Being one with nature also means being one with all nature has to offer. Sometimes, that's more of a curse than a blessing.
Nature is vast and fascinating, and as such, much of it remains unknown.
Encounters with the unknown are not the most desirable outcome of a trip that is supposed to be fun.
It can, in fact, taint the experience.
A Redditor whose username has been deleted asked:
"Whats the creepiest thing thats happened when you were camping or alone?"
Here were some of those answers.
Leaves And Screams
"Solo camping for the first time, in tent struggling to sleep and all of a sudden hear what sounds like a demon screaming and beating itās chest. Then another one. Then another oneā¦"
"Turns out koalas make fkn bloodcurdlingly horrible noises at night." -hahaswans
A Simple Trip To The Loo
"I was on a roadtrip by myself and stopped to camp in a small national park in New South Wales. It was off peak so I thought I was completely alone there."
"I found out I wasn't alone when a car came slowly past my camp from further inside the park. It drove around the corner and then about 5 mins later came back slowly driving back into the park again."
"I was pretty weirded out and I wasn't sure if I should leave or not. About 2 hours later after dark the car did another slow creepy drive by of my camp."
"This time I watched it to see where it was going through my binoculars. I saw it stop by the toilet block and realised it was just somebody too lazy to walk to the toilet and they were driving slowly not to disturb me! Sometimes I have too much imagination for my own good lol." -4tehlulz
Hey All You Cool Cats And Kittens
"Once camping in a safari in Africa on the open wild lions protecting from the rain leaned on my tent to sleep under the small canopy."
"I could literally hear them breathing inches away from me and see the tent move as they did. To make it worse I had diarrhea and needed desperately to go. It lasted the whole night."
"We were so close even my fart could trigger them. I honestly thought Iād either have a heart attack or be eaten. Wife woke up in the am completely oblivious. Worst night of my life."-No-Wifi2077
These experiences were so harrowing, they might make you rethink camping at all.
Awooo Awoooooo
"I got a job in another city after six months of unemployment. My sister lived there and said I could stay in her guest bedroom in the basement while they were away in California. Her house was on the very northwest tip of the city and it was January and bitterly cold."
"The very first night I was there I woke up at 1:30am to the sounds of children screaming and wailing. It was so eerie and frightening that I never wandered upstairs to investigate. I just laid there and covered my ears for thirty minutes before it either died down or I fell asleep."
"The next day my sister texted from Disneyland. I asked her if there were kids in her neighborhood who wandered around at night scaring the neighbours. She laughed and said Iād met the local coyotes."-tangcameo
Just A Baby, Go Back To Sleep
"I lived in a tent for a couple summers. One night while sleeping in my hammock I heard an animal sound near by. It was pitch black so I cant see it."
"Iām trying to guess what it is by the sounds itās making. Not a deer, too fast for a raccoons, doesnt sound like one of my drunken friends. There are bears and coyotes in my area."
"It gets really close to me then I donāt hear it moving for awhile. I think I hear it breathing but maybe not. After a minute I turn in my headlamp and its right next to me and it immediately jumps on to my hammock!"
"It was my buddyās black lab. He didnāt close the door to his van all the way and he got out. Spent the night cuddled in my hammock."-DannyLameJokes
Will The Sky Fall?
"This happened in the Finland State Forest in Northern Minnesota over the month of August in 2013. I was a fairly fit 34 year old male and have been doing 5-10 trips a year since I was 18. The state forests in MN allow you to disperse camp (camp anywhere you want) as long as you follow 'Leave no trace' principals and aren't on the side major roads."
"I mostly backpack solo since I love the feeling being completely alone in a natural setting. Since there are no clear places to set up a tent, I typically sleeping a backpacking hammock (tarp, hammock, quilt). This particular trip, I was about 4 hiking hours off the road making my own way through an area that I have been wanting to explore for a while."
"It was starting to get late in the day and I decided to set up in this nice maple forest area that wasn't too far from a nice clearing with an overlook. Ever year I read stories about trees falling on people and killing them while they sleep. so I like maples since they don't have as many trees with dead tops (widow makers) as you find in a Birch or Pine forest."
"I don't usually have a fire when I disperse camp since there isn't a fire ring and it's a bit of a hassle most of the time. I do gather materials to make a fire should I need one in an emergency though. After eating my dinner, hanging my food, and going to the bathroom, I decide it's time to read a bit on my kindle and fall asleep."
"After a couple hours of sleep, I find my self awake with a sense of unease. I am a pretty light sleeper when I camp solo, so I wasn't too alarmed by this, but then I hear loud footfalls in the woods and realized this is why my body woke me up. It sounds like a person walking through the leaves, but it honestly could be any animal making its way through the woods."
"After about 30 seconds, the footfalls stop and I then hear a massive creak and a thump from a tree being knocked over and hitting the ground. Ok, that's a bit odd...probably a bear doing what bears do. Then I hear the footfalls again and they are getting closer to where I am sleeping in my hammock. Silence again...followed by another tree being pushed over."
