#GenZ Perspective

[mentorshelly]

Why Generation Z Finds Thank You Letters After Interviews Overwhelming in the Job Search Process?

Article Discussed As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, it’s essential to understand the perspectives and preferences of different generations. Generation Z, born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, brings a unique set of attitudes and beliefs when it comes to professional interactions, including the customary practice of sending thank you letters after interviews. In this…

[ruffboijuliaburnsides]

Also keep in mind OP posted this in 2019 so those 25-35yos are now reaching being 30-40yos and sadly it keeps happening. :')

25-35 is such a weird fucking age because you’re 100% a bread-and-butter Standard Edition Millennial but the cool teens are like “ok boomer” because you have a Real Job but the actual Boomers at your job are like “I’m not going to listen to a literal fucking child” as they download 16 self-replicating viruses and meanwhile the Gen Xers are telling you to refinance a mortgage for a house you don’t have and you’re sitting there at the Adults Table with the pretty tasty casserole you cooked because you’ve finally figured out how to do that now but everyone is eating the Boomer’s store-bought macaroni instead and admittedly they do sort of taste similar so it probably wasn’t worth all the trouble of cooking from scratch and you’re trying to comfort the freshly-graduated sobbing 22-year-old next to you because she just woke up here and doesn’t know where she is but you have like maybe 5k dollars in a savings account labelled RETIREMENT that grows approx. twelve cents a year and you keep eating dry macaroni while smiling incomprehensibly and periodically blacking out like ??????????

[ponderlyapp]

It’s all about different perspectives 🙃🐶

PC: Petsies

[realityfragments]

A Note To GenZ About Social Media And More.

I was reading ‘Social Media Companies Are Having a Bad Moment‘, something written by Nick H. Penniman, who I assume is a GenZ based on the call to action, and I smiled a bit. I can never keep the generations below GenX in any form of structure, which is a failing of mine – these are generations that simply came after mine. I suppose I could dedicate the time to keep track of which generation is…

[thepersonnamedsam]

hello! i was hoping I could request something between gen z reader x the grid where she gets an anxiety attack or gets really anxious during press and how they would react or try to help her, could be due to something about the race or personal, love uuu<3

you’re gonna go far

pairing: the genz!driver x '23!grid

summary: social anxiety and social stuff don’t mix very well

word count: 2.3k

warnings: anxiety attack, angst, sexist comments

note: hiya!! yk i love your requests!! thank u <3

i have social anxiety myself, it’s written from my perspective - anxiety is experienced very different, pls remember that! and pls respect anyone who is experiencing anxiety or any mental disorder that is!

masterlist / taglist

We ain’t angry at you, love, you’re the greatest thing we‘ve lost.

The song blasted through her ears, tears started forming in her eyes. She missed home, so, so much. She felt guilty to leave all her friends and family at home to pursue her dreams. And this song, written by the brilliant Noah Kahan, just always made her cry and think about her hometown.

Well, maybe not always, mostly the days her anxiety sparks up - and today was one of those days. Usually media didn’t stress her out, but today was different. Her mood shifted and hyper sensitive, overstimulated and overwhelmed. And she usually had someone she trusted by her side at media, but not today. Today was just shit.

Paired with Lance, Kevin, Sergio and Niko, she just wished the day would be over. She was just glad that Daniel, Max, Oscar and Lewis would be after her, they would maybe wait for them to finish, so she could see them.

She was trying to help her calm down. Thinking about good possibilities and not bad ones. Not about how she would sit stiff and uncomfortable between Lance and Sergio. Or how she and Niko never really got along. Or how she couldn’t seek refuge in a known face. Or how she had to answer all the questions by herself and not have Max there to defend her and be her bodyguard. 

And she was doing it again.

What was she gonna do? Breath, just breath - that’s what she told herself. She was in desperate need for a break. She knew what she was getting herself into, but it was still so very much. She was glad that Hungary was the second last race before the summer pause. She would go home, maybe vacation a bit, but definitely head home and see her friends and family.

Her feet dragged her through the media pit against her will. She didn’t want to go there, she just wanted to curl up in her bed with a good book and some music. Her headphones still present on her head, at least she had her music.

She was so focused on the words of You’re gonna go far that she didn’t see Lance in her peripheral vision. He patted her on her back and she flinched as he passed her. He gave her a funny look as she just gave him a shy smile.

She sighed, she didn’t know how she could face this day. She wished she had Lewis or Max or Danny by her side, someone to lean on, someone who would protect her and help her out. But she was all alone in this world right now. That’s what she thought at least.

Sat next to her was Kevin and Sergio. Her leg was bouncing, her fingers couldn’t stop picking at her nails. Her breathing was fast. She knew that things would turn out bad pretty fast. She just knew it.

„So, the next question is for y/n. Seeing as you’re the only woman on the grid, do you feel intimidated by all of the men or do you actually like the challenge?“

Her mind raced. What? She wished for Max who would give a sassy comeback or for Lewis to out the comment as borderline sexist. Or just anyone to stand up for her at that moment, but no one did.

„Uh, thank you for your question. Uhm, I am not the only woman on the grid. There are lots of women working behind the scenes - mechanics, engineers, catering, strategists, everything. So, to answer your question, no, I don’t feel intimidated, because I know that I come from a powerful gender.“

Her answer was clip and clear, not even her voice was shaking, which she half expected to. But the interviewer grew visibly irritated.

„Can you go into it a bit more? Or could you please comment on the statement Christian Horner did? Here, I’ll refresh your mind: F1 is bringing in a young generation. It’s bringing in a lot of young girls because of all these great-looking young drivers.“

What had that to do with his question beforehand? Horner made that statement a longer time ago?

„Uhm yes, obviously we all know Christian by now, don’t we?“, she nervously laughed. „But uhm, he is obviously still wrong, like I originally commented when he first made that statement“ Her eyes were searching for something or someone familiar, but she couldn’t. Her vision occupied by interviewers and flashing cameras.

Her breath started to get faster, She tried to breath through her nose, not make it too obvious that she was having a moment. This would make headlines. Female driver gets anxiety attack whilst commenting on sexist statements.

Why wasn’t Lewis there? He knew what to do. He had caught her like this before - breathing rapid, fists clenched and fingers white. Eyes not focusing on anything particular and her chest heaving up and down from all her heavy breathing.

It was after she had found out that people were speculating about her - specifically that she had to sleep with her or any team principal to get her seat in F1. Her head was leaned against the wall, her knees pulled to her chest and her body was rocking back and forth.

„y/n, y/n, listen, look at me. Listen to me, can you please look at me, love?“, he pleaded. And when she finally did, Lewis let out a breath of relief. „Okay, look at me, darling, and follow my breathing, yes? It’s easy, you can do it, I believe in you.“

He grabbed her hands and put them to his own chest, so she could feel his breathing. Feel his calm heartbeat, even though he felt anything opposite calm. He looked her deep into her eyes and tried to reassure that everything was going to be alright.

„You’re gonna go far, y/n, listen to me, I know it, you’re gonna make it far.“

Her breathing had normalised and the tears stuck in her eyes, finally flowed down her cheeks. The soon turned into full on sobs and the older driver hugged the younger one. Embracing her and reassuring her, that none of the drivers would have believed the tabloids - they’ve seen her driving and know very well why she got offered her seat in F1.

She had thanked him about a thousand times and made him promise not to ever tell anyone. But if somebody else knew, maybe they could’ve helped her in this situation.

But luckily for y/n, this was all broadcast live, well, maybe not for her per se, because she knew about too many people were watching her lose herself on live television and her PR manager couldn’t just pull some magic strings to not have this air, but what she didn’t know was, that Seb was watching - her specifically.

