#'human beings are defined by their flaws'

[gemsofgreece]

Not wanting to sound like a 19th century racial anthropologist lol, but is the greek nose that common among greeks ? Most greeks i know have big noses, so do i have just a shitty sample or was the greek nose named greek for some strange reasons ?

You do sound a bit like that hahaha

No, there's just a series of misconceptions you are making here.

The "Greek nose" is not a Greek-born concept. It was the Western Europeans who started speaking of a "Greek nose" stereotype by observing ancient Greek statues.

The Greek nose has nothing to do with size. The Greek nose refers to the straight nose, the nose that has no upturned or downturned tilt. It can be massive, so to speak, as long as it's straight.

Many ancient Greek statues have a characteristic nose that also has a straight bridge, a bridge that seems to be completely aligned with the forehead, without any bump at all or any upwards inclination. This was an artistic choice, it seemed to be some sort of beauty ideal to them, which means it could perhaps have existed but it was rare. In our times, such a feature kind of exists but is indeed quite rare, not just amongst Greeks, but amongst human phenotypes in general.

The way you can tell this was a beauty ideal and not a common reality is that this straight bridged nose is in most statues depicting gods or idealised conceptions of youth (like kouros and kore) yet hardly in statues of actual Greek mortals that truly existed. And I think one of the biggest flaws in the comparisons foreign people are so keen in trying to do between ancient Greeks and modern Greeks is that they compare modern Greeks to ancient Greek gods and not ancient Greek mortals...!

Judging by living amongst modern Greeks and by looking at statues of ancient Greek mortals, I will say that both groups seem to have had pretty diverse noses, maybe with a tendency towards a medium or a moderately large size and, indeed, a straight shape. That's not to say that there aren't numerous Greeks with tiny noses, delicate noses, upturned noses, very large noses, hooked noses, bumpy noses, downturned noses, round noses, wide noses.

I will say however that the most standard or super common characteristics you will see in a Greek's nose is to be pretty defined, on the pointier rather than the rounder side, and again mostly straight, usually medium to moderately large, and more often with narrow nostrils, without that meaning that all the "less common" traits are not totally present in the population as well. A prime example being Socrates in fact, who had a very uncharacteristic nose for a Greek, but he was in fact an Ancient Greek native Athenian. The rarest traits in Greek noses are a nose being too short or too rounded or too wide. Socrates had all that.

But I am a little confused by you sort of suggesting that modern Greeks have large noses "as opposed to ancient Greek statues" because to my eyes ancient Greek statues - both of mortals and even idealised ones - tend to have prominent noses, maybe more often on the large rather than the small side. A small nose is actually kind of rare in Greek statues, no?

Here are some examples of statues of Ancient Greeks who actually existed:

...You know? The smallest nose here is medium. And there is a lot of diversity in shapes.

(Obviously realistic looking mortal female statues are harder to find in a quick search, so I just went for famous Ancient Greek men. Alexander is not included, because his statues were always highly idealised / deified.)

BTW during my search of Greek statues I found this image. Has a variety of noses too!

* how dare the person who made this not know Psarantonis’ name, when they know everyone else, this is sacrilegious!

As for your sample, I wouldn’t use the term shitty but it is limited indeed, not because it is not representative of Greeks but because it is not diverse enough nose-wise.

[lookinthymirror]

an ode to zionist women

whenever anyone (especially gentiles) thinks of zionism, they think of, idk straight white men from europe (and the world needs and thrives on this view of zionism because it's their attempt of discrediting it and they think the perfect way to destroy zionism is by emphasizing the privileges of zionist jews, making it dangerously difficult and near impossible for jews who actually care about the injustices within the jewish community to acknowledge and lessen these disparities). i want to change that because 1) zionism is for ALL jews even when *some* jews perpetuated otherwise, 2) i won't allow misogyny to continue to succeed through this idea that zionism is a man's thing and 3) i want us to deal with these harmful misconceptions and get it out the way so we can properly stride towards an improved, fair future for us all. by letting these antisemitic ideas continue, we take steps backwards. zionist women deserve to be known. we have always been here and we always will be. if zionist women can be zionist knowing misogyny exists and will most likely eclipse their efforts, i don't know why people can't get over bad people who happen to be zionists because terrible people will always exist and anything can and will be weaponized; it's not the end of the world. (obligatory "anything and everything can be pretty harmful because nothing is perfect and humans are flawed"). if we deal with this now, we can also deal with all the misogyny directed towards zionist women from anti zionists etc!

ZIONIST WOMAN OF THE DAY: JESSIE SAMPTER

born in 1883, jessie sampter challenged zionist ideals of "strong, healthy bodies", being a disabled, queer, jewish woman (as a disabled woman myself, it is wrong that these ideals existed AND it makes sense that strong healthy bodies were championed considering the antisemitic world view of the jewish body as weak and unnatural...nuance!). the antisemitic belief that zionists all blindly supported israel/zionism/etc can quickly and easily be dismantled by actually looking at zionists, especially zionist women. no person is 100% supportive of anything so this is quite laughable. zionists have always been the leaders of criticism towards zionism (no one understands zionism more than zionists tbvh). zionists constantly argued amongst each other because they disagreed with each other's notions of zionism and each had their own specific interpretation that oftentimes clashed. she sometimes wrote negatively about zionist activity in the yishuv, highlighting how zionists have always been critical of zionism and other zionists.

jessie sampter was an defining educator, writer, poet and zionist pioneer and thinker. she encouraged jewish movement to mandatory palestine and considered herself "married to palestine". she wrote in both hebrew and english of a wide range of topics such as jewish nationalism, arab-jewish relations, life in the yishuv and her experiences which included same sex relationships and homoerotic desires. born into an assimilated jewish household, as an adult, she chose judaism and zionism after spending time in henrietta szold's home (important to note: before becoming friends with henrietta she was a part of the unitarian church). she had always cared about children all throughout her life, writing for magazines dedicated to children and as a zionist, writing for jewish children even up to her death.

at the time of her death in 1938, she had spent her entire life with russian zionist woman, leah berlin who had been living with her in kibbutz givat brenner, where sampter had established a vegetarian convalescent home. sampter fell ill and was hospitalized upon her arrival in jerusalem. yet she did not see herself as a drain on the zionist cause. rather, her essays framed her experience as a celebration of zionism for her english-speaking audiences: “to me it was almost worth the discomfort of a serious illness that I might spend several weeks as a patient, in the ranks of patients, in our own hadassah hospital in jerusalem—the rothschild hospital” (“bed number six").