"F**k. I'm debating do get out and try to scare this thing away or just stay quiet and hope it moves on. It's a cloudy night and it dark as it can get. I can't even see my hand in front of my face. I don't want to put my headlamp on and draw it's attention my way."
"There is nothing but silence for what seems like forever. Then I hear more footfalls...getting closer still....groaning tree....whump on the ground. I could feel the tree hit the ground this time. I'm not going to die in my hammock and this thing knows I'm over here. So I hop out and start screaming as loud as I could scream."
"I throw rocks into the woods and make an unholy racket. I hear something run away from me and then it was gone. I decided I needed to let my adrenaline subside, so I started my emergency fire and ate a quick snack. Sunrise was only 3 hours away, but I wasn't going to stick around after that."
"So I tore down my kit and set off towards my car via my GPS. I arrived at my car mid morning and felt paranoid that I was being followed the entire time I hiked back. As I was driving home, I was reflecting on how I specifically chose an area far away from any noticeable dead trees and how bizarre it was to have three trees fall like that."
"It was probably a bear rubbing down it's itchy back...my imagination told me it was a bigfoot and it was messing with me. I still solo backpack, but the experience still puts me on edge on when I am alone in my hammock at night."-outrushoutdoors
Oh...Hey Stranger...
"Back in 2010, my brother, cousin, their girlfriends, and myself were driving out to eastern Washington to camp in the middle of nowhere. We had been driving for several hours, guys in the front car and ladies in a second rear car, and it was just past sunset by the time we made it to the turn off to go down into the canyon."
"As we turned off the main road, something really weird caught my eye and I made some comment like 'Wow that was really weird...' and my cousin turns around wide eyed asking if I saw something too."
"My mind was kind of registering it still and realized I saw what looked like some eerily human like shape standing at the bend in the turn with ragged clothes, and a bloodstained shirt. My cousin confirmed he saw it too and my brother who was driving was getting creeped out and asked us to drop the subject because he didn't see anything."
"We drop it because yeah, no wreckage around and we probably just saw a weird road sign. So anyway we drive the last 20 minutes down into this valley and pull up to our remote spot and start unpacking the car."
"When the girlfriends get out of their car, they ask us if we saw the creepy expressionless figure that looked like it had a bloody ragged shirt on staring at our cars as we passed them to go down into the canyon..."-BroboticRobot
Any one of these happening even once is enough for a lifetime of trauma.
The Woman In White
"My extended family went on a big camping trip together as a last vacation for my grandpa before he passed away. My older brother and I (about 15 and 13) shared a tent. The camp was set up in a small clearing in the woods but nearby there was this really large open field with waist high grass."
"My brother and I had our tent closer to this field so we could see out into it, while still nestled in the trees. We were well away from any town, and there were no houses or whatnot nearby."
"In the middle of the night I had a VERY creepy dream and sat straight up. For a moment I just caught my breath and tried to calm down, but then noticed my older brother sitting up as well. He asked what happened and I told him I had a weird dream, he said he had one as well and described my EXACT dream."
"We both dreamed we were watching out the tent window while a woman walked out into the middle of the field and with a very piercing voice sang a song that started beautiful but became creepier and creepier as she slowly turned to first face our tent, and then begin approaching it."
"We both woke up when she got close enough to see her face, which was screwed up and looked pissed. He even described exactly what she was wearing and everything. We opened the tent window and checked out but nothing was out there."
"We still weren't able to sleep and the next morning we moved our tent to the opposite side of the camp. It's engraved on my mind and I'm sure I will never be able to forget it. I don't really believe in ghosts but I have no clue what happened to us out there."-AnEsteemedCactus
How To Save A Life
"Went camping with my family once. Around 2 am everyone was asleep but I woke up because someone was trying to open my tent which i had a lock on it inside. I waited to see what this person will try to do and they kept trying to unzip the tent but nothing so they went to the next tent and I took my flashlight and a knife I had."
"Peeked outside and saw this lady who looked like she was beaten and she looked like she was desperately trying to hide. I called my dad and he got out with everyone to see what the commotion was. This lady was terrified and told us her and her boyfriend were down the road when someone ambushed them and attacked them."
"She stabbed one and ran away while her boyfriend was probably dead. She saw our campsite and ran for it to try to hide because they might be looking for her. I gave her my tent and we called the cops and they took her in for questioning. We did find out later her story was real when they found her boyfriend a few days later. The guys who did it were still at large."-odagled86
Ghostly Radio Waves
"Was much younger adult, lived in a duplex w/vaulted ceiling. Mylar balloon was up in the peak of the ceiling from some occasion (too long ago to remember)."
"It was around 1 am, I was totally alone in the duplex, working on a hobby. No tv, radios or anything on, all quiet. For just a few seconds I heard a sound like a radio playing, coming from the general direction of the balloon."
