#I just love how no one cares at all about marginalized groups enough to vote for this piece of shit

[m-a-d-e-l-e-i-n-e]

More than anything right now I’m just so angry that HE’S STILL FUCKING HERE after eight years and three terms and so many people would take him as president even though he’s been impeached twice is a 34x convicted felon is a racist rapist misogynist pedophile abuser piece of shit who is absolutely not fit to control an entire fucking country I fucking hate Trump and I fucking hate his supporters and anyone who defends anything he does GO AWAYYYY

[fvretts]

Very different from my typical posts, but just wanted to compile a few reasons on why I think Trump unfortunately won the American election, as an American student! I posted the same thing on a burner account on twitter (trying not to get doxxed lmao). I'd love to discuss more about this if anyone is interested! 1. Misogyny and gender gap Unfortunately, there are these internal biases that a lot of men and women don't know that they have. People aren't used to seeing a women in power, ergo, they're not going to vote for one. Harris focused way too much on abortion as her main policy, which also only isolated young male voters. Regarding the gender gap, and also the shift right we're seeing within younger generations, I think during COVID and lockdown, there were a bunch of movements like BLM and LGBTQ+ awareness, and just overall things that helped marginalized groups gain a stronger voice and raise awareness to issues. However, time and time again, there was a common issue with all these communities and straight white men. These men were not used to having to take accountability for either their actions or actions that the society had done for them but against other communities, so instead they fueled that discomfort into hate and raised the platforms of horrible people like Andrew Tate. BTW I'm not at all saying that this is ALL straight white men, or it's only white men or it's only straight men. The common factor is being a man. Typically, in my experience, when it's regarding race or gender or sexuality, the men, typically, are either straight, white, or both.

2. Democrats really didn't differentiate themselves. Harris aligned herself more moderate when she should have aligned herself more left. The "undecided" and center votes were going to go to Trump, so she should have taken a more leftist stance, especially on issues like the genocide in Gaza. Most Americans, no matter their stance, are against the the "conflict" (genocide). Had Harris been more concrete about a ceasefire on Gaza and not giving aid to Israel, she would have gained a lot of leftist voters and perhaps convinced others to vote for her. My third, and arguably most influential reason to why we lost. 3. People associate life being better 2016-2020 related to Trump. I'm especially talking about the economy here. To the average American, the economy is the most important thing. Lower income POC voters aren't going to care that Trump is racist towards them, they care about how much it costs to live, and the economy dictates everything from employment and life of living. Trump, very fortunately, had inherited Obama's economy. Hence, unemployment rates were down and cost of living was affordable. In comparison, in 2020, we had a global pandemic, which completely shut down the economy. This is obviously not Biden and Harris' fault--we've actually recovered quite well from the lockdown, but we did have inflation and unemployment rates go up a lot due to this. Lots of people correlate inflation and unemployment rates TO Biden and Harris, rather than the extenuating circumstances there were. As they say in statistics, correlation is NOT causation, but it may appear that way, enough so, that it swings a lot of people's votes. And people are just not educated with what tariffs are.

[ausetkmt]

Just remember, Black people didn’t love Obama either… and he was Black!

Black people, a group with a very long history of racially charged actions and behaviors behind us, continue to avoid unity in any way that we possibly can. 

As of right now, Donald Trump—a man who, on more than one occasion over the decades, has publicly condemned the Black race and advocated for its demise, particularly Black men—has found his way back into office. While a large number of Black people are taking it upon themselves to educate their peers, others are choosing to bash one another and make jokes based on marginalized communities in the country.

Black people are no strangers to lies and deceit implemented against us under the guise of religious rhetoric. However, for some reason, whenever we face something that threatens our livelihood, we believe it best to preach about the goodness of God—the same God who allowed horrific actions to be carried out in His name for years, deeds that have led many Black people to live in fear, worrying that similar actions may well happen again under His watch. 

Now, before people start accusing me of speaking against religion or discouraging belief in God, I must clarify that I call on my God every single night. In fact, as the election was happening and the results were coming in, I called God’s name more than I ever have in a single night.

If you have a group of people who continuously question the presence of this figure not only in their lives, but in the lives of their lost Black brothers and sisters, and then you tell them—on one of the most serious nights of their lives—that despite this negative outcome and the election of a man who, while in office, did nothing to aid this community or offer any solution to the continuous slaughter of Black people every week, then what do you expect them to do?

So while some Black people are rightfully furious over the outcome of the election, other Black people are furious because some Black people are either fond of the results or don’t seem to care at all. And while they are going at it on “Black twitter,” you have a completely separated group of Black people who want us to throw away our beliefs and believe that voting third party was the best thing to do in this election. 

Now, true enough, in a more perfect society where we aren’t forced to choose between two main party candidates, voting third party could be an actual idea; however, voting third party in the 2024 election may have been one of the most questionable actions I believe anyone could have taken.

It seems as if the only thing Black people can be unified on is the fact that there is no unity.

If seeing that Jill Stein does no advocacy or campaigning outside of presidential elections isn’t enough, then maybe the endorsement of David Duke would lead to a change in beliefs. And if that still isn’t enough to alter your views, then perhaps her attempt to gain votes based on Palestinian genocide, followed by her talk about connections to Israel, might show just how phony she appears to be. Even if you’re still unwilling to acknowledge her questionable motives, consider her sitting at a table with Putin, refusing to call him what he is: a fascist.

