49
POPSSwearing at Work Good for You Perhaps not earth shattering news, but a reminder that much of our talk is not to convey information but to maintain group solidarity, identity etc. and answer our most basic psychological needs.
23
POPS10 Strategies for dealing with negative people My favorite is #3: “Now tell me something positive.” I'm going to try to use this one--on other people and on myself. "Right after they've finished telling you some tragic story, say to them, "now tell me a positive story". Some people have no idea how negative they’ve become. That's what they're surrounded by day in and day out so it’s just become a way of life for them. By being given the reminder, they may actually realize that being negative isn't the kind of person they want to be and may start to work on becoming more positive. Or, they may decide it's not worth telling you their horror stories because you'll ask them to think of something positive. Sob sisters (always whining, feel the world is against them, feel they're victims) will probably not find you very attractive anymore."
23
POPSExpressions that define cultures 9. Maningue Nice, Mozambique A cross between a purely national term and a flair of English, maningue nice means “very nice” and is the closest thing to a slogan in Mozambique. Scream it from the tallest buildings whenever fortune favors you. 10. Bahala Na, Philippines Come What May. A Cross Cultural Theme When I started researching these expressions, I was expecting to find similarities based on geography: patterns in Asia, South America, Western Europe, etc. I was surprised, however, to find a cross-cultural theme; many of these phrases are used in response to circumstances beyond people’s control. How each culture is epitomized in these terms is indicative of how they react to unfortunate or unavoidable events. The Japanese and French suck it up; the Thais, Kiwis, Aussies, and others shrug it off; Arabs put the responsibility to a higher power.
21
POPSWhy is pleasure so suspicious? "The best sort of life, says Epicurus, is one that is free from pain in the body and from disturbance in the mind. That sounds a rather negative credo for a 21st-century devotee of the good life. Were he writing self-help books today, Epicurus would probably acknowledge that you can aim a little higher than that. He might point out in his own defence that health and peace are essential preconditions of happiness, and are easy to belittle if you are lucky enough to have them. But perhaps his most useful observation for the discerning hedonists of today, when such an intoxicating variety of gratifications are dangled before them, is a reminder of caveat emptor: "No pleasure is in itself evil, but the things which produce certain pleasures entail annoyances many times greater than the pleasures themselves."
20
POPSWhy do we hate Good-byes? I see you seeing me and I exist. I see you seeing me see you and we exist. Mutual re-cognition is the glue that holds us together, not merely as friends, but as individual selves. Good-byes are poignant preludes to the leave-takings and withdrawals that deprive our psyches of the sustenance they need to maintain our selfhood. As such, every good-bye is a premonition of disintegration, a foretaste of death, another step on the path to "adieu." Have you noticed that old folks tell the same stories over and over? They are desperately trying to shore up identities that, because of a paucity of recognition, are breaking down. By telling us their stories, they are staving off the disintegration of self, one day at a time. You can't really blame them--their struggle is at once heroic and tragic.One day, you too may need a comprehending ear to offset the recognition deficiencies that plague old-age... <<
19
POPS Your Internet Ego "You ain't shit until you do something. Your little bullshit activities that amount to nothing are just personal pretense, you pretending to be important when you're not. You might want to come onboard our site, and read, and learn, and we have no objection to that. But when you do nothing when you know what the truth is, well, that's cowardice and laziness, and you deserve whatever fate this world throws out you."
18
POPSThe battle for Wikipedia's soul "To create a new article on Wikipedia and be sure that it will survive, you need to be able to write a “deletionist-proof” entry and ensure that you have enough online backing (such as Google matches) to convince the increasingly picky Wikipedia people of its importance. This raises the threshold for writing articles so high that very few people actually do it. Many who are excited about contributing to the site end up on the “Missing Wikipedians” page: a constantly updated list of those who have decided to stop contributing. It serves as a reminder that frustration at having work removed prompts many people to abandon the project. Google has recently announced its own entry into the field, in the form of an encyclopedia-like project called “Knol” that will allow anybody to create entries on topics of their choice.But even if it does not turn out to be the Wikipedia-killer that some people imagine, it may push Wikipedia to rethink its editorial stance."
16
POPSDog gives up life to save man from fire The Storm woke Bryan Smith, when there was a fire, and Smith got out, but the Storm didn't make.it. Smith was pulled back by the Firemen, because he wanted to go back in and find Storm. He said " I know it was stupid, but people with pets will understand "
15
POPSTransparency means nothing without justice Cory Doctorow on cyber-liberties. it is probably one of the most pressing issues in today's world, our overall culture moves into a transparent society (see David Brin) and the only way we will survive it is if tranpartency indeed will be all-pervasive
15
POPSScholarships for virgins? Why should a 12-year-old be subject to an internal examination? Will it even be definitive in its proof? It’s a reminder that this is a country where 94 percent of women have undergone female genital mutilation.
14
POPSWhat Americans owe to those who serve "Each November we are asked to pause and honor them, which is, or should be, an honor in itself. After the events of the last week at Fort Hood in Texas, with their reminder of the sacrifices that the men and women of the military make for us, Veterans Day will hold special meaning this year."
14
POPSThe Behavioral Revolution it’s just that most of the action takes place below the level of awareness. Looking at and perceiving the world is an active process of meaning-making that shapes and biases the rest of the decision-making chain. This meltdown is not just a financial event, but also a cultural one. It’s a big, whopping reminder that the human mind is continually trying to perceive things that aren’t true, and not perceiving them takes enormous effort. Very interesting, read it!
14
POPS"World's Oldest" A team of academics from the University of Wolverhampton have discovered the world’s most ancient gag. Guess what it’s about? Yep. Farts. “Something which has never occurred since time immemorial; a young woman did not fart in her husband’s lap,” goes the joke, which apparently dates back to ancient Sumeria circa 1900 BC. World’s Oldest Flute (35,000-year-old) discovered, according to archaeologists, offering the latest evidence that early modern humans in Europe had established a complex and creative culture. A team led by University of Tuebingen archaeologist Nicholas Conard assembled the flute from 12 pieces of griffon vulture bone scattered in a small plot of the Hohle Fels cave in southern Germany. Together, the pieces comprise a 8.6-inch instrument with five holes and a notched end. Conard said the flute was 35,000 years old
13
POPSGut Feelings Another reminder, if any is needed, that our body is the source of the feelings and emotions, and these produced the rational mind
Most Pops
see Most Pops
19
Clips
Latest Pops
Latest Comments
Tags
Print
Save
Turn on live update