this post was submitted on 04 Jul 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:

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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.
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34
Everybody talks about beliefs like they're this big important thing. (thelemmy.club)
submitted 4 hours ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 3 points 36 minutes ago (1 children)

if a belief is a model/theory/assumption that a person will not change regardless of evidence against it, it is by definition a delusion.

If a belief is an opinion, it is a personal statement. Statements like “Vim is the best IDE” are really conveying the information “I prefer Vim over all others IDEs” which is a true statement.

If a belief is a hypothesis then the person holding it will accept if it ends up being wrong.

Only in the first and second cases do people usually place importance on their beliefs, and typically, only the first case leads people to harm others or themselves with no way to convince them to stop.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 30 minutes ago

To generalize it, I'd call a belief "an idea that you are attached to". And it bears upon your more general blob of beliefs, thoughts, memories, etc accordingly. Like a constant among variables in the midst of an algorithm.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Well, they are.

They define one's view of the world, your paradigm.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 54 minutes ago

That depends on the person.

You perceive a thousand things. Sights, sounds, nameless feelings... as well as beliefs.

One can be guided by any of that. And one can treat any of that as central.

Whether or not one treats one's beliefs as centrally important appears to be a matter of preference or perspective. Or something .

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Because everything we can say about reality is through the human perspective and the construct of language. We believe that this can yield us truths. But its just a belief. Our human-ness might just as well blind us to what is actually true. And as such, most of everything we think we know is based on belief. There is no escaping this problem.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 36 minutes ago

Ahh, now that's an interesting idea. Beliefs are important because they are communicable. So belief gains weight from its social significance. As society is powerful then so are beliefs.

So a man outside society, a hermit, might find his beliefs falling away.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 hour ago (2 children)

All I know is that nobody knows shit.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 23 minutes ago

If you don't know shit you need to eat some real food!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 24 minutes ago)

Nonetheless we definitely get attached to certain ideas. For various reasons.

But more than that, getting attached to certain ideas (believing stuff) is widely considered to be normal, right, healthy and necessary.

So you gotta ask why that is.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Judging by all the vaguely hostile comments, you seem to have struck a chord here.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 hour ago

Well that's a terrible truth.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 hour ago

Believe in yourself - if nothing else.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Yes and I believe this isn't really a showerthought

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 hour ago (2 children)

So defensive. I believe that I have struck paydirt.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 hour ago

Defensive? Now who's stooping to insults because someone doesn't believe in your belief?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 hour ago

In the wrong community

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago) (2 children)

So you stand for nothing? You've no values? I mean, I guess one doesn't need to have an ideology to be a hedonistic, consumerist pig, lol, it would get in the way!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 hour ago (2 children)

This asshole thinks that religions and beliefs stop people from being hedonistic, consumerist pigs. lololololol.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 57 minutes ago

You brought religion into this, and your sophist insults.

Sounds like someone has a belief and is upset it's being exposed.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

How do you think you pass over riches, drugs, sex, etc that you can easily acquire one way or another? You don't cheat on your wife because of your beliefs, you don't do coke because of your beliefs, you don't undercut your employees because of your beliefs, etc etc. There literally isn't any other way to curtail your hedonistic impulses (and other impulses, ofc) but to BELIEVE in something, a sentence or a group of sentences that resound within you at least, that tells you "no, it's okay, I can hold it in cause if not I'll regret it later". It's either that or, idk, locking yourself up in a room? 😅

[–] [email protected] 1 points 25 minutes ago* (last edited 23 minutes ago)

I dunno, I'd say people do things like coke, cheat, etc, because of beliefs.

They have a belief that "it doesn't matter".

But yea, our beliefs, our paradigms, are what help us be better people to each other.

Hell, science is founded on the belief that the universe is rational, that "God does not play dice with the universe".

Studying quantum mechanics makes me wonder otherwise. Nothing about it is rational. Not to say I don't operate on a day-to-day basis that the underlying framework makes sense, what other choice do we have?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Please, go on. You seem to be having a perfectly nice conversation with yourself here.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (1 children)

I mean, I assumed you didn't believe beliefs were fundamental and important since your whole post consists of being shocked by it, lol. Don't retreat now, silly man.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Your thesis so far consists entirely of trite accusations. You got something with more substance?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 hour ago