Moving on from the privileged and seemingly hypocritical Jill Stein, the man she chose to run alongside was simply another transphobe seeking power and influence. I suppose the slogan “Forget the lesser evil. Fight for the greater good” only applies to those who can truly afford to take that chance. Unfortunately, despite what they might believe, no Black person is in that position.

Feel ashamed of who you chose to vote for, and next time, step down from your high horse.

Now to close off this message I would like to issue the apologies that other people will never give.

To the Black women who are shown every day that they mean nothing to those who are supposed to love and care for them the most, I extend my most sincere apologies. 

Speaking for myself, I truly cannot emphasize enough how impactful Black women are, whether it be culturally, through the provision of countless memes; through the continuous support of your Black sons, brothers and friends; or through the countless blood, sweat and tears you’ve given to a country and society that continues to push you further down. 

It sickens me to see how Black women are treated, especially considering that while I watch others try their hardest to instill shame and self-hatred, the Black women in my life remind me every day of the ways I am loved and genuinely cared for.

To my Black queer brothers and sisters, my heart aches for the continuous resentment we face from those who share our common experiences. I hold hope that a day will come when, despite our differing beliefs around each other’s lifestyles, the Black community can cast these divisions aside and unite for the greater good. 

To the Black lesbians who fight tooth and nail for even an ounce of representation—you are seen, and you are so very loved. To the Black gay men who are often told they are either too gay or not gay enough, I understand completely, and I believe that times will change.

To the Black trans community, I pray deeply that a day will come when you feel true support from somewhere, anywhere. Continue to be Black and queer—continue to be you.

To all American Black boys, understand that while the country may seem as if it is constantly working against you, there is absolutely nothing that you can’t do. You should always let that blue light shine.

My heart aches for the Black community.

[jewishbarbies]

I truly cannot comprehend how the uncommitted crowd does not understand how much worse Donald Trump is going to be for Palestinians. If Trump gets a second term it’s going to be awful for everyone including LGBTQ people, people with uteruses, immigrants, basically everyone not a conservative, straight white male. Everyone should know that at this point. You only have to listen to what he’s saying at his rallies to know that if elected a second time, he fully intends to try and become a dictator. But theoretically, if someone doesn’t care about marginalized groups in the US and only cares about the war in Gaza, fine, but they should understand that Donald Trump being elected is a disaster for Palestinians too.

Trump was the most pro-Israel president in recent decades. He and Netanyahu have a long history together and were genuinely friends. Bibi LOVED Trump, whereas he had previously had a more tense relationship with Obama (and Biden as VP). It was under Trump that the US moved its embassy to Jerusalem. Jared Kushner spearheaded the Abraham accords which was one of Trump’s proudest foreign policy accomplishments and got several Arab countries to formalize ties with Israel. Apparently, Trump is currently annoyed with Bibi for recognizing Biden as president, however, he also recently told one of his rally audiences that the IDF should “finish off” Gazans. It’s highly likely, that Trump would actively support any action that the Israeli government chooses to take in Gaza or the West Bank if he were re-elected. Believe it or not, Joe Biden does push back quite a bit against Bibi and Trump would not.

The question of whether to support Israel is only really happening within left wing of the Democratic Party. It’s not even a conversion among Republicans. Leftists generally fail to understand or take the right seriously (in my opinion it’s why we lost to the pro life movement) and conservatives support Israel in the war. The only time that Speaker Mike Johnson clapped during Biden’s SoU was when Biden showed support for Israeli hostages. Republican women were wearing blue during the SoU to show support for the hostages too. I’m bringing this up because even if Trump might be mad at Bibi for recognizing Biden, a good portion of his base supports Israel so we are likely to hear more anti-Palestinian rhetoric from him as the general election ramps up. I’m waiting for Trump to start using the American hostages to start criticizing Biden for not getting them back fast enough and I’m surprised he hasn’t yet.

All of this is to say that Trump would be a disaster for Palestinians. By the way, nothing that I’ve just said is some classified secret. I would strongly urge anyone who cares about the Palestinian people to research the Trump administration’s foreign policies and how they impacted Palestinians living in the Levant. I don’t know how you can say you support the safety of Palestinians and their right to self-determination and then allow Donald Trump to get elected.

someone made a good analogy on this whole to vote or not to vote bullshit discourse, and the gist was: legally, if you're in a car accident and there's proof you had the chance to see the other car coming and slow down and you didn't, you're responsible for what happens next. so, if you see the fascists coming, and you refuse to vote against them because of whatever trumped up moral argument you have in your head, you will be responsible for the outcome. you have a responsibility to hit the brakes.

i firmly believe leftists fail when they get to zionism specifically because they cannot recognize christian zionism for what it is. which is everything they claim regular zionism is. christian zionists are only "zionists" because of their fetishized view of jews, racist views on the middle east as a whole, and their obsession with jesus returning. it has nothing to do with actually caring about jews or the modern state of israel. christians want a firm hand in the middle east to be able to control what happens in order to ensure jesus' return. they don't care who lives or who dies, because all that matters is the christian agenda, which ultimately ends in all "sinners" wiped off the earth and the filthy jews finally getting their punishment so the "real chosen people" can have the holy land. republicans don't care about israel because they actually care about israel. it's all a fucking show. but leftists see their support for israel and stop the investigation, and immediately label israel the problem. yes, bibi needs to be replaced (obviously), but christian conservatives will cheer when he gets smited by what they perceive as god all the same bc he's a jew. so while everyone is focusing on israel as a country, christians in the US are steadily taking over america as a whole and doing everything they can to make that return of jesus possible, no matter who has to die. it's all just a big fucking distraction, benefiting a lot of evil people.