And he did the only reasonable thing he could do, he called Lewis.

„Hey dude, what’s up? Haven’t heard from you in a long time. How’s retirement treating you?“ Lewis had a lot of questions for the German. The later laughed a bit, but turned serious pretty quickly. „Listen, I’m watching the pre-race interviews right now-“ Lewis interrupted him: „Yeah? I’m on next, you should definitely wait and see me on TV then.“

„Yeah that’s great Lew, but y/n is on right now. I think- no I’m pretty sure she’s having an anxiety attack on live television.“

Lewis was silent for a moment. „She is having what?“ - „An anxiety attack, you know what that is? It’s, uhm, when you get too overwhelmed and your psyche tells you that you’re experiencing immense fear at the moment and“, Lewis was tuning him out.

She was having an anxiety attack? Right now? During the pre-race interview? He had to help her.

„I’m on my way, thanks Seb“, and he hung up. He had to get there as fast as he could. Sprinting through the entire paddock to the media pin. On the way he almost crashed into Max, who was also making his way to the pin, Daniel by his side. The only looked at Lewis weird but soon we’re running with him, as he shouted: „It’s y/n!“

They arrived but no one wanted to let them in: „It’s not your turn yet, they’re still going. You have to wait until it’s your turn, you’ll be on in 10.“

„Listen, y/n, if you’re reacting this way to my question, you’re clearly not made for this sport, maybe you should go into something more ladylike, like horseback riding or tennis, at least you’d look pretty there.“

„And you’re clearly not made to interviews, asshole!“

All of them heard, the viewers heard, the drivers heard, the interviewers heard, but y/n was the only one who didn’t hear it.

Maybe you should go into something more ladylike, like horseback riding or tennis, at least you’d look pretty there. That was all she could hear. At least you’d look pretty there.

The other drives next to y/n didn’t know what to do. Their colleague was definitely having a though time, but they didn’t know how to help, they opted to just tilt their heads towards the floor and look just as uncomfortable as everyone in the room did - but no one stood up for her, expect Max.

„Maybe you should just fucking leave this pit before I will bash your disgusting face. Maybe you should scramble and flee. Maybe you should eat your on dick as you seem to like to put tiny and degrading things in your mouth. Maybe-“, Daniel stopped him, Max has said enough and made his point.

Lewis was already making his way up to her. Scooping her up and carrying her out of the pit.

At least you’d look pretty.

The sentence was going through her head like a loop, like a vinyl that’s broken and repeats all the worst parts. She felt like a broken record - cracked and well, broken.

„She‘s hyperventilating“, Danial pointed out. „Yeah no shit, sherlock.“ - „Max, let’s just focus on her right now, okay?“, the seven time world champion told the two time world champion. „Who’s garage is the nearest?“, Lewis asked into the round. „The Ferrari one is the first one on the grid“, Daniel said. „Let’s go then.“

Daniel led the way, fetching Lando on the way, she’d appreciate the support from the youngster. Even though he complained a lot to Danny.

„Don’t look, don’t look, we’re just passing through“, Daniel said as he tried to shield her and Lewis from all the cameras in the Ferrari garage. „What are you guys doing here?“, Carlos questioned, but as soon as he saw the crying mess in Lewis‘ arms he helped Daniel shield y/n. Carlos led them to Charles‘ side of the garage, as he had his closed off for anyone from the outside.

„What’s going on?“, a confused Charles asked the group now standing in his garage. „Charles, we need to go somewhere quiet, is that possible?“, Lewis asked the Ferrari driver. He nodded and led them to his drivers room, even though it was pretty tiny and probably wouldn’t fit all of them in it.

They set y/n on his sofa and Lewis was hovering in front of her. Lando sat on her right side, while Max was on her left. He took her hand in his, squeezing it, so she knew that he was there. „Hey y/n look at me. We’re in Charles‘ drivers room, in the Ferrari garage. Away from the media pit, okay? You’re safe with us now“, Lewis told her. „Breath with us.“

„In and out, just like that, darling, follow Lewis‘ breathing“, Daniel complimented y/n. „You’re doing great, shatje. So, so great. We’re all so proud of you.“

„You can let it all out, we won’t judge you“, Charles told her and just as he did, the dam broke. Her tears fell down onto her knees, she sobbed uncontrollably. She leaned her head on Landos shoulder and he pulled her close into his side. „You’re doing so well, love.“ - „Just keep breathing, don’t forget to breath“, Carlos told her. He was standing in the doorway with Charles, acting as bodyguards.

Danny walked around the room, trying to find something for y/n to drink out of. „Hey Charles, do you have some water or a bottle?“ The driver clad in red reacted fast and brought the Australian a tall glass of water. He brought y/n the glass and she had to stop crying to drink. Afterwards she got the hiccups. „There, there love, everything’s okay“, Lewis took her glass and patted her knee. „Remember what I told you? You’re gonna go far, okay? Don’t let that prick tell you otherwise.“

„At least you’d look pretty there.“

„Huh?“, the room asked, as she mumbled the sentence.

„At least you’d look pretty there. That’s what he said“, she looked up from her seat, to the room full of supporting people. „At least you’d look pretty.“

Max was so angry again, he could’ve killed that man, if it wasn’t for Daniel holding him back. „I am going to kill that man“, Max growled. y/n giggled: „Maxie, don’t, he doesn’t deserve death. He deserves to live a long, pitiful life.“

„We’re glad you’re laughing again, y/n“, Charles said. „Yes, very much so.“ Everyone agreed with Charles. „I love you guys, but how’d you even know that I was having a tough time?“, y/n asked confused. Lewis had to laugh: „Seb called me. Said he saw you on the TV all riled up and ready to cry and that I should already be on my way to help you, but I talked over him the whole time“ He scratched his neck and y/n laughed a loud belly laugh. „That’s so typical!“

°°°

taglist: @ironmaiden1313 , @topguncultleader , @biglittlesecret, @gulabjamooon , @lovelyy-moonlight , @peachyplumsss , @mistrose23 , @copper-boom , @love4lando , @champomiel , @serenityleah , @iloveyou3000morgan , @angelwithoutmywings , @elleeeee21 , @youkissedareaderinthedark , @mikauraur , @thybulleric , @lpab , @fdl305 , @mellowarcadefun , @teti-menchon0604 , @vildetry06 , @bibissparkles , @aurora-maria , @lunnnix , @sya-skies , @Buckywifeyy , @dakotali , @rechtrecht , @noncannonships , @1eclerc16 , @pitlanebabe , @sopheeg , @whatthefuckerr , @avengersheart , @thatsadsmallchild , @peachiicherries , @idkiwantchocolatee

[crownedghostprince]

The Company’s Reaction to Modern Slang Reader

Thorin’s Company and Gender Neutral!Reader.

Fandom: The Hobbit

(Y/N) is a GenZer who fell into the world of Arda, from Tolkien’s books.  More specifically, they fell into ‘The Hobbit’ and landed in Bilbo’s backyard.  After about a year of learning each other’s languages (Y/N) and Bilbo finally understand each other and have an almost sibling-like bond.  Now (Y/N) gets to meet Thorin’s Company one-by-one alongside Bilbo.

Requests: Closed. Requested: no.

Warning(s): None unless you get annoyed by swearing, GenZ slang, ‘90s slang, ‘80s slang or literally any slang from the 20th Century.

Note: Reader knows (and uses) 20th Century and early 2000s slang because of their close relationship to their grandparents, parents and older, Millennial siblings.  (And because of older movies and media let’s be real). And yes this is mostly a crack fic, but enjoy anyway!

