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.
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.
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."
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.
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."
omg, litterlly the first time I saw the top comment is with negative votes. Such a hard theme to make an opinion.
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.
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...
People are afraid of what they don't understand. The concept of conception. Two cells forming a new potential life is pretty cool from any point of view. But it's hardly unique. And nature itself gets rid of a lot of oopsies. Most products of conception don't add anything special to the mix and most humans are nothing more than filler for our society. And the really special ones will emerge anyway because of math. Understanding and admitting that is like saying one itself is probably just a mediocre person. And that stings if you believe yourself to be a special and unique snowflake put on this world to be admired by all.
Load More Replies...Interesting how quite a few comments went straight for the abortion angle... if every woman was allowed to control her body, she would, in many cases, have the choice to have sex, use birth control or limit the number of children she bears and in which circumstances. Many women on this planet at the moment do not have this control over their own body...
Ladies and gentlemen, I can understand why you think that abortion is cruel. The truth is that the child has no memory and until the kid is born, then it is the fabulous lady's choice. For the men out here, you don't know how painful childbirth is. You do not have a say in this. While some people do think that this is inhumane, it is not. You must leave a woman to her own choices. If they don't want a child or aren't ready for one, please respect their decision. And at Tres, do not talk about how a baby's life matters. We know children matter, but when it is growing inside a woman who doesn't want this baby, who could possibly die from giving birth to this baby, the question is, should I really try to control this woman who possibly could have been r*ped and the child is a result or they were engaging in actions that caused the baby and the guy didn't wear a c*ndom, you cant blame the woman. Adding to this, this woman could be mentally, financially, or physically unstable. Stay safe!!
I hate to admit it, but that's where my mind went as well. :)
Load More Replies...Not quite sure on the control her own body part. What does this mean?
I have a problem with the position of the relative clause in this sentence. Am I the only one?
"A woman cannot call herself free when she cannot control her own body" Should it read like that? Oh well. Remember the artist uses quotations, and you can't change the grammar of quotations.
Load More Replies...Thank you, John-Paul. According to "pro"life" dogma God opposes abortions, but is fine with children being abused, dying of hunger, of diseases, in natural disasters, and in wars, they do not help with those problems, on the contrary, they often perpetuate them; all these problems are caused by human over-population, but these caring pro"lifers" oppose anti-conception which would eliminated demand for abortions.
Load More Replies...If only people like you cared as much about the babies after they are born - you want to force women who know they aren't financially, emotionally, mentally or physically ready to be mothers to give birth and then you wash your hands and walk away, puffed full of self-righteous pseudo-virtue. Take responsibility for your s****y opinions - go check in on her when she's so traumatized every time she sees the product of her rape that she can't take care of the baby. Give a lending hand when she has to work two jobs and neglect her unwanted offspring just to make ends meet. Or how about just sitting next to her and calmly explaining to her how her life means nothing and she not as important as a cluster of unwanted cells. Because YOU decided she isn't. Who are you? When were you given the right to decide what she is permitted to do with her own flesh and bones and skin? Her body, her choice. My body, my choice.
Load More Replies...Um… does it still count when I instinctively shrink from fear, embarrassment, or scolding?
"Don't try to mend a broken heart with the same person who broke it." - Steven Ailchison
Ah yes. I too enjoy staring lovingly at disembodied hearts. XD jk why is that there?
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.
A lot of these are really good....others are just 'edgy' or plain gatekeeping behavior...
Yeah, a second read revealed some of them as condescending, imo.
Load More Replies...I applaud his message; but couldn't he use something that's a bit more environmentally friendly? or maybe edible? :p
Yes. Is he a licensed therapist or mental health worker? No? No one likes unsolicited advice.
Load More Replies...Gee, more c**p that will end up in our oceans :( The messages aren't bad, the method is.
You're assuming he throws them away. I think you should check that assumption.
Load More Replies...These are so true...until they contradict each other by implying That his political and social views are Fact rather than opinion.
