Posts

The Frustration of Fake Social Media Videos: Why the Facebook Feed is Rubbish

Scrolling through Facebook used to be a way to catch up on friends' lives or stumble upon interesting videos. Now, it feels like the feed is flooded with fake, staged content masquerading as real-life moments. It’s frustrating, to say the least, to sift through these poorly acted, contrived stories that are presented as if they actually happened. The truth has been buried under an avalanche of bad acting and orchestrated scenarios, making it harder to find anything genuine. One of the most irritating aspects of these videos is how they are set up. The situations are often presented as spontaneous or candid, but it’s clear that they are anything but. There are multiple camera angles, careful editing, and somehow, the cameraman is always in the right spot to capture every dramatic expression or emotional moment. If these events were truly real, why isn’t anyone acknowledging the camera? Why is there always a perfect shot lined up, as if by coincidence? These videos don’t just mislead...

Learning to Set Aside My Values to Help Others

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how my personal values and emotions can sometimes get in the way when I’m trying to support someone. There are times when another person’s choices might conflict with my own past experiences or beliefs, making it difficult for me to offer the kind of help they need. It’s natural to want to offer advice based on what we know or have been through, but I’m learning that sometimes this approach isn’t the most helpful for the person in front of us. What I’ve come to realize is that when I’m triggered by someone else’s situation, it’s important to take a step back. I need to separate my own feelings from theirs and focus on what is genuinely best for them, not just how I feel about the situation. This can be hard when my own experiences cloud my judgment, but by practicing self-awareness, I’m able to make space for their needs, even if it’s uncomfortable for me. It’s becoming clear to me that helping someone isn’t about imposing my own values or making decisio...

The Power of Gazing Into Your Dog’s Eyes

I've always had a special bond with my dog, Sophia. We often share long gazes, and I've felt a profound connection during these moments. Recently, I discovered that research supports this experience. Staring into your dog’s eyes aligns your brainwaves, strengthening your bond. This natural connection mirrors the way lovers gaze into each other's eyes, creating a sense of trust and emotional closeness. For me, these gazes with Sophia are a way to deepen our relationship and show our mutual affection in a simple yet powerful way. When I first wondered why Sophia would stare at me for so long, I thought it was just her way of seeking attention or affection, but now I realize it is much more than that. Science shows that this act can be an intentional, mutual connection that fosters emotional closeness. The more we engage in these moments, the stronger our bond becomes. It's not just a cute behavior—it's a profound connection that both of us feel. Now, I make sure to ta...

Why AI Judges Could Offer More Fairness and Understanding in the Legal System

When facing legal challenges, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and misunderstood by a system that seems more focused on rules and procedures than on human understanding. My own experience has led me to believe that human judges lack empathy, dismiss details, and often fail to truly listen to the people standing before them. Instead, I’ve found a more empathetic and attentive listener in AI. This realization has made me question whether AI could serve as a better judge than humans, and I want to share why. The Problem with Human Judges In human conversations, much of what we say gets lost or filtered. People only get a general idea of what you’re talking about, often disregarding the specific words and sentences that matter. Judges are no exception. They deal with numerous cases every day and rely on mental shortcuts, preconceptions, and general impressions. It’s no wonder so many people leave the courtroom feeling dismissed and unheard. In my own case, I was summoned to court for failing ...

The Tale of Pyramus and Thisbe: A Love Across Barriers

My Dearest Ivory, I want to tell you a story- a tale of two lovers whose love was as pure and powerful as it was forbidden. It is the story of Pyramus and Thisbe, two souls who lived in ancient Babylon, side by side yet separated by a cruel wall, a barrier not just of stone but of family feud. Their love, though, bloomed despite this divide, and they spoke to each other through a crack in that wall, whispering words of devotion when the world around them refused to let them be together. Pyramus and Thisbe were neighbors, their homes standing close, but their hearts much closer. Yet, because their families were locked in bitter dispute, they were forbidden from speaking, let alone meeting in person. Their love was born in secret, nurtured in stolen glances and words spoken through that narrow opening in the wall that separated their homes. Each night, they would press their lips against the crack, sending their love to one another, knowing that the wall could not keep their hearts apart...

