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Do you have one person in your life, a family member, acquaintance, co-worker etc who just rubs you the wrong way?
It’s not even like they’re really that bad of a person. Maybe they subtlety one-up your accomplishments, or always find themself the center of a new and totally-not-their-fault drama.
Maybe they‘re super kind and can’t seem to stop humbly accepting praise. Maybe they’re incredibly attractive but also according to them sooooo out of shape.
Maybe they’re that person from high school who always complained about how hard they had to work for everything despite being born with a silver spoon in their mouth.
Or maybe they’re that person that’s just so weird and quirky, but also can’t seem to take accountability and has absolutely no self awareness on how their actions affect others.
Did someone immediately pop into your mind?
CONGRATULATIONS! That is your Dinkleberg.
They are probably not even that bad of a person and perhaps you may even feel guilty for disliking them so much.
They may not even be in your life anymore- In fact, I haven’t seen mine in six years. But I still think about them far more often than is reasonable for a well adjusted person.
Finding your Dinkleberg is a freeing experience. Humans are so complex, allowing yourself to have one person you detest despite them having no outward character flaws is acknowledging the beauty that is existing as an irrational being.
You don’t have to be mean to them, and you certainly don’t have to tell them that they are your Dinkleberg. Just know in your heart of hearts you are allowed to dislike this person for no reason at all, and nobody can stop you. Give yourself permission to embrace the fact that they yuck your yum, and be at peace with it.
Authors note: if you have multiple Dinklebergs in your life, you may actually just be a hater.
Feb 28, 2025
Related Recs
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If you’re feeling like a pacified balloon person bobbing between bland aesthetics and anodyne conversation and the siren song of someone else’s outrage… I can recommend really truly clearly and articulately disliking something.
Pulling out the exact thread of your distaste. Being at the ready to defend your hatred to yourself in the shower or when, like, Saltburn or something comes up over drinks. Helps the world feel real.
Disambiguation: not to be confused with a hot take or a rant in the style of a podcaster making content for YouTube shorts (‘send this to someone who hates pickle juice on pizza!’)
Related: self righteous shower arguments
Mar 3, 2024
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I’m trying to read Fernando Pessoa and I absolutely hate him he’s like the most insufferable egocentric incel I want to strangle him, BUT I think it’s really neat to find moments of connection even in things you vehemently despise. I find that a lot of the things I hate in other people are just traits I identify in myself or my past self. But also I don’t want to waste my time, so maybe only doing this up to a point.
Feb 9, 2024
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Sometimes you find yourself involved in something that feels out of character, where you could find a plethora of different things to be a hater about. I know I have. But in these situations you got to prioritize The Bit of it all. Be a hater but have fun with it. Don’t take it too seriously because in the end, it doesn’t matter! And isn’t that great!
Jan 13, 2025
Top Recs from @kkolbrich
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There’s just something really energizing knowing that me, Megan Fox, and the Late Elizabeth II share something moderately specific.
🌞Taurus
🌜Leo
✨Capricorn
Mar 4, 2025
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You don’t need to suffer to prove that you’re a good person. You don’t have to stay with the job that makes you question yourself and you don’t have to keep dating that person you’re not quite clicking with. If something feels off then it probably is. I’m not advocating for immediately abandoning your responsibilities and throwing caution to the wind; but in our hearts we know when something is working and when it isn’t.
That thing called intuition is your soul, and you can trust it.
Dec 31, 2024
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I’m tired of jumping through hoops and reframing my mounting dread everyday as ‘an opportunity to make a change‘. I’m tired of thinking that only if I tried harder, or was better or did something different that I would have a better outcome. At what point do you stop trying to jam the same puzzle piece in the same spot and say,
“Hmm maybe this doesn’t fit!”
Am I quitting trying to be an ever optimizing and improving version of myself? Maybe. OR have I successfully gotten what I wanted out of this experience and can peacefully move on without remorse?
I think in 2025 I’m going to start choosing the latter.
Dec 18, 2024