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People Are Sharing Difficult Truths In This “Hard To Swallow Pill” Thread (30 Tweets)
Being wise, you could argue, is all about uncovering the multiple layers of illusion that this onion called ‘Life' has to offer to get to the core full of Truth. Or, to put it in less oniony terms, if we accept what the world's really like (not what we personally believe it to be like), we can focus on what's really important without stumbling about in the dark.
However, that means swallowing a looooot of inconvenient truths that prickle and pinch our egos and make us want to curl up like hedgehogs. Twitter user Colevsthewrld created a viral thread where people shared the hardest truths to swallow that they know of, so scroll on down for the best responses. Upvote the ones you know to be true.
Psst, Pandas, when you're done munching on all of these truth-pills, Bored Panda's got another post about inconvenient truths right over here for dessert. We hope you're like Neo from ‘The Matrix' cuz we're about to dive deep into reality and look past the (un)comfortable simulation we live in.
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Colevsthewrld used the well-known ‘hard to swallow pill' meme template to illustrate their post that got over 50k retweets and 16.8k likes. The meme was created just over 3 years ago (happy birthday!), in February of 2018, after going viral on Reddit.
‘Know Your Meme' explains that the image used in the meme can be found on WikiHow's article called “How to Lower Myostatin Levels.”
This is true. I've been the toxic person before, and I realized my shortcomings too late and lost a very dear friend as a result. The scary thing, though? I honestly had no idea that my behavior was inappropriate, and I held no malice or ill will towards my friend. But unfortunately I was in a bad place, and they were the unfortunate victim of my lashing out. I'm much better now, but I hate what it cost me to get better.
While it's popular to believe that everything's subjective and just depends on your point of view, that's an overly-individualistic view of the world. There are objective facts about reality, life, and the human condition that need to be accepted for what they are without any rose-tinted glasses or disbelief just because “somebody doesn't like it.”
Now, this doesn't mean that we can do away with looking at existence with our emotions (they're an integral part of being human, after all), but it does require setting our feelings aside, even if for a moment, and taking a long, hard look past the ego-trips, biases, denialism, and politicization. Life becomes full of shades of gray, instead of just being black-and-white. It's complex. It's messy. It's… well, it's human.
Don't personally subscribe to the 'meant to be'. Yes, I think some people are in our lives for a short while because we get what we need out of that relationship and then move on. They fulfil a particular need at the time. That's not 'meant to be'.
This one. This is why sometimes the saying: Put others before yourself, can be damaging, because you can't help other people if you don't help yourself first.
You could literally be the best person in the world and people will still dislike you. It is literally impossible for everyone to like you so it’s best stop trying to please every Tom, D**k and Harry.
It's incredibly easy to judge someone for not seeing the truth about something. I mean, we'd never do that ourselves, would we, dear Pandas? Unfortunately, each and every single one of us is privy to our own biases, blind spots, and teeny-tiny denials that would make us facepalm if we could see ourselves from the side. So instead of rushing to judge others for being “blind to the truth,” let's take a look at why people might not want to accept the truth.
Yup, I shouldn’t expect it, been waiting for over a year. Apparently I have to apologise to receive an apology yet I have literally done NOTHING wrong. That is the problem with narcissistic people.
In an article for The Guardian, sociologist Keith Kahn-Harris argues that we're all in denial, some of the time. However, this denialism becomes a problem when, according to him, it becomes public dogma.
“Denialism is an expansion, an intensification, of denial. At root, denial and denialism are simply a subset of the many ways humans have developed to use language to deceive others and themselves. Denial can be as simple as refusing to accept that someone else is speaking truthfully. Denial can be as unfathomable as the multiple ways we avoid acknowledging our weaknesses and secret desires.”
Kahn-Harris continues: “Denialism is more than just another manifestation of the humdrum intricacies of our deceptions and self-deceptions. It represents the transformation of the everyday practice of denial into a whole new way of seeing the world and— most important— a collective accomplishment. Denial is furtive and routine; denialism is combative and extraordinary. Denial hides from the truth, denialism builds a new and better truth.”
On the other side of the coin, competence does not justify meanness. You can be right and still be an a$$hole.
Yep. I realised that when my 'friend' started belittling me to make her feel better about herself. Stomped on compliments I got because they weren't aimed at her. Bye-bye time.
In short, denial (which we all have a tendency toward to some extent) can grow into denialism on a massive, societal level. And that denialism can touch any topic: from the unending debate about whether climate change is ‘real' to the Myths vs. Science mega-battle raging about vaccines.
So true. The people I know who work the hardest and save the most are poor.
Kahn-Harris explained that denialism, the inability or unwillingness to face the truth, can have tangible real-world consequences. While some might be small, others are massive and lead to many lost lives.
“There is no doubt that denialism is dangerous. In some cases, we can point to concrete examples of denialism causing actual harm. In South Africa, President Thabo Mbeki, in office between 1999 and 2008, was influenced by Aids denialists such as Peter Duesberg, who deny the link between HIV and Aids (or even HIV's existence) and cast doubt on the effectiveness of anti-retroviral drugs. Mbeki's reluctance to implement national treatment programs using anti-retrovirals has been estimated to have cost the lives of 330,000 people.”
I'm almost 60 and still haven't figured out what I want to be when I grow up.
He explained that, more recently, we've seen the firsthand effects of vaccine denialism in the US: “On a smaller scale, in early 2017 the Somali-American community in Minnesota was struck by a childhood measles outbreak, as a direct result of proponents of the discredited theory that the MMR vaccine causes autism, persuading parents not to vaccinate their children.”
Ugh. People, not guy/girl and also not true. Some people will be lovely, realise you aren't the right person and be honest and say so as kindly as possible. Doesn't mean they aren't acting 'right' at all.
We weren’t all raised to believe it’s the same way, so “never” is a stretch. So is this whole post really.
So, dear Readers, what did you think? Do you agree that every one of these count as ‘truth pills' or are there some that you'd disagree with? Why? What's the harshest Truth (with a capital ‘T') about life that you think everybody should know? Any tips on helping all of us to set our egos aside? We'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences, so write us a comment or two and post it below.
True: another hard truth: sometimes no one is the problem - no need to blame anyone
If you're being good to someone in the hope that they'll be good to you, you're starting out on the wrong foot anyway.
No, stop blaming things on yourself. There are occasions where you're in the company of very obnoxious people that make you feel uncomfortable, because you know you could never be as shallow and bigoted as them.
If you're going to keep books on love in a relationship, you will be going bust very soon.
Maybe to some but my hubby, kids, mum and friends all beg to differ.
That is not 100% true, there are issues that we have no control over that have nothing to do with us but still effects us. For example if I was hit by a drunk driver and was severely injured, me complaining about being in pain is not my fault. If I have an epileptic fit and hurt myself in the process it is not my fault. Me having a miscarriage and feeling the guilt, shame, grief etc is not my fault.
Unless he gets married, then divorced and married again etc, Elizabeth Taylor married 8 times. Or Harry could be polyamorous and move to a country where it is legal to have more than one partner. Unlikely but not impossible.
It is better to be last in a class of clever people than first in a class of fools.
Only lend what you are prepared to lose for good. Better to just give and help that person with no expectations wherever possible.
Sounds more like 'bitter and angry' pills than just "hard to swallow"...
I feel like I need some context for this one!! Sure, couples break up, but... isn't this a bit...extreme?
Cheezus I'm getting more and more depressed reading these. Why even bother getting out of bed?
I beg to differ, many parents will put their kids interests before their own. Some people even put their pets interests before their own.
I'd rather it was recognised at some point. Even if it is too late to repair things it can help to find forgiveness.
No one is 'called'. There is the planet, the world you find yourself in, a set of options and choices and what we decide to do with them, where we try to go. Some people aren't cut out for a relationship or marriage. Some people aren't motivated by wealth.
If you are confessing to make yourself feel better but it isn't in their interests then you might be better off shutting up.
Pfft, this one is a load of bull. Tell that to the kids who were abused, neglected, given up on etc. My partner has proved to me numerous times that he has my back, more so than my own dad.
Even without the spelling mistake, this one is bulls1t. If you both fell in love, both were acting in your kids' best interests, then even when it doesn't work out, it was never a waste of your, or their time. You've raised children and contributes to life experiences. None of that is a waste.
Since I'm here first I'm going to try to make your day/night a little better. Giant Pandas are no longer endangered, and now they just fall into the "vulnerable" catagory. Southern White Rihnos (not to be confused with Northern White Rihnos) are also no longer endangered and to my knowledge now also fall under the "vulnerable" catagory.
That's wonderful news about Giant Pandas! Let's hope their situation improves even more :) Thank you for sharing this.
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Some of these are just too black and white. I disagreed with quite a few of them.
My first thought when reading was. "Hard to swallow pill, a lot what you read on boredpanda is also bullcrap"
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Yeah, it sounds like the average age of the respondents is about 15. If you want to downvote the whole thing scroll all the way down to the bottom and look at the right side. If you're on the app I can't help you though.
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This is like a list "How to make you truly depressed and hopeless". Not all life truths are black and white and devastating. Just cheer up a little, for God's sake.
Well, an interesting read, and some were relatable, but I felt like I needed context for a lot of them. Lower down the list of 100+ bitter pills, some just seemed like 'giving up' and it was kinda sad. I just want to say, love is possible, and there are good people out there, even if you do have to wait a bit longer than some to find them. Never. Give. Up.
"Just because there is a lid for every pot (in theory) doesn't mean you are going to find your 'lid' in real life"
"Just because you've watched too many Disney movies about people finding their 'true love,' bonding instantly, and then living 'happily ever after' doesn't mean you should believe those movies. Read the original fairy tales sometime and be glad you don't live in that world anymore (at least most of us don't)."