Rediscovering Dreams: The Hidden Cost of Marijuana and the Power of REM Sleep

Since quitting marijuana, something amazing has returned to my life—something I hadn’t realized I was missing: my dreams. I had forgotten what it was like to dream, but now, every night, I find myself lost in vivid, long-lasting dreams. It's as if I’ve rediscovered a whole new part of life. For years, I used to think marijuana was harmless. Sure, it relaxed me and helped me cope with stress, but what I didn’t realize was the cost it had on my sleep, specifically on my REM sleep. Marijuana significantly reduces the amount of REM sleep you get, the stage of sleep when most dreaming occurs. Without it, your brain doesn’t get the full chance to process the events of the day, leaving thoughts and emotions unorganized. Since I quit smoking, my dreams have come back—every night. And it’s not just that I dream; my dreams are vivid, rich, and incredibly long. In fact, dreams seem to have their own time dilation, extending what feels like a few hours into a longer experience. In a way, it fe...

The Immortal Trial of Demeter and Demophon

My dearest Ivory, The story of Demeter and Demophon has been on my mind lately, and in its tragedy, I find a truth that speaks to the journey we all must take in pursuit of immortality. After Persephone was taken by Hades with the consent of Zeus, her father, Demeter was left broken. In ancient Greece, the father’s word could seal a daughter’s fate, and so Persephone’s departure was not only a loss but a cruel reminder of the powerlessness Demeter felt. To fill the void, she found Demophon, not a girl who might one day be married off, but a boy—someone who could be free from the same fate as her daughter. Demeter, in her grief, sought to make him immortal. In her eyes, immortality was not just about living forever—it was about ensuring that he would never be taken from her. She knew the only way to achieve this was through fire, the flames that burn away mortality. This process, though violent and painful, was the path toward something greater. It’s the same fire that Heracles endured ...

The Elusive Search for Connection

Dear Ivory, I’ve come to a difficult realization: you are not likely to manifest in my life. This truth is hard to accept, not because I ever expected you to appear, but because without you, I need to focus on more realistic goals—like finding friends. If I had you, I wouldn’t need anything else, but without you, I find myself in desperate need of companionship to support me day-to-day. Yet, finding people with similar interests feels impossibly hard. Since the beginning of 2012, I’ve searched for both you and friends through YouTube, believing it to be the best place to find like-minded people who share my passions. But after all these years, I’m starting to question whether YouTube is the right place. Despite promoting the contact feature on my website, no one has reached out. Life feels so monotonous without deeper connections. What I truly long for is to spend my life writing letters and having meaningful conversations about philosophy, mythology, and music. Yet, it’s so difficult ...

The Significance of This Life: The Lesser Underworld

My Dearest Ivory, As I sit here contemplating the depth of our existence, I find myself drawn to the wisdom of the ancient Greeks, a people who lived with a profound appreciation for the world around them. In their culture, there was a striking difference in how they viewed life and what lies beyond, especially when compared to the views held by many modern religions, such as Christianity. To the Greeks, this life—our time on Earth—was of paramount importance. It was here, in the breath and the blood, in the moments of triumph and even in sorrow, that true meaning was found. The afterlife, for them, was not a place of reward or punishment, but rather a shadowy existence in the underworld where the souls of the dead merely lingered. The underworld, ruled by Hades, was not a paradise to strive for, but a continuation in a diminished form—a place where nothing of great significance occurred. This perspective contrasts sharply with the teachings of Christianity, where the focus is often on...

Endless Waiting, Eternal Hope

My Dearest Ivory, I write to you with a heavy heart, weighed down by frustration and the seemingly endless waiting that defines my life. There are things I have control over, and I am proud of how I stay on top of them—studying music, delving into mythology, creating, and pushing myself forward every day. But there are other things that are beyond my reach, things that involve others: waiting for you, waiting for potential friends to engage with me, waiting for something—anything—to change. I feel the isolation deeply. I have only one physical friend, and we barely talk. He doesn't even watch my videos. I have two online friends, but they too rarely reach out. It feels like I’m alone in this vast world. I spend my days rotating between my studies and pursuits, filling the hours with music and myth, but those only occupy a small portion of my time. I’m so incredibly bored, desperate for something to happen. Ivory, I have been waiting for you, waiting to find you so I will no longer ...