Emotions are a complex thing. Anyone would say that sadness feels bad, and laughing feels good. But the human psyche is so much more complicated than that, and things are never just black and white.
So in order to see how that works in practice, we’re diving into a collection of posts that will simultaneously crack a smile, and leave you pretty sad. And thanks to the corner of Reddit “Funny And Sad,” which is home to 726k members, there’s a lot to choose from!
Get ready for a very nuanced experience of internet consumption where jokes meet tough reality, and where the reality is not always funny. After you’re done, be sure to check out part 1 of the post right here.
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Why On Earth !?
The Most United States Thing To Say About The United States Ever
Poor Mom
Previously, we spoke with Dr. Lise Deguire, a clinical psychologist and the author of “Flashback Girl: Lessons on Resilience From a Burn Survivor” who said that occasional sadness is a normal part of life.“Happiness and sadness are both normal feelings that naturally arise through life's inevitable ups and downs. When people are numb to their feelings, or try to avoid feelings altogether, they won't experience sadness, but they won't experience much happiness either,” she explained.
However, some people may be more susceptible to sad emotions than others. This may be due to many reasons, but previous experiences, genetics, and mindsets are largely to blame. “This can be partly genetic and partly due to negative life experiences. Mindset is also a factor,” Lisa told us.
“People who tend to be pessimistic, who dwell on the future anxiously, and who ruminate negatively about the past can experience more sadness. However, these are cognitive bad habits that can really be helped by psychotherapy.”
Sounds About Right
Unfortunate Truth
Too Soon?
But most of the posts in this article have to do with the fact that they make a point which is presented in a funny way but is in itself not that funny. Quite on the contrary, many examples present cases of what could be called “a hard truth” which is, as we know very well, a pretty hard thing to swallow.
In a previous interview, Susan Petang, a certified life coach who runs The Quiet Zone Coaching, told Bored Panda that if the truth is something we don’t agree with, it will be uncomfortable to hear it because it all has to do with our core beliefs and values, and the way we view the world.
“When what we believe to be true about ourselves, situations, other people, or the world in general is at odds with what we observe, the result is cognitive dissonance—when our beliefs and our observations are at odds. This can cause considerable stress,” she explained.
What A Bunch Of Sheep
The War In Afghanistan Cost Americans 300 Million A Day For The Last 20 Years
When They Tell You To Work Hard To Be Rich
My 12yo wants to live in Iceland when they grow up and I'm encouraging them because I want my kid to have a better life than I've had and getting out of the USA is going to contribute to making that possible.
On the other hand, when we talk about truth, we have to be aware of the fact that it’s really a question of perception. Unless it’s a stated, scientifically-backed up fact, or a law of nature, all truths can be challenged. “So, what I have experienced as 'truth' may not be what you have experienced as 'truth.' For example, one could say that the truth is that water boils at 212 degrees. Or does it? If you use the metric system, water boils at 100 degrees,” Susan said.
Unfortunately It Gets Swept Under The Rug Because We Don’t Have Our S**t Together
I don't think enough cactus could be grown to make much of a dent in the use of plastic throughout the world.
I know plastic has made mass production easier, and paper/cardboard production causes its own problems, but I really hate that plastic has been in use for what, 100-150 years? So much dependence and damage done in such a short time. Mass production of throwaway goods(and the profit from it) makes it hard to go back, but it was not that long ago we did not need plastic at all. If we used some older packaging methods combined with modern compostables like above, maybe we can keep our lifestyles kinda, and stop the permanent damage? It's wishful thinking I know, and I'm just riffing ignorantly
Load More Replies...It's the prickly pear cactus, the spaniards imported it in Sicily in XV century. There's a company here in Italy that makes fake leather from it.
This was published half a year before the pandemic, and is currently awaiting patenting from what I understood
If we never hear about it, it's not because "it's swept under the rug" or "it's a conspiracy". It's because the solution is impractical, uneconomic or not scalable. If it were an actual breakthrough, nothing would stop it. Stop believing in fairy tales, the world is much less interesting as you'd think.
NOTHING is practical, economical or scalable when it is first invented. It needs to be developed. Do you think single-use plastics sprang fully formed for the forehead of Zeus?!?
Load More Replies...About ten years ago, I believe it was Frito Lays potato chip company, created a biodegradable and compostable potato chip bag. Sadly they stopped using it because people complained the bag made to much noise while eating their chips.
Aaaw...BOO F*****G HOO, little whiny asshat toxic bitches!
Load More Replies...We had the inventor of corn-based biodegradable plastics visit our school in 1994. 1994! And 27 yrs later we are using oil based plastics in more products than ever.
We already have biodegradable plastic bags and they're routinely used for dog poo or food/compost waste at home all over Europe. However, the bags are usually quite thin and flimsy, so not any good to replace plastic shopping bags (which could be replaces with reusable fabric once, though).
But what happens to biodegradable plastic? Does it break down into micro plastics and get into water and animals/people?
Load More Replies...Reminds me of how I was thinking earlier about see-through cardboard. Should definitely be a thing. Producers use plastic coverings on products because it protects it and consumers can see what they are buying. If we had clear cardboard, then consumers could still see the product and it would be protective but it would also be recyclable. I feel like that would be a good invention.
Its one thing to create something in a lab, its another thing altogether to commercialise it and produce it at scale for an economical price.
Biodegradable plastic already exists. The questions: under what condition does it biodegrade? How does its biodegrading effect the ecosystem? How much does it cost to produce? Will the knowledge it's biodegradable lead people to believe it is certain to biodegrade no matter what, and exacerbate littering and pollution?
It hasn't been forgotten so far. There are several companies making a commercial vinyl-like material (think "pleather") out of it.
I often wondered why we would hear about these amazing innovations but never see them come to fruition - turns out, 9 times out of 10, the cost to produce would be prohibitive. I'm talking "It would cost $9M to make 10 units" type of thing. In other cases, it's just more expensive than plastic, and apparently people aren't great at discerning "short term $1 more, long term saves the planet".
I swear I saw something on a news program about some guy that modified an old car to run on water and I bet that guy had an "accident" shortly thereafter. I could look it up now but we all know I'm not going to.
Every other year some idiot tries to market their electrolysis engine like the whole concept doesn't violate the second law of thermodynamics. The projects that worked were just electric cars with extra steps.
Load More Replies...Not if it is used to wrap sandwiches or other food that has a short shelf life.
Load More Replies...Dammit stop squashing good ideas because "tHeN mY OiL bIlLIoNs WoNt bE wOrTh AS MuCh 😭😭"
Wouldn't that just not work though? We use plastic because it's so stable. What's the point of plastic that breaks down?
This is revolutionary but sadly, will be ignored by a lot of people
Does that mean that if I don't use my bowl in a month it will be gone ?
I think we should just get plastics off the planet! No matter what it's made of!
I Couldn’t Help But Laugh
I Guess The Hotline Technically Worked?
She Found The Root Of The Problem
"In my time, 50 euros were a lot of money, you know... -Yes grandma, but your time is over."
Little By Little, You Have To Go To Europe To Work
More news: Graduate Americans decide to stay in Europe because they can't see themselves returning to a dystopian society after having experienced what it is to live in a normal country.
Seems To Make Sense
Three Paytriots Trying To Save America
Don’t Get Vaccinated
Millennials In Congress
Considering the average age of a lot of elected officials, it would be best to hire younger people anyway because they have more perspective on what life is like for young people and how much stuff costs
John Boner, I Was Opposed To Recreational Marijuana Until I Started Making Millions Off Of It
One Star Texas?
Nice Going Sis
My Favorite Kind Of Sale
But everything you think you're gonna get is actually from a completely different department, as you got lost in the shop. Keep it anyway.
Tweet: Raising The Hand
Not So Dystopian
We Can't Do Anything Else But Laugh At This Point
Education Matters
Yes, That Is True Icebreaker
*cries In Millennial/Zoomer*
Make A Wish
3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Open The Door
It Sucks To Be A Diabetic In The US
American Dream Move Out Of Country
Where Are These Robots?
Seen On My Walk To Work Yesterday
The True Answer
Trump: Hi Beautiful Girls I Love All Of You
If You’re Ever In A Fist Fight
Not To Mention Our Ears
Don't give them more ideas! They'll start making us pay for all our individual body parts. Oh you fell and believe you sprained your wrist? Well, you have wrist insurance but X Rays show you also fractured a bone in your hand and you don't have coverage for that.
So True
And The Pizza Parties!
I Have Stage 4 Cancer And Sent This Message To My Friend After Getting My Second Vaccine. This Was His Response
America's Healthcare
I Have This Really Funny Story To Tell You Guys. I Was
It Is Really Funny And Sad
She Has No Brother
Jigsaws
Here We Go Again Another Top 1% Rich
Amazon shills in comments below, beware anyone that denies anyone their human rights.
"One Of My"
Rockets Go Vroom
Good Old Cod Lobbies
Note: this post originally had 120 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
Ya, people from other countries on here love to take a poop on America. Why is it so many people want to come here then?
Load More Replies...Nice another thread bashing the USA 😱surprised face! I’m glad bashing a country makes others feel good!
I get the feeling boredpanda assumes most of it's readers are American and post content based off of that.
Load More Replies...Whataboutism is a false argument. US healthcare / costs are bankrupting families and ensuring that those on the lowest wages get poor healthcare, that’s outrageous. Chinese concentration camps are ALSO outrageous. There are also human rights violations all across the Middle East, Israel is stealing land and homes, there is wholesale destruction of the environment all around the world, there are humanitarian crises on pretty much every continent…….and on and on. The healthcare system can be changed by democratic and concerted effort by the American people, in order to do that it needs to be highlighted and the politicians held to account. The others requires those same politicians to exert pressure on China et al, a regular American citizen can’t contact a foreign official and demand an explanation or indeed change. Instead of undermining legitimate concerns about healthcare how about encouraging positive change AND highlighting the other concerns around the world?
Load More Replies...Ya, people from other countries on here love to take a poop on America. Why is it so many people want to come here then?
Load More Replies...Nice another thread bashing the USA 😱surprised face! I’m glad bashing a country makes others feel good!
I get the feeling boredpanda assumes most of it's readers are American and post content based off of that.
Load More Replies...Whataboutism is a false argument. US healthcare / costs are bankrupting families and ensuring that those on the lowest wages get poor healthcare, that’s outrageous. Chinese concentration camps are ALSO outrageous. There are also human rights violations all across the Middle East, Israel is stealing land and homes, there is wholesale destruction of the environment all around the world, there are humanitarian crises on pretty much every continent…….and on and on. The healthcare system can be changed by democratic and concerted effort by the American people, in order to do that it needs to be highlighted and the politicians held to account. The others requires those same politicians to exert pressure on China et al, a regular American citizen can’t contact a foreign official and demand an explanation or indeed change. Instead of undermining legitimate concerns about healthcare how about encouraging positive change AND highlighting the other concerns around the world?
Load More Replies...