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Doomscrolling Meme: Understanding the Hilarious (and Horrifying) Reality of Our Online Habits
Introduction:
Are you endlessly scrolling through social media, even though you feel increasingly anxious and overwhelmed? Do you find yourself drawn to negative news, even when you know it's detrimental to your well-being? If so, you're not alone. You might be experiencing "doomscrolling," a phenomenon that's become so prevalent it's spawned its own memes. This comprehensive guide will delve into the doomscrolling meme, exploring its origins, its psychological impact, and how to break free from its grip. We'll examine the humor and irony behind the memes themselves, analyze the underlying reasons for this behavior, and offer practical strategies to regain control of your online consumption. Get ready to understand – and maybe even laugh at – the all-too-relatable reality of doomscrolling.
1. The Birth and Evolution of the Doomscrolling Meme:
The term "doomscrolling" itself isn't new, but its widespread adoption and memeification are a relatively recent phenomenon. Initially, it described the act of compulsively consuming negative news online, often late into the night. The memes evolved to reflect the darkly humorous yet painfully accurate experience: images of exhausted individuals glued to their phones, captions expressing the simultaneous fascination and disgust with the endless stream of bad news, and relatable scenarios illustrating the addictive nature of doomscrolling. The humor lies in the shared experience of this frustrating and somewhat self-destructive behavior. Early examples often featured simple text-based memes, but the format diversified to encompass reaction images, GIFs, and even short video clips capturing the essence of the act. The memes' evolution mirrors the increasing awareness and acknowledgment of this modern societal problem.
2. The Psychology Behind Doomscrolling:
Doomscrolling isn't just a mindless habit; it's rooted in complex psychological mechanisms. Several factors contribute:
Negative Bias: Our brains are wired to pay more attention to negative information. This evolutionary trait, designed to help us avoid danger, can be hijacked by the constant stream of negative news online.
Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): The fear of missing crucial information, even if it's negative, keeps us scrolling. We worry that if we stop, we'll miss something important, leading to a sense of anxiety and unease.
Dopamine Rush: Each notification, each new piece of information, provides a small dopamine hit, reinforcing the behavior. This creates a feedback loop, making it increasingly difficult to stop.
Confirmation Bias: We tend to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs, even if those beliefs are negative or pessimistic. Doomscrolling can reinforce pre-existing anxieties and negativity.
Lack of Control: The constant flow of information can feel overwhelming, leading to a sense of powerlessness and contributing to the cycle of doomscrolling.
3. The Humor and Irony in Doomscrolling Memes:
The humor in doomscrolling memes stems from the inherent irony of the situation. We're simultaneously aware of the detrimental effects of our behavior – the anxiety, the stress, the wasted time – yet we continue to engage in it. This self-awareness creates a darkly comedic element, allowing us to laugh at our shared human failings and vulnerabilities. The memes serve as a collective sigh of recognition, a shared acknowledgement of a frustratingly relatable experience. The humor is a coping mechanism, a way to process the uncomfortable feelings associated with doomscrolling.
4. Breaking Free from the Doomscroll:
While doomscrolling memes provide a humorous outlet, the underlying behavior is potentially harmful. Here's how to break free:
Mindful Consumption: Become more aware of your online habits. Track how much time you spend scrolling and identify triggers that lead to doomscrolling.
Curate Your Feed: Unfollow accounts or news sources that consistently contribute to negative emotions. Fill your feed with positive and uplifting content.
Set Time Limits: Use app timers or built-in features to limit your time on social media and news websites.
Practice Mindfulness and Self-Care: Engage in activities that promote relaxation and well-being, such as meditation, exercise, or spending time in nature.
Seek Professional Help: If doomscrolling significantly impacts your mental health, consider seeking help from a therapist or counselor.
5. Doomscrolling and its Societal Impact:
The widespread nature of doomscrolling highlights a broader societal issue: the impact of constant connectivity and the overwhelming flow of information in the digital age. It's a symptom of a society grappling with information overload, anxiety, and the ever-present pressure to stay informed, even at the cost of our well-being. The memes, while humorous, also serve as a commentary on this societal challenge.
Article Outline:
Title: Doomscrolling Meme: Understanding the Hilarious (and Horrifying) Reality of Our Online Habits
Introduction: Hooking the reader with a relatable scenario and outlining the article's scope.
Chapter 1: The Birth and Evolution of the Doomscrolling Meme – tracing the meme's origins and development.
Chapter 2: The Psychology Behind Doomscrolling – exploring the psychological factors driving this behavior.
Chapter 3: The Humor and Irony in Doomscrolling Memes – analyzing the comedic elements within the memes.
Chapter 4: Breaking Free from the Doomscroll – providing practical strategies to overcome doomscrolling.
Chapter 5: Doomscrolling and its Societal Impact – discussing the wider societal implications of this phenomenon.
Conclusion: Summarizing key points and reiterating the importance of mindful online consumption.
(Detailed content for each chapter is provided above in the main article.)
9 Unique FAQs:
1. What exactly is doomscrolling? Doomscrolling is the compulsive act of endlessly scrolling through negative news and social media feeds, often leading to anxiety and negative emotions.
2. Why do people doomscroll? Several psychological factors contribute, including negative bias, FOMO, dopamine rushes, confirmation bias, and a sense of lack of control.
3. How are doomscrolling memes relevant? They reflect the shared experience and dark humor surrounding this common behavior, offering a relatable outlet for frustration.
4. Is doomscrolling addictive? While not technically an addiction in the clinical sense, the dopamine response and reinforcement mechanisms create a behavior pattern that can be difficult to break.
5. How can I stop doomscrolling? Strategies include mindful consumption, curating your feed, setting time limits, practicing self-care, and seeking professional help if needed.
6. What is the societal impact of doomscrolling? It highlights concerns about information overload, anxiety, and the negative consequences of constant connectivity.
7. Are there any benefits to doomscrolling? No, there are no real benefits. It primarily leads to negative emotional and psychological consequences.
8. Can doomscrolling affect my sleep? Yes, the exposure to negative information and the stimulation from screens can disrupt sleep patterns.
9. How common is doomscrolling? It's incredibly common, affecting a large segment of the population who use social media and online news sources.
