Sadness mixed with humor in a perplexing, chaotic, and confusing way—that’s what the r/FunnyandSad online group over on Reddit is all about. An old-hand on the net, having been founded in November 2013, it has since then grown into a community of nearly 700k members.
The subreddit does exactly what it says on the tin and documents posts from all over the net that are funny and sad at the same time. It’s a melange of laughing through tears (or is that crying while you laugh?) that will show you that life is far more varied and nuanced than the black-and-white we’re used to seeing on the news and on social media.
Sadness is a very natural part of life and we ought to embrace it, instead of running away from it. After all, we can’t be happy-go-lucky all the time (I would know, I tried). And while being sad can even have certain benefits, like improving our memory and judgment, getting stuck in negative thinking patterns and endless loops of sadness isn’t healthy for our mental wellbeing.
I had a quick chat with an expert in the field of psychology about how to identify what these negative thinking patterns look like and how focusing just on our failures, having black or white thinking, and holding ourselves accountable for everything that goes wrong all harm our mental health.
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Aw Man
It Was Worth A Shot
I Loved Him In Deadpool
Emma Morton, a researcher at the University of British Columbia, told Bored Panda that, for example, what we tend to focus on more, our successes or our failures, can influence our long-term mental health. For instance, hyper-concentrating on all the things that go wrong or could potentially go wrong can trap us in a perpetual loop of self-criticism and anxiety.
This, in turn, can lead to feelings of very low self-esteem and even depression which, in turn, can make us unwilling to ask for help and support even though we might desperately need both. However, there are other ways how we can end up trapped in negative thinking patterns, too.
I'm Fine.. Really
Found On Facebook
10 Year Challenge
“Negative thinking patterns can include only paying attention to failures and ignoring successes, black or white thinking (e.g., ‘If I get anything less than an A+ on this test, I’m a failure’), labeling oneself based on mistakes (e.g., ‘I’m a loser, an idiot’), [and] mind-reading (e.g., ‘Everyone will think I’m a loser for not getting this promotion’),” Emma went into detail with Bored Panda how we can end up being overly harsh with ourselves.
He’s Not Wrong...
Budgeting
My husband and I were curious a few days ago about how much rent we have paid to our current landlord. It's over 160k. The house we just found and got denied for is only 149k, lol
In Dystopia We Were Told To Trust
She continued, adding that another negative pattern includes “holding yourself personally accountable for things that go wrong and attributing successes to luck or the contributions of others (e.g., ‘I only got that award because nobody else applied’).”
Blind Bruh Moment
Mind Blowing How Accurate This Is!!!
He's Right
As such, having unrealistic expectations of what we’re capable of and being unreasonably demanding of ourselves can lead to “feelings of depression and worthlessness” that in turn “make it harder to reach out for help.” So while it’s perfectly fine to feel sadness, we all need to know when to ask for a helping hand if we find ourselves constantly stuck with only negative thoughts.
Mysterious Ways
Technically he only had eleven true friends. The other one was a toxic backstabber who literally sold him out.
I Feel We Are There Already
Well, It's True Isn't?
Hearing Impaired
You’re Not From Around Here Are You
Oof
"Cries In Millenial"
We’re Screwed
We All Panic Sometimes
Group Projects Are The Worst
Sad Truth
they are literally permanently embedded into your head, theres no getting rid of them
Uplifting Quote
It is. One of the saddest things I've read is a Black clergyman who said, "What I have to do to make White people comfortable around me is a form of emotional strip-mining. What do you think that does to me?"
Load More Replies...I asked one of my Black students what it would mean to her if Chauvin was found innocent. Her response: *rolls eyes* Just another typical day for Black people.
My friends' kid is mixed race and they literally gave him the most boring white middle class sounding name they could think of, because they were frightened employers would reject his CV out of hand if he had a traditional black sounding name.
And multiple studies show that they are depressingly correct.
Load More Replies...Check out the movie "Sorry to Bother You". It's based on this. Funny and terrifying.
I despise making phone calls in the first place, but when I do have to make a call, I assume whoever picks up knows what they are doing or can transfer me to someone who does. Makes no difference what they "sound like."
Wish that were most. I can relate to her quote ALL too well, and it's exhausting.
Load More Replies...That's very true, working in a call centre, callers would be shocked when I tell them my name and that I am Indian
I'm white in Canada and called U-haul and it connected me to the US office and I could tell the female operator was black by her name and inflection.
