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The holiday season is in full swing, and we feel like it’s the best time of the year to remember how wholesome, kind, supportive, welcoming, and selfless people can truly be, despite their perceived differences. That’s why we’re featuring the ‘Gates Open, Come On In’ subreddit, an online community of nearly 340k people today.
The online group presents itself as the exact opposite of r/gatekeeping and features folks being true legends who accept others no matter who they are, instead of angry gremlins who don’t want to let anyone new into their communities. Scroll down for some of the best anti-gatekeeping posts and hard proof that people really do have each others’ backs when push comes to shove.
Pssst, Pandas, if you’re looking to restore some more faith in humanity, then you’ll definitely want to check out Bored Panda’s previous article about some more great real-life anti-gatekeeping examples. You can read it right here.
British psychotherapist Silva Neves shared with Bored Panda his take on why some people feel the need to act as gatekeepers at all. "The theory is that it comes from our inner sense of survival. At times when we lived in tribes, it was part of survival to fear people outside of the tribe because they might have been a threat to the tribe," he explained to me. "In our modern world, to some extent, we have kept that sense of survival, although unnecessary now, but still subconsciously strong."
However, Silva notes just how much impact even small gestures of kindness can have. "When we learn to be kind to others, we're actually learning to be kind to ourselves. We need both." Scroll down for to read what he had to say about this.
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#1
Love This
"We don't often realize that a very small gesture of kindness, even just a smile to a stranger, can trigger a chain of kindness and love to their social circle, and the ripple effects can be felt to the greater society," psychotherapist Silva shared with Bored Panda the power that even a small act of kindness can have in the world around us. In fact, we're naturally hard-wired to help others.
#2
Everyone (Saw This Posted Somewhere Else On Reddit So Thought It'd Be Worth The Cross-Post)
#3
Marry Whomever You Wish
"Being kind and helpful is a natural high for us, as it produced feel-good brain chemicals, so it tends to make us happier. Seeing others happy can also produce feel-good chemicals. So it is all round a very good thing for physical and mental health to be kind to ourselves and others," he said.
"If we do that, we tend to live happier lives and, even if we don't always see it, it is important to remind ourselves that any small gesture of kindness contributes to a kinder world. And, right now, the world needs a lot more kindness."
#4
I Just Like Animals
#5
We Can All Get Along!
#6
Everyone Starts Somewhere
‘Action for Happiness’ explained to me earlier that altruism and kindness are closely linked to our own happiness.
"Think about how you can reach out and do things for others, help a neighbor or volunteer for a cause, we get happiness high from helping other people. Or start small and simply list three things that you can be grateful for each night before bed,” Sarah Vero from ‘Action for Happiness’ shared with Bored Panda.
According to Sarah, the 10 keys to happier living are: “Giving, relating, exercising, awareness, trying out, direction, resilience, emotions, acceptance, and meaning. We are likely to be happier if our lives have direction, meaning, and purpose and if we are part of something bigger than ourselves.”
#7
Depression Gateopening
#8
Read It All
#9
Keep Doing What You Like, Support Others Who Do The Sam
Vanessa King, the Head of Psychology at ‘Action for Happiness,’ noted that we’re a social species and that helping others out is part of who we are. Being kind, lending a helping hand are the “social glue that keeps us together.”
“When we do things for others it activates the reward center in the brain, so when we give a gift it feels the same as receiving a gift," Vanessa stressed.
“Small daily actions one at a time can help us to make altruism a lifetime habit. You could start out small by deciding you are going to smile at everyone you meet or pay three people a compliment today,” she said.
#10
You're Not A Product
Demi Zwaan 2 years ago
I have to say the internet ruined quite a few hobbies for me. Going out to find tips and tricks and finding communities full of people who are soooooo much better at it then I’ll ever be, discourages me too much. In “ye old days” I just did whatever I liked and never knew how bad I was at it. So now I just avoid those kind of hobbies online. I’m happier not knowing if I’m good or not :)
#11
I Love This Man More Than Certain Family Members
Ray Martin 2 years ago
Damn, son, just wear a crop top and some underpants. Get those wet and you'll get some real attention.
#12
This Is Beautiful
Human beings don’t hold a monopoly on empathy. Plenty of other animals have feelings and have demonstrated that they feel bad for other beings if they’re in trouble. For instance, a while back I wrote about an experiment on rat friendship.
As it turns out, rats help each other out if they sense that they’re distressed. However, they prefer to help rats who are most like them. Scientist Inbal Ben-Ami Bartal told Bored Panda that “rats will help others of their ingroup (cagemates and strangers of the same strain) but not the outgroup (strangers of a black-furred strain they are not familiar with).” In other words, rats are selective in who they help. However, this behavior changes the more familiar rats become with members of their outgroup.
#13
Working People Are My People!
Pungent Sauce 2 years ago
Always keep in mind that your employer is paying you the least amount they feel they can to keep you around(Sure, there are exceptions, but 98% are).