9 Related Articles:
1. The Psychology of Social Media Addiction: Explores the addictive nature of social media and its impact on mental well-being.
2. Information Overload and Its Effects on Mental Health: Discusses the challenges of processing excessive information in the digital age.
3. The Impact of Negative News on Mental Health: Analyzes how constant exposure to negative news affects mental well-being.
4. Mindfulness Techniques for Reducing Stress and Anxiety: Provides practical strategies for managing stress and anxiety through mindfulness.
5. Digital Detox: How to Take a Break from Technology: Offers guidance on disconnecting from technology to improve mental health.
6. Developing Healthy Online Habits: Provides tips for creating a balanced and positive relationship with technology.
7. Combating FOMO (Fear of Missing Out): Explores strategies for managing FOMO and improving self-esteem.
8. The Role of Dopamine in Addictive Behaviors: Explains the neurological mechanisms behind addiction and how dopamine plays a key role.
9. Understanding Confirmation Bias and its Influence on Decision-Making: Discusses the cognitive bias that leads us to seek out information confirming our beliefs.
doomscrolling meme: Stop Doomscrolling ROBERT WEST, 2020-12-26 When you look at your phone, do you see nothing but an endless stream of bad news? This book will help you understand just what doomscrolling is and how it can ruin your health, damage your relationships, and leave you depressed and alone. It can happen to anyone. This book was written to help all those who have gotten lost in the bad news that comes out everyday. It will help you understand why you can’t seem to stop, and it will show you the evolutionary reasons behind your obsessive behavior. I’ll also provide you with effective steps to take to break the doomscrolling habit. In this book, you’ll discover valuable insights into the following topics: What doomscrolling is What are the evolutionary and biological reasons behind the habit How doomscrolling damages your mental and physical health How it wrecks your social life How to break the habit and replace it with healthy alternatives; How to rebuild your health and your friendships. It can seem impossible to stop the doomscrolling habit, but it's not. You can do it and get your life back. This book will show you proven techniques for breaking this kind of bad habit. What’s more, it will help you recover your health and your lost friendships. You can rediscover the beautiful, positive things in your life and in the world around you. You can make positive changes that will help you escape the trap you’re living in right now. You can kick the habit and find the sunshine and the beautiful things in life that are still out there. If you’re ready to kick the doomscrolling habit and find what’s really good and important in life, this is the book for you. There’s no time like the present to get started taking your life back from the dark world of doomscrolling! |
doomscrolling meme: The Internet Is for Cats Jessica Maddox, 2022-10-14 LOL cats. Grumpy Cat. Dog-rating Twitter. Pet Instagram accounts. It’s generally understood the internet is for pictures of cute cats (and dogs, and otters, and pandas). But what motivates people to make and share these images, and how do they relate to other online social practices? The Internet is for Cats examines how animal images are employed to create a lighter, more playful mood, uniting users within online spaces that can otherwise easily become fractious and toxic. Placing today’s pet videos, photos, and memes within a longer history of mediated animal images, communication scholar Jessica Maddox also considers the factors that make them unique. She explores the roles that animals play within online economies of cuteness and attention, as well as the ways that animal memes and videos respond to common experiences of life under neoliberalism. Conducting a rich digital ethnography, Maddox combines observations and textual analysis with extensive interviews of the people who create, post and share animal media, including TikTok influencers seeking to make their pets famous, activists tweeting about wildlife conservation, and Redditors upvoting every cute cat photo. The Internet is for Cats will leave you with a new appreciation for the human social practices behind the animal images you encounter online. |
doomscrolling meme: The Routledge International Handbook of Psychoanalysis, Subjectivity, and Technology David Goodman, Matthew Clemente, 2023-08-09 The Routledge International Handbook of Psychoanalysis, Subjectivity, and Technology uniquely provides a comprehensive overview of human subjectivity in the technological age and how psychoanalysis can help us better understand human life. Presented in five parts, David M. Goodman and Matthew Clemente collaborate with an international community of scholars and practitioners to consider how psychoanalytic formulations can be brought to bear on the impact technology has had on the facets of human subjectivity. Chapters examine how technology is reshaping our understanding of what it means to be a human subject, through embodiment, intimacy, porn, political motivation, mortality, communication, interpersonal exchange, thought, attention, responsibility, vulnerability, and more. Filled with thought-provoking and nuanced chapters, the contributors approach technology from a diverse range of entry points but all engage through the lens of psychoanalytic theory, practice, and thought. This book is essential for academics and students of psychoanalysis, philosophy, ethics, media, liberal arts, social work, and bioethics. With the inclusion of timely chapters on the coronavirus pandemic and teletherapy, psychoanalysts in practice and training as well as other mental health practitioners will also find this book an invaluable resource. |
doomscrolling meme: Cronofagia e media AA. VV., 2024-09-06T00:00:00+02:00 Il rapido cambiamento delle società contemporanee, influenzato dallo sviluppo tecnico scientifico degli ultimi anni, ha portato a una rivoluzione nel tempo e negli spazi della medializzazione. La logica dell’entertainment diffuso dai media digitali ha permesso l’estensione della società dello spettacolo anche nel quotidiano (schermi urbani, gamification, ecc.), modificando la fruizione mediale convenzionale attraverso piattaforme sempre accessibili. Alla base di questo cambiamento soggiace un capitalismo sempre più pervasivo e mimetico, avido di tempo e in competizione con i ritmi biofisici dell’umanità. Questo volume raccoglie una serie di contributi che intendono indagare la natura cronofaga della medialità contemporanea, sottolineandone alcuni degli aspetti più evidenti, dall’automatizzazione del lavoro alla vetrinizzazione della vita online, sino al binge watching e alla conseguente condizione di governamentalità algoritmica. |
