Close Ad

just for fun

The Best Cat Quotes on the Internet – And Why They're Good for Your Mental Health
Just for Fun

The Best Cat Quotes on the Internet – And Why They're Good for Your Mental Health

Since ancient times, cats have been charming, amusing, and yes, at times annoying people. We see cats prominently displayed in hieroglyphs, in funerary artwork, on temple walls, and on obelisks. Apparently, the Prophet Muhammad so loved cats that he once sliced a sleeve off of his shirt to leave the piece of fabric behind so as to not disturb a cat that had fallen asleep atop it. And cats are often featured in medieval artwork, though their renderings are often comically terrible.RELATED: Ed Sheeran’s Most Inspiring Quotes and Lyrics to Live a Happier LifeLong story short, cats have long been a part of human culture, and they are more prominently part of everyday life for many today than ever before. Even when not actively petting or feeding or cleaning up after our cats, many of us enjoy reading funny cat quotes. Why are cat quotes so compelling? Because they make us feel good, and feeling good is healthy for the soul. Why Do Cat Quotes (And Memes) Make Us Happy?(Photo by Kate Stone Matheson on Unsplash)A funny cat quote – ideally paired with a great cat picture in the form of a cat meme – can have an immediate effect on your mental and emotional state, triggering a release of serotonin, dopamine, and/or oxytocin, these being the so-called “happiness hormone,” “feel-good hormone,” and “cuddle hormone,” respectively. And not only can a cat quote amuse and move us in the moment, but it can also call up a memory we may treasure from the past or call to mind a characteristic of one of our own beloved pets. The release of these hormones and the touchstone to memory a cat quote can be can also reduce sensations of stress and anxiety, only making the moment that much better.RELATED: Euphoria Quotes: The Show’s Most Biting and Powerful Quotes – And What They Say about YouFurther, reading a cat quote from another person – especially one that resonates with us – can make us feel more connected to other people, and that sense of connection is critical for all human beings. So, ironically, reading quotes about these unique members of the animal world can make a person feel more connected to other human beings, especially if said humans are fellow cat lovers.Now let’s take a look at some of the best cat quotes the internet has to offer, a number of which may just see you enjoying not only a moment of levity, but an increase of happy, feel-good, or cuddly hormones that genuinely enhance your mood and your sense of wellbeing.21 Cat Quotes That Will Make You Feel Better About Everything(Photo by Japheth Mast on Unsplash) 1. "A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not." — Writer Ernest Hemingway2. "As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat.” — Journalist Ellen Perry Berkeley3. “A happy arrangement: many people prefer cats to other people, and many cats prefer people to other cats.” — Aphorist Mason Cooley4. “I would like to see anyone, prophet, king or God, convince a thousand cats to do the same thing at the same time.” — Writer Neil Gaiman5. "In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this." — Novelist Terry Pratchett6. "There are no ordinary cats." — French novelist Colette7. "Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you later." — Professor Mary Bly8. "If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow; but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much." — Writer Mark Twain9. “There are few things in life more heartwarming than to be welcomed by a cat.” — Literary editor Tay Hohoff10. “I believe cats to be spirits come to earth. A cat, I am sure, could walk on a cloud without coming through.” – Author Jules Verne11. "Never try to out-stubborn a cat." — Science fiction writer Robert A. HeinleinRELATED: 50 Inspirational Quotes to Uplift and Motivate12. "Cats can work out mathematically the exact place to sit that will cause most inconvenience." — Poet Pam Brown13. “Way down deep, we’re all motivated by the same urges. Cats have the courage to live by them.” – Cartoonist Jim Davis14. "Cats are intended to teach us that not everything in nature has a purpose." – Writer and radio host Garrison Keillor15. “The problem with cats is that they get the same exact look whether they see a moth or an axe murderer.” — Comedian Paula Poundstone16. “When Rome burned, the emperor's cats still expected to be fed on time.” – Author Seanan Maguire17. “There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.” – Theologian Albert Scheitzer18. “What greater gift than the love of a cat.” – Author Charles Dickens19. "Time spent with cats is never wasted." – Psychologist Sigmund Freud20. "Like all pure creatures, cats are practical." – Writer William S. Burroughs21. "The smallest feline is a masterpiece." – Polymath Leonardo da VinciAre Dog Quotes Also Popular?(Photo by Andrew S on Unsplash)And yes, for the record, let us be clear: reading quotes about dogs can also provide all the same benefits cat quotes can for those who love dogs and lots of people love dog quotes. As to whether cat quotes are better than dog quotes, or if cats are better than dogs, we’re staying well away from that area.As for the popularity of dogs vs. cats, did you know that worldwide cats are the more popular pets? Cats are more popular in 91 countries surveyed, while dogs were more popular in 76 countries – data was not available for every nation on the planet. However, in America, dogs are more popular than cats, according to the same findings. The reason more Americans like dogs than cats is because canines are more compliant and obedient than felines, and Americans by in large like to have their pets follow the rules and fall in line. However, that same independent streak that is a turnoff to many in the U.S. may be the exact quality so many cat owners cherish. Looking back through some of the quotes collected there, that certainly seems to be possible.KEEP READING:13 Self Worth Quotes to Help Build Your Confidence & Self Esteem