I did a phone interview for crappy Harps, of all places, I got the job. I show up and the Caucasian lady goes "ooohhh you're.... I just thought since your name is Amy..." they made me hand out samples and get me all the hard jobs to get me to quit. I got confirmation when a week later they hired a Caucasian male and he wasn't forced to do any of it. I asked why and the manager laughed, said I was being sensitive and walked away. Never answered my question. I was let go while covering a shift and fighting pneumonia for grabbing a drink and cold medicine at the beginning of my shift then setting them down before paying because my manager told me to immediately put some chickens to cook.
Had a friend at a finance company I worked at who sounded Caucasian on the phone and had the name to go with it... Fortunately, she actually enjoyed the shock when people found out she was Black Barbie (she was absolutely gorgeous, tall, fit, and hmmmm well proportioned...) She'd rub it in a little with, "I'm sorry... You thought I was what?" Classic. Love her.
I hope, and pray, the future will be much improved, I put myself, in your shoes, and it sucks !!!
Like a newscaster. Neutral, ordinary and well educated. (Assuming you are in a place with a Caucasian majority)
Load More Replies...Like in that weird and awesome movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5X3cu1B87k
is this sad thing only happen to black in US or in other western countries?
Thanks for proving her point. People like you are the sad reason for that quote.
Load More Replies...Parents did good with her white-sounding name too. Should get a job interview in no time.
Jeezus what if that’s just how they talk! That’s doesn’t mean there not educated. It’s just their accent.
Load More Replies...Do you honestly believe that? This comment makes me almost as sad as the quote. Can I ask you, legitimately, why do you think that?
Load More Replies...Useless Job
So Close Yet So Far
That's Where It Began
London
Please
Totally. I am now halfway through my second health degree and my father still tells me what medical advice he got from the TV, and when I say, "No that is not correct info" he gets irritated, "I watched the thing on TV!!" Yes coz 6-8 years education on the subject has taught me absolutely nothing....What can you do...still love him...
Is Being Short Really That Bad
Sad Truth
And Don’t Forget Student Loans
It's also because in the US you have to pay thousands of dollars in medical bills for prenatal care and labour and delivery, even if nothing goes wrong. You also get 2 weeks maternity leave, if you're lucky. A lot of people literally cannot afford to *have* a baby, let alone raise a child.
Motivation Is The Leading Cause Of Death On The China/Nepal Border
Life Can Be So Rewarding
So bloody true. The last couple of years has been one hit after the other and we aren't classed as poor. Struggling yes, poor no.
I Don't Know If I Would Trust Him With My Pets
"Millenials Are All Lazy And Entitled!"
Student Loans Put You Through College But Put You Through Debt For Much Longer!!
It Was So Beautiful
Welcome To The Show
I am a millennial (vowels are too expensive to rent) ' 'm ' m'll'n''l? (Ma'am you can't afford those apostrophes) mmllnl :(
Cause Your In New York
Spent $11.75 Growing Tomatoes This Year. Here's My Whole Harvest!
My single beet was a little bigger, but I planted Aton of veggies - got sick and all it takes is one day of neglect for everything to die in AZ summer temps (I’m new at this). I’m surprised your little tomato turned red so soon! Don’t they stay green in early growth? But what do I know - I get oddball things in my “garden” regularly. Going to try a fall planting this year. Your tomato is adorable. Keep trying!
I Wish
I Know It Hurts Sometimes But You'll Get Over It
Note: this post originally had 59 images. It’s been shortened to the top 45 images based on user votes.
This is the most diverse post I have ever seen- stupid stuff, dark jokes, sad stuff and everything, very confusing indeed
facts for some ppl, maybe confusing for others, depends on which country u come from
I think they mean it's confusing because you don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Load More Replies...Clearly BP is not for you. Maybe go watch Tucker Carlson rant about "the left", or Ben Shapiro ask why crime hasn't been banned.
Load More Replies...This is the most diverse post I have ever seen- stupid stuff, dark jokes, sad stuff and everything, very confusing indeed
facts for some ppl, maybe confusing for others, depends on which country u come from
I think they mean it's confusing because you don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Load More Replies...Clearly BP is not for you. Maybe go watch Tucker Carlson rant about "the left", or Ben Shapiro ask why crime hasn't been banned.
Load More Replies...