Birthdays can be great opportunities for self-reflection, spending time with the people you care about most in the world, and lots and lots of delicious cake! It’s a day when you get more than your usual share of love and attention, but also one where you take stock of your values, ambitions, and priorities in life. Unfortunately, far from everyone gets the memo.
While birthdays can bring out the very best in some, unfortunately, they also bring out the very worst in some people. Entitlement. Greed. Rudeness. These are just the tip of the frosted iceberg. We has collected the very worst moments birthday boys and girls showed their true colors from all over the net, including from the mega-popular r/ChoosingBeggars subreddit.
Close your eyes, make a wish, and blow out the candles, Pandas. We hope you wished for a deep dive into the unsavory parts of humankind because that’s what you’re getting. Now, would you like another slice of cake while you’re scrolling?
#1 Can I Have A Birthday Discount?
We wanted to learn more about the relationship between entitlement and birthdays, as well as what can be done to ensure kids don’t focus just on the gifts and materialistic gain on their special day, so we reached out to Suzanne Degges-White, Ph.D.
“When someone’s sense of entitlement begins to encroach on the rights or good nature of others, then it’s become a problem that the overly entitled person will need to address if they want to continue to enjoy the company of others,” the Licensed Counselor, Professor, and the Chair at the Department of Counseling and Higher Education at Northern Illinois University told us. “It’s normal to want to feel ‘special’ on special days, but when friends begin to resent you for the level of ‘special treatment’ you feel you deserve, it’s time to back down and remember that everyone deserves to be thought of as special and treated with equal respect.”
#2 Birthday Card For Choosing Beggars
#3 Its My Birthday
Professor Degges-White also shared her thoughts with We about the best way for parents to raise their kids to value their birthdays as something other than ‘gift bonanzas.’
According to the professor, parents ought to establish more appropriate celebrations from early on. That way, kids develop habits that steer them away from entitlement and towards having more humility and appreciation for other people.
“By making small events the ‘annual birthday traditions’ and including suggestions for ‘giving back’ to others on a birthday as a way to celebrate another year of maturity, families can raise children who don’t expect to be showered with ‘things’ on their birthdays,” Degges-White said.
“Traditions can include ‘birthday pancakes’ or ‘cupcakes for breakfast’ or some other celebratory start to the day. A special meal at dinner, getting out of chores on their birthday, and choosing a toy/book/clothing item to donate to a shelter or charity on the birthday are also ways to cultivate generosity and charity in children,” the professor gave We some ideas for how parents can raise their kids right.
“We all learn what we live and when we live in a world where we’re feted and made to feel ‘uber special’ just by nature of a particular day rolling around on the calendar, we come to expect similar treatment throughout our lives. Small changes early on can make big differences down the road.”
#4 “Pls I Have Birthday I Just Got Cancer Too”
#5 Plan My Birthday For Me Or Our Friendship Is Over
#6 It’s My Birthday! Give Me Money!
Most parents probably expect their kids to grow up to be productive, humble members of society. However, above everything else, they want them to be good people. It can be painful to see someone you love and care about exhibit signs of greed and lash out at others over small details.
Entitlement is usually not something that pops out of the woodwork over the course of a single day. It’s often years in the making. Helping someone (re)learn how to stay humble can be a huge challenge.
Living life with confidence, knowing your worth, wanting to get a fair share of doubloons for your efforts—that’s all perfectly fine and even healthy. Finding that balance between timidity and arrogance, however, can be far harder in practice.
#7 Facebook Friend On What/What Not To Buy Her For Birthday
#8 I Made A Post Awhile Back About My Cb Exfriend Who Got Mad Because I Gave Him Less Money For His Birthday Compared To Last Year, And After The Post And The Comments I Decided To Message Him About It And This Is What He Said
#9 Using Gofundme For A Vacation
Especially if you’ve never been called out for your behavior. You start believing that whatever you’re doing is fine. It’s the norm. Everyone does it. It can be a shock when someone finally snaps and tells you that, hey, you’re totally out of line here.
#10 I Apparently Singlehandedly Ruined A 13 Year Olds Birthday Party
#11 Entitled Rich Kid Asks For Birthday Money
#12 Her Bday Isnt Even Until Next Week
Learning to control your greed can be quite difficult. As financial expert Sam Dogen, from the Financial Samurai blog, put it in a previous interview with We, the vast majority of people put a lot of emphasis on money.
