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We all have that friend who pollutes our Facebook or Instagram feed. Now the actual toxic waste they spill might differ, but whether it's cringy boomer comics or their very, very amateur nature photos, even the most mundane posts can become poisonous in huge amounts.

I usually try to distance myself from these people without actually confronting them; I unfollow them. But Michael James Schneider, a writer and artist living in Portland, Oregon, has found a more creative way to deal with them.

When he got fed up with the ridiculous amounts of balloons popping up on his social media feeds, Michael decided to point out how ridiculous they can be by becoming part of the cult.

"I try to make commentary about, or poke fun at, social media. The balloons were a social media trope often used in bridal showers and gender reveals, so they were a natural progression of that idea. I love the contrast of profound, funny, or challenging quotes spelled in silly balloons. And since another common cliche is endless selfies, I tend to put myself in most of the photos. They often make people cringe, but the cringe is the point," Michael told Bored Panda.

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The artist usually gets the phrases from the Internet. "I source them online, most of the quotes are curated from other, far wiser people, and me and my friend slash assistant, Andrew Jankowski, try to attribute them as accurately as possible." Michael is also asking people who repost his art to please do their best to credit the people who originally said these phrases too.

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Phunny Philosopher
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you. I needed this today. I was just having this discussion with friends yesterday. I always see the good in people, and often that view hurts me deeply. What is wrong with me? It's like I can't learn.

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Words aside, another important part of each photo is its background. "One of my favorite things to do is spot a brightly colored wall when riding my bike in Portland, and make a mental note to visit it later," Michael explained his location scouting. "I choose colorful walls based on what direction they're facing (for lighting reasons), how public they are (so that I can set them up subtlety), and how textured the wall is (since very textured walls won't hold the type of tape I use)."

After the photoshoot is over, the balloons go back to Michael's basement, waiting to be used for the next shoot. The artist said these types of air-filled Mylar balloons aren't great for the environment, so he discourages people from buying them if their intention is to throw them away after use. "I reuse them from shoot to shoot and I have an alphabet in each color. I sometimes choose to use different colors if I’m out of a letter, rather than purchase more, and then I photoshop the colors to match afterwards."

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Kevin Donegan
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Both statements are true. The morbidly obese pathological lying vindictive narcissistic imbecile with the emotional maturity of a toddler (AKA tRump) is simply a horrible, horrible person.

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John-Paul Bitler
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Trump is sure as hell a racist. But rapist? The closest thing I've heard is him being a friend of Epstein. Can someone show me a link?

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Christina Uhlir
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt." - Mark Twain (1835 - 1910) American writer. Guess who could learn from that good advice? .. ......... I fervently hope he will not.

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Willow Anderson
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Alright everyone this is getting way too out of hand. I agree with this picture but that does not mean you all have to. I respect all of your opinions, even if I don’t agree with them, but that does not mean we should drag out our anger on to other people and blame bored panda for this sign. We did not come here to argue about politics.

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Willow Anderson
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kathy Flavin and Truth Monster, I respect your opinions but this statement is nothing but the truth. Sadly Donald Trump is able to pull a wall over many peoples eyes.

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Raven
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

why do ppl hate trump? Isn't he better than Hillary?

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Bill Kratz
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Completely inappropriate for this site regardless of one's political beliefs.

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Lisa Chambers
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cute but kind of flops in the face of the good you tried to put out there with your other statements. Also f*****g boring as f**k.

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Willow Anderson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tabitha L, I just stated we are NOT judging him on his size, and you are correct I do not like him because of his statements or his actions. Therefor I’m not being ‘‘sizeist”.

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Chris Watson
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was interested in this series. Until you dragged in politics. So sad you have also been seduced by the latest "band wagon." I have no respect for you.

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Emy Loves
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He may or may not have made these mistakes, as all humans make mistakes. But President Trump will transform America under God's law. Stop judging his character and perhaps take a mirror check on your own.

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Thundercuss
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

God's law?!? First of all we have freedom of religion and separation of church and state here in the U.S. No president has the right to impose religious laws or beliefs on Americans. Secondly there is no one set of laws known as "God's Law." There are a million different interpretations from an ancient book that people think they understand but don't. Lastly, if you think trump is a Christian the you DO NOT KNOW WHAT CHRISTIANITY IS. His actions and attitudes are the exact opposite of everything Jesus taught about how to treat each other and conduct ourselves.

