humanity

For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.

How Being Successful Can Impact Your Love Life
As a relationship writer, I discuss how many things can affect your love life — your age, your waistline, your personality, and even your clothing style are all things I've touched upon in the past.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart8 years ago in Humans
I Come First
When growing up, you get taught to do things for others, make others happy, and not to do this and that because of what other people might say. I mean Albert Einstein says it himself: ''Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.'' It is good to do things for others and to make a positive impact on others and the world, but what about me?
By JAPPY .8 years ago in Humans
What is Coercive Control?
Your new relationship is great! He really seems to understand you, he wants to be with you all the time, when he isn’t with you he’s always texting, he wants to know all about your life, friends, family and life. He’s charming and loving, he gives you flowers all the time. The relationship moves really fast and you find yourself moving in with him.
By Clare Scanlan8 years ago in Humans
Stopping the Self-Enabling Cycle
In today's world, people tend to look at outside influences and not ourselves as reasons for failing at something or continuing to put ourselves in the same negative situations or bad relationships. Although it is not our fault when people do bad things to us, what is our fault is what we do or do not do to overcome what has happened. When we do little or nothing to help ourselves, in reality, we are continuing to have these problems dominate our lives.
By S P8 years ago in Humans
The Ultimate Superheroes!
I don't know about anyone else, when I was just barely older than the sandwich I ate two weeks ago, I started reading some comic books. I did not read that many, but I did have a small group of superheroes that I liked even to this day: Spiderman, Iron Man, Superman, the Incredible Hulk, Batman, and the Green Hornet. Whenever their shows or movies came on, I could not wait for the opening credits. I just enjoyed them. Even my nickname (Joker) invokes the memory of the Dark Knight, not the Mets pitcher Matt Harvey, but of Batman (a.k.a. the Caped Crusader) and Robin (a.k.a. the Boy Wonder).
By Maurice Bernier9 years ago in Humans
Museum of Toxic Masculinity
This weekend, I decided to adventure a little bit. What's the point in living in the greatest city (NYC) in the world if all I ever do is work. So I walked through Central Park, had my music on and enjoyed myself. Then I thought, what the hell, I should go to the Museum of Sex. Every time I've been there, it has been a treat-and-a-half. And what's better is that since I write erotic stories/books, I would be inspired, and I could write the trip off on my taxes at the end of the year. There is an exhibit they have going right now that is called "The Female Gaze." Since I had learned about the "Male Gaze" in Film class (Thanks, Prof. Kendall!), I was interested to see what they were going to do with it from a female's perspective. I learned that and a whole lot more.
By Edward Anderson9 years ago in Humans
A Mancrisis – the Crises in Manhood
The existentialist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir, in The Second Sex, described the situation of women as “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.” In essence, ignoring the biological factors, de Beauvoir describes the idea of women and men as being a social construct that the individual takes upon themselves to give meaning to their existence. Previously, men were seen as the norm, whilst women were seen as abnormal. From this place of inequality, men were given a central roll in society and women were seen as an addition to men.
By Phillip Woodford9 years ago in Humans
A Christian Advocating LGBT+ Rights
I was never told that homosexuality was a sin. I have no recollection whatsoever of that ever being outright said to me, my parents are generally circumspect in voicing their beliefs and are very generous in addition to that. I certainly never witnessed them, or any of their friends, treating a member of the LGBT+ community any different than they would any other acquaintance. And yet aged 11, upon seeing two girls kiss in a shopping centre, I had a reaction of disgust sufficient that I ended up gagging into a bin. I had internalised, and I still cannot pinpoint the source, although it was probably an amalgamation of scriptural teaching, hushed conversations and society in general, that homosexuality was wrong and disgusting, and I could not understand it. Some of my friends, when I voiced this complete lack of ability to understand, said that was what characterised my heterosexuality: of course I couldn't understand how a boy could love a boy and vice versa, because I was straight; it should be repulsive. I know now that all of us were speaking from wilful ignorance and utter lack of awareness or empathy.
By Abi Hastings9 years ago in Humans
When Stuck on Stupid Becomes a Choice
Many of us place emphasis on not shaming or unnecessarily hurting other people's feelings. While this is a generally good approach for everyday life situations, there are some instances where ignorance is not always innocent. When it manifests as willful ignorance, it should be considered a form of aggression, including passive aggressiveness.
By Fannie LeFlore9 years ago in Humans
My Friend Loneliness!
I have reached a point in my life when I must accept what is. Way back in the year of 1956, a happy baby boy was born in the month of February. When he was born, he had no bills, no taxes, no worries at all except where he was going to get his first meal. He came into the world and people took care of him, hand and foot. The more he screamed, the more he got. He had plenty of people around him. He had protection in every form possible. He came into the world alone and was welcomed with open arms.
By Maurice Bernier9 years ago in Humans
Dear 35-Year-Old Me
I hope you’re happy. Finally, after years and years of talking down to yourself, not thinking you’re deserving of love, or interaction or even a kind word from others—to think you’re not worth the attention of someone who clearly thinks you are—finally, I hope you’re happy. I hope you’ve listened to the people who told you were kind, and who told you that you made them smile, or that they continued doing something because you believed in them. I hope you still believe in people; I hope that after all the bad experiences you’ve had with the wrong people, it hasn’t clouded the fact that the world is full to the brim of lovely, lonely, vibrant and amazing people—and you love making a connection with them. And, to a lesser degree, I hope you’ve realised that when people told you that you were attractive, pretty, beautiful, etc., you don’t have to explain to them why you’re not. You’re not up your own arse for accepting kindness. Yeah, life’s not about being a piece of art, or attracting others, or people fancying you—but it’s not about berating your appearance either. Sometimes, it’s okay to feel good about yourself, and sometimes it’s okay to spend money on looking good. I hope you realise how lucky you are that you had the body you had (and put no effort into). And I hope one day you look at pictures of yourself and realise that you were beautiful.
By Pixie Alannah-Wilde9 years ago in Humans
The Big Sister I've Always Wanted!!
I am a huge advocate of the computer. I practically live with it. I can never do without it. My life is pretty much geared around it. Obviously, this article was written with it. During the course of its use, I may need to use the internet from time to time. When you come across something interesting, you would bookmark it so that you can go right back to the exact page you wanted. You might change the page in some way, but you can always return to it at any time in the future anytime you want.
By Maurice Bernier9 years ago in Humans