How’re people dealing with the terrifying length of our short existence?? What do you mean I have 3-4 more lengths of life. I’m gonna have to wear glasses for over HALF A CENTURY. I could be on this medication DECADES. I have to think up meals for the next 60 years if I live how long my grandma did! I’m already out of recipes!! But what if NEW FOOD is INVENTED over that long stretch of time?? IT PROBABLY WILL BE! BECAUSE WHAT DO YOU MEAN JUST A LIFETIME AGO WE DIDNT EVEN HAVE COLOR TV OR THE INTERNET OR PHONES! THE CREATION OF AN ENTIRE COUNTRY WAS ONLY 6 MOMS AGO!?? WHAT WILL COME TO BE BY THE END OF MY LIFE???
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I messed up. Big time. And I’m here to own it.
I used to be a troll. Not the kind that lives under a bridge, but the kind that lurks online, stirring the pot and getting a rise out of people. I thought it was harmless fun. But it wasn’t. It was cruel. I confused calling out harmful behavior with attacking someone’s worth, and that’s a line that should never be crossed.
Let’s break it down. Calling out harmful behavior is about addressing actions, not the person. It’s saying, “Hey, what you did hurt people, and here’s why.” It’s constructive. It opens a dialogue. It encourages growth. But attacking a person’s worth? That’s a whole different beast. It’s saying, “You’re worthless because of what you did.” It’s destructive. It shuts down conversation. It leaves scars.
I used to think I was just holding people accountable. But in reality, I was tearing them down. It’s like that recent story about the unexpected kindness of a stranger who paid for a struggling family’s groceries. It was a small act, but it made a big difference. That’s the kind of impact we should aim for—lifting people up, not tearing them down.
Here’s the tactic I used to employ: I’d latch onto a mistake someone made and blow it out of proportion, making it seem like it defined their entire character. It’s dishonest because it ignores the complexity of human beings. We’re all flawed. We all mess up. But we’re also capable of change and growth.
So how do you spot and counter bad-faith arguments? Look for the intent. Is the person trying to help or hurt? Are they focusing on actions or attacking the person? If it’s the latter, call it out. Say, “Let’s focus on the behavior, not the person.” Encourage constructive dialogue. Be the voice of reason in a sea of chaos.
I know it’s not always easy. Emotions run high, and it’s tempting to lash out. But remember, we’re all in this together. We all want a better world. And that starts with how we treat each other.
So here’s my promise: I’m done with the trolling. I’m done with the cruelty. I’m here to listen, to learn, and to lift others up. Because at the end of the day, we’re all just trying to get by. And a little kindness can go a long way.
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UGH YGH ugh whwt why why why why why
What is wrong ehy why why why why why why why why why why
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i have been experiencing the worst of burnouts for the last 6 months and the only way i can cheer myself up these days is buying second hand clothes from stores owned by old people. maybe this is all there is. it would be nice if i went to sleep and didnt wake up
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The murderous pain she did not miss at all. But where had it gone? Would it ever come back? Once you have had pain like that, you dread its onslaught ever after. The fear of it never leaves you alone. Just as the pain itself once was, it becomes your constant companion.
—from The Fourth Island by Sarah Tolmie
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people treat attachment as the worst thing a person can have which is just so crazy because what am i supposed to attach myself to if not the people and experiences that make me who i am. is it so wrong to never want it to be over
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“Show me the evidence!” It’s a rallying cry that sounds reasonable, right? But sometimes, it’s just a smokescreen. A way to derail a conversation and wear you down. This is where the concept of “sea-lioning” comes into play. It’s a tactic that can turn a simple discussion into a marathon of frustration.
Picture this: you’re in a conversation about climate change, and someone keeps asking for more and more evidence. You provide a study, then another, and another. Yet, no matter how much information you offer, they keep demanding more. It’s like trying to fill a bottomless pit. This isn’t about learning or understanding; it’s about exhausting you until you give up. (Remember that time when a minor news outlet reported on a local council meeting that went on for hours because one person kept asking for clarification on every single point? Yeah, it’s like that.)
