#And they can choose to take that but it takes influence.

[dread-cartographer]

Additionally: when you turn someone into a monster, you implicitly excuse their misbehavior and take away accountability from everybody. If Elon is an irredeemable villain, anything that he does is just "what Elon does." It turns the entire field of relationship to a binary of "destroy him or allow him to persist." Genuinely holding him accountable to the harm he causes becomes something that goes against nature, and so it becomes excusable not to try. The result is that Elon and his ilk persist in their wrongdoing, unchallenged until they are overthrown entirely, while his accusers get to wallow in their moral superiority as they fail to take action while the problems are still manageable

If Elon is a human being with the capacity to do good and *chooses* not to out of ignorance, petty malice, selfishness, or fear, however,*that* is genuinely scary. It's scary because it reveals how vulnerable all humans are to committing evil in the right circumstances. If he can do it, so could you. It also reaffirms that he could do something else if he so chose, and choice is something you can influence. But to have influence, you need to have empathy- to understand why he does what he does, so that you can present a less harmful alternative.

Now, obviously, our influence over Elon is minimal. Billionaires, in general, spend their entire lives constructing a fortress against accountability (what do you think all that money is for? Personal enrichment? Don't make me laugh, it's called "fuck you money" for a reason). But it's not because they're intrinsically evil dragons who horde wealth and power just because. They are human beings. Capable of doing good, vulnerable to deep hurt, who chose to do evil out of pain and folly. Just like you.

I thought it was fairly normal to feel empathy for bad people.

I thought it was common, even.

But after my Elon/Grimes post... now I'm wondering if I was mistaken about that.

I wrote a post about Trump being traumatized after his assassination attempt and a post about his poor adaptation to aging. I expressed sympathy for him in both cases. But I still maintain my white hot hatred of him and wish for him to face consequences.

Elon was abused by his father. Some of the stories are incredibly tragic. Hearing those stories triggers an involuntary response in my emotional systems that I can't stop no matter how much I despise present-day Elon. I also wonder if that abuse never occurred maybe we wouldn't be dealing with this current clusterfuck.

I have never held so much anger towards a single person as I do my brother. But I also see him as a victim of abuse. I know he was once a really good person and he was slowly corrupted. I feel sorry for him. I mourn the amazing person he used to be. And I still love him.

But that doesn't make me any less angry.

[katerinaaqu]

Question: Did Helen go to Troy with Paris willingly?

It depends on the source really.

Homer gives us a more complicated situation. In it Helen apparently leaves at her own accord with Paris however it is later revealed in the Odyssey that she did so because Aphrodite influenced her judgement. She already speaks with regret on her decision in the Iliad and wonders on her family and husband but in the Odyssey where more or less they have patched things up with Menelaus she says that it was because Aphrodite had her under her spell (Now of course for some people that is also a symbolism of her falling in love since Aphrodite-> Goddess of love so Aphrodite's influence -> love's influence and so Aphrodite made her fall for Paris -> she fell for Paris, but that is up for interpretation. Quite frankly given how the gods are given in a bit more literal sense in the epics as opposed to mythology in general this scenario is not necessarily likely but it is on the table)

Now other sources such as tragic writers (for example Aeschylus and Euripides) that oftentimes write their tragedies implying that Helen truly had an affair but on the other hand for once it is important to take into account that they write from the point of view of other characters for example in Euripides's "Orestes", Electra is cussing the hell out of Helen speaking on her with the worst words which makes sense given how she thought that Helen was indeed cheating her husband as opposed to the play that has Helen as a central role in which even Euripides came up with a story that says Helen never went to Troy in the first place but an idol of hers (this version is retold by Apollodorous in Epitome as well)

Apollodorous mentions how Paris persuaded Helen to follow him in his work "Epitome" so possibly here we have one of the versions in which Helen followed willingly at first. But since Apollodorous gives us many versions and retellings at the same time (as for example Euripides's version) he also mentions the word ἁρπαγή which means "taking" or "abduction" but also seems to be indicating "rape" so Apollodorous gives us many different versions for the event. Herodotus also mentions how Helen was likely abducted. Valerius Catullus in his "Carmina" also agrees.