VSCO Girls: The Rise and Fall of a Controversial Teenage Trend
Pop Culture

VSCO Girls: The Rise and Fall of a Controversial Teenage Trend

Teenage trends have always come and gone. But thanks to the internet age, today's teenage trends spread like wildfire through popular social media apps. One prime example of how a social photo app can create an entire aesthetic is the VSCO girl trend. Popularized in 2019 through the photo-editing app VSCO which boasts over 40 million monthly users (almost 60% of them being teenagers), the VSCO Girl trend quickly caught the attention of social media users across the U.S. – the trend was picked up in major outlets, everywhere from popular teen media sites like Seventeen and Elle to Fox Business News.RELATED: At Only 18, Billie Eilish Takes A Powerful Stance For WomenWhat does it take to be a VSCO Girl? And is the trend still popular today? This article will examine the VSCO Girl trend: What it is, why it gained popularity so quickly, signs of a VSCO Girl and what happened to the VSCO Girl trend.What Is a VSCO Girl?(Instagram)To understand what a VSCO Girl is, it's important to understand the inner workings of the VSCO app, which is where the trend was born. VSCO allows users to post photos that share an aesthetic that can be described as whimsical and vintage, with pops of muted color reminiscent of vintage-style photos. Why Exactly Did VSCO Pop Off?The app became popular among teens because VSCO does not enable users to comment or like photos, unlike other photo-sharing platforms. Not having to worry about how many likes a photo received or what people were saying about the photos teens were sharing was an essential part of why the VSCO Girl trend was created and took off. RELATED: Emma Watson Invites Men And Women To Work TogetherEven without the ability to comment and like photos, teenage users on the VSCO app started posting pictures of themselves wearing colors and outfits that emulated the soft, muted colors the platform is known for. A return to popular styles in the 90s started to emerge. Photos of teenage girls wearing scrunchies on their wrists, puka shell necklaces, anklets, and oversized t-shirts began flooding the VSCO app. What Are Popular VSCO Girl Brands and Phrases?(Instagram)Not only did certain styles and accessories become part of the VSCO Girl trend, but name brands that VSCO Girls frequently wear also became adopted as the necessary "uniform" of the look. In a popular spoof video, YouTuber Mai Pham poked fun at the trend by listing off a VSCO Girl checklist. This included not only 90's era styles but brands like Lululemon, Birkenstocks, Fjällräven backpacks and Mario Badescu. Pham's list also included a mix of modern technology and vintage applications of it – she lists Air pods and an Apple Watch along with Polaroids. VSCO Girl checklist items may include, but are not limited to:Pure Vida braceletsLip Balm (Carmex)Glossier Cloud Paint (in Dusk)A Teen Vogue SubscriptionCheckered VansA massive trust fundHydro flaskCool stickers for your hydro flashThere's also an environmentally conscious aspect to the VSCO Girl trend. Hydro flasks and reusable metal straws are also commonly associated with VSCO Girl culture -- VSCO girls live to show off how much they care about the planet and the effort they're making to help protect the planet.RELATED: The Women Who Spoke Out Against Harvey WeinsteinTeenage trends typically come with slang and sayings that are only familiar if you're in on the trend – and the VSCO Girl trend is no different. Popular phrases among VSCO Girls include "I oop's," derived from Jasmine Masters on RuPaul's Drag Race, which playfully indicates shock or embarrassment. Sksksk, which originated on Twitter in 2009, is