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.
    • A good place for politics is c/politicaldiscussion
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[–] DarkMetatron@feddit.org 4 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (1 children)

Beliefs are important, beliefs are what gets us through life somewhat mentally sane.

Beliefs are (for example) the cornerstone of relationships, because you have to believe that your partner really loves you. There is no hard evidence for that so it can never be a fact, only a belief.

I believe that my neighbors don't plan to kill me in my sleep (why should they, I am a nice and easy neighbor), I believe that the person at the fast food corner doesn't spit on my food (and that they had washed hands after using the toilet), I believe that my landlord will some day repair the water damage in my second bathroom (and put all the bathroom stuff like sink, shower and toilet back in).

One could say that belief is behind everything where "trust" is involved. Belief is just accepting something as true, either because it is something that is a concept without hard facts (love, religion, justice, freedom, money, "the good in people") or it is something where the information are lacking either because they are not fully known yet or because it is such a complex topic that having all information is (nearly) impossible.

I believe for example that climate change is real, because I trust (there it is again) the science. I have to believe in this case because I can't have all the information without studying climate sciences, and one can argument that even our best climate scientists doesn't have all the information (models are still incomplete and simulations don't use all possible parameters) so even they have to believe for some parts.

Beliefs become problematic when people take them as hard facts, as dogmas, and become extreme.

I believe that taking extreme positions is always wrong and a way to disaster and suffering. That's one reason why I don't like faith and are against cults of any kinds.

[–] DominatorX1@thelemmy.club 2 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago) (1 children)

Are you saying that beliefs are useful (necessary even) for navigating other beliefs?

For example, I believe that my neighbors wont kill me. I do that to stave off the belief that my neighbors will kill me.

[–] DarkMetatron@feddit.org 2 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

The part with the neighbors was more or less only a joke. If i believe anything about them, then that they are good, honest and peacefull people. Because so far nothing happend to make be think otherwise.

The belief that the neighbors will kill someone (oneself for example) sounds more like a delusion... or a really bad neighborhood!

In both cases is a counter belief maybe not the best solution

But yes, i do think that beliefs can be helpful to counter inner urges and impulses. The belief in laws and punishment by law is an example for it.

And shared beliefs (for example faith and religion) acts like a glue for societies. The belief in eternal judgment by an all knowing god in combination with a holy law book (that is what most holy texts in their core are IMHO) helps to prevent chaos and ensures that people can work against a common and shared goal. As an example for the good and positive side of that.

[–] DominatorX1@thelemmy.club 3 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

It was just an example.

My point is the specific utility of beliefs. You seemed to be offering an interesting one.

Imagine a landscape made of beliefs. In it you are always standing on some bunch of beliefs. So choosing and navigating is going to be important. To get to the good beliefs and avoid the bad ones.

[–] DarkMetatron@feddit.org 1 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

The landscape should also have some strong pillars and mountains of hard facts and factual truth. But besides that, yes it sounds like a good mind construct. Interesting idea for sure.

[–] Karl@programming.dev 4 points 17 hours ago

The more I think about it, the more I realise how less I understand this word.

[–] chunes@lemmy.world 5 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

I think it's weird that people even have beliefs. Belief is a dirty word to me.

[–] DominatorX1@thelemmy.club 3 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

I'm inclined to agree. But I meditate and stuff.

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 2 points 16 hours ago

IMO "I don't know" is a perfectly valid opinion if you just don't know.

[–] Hackworth@sh.itjust.works 6 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) (17 children)

Belief is a tool for achieving effects; it is not an end in itself. -Peter J. Carroll

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[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 7 points 23 hours ago (7 children)

I believe in science. I believe in justice, equality, and freedom. I believe fascism and capitalism is detrimental to humanity.

I do not believe in ghosts. I do not believe in gods, angels or demons. I don't believe in an afterlife. And I don't believe corporations are people.

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[–] Krudler@lemmy.world 1 points 16 hours ago

I believe I'll block op

[–] Walop@sopuli.xyz 15 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Because as Terry Pratchett astutely notes in the Hogfather belief is what makes the human society possible. We invented justice, mercy, duty, laws, money etc. They exist only because we believe in them. Some beliefs make the world better, other ones worse, and we should try to emphasize the former and minimize the latter.

[–] DominatorX1@thelemmy.club 3 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago)

Ok. So there's benefit there as long as the believing is controlled.

Is there a general benefit or liability to believing? What do we gain and lose simply by believing, no matter what the belief?

[–] hedge_lord@lemmy.world 1 points 23 hours ago

I do not believe in doors. Does that mean that I think that they should not exist or that I think that they do not exist? Yes actually!

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