this post was submitted on 17 Jan 2025
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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: 1

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Structurally they are similar enough that we can communicate. The discovery would be altering our science, but every attempt to exchange beyond technicalities and niceties is somehow incredibly boring to both sides.

After the initial awe, it would be like, yeah, we know aliens.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I think this says more about you and your mindset. When I was a kid and the internet was a big new thing, I was blown away that I could play chess with someone from Poland, or Venezuela, or India. I did nothing but explore as a kid on the internet. I know this feeling you're talking about because I get it now in middle age quite a bit. This feeling of bored. Why go on vacation and spend all this money, I know what a beach is, there's nothing novel. Even visiting monuments or going to concerts. Eh the music sounds better on my stereo anyways. For a revelation like this to actually be... not boring, I think access and curiosity need to be strong. If they are individuals like us and we can communicate, wouldn't you want to talk to them? Ask them how they think? What their history is? Someone else mentioned in this thread, and I think it's likely, that they would be so different thatcommunication or common ground like this is probably not likely. But I don't think it makes it boring, just different. Even to be able to talk to another species and communicate complex ideas would be mind blowing. Honestly, I think the vast majority of people would take your stance, and actually, technically already do. There are other species on this planet like dolphins and whales that regularly talk to each other. They have names and make sentences. The fact that humanity largely doesn't care, and proceeds stomping on them and their habitats makes me think that the ridiculous unobtainium plot line from avatar is actually more likely than I think it is. In my mind, life and intelligence is rarer than any mineral we could ever use, but we don't recognize its value. It's fucking sad. We're all on this rollercoaster called life for a short time. I'd rather talk to dolphins than wear shiny golden Prada bags.๐Ÿ’€

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Bold accusation.

Sure it would be mind-blowing, but society-wide awe about other(ed) societies on this planet has largely waned off and many people do not care about the lives of people deemed other.

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

I hear you, I don't mean to accuse or project anything on you. It is a valid question. But boredom by its very definition is something to do about our internal state and feelings, and not about the external object (or sentient race) in question. To some extent, we decide whether or not to be bored with something. A rock outside my house appears boring, but that is my lack of creativity. Maybe it is useful as a firepit stone, maybe I can split it open and there is a fossil inside, maybe I can study it and find out what type it is, maybe I can gather enough a make a pulley system to the roof. But boredom is a decision.