Infinite Diversities

Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics to non-human creatures and beings, phenomena, material states and objects or abstract concepts. Examples include animals and plants and forces of nature such as winds, rain or the sun depicted as creatures with human motivation able to reason and converse. The term derives from the combination of the Greek ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos), “human” and μορφή (morphē), “shape” or “form”.

Anthropomorphic animals are often used as mascots for sports teams or sporting events, often represented by humans in costumes. – Wikipedia.

I think I am one of these people who feel for objects even though I know that really they are not alive and don’t have feelings. Not for mascots, though, I know there are people inside the costumes.

I feel sorry for shopping trolleys left on the side of the road – they look lonely to me. When we put the air-cooler away for winter, I feel sorry for it because I think it will feel unwanted. I felt awful when I went to throw my old alarm clock out (the alarm doesn’t work any more) until my husband said to keep it for the spare room. I felt glad for my old alarm clock then.

I don’t have these feelings for clothes or food or shoes. Mostly for electrical objects – because electricity gives them life? – and for carelessly abandoned objects like the shopping trolleys and burnt out cars. People have abandoned these objects and I find it strange that they may think it is fun or that they don’t care at all in the first place.

I feel embarrassed even writing this but I know that other people do this as well, maybe not to the same extent, though.

Comments are  very welcome.