Btw if you’d like something similar to this, but in a more headcannon style, let me know and I can do quite a few different variations.

Word Count: 3,620

[Third Person Perspective]

(Original picture found on Pinterest, which then led me to a tumblr post from 2012 by ‘Elrond’s Daughter’ <3)

(Y/N) has now been living with Bilbo for a year and finally understands what half the things he says means.  From his accent to his lingo, he was almost impossible for (Y/N) to understand.  Now if you ask Bilbo, (Y/N) was completely incoherent and said nothing that made sense save “Can I have cookies?” to which he would say “Yes, I’ll join you for tea.” and then they both had tea and cookies.

It took so long for Bilbo to understand (Y/N), so here’s a few past examples of their interactions together before we continue with the story:

♡ ~~~~~~ ♡

“Can I have some giggle water?”  (Y/N) asked randomly one evening.

“Sorry, what?”

“Christ, Bilbo, I’m 18, I’m old enough to drink.”

“I-I’m sorry I understand you’re 18 and old enough to drink alcohol, but what was it you were asking for?”

“Alcohol!  Or wine!  Y’know!  Giggle water!  That’s what my Granny always called it.”  (Y/N) defends, crossing their arms and staring Bilbo down as he pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs.

“Yes, yes, sorry...you can have...that.”

“Hell yeah!  Rock on!  Thanks, man!”

And of course, the more frustrating side of conversing with (Y/N): “Whoa, man, you mean never leave the Shire as in...never?  Like you’ve never once wanted to leave?”  (Y/N) questioned Bilbo one day whilst they were both relaxing and ‘vibing’ in Bilbo’s garden as he had a smoke.

“Well, as a kid I admit I was a bit adventurous and...well I wanted to see the world and the Elves that lived in the trees.  But now, I’m much more grown up and far more mature than that to just go off adventuring.”  He explained, clearing his throat and continuing to make smoke rings in the air.

“Close the shades!”  (Y/N) gasped, startling Bilbo as he suddenly worried about his ‘shades’ which he has come to know means curtains.  “No cap??  Did you say...Elves!?”

“Oh! Uhm, yes I did, I did say that.  Yes, there are Elves that live in Middle Earth, but they’re a long way past Bree.  Uhm, but what about my cap?”  He gestured to the East where the town of Bree sits, before turning back to (Y/N) in confusion.  What did his hat, or cap, have to do with this?

“Damn, bro, that’s lit!  I’ve always wanted to see Elves!  Same as Dwarves!  They’re so cool!  I’d love to chill with them and just hear their stories, y’know?  I think that’d be so cool!  They probably have such cool stories as they live longer than others.”  (Y/N) leaned back and looked up at the sky with a smile and glisten in their eyes.

“Well, yes it would be quite, uhm, ‘cool’, but it’s much more relaxing to just enjoy the comforts of home.”  Bilbo, cleared his throat and went back to his smoke.  It was a beautiful afternoon.  The sun was just slightly warm, not too hot, and the breeze would change between cool or warm every few minutes.  It was very relaxing to also see all the hobbits just going about their days alongside their...

“Ankle biters!”  (Y/N) suddenly exclaimed, jumping up from their seat to chase a couple of young prankster children from their home.  Bilbo - greatly startled and concerned - jumped up as well and watched as (Y/N) chased the little kids back down the road as the children yelled with laughter, tossing away the sticks they previously held to hit the fence with.

Bilbo was used to this now as the kids found it fun to tease their neighbours, but what he wasn’t used to was this new term, ‘ankle biter��?  He sighed and shook his head, sitting back down, waiting for (Y/N) to return so he could ask what that was supposed to mean.  A few minutes later (Y/N) arrived with a big grin on their face and hair completely disheveled.

“Uhm, what does ‘ankle biter’ mean?  Is that an insult or an exclamation?”  Bilbo asked as soon as they sat back down and got comfortable.

“Oh, it’s just what we sometimes refer to children as.  Y’know, because they can reach your ankles and bite you from an early age.”  They explained nonchalantly with a shrug.

“Hm.  When did children start biting people’s ankles?  I’ve never heard of that occurring until now.”  His eyebrows furrowed as he thought as far back as he could, but he couldn’t think of one time that had happened.

“I haven’t a Scooby-Doo, mate, but it’s happened a lot where I’m from, trust me bro.”  (Y/N) stretched, crossing their legs and getting extra comfy in their seat.  Bilbo just sighed.

♡ ~~~~~~ ♡

Now with the past interactions summarized, we can move to the present where Bilbo and (Y/N) finally understand each other perfectly.  And Bilbo is rambling to (Y/N) about his funny visit with Gandalf the Grey.

“Damn, I’m literally so jelly!  That’s so groovy!  Did he have like a pointy hat and a beard and a staff?  Ohh that’d be pretty badass actually!”

“Yes, yes, he had the point grey hat and a grey beard and a nice staff.  I swear, he was quite threatening actually, I almost felt the need to invite him inside for tea to not get on his bad side, but then he started to talk of adventures and what not.”  Bilbo huffed, putting his hands on his hips.

“Adventures??? And you said ‘no’ like a chicken, ey?”  They crossed their arms with a pout.

“I did not, I just...wasn’t too keen on getting killed by an orc or something out there.”  He shuffled from foot to foot a bit nervous, “I did not chicken out.”

“Sure, pal and I’m a magic fairy with glittery wings.”

“If you keep that up I’ll...uhm...”

“You’ll what?  Not offer me any tea?”

“Or! Or any cookies!”  Bilbo crossed his arms and smirked quite proud of himself as (Y/N) began to panic.

“No cookies!?  Fuck man, goddamn I’ll die without them!  My fucking lifeline how could you?!  I’m gonna fucking kill myself, Jesus Christ that’s so rude of you!”  (Y/N) complained and scorned, but Bilbo just ignored it as he started making himself dinner, completely unconcerned by (Y/N)’s dramatic nature.  “You’re cruisin’ for a bruisin’, bruh, I can promise you that!”

Bilbo continued to ignore (Y/N) and make them fish for dinner, even humming to himself a bit to rub it in more.  They just scoffed and stormed off to their room to pout for a few minutes before coming back for the food.  “Well, dinner’s ready.  Eat up and enjoy.”  Bilbo smugly smiled, knowing food win’s them over anytime.

“Yeah, yeah.  It’s no McDonald’s but thanks.”  They huff, pouring the lemon over their nice crispy fish.  Just as they were ready to dig-in and take a bite the doorbell rang.  “Ah, for fuck’s sake, are you for real?  Guests at this hour?  Lame.”  They huffed, standing up with an equally mildly annoyed Bilbo.  They duo marched up to the door and swung it open to see a decently sized man with tattoos on his bald head and a pretty decent beard.  He turned around slowly and introduced himself with a slight bow.

“Dwalin.  At your service.” 

“Uhm, Bilbo Baggins and (Y/N) (L/N)...at yours.”  Bilbo gave a very slight bow back.  Dwalin then walked in without an invitation leaving the duo even more upset.  “Uhm, do we know each other?”  He quickly asked Dwalin.

“No?”  Dwalin answered confidently but also slightly confused.  It was as if the answer was obvious and he barged in anyway.  “Which way, lasso and laddie?  Is it down here?”

“Is-is what down where?”  Bilbo quickly jumped in, leaving (Y/N) to shut the door.

“Supper!  He said there’d be food - and lot’s of it.”  Dwalin answered, tossing his coat to Bilbo before looking around the house a bit.  He had a powerful and demanding voice.

“He’s got some moxie ((courage - 1940s)), doesn’t he?”  (Y/N) chuckled quietly, admiring the man’s confidence.  “I’m still not happy about guests, we’re gonna kick him to the curb though, right?”

“(Y/N) you know we have to be polite to our guests.  We’ll give him a meal, some tea and maybe then he’ll just quietly leave.  I’m not one to be rude to someone, especially a dwarf.  It’s rare enough a dwarf is around these parts.”  He hung the coat up with their help and gave the dwarf ‘Dwalin’ some food...Bilbo’s food.  Bilbo sat at another seat nearby and watched (Y/N) and Dwalin eat their food, (Y/N) still suspicious of their new guest.

“Y’know, most people ask before suddenly rocking up to someone else’s place.”  (Y/N) suddenly spoke after a minute of silence.

“Rocking up?  I haven’t any rocks with me.”  Dwalin furrowed his eyebrows and spoke, mouth full of fish.  “But, very good this.  Anymore?”  He changed the subject, glancing at Bilbo before taking another bite of food.

“What?  Oh! Yes, yes uhm...oh!”  Bilbo stood up and grabbed the plate of bread rolls, nicking one for himself and tucking it away in his robes before setting it down for Dwalin.  Dwalin quickly took a roll from the plate and continued to enjoy his food as Bilbo spoke again.  “Help yourself...it’s just that uhm...I wasn’t expecting..company.”  He explained before the doorbell rang again.

“Oh, for crying out loud!  Another?”  (Y/N) quickly exclaimed, standing up and looking to the front door.

“That’ll be the door.”  Dwalin glanced irritatedly at Bilbo.

“Yeah no shit Sherlock.”  They stormed over to the door with Bilbo quick to join them.  Dwalin sat confused on who ‘Sherlock’ was supposed to be.  Did he not introduce himself?  They took a deep breath in and swung the door open, Bilbo just behind them.

“Balin.  At your service.”  An older, shorter man in his later years with white hair and a beard bowed, both arms out in a friendly greeting.  He had a gentle smile on his face and seemed much nicer than the previous knucklehead.

“Good evening.”  Bilbo nodded, shock on his face at a second dwarf.

“Are you in cahoots with that other guy that just arrived?”  (Y/N) asked the older man a bit skeptically, an eyebrow raised as he met their gaze.

“Uhm, well, yes, yes it is!  Though, I think it might rain later.  Hm?  I’m sorry, lasso I don’t quite know what you mean...am I late?”  He asked walking in, perfectly matching Bilbo’s height.

“Late?  Nah, man you’re chill.  You can stick around if ya want.”  (Y/N) replied with a smile.  ‘Maybe he’ll give the other guy a good talking to.’  They thought, shutting the door behind the nice man as he shook his head and chuckled, walking over to Dwalin.

“Evening, brother.”  Balin greeted Dwalin.  ‘Ah, shit I might’ve just worsened things.’  (Y/N) winced.  They watched the two dwarves greet each other with a quite painful head slam that made both Bilbo and (Y/N) grimace.  The two dwarves remained unfazed, however and began to investigate Bilbo’s pantry for food and wine as their host started on a rant about not knowing the two of them or being comfortable with them being here.  They didn’t seem to be listening, (Y/N) watched in interest as Bilbo continued anyway and finished.

“I’m sorry.”  He stated, holding his hands up for a second and then putting them down.  He cleared his throat and kept eye contact with the older men for a few seconds until Balin spoke up.

“Apology accepted.”  Then they went back to the drinks they were having and Bilbo looked to (Y/N) dumbfounded.  But they just did the typical sibling move and silently laughed at Bilbo, sliding to the floor with their arms clutching their stomach, quietly wheezing and dying.  Until the doorbell rang again.  Bilbo walked past (Y/N) as they slowly composed themselves and stood up.  He opened the door, unexcited about who he’ll meet next.

“Hm.”  He shuffled nervously as (Y/N) joined his side confused about his whimper of surprise and worry.  Then they saw them.

“Fili.”  A blond dwarf just slightly shorter than (Y/N) introduced himself.

“And Kili.”  A brunet ((male spelling of brunette)) dwarf the same height as the blond then introduced himself, looking slightly more nervous.

“At your service.”  They both finished with a bow and a smile.

“Oh, two dishes ((1940s for an attractive person)).”  (Y/N) quietly muttered only loud enough for Bilbo to hear, obviously in shock at the two stunningly gorgeous men.  Bilbo slightly elbowed them.

“You must be Mister Boggins!”  Kili confidently exclaimed.  (Y/N) snickered as Bilbo tried to shut the door on their faces.

“Nope!  You can’t come in, you’ve come to the wrong house!”  Kili easily stopped the door from being shut and pushed it back open, surprising the duo with his hidden strength which he seemed unfazed by.

“What!?  Has it been canceled?”  He asked, looking to Fili who seems to be the oldest of the two being more calm and confident.

“No one told us.”  Fili added, coming to Kili’s side.

“What? No, nothing’s been cancelled.”  Bilbo answered with surprise, about to add ‘nothing was planned’ but he was interrupted by the two dwarves coming in.

“Well that’s a relief.”  Kili grinned and waltzed right in.  Fili then followed in a second later, pulling his weapons off his back.

“Y’all are the cat’s meow, aren’t’cha?”  (Y/N) grinned, instantly crushing on the two gentlemen.  They were quite obviously no longer upset about their interrupted meal times and who could blame them?  “So cash or check?”  ((1920s slang for ‘a kiss now or later?’))  Kili stopped admiring the house for a second and looked to them with confusion.

“Sorry what about a cat and meow?”  He furrowed his eyebrows.

“What’s a cash and check?”  Fili asked from nearby.

“Uhm, nevermind, ‘sup I’m (Y/N).”  They greeted, clearing their throat and avoiding eye-contact.

“It’s lovely to meet you, (Y/N).  This is a nice place you two have got.  Did you do it yourselves?”  Kili then asked as Fili started to unload his mass collection of weapons onto poor Bilbo.

“Uh, no, it’s been in the family for years...”  Bilbo tried to explain as Kili then started wiping his boots on a box, “...That’s my mother’s glory box, could you please not do that?”

“Lol.”  (Y/N) stepped back chuckling.

“Fili!  Kili!”  Dwalin’s voice suddenly rang out as he entered the entryway and dragged Kili with him, “Come on!  Give us a hand!”

“Mister Dwalin!”  Kili grinned excited to see a familiar face.

“Let’s shove this into the hallway, otherwise we’ll never get everyone in.”  Balin told them, gesturing to furniture in the dining room.

“Wha?  Everyone!?  How many more of you are there?”  Bilbo asked annoyedly.

“Whoa, Bilbo, don’t snap your cap. ((to get angry - 1940s))”  (Y/N) stepped over and took the weapons off Bilbo, gently setting the recently sharpened swords and daggers in a safe corner of the room, having no proper spot set up for them.

“I’m calm...totally, completely calm.”  Bilbo reassured (Y/N) as they took the last of the weapons off him and set them down.  “I’m a good host and I’m not at all upset about their being here.”  He fixed up his clothing and cleared his throat - clearly upset.

“Yeah right.  That wasn’t a lie at all.”  They rolled their eyes and watched as the dwarves started moving stuff out of the dining room to make space.  Then the doorbell rang again and Bilbo went off his rocket.

“Oh, no!  No!  No, there’s nobody home!!!”  Bilbo started yelling as he approached the door, fully ignored by the busy dwarves.  “Go away and bother somebody else!!  There’s far too many dwarves in my dining room as is!  I-If this is some...clothead’s idea of a joke!!  HAHA!”  Bilbo rambled, slowly losing his mind as (Y/N) began to help the dwarves with what they could.  “It!  Is in very...poor taste!”  He finished, opening the door and stepping back in surprise as a bunch of dwarves fell onto the floor, one on top of the other.

The dwarves complained and groaned, upset at each other.  Gandalf made his presence known to the hobbit, appearing in the doorway a moment later to Bilbo’s dismay, (Y/N) finally joining them to see the newest guests.

“Holy mackerel this is gonna be a long, busy night.”  They sighed.

♡ ~~~~~~ ♡

As the night went on the dwarves and wizard continued to be confused by (Y/N)’s slang and Bilbo would have to explain it - within reason of course, he wasn’t about to explain what ‘dreamboat’ meant.  “No need to apologize, Ori!”  (Y/N) reassured the younger dwarf when he accidentally bumped into them, “you’re the bee’s knees!”

“I’m the what?”  Ori tilted his head like the cute cinnamon roll he was.

“Does anyone understand this lasso?”  Oin - who was beside them - asked at the loudest possible volume.

“They’re a bit eccentric, but they’re alright.”  Bofur answered with a laugh.

“If you’ve got beef, mate, we can tango.”  They snickered and took a sip of their wine.

“What did you say?  I can’t hear you over the sound of me being better than you.”  Oin snorted sending the whole room into a fit of laughter.

“Yeah okay, nitwit.”  (Y/N) poked their tongue out before immediately joining them in laughter with a cheeky grin on their face.  Bilbo got up after everyone was finished with food and moving around, following them like a helicopter parent.  And soon Bilbo grew tired of it all and started to quietly curse them out until Gandalf intervened.  “My dear, Bilbo, what on earth is the matter?”

“What’s the matter??”  Bilbo repeated incredulously.  He proceeded to rant and ramble about the mess and chaos the dwarves have caused in his house, walking around and gesturing to everything along the way as they weaved between a couple dwarves who moved about.  (Y/N) joined them in the hallway still laughing from a previous joke the dwarves shared, obviously enjoying their company and having the time of their life.

“I’m sorry to interrupt,”  Ori then shyly walked over with his plate in a very polite manner, “but what should I do with my plate?”

“Here, give it to me, Ori.”  Fili came up beside him and took the plate from his hands before tossing it in the direction of the kitchen where Kili only just appeared from.  Kili quickly caught the plate and tossed it into the kitchen to be cleaned up.  This set Bilbo off into panictm mode and he started waving his hands around trying to stop them as a couple more dishes were tossed to Fili from the dining room.

Fili caught them, even doing a couple tricks in the process, before he quickly tossed them over to Kili who did some tricks of his own; all the while they ignored Bilbo’s unnecessary concerns.  The way they were doing it was almost like a beat and had some rhythm to it.  (Y/N) found themselves bobbing along on their heels as the other dwarves followed the beat with their cutlery.

“Can you please not do that?”  Bilbo then turned his attention to the dining room.  “You’ll blunt them!”

“Oooh, you hear that folks?  He says we’ll blunt the knives.”  Bofur snickers as they continue to do their little dancey-dance.

“Blunt the knives and bend the forks!”  Kili starts to sing from outside the kitchen door.

“Smash the bottles and burn the corks!”  Fili sings along, catching a bowl with his shoulder and bouncing it over to the other shoulder before tossing it to Kili.

“Chip the glasses and crack the platess~!!”  The other dwarves start to join in.  “That’s what Bilbo Baggins HATES!”  They laugh and sing, starting up some music as they danced and did the dishes in a dangerous, but fun, way.

“Damn!  Ring-a-ding-ding!!! ((to show having fun during a party - 1930s))”  (Y/N) excitedly laughed to Bilbo; he clearly didn’t share their enthusiasm as the dwarves continued to clean-up and sing and dance, big smiles on their faces and joy in the air.

Eventually though, the fun came to an end as the song wrapped up and everyone finished with a loud “THAT’S WHAT BILBO BAGGINS HATES!” and lots of cheering - especially from (Y/N).  As everyone laughed and cheered they almost missed some knocking at the door.  Everyone went silent and turned their attention to the front door.

“He’s here.”  Gandalf got up from his spot and walked over to the front door with Bilbo and everyone else not far behind.  The door slowly opened to a decently tall dwarf with raven hair and very stylish clothing.

“Gandalf.”  He huffed.  He looked more tired than Bilbo.  “I thought you said this place would be easy to find.  I lost my way...twice.”  He came inside, taking his coat off and glaring at Gandalf.

“Oh shit, another dreamboat.”  (Y/N) gaped.  Thorin raised an eyebrow to them and then to Gandalf, as if demanding an explanation.

“Uhm.”  Gandalf cleared his throat clearly not understanding the comment either, but not wanting to admit it.  “Well, let’s start with the introductions shall we?”

“Damn everyone out here has some serious rizz.”  (Y/N) muttered and took a swig of their drink, quite ready for the much needed introductions.  Bilbo and Gandalf mentally prepared themselves for the long night ahead in dealing with a bunch of stubborn, reckless dwarves and a weirdo from another world.

(The End~ <3)

[mecachrome]

loll thank u for confirming it to me re:kpoppie fan past!!! i think i remember it was you (?) who said aomething about landoscar coworkerisms and i was like EXACTLY! this is what makes them interesting to me. i get people who don’t really like 814 bc on the surface they are just teammates who have content together thus easier to ship but at the same time, that’s the beauty in them isn’t it <33 and lando’s comment about being contractually obligated to hang out together was Romance to me actually bc >coworkership.

alsooo once again i would just like 2 say i love your metas/analysis cause i think yours is such a fun pov to read from!! not sure if this is bcs of our commonality in fandom history but it’s truly like, a different perspective than if you were like on the 1d > f1 rpf pipeline or just a general sports rpf background. i’m not sure what makes kpop so unique in this ejduksdj maybe perhaps bcs we spend so much time dissecting idolsona and manufactured content or whatever 🙂 anyways! love your work and your gifs 💘💘💘 u are a godsend for the fandom!!

yesss anon coworkershipping is literally so important and real 2 me!!! ofc people are entitled to their own opinions and preferences and i will never force my silly little ships onto anyone but admittedly i am 100% the type of guy who thinks that sometimes Things that aren't romance are romance and sometimes Things that aren't sex are sex. so that's a me problem HKLSDFH

i think the ability to be self-aware about your coworkerisms and find humor in it or even show fondness for it is really sweet... like to me it's meaningful that oscar followed lando's career for so long and clearly rates him and just sincerely objectively LOVES being his teammate and is satisfied with that alone because again "i'll have you in whichever way you'll have me" is lesbianism to some. it's also interesting when they're regarded as a pr bait ship especially considering how much mclaren like... Don't bait them to us that much anymore and how simple and stripped bare the content they post nowadays is? i think there's just a general conflation of [shares hobbies off-track] + [likes each other as people] in that regard...

fandom history is definitely so interesting, i've been in 132402382834 fandoms so i reflect on this a lot !!! i got into hockey like 10 years ago so i think just wrt like, the sporting aspect of f1 then i view it through that lens primarily (and hockey is a sport that's a lot just like... less Sympathetic to individual athletes because it's very explicitly about systems which i think is why i'm less like. parasocially invested in flop careers halsdfh), but when it comes to the celebrity consumption and sheer global influence of f1 then there are genuinely a lot of parallels to k-pop, which adds an interesting dimension. the thing about many other sports/esports/etc. fandoms is that not all of them have the same tenuous 4th wall + measure of exclusivity that f1's genz marketability propels itself off, which i think is where this accusation of 1d/k-popification comes from because it's a less familiar space in quite a few sports. but there's a lot of nuance there of course...

so random but i actually had this discussion with someone earlier where i was like my "type" in k-pop is always pathetic gayboys with horrible personalities alsfdkhalksdfh but in sports i like really adjusted normie boring straightguys (my 2 favorite hockey players are also very much Polite Cats who have cute nicknames hehe :3c) so it's interesting how despite certain fandom similarities there are many cultural nuances that influence our investment.

also idk if you're familiar with bbb but i thought i'd share the hockey version my friend made of it :') it's all quite interesting to me because hockey is like, MUCH more accessible as a fandom product just because of how many players major sports leagues have and the fact that it's not as successful in north america as any other league save mls (lol) (actually idk if this is still true with messi we might fr be flops now), so you can spend $20 to go to a game in some markets and see your favorite player up close during warmups whereas that... is not possible in f1. there's just a lot of considerations for how personas are built up & managed and the space f1 occupies in that analysis !!!!!!!! but i don't want to talk your ear off too much aklsdfhldfh thank you so much for your kind words! 🥺💕

[cozycryptidcorner]

I see, I see! Yeh, that makes a lot of sense! I've been in a couple of very reader insert positive fandoms and while a lot of people did try to keep the reader neutral, in order to make an interesting story a lot of the time the personalities and perspective from the authors tended to match the ones from the reader protags. I think exploration of our own selves through writing is a really cool thing to do!

Personally, I'm actually pretty different in a lot of aspects from the readers you write, but that just adds to the reading experience because the plots and twists are some I would have never thought about and I'm always on the edge of my seat because I genuinely have no idea what will happen next. Of course, it also has a lot to do with you just being an overall great writer! The way you describe the inner turmoil and thought processes conveys emotions so well, and it's so cool you can draw from your own experiences and put them into words so beautifully that you create something new out of it!

I hope you'll continue to create to your heart's content because you make some incredible stuff! :D

(i am pretending i am on a late night show btw. )

this is really high praise! I have been writing since I was little, and have been babbling stories before that. I've been obsessed with folklore and fairytales, which is probably why I read the bible extensively as a child (obv i believed it was 100% factual from my conservative christian upbringing but good stories are good stories babes).

I think that I write with the cynicism of a lot of leftist late millennial/genZ women hold, but I have a special tang. I was raised in a very special patriarchal setup with the added bonus of religion. I almost view the concept of marriage as an enemy.

I think a lot of my earlier stories are very optimistic, and then it kind of devolves into cynicism on, particularly, cis men, after being in the dating scene for awhile. And also hearing other women talk about their strives, and also witnessing how conservative christian men treat their wives. it all boils down. its something tangible. a special kind of misery they bring. I see cis leftist men make the same mistakes, so like. whatever.

[adriannajeangilles]

Adrianna Jean-Gilles

Everything is changing now, and very fast. In my opinion the main thing that has really taken off is social media, I see and define social media as a communication and media channel. Probably the largest one. After reading the chapter in the textbook, I do have to say I agree with everything it says. Social Media is a great way to bring traffic and engagement to your personal branding or your clients business. A lot of people may think social media is just a “game” and it has no real impact but it’s right up there with advertising and marketing. Millions of people are on social media, using it to post videos, photos, or tweets of your brand or business can really help. Even if we aren't talking about using social media from a business perspective, it’s a perfect way to connect with family and friends! It just fastens up certain conversations and responses, talking to someone you can't get to in person. I also see it as almost “insurance” having written proof of certain things and helping you protect yourself and your word.

 Even though I think of social media highly, I feel as if I don't use it the right way or implement it correctly in my daily life.  One of my main goals is to really use it to its max potential and build my own personal brand, as I do have dreams of being an influencer as well. Right now I am mainly using it as a source of entertainment, characterizing myself as a consumer, but I should really be using it to network and make those connections I can’t make in person. Being a college student is the perfect time to network and grow your name, having social media can really boost that.  I definitely think being a part of GenZ really gives me an advantage of understanding social media, in certain aspects like current trends, challenges, trending audios, and the main topics going viral. Also being on the consumer side of social media I am often in those target audiences, So gaining insight and being almost like an insider comes easy to me. 

On the producer side I feel as if that’s where my weaknesses and challengings start to show. I recently started a new tiktok account to try and grow as a content creator and when struggling to get those hit or miss videos, I usually miss. Some people may think that since they are so familiar with what it’s like to scroll on social media and see all those posts and videos with thousands of views and likes, they can turn around and easily do the same. It’s definitely a humbling experience to say the least. It’s a completely new world when walking over from a consumer to a producer and knowing exactly what to do, to get those numbers and engagement on your account can be extremely hard. Taking this class I really want to gain knowledge on the ins and outs of social media and apply what I learn to grow my own accounts and connections. I’m fairly excited to start this class and learn everything I possibly can! (My tiktok is @lifewdria)  

[mintymarill]

‘visibility’ does not always function in the same way – in fact, there might be different kinds of (un)critical visibilities in diverse cultural and political contexts – and ‘seeing’ does not necessarily lead to social change (see Casper and Moore 2009). Here we need to interrogate the nature of visibility itself and its relation to critique whereby making a (political) issue ‘visible’ or ‘speakable’ might not be enough as an act of emancipation and political awareness. This is problematic for a range of liberal activist stances – including feminism and gay rights – that have adopted a ‘politics of visibility’ to foster reconsiderations of gender, race, embodiment and power. As one of the key terms of identity politics, visibility has been pursued as a tactic and goal by historically marginalised and ‘invisible’ groups that have demanded to be recognised and ‘seen’ in order to establish and legitimise their subject/citizen status. Here, visibility is a key stage in the process of emancipation – it is about the development of ‘a righteous critique of power from the perspective of the injured’ (Brown 1995: 27). Yet, as we will discuss in relation to corporate/neoliberal feminism, sexual macro-politics and sexually sensationalist popular culture (see Chapters 3, 6 and 12), it might no longer suffice to expose and make visible the practices of (patriarchal) subjugation and victimisation, as visibility as a tool of (political) critique becomes questioned and questionable – most notably in the case of the HBO series Game of Thrones (2011–), which adopts a relentless strategy of ‘making visible’ sexist abuse and violence without providing a critical viewpoint from which to challenge these, with the result that here sexism is at once hyper-visible, and yet not seen (see Chapter 6).

Stéphanie Genz and Benjamin A. Brabon, Postfeminism: cultural texts and theories

[thestobingirlie]

(Same anon complaining about fruity four)

Oh my god, the casual homophobia in teens these days, especially from within the community. I'm older genZ, at 25. I have been openly queer for over a decade.

When I first came out all the homophobia I saw/ experienced was from outside the community, casual use of the f and d slurs, using gay as an insult/ synonym for bad, using fruit/ fruity in a derogatory way, and your typical hate crimes/ hate speech.

Now, most of what I see/ hear comes from LGBT+ teens. I have heard teens in a pretty conservative town asking other people (Including adults) if they're fruity. Loudly discussing how strangers are "obviously queer" without caring who is around. And the whole trend of "Is he y'know *limp wrists*?" And the push of micro labels onto almost everyone, who don't want or need to use them.

This links back to the whole "fruity four" thing, because all of these things are used in so many fics for them. Eddie will be limp wristing at everyone. They'll all be describing themselves as fruity. Steve will keep using the word queer to describe his sexuality. Yeah, sure creative liberties and whatever. But it feels unrealistic for a group of teens in the mid '80s. They wouldn't be using all these things that are common in kids now, because they were used in a very derogatory and dangerous way in the '80s. They're teens in a small town in the '80s, they probably wouldn't feel comfortable reclaiming the word queer, let alone half the other stuff they get written as doing when they're written as queer. And they wouldn't be well versed in queer culture of the time, let alone that of today.

i think the reason for this is that these teens are only experiencing queer culture online. the most they get in real life is a commercialised version of pride. all they really know are tiktok comments, where it’s encouraged to imply someone is gay, and loudly discuss what a celebrities sexual orientation might be. outing someone isn’t seen as bad because coming out is seen as a necessity now. i’ve even seen people say that it’s morally wrong and lying not the tell someone you’re gay, which is just insane.

i’ve even seen this post critiquing the word queer because it’s “too vague”… wtf. and yeah! there’s this weird thing where people expect you to totally analyse every aspect of your sexuality and gender and have the perfect word to describe it, and if you don’t totally fit what they think a sexuality is, you’re wrong. and it’s so tiring.

some fics just make it so obvious that they’re writing from a 21st century perspective. like, i’m not saying to write the teens being violently homophobic or anything, but you’ve just got so many st teens treating sexuality with a gentleness and understanding the complexity of it that they just wouldn’t have.

like, robin always knows what bisexual is in fics, she knows the word for it, and she knows exactly what steve is before he even knows. and eddie is flagging and knows exactly what every colour flag mean and he’s a sado dom in small town indiana. and it’s like, get a grip.

i think, when it comes to like robin and steve, it wouldn’t be until they left hawkins, and moved into a city and actually started interacting with queer culture that they would start to refer to themselves with labels. i think in a town like hawkins, where an identity is used to insult you and you really don’t have any other queer people around, it’s harder to just call yourself a dyke or queer. (which is why i love stobin in their 20s exploring queer culture and being able to feel comfortable in themselves and the way they present, because they just really couldn’t do that in the teens).

[kaisita]

Oh wow... I know that in Latin America we started using "uwu" a few months after "xd" and ":v" became common. I'm a GenZ so I'm sure it was going around before this, but I would say I first took notice of it around 2010? I saw it a lot on roleplay forums and deviantart, alongside stuff like "7u7", ":3" and "ewe" and it definitely started showing a lot more often with kaomoji keyboards. In LatAm we didn't have GaiaOnline or websites like that, but we had a Club Penguin ripoff called "Mundo Gaturro" and uwu was used for every single interaction. Also there were multiple variations like "=uwu=" "(⁄ ⁄>⁄ω⁄<⁄ ⁄)⁄" and "nwn".

Hope a perspective like this helps??? Everything in LatAm gets here later that when it started, so uwu definitely travelled quite a while before we got our hands on it.

Congrats to the winning video idea suggestion: the etymology of uwu

Its exact origins are murky and hotly contested, which is why i'm now accepting any firsthand accounts of the use of uwu in early 2000s internet spaces -- or any other thoughts/observations from people in communities where it tends to be used a lot!

[tik4tatthetat]

*Empowering Your Dreams: A Message of Hope and Resilience for Gen Z and Millennials*

*Embracing Your Individuality* Taking care of your mental health is crucial. Prioritize self-care, practice mindfulness, and seek help when needed. Remember, vulnerability is strength, not weakness. *Building Resilience* *Embracing Change* Speak up, stand out, and make your voice heard. Your perspectives can spark meaningful conversations and create lasting impact. *Resources* - National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          - Mhmind.com #EmpowerYourDreams #GenZ #Millennials #Resilience #SelfCare #Mhminds #CommunityFirst  

Read the full article

[icarlycarl]

Is "Bakla" Still a Derogatory Term?

Disclaimer: This is just my two cents. I'm trying to share my thoughts and how I've changed my perspective over time. It's important to remember that words can mean different things to different people, especially across cultures. I’ve tried my best to be respectful and understanding, but I know everyone’s different. If anything I’ve said has rubbed someone the wrong way, please know it wasn’t my intention.

I remember a time when calling someone "bakla" was a way to tease, insult and degrade. I was guilty of doing this when I was a kid and getting called that in return during playground fights. While it used to be a common, casual term, people now use it carefully.

The term "bakla" has a complex history in the Philippines. its usage can still be sensitive, depending on the context and the relationship between the speaker and the listener. While it's often used casually among friends, using "bakla" in a hostile way can be hurtful. When used by a stranger or in a hostile environment, it can be deeply insulting and disrespectful. Similar to racial slurs, if used by a non-LGBTQ+ person, this can be seen as derogatory, especially if it's used to mock or belittle. We should be careful about how we use the word and who we say it to. It's important to be respectful always.

In recent years, there's been a growing movement to challenge outdated and harmful stereotypes. You may have heard the term "woke" from some GenZs. Many people, particularly those who support LGBTQ+ rights, consider the term "bakla" to be outdated and offensive. They argue that it reinforces harmful stereotypes and promotes discrimination against gay men.

Although "bakla", has been used in the Philippines for decades to describe gay men or even now women, it has now transformed into a term of self-empowerment for many. It's no longer a source of shame, but rather a badge of pride.

While the LGBTQIA+ community continues to make strides, there are still instances of discrimination and prejudice. That incident with the transwoman personality, for example, highlights the need for empathy and understanding. While addressing workplace misconduct is important, it should be done with respect and dignity. Not how this person did it. Unfortunately, there are still people closed-minded and not accepting, bringing in religion as a reason. We should not force them to change their beliefs and force people to theirs, but don't condemn or shun the community because of that.

The Philippine Government's stance on LGBTQIA+ is complex and ever changing. The country is still working towards greater LGBTQIA+ rights. While there's growing acceptance, laws are still needed to protect the community (Yaas, SOGIE Equality Bill!). Same-sex marriage remains illegal. But, despite roadblocks, they continue to fight for equality and inclusion.

As I see it, people of the LGBTQIA+ simply wants equality, acceptance, and freedom of expression. They just want legal and social recognition, supportive communities, and policies that protect their rights. They also want to emphasize the importance of embracing individuality and celebrating the diversity.

I'm fortunate to have many wonderful gay friends, and I'm proud to call them my own. They are individuals, human beings deserving of respect and dignity. In today's world, we must embrace equality and respect everyone's right to love and be loved.

And let's not forget the fabulous world of drag! I'm a huge fan of RuPaul's Drag Race and am always amazed by the creativity, talent, and humor of the queens. They fearlessly express themselves, challenging norms and inspiring others. Werk! Sadly, some people view them as strange or abnormal, even going so far as to accuse them of being sexual predators who prey on children. Like, seriously?!

As a straight ally, I stand in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+. Just because I support them, hang out with them and enjoy watching drag queens, doesn't mean I'm gay myself. But, I believe that everyone should be free to be themselves, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. So what if you're bakla, bading, beki, beks? Embrace it! Be proud of who you are. Yaas, Kween!

[amrutatbrc1]

Hair Accessories Market : Technology Advancements, Industry Insights, Trends And Forecast 2033

The hair accessories global market report 2024 from The Business Research Company provides comprehensive market statistics, including global market size, regional shares, competitor market share, detailed segments, trends, and opportunities. This report offers an in-depth analysis of current and future industry scenarios, delivering a complete perspective for thriving in the industrial automation software market.

Hair Accessories Market, 2024 report by The Business Research Company offers comprehensive insights into the current state of the market and highlights future growth opportunities.

Market Size - The hair accessories market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $25.15 billion in 2023 to $28.62 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to popularity of elaborate hairstyles, cultural and societal significance of hair adornment, influence of fashion trends on hair accessory styles, increased disposable income and spending on personal grooming, traditional rituals and ceremonies involving the use of hair accessories.

The hair accessories market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $47.06 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to adoption of sustainable and eco-friendly materials, growing demand for customizable and personalized hair accessories, expansion of e-commerce and online sales channels, influencer marketing and social media shaping hair accessory trends, rise in genz population. Major trends in the forecast period include integration of technology in smart hair accessories, resurgence of vintage and retro-inspired hair accessory styles, incorporation of innovative designs and materials, emphasis on multi-functional and versatile hair accessories, collaborations between fashion brands and hair accessory designers.

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The Business Research Company's reports encompass a wide range of information, including:

1. Market Size (Historic and Forecast): Analysis of the market's historical performance and projections for future growth.

2. Drivers: Examination of the key factors propelling market growth.

3. Trends: Identification of emerging trends and patterns shaping the market landscape.

4. Key Segments: Breakdown of the market into its primary segments and their respective performance.

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6. Macro Economic Factors: Assessment of broader economic elements impacting the market.

Market Drivers - Increasing consumers' focus on looks and aesthetics is expected to propel the growth of the hair accessories market going forward. Hair has a crucial function in enhancing one's image, as healthy, lustrous, and well-groomed hair enhance a person's appearance. People take care of their hair, try various haircuts, and accessorize in order to appear desirable, which increases the demand for hair care products. For instance, November 2021 according to survey done by Betterhalf.ai, a matrimony website and app in India, found that highest number of people, 43% consider 'looks' as the most important factor in a matrimonial profile. Therefore, the increasing consumer's focus on looks and aesthetics is driving the demand for the hair accessories market.

Market Trends - Product innovations have emerged as the key trend gaining popularity in the 5G chipset market. The major players in the market are developing innovative products for market growth. For instance, in June 2021, Samsung Electronics, a South Korea-based electronics company, developed 3GPP Rel.16 compliant chipsets, a range of next-generation 5G chipsets that deliver cutting-edge 5G technologies. The new chipsets consist of a second-generation 5G modem System-on-Chip (SoC), a third-generation mmWave Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC) chip, and a Digital Front End (DFE)-RFIC integrated chip. These are designed to increase power efficiency, boost performance, and reduce the size of 5G solutions.

The hair accessories market covered in this report is segmented –

1) By Product Type: Clips and Pins, Headbands, Wigs and Extensions, Elastics and Ties, Other Products 2) By Distribution: Hypermarkets and Supermarkets, General Stores, Online or E-Commerce 3) By Application: Personal Application, Commercial Application

Get an inside scoop of the hair accessories market, Request now for Sample Report @ https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/sample.aspx?id=7266&type=smp

Regional Insights - North America was the largest region in the hair accessories market in 2023. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the hair accessories market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa

Key Companies - Major companies operating in the hair accessories market report are Hairline Illusions LLC, Henry Margu Inc., Goody Products Inc., Diana Enterprise Inc., Conair Corporation, J & D Beauty Products Inc., Hennes & Mauritz AB, Forever 21 Inc., Fromm Holding AG, Annie International Inc., Silke London Ltd., Hair Drama Company, Bunzee Bands, Riot Accessories Ltd., SwirlyCurly LLC, SOQ Jewelry, Creative Findings, Good Hair Days, Jennifer Behr LLC, Lele Sadoughi LLC, PuffCuff LLC, Dongguan Yuanshan Webbing & Accessories Co. Ltd., Sta-Rite Ginnie Lou Inc., Novita Hair accessories, Evita Peroni International A/S, Claires Holdings LLC, Wigsroyal Hair Products, Vivica A. Fox Hair Collection, Remington Arms Company LLC, Bumble and Bumble LLC, Drybar LLC, Aveda Corporation, John Paul Mitchell Systems, Kenra Professional LLC, Henkel Corporation, Schwarzkopf Professional

Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary 2. Hair Accessories Market Report Structure 3. Hair Accessories Market Trends And Strategies 4. Hair Accessories Market – Macro Economic Scenario 5. Hair Accessories Market Size And Growth ….. 27. Hair Accessories Market Competitor Landscape And Company Profiles 28. Key Mergers And Acquisitions 29. Future Outlook and Potential Analysis 30. Appendix

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[nickgerlich]

Falling Flat

You win some, you lose some.

And as I have been saying all along this semester, a lot of companies are focusing their marketing and new product efforts on GenZ, the emerging generation of adults with increasing spending power. GenZ also brings with it a virtually clean slate of brand preferences, at least as compared to people decades older than them.

What’s not to love from a marketing perspective?

It’s just that there are never any guarantees in this. You do your homework, study the target market, craft your message, plan your product launch, and then you roll the dice. It’s Las Vegas without the glitz and the glamour, but it is no less a high stakes game.Earlier this year, Coca-Cola rolled the dice with its new Coca-Cola Spiced beverage, available in both sweetened and zero sugar versions. Yesterday, they announced they are pulling the plug on it, and preparing for a replacement product early in 2025.

Coca-Cola Spiced was designed to take advantage of a growing preference for flavor varietals, but specifically aimed at younger consumers who presumably like spicy products. But this is where the product fell flat, as it was really just a raspberry Coke with the flavor amped up a bit as it if actually were spicy. It’s just that it wasn’t spicy, but instead more like one of those spiced apple ciders you might get as autumn fades into winter. Think cinnamon stick.

Remember, ‘spice” doesn’t always mean hot. Had Coca-Cola infused the new drink with Hatch green chiles, the result would have truly been a spicy beverage. It is quite likely this disconnect caused confusion among consumers who may have been expecting Coke to turn up the heat, and when they didn’t, they were unimpressed.

And Coca-Cola’s decision also demonstrates the unwillingness to give new products much of a trial period. This one lasted only seven months, barely half a year. Who knows if it could have been a winter sensation? It wasn’t even given a chance.

When the product was announced back in February, it was touted as the first permanent new product in three years. Think about that. Coca-Cola did not plan on this being just a seasonal promotion. No, it planned on it sticking around, like Sprite, Diet Coke, and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. But then Coca-Cola clouded the issue by admitting that its product really wasn’t spicy, just bold in flavor. Hmmm.

It is also possible that GenZ shoppers—or anyone else who might have been willing to give it a try—were simply unaware of it. With so many soft drink varietals on shelves these days, it is possible to get lost among them all. It’s not like supermarket managers gather to discuss whether they should expand the soft drink aisle so they can accommodate the growing array. No, shelf space is allocated by company, meaning that Coca-Cola gets a certain amount of space, and then how that space is divided among the many flavors and brands is determined by the delivery driver who follows a plan-o-gram.

Then there’s the possibility that the new Spiced product never even made it to some retailer shelves, as well as c-stores where the refrigerated drinks section is limited by how many slots are available for individual cans and bottles. Space is finite, and the retailer usually has the final word, unless they have agreed to full-line forcing with their suppliers.

The result of all this post-mortem hand-wringing is that Coca-Cola missed its target completely. How many among my students tried this one? How many even knew it existed? And what do you think of a product that promises spice but doesn’t exactly deliver it?

This is one for Coca-Cola to ponder a long time as it works on that replacement product. Companies must be willing to take chances, to try to innovate as well as isolate its intended audience. It’s just that this one seems so fraught with mistakes that I bet it will wind up being a text book example for years to come. You know…of how not to do it.

Dr “Not Impressed” Gerlich

Audio Blog