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Tres D
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3 years ago

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I find it interesting how liberals didn't care at all that Barack was OPENLY racist . He made plenty of real racist comments while he was president and wrote about his open racism in his two books before he was elected. Not to mention all of Bill Clinton's raping and being with teenage girls. Liberals are selectively outraged! #Hypocrisy

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Thundercuss
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tres D I don't know what bizarro dimension you're living in where Obama is a racist but I imagine it's the same one where he's a Muslim, wasn't born in the U.S., and wants to take away everybody's guns. None of these things are true, the vast majority of us know it, and you look like an idiot for parroting ridiculous lies.

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Pusfarm
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry bud, there's a HUGE difference between Trump and Biden when it comes to being a ra_ist. Aside from the short list of Biden accusers, Trump has made it abundantly clear - publicly - that both terms apply to him, many times over!

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Ginger Shows
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3 years ago

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Biden's the racist. He didn't want his children going to school in a jungle! He fought to keep Clarence Thomas off the Supreme Court. Biden proposed the police officers bill of rights following the Rodney King riots.

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K Witmer
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Joe Biden no doubt has made many mistakes and has been a total a*****e 25 years ago but he has admitted to his wrong doings. Much more than trump has ever done if independents could win in this country im sure we'd vote for them. Biden is the lesser of two evils at this point and what a sad thing for the USA but trump has to go.

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Truth Monster
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3 years ago

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I disagree with both, but this is at least clever. "Orange Man bad" gets old

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M DR
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3 years ago

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Your name is ”truth monster” and yet you disagree with facts? You are drowning in the kool-aid.

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Michael has been trying to make it as a creative ever since he put his 20-year experience in retail management on pause. He paints, directs, writes, is an amateur interior designer, and has done theatrical set and production design. "I don’t claim to have the answers for anyone, least of all myself, but I’m having fun on the journey. Or at least pretending to on social media."

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Stille20
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had to learn this the hard way... twice. These relationships are hard to walk away from, but when you find someone who doesn't give you mixed signals, you suddenly realize how crazy you were to settle for anything less.

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Lil Bare
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The (male) ego often tries to protect itself and thus would rather leave the other feeling low and s****y instead of admit that it did sth wrong. May the ppl beware of how ridiculous the ego makes us

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Jace
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is why we need to stop arguing with alt-right nutjobs on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, forums, etc...

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Sergio Bicerra Descalzi
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

omg, litterlly the first time I saw the top comment is with negative votes. Such a hard theme to make an opinion.

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Monika Soffronow
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only one you can change is yourself - by making different choices and realizing that how we react to what life serves us is often not by choice but by lazy habit.

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Cori
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a 36 year old college student, I can attest to this. Also, I love that table!

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Stille20
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yea, it depends on the context. Expecting someone to accept you from your gambling addiction or negative attitude is different then accepting that you have a health issue or went through some trauma.

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Lil Bare
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very true. In fact, relationships that result out of an extreme shared experience are said to be very fragile

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Jace
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aaaand cue all the ignorant, sexist, anti-abortion comments from the weird minority of right-wing people who create accounts on left-wing Bored Panda in some kind of misdirected effort at changing people’s minds with their abusive, judgmental, and ignorant comments...

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River wolf
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9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Um… does it still count when I instinctively shrink from fear, embarrassment, or scolding?

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Christina Uhlir
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Don't try to mend a broken heart with the same person who broke it." - Steven Ailchison

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Jace
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All that matters is if it accomplishes something for you. For some people that’s a sense of accomplishment. For others, it’s earned income, attention & acknowledgement, better opportunities, etc.

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Tabitha L
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was in my 20s, I was so hungry for success that it made me angry when others succeeded. Once I got into my 30s, I felt that rage unclench. I can now be happy and enjoy everyone's success knowing that it doesn't limit my own.

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Tabitha L
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

While I am a fan of both, I think it is ok to just be a fan of Drag Race. It is a great show, and is many people's first exposure to this culture. Let's call it gateway drag. Could lead to habitual drag consumption.

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Mal
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a little all-or-nothing kind of statement, but I think here he is trying to say something about complacency. Do you stay silent when your partner makes comments or micro-aggressions that are homophobic? An ally ought to try to open a dialogue with their partner to find why they say things or the root of their misunderstanding, etc.

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