this post was submitted on 04 Mar 2026
15 points (56.2% liked)

Showerthoughts

40907 readers
603 users here now

A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The most popular seem to be lighthearted clever little truths, hidden in daily life.

Here are some examples to inspire your own showerthoughts:

Rules

  1. All posts must be showerthoughts
  2. The entire showerthought must be in the title
  3. No politics
    • If your topic is in a grey area, please phrase it to emphasize the fascinating aspects, not the dramatic aspects. You can do this by avoiding overly politicized terms such as "capitalism" and "communism". If you must make comparisons, you can say something is different without saying something is better/worse.
    • A good place for politics is c/politicaldiscussion
  4. Posts must be original/unique
  5. Adhere to Lemmy's Code of Conduct and the TOS

If you made it this far, showerthoughts is accepting new mods. This community is generally tame so its not a lot of work, but having a few more mods would help reports get addressed a little sooner.

Whats it like to be a mod? Reports just show up as messages in your Lemmy inbox, and if a different mod has already addressed the report, the message goes away and you never worry about it.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

We have decided some brain quirks are disorders (and get accommodations, as is compassionate), whilst others are flaws (and get slurs). But no one picks their hardware. You cannot earn a better prefrontal cortex or deserve a calmer amygdala. Nor does one get to pick the environment they are born in, which will inform their choices later in life. Even the capacity to "learn better" is a roll of the dice, some brains start the race with sprinting shoes, others with lead weights.

So when we call someone stupid, lazy or insane we are not describing a choice, but simply announcing which kinds of unlucky we’ve decided are worthy of scorn.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Gathorall@lemmy.world -1 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago) (4 children)

Cruelty implies a choice. It doesn't exist in a world without free will. So you've succeeded, seeing the world is free of cruelty. What is next for you?

[–] oreoreore@lemy.lol 3 points 2 hours ago (3 children)

Cruelty is merely a label we put upon an action we find harmful. Like every word, it is made up.

No word is the thing it points to. Except perhaps the word, "word" itself. Every word I have written is a small lie.

One does not go around licking recipes in order to taste the dish.

[–] Gathorall@lemmy.world -1 points 2 hours ago (2 children)

Well, then use the words you mean. Cruelty was clearly an incorrect one. We can't exchange ideas effectively of you refuse to use words with their assigned meaning.

[–] oreoreore@lemy.lol 3 points 2 hours ago (1 child)

Please feel free to get familiar with semantics.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semantics

Now if you have an actual argument for why free will exists, please do argue that. Else, I have said as much as needed.

[–] Gathorall@lemmy.world -1 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

I didn't ever claim free will existed. Just congratulated you on your success.

Now if you want a world free of strife, that's more of a task even in a pre-determined universe.