#13 I’m Not A Fan Of Fondant, But This Guy Is A Jerk
#14 “For My Mom’s Birthday, I’m Taking Her To Meet My Favorite Singer.”
#15 Imagine Asking People In A Generous Group For $200 To Throw Your Dog A Birthday Party…people Go Out Of Their Way To Give You Money In A Pandemic And You Post This? She Tried Saying Later That Since She Said “I’m Super Grateful” That It Excused Her Being Super Ungrateful. I Can’t Even Lie I’m Mad
“Everybody has either a money problem or a money desire,” he said.
For instance, if you happen to win the lottery, your relatives, friends, and acquaintances will probably expect to get a cut of your profits.
#16 No Broke Boy Birthday Wishes
#17 Happy Birthday Tho
#18 Well… Guess She Is Having A Crap Birthday
“If the winner doesn’t magnanimously share their winnings with family members and friends, they will be seen as selfish and greedy,” the financial expert told us.
“I’m all about Stealth Wealth. If you win the lottery, do your best to keep it a secret. Furthermore, if you win the lottery at work or in your investments, never brag about how much you make either. Instead, try to blend in as much as possible. You can always then be more generous with your money if you wish, without expectations,” he advised keeping these things under wraps.
#19 Choosing Beggar Invites Me To Their Birthday Party
#20 Happy Birthday?
#21 Happy Birthday!
Someone who is entitled feels like they deserve special treatment, recognition, and privileges. Most often, they have a false sense of self-importance and want things that they did not earn or do not deserve.
One way that people become entitled is when they get everything that they ask for, without having to earn it. Teaching kids the value of money, hard work, building relationships, can help offset this.
#22 Was Looking At Some Reviews For Vegas Hotels. Can’t Imagine What It Must Be Like Dealing With People Like This
#23 Someone Offered To Make Her A Free Designer Cake For Her Birthday, She Was Not Satisfied
#24 It’s My Birthday Can I Get It Cheaper?
Entitled folks think that they ought to be admired and respected, according to ‘Better Help.’ However, beneath the facade of over-inflated confidence can lie lots of insecurities. Meanwhile, attention-seekers with overbearing personalities can become more and more isolated from their friends.
#25 Private Jet Trip For 30th Birthday
#26 I’m Ashamed To Admit I’m Related To This 37yo Birthday Brat… Thankfully The Whole Family Is Ashamed Of Her Nonsense And Entitlement
#27 It’s My Birthday Give Me Your Hard Earned Money
Which of these posts shocked you the most, dear Pandas? Have you ever been to a birthday party where the guest of honor demanded a specific amount of money or an expensive gift? How do you think entitlement ought to be ‘cured?’ Share your thoughts and insights in the comments.
#28 Oh You Have Cancer…sorry, But My Birthday Is Coming Up Soon!!!
#29 It’s Their Birthday, So They Want It For A Discount/Free
#30 “My Iou Birthday Present’
#31 Wishing Me Happy Birthday Through Message Wasn’t Enough. I Wanted More
#32 This Lady Was My Sister Diane’s Friend. And As A Favour For Her Daughter’s Upcoming Birthday, I Offered Her A Free Art Commission A Few Weeks Ago If She’s Interested And She Told Me She’d Give Me A Call. Never Heard From Her Again Until Today
#33 Didn’t Ask For Birthday Special, Please Take It Off My Check After I’ve Already Paid And Left The Building
#34 Happy Birthday
#35 I Know My Son Got You Pregnant And Then Ditched, But Would You Mind Giving Me The Money To Get Something From Your Toddler For Him For His Birthday Please?