JUST A FEW OF HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

she participated in organizing and fundraising for what would become the first school for the deaf in palestine. she also worked to ensure that education was available for yemenite jews in the yishuv. noticing that ashkenazi families excluded yemenite children from kindergartens and other schools, sampter helped create a kindergarten for yemenite children, a girl scout troop for yemenite girls, and an evening class for yemenite working girls. she would later adopt a yemenite jewish girl with whom she had developed a relationship during her visits to a jerusalem orphanage.

by 1914, sampter had become a key figure in hadassah. she served on the central committee, the organization’s main leadership council, alongside szold, lotta levensohn, nellie straus mochenson, alice seligsberg, and others. together, the women were effective organizers and fundraisers, though they did experience friction with the male-run zionist organization of america. the ZOA tried to bring hadassah under its own leadership structure, and often the men wanted the women’s support “but not their minds,” as henrietta szold wrote. sampter had no trouble using her mind for hadassah, however. she helmed the organization’s education department, served as a consultant for zionist education in baltimore, and ultimately published A Course in Zionism (1915), which brought together her investment in education with her zionism. she also published articles, pamphlets, and speeches in favor of zionism. “nationalism and universal brotherhood,” for example, argued for a principled position in favor of both internationalism and zionism: “as a jew I see that the idea of universal brotherhood is the crowning of jewish prophecy. and yet the jewish prophets were all nationalists.” she saw each nation (by which she meant something like people-group or culture, rather than nation-state) as contributing its own unique values and characteristics to the whole of humanity.

she edited a textbook with another zionist woman, alice seligsberg, wrote several books on philosophy and religion and published five poetry collections. below is one of her poems, titled "the light of exile":

tell me, what is exile’s light?

is it candles burning bright,

little candles in the night?

exile’s light is this old man.

ere the morning he began

israel’s holy page to scan.

and he teaches from this page

israel’s law in every age:

exile’s light is israel’s sage.

ending notes: jessie sampter and zionist women in general fought for the inclusivity of zionism to all jews and amplified the depth and complexities of zionism by continuously expanding its definition and creating their own version due to their love of human beings, their love of their fellow jews and their dedication to tikkun olam.

[monards]

"It's so rare for R to be in her right mind for a spell. Should she really be wasting the precious little lucid time she has writing this?" "Don't worry. For a witch, this is the most important thing."

you mean to be telling me that it's an explicit point that rhinedottir is rarely in the proper state to do spells and write things like this. and of all the choices she had not to. she chooses to write it and places importance (read. it's established as the MOST IMPORTANT THING too.) in spending said-precious-time to write something with her friends commemorating andersdotter. hoyo i need youto stare me in the eyes and real the implications of rhinedottir expending what the other's are describing as her "precious little lucid time" to commemorate and make an ode to her dead friend HOYOPLEAS

[coachbeards]

beard: Ted is my best friend, he is my savior, he is my rock. I will define my life by servicing him as his assistant and I will drop my entire life in the span of three days just because he asked me to. My biggest regret that still haunts me years and years later is that I betrayed him, and I have been punishing myself ever since. He’s an agent of good, I follow him like he is Jesus and I am just a simple worshiper. I love Ted. I have ruined relationships because of my devotion to Ted, my own girlfriend turned wife hates Ted with a passion due to her jealousy. I am constantly having to pick between my girlfriend and ted.

ted: this is my best buddy beardo :{D

[locuas642]

I just saw someone say that Greek Mythology is about Intergenerational Trauma and Abuse. and

I kinda want to scream.

[an-egg-on-it]

People are gonna kill me for this but I feel like Good Omens and Steven Universe are similar in a kind of way

[navramanan]

no good alone. isolation is easy; living is hard by Rayne Fisher-Quann

[luna-azzurra]

The Villain Checklist!

Creating a villain is a delicate art, much like crafting a masterpiece. To ensure your antagonist leaps off the page with depth, consider these essential elements for your villain checklist:

Motivation: Every great villain is driven by a potent motivation, one that fuels their actions and sets them on their dark path. Explore their backstory and unearth the core reason behind their villainy. Are they seeking power, revenge, redemption, or something more sinister?

Complexity: Gone are the days of one-dimensional villains twirling mustaches and cackling maniacally. Infuse your antagonist with layers of complexity and nuance. Perhaps they possess redeeming qualities or wrestle with inner conflicts that humanize their actions.

Flaws and Vulnerabilities: Despite their nefarious intentions, villains should be flawed beings with vulnerabilities. These weaknesses not only add depth to their character but also create opportunities for conflict and growth throughout your story.

Backstory: Delve into your villain's past to uncover formative experiences that shaped their present disposition. Trauma, betrayal, or societal pressures can all contribute to their descent into villainy, providing rich narrative fodder for exploration.

Goals and Ambitions: Just as heroes strive for noble objectives, villains pursue their own twisted goals with fervor and determination. Define what your antagonist hopes to achieve and the lengths they're willing to go to attain it, even if it means sacrificing everything in their path.

Antagonistic Traits: From cunning intellect to ruthless brutality, equip your villain with traits that make them a formidable adversary for your protagonist. Consider how their strengths and weaknesses complement each other, creating dynamic conflicts that propel your story forward.