[dhaaruni]

So... in the end, America is just as bigoted as it was in Reagan's day? Or Nixon's? (Not a rhetorical question; personally I've always feared that what Obama et al. did was never really *progress*, so much as just keeping marginalized people from suffering even worse treatment from an inherently conservative system that's getting better resources every year. Running twice as fast to stay where they were, so to speak)

I don't know if this logic helps but nowhere else in the world is much better unless you're a white person from Scandinavia who lives in Scandinavia lol. The way Europe treats immigrants, including legal immigrants, is much, much worse than how the United States does, misogyny is omnipresent all around the world (including in non-white countries cough cough), antisemitism and Islamophobia run rampant everywhere, and at least in the US, there are some pockets of liberalism. Sure, I may not feel super safe walking around at night in rural West Texas but in my corner of the Seattle suburbs or honestly even in my bit of Northwest DC, I feel extremely safe running to CVS at 10pm to grab allergy medication.

As for Barack Obama, I think his biggest theoretical flaw as president (not in terms of individual actions) was expecting this country to be something different than it is, and Hillary Clinton for one has always been very clear-eyed over what was and wasn't possible based on the country as it is and not as it could be. On the night Obama got elected, while people were lynching and burning scarecrow Obamas in large swathes of the country, he was all like "Whether or not you voted for me, we're all Americans, and there's so much hope for this country going forward!!!" Fast forward 8 years and the same country elected an outright fascist because it couldn't stand that a Black man had been president for eight years, and the concept of a woman becoming president as well was just too much to handle.

Was Obama perfect? No. I think he meant well but he did underestimate the repercussions of his actions on the Democratic Party. For instance, quipping about how (non-college) white people in those rural Ohio and Pennsylvania coal and natural gas towns (that he broke even in but HRC and Biden lost by 75) cling to guns and religion was actively bad given how badly Democrats began to lose that group in the 2010s when they're the group that decides the electoral college and makeup of the Senate. It doesn't matter whether or not that quip is true, it was sort of like the straw that broke the camel's back, and pissed off a whole lot of people off enough to stop voting Democrat altogether. As a result, we're now stuck with a 50-50 Senate and winning anything more is a massively uphill battle because at this point, non-college educated white people hate Democrats even more than they love their guns and religion. We can't make up that deficit with college-educated suburbanites simply because there aren't enough of them.

And, once again, American voters suck lol. Obama pushed the Affordable Care Act through without a single Republican vote, and we absolutely paid the price for that moving forward given how many Senate and House seats Democrats lost in the next decade. Is it fair that Americans punished Democrats for trying to give the country universal healthcare? No, but they absolutely did: Americans decided that Democrats were being mean to Republicans, and they didn't appreciate that because the majority of American voters don't think Republicans are inherently bad. And, demonizing the ACA as "Obamacare" worked because Obama's like the devil to these people, whether or not that's justified. If you look at how "Affordable Care Act" polls among normie voters in comparison to "Obamacare," you'll see what I mean.

Also, this screenshot is very telling:

Bernie Sanders was wrong, the majority of Americans don't actually care if Biden gives them free stuff if he's also giving free stuff to Black and brown people and especially if he's not being openly racist and misogynistic at the same time. These voters are just really annoyed our president doesn't constantly say degrading things to female reporters and doesn't embarrass the country on a national scale daily, and doesn't provide them sufficient entertainment, and they're egged on by our esteemed media superiors. Anyways, #DefundTheBeltwayMedia.

Like, sheer idea of Republican voters supporting Medicare for All, especially with birth control and abortion access included, is laughable since do these kinds of voters really seem like they want gender equality and racial justice? Like, Hillary Clinton was right; you really can't work with these people, and her mistake was saying that quiet part out loud and calling them deplorables (while being a woman that the media's had it in for since the 1970s obviously). All that we can do is triangulate them and get enough votes to pass legislation and make them deal with the changing world. Is that really condescending? Absolutely, but otherwise, the alternative is constantly negotiating with people that think that saying the n-word as a white person is totally fine so take your pick.

[arsonistblue]

Alright, fuckers. Listen up.

(TW politics, swearing, caps, and the State Of Things)

Alright, starting off: we all know the voting system is fucked up, right? Well apparently it's even more fucked than we thought. 

In a democracy, everyone has a voice, everyone has an equal vote to elect one leader for a term. That is the literal definition of democracy. Everyone's vote should be equal. 

California is a majority Democrat state, correct? And Wyoming is majority Republican. Well, theoretically, no matter what state you are in, you would have an equal vote going to the electoral college. But that's not the case. 

If you live in California, say your vote counts for one. The same person in Wyoming, a Republican state, counts for fifty-fucking-seven. Let me put this in perspective. 57 CALIFORNIANS WOULD HAVE TO VOTE TO EQUAL ONE WYOMINGITE. And that's just the start. 

So when someone says that the electoral college is a good system to make voting easier and more fair, NO IT FUCKING ISN'T.

ALSO. AL-FUCKING-SO. 

If a country has so many incarcerated people that allowing them to vote could sway an election, maybe, just maybe, there might be too many incarcerated people. 

Because the incarcerated are not allowed to vote, the government therefore has a HUGE INCENTIVE to imprison the people who oppose the current government, AKA A FASCIST MILITARY GOVERNMENT ADVOCATING TO TAKE AWAY THE RIGHTS OF MARGINALIZED GROUPS. 

That's why there are so many wrongfully imprisoned or nonviolent black, Latinx, or queer people in prisons around the country. 