doomscrolling meme: English Vocabulary: The Basics Michael McCarthy, 2022-12-14 English Vocabulary: The Basics offers a clear, non-jargonistic introduction to English vocabulary, the way linguists classify and explain it, and the place of vocabulary in our overall picture of the language, and in society. Introducing a range of terminology for discussing vocabulary, the reader is provided with a coherent, structured description of what we know about words and their meanings. Key features of this book include: • Analysis of historical roots of present-day words • Coverage of the differences between speech and writing and between formality and informality • Understanding of the social implications of choices that readers make to use standard or non-standard (e.g., regional/dialect) vocabulary • A focus on British English with reference to a wide range of varieties of English that include North American English, Irish English, Indian English, Malaysian English, Nigerian English and Caribbean English. Featuring a glossary of key terms, cartoons and illustrations, further reading, reflection points, interesting factoids and examples from corpora from around the world, this book is an engaging and thought-provoking read for anyone with an interest in English vocabulary. |
doomscrolling meme: Simple Sayings Thalia Quayle, 2024-10-05 Simple Sayings: Unraveling the Colorful World of Idioms offers a captivating exploration of the idiomatic expressions that enrich our daily language. This comprehensive guide delves into the origins, cultural significance, and communicative impact of idioms, presenting a compelling argument that mastering these linguistic nuggets is key to deeper cultural understanding and more nuanced communication. The book takes readers on a journey through three main sections: 1. The etymology of popular idioms 2. Their function in various contexts 3. The cognitive processes involved in understanding and using them By weaving idioms into engaging narratives and real-life scenarios, Simple Sayings provides a unique approach to presenting this complex subject. It draws on a wide range of evidence, including linguistic studies and contemporary usage data, to offer up-to-date insights into how these expressions continue to shape our communication. What sets this book apart is its interdisciplinary approach, connecting idiom study to cognitive psychology, cultural anthropology, and neurolinguistics. It strikes a balance between academic rigor and accessible prose, making it valuable for both language enthusiasts and serious linguists. With its engaging narrative style and practical exercises, Simple Sayings promises to enhance readers' understanding of language, culture, and communication, proving itself an indispensable resource in the field of linguistics and beyond. |
doomscrolling meme: No One Is Talking About This Patricia Lockwood, 2021-02-16 FINALIST FOR THE 2021 BOOKER PRIZE & A NEW YORK TIMES TOP 10 BOOK OF 2021 WINNER OF THE DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE “A book that reads like a prose poem, at once sublime, profane, intimate, philosophical, witty and, eventually, deeply moving.” —New York Times Book Review, Editors’ Choice “Wow. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so much reading a book. What an inventive and startling writer…I’m so glad I read this. I really think this book is remarkable.” —David Sedaris From a formidably gifted writer (The New York Times Book Review), a book that asks: Is there life after the internet? As this urgent, genre-defying book opens, a woman who has recently been elevated to prominence for her social media posts travels around the world to meet her adoring fans. She is overwhelmed by navigating the new language and etiquette of what she terms the portal, where she grapples with an unshakable conviction that a vast chorus of voices is now dictating her thoughts. When existential threats--from climate change and economic precariousness to the rise of an unnamed dictator and an epidemic of loneliness--begin to loom, she posts her way deeper into the portal's void. An avalanche of images, details, and references accumulate to form a landscape that is post-sense, post-irony, post-everything. Are we in hell? the people of the portal ask themselves. Are we all just going to keep doing this until we die? Suddenly, two texts from her mother pierce the fray: Something has gone wrong, and How soon can you get here? As real life and its stakes collide with the increasingly absurd antics of the portal, the woman confronts a world that seems to contain both an abundance of proof that there is goodness, empathy, and justice in the universe, and a deluge of evidence to the contrary. Fragmentary and omniscient, incisive and sincere, No One Is Talking About This is at once a love letter to the endless scroll and a profound, modern meditation on love, language, and human connection from a singular voice in American literature. |
doomscrolling meme: Becoming Human Amid Diversions Andreas Ervik, 2022-11-15 This book develops a philosophy of the predominant yet obtrusive aspects of digital culture, arguing that what seems like insignificant distractions of digital technology - such as video games, mindless browsing, cute animal imagery, political memes, and trolling - are actually keyed into fundamental aspects of evolution. These elements are commonly framed as distractions in an economy of attention and this book approaches them with the prospect of understanding their attraction, from the starting point of diversions. Diversions designate not simply shifting states of attention but characterize the direction of any system on a different course, a theoretical perspective which makes it possible to investigate distractions as not only by-products of contemporary media and human attention. The perspective shifts from distractions as the unwanted and inconsequential to considering instead the function of diversions in the process of evolutionary development. Grounded in media theory but drawing from diverse interdisciplinary perspectives in biology, philosophy, and systems theory, this book provocatively theorizes the process of diversions – of the playful, stupid, cute, and funny – as significant for the evolution of a range of organisms. |
doomscrolling meme: Penpal Dathan Auerbach, 2012-07 |
doomscrolling meme: I Had a Black Dog Matthew Johnstone, 2012-03-01 'I Had a Black Dog says with wit, insight, economy and complete understanding what other books take 300 pages to say. Brilliant and indispensable.' - Stephen Fry 'Finally, a book about depression that isn't a prescriptive self-help manual. Johnston's deftly expresses how lonely and isolating depression can be for sufferers. Poignant and humorous in equal measure.' Sunday Times There are many different breeds of Black Dog affecting millions of people from all walks of life. The Black Dog is an equal opportunity mongrel. It was Winston Churchill who popularized the phrase Black Dog to describe the bouts of depression he experienced for much of his life. Matthew Johnstone, a sufferer himself, has written and illustrated this moving and uplifting insight into what it is like to have a Black Dog as a companion and how he learned to tame it and bring it to heel. |
doomscrolling meme: Modern and Contemporary Yorkshire Poetry Kyra Piperides, 2023-07-31 Delving into the landscapes and politics of twentieth- and twenty-first-century South, East, and West Yorkshire, Modern and Contemporary Yorkshire Poetry: Cultural Identities, Political Crises theorises Yorkshire as a distinct region of poetry in its own right. In outlining the commonalities and parameters of this branch of poetry, Modern and Contemporary Yorkshire Poetry engages the work with a selection of poets writing in and about the region since 1945, including Philip Larkin, Ted Hughes, Simon Armitage, Helen Mort, Zaffar Kunial, Kate Fox, and Vicky Foster. Charting the developments in Yorkshire poetry, this book explores several key contexts – including deindustrialisation, the Miners’ Strikes, and Brexit – in detail, evidencing the impacts of these sociopolitical events on the poetry of a region. Modern and Contemporary Yorkshire Poetry investigates 75 years of poetry to ask the question: what is Yorkshire poetry? In other words, what is it that connects poems by these writers, whilst setting them apart from poetry of other UK regions? |