Relationships and Alliances: Villains don't operate in isolation; they forge alliances, manipulate allies, and cultivate relationships to further their agendas. Develop the connections your antagonist shares with other characters, be they loyal minions or reluctant collaborators, to add depth to their character dynamics.

Moral Justification (from their perspective): While their actions may be abhorrent to society, villains often believe they're justified in their pursuits. Explore your antagonist's moral code and the twisted logic that rationalizes their behavior, offering readers insight into their twisted worldview.

Arc of Transformation: Just as protagonists undergo arcs of growth and change, villains should experience their own journey of transformation. Whether it's redemption, downfall, or something altogether unexpected, chart the evolution of your antagonist throughout the narrative.

Memorable Traits: Give your villain distinctive traits or quirks that leave a lasting impression on readers. Whether it's a chilling catchphrase, a distinctive appearance, or a haunting backstory, give your antagonist elements that linger in the minds of your audience long after they've closed the book.

[sugarplumfairy777]

⋆˚✿˖°failure..? doubt...? limitations...? uhh...what is that?

#nonegativityinmyvocabularycuzimgodduh

♡︎doubts

there are moments when doubt clouds your mind, when you question your true nature, and wonder if it’s really possible that you are the embodiment of pure consciousness, that you are god itself. but here’s the truth: you are powerful beyond measure, and doubt is simply the ego’s way of keeping you small. remember, you are not the voice in your head. you are the one who hears it. you are not your body, your circumstances, or the labels others give you. all of those things change. you, however, are the unchanging, eternal awareness behind it all—pure consciousness. that alone is your essence, and it is limitless. it is god in its most divine, infinite form. you are that. your are god.

so why doubt? doubt arises when we identify too strongly with our limited selves—with the ego, the stories we tell ourselves about who we think we are, and the false separation we feel from the universe. but here’s the thing: that separation is an illusion. you are not separate. you are one with everything, one with all beings, one with the source of all creation. if god is infinite and formless, then that is who you truly are.

the world we live in is built on beliefs that reinforce separation and limitation, which make us forget our true nature as god, as pure consciousness.

from a young age, we’re taught to define ourselves by external things—our name, our achievements, our social status, how others perceive us. we’re told that we’re just humans, separate from everything else, living in a material world where everything seems to exist outside of us. society measures success by how much we have or how well we fit into its standards. this constant focus on the external world leads us to forget the infinite power we hold inside.

there’s also a deep-rooted belief in scarcity and competition. we’re told that there’s not enough for everyone and that we need to work hard to “earn” our place in the world. this idea of having to compete with others to survive keeps us in a mindset of lack and limitation. it makes us feel like we’re small, powerless, and unworthy of the greatness we naturally possess.

on top of that, most of us are bombarded by information and distractions that keep our attention outside of ourselves—social media, advertisements, entertainment. these things make us constantly compare ourselves to others, reinforcing the idea that we’re not good enough, that we’re missing something. when our minds are always focused outward, we forget to look within, where our true power lies.

religion, too, can play a role in reinforcing the separation. many traditional religious teachings portray god as something outside of us—an all-powerful being up in the sky, separate from us, judging us. this can make it hard to recognize that god is within us, that we are one with the divine. instead of seeing ourselves as divine beings with infinite power, we’re taught to see ourselves as flawed, imperfect, and in need of salvation from something outside of us.

the education system also teaches us to prioritize logic, reason, and empirical evidence. while these things are valuable, they often make us dismiss our inner knowing, our intuition, and our connection to something greater than the physical world. we start to believe that the only “real” things are those we can see, measure, and prove scientifically, which distances us from the understanding that we are consciousness itself.

all these systems—society, media, religion, education—focus on the material, the external, and reinforce the idea that we’re separate, small, and limited. but these are just illusions. the truth is, beyond all these distractions, we are god in human form. we are the creators of our reality, infinite and powerful beyond measure.

to overcome this conditioning, we need to remember to turn inward, to connect with our true essence. by shifting our focus from the external world to the inner, we can begin to see that the separation and limitation we’ve been taught are illusions. we are, and have always been, one with the infinite.

think about that for a moment: you are the consciousness that creates worlds.

the doubt you feel is just the mind holding on to a false story. it’s the ego trying to convince you that you need to stay small, stay afraid. but you don’t have to. you have the power to step into your true nature at any time, to realize that you are already the infinite, and that nothing can diminish your divine power. cuz ur god duh. 😝

how do you release these doubts?

shift your perspective: any time you find yourself doubting, pause and ask, “who is doubting right now?” is it your higher self, your infinite consciousness? or is it your mind, your ego, your conditioning? you’ll realize that it’s always the latter. remind yourself that the real you, the one observing, is always free from doubt.

affirm your power: wake up every morning and affirm: “i am infinite. i am consciousness itself. i am god in form.” these words are not just affirmations—they are the deepest truth of your existence. repeat them, let them sink into your being, until you feel the energy of your divinity pulsing through your every cell.

remember your unity with everything: god is not something separate from you. the universe is not some distant force. it is you. you are made from the same divine consciousness that runs through every star, every planet, every being. the same consciousness that creates life flows through you, too. you are the universe experiencing itself.

embrace your power: you are not weak, you are not small. you are the creator of your reality, the manifestor of your dreams, and the master of your destiny. nothing outside of you can take that power away from you because it is in you. it is you. every time you doubt, remind yourself of this: i am the creator. i am the source of all power.

you are limitless. the doubt you feel is just a temporary veil over your true power, but it can’t last. every time you bring your awareness back to the present moment, every time you remember that you are pure consciousness, the veil lifts. the illusion fades.

there is no need to doubt when you realize you are already everything you seek. you don’t have to strive to become god, to become powerful, to become divine—you already are. it’s always been you. it will always be you.

so, the next time doubt creeps in, breathe deeply, smile, and remember: you are pure consciousness, infinite, powerful, and divine. you are the creator of all that is. step into that truth and watch the world transform around you.

