this post was submitted on 18 Jan 2024
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Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The most popular seem to be lighthearted clever little truths, hidden in daily life.

Here are some examples to inspire your own showerthoughts:

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  2. The entire showerthought must be in the title
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    • If your topic is in a grey area, please phrase it to emphasize the fascinating aspects, not the dramatic aspects. You can do this by avoiding overly politicized terms such as "capitalism" and "communism". If you must make comparisons, you can say something is different without saying something is better/worse.
    • A good place for politics is c/politicaldiscussion
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I'm talking in the context of the "capitalist rules". If you say the aforementioned sentence, you remove the responsibility of the player by dismissing the fact that the winner makes the rules.

PS: Doesn't work for every context: if the player aims to change the rules because he doesn't like them, he might see winning as a way to change them. "You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain" I guess...

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[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 23 points 2 years ago (4 children)

I can hate both. Morality is not subject to the whims of legislation. If you're a billionaire, you've done something immoral. Playing "within the rules" does not absolve you of all morality.

[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 19 points 2 years ago

The reason that doesn't make sense, is billionaires are the only ones with the power to fix the economic system thru political donations.

The saying isn't meant for your example, because they're not just players. Their also the refs and the ones who wrote the rules for the game.

Like:

It is what is

That makes sense if said between prisoners about how shitty jail is. But if a prison guard beat an inmate and then said that, it doesn't make sense.

Just because it's not true 100% of the time for 100% of people doesn't mean it's worthless. By that logic no phrase should exist

[–] zeppo@lemmy.world 9 points 2 years ago

I agree, I've said that about this phrase before! I can hate the player too. Not one of my favorite maxims.

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Legislation is not the only game being referred to by this saying.

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world -1 points 2 years ago

No, but it was OP's example. Use it in any ither context, and I'll tell you why the player is also a shitty person, regardless of the game.

Is it a guy being emotionally manipulative to have relationships with multiple women? Yeah, he's a shitbag.

Is it a business resorting to underhanded, but profitable, practices to corner the market and boost income? Shitbags.

Is it the kid cheesing that one move to win every battle? Shit. Bag.

I mean, there are degrees of being a shitty person. But anyone saying "don't hate the player, hate the game," knows they are doing something shitty and are doing it anyway because they can.

[–] Prunebutt@slrpnk.net 4 points 2 years ago

If a game inevitably leads to billionaires unless you can count on all individuals being moral people, I take the liberty of hating the game that sets things up like that.