#36 A Simple Request In My Local Buy Nothing Group. It’s Their Birthday If That Helps
#37 Partners Ex Wanted Me To Do A Free Professional Photoshoot For Her Birthday
#38 I Encountered A “Give It To Me For Free Because It’s My Child’s Birthday” Person In The Wild Today
#39 Sent To Everyone On Her Snapchat Friends List
#40 Mother Demands You Only Buy Specific Gifts For Birthday And Holiday. For Context, The Child Is Like 4 Years Old
#41 Shame On Us For Not Giving Anything For Her Birthday
#42 My Friend When The Three Switch Games We Bought Her For Her Birthday Weren’t Enough
#43 Lady Asks For Free Birthday Perks At Casino And Didn’t Like The Option.goes To 2 Worst Places To Eat Out Of Hundreds Of Places There-Didn’t Like The Options. Goes To The Native American Museum And Feels Her Birthdays Ruined When She Sees How Natives Were Treated- But She Knew The History. Can’t Win
#44 A Weird Way Of Being Grateful For People Offering Things To You For Your Birthday (Repost Bc I Forgot To Hide The @)
#45 This Girl Posted An Exhaustive List Of Acceptable And Unacceptable Gifts For Her Dog’s Birthday. Yes, Her Dog. Basically She Wants Money
#46 Another Birthday Beggar
#47 Now Birthdays Last One Entire Month
#48 My 13 Year Old Niece Wanted AirPods For Her Birthday, I Sent Her Some Generic Bluetooth Earbuds
#49 No One Cares About Your Birthday
#50 My Stepdad Was Kind Of Salty About Not Getting Anything For His Birthday. So He Turned To Facebook To Beg For People To Pay For His Next Tattoo
#51 She’s Posted Several Times About It Being Her Birthday Month
#52 Doesnt Want Birthday Wishes Unless They Come With Presents
#53 I Know This Is Short, But This A Girl I Used To Go To College With. Moral Of The Story, People Will Give You Money For Your Birthday If They Feel Like It And They Have It
#54 How Dare This Privately Owned Local Restaurant Force This Man To Pay For His Entire Birthday Meal.. In Full! They Probably Didn’t Sing To Him Either! Unacceptable
#55 Wants A Very Specific Phone For His Birthday And Essentially Is Begging For It On His Public Instagram
#56 Make My Kid’s Birthday Wonderful By Making My Cash App Go Bing!
#57 But It’s Her Birthday!
#58 Don’t Come To My Daughters Birthday Unless You Bring A Gift
#59 “I Want A Cake But I Won’t Pay For Your Time Or Effort, Because Clearly Anyone Could Do It And The Price Is Ridiculous”
#60 Begging For Her Birthday
#61 Give Me Money Or I Will Yeet You From My Friends List!!!
#62 Yeah No
#63 But Its My Kids Birthday
#64 “It’s My Birthday, Pay For My Trip To Europe”
#65 Dude Made It Known To The Server Of His Wife’s Bday And Expected Something. Server Eventually Gave Them Something, But Noooo, “It’s Too Late” Because They Had Finished The Food Already
#66 Good Ole Market Place
#67 Had My First Real Cb Experience Today… I Hit The Trifecta Too – Holiday, Kids Birthday, And “It’s Not Worth Near What You’re Asking”
#68 Needs $1000 For Disney Vacation For His Birthday!
#69 Since You Guys Don’t Buy Me Birthday Presents, Give Money To My Girlfriend To Study Psychology On The Other Side Of The World. -30 Year Old Stoner That Lives With His Parents And Only Works Minimum Wage Restaurant Jobs
#70 This Old Local Artist Was Asking For A Cash On Her Birthday To Raise Money To Pay Her Car Loans
#71 Guy Hosts 21st Birthday Knowing He Cant Afford It, Asks People To Give Him Money
#72 I Think Not
#73 From One Of My City’s Local Facebook Garage Sale Groups. “If Anyone Wants To Donate Something Expensive…”
#74 Woman Wants Kitten For Son’s Birthday
#75 You Know What Grinds My Gears, People Asking On Facebook For Birthday Gifts
#76 I Don’t Know What To Put As A Title Tbh
#77 Birthday Beggar Strikes Again
#78 Not A Milestone Birthday. Still Want To Celebrate. But You Will All Have To Pay!!
#79 In Case You Didn’t Know What To Get Her For Her Birthday!
#80 Give Me Free Games For My Friends Birthday. Don’t Be Rude Or I’ll Block You
#81 Family Receives Birthday Gifts For New Baby But Asks For Gift Cards Instead
#82 It’s My Birthday And It Is Raining Man
#83 Bro First You Practically Beg Me To Tell You Happy Birthday, Then I Don’t Do It Publicly Enough?
