The holiday season is in full swing, and we feel like it’s the best time of the year to remember how wholesome, kind, supportive, welcoming, and selfless people can truly be, despite their perceived differences. That’s why we’re featuring the ‘Gates Open, Come On In’ subreddit, an online community of nearly 340k people today.
The online group presents itself as the exact opposite of r/gatekeeping and features folks being true legends who accept others no matter who they are, instead of angry gremlins who don’t want to let anyone new into their communities. Scroll down for some of the best anti-gatekeeping posts and hard proof that people really do have each others’ backs when push comes to shove.
Pssst, Pandas, if you’re looking to restore some more faith in humanity, then you’ll definitely want to check out Bored Panda’s previous article about some more great real-life anti-gatekeeping examples. You can read it right here.
British psychotherapist Silva Neves shared with Bored Panda his take on why some people feel the need to act as gatekeepers at all. "The theory is that it comes from our inner sense of survival. At times when we lived in tribes, it was part of survival to fear people outside of the tribe because they might have been a threat to the tribe," he explained to me. "In our modern world, to some extent, we have kept that sense of survival, although unnecessary now, but still subconsciously strong."
However, Silva notes just how much impact even small gestures of kindness can have. "When we learn to be kind to others, we're actually learning to be kind to ourselves. We need both." Scroll down for to read what he had to say about this.
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"We don't often realize that a very small gesture of kindness, even just a smile to a stranger, can trigger a chain of kindness and love to their social circle, and the ripple effects can be felt to the greater society," psychotherapist Silva shared with Bored Panda the power that even a small act of kindness can have in the world around us. In fact, we're naturally hard-wired to help others.
Everyone (Saw This Posted Somewhere Else On Reddit So Thought It'd Be Worth The Cross-Post)
Marry Whomever You Wish
"Being kind and helpful is a natural high for us, as it produced feel-good brain chemicals, so it tends to make us happier. Seeing others happy can also produce feel-good chemicals. So it is all round a very good thing for physical and mental health to be kind to ourselves and others," he said.
"If we do that, we tend to live happier lives and, even if we don't always see it, it is important to remind ourselves that any small gesture of kindness contributes to a kinder world. And, right now, the world needs a lot more kindness."
I Just Like Animals
We Can All Get Along!
Everyone Starts Somewhere
‘Action for Happiness’ explained to me earlier that altruism and kindness are closely linked to our own happiness.
"Think about how you can reach out and do things for others, help a neighbor or volunteer for a cause, we get happiness high from helping other people. Or start small and simply list three things that you can be grateful for each night before bed,” Sarah Vero from ‘Action for Happiness’ shared with Bored Panda.
According to Sarah, the 10 keys to happier living are: “Giving, relating, exercising, awareness, trying out, direction, resilience, emotions, acceptance, and meaning. We are likely to be happier if our lives have direction, meaning, and purpose and if we are part of something bigger than ourselves.”
Depression Gateopening
Read It All
Keep Doing What You Like, Support Others Who Do The Sam
Vanessa King, the Head of Psychology at ‘Action for Happiness,’ noted that we’re a social species and that helping others out is part of who we are. Being kind, lending a helping hand are the “social glue that keeps us together.”
“When we do things for others it activates the reward center in the brain, so when we give a gift it feels the same as receiving a gift," Vanessa stressed.
“Small daily actions one at a time can help us to make altruism a lifetime habit. You could start out small by deciding you are going to smile at everyone you meet or pay three people a compliment today,” she said.
You're Not A Product
I have to say the internet ruined quite a few hobbies for me. Going out to find tips and tricks and finding communities full of people who are soooooo much better at it then I’ll ever be, discourages me too much. In “ye old days” I just did whatever I liked and never knew how bad I was at it. So now I just avoid those kind of hobbies online. I’m happier not knowing if I’m good or not :)
I Love This Man More Than Certain Family Members
Damn, son, just wear a crop top and some underpants. Get those wet and you'll get some real attention.
This Is Beautiful
Human beings don’t hold a monopoly on empathy. Plenty of other animals have feelings and have demonstrated that they feel bad for other beings if they’re in trouble. For instance, a while back I wrote about an experiment on rat friendship.
As it turns out, rats help each other out if they sense that they’re distressed. However, they prefer to help rats who are most like them. Scientist Inbal Ben-Ami Bartal told Bored Panda that “rats will help others of their ingroup (cagemates and strangers of the same strain) but not the outgroup (strangers of a black-furred strain they are not familiar with).” In other words, rats are selective in who they help. However, this behavior changes the more familiar rats become with members of their outgroup.
Working People Are My People!
Always keep in mind that your employer is paying you the least amount they feel they can to keep you around(Sure, there are exceptions, but 98% are).
Art Is For Everyone
Humiliation Fetish
“The encouraging thing is that we then found that cohabitation, living with a rat from the other strain for two weeks totally changes this behavior, and now rats will help that cagemate from the other strain. Even more impressively, after living together for two weeks with one rat of the other strain, they will help strangers from the other strain as well,” Bartal said.
The scientist added that social experience is actually what determines whether or not rats help each other, not their genetic similarity. Bartal said that in one case, rats were fostered at birth with those from another strain. “Like Mowgli, they were raised with the other strain and never encountered their own kind. When they grew up, they only helped rats of the adoptive strain, not the biological strain.”
For All Relationships
With Open Arms
You Are All Right
In Bartal’s view, a lot of the discussion on animal empathy gets stuck on semantic issues. “For instance, the definition of empathy, how can we say that animals really feel empathy the same way we do. But empathy is a construct. We don’t even know what it is in humans really!” she said.
“I operate on the assumption that there is an evolutionary continuum between species, and that the basic building blocks of our responses are shared. Being sensitive to distress in others and motivated to care about their suffering is as old as the moment mother and child became connected for survival after birth.”
I Liked This One
Exactly! I almost always play easy mode, because I suck at them, but still enjoy them. Gaming is supposed to be fun, relaxing and a way to escape reality, not a second job! Unless it is your job, of course :D
Can’t Decide Whether This Belongs Here Or In Humansbeingbros
Have A Seat, Enjoy The View, Everyone Is Welcome
Pros And Cons Of GF...
Anyone Can Play Games
Liberal Arts
Gaming Is For Everyone
My dad never had any sons. He introduced his two daughters to video games and motorcycle racing. I became a lifelong gaming enthusiast, and my little sister bought a motorbike. :D
Respect To You For Doing Anything
Drink What You Like!!!
Spread The Positivity
A Novel‘S Worth Of Nerd S**t
Let People Be Happy
Wholesome Hotel
Let's Just Love Everyone
If anyone wants to continue the heartwarming goodwill, Jewish Voice for Peace is a great organization that supports Palestinian self-determination, supports peace and justice in the Middle East, and stands against anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim, and anti-Arab bigotry.
Like What You Like
well it does say up to age 99 on the box so i reckon were good there
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I'm close to 65 and still make spaceship models... and superheroes... and I have a lightsaber. I'm not going through my so-called "second childhood" - it's just that I haven't finished with my first one yet.
I'm 50 and I have a lightsaber too.. and a Jedi robe.. and a Mandolorian helmet. :D
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Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional. If only pulling a muscle is not an actual risk, I would still try to fit into that basket.
I'm 50 and I still design and build starships in Space engineers, even weird ones that look like dragons. :D 2016112700...a094e0.jpg 
I'm an adult and watch way more cartoons now than I did as a kid. When I was growing up, my family didn't have cable. I think I'm making up for it now by streaming absolutely whatever I want to watch -- including cartoons.
35. LARP, RPG, games of all kinds, costume parties, edgy art for teenagers, YA books. Sue me.
I'm over 40 and I never stopped playing games, watching cartoons or having sleepovers with my friends.
And, at 50, my stuffed animal collection is in the 1000s. I like to rescue them from thrift stores.
I am a huge reader and I absolutely LOVE children's literature. Good children's books are often written in a manner that is more concise, empathetic, exciting, and descriptive. Children's books often have to cover heavy topics (loss of family, war, grief, destruction of natural habitats, coming of age, etc.) but in a way that will be rooted in kindness and personal strength to overcome those difficulties. I find them extremely inspiring. I wish more adults read books meant for children; I think it would change our world.
I think it was C.S. Lewis who said that a children's book that can only be enjoyed by children isn't a very good book 😊
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My husband had a job in the Arctic at a gold mine for about 5 years. He gave me a passion for video games, fandoms, nerd/geek culture in general. When he was on rotations (3 weeks in 3 weeks out) McDonald's has a super Mario toy campaign. We both love super Mario, so I made a point go get all the toys for him to take to work and decorate his office or room without affecting his luggage weight limit. The later behind the cash who was roughly in her 50's asked me if I was collecting them for my child. I said no and explained why I was getting them. She then said to me that my husband sounded childish. I replied that it may seem childish to some but I knew where my husband was and what he was doing, that sharing a common love of games meant a all his time off was spent with me. I'd never have to worry if he was running off with the neighbours wife or try to find ways to spend time away from me. I let him enjoy his life, I don't try to suffocate it. She turned beet red. Says a lot.
I am 38. Love cartoons, DnD, superhero movies, toys, costumes and more. And as a teacher, I feel like a kid at heart...
I like Hello Kitty, stuff. None can shame me but I'll gladly torture them with my pleasure 😃
Im 22 and i only discovered how much i like plush animals a few years ago, never really liked them when i was little but holding/hugging them is so helpful for anxiety! Im a boy and a goth so i guess it’s weird but i have autism and always carry tiny secret plushies in my pockets now, wish id liked them sooner!
Ngl, half the fun of having my daughter is knowing I get to introduce her to all my favorite things growing up and fall in love with them all over again.
Yes! I've been playing Zoo Tycoon since I was a kid, still love it, still play it, and happily tell people about it. I've also noticed that when you're open about the things you like it makes other people comfortable to talk about games they like too. Be nice to each other people, adulthood is hard
I'm 64. I love going to Disney World every chance I get. I do get vacation shamed by friends (really they are) who think it's only cool to go on beach trips, cross country drives and camping. Nope. I love all of that too, but Disney makes me not care for a little while.
58 and I still love children's books. Madeline L'Engel once said if you have an idea for a book that is too complicated for adults, write it for children.
My Dad tried to get me to stop building model planes when I was in my early teens because he taught it was childish. I'm sixty four years old now and I still build them. (Shrugs)
I'm 32, still got my old Barbies and can't wait until my niece is old enough to play with me. :)
I honestly still find Sesame Street and The Muppet Show hilarious! They wrote for adults and their children
I watch certain cartoons.... Faithful. It's better than the depressing and fixed "news outlets"
I still like toys like Legos, Barbies, Hello Kitty, etc I collect old toys too.
I'm 57 and have been running the Sesame Street Lyrics Archive for 25 years now, so I firmly believe age is just a number.
My husband is 65 and is still an avid tabletop rpg player. It makes me so happy to see him still loving this hobby after so many years! (Hes been playing for like 40 years)
I turn 38 next Thursday. I still play video games and board games, play with toys like Legos, watch anime/cartoons, and love doing arts and crafts from my work (Michael's crafts). My husband shares these hobbies, and so do my kids: 17, 10, and 5 months.
yeah, I'm a teen in school (no way I dont get ridiculed) and I genuinely enjoy Minecraft youtubers and stardew valley, along with thomas sanders and this one particular streamer who is just learning how YouTube works. I sont tell anyone though, other than my closest friends, because I will get bullied for being "childish." it's not just adults, people are mean
And young people can enjoy "Grandma/Grandpa" arts like quilting, knitting, woodworking, etc.
I try to honor this one. I really do. But my hatred of Twilight and 50 Shades of Gray just runs to deep. I hate them so so much.
I still haven't worked up the guts to learn to skateboard, but posts like this push me a little closer.
I took myself to petting zoo a couple of years back and had a great time!
Exactly. It's like, "Hey Karen, the pony will be able to stand back up after I get off of it, mind your own business".
I LIKE POTATOES, THEY ARE GOOD. THANK YOU MOM FOR GIVING ME POTATOES
I will always love sesame street!! 💓 and Pokemon and retro Nintendo games and plushies.
So nice to finally have it recognised that it's ok for me to sh*t in my nappy, throw my dinner on the floor, and snatch other people's property off them. Thanks!
Who has the most fun: A 9 year old or a 48 year old? You go play with Lego, do some colouring, then slide about on the tiled floor for an hour while I fill in tax forms, fix the broken toilet seat, and worry about my impending death.
Everyone Is Welcome On This Server
Does This Doormat Count?
Vegan BBQ
You're Never Too Old For Success
This Subreddit In A Nutshell. This Applies To So Many Communities
When The Old Becomes New Again
Love Is Always Valid. Assume The Best First!
this! i am truly loved for the first time in my life, and im in my early 40s. its amazing and i want to share that. If you've always had that it might seem a bit lame to post about it, but take a second to consider experiencing it for the first time
Love What You Are
No Beer Is Girly Beer
I Love My Grandma So Much. She Got Her Point Across Without Being Mean To The Family Friend
Can't Argue With Mom!
Like What You Like
You can find men or women attractive and it not be sexual at all...
There's Some Logic There
As A Metal Head, Everyone Is Welcome!
Vent’s Open Come On In
Fire
Play The Game Any Way You Want
Note: this post originally had 79 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
Lovely post! I agree with them all, and forgive me I know I'll get down voted, but I just don't feel comfortable with gender neutral toilets. For no other reason than the fact there are some real dangerous creeps in this world. It just scares me I guess.
Over 20 years ago I studied in Copenhagen and the school had gender neutral toilets. They still have them and it was absolutely no problem when I was there. What I always wonder, why do apparently a lot of people honestly think a "women only"-sign will somehow keep male rapists out of women's bathrooms? An insane amount of women and girls have already been molested or worse in "their" (public) bathroom by despicable bastards. Men and boys have been molested in their bathrooms by despicable bastards. Most people are decent folks, so don't fear average dudes in your bathroom. It also smells a wee bit of transphobia, too, especially when trans people don't "pass".
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I know this maybe the same post as before but I still want to do it. To all the people reading this: You are beautiful, you are unique, you have so much talents. You are a special protagonist in your story. This may be the end of 2021. If there's any good things happen in your life, keep moving forward because it's not the end of the story, this is a new chapter of your life. If bad things had happened to you, don't stop, keep marching, because you are in your character development story. We may have never meet face to face before, but we are friends that shaking hands and said how do you do, no matter where we are from, what color we have, if we are are part of queer or not or what religions we follow. May your day fill with rainbows
Genuine Q: is there a label for people who don't like labels? No problem with other people doing it if it works for them but I've always struggled to think of myself as anything except just a person and I don't like feeling I have to pick a box and stay in it.
I agree entirely! I remember being in school (a little before gender fluid etc was as present in the media) and going 'I like this, but don't really fit into this group' etc. I don't think you need to label yourself or others, it doesn't effect how I interact with people and why should it? I don't even find job titles something I need to know about people in my personal life.
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You know I find it funny that boredpanda takes a lot of its content from Reddit but practically everyone on Reddit hates boredpanda because if all the liberals lol
Lovely post! I agree with them all, and forgive me I know I'll get down voted, but I just don't feel comfortable with gender neutral toilets. For no other reason than the fact there are some real dangerous creeps in this world. It just scares me I guess.
Over 20 years ago I studied in Copenhagen and the school had gender neutral toilets. They still have them and it was absolutely no problem when I was there. What I always wonder, why do apparently a lot of people honestly think a "women only"-sign will somehow keep male rapists out of women's bathrooms? An insane amount of women and girls have already been molested or worse in "their" (public) bathroom by despicable bastards. Men and boys have been molested in their bathrooms by despicable bastards. Most people are decent folks, so don't fear average dudes in your bathroom. It also smells a wee bit of transphobia, too, especially when trans people don't "pass".
Load More Replies... I know this maybe the same post as before but I still want to do it. To all the people reading this: You are beautiful, you are unique, you have so much talents. You are a special protagonist in your story. This may be the end of 2021. If there's any good things happen in your life, keep moving forward because it's not the end of the story, this is a new chapter of your life. If bad things had happened to you, don't stop, keep marching, because you are in your character development story. We may have never meet face to face before, but we are friends that shaking hands and said how do you do, no matter where we are from, what color we have, if we are are part of queer or not or what religions we follow. May your day fill with rainbows
Genuine Q: is there a label for people who don't like labels? No problem with other people doing it if it works for them but I've always struggled to think of myself as anything except just a person and I don't like feeling I have to pick a box and stay in it.
I agree entirely! I remember being in school (a little before gender fluid etc was as present in the media) and going 'I like this, but don't really fit into this group' etc. I don't think you need to label yourself or others, it doesn't effect how I interact with people and why should it? I don't even find job titles something I need to know about people in my personal life.
Load More Replies... You know I find it funny that boredpanda takes a lot of its content from Reddit but practically everyone on Reddit hates boredpanda because if all the liberals lol