AND THAT'S JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. 

Did you know that approximately 2/3 federal prisons are LEGALLY REQUIRED to be at a certain capacity? Let me say that again. AT LEAST 2/3 OF FEDERAL PRISONS ARE REQUIRED TO LOCK ENOUGH PEOPLE UP. THAT'S YET ANOTHER INCENTIVE TO IMPRISON PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT BELIEFS THAN THE GOVERNMENT. Voters who would vote against the fascists advocating for the death and limited rights and healthcare of minorities are being imprisoned to stop them from voting. 

It's also a huge reason why so many peaceful protestors, typically poc and/or LGBTQ+, are being thrown in cells. So they can keep getting funding to incarcerate more people who actually give two flying fucks about human rights. 

There are MILLIONS of people being incarcerated for (NON VIOLENTLY) opposing the fascist government advocating to take away healthcare and basic rights from marginalized groups. It's all a fascist, capitalistic ploy to get more money, keep dictators in charge, take away the rights of marginalized groups and minorities, and keep the rich, white, cishet men in charge. 

If that's not fucked up, I don't know what is.

Do I even need to mention COVID? Apparently I do. 

The government actively ignored a raging, deadly virus. They have literally admitted to it. Hundreds, probably thousands of doctors have criticized how they handled it. It almost makes me think that maybe, in a pandemic, you should fucking listen to scientists and doctors, rather than rich white men who only care about money. 

The way that the current government has handled COVID is atrocious. If you think we couldn’t have done better, I hope that goddamn rock you live under has air conditioning. 

I am so done. 

I don’t care if you don’t like Biden. I don’t love him either. But would you rather the president be an old man who stumbles his words, but actually gives a fuck about the people, and not just money? Or would you rather the president be another old man who stumbles his words, but is a literal fascist with detention camps, only cares about money and white power, who refused to condemn white supremacy, and has on multiple occasions signed and agreed with policies that would take away the rights of marginalized people?

IF YOU DO NOT VOTE, I HAVE NO RESPECT FOR YOU.

SILENCE IS COMPLIANCE.

IF YOU ARE SILENT, YOU COMPLY WITH WHAT TRUMP IS DOING TO THIS COUNTRY, AND TO THE WORLD. 

IF YOU ARE SILENT, YOU ARE SAYING THAT YOU DON’T WANT TO CHANGE WHAT HE DOES. YOU ARE SAYING YOU DON’T CARE ENOUGH TO TRY AND SHUT DOWN DETENTION CENTERS, GIVE PEOPLE BASIC RIGHTS, AND KEEP MILLIONS OF PEOPLE FROM HAVING TO FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES.

If you do not try to vote Trump out, that is what you are saying. You are saying that you want the person in office to be a man who will advocate for the death and imprisonment of minorities. 

If you are a Trump supporter, get your conceited head out of your ass and think of someone else for once in your goddamn life. 

I dare you to try and argue with me. I have sources, a fuck-ton of research, and even more pent-up rage. 

[purplesurveys]

1115

survey by vintagekid

Name:  Robyn.

Happy with it? I am now, but I certainly wasn’t as a kid. Other kids were cruel and would tease me solely for my name, which made it hard for me to socialize. I got the same bad Batman jokes too many times and I also got called a boy. These seem petty now, but as a kindergartener adjusting to life in school, it had been traumatizing and made me wonder if my classmates were going to remain the way they were for the long run which no 4-year-old should be mulling about, really.

Do you wear stilettos? When I get the chance, which isn’t very often at all. But I do love stilettos.

How important are looks to you? I find this question very vague, but generally looks matter to me to a certain extent, like how I’d want to look nice and proper for a job interview or for formal occasions such as weddings. Relationship-wise, I also think I have to feel a level of physical attraction towards someone for me to consider seeing them.

How often do you download music? I don’t anymore. I stream all my music.

Can you name a philosopher? Socrates.

What would you do if two unicorns tried to whisk you off to candy mountain? I just looked this up and this is apparently in reference to an ancient viral video, like it was around before viral videos were even a universally-acknowledged concept. That said, I don’t have a clue how to respond to this lmao.

You became the deciding vote in an election, which party would you go for? I don’t base my voting decisions on parties because the party system in my country is a tragically broken shitstorm in which every single party rallies the same values and principles, just executed in their own – and usually poor and unsustainable – ways. I do my research on each candidate, see how they answer in debates, look at laws they’ve authored, see which marginalized groups they proactively support (if they do), and decide from there.

Do you have a bzoink account? I don’t but I’ve been a semi-regular visitor since like 2009.

How many phone calls do you typically make in a day? Zero. People usually call me.

What song are you listening to? Tell Me It’s Okay by, surprise surprise, Paramore.

Do you understand things others your age do not? I don’t know. Maybe. Everyone’s bound to understand some things better than others.

Do you hate people that label themselves? Why would I hate that? And why would their chosen label be my business?

How many windows do you have open? None. There’s plenty of mosquitoes at night, so even though the cold evening air would been pleasant to have we have to keep the windows closed by nighttime.

How superstitious are you? Not at all.

If you were in Harry Potter, which house would you be in? I’ve been told either Gryffindor or Ravenclaw.

Which comedian can always crack you up? It’s not a habit of mine to watch comedians.

Are you nagged about being on the computer too much? Not since I was a teenager. Since college I’ve been doing most of my work, if not all of it, through my laptop, and I think my parents understand that I have to use it all the time.

Do you feel bad about anything you've done lately? Nothing comes to mind, no.