And so on and so forth. So the majority of sources speak about how Paris carried Helen away to Troy. Now there are versions that speak on Helen being willing but I think the most prominent version is that she was not willing at least not through and through or that she was somehow either persuaded or outsmarted by Paris or by Aphrodite's influence. In general one can choose between the sources which they can place their attention to

[interact-if]

Our sixth and final edition of the Black History Month Author Spotlight series, features Imani (@themuse-if)!

If you enjoyed this, do keep your eyes peeled for future events!

(I’m so glad I got to know Imani — and The Muse — so a big thank you for taking the time! I have a soft spot for slice-of-life / coming of age games, and I certainly related to the past about using IFs to live out alternate-life fantasies…)

Author: Imani

Hey! Imani here! Something that readers may not know about me is that I sell vintage clothes for a living. I’m really passionate about sustainable fashion, and while I could hop on my soapbox and talk about the evils of fast fashion, I’ll choose not to bore you all. To jump off of that point, growing up I watched a lot of films and tv shows, and I was always drawn to how fashion and costume design could really add to those stories. If you ever wonder why I’m always creating visuals for my IF it’s because it really helps me to picture the characters in each scene that I’m writing and make them feel more tangible.

Games: The Muse (slice of life, romance, school life, university life)

Short blurb: You come from a family of artists and art lovers. Your mother is a passionate curator for a small gallery in the city and your father is a sculptor and painter with a very dedicated cult following. They met when they were just starting out and have built a lovely life for themselves and their two children, you and your older brother Cameron. Your parents have always been super supportive of you and your brother’s dreams and ambitions. They were a great source of encouragement and guidance for your brother on his path to discovering his goal to become a game designer and you on your path to become whatever you choose. Growing up surrounded by such creativity just so happened to inspired you to want to create something of your own. Now that you’ve graduated high school it’s time for you to head off to university! You’ve decided to leave the mid sized city that you call your hometown, and go to the big city NYC! You’ll be attending NYU more specifically, but you won’t be making this move alone you’ll be attending with your best friend Maxine!

Quote from the interview

In December of 2023 I sort of stumbled into the world of Interactive Fiction. I had plenty of experience with more narrative based games, but they all had a visual element, and usually didn’t really have a lot of freedom in building your own character. After reading a few IFs, and loving the amount of control that I had on the narrative as the reader, I was hooked. Not too long after I started conceptualizing what is now The Muse. Working on this project during my slump really gave me a sense of purpose and made my day to day feel much less grim.

Read on for the full interview!

Can you tell me a bit about what you’re working on right now and your journey into interactive fiction? What inspired the game/story you’re currently writing?

So long story short I quit my pretty run of the mill job in August of 2024 and I wasn’t able to find something else until September of 2024. As you can imagine I was pretty depressed. I ran through my savings and it was really tough having to rely on my partner so much.

In December of 2023 I sort of stumbled into the world of Interactive Fiction. I had plenty of experience with more narrative based games, but they all had a visual element, and usually didn’t really have a lot of freedom in building your own character. After reading a few IFs, and loving the amount of control that I had on the narrative as the reader, I was hooked. Not too long after I started conceptualizing what is now The Muse. Working on this project during my slump really gave me a sense of purpose and made my day to day feel much less grim.

How has your identity, heritage/background, upbringing, or personal experiences influenced your storytelling or writing process? OR How does your work feature aspects of your identity / experience?

I grew up in a household that really appreciated the arts. Music, dance, theatre, studio art, I had a little taste of it all. My older sister (much older, we have a 13 year age gap) graduated from an arts high school and then went on to study studio arts in graphic design in university. I always really looked up to her because she was honestly just so cool. She could sing, dance, act, paint, she even played the clarinet for a while. I on the other hand mostly focused on dance from the time I was three until my senior year of high school when I quit. It’s kind of silly dance that I quit right before the start of my last year in high school when I would be transferring to my sister’s alma mater. I think I just felt a little stifled by dance and I didn’t see it as my main priority.