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So, is this what BP put up until people have voted enough for the 'this page originally had 103 posts'? I usually only see those ones, now I know why, far too much repetition and tedium. Did they have 'life's not fair' in there? I gave up after about 40
Regard these as an antidote for someone who has naively swallowed too much optimism.
Most of them are from one perspective. And many things are based on the situation and the people involved. Some of them are outright negative influence and affects the feel.
Here's mine "Life will reward bad behavior just enough so that you won't make an effort to change it".
Most of those sentences are true... And it is depressing. The earlier you give up trying, the earlier you will stop having any hope or any trust, the least you will suffer.
Somehow only on the very last one i realized the bottle was held with the left hand and that bothered me a lot even though thats also how i would hold it in real life. Im a weird person
Hard to swallow pill. Writing really stupid and obvious inspirational quotes like a middle school drama class girl is not going to get you up votes.
I can't believe there are adults who don't know these BASIC things.
I wonder about the person(s) where these posts originate... there are quite a few occurrences of strange sentence structures and improper grammar. Some were just hooey!
A lot of these felt like high school poetry. You're just a teenager, you got plenty of time to experience things.
this has taoght me. (i have a condition known as lazy no speller)
I wonder if I can add the lyrics to the Mountain Goats song "Magpie". Fits the general theme, except much better written... Feed the kittens in the kitchen. Set food out for the strays. Try hard to do your best. The magpie will have his way. Fill your mouth with berries by the full light of the moon. Work all night if you have to. The magpie comes at noon. Shore up the crucifixes above the archways and the doors. The magpie will come at midday and you will go down on all fours. And when the cherry's white with blossoms, be ready and be brave. And remember what we had here, when there was something left to save.
Since I'm here first I'm going to try to make your day/night a little better. Giant Pandas are no longer endangered, and now they just fall into the "vulnerable" catagory. Southern White Rihnos (not to be confused with Northern White Rihnos) are also no longer endangered and to my knowledge now also fall under the "vulnerable" catagory.
That's wonderful news about Giant Pandas! Let's hope their situation improves even more :) Thank you for sharing this.
Load More Replies... Some of these are just too black and white. I disagreed with quite a few of them.
My first thought when reading was. "Hard to swallow pill, a lot what you read on boredpanda is also bullcrap"
Load More Replies... Yeah, it sounds like the average age of the respondents is about 15. If you want to downvote the whole thing scroll all the way down to the bottom and look at the right side. If you're on the app I can't help you though.
Load More Replies... This is like a list "How to make you truly depressed and hopeless". Not all life truths are black and white and devastating. Just cheer up a little, for God's sake.
Well, an interesting read, and some were relatable, but I felt like I needed context for a lot of them. Lower down the list of 100+ bitter pills, some just seemed like 'giving up' and it was kinda sad. I just want to say, love is possible, and there are good people out there, even if you do have to wait a bit longer than some to find them. Never. Give. Up.
"Just because there is a lid for every pot (in theory) doesn't mean you are going to find your 'lid' in real life"
"Just because you've watched too many Disney movies about people finding their 'true love,' bonding instantly, and then living 'happily ever after' doesn't mean you should believe those movies. Read the original fairy tales sometime and be glad you don't live in that world anymore (at least most of us don't)."
Load More Replies... So, is this what BP put up until people have voted enough for the 'this page originally had 103 posts'? I usually only see those ones, now I know why, far too much repetition and tedium. Did they have 'life's not fair' in there? I gave up after about 40
Regard these as an antidote for someone who has naively swallowed too much optimism.
Most of them are from one perspective. And many things are based on the situation and the people involved. Some of them are outright negative influence and affects the feel.
Here's mine "Life will reward bad behavior just enough so that you won't make an effort to change it".
Most of those sentences are true... And it is depressing. The earlier you give up trying, the earlier you will stop having any hope or any trust, the least you will suffer.
Somehow only on the very last one i realized the bottle was held with the left hand and that bothered me a lot even though thats also how i would hold it in real life. Im a weird person
Hard to swallow pill. Writing really stupid and obvious inspirational quotes like a middle school drama class girl is not going to get you up votes.
I can't believe there are adults who don't know these BASIC things.
I wonder about the person(s) where these posts originate... there are quite a few occurrences of strange sentence structures and improper grammar. Some were just hooey!
A lot of these felt like high school poetry. You're just a teenager, you got plenty of time to experience things.
this has taoght me. (i have a condition known as lazy no speller)
I wonder if I can add the lyrics to the Mountain Goats song "Magpie". Fits the general theme, except much better written... Feed the kittens in the kitchen. Set food out for the strays. Try hard to do your best. The magpie will have his way. Fill your mouth with berries by the full light of the moon. Work all night if you have to. The magpie comes at noon. Shore up the crucifixes above the archways and the doors. The magpie will come at midday and you will go down on all fours. And when the cherry's white with blossoms, be ready and be brave. And remember what we had here, when there was something left to save.
