this post was submitted on 21 Feb 2026
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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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You are some 2-3 km in the air. There's nothing to hold on to. You are sitting on a piece of cloth that is barely large enough to accommodate you. No railings, no seatbelts, nothing to hold on to or stop you from falling to your death if the carpet gets into turbulences or a strong gust of wind makes you lose your balance. And let's not forget that most depictions of magic carpet flights have the carpet move very erratically because they have a mind of their own.

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[–] matsdis@piefed.social 62 points 1 day ago

"In case of an emergency, Exits are here, here, here, here, and here."

-- Walt Disney's original Aladdin

"I'm not going to ride on a magic carpet! I'm afraid of grounds!" "You mean heights, and stop being silly!" "I know what I mean! It's the grounds that kill you!"

-- Terry Pratchet, "Sourcery"

[–] makyo@lemmy.world 46 points 1 day ago (2 children)

It seems dangerous but how often do you hear about accidents?

That's because they all get swept under the rug.

[–] turboSnail@piefed.europe.pub 11 points 1 day ago

Likewise, riding a unicorn is completely safe.
How many horse related accidents have you heard of? Many. How about unicorns then? Zero.

[–] AmidFuror@fedia.io 18 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Sorry, but where did you get your information? Nobody is flying magic carpets above 300m.

[–] billwashere@lemmy.world 8 points 20 hours ago
[–] Redacted@lemmy.zip 7 points 21 hours ago

Its magic, magic takes care of all of that

[–] hitstun@feddit.online 11 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

Magic carpets are generally safe. It's hard to fall and get hurt unless you're stupid.

If it's you doing the #levitation magic, it helps to focus on an object underneath you, like a carpet, a broom or whatever. Balancing on it is sitting on a pool floatie. If you got yourself up in the air and lose the carpet somehow, you probably have enough flying skill to land safely without one. Now, if you fly 2-3 km up and lose consciousness from lack of oxygen, you're cooked, but that's your own fault.

If you aren't magical and the carpet itself doing all the work, then the carpet is your mount, like a horse. Well-trained mounts can feel the rider's weight shift around and try to keep you seated. Just don't make the carpet angry, or it might buck you off.

[–] morto@piefed.social 4 points 19 hours ago
[–] chahn.chris@piefed.social 6 points 22 hours ago

All I can say to this is, it’s magic. So, you get to stay on if the carpet wants you to stay on.

That’s is, that’s your protection.

They typically don't show the mounting pegs or explain where they fit. Maneuvers with a high "clench factor" end up being safer than they look.

[–] otter@lemmy.ca 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

most depictions of magic carpet flights have the carpet move very erratically because they have a mind of their own

That might be a good thing. If you fall, the carpet will rush down to catch you

[–] Waldelfe@feddit.org 4 points 1 day ago

Feels like a good way to break your neck if you land on the carpet wrong...

[–] sockinggood@piefed.social 9 points 1 day ago

The carpet is magic right? Maybe it creates a local gravity field like warp drives, so there is almost no internal acceleration. Or the magic makes you weightless.

[–] _deleted_@aussie.zone 7 points 1 day ago

I’ve only ever ridden mine a few tens of meters above the ground, but you’re right, still high enough to hurt if I fell off. It’s not really as unstable as you make out, more like a floating mat in a swimming pool.

[–] melfie@lemy.lol 1 points 17 hours ago

People think the future has arrived because we have aircraft that marketing departments are calling “flying cars”. However, when we have “magic carpets” that float around with mechanisms not based on aerodynamics or lift, that’s when the future will have arrived.

[–] Admetus@sopuli.xyz 3 points 21 hours ago

In 'Rise of Endymion', the 'Magic Carpet' creates a kind of force field that keeps its occupants in, and the wind out. But you can still slam and splatter into lots of bits if you hit a rock wall. The force field isn't that powerful.

[–] baggachipz@sh.itjust.works 4 points 23 hours ago

Not to mention the whole thing is one big crumple zone

[–] teft@piefed.social 3 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

Carpet is sentient so he would dive after you if you fell off. He’s cool like that.