this post was submitted on 29 Dec 2023
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Showerthoughts
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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The best ones are thoughts that many people can relate to and they find something funny or interesting in regular stuff.
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I would definitely argue that it is at least technically correct.
Your example points to a vague resemblance in how it sounds spoken, which has barely nothing to do with the meaning. This much ought to be obvious.
My thought points to an unlikely lesson found in both phrases. That is, both remind to make the most out of life, because inevitable death. As others have pointed out, the connotations just have been formed such that YOLO ends up generally achieving that with recklessness and "Memento Mori" generally with caution and healthy respect for mortality.
However, that does mean that the same lesson is still found in them, which indeed makes them mean pretty much the same thing. Note that I don't claim them to be synonymous, like a certain comment claims, or interchangeable, which they aren't.
TL;DR: Your example relies on how it sounds and it is indeed superficial. In my thought the similarity indeed exist in the language and is technically correct.
You're focusing on the wrong part of my argument. The cat bit was a humorous throwaway.
Memento mori is directly and explicitly tied to humility and mindfulness. This is well documented from both contemporary and historical sources and is absolutely distinct from the indulgence of "making the most out of life". YOLO is about risks and embracing the experience rather than contemplating the consequences. YOLO is closer to "hold my beer" than anything else.
Making the most of life doesn't necessarily mean indulgence. It can mean living a long and meaningful one.
Also in my previous response I already made a point about the connotations, which I feel responds pretty well to this too.
EDIT: typo