. To be outdone by the lead singer of Train is something I don't think many of us could live through. Good god, how do you even start over after your partner slept with THE LEAD SINGER OF TRAIN. The bar could not be lower. Let god have mercy on their soul." -- "Only Nickleback would be worse." "These once in a lifetime opportunities aren't so once in a lifetime if you're a mildly attractive woman and seek them out." "Imagine how much it would suck to see that celebrity from now. Like if The Rock slept with your fiancé and you just had to keep seeing his smiling face everywhere..." "If it was discussed ahead of time I MIGHT consider it (but probably not). I've found people are able to justify almost anything and that often, the justification used is irrelevant, and if that opportunity didn't exist, a different one would "magically" appear." -- "My wife and I have the same arrangement. Hers is Ryan Reynolds and mine is also Ryan Reynolds."
'Go Topless Jeep Weekend' Ends In Nearly 100 Arrests
Thousands of revelers in Jeeps took to the beaches in Texas for "Go Topless Jeep Weekend" but nearly 100 people were arrested on the first night. Jeep enthusiasts gather on the beach every year to show off their custom Jeeps during the day and party around bonfires at night. Of the 86 arrests that were made Friday evening, most were for minor offenses like public intoxication but nine people got DUIs.
Major Retailers are Dropping their Mask Rules
Major retailers started announcing changes to face mask policies for fully vaccinated customers. Trader Joe's, Walmart, Sam's Club, Costco and Publix all confirmed they are allowing mask-free shopping, except where required by state or local mandate. In some cases, vaccinated store employees can also go to work without a mask. Many retailers, including Apple, Target, CVS and Walgreens, say they are still evaluating the CDC guidance but say they could update policies. Starbucks makes masks "optional for vaccinated customers beginning today. So far, businesses have said proof of the vaccine won't need to be shown and will be on the honor system. The CDC announced last week that fully vaccinated Americans, for the most part, no longer need to wear masks indoors and don’t have to wear masks outdoors, even in crowded spaces. But privately-owned businesses can still require masks. Ride-shares still must adhere to the mask requirement and Uber and Lyft told USA TODAY that their mask policies are still in effect. No masks for vaccinated customers, except in states and cities that have local mandates: BJ's Wholesale Club Costco Publix Sam's Club Sprouts Starbucks Trader Joe's Walmart Stores still requiring masks, for now: Albertsons Apple CVS Home Depot Kroger Macy's Meijer Target Walgreens Winn-Dixie
POLL: Two-Thirds Believe That Aliens Exist And the U.S. Government Isn't Telling The Truth About It
Nearly two-thirds of all Americans now believe that extraterrestrial life exists and that the U.S. government isn't telling the public the full truth. Four years ago, just 56 percent of respondents (in the CBS News poll) believed there was intelligent life on other planets compared to 66 percent who believe today. (CBS surveyed 1,009 adults via telephone across the country.) A whopping 73 percent of survey respondents think the U.S. government knows more than it is letting on about the subject. AND... a third of those surveyed believe that contact with extraterrestrial life will occur in their lifetimes. Ten percent believe there has already been contact made, though the findings did not specify when or where that contact occurred. Twenty-four percent of respondents believe contact will happen in the next 100 years and six percent believe aliens exist, but humanity will never make contact with them.
REPORT: Bill Gates Had Affair, Pursued Microsoft Employees While Married
Microsoft founder Bill Gates had an affair with a staffer and pursued other women at Microsoft while married to Melinda French Gates. People with knowledge of Gates and his companies and financial dealings told The New York Times that Gates had pursued women who worked for him at Microsoft and at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation while the couple was together. Gates had an affair with a female staff member in 2000, and resigned while an investigation into the relationship was being investigated by the company board. Gates quit the board suddenly in 2020 - months after the woman, a Microsoft engineer, wrote to the board detailing the relationship. The Microsoft board decided that Gates should step down from the board after the relationship was deemed to be inappropriate. On one occasion in 2006, more than a decade he and French Gates wed, he attended a presentation by a female employee of Microsoft and emailed her afterward to ask her to dinner. Gates wrote in the email, "If this makes you uncomfortable, pretend it never happened." Another woman said Gates once asked her to dinner while the two were in New York on a trip for their work at the Gates Foundation. Sources also told the outlet that Gates was at times dismissive of Melinda in workplace meetings at the Gates Foundation. In total, six current and former employees of Gates said he and his actions created a workplace that made them "uncomfortable". Bridgitt Arnold, a spokesperson for Gates, denied the accusations brought forth in the Times article, telling the outlet, "any claim that Gates spoke of his marriage or Melinda in a disparaging manner is false. The claim of mistreatment of employees is also false. The rumors and speculation surrounding Gates's divorce are becoming increasingly absurd, and it's unfortunate that people who have little to no knowledge of the situation are being characterized as 'sources.'" Bill and Melinda Gates announced their split May 3 after 27 years of marriage. Gates' relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is said to have played a role in the couple's split.
Today's AUDIO:
Topic Starters: What makes you paranoid?
MTV Movie Awards
Host Leslie Jones joked about people posting activities online. (Preview before airing)
Sacha Baron Cohen accepted the 'Comedic Genius Award', and was interrupted by 'Bruno.'
Houston Police Find Missing Tiger
Kobe Bryant Inducted Into Hall Of Fame
Ravens’ Rookie Ben Cleveland Eats Squirrel
Rick Schroder Has Confrontation With Costco Employee
Today's SOCIAL CONTENT:
