🛍️
Of course the media someone chooses to consume and the things they like to buy can signify certain personality traits but these choices aren’t personality traits in and of themselves. people take criticism of things they like as a personal attack and I think this is partly why there’s such a dearth of incisive cultural criticism today.
Encouraging people to personally identify with the products they buy = the devil’s marketing strategy…
Oct 7, 2024
Related Recs
I have an acquaintance whose personality I have always found grating and today I finally realized exactly what it is that I dislike so much: they pride themselves on being an ideal consumer. They get chuffed as fuck at how well marketing works on them to the point of being borderline braggadocious about how quickly and deliberately they react to advertising; even when they’ve been duped or scammed they admire the way they’ve been fooled.
It’s so cartoonishly American, they’re like a funhouse mirror that accentuates by own stupid fatso traits and stokes my most antisocial impulses. They say you should “let people enjoy things” but there’s got to be a healthier middle ground where my friend stops enjoying adding to their credit card debt to see every Ryan Reynolds movie in IMAX and I stop enjoying hating them for it.
Apr 7, 2025
🫶
This is probably less of a choice and more of a personality defect. It’s ultimately an alienating and soul crushing way to live your life. But there is no way to be successful without being highly critical, at least as an editor. The danger is when you turn it on yourself and people you are close to (inevitable). In a culture where we’re sold blind positivity (profit motive), it's important to stay critical, to stay on your toes. As an editor this is most important. But it’s also important to be an “A-type” thinker instead of a “B-type” thinker: you have to offer ways to improve what it is you’re criticizing, and not just be critical for the sake of criticizing.
May 10, 2023
🚬
Last month I went and got my sister's favourite watch repaired and she was really happy. Yesterday she told me someone said to her that her watch looks childish and she should grow up? I genuinely wanted to punch whoever said that in the face. She likes the watch, she will wear that fucking watch. It doesn't matter if it's a Mickey mouse watch or whatever. This kind of behaviour is just unacceptable.
It's just one example. I see people shaming others for what they post on the internet, the way they wear clothes, the way they talk, the way they walk. Even reading nowadays is seen as something "performative"... Why? I will judge someone for reading coleen Hoover but that's in my head. It is difficult to find your bearings in this digital age where everyone has a opinion about everything. If in this world, someone has a clear understanding of what they like, that is admirable. To shame someone for being different from us is just a projection of our insecurities
5h ago
Top Recs from @taterhole
My dad teases me about how when I was a little kid, my favorite thing to do when I was on the landline phone with somebody—be it a relative or one of my best friends—was to breathlessly describe the things that were in my bedroom so that they could have a mental picture of everything I loved and chose to surround myself with, and where I sat at that moment in time. Perfectly Imperfect reminds me of that so thanks for always listening and for sharing with me too 💌
Feb 23, 2025
May 28, 2025
🖐
I’ve been thinking about how much of social media is centered around curating our self-image. When selfies first became popular, they were dismissed as vain and vapid—a critique often rooted in misogyny—but now, the way we craft our online selves feels more like creating monuments.
We try to signal our individuality, hoping to be seen and understood, but ironically, I think this widens the gap between how others perceive us and who we really are. Instead of fostering connection, it can invite projection and misinterpretation—preconceived notions, prefab labels, and stereotypes. Worse, individuality has become branded and commodified, reducing our identities to products for others to consume.
On most platforms, validation often comes from how well you can curate and present your image—selfies, aesthetic branding, and lifestyle content tend to dominate. High engagement is tied to visibility, not necessarily depth or substance. But I think spaces like PI.FYI show that there’s another way: where connection is built on shared ideas, tastes, and interests rather than surface-level content. It’s refreshing to be part of a community that values thoughts over optics.
By sharing so few images of myself, I’ve found that it gives others room to focus on my ideas and voice. When I do share an image, it feels intentional—something that contributes to the story I want to tell rather than defining it. Sharing less allows me to express who I am beyond appearance.
For women, especially, sharing less can be a radical act in a world where the default is to objectify ourselves. It resists the pressure to center appearance, focusing instead on what truly matters: our thoughts, voices, and authenticity. I’ve posted a handful of pictures of myself in 2,500 posts because I care more about showing who I am than how I look.
In trying to be seen, are we making it harder for others to truly know us? It’s a question worth considering.
Dec 27, 2024