humanity
For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.
The Story of the Silent Man -Uk street
The man from abroad remains silent. The mystery of why he stands in the middle of the road when traffic is still stopped has been around for a while; it was originally discovered online. Swansea is a seaside city in Wales that is a part of the United Kingdom. Swansea was a top target for the Germans in World War II because it was crucial to the establishment of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. Swansea is a sleepy town these days, but in 2014, an odd thing happened. Swansea locals noted that traffic was held up far more than usual on a typical bright day
Ibrahim DaudaPublished about a month ago in HumansThe psychology of narcissism
Way before the first selfie, the ancient Greeks and Romans had a myth about someone a little too obsessed with his own image. In one telling, Narcissus was a handsome guy wandering the world in search of someone to love. After rejecting a nymph named Echo, he caught a glimpse of his own reflection in a river, and fell in love with it. Unable to tear himself away, Narcissus drowned. A flower marked the spot of where he died, and we call that flower the Narcissus. The myth captures the basic idea of narcissism, elevated and sometimes detrimental self-involvement. But it's not just a personality type that shows up in advice columns. It's actually a set of traits classified and studied by psychologists. The psychological definition of narcissism is an inflated, grandiose self-image. To varying degrees, narcissists think they're better looking, smarter, and more important than other people, and that they deserve special treatment. Psychologists recognize two forms of narcissism as a personality trait: grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. There's also narcissistic personality disorder, a more extreme form, which we'll return to shortly. Grandiose narcissism is the most familiar kind, characterized by extroversion, dominance, and attention seeking. Grandiose narcissists pursue attention and power, sometimes as politicians, celebrities, or cultural leaders. Of course, not everyone who pursues these positions of power is narcissistic. Many do it for very positive reasons, like reaching their full potential, or helping make people's lives better. But narcissistic individuals seek power for the status and attention that goes with it. Meanwhile, vulnerable narcissists can be quiet and reserved. They have a strong sense of entitlement, but are easily threatened or slighted. In either case, the dark side of narcissism shows up over the long term. Narcissists tend to act selfishly, so narcissistic leaders may make risky or unethical decisions, and narcissistic partners may be dishonest or unfaithful. When their rosy view of themselves is challenged, they can become resentful and aggressive. It's like a disease where the sufferers feel pretty good, but the people around them suffer. Taken to the extreme, this behavior is classified as a psychological disorder called narcissistic personality disorder. It affects one to two percent of the population, more commonly men. It is also a diagnosis reserved for adults. Young people, especially children, can be very self-centered, but this might just be a normal part of development. The fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual describes several traits associated with narcissistic personality disorder. They include a grandiose view of oneself, problems with empathy, a sense of entitlement, and a need for admiration or attention. What makes these trait a true personality disorder is that they take over people's lives and cause significant problems. Imagine that instead of caring for your spouse or children, you used them as a source of attention or admiration. Or imagine that instead of seeking constructive feedback about your performance, you instead told everyone who tried to help you that they were wrong. So what causes narcissism? Twin studies show a strong genetic component, although we don't know which genes are involved. But environment matters, too. Parents who put their child on a pedestal can foster grandiose narcissism. And cold, controlling parents can contribute to vulnerable narcissism. Narcissism also seems to be higher in cultures that value individuality and self-promotion. In the United States, for example, narcissism as a personality trait has been rising since the 1970s, when the communal focus of the 60s gave way to the self-esteem movement and a rise in materialism. More recently, social media has multiplied the possibilities for self-promotion, though it's worth noting that there's no clear evidence that social media causes narcissism. Rather, it provides narcissists a means to seek social status and attention. So can narcissists improve on those negative traits? Yes! Anything that promotes honest reflection on their own behavior and caring for others, like psychotherapy or practicing compassion towards others, can be helpful. The difficulty is it can be challenging for people with narcissistic personality disorder to keep working at self-betterment. For a narcissist, self-reflection is hard from an unflattering angle.
Ajda TomšičPublished about a month ago in HumansUV LIGHT KILLS VIRUSES SO WHY ISN'T IT EVERYWHERE?
Back in March 2020, the air seemed to turn hostile all of a sudden, giving us a scare. Even now, a couple of years after the lockdown, it's strange to reflect on. We face off against unseen foes like viruses and bacteria every day, making us sniffle and sneeze through the colder months. While we rely on sprays and wipes to fight them, there's one potent weapon we've overlooked for decades—light.