♡︎failure

we’ve all grown up with the idea that failure is something to be feared, that it’s a sign we’re not good enough or capable enough. but what if i told you that failure isn’t real? it’s an illusion we’ve been conditioned to believe in, and once you truly understand this, especially in the context of the void state, you can release the fear of failure and step into your infinite power.

here’s why failure doesn’t exist and how realizing this can change your entire perspective on life.

1. failure is just a label, not a reality

first of all, the concept of failure is something we create in our minds. it’s a label we slap on situations when things don’t go according to our expectations. society conditions us to believe that if we don’t achieve a specific outcome, we’ve failed. but who decides what failure even means? it’s not the universe. it’s not some law of existence. it’s us, based on societal norms and conditioning.

society sets all these expectations—like getting a certain job, reaching milestones by certain ages, succeeding in school, relationships, and more. when we don’t meet those arbitrary standards, we call it failure. but the truth is, life doesn’t operate according to those rigid standards. there are no universal rules that say you have to achieve a particular thing by a certain time. when we attach the label of failure to an experience, it’s just a reflection of our own beliefs—not reality.

2. the void state: where failure dissolves

now, let’s talk about the void state. the void is a place where all external ideas and constructs—including failure—dissolve. the void state is the place of infinite potential, pure consciousness, and limitless creation. when you enter the void, you step outside of the physical world’s limitations, stepping into a space where everything is possible.

in the void, there is no concept of failure, because there are no external judgments or expectations. it’s a state where you can create whatever reality you desire, free from the constraints of your current circumstances. when you realize you can access this space, the idea of failure becomes irrelevant. why? because the void is a reminder that you are always in control of your reality, no matter what happens in the physical world. failure is tied to the ego’s attachment to outcomes, but in the void, the ego doesn’t exist. the void reminds you that you are not limited by past mistakes, external circumstances, or societal expectations. you are infinite consciousness with the power to create and manifest anything you choose. when you realize this, “failure” can’t touch you, because you understand that you can always start fresh, that you’re constantly creating in each moment.

3. there are only lessons and growth

instead of seeing failure, recognize that every experience is an opportunity for growth. when things don’t go the way you planned, it doesn’t mean you failed—it means you learned. it means you grew. each experience teaches you something valuable about yourself, your path, and the world around you.

when you shift your perspective to see every situation as a stepping stone, you’ll realize there’s no such thing as failure—there’s only progress. every setback is a redirection, a guide leading you toward a better understanding of yourself and your desires. it’s the universe saying, “this is what you need to learn before you reach the next level.” from this perspective, what we call “failure” becomes just another part of the journey toward expansion and self-mastery.

4. the power of the void to manifest success

when you fully embrace the void state and recognize your power to manifest, you understand that there is no wrong path. whatever you desire, you can create it. the void is a space where you can strip away all the beliefs that tell you otherwise, a space where you can manifest new realities instantly, regardless of what has happened before.

if you ever feel like you’ve failed at something, use that as a cue to tap into the void. enter that space of stillness, of limitless possibility, and remind yourself that you are the creator of your life. nothing is set in stone, nothing is permanent. everything is subject to change based on your thoughts and beliefs. if you desire a new outcome, you have the power to manifest it.

in the void, you realize that “failure” is just another momentary experience, not a permanent mark on your life. you can always rewrite the story, start fresh, and bring your desires into reality without being held back by what others call failure.

5. you’re always winning, even when it doesn’t seem like it

when you’re stuck in the mindset of failure, you’re looking through a narrow lens, focusing only on what didn’t go according to plan. but when you zoom out, you’ll often realize that those moments were setting you up for something greater. Trust that you are always winning. every step you take, even when it doesn’t look like success on the outside, is moving you closer to your ultimate goal. sometimes things fall apart so something better can come together. in the void, you can see this clearly, because it’s the place where your higher self is always in control, always guiding you toward your best possible life.

6. failure is just part of the illusion of separation

at its core, the idea of failure is rooted in the illusion of separation—that we are separate from our goals, separate from success, separate from the divine. but in truth, there is no separation. we are already one with everything we desire. the belief in failure comes from the false notion that we’re lacking something, that we’re not enough or that we’re disconnected from our power.

but the void state reminds us that we are already whole, already complete. we are god, we are pure consciousness, and we are the creators of our reality. failure doesn’t exist in a world where you understand that everything is connected, that you are already everything you seek.

embrace your power

the next time you feel like you’ve failed, remember this: failure doesn’t exist. it’s a label we’ve been taught to fear, but it’s not real. in the grand scheme of your infinite existence, there are only experiences—some of them are stepping stones to success, and some are lessons that help you grow. but they’re all part of your journey, and none of them diminish your power.

when you tap into the void state, when you realize that you are pure consciousness and the creator of your life, failure becomes irrelevant. you are always in control, always manifesting, always creating. setbacks are temporary, but your power is eternal.

so, let go of the illusion of failure, you are god, and in your world, failure does not exist. inducing pure consciousness/the void state is literally impossible to fail. failure simply does not exist.

♡︎limitations

as a god you are limitless. no matter what anybody tells you, you are limitless that will never change because that is just the truth. you will and can never stop being god. you are not just some random human who came across loa/manifesting some random friday afternoon. you are limitless. you are pure consciousness, you are the creator you determine what is real and what is to happen.

no dream is too big no desire is too out far out of reach, you are god so might as well just start acting like it lol.