Starting in middle school I had a few English teachers that really got me more into reading and writing and so when this new opportunity came I chose to study theatre instead so that I could take the playwriting and creative writing courses. After graduating I just went to a normal state school and I always wondered what my university experience would have been like if I had gone to an arts university instead. I’m definitely using The Muse to live out all of my art school fantasies.

What’re you excited to tackle/implement/work on next? Or anything you’re looking forward to in the year ahead?

I’m not gonna lie to you, coding is not my strong suit so just getting the prologue complete was a big hurdle in itself. I am super excited to be moving on to the main story though! The characters that I’ve created are all very near and dear to me since each of them have little similarities to me. I can’t wait to properly introduce them all in game.

Another thing that I’m really excited about is collaborating with readers. I really love the input you all bring to the table and learning about some of your MCs and how you all are crafting your own journeys. I’m hoping to get through Book 1- The Muse: Just Getting Started by the end of the year, and that would include both freshman and sophomore year. Fingers crossed!

Do you have favourite interactive fiction games, characters, scenes or authors that you’d like to recommend?

I’m currently waiting with baited breath for the next chapter of Infamous, and I know I’m definitely not the only one. Don’t ask me who I’m romancing though, I haven’t made my final decision yet. (It’ll probably be Orion though he’s just so…you know.)

Any books, music, movies etc. you’re obsessed with at the moment, or which changed your life (or perspectives on something)?

Felicity, Dance Academy, Center Stage, Skins UK, Fame (the show). These are more like forever obsessions/inspirations that really inspired the vibe for this IF. If you haven’t watched Felicity I highly recommend it, honestly the characters are really frustrating but it’s just so good, trust me.

This-or-that segment: (red = Imani's pick)

Coffee or tea?

Early mornings or late nights?

City or countryside?

Angsty or Cozy romances? (Or enemies-to-lovers or best-friends-to-lovers?)  

Steady progress or frenzied binge-writing followed by periods of calm?

Summer or Winter?

First drafts or editing?

Introvert or extrovert?

Plotter or pantser?

Characters or plot first?

Write your own “either-or” pairing: movies or books? (I actually can’t choose, unless we’re talking about books turned into movies. The book 9/10 is usually going to be better.)

[loganuntzberger]

eh. rory didn't fix either of them, but they both obviously choose to change for/because of her.

i also wouldn't argue that jess does it all on his own. i think if he never met rory, he would've done it on his own eventually, putting an end to all of his disruptive behaviours, but the reality is that he did meet rory, and she massively influenced all of his subsequent actions and choices.

when he shows up at yale, desperately trying to convince rory that he's changed, the audience can see that he ultimately hasn't. milo's delivery of "i'm ready for this. you can count on me now. i know you couldn't count on me before, but you can now. you can." really does make your heart bleed for jess, because you can see he is desperate to change; but most of all, he's desperate to prove himself to rory. in that very same speech, he makes it painfully obvious that he doesn't even have a plan; they can run away together to new york, live and work and be together, but it goes no further than that. it's an idea, a concept he so desperately wants to work. rory's rejection of him in this scene is a reality check for jess; he thinks he's changed enough for her, but he hasn't.

when he returns in s6, to show rory his book, it's once again to prove himself to her. he can't just call in on her, he now needs to bring physical evidence of all his efforts. jess even tells her "so i basically just wanted to show you that [his book]. and tell you, tell you that i couldn't have done it without you".

whilst jess's "fixing" takes place offscreen, and away from rory, it's evident that rory is a huge factor in his willingness to change.

It's funny when fans reduce Jess and Rory's connection into an "I can fix him" trope. Did they... watch the show? Rory did NOT fix Jess. They dated and he struggled, imploding at the end of his senior year with a spectacular series of mistakes. Jess doesn't get "fixed" until later, and he does it all on his own. It's kinda the whole point of his arc. Rory didn't fix him, nor was she trying to fix him. She just loved him and believed in him even when he was struggling.