frequently used among VSCO Girls to show happiness and other intense emotions, typically written in social media posts rather than spoken aloud. VSCO Girls: Celebrity EditionEven though VSCO is photo editing app, VSCO girls are notorious for carrying around disposable cameras. Girls like YouTube blogger Emma Chamberlain.When Chamberlain was asked how she felt about her VSCO girl status, as dubbed by the internet, the then 18 year-old high school dropout came out in an interview saying:“I didn't even know what a VSCO girl was until literally two weeks ago and apparently now I'm one of them. I literally I can't keep up. It's actually hilarious though. I don't mind.” - Emma ChamberlainWhy Are VSCO Girls Controversial? The VSCO Girl trend inevitably became controversial as it rose to popularity. While some parts of the VSCO Girl uniform are more affordable, brand name items that became associated with the trend were often only accessible to teenagers from wealthy white families. Because of this, the trend came under fire for being non-inclusive and predominantly white. How Did VSCO Become "Basic"?As with anything that becomes popular among women, the trend began to be considered "basic" to those who were not part of it. This was because there was very little variation across the styles worn by VSCO Girls. The trend calls for teenagers who participate in it to blend in and look like everyone else rather than stand out. RELATED: 105 Strong Women Quotes to Celebrate Feminine Power Throughout 2019, the VSCO Girl became the butt of many jokes across social media, from memes to YouTube videos that positioned the trend as "cringe" and embarrassing. Though the trend originated on a platform where likes and comments on photos were not a feature, many critics of the VSCO Girl trend looked at the teenagers who participated in them as self-absorbed, concerned with only how they appear in photos and nothing else.What's So Controversial Anyway? Isn't It Just An App?There are also conflicting interests within the VSCO Girl trend. Being environmentally conscious was an ethos of being a VSCO Girl. But many VSCO Girls would pose with Jeeps that are notoriously bad for the environment. Though they'd bring their metal straws along, VSCO Girls still drank Starbucks out of plastic cups and regularly consumed these beverages. What Happened to the VSCO Girl Trend?(Instagram)Trends come and go, and the VSCO Girl trend was no exception. The trend fizzled out toward the end of 2019. Though the VSCO Girl trend has decreased in popularity, there are still elements of the trend that can be seen in current teen culture. The "Clean Girl" trend, popularized by TikTok creator Emily Mariko, embodies a lifestyle of rising early, drinking green juice and being productive. Style elements of the VSCO Girl trend, including oversized tees, Lululemon athleisure and scrunchies, are still seen within this trend. The height of the VSCO Girl trend took place in 2019, popularized within the VSCO photo-editing app. The look featured 90's style elements mixed with modern-day name brands and an environmentally conscious mindset that incorporated eco-friendly trends such as metal straws and reusable thermoses. As the trend continued to gain popularity across social media platforms and gain the attention of major news outlets, the trend came under fire due to a lack of diversity and inclusion. The trend was deemed basic by those who critiqued it, claiming the trend imposed a uniform that did not allow individuals to stand out. The VSCO Girl trend fizzled out in 2019, but certain style elements of the trend have remained popular among teens today. KEEP READING:Ellen Degeneres’ Riskiest Move Changed Everything – But Almost Doomed Her Career