To put it simply, gatekeeping is an act when someone takes it upon themselves to decide who does or does not have access or rights to a community or identity ("You can't be a real Phoebe Bridgers fan, you just discovered her. Real fans follow her since at least Stranger in the Alps.") If this sounds ridiculous to you, don't worry. You're not alone.
There's a subreddit called r/GatesOpenComeOnIn and it describes itself as the polar opposite of gatekeeping. Created in 2018, this online community collects and shares pictures of wholesome acts of kindness when people had each other's backs. Whether it's encouraging everyone to share their Spotify Wrapped or simply allowing someone to feel tired, it doesn't take much to acknowledge another person's emotions, thoughts, experiences, values, and beliefs. Continue scrolling and check out how it's done.
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Wholesome Patriotism
As you can see from the pictures, empathy goes a long way. Developing it is crucial for establishing relationships and behaving compassionately. Since empathy involves experiencing another person’s point of view, rather than just one’s own, it enables prosocial or helping behaviors that come from within, rather than being forced.
Sadly, some surveys indicate that empathy is on the decline in the United States and elsewhere. But at least these findings motivate parents, schools, and communities to support programs that help people of all ages enhance and maintain their ability to walk in each other’s shoes.
Halloween For Everyone!
Come On In And Long As You’re Nice
If God created all creatures with his infinite wisdom, why would he hate something that HE created?
Empathy really is a superpower: it helps us cooperate with others, build friendships, make moral decisions, and intervene when we see others being bullied.
Humans usually begin to show signs of empathy in infancy and the trait develops steadily through childhood and adolescence.
That being said, most people are likely to feel greater empathy for someone like themselves and may feel less empathy for those outside their family, community, ethnicity, or race.
Everybody Say Thank You To Andy
Making Your Child Happy
Minding Your Own Business Is Free
Like other traits, empathy may have evolved with a selfish motive: using others as a "social antenna" to help detect danger. From an evolutionary point of view, creating a mental model of another person's intent is critical: the arrival of an interloper, for example, could be deadly, so developing sensitivity to the signals of others could be life-saving.
Babies display an understanding that people’s actions are guided by intentions and can act on that understanding before they turn 18 months old, including trying to comfort a parent. Advanced reasoning about other people’s thoughts develops around age 5-6.
Bikinis For Boys
Gates Open Slide On In!
Read Whatever You Want
Experts say that people high in narcissism, or who have a narcissistic personality disorder, can exhibit empathy and even compassion. However, that ability only goes so far, as ultimately they prioritize their own needs.
Some researchers believe narcissists can become more empathetic by developing greater self-compassion, which can increase their own feelings of security and self-worth and enable them to open up to hearing others.
Shout Out To The Solo Eaters
*Dramatic flashback to when we could step out of our houses without having the risk of catching a deadly disease or running into idiots who dont believe in science.*
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I had a phase in high school and first years of college when I loved going to opera and operetta and I wen't to theater alone (except for the two times that I dragged my brother with me). I eventually realized it's too expensive to continue
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Eating alone during office's lunch break sometimes gives you the only 20 min that day when you don't have to talk or listen carefully...
And have a little time to catch up on a good book whilst eating :D
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I love eating alone in restaurants. It is, sorry, was, one of my favourite parts of business travel.
Likewise. I used to actively go out and find different restaurants to eat in each night. So many fantastic cities and towns.
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Times were good in the year 2019 BC (Before Covid), I often ate out alone.
Yep! Eating alone in restaurant is awesome. I used to do it sometimes when i was the chief of mayors office for lunch break. Eating a good meal, quietly, in a nice restaurant instead of eating chinese noodles at my desk while working was so GOOD!
Guess what? I have a job. My job is 80% on the phone. When I take my lunch, I have no desire to talk. Eating alone, in peace is the best part of my work day.
Only problem is to find a restaurant that actually make better food then the wife. Or me, for that matter. We are into cooking heart and soul.
Ummm.....may I please know what heart and soul taste like? I really want to know if I’ll like them ☺️
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When I was single, I used to love going out to eat alone !! It did help that I was working as a highly paid (and pressured) Chef at the time, with only one day off a week, and as all of the other staff at this particular Hotel / Restaurant had families or were generally working it was expedient for me to dine alone, where and when I wanted and what style of food - I tasted some astonishing dishes over the 3 years I was there and was inspired to add many of the dishes I tried at that time on to subsequent menus that I've designed and implemented ... Good times !!
i like eating alone in a restaurant. I can order and eat what I like without reproach, I can read while I eat, I can enjoy my surroundings without having to talk, I can enjoy the music, I can enjoy people watching or a great view.
Says the man to the lady. The stigmas are different for each gender as well as each circumstance. So what I am getting is that if you are a man, then whatever you do is labeled as confident but if you are a Lady, then you are weak. When doing comparisons, try to use the same gender. It will only then make the message more positive.
Why would it be "something"? Eating is a basic need. You eat whenever and wherever you want. Alone or with company.
Not everyone has someone to eat with, but everyone has to eat. We need to stop judging people amd start letting people do what they need to do.
I eat in restaurants alone all the time. Because my work schedule is vastly different from everyone else that lives with me. And I like it that way. I can read what I wish or play a little game while waiting. Because my interactions are mostly online, restaurants are my bit of alone time. And I get a tasty meal at usually good prices at the same time.
Eating alone in a restaurant is just fûcking EATING! Maybe they are busy or want to be alone but not at home, or maybe they have nobody to eat with. What difference does it make?
It is actually incredibly empowering to eat at a restaurant on your own!
Eating alone in a restaurant is a whole other level of "I don't give a f@#k. I'm hungry and need to eat." I've travelled for work and have eaten alone in a restaurant many times. It's really not a big deal. I also do movies alone.
Several of my favorite restaurants had (before Covid) Community Tables. Even when there were two or three of us, it's where we chose to sit. No cell phones allowed, no criticism of others' comments. Two of them had decks of hand-written cards with conversation starters: news topics, ideas on how to solve world issues, where did you grow up and what do you miss?
Eating alone in public restaurant is just following Covid-19 rules currently.
It's a whole nuther level of "I'm gonna do what I want and I don't care what a bunch of strangers I'll never see again think."
I was single for years and ate, saw movies, and traveled alone. It's called living my life. If you seek a spiritual experience, get out in nature by yourself. Wonderful!
I have been known to go into a restaurant, on my own, and just order dessert. It's wonderful
You also don't have to make conversation, so you can happily read your book or just enjoy your meal in peach. I love eating out with friends, but eating out solo brings its own reward.
I never feel odd about eating alone—and because I have misophonia, it saves a lot of wear and tear on my frazzled nerves.
I had an assignment in college in the 90s to do something we were completely uncomfortable doing alone. I went to the movies. Then I went to a restaurant. I couldn't stop. That was the early 90s and I have been happy with me ever since.
I'm a woman who ate out in restaurants for many decades. I figured, men do it all the time and no one says anything about a man reading a paper and enjoying being served. So why did I have to shop for groceries, get home from work, plan a meal, cook, and clean up ? I worked, had my own money always took a book to read. People don't generally bother someone who is reading. Also enjoyed eating out with my husband when he wasn't working. Of course there is much more prepared food available now so we might choose to get take out... and go home to be comfortable. Enjoy life, but be safe.
.....eating out.....what's that? I can't wait!! And I eat solo plenty of times....not going to waste time waiting for others to "think about it" or being indecisive.....but again, can't wait!!!
Or going to the cinema. Some people act like you are breaking some unspoken rule by going to watch movies alone. I mean, you are supposed to watch a movie, you don't really communicate much with another person during that, so why do you necessarily need a partner for that?
I used to be so nervous to go out to eat alone. Worrying that people thought I was some lonely loser...then I realized I shouldn't care what the heck other people think. So I would enjoy going to brunch alone and work on my to do list for the dag or whatever it was that I felt like. Of course this was before the pandemic 😫
Many times I prefer my own company just to be able to enjoy MYSELF.
I had a friend cook, who would randomly call me and invite me for some food to the restaurant he's working in and i would come alone, sit at the bar, chat with the stuff and then i would go and sit in my favourite spot alone and eat. Enjoying food and looking at people passing by.
I used to love going to a restaurant alone with a good book!! I also love to go to the movies alone
I love eating alone in a restaurant. And just being out in public by myself. I was really sheltered when I was younger due to my parents not fully understanding my autism, so doing things without someone looking looking over your shoulder or constantly trying to 'help' feels great.
When eating alone, bring a book. It makes you look mysterious.
Or the other level....parenthood where you get a whole meal to yourself and it’s not interrupted by 20 trips to the bathroom 🤣
I love eating alone. It's a very special, don't get very often at all, me time!
Who said alone, its me and my food. We love the company of each other.
I used to love taking a good book and having breakfast by myself :) obviously it's been awhile tho
I rarely dined out by myself pre-Covid. Now I look forward to it. I've promised myself that I will enjoy the good things in life whether I'm with someone else or not.
I've never had a problem eating alone in a restaurant. I kind of enjoy it.
I’ve never understood the stigma. I’ll eat alone, go to the movies alone. They’re just things I enjoy doing in and of themselves, so I don’t have to have co pant to enjoy them.
I travel a lot for work and am usually in a restaurant alone. I get to try new places that are unique to where I travel to. I don't find it lonely at all. I get to try new foods without being worried what anyone else likes!
It indeed takes a lot of confidence to eat alone in public. I used to have an eating disorder and eating while people saw me was difficult for a long time. I just couldn't do it and went hungry the entire day. Now, I'm happy to say that respecting myself and feeling comfortable in my right to exist is more important to me than what others might think. Existing as a living corpse is not a life is all I can say to summarize that. I'll now eat or drink alone or with others and not think that everyone is judging me anymore. It's freeing and feels so good.
I love going out to eat by myself. It's one of my favorite things to do.
It was so invigorating the day I realized that I could grab a book and hit a buffet while living in Vegas, and just have a relaxing lunch by myself.
I always ate in restaurants alone when I was single. I'd bring along a book and enjoy my meal. What's the big deal?
I used to LOVE eating alone in restaurants. I am around people constantly. I loved going somewhere and spending time alone and treating myself to a nice meal and a quiet hour or two.
I often ate by myself if sent away on a work related trip. Took a good book with me and read while enjoying a leisurely dinner - very relaxing and never felt uncomfortable for a moment. Everyone should try it sometime 🙂
Do What Makes You Happy For You
Unexpected Pet
Someone I Went To School With Posted This About Giving Their Son A Unicorn-Themed Birthday Bash. Positive Parenting For The Win
My boy loves colour pink and red. As soon as he was able to show it to me, I have made him red birthday cake and bought red or pink clothes. He also liked to play with baby doll, toy washing machine and cooking gadgets and we allowed him to play what ever he wanted. That phase has now mostly passed, but red is still his favourite colour.
"Do a thought experiment," Mark Davis, a professor of psychology who has spent decades studying empathy, said. “Imagine if humans didn’t have the capacity for empathy. What would it mean if, in fact, we never gave a damn about what happened to other people? That’s an almost an inconceivable world."
"As awful a species as we can be — and we certainly have the capacity for terrible things — we’re also capable of some pretty wonderful things, noble things, self-sacrifice."
Family Is A Family Is A Family
A while ago someone asked me if I “have a family”. I said yes and was genuinely confused when she started asking me about kids.
Southern Hospitality
Never Too Late To Join A Movement
Interestingly, the word "empathy" is relatively new. It didn’t enter the English language until the early 1900s, derived from the German word einfühlung, according to Daniel Batson, a researcher of empathy and professor emeritus at Kansas University.
Felt Like This Might Belong Here
It's The Thought That Counts
Never Too Late For New Beginnings
While some people are more naturally empathetic than others, there are easy, evidenced-based exercises that anyone can do to increase their empathy.
First, talk to new people. Trying to imagine how someone else feels is often not enough. Luckily, the solution is simple: ask them. "For me, the core of empathy is curiosity," Jodi Halpern, a psychiatrist and bioethics professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who studies empathy, told The New York Times. "It's what is another person’s life actually like in its particulars?”
We Are All Nerds Together
I can completely relate to this. I love it when I discover that a friend that I've known for years has an in depth knowledge on a subject I never suspected.
Good Guy Owner
I love this. In Germany it is forbidden by the law to look for food in supermarket dumpsters. As long as the food doesnt pose a safety hazard, the food should be donated (which some supermarkets do, but its only a few plus they have to pay tax for the food which they are donating, so not many do this).
Hi Milly
You can start conversations with strangers or invite a colleague or neighbor you don't know well to lunch. But the trick is to go beyond small talk – ask them how they're doing and what their daily life is like.
Put away your phone and other screens when you’re having conversations, even with the people you see every day, so you can fully listen and notice their facial expressions and gestures.
Also, follow people on social media with different backgrounds than you have (different race, religion, or political persuasion).
Stress Relief
Money Is Power, But Also Not
Better Late Than Never
Dude in my graduating class (back in 1997) was 84 years old at the time of his graduation. Learn like you'll live forever, it's never too late.
Oh Thank You
But don’t just stand in someone else's shoes, as the saying goes—take a walk in them. For example, consider attending someone else's church, mosque, synagogue, or other houses of worship for a few weeks while they attend yours, or visit a village in a developing country and volunteer.
If you don't have enough time for these activities, you can simply explore a new neighborhood, or strike up a conversation with a homeless person in your community.
If someone’s behavior is bothering you, think about why. Consider what it’s like to live their daily life.
Gay Pride Can Be Whatever You Want/Need It To Be
Friendly Encouragement
How Lovely
Showing Respect For One Another’s Professions
What a weird comment. Don't we all love the person that turns up at our doorstep with our eagerly awaited parcel??
Remember, you don't need to understand everything about someone to make them feel respected. Just don’t make assumptions about people based on what your life is like. The people on this list certainly haven't.
We’re all humans, and we all have a desire to connect with one another. Building our empathy, considering the perspectives of others, and opening ourselves to uncomfortable conversations can make that happen.
Witches vs. Patriarchy
Jesus Never Stutters
You Get To Decide How You Define Being "Grownup"
All Allies Welcome!
Taking Care Of Your Mental Health Is Important
We’re All In This Together
A lot of people do make it their business to decide what other people should earn, how and where they should live and why they shouldn't have universal healthcare. They're called Republicans.
Ok Zoomer
They Had Us In The First Half
I find it amazing that some Christians arrogantly think that their religion somehow “owns” marriage. People were getting together and pairing up in a variety of rituals 1000s of years before Christianity turned up.
I Love Sharing My Book Collection
Speak Everything
Learning Is Awesome
Read What You Love
You’re Doing Just Fine
This stupid meme also failed to recognise that to develop skills and side hustles we really benefit from the support of friends and family. Hanging out and chatting enables our brains to get things in to perspective, sort out what we've learnt so far, and subconsciously start to work on what is to come next.
Blake Knows What's Up
Gonna Remember Who Spoke To Me And Who Didn’t
Accept Everyone And Respect Their Decisions Y’all
Do Whatever Makes You Happy
Note: this post originally had 92 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
I think these are great but I have some reservations about the ones that say things like "Welcome all" or "Love everyone no matter what" bc I think that we should still be careful and wary of people who have shown that they are untrustworthy and will make trouble. I do think that we should give people chances to improve and guide them in the right direction but we should do so before welcoming them into places like our homes. Sure, if you don’t know someone be civil to them no matter their ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexuality, etc. and don’t judge them based on these things, but if they show that they are not someone you want to be around because they do not return your kindness, then I don’t think you should “welcome” them.
Yeah. We must love everybody no matter the origin, sex, orientation etc. But we shouldt love people who does bad to others like rapists, bigots, murderers etc. Intolerance cannot be tolerated.
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I think this series has the right attitude of positivism. I always argue for being critical with anything, but being careing for other beings and, ultimately, yourself, always is a good idea. To put this to BP: upvote early, downvote only if you really think something is wrong.
I love how people like these are around. I bet someone was having a horrid day and was scrolling through these and saw something they related to, and it made their day. Thank you for putting this and it, for sure, made my day a whole lot better. 💕
Lets make a petition to get more posts like this one. I think a lot of Pandas would sign it
I have never wanted to hug so many people all at once in my life. Darned ninjas cutting onions *wipes tearse*
This made me feel better. Things are hard right now. <3 to everyone, wherever and whoever you are.
I loved this a lot. Not only did it help me see the world in a better way, it made me feel better. Better that I can stand up for people and not look dumb. That I can stand up for others and not care :)
Most definitely agree with #32, respect the work/job. My late father used to tell anyone who was job hunting, or foolish enough to put him down for his jobs, "There's honor in any job well done, that's honest work. If you don't have a job, get one. Otherwise, keep your mouth shut and let me get back to my job!" (he was a professional baker for a large company for about 16 years, then a school janitor for three years, then a "troubleshooter" and maintenance man for the school system for another 30 years, among other jobs he'd had as a very young man). I had many jobs in my 52 years of working, some I absolutely hated, some I loved, but all of them honorable work, and I learned something from every one of them. NEVER make fun of anyone's job---especially if you aren't working yourself, but very much need to do so!
Number 11 bible says make a joyful noise unto the lord. It never says you have to be on key.
Well that made me cry ( happy cry...there's hope for humanity yet by gosh)x
Thank you. This is the best collection of panda posts I’ve read in a while. Restores my faith in humanity.
I loved this post - I wanted to upvote everyone and give all these people hugs!
Also go out to get some vitamin D, watch some trees and remember to drink water <3
Because it’s the internet and you’re being skeptical, which is okay, but probably not true. Some people just want to be nice. That’s not too hard to believe is it?
Load More Replies... I think these are great but I have some reservations about the ones that say things like "Welcome all" or "Love everyone no matter what" bc I think that we should still be careful and wary of people who have shown that they are untrustworthy and will make trouble. I do think that we should give people chances to improve and guide them in the right direction but we should do so before welcoming them into places like our homes. Sure, if you don’t know someone be civil to them no matter their ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexuality, etc. and don’t judge them based on these things, but if they show that they are not someone you want to be around because they do not return your kindness, then I don’t think you should “welcome” them.
Yeah. We must love everybody no matter the origin, sex, orientation etc. But we shouldt love people who does bad to others like rapists, bigots, murderers etc. Intolerance cannot be tolerated.
Load More Replies... I think this series has the right attitude of positivism. I always argue for being critical with anything, but being careing for other beings and, ultimately, yourself, always is a good idea. To put this to BP: upvote early, downvote only if you really think something is wrong.
I love how people like these are around. I bet someone was having a horrid day and was scrolling through these and saw something they related to, and it made their day. Thank you for putting this and it, for sure, made my day a whole lot better. 💕
Lets make a petition to get more posts like this one. I think a lot of Pandas would sign it
I have never wanted to hug so many people all at once in my life. Darned ninjas cutting onions *wipes tearse*
This made me feel better. Things are hard right now. <3 to everyone, wherever and whoever you are.
I loved this a lot. Not only did it help me see the world in a better way, it made me feel better. Better that I can stand up for people and not look dumb. That I can stand up for others and not care :)
Most definitely agree with #32, respect the work/job. My late father used to tell anyone who was job hunting, or foolish enough to put him down for his jobs, "There's honor in any job well done, that's honest work. If you don't have a job, get one. Otherwise, keep your mouth shut and let me get back to my job!" (he was a professional baker for a large company for about 16 years, then a school janitor for three years, then a "troubleshooter" and maintenance man for the school system for another 30 years, among other jobs he'd had as a very young man). I had many jobs in my 52 years of working, some I absolutely hated, some I loved, but all of them honorable work, and I learned something from every one of them. NEVER make fun of anyone's job---especially if you aren't working yourself, but very much need to do so!
Number 11 bible says make a joyful noise unto the lord. It never says you have to be on key.
Well that made me cry ( happy cry...there's hope for humanity yet by gosh)x
Thank you. This is the best collection of panda posts I’ve read in a while. Restores my faith in humanity.
I loved this post - I wanted to upvote everyone and give all these people hugs!
Also go out to get some vitamin D, watch some trees and remember to drink water <3
Because it’s the internet and you’re being skeptical, which is okay, but probably not true. Some people just want to be nice. That’s not too hard to believe is it?
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