Sea-lioning is a bad-faith argument. It’s not about genuine curiosity or a desire to learn. It’s about creating a façade of reasonableness while actually being obstructive. The goal is to make you feel like you’re the unreasonable one for not wanting to engage endlessly. It’s a sneaky way to shift the burden of proof and make you do all the heavy lifting.
So, how do you recognize and counter this? First, trust your gut. If it feels like you’re being led in circles, you probably are. Politely but firmly set boundaries. You can say something like, “I’ve provided several sources already. If you’re genuinely interested, you can look into them further.” This puts the onus back on them to engage with the information you’ve already shared.
It’s also helpful to recognize when someone is genuinely interested versus when they’re just trying to wear you down. Genuine questions often come with context or a willingness to engage with the information provided. Sea-lioning, on the other hand, is repetitive and dismissive.
Remember, it’s okay to disengage. You don’t owe anyone an endless debate, especially when it’s clear they’re not interested in a real conversation. Your time and energy are valuable, and it’s important to protect them.
In a world where social wellbeing should be our priority, recognizing and countering bad-faith arguments is crucial. It’s not just about winning a debate; it’s about fostering genuine understanding and dialogue. And that, my friends, is how we build a stronger, more informed society.
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Toxic behavior online is like a virus, spreading quickly and mutating in ways that make it hard to pin down. One of the most insidious tactics I’ve observed is the “no true free market” gambit. It’s a classic move, really. Every time deregulation leads to disaster, some folks are quick to claim the market wasn’t truly free. It’s like clockwork.
Take the 2008 financial crash. Deregulation was supposed to unleash prosperity, but instead, it unleashed chaos. When the dust settled, the narrative shifted. “Ah,” they said, “the market wasn’t free enough.” It’s a clever trick, really. By claiming the market wasn’t truly free, they sidestep responsibility. It’s a textbook example of the no-true-Scotsman fallacy, a way to dodge blame and keep the ideology intact.
This tactic isn’t just dishonest; it’s dangerous. It immunizes a flawed system from critique, making it nearly impossible to address the root causes of these disasters. And it’s not just finance. Remember the Texas grid collapse in 2021? Privatized utilities failed spectacularly, leaving millions in the cold. Yet again, the refrain: “If only the market had been freer.”
So how do we counter this? First, recognize the pattern. When someone claims the market wasn’t free enough, ask for specifics. What exactly would a “truly free” market look like? Demand evidence. Second, highlight the real-world consequences. It’s not just about abstract principles; it’s about people’s lives. (A quick aside: did you catch the news about that small town in Vermont that just voted to ban corporate water extraction? A tiny victory, but it shows people are waking up to these tactics.)
Finally, don’t be afraid to call out the fallacy. It’s okay to point out when an argument is unfalsifiable. In fact, it’s necessary. We need to hold these ideas accountable, just like we hold people accountable.
In the end, it’s about more than just winning an argument. It’s about building a society that prioritizes human wellbeing over ideological purity. Because a strong, free, and secure society is the foundation of a strong economy. And that’s something worth fighting for.
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i feel summer approaching with an uncanny mix of dread and excitement. i can’t tell which one is stronger.
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dread dread dread dread dread dread dread dread dread dread dread dread dread dread dread dread dread dread dread dread dread
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In the half-light of a twisted biomechanical landscape, skeletal trees arch like ancient sentinels, draped in veins of oily shadows that pulsate with an unseen dread. The ground, a patchwork of glimmering black tesserae, seems to breathe beneath your feet, whispering secrets in a language of rust and decay. Towering structures, both organic and mechanical, rise from the abyss, their surfaces etched with cryptic symbols that shimmer subtly, beckoning the brave—or the foolish—to decipher their meaning. Wisps of fog curl like fingers, caressing the cold, metallic appendages that emerge from the ground, intertwining with grotesque shapes that writhe and shift, hinting at the nightmares they conceal. Above, a moon hangs low, enveloped in a thick veil of swirling mists, casting eerie, elongated shadows that twist and coil as if alive, transforming the very air into a tapestry of unsettling dreams and whispered fears, where reality blurs with the deep recesses of the subconscious.
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Every day the morning lasts for hours and you check the clock and go ‘wow it’s not even midday yet!’ and then as soon as it hits 12pm it’s 4pm and there’s 30 seconds between those times. every day