#14
Art Is For Everyone
#15
Humiliation Fetish
“The encouraging thing is that we then found that cohabitation, living with a rat from the other strain for two weeks totally changes this behavior, and now rats will help that cagemate from the other strain. Even more impressively, after living together for two weeks with one rat of the other strain, they will help strangers from the other strain as well,” Bartal said.
The scientist added that social experience is actually what determines whether or not rats help each other, not their genetic similarity. Bartal said that in one case, rats were fostered at birth with those from another strain. “Like Mowgli, they were raised with the other strain and never encountered their own kind. When they grew up, they only helped rats of the adoptive strain, not the biological strain.”
#16
For All Relationships
#17
With Open Arms
#18
You Are All Right
In Bartal’s view, a lot of the discussion on animal empathy gets stuck on semantic issues. “For instance, the definition of empathy, how can we say that animals really feel empathy the same way we do. But empathy is a construct. We don’t even know what it is in humans really!” she said.
“I operate on the assumption that there is an evolutionary continuum between species, and that the basic building blocks of our responses are shared. Being sensitive to distress in others and motivated to care about their suffering is as old as the moment mother and child became connected for survival after birth.”
#19
I Liked This One
Demi Zwaan 2 years ago
Exactly! I almost always play easy mode, because I suck at them, but still enjoy them. Gaming is supposed to be fun, relaxing and a way to escape reality, not a second job! Unless it is your job, of course :D
#20
Can’t Decide Whether This Belongs Here Or In Humansbeingbros
#21
Have A Seat, Enjoy The View, Everyone Is Welcome
#22
Pros And Cons Of GF...
#23
Anyone Can Play Games
#24
Liberal Arts
#25
Gaming Is For Everyone
Katie Lutesinger 2 years ago
My dad never had any sons. He introduced his two daughters to video games and motorcycle racing. I became a lifelong gaming enthusiast, and my little sister bought a motorbike. :D
#26
Respect To You For Doing Anything
#27
Drink What You Like!!!
#28
Spread The Positivity
#29
A Novel‘S Worth Of Nerd S**t
#30
Let People Be Happy
#31
Wholesome Hotel
#32
Let's Just Love Everyone
Andy Acceber 2 years ago
If anyone wants to continue the heartwarming goodwill, Jewish Voice for Peace is a great organization that supports Palestinian self-determination, supports peace and justice in the Middle East, and stands against anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim, and anti-Arab bigotry.
#33
Like What You Like
#34
Everyone Is Welcome On This Server
#35
Does This Doormat Count?
#36
Vegan BBQ
#37
You're Never Too Old For Success
#38
This Subreddit In A Nutshell. This Applies To So Many Communities
#39
When The Old Becomes New Again
#40
Love Is Always Valid. Assume The Best First!
Celeste Grant 2 years ago
this! i am truly loved for the first time in my life, and im in my early 40s. its amazing and i want to share that. If you've always had that it might seem a bit lame to post about it, but take a second to consider experiencing it for the first time
#41
Love What You Are
#42
No Beer Is Girly Beer
#43
I Love My Grandma So Much. She Got Her Point Across Without Being Mean To The Family Friend
#44
Can't Argue With Mom!
#45
Like What You Like
Bobert Robertson 2 years ago
You can find men or women attractive and it not be sexual at all...
#46
There's Some Logic There
RainWingRoyal 2 years ago
Me, at 12, not knowing aro/ace existed: I know I'm not straight. But what am I then? WHAT KIND OF QUEER AM I? Me now: My sexuality is no. I don't have one.
Raven DeathShade 2 years ago
At 14 I didn't know what being bisexual was, and I was often worried about how many times I caught myself longing to touch or kiss my also-female best friend.
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Jo Choto 2 years ago
I've been really saddened to find some of my ace friends have experienced prejudice and exclusion from certain LGBTQ+ groups. When you are an oppressed minority, don't oppress other minorities.
Just saying 2 years ago
I'm really interested in the form of oppression that ace individuals experience in today's society, and what about the culture my kids are growing up in makes this hard - to my mind as an old bird, asexuality is entirely normal. On current evidence I think one of the young people I know is likely a-sexual, but for me it's a real non-issue, because loads of people just aren't that into it - however if it's going to be a peer issue for that young person, I'd like to be fore-warned.
Load More Replies... Just saying 2 years ago
I'm probably showing my age or my ignorance here, but when did it become a thing of scorn not to be attracted to anybody, and so therefore a thing to be defended? Plenty of people aren't attracted to anyone sexually, and it's fine and normal to be single. I always thought it was just a fact of life? Is it because our society has become so sexualised in the last few decades that people who are a-sexual are now made to feel odd and abnormal? That's a sadness.
S. 2 years ago
As an aroace, I can offer some perspective, both offline and online. I live in a very heteronormative society, where women are always expected to marry a man and settle down. So, if I ever said that I was aromantic, asexual, and did not want to marry ever, I'd be judged, my parents would be judged because my society thinks that an unmarried woman is a sign of terrible parenting and misfortune. In many online forums, particularly some parts of Tumblr, the LGBTQ+ community tends to exclude asexual and aromantic people, because apparently, we haven't been "oppressed enough" like the rest of the community. I have the same views as you, but sadly, we live in a strange world.