[thermodynamic-comedian]

i just finished madoka magica, and honestly, what drives me so insane about it is how it's just another example of what's been shown throughout the entire show; madoka just loves people. she's not a savior or a hero, she's not a morally pure being, she's a teen girl who loves people too much to let them suffer if she has a chance to stop it all, even if it means reducing her own existence into a rule of the universe.

madoka's love for humanity, despite the horrors she's been forced to witness, despite the evils she knows humans are capable of, she can't let go of that love for other people that she holds. it's her fatal flaw. her achilles heel. her most fundamentally defining quality.

and she's survived by someone who hates humanity, but loves her enough to keep fighting anyways, because it's what she wants. all the love that madoka puts out into the universe is returned right back to her in the form of homura.

[autolenaphilia]

The actual problem with terf ideology/rhetoric in queer and feminist spaces

Part 1: actually defining the problem

The thing about "terf ideology and rhetoric" is that it is actually an extremely widespread problem among queer people. Like the transandrobros say that constantly, and taken literally, they are completely correct. The problem is that they don't know what terf ideology and rhetoric actually is (or pretend not to), and are actually extremely guilty of it themselves.

The transandrobros use "terf ideology/rhetoric" to refer to transfems doing basic feminism and talking about patriarchy and misogyny. They occasionally use "baeddel" or "tirf" when they acknowledge that transfems are doing it, saying we're doing "terfism but for transfems" as if that is a thing that could exist. That's because functionally, terfism is cis women using their cis privilege to give a feminist ideological justification to the genocide of transfems, transfems have no transfem privilege to do the same to other marginalized groups.

Of course, that's because the transandrophobia people because of their own transmisogyny deny the transmisogyny of terf ideology, and have no definition of terf beyond "feminist that i dislike", or terf ideology beyond "man-hating feminism."

And of course, things are bit more complicated than that.

To put it simply, terfism is not talking about misogyny, that's basic feminism, but talking about misogyny as "sex-based oppression." It is a feminism that accepts patriarchal society's reification of the two sexes as an unchangeable natural biological fact, and views it as the origin of patriarchy. This type of feminist ideology is called cultural feminism, and from that naturally comes transmisogyny. Trans women are because of this bio-essentialism by definition "biologically male", and not real female women, thus can't experience real misogyny that comes from having a womb, but merely gender-based oppression from being gender non-conforming males.

(Historian Alice Echols who popularized the term cultural feminism made a distinction between it and the US-american radical feminism of the late 60s and early 70s which rejected the sex binary, but even in Echols history of US second-wave feminism, more or less everyone who has called themselves radical feminists since 1973 are cultural feminists, a movement which grew out of and replaced the original radical feminism)

And while open terfs or "gender critical radical feminists" have the most obvious, most virulent, most openly genocidal form of this ideology, this kind of thinking is ubiquitous in a softer form even among ostensibly trans-accepting feminists and tme queer people. Cultural feminism took over western feminism in the early 70s, and hasn't let go since.

Outside the openly GC spaces, it has of course been softened to accept that "trans women are women", but it's an empty slogan. The underlying bio-essentialism is preserved by a distinction between sex and gender, where sex is natural, real, unchangeable and biological, whereas gender is socially constructed and thus fake and non-material. So they accept that trans women can be "gendered" women, but we are forever "biologically male", and thus less real women than "biologically female" cis women.

(in reality,biological sex is just society's ideas about gender made into a bio-truth, and the "gender-critical feminists" are actually hard-core "genderists" themselves, they just reify their ideas of gender as biological and natural)

And this translates into practice. For this kind of ally, trans women's social acceptance as women is always dependent on good feminine behavior, while cis women's womanhood is natural and in-contestable. The tme self-described "transfem ally" is always prepared to accept the womanhood of the ideal trans woman in their head, but actual flesh-and-blood transfems who have human flaws and that most unfeminine quality of having a backbone is a different story. These transfems are systematically rejected from tme-dominated social settings as rude, male socialized, perverted and sexually predatory, one after another. These tme allies will reject the terf caricatures about transfems as a false generalization, but continue to apply them to every transfem that displeases them.

That's because transmisogyny is ubiquitous in society, and what cultural feminism/terfism does is present society's conventional view of sex/gender, and the transmisogyny that comes with it, in feminist terms. It's the same things fascists and religious conservatives believe but put in a way that appeals to liberal/leftist tme people. Most tme people have to work to unlearn their transmisogyny and bio-essentialism, and it's just easier to keep believing what you were taught as a child, but believing yourself to be a trans-accepting progressive or radical.

Part 2: the transandrobros on tumblr

The transandrophobia crowd here are no different. Their beliefs about transandrophobia are revealed to be the old terfy beliefs about "sex-based oppression", about how "afab people" because of their biological sex have a deeper experience of oppression and especially misogyny than transfems have. Like the leading transandrophobia bloggers here have openly repeated their belief in sex-based oppression as, i have chronicled on this blog before.

This kind of unexamined transmisogynist bio-essentialism is the real root of their opposition to transmisogyny theory, and to transfems talking about the misogyny we experience. Fundamentally they don't believe we are the victims of misogyny.

Their push to make transfems talking about basic feminism "dangerous terf rhetoric" is" effectively is a form of projection. Defining terfism as simply "man-hating" acts as cover for their own terf ideology and rhetoric. It enables MRA-style rhetoric about man-hating feminists to function in conjunction with an insidious transmisogynistic bio-essentialist feminism.

It's of course somewhat contradictory, but reactionary ideologies seldom are 100% coherent. And it's rooted not in logical thought, but in the desire of the transandrobros to always be the innocent victim. So transfems are mean to them by being man-hating radfems, but also they are being mean by using their male privilege to talk over real wombyn talking about their experiences of misogynistic oppression, often at the same time.

This is them rhetorically fusing " the worst associations of men and women in TMA people and the best associations of both men and women in TME trans people." to quote this excellent essay. The transandrobro gets to be the rational male standing against the screaming man-hating feminist harpy, and also the innocent woman screamed at by an aggressive male, all at the same time. Talking about the patriarchy is evil misandry oppressing them, but also a denial of the misogyny they experience. None of it makes sense, but it doesn't have to.

