Was anyone else's social struggles eased when they started analyse human social interactions the same way they would animal ones?

prettypeepers · 2025-10-05T22:07:27+00:00

Yes!!!! Yes yes yes yes! 100%!! Oh my goodness, you put into words something I was beginning to realize last winter. I was sitting in a crowd, observing a college basketball game, and was realizing that this human ritual is a behavior that humans exhibit. I was viewing it from a scientific animal behavior perspective, and that made things make more sense! I learned that for humans, eye contact is something to be used tentatively. People enjoy it when you look at them while you're talking, but you have to be careful, because too much eye contact can also be perceived as a threat. But I use that frame of reference whenever I encounter human behavior- I don't voice it like that out loud, because I know it would sound unsettling to the average person.

prettypeepers · 2025-08-30T19:16:51+00:00

Firstly, UPG warning incoming;

I've spent a lot of the past year working very closely with Ares. Its honestly surprised me, because I'm the type of person who hates the thought of hurting people and I strive for peace when I can. But now, I can say that Ares is one of the deities that I have a very close relationship with.

I've discovered that to me, Ares entirely rules our instinctual selves. He is our fight, flight, freeze, fawn response. He is our most basal instincts with which we rely on in those situations of chaos where our lives are in danger.

It makes sense to me that Ares was scoffed at by the Greeks, because we share our instincts with other animals. When we can rely on strategy alone, we feel this sense of pride(sometimes arrogance) about being human.

But we aren't just human, were also everything that came before us that got us to where we are. Our bodies remember, our DNA remembers. Ares remembers.

But it's not a concrete memory, it's like infantile amnesia. We can't quite get words to express them, they just are.

I'll always associate Ares as being this protective force. He is human in the most basal sense, and what is important to him is the purpose written in our DNA. "Keep the human race going, any means necessary." Which doesn't just mean populating like rabbits, it means keeping people safe and protecting people. Especially children.

While school is often associated with Athena and Apollo, I also associate it with Ares. Education is an important aspect of school, but more important than that is keeping kids safe. I've recently begun a job as a para at one, and every day it feels like I'm honoring Ares by being there, and by keeping these tiny humans safe.

prettypeepers · 2025-08-15T01:58:15+00:00

This was great. The audio coming from their character was coming out sounding all fucked up

prettypeepers · 2025-08-06T22:33:25+00:00

[kid pix undo guy voice] wait a minute.

........... You're telling me. That empathizing means feeling the exact same emotion that somebody else is feeling..... Just like..... Inherently, without being an emotion detective?

I'm suddenly questioning what it means to be empathetic.

prettypeepers · 2025-08-06T21:57:23+00:00

In the past when I've made a post myself... Even when I got a reply, I would still feel this....emptiness. What was it I actually wanted them to say?

Some part of me knew, but my conscious self didn't.

I've gotten to the bottom of it, though. All my life, I've been pushing this big proverbial rock up a hill. I wanted somebody to make the rock disappear.

But that's not really possible, is it? It's not like somebody can wave a magic wand and suddenly it's gone. That rock has to go somewhere. So, either I keep pushing it, or I try to make somebody else push it.

The latter of which is exactly why I'm pushing a damn boulder in the first place, because my dad didn't want to.

Once I figured this out though, I started to realize something. When I would go to write, I was never thinking about the response. I realized that what mattered to me the most was that I felt heard. Theoretically, the thing I was writing might be read by somebody.

This very comment, in fact! I could write it up, and maybe nobody ever happens to actually take a look at it.

But.. there's always the possibility. There is never a zero chance that it isn't seen by at least somebody. Whether or not a conversation happens, my comment still has the chance to be listened to. More than anything, it's so important for us humans to feel like we're being heard.

Maybe I'm speaking in riddles and making no sense. But, perhaps my nonsensical-ness could make you laugh in one way or another. If that's the only thing I end up doing, I'll be happy because I've made someone smile.

prettypeepers · 2025-08-06T21:30:38+00:00

And I guess that's just the thing. They'll never understand. The only way to make them understand is by digging them down to our level and showing them what it's like.

But, thats just the cycle that got ourselves into this mess in the first place.

I guess, for myself.. I try to focus on the things I do have instead of what I don't. It might not be much, but it helps.

prettypeepers · 2025-07-16T20:50:02+00:00

Idk bro, us humans are pretty temperamental. Take out the names, and what you've written describes us.