You know who WAS Rory's "I can fix him" guy? Logan. He's the guy who magically changes for Rory. He's suddenly monogamous, he's real quick to move in with her, he suddenly starts liking his job. All the characters comment on this, too. Logan notes that he never thought he'd like a relationship until Rory, Mitchum credits Rory with Logan's good choices, and Rory worries out loud that she's "tamed" Logan. And once they break up, Logan reverts to most of his bad behaviors. He's the definition of an "I can fix him" trope. Just another thing that makes Logan so overwhelmingly boring.

[theglowsociety]

Why More Black Women Should Start Black-Owned Businesses (Especially in the Beauty Industry) & How to Begin Your Side Hustle

Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the U.S., yet they continue to face systemic barriers that make business ownership more challenging. Despite having limitless creativity, an unmatched work ethic, and a deep influence on global culture—especially in beauty—many Black women struggle to secure funding, resources, and opportunities to thrive as business owners.

If you’ve been dreaming of starting your own beauty brand, salon, or cosmetics line, there has never been a better time to turn that passion into a business. Here’s why Black women must step into entrepreneurship—especially in the beauty industry—and how to start your own side hustle today.

1. We Set the Trends—Now It’s Time to Profit from Them

From hairstyles to skincare techniques, makeup trends to nail art, Black women have shaped the beauty industry for centuries. Yet, major brands have historically ignored our needs while profiting off our culture. Instead of letting corporations capitalize on our creativity, we should be owning, producing, and profiting from the trends we create.

2. Representation Matters in Beauty

For too long, Black women have been an afterthought in the beauty industry. Shade ranges were too limited, haircare products were full of harmful ingredients, and industry leadership was overwhelmingly non-Black. When Black women start their own beauty businesses, they create products that genuinely cater to our unique needs—made by us, for us.

3. Building Generational Wealth & Financial Freedom

Starting a business isn’t just about making money—it’s about creating long-term financial freedom. Entrepreneurship allows Black women to break free from traditional workplace barriers (like wage gaps and lack of career advancement) and build generational wealth that can be passed down to future generations.

4. Owning Your Creativity & Power

Working for someone else can limit how much creative freedom you have. As a business owner, you make the rules. You decide what products to create, how to market them, and how to shape your brand identity. No more waiting for corporate approval—you are the CEO.

5. The Beauty Industry Is Booming (and There’s Room for You!)

The beauty industry is a multi-billion dollar business, and Black consumers spend nine times more on beauty products than any other demographic. Yet, Black-owned beauty brands still make up only a small fraction of the market. This means there is plenty of opportunity for new entrepreneurs to step in and claim their space.

How to Start Your Own Side Hustle & Step Into Entrepreneurship

Not sure where to begin? Here’s how to start building your Black-owned beauty business—whether it’s a full-time venture or a side hustle you grow over time.

1. Find Your Passion & Niche

Ask yourself: What excites you most about the beauty industry? Do you love makeup, skincare, haircare, nails, or holistic beauty? Choose a niche that aligns with your passion and expertise.

Examples of Beauty Business Ideas:

• Haircare line (natural hair products, wigs, or extensions)

• Skincare brand (body butters, serums, or organic skincare)

• Cosmetics line (lip gloss, foundation, or lashes)

• Nail business (press-on nails, custom nail polish)

• Beauty services (makeup artist, esthetician, braider, or loctician)

2. Research & Learn the Industry

Before launching, take time to research the market. Look at your competitors, pricing, and target audience. Follow beauty industry trends and study successful Black beauty entrepreneurs for inspiration.

3. Start Small (You Don’t Need a Huge Budget!)

You don’t need thousands of dollars to start. Begin with a small, high-quality product or service, test it with friends and family, and grow from there.

Low-Cost Ways to Start:

• Private label products (buying wholesale and branding them as your own)

• Handmade products (lip gloss, body butters, or hair oils)

• Drop shipping (selling beauty products without managing inventory)

• Offering services (braiding, lash extensions, or makeup artistry)

4. Create Your Brand Identity

Your brand is more than just a name—it’s your vibe, mission, and story. Pick a business name, logo, and aesthetic that speaks to your audience.

