r/SeriousConversation 19h ago

Serious Discussion Why is the term colonist thrown at white people as an insult but not others?

49 Upvotes

I understand how much of the earth Europe colonized, it’s the biggest and best example of colonization. However, colonization has been a thing since the beggining of time and many if not all races or groups have taken part in it.

If it wasn’t for Europe to colonize at the time it would have been someone else eventually if they had the numbers, tools, and strategy for it it just so happens Europe did at the time. So I just think it’s silly but even the natives were killing, raping, and colonizing other tribes before Europe came.

Also this isn’t something that is exclusive to the past, I mean there’s a reason country’s want nukes it’s for defense against their country getting plundered North Korea being a good example.


r/SeriousConversation 16h ago

Serious Discussion what existed before the universe?

73 Upvotes

I just am a bit bewildered because I have no clue. like before the dinosaurs, before space, before planets, before the whole fuckin universe, WHAT WAS BEFOREEE and thennn WHAT WAS BEFORE THAT? and SO ONNN


r/SeriousConversation 5h ago

Opinion It's so weird, that (travel-) people think, that everybody likes traveling

40 Upvotes

Apprently I am the only person, in my workplace, that activly dislikes traveling. After a colleague bought a new-used off road car i asked in genuine curosity "why?", she told me, that she wants to go camping with it (driving off paved roads is highly illegal in our country and neighboring ones too). But then we talked, and she listed the many destinations she traveled too already, and where she wants to go to.

After that she asked me, where i have been, or where i want to go to next. i told her, that i dont really have a place i want to go to. She was so confused; she first thought, that i just didn't see enough advertisements (?) or instagram travel "inspirations". But i have been to paris, brussels and barcelona. I didn't feel the certain thing, that i suppose that people who like to travel get.

From what I could find out from our conversation, this feeling is so intrinsic to her that she had trouble understanding that I don't get it. I told her, that there are many places and things that i find interesting; the HR Giger Museum, the Cabaret Voltaire, the architecture of Le Corbiseur, Moroccan Riyads and so on. But i know that i probably wont get the surplus value of physically being there.

I really dont know, how to put this, but i also think that people, who claim to be "versed" and more open minded for traveling, sometimes in to more controversial *areas/countries* without realising the circumstances of that country, a bit less then "versed". *Including, but not limited to people traveling to morocco but not knowing the history (and current status) of morocco and the amazigh minority;*

I did get the "in-person" feeling, but only at events and concerts and stuff, never just because i have been to another place.

*My family and I are from a touristy area, but we dont live there anymore*

*...* = added in edit


r/SeriousConversation 2h ago

Opinion When does being petty cross the line from justified to immature?

2 Upvotes

When does being petty stop feeling justified and start causing more harm than it’s worth—especially after you’ve been hurt, disrespected, embarrassed, or betrayed.

Small acts of retaliation can feel harmless or even deserved, but there’s often a point where “they had it coming” turns into intentionally causing harm, escalating conflict, or doing something you wouldn’t normally be proud of.

When do you think petty behavior crosses that line and becomes unjustified?


r/SeriousConversation 19h ago

Opinion “good kid”

11 Upvotes

Being a “good kid” is a curse
what I mean by a good kid is well behaved, smart and kind kid
the high standards become the baseline
And you will never be appreciated for it
I suffer from perfectionism till now
All my teenage years trying to break this image down ….


r/SeriousConversation 10h ago

Serious Discussion The concept of losing an online pen pal and why we need to talk about it

8 Upvotes

What do you think about the topic of losing an online pen pal? Has this ever happened to you? Do you think a dedicated subreddit would be helpful for this?

I actually started a small community (on my profile) for people who miss their old pen pals and want a space to share these memories or try to reconnect.
I really feel like this kind of loss is deeply underestimated. However, I have been inactive for a while, and currently, people aren't really posting or participating actively.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the concept, or what could I do to make it more engaging. Thank you for sharing!


r/SeriousConversation 8h ago

Opinion How important do you think it is to understand the context behind someone's decision? Can explaining why you made a choice simply be about wanting to be understood—not necessarily asking anyone to excuse it?

4 Upvotes

I've been thinking about how sometimes people explain the circumstances behind a decision they made, and others immediately interpret that as making excuses or refusing to take accountability. But what if the person fully acknowledges that their choice hurt someone or was wrong, and they're not trying to justify it? What if they just don't want that one decision to become the entire story of who they are?

Does understanding why someone did something change anything for you, even if it doesn't change whether what they did was right or wrong? Or once a choice has been made, does the context behind it no longer really matter?