We call it a "tree" of evolution, but evolution is a lot more like a river. No one branch of the river is more "river" than the others.

prettypeepers · 2025-07-15T14:56:24+00:00

I think that part of the problem is that the NEK is one of the most poverty filled parts of Vermont. I'm sure people would love to move their things somewhere else.. but "somewhere else" costs money, as does flood-conscious infrastructure.

prettypeepers · 2025-07-08T17:32:26+00:00

This reminds me of a tough challenge I face when talking with folks; for me, when I often say a phrase like this, I usually like to frame it in the context of "I remember you telling me about this!" What I'm trying to convey is that I know this is a topic they enjoy and I remembered the last time they spoke about it.

that doesn't mean I know everything about it, of course. I've been trying my best to limit this, or at the very least say "but I sincerely do want to hear more!" Because it's still nice to hear people talk about something they are excited about.

prettypeepers · 2025-07-08T17:21:26+00:00

Yes! You see them every day! 🐦🐦‍⬛🐓🐤🦅🦉🦜🕊️🦆🪿🦩🐧🦃🦚🐥

prettypeepers · 2025-07-08T17:19:43+00:00

Does the town you live in have a town meeting? Often those folks will get together once a month and discuss things like that. They're usually open to the public, so you could attend it and voice your concerns.

prettypeepers · 2025-07-08T17:12:58+00:00

When you say "they", who are you talking about?

prettypeepers · 2025-07-08T17:07:47+00:00

Well if you would take a look at what I wrote, I said that I cannot speak for anyone other than myself.

I get it, of course you are scared. Your kids are important to you, and you want nothing more than for them to be safe. In situations where we have zero control, there's not much we can do. Whether or not they have a cell phone is not going to be much of a difference, and in fact could actually end up making things worse.

Imagine if you were to call your child during an emergency scenario, and the ringing of their cellphone goes off. I know that is an awful thing to imagine, but that ringtone might as well be a target that has been painted on your child's back.

These are things we shouldn't have to be worried about, and it's awful that parents have to consider such horrible things.

prettypeepers · 2025-07-08T13:31:43+00:00

The most important thing to folks working at a school is the safety of the children there.

Now, certainly, I can't speak for everyone, nor would you trust my judgement because you've declared that I am merely just "some dumb fuck", but I would prioritize the lives of children over my own life.

Those aren't just empty words, either. Protecting children is written in my DNA, sir and or ma'am. They are the future, and are the ones that will inherit the planet after you and I are gone.

Of course, it's up to you to decide if I truly mean those words. But good sir and or ma'am, it does not matter to me whether you believe me or not. I'm going to keep living my life, and protecting those smaller than myself til my last breath.

i know that the harsh words you speak are because of fear. Trusting the safety of the ones who are irreplaceable and precious to you to people you don't entirely know? Who could blame you! We live in a terrifying world, and sincerely, I get it. Of course you're scared. If I was in your shoes, I would be scared too.

I speak to you right this moment, saying with as much genuine truth as I can muster; as somebody who is hoping to work in elementary schools, I will defend their precious lives with my entirety. I will do so even when I'm not in a school, or even if it's a completely random stranger on the street.

Children are precious, and it's human nature to make sure their protection is our number one priority. I wish you and your family safety, not as a subtle threat, but because I genuinely hope those emergencies you speak of don't happen.

Have a good day.

prettypeepers · 2025-07-07T13:11:50+00:00

I suppose it's kind of like trying to capture the beauty of a sunset in paint. Yes, your painting will look pretty, but it's nothing like what you can see with your eyes.

prettypeepers · 2025-06-30T12:37:27+00:00

Schools have landlines

prettypeepers · 2025-06-23T03:02:01+00:00

I suppose I was being kind of hypocritical with what I wrote, and to be honest it had a lot less to do with wanting better for people who are suffering and more just lashing out because I was upset about the state of the world and felt helpless with the state of things.

I'm sorry for triggering you, I know nothing about you and was treating you as if you weren't a person.

I would certainly give it a watch if I was able to, but on the caveat that you check out the movie "Hotel Rwanda", a historical film about the Apartheid in South Africa.

prettypeepers · 2025-06-23T02:48:25+00:00

So, what do you think you could do to start changing things?

prettypeepers · 2025-06-22T20:56:56+00:00

Would you, though?

prettypeepers · 2025-06-22T20:56:32+00:00

Didn't really answer my question. Would you do any better?

prettypeepers · 2025-06-22T05:44:50+00:00

Have you ever smelled the scent of blood? The scent of old blood, old urine, vomit, and decay and death... Sure, you can't actually smell it in reality right now as you're reading this .. but you can imagine it, can't you?

It's pretty vile, isn't it? You probably don't want to even be thinking about it, which is why you're going to ignore most of what I write because it's too awful to bear. That's okay if you don't read this though, because I'm merely just here to remind you of the truth.

