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We Need To Stop Thanking People For “Putting Up With Us”

25 Things I Wish Upon My Boyfriend's Ex-Girlfriend

We’re all a little annoying. Some more than others, but there is no person on the planet that is pleasant to be around all the time. Even Mother Theresa was a little moody on her period. But those who are close to us accept us for our quirks and occasional mental breakdowns, just as we accept them for theirs. And while we need to be thankful for them when we are being a bit of a pain, for the love of God and all that is holy, stop using the phrase “Thanks for putting up with me.”

It’s in every Instagram caption and Facebook birthday shoutout. Every time we post a picture with our sisters or friends, we include one of the following insufferable phrases:

  • “Shambly”
  • “Dysfunctional”
  • “This picture is as blurry as the night is.”
  • “Thanks for putting up with me.”

More often than not, your night was no wilder than anyone else’s. You scored a cute plandid and wanted to make sure everyone knows how ~free-spirited~ you are. It makes sense. But that doesn’t mean your picture will make up for whatever piece of shit caption you type with one eye open because your hangover won’t allow you to open both. Your friend did not “put up” with you. She was just being your friend. Sure, she wasn’t having much fun when she had to hold you back from fighting that girl with the same shirt on as you. And there’s no way that she enjoyed trying to keep up with you while you angrily speed walked home. But you will return the favor next week when she sees the guy that she made out with last week talking to his ex-girlfriend and locks herself in the fraternity house bathroom. A “thanks for putting up with me” Instagram has become the modern social thank you card for being drunk. We get it, you went out last night and drank alcohol.

Furthermore, if you are dating a guy that makes you feel like you are a burden that needs to be put up with, break up with him immediately. That low-life piece of shit should not make you think that he is any less than proud of you. Your boyfriend (or “this guy” as you unbearably refer to him) should feel proud to call you his, not predestined to clean up after you like some sort of babysitter. You are a grown ass woman. If someone literally has to put up with you, then it’s a miracle you have made it this far. But if you are a generally average human being, you are doing just fine. You’re not an animal that needs to be tamed, you’re not a forced to be reckoned with, you are just a girl with thoughts and feelings.

When we speak this lowly of ourselves, it allows other people to speak lowly of us too. Let’s get a little more creative, shall we? Besides, this phrase is totally overused and we shouldn’t put up with it anymore.

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Ali Hin

A born and raised Jersey girl, she can always be found covered in sand and pizza sauce. Her personal brand is "that girl." She prefers wine in bottles because she thinks outside of the box. Send fan mail to [email protected] or by smoke signal.

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