What's your texting bill typically like? My SIM is prepaid, so it works the other way around. I put load credits in it only if I know I’ll have to call/text/surf regularly.

What song did you/do you want played at your wedding? Turning Page by Sleeping At Last.

Do you have a lot or hardly any lines on your palms? Idk, a decent amount I guess? I don’t think it hits either extreme.

What's your favourite word? Poignant.

Are you allowed to swear in front of your parents? Yeah. They’ll shoot me a glare sometimes, but I’m in my 20s and...they know they can’t really do anything about it anymore lol.

Do you eat apples? No.

What are your addictions? Coffee, I suppose.

What are some words you use in daily life? I use intensifiers often, like very, really, super, absolutely, etc. I’m also big on expressions hahaha like oh my god, seriously, for real, and ugh.

Do you look things up on Google constantly? Yes.

Where do you get your music from? Spotify. Sometimes YouTube if I wanna look for a leak.

What do you think of people with afros? That they are people with afros...? I don’t really know what you’re looking for me to say, lmfao.

--

survey by charey-chas

Do you like getting your picture taken? Not for the most part. My body instantly gets all frozen and awkward when a camera’s placed in front of me, which I hate because I do wish I could have more photos of myself around. Is your phone anywhere near you? It is not, actually. It feels great and I really should start making it a habit to keep it away from me entirely on weekends. Do you ever enjoy going to school? In my first school, I enjoyed going mainly (and probably only) for my friends; but Catholic school was predominantly a torturous experience. The rigidity isn’t something I look back fondly on, and it felt like being kept on a tight leash for 14 years. College was a lot more enjoyable in every way possible. I liked going to (most of) my classes and learning as much as I loved the vibrant org culture and the general freedom that comes with university life. Have you ever gone on a road trip? Lots. The Philippines is a relatively small country and unless you want to jump to a different island altogether, there are many provinces you can readily travel to by car.  Who do you get along with best in your family?  Nina, my sister. Then my dad. I clash a lot with my mom and I don’t talk to my brother. Based on your personality, what animal do you think you'd be? Cats and I don’t get along very well hahaha but I think I’m similar to them. Would you ever buy anything from an infomercial? Maybe once, just to be able to say that I have. Have you ever made a snow angel? No, because I’ve never seen snow before. Have you stayed in a hotel in the last month? No. We had a brief getaway in Tagaytay but we switched things up and went to rent a condo, instead of book a hotel room, for a weekend. What's your most comfortable outfit? If I want to go for comfortable, I usually go for my rompers or jumpsuits. Do you text or IM more? IM these days. Would you rather listen to music or play it? Listen. I have no music-playing skills whatsoever. Have you ever been in a hot tub? Sure. Do you like pizza? LOVE IT Are you sleeping in your own bed tonight? Yes. If not here, the couch. But most likely it will my bed tonight. Are any of your friends having a sleepover right now? I doubt it. Angela and Hans had an overnight stay in Batangas a few days ago for their Valentine’s shenanigans though, which I guess kinda counts as a sleepover. Have you ever been to a house party? I don’t think so. That’s something I missed out on in my college days, but I don’t mind. Do you listen to your iPod or the radio when you're in the car? I think I keep a good balance. If my phone’s battery is not very high I’ll rely on the radio; and sometimes I’ll sync my phone’s Spotify to the car as well.

--

survey by charey-chas

What song is stuck in your head at the moment? RAVI’s BUM. What's your fathers' middle name? He doesn’t have a second name, but I’m not sharing his legal middle name on here either. How many hours a day do you spend on the computer? On work days, I’d say 8-10 hours. On weekends, maybe a little slightly less than that since I do like getting off the laptop sometimes to rest my eyes. Could you live without the internet? People from the past managed to live without it, so I know I can. It would just be extremely inconvenient; and having been dependent on it for such a long time now, I would likely be clueless on how to navigate most activities. What's something you're really into? Learning about cultural differences!! That’s why reading survey answers has always been fascinating to me. I would love a website that dives into the various everyday behavior people observe in other countries, but the ones that do exist use like 20- or 30-year-old sources, so they aren’t even relevant at all anymore. What's the last movie you saw in theaters? Knives Out. Have you ever seen a movie in 3D or in an IMAX theater? Just once. It was Denise and Leigh’s 18th birthday treat and they brought us to watch Doctor Strange in 3D. Do you prefer skirts, shorts, or skorts? Shorts. Have you ever vandalized? Just a few school chairs in grade school, but otherwise I’m too paranoid for vandalism lol. What's the longest you've stayed up? Maybe a little longer than 24 hours. Who'd you have a sleepover with last? Gabie. When's the last time you baked something? Nearly a decade ago. Our oven was new at the time and I wanted to try baking cookies. Do you like to dance? When I’m alone. Do you scratch mosquito bites, even though you're not supposed to? Yup. Are you afaid of spiders or do you like them? I mean I’m not fond of them, but I also don’t scream and run away when I see them. I just don’t care for them for the most part. What's a pet you've always wanted? I’ve only ever wanted dogs, and now I’ve got two of them. Do you like mice? Not really. Would you ever get a tattoo? Sure. I’ve been considering it for a while now; it’s just a matter of being able to save up for one. Do you prefer to walk in the street or on the sidewalk? Street, if it’s bare and safe enough. Otherwise if I’m in a busy city with regulations and all I’d obviously rather be on the sidewalk. What's your favorite t-shirt? My CM Punk Best in the World merch. Who did you last think about? I remembered Deina when I was thinking about the tattoo question. She got a pawprint tattoo on her wrist shortly before her senior dog passed away and ever since learning about it I’ve also been thinking about getting the same tattoo. Do you like giving hugs? I love giving hugs and it’s an automatic response for me whenever I see someone I love, which is why Covid is such a torture for me. Do you prefer hardwood flooring or carpeting? Hardwood. Did you/will you get a car for your 16th birthday? No. I got a car when I was 17, around six months before I started college. Have you ever eaten a worm? No but I’d be willing to try.