doomscrolling meme: Humor 2.0 Salvatore Attardo, 2023-08-15 The book shows how humor has changed since the advent of the internet: new genres, new contexts, and new audiences. The book provides a guide to such phenomena as memes, video parodies, photobombing, and cringe humor. Included are also in-depth discussions of the humor in phenomena such as Dogecoin, the joke currency, and the use of humor by the alt-right. It also shows how the cognitive mechanisms of humor remain unchanged. Written by a well-known specialist in humor studies, the book is engaging and readable, but also based on extensive scholarship. |
doomscrolling meme: About Yesterday Carrie Thorne, 2024-08-20 How many first dates does it take to realize that you're… boring? Modern wallflower and French teacher Trace is ready to let her frizzy red hair down—literally. To not keep wearing the happy face that can fool everyone in the small town of Foothills, Washington. Everyone except her former foster brother. Mercenary, antihero, Cole has spent the last decade running. Wounded after an op gone wrong, he comes home, and the meet-cute isn’t so cute, when she bashes him on the head with the bathroom door by accident. After his shower. And laughs. He probably shouldn’t tell her he’s not only had a crush on her since they were in high school, but that he used the idea of her to survive. |
doomscrolling meme: Acts of Violet Margarita Montimore, 2022-07-05 A DAZZLING NEW NOVEL FROM NATIONAL BESTSELLING AND GMA BOOK CLUB PICK MARGARITA MONTIMORE, AUTHOR OF OONA OUT OF ORDER “[A] twisty, genre-defying family drama...Reminiscent of Taylor Jenkins Reid's Daisy Jones & the Six.” --Shelf Awareness (starred review) Nearly a decade ago, iconic magician Violet Volk performed her greatest trick yet: vanishing mid-act. While Violet sought out the spotlight, her sister Sasha, had to be the responsible one. But Sasha can never seem to escape her sister’s tumultuous orbit. Then there’s Cameron Frank, determined to finally get his big break hosting a podcast devoted to all things Violet—though keeping his job hinges on an exclusive interview with Sasha, the last person who wants to talk to him. As the ten-year anniversary approaches, the podcast picks up steam, and Cameron’s pursuit of Sasha becomes increasingly intrusive. Meanwhile, Sasha begins to experience an unsettling series of sleepwalking episodes and coincidences, which all lead back to Violet. Pushed to her emotional limits, Sasha must finally confront the most painful truths about her sister, and herself, even at the risk of losing everything. Alternating between Sasha’s narration and Cameron’s podcast transcripts, interspersed with documents that offer a tantalizing peek at Violet herself, Acts of Violet is an utterly original, propulsive story of fame, deception, and forgiveness that will make you believe in magic. |
doomscrolling meme: The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy Megan Bannen, 2022-08-23 A uniquely charming mixture of whimsy and the macabre that completely won me over. If you ever wished for an adult romance that felt like Howl's Moving Castle, THIS IS THAT BOOK. —Helen Hoang, author of The Kiss Quotient Hart is a marshal, tasked with patrolling the strange and magical wilds of Tanria. It’s an unforgiving job, and Hart’s got nothing but time to ponder his loneliness. Mercy never has a moment to herself. She’s been single-handedly keeping Birdsall & Son Undertakers afloat in defiance of sullen jerks like Hart, who seems to have a gift for showing up right when her patience is thinnest. After yet another exasperating run-in with Mercy, Hart finds himself penning a letter addressed simply to “A Friend”. Much to his surprise, an anonymous letter comes back in return, and a tentative friendship is born. If only Hart knew he’s been baring his soul to the person who infuriates him most—Mercy. As the dangers from Tanria grow closer, so do the unlikely correspondents. But can their blossoming romance survive the fated discovery that their pen pals are their worst nightmares—each other? Set in a world full of magic and demigods, donuts and small-town drama, this enchantingly quirky, utterly unique fantasy is perfect for readers of The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Invisible Library. Truly outstanding romantic fantasy. —India Holton An unabashedly offbeat adventure. —Freya Marske I cried twice and smiled plenty. —Olivia Atwater A little sweet, a little spicy, a little sharp and entirely moreish! —Davinia Evans I showed up for the fantastic, fun fantasy setting but it was Hart and Mercy that kept me reading. —Ruby Dixon |
doomscrolling meme: Plural Feminisms Sohini Chatterjee, Po-Han Lee, 2023-09-07 Drawing on different understandings of feminisms, this volume archives the ways in which we engage with feminisms and imagine the mundane as a feminist site of resistance against multiple and intersectional marginalisation and oppression. How individual subjects come to their feminist praxis through autoethnographic and other qualitative accounts, and how they offer resistant and decolonial strategies via reflection on their lived and embodied realities. Plural Feminisms spurs a discussion on how structural violence is identified and resisted, and the invisible and emotional labour that goes on behind this resistance. The book documents the resistance strategies feminists employ on a daily basis to survive, and to form and sustain dissident kinships, that remain unread, unheard, overlooked, and excluded from dominant discourses of being and becoming. Through autoethnography, feminist, queer and/or trans and genderqueer, indigenous, Black and racialised, disabled and neurodivergent scholars in the academy reflect on their engagement with feminisms as well as their unique resistance methods-embracing and exploring complexities and challenges that both entail. It foregrounds the critical importance of first-person narratives in developing an expansive understanding of what it means to be a feminist, the different narratives and forms that resistance takes, and the socio-cultural value of subversion. |
doomscrolling meme: Famine Worlds Tylor Brand, 2023-08-15 World War I was a catastrophe for the lands that would become Lebanon. With war came famine, and with famine came unspeakable suffering, starvation, and mass death. For nearly four years the deadly crisis reshaped society, killing untold thousands and transforming how people lived, how they interacted, and even how they saw the world around them. Famine Worlds peers out at the famine through their eyes, from the wealthy merchants and the dwindling middle classes, to those perishing in the streets. Tylor Brand draws on memoirs, diaries, and correspondence to explore how people negotiated the famine and its traumas. Many observers depicted society in collapse—the starving poor became wretched victims and the well-fed became villains or heroes for the judgment of their peers. He shows how individual struggles had social effects. The famine altered beliefs and behaviors, and those in turn influenced social relationships, policies, and even the historical memory of generations to come. More than simply a chronicle of the Great Famine, however, Famine Worlds offers a profound meditation on what it means to live through such collective trauma, and how doing so shapes the character of a society. Brand shows that there are consequences to living amid omnipresent suffering and death. A crisis like the Great Famine is transformative in ways we cannot comprehend. It not only reshapes the lives and social worlds of those who suffer, it creates a particular rationality that touches the most fundamental parts of our being, even down to the ways we view and interact with each other. We often assume that if we were thrust into historic calamity that we would continue to behave compassionately. Famine Worlds questions such confidence, providing a lesson that could not be more timely. |