Part 3: a transandrophobia truther gives us the perfect example

As an example, i'm gonna give you some screenshots, all from the same blog.

(Image id: screenshot of a tumblr post reading

"OMFG no way you are saying trans men are less affected by misoginy than trans women, no fucking way.

I guess now trans men are not treated as disordered, mentally ill women. I guess now trans men are not affected by abortion bans, rape, reproductive healthcare issues, infantilization, etc.

Do you hear yourself?!?!?!

Are you trying to ignore the material reality of our bodies and the effects agab has on a person's life???? What is this soulgender crap?

Just because trans women are women and trans men are men doesn't mean trans women are treated as women and trans men are men have you ever been in this world??? I don't give a fuck about people's gender affirmation if they are pushing to ignore the material reality that affects us and from where our issues come from.")

Notice the use of actual terf terminology, like "soulgender", or the laughable misuse of "material reality" that probably made Marx spin even more in his grave. This is the standard terf narrative that transfems very existence are erasing the oppression of real wombyn, our fake claims of womanhood and experiencing misogyny are erasing biological reality.

The post even outright claims trans women are treated as men and have male privilege. And when called out on this, the blogger became even more blatant:

(Image ID: screenshot of a tumblr post reading "Me saying that trans women do not experience the same kind or ammount of misoginy as women is not me saying that they are not women, it's me acknowledging that they are a specific subset of woman with a unique experience.")

Notice the not-so subtle misgendering in separating trans women from women in this screenshot. Yet when replying to a post that correctly said that "... going to trans women's posts to harass them and crying about misandry and eyeing every feminist statement with suspicion truly is just misogyny 101 and has to stop", the same fucking blogger criticized them in the following terms:

(image id: screenshot a tumblr post reading: "It's the literal terf and radfem rethoric or men bad and dangerous women good and pure that leads to the hatred against trans women in the first place. It's what causes so many trans men and transmascs to have trouble with their transition because they are constantly being told how all masculine traits are undesireable and worse than feminine traits.")

See what I mean about transandrobros defining terf/radfem ideology as just "man-hating" to hide your own very radfem-esque transmisogyny. Defining transmisogyny as rooted in hatred against men instead of misogyny is just more not-so-subtle misgendering. The idea is trans women are not women, so any oppression we experience is not misogyny, but a men's issue.

[anghraine]

It's always been intriguing to me that, even when Elizabeth hates Darcy and thinks he's genuinely a monstrous, predatory human being, she does not ever perceive him as sexually predatory. In fact, literally no one in the novel suggests or believes he is sexually dangerous at any point. There's not the slightest hint of that as a factor in the rumors surrounding him, even though eighteenth-century fiction writers very often linked masculine villainy to a possibility of sexual predation in the subtext or just text*. Austen herself does this over and over when it comes to the true villains of her novels.

Even as a supposed villain, though, Darcy is broadly understood to be predatory and callous towards men who are weaker than him in status, power, and personality—with no real hint of sexual threat about it at all (certainly none towards women). Darcy's "villainy" is overwhelmingly about abusing his socioeconomic power over other men, like Wickham and Bingley. This can have secondhand effects on women's lives, but as collateral damage. Nobody thinks he's targeting women.

In addition, Elizabeth's interpretations of Darcy in the first half of the book tend to involve associating him with relatively prestigious women by contrast to the men in his life (he's seen as extremely dissimilar from his male friends and, as a villain, from his father). So Elizabeth understands Darcy-as-villain not in terms of the popular, often very sexualized images of masculine villainy at the time, but in terms of rich women she personally despises like Caroline Bingley and Lady Catherine de Bourgh (and even Georgiana Darcy; Elizabeth assumes a lot about Georgiana in service of her hatred of Darcy before ever meeting her).

The only people in Elizabeth's own community who side with Darcy at this time are, interestingly, both women, and likely the highest-status unmarried women in her community: Charlotte Lucas and Jane Bennet. Both have some temperamental affinities with Darcy, and while it's not clear if he recognizes this, he quietly approves of them without even knowing they've been sticking up for him behind the scenes.

This concept of Darcy-as-villain is not just Elizabeth's, either. Darcy is never seen by anyone as a sexual threat no matter how "bad" he's supposed to be. No one is concerned about any danger he might pose to their daughters or sisters. Kitty is afraid of him, but because she's easily intimidated rather than any sense of actual peril. Even another man, Mr Bennet, seems genuinely surprised to discover late in the novel that Darcy experiences attraction to anything other than his own ego.

I was thinking about this because of how often the concept of Darcy as an anti-hero before Elizabeth "fixes him" seems caught up in a hypermasculine, sexually dangerous, bad boy image of him that even people who actively hate him in the novel never subscribe to or remotely imply. Wickham doesn't suggest anything of the kind, Elizabeth doesn't, the various gossips of Meryton don't, Mr Bennet and the Gardiners don't, nobody does. If anything, he's perceived as cold and sexless.

Wickham in particular defines Darcy's villainy in opposition to the patriarchal ideal his father represented. Wickham's version of their history works to link Darcy to Lady Anne, Lady Catherine (primarily), and Georgiana rather than any kind of masculine sexuality. This version of Darcy is a villain who colludes with unsympathetic high-status women to harm men of less power than themselves, but villain!Darcy poses no direct threat to women of any kind.

It's always seemed to me that there's a very strong tendency among fans and academics to frame Darcy as this ultra-gendered figure with some kind of sexual menace going on, textually or subtextually. He's so often understood entirely in terms of masculinity and sexual desire, with his flaws closely tied to both (whether those flaws are his real ones, exaggerated, or entirely manufactured). Yet that doesn't seem to be his vibe to other characters in the story. There's a level at which he does not register to other characters as highly masculine in his affiliations, highly sexual, or in general as at all unsafe** to be around, even when they think he's a monster. And I kind of feel like this makes the revelations of his actual decency all along and his full-on heroism later easier to accept in the end.

