Familiar #1 - Reddit is a window to the rest of the world, and I think you should look.
Also why I spend so much of my time on Reddit
You guys, I spend a lot of my time on Reddit. So much time that I set up the digital health app to shut the app off if I hit the limit. I set it at 3 hours a day :o I haven’t reached the limit in a while, but it’s set at 3 hours because there was a point when I would read Reddit for more than 3 hours a day :o :o and could not stop reading. And I love it so much and want to share it with everyone, but it seems like some people reddit and get it, and most of the world does not understand how I could possibly spend 3 hours on an app.
I love it because it’s stupid/silly/funny and has good internet stuff like, what do grabby raccoon hands look like up close? (they look disgusting and I can’t stop looking). But I love it mainly because it’s full of other people’s stories - sweet, cute, happy, and gut wrenching, tragic, and too real.
And if you’re remotely interested in people watching, having empathy, and being a better citizen of the world, I think you should be on Reddit.
These are a few of my all-time favorite posts------
A man wins some money and decides to give a large amount to his ex-wife and mother of his children, who he cheated on with his current partner. Current partner is upset, and he wonders if he’s the asshole in this situation. His comments in response to other redditors are beautiful, and you see a man having grappled with his mistakes, suddenly armed with an excuse to be better, and makes a swift decision to do that.
https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/comments/b43t53/aita_for_giving_my_ex_wife_a_large_amount_of/
Someone somewhere in the world decides to try heroin for fun, believes that he won’t get addicted, documents and discusses on reddit, and subsequently sinks into addiction for the next 7 years. ‘SpontaneousH’ is his reddit handle. People on the internet try to help him, think of him often in the years that pass, and his posts (only a handful in the span of 7 years) are full of people who remember him and wish him well. He makes a final post 7 years later having been sober for a few and reflects on his time before addiction. He’s doing well, and it’s heartwarming to see all the strangers on the internet taking their time to share their experiences and try to reach him. Here he is in this post, already too far in, but doesn’t really know it yet.
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/9ohdc/2_weeks_ago_i_tried_heroin_once_for_fun_and_made/
r/relationshipadvice is sometimes full of questions that make your eyes roll into the back of your head. But every now and again you’ll see a post from a woman who seeks a little bit of validation, that she has a right to be upset about something her partner has done in an argument or something she keeps asking for but never gets. And it becomes clear to the internet that this is in fact a woman in an emotionally abusive relationship who doesn’t yet realize this is the case. People try to help, and in the comments when she responds, you realize that she’s not ready yet, and you see what it really looks like and feels like to be a victim.
These aren’t the kinds of stories that the internet usually celebrates, but these are people who are facing their choices and (....here it is) are able to be emotionally honest with themselves and come out the other side better for it. Regular-ass people.
It might feel too private, or you might judge these choices to be wrong, and these people to be bad, but there’s something sweet to be found in struggle and adversity and ugly situations. Don’t look away. <3
There are other amazing things on Reddit too, it’s not just intense and life-lesson-y. Here are some of my favorite subreddits (sort by best all time if you choose to pursue).
r/tihi - stands for ‘thanks i hate it’ for things you are glad to have seen but it’s kind of horrible in a can’t-look-away kind of way.
r/dogswithjobs - these are dogs who have jobs, and they are good bois and girls.
r/catastrophicfailure - can’t look away
r/nonononoyes - gets your heart pumping even if you know how it ends
r/personalfinance - informational
r/povertyfinance - this is reality, and is helpful
r/coolguides - visual cheat sheets for everything you can imagine
r/aww - a little internet basic but oh so cute
r/trippingthroughtime- can’t explain, this is a good example.
r/atbge - awful taste but great execution
r/natureismetal - the wildnerness is insane
Oh, it’s also where I get my news.
And, I’m convinced that all of the best internet things all start on reddit, because when someone shares a meme with me, it was already on reddit yesterday and that shit is old now.
If you want to get started on reddit, I recommend you download the app. No need to make an account. Just browse r/popular to get started, and dig your way in deeper. :)
Familiar is a semi-regular, experimental thing where Jess writes with emotional honesty on things and happenings.