Is it a valid response or an unnecessary meltdown? From bizarre workplace face-offs to tough relationship conflicts, it is easy to lose perspective when emotions run high. We have all been there, finally calming down and asking ourselves: “Am I overreacting?” That is why we are putting these viral conflicts to the test.

In this interactive poll, you will find real stories where the line between a justified response and an extreme overreaction is razor-thin. Now, it is your turn to play the voice of reason. Read the drama, weigh the facts, and cast your vote: are they completely justified, or do they need a reality check?

When you’re done with this poll, cast your votes on “Who is in the wrong?” stories by clicking here.

🚀 💡 Want more or looking for something else? Head over to the Bored Panda Quizzes and explore our full collection of quizzes and trivia designed to test your knowledge, reveal hidden insights, and spark your curiosity.💡 🚀

Created by German artists Elizabeth Pich and Jonathan Kunz, “War And Peas” has been delighting readers since 2011 with its unique blend of absurdity, dark humor, and brilliantly unexpected twists, leaving you wondering how your brain just agreed that something so dark was so funny.

Over the years, the talented duo has built a massive following thanks to their distinctive voice and fearless approach to comedy. The recurring characters, including witches, Grim Reapers, talking animals, robots, and countless unlucky humans, inhabit a world where absolutely nothing is safe from becoming the setup for a hilariously dark punchline.

We’ve gathered a fresh new set of our favorite darkly funny comics. Scroll down, enjoy the wonderfully twisted humor, and don’t forget to vote for the ones that made you laugh the hardest!

More info: Instagram | Facebook | x.com

Hey there, friends! It’s time for the June edition of Share Our Lives. This month’s topic is the emojis we use most often. At first, I wasn’t sure how much I could say about emojis. But when I looked at the ones I use the most, I guess they might just say quite a bit about my personality. So, here are the emojis I use most often and why they made the list.

Emojis I Use Most Often

The Happy Face 😊

This is the emoji I use the most because it’s a friendly, polite, all-purpose response. It also conveys warmth, keeps things light, or just acknowledges something. It’s the one I use when I want to say “yep, all good”.

The Laughing Face 😂

I use this emoji a lot because my friends and family are always sending me hilarious reels or funny little recaps of their day.

The Heart ❤️

I usually heart messages when I receive them. But when I use the heart emoji as a reply, it’s usually because I have no words for how much something means.

The Monkey Covering Its Eyes 🙈

This is my “I can’t believe this” or “Oh no, I messed up” emoji. It’s perfect for embarrassing or awkward moments, and I like this one because it softens things and makes them feel less serious. Also, my nickname growing up was Monkey, so I kind of see myself as the monkey in this emoji — a bit goofy.

The Celebration 🎉

This one screams “woohoo, let’s dance and pop the champagne.” I love it because you can send it for anything that is a win, big or small. It’s the weekend… boom, celebration emoji. Worked out where to go for the weekend or an upcoming holiday… boom, celebration emoji. My plane landed safely… celebration emoji.

The 100 per cent 💯

If I fully agree with something or want to really emphasise it, this is the one I use because it packs a real punch.

The Blowing a Kiss Emoji 😘

This is my affectionate one. I use it with close friends and family when I want to send a bit of love or warmth at the end of a message.

Emojis are great because they can communicate so much in one little picture. But as I was wrapping up, I had a little chuckle thinking about how the older you get and the more your eyesight shifts, the more careful you need to be not to press the wrong emoji. I’ve accidentally done that 🙈

I’d love to know what your most used emojis are. I feel like they might say more about us than we realise 😊

Linking up with Adrienne, Dara, Joanne and Jen

My family and I were chatting about the highlight of our trip to Japan, and even though we visited so many amazing places, the overall consensus was that teamLab Biovortex Kyoto came out on top.

Which says a lot, because we are a die-hard Disney family. Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea are hard to beat in our world, so I never expected anything else to even be mentioned in the same breath.

But teamLab Biovortex Kyoto is right up there for us, because yes, it was that good!

What is teamLab?

TeamLab is a Japanese art collective that creates immersive digital art experiences. Think giant interactive rooms full of light, colour, movement and sound. You step in and, bam, you become part of the artwork. It’s nothing like a traditional art gallery where you admire artworks from afar.

Now, don’t let the word art put you off if art isn’t really your thing. That was the case for our youngest cousin in our travelling group. She wasn’t 100 per cent convinced she’d enjoy the visit when she heard it was an art experience. But two minutes in, she was completely won over. Just like the rest of us, she absolutely loved it.

TeamLab experiences can be found in a few cities across Japan, including Tokyo and Osaka. Each location is different, with its own installations and themes, so it is never the same experience twice. I had such an incredible time at teamLab Biovortex Kyoto that I would genuinely love to experience the others as well. Maybe one day.

What to expect at teamLab Biovortex Kyoto

Once you walk in, you’re not really looking at separate “exhibits” in the usual sense.

You move through a series of large immersive rooms where the whole space is part of the artwork.

The floors and walls are covered in digital light and projections that shift and react as you move through them, so nothing seems to stay still. The room changes depending on where you are and what you’re doing.

Some spaces feel really calm, with flowing light, colour and peaceful music.

Others are more full-on, with layered visuals and interactive elements:

You can play with foam…

spin giant colour-changing blobs

walk through metallic paint wearing gumboots

jump on giant bouncy cushions while following a projected star (I couldn’t keep up with the star, but it was still so much fun!)

play with giant inflatable balls, and we may have gotten carried away bouncing them off each other’s heads–lucky we’re a close family

and walk through shallow water that changes colour and reacts to your steps

I felt like a kid in a futuristic jungle gym and had a go at everything. Holiday Ruth came out to play!

Is teamLab Biovortex Kyoto worth it?

1,500 per cent yes!

TeamLab Biovortex Kyoto is an immersive, interactive feast for the senses, and unlike anything I have ever experienced before. We all absolutely loved it and would go again in a heartbeat.

If you’re planning a visit, you can find more information on the official teamLab Biovortex Kyoto website.

Some characters are funny because they are loud, chaotic, or endlessly cheerful. Squidward Quincy Tentacles became iconic for almost the exact opposite reason. To much of the internet, he is the exhausted, dramatic, over-it artist who simply wants peace, taste, and five minutes away from everyone else’s nonsense. That mix of cartoon grumpiness and strangely relatable melancholy makes him a surprisingly perfect subject for fine art and a character with whom many people easily relate.

Artist Thalia Lemon, also known as Thalia Tomlinson, takes that idea even further through oil and acrylic paintings that place Squidward into the poses, moods, and visual language of classical paintings. The result is both absurd and oddly convincing: a familiar cartoon character suddenly becomes a tragic muse, a Renaissance noble, an anxious modernist figure, or the star of a dramatic museum-worthy scene. Her work blends genuine painting skill with internet culture in a way that feels funny at first glance, but also strangely fitting the longer you look.

Scroll down to see Thalia’s wonderfully strange Squidward paintings, and don’t forget to vote for the ones you’d hang in your own very serious gallery.

More info: thalialemon.com | Instagram | twitch.tv | shop.thalialemon.com

Hi friends, it’s great to be back today for Friday Favourites. I haven’t shared much about what’s been going on in my world as I’ve mostly been doing travel recaps, so I thought I’d do a quick round-up of some favourite things from May.

Before I jump in, here are the links to my travel recaps if you’d like to catch up:

Singapore

Tokyo

Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea

Tokyo Dome Baseball Game

Osaka: Dotonbori Day and Night

The Osaka Aquarium

Now onto my favourite things from May

A Day Out in Manly with Friends

We kicked off May with a day out to Manly with some friends. These lovely ladies are keen to do day-out adventures every couple of months, and this was our first outing. We had such a lovely day, and the weather felt more like spring than autumn.

We caught the ferry from Circular Quay,

then walked around Manly for a while, enjoying the beautiful beachside suburb before we found a place for lunch.

We talked for hours over delicious food and a glass (or three) of wine.

Before we knew it, the sun was setting, and it was time to head home.

Our next day out will be on the 4th of July, and this time we’re heading south to Thirroul. I love having fun outings to look forward to.

Mother’s Day

It was Mother’s Day on the 10th of May, and I bought two bunches of pink roses — one for me and one for my mum in heaven. After four years of not being able to stand having flowers at home, this year I was finally ready to.

When my mum passed, I was lovingly inundated with the most beautiful flowers from family and friends. I loved every single arrangement, and the love that came through with each gift was exactly what I needed. The problem for me was that flowers wilt and eventually die, and every time I had to throw a dead bunch out, my heart broke. I really struggled with that for a long time.

For the last four years, Mother’s Day has been tough, tougher than birthdays and Christmas. My family know this, so we spend the day together and keep things low-key. This year we did just that and had a lovely day.

I’m also happy with myself that I was able to enjoy having these pretty pink roses on my dining room table for almost two weeks. I’m also looking forward to more bunches, especially in spring. It feels like I’ve taken a quiet step forward, which is really great because I do love flowers.

I Found My Lipsticks

In May, I finally rounded up all my lipsticks… they were hiding in every handbag I own.

A Cute Lamp

I love different types of lighting around the house and very rarely have the ceiling downlights on. I think I only ever turn them on if I drop something and can’t find it. So when I saw this cute lamp in Kmart, I couldn’t resist it. It sits so nicely on the dining room table, and it’s rechargeable. What a find!

Autumn Weather Lately

Oh my goodness, it’s been so warm this autumn, and I’m not complaining. No sir! I love that I’ve been able to go out in a light shirt and just throw a jumper over my shoulders just in case.

It’s been raining on and off this week, mostly on. But let’s not talk about that and stick with the positive. It’s still mostly warm enough for T-shirts and shorts around the house.

Swim Club Presentation Night

Last Friday was my husband’s swim club presentation evening. He couldn’t go because he had to work, so I went on his behalf to collect his two trophies.