[wishonastarx3]

I saw this coming... I’m so fucking tired of this.

I don’t care who reads this, if you actually know me in real life then you probably know that this is how I feel from my instagram story. I apologize in advance of the language in this post. These are my emotions and thoughts. (And yes I am aware that within the AAPI community there are it's issues, but that's not the point of this post)

I’m SO SICK AND TIRED of this shit. What happened on Tuesday WAS NOT OKAY. EIGHT PEOPLE ARE DEAD and SIX of them were ASIAN WOMEN. Click the hyperlink if you live under a rock or if you just don’t watch the news. I don’t know how you people live. 

The Asian and Asian American community in this country has been saying for the PAST YEAR that we are NOT OKAY and that we NEED HELP. Donald FUCKING Trump REPEATEDLY kept saying pre pandemic, “CHINA! CHINA! THEY’RE STEALING OUR JOBS!!! CHINA IS EVIL!!!” and of course his base bought into that. BUT when the freaking pandemic started it was “THE KUNG FLU” or the “CHINA VIRUS”. So now, let’s make the target on our backs EVEN BIGGER NOW!!! (I still don’t understand HOW there were Asians who voted for him... but that’s beside this point of this) 

This past year has had over 3800 reports of Asian American HATE CRIMES against us. These fucking cowards are going after our ELDERLY COMMUNITY like the BABY BITCHES that they are. WHY?! JUST FUCKING WHY?! What does this do for you? It makes me SO ANGRY to see these videos of the elderly community being ATTACKED and KILLED. I watched on video of a toisan lao (old Chinese Woman) in SF who was being attacked and she fought back against her attacker (AS SHE FUCKING SHOULD. HE ENDED UP IN A STRETCHER). But that really... that one really struck a cord with me as that’s the dialect my family speaks and it made me think “fuck. That could have been my grandmother. That could have been my grandfather.” Going after the community that doesn’t speak english, LITERALLY POWERLESS and that is old like a bunch of COWARDS. I, as a 5′9 Asian American woman from New York City has dealt with my far share of harassment... but the fucking elderly? Really? 

This pandemic has just gave them an EXCUSE to attack us. As if we weren’t already being harassed and marginalized before!!! But of course, one will say “but how can that be? Asians are the model! You guys are the best minority group out there. Everyone loves you!” HAR HAR MOTHER FUCKER

So lets set up some points

The Model Minority Myth - the “idea” that Asians are the smarter minorities who end up becoming the doctors and lawyers who are good at math, science and end up going to Harvard. I’m sorry... what? This is pathetic. AND A FUCKING MYTH  I’ve dealt with these AWFUL cliches and stereotypes. Are they good stereotypes? Sure...? BUT do you understand:

What that does to the individual? What about the Asians who do not want tot be doctors? What about the Asians who then have to deal with the mental illness that goddamn society created for us? (I’m not even going to go into the lack of Asians in entertainment business. That’s a whole separate headache.)

WHY ARE WE IGNORING THAT IT’S ONLY A SMALL GROUP OF ASIANS THAT END UP DOING THAT?! Are we going to IGNORE the Asians who don’t go to Ivy Leagues? Or the ones that are living below the poverty line? 

This literally created the Racial Triangulation between the minorities! White people have put Asians on a pedestal in comparison to the other minorities and YES other minorities HATE us for that reason.By saying that we are the “Model Minority” it LITERALLY creates this thought that we better than the “other minorities” but yet we still ain’t white. So we aren’t a part of the majority therefore putting us in no mans land. 

THE NEGATIVE stereotypes - OH and TRUST ME there are A LOT. These are just the ones at the top of my head. 

The FETISHIZATION  of Asian Women - this shit ain’t new. This is literally what the term “yellow fever” means when referring to MEN who only like Asian women. The fetishization of asian women LITERALLY GOES BACK TO 1890s when the short story “Madame Butterfly” was written when a WHITE MAN was in Japan and fell in love with an Asian girl (WHO WAS 15 BTW). There are literal journal entries of European and American men who were in Asian at the time who said LITERALLY SAY HOW EXOTIC Asian Women are, that apparently our vaginas just “feel different”. I’m sorry... WHAT?! I HATE nothing more than when I have dealt with men saying some bullshit about how “exotic” I am. Also lets not forget how American society has de-masculinate the Asian Man. Saying that have small dicks and that they are skinny and scrawny, therefore aren’t men. So you like only half of us? 

Our Food - WE DO NOT EAT DOG. I grew up being told “YOU EAT DOG! YOU’RE CHINESE!”... fuck you. And now, Asian food is seen as “amazing” I’m happy you like our soup dumplings and bao. But you were the same fucking people who told me I ate dog. So you love our food but not the people? Okay. I see you. Oh and I didn’t forget about the people who have gagged at Asian food. 

Mocking how we look and our language - Am I the only Asian American who had people pulling their eyes and saying CHING CHONG at them? Please, get hit by a bus. And isn’t ironic how now “fox eyes” are a make up trend? funny isn’t it? 