------------

*The incompetently awful villain(?) in Sanditon, for instance, imagines himself another Lovelace (a reference to the famous rapist-villain of Samuel Richardson's Clarissa). Evelina's sheltered education and lack of protectors makes her vulnerable to sexual exploitation in Frances Burney's Evelina, though she ultimately manages to avoid it. There's frequently an element of sexual predation in Gothic novels even of very different kinds (e.g. Ann Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho and Matthew Lewis's The Monk both lean into this, in their wildly dissimilar styles). William Godwin's novel Caleb Williams, a book mostly about the destructive evils of class hierarchies and landowning classes specifically, depicts the mutual obsession of the genteel villain Falkland and working class hero Caleb in notoriously homoerotic terms (Godwin himself added a preface in 1832 saying, "Falkland was my Bluebeard, who had perpetrated atrocious crimes ... Caleb Williams was the wife"). This list could go on for a very long time.

**Darcy is also not usually perceived by other characters as a particularly sexual, highly masculine person in a safe way, either, even once his true character is known. Elizabeth emphasizes the resilience of Darcy's love for her more than the passionate intensity they both evidently feel; in the later book, she does sometimes makes assumptions about his true feelings or intentions based on his gender, but these assumptions are pretty much invariably shown to be wrong. In general the cast is completely oblivious to the attraction he does feel; even Charlotte, who wonders about something in that quarter, ends up doubting her own suspicions and wonders if he's just very absent-minded.

The novel emphasizes that he is physically attractive, but it goes to pains to distinguish this from Wickham's sex appeal or the charisma of a Bingley or Fitzwilliam. Mr Bennet (as mentioned above) seems to have assumed Darcy is functionally asexual, insofar as he has a concept of that. Most of the fandom-beloved moments in which Darcy is framed as highly sexual, or where he himself is sexualized for the audience, are very significantly changed in adaptation or just invented altogether for the adaptations they appear in. Darcy watching Elizabeth after his bath in the 1995 is invented for that version, him snapping at Elizabeth in their debates out of UST is a persistent change from his smiling banter with her in the book, the fencing to purge his feelings is invented, the pond swim/wet shirt is invented. In the 2005 P&P, the instant reaction to Elizabeth is invented, the hand flex of repressed passion is invented, the Netherfield Ball dance as anything but an exercise in mutual frustration is invented, the near-kiss after the proposal in invented, etc. And in those as well, he's never presented as sexually predatory, not even as a "villain."

[bittersweetcatharsis]

One of my biggest criticisms of the Mouthwashing fanbase (not the game itself) is the way it treats victims of abuse and disabled characters. There’s a tendency to lean so far into being delicate that, in an effort to be respectful, you ultimately wind up being guilty of the disrespect, yourself.

What primarily set off this rant was something I saw on Twitter (the cesspool of all cesspools, so this is ultimately unsurprising) the other day:

(For absolute clarification, I completely agree with user Joetastic_ here !!)

This. This is just,, I have no words. I felt kinda sick when I saw this !!!!!

There is a DISTINCT and EXPLICITLY OBVIOUS difference between intentional and unintentional portrayals of sexuality. Criticizing an artist for using her CANON proportions reveals more about your own flawed thinking than the artist’s. Here was my response:

Victims of abuse are people outside of their trauma. They can have sex, have relationships, have fun- Anya talks about how a person’s worst moments don’t define them, which works both ways. A person’s worst experiences don’t become intrinsic to their identity, just as a person’s worst decisions don’t become intrinsic to their character. Anya is not her abuse- she’s a complex person outside of her victimization. I think it’s incredibly important to remember that when discussing her. I think it’s great that artists find a way to show her having fun, being cutesy and silly, being a person, whilst not erasing what happened to her. All of that can be true at once. All of that can occur simultaneously.

The same goes for Curly. While Curly’s body was damaged in the crash, his mind wasn’t changed. Despite his acquired disabilities, he’s still the same person he always was. He deserves to be treated as such. Using his disability to infantilize him or treat him as a pet is, of course, it’s own issue- but to be too careful when depicting him because he is disabled crosses into the territory of dehumanizing him.

It’s okay to portray Anya and Curly as unserious- they’re humans too, not embodiments of their suffering.

[monards]

dies a little inside when people wholly demonize rhinedottir

[rholsof-film]

Krittika the Wild Woman

Aries: 26°40' to 30°00' - Taurus: 0°00' to 10°00'

Krittika refuses to be tamed but enjoys the game of the hunt.

When I first delved into Krittika Nakshatra, much of the information I found seemed overly negative. While it’s important to approach new insights with discernment, it’s equally crucial to peel back the layers and explore deeper truths. Many sources label Krittika natives as "homewreckers" or "husband stealers," citing their association with the knife, a symbol of separation. Scandals and infidelity are often linked to this nakshatra. However, scandals and mistakes are universal—no one is immune to human flaws. So, let’s set the record straight: Krittika's reputation doesn’t define its full potential or how it manifests.

Krittika’s mythology ties back to Kartikeya, the warrior god, who was raised by six Krittikas. This association gives rise to their perceived "affair-like" energy, but it also highlights their untamable and magnetic qualities. Women of Krittika Nakshatra are often highly sought after, critical thinkers, and fiercely independent. Blessed by the Sun, they radiate beauty, vitality, and magnetism, often maintaining a youthful appearance well into maturity. These women don’t rush into relationships; they are selective, choosing partners they hold in high regard, often marrying later in life or not at all. Their independence makes them unwilling to submit to anyone who doesn’t align with their high standards.