doomscrolling meme: Doppelganger Naomi Klein, 2024-09-10 #1 NATIONAL BESTELLER • Shortlisted for the 2024 Women's Prize for Non-Fiction • Finalist for the 2024 National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism • Shortlisted for the 2024 Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize • A New York Times Notable Book of 2023 • Vulture’s #1 Book of 2023 •A Guardian Best Ideas Book of 2023 What if you woke up one morning and found you'd acquired another self—a double who was almost you and yet not you at all? What if that double shared many of your preoccupations but, in a twisted, upside-down way, furthered the very causes you'd devoted your life to fighting against? “If I had to name a single book that makes sense of these last few dark years, it would be this one.” ―Katie Roiphe, The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice) Not long ago, Naomi Klein had just such an experience—she was confronted with a doppelganger whose views she found abhorrent but whose name and public persona were similar enough to her own that many people confused her for the other. For a vertiginous moment, she lost her bearings. And then she got interested, in a reality that seems to be warping and doubling like a digital hall of mirrors. It’s happening in our politics as New Age wellness entrepreneurs turned anti-vaxxers find common cause with fire-breathing far right propagandists (all in the name of protecting “the children”). It’s happening in our culture as AI gobbles up music, paintings, fiction and everything in between and spits out imitations that threaten to overtake the originals. And it’s happening to many of us as individuals as we create digital doubles of ourselves, filtered and curated just so for all the other duplicates to see. An award-winning journalist, bestselling author, public intellectual and activist, Naomi Klein writes books that orient us in our time. She has offered essential accounts of what branding, austerity, and climate profiteering have done to our societies and souls. Now, as liberal democracies teeter on the edge, Klein takes aim at absurdist authoritarianism, using a keen sense of the ridiculous to face the doubles that haunt us. Part tragicomic memoir, part chilling reportage and cobweb-clearing analysis, Doppelganger invites readers on a wild ride, smashing through the mirror world, charting a path beyond despair towards true solidarity. |
doomscrolling meme: Set Your Eyes Higher Whitney Lowe, 2024-09-24 Find peace and rest for your spirit when fix your eyes on God. Life feeling out of control? Overwhelmed and need a break? You're invited to a 40-day reset that will help you let go of what's not serving you, honor your limitations, and turn your gaze toward a God who loves who you. Set Your Eyes Higher is a life-changing devotional journey from anxiety to peace. We spend a lot of time looking down. Mostly at our phones. Sometimes at ourselves. The artificial blue light in our eyes makes us anxious about the world. It makes us chase trends that have nothing to do with who we want to be. It causes us to put time, energy, and brain space into what won't last. It's time to look up. Each daily devotion in Set Your Eyes Higher from Whitney Lowe includes honest reflections, a suggestion for a Scripture reading, and a prayer that will help you refocus your attention on God. This insightful guide for our modern world will help you if you are: Searching for a rhythm to anchor your spiritual practices Looking to take control of your time, and gain clarity on what you want in life Seeking long-lasting contentment over trends Wanting to let go of the world's worries you are carrying on your shoulders Eager to know the Bible but don't know where to start Set Your Eyes Higher will help you find new perspective, purpose, power, and peace. If you're feeling unmoored because you've taken your eyes off of what matters most, the hope you're searching for is within reach--if you're ready to look up. |
doomscrolling meme: Hacking in the Humanities Aaron Mauro, 2022-05-05 What would it take to hack a human? How exploitable are we? In the cybersecurity industry, professionals know that the weakest component of any system sits between the chair and the keyboard. This book looks to speculative fiction, cyberpunk and the digital humanities to bring a human - and humanistic - perspective to the issue of cybersecurity. It argues that through these stories we are able to predict the future political, cultural, and social realities emerging from technological change. Making the case for a security-minded humanities education, this book examines pressing issues of data security, privacy, social engineering and more, illustrating how the humanities offer the critical, technical, and ethical insights needed to oppose the normalization of surveillance, disinformation, and coercion. Within this counter-cultural approach to technology, this book offers a model of activism to intervene and meaningfully resist government and corporate oversight online. In doing so, it argues for a wider notion of literacy, which includes the ability to write and fight the computer code that shapes our lives. |
doomscrolling meme: Managing Your Gaming and Social Media Habits Catherine Knibbs, 2024-10-17 The influence of technology on hobbies and leisure time is quickly becoming a regular part of daily life, but how much do we really understand about how or why we’re using it, and its impact on our health? This easy-to-read guide is designed to provide all of the support needed to understand why we use technology the way we do, and how we can recognise when interventions are needed to help master our own technology use. Following an effective Q&A structure and offering a valuable ‘dip in and out’ approach, this book provides expert guidance on all the burning questions related to our technology use, with particular support for those struggling to regulate their own gaming and social media use. It focuses on the science and avoids scaremongering by simply addressing the bits you need to understand, what you can do about your behaviours, and how this can improve your productivity, mental health, sleep, and diet. Helping readers and their families take back control and feel better informed about the future use of technology in our everyday lives, this book is a must read for anyone wanting expert guidance on the issues that matter most. |
