i’m torn about this image. on the one hand, it feels true. but i also used a text translator to figure out what it says:
вот так и встретились
деградация и ванять
That’s how we met - degradation and vanity
so this got me thinking … is it really a degradation? i’m torn about this, because i tend to think that women are the best creatures in existence, so it’s more of an improvement than a degradation. on the other hand, does this view maybe fall short of the universal approach that i try to have about all my ideas? what if it is not universally true that women are better, but only my personal view? what if somebody else can have a legitimately different viewpoint? and what if “vanity” is indeed the ulterior motive? is vanity an acceptable quality in this fast-moving world?
what’s your thoughts about this?
Honestly, the translation didn’t help me either as a non-native English speaker. I’m not too sure, but could it be “Тщеславие”? (English Wikipedia link)
vanity refers to subjects without interior value. like a car is valuable because it can do stuff, i.e. move you from X to Y. a beautiful painting can do no such thing, therefore it has no inherent point. we only attach meaning to it because we are swayed by our subjective interpretation, not because of objective criteria. the logical conclusion is that no generally-understood value can be attached to sentimental objects, therefore a person looking for a price-tag will always fall short.
that and the story of the vanir shape the understanding of vanity:
the vanir were said to be brave and gentle, but ultimately peaceful and not greedy for power. so, they never strived for more, and thus stagnated, which is why we associate vanity with (economic) idleness. quite the opposite of the modern way of life.
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