6
$\begingroup$

When speaking of doing this everyday as a daily routine, this is a civilized thing to do.

When speaking of doing this only when something's wrong, this is a nasty thing to do.

What is this thing we all do?

Note: No censoring is required for this action in both cases.

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
16
  • $\begingroup$ cenlvat pbzrf gb zvaq, ohg V pna'g znxr "anfgl" dhvgr svg $\endgroup$
    – SteveV
    Feb 5, 2021 at 5:02
  • $\begingroup$ V jnf guvaxvat "ehaavat", ohg vg qbrfa'g ernyyl svg jvgu pvivyvmrq $\endgroup$
    – Pepper
    Feb 5, 2021 at 7:49
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ My guess would be "pyrnavat gur gbvyrg". $\endgroup$
    – WhatsUp
    Feb 5, 2021 at 9:41
  • $\begingroup$ @WhatsUp That's... not part of a daily routine ^^" $\endgroup$
    – risky mysteries
    Feb 5, 2021 at 12:53
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @user It's big a stretch to say everybody uses one everyday. $\endgroup$
    – risky mysteries
    Feb 5, 2021 at 15:14

5 Answers 5

Reset to default
16
$\begingroup$

I think the answer is

washing one's hand

When speaking of doing this everyday as a daily routine, this is a civilized thing to do.

Washing one's hand is considered basic hygiene

When speaking of doing this only when something's wrong, this is a nasty thing to do.

This alludes to the idiomatic "washing one's hands of something" which means (quoting Wiktionary): To absolve oneself of responsibility or future blame for; to refuse to have any further involvement with

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
6
$\begingroup$

Here is another possible answer

wearing a mask : civilized during the pandemic | when something's wrong = during a heist/theft/etc

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ During a rot13(urvfg/gursg/rgp), it's really unusual for it to be called nasty to rot13(jrne n znfx), as it's the rot13(urvfg/gursg/rgp) that is bad. $\endgroup$
    – risky mysteries
    Feb 6, 2021 at 13:06
5
$\begingroup$

There are a couple of different answers which kind of fit but I think the answer is

Brushing your teeth

When speaking of doing this everyday as a daily routine, this is a civilized thing to do.

Brushing one's teeth (preferably 2-3 times a day) is part of a healthy daily routine

When speaking of doing this only when something's wrong, this is a nasty thing to do.

If something is wrong with your teeth, then it usually requires intervention by a dentist. This is both nasty with respect to the pain caused and also from a hygienic perspective.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ It's probably nasty to have rot13(onq grrgu), but rot13(oehfuvat) is nonetheless the same concept in both cases in your answer. $\endgroup$
    – risky mysteries
    Feb 6, 2021 at 13:03
3
$\begingroup$

Another fit:

launder

When speaking of doing this everyday as a daily routine, this is a civilized thing to do:

Wash and iron (clothes or linen). "He wasn't used to laundering his own bed linen." (source: Google/Oxford Languages)

When speaking of doing this only when something's wrong, this is a nasty thing to do:

Conceal the origins of (money obtained illegally), typically by transfers involving foreign banks or legitimate businesses. "$123,000 had been laundered through Geneva bank accounts." Alter (information) to make it appear more acceptable. "We began to notice attempts to launder the data retrospectively." (source: Google/Oxford Languages)

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
2
  • $\begingroup$ Care to explain the downvote? $\endgroup$
    – JJM Driessen
    Feb 6, 2021 at 13:13
  • $\begingroup$ I didn't, but I don't find it common to rot13(qb ynhaqel) as a daily routine. $\endgroup$
    – risky mysteries
    Feb 6, 2021 at 13:31
-1
$\begingroup$

My answer is:

Laugh

Because:

It's healthy to laugh every day but to laugh when something is wrong is schadenfreude.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.