doomscrolling meme: Living with Mild Brain Injury Pauline O'Connor, 2020-12-29 This important book presents a unique, personal account of the impact a mild traumatic brain injury can have. It tells the story of Pauline, who was 33 when a late football tackle caused a bleed in her brain which went undiscovered for 18 months. The account includes descriptions of hidden symptoms of concussion and post-concussion syndrome, pitfalls in diagnoses, the uneven progress of recovery and the effect of the varied reactions which others have to an acquired brain injury. The author incorporates memories alongside extracts from clinic notes, diary entries and emails to reflect the disjointed progress of diagnosis and recovery as- although similar- no two head injuries are the same. Through this book, the reader gains an appreciation of the confusion experienced by many brain injury survivors, which sheds light on why some may develop unusual behavior or mental health issues, and how such issues can be alleviated. Brain injuries are poorly understood by the general public and this can lead to difficult interactions. Moreover, complications in diagnosis means some may not realize they have this milder form of brain injury. This book will enlighten brain injury survivors and affected families and allow professionals an insight into their patients’ experiences. As concerns grow over the risks which contact sports pose, this book shows how even mild brain injuries can wreak havoc with careers, relationships and one’s sense of self, but that a happy life can still be found. |
doomscrolling meme: Best Canadian Stories 2021 Diane Schoemperlen, 2021-10-19 Selected by guest editor Diane Schoemperlen, the 2021 edition of Best Canadian Stories continues not only a series, but a legacy in Canadian letters. “The best short stories,” writes editor Diane Schoemperlen, “are disruptive in all the best ways, diverse in all senses of the word, always looking back and leading forward at the same time ... they must be written in the world, in the midst of a pandemic, in the midst of more horrifying news every day.” Submitted and published by Canadian writers in 2020, Schoemperlen’s selections for Best Canadian Stories 2021 feature work by established practitioners of the form alongside exciting newcomers, and stories published by leading magazines and journals as well as those appearing in print for the first time—all of which, as Schoemperlen writes, “bring us news of the world and the shape of things to come.” Featuring work by: Senaa Ahmad Chris Bailey Shashi Bhat Megan Callahan Francine Cunningham Lucia Gagliese Alice Gauntley Don Gillmor Angélique Lalonde Elise Levine Colette Maitland Sara O’Leary Jasmine Sealy Joshua Wales Joy Waller |
doomscrolling meme: Science in a Time of Crisis: Communication, Engagement and the Lived Experience of the Covid-19 Pandemic Dara M. Wald, Ulrike Felt, Anabela Carvalho, 2022-06-02 |
doomscrolling meme: Year of the Ring Susana Polo, 2024-11-19 Relive the greatest adventure in history through this incredible chronicle of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and its immeasurable impact on pop culture. Gather your fellowship and retrace the remarkable journey from the Shire to Mordor with this detailed and in-depth exploration of Peter Jackson’s timeless Lord of the Rings trilogy. From Tolkien’s original story to the actors’ anecdotal experiences, to its cultural impact on the entire world, this book will captivate every fan of the One Ring. Now, for the first time in history, Polygon’s Year of the Ring archive of stories and fandom coverage can be brought home and added to any fan’s collection, in this beautifully designed hardcover book. Fans of the One Ring can now easily assess the Year of the Ring’s wide range of articles analyzing the deeper meaning of the characters and their journeys, as well detailed conversations about what the movies have meant to the fandom. This fandom manifesto will allow fans to reconnect with their fellowship and relive those special memories of watching the movies and discussing their theories with fellow Ringers. DOZENS OF FAN-FAVORITE TOPICS: From fan-theories to cultural studies, there are dozens of topics that every fan of the Lord of the Rings can enjoy and relate to. PERFECT FOR EVERY TOLKIEN FAN: This book is a pure celebration of all things related to Lord of the Rings and its history. STORIES BEYOND THE SHIRE: New, in-depth stories about the making of the Lord of the Rings that many fans had not heard before! |
doomscrolling meme: Freelance Like a Boss Shea Karssing, 2023-06-20 If you want to start freelancing but don’t know where to start, this book is here to turn YOU into a home-office hotshot, starting TODAY. Are you feeling stuck and limited in your profession? Are you waiting for the next bonus, the next promotion, the next public holiday, the next best thing? Are you feeling burnt-out, underpaid and generally gatvol and need an alternative way to work? What if you could become your own boss? Had the freedom to choose when and where you work? Could work towards your own dreams instead of someone else’s? Could travel/spend time with your kids/tend to your garden at any time you damn well please? Didn’t have to take leave to go to the dentist? In Freelance Like a Boss, Shea Karssing helps stunted in-house employees and frustrated freelancers create successful, sustainable businesses that will give them greater flexibility and earning potential. Peppered with pros and cons lists and personal anecdotes, the book presents relatable, honest and sometimes irreverent insights into the freelance world. Do you want to know how to identify marketable skills, let go of excuses, set up a business structure, negotiate contracts and other legalities, pay the correct tax, set boundaries, manage your time, establish the correct pricing structure, and much, much more? Then wait no longer – this book is for YOU! |
doomscrolling meme: Essays on the Active Powers of the Human Mind Thomas Reid, Baruch A. Brody, 1969 |
doomscrolling meme: Well-Behaved Indian Women Saumya Dave, 2020-07-14 “A sparkling debut.”—Emily Giffin, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author From a compelling new voice in women's fiction comes a mother-daughter story about three generations of women who struggle to define themselves as they pursue their dreams. Simran Mehta has always felt harshly judged by her mother, Nandini, especially when it comes to her little writing hobby. But when a charismatic and highly respected journalist careens into Simran's life, she begins to question not only her future as a psychologist, but her engagement to her high school sweetheart. Nandini Mehta has strived to create an easy life for her children in America. From dealing with her husband's demanding family to the casual racism of her patients, everything Nandini has endured has been for her children's sake. It isn’t until an old colleague makes her a life-changing offer that Nandini realizes she's spent so much time focusing on being the Perfect Indian Woman, she’s let herself slip away. Mimi Kadakia failed her daughter, Nandini, in ways she'll never be able to fix—or forget. But with her granddaughter, she has the chance to be supportive and offer help when it's needed. As life begins to pull Nandini and Simran apart, Mimi is determined to be the bridge that keeps them connected, even as she carries her own secret burden. |
doomscrolling meme: Gitty and Kvetch Caroline Kusin Pritchard, 2021-09-14 In this hilariously sweet story about an opposites-attract friendship, chock-full of Yiddish humor, a girl and her best bird friend’s perfect day turns into a perfect opportunity to see things differently. Gitty and her feathered-friend Kvetch couldn’t be more different: Gitty always sees the bright side of life, while her curmudgeonly friend Kvetch is always complaining and, well, kvetching about the trouble they get into. One perfect day, Gitty ropes Kvetch into shlepping off on a new adventure to their perfect purple treehouse. Even when Kvetch sees signs of impending doom everywhere, Gitty finds silver linings and holds onto her super special surprise reason for completing their mission. But when her perfect plan goes awry, oy vey, suddenly it’s Gitty who’s down in the dumps. Can Kvetch come out of his funk to lift Gitty’s spirits back up? |
doomscrolling meme: Black Magick #14 Greg Rucka, 2020-09-23 ASCENSION I, Part Three The growing conflict between demons and witches bursts into open combat on Earth and claims a major fatality. Each side is marshaling all around Rowan Black. Can the detective pull out of her spiral in time to lead her forces, or is she doomed to become this war's biggest victim? |
doomscrolling meme: After the Revolution Robert Evans, 2022-05-10 What will the fracturing of the United States look like? After the Revolution is an edge-of-your-seat answer to that question. In the year 2070, twenty years after a civil war and societal collapse of the old United States, extremist militias battle in the crumbling Republic of Texas. As the violence spreads like wildfire and threatens the Free City of Austin, three unlikely allies will have to work together in an act of resistance to stop the advance of the forces of the white Christian ethnostate known as the Heavenly Kingdom. Out three protagonists include Manny, a fixer that shuttles journalists in and out of war zones and provides footage for outside news agencies. Sasha is a teenage woman that joins the Heavenly Kingdom before she discovers the ugly truths behind their movement. Finally, we have Roland: A US Army vet kitted out with cyberware (including blood that heals major trauma wounds and a brain that can handle enough LSD to kill an elephant), tormented by broken memories, and 12,000 career kills under his belt. In the not-so-distant world Evans conjures we find advanced technology, a gender expansive culture, and a roving Burning Man-like city fueled by hedonistic excess. This powerful debut novel from Robert Evans is based on his investigative reporting from international conflict zones and on increasingly polarized domestic struggles. It is a vision of our very possible future. |
doomscrolling meme: The Social Science of QAnon Monica K. Miller, 2023-09-30 The unique conspiracy group called QAnon is growing in both membership and political power, and understanding this phenomenon is key to combating QAnon's negative effects on society. This book uses social science theory to explain the attraction and spread of the defining conspiracy movement of our times. |
doomscrolling meme: Strategic Creativity Robin Landa, 2022-06-01 The secret weapon for business experts to ensure strategically creative results, this is an indispensable field guide to evaluating creative advertising, branding, and design ideas and solutions, and to working with creatives. Strategic Creativity is a fundamental resource that enables business professionals to stand out amongst their colleagues and enhance their ability to communicate the creative why throughout their organizations, and it covers what every business expert should fully comprehend about the creative process. To effectively grow a business and reach the right audience or move a brand forward, advertising and branding need to be relevant, engaging, and worth people’s time. This book contains what a CEO, CMO, manager, business owner, or client didn’t learn about the creative side of advertising and design in business school. Featuring insightful conversations with creative experts, this book will earn a place on the desks of executives, leaders, managers, and middle managers across industries, whose work requires them to understand and execute on branding initiatives, advertising campaigns, social media, and other customer-facing content. |
doomscrolling meme: The Five Hallie Rubenhold, 2019 Miscast in the media for nearly 130 years, the victims of Jack the Ripper finally get their full stories told in this eye-opening and chilling reminder that life for middle-class women in Victorian London could be full of social pitfalls and peril. |
doomscrolling meme: The Menopause Manifesto Dr. Jen Gunter, 2021-05-25 #1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER In her follow-up to the #1 bestseller The Vagina Bible, Dr. Jen Gunter, Canadian OB/GYN and the internet's most fearless advocate for women's health, brings us empowerment through knowledge by countering stubborn myths and misunderstandings about menopause with hard facts, real science, fascinating historical perspective, and expert advice. The only thing predictable about menopause is its unpredictability. Factor in widespread misinformation, a lack of research, and the culture of shame around women's bodies, and it's no wonder women are unsure what to expect during the menopause transition and beyond. Menopause is not a disease—it's a planned change, like puberty. And just like puberty, we should be educated on what's to come years in advance, rather than the current practice of leaving people on their own with bothersome symptoms and too much conflicting information. Knowing what is happening, why, and what to do about it is both empowering and reassuring. Frank and funny, Dr. Jen debunks misogynistic attitudes and challenges the over-mystification of menopause to reveal everything you really need to know about: * Perimenopause * Hot flashes * Sleep disruption * Sex and libido * Depression and mood changes * Skin and hair issues * Outdated therapies * Breast health * Weight and muscle mass * Health maintenance screening * And much more! Filled with practical tips, useful information and startling insights, this essential guide will revolutionize how women experience menopause—and show them how their lives can be even better for it. |
doomscrolling meme: COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories John Bodner, Wendy Welch, Ian Brodie, 2020-11-09 As the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) spread around the world, so did theories, stories, and conspiracy beliefs about it. These theories infected communities from the halls of Congress to Facebook groups, spreading quickly in newspapers, on various social media and between friends. They spurred debate about the origins, treatment options and responses to the virus, creating distrust towards public health workers and suspicion of vaccines. This book examines the most popular Covid-19 theories, connecting current conspiracy beliefs to long-standing fears and urban legends. By examining the vehicles and mechanisms of Covid-19 conspiracy, readers can better understand how theories spread and how to respond to misinformation. |
