this post was submitted on 01 Jul 2025
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[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 191 points 2 weeks ago (12 children)

Socks keep your shoes from absorbing sweat and help prevent blisters. They’re useful beyond the social construct.

[–] lunarul@lemmy.world 71 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Not wearing stinky shoes is a social construct.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 17 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I got me some of them washable insoles

[–] jaybone@lemmy.zip 13 points 2 weeks ago

washable incels

[–] zr0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 34 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Arguments like these don’t work with kids. Let them experience themselves what is best for them. And have spare socks ready in case they change their mind afterwards

[–] osaerisxero@kbin.melroy.org 17 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Sure, if that's a reasonable option, but letting the kid hurt themselves isn't always practical. Letting the kids find out 'messing with the pot of boiling water is bad' the hard way, as an example, is not what I would consider good parenting.

[–] Cethin@lemmy.zip 33 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I think it's pretty clear they're referring to uncomfortable stuff, not dangerous stuff. Obviously don't let them do dangerous stuff.

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[–] garbagebagel@lemmy.world 18 points 2 weeks ago (6 children)

Ok but wearing shoes is a social construct. People didn't wear shoes for thousands of years before shoes came along and they were just fine and full of blisters.

[–] red_bull_of_juarez@lemmy.dbzer0.com 31 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Wearing shoes is definitely not just a social construct. They protect your feet.

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[–] 200ok@lemmy.world 132 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Next time the kid asks for an allowance, say that money is a social construct

[–] rc__buggy@sh.itjust.works 40 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

parents feeding children is a social construct.

[–] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 16 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

See, I dunno about that one. I have a very strange and almost primal urge to feed kids. I think it's generic programming.

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[–] vrojak@feddit.org 79 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

"You've made a correct observation, now please provide an argument why the social construct of x should not be adhered to. X is dumb and I don't wanna is not sufficient."

[–] kayzeekayzee@lemmy.blahaj.zone 24 points 2 weeks ago

Those sound like good enough reasons to me

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 15 points 2 weeks ago (10 children)

I think something being dumb is a perfectly valid reason to not do the thing.

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[–] nialv7@lemmy.world 55 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Something being a social construct doesn't mean it's not real, or ignoring it won't negatively affect you.

Laws, money, etc. are all social constructs.

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[–] sundray@lemmus.org 43 points 2 weeks ago (7 children)

This would be a great time to remind him that we live in a society...

[–] webghost0101@sopuli.xyz 21 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Nah, kinda the worst time really. Take a good look at society right now and one could argue we utterly failed and should reject it.

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[–] neuracnu@lemmy.blahaj.zone 41 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Your mom is a social construct.

[–] jve@lemmy.world 21 points 2 weeks ago

Fuckin’ gottem.

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[–] irelephant@lemmy.dbzer0.com 36 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Some social constructs serve a purpose.

[–] A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world 15 points 2 weeks ago (7 children)

I like Max Stirner's perspective. Like you said, they can be useful - but we can also give them too much authority over us. It's important to be aware of that.

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[–] figjam@midwest.social 35 points 2 weeks ago (10 children)

Socks serve a practical purpose when combined with shoes. They prevent rubbing (blisters) and they keep the skin cells and oils from your feet from the insides of your shoes.

Shoes serve a practical purpose in that they protect your feet from rocks, glass, and hot pavement. Did our ancestors need shoes? No. But humans have made our environments less friendly to bare feet

[–] hansolo@lemmy.today 26 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

Our ancestors DID need shoes. Footprints in South Africa dated to be between 75K and 136K years old show footwear in use. We invented shoes possibly 100,000 years before we invented written language.

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[–] Atomic@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 weeks ago

What are you talking about? The oldest shoe we've found is roughly 10000 years old.

Our ancestors absolutely needed shoes. That's why they made them.

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[–] partial_accumen@lemmy.world 32 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

"Sure socks are a social construct, but so are the things that let you eat ice cream, watch your favorite streaming service, or play your favorite video game. In fact the only non-social construct actions you involve yourself in are eating, sleeping, and expelling bio waste. Even those you seem to have no problem follow the social rules around. If you'd like to abandon society and escape into nature free of the bounds of social constructs, you're welcome to do that when you're 18 and can afford enough to buy a plane ticket to Fairbanks, Alaska. Until then, you have to put on your socks."

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[–] don@lemmy.ca 31 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Good point, kid, and here’s another one: those toys you want me to buy you are a social construct. Playtime? Yep. Social construct. Shall I keep going? Video games are next.

[–] then_three_more@lemmy.world 25 points 2 weeks ago

"Yes, but that doesn't automatically mean it's wrong or a bad thing.

