humanity
For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.
Being Different
One of the various phenomenons present in society these days is that which pertains to conformity and abnormality. More elaborately, how we constantly desire to differentiate ourselves from the common idiot. It’s a desperate kind of attempt. It’s as if we were all in a hole that we call “People” and most of us are reaching up to the sky, scratching at the walls, using each other’s bodies to climb up in an attempt to escape conformity and the overly mediocre concept of “normal.” Those who are not attempting this torturous and potentially pointless ascent are incessantly hiding. Desiring to become one with the crowd of those we call “people” due to a bad experience with being different, they need to camouflage themselves and their abnormalities to remain in the comfortable societal accepted conformity. As you can see, I’ve been using the words “people” and “abnormalities” which need to be defined if I want to further my examination of this phenomenon. By “people,” I mean the people you do not know who you consider conformed and happy and ignorant. Normal. Those whom you desire to differentiate yourself from. By “abnormal,” I mean how you are different and how you make yourself distinguishable.
By Marie-Céleste McNiven8 years ago in Humans
The First Few Chapters
Before we begin, I’d like to say that names have been changed for the sake of their privacy. As a little girl, I was thriving. You would often see me running around the elementary school campus, squealing with delight, as my friends and I played tag, talked about the boys of our school, and the most recent High School Musical. Back then I let myself live. Didn’t we all? We were so unaware of what was coming. We were pure and certain of our futures.
By Alyssa Gammell8 years ago in Humans
Love Triangles and Betrayal: The Tricky Triad
Love triangles. . . We don't understand the concept of a tricky triad, nor do we really comprehend the dynamics of being caught up in one, until we find ourselves stuck as a geometrical coordinate. Graphed as a third part of a whole, whether we initiate the third angle or were unknowingly reeled into it, stuck we are. Haphazardly, is often the case. Even for the dirty deed doer, the cheater, who branched out from the dyad.
By Amanda Karenina8 years ago in Humans
Hitman With a Heart
When I was 17, I was involved in some pretty dicey things and thought I was invincible, even though I was scared of my own shadow. I was out drinking and smoking marijuana with friends one night and felt ready to go home but my partner wanted to stay. As we lived in a caravan around the corner and it was a small country town, I decided to go it alone. It was probably only a 200m walk but it felt long and I was trying to concentrate on staying upright. There were plenty of street lights overhead and at some point I noticed I was being followed. I saw a large, bulky man not far behind me and, in my fear, I imagined myself being in danger. I knew who the man was, because he had been at the house I’d just left. Although I loved my friends, I did not trust them. I was unable to trust anyone much at that time and my friends were involved in activities I did not approve of and did not want to be involved in. This man was someone that my friends did not trust either, which made him seem dangerous to me. One of my older relatives had known him many years before, but I had not had anything to do with him and did not want to now, either. This man had a big reputation for drugs and nastiness and his behaviour certainly came across as hard. I had seen him at my friend's house a few times lately and while I kept a watchful eye on him, I’d also noticed that something about him was like my grandfather, too. He appeared really tough and as if he meant business but there was a twinkle in his eye, also—a softness that was not always easily apparent. I’d known this man’s family a little in childhood and I found them all a bit too much for me, yet I didn’t know them at all really. Everything I knew about any of these people was formed from judgments I’d made on hearsay and gossip. I was about to learn a very valuable lesson that I have never forgotten and that I thank them for often.
By Gabriella Grace8 years ago in Humans
Lingering Effects for Houston's Flooded — Trauma, Grief, and Loss. Top Story - October 2017.
As you have no doubt heard, thanks to 24-hour-a-day news coverage at the time, the city of Houston suffered the most catastrophic rainfall recorded in United States' history this past August—the result of Hurricane Harvey. The Hurricane did not "directly hit" our city, but spread its outer bands of rain directly over us.
By Arlene Nisson Lassin8 years ago in Humans
The Wooden Party Cat
I am a cat person at heart. I love dogs and animals in general but I always found myself drawn to cats. I have two of them and they are the only men in my life I can fully rely on. I love them so much and they're always able to make me feel more stable and loved. There is one other cat that can be found in room, although this one is not living. Perched on the thin ledge under my window you can find a small carving of a sleeping cat. This wooden cat was given to me in the strangest way, one I will never forget.
By Pearl McCarthy8 years ago in Humans
The Labels that Define Our Generation
Being left behind is a constant fear in the hearts of many throughout our lives. The fear that you will have to survive the harsh world alone can break an individual's soul and crush future dreams of being a part of something greater. Many struggle to cope with being alone and learning to love oneself. In a community listed as a minority, this can be amplified.
By David Browder8 years ago in Humans
The Importance of Labels
“Just be yourself” is, generally, very good advice. In a perfect world, it would not matter at all if you were a person of colour, LGBTQA+, disabled, or however society chose to define you. Unfortunately this is not an ideal world, and for decades people have had to live alone or closeted and generally miserable with the constant implied state of only being safe because the ruling social class has allowed them to be.
By Adam Langley8 years ago in Humans
Will Boys Be Boys?
I have a male friend who paints his toenails. He prefers glitter polish, usually in blues or purples. He is meticulous about his nails, refusing to wear sandals if his polish is chipped or grown out. He prefers shirts with beautiful abstract patterns and bright colors. He would really like to dye his hair a bright color - neon green would be his ideal. Since by now you have a good mental image of this 6’2” 250 lb guy, I feel like I need to clarify that he is straight.
By Haybitch Abersnatchy8 years ago in Humans
Who Killed Me?
Although I won't be using any names, I’m sure you will get the idea of what happened during this period in my life. It all started around the age of 15, like any normal fifteen-year-old girl, I would spend days at my friend’s house. Going out shopping, doing our hair, doing our makeup, doing our nails, listening to music, and just hanging out with the family.
By Tanisha Dagger8 years ago in Humans
