#How to list on LSE

[deafsignifcantother]

the v's reaction to someone taking your hearing aid

♥ summary: "what the Vees would do if they noticed their partially deaf s/o being picked on - like the other people would tear out their hearing aid(s) and break them and stuff" @aceduchessdragoness ♥ characters: velvette, vox, valentino ♥ notes: screaming and crying okay so i did val's spanish as spain spanish bc i think spain sign language would be better than narrowing his signs down to a specific latin american country but if the translation is cringe then tell me bc i'm literally using an lse dictionary

Vox

♥ word count: 1.9k ♥ notes: i use [Y/N] for the first time in my career ong, she/her pronouns used in third person, reader doesn't speak and only signs, protective but violent vox, vox in a healthy relationship, reader gets harassed in public

It was never a mystery to you how Vox always knew where you were. Even without the watch on your wrist, you felt his eyes on you, the looming knowledge of persistent monitoring.

Not that it bothered you, of course. If anything, you were worried that he wanted to spend his time watching you instead of running his business. But whatever, it was flattering.

Whenever you went on your routine errands, you would smile at every television or security camera you encountered. On the big screens in Vox's room, he feels like the common softening of his heart. Your smile always seems so genuine. How can somebody like you adore him so much?

.

Blue light illuminates your living room. From the kitchen, you groan as you make your way to the television. Can he stop bothering you at this hour? All you wanted to do was get some damn water, but of course, as always, he's monitoring you.

Words pop up on the screen as you approach it. You rub your eyes, the brightness overwhelming. You reach for your coffee table.

GO TO SLEEP

With the sudden click of the remote, you smile as the screen goes black. One, two, three... it lights up again.

DON'T TRY

Again, the screen goes black. One... again, a bright blue illuminates you.

[Y/N]. The television shakes.

You snicker at him, finally sitting on the floor and putting the remote down. On the other side of that screen, Vox sits on his swivel chair, gazing up at you, your frame taking up multiple monitors. Your eyes look below where his point of view is.

"It's late," you sign, and the light makes your hands shine in the darkness. "Dim it a little."

He listens; his small act of consideration makes you melt. Your eyes soften immensely. Internally, he begs you to stop looking at him like that; it's embarrassing how good it makes him feel.

The television is still a blinding blue as you go from the living room to the bedroom; he follows you per any screen by your side. Worst of all, a flat-screen faces your bed, which was mandatory.

"Goodnight, Vox." You sign while putting your face up to the screen.

You turn this TV off, and to your delight, it stays off.

.

With a yawn, you stretch your morning aches away and lean your head against the table of your vanity. You get a few seconds of shut-eye before popping back up. Vox is watching; if he notices you're tired, he will try to be domestic and nap with you regardless of how much work you must do today. So you rub away your sleepy eyes and massage the tension in your jaw. Putting on your hearing aid is first on your daily to-do list; you'd like to hear if he pops up on your television and decides to update you on his morning. Sometimes, he gets so impatient. Next, while picking up your moisturizer, you try not to shiver at the coldness once it touches your fingers.

You wish yourself a good morning before rubbing it in.

At the same time of day, Vox was already up and doing his rounds, making sure his employees were getting work done. He gets antsy between when you wake up, and you get to the tower. Every morning once he sees you entering the elevator, he'll wait on the other side to welcome you in with a kiss to the forehead.

Vox checks his watch. It shows his favorite things: your vitals, location, and pretty little face whenever you dial him.

You've finally left your place, thank goodness. Pacing aimlessly has never looked good on him.

.

He stands by his window, looking down at the streets below, watching you approach. You're wearing your usual uniform, one that he picked out just for you; it consists of the same red and blue stripes he has on his everyday suit. It makes you an eyesore in the everyday crowd.

If you didn't know any better, you'd lift your head to see if you could spot him among the many stories. The building is beautiful, overpowering. The V tower's magnificent brightness outshines the rest of the V district. The constant noise of people always has you walking with your hearing aid turned as low as it can go without turning off.

With the pink light reflecting off your face, you look both ways before crossing the street, a bright smile on your face, stepping onto the asphalt before a hand grabs your wrist.

Vox furrows his brow at the sight.

You turn your head and see a friendly reporter and a cameraman, the camera not yet rolling. Your pupils flicker between them.

"Hello!" She smiles, removing her hand. With caution, you fully face her, stepping back onto the sidewalk. The 'professional' persona you've been forced to practice is finally coming to fruition.

"Hello! I'm Deaf; I don't think I'd be able to do an interview."

She flicks her hand and rolls her eyes in the most friendly way possible. "Not a problem," she signs, moving the microphone vibrantly, "I can work this out, no problem!"

You widen your eyes in a wowwwww, oh my god, that's perfect... "Oh, what a kind woman you are!"

Vox? You beg internally. Baby? Save me.

Up high, he doesn't remove his eyes from you. With the use of sign language, he can't listen in, and he can't tell whether he needs to intervene or not. There's nothing wrong with going to check, right? Or will he seem possessive, or scared? He doesn't want people to think he doesn't want you to talk to anyone. It's good that you get to sign to someone other than him and Velvette, right?

The camera starts rolling, and you square your shoulders, adjusting your sleeves for more mobility. The news reporter throws the microphone at the cameraman, who does not catch it but ignores it as she shows off her brightest smile.

"Hello, ladies and gentlemen, I have the sweetest person in hell with me, [y/n]! Tell me, how long have you two been together?"

Of course, the news has been recognizing you recently. You've been seen countless times adjusting Vox's tie (he purposely fucks it up so that you'll step close to him) as well as wrapping your arm around his and pinching the corner of his screen endearingly before you give him a babying compliment. Many people have taken pictures and edited hearts around you two. People are obsessed with how "heavenly" your relationship is.

"Oh, many months now!" You nod to yourself, trying to stop your eyes from shining with admiration. You always get so soft when you think about him; it's one of the things people notice. She looks at him as if he's her entire world.

"Beautiful!" The reporter puffs out her bottom lip innocently. "I'm sure you make that man very happy."

What do you even say to that? I hope so.

"The happiest."

"Now," she doesn't hesitate to change the topic. "Are there any challenges you two face about your... differences?"

Your eyebrows raise before furrowing in confusion. Differences? At first, you think she means his television head, but when she notices you pause, she rudely clarifies. "I mean, with your lack of hearing, you know? Don't you find it a little embarrassing?"

You lean your body away from her. "What are you saying?"

The shock of the tonal shift has you freezing in place. The reporter looks at the camera, her eyes squinting with sadistic amusement. Her fingers twitch as she lifts her arm, not even looking at you before plucking the hearing aid from your ears. She crushes it in her hand.

At first, you grab your ear, pressing your hand to it in disbelief. Your face contorts, your shoulders dropping as you try to step away. Why couldn't you see this coming? And on television—is that where this is airing? The air around you goes quiet, the sensation of spatial awareness fading a bit as you stumble back, your hand still grasping your ear. The watch on your wrist hits your cheek, and without a second thought, you tap on the screen repeatedly. The next thing that popped into your head: her bravery is the most surprising.

With a brief fall of light, Vox stands where the lady once was. You eye him with uncertainty, a look you have never given him. He faces the cameraman, not looking your way. Your eyes go up and down his body; his stance is tense, his arms are folded behind his back, and his fingers sparking with small glimmers of electricity.

You see that lying behind him is the woman, body entirely limp, smoke coming from her mouth, and her eyes looking stuck open.

He speaks to the camera, pointing his finger at it, staring intensely into the shaking, blinking red light. Your hands link around his bicep. Composure, you remind yourself. You turn to the camera with a weary smile and lean your head against him.

.

"That'll never happen again." He stares at himself in the mirror. His dressers and tables are filled with claw marks from his previous meltdowns.

You just sit on his bed, crossing your legs uncomfortably, watching him as he goes back and forth between signing to you and mumbling to himself. You haven't said a word. You just keep your eyes on him.

He protected you in the way he knew best. He wanted nothing more than to put his hands on the sides of her head and crush her skull. It would stain his suit, awful. Even worse, your suit would have been ruined, too.

Should he force you to move into the tower? He's always wanted to. The commute would be no more, and you'd be safe from the outside.

Should he prevent you from leaving at all without him? No, that might be too much, but his entire body craves to keep you secure and protected.

He won't ask you what you want. He knows there's a chance you would just coddle him and tell him it's okay. There's no reality where he will do nothing; he must devise his own plan. But first (actually, secondly, after getting his anger out on his furniture), he wants to make sure his sweetheart is okay.

Once he calmed down and sat next to you, rubbing your thigh, he watched as you scrolled through social media, looking at the hundreds of people laughing and reposting the event. He shuts off your phone, grabs it, and tosses it across the room. You roll your eyes helplessly before he lifts his hands and signs to you.

"I will track everyone down and punish them severely, baby. No one will ever touch you again, or else they will the next flashing headline."

"I know, baby," you wrap your arms around his chest and lean into him, rubbing your cheek against the smoothness of his overcoat.

You hum against him, finding it in yourself to smile softly. Protector, protector, protector. You run those words through your head; they're comforting to their own extent. Suppose he ends up locking you inside the tower. In that case, it's better than him leaving you entirely over this (which, obviously, he'd never actually do). Spending every morning and night with him wouldn't be wrong. Everything happens for a reason.

He leans back onto the bed, his feet dangling off as you curl into his side.

Before resting completely, you use a hand to sign into his chest. "Everything will be fine."

Your coddling, though annoying, provides the most relaxing warmth to his body. He groans, wrapping an arm lazily around you, feeling the usual butterflies in his stomach as you press a small kiss to his collarbone.

.

.

.

Velvette

♥ word count: 1.6k ♥ warnings: reader speaks, party scene, getting harassed by a man, vox is in this too ♥ a/n: i completely headcanon that velvette took an asl class in highschool when she was alive, i have no idea how velvette usually acts in fanfiction so this is MY velvette now

Velvette found you, such a pretty thing, in your little corner of the internet, making content for your little community. That little corner of yours is where you told the news and interpreted a lot of banter from the overlords. Your channel was the perfect mix of education and drama, all for the Deaf community in Hell.

You were, as Velvette described, a tea channel.

She invited you to the V tower to show you around. The three V's introduced themselves to you in their own way, offering you a job. The bossman, ever so gentlemanly and charming, didn't let Valentino try and make sex motions to you for longer than necessary. And before Velvette forced Vox to scurry off, she forced him to snap a few pics of you posing with her as a faux collab.

You weren't stupid. You knew Velvette only wanted your attention to spread whatever brand she endeavored to popularize. But this might be a golden opportunity. You'd learn the behind-the-scenes from three different overlords, and the content you can produce will gather insane traction.

.

Velvette is just so sweet; the way she showed her care for you was just through gift-giving.

She loved putting together gift boxes for you, similar to the sorority kind. The boxes went from cute little baskets to a cardboard box resembling a PR send. These would always be set on your desk with a bit of note from her, each time she'd signed off her name with a heart.

Jackets, shoes, candies, jewelry, pens, everything. The gifts are versatile with familiar themes of hearts. Every day was like Valentine's Day when she was 'courting' you (did she even realize she was?).

She made you bags: totes, crossbody bags, clutches, phone pouches, coin purses, anything she thought you would need with an array of colors to match any outfit. She put in hair clips and pocket mirrors, cozy slippers and fancy journals.

She even got you two matching bracelets.

You love the smirk she wears whenever she notices you adorning anything she's given to you. Damn right, she thinks, I knew it would look good.

The most enormous box she'd ever given you was the day before one of her fashion shows. Inside were glorious clothes from her collection, all for you to pick out and wear. She really loved her stripes.

You put your hearing aid on, smiling at yourself in the mirror as you watch the charm she made you glisten in the light. With your bracelet ornamenting your wrist, you pat down your stripped outfit before taking a deep breath.

.

Your entrance reeks of reluctance. The temptation to retreat back to your room is unbearable. Seeing Velvette will definitely lift your mood; where is she? Surely, she'd be the highlight of the room, but amongst all the women with their eccentric colors and clothing shapes, you can't find your eye drawing to her anywhere.

The sounds of the party blend together in a nasty concoction; you can't help but turn your hearing aids off. The sound is similar to what it's like being outside in a heavy storm; the wind, the pouring rain, the blur and whine of the hearing aids. And instead of lingering by the double doors, you push into the crowd. You're the least recognizable in the crowd of celebrities, but it doesn't stop people from moving out of the way when you try to wiggle through. You're wearing stripes, her stripes. You're either bold or very special to her; they don't want to intervene.

But your stripes also get some people to stare at you longer than they would have otherwise. Across the room, in front of you, you notice a tall, almost shirtless model coming your way, directly staring at you. You break the quick eye contact before squeezing through a cluster of girls taking selfies. They won't let you through, grimacing but not laying any hands on you. When you turn to go the other way, the man is behind you, holding out his hand, waiting for you to put your hand in his.

You click on your hearing aid and scroll up. "What did you say?" You ask verbally, clearing your throat a bit.

His eyes bounce from yours to your hand, looking at what you're touching. His head tilts in interest. You don't like the sight of his smile.

"Oh wow." He says.

Immediately, "Yeah, no," Velvette puts her hands on your shoulders and tries to push you away. "I swear, don't even look at him, he's fucking insane."

He speaks over her, but you can't process his words over how close Velvette's lips are to your ear. Her warm breath sends goosebumps down your arms, and your spine straightens. This only makes her hum in amusement.

After turning and growling at him, she effortlessly maneuvers you away. Eyes watch you even closer now as she touches you. You let her guide you throughout the room with not a clue as to where she's leading you, if anywhere. But eventually, you two end up in front of a mirror the size of a wall.

She stares at you through the mirror. "Look at you," she signs, "extravagant as ever, darling."

"Thanks to you."

"Obviously." And she bumps her hip into yours. You laugh, mimicking the motion back.

You had ditched your initial motive of getting close to the V's to gain more information about them. They were fine people to hang out with, making you laugh and feel involved. Velvette gave you special attention that nobody in your afterlife has ever given. Her lipstick left stains on your cheek whenever she kissed you, and she made an 'appointment' in her schedule once a week to paint your nails the same black color as hers.

The afternoon went by quickly; you spent time clapping and watching models show off their garb. Velvette is a true talent.

But something ruined your evening. The air hummed with laughter and the rhythmic beat of music. Velvette had been whisked away by the other V's to overlook the crowd and count the people who had attended. Among the colorful crowd stood a familiar figure whose eyes sparkled with mischief. Different from last time, you don't notice when he starts to approach again.

"You," he coos, placing his hand under your chin. You must stare at his lips to comprehend his words over the music, an awful innuendo you wish you could have avoided. He leaned in closer to you, and in return, you leaned back. Valentino had told you a bunch of times to not worry if someone puts their hands on you, that it's a typical formality in Hell. You would always roll your eyes at him, never expecting a stranger to grab you like this.

You were mentally preparing yourself to dodge a kiss. But then, daringly, he leaned in and gently plucked the hearing aid from behind your ear, holding it aloft like a trophy. Fear flickered across your face, your hand instinctively reaching for it, but he pulled it away. The charm Velvette gave you dangles like a jewel.

"Don't," you say with desperation. He puts a finger in front of your face and waves it back and forth. He coos, using that hand to grab your face as if you were the most adorable thing he's ever seen.

Your eyes are locked on the charm, and it's brash jolts. You almost beg for him to just give you the charm back.

In the middle of a conversation with Vox, Velvette raises an eyebrow; shocked and pissed, she glared at whoever had torn off your hearing aid. She mumbles, "I'd tear their hearing aid off and break it."

Before she can move closer to you, Vox puts his hand in front of her while watching the interaction. "Think before acting, Velvette."

Her frustration turns into anger as she pushes his hand away. He lets her run off; he holds a hard stare as her pink hair bobs through the crowd.

Your eyes are stuck wide with shock, and a million things run through your head, all relating to the appropriate situational response.

True to your casual self, you were having a hard time not just jamming your hand in his eyes and kicking his shins. Would you make Velvette mad? Vox?--Would that result in you being removed from the V Tower? It's all so complicated. Though you were panicking over a 'quick' decision, you and the man stayed in that position for a few seconds. He stayed laughing, dropping the hearing aid and stomping on it.

At almost the same time, Velvette threw a glass from someone's hand at the man, perfectly aimed, hitting him in the face. She lets out a small "nice!" before rushing to you.

Her hand runs down your face, and she holds you tenderly, not turning to face Vox as he puts himself between her and the man. Your eyes bounce around the entire room. Will you ever get a break from being at the center of attention?

"We're leaving. Now." she signs in a single motion so quick that it makes you smile, relieving some of the stress that's been making your head pound. She's able to sign so naturally now.

The crowd splits into two.

Behind the both of you, Vox is declaring an end to the event, apologizing to the people for the inconvenience. Velvette keeps muttering about him under her breath; you can see her lips moving and her face grimacing.

.

She has beads in front of her, a bunch of small charms with string. She signs, looking up at you. "I should have killed him."

You just watch her craft another charm, laying on her bed and kicking your feet. "That would have been funny."

She scoffs and smiles, her painted lips turning upwards. Her fingers trace over the beads, deciding which one to pick up. She wants to make it different than the last one, but what should it look like? She picks up a pink heart with a slight hum before sliding it down onto the string. She whispers to herself, perfect.

.

.

.

Valentino

♥ word count: 1.7k ♥ note: reader is a vodka drinker, i'm obsessed with writing a loving valentino, reader doesn't talk very much and prefers sign, sexually suggestive things happening but it's not nsfw, kinda written like ass, drugs mentioned but no named just symptoms, takes place on porn set, valentino kills someone, blood description

Every time you step into the studio, you're hit by the smell of sex, mostly the sweetened stench of that strawberry lube he loves so much. Visiting his work is not usually something you do often, but he's seem to be so busy lately that you can't help but bring him a drink, the most beautiful drink in hell: vanilla vodka. You can already see him licking him lips.

Strawberry lube, so prominent in your nose.

His legs are crossed and he stares at the scene in front of him, his sunglasses hiding whatever his emotions are, but his lips are still in a prominent scowl.

Though, when he sees you, his expression changes drastically. He stands with so much excitement that the actors stop to see what he's reacting to. All eyes are on you, you shy away from the attention a bit but Val doesn't seem to notice, else care.

"Amor mío!" One of his hands signs, running down his cheek while his bottom two motions for a hug.

Before you can initiate a hug, he wraps his arms around you and brings you into his chest, trapping your arms in. He's warm, vibrantly so, it's hard not to melt against him. You couldn't be surprised if you let out a small moan at the contact. Oh, how I've missed you so much.

He pulls away quicker than you'd like and takes the bottle from your hand, holding it up close to his face so he can examine it. "Burnett's, oh you shouldn't have!"

He hesitates, torn between his responsibilities and the irresistible allure of having a drink with the person he was enamored with. He's not so easy to whisk away from work, therefore (of course), you seem to be the only person who he is at every beck and call.

You smile softly, "I knew you'd like it."

With a laugh, he takes your hand and spins you, his free hands popping open the bottle, ready to embark on whatever journey you had in store.

He turns and addresses his employees, granting them a small break before turning to you with his sharp smile.

And together, you slip away from the set, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of the studio for a simple moment of peace and luxury. Walls blazed with hues of pink and blue, you both find yourselves nestled on the fluffy couch in a lounge, a wineglass in your hand while he chugs from the bottle.

"You've been so busy." You sign. You switch the wineglass into your non dominant hand to avoid spilling any of the contents. Val holds the bottle with his bottom set of hands while signing with his top ones (he was originally going to do it the other way around).

“I know, princesa,” one of his hands comes up and squeezes your cheek. “Business calls, I cannot help myself.”

“Which is why I came to visit.” 

The two of you clink glass upon glass before taking a drink. He’s trying not to finish the drink before you, he’s making sure to take his time. He doesn’t want you to leave as much as he doesn’t want to rush the break. His eyes go over your entire form and take you in, there feels like an eternity since he saw you last. Why do you have so much patience for someone like him? It’s astonishing. Surely someone as beautiful as you could find someone sweeter than her. But he’s grateful to have you, he’s mildly addicted to that internal battle of whether he wants to cherish you or own you (perhaps he can do both? Something he’s never done before). 

“What?” You ask.

“Hm?” His fingers pinch together in the casual way of signing.

“You’re staring at me.”

“I can’t resist.”

“What were you thinking about?” You sign and lean forward, giving him bright eyes. Your gaze swallows him, moth to a flame. 

He matches your body language, “You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen, amor mío.”

When he tries to grab your hand, you pull away. “You're acting as if you're wine drunk.” You sign. You have a sappy smile as you put your glass to your lips. 

“Never,” he wiggles his fingers as he signs. You eye him carefully, debating asking if he's kept his favorite gun on him. There's nothing worse than a drunk Valentino.

After the wine break, he has to go back to work. He feels himself getting irritated as he walks back, why can't he just continue spending the day with you? Is it worth sending everybody home? No, he has a job to do, and he needs to complete it before relaxation. But maybe he'll consider taking breaks (his least favorite word) to spend time with you.

You follow, both of your hands holding his, clinging onto him like a child.

Everybody was still in the studio, waiting for his return, not daring to leave in fear of him coming back. Actors were talking to each other casually, away from the camera, it built a strange sense of community for you. They're so nice to each other off-camera.

He drags you to his chair still holding your hand as he sits in it.

Drinking with you had been a much-needed respite from these people. He made a mental note to gift you more wine.

You remove your hands from his and smile. “Get back to work, baby.” 

Pearly white, sharp teeth show through his large smile. He presses his lips against each of your knuckles while his eyes skin over all of his actors, counting them. He makes eye contact with one particular one, a woman. They stare at each other for more than a second. She's scowling at him and he squints his eyes at her. The fuck is your problem?

She usually looks at him with sultry looks, but now there's a sharpness to them.

But his eyes peel away from her and go back to you, he leans forward and presses a slow kiss to your forehead. He signs low, almost as if he's whispering a secret. "I'll come see you after."

You smile and start turning away. "Good."

Upon noticing your departure, the actors and crew start returning to their places, keeping an eye on Valentino and any commands he might make. Their eyes are always on him, worried to test his anger. But not all the actors were worried about testing his anger.

"Hey," an actress grabs your hand before you could reach the door and you turn to her. She talks, her voice making your hearing aids buzz, "Are you guys like, dating? Are you dating the Valentino? Like, literally one of the V's."

Her words all bunch into one. You blink, taking time to think about both what she could be asking and the connotation behind it. "Yes?" It sounds more like a question than an answer. Is that the correct response?

She hums and nods, her eyes wide in amazement. Her pupils are large. Her cheeks are hollow and she has strong eyebags. With a distant sound from Val, him talking to the crew, she looks back at him before turning to you. "I mean like, why? Why would he want you?"

Oh no. You try to move away but she just follows you, stepping in front of you closer. It's like being cornered, being trapped in an almost unavoidable situation.

"Why wouldn't he?" You test with a squint of your eyes.

She just smiles at you. "Uhm," and her arm reaches over, grabbing the hearing aid from your ear, pinching it between her claws, "Obviously this."

You reach for it but she pulls it away from you, trying not to laugh.

So you do what you know is the best solution, you call his name, practically screaming it. "Val!"

At the sound of you using your voice he whips his head around. The air goes still, you can tell from the way she pauses. Her pause is only for a second, she reeks of hesitance and sudden worry. She looks at the hearing aid in her hand as if she's finally realizing what she had done and what was about to happen.

Before she can say another word, her entire body stiffs, her eyes widen before her pupils roll back. And then she's on the floor, almost falling onto you.

You wipe blood from your cheek and groan.

Val stares at you, his expression unreadable. In his hand is his jeweled gun. He pauses for a moment to take a long drag of his cigarette, letting out a cloud of red smoke before he looks at his gun with a toothy smile until he tucks it back into his belt.

He starts to approach you and for a second you're scared, it was a primal feeling. He walked like a king.

All you can do is watch him, frozen in place.

The first thing he does when he reaches you is bend in front of her body, plucking the hearing aid from her hand. It's bloody, the liquid drips from it as he lifts it up. He wipes some of it off on his shirt before handing it to you. He drops it into your open hands.

He speaks, knowing you'd have a hard time understanding. "Laying her slutty hands on my angel..."

You lean into his touch when he caresses your face. His eyes gaze at you, softening, his smile widening at how soft your eyes look. You're his greatest treasure. He gets off immensely from protecting you, he would ravish you to death in this moment if he could. Valentinos eyes drift down at the body and his pupils narrows as he glares at the dead woman. He's going to have to clean this up. Her blood is getting every where.

One of his thumbs rub against your cheek, touching the bloody smear. It stains your skin in a delectable way. So perfect.

He melts when he sees your soft eyes slowly start to match the mischievous smile growing on your face. He protected you and he was open about being dithered over her behavior, he didn't laugh at it or tease you about it. You don't doubt for an instant that he's the man of your dreams. He killed someone for you in an instant.

When you take his thumb into your mouth, sucking the blood, his spine straightens. He pulls away immediately and turns around, yelling at the his workers that filming will be cut short today.

He just can't wait any longer to spend some lovely time with you.

[hsrlanedefencesquad]

something made me think, when I played "and the haze will take us", none of the male LIs really hooked me and I was whining in my mind like "oh man I wish this author would introduce more LIs because none of these men are doing it for me" then I thought of "tata" she doesn't do anything for me too because I don't like her physical appearance nor personality but.....I remembered there are strictly wlw players who don't even have the option of picking from 3 female LIs, like that's CRAZY 😭 idk why I'm just all of a sudden clocking this, but going through stories with just one LI to pick from must be miserable omg

Like thinking of all the strictly wlw players getting stuck with one female LI to choose from & most of them just having either the generic "acts like your friend because she is a girl and I can't write intricate female routes instead of actually acting like your lover" personality or the other extreme "insane bitchiness" personality or to even be vain, what if their appearance doesn't excite the wlw players??and the thing is they're not even expected to complain because (the whole notion here is be grateful we even added female LIs for y'all)

the way most times I'm usually more attracted to the mc than the female LIs is crazy 😭 like lane, vyxaria & evthys can have anything they want from me 🤦🏾‍♀️

I romance male LIs primarily but also female LIs, agnia did nothing for me, tata does nothing for me (but we shall see) that one girl in dracula did nothing for me....I think the female LIs I have liked and romanced was lima from kcd (my darling), saraswati, that one hot blonde in LSE & some girls from vfv and I think anna is going to be added to this list because so far she has been amazing (those are the only ones who have been able to hook me so far) but the thing is I have that option to choose either from the male or female LIs and sometimes like with what happened in reading this story, none of them do anything for me and I can't just imagine how that must feel for lesbian players

Now I wonder how some wlw players go through books without romancing anyone, this is one aspect I wish RC improves on even though I know they just got into trouble in russia for the whole lgbtq stuff but- please I'm begging give us more female LIs to choose from, or at least hire more lesbian/bisexual authors if the heterosexual authors just don't know how to write/include different female LIs in their work....

[rageprufrock]

Do you have any extended thoughts on Love in The Air?

I have, conservatively, 5 million thoughts about Love in the Air, a show which I recognize is objectively Not Good, but with which I am obsessed. I made a bunch of posts on Twitter about this a while back, about how LITA is in that perfect fandom sweet spot where it's just shit but also just good enough that it leaves me completely unhinged and plagues my days and nights full obsession stylez.

Like every fucking day is a fight against my inner demons not to write the excruciating longform about Prapai, because everything we know about him is completely bugfuck insane in the context of everything else we know about him. He's 25! His leisure activity is so dangerous that people die every year at one of the most prominent professional versions of the illegal secret drag racing he does! He hangs out with objectively nightmare trash shit bastards! He knows Sky's ex boyfriend socially. Did he ever swap hookups at the race? He's the heir to a family business of...some kind? We have no idea! He's just a generic business person! Is it real estate? Are they in manufacturing? Does Prapai have to lead QBRs? He got an undergrad and masters in the UK! Where the fuck did he study? What the fuck did he study? Did he go to LSE? Has he been shittered in Shoreditch? Did he ever throw up and/or suck a dick on either of the windy little streets in Shoreditch on which I lived? What the hell did he mean when he said he raised his siblings? Is that just a cultural thing? Were his parents totally absent building their family business and so he was parentified as a child? THESE ARE ONLY THE QUESTIONS I HAVE ABOUT PRAPAI.

I have a similar list about a mile long about Sky, including but not limited to: did he even break up with Gun, or did Gun dump him, because that would somehow make that whole fucking situation even sadder. Where's his mom? Does he miss her? Why is he studying architecture? Did he read Bleach? When did he give up on reading Bleach? How bad is his crush on Roy Mustang? Is it possible to have a crush on Roy Mustang worse than my crush on Roy Mustang? How the fuck did he and Rain become friends? What the hell do they talk about? What happened to all the shitty people he used to be friends with? Do they know where he is now?

So yes. I have...a lot of extended thoughts about LITA.

[eaglesnick]

WHO IS RISHI SUNAK?

Rishi Sunak’s true character has begun to show during this election campaign and what is being revealed is not pretty.

In 2021 the BBC asked the question “Who is Rishi Sunak and what does he believe?” The BBC was hard pushed to answer its own question, but one trait they did note was Sunak's reputation among fellow Conservatives for his  “close attention to his image". His social media footprint was described as "a highly calibrated piece of marketing activity". (BBC:03/03/21)

More revealing of the man behind the media image is a London School of Economics study. Using the well-established profiling framework known as Leadership Trait Analysis they found that:

“Sunak has a very high belief in his ability to control events, is very highly motivated by power, is more people- than task-oriented, tends to see the world in binary terms and is highly distrustful.” (LSE: 14/11/22)

In behavioural terms this means Sunak may be:

 “ less focused on solving problems and more concerned with how people are reacting to him and how he can secure and maintain power. Sunak is likely to be active in policymaking and may push through policies confidently, believing he can control the outcomes. He may be reluctant to listen to advice, delegate responsibility to others and compromise. He may prefer action over analysis and be hypersensitive to criticism. He may advocate hawkish foreign policies.” (LSE: 14/11/22)

Now, we should all have a healthy scepticism regarding psychological profiling but some of the personality traits listed do seem fit with Sunak’s behaviour. His obsession with his public image is a case in point. In May 2022 Sunak was even accused of using taxpayers money to “bolster public image” (National:22/05/22)

Another reported personality trait, his desire for power, was highlighted yesterday when he thought it more important to abandon the D-Day commemorations in favour of a TV interview. When it became obvious his self-seeking behaviour had caused “fury" amongst the general public he issued an apology for his actions.

Surely his advisers would have told him that leaving the D-Day commemorations early in order to do a self-promoting TV interview was not a smart political move?  Perhaps they did, but if Sunak’s personality profile is accurate then he would of been “reluctant to listen to advice". What’s more having realised he had made a political plunder and having issued an apology to the nation, he went on to undermine that apology by telling people not to “politicise" his shameful behaviour, an example of his “hypersensitivity to criticism” and an inability to accept full responsibility for his actions. 

We have learned more about Sunak in the last two weeks than in the previous two years and we have four more weeks of electioneering to go. The self-promoted image of Rishi Sunak as the squeaky-clean, ultra efficient technocrat, whose only concern is the economic well being of the nation is fastly unravelling.

 We had a clue to his self-serving faults during Covid when the Metropolitan Police fined Sunak, alongside Boris Johnson, over lockdown parties in Downing Street. Somehow the blame fell mainly on Johnson, who was eventually forced to resign. While the rest of us were confined to our homes, forbidden to attend funerals or visit aging relatives in hospital or care homes, Sunak and Johnson were partying in Number 10. That should have been a warning to all of us as to the true nature of Rishi Sunak.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

Cognitive Distortion in Thinking About Gender Issues: Gamma Bias and the Gender Distortion Matrix

By: Martin Seager and John A. Barry

Published: 2019

Introduction

The seed that grew into my (JB) interest in Male Psychology was planted at a seminar on clinical psychology during my undergraduate degree at a respected English university in the mid-1990s. The group had spent a lot of time exploring possible theory-based reasons for female depression (e.g. the female gender role leading to learned helplessness), but then swiftly glossed over the subject of high male suicide rates with a “humorous” remark: “men construct more lethal methods because they are better at DIY”. This raised a few giggles at the seminar, and the group quickly moved on to the next topic. However it struck me as odd that my educators—and psychologists in general—appeared to have little serious curiosity about the causes of a fatal issue like suicide. I presumed that this would change, but I heard the same DIY explanation in 2016 at a public talk on gender at LSE, also greeted with giggles from the audience. Clearly this phenomenon—a cognitive distortion involving the minimisation of the importance of male suicide to the point of near-invisibility—was difficult for people to overcome.

Cognitive distortions can be defined as “the result of processing information in ways that predictably result in identifiable errors in thinking” (Yurica et al. 2005). Since the 1960s, a growing number of distortions have been identified. Aaron T. Beck (1967) originally identified cognitive distortions in his work with depressed patients. The six errors he identified were: arbitrary inference; selective abstraction; overgeneralization; magnification and minimization; personalization; and absolutistic, dichotomous thinking. Since that time others have extended Beck’s list. In this chapter we are postulating a newly identified cognitive distortion, gamma bias.

Gamma Bias and the Gender Distortion Matrix

A range of examples of gamma bias are described in the gender distortion matrix, and they fall primarily under two categories: magnification and minimization. Magnification is defined as “the tendency to exaggerate or magnify either the positive or negative importance or consequence of some personal trait, event, or circumstance” (Yurica et al. 2005). Minimization is defined as “the process of minimizing or discounting the importance of some event, trait, or circumstance�� (Yurica et al. 2005).

Table 1 describes the gender distortion matrix. It is a 2 × 2 matrix, and in each of the four cells, the experiences, behaviours or characteristics of men and women are either magnified or minimised. The matrix describes how it can be good or harmful to do certain things or receive certain experiences. Unlike either alpha bias (magnification) or beta bias (minimisation), each cell demonstrates that certain gender issues are both magnified and minimised. Whether an aspect of the gender issue is magnified or minimised depends upon whether the issue is related to men or women.

Table 1 The gender distortion matrix, describing examples of gamma bias i.e. situations in which aspects of our perceptions of men and women are magnified (upper case/italics) or minimised (lower case)

In this paper we argue that there is much evidence in everyday experience, and some in research, which supports the existence of gamma bias. Note that we do not suggest that gamma bias is eternal and unchangeable. To the degree that it is changeable, we suggest that it is very important that we rectify, or at least recognise, these distortions. When discussions of gender are distorted, this misshapes the narrative and warps our public attitudes, policies and conversations about gender. For example, as a result of widespread gamma bias we tend to believe that:

men are more harmful than helpful

women are more helpful than harmful

men are more privileged than disadvantaged

women are more disadvantaged than privileged.

Examples of Each Type of Distortion

We list below some preliminary examples of the very public ways that these distorted attitudes to gender are reinforced continually in the English-speaking or Western world. Examples will at this stage be brief and schematic, but hopefully sufficient to demonstrate the face validity of this new hypothesis, which will be subjected to rigorous empirical testing in research over the coming years.

Doing Good (Active Mode) (Celebration/ Appreciation)

Female Magnification

We celebrate women publicly—for their gender alone—in the archetypal realms of beauty, fashion, sexuality and motherhood.

The UN has got four days dedicated to women: International Day of Women and Girls in Science, International Women’s Day, International Day of Rural Women and International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

The Royal Society in the UK and other institutions worldwide have at various times held “Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon” days, when people are encouraged to add the names and achievements of women to Wikipedia, in order to make women in science more visible (Huffington Post 2012).

Suffragettes—female suffrage has been selectively celebrated in writings, films and the media as a gender issue, minimising the lack of suffrage for half of the male population in the same historical period.

The careers and achievements of women in science, politics, business and education are actively promoted and celebrated as a gender issue.

Women in the military and emergency services are celebrated for their gender and not just their actions.

Male Minimisation

We do not celebrate men collectively for their gender alone, only the particular achievements of individual men.

The UN has no special day to celebrate men. In many countries International Men’s Day has been celebrated on November 19th since around 2010, but this is not recognised by the UN.

The heroism within the military and the emergency services is often remarked upon in the news. However, the almost exclusively male gender of the heroes is not marked. In ceremonies to pay tribute to war heroes we acknowledge their brave deeds but not their masculine gender. We also include women when celebrating war sacrifice so that celebrations become gender-neutral rather than gender-specific. Recently, the rescue of a group of boys by male cave divers in Thailand was celebrated, but not marked as a gender issue or as an example of positive masculinity. In the Titanic disaster in 1912 most men were drowned (80%) but most women (75%) were saved. Men were clearly acting heroically to protect the women and children, but this, though a famous story, has not been celebrated as a story of positive masculinity.

Working class sacrifice—the complete physical infrastructure and security of the UK and other nations has been built and maintained almost exclusively by working class men. This is reflected in the fact that to this day in the UK men account for 96% of deaths at work. The same picture is found across the world. Clearly men continue to do the heavy, dirty and dangerous jobs in all societies. However, males who are builders, miners, firefighters, quarrymen, road workers, deep sea fishermen, scaffolders, steeplejacks, navvies and who occupy many other dangerous professions are not celebrated for their gender in a positive way. The image of male builders, for example, still tends to be more “wolf whistler” than “DIY SOS” hero.

Male suffrage—the vote for men has never been celebrated as a gender issue even though 44% men also only got the vote for the first time in 1918 and at a time when men had been sacrificed in large numbers in World War One for the protection of society.

We do not celebrate fatherhood or male childcare. Indeed in many ways public attitudes towards men as caregivers of children are negative, ambivalent and even suspicious, even amongst politicians (Dench 1996).

Male sexuality is typically viewed in public life and policy as a source of harm, threat, abuse and power. The joy and positivity of male sexuality is rarely celebrated today, except indirectly through the arts.

Doing Harm (Active Mode) (Perpetration/ Toxicity)

Male Magnification

Negative attitudes towards masculinity have become widely accepted in mainstream public discourse in recent years. In contrast to the “women are wonderful” effect (Eagly et al. 1991), contemporary men are subject to a “men are toxic” effect. The notion of “toxic masculinity” has emerged and has even gained widespread credence despite the lack of any empirical testing (see chapter on masculinity by Seager and Barry). In general terms it appears as if attitudes to men have been based on generalisations made from the most damaged and extreme individual males. An example of this is the case from 2016, when a young woman called India Chipchase was raped and murdered. There were two men in her story: the rapist/murderer, and her grieving father who movingly stated “I will never get to walk my daughter down the aisle”. However, the media attention following this tragic event focussed almost exclusively on a sense of urgent need to teach boys and men in general to respect women. This suggests that in terms of public attitudes, the rapist/murderer was being viewed as more representative of masculinity than the victim’s father.

The concept of ‘rape culture’ has also developed and gained credibility, originating in the USA in the 1970s. However, in 2012 figures for the USA as a whole show that 0.6% of adult males had been registered for sexual offences (including rape), meaning that 99.4% were not. Even allowing for some inevitable under-representation, and whilst recognising that one rape is one too many, the evidence suggests that the vast majority of adult males are not sexually violent or dangerous. The public perception, however, is very different, especially in an age of “#MeToo” and “Enough is enough”.

In the UK and elsewhere the image of domestic violence and intimate partner violence (IPV) is almost exclusively one of male perpetrators and female victims. This is reflected in “treatment” approaches to IPV such as the “Duluth model” which is aimed exclusively at males (see chapter by Powney and Graham-Kevan). It is also reflected in the provision of places in refuges for victims of IPV. In 2010 in the UK, for example, whilst male victims accounted for at least 33% of IPV victims, less than 1% of a total of 7650 refuge places were available for men. Research evidence of equal levels of IPV by females (e.g. Archer 2000) is still not being reflected in public attitudes in this area (Seager 2019, in this volume Chapter 12).

Female Minimisation

We have already seen (above) that evidence of equivalent levels of domestic and IPV by females (e.g. Archer 2000) is not reflected in public attitudes or policies.

There is evidence that women receive less severe sentences for the same crimes (e.g. Starr 2012; Mustard 2001).

The high level of online emotional abuse by women (cyber-bullying) (e.g. Marcum et al. 2012) is not reflected in public attitudes or policies.

52% of men in a sample of high-security prisoners who had committed serious offences against women and had been sexually abused in childhood were found to have been abused by female abusers acting independently of men (Murphy 2018). However, the picture of sexual abuse portrayed in the media does not reflect this complex gender picture of sexual abuse. Those who propose a social transmission theory of “toxic masculinity” would have to take account of the fact that male children spend significantly more of the developing years in the company of adult females than adult males.

Parental alienation, a diagnosis newly added to the ICD-11, is a form of child abuse involving one parent alienating their child from the other. Evidence has long shown that the father is more often the victim and the mother the perpetrator (e.g. Bala et al. 2010). Briggs, in another chapter in this volume, also shows examples of clinical cases in which mothers have alienated children from fathers prior to psychotherapeutic intervention.

Receive Good (Passive Mode) (or Privilege)

Male Magnification

The whole sociological concept of “patriarchy” (see also chapter on masculinity by Barry and Seager) is predicated on the idea that it is a “man’s world”. Specifically, society is viewed as inherently privileging and advantageous for men and organised in ways that empower men and disempower and exclude women. This bold and sweeping hypothesis has received widespread acceptance despite being subject to relatively little academic evaluation, let alone being subject to empirical testing as a scientific hypothesis. This uncritical acceptance of a radical theory by mainstream society in itself indicates that gender distortions may be in operation on a large scale. The concept of patriarchy focuses on an elite group of more powerful and wealthy males, whilst minimising the vast majority of men who are working class men, homeless men, parentally alienated men, suicidal men and other relatively disadvantaged male groups. It also minimises the benefits and protections involved in motherhood, family and domestic life for many women including the potential joys and rewards of raising children. Also the concept of patriarchy minimises the hardships of the traditional male role, such as fighting in wars, lower life expectancy, higher risk-taking and working in dangerous occupations.

Young women in the UK are now in fact earning more on average than their male counterparts (see below), yet the gender pay gap is misunderstood and presented as an example of women’s oppression, primarily because of dubious and selective methods of measuring and comparing pay. Even when men are earning more, there are other “trade-offs” and risks that men choose to take on that confer counterbalancing disadvantages (Farrell 2005). However, the public perception and emotional outrage on gender pay are out of proportion to the actual differences that emerge if the matter is analysed more scientifically.

Female Minimisation

As we saw above, there is evidence that women receive less severe sentences for the same crimes (e.g. Starr 2012; Mustard 2001). Women also enjoy better health and living conditions than men (Carcedo et al. 2008). Mothers who are prisoners also enjoy better access to their children than fathers who are prisoners (Collins et al. 2011). And yet in terms of public perception there is an image of women being “oppressed in a male-centric prison system” (e.g. Baroness Corston in The Guardian 2018).

In OECD countries at the present time significantly more young women than young men graduate from school and college. According to figures supplied by the Guardian newspaper (2017), for every 13 girls who entered university, only 10 boys did so. The education gap has seen boys fall behind girls in the UK since the 1980s, and 30 years later it has become usual for women in their 20s to be earning more than their male peers, and has been for some years (Guardian 2015). There are still more male senior academics and professors than female in academia, but apart from this 0.3% of jobs at the top of the educational hierarchy, the rest of the hierarchy—from primary school onwards—favours females (Brown 2016).

Parental privilege—it is a widespread practice in many countries that in legal cases of parental dispute over child custody, sole custody is awarded to mothers rather than fathers almost by default.

Maternity privilege—when children are born, antenatal, perinatal and postnatal services are highly female-centric and the role of the father is generally not thought about or included. The assumption is that fathers are not as important to children as mothers.

Protection—we have seen (above) that both in times of war and peace women enjoy the protection of men at times of great threat.

Elsewhere in this volume (Chapter 10) Belinda Brown presents evidence indicating that females enjoy power and privileges within the domestic and household domain.

Receive Bad (Passive Mode) (or Victimhood)

Male Minimisation

Men across the globe have a significantly lower average life expectancy than women. As we have also seen (above) men account for almost all deaths at work both in the UK and other nations. However, in terms of public attitudes and beliefs, these facts are relatively invisible. Certainly, no concept of a “gender death gap” has been proposed.

Although there are signs of this changing, for years there has been less investment in prostate cancer than breast cancer, even though the rates of death caused by each are similar (around 10,000 per year for each in the UK).

The vast majority of rough sleepers (85% in the UK) are male but there are no gender policies to address this.

Boys have been falling behind girls in education since the 1980s. Boys are now in the UK around a third less likely to attend university than girls. This however has met with no political action and has never been referred to as the “gender education gap”.

In almost every country across the world men kill themselves at a higher rate than women do. This is now starting to be recognised, but research into suicide and services for those at risk have remained relatively “gender-blind” (Seager, in this volume Chapter 12).

When in distress, women tend to want to talk about their feelings whereas men tend to want to fix whatever is causing the distress (Holloway et al. 2018). However our mental health services are delivered in a “gender blind” way, so that treatment options that might suit men better are rarely considered (Liddon et al. 2017).

Issues that impact males more than females such as colour blindness (in 8% of boys and 0.5% girls), tend to be overlooked, despite the significant impact on QoL (Barry et al. 2017). For example, although coloured graphs are difficult for colour blind students to read, a large educational board in the UK recently declined to make graphs in exam papers more colour blind friendly.

Bedi et al. (2016) found that there are significantly more psychology papers dedicated to women and women’s issues compared to men and men’s issues.

Field experiments of domestic violence show that bystanders intervene if the victim is a woman, but keep walking—or even laugh—when the victim is male and the perpetrator female (e.g. ABC News 2010).

In Nigeria in 2014, 300 female students were kidnapped by the terror group Boko Haram, prompting an international outcry. At the same time, however, and in the same country, as many as 10,000 boys were abducted and many even murdered. However, this even greater outrage went almost completely unnoticed in the media.

Whilst female genital mutilation (FGM) has rightly received widespread condemnation, male genital mutilation (MGM) has been relatively ignored, despite evidence of harm caused to those who are circumcised.

Female Magnification

We have already seen (above) that in the field of domestic violence and IPV, the emphasis is largely on female victims and treatments for male perpetrators, when the reality is that both genders are equally capable of such abuses (Archer 2000; Fiebert 2010).

We have also seen (above) that the concept of “rape culture” exaggerates the perception of men as potential rapists and creates a climate of fear for women. Campaigns such as “#MeToo” can also play into a sense of fear that is based on distorted generalisations from small samples of damaged men to the whole male population.

The Boko Haram example (above) provides strong evidence that there are much greater empathy levels for females than for males. Correspondingly, our sense of female victimhood is magnified and our sense of outrage is increased by virtue of the gender of the victim rather than the crime.

Why Do These Gender Distortions Exist?

It is challenging to think about the possible adaptive function of biases and errors, but an adaptive value helps us to understand their existence, as well as absolving people of blame for holding them. Haselton et al. (2015) highlight some of the adaptive functions of cognitive biases, and suggest that our evolved adaptive responses can sometimes act against our self-interest when faced with novel modern rules.

Why We Favour Women

The “women are wonderful” effect (Eagly et al. 1991) predicts a type of “halo effect” for women. This effect means that we magnify women in the Do/Good cell. This might involve a certain amount of what Beck (1979) call emotional reasoning, where one’s emotional state guides conclusions about self and others. Such views would be expected if the effect is the result of positive views about women being created from positive early experiences with mothers and other female caregivers. It also makes sense that women are more valuable than men, because of their importance in reproduction. A very basic way of understanding this is to think about the question of which hypothetical village would have the better chance of survival: the one with 100 women and one man or the village with 100 men and one woman? The answer to the question demonstrates the unquestionable value of women to human survival.

Why We Disfavour Men

On an evolutionary level, males can be seen as the providers of protection, not the recipients of protection (Seager et al. 2016). It makes sense that someone should have the role of protecting offspring, and also protect those who give birth to and nurture the offspring. Thus social attitudes would have been calibrated accordingly over many thousands of years to associate femininity with nurturing and vulnerability and masculinity with protection and strength. Because of this, it would be more difficult—both unconsciously and consciously—to feel the same level of emotional sympathy for a male than a female. For the man, it might also therefore be difficult to deviate from the script of the protector and seek help. By the same token, it might also be difficult for society to see men as victims rather than protectors.

Another explanation, which is probably an extension to the previous rather than an alternative explanation, is derived from research in social psychology. The phenomenon of ingroup favouritism and outgroup bias is a cornerstone of social psychology. The strength of such biases vary by group e.g. it is well-established that higher-status groups invoke more ingroup bias (e.g. Nosek et al. 2002). Men in general (historically and cross-culturally) have had higher status than women in the public realm (politics, finance etc.), so one might expect that male identity invokes a high level of ingroup bias. However research shows that—uniquely in social identity theory—male identity, unlike female identity, invokes no significant ingroup bias (e.g. Richeson and Ambady 2001).

Men support each other effectively when the identity is based on something other than being male (e.g. football teams), but how do we explain the incohesive effect of male identity? There are several possibilities. For example, it could be that because infant attachment mostly happens with mothers, this programmes for greater bias towards women in later life (Rudman 2004). Similarly, it could be that men are stereotypically more associated with violence and aggression and thus invoke less sympathy even from each other (Rudman and Goodwin 2004).

It is likely that seeing men as protectors rather than receivers of protection leads to a lack of sympathetic bias in their favour, and leads to male gender blindness (Seager et al. 2014), the phenomenon where men’s problems go relatively unseen. This in turn facilitates the gender empathy gap, the phenomenon where males receive less empathy than females, even when in a similar predicament (Barry 2016).

Intersectionality as Male Gender Blindness

According to a much-cited paper by Professor of Psychology and Women’s Studies, Stephanie Shields, “Intersectionality, the mutually constitutive relations amongst social identities, is a central tenet of feminist thinking and has transformed how gender is conceptualised in research” (Shields 2008, p. 301). According to this view, men are historically privileged and therefore don’t generally deserve help or attention unless they are also members of another historically oppressed, disempowered and marginalised group (e.g. gay, BAME or disabled men). Intersectionality is therefore sometimes used as a way of criticising or devaluing efforts to understand issues facing men in general by deflecting attention exclusively onto specific marginalised sub-groups of men, and so minimising the importance of universal issues facing men.

On one level, the idea of intersectionality has merit in the same way that interactions in ANOVA help identify interesting differences between subgroups of the main variable. But there is one major flaw with the intersectional level of analysis when it comes to understanding male psychology: there is a main effect of being male that runs through all levels of the variable. For example, when it comes to suicide, not only do men in general kill themselves more frequently than women, but BAME men kill themselves more frequently than BAME women (Oquendo et al. 2001), and gay men attempt to kill themselves more frequently than gay women (Bagley and Tremblay 2000). Similarly, the academic underperformance of boys cuts across all social strata and geographies (Curnock-Cook 2016). We should note that firm statistics are not always available related to demographic groups, but what evidence there is tends to support the idea that men in general, not just specific demographics of men, need our help. “Drilling down” into data can be enlightening, but focusing on a single tree might not tell us much about the forest. Focusing on specific issues facing subgroups is of value to the individuals in these groups, but should not be used to distract attention when we are trying to understand wider issues in male psychology.

There are various ways in which male gender blindness is both a cause and effect of the ways we study gender. For example, it can be argued that the concept of “masculinities” is largely based on subjective judgements by theorists trying to make the case for alternatives ‘hegemonic’ masculinity. Interestingly, at the same time as magnifying different varieties of masculinity, these theorists tend to minimize difference between men and women, an approach which is a type of gamma bias (see chapter on gamma bias by Seager and Barry). Moreover, in attempting to identify multiple versions of masculinity, theorists run the risk of obscuring masculinity as a unitary phenomenon. This means that focusing only on a plurality of “masculinities” doesn’t help us address more general issues related to masculinity and may even distract us from doing so.

By looking at men only in terms of the other sub-groups that their gender intersects with, there is in truth the great danger that we will miss the wider gender issues altogether. By defining men only in terms of their sub-group identities (e.g. by race or sexuality) without honouring their collective group identity as a gender, the needs of men of all kinds are likely to be overlooked. If men across various demographic groups, for example, appear to respond in a similar way to therapy (as suggested by Groth in his chapter on existential therapy), then it is likely that the concept of intersectionality is of much less practical or clinical value than the underlying concept of gender itself.

Like the blind man who touches the elephant’s tail and then thinks an elephant is like a snake, those who dismiss the idea that men in general need help are committing the cognitive bias of selective abstraction: instead of appreciating the whole picture, they focus on just one part of it. If science is to understand the problems facing men, scientific investigation needs to examine how some discussions about gender tend to distort the issues, making some parts of the picture invisible and magnifying others as if they were the whole picture.

Unconscious Bias Revisited

Some or all of the phenomena described in the cells of the matrix can be considered types of unconscious bias. Distorted narratives that put men perpetually in the role of toxic abuser, risk alienating men from themselves and others, leading to what might be called a state of gender alienation. As pointed out by Damien Ridge in his chapter in this book: “the disconnection between theoretical discussions and the daily reality of men promotes a poverty of understanding of male subjectivity... Masculinity has essentially become what different theorists and their followers say it is”, and something that probably means little to the average man.

The Patriarchy Revisited

Essentially, patriarchy theory (Walby 1990) is a distorted and untested way of explaining the differences we observe in the reproduction-based division of labour. For example, women are seen as oppressed by the role of “housewife”, and men are seen as liberated in the role of “breadwinner”. However this is not the only way of viewing traditional gender roles. For example, Dench (1996) suggests that women can have a much more rewarding role in the private realm, and men can have a much harder time in the dangerous, dirty and soulless world of the workplace. Dench also suggests that the idea of the traditional male role as desirable rather than a burden was a way to encourage men to accept a supporting role in society, one that is ultimately of lesser value. Similarly, Van Creveld in his book The Privileged Sex (van Creveld 2013) hypothesises that women have always had privileges (e.g. ‘women and children first’, less dangerous jobs) and that this is something that most people unquestioningly accept as a good thing.

Nobody’s life is without suffering, but the suggestion that women have been oppressed by the patriarchy is at best an untested theory and at worst a damaging distortion. At best, it is like looking at the famous rabbit/duck illusion and claiming that there is only a rabbit and no duck, or that the rabbit is being oppressed by the duck. Once evolutionary biology is honoured rather than dismissed, it can be seen that the traditional family structure is based primarily on reciprocal and evolved reproductive roles. Thus the greatest influence on the balance of gender relations, is perhaps none other than the great matriarch herself, “mother nature”.

Criticism of the Preliminary Evidence of Gamma Bias

The evidence that we have presented above might be criticised on the grounds of confirmatory bias i.e. the tendency to select only information that supports your view. At the time of writing (August 2018), gamma bias is being presented as a hypothesis that promises to explain broad patterns of data in relation to how issues of gender are perceived, expressed and responded to both in academia and elsewhere in life. The examples we have provided are incomplete and inevitably selective, but we are confident that they offer preliminary support for the existence of gamma bias.

Future Research

The gender distortion matrix offers many examples of how the gamma bias hypothesis can be tested. As we write, a new research programme is being organised by the Male Psychology Network, and no doubt our hypothesis will be modified in light of the findings. To enhance ecological validity, real-world examples might be found in newspapers (e.g. the Boka Haram comparison) or the cinema, and assessed. The same principle might be expanded to academic writing and work. It might even be possible to quantify the degree of distortion within a given news article or academic paper. These are just some very basic ideas which we are happy to see others elaborate upon.

Conclusions

In academia, beta-bias and the gender similarities hypothesis are encouraged to such a degree that the term “sex differences” now has an air of controversy, and to point out differences between men and women is considered somewhat distasteful. Perhaps a more acceptable term than “sex differences” is “gender distinctions” (Lemkey et al. 2016) with its connotations that both genders have attributes that are unique and positive.

There is a serious risk arising from using terms such as “toxic masculinity”. Unlike “male depression”, which helps identify a set of symptoms that can be alleviated with therapy, the term “toxic masculinity” has no clinical value. In fact it is an example of another cognitive distortion called labelling (Yurica et al. 2005). Negative labelling and terminology usually have a negative impact, including self-fulfilling prophecies and alienation of the groups who are being labelled. We wouldn’t use the term “toxic” to describe any other human demographic. Such a term would be unthinkable with reference to age, disability, ethnicity or religion. The same principle of respect must surely apply to the male gender. It is likely therefore that developing a more realistic and positive narrative about masculinity in our culture will be a good thing for everyone.

==

We sometimes imagine what the world would be like if we'd never had religion.

Imagine what the world would be like if Gender Studies and feminism had studied evolutionary biology, evolutionary anthropology and evolutionary psychology. If we understood men and women, male and female, though actual science, evidence and empiricism, rather than fundamentalist quasi-religious adherence to superstitions about invisible demonic forces and cabals of secret conspiracists.

Reminder that Implicit Association Tests as used in DEI training are famously unreliable. Part of it is that they're keyed to only a single variable, typically race, and have extremely low replicability. And the people conducting them are quacks and frauds. The same test, when taken again by the same person, yields radically different results. It functions as little more than dowsing.

However, when other variables are controlled for, the one and only consistently reproducible implicit bias is pro-female/anti-male bias.

[blackberrysummerblog]

WIP Folder Tag Game

Finally slinking back on here after I don’t know how long 😬 First of all, I want to thank everyone who’s been tagging me the past few weeks, I really do appreciate it! I just haven’t had a lot of energy left over to actually do much writing and/or posting, even though I still have a lot of “writing” happening in my head. (On a side note, that used to work out a lot better when I was younger—I could hold entire paragraphs verbatim in my mind for weeks at a time; now I’m lucky if I even remember roughly what direction I wanted a scene to take, lol).

And thank you so, so much to those who offered to let me bend their ear about my writing difficulties. I really do plan to take you up on it, but I’ve been procrastinating partly out of brutal shyness and partly because I’m not even sure where to begin, the reasons for which may become apparent from seeing the folders I’m about to share. I mean, yikes.

Anyway, I’m excited to play along and I’m happy to answer any asks I get! (Thanks @palimpsessed for tagging me to play!)

Rules: Post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how nondescriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! Then tag as many people as you have WIPS.

Shelter from the Storm (RWRB)

Runaway Train (Whyborne & Griffin)

The next group are Snowbaz WIPS, many of which were begun for COC22. Still hoping to get them finished! (Those that are numbered are out of order because I use google docs, so the list is in order of what’s been most recently opened)

Beginnings

Fluff, COCC Day 15

Devotion, COC22 Day 13

Devour, COC22 Day 12

EGF23 dead darlings

So, crap. The next grouping is my shame revealed, lol. I NEVER write like this, but this is what has happened: My crucible marriage AU is a complete and utter shambles of separate files, all individual scenes that I’ve been trusting my brain to knit together at some future point. And I still believe that it will, actually, but it’s something new to me. I’m more the kind of writer who envisions an entire story from start to finish—or at least the basic bones of it—and then I sit down and proceed in a chronological and orderly fashion. I have a couple of theories about why that hasn’t happened this time, and it largely boils down to self-indulgence. I’m enjoying myself, I don’t want to bring the story to an end, and I have been keeping the scenes separate so that rather than one big mess of a file, I have one big mess of a drive. Welcome to my cluttered mind! It can be a pretty fun place, if you watch where you step.

Too much

Kiss

Moles

Murder in My Heart

Fireside

Pool

Rolling

Heading Home After Crucible

First wings

Vera

Sick in love

Wings

Reception

Favorite

Fiona in kitchen

Simon at the start

Mordelia asks

Epilogue

Post-reception

Fiona reception

Winchester

Clothes shopping

Eyebrow

Lying on B

Good night

Tree carving

So much fun

Butter

Angel of the morning

LSE

Carry upstairs

Laughing

Escape

Before reception

Cold sleep

Annulment

Do you think

Signing the book

Reception garden

Coven

Alphabet

Love of my life

Spring equinox 2017

Arranged

Spring equinox

Simon before crucible

I want to say, these are not all going to be *chapters*. The fic is going to be long, but not as long as all that! I could say more but maybe I’ll wait and see if anyone is interested enough to ask, since this post is already way too rambling. I don’t think I could possibly tag as many people as there are files here, and I think everyone has already played anyway, so as usual I’m going to apologize ahead of tagging folks who have likely already done this. Sorry ❤️

@confused-bi-queer @onepintobean @sillyunicorn @facewithoutheart @basiltonbutliketheherb @asocialpessimist @ileadacharmedlife @bookish-bogwitch @aristocratic-otter @takenabackbytuesdays @martsonmars @nightimedreamersghost @ionlydrinkhotwater @aroace-genderfluid-sheep @shrekgogurt @raenestee @fatalfangirl @stitchyqueer @bazzybelle @fucking-gay-frogs @mostlymaudlin @sailorblossoms @yellowraincoat @ivelovedhimthroughworse @hushed-chorus @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @thehoneyedhufflepuff @anikamercat @aceumbrellaheroes @captain-aralias

[642stories]

Story #67 is about all the would have beens in my life.

Everything changed. 

For better or worse is a pending question. 

My typical day now is more or less the same flurry of commotion as for any other teacher slash blogger. I teach Present Perfect and Conditionals, check CPE essays, attend another how to organize your language classroom webinar or let’s-read-or-write-or-watch-together club. However, unlike those multitaskers who somehow manage to tick every box on the list, I always have something in between. 

That something is kids. Every bullet point of my agenda is broken by “feed the kids,” “walk the kids,” “wash the kids,” and “do a million other things with kids.” And believe me, you better do, otherwise they will howl like werewolves on a full moon until someone finally draws a gun and shoots the poor bastards.

I could have done so much more with my life if I hadn’t had kids. I would have written the book I had been putting off for a decade. I would have designed a few writing courses of my own. I would have set up a gazillion of new projects. At the very least, I would have felt marginally less frazzled, drained and comatose.

Where’s that Jen who dreamed about driving along the Atlantic coast in a speeding red convertible, doing a Master’s in LSE and living in Belgravia right across Westminster Abbey? Does she know what my life would have been like if I had made other choices? Does she know what I would have missed?

It took me years to make peace with all the uncertainty those questions brought to my life, but I accepted the idea of only one true choice - all the roads would have eventually taken me right here, to this moment, when I’m sitting and typing that post. 

Indeed, my life is a far cry from anything I have imagined, yet it’s perfect in its failures. 

And even if I could turn back time, I wouldn’t change a day.

[windy-trickster]

wow!! did your ancestor personally meet a lot of these trolls? he must have been getting arnd a lot, or maybe even... been just a touch shady, given how intrusive those kinds of logs are? sorry if thats a little offensive tho,

"It's not offensive. He w a s incredibly intelligent a nd w a s a ble to get inform a tion in a v a riety of w a ys. He knew things a bout trolls th a t he re a lly shouldn't h a ve." "He knew some of their de a ths a s well. Gr a nted, he w a s the one who single h a ndedly killed a good m a jority of the A ncestors he did write a bout. Luring them into a f a lse sense of security and rom a ntic intent."

"How do I know this you're a sking? I h a ve his kill list in my libr a ry."

[danielbrown01uk]

Stay Informed On The Biggest LSE Top Losers And Market Shifts

Check out the LSE Top losers and see which stocks faced the largest declines on the London Stock Exchange. This list highlights key companies experiencing significant drops, offering insights into the current market environment. Keep track of how these trends may shape market performance and uncover potential reasons behind these movements

[stuartbramhall]

The New Colonialism: Britain's scramble for Africa's energy and mineral resources

War on Want   This report reveals the degree to which British companies now control Africa’s key mineral resources, notably gold, platinum, diamonds, copper, oil, gas and coal. It documents how 101 companies listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) — most of them British — have mining operations in 37 sub-Saharan African countries. They collectively control over $1 trillion worth of Africa’s…

[samaira132187]

Top Universities in the UK: A Guide for International Students

When it comes to pursuing higher education, the United Kingdom stands out as a premier destination, renowned for its rich academic tradition, diverse cultural environment, and globally recognized institutions. For international students, choosing the right university in the UK can be a pivotal decision, influencing both their educational journey and future career prospects. This article explores some of the top universities in the UK and offers insights into how an overseas education consultant can assist in navigating this important decision.

1. University of Oxford

The University of Oxford, often regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious universities, consistently ranks at the top of global university lists. With a history dating back to the 12th century, Oxford offers a diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines. Its rigorous academic environment, distinguished faculty, and exceptional research facilities make it a top choice for students aiming for excellence in their chosen fields. The university's tutorial system, which provides personalized academic support, is a hallmark of its educational approach.

2. University of Cambridge

Following closely in prestige and reputation is the University of Cambridge, another iconic institution with a long-standing tradition of academic excellence. Established in 1209, Cambridge boasts a collegiate system that fosters a strong sense of community and academic collaboration. Its global recognition and comprehensive range of programs attract students from around the world. The university’s emphasis on research and innovation, coupled with its historical significance, makes it a top contender for anyone considering higher education in the UK.

3. Imperial College London

Known for its cutting-edge research and focus on science, engineering, and medicine, Imperial College London is a leading institution in the UK. With a commitment to fostering innovation and excellence, Imperial provides students with access to state-of-the-art facilities and opportunities to engage in groundbreaking research. The university’s strong links with industry and its central London location further enhance its appeal, making it an attractive choice for students interested in pursuing careers in STEM fields.

4. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

For those interested in social sciences, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) offers unparalleled expertise and resources. LSE is renowned for its research-driven approach and its focus on economics, politics, sociology, and law. Its location in the heart of London provides students with access to a wealth of cultural and professional opportunities. LSE’s global network of alumni and its strong connections with various industries make it an excellent choice for students aspiring to make an impact in the social sciences.

5. University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh, one of the UK's oldest universities, combines a rich heritage with a forward-thinking approach to education. Located in Scotland's capital, the university offers a wide range of programs across various disciplines. Its strong emphasis on research, coupled with its vibrant campus life, provides students with a well-rounded educational experience. The University of Edinburgh's commitment to internationalization and its diverse student body further enhance its attractiveness to global students.

6. University of Manchester

The University of Manchester is a leading institution known for its research output and academic diversity. As part of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities, it offers a broad range of programs and has a strong reputation in fields such as humanities, science, and engineering. The university’s commitment to providing a supportive and dynamic learning environment makes it a popular choice among international students seeking a comprehensive education in the UK.

7. King’s College London

King’s College London, with its rich history dating back to 1829, is another top university in the UK that offers a diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Located in central London, King’s College provides students with access to a vibrant city and a wealth of cultural experiences. The university’s emphasis on research and its strong connections with industry and professional bodies contribute to its reputation as a leading institution for higher education.

Role of an Overseas Education Consultant

Navigating the process of applying to universities abroad can be complex, and this is where an overseas education consultant can play a crucial role. These professionals offer tailored guidance to prospective students, helping them to make informed decisions about their educational journey. From providing insights into the top universities in the UK to assisting with application procedures and visa requirements, education consultants offer valuable support throughout the process.

An overseas education consultant can help students identify universities that align with their academic goals and career aspirations. They offer expert advice on application procedures, including preparing personal statements, gathering necessary documents, and meeting application deadlines. Additionally, they provide guidance on securing scholarships and financial aid, which can be crucial for international students.

Moreover, education consultants assist in understanding the cultural and academic environment of different universities, helping students to choose an institution where they will thrive. Their knowledge of the various programs offered by the top universities in the UK ensures that students make well-informed choices that align with their career objectives.

Conclusion

The UK is home to some of the world's top universities, each offering unique opportunities and academic excellence. Institutions like the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, LSE, University of Edinburgh, University of Manchester, and King’s College London represent the pinnacle of higher education, attracting students from across the globe. Choosing the right university can be a daunting task, but with the assistance of an overseas education consultant, students can navigate the complexities of the application process and make informed decisions about their educational future. By leveraging the expertise of these professionals, prospective students can ensure that their academic journey in the UK is both rewarding and successful.

[stockmarketknowledge]

Stock Market: Definition and How It Works

The stock market, also known as the equity market, is a financial marketplace where individuals and institutions can buy, sell, and trade shares of publicly listed companies. Shares, also referred to as stocks or equities, represent ownership in a company. The stock market serves as a platform for companies to raise capital and for investors to participate in the growth of businesses.

How the Stock Market Works

The stock market operates through exchanges, where buyers and sellers come together to trade shares. Here's how the stock market works in detail:

Stock Exchanges:

Stock exchanges are organized markets where shares of publicly traded companies are bought and sold. Examples of stock exchanges include the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the Nasdaq, and the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

Companies list their shares on an exchange through an initial public offering (IPO) to raise capital and allow their shares to be traded.

Trading Process:

Trading in the stock market is facilitated by brokers who execute buy and sell orders on behalf of investors.

Orders can be placed in various ways, including market orders (buying or selling at the current market price) and limit orders (buying or selling at a specified price).

Stock Prices:

Stock prices fluctuate based on supply and demand. When demand for a stock exceeds supply, the price rises; when supply exceeds demand, the price falls.

Prices are influenced by various factors such as a company's financial performance, economic conditions, market sentiment, interest rates, and geopolitical events.

Market Indices:

Market indices are benchmarks that track the performance of a group of stocks. Popular indices include the S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and the Nasdaq Composite in the United States.

Indices provide a snapshot of the overall market's performance and are often used as indicators of economic health.

Investor Participation:

Investors participate in the stock market by buying shares of companies. They can hold these shares for the long term, hoping for capital appreciation and dividends, or trade them for short-term gains.

Institutional investors such as mutual funds, pension funds, and hedge funds also play a significant role in the market.

Market Regulation:

Stock markets are regulated by government agencies to ensure fair and transparent trading. In the United States, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) oversees the market.

Regulations aim to protect investors and maintain market integrity.

Impact on Economy:

The stock market plays a crucial role in the economy by enabling companies to raise capital and investors to earn returns on their investments.

The market's performance is often seen as an indicator of economic health and can influence consumer and business confidence.

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Conclusion

The stock market is a dynamic and complex marketplace where companies and investors interact. It provides opportunities for wealth creation and economic growth but also carries risks due to market volatility and unpredictability. Investors should approach the stock market with a clear understanding of its workings and their investment goals.

[ezyforextrading]

The Secondary Market The secondary market plays a vital role in the financial landscape, providing a platform for investors to engage in the exchange of securities. Unlike the primary market, where companies initially issue securities, the secondary market enables investors and traders to trade these securities among themselves. It's a dynamic marketplace where various financial instruments, including stocks, bonds, and others, change hands, significantly contributing to the liquidity and efficiency of the financial system. How It Works Transactions within the secondary market come into play after securities are initially introduced in the primary market. Here, investors and traders buy and sell securities directly with each other, bypassing the entities that issued the securities in the first place. The secondary market is most commonly associated with the stock market, encompassing major national exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ, where investors trade shares of publicly listed companies. One critical characteristic of the secondary market is its detachment from the initial issuance of securities. For example, when a bank originates a mortgage, it creates a mortgage security. Subsequently, this mortgage security can be sold to entities such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac on the secondary market. This mechanism allows financial institutions to manage risk and maintain liquidity. Diverse Secondary Markets The secondary market extends its reach beyond stocks, encompassing a diverse range of financial assets: Stock Market: Centralized exchanges, like the NYSE, NASDAQ, London Stock Exchange (LSE), Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Bombay Stock Exchange, and Frankfurt Stock Exchange, bring together buyers and sellers electronically to trade stocks and various assets. Over-the-Counter (OTC) Market: In contrast, the OTC market operates through broker-dealer networks, facilitating the trading of stocks, bonds, and other financial assets. This decentralized approach caters to smaller companies that may not meet listing requirements, with notable components including OTCQX, OTCQB, and Pink Sheets. Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS): Occasionally, assets like mortgages are bundled together and transformed into securities such as Ginnie Mae pools, which are subsequently resold to investors. This practice results in multiple secondary markets for assets like mortgages. Secondary Market vs. Primary Market Distinguishing between the secondary and primary markets is essential. The primary market deals with the initial issuance of securities by companies, often exemplified by activities like initial public offerings (IPOs). During an IPO, securities are directly sold to investors through the underwriting bank, with the proceeds benefiting the issuing company. Conversely, the secondary market facilitates the trading of previously issued securities among investors, with the sale proceeds going to the selling investor. In summary, the primary market sets prices beforehand, while the secondary market is subject to the forces of supply and demand, resulting in price fluctuations based on investor sentiment and financial performance. Examples of Secondary Markets Here are notable examples of secondary markets: Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE): Asia's oldest stock exchange, headquartered in Mumbai, India. It facilitates trading in stocks, equity derivatives, mutual funds, and bonds. National Stock Exchange of India (NSE): India's largest stock exchange by market value, offering a wide array of products, including equities derivatives, currency derivatives, mutual funds, ETFs, bonds, and other financial instruments. NASDAQ: A renowned stock exchange located in New York City, renowned for its electronic screen-based trading platform, hosting nearly 3,000 organizations across various industries. New York Stock Exchange (NYSE): The world's largest stock exchange, boasting an extensive list of nearly 2,400 firms spanning diverse sectors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Is the Secondary Market the Same as the Stock Market? The secondary market is often colloquially referred to as the stock market. It serves as the marketplace where securities are traded after their initial issuance in the primary market. For instance, when a company conducts an IPO in the primary market, its shares become available for trading on major stock exchanges like the NYSE and NASDAQ, which are indeed secondary markets. Who Are the Major Participants in the Secondary Market? Key players in the secondary market include broker-dealers responsible for facilitating trades, investors initiating buy and sell activities, and intermediaries like banks, financial institutions, and advisory service providers. Why Is the Secondary Market of Significance? The secondary market assumes a pivotal role in the financial system by providing liquidity to the market. It enables both large and small investors to engage in trading activities, thereby enhancing overall efficiency and accessibility within the financial markets. What is the role of SEBI in India's secondary market? SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) is responsible for regulating India's securities and capital markets. It ensures fair, transparent, and efficient market operation and monitors stockbrokers and intermediaries. How can investors profit from the secondary market? Investors can profit from the secondary market by capitalizing on price changes, diversifying their portfolios, and accessing various financial products such as stocks, bonds, options, futures, and swaps. In Conclusion When individuals participate in the buying and selling of stocks, bonds, or other securities, they are actively involved in the secondary market, often synonymous with the stock market. This marketplace stands as a cornerstone of the financial system, offering investors a platform for their financial transactions and ensuring the crucial element of liquidity. It should not be confused with the primary market, where companies initially issue securities to the public. https://ezyforextrading.com/learn-trading/secondary-market/?feed_id=3947&_unique_id=65c36d34b8cfd&EzyForexTrading

[ekaasha]

How does the stock market work? Who decides the price of stocks?

The stock market operates as a marketplace where buyers and sellers come together to trade shares of publicly listed companies. Several key components contribute to how it works:

Stock Exchanges: These are platforms where stocks are bought and sold. Examples include the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NASDAQ, London Stock Exchange (LSE), and others. These exchanges provide the infrastructure and rules for trading.

Buyers and Sellers: Investors, both individuals and institutions, act as buyers and sellers in the stock market. When someone wants to buy shares of a company, they place an order through a broker. Sellers who are willing to sell their shares at the offered price fulfill these orders.

Market Makers and Specialists: On some exchanges, market makers or specialists facilitate trading by buying and selling stocks from their own inventory to ensure liquidity and match buyers with sellers.

Price Determination: The price of stocks is determined by the forces of supply and demand. If there are more buyers than sellers (high demand), the stock price typically rises. Conversely, if there are more sellers than buyers (high supply), the price tends to fall.

Bid and Ask Prices: The bid price is the highest price a buyer is willing to pay for a stock, while the ask price is the lowest price a seller is willing to accept. The difference between these prices is called the bid-ask spread.

Market Orders and Limit Orders: Investors can place market orders to buy or sell a stock at the current market price. Alternatively, they can use limit orders to specify the maximum price they're willing to pay when buying or the minimum price they're willing to accept when selling.

Overall, the price of stocks fluctuates throughout the trading day based on the ongoing supply and demand dynamics, investor sentiment, company performance, economic factors, and other market influences. This collective interaction among participants determines the prices seen on the stock market.

[meggigoering]

📖September 17, 2023

🦈For today, I’ve got another utterly amazing story about a stinky opossum and Pirogovka hospital in Samara. It is clear, as long as I have to coexist with this bastard at the moment, there are a lot of such stories.

What is worth just one episode, when a stinky motivated to finish me off quickly, filled my sofa and all my things and documents with such a dose of mustard gas that it's not that my dogs almost rotted and my kidneys almost fell out in my underpants, it was just children’s party. I’ve got inflated 6 batteries in 5 phones and an iPad, of which 3 phones were baby born of 4 months old and one was a kid one year old. In order to simultaneously inflate and break batteries in 6 phones and devices aged from 4 months to 13 years - for this there must be some onetime external technical reason. Since there were no other external influences in relation to the devices, and only one thing united them - lying in my belongings and on the couch, and all the batteries were swollen like an over-eaten Uzbek pedophile while I was nobly studying the protocols of the Nuremberg process in the library. So the conclusion is simple - the chemistry of the mustard gas that eats everything, including the chemical protection suit, reacted with the contents of lithium batteries, and friendship won - mustard killed the filling of the batteries as a result of which they swelled, but fortunately for me, the reaction did not lead to an explosion. 6 devices that exploded simultaneously in my absence (or presence), one of which was an iPad, and lying on the sofa soaked with mustard gas next to my dogs, in our kitchen where, as it turned out next (I’ve said I have a new story about stinky every day), there was also a gas heater with a hole, and the gas was flowing just into the kitchen, would have led to an "an accident" so beloved by criminals - an explosion of household gas, a fire, and a live barbecue not only from me and my dogs, but also from all our neighbors at the entrance of house 1 of house 16 on Maslennikov Avenue in Samara. I hope that the police officers from the police department of the Oktyabrsky district of the city of Samara will be put a dick in the ass of such a size that it gets to the back of the head. Perhaps this will stimulate the brain a little and it will have a long-forgotten ability to think.

However, there is too much stinky in my daily life, so today I don't want to write about it, and I'll save this absofckybloodyvibrant story for tomorrow. Today I wanna tell you a little bit about his employers.

There was a period in my life when I was a hired employee. Last years in this role, I have worked at AFK Sistema. This amazing institution in every sense has not added to me any advantages in my career, experience or knowledge, but it has been drinking blood for me for many years, including in the literal sense of the word. AFK System is a kontora Nikonora (bogus office) that conducts 100% criminal business, while managing to:

• be listed on LSE (here I always remember the harsh visa requirements and the special pathos of the entrance on the border control of the "United Kingdom")

• have audited reports on US GAAP certified by Deloitte (here I want to laugh from the heart remembering the project to clear the loan portfolio of MTS-Bank and the pilot on Smartlinks in MTS itself)

• lead in all kinds of ratings including transparency, corporate governance, corporate social responsibility (here I want to cry with emotion, remembering my house flooded with shit and mustard gas, switched off electricity and disconnected from all communications during the last 6 years, whilst they continue to issue electricity bills and win in the court the “litigations” in a simplified procedure)

• lead the Employers’ rating (here I just laugh in my voice remembering how Elena Leonidovna Vitchak, Mikhail Valeryevich Shamolin, Ali Mussaevich Uzdenov, under the threat of illegal criminal prosecution against me, forced me to sign a dismissal agreement, withdrawing my earlier application for resignation at my own request).

• lead the Forbes rating (child of general Vlasov was blessed by God and has got as a gift from the sky several billion dollars - brothers Grimm suck).

In short, this garbage with its sparkling practices of conducting criminal activities under the guise of legal business (actually for this AFK Systema was needed in such insane quantities hundreds of useless formal procedures and regulations, including even procedures for compliance with the UK Antibribery Act) taught me one single thing: "to close porucheniya." In AFK Sistema, so that no one can see its essence and the main business itself - a completely criminal office used as an

assets’ consolidator in Russia according to the Ost plan, and through which they took out the cash for the maintenance of the "system" itself - its own replica of the Russia’s public administration model consisting of thousands of acroomed biased officials in the civil service and receiving a bonus from the Systema for loyalty and performance of the tasks necessary to the Systema (actually this is the system that was administered by AFK Systema - it is the reason for this idiotic name, one double of VVP in the form of Yevtushenkov Sr., the head of the Systema), so Systema created a system of "charges” - to pay off the salary to the corruptioners under the coverage, at the same time to create the image of a serious office and formal compliance with the law. Nobody asked, how the dick can play role of head. Probably either out of stupidity or out of politeness.

The work of the System consisted of the following:

• Implementation of hundreds of useless stupid regulations and orders

• Mouse fuss about how best to furnish the "deal" - transferring different assets from pocket to pocket between the System, Alpha, VTB, and Sber, which form one corporate group

• Tough raiding on the selection of someone else's property. The 90s compared to Magnitsky, Chichvarkin's mother, Bobylev, and actually with me it's just a children's matinee: the lethality of real and nominal business owners liked by the Systema was cooler than that of the Roman emperors (62%), and smoothly approached the Russian and Lithuanian princes (100%) from Rurikids and Gediminid.

Administration of the "Systema" is a double of the public administration model of fed civil service employees, on the balance sheet of the Systema. I haven't seen it myself, but knowledgeable people say that out of three people in any room at the police office, one will be "on the balance" of the Systema. Personally, I have seen the signatures with which these systema’s people sign documents: in any police department, a person with any name and title will be signed in the same way, stylized with the letter "Alpha." I have a nice set in my archive: OMVD Istra, Krasnoselskoye, Shchukino, Danilovsky, different policemen, a run of dates of 7 years, and one alfa-signature.

To prevent this shit from being noticeable (the real essence of operations), hundreds of committees, commissions, subcommittees, and other fictitious bodies of collegial irresponsibility functioned in the Systema. 90% of the issues considered by them were concerned the implementation of regulations, and compliance with formal procedures. Behind a cloud of small shit in the form of several thousand tasks such as "issue an order," "approve the regulations" it is difficult to see what is wrong with the office in which orders are issued to issue an order to issue an order to issue an order. In short, after my employment, several hundred “poruchenia" (Rus.: management direction) fell on me from a series of implementation of regulations on regulations and approval of orders on orders, and "confidential instructions" of Petrovich.

The orders were absolutely mind blowing, affecting the healthy brain like their mustard gas damaged the batteries of my devices:

- Talk to me (proshu peregovrit(

- Prepare an answer (otvet)

- What is it? (Chto eto?)

- What is it about? (O chyom eto?)

And so on.

And it was actually about the following. Stupid rabbits sincerely considering the system as a legal transparent honest business, like a good wizard who has nowhere to put money except to give another asshole-startuper, dragged all their shit into the system: poems about pony-caramelka, proposals for the production of rabbit milk, laying a water supply system with drinking water from Baikal to Beijing directly to the WooHaHa plants, and also original design ideas for the production of pickles under the Petrovich brand with the MTS logo on the lid. Since the systema was supposed to imitate politeness and legality, it was impossible to say fck off all the schizophrenists who carried this shit, it was necessary to answer politely. To answer politely means to prepare a reasoned refusal, or to request additional material if there are flashes of reason from the author of the proposals. I, a person with three diplomas at that time, including the University of Oxford (where I was accepted, by the way, exempting me from the entrance exams), and with three American certifications, was engaged in the preparation of answers to this shit. And at the same time, "transfer of poruchenia": there was no uncontrolled shit in the Systema. In any gangster office, all incoming calls are tracked very carefully so as not to miss the Trojan at the entrance. For each letter about milking rabbits into the water supply to Baikonur, an order was issued (such as "pr. peregovorit" or "otvet"), and not to fulfill it meant to get a drag at the general meeting, to personally get a cunt from Petrovich, and also to get a cash fine. But there was one way to avoid shame - to postpone the impossible order to the date when it dissolves itself. Or "take it out of control" justifying why it should not be carried out at all. So in addition to studying the rabbit milk market, the specifics of processing shit into butter, calculating ROE when investing in a pony-caramelka suit for Detsky Mir stores, and finding out why Chuykin, who flew to America at the expense of an office with his seemingly not quite an adult mistress, it was necessary to write letters answering instructions: close and transfer poruchenia.

Of all the orders issued, 99% of them in principle could not be executed, or executed within the specified period and in the manner specified in the text of the order. Obviously, the level of frustration, when it is necessary to deal with what by definition cannot be fulfilled with the creation of any value, is very high. And I found a way to disconnect - to rent myself to brainwashers for a working day, and spend the rest of my time on what I need. Since the internal activities of the Systema were initially unprecedentedly destructive, I spent time outside the office restoring my intellectual and physical resource. From here appeared the study of 5 foreign languages in parallel, a certificate of an instructor in alpine skiing, a driver's license for category A, karate kyokushinkai, Russian billiards, and much more.

What is the actual morality of this fable?

And it is that the phrase "you want to make God laugh, tell us about your plans" works only in relation to AFK Systema. Moreover, this kontora Nikonora manages to send everything around in the literal sense, including its chronic non-performance. You just need to open the window a little to let someone from the Systema inside, who demonstrates friendliness and sincerely waving his tail behind the closed window, and also pushes on childhood memories - and you're fucked. Everyone is bought for childhood memories, as in Bykov's story “Mozharovo.”

In a duel with the system, you need to have the first 2 skills that are existentially critical: autonomy of thinking and critical thinking. Otherwise, on childhood memories, passing through Mozharovo, you can open a window in the car that goes on the train to a bright future. Shana tova, bitches.

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