"Too brief to really grasp what was actually playing. Neighbor was always quiet, and the sound was at the far side of the duplex, away from his unit. Weird as hell."-cclay6482
SOLO
"Solo camp in the woods well away any road or track. I woke up to find that someone had made a cup of tea at my fire. There was a cup with the dregs of white tea sitting by the fire. I drink it black. The most British scary-woods-stalker ever." ~ Magnus_40
"Didnāt happen to me, but not long ago (maybe 3 months ago) I was camping and awoke to a family near me whose child had been abducted in deadset middle of the night. Major search operation underwent, and after 3 weeks or so (I think) the child was found alive and well. Needless to say, will never camp at that spot again." ~ Useful-Distribution5
Asleep...
"Wish I knew. I used to sleepwalk when I was younger but only really found out the first year I went away for summer camp. I would shower at night and go to bed clean, but wake up with mud completely caked up to my knees and no clue." ~ Pocket76
In the Wild
"Large wild animals walking through the camp at night. Northern California meant mountain lion or bear. Either way, not something I wanna tangle with." ~ shigogaboo
"I lived in Northern California for 2 years and got slightly nervous when I saw a sign warning about mountain lions in the park I always went too. I'm from New Jersey where we don't have to worry about animals like that." ~ BloodAngel85
When I Sleep
"Cop told me I couldn't sleep where I was sleeping, hassled me a bit, told me I had to sleep in my car. Next morning I find out it was because multiple people had been murdered in the area while sleeping outside, alone. I think it was a serial killer at that."
"Edit: found the long winded write up I did before, so if you're bored here you go: https://www.reddit.com/r/LetsNotMeet/comments/7qkg8k/comment/dsryr01/"
Edit 2: another creepy run in I had while alone I posted about years ago: https://www.reddit.com/r/LetsNotMeet/comments/64m4zw/car_broke_down_on_the_side_of_the_road/"
"Amazing I'm alive lol. Enjoy!" ~ Infamous_Lunchbox
A Quarry
"Back in 2002, I camped out in a mountain quarry during a science club caving trip. I woke up as dawn was approaching to some very loud screams/moans which came from the far back of the quarry. Everyone was accounted for yet no one woke up to this but me. I was terrified so I just laid there until I dozed back off to sleep. Once everyone was up I asked if anyone heard what I heard and no one else did. Perhaps it was some strange animal but I really have no idea." ~ kimmytwoshoes
Blair witch project
"Days after seeing 'Blair witch project,' I went backpacking in Michigan on north manitou. 3rd night in, I was falling asleep when a couple chipmunks came outta of nowhere being all crazy and one ended up going under my tent. Just imagine being half asleep, in the woods, and that happens." ~ Gluten_maximus
Let me Sleep...
"I used to be an insomniac. I used to see things that weren't there. Before I knew it was due to sleep deprivation, I saw lots of scary things and I wasn't sure if I was going crazy or haunted. I saw a woman walk into my kids room and vanish. Things would start changing shape like reality was rippling. It was frightening at the time." ~ Meimnot555
The Baby
"I found a baby. Or it found me rather. I was car camping at a campground outside of LA. Middle of the night I'm chilling solo by the fire several beers deep when a baby waddles out of a bush and heads right for the fire. I jump up and grab him. I didn't hear anyone looking for their kid so I just start yelling out towards the other camp sites if anyone lost a child. Some idiot way down the road goes oh yeah that's mine. doesn't even walk over to me! I carried his kid down to their camp stunned." ~ jbnarch25
Dumfries & Galloway
"I was a teenager camping with some friends in the countryside in Dumfries & Galloway. We pitched our tents in a flat area on moorland. We were just kind of sitting around, the sun was still up and visibility was good. I saw something moving in my peripheral vision and turned to look, thinking it might be a hare or something."
"It was a small man, wearing old fashioned clothes, stood only around 3 feet or so in height and looked pretty angry. Almost as soon as I looked at him, he vanished. It turns out all of us (four people) had seen the little man and seen him disappear." ~ CoelHen2021
Will these stories have you sitting bolt upright in your tent, shivering from the potential spookies and scaries waiting just out of eyeline in the night?
Or is there no being on this plane or the next who could ever temper your love for camping?
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Truly believe only half of what you see, and almost nothing that you hear. This is sage advice that has followed generations upon generations of people. Truly only filter out the things you know are going to work for you.
Unfortunately, not everybody has the self-possession to claim their own path. But we can teach those people what advice NOT to take. And some of that advice you should ignore is actually the very advice some people really believe in.
Redditor anasear asked:
Whatās some widely accepted bad advice?
Here were some of those answers.
The Body Keeps The Score
"Telling athletes to 'push through the pain.' This is how I ended up getting a new knee when I was 28."-VerySaltyScientist
"For parkour ppl, if you are feeling pain that means youāre doing something wrong/something high strain that shouldnāt be done often or youāre not ready for."