The fiery nature of Krittika, symbolized by the element of fire, underscores their untamable spirit. Fire cannot be controlled—it transforms, destroys, and purifies with purpose. Krittika natives act with intention, refusing to compromise their inner drive. Their focus and self-assuredness inspire those around them, especially women, whom they often nurture and uplift. When they speak, their words command attention, reflecting their natural leadership and authority.

Krittika’s dark feminine energy is rooted in its destructive and transformative qualities. As the first solar nakshatra, it carries a fascination with shadow work and the psyche, embodying the alchemical process of transformation—moving from darkness to light. This process involves spiritual death and rebirth, aligning with themes of liberation and being unapologetically themselves. Their journey mirrors the Lilithian archetype, using destruction as a means of creating space for new beginnings. This aura of untamed liberation often intimidates others, while simultaneously drawing them in.

Known as seductresses and huntresses, Krittika natives love the pursuit and the "game of the hunt," but remain untamable themselves. Dominant in relationships, they can struggle to find partners who match their energy or submit to their commanding presence. Saturn-dominated personalities often complement their solar dominance, creating a dynamic where the Sun woman leads. Their regal and radiant quality, a gift of the Sun, makes them naturally alluring.

Ultimately, Krittika natives are embodiments of transformative power. They pursue goals with precision, inspire others through their unapologetic authenticity, and embrace their untamable, radiant essence.

*So just because people note that Krittika is known for taking other’s partners, they are also known to be cheated on themselves. Let’s look at the entire scale. An being cheated on is not something anyone can control. However, just because you see a negative note of your nakshatra does not mean it will manifest that way for you. Krittika is a powerful nakshatra and everything should be taken with a grain of salt.*

*Also this is NOT the only nak with this reputation, Pushya is right next door with this rep!*

(All woman used have Krittika placements)

[frailsituation]

Tips for writing a villain

1. Give them a twisted backstory

• A compelling villain has a past that explains why they became who they are. Make their history dark and personal, shaped by betrayal, loss, or abuse.

• What works? Their backstory should not justify their villainy but rather explain how it festered into a desire for control or revenge.

• Example: A villain who was once a loyal soldier but was betrayed by their closest ally, sparking a thirst for power and retribution.

2. Give them a ruthless goal

• Villains and antiheroes are driven by desires that justify any action, no matter how destructive. Their goal should be selfish, twisted, and all-consuming.

• What works? Let their desire for power, revenge, or domination overshadow everything. They believe they are justified, even when causing harm.

• Example: A villain who seeks to overthrow a kingdom, not out of idealism, but simply to make everyone bow before them in submission.

3. Make them calculating

• Villains are often detached, seeing people as pawns in their grand schemes. They plan meticulously, moving with purpose and efficiency.

• What works? Their actions should be deliberate and strategic, not driven by impulse. Show their intelligence, but also their complete lack of empathy.

• Example: A villain who uses people as tools, manipulating alliances and backstabbing to climb higher, all while remaining eerily calm.

4. Embrace their darker nature

• Villains are not plagued by guilt—they embrace their dark nature. Let them find power in their cruelty, and let it drive them forward.

• What works? Show them as unapologetic and even proud of their actions. They have no qualms about being feared and are often defined by their cruelty.

• Example: A villain who enjoys tormenting their enemies, finding satisfaction in their pain and suffering as a means to assert dominance.

5. Make their flaws have consequences

• Villains don’t have redeeming qualities. Their flaws—greed, pride, wrath—define their path and ensure they fall further into darkness.

• What works? Let their flaws be the driving force of their villainy, and don’t shy away from making them destructive.

• Example: A villain whose pride is so consuming that they refuse to ever admit fault, causing their empire to crumble because of their refusal to accept failure.

6. Show their manipulation

• Villains thrive on control, often using manipulation to bend others to their will. They know how to push buttons, exploit weaknesses, and get what they want without lifting a finger.

• What works? Let your villain be the master of deceit, convincing others to do their bidding without them ever truly getting their hands dirty.

• Example: A villain who manipulates a group of rebels, using their emotions to stir discord, only to turn them against each other in the end.

7. Make them evil

• A villain’s cruelty knows no bounds. They do what needs to be done, and that often means eliminating anyone who stands in their way—without hesitation or remorse.

• What works? They should be willing to destroy people, relationships, or even entire societies for their goal. Show no mercy.

• Example: A villain who doesn’t hesitate to wipe out entire villages to send a message, and enjoys the fear that it instills in others.

8. Let their obsession to consume them

• Villains are often driven by obsession. This obsessive need for power, revenge, or control blinds them to everything else—relationships, morality, or even their own humanity.

• What works? Let their obsession escalate over time, showing how it spirals out of control until it consumes them entirely.

• Example: A villain who is obsessed with immortality, willing to sacrifice everyone they care about, including themselves, to achieve it.

9. Allow for betrayal and treachery

• Villains thrive on betrayal. They have no loyalty but to themselves, and they often betray others before they are betrayed.

• What works? Let your villain double-cross anyone in their path—friends, allies, and even family. Their only loyalty is to their goal.

• Example: A villain who promises to spare their rival, only to turn on them when the rival is most vulnerable, solidifying their role as a traitor.

10. Let them unravel

• As villains grow in power and dominance, the pressure to maintain their control will cause them to crack. Their downfall can come from their inability to manage the very chaos they’ve created.

• What works? Show their confidence slipping, as the consequences of their choices catch up to them. This can bring about their ultimate defeat or destruction.

• Example: A villain who, after accumulating power, loses control over their empire, eventually crumbling under the weight of their own tyranny.

11. Allow for redemption (or not)

• The possibility of redemption adds complexity. However, it’s important that it feels earned. Alternatively, allow your villain to continue spiraling if redemption is out of reach.

• What works? Either let them evolve toward redemption—or show that their flaws are too deeply ingrained for them to ever return from darkness.

• Example: A villain who, after everything, is offered a chance to change but chooses power over love, reinforcing their villainous arc.

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