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

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.

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

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...

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

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!!

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

Not quite sure on the control her own body part. What does this mean?

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

Interesting that I took this as a degrading comment on fat women.

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

I have a problem with the position of the relative clause in this sentence. Am I the only one?

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

"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.

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

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.

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Emy Loves
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3 years ago

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Once a woman decides to have sex and becomes pregnant, she loses her right to her own body because there is another body and soul growing in her that isn't able to speak yet. So we " weird minority of right-winged people" will speak for the unborn as God guides us to do so. I had my first precious baby when I was 16 yrs old and we both turned out perfectly fine with the help of loved ones and God. So I feel that any excuse a woman gives for needing to have an abortion stems from selfish ignorance. Because at 16 and pregnant, I was scared shitless. But even at 16, I knew it wasn't my choice to destroy creation. I had sex, got pregnant and dealt with it. Just another thing left wing people don't want to hold themselves accountable for....

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Tres D
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3 years ago

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It's not her body we're worried about. It's the baby she wants to murder! #BabiesLivesMatter

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Anonymous Web User
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3 years ago

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Lets hope that bodily autonomy also applies to the upcoming vaccines.

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Eric Pumfery
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3 years ago

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So if she is allowed to kill a baby she is considered free? Yeah that makes sense.

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

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.

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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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