Quick Branding Tips:

• Choose a name that’s easy to remember and spell

• Create a color scheme and aesthetic for your brand

• Use social media (Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest are huge for beauty brands)

• Share your story—customers connect with authenticity!

5. Build an Online Presence & Market Your Business

Social media is everything in the beauty industry. Create an Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube account to showcase your products or services. Offer tutorials, behind-the-scenes content, and customer testimonials to build trust.

Marketing Ideas:

• Post beauty tutorials using your products

• Collaborate with beauty influencers or micro-influencers

• Offer discounts or giveaways to attract customers

• Start a website or Etsy shop to sell online

6. Stay Consistent & Keep Learning

Entrepreneurship is a journey. Not every day will be easy, but consistency is key. Keep learning, adapting, and refining your business as you grow. Join Black business networking groups, attend beauty expos, and seek mentorship from successful entrepreneurs.

It’s Time to Claim Your Spot in the Beauty Industry

The world needs more Black women-owned businesses, especially in the beauty space. If you have a passion for hair, skin, makeup, or wellness, this is your sign to step into entrepreneurship. Your ancestors paved the way for you to create, own, and build something that lasts for generations.

Start small, dream big, and remember—you were born to shine. Let’s turn our passion into profit and make our mark on the beauty industry. It’s time to secure the bag and the legacy.

[insaneillusionist]

Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani is an incredible movie and I recommend you all watch it, and they have the perfect usage of a sequin shirt.

[casualavocados]

You've never done that when I got close to you before. Why? None of your business. Tell me, or you can't leave.

KISEKI: DEAR TO ME Ep. 10

[iliiuan]

She had ten years with her bestie as Amyrlin. She had access to the two largest libraries in the world. It is in fact possible to glean substantial information about a topic in a library without announcing what you're doing. (And it's not like the libraries would have some saidin section, anyway, with how prejudiced everyone was about it.)

Step 1. Choose a tangential but related topic. False Dragons through History would probably work. If she wanted to be more opaque, perhaps Grand Accomplishments of the Age of Legends. Whatever. Bonus points if it relates in any way whatsoever to your red herring mission that everyone thinks you're on.

Step 2. Befriend the Brown Sister studying the red herring topic you chose. Take all meals possible with her and let her babble unfettered about her studies.

Step 3. Go to the library. Read every book, scroll, scrap of paper you can find for the topic you chose.

Step 3a. Spend time going down the wrong rabbit holes. This is firstly normal in research and secondly gives opportunity to grab tidbits that you'd miss otherwise.

Step 3b. Make notes about male channeling in your little notebook that you keep in your pouch. Bonus points for using some sort of code.

All of this could have been accomplished in something like a couple hundred hours, all told, spanning a few months in Tar Valon and another few months in Cairhien.

Let's be real, the most she was going to find is that

Saidin has to be grabbed and controlled

Saidin has five elements like saidar does

Men and women can link together

Which would have given Rand a start. Because the real key to him channeling proficiently was to embrace Lews Therin as himself, which is not anything she would have found in a library. It's her lack of preparation that I criticize here. She didn't even try. She lacks practicality in her approach, even though she pretends to be pragmatic.

Frankly, she also sucked ass at studying up on the Dragon Cycle, and that's some pretty readily available information, relatively speaking.

Moiraine sucks at studying, is what I'm saying.

(An alternate, though probably more dangerous approach, would be to befriend a Red Sister. They surely know something of male channeling. She's annoyingly incompetent at even shielding him, or cutting his weaves, or anything that you might consider a relevant skill for dealing with the Dragon Reborn. Even just spending some time around male channelers could have helped. But not tipping her hand would be so much more difficult with that approach, so I don't criticize her for not taking it.)

((Or she could have joined the Red Ajah, but we already hashed that option to pieces.))

As for empowering, it's far more practical than that. Why put up with earthquakes when you could be producing a competent channeler? Also, as a reliable mentor, she would have had considerably more influence. (See Lan.) As it is, she lost his trust pretty early, he relied on her as far as was necessary since she was who was available, and she eventually regained influence only by groveling. Her ego was her downfall.