"Big difference between muscle soreness and bad technique."-1kateviax1
Same Thing To Bankrupt Yourself
"3 paychecks for an engagement ring. Thats not even what the 'advice' even was; its actually worse than that."
"This 'advice' comes from a De Beers Diamonds company marketing campaign, and it said that a ring should cost two months worth of your pay, which would be 4 paychecks since most people get paid every 2 weeks."
"And then later, they changed the advertisements to say three months of your pay which would be six pay checks."-theinsanepotato
Skin Deep
ā'Looks donāt matter.' As someone thatās ugly I find that mildly offensive. Looks get your foot in the door, personality gets you in. Having a great personality only works if youāre moderately attractive."
"People also treat others different based on whether theyāre hot or not. My best friend is typically attractive and the amount of times people have talked over me only to listen raptly to my friend is not even funny anymore."
"Treat others with respect, yes even us ugly ones."-_Frog_Enthusiast_
Seeing any advice here that makes you want to crawl out of your skin yet?
No...You'll Make PLENTY Of Money
"Donāt take that promotion, youāll make less money if you get a raise, overtime will put you in a new tax bracket and youāll actually make less, etcā¦"
"We really should teach this kind of stuff in school because itās scary how many people donāt understand how tax brackets work."-bb_1219
Dreams Are Just Dreams
"Follow your dreams. It is too vague. 'I want to be an actress' and then not explaining the steps, or other obscure jobs kinda leads to a kid dreaming and not doing much....then growing up confused."
"I still think people should follow their passions in life. Do what they love, and find motivation in everything. But I hate 'follow your dreams.'"
"It sounds like something you'd hear a whimsical fairy say. It is meaningless, dreamy, and unproductive today....in my opinion."-anonomnom23
Just Go To Bed
ā'Never go to bed angry.' I hear people say it all the time, and people accept it as if itās gospel, but often a good nights sleep and a chance to let your cortisol drop so you can get out of your āreptilian brainā and return to reason is really what you need."
"Do not stay up all night trying to resolve some issue when youāre furious and exhausted. Go ahead and go to bed angry."-a_little_confusion
Just Tell Poor People To Have More Money!
"Telling anyone with mental health issues, unilaterally, to fix them via meditation/mindfulness. Why I feel it often doesnāt work, bc I know this advice is usually offered in good faith:"
"Remember that meditation and mindfulness are both skills, that need time and energy to cultivate; so even if they are helpful (and I do use both to help manage my own), itās not helpful advice to give someone so deep in depression/mental illness that they have neither."
"In my experience, it feels like reaching out and saying, 'Iām drowning,' and someone responds, 'Well, why donāt you just learn how to swim?'"
"The real advice people often need is exactly how and where to seek help, which will go a much longer way."-topHatGhost1622
These Low Effort Jobs Have Surprisingly High Salaries | George Takeiās Oh Myyy
Have you ever worked one of those jobs that paid you to kinda sit there? If you have, you know the joy that comes with watching the entirety of Breaking Bad ...Scholarships
"'Study whatever you want in college that interests you.' Unless you have scholarship money, wealthy and giving parents, etc."
"You shouldn't (example:) go to a private art college to study printmaking. My ex-gf did that and she'll be in debt her whole life. You can study whatever you want, but you don't have to borrow $100k to pursue what you love."-CliplessWingtips
Trades, Though
"'You have to go to college.' No. College is one option. There are several other options. Trade school. Apprenticeship. Workforce. Military. Volunteering. Whatever!"
Y"ou have to do what's right for you, not what others are incentivized to tell you."
"College was right for me, and I was able to pay off my loans within 5 years of graduating because I was fortunate to use my degree to obtain a job in my field fairly quickly."
"That doesn't mean it's right for my cousin, who is a welder and making gobs of money being an expert on his own schedule!"-Caruthers
Yeah, Money CAN Make You Happy
"'Money doesn't buy happiness.' While yes it isn't guaranteed to make you happy I would bet you wouldn't at all be happy if you were homeless."
"Whereas if you had average income you would likely be more happy. Simply because you're not living in a sh*thole without taking showers."
"You can live in comfort and be clean. People seem to think that just cause lots of rich people are lonely and dicks that means that money means nothing with happiness. Well it definitely does."-doochebag420696969
Next time you hear somebody give you this advice, take it with a grain of salt.
We've learned it doesn't work for everybody.
Luck and privilege are much bigger factors in success than platitudes.
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People Break Down Which Actors Played The Villain So Well They Inspire Real-Life Hate
Have you ever seen someone take to the role of villain so easily and so well that you forever associate them with that role from then on?
Whether or not it's the first time you saw Othello in your community or the first time you saw What Lies Beneath with Harrison Ford as a murdering, unfaithful husbandāit sticks with you.
It can become difficult to separate the human actor behind the role from the role when you're younger and even more so, when you are deeply affected by the movie. They become the face of something you loathe, and it's difficult to divorce them from that.
