df A Giant Whale That Terrified Romans A Co-Parenting Minefield The Real Sea Monster Co-parenting is a challenging task with a steep learning curve for many divorced Protect Relationships With Social Media Savvy
couples. Adjusting to new dynamics and learning to work together effectively is often emotionally draining and exhausting. Unfortunately, social media often makes the process even more fraught and can cause unnecessary tension in a delicate relationship. People regularly turn to social media for support and validation. It’s natural to want to vent, and putting your complaints on social media can seem appealing — the wider the audience, the more affirmation you can receive. But airing dirty laundry has a way of coming back to haunt you. First, many divorce settlements and parenting plans specifically contain clauses that bar disparaging the co-parent publicly. So, bashing your ex on social media could have legal consequences. Whether or not those arise, there will almost always be personal fallout, and it could damage your relationships beyond repair. The internet is forever. Word gets around even if you delete a post or have strict privacy settings. A single screenshot or follower who likes to gossip will inform your ex about your posts. They will likely feel angry, embarrassed, and less willing to resolve problems amicably. Worse, your child may follow you or your co-parent on social media. They could feel humiliated or angry after reading negative public comments about their other parent. They may also confront your co-parent about your allegations or become angry at you for speaking badly about someone they love. In other words, there are many risks with virtually no upsides. Do not discuss your divorce or co-parenting relationship on social media, even when being “vague” or avoiding names. While somewhat less fraught, there are further social media pitfalls. Consider your co-parent’s feelings about posting your children’s photographs on social media. You may not fully agree, but you can at least attempt to compromise. Further, try to be sensitive. Flaunting a new romance online could upset your ex and lead to co-parenting tension. Certainly, give your co-parent a heads-up before making things “Facebook official.” When done correctly, social media can help co-parents feel more connected to their children and common goals. But just a few missteps can destroy a lot of hard-won progress. Think before you post, and consider talking to a trusted friend or writing in a journal instead.
Social media lit up in spring of 2023 with news that orcas were attacking boats off the coasts of Portugal and Spain. Experts can’t agree on the reason behind this aggressive behavior, but history tells us it’s not the first time whales have gone rogue against sea vessels in their midst. Citizens of the Eastern Roman Empire (aka the Byzantine Empire) dealt with a similar problem in the form of a fearsome giant whale they named Porphyrios. Porphyrios struck terror into the hearts of fishermen, merchants, and soldiers who frequented the waters around Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul, Turkey) during the 6th century; he spent roughly 50 years attacking boats of all sizes throughout the area. Then he would disappear for years at a time, but the locals never knew when he would reappear to sink more ships.
The whale caused so many problems for commerce and defense that Roman Emperor Justinian I reportedly prioritized capturing or killing him. But even the greatest war strategists could not devise a way to take Porphyrios down. He was like a natural disaster, and leaders could stop him no more than they could hold off a hurricane. As with today’s killer whales, experts are unsure what drove Porphyrios’ behavior. Since cameras would not be invented for more than 1,000 years,
there are no photographs of Porphyrios, and it’s impossible to know what species he was. Due to his enormous size and apparent long life, many marine
biologists believe he was a sperm whale. However, others point out that sperm whales rarely live in the region where Porphyrios caused his mayhem and think he was an orca — perhaps an ancestor of the modern-day boat bashers around Europe. Unfortunately for Porphyrios and animal lovers, the whale’s antics eventually caught up with him. While chasing a school of dolphins, Porphyrios beached himself near the mouth of the Black Sea and struggled unsuccessfully to push his body back into the ocean. Meanwhile, Byzantines caught wind that their enemy was helpless and attacked with ropes and axes, giving Porphyrios a gory death and themselves a feast of whale meat.
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Despite his inauspicious end, Porphyrios is still the only whale to threaten the Roman Empire. We can only hope he will be the only marine life ever to pose such a threat.
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–Ashley and Chris Bruce
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