Load More Replies...
RoseTheMad 2 years ago
Asexual's can still be attracted and interested in romance, just not the sexual part, I thought? But hell, no matter, you're still totally valid <3
Antony Aston 2 years ago
Bisexuals welcome asexuals in their community? Why is there a need for a community? The word community, to me, smacks of some sort of segregation. We should all be one big community where all are welcome!
Angela Botticelli 2 years ago
Bc sometimes it's nice to be around ppl who understand what you're going through and can relate to you
Load More Replies... 
Briana Landers 2 years ago
You can also be bi And have a prefrence! It doesnt have to be 50-50 it can be 25-70 or whatever. Like. I lab more tiwards women, but guys are also cool. Among all of them i like being alone lmao
#47
As A Metal Head, Everyone Is Welcome!
#48
Vent’s Open Come On In
#49
Fire
Add New Image
What do you think ?
ToGo 2 years ago
Lovely post! I agree with them all, and forgive me I know I'll get down voted, but I just don't feel comfortable with gender neutral toilets. For no other reason than the fact there are some real dangerous creeps in this world. It just scares me I guess.
Yvonne Dauwalder Balsiger 2 years ago (edited)
Over 20 years ago I studied in Copenhagen and the school had gender neutral toilets. They still have them and it was absolutely no problem when I was there. What I always wonder, why do apparently a lot of people honestly think a "women only"-sign will somehow keep male rapists out of women's bathrooms? An insane amount of women and girls have already been molested or worse in "their" (public) bathroom by despicable bastards. Men and boys have been molested in their bathrooms by despicable bastards. Most people are decent folks, so don't fear average dudes in your bathroom. It also smells a wee bit of transphobia, too, especially when trans people don't "pass".
Load More Replies...
Sue Lynn Chan 2 years ago
I know this maybe the same post as before but I still want to do it. To all the people reading this: You are beautiful, you are unique, you have so much talents. You are a special protagonist in your story. This may be the end of 2021. If there's any good things happen in your life, keep moving forward because it's not the end of the story, this is a new chapter of your life. If bad things had happened to you, don't stop, keep marching, because you are in your character development story. We may have never meet face to face before, but we are friends that shaking hands and said how do you do, no matter where we are from, what color we have, if we are are part of queer or not or what religions we follow. May your day fill with rainbows
Eb 2 years ago
Genuine Q: is there a label for people who don't like labels? No problem with other people doing it if it works for them but I've always struggled to think of myself as anything except just a person and I don't like feeling I have to pick a box and stay in it.
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
I agree entirely! I remember being in school (a little before gender fluid etc was as present in the media) and going 'I like this, but don't really fit into this group' etc. I don't think you need to label yourself or others, it doesn't effect how I interact with people and why should it? I don't even find job titles something I need to know about people in my personal life.
Load More Replies...
Kipindichapili 2 years ago
You know I find it funny that boredpanda takes a lot of its content from Reddit but practically everyone on Reddit hates boredpanda because if all the liberals lol
ToGo 2 years ago
Lovely post! I agree with them all, and forgive me I know I'll get down voted, but I just don't feel comfortable with gender neutral toilets. For no other reason than the fact there are some real dangerous creeps in this world. It just scares me I guess.
Yvonne Dauwalder Balsiger 2 years ago (edited)
Over 20 years ago I studied in Copenhagen and the school had gender neutral toilets. They still have them and it was absolutely no problem when I was there. What I always wonder, why do apparently a lot of people honestly think a "women only"-sign will somehow keep male rapists out of women's bathrooms? An insane amount of women and girls have already been molested or worse in "their" (public) bathroom by despicable bastards. Men and boys have been molested in their bathrooms by despicable bastards. Most people are decent folks, so don't fear average dudes in your bathroom. It also smells a wee bit of transphobia, too, especially when trans people don't "pass".
Load More Replies... Sue Lynn Chan 2 years ago
I know this maybe the same post as before but I still want to do it. To all the people reading this: You are beautiful, you are unique, you have so much talents. You are a special protagonist in your story. This may be the end of 2021. If there's any good things happen in your life, keep moving forward because it's not the end of the story, this is a new chapter of your life. If bad things had happened to you, don't stop, keep marching, because you are in your character development story. We may have never meet face to face before, but we are friends that shaking hands and said how do you do, no matter where we are from, what color we have, if we are are part of queer or not or what religions we follow. May your day fill with rainbows
Eb 2 years ago
Genuine Q: is there a label for people who don't like labels? No problem with other people doing it if it works for them but I've always struggled to think of myself as anything except just a person and I don't like feeling I have to pick a box and stay in it.
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
I agree entirely! I remember being in school (a little before gender fluid etc was as present in the media) and going 'I like this, but don't really fit into this group' etc. I don't think you need to label yourself or others, it doesn't effect how I interact with people and why should it? I don't even find job titles something I need to know about people in my personal life.
Load More Replies... Kipindichapili 2 years ago
You know I find it funny that boredpanda takes a lot of its content from Reddit but practically everyone on Reddit hates boredpanda because if all the liberals lol
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