Redditor Cutiebeautypie asked:
"Which actor/actress was so good at playing a villain role that you almost hated them in real life?"
Here were some of those answers.
Joffrey Was Always Doomed
"Jack Gleeson, the actor who played Joffrey Baratheon on Game of Thrones."-Ashesza
"GoT wasnāt perfect, but boy did they knock it out of the park when it came to casting. Especially the Lannisters."-Jockobutters
"Such an incredible actor! I read stories that people would yell at him and spit on him when they would see him in public. Super f**ked up."-Breezy_Luv
GiphyThat Breaking Bad Energy
"Jesse Plemons. Heās always f**king Todd to me. F**king Todd. Shooting that kid. F**k you Todd."-hamtronn
"Oh god same!! I hate his face.. I know that's mean."
"He is so awful in BB. He's somehow kinda childlike and a psychopath at the same time. Sorry Jesse Plemons, and credit due for your epic acting skills."-Ilikezombiemovie
All Hail
"Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator. Such a great actor for the role. He was terrible and also tragic, an overgrown child who was spoiled by his father who didn't love him and simply let him play around so he wouldn't need to deal with him, leaving him spoiled but empty inside."
"And the one time his father showed him any love it was when he was trying to take away all he had known to give it to someone else after he'd been promised it all his life. He was a f**ked up character, but you could see what f**ked him up."-JazzmansRevenge
GiphySee anybody you had a full body negative reaction to on this list?
Art School
"JK Simmons in 'Whiplash'. I canāt stand the guy now and shudder at his name because he was so damn good."-TravelSized504
"You know what really bothered me about that movie? He won, in the end. He (spoilers, movie is amazing go see it) abused students to the extent that they killed themselves, and the absolute emotional climax of the movie featured his student...listening to him."
"And letting himself be directed, and they produced amazing music together. It vindicated him. It essentially said, it's okay to treat your students like sh*t because you are pushing them and that drives them to become exceptional."-thebaehavens
George Is A Loser
"Not me, and not really a villain, but my wife absolutely and irrationally hates Jason Alexander, all because of George Costanza."
"I try to tell her that he must be a great actor to instill that kind of emotion but she won't listen."-ParsifalJones
GiphyWhen It Becomes Confusing
"I have a hard time deciding between John Lithgow in 'Third Rock From the Sun/Dexter' and Bryan Cranston in 'Malcolm in the Middle/Breaking Bad' for most jarring character change."
"Dick and Hal were both great lovably goofy characters and the later roles were both so brilliantly ruthless. It also makes me wonder what other actors also had polar opposite roles like those."-Buddahrific
These Low Effort Jobs Have Surprisingly High Salaries | George Takeiās Oh Myyy
Have you ever worked one of those jobs that paid you to kinda sit there? If you have, you know the joy that comes with watching the entirety of Breaking Bad ...All Work And No Play
"Jack Nicholson in the 'Shining'. The disdain he has for his wife in that movie is so real. Like you almost think that for him to access this level of contempt for his wife it must come from a real place."
"Brilliant acting. 'You think that MAAYYYBBEE we should get DAANNYYYY to a Doctor?!'ā-user7890123456789
GiphyAnd these villains are very likely responsible for moments of TV and film that still haunt you to this day.
A Mimetic Polyalloy
"Robert Patrick in 'Terminator 2'. Patrick did some really amazing training and preparation for that role, including things like learning to shoot without ever blinking."
"Also, when he's running to chase Furlong on the dirt bike, it's not sped up; he was really running like a machine and not even breathing through his mouth."-guitarz333
GiphyMike Flanagan Loves His Villains
"Samantha Sloyan as Bev keane in 'Midnight Mass'. She's so disgusting and horrible. She talks down to everyone, is obviously prejudice and revels at being a holier than thou person."
"Everybody in their life, especially if you're a church goer, knows a Bev Keane. It's on netflix and it's a seriously great show by the guy who did haunting of hill/bly manor and geralds game."-FlynnLight
Love To Hate
"Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan in 'The Walking Dead'. That guy just oozes charisma. I find him hard to hate while simultaneously hard to forgive. I gotta respect both the actor and writers for doing such a great job with that character."
"In the later seasons, I find him easier to respect than most of the other main characters. Like the paranoia and PTSD most of the characters have is totally understandable, but it's frustrating seeing it cause so many issues."-Buddahrific
GiphyWhile these villains are endlessly irritating, no story is complete without its antagonists. They are just as important to telling the story as the heroes.
And the actors aren't responsible for the things their characters do--or else, we need to have a serious conversation with everybody who has ever played "Iago" in Othello.
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It takes more than being naked to be intimate.
True emotional intimacy requires vulnerability and a naked soulāsomething far more difficult to achieve around another person than first meets the eye.
The terror of being known is one of the more intimate experiences of our human existence.
We must give into it in order to truly know someone else, thoughāwhich is the paradox of love and intimacy.
