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Original poster

To think some people are in relationships with the idea of being understood

34 replies

VagueAndProfound · 02/06/2026 16:48

The actual person is secondary.

OP posts:
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plims · 02/06/2026 21:31

VagueAndProfound · 02/06/2026 21:16

You confuse clarity with depth because academia trains language to behave. Some sentences are not directions, they’re weather. They aren’t meant to guide you somewhere; they’re meant to alter the atmosphere you think in.

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Utter tosh.

SinceYouSaySo · 02/06/2026 21:31

I remember feeling deep listening to Nirvana under the stars.

I miss those days when I was young, dumb and hopeful.

I'm also glad I grew up and realised Nirvana sucked and now I have allergies so I avoid grass.

Original poster
VagueAndProfound · 02/06/2026 21:16

plims · 02/06/2026 20:31

I’m currently studying philosophy at university and have read works by many of the great philosophers, along with plenty of modern ones.

They tackle some difficult and abstract questions, yet one thing they all have in common is that they still manage to express themselves clearly enough to be understood. That’s the difference between genuine intellectual depth and writing that uses lots of words to say very little.

You confuse clarity with depth because academia trains language to behave. Some sentences are not directions, they’re weather. They aren’t meant to guide you somewhere; they’re meant to alter the atmosphere you think in.

OP posts:
OhGoshNotAgain · 02/06/2026 20:37

It’s a long time till the A level results come out, so expect more of this teen navel gazing over the next couple of months. They all think they’re so profound and think things nobody has ever thought before.

plims · 02/06/2026 20:31

I’m currently studying philosophy at university and have read works by many of the great philosophers, along with plenty of modern ones.

They tackle some difficult and abstract questions, yet one thing they all have in common is that they still manage to express themselves clearly enough to be understood. That’s the difference between genuine intellectual depth and writing that uses lots of words to say very little.

Original poster
VagueAndProfound · 02/06/2026 19:06

Brenzaida · 02/06/2026 18:58

Yes, that's what ChatGPT will give you if you feed it nonsense.

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You read metaphor the way a Roomba reads poetry.

That’s not really my crisis.

OP posts:
Brenzaida · 02/06/2026 18:58

VagueAndProfound · 02/06/2026 18:32

Some sentences are architecture, not directions.

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Yes, that's what ChatGPT will give you if you feed it nonsense.

SilverPink · 02/06/2026 18:46

Another OP trying to sound like an intellectual and failing miserably

MrsTerryPratchett · 02/06/2026 18:33

Reminds me of my PoMo philosophy student flatmate at university.

<shudder>

Original poster
VagueAndProfound · 02/06/2026 18:32

Brenzaida · 02/06/2026 18:22

Respectfully, 'abstraction' does not mean what you think it means.

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Some sentences are architecture, not directions.

OP posts:
plims · 02/06/2026 18:25

VagueAndProfound · 02/06/2026 18:20

Word salad” is what people call language
when they can’t digest abstraction.
Not every sentence is obligated
to arrive wearing jeans and a name tag.

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No. It’s because your words are so vague, convoluted, and abstract that they fail to communicate any intelligent meaning. Communication isn’t improved by being obscure for the sake of it. if readers can’t reasonably work out what you’re trying to say, the problem is your writing

Brenzaida · 02/06/2026 18:22

VagueAndProfound · 02/06/2026 18:20

Word salad” is what people call language
when they can’t digest abstraction.
Not every sentence is obligated
to arrive wearing jeans and a name tag.

Show quote history

Respectfully, 'abstraction' does not mean what you think it means.

Original poster
VagueAndProfound · 02/06/2026 18:20

plims · 02/06/2026 17:44

You’re just writing word salads that don’t actually mean anything

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Word salad” is what people call language
when they can’t digest abstraction.
Not every sentence is obligated
to arrive wearing jeans and a name tag.

OP posts:
Brenzaida · 02/06/2026 17:46

There's a real stream of these nonsensical 'here is a line from Instagram' posts lately.

plims · 02/06/2026 17:44

VagueAndProfound · 02/06/2026 17:40

To be understood
is to quantumly synchronise
the metaphysical frequencies
of two emotionally laminated beings.

Perhaps love itself
is just advanced pattern recognition
performed by lonely primates
with poetic delusions.

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You’re just writing word salads that don’t actually mean anything

Original poster
VagueAndProfound · 02/06/2026 17:40

SinceYouSaySo · 02/06/2026 17:26

Some people are in relationships with the idea of being understood
It's a thought that could be seen as bad or good
Do they want comfort, warmth and cheer
A fellow companion to lend an ear?

Could they also just want to be seen
When the wider world seems cruel and mean
Do they sacrifice all that they could
For the quest to be understood

To be understood
is to quantumly synchronise
the metaphysical frequencies
of two emotionally laminated beings.

Perhaps love itself
is just advanced pattern recognition
performed by lonely primates
with poetic delusions.

OP posts:
SinceYouSaySo · 02/06/2026 17:35

plims · 02/06/2026 17:35

??

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I have no idea. I was trying to be vague and profound.

plims · 02/06/2026 17:35

SinceYouSaySo · 02/06/2026 17:26

Some people are in relationships with the idea of being understood
It's a thought that could be seen as bad or good
Do they want comfort, warmth and cheer
A fellow companion to lend an ear?

Could they also just want to be seen
When the wider world seems cruel and mean
Do they sacrifice all that they could
For the quest to be understood

??

Zov · 02/06/2026 17:28

Like... wut? Confused

Question Mark What GIF by MOODMAN
SinceYouSaySo · 02/06/2026 17:26

Some people are in relationships with the idea of being understood
It's a thought that could be seen as bad or good
Do they want comfort, warmth and cheer
A fellow companion to lend an ear?

Could they also just want to be seen
When the wider world seems cruel and mean
Do they sacrifice all that they could
For the quest to be understood

plims · 02/06/2026 17:22

You’re making no sense now.

Original poster
VagueAndProfound · 02/06/2026 17:19

SinceYouSaySo · 02/06/2026 17:15

Great answer. Is this how we're meant to approach your question? With poetry?

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Maybe poetry is just what language becomes when a question is too strange to survive as logic.

OP posts:
SinceYouSaySo · 02/06/2026 17:15

VagueAndProfound · 02/06/2026 17:15

If the sky were pink instead of blue, swimming and sinking would become the same thing. One would just look more poetic from a distance.

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Great answer. Is this how we're meant to approach your question? With poetry?

Original poster
VagueAndProfound · 02/06/2026 17:15

SinceYouSaySo · 02/06/2026 17:06

If the sky weren't blue
But instead were pink
Would you swim
Or would you sink

Discuss

If the sky were pink instead of blue, swimming and sinking would become the same thing. One would just look more poetic from a distance.

OP posts: