[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f7nr7iCjdimWj3UwfyCXOatQB0syY-R3VhCUh6a06r7Y":3,"$fnJjhXqShFMKi0hul7mKoQMT9TW7Zdm5tPwQjrfS7XlE":12},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"bio_jsonld":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},36289,"Mike Wehner","M",2,null,"mike-wehner",[],{"quotes":13,"pagination":73},[14,42],{"id":15,"quote_text":16,"author_id":5,"source_id":8,"has_image":17,"author":18,"source":19,"quote_tag":20,"commentary":41},273015,"True friendship is trading photos from toilets. It’s a willingness to be vulnerable and stupid and irreverent in a way that other people can’t accept and that you can’t accept from other people.",false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[21,26,31,36],{"id":22,"tag":23},1680284,{"id":24,"tag_name":25},89,"friendship",{"id":27,"tag":28},1680282,{"id":29,"tag_name":30},372,"best-friends",{"id":32,"tag":33},1680286,{"id":34,"tag_name":35},1380,"insightful",{"id":37,"tag":38},1680290,{"id":39,"tag_name":40},3070,"true-friends","**The Backstory**\nMike Wehner, an American writer and editor, penned this quote in one of his essays, likely reflecting on the importance of genuine connections in our lives. At that time, he was navigating the complexities of modern relationships, where social media often masks true vulnerability. This sentiment may have been influenced by his observations of how people present a curated version of themselves online.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nThe quote reveals a paradoxical understanding of friendship: it's not about presenting a perfect image or seeking validation from others but rather embracing our imperfections and the willingness to be ridiculed or rejected in order to form meaningful bonds. This insight challenges the conventional notion that friendships should be built on mutual admiration and respect, instead highlighting the importance of shared vulnerability.\n\n**How to Use This**\nTo apply this mindset today, consider sharing your most mundane or embarrassing moments with a trusted friend or family member, not to elicit sympathy but to cultivate a deeper sense of connection and understanding. By embracing our imperfections and vulnerabilities in relationships, we can foster more authentic and lasting friendships that transcend the superficial boundaries of social media.",{"id":43,"quote_text":44,"author_id":5,"source_id":8,"has_image":17,"author":45,"source":46,"quote_tag":47,"commentary":9},186657,"People used to build great libraries to symbolize man’s quest for knowledge, now we have the Internet which is both more powerful and wonderful. The men who used to get their information from the library were considered scholars but the men who get their information from the Internet are considered idiots, or worse, thieves.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[48,53,58,63,68],{"id":49,"tag":50},1193373,{"id":51,"tag_name":52},12,"change",{"id":54,"tag":55},1193377,{"id":56,"tag_name":57},239,"internet",{"id":59,"tag":60},1193379,{"id":61,"tag_name":62},374,"knowledge",{"id":64,"tag":65},1193380,{"id":66,"tag_name":67},2232,"library",{"id":69,"tag":70},1193378,{"id":71,"tag_name":72},2789,"knowing",{"currentPage":74,"totalPages":74,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":75},1,10]