Redditor baby_darko asked:
"What's the most intimate thing in a relationship that's not sexual?"
Here were some of those answers.
Euphemize Like A Sailor
"Getting each others sense of humor. And when you both start talking like each other because you pick up on each others slang and way of speaking."-Thebigdumbidiot
"The speaking like each other was something I hadnāt noticed until about two years in when a friend pointed it out. Friend was busting my stones because I picked up on her use of cutesy nonsense words and that they have specific uses and meanings (I guess not exactly nonsense anymore)."
"While thinking about it I realized that my fiancƩe now swears like a trucker far more than she used to. One of us may be a better example for the kids than the other."-battlerazzle01
Unfiltered
"Honesty. Its not like we actively go around lying all day, but until you're in a relationship were you have truly honest conversations about even the most mundane thing you realize how much 'tactfulness' goes into everyday interactions."
"In my opinion it's extremely intimate to share your true unfiltered thoughts."-jazzz92
"This is so true. Iāve had very loving partners, but Iāve only ever known one person I felt comfortable being truly unfiltered with."
"If you ever have someone like this in your life, cherish them. Itās so special and rare."-feed-me-trash-tv
Do you see a form of intimacy you're experiencing but didn't even fully acknowledge yet?
How To Eat Some Spice
"Just having little tid bits of information about them."
"Like if i eat spicy food I'll get hiccups in the first 3-5 bites and then after they subside I'll be able to eat that spicy food without any issues."
"This is so specific but them knowing and showing that they know is just so intimate."-ComprehensiveTooth2
How To Make Up Ground
"Seeing how they respond when sh*t gets real. I was attacked and out of work recovering for about a month, and my bf didnāt even blink about my lack of income."
"He just says, āitās essentially your new birthday, weāll have whatever you want to order for dinner all month.ā He was there through my panic attacks, my crying spells, my lawyers appointments, signing up for therapy. Everything."
"To see how much someone will stand by you and love you when youāre at your worst is pretty incredible."-anitasdoodles
ASL In The Dark Times
"Learning new ways to communicate. My partner has been sick, he lost his voice, I know Sign Language and I taught him the hand sign for 'I love you' š¤"
"He never knew it was I love you. Til I taught him. Now, he can talk a bit better, he verbally says I love you, but also he'll say 'babe look' and he'll flash the š¤ sign to me and smiles."
"Its only been about a week and half that I showed him that, but he uses it as well as says it and I think it's amazing.
I also taught him how to sign 'more kisses' lol cus he loves when I give him kisses on his face. So when he was at the beginning of being sick, he'd sign 'more kisses, more kisses.'"
"It's little things that aren't sexual that makes a relationship feel so close and intimate. I could ramble on for hours and hours pages upon pages about how wonderful this man is."-baby_darko
Even When It Gets Scary, He's There
"When I was pregnant with our 2nd kid, about 13 weeks in, we were having sex. He stopped and I looked at him to see he has turned ghost white. 'Babe. You're bleeding.'"
"I tell him it's fine, just keep going. 'No, like a lot. I'm calling the doctor.' This is like 2AM. I get up not thinking anything of it at first and then look at our bed. It looks like he has stabbed me with a machete. I run to the bathroom and fill the toilet with blood. I feel light headed."
"Manage to get a hold of the OB on-call. 'Unfortunately, you are likely miscarrying. We will schedule an ultrasound in the morning. Until then rest with your feet up. Sorry, there is literally nothing we can do.'"
"He proceeded to clean up the nightmare and held me until morning while I sobbed thinking we killed our baby because I was so fucking horny. We weren't even being rough."
"The kid lived. He's 8 years old now. We were banned from sex for 7 months. This man cuddled me every night for 7 months. He sympathized when I complained about not being able to be intimate. He never got selfish."
"He gave me everything I needed. He is NOT THAT GUY, but he came through so fucking hard. The support I received from was so much more intimate than anything we've done together. Been together since 1998. We still snuggle nightly."-oneplanetrecognize
These Low Effort Jobs Have Surprisingly High Salaries | George Takeiās Oh Myyy
Have you ever worked one of those jobs that paid you to kinda sit there? If you have, you know the joy that comes with watching the entirety of Breaking Bad ...A partner who can truly face these problems with you as if they were their own, and someone who you want to hold too close...isn't that what intimacy is?
Through The Literal Bad Sh*t
"Crying without judgment. I realized that I don't cry in front of people. Except my wife. She cries, too. We cry over different things and are just there for each other without judgment or saying, 'You shouldn't cry over this.'"
"We understand that we're different. I listen to her, offer her comfort, and actively participate in the conversation with both of our views in mind. And she does the same for me."
"Funny enough, when we were together a couple of years, though we showered together, I refused to use the bathroom in front of her. Her response? She removed the bathroom door."
"Later on, and this is going to be gross so hop off now, I became severely constipated. No amount of fiber or water or laxatives were doing anything. She took me for colon hydrotherapy, where I took the biggest dump of my life."