Bigotry is bad, empathy is good. Taking care of yourself and others is good, putting people down is bad...These messages are factual and apolitical. Opinion is more like "Star Wars is better than Star Trek". A political message is more like "tax cuts for the wealthy are good for the economy".
Load More Replies...Seeing this "inspirational" things on many fb walls.People think they are deep becuase they are posting some quotes.
What does "gatekeeping" mean? I haven't heard that word used in this context before.
Load More Replies...I was interested in reading his series. Until he tossed in politics. Lost interest, and respect.
Wait... spelling something out with balloons bought at your local supermarket or party store makes you an artist?
I really didn't like a lot of these. Many of them seem disrespectful of where people actually are in their lives. I really detest sayings like "even if you're scared, just do it." That option isn't necessarily open to everyone. It's great if you want to push yourself to overcome fears, or old habits, etc, but what I'm saying is that not everyone can do it, or do it right now. Don't be intolerant of people's different ability to cope. And I really disagree with the idea that people are responsible for their partner's views. They are not joined at the hip. A person who's involved with a bigot can set limits, such as "if you're going to express those attitudes, you can't hang out with my friends." I suspect that if someone I was dating had bigoted views, it would corrode the relationship and I'd probably end up wanting to leave. But that's my business.* *Hypothetical - I don't actually have a partner right now.
Responding to myself because I got cut off for talking too much. :) I just wanted to add that some of these sayings were good. I didn't mean to be totally negative.
Load More Replies...I start disliking this site. They clearly chose a side. Very politically correct. Ugh.
Offend? No. Concern? Yes. Why? Because some of them are basically Yodaisms. They’re not wisdom. They’re overly simplistic and easily used in contexts where they would be harmful.
Load More Replies...A lot of these are really good....others are just 'edgy' or plain gatekeeping behavior...
Yeah, a second read revealed some of them as condescending, imo.
Load More Replies...I applaud his message; but couldn't he use something that's a bit more environmentally friendly? or maybe edible? :p
Yes. Is he a licensed therapist or mental health worker? No? No one likes unsolicited advice.
Load More Replies...Gee, more c**p that will end up in our oceans :( The messages aren't bad, the method is.
You're assuming he throws them away. I think you should check that assumption.
Load More Replies...These are so true...until they contradict each other by implying That his political and social views are Fact rather than opinion.
Bigotry is bad, empathy is good. Taking care of yourself and others is good, putting people down is bad...These messages are factual and apolitical. Opinion is more like "Star Wars is better than Star Trek". A political message is more like "tax cuts for the wealthy are good for the economy".
Load More Replies...Seeing this "inspirational" things on many fb walls.People think they are deep becuase they are posting some quotes.
What does "gatekeeping" mean? I haven't heard that word used in this context before.
Load More Replies...I was interested in reading his series. Until he tossed in politics. Lost interest, and respect.
Wait... spelling something out with balloons bought at your local supermarket or party store makes you an artist?
I really didn't like a lot of these. Many of them seem disrespectful of where people actually are in their lives. I really detest sayings like "even if you're scared, just do it." That option isn't necessarily open to everyone. It's great if you want to push yourself to overcome fears, or old habits, etc, but what I'm saying is that not everyone can do it, or do it right now. Don't be intolerant of people's different ability to cope. And I really disagree with the idea that people are responsible for their partner's views. They are not joined at the hip. A person who's involved with a bigot can set limits, such as "if you're going to express those attitudes, you can't hang out with my friends." I suspect that if someone I was dating had bigoted views, it would corrode the relationship and I'd probably end up wanting to leave. But that's my business.* *Hypothetical - I don't actually have a partner right now.
Responding to myself because I got cut off for talking too much. :) I just wanted to add that some of these sayings were good. I didn't mean to be totally negative.
Load More Replies...I start disliking this site. They clearly chose a side. Very politically correct. Ugh.
Offend? No. Concern? Yes. Why? Because some of them are basically Yodaisms. They’re not wisdom. They’re overly simplistic and easily used in contexts where they would be harmful.
Load More Replies...