[–] D_C@sh.itjust.works 25 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (6 children)

Having a shit is a natural process, however doing it privately in toilets is nowadays somewhat of a social construct.
So, should I stop using the toilet and use your bed instead?

(Edit: I didn't think I needed to add an /s but...)

[–] Droggelbecher@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

Not accepting every social construct isn't the same as rejecting every social construct.

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[–] Passerby6497@lemmy.world 23 points 2 weeks ago

'Your allowance is a social construct, so I guess we won't be doing that anymore..."

[–] aeronmelon@lemmy.world 22 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The next time they say “Socks are a social construct.” Tell them that blisters are punishment for man’s hubris.

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[–] Leonixster@lemmy.blahaj.zone 21 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Reminds me of the time I saw people arguing on Reddit about the phrase "time is a social construct" where some people were completely incapable of understanding what that means and conflating the concept of time with the fundamental physics thingymcgee (idk how to call it and entity feels wrong).

People were trying so hard to explain that minutes, months, seasons, etc. are all arbitrary things made up only for them to retort with "but a year is a full rotation of the sun" or "seasons exist because that's how the planet changes its climate".

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[–] recked_wralph@lemmy.world 21 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It is a social construct, and we live in a society… so put your damn socks on

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[–] tino@lemmy.world 18 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

with this heat wave, wearing any clothes is also a social construct.

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[–] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 17 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Parents feeding their kids is also a social construct. The Ancients tossed their kids in the salt mines quite early.

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[–] T156@lemmy.world 17 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (4 children)

Just because something is a social construct doesn't mean it's a bad thing to be ignored.

Being alive is a social construct. Humans decided that some things counted as alive, and other things did not. Nature doesn't care if a bunch of chemical reactions are happening inside a cell, or in a glass tube. It has no objective definition of "alive".

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[–] GaMEChld@lemmy.world 15 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

A society is a social construct and there is a social contract to live in one.

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[–] nandeEbisu@lemmy.world 15 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

Many things are social constructs, but we also live in social groups

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[–] TimewornTraveler@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (4 children)

everyone replying that socks have a practical use, as if social constructs arent practical???

my issue is that even though "clothing" is a social construct, the stuff that socks are made out of is not. calling that stuff a sock is a social construct, but choosing to put the fabric on your body is not. becoming "clothed" is a social construct, but the unspecified uncategorized state of having that fabric on your body is just a physical state, not a construct. the meaning we apply to it is the thing that wouldn't exist without socially constructed systems of meaning.

It's kinda sad, i guess. I'm usually the first one to champion XYZ is a social construct, and have to deal with morons not understanding it, but here? no one is willing to say it?

Socks are not a social construct.

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[–] confusedwiseman@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 2 weeks ago

Very, good. That’s correct. However social constructs have consequences for non-adherence. As much as I agree with and wold like to support your stance, this is not something for which I’m willing to invest my energy or time to resolve.

Your compliance and the requirement from me, the adult, to you the child; yep, this sucks. When I’m no longer charged with your care and have completed my duty to prepare you to operate with the constructs of society, you may make this decision for yourself.

Until that time, you can put your socks on, or I will. Your choice. Love you.

In the other vein of this, I hate sock and shoes, so I’m pretty much good with skipping all of this. There are consequences that come with that decision too.

[–] Nangijala@feddit.dk 14 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Having a parent who clothes and feeds you is a social construct too. Funny how people think that "social construct" means that something is bad or should be dismissed when none of us would be here without social constructs.

At least this time the argument is being made by the only age group where I would give them a pass for being stupid. Unless that kid is past the age of 12, that is.

[–] Jakeroxs@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (13 children)

I think the point is the fact it's a social construct on its own is neither pro or against the thing itself, rather that it can/should be able to be questioned.

Yes wearing socks is a social construct, but it provides inherent benefits such as reducing the smell produced by your feet and lingering in the shoes. It also helps protect your feet further in some ways then just a shoe alone would.

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[–] Jax@sh.itjust.works 14 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Nick sounds like a dipshit if he can't figure out how to argue against socks being a social construct.

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[–] Snowclone@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I let my kid go all flower child about the socks. he got athletes foot. Socks SPECIFICALLY are not a social construct. they prevent athletes foot.

[–] SketchySeaBeast@lemmy.ca 11 points 2 weeks ago (7 children)

Hygiene IS a social construct, but that doesn't mean it isn't there for a good reason.

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[–] Etterra@discuss.online 13 points 2 weeks ago

Some social constructs exist for a good reason. Part of growing is learning to tell which are good and which are bad.

[–] kreskin@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (10 children)

Not that I advocate violence, but not beating your kids, selling them on the street, or making them work in a factory is also a social contract.

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