"I lost 3.4lbs of fecal matter that day, and as I destroyed the toilet, I hugged my wife and sobbed miserably. If that's not intimacy, I don't know what is."-DrOculus90
Physical Touch
"When my wife was alive her and I were always in some form of physical contact. If I was driving, my right hand was always on her leg and she would always lightly ticking the back of my neck and head (I really miss that feeling)."
"We had two sofas so we could both lay down and stretch out while watching TV, but we'd put one arm out so we could hold hands. If we were out somewhere she would always hook her arm around mine and have her body pressed up against me (I miss that feeling too)."
"She was really big on physical affection and contact. There was nothing sexual in this kind of touching either but it always felt so good having her hand on my back, or tickling my head, of having her pressed up against me in line at the movies."
"She was the first woman I'd ever been with that was so affectionate all the time. She's been gone 8 and 1/2 years now and I really miss that affection."-HumpieDouglas
How To Respect Your Hooman
"My partner has Aspergers and they have issues with interactions of all types and get very frustrated without a routine. They also have terrible nightmares and terrors when they sleep. I made a full on schedule, hand signals, and safe words/phrases to help them."
"I would stay up at night to help them when they had nightmares or terrors. They have a terrible immune system and get sick very frequently and even though I have emetophobia(the fear of vomit) I would take care of them."
"They'd have days they couldn't even lift themselves off the floor and I'd help them to bed and I'd do everything I can to help. I love my partner more than anything. They do the same for me even."
"We discuss everything. We discuss our thoughts, feelings, and our day every day. We communicate and take care of each other. We fight of course but we never yell or scream or throw hands. We make up."
"We have days where we spend time apart to recuperate. We have self care days. We check each other's mental, physical, and emotional health every chance we get. We heal ourselves and each other. We give each other what we want for ourselves."
"We cuddle. We kiss. We watch movies. We make traditions. We cook together. We love each other. And in the end, above all else, we RESPECT each other. That's a relationship to us."-Jayden_Riley-2002
Intimacy is also shared between more than just partners.
Friends, family and even coworkers can share intimate moments and those moments are truly the foundation upon which relationships are structured.
Intimacy is key.
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People Break Down What Our Society Values Highly That Is Actually Garbage
Society is a pretty imperfect place.
It holds a structure that everyone can operate loosely within, but thanks to a combination of peer and family pressure, invented standards of production and a whole bunch of other things, you can really get shaken loose from the structure and/or come to resent it.
And then there's the question of what isn't working anymore in our society and truly just needs to get the heck out? Humans have been around for a hell of a long time, and we have evolved in so many ways.
But in others, you start to truly wonder if we have all learned nothing.
Redditor BeardedTaco88 asked:
"What is something that's held in high regard in culture and society that's actually garbage?"
Here were some of those answers.
Get It On The Grind...NOT
"Hustle culture, always being on the grind. I get some wild responses when I tell people I work under 40 hours a week and am thriving."
"Life should be more than work, even if I L O V E my job."
"ETA: A lot have asked what I do; Iām a manicurist! My thriving might be different from others: I have two cats, my own one-bed apartment, an emergency fund, and a great family and chosen family."
"Iām usually not exhausted and I like myself."-horrorharlot1199
I'm Just A Dude, Dude
"The way we treat our celebrities because we treat them like gods or some other deity when they should be treated like any other normal human being and don't even get me started on how the Paparazzi are with them."-SP_21ones
"There are studies about this saying that we evolved to only talk to people in person, so seeing someone repeatedly on screen is the same as seeing them repeatedly in person. Our brains interpret it the same way."
"It assumes that if we see someone that often, they must be a close friend, so we form personal relationships with celebrities even if weāve never met them. Thatās why they are treated the way that way. Everybody sees them as close friends. When Chadwick Bozeman died, millions were crying like their mom had passed away."
"I would also like to add a personal hypothesis that it has to do with us living in a monotheistic society. Thereās a human need to look up to multiple people, and when itās not the gods, we find others to 'worship.'"
"It happens with celebrities, politicians, historical figures, etc. I have a poster of Chris Pratt as Starlord on my wall because I like the movie and I think heās chill. My Aztec ancestors probably painted their patron god on their wall."
"I went to a Ricky Martin concert. Ancient peoples went to religious festivals that were probably fairly similar. There are a lot of similarities."-youburyitidigitup
Lack Of Emotional Intelligence For 800, Mayim
"Bottling up emotions and not asking for help when you need it."-ChutkiJoTuneMariHai
"On the flipside, forcing people to talk about their emotions when they deal differently. My boyfriend lost both his little brother and his dad in the span of 6 months."
"Everyone wanted him to talk it out, and it put so much extra strain on him when he was already grieving. Somehow out of all his family and friends, I was the only one who just sat quietly with him when he needed that silent presence, or would listen when he randomly would start telling a story at 2am that he remembered about him and his brother. (I guess there's a reason we're together lol)"-MatureTeen14
What can you do with these except not practice them in your own life and hope for the best?
Sports With Our Lives Ain't Fun
"Treating politics like a sports game. People absolutely refuse to admit a politician they dislike did anything even remotely valuable in office, or that a politician they ālikeā isnāt a good person."
"Not exclusive to any one side, and some people would miss the point of this comment entirely and say 'lol so basically republicans/liberals amirite?'ā
"Then call everyone either racist, snowflakes, liberals, communist, hivemind, republitards, etc etc when they get downvoted."-PvtSmuffler
Elder Or Just Older?
"Respecting your elders. Living and working in an indigenous lifestyle, you learn thereās a difference between an elder vs an old person."
"An elder is a leader, it doesnāt necessarily mean they are in a job that suggests that, but a wealth of knowledge that they are willing to share for the greater good."
"An old person is just that, a person who got to a certain age. There are some people you will meet throughout life that are miserable and are willing to drag others down with them."
"Just because they are doing that at 80 doesnāt mean you have to respect them. Elder is an earned term. Something that doesnāt just show up at 50 or whatever age people thinks it starts, but itās something that they have been building towards."-four4youglencoco
Bait The Rich People With Shiny Things
"Any awards, Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, Tonys and other stupid awards."-Lord-AG
"In lukewarm defense of award shows, they are the reason a whole lot of really solid movies even get made. Certainly winning an oscar is no guarantee of quality, which is subjective anyway."
"But a lot of movies only get funded in the first place because they're believed to have awards potential. And as much as I complain about 'oscar bait,' I do think it's usually at least a sign of EFFORT on the part of the creators."
"Is it really the worst thing if a movie puts some energy into its sound design or score, even if only to add some statues to the marquee?"
"Any criticism you have for the Oscar's I'll probably agree with, but at the same time I think we'll be surprised how much we miss them when they're gone."-Wazula42
Parental Units Or Family?
"'Respect your parents because they're your parents.' I remember a lot of teachers in my middle school were big on this line. It frustrated a lot of students because if you tried to explain your parent situation to your teacher, you always got hit with this bullsh*t line."
"I remember one kid, his mom was just a b*tch to him. no matter what he did, it was not good enough for this kids mom. This kid would act out a lot in different classes and you could tell it was because home life wasn't very good."
"Anyways, one day after school this kid used the public phone in the office (i was also in the office, but i was there waiting for something so i overheard all of this) for students to use to call his mom and ask where she was parked."
"Instantly you can hear her on the other line b*tching away (couldn't make out the words, but you could hear the tone of her voice yelling at him) at him for a simple question, so he starts snapping back at her and then eventually says 'bye' to her and hangs up the phone."
"Before he could leave the office the principal who overheard him snapping on the phone, told him to watch his attitude with his mom and maybe she'll be more nice to him. The kid just started at him like wtf? and said 'well maybe if she didn't snap at me first i wouldn't have to do it back. she needs to learn how to be nice to me too.'"
"And queue the principal giving him this bullshit line of 'she's you're mother. You have to respect her no matter what. change your attitude with her and she'll change hers with you too.'"
"This kid literally turned and looked at me sitting in the chair behind him like 'you're hearing this sh*t right??' scoffed, rolled his eyes, and walked out."
"I actually really felt for this kid cause i knew what it was like to be in his position. My mom goes through those 'nothing is good enough for me' phases all the time, especially growing up and would scream at you for literally anything."
"Didn't matter what tone of voice i used with her, or how i constructed my sentences, you always got yelled at no matter what."-urbanlulu
Society needs to have a private conversation with itself to really ask itself if it's doing the best it can right now.
Is That Bourbon Or Riesling?
"Late to the party so Iām sure Iāll get buried, but wine mom culture. Itās essentially alcoholism in pretty wrapping paper so people think itās cute to get drunk on wine every night to escape the stress of work, kids, housework, etc.."
"Now try replacing wine mom with a man who gets drunk on whiskey every night and suddenly itās not so glamorous, yet each is equally harmful."-PMacLCA
OverpricƩd
"Designer clothes and handbags. You're paying all that money to wear a logo, you're just paying them to advertise their products."
"Clothes and bags made out of the same materials go for so much less if you're not getting those extremely well known brands. Same functionality, same comfort."-MentlPopcorn
Something By Puccini
"Okay, not quite 'garbage,' but:"
"Puccini's operas... amazing, beautiful music. You hear it sung in Italian and you imagine it must be grappling with powerful and important topics and themes."
"But if you actually watch the opera with subtitles? 100% pedestrian plots about things like a group of buddies helping their friend bang the local pub wench or whatever. LOL"-pab_guy
Society needs to shed its skin every once in awhile and let go of the things that no longer serve it. And society, we are calling on you to drop these things from valuation.
We might start to see the world truly change for the better if that happens.
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