People telling us to “GO BACK TO CHINA!” “GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM” 

I’m sorry. Who educated you? Asians have been in this country since the 1850S. WE BUILT THE DAMN RAILROADS. SOME OF US WERE KIDNAPPED HERE TO BUILD THAT SHIT. (Another note is how ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY IS NOT TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS. This needs to be addressed and changed.) 

Also for MYSELF - my GREAT GRANDFATHER BUILT THE DAMN RAILROAD and SERVED IN THE ARMY in WWI. My Great Uncles were in the Air force in WWII and my GRANDFATHER served in the KOREAN WAR where he was shot in the ear and received a Purple Heart. I FUCKING DARE YOU to tell me to go back to my country. MY FAMILY HAS DONE MORE FOR THIS COUNTRY THAN HALF OF THESE RACIST MOTHER FUCKERS. 

Hate crimes in America have been happening since the 1880s. Yellow Peril goes back to the 1880s when Asian were literally depicted as these murderous group invading from Asia. And of course, they depict us with slanted eyes and with long braided pony tails. THIS SHIT AIN’T NEW. There has also literally been LAWS banning Chinese from coming to America. i.e THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT oh and lets not forget Japanese Interment during the 1930s. THIS SHIT AIN’T NEW. ALSO let’s not forget the Vincent Chin Murder in the 1980s when a Chinese American was BEAT TO DEATH because his attackers thought he was Japanese and they were blaming the Japanese for taking their jobs. 

As I sit here, feeling not as angry as at the beginning, if history has taught me anything, fear and anger has been the drive for these crimes. In the 1880s we were thought to be evil and that we were going to take away all of the jobs (but low and behold, some of us were KIDNAPPED here). During WWII it was right after Pearl Harbor after Japan bombed it. Vincent Chin, his attackers were angry at the Japanese. Current day, Donald Fucking Trump decided to put the target on our communities back with both jobs being sent to China and with the Coronavirus being our fault. 

What happened on Tuesday with the Atlanta police officer saying that the 21 year old was “having a bad day” WAS BULL SHIT. I didn’t know killing 8 people was a RATIONALE  RESPONSE. Okay then. Call it what it is, A HATE CRIME. This man was saying he had a “sex addiction” and that he wanted to get rid of the temptation and he associated ASIAN WOMEN and the ASIAN SPA to be that temptation. AND WHY IS THAT?!?!?!? THE FETISHIZATION OF ASIAN WOMEN. 

And before I get off of my soap box, THE MEDIA WAS PRETTY FUCKING LATE TO JOINING THIS, AND CALL IT WHAT IT IS, A HATE CRIME. SO MANY of the crimes against the Asian elderly go unreported or are not deemed hate crimes WHEN THEY ARE. SO MANY of them do not know English or enough English and can not report what was said to them. And what sucks too, my dad even said it, I think your grandparents would just take it because they would see this as “I immigrated here, I have to take this shit”. WELL THAT TRAIN STOPS HERE. WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED. WE WILL NOT SHY AWAY. WE ARE TAKING OUR SPACE THAT IS RIGHTFULLY OURS. I fucking PROMISE you that if you try to do so, you will have hell to deal with. 

I’m not going to get into the subject of the people who are SILENT during this but were ALL OVER social media for their BLM support. I’m just going to leave it at we are asking for your help and to amplify this. Please. 

To my non Asian friends who have reached out to me, I do appreciate it. I really do. But please rather than telling me you are here for me if I want to talk, I BEG of you, please read and learn about the history as well as the Asian/Asian American experience in America. It’s really not as rainbows and butterflies people have been thinking. Hate against Asian and Asian Americans started before 2020. 

To my Asian brothers, sisters, aunties and uncles PLEASE stay safe.

[blooooom]

Hi! I hope that I'm not bothering you. I've been really struggling with feelings of fear, exhaustion, and anger. The climate crisis and the political/social state of the US panics me everyday. It's difficult for me to even shop for groceries without panicking about what to buy that would least harm the environment. How do you cope with what's going on and balance your feelings about it against your wellbeing?

well, first i want to assure you that your feelings are completely natural and valid. and actually encourage you to see it (despite it’s inconvenience) as a positive. let me explain.

the terror and exhaustion you feel is collective. anyone that is marginally awake and paying attention or in touch with their higher consciousness is experiencing the same. even those who choose to remain unconscious are funneling this grand existential anxiety in different ways - through more intensified feelings of bigotry and violence, to the blatant denials that anything is even happening.

if you’ve wondered how climate crisis deniers sleep at night, know that they are experiencing the same as you, just the inverse where the only way they can survive is to vehemently deny they have any reason to be worried. and for that reason, find among your anger and frustration, pity for them. they are not as brave as you. but we are all in this together.

i find that the only answer to the panic is to feel as empowered as we can. and we do that by acknowledging the fact that we’re afraid, and allowing it to do it’s job and nothing more than it’s job. your fear is just information. it does not have to be your way of life. your rage is just information, it does not have to be your identity.

there’s a fear that if we aren’t in a constant state of alarm, that we will somehow drift off into unconsciousness, that we will forget what is important, that we will stop trying, that we will stop caring.

this isn’t true. once you awaken, you cannot go back to sleep. once you know, you cannot ever un-know. once you are aware, you cannot be made unaware. in fact, it would be much more painful for you to pretend everything is fine than it would be for you to feel how you feel now. 

but you do not NEED to feel how you feel now. you do not need to rest your identity and your caring in the panic and the terror, you can allow it to take it’s natural course. it will surge unexpectedly, settle in your throat, twist up in your stomach, bring tears to your eyes, fill you with righteous fury. but you have to let it subside, thank it for what it is telling you, and let it recede. don’t worry that it won’t come back, that you’ll lax into complacency and resign to the demise of our planet and species. it will be back, you don’t have to worry.

caring doesn’t have to look like terror. you can be empowered in your caring. the anger is just alerting you to your helplessness. you address the helplessness, to address the panic. anger is always, always, always, a signifier of boundaries - that they are being breached, or broken, or violated. anger is always a response to helplessness. it gets distorted when fear enters the picture, convinces you that you are more helpless than you actually are, shrouds all your options in a dark cloak of confusion and panic, and totally disempowers you.

when you walk into a grocery store and activate conscious choice in order to purchase mindfully, you are in your power. when you put your time, energy, money into causes that excite and inspire you and are important to you, you are in your power. when you use your voice, your vote, to speak to issues that affect us all, you are in your power. when you reach out for help with any of it, you are in your power. 

let yourself be empowered. see your awareness as the strength that it is. see the fact that you are conscious enough to be afraid as the act of bravery that it is. you are not turning away, you are not sticking your head in the stand, you are staring down extinction and daring to believe there can be another way. that is what the universe needs from us. each of us standing together in that power, as much as we can, and CHOOSING life. CHOOSING our planet. CHOOSING each other.

this doesn’t mean that we are not sometimes afraid. it is scary. but we are here, we are all we have, no one is coming to save us. we are our own saviors. i do this work because of that reason - i had to find a way to help, i had to look for my contribution to the collective, to our grouped evolution, and this is mine. 

find yours, and rest confidently in it. you are doing the best you can. i’m very proud of you. we’re in this together. i love you.

[sortblog]

Nørrebro Pride

It is difficult to know where to begin. It is difficult for me to know what to say and where to start. 

Last year Andrea Coloma and Cecilie Viet drank too much wine and hyped each other enough with talks about marching down Nørrebro. These beautiful people were tired and wanted something new. And I was tired too and foolish enough to join them. Last year we were overwhelmed by your power – but this year! Holy shit!

This year – please put your hand up! Give your self a round of applause. This year a lot of people are coming together. This is something else now. There has been so much effort into the community kitchen, to the security team, to outreach, to meeting with different groups the past six months. There are many lessons we have learnt organising this year, are learning right now, and have to continue to learn for this to continue. Thank you. 

And there’s a reason that you’re here; there is a reason why I am here. First of all, Pride is political! Queer and trans folk face hardships – both locally and globally. Isolated from families we create our own. For wanting to live in the bodies that we desire; for wanting a world in which we can desire, we are shamed, silenced, institutionalised, sterilised, assaulted, raped, and killed – either by others or the straight world order leading us to kill ourselves at extreme rates. Sometimes going outside is the hardest: being reminded of what limited place you have. Even if I am privileged I am reminded that the public is a hetero public, it is a white public – this was made totally clear to me just days ago when a man told in the calmest voice that if only I followed him, he and his friends could burn me alive – with no police watching he added. Repeatedly he told me of his intended crime. Repeatedly I witnessed how no one intervened. Repeatedly I was reminded that my black body, my black queer trans body is a body that can always be transgressed and don’t belong in this world. Reminded that I do not know how old I will get, faced with the reality that way too many black trans and gender non-conforming folks do not live to see 40. 

What ever reasons you have felt to come here today; whether it is to grieve loved ones you have lost or the lives that you cannot yet live; if it is to be joyous with friends and comrades; or you do not yet know why you’re here –  know that you belong, on this earth. That you deserve to belong here. 

But there are also other reasons why we are here. 

Nørrebro is a battlefield. It is one of several places politicians like to legislate on and against. When the government legislates against the homeless it’s also about the people here in Nørrebro; when the government makes squatting illegal it’s about the political extra-parliamentary movements in Nørrebro; when the government and police agree on stop-and-searching and special zones it is about brown and black boys in Nørrebro; when the government wants to privatise and limit social housing it’s about controlling Nørrebro & Nordvest (Gellerup, Vollsmose, etc); when it allows for Rasmus Paludan to be paraded around it is about provoking Nørrebro, and earning cheap political points in the rest of this fucking racist country; when the government legislates against muslim women wearing the veil it is concerned with Nørrebro. We could go on.

How the government acts when it sees Nørrebro and other places like it, is nothing short of fascism; a place infested with brown and black people and migrants who should be deported, vilified and discriminated against; a place where working-class communities are to be punished with higher rents and costs of living and cuts to social infrastructure. Until all of Copenhagen is free of single-mothers, muslim women and men, the sick and homeless folks, working-class folks and impoverished folks, black and brown folks, the government will not rest. The government wants many of us – some more than others – gone, and this neighbourhood turned into a paradise for the white middle- and upper classes. 

It does not make sense to talk about what Nørrebro Pride is – because it is nothing yet –  but all of the things it wants to be and could be.

Nørrebro Pride wants to be anti-commercial and anti-gentrification, but for this to happen we have to find ways of making sure businesses don’t just pinkwash themselves with our lives, but also to make sure that everyone – with or without papers – in this neighbourhood, in this city, in this country have access and the right to housing, transport, health care, safety, and workers rights. If we want a Pride which takes gentrification seriously, we have to think of how to stop global capital mangement funds like Blackstone’s undercover assault on the neighbourhood, as well as be ready to put our bodies on the line when people in Mjølnerparken soon will be evicted. We need to prevent and stop this.

Nørrebro Pride wants Black people, Indