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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.

#1

Wholesome Patriotism

Wholesome Patriotism

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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.

#2

Halloween For Everyone!

Halloween For Everyone!

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#3

Come On In And Long As You’re Nice

Come On In And Long As You’re Nice

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troufaki13
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If God created all creatures with his infinite wisdom, why would he hate something that HE created?

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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.

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#6

Minding Your Own Business Is Free

Minding Your Own Business Is Free

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am_c0m0
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Minding our own business would solve a lot of our problems.

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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.

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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.

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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.

#10

Shout Out To The Solo Eaters

Shout Out To The Solo Eaters

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#13

Someone I Went To School With Posted This About Giving Their Son A Unicorn-Themed Birthday Bash. Positive Parenting For The Win

Someone I Went To School With Posted This About Giving Their Son A Unicorn-Themed Birthday Bash. Positive Parenting For The Win

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

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.

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"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."

#14

Family Is A Family Is A Family

Family Is A Family Is A Family

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Julie C Rose
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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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.

#18

Felt Like This Might Belong Here

Felt Like This Might Belong Here

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

My husband doesnt find my jokes funny, but he cracks up when i cant finish the joke because im laughing so hard.. I love him!

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#19

It's The Thought That Counts

It's The Thought That Counts

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#20

Never Too Late For New Beginnings

Never Too Late For New Beginnings

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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?”

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#21

We Are All Nerds Together

We Are All Nerds Together

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

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.

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#23

Good Guy Owner

Good Guy Owner

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

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).

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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). 

#25

Stress Relief

Stress Relief

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

And do not geet engaged into ridiculous competition. You do not need to have read the full History of Middle-earth to enjoy watching the hobbit. (You should, though, before criticising supposed plot-holes.)

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#26

Money Is Power, But Also Not

Money Is Power, But Also Not

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

Also when the minimum wage rises, you can hope that other employers will also offer more, to give people a reason to stay in their job instead of taking an 'easier' minimum wage job.

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#27

Better Late Than Never

Better Late Than Never

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Nat Hedley
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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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.

#29

Gay Pride Can Be Whatever You Want/Need It To Be

Gay Pride Can Be Whatever You Want/Need It To Be

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#31

How Lovely

How Lovely

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

Thank you for this! Kids will never learn how to behave or communicate with others if they can't be at public places. My kids usually behave very well, but can be quite loud.

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#32

Showing Respect For One Another’s Professions

Showing Respect For One Another’s Professions

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Roxy Eastland
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a weird comment. Don't we all love the person that turns up at our doorstep with our eagerly awaited parcel??

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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.

#34

Jesus Never Stutters

Jesus Never Stutters

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

This applies to all religions ... Religion was meant to unify people!! Not divide them... All this hate needs to stop. I'm leaning towards atheism just because of this.

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

This is basically all you need to know about Jesus. If you do not stick to this rule as best you can, stop calling yourself a good Christian.

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

Actually this is not all you need to know about Jesus but it is one of His main teachings. We need to love everyone, be respectful and avoid being hypocrites. Jesus was firmly against all kinds of hypocrisy. But He had many more teachings also. He was also against adultary and murder for example. And Terd, you are totally misinterpreting that bible verse there. It means that one should love God more than anything or anyone else in the whole world. It doesn't really mean that we can't love our family members. It means that if our mother or father or some other person close to us, asked us to leave our faith for them or to commit sin, we would rather chose to obay God. It is not emotional manipulation or blackmail. Jesus is just simply telling us that we must be faithful to Him and have Him as our priority and not be lukewarm christians who are willing to give up our faith when there is pressure from outside even from our own families.

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

Yes, as my favourite magnet says, "Stop Using Jesus as an excuse to be a bigoted asshole"

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

Love one another as Jesus loves you/try to show kindness in all that you do/be gentle and loving in deed and in thought/for these are the things Jesus taught - this song makes me tear up every time I hear it, its called "Love one another."

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Terd Fergison
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3 years ago

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What jesus actually said was that if you love a family member (even a mother loving her own baby) more than god, it is horrible sin and you will be punished [Matthew 10:37]. That's emotional manipulation, emotional blackmail, and emotional abuse. The only thing god loves in the bible is himself.

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

As my youth pastor loved saying, "Love the sinner, hate the sin."

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Terd Fergison
Community Member
3 years ago

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The bible also endorses slavery. It says that you can beat your slave into a coma and it's ok as long as they wake up within a couple days. The god of the bible is f-u-c-king evil. Sin is a fictional concept. Can you even prove god exists?

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M Kate McCulloch
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey 5-star, I understand where you are coming from, but to love someone doesn't mean you necessarily have to be personally involved with them. You can love up close, at an arm's length , or from a distance. Love is not limited to sex and romance, it is also charity, compassion, forgiveness, understanding, and sometimes it's doing something hard like calling the cops - but instead of doing that out of fear or hatred, you do it out of the genuine concern that the other person gets the help they need that you cannot provide. So, yeah - love...

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

Jesus's love has little to do with how he judges someone. Has a single person here actually read the Bible?

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

I don't like the stutter comment - not to make it about me but my brother stutters and this is painful to read. I think over time, this will go the way of the "R" word (I hope).

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

I don't like someone taking the Lord and putting that kind of language with Him, but I DO agree with the gist of the message.

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

there will always "what-if" situation, please stop! you are just trying to justify your terrible actions and treatment to others.

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M Kate McCulloch
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have always loved this one. He said Love Thy Neighbor. Whoever you are standing next to, no matter who or what they are, no matter their god, country or language, Love them. Period, Full stop. End of story. No commentary. And swearing is not a sin, it's simply vulgar. Bashing your neighbor is a sin.

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

Why are you downvoting The 5-star rated 5-star rating system? They are indeed correct in that we shouldn't love dangerous bigoted psychopaths, or MAPs, racists, fascists, rapists, etc...

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

We should love everyone including people that have commited evil unspeakable things but that doesn't mean that we need to love or accept their behaviour. I sincerely wish all rapists, psychopaths and murderers would find Jesus and turn away from such evil things. Child abusers on the other hand... I have great difficulties to wish anything good for them.

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

I'm not a Christian, but Christ, real or not, was a good guy. Funny how many of his 'followers' seem to forget that

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

How much of the bible have you actually read? Christ said some good things and some evil things. Jesus said that if you love a family (even a mother loving her own baby) more than me, it's horrible and you will be punished. He said, I come not to bring peace, but a sword. Jesus was supposedly one with the god of the Old Testament (they were the same being in a way) and the Old Testament god was extremely evil. Jesus also loved the the Old Testament and said not disregard one jot of it. Jesus was an idiot that came upon a fig tree that was out of season and barren, so he got angry at the tree and smited it. Jesus said he came to divide families. He was a fictional c-u-n-t. There are better human beings and better fictional beings.

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

And why the f-u-c-k not? Words are just words. The only value that they hold is what people give them. To me condoning slavery and beating your slaves is way worse than cussing.

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

What jesus actually said was that if you love a family member (even a mother loving her own baby) more than god, it is horrible sin and you will be punished [Matthew 10:37]. That's emotional manipulation, emotional blackmail, and emotional abuse. The only thing god loves in the bible is himself.

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

Tell this to the f*****g POPE and his idiot, kid-raping assholes in the vatican and churches around the world.

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

Catholicism is not christianity. It is the big harlot church in the book of revelation.

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Terd Fergison
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The bible is very against worshipping other gods (heard of the ten commandments?). The god of the bible is super petty, jealous, tribalistic, vain, wrathful, and genocidal. God commanded his people to kill every person in the neighboring tribe including women, children, and babies and kill their innocent livestock, but keep the virgin girls for yourself (implied to rape). You can love everyone without this evil a-s-s religion.

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

I haven't been a big churchgoer in ages so I could be wrong, but isn't all of that in the Old Testament? ie, before Jesus?

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Mewton’s Third Paw
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes. Because your daddy said that both of those are wrongs, you walking contradiction.

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

Unless they are nonbelievers or worship another god. Maybe you should try actually reading the bible. It's a disgusting, evil, divisive, tribalistic, petty, vain, stupid book.

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Terd Fergison
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Blasphemy is a fictional crime against a fictional god. Maybe try reading more books. If somebody said blasphemy is no joke especially to you and they were telling you that you were offending the Hawaiian gods, what would you think? If a Hindu person says blasphemy is no joke, would you care?

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Jonathan Litton
Community Member
3 years ago

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Is this why communists call anyone who disagree with them nazis & physically attack them in public?

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The 5-star rated 5-star rating system
Community Member
3 years ago (edited)

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But what if they are dangerous bigoted psychopaths? I understand that this is meant to be a nice message and is meant to teach that we shouldn't judge people based on race, gender, religion, sexuality, etc., but I think that there are some people who we should not love, trust or try to see the good in because they have shown though their actions that they cannot be trusted and will cause trouble for lots of people if you keep giving them chances. There are some people who will take advantage of you if you "love" them.

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Carrot dude
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The message here is that you should love people- which doesn't inherently mean you have to trust or make excuses for or even associate with them if they are bad for you. Loving your enemies just means showing them kindness, forgiving them, and acknowledging them as human beings- which not everyone can or needs to do, but that's basically the goal.

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#35

You Get To Decide How You Define Being "Grownup"

You Get To Decide How You Define Being "Grownup"

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

Why would a saleswoman at a furniture store not want to sell furniture?

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#37

Taking Care Of Your Mental Health Is Important

Taking Care Of Your Mental Health Is Important

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#38

We’re All In This Together

We’re All In This Together

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

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.

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#39

Ok Zoomer

Ok Zoomer

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

Smartphones are the library of Alexandria? Wow, I have to remember this one!

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#40

They Had Us In The First Half

They Had Us In The First Half

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

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.

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#43

Speak Everything

Speak Everything

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#44

Learning Is Awesome

Learning Is Awesome

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

Also my favorite ones! And I love to talk about them to whoever cares to listen. ;)

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#46

You’re Doing Just Fine

You’re Doing Just Fine

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

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.

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#48

Gonna Remember Who Spoke To Me And Who Didn’t

Gonna Remember Who Spoke To Me And Who Didn’t

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#49

Accept Everyone And Respect Their Decisions Y’all

Accept Everyone And Respect Their Decisions Y’all

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#50

Do Whatever Makes You Happy

Do Whatever Makes You Happy

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