This is a standout moment for both of us. For Steve, it’s because he loves to swim, is super competitive, and these trophies mean the world to him. For me, I can’t swim, and I have never won a trophy in my life. So I get to experience the thrill of winning… without actually doing any of the winning. It’s a win-win!

Favourite Meals In May

We enjoyed some yummy meals out. Like breakfast at the Flower Power Cafe, where I had the scrambled eggs with avocado on sourdough.

Steve and I also shared the pancakes. They were too good, and next time I think there may be no sharing on my part.

Can never go wrong with pizza for dinner!

Quiet meals at home are always a favourite, and we all love a juicy steak with chips and salad. I’m getting better at pan-frying them medium-rare. This one I cooked for two and a half minutes on each side, but next time I’m going to try two and a half on one side and two on the other. I want the steak just a touch rarer.

I know my husband, the chef, could make them perfect as he has the technique down pat. But it’s a personal challenge, and I really want to master it myself.

Cousin Connect in May

In May, we had Cousin Connect at our place, and it was Mexican night. Well, mostly Mexican, with nachos, rice, and street corn salad. I also made sliders, which aren’t Mexican but still delicious.

We were missing six family members this month, but I love that we still catch up even when we can’t all make it. Fingers crossed for next month!

And those were my favourite things from May. It was a great month, except for this week when I came down with a really bad cold that kept me home from work for most of the week. I went in today for the first time, and now I’m not feeling great, so I’m wondering whether that was the best decision. I should probably have taken the whole week off, but I always feel so guilty taking time off, even though I have months of sick leave.

This weekend is all about rest so I can recover properly. I hope you have an amazing weekend, and thanks so much for stopping by 😊

Visiting the Osaka Aquarium in Japan was another standout moment of our trip. We walked through feeling completely mesmerised by the incredible sea life and beautifully designed exhibits, and it took us about two calm hours to cover everything.

When you first walk into the Osaka Aquarium, you go through tunnel-like walkways where the water surrounds you. It feels like you are in the ocean because you can look up and see fish swimming above you.

Another section of the aquarium is a spiral design that takes you gradually downward around a massive central tank. As you move through it, you can see marine life from different angles and depths.

Then, just when you think you have seen it all, boom, another section appears with something completely new, like the whale sharks swimming through the enormous central tank.

Seeing the Whale Sharks Up Close

When we were lining up at the entrance to the aquarium, we saw whale sharks on a poster. Immediately, we all said there was no way they could be in an aquarium because whale sharks are just too huge. But they absolutely were, and boy, were they massive.

We spent ages watching not one but three whale sharks swim around the tank. I must have taken so many photos and videos, but when I look back at them, they just do not capture the scale of what we were seeing in real life. No photo or video really does it justice. But here are a couple of the better ones.

All I can say is that I felt quite small standing there watching the enormous and graceful whale sharks glide past. I was in complete awe of just how incredible the natural world is, even inside an aquarium. Our whole family group felt the same.

Favourite Animals and Exhibits at the Osaka Aquarium

The Osaka Aquarium also wowed us with so many other sea life exhibits.

Jellyfish

The jellyfish displays were in a darkened room, so all you could see were these almost alien-like jellyfish floating through the water.

It was hypnotic to watch, and because the tanks were dimly lit, you could see so much detail in their delicate, never-ending tentacles that looked like fine trailing strings.

I wondered if they ever got tangled up–fascinating!

Seals and Otters

The seals and otters were another favourite because they are so cute and playful.

Penguins

The penguins stood tall and happy in their cold enclosure… brrr!

Giant Crabs

These giant crabs were almost as big as the ones we saw in Dotonbori, well, maybe not quite, but they were huge!

Stingrays

The stingray was so calming to watch, gliding through the water.

Colourful Fish

Bright colourful fish darting in and out of the coral displays.

Dory from Finding Nemo.

Osaka Bay and the Lights Around the Aquarium

When we finished visiting the aquarium, we walked outside and saw the giant Ferris wheel, with the lights along Osaka Bay starting to come on. There were also lit-up displays of sea creatures along the waterfront, like giant crabs and turtles.

Seeing these displays and the pretty lights was a really nice way to end the visit before heading off.

We had such a wonderful time at the Osaka Aquarium in Japan, and I would definitely recommend it if you are planning a trip. It was fantastic, and I am really glad we went. I am actually a bit sad I am not there right now.

British English has a funny way of slipping into your vocabulary before you even realize it. One moment you’re sounding perfectly posh, the next you’re casually throwing around expressions that feel sarcastic and unmistakably British. 🇬🇧

From a quick chinwag over a cuppa to spotting something that’s absolutely bonkers, British English is full of charm! So, settle in, and let’s start with a quick test:

💡What does “butter up” mean in British slang?

💡What is a “brolly” in British English?

💡What would you be eating if a British person handed you a “sarnie”?

Now let’s proceed to the real test! 🤯

🚀 💡 Want more or looking for something else? Head over to the Bored Panda Quizzes and explore our full collection of quizzes and trivia designed to test your knowledge, reveal hidden insights, and spark your curiosity.💡 🚀

Image credits: King’s Church International

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