Thesis? Substance? Do you hold any beliefs, are there any value systems or ideas you appreciate greatly and by which you live by? Or don't you? Cause if you do, then your initial post is either a bad attempt at comedy or, idk, a social faux pas? Regardless, it's false, cause you do understand how beliefs are important. And if you don't, then why do you care? Why did you act out when I said values and ideas get in the way of hedonism and consumerism? It's not your case, right? That would be shameful, but whatever. And if it is, then at least admit to it the same way you 'admitted' not to understand the importance of beliefs, or else it's double shameful and a certain sign of a silly man.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 3 hours ago (2 children)

Yeah, of course they do. They literally form the cornerstone of your worldview. If you change someone's beliefs, you change how they see the world. That sounds pretty damn big and important.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 hour ago (2 children)

Cornerstones, my ASS. Beliefs are just goofy fiction. I believe you're wearing fruit as a hat. Nobody gives a shit. Nobody should ever give a shit. It's not a cornerstone of my life, it's a fleeting nothing, based on nothing, worth nothing.

Some asshole taught you that beliefs are everything? They lied. You know what IS everything?

Fucking everything is! Matter, energy, reality, facts, - that's what's important. You believe you can walk on the Sun? "Fuck you" - Reality.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 33 minutes ago

Nietzsche would be proud 🥲

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (1 children)

So why are beliefs so important for ao many people then?

I mean sure, maybe it's just indoctrination.

Or maybe it's utility. Believing a nice scientific model or car repair manual can deliver definite advantages.

Or maybe it's habit. I'm stuck in my head so arranging my mental furniture becomes important.

Or something else

[–] [email protected] 1 points 25 minutes ago

So why are beliefs so important for ao many people then?

They're a coping mechanism.

Reality often sucks, so how do you go about your day knowing that so many suffer so many injustices every day? Easy! Just ignore them and pretend like everyone will get what's coming to them in the afterlife 👍

It's the perfect system for tyrants: Think I'm a monster who abuses my power and intentionally makes people suffer? Well, if you even try to do anything about it you're going to hell! Overthrowing an openly evil government is not what Jesus would do!

It's the same mental gymnastics that people use when they blame minorities for their problems. It's not me or my beliefs (about the world) that are wrong! It's those trans furry kids and immigrant invaders who are destroying the very concept of everything I believe in!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Why does it get that special role of "cornerstone".

You have a thousand things in your perspective. Sights, sounds, vibes, random thoughts... Why does belief get this special treatment?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 51 minutes ago (1 children)

Sounds like the idea of "belief" is just being accepted as a religious or spiritual idea. Beliefs are the cornerstone because it's a tool we use every single day.

At the center of how we think is the fundamental idea of The Way Things Work and that comes down to how we believe the physical things around us will act and react. Just about everyone will start making a choice by comparing what we know to be real or true for ourselves and the things around us.

That cornerstone of belief is what we use to define "real and true". Ghosts or spirits are absolutely real and true for some people while others don't see the same evidence.

Beliefs get the special treatment because we are a collection of our experiences and each one of us has a different way of understanding how things work.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 45 minutes ago

Ahhh. Yes, they are thinking religion. I didn't think they'd lunge that way. I mean, with all the politics and gender stuff around these days, I figured the term would bee seen as broader. A wider range of options.

That said. Meh. Your thesis sums to "beliefs are important because beliefs are important".

[–] [email protected] 14 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

Beliefs lead to actions. Actions affect others. It's not super complicated.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 hour ago

Lots of things lead to actions. Feelings, habits, inertia, inspiration... Beliefs are not special in this.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 3 hours ago (2 children)

who asked you?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

I did. I asked.

Fuck off.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 hour ago

Whoosh

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Asked me what?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 hour ago

For your belief on this matter.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago) (2 children)

My dogma defines my in-group, and my in-group can’t be wrong because then that would mean that I am wrong, which I categorically can’t be. And even if I was wrong, then I would no longer be part of my in-group. Therefore, your science and logic and proof must be wrong if it contradicts my dogma.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 hour ago

Ah, so it's a narrative control thing. Controlling the narrative (including the narrative of me, my ego or whatever) is important.

Well this begs another question. "Why is the narrative so important"?

I mean, we stand in the midst of a constant hurricane of sights, sounds, thoughts, vibes and nameless sensations, but the narrative gets this primary role.

You gotta ask why.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 hours ago (2 children)

Okay, but what about your catma? Does that define your naptimes and your need to make people believe that you must've meant to smash your face into the table leg after darting through the house?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 hours ago

Whatever the case, just make sure you keep your catma inside so it doesn't get run over by your karma.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Sure, but don’t even ask about my ligma

[–] [email protected] 1 points 20 minutes ago

Your ma has lots of experience and wisdom in this regards.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

To some people it is.