doomscrolling meme: The Vagina Bible Dr. Jen Gunter, 2019-08-20 #1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER From Canadian OB/GYN, women's health advocate and New York Times columnist Dr. Jen Gunter: The Vagina Bible is a comprehensive, accessible antidote to the maelstrom of misinformation around female sexual health, and the ultimate guide to everything a person needs to know about the vagina and vulva. We are well into the twenty-first century and have access to more information than ever before, yet many people don't know that a vagina is self-cleaning, condoms should be used with a lubricant, eating sugar doesn't cause a yeast infection, and sex shouldn't be painful. As a physician with twenty-five years of clinical experience, Dr. Jen Gunter is all too familiar with the fears, fallacies and misinformation that abound about vaginal health. On Twitter, she hilariously exposes unscientific wellness advice and debunks potentially harmful and stunningly unnecessary products from vagina profiteers. Dr. Gunter knows the questions women (and men) have about female sexual health, and in The Vagina Bible, she answers them all. For: the sixteen-year-old trying to figure out tampons; the twenty-six-year-old wondering how to avoid a UTI; the thirty-six-year-old trans woman navigating her new anatomy; the forty-six-year-old worried about the changing appearance of her vulva; the fifty-six-year-old looking into the HPV vaccine for her daughter (and maybe herself); the sixty-six-year-old experiencing painful sex; The Vagina Bible offers a repository of accurate information based on science, and delivered with wit and wisdom. This is the fact-based, inclusive, and empowering guide you deserve to advocate for your own body. |
doomscrolling meme: Such a Fun Age Kiley Reid, 2019-12-31 A Best Book of the Year: The Washington Post • Chicago Tribune • NPR • Vogue • Elle • Real Simple • InStyle • Good Housekeeping • Parade • Slate • Vox • Kirkus Reviews • Library Journal • BookPage Longlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize An Instant New York Times Bestseller A Reese's Book Club Pick The most provocative page-turner of the year. --Entertainment Weekly I urge you to read Such a Fun Age. --NPR A striking and surprising debut novel from an exhilarating new voice, Such a Fun Age is a page-turning and big-hearted story about race and privilege, set around a young black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both. Alix Chamberlain is a woman who gets what she wants and has made a living, with her confidence-driven brand, showing other women how to do the same. So she is shocked when her babysitter, Emira Tucker, is confronted while watching the Chamberlains' toddler one night, walking the aisles of their local high-end supermarket. The store's security guard, seeing a young black woman out late with a white child, accuses Emira of kidnapping two-year-old Briar. A small crowd gathers, a bystander films everything, and Emira is furious and humiliated. Alix resolves to make things right. But Emira herself is aimless, broke, and wary of Alix's desire to help. At twenty-five, she is about to lose her health insurance and has no idea what to do with her life. When the video of Emira unearths someone from Alix's past, both women find themselves on a crash course that will upend everything they think they know about themselves, and each other. With empathy and piercing social commentary, Such a Fun Age explores the stickiness of transactional relationships, what it means to make someone family, and the complicated reality of being a grown up. It is a searing debut for our times. |
doomscrolling meme: ADHD 2.0 Edward M. Hallowell, M.D., John J. Ratey, M.D., 2021-01-12 A revolutionary new approach to ADD/ADHD featuring cutting-edge research and strategies to help readers thrive, by the bestselling authors of the seminal books Driven to Distraction and Delivered from Distraction “An inspired road map for living with a distractible brain . . . If you or your child suffer from ADHD, this book should be on your shelf. It will give you courage and hope.”—Michael Thompson, Ph.D., New York Times bestselling co-author of Raising Cain World-renowned authors Dr. Edward M. Hallowell and Dr. John J. Ratey literally “wrote the book” on ADD/ADHD more than two decades ago. Their bestseller, Driven to Distraction, largely introduced this diagnosis to the public and sold more than a million copies along the way. Now, most people have heard of ADHD and know someone who may have it. But lost in the discussion of both childhood and adult diagnosis of ADHD is the potential upside: Many hugely successful entrepreneurs and highly creative people attribute their achievements to ADHD. Also unknown to most are the recent research developments, including innovations that give a clearer understanding of the ADHD brain in action. In ADHD 2.0, Drs. Hallowell and Ratey, both of whom have this “variable attention trait,” draw on the latest science to provide both parents and adults with ADHD a plan for minimizing the downside and maximizing the benefits of ADHD at any age. They offer an arsenal of new strategies and lifestyle hacks for thriving with ADHD, including • Find the right kind of difficult. Use these behavior assessments to discover the work, activity, or creative outlet best suited to an individual’s unique strengths. • Reimagine environment. What specific elements to look for—at home, at school, or in the workplace—to enhance the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit inherent in the ADHD mind. • Embrace innate neurological tendencies. Take advantage of new findings about the brain’s default mode network and cerebellum, which confer major benefits for people with ADHD. • Tap into the healing power of connection. Tips for establishing and maintaining positive connection “the other Vitamind C” and the best antidote to the negativity that plagues so many people with ADHD. • Consider medication. Gets the facts about the underlying chemistry, side effects, and proven benefits of all the pharmaceutical options. As inspiring as it is practical, ADHD 2.0 will help you tap into the power of this mercurial condition and find the key that unlocks potential. |
doomscrolling meme: The Dance Cure Peter Lovatt, 2021-01-26 The founder of the Dance Psychology Lab, Dr. Peter Lovatt, reveals the surprising cognitive and emotional benefits of dancing and prescriptive ways to dance yourself happy. Dancing isn’t just good exercise. Surrendering yourself to the beat can have a far-reaching impact on all areas of your life –it can help you communicate better, to think more creatively, and can be a powerful catalyst for change. Losing yourself in the moment to a song or piece of music can also alleviate anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation, Dr. Peter Lovatt has found. Drawing on great stories from dance history as well as fascinating case studies from his Dance Psychology Lab and his own life, Dr Lovatt shares his best steps and routines, as well as top dance anthems to inspire everyone—even those who believe they “can't dance”—to turn the music on, stand up, and dance themselves happy. The Dance Cure is filled with surprising prescriptions covering a variety of needs, revealing how a particular type of dance can help. Looking to become more empathetic? Pair up for a Scottish country dance Eager to enhance your creativity? Shake it up with contemporary dance Need to de-stress? Let loose with punk-era pogo Looking to prolong your life? Zumba is the secret In need of showing yourself more love? Go solo as you trip the light fantastic. Want to bolster your self-confidence? Try ballet and belly dance. An irresistible blend of science and whimsy, The Dance Cure shows you how to turn the beat—and your life—around. |