Also, since maybe it was less obvious, if *I* was searching is a statement of how I, personally, would do things. I am so completely opposite to Moiraine in bearing and disposition that no one would ever mistake one of us for the other. I would make radically different choices at every turn, and I frankly don't know that I would be more successful. Given my irl success rate, well, I wouldn't bet on it. But I would have had him channeling proficiently, damn it all, because I do know how to study.

If I spent 18 years searching for the Dragon Reborn, I would have dedicated at least part of that time to learning everything that I could about how men channel, and then I would tell him that information when I met him.

[forcedhesitation]

I'm actually rather surprised that not a single one of the boys made top three. but then again, I suppose the large number of straight men that play this game are not as visible in fan spaces as us lgbt. That is...a fortunate thing, though, I'd argue.

[devildaisies]

i need to learn a trade. going to school for art while AI simultaneously takes off in a real and heinous way is so.

[skitskatdacat63]

Boy King Seb :D

[qinglourn]

i have so many thoughts rotating around in my mind, but i'll never be over just how thoughtful jiyan is. he prioritizes the safety and wellbeing of the soldiers under his command above all else, even extending that kindness beyond the battlefield. it's not enough for them to just be physically healthy, but mentally as well. burnout is just another path to hasten others towards despair

soldiers aren't pawns that are easily expendable. they're people, human beings with others who matter to them and lives to continue living once they leave the battlefield. the best soldier, in jiyan's eyes, is the one that's allowed to live a fulfilling life and make the most of the time they have. duty is important, yes, but being a soldier isn't all that these people are

love is such a strong motivator that it can't be overlooked. as bil.l wit.hers once sung, "we all need somebody to lean on". the bonds we share with others are vital in making us who we are and jiyan recognizes that. it's why he has no problem, just like in one of his character stories, ensuring soldiers get time to be away from the battlefield to go home or even take on expenses himself to cover important surgeries and hospital visits for their loved ones

[quietwingsinthesky]

the amount of time i spend thinking about Even carrying the metacrisis doctor’s fob watch is really quite disproportionate to how much ive fleshed out that part of the story in my head

[leebrontide]

I think one thing we need to address in the US if we want to de-stigmatize multi-generational households that include ADULTS from multiple generations, is that parents need to learn how to have adult relationships with their offspring.

Should my daughter deign to live with me when she's an adult she will not be my some vassal that has to obey my household rules. She graduates into being a peer in setting and managing the boundaries, cleanliness and appearance of our home.

Too many parents want to have relationships with grown ass adults in which the parents maintain control and authority, and in which they leverage money and history to get their way from an adult who, very reasonably, wants to be able to make choices and have influence. And then those parents wonder why their kids keep their distance!

But then people act like I've lost it because I let my 5 year old pick the color of paint in her room- a room I seldom spend time in except to take care of her, and a room in which I want her to be comfortable and happy.

I'm not gonna let her choose a paint color for the kitchen right now, because she's capricious and bad at negotiating so we can pick a color we all like. But when she's an adult, if she's still living here? Why shouldn't she get to influence her environment?

People like to have agency. We limit the agency of children because they make choices without the full ability to understand the results (sorry baby, you are gonna get vaccinated for pollio even if you don't like it. You don't understand pollio).

But limiting an adults choices in their own home, just because you don't think that home should be a real home for them because it's just for you, is kind of an asshole move, to me.

No need to argue with me if you disagree. You can have your own opinion.

But I couldn't treat my kid that way, and I have seen enough to know that not every parent treats their adult children like permanently incompetent interlopers.

I didn't just buy this house for ME. I bought it for MY FAMILY. My baby is my family, and she will be no matter how old she gets.

[satoisms]

i'm rereading og given for funsies and the more i read the more i remember why i'm so attached to mafuyu. he's literally just me.

[a-dash-in-the-middle]

Call centers for URGENT CARE AND HOSPITALS are hell on earth

I think talking to the wall might bring better results