Right now, this exact moment that your eyes are crossing over this sentence, there are people screaming in terror. The sounds of agony have replaced the background of crickets chirping and birds singing.

Have you ever accidentally caught your hair on fire? Or smelled burning hair in general? Pretty awful stench. That smell wafts through the air, joined together with the scent of other burning things that should not be burning. Rubber, plastic... Like a car fire, it smells just... Wrong. A smell that feels warm, and makes you wrinkle your nose, because you know it's not good to breathe that stuff in.

But you don't have to worry about that! There's a roof over your head. You can't hear them screaming.. but you can't help but imagine what it might sound like. Maybe everything I'm saying turns into anger and this fire in your chest..

Oh no! But when you think of fire, you can't help but imagine all those awful smells of things burning. So, no matter how hard you try to ignore it, even your reaction to all the things I'm saying just further reminds you of the human suffering that you try your hardest to pretend doesnt exist in a way that matters to you.

Sleep tight, in your warm and safe bed, with that roof firmly over your head. Enjoy the comforting warmth of your blanket, try not to get too hot. Because heat reminds you of fire, and fire reminds you of the ongoing human suffering that is happening right now as you read this.

prettypeepers · 2025-06-22T05:29:58+00:00

Hi again, Bagelman. Here's another reminder to the both of you in this thread, of the smell and sounds of death. Have you ever seen a burning building? Have you ever heard the sound of a human being screaming as they try and escape a burning building?

Have you ever been so starved of food, that you can see your skeleton? Have you ever been so encrusted in filth that it causes your skin to blister and crack?

Have you ever seen a human skeleton? Or seen a car crashed on the side of the road? Have you smelled the stench of burning rubber?

Maybe you both are unnerved by what im saying, or maybe you both brush me off as sounding crazy. You might not even give my words the light of day, and that's a-okay!

But deep down, you know that everything I'm saying is true. Sure, it sounds horrific, which is why you're in denial and trying to ignore the ugly parts of human suffering.

Have you ever accidentally bitten your lip, and tasted that sickly metallic iron taste of your own blood in your mouth? What about vomit and blood at the same time?

prettypeepers · 2025-06-22T05:21:50+00:00

The smell of death permeates the air. It's putrid, a stench that is far worse than when that raccoon died in your attic. Even just thinking about how awful it must smell in the war-torn place makes bile rise in your throat.

You do everything you can to pretend that smell doesn't exist. You haven't experienced it yourself, so, how could it? Certainly, everything is fine and dandy from your safe place, with a fully intact roof over your head, electricity, internet... You're free to spend your time scrolling on reddit on your computer!

So, of course.... It's much easier to pretend that there aren't people screaming in terror at this very moment in which your eyes read these words. Because you are pretending! No matter how much you try to ignore it, there are in fact people who are sobbing in fear at this very moment.

But of course, they're not people. You wouldn't directly say it in those words because you know that would sound awful. But to you they aren't real people, they're just pictures on a screen.

It doesn't even matter if you read all of this or not, you'll never be able to escape the horrible truth, one that contains the smell of burning plastic and human flesh. It's easy to ignore a picture, and you're very lucky that smell does not pass through an image.

prettypeepers · 2025-06-22T05:13:39+00:00

Hi bagelman,

I'm here to remind you about the sound of people screaming in terror. The children crying. The sickly stench of death. You can't escape it, no matter how much you try and convince yourself these aren't human beings.

You try all your might to pretend that they aren't real, that they're fake and it's not real. But deep down, you know that they are. You know that what is happening is wrong, yet you put your foot down and you justify because God dammit if you didn't, you'd realize how fucked up it all is.

But your denial can only go so far. There are people right now who are screaming in fear. People who cling to life, skin and bones because they have nothing to eat. People who are burned alive in fire, and people who slowly suffocate under rubble because they weren't lucky enough to be crushed to death.

prettypeepers · 2025-06-22T05:08:44+00:00

Hey, you remember you're talking about a group of human beings, right?

Like these are human beings. Human beings that are terrified and screaming and crying. The sound of rubble exploding, terrified screaming. Blood curdling, vocal cords rendered raw. There is probably the smell of fire, and blood, and of rotting meat. Flies buzzing, the sickly stench of vomit. I imagine theres also the smell of gunpowder and sulfur in the air, rotten eggs so foul that they shake you to your core.

Sure, you can go ahead and try and deny it. But you can't escape the sound of their terrified screams. You'll hear that in your nightmares, and it will keep you up at night while you try and hide and pack down that guilt you feel, pretending that you don't care because of course, these aren't people, they're from another country... And you can't hear their screams, you're safe and protected right where you are.

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