Modern Dating
As someone who has spent more of their life single than in a relationship I've just really been having some thoughts about the dating world, what it has become, and is there really any hope to fix it. I know that what works for one person might n0t work for someone else, but I wanted to share my thoughts on this incase anyone felt the same.
Kimmiekins4Published about a month ago in HumansLove Is . . .
To me, love is a word impossible to define. Have you ever looked it up in the dictionary? I did. There are twenty-three definitions, fourteen as a noun and nine as a verb, but they don't even scratch the surface. So how does one define love? What is the essence of this captivating word we toss around haphazardly, like so many dollar bills at a county fair?
Kenny PennPublished about a month ago in HumansI feel more alone when I’m scrolling on my phone
What does it mean to be depressed and high-functioning? I learned in 2020, in the midst of feeling stuck in a cycle of overeating because I feel bad and then feeling bad for overeating, that I fell into the category of people who are sad yet can perform regular societal duties. I can keep a job, be social, go grocery shopping, take my dog out, make plans, keep plans (surprisingly), and check up on my friends and family. I could give a lot of myself and feel like my heart is so full, and at the same time feel deeply sad and empty. I was good at distracting myself with a Netflix binge or spending way too much money on dinner and drinks with a friend. I could be the funny one in the group I’m with, and later that same night curl up in a ball and cry myself to sleep.
Why Kindness Influencers Aren’t Kind At All
Social media platforms have become powerful tools for spreading messages, ideologies, and influencing behaviors. Among the millions of influencers populating these platforms, are a unique brand of influencers known as “kindness influencers.” These people leverage their online presence to promote acts of kindness, compassion, and positivity.
Jay KobayashiPublished about a month ago in HumansManaging Expectations
Managing Expectations Overview Something that I’ve been thinking about a lot recently is managing my expectations about almost everything and every person, including myself. I’ve always had an issue with setting unrealistic expectations for myself, for others, and for various experiences. I admittedly tend to set my standards too high for a lot of things, and I usually wind up disappointed in the outcome because I set myself up to be. I’m especially hard on myself and I always have been. I find it difficult to relax or be unproductive for a day and not feel absolutely horrible about it. I set these expectations for myself to be constantly productive, and to always be doing something useful, and that most definitely stems from heaps of my intrinsic, habitual insecurity, as well as my often perfectionistic mentality.
zoe frenchmanPublished about a month ago in HumansI dressed up for my husband and ended the night crying
Thursday, when my husband left, I was determined to greet him at home in a special way. I put on the lingerie I bought. I looked at myself in the mirror and felt ridiculous. I told myself I was being silly, that I was sexy and beautiful. I forced myself out of my comfort zone; I wanted to feel sexy and seen. I looked in the mirror again, considering changing. Should I switch to a different pair of panties? No, I'll wear them as they are. Oh my god, I look ridiculous, but my at least my chest looks nice like this. I fixed my hair. I poured myself a whisky and sat on the couch to wait for you. I looked in the mirror again, almost giving up. I reminded myself that it was just my low self-esteem talking.
sagar dhitalPublished about a month ago in HumansWe Need to Talk About Celebrities Polluting Our Atmosphere with Their Frivolous Private Jet Trips
Early February 2024, Taylor Swift made headlines after her lawyers threatened legal action against Jack Sweeney. The user on X, formerly Twitter, is known for creating accounts that log the private jet trips of celebrities and has previously been in trouble due to his tracking of Elon Musk and other celebrities on the site. His set of accounts, which were cited in an analysis in 2022, found that Swift was one of the biggest celebrity polluters due to her frivolous use of air travel. Her legal team is claiming, despite the public availability of flight record information, Sweeney’s sharing of this information is a form of “harassing conduct”, as the information shared has been used to shame her traveling habits.
Olivia L. DobbsPublished about a month ago in HumansBiases
Throughout history, biases stand as the subtle architects that shape our understanding of the world. These mental shortcuts, deeply embedded in cognitive processes, work quietly but profoundly to guide decision-making, interactions, and judgments. This exploration aims to delve into the often-overlooked impact of biases, unraveling their origins, expressions, and the far-reaching implications they carry for individuals and societies.
My Family and Our Double "Marriage"
I grew up in a broken home. And it wasn't the best experience - but not because my family was broken. It wasn't the best experience because the people involved (mostly a dead-beat biological father) were... shitty. But I grew up with a strong resolve. I knew that if I ever had kids - my life wasn't going to be perfect and I knew the chances of a 'whole' family were slim.
Hope MartinPublished about a month ago in Humans