What It’s Like to Be a Nice Guy
I used to think I was one of the good ones.
The kind of guy who always tried to do the right thing. Who opened doors, never raised his voice, who went out of his way to avoid conflict. The guy who said “whatever you want” in relationships. The guy who stayed late to help at work, who fixed the toilet without being asked, who never forgot a birthday.
I wasn’t doing these things just to be nice. Or at least, I didn’t think I was. I was doing them because I believed—on some deep, unspoken level—that this was how the world worked. That if I was a good guy, if I followed the rules, if I made everyone happy, I’d be happy too.
That didn’t happen.
Poll of the Day
“How do I become successful in life?”
I’m 20 years old, and I want to be successful in life. I don’t just mean money (although that’s part of it). I mean I want to feel proud of where I am, be good at what I do, and not feel lost or behind all the time.
The problem is, I have no idea where to start. I scroll through Instagram and see people my age starting businesses, traveling the world, becoming “influencers,” or already in their dream careers. Meanwhile, I’m just trying to figure out what I’m even good at.
Sometimes I feel motivated, and I try to make a plan, but then I get overwhelmed. Other times, I just shut down and waste hours on my phone. I don’t want to drift through my 20s and wake up one day feeling like I missed my chance.
Linkage
These Haunting Photos Captured the True Face of the Great Depression – Ned Hardy
Why have you not bought a bidet yet. This thing is seriously life changing! – Amazon
I’ve Written About Loads of Scams. This One Almost Got Me. – NYT
Biggest 2025 success, failure for all 30 MLB teams – ESPN
FTC sues Live Nation and Ticketmaster alleging illegal resale tactics – NPR
13 Condiments You Should Never Eat After They Expire, According To Food Safety Experts – Delish
Leonardo Da Vinci’s To-Do List from 1490: The Plan of a Renaissance Man – Open Culture
11 1980s Fantasy Movies That Pioneered The Future – CBR
25 Photos That Will Help You Scratch That Nostalgic Itch – Ned Hardy
If you ever experienced trauma, this could be one of the most important books you will ever read – Amazon
Dude doesn’t get paid enough for his job – Reddit
Watch the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses fail in Mark Zuckerberg’s painful live demo – Mashable
The Greatest Creative Run in the History of Popular Music – Slate
How One Programmer Broke the Internet By Deleting a Tiny Piece of Code – Quartz
13 Small Acts That Turned a Stranger’s Day Around – Linkiest
The Dumping Grounds
Poll of the Day
If you could start life with only one of these, which would you choose?
What It’s Really Like to Live in Helsinki, Finland
I’ve lived in Helsinki for most of my adult life, after growing up in a smaller town in Eastern Finland. It’s not a perfect city, but it’s quietly wonderful in ways that can sneak up on you. You don’t necessarily fall in love with Helsinki at first sight — it’s not flashy or loud — but the longer you stay, the more it grows on you.
[Read more…] about What It’s Really Like to Live in Helsinki, Finland
Linkage
America Loves Cocaine Again—Mexico’s New Drug King Cashes In – Archive.ph
A Damn Fine Collection of Fascinating Photos – Ned Hardy
This veggie chopper makes food prep fast and safe with powerful stainless steel blades and a comfy top knob — just load it up, press down, and you’re chopping salsa, salads, or nuts in seconds. – Amazon
Fed approves quarter-point interest rate cut and sees two more coming this year – CNBC
Game of the Year 2025 predictions: The front-runners and challengers to come – Polygon
40,000-Year-Old Symbols Found in Caves Worldwide May Be the Earliest Written Language – Open Culture
One simple word makes children 30% more likely to cooperate. It works on adults, too. – Upworthy
You Can Learn A Lot About Construction Workers By The Memes They Post Online – Ned Hardy
The most effective way to get rid of that ring around your toilet – Amazon
Authorities ID 15-year-old girl found dead in singer D4vd’s impounded Tesla – NY Post
Inside The Controversial Life Of John Phillips, The Singer-Songwriter Behind The Mamas & The Papas – All That’s Interesting
David Reimer’s Story: The Boy Unwillingly Raised as a Girl – Rare Historical Photos
Five iOS 26 Features That Changed How I Use My iPhone – Lifehacker
35 Creepy Stories That Are Perfect To Tell In The Dark Woods In Front Of A Camp Fire – Linkiest
“Prankster” gets shot at mall after harassing a delivery driver – Reddit
