this post was submitted on 08 Sep 2025
30 points (74.2% liked)

Showerthoughts

39660 readers
1116 users here now

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:

Rules

  1. All posts must be showerthoughts
  2. The entire showerthought must be in the title
  3. No politics
    • 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
  4. Posts must be original/unique
  5. Adhere to Lemmy's Code of Conduct and the TOS

If you made it this far, showerthoughts is accepting new mods. This community is generally tame so its not a lot of work, but having a few more mods would help reports get addressed a little sooner.

Whats it like to be a mod? Reports just show up as messages in your Lemmy inbox, and if a different mod has already addressed the report, the message goes away and you never worry about it.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

If you say yes, it can be interpreted as "yes I mind" or "yes, I give you permission", if you say no, it can be interpreted as "no, I don't give you permission" or "no, I dont mind". You always end up having to clarify.

top 29 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 18 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Go for it. / I wouldn't do that

[–] FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca 5 points 4 months ago

I often say "go ahead". I still find it annoying I can't just say yes or no without risk of it being misinterpreted

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 11 points 4 months ago

Unless you're a character trapped in a logic problem that dictates that you can only answer yes or no, I can see that being a problem.

But, for anyone existing in the real world, you can always just say exactly what you mean.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 10 points 4 months ago

Reply in the negative: "Yes, fuck off."

Reply in the affirmative: "No, go ahead."

[–] Curious_Canid@lemmy.ca 9 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I've always found that "DO NOT DO THAT" works pretty well. :-)

[–] TheV2@programming.dev 0 points 4 months ago

Do you mind if I do not do that?

[–] JeeBaiChow@lemmy.world 8 points 4 months ago (2 children)

The question is do you mind, with minding as the subject of the question. Answering yes or no is perfectly acceptable.

[–] Bgugi@lemmy.world 7 points 4 months ago

Be mindful: this is a common cop trick to manufacture consent.

[–] FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca -1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

But people often interpret it the opposite way you mean it

[–] JeeBaiChow@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

People interpret it any way they want. You're gonna meet people with different levels of comprehension in life. For those people you elaborate. Yes I mind, no I do not mind. Done.

[–] Diddlydee@feddit.uk 8 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

You have innumerable replies. Of course there's a good way. It's as simple as 'yes, I mind' or 'no, I don't mind'.

Why would you limit yourself to just yes or no, the obviously confusing answers?

[–] thezeesystem@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 4 months ago

That's exactly how cops tend to entrap people.ask questions that can be either way and that way they always get the answer they want even if you didn't mean It like that.

[–] CaptainBlinky@lemmy.myserv.one 7 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I mean, those all sound like good ways to answer. Sometimes a single word response just isn't sufficient.

[–] FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It would be sufficient to say yes or no if people didn't insist on asking in a negative way. Why not say "can i" or "would it be okay if i" instead of asking in such a way that yes means no

[–] __siru__@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 4 months ago

And this is why double negatives are in general frowned upon in the English language, because they make the content much more difficult to understand.

[–] Fleur_@aussie.zone 6 points 4 months ago

"go for it"

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 months ago

This is my private domicile and I will not be harassed, BITCH!

[–] rumba@lemmy.zip 4 points 4 months ago

One word: Proceed

[–] latenightnoir@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

"Yes, I do mind! Drop the fucking mouse, I said we're listening to Melodic Noise!" There, should cover all the bases!

Edit: shitty idea no. 2 would be to go the passive-aggressive pedantic asshole route, where you just say "sure" then throw a fit when they go ahead and do that, and start spewing semantics at them.

[–] FridaySteve@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

You could take the question for what it is - a person's polite way of acknowledging you in their orbit and that their actions may affect you. This is an extremely rare attitude. Most people express entitlement instead of kindness. If people around you are actively trying to be less self-centered, the best way to respond is by acknowledging that they are being considerate and answering their question. Pretending not to understand what they mean is the last thing you want to do. Always support and encourage behavior you want to see more of. You have more words than "yes" and "no" and while that question literally suggests a binary response, you can always feel free to use your communication skills.

[–] FreshParsnip@lemmy.ca -2 points 4 months ago

Having to clarify bugs me. They could say "is it alright if I....." and remove the ambiguity

[–] vk6flab@lemmy.radio 3 points 4 months ago

That depends ...

[–] Cevilia@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 4 months ago

One word: Don't.

[–] bryndos@fedia.io 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

'Fuck you/off/that' = don't do it. 'Whatever' = go ahead.

I think this is where the weird German "doch", that i really can't get my head around, might be useful.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

For GenX, "whatever" means "Believe whatever you want to believe. Dipshit."

[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 1 points 4 months ago

I feel like playground beating could've been had for less when I was a kid.

[–] SolidShake@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

"yes. I do mind"

"No. I don't mind"

[–] SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

You mind if I finish that cock?

[–] LavaPlanet@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 months ago

Or you're Australian and you go yeah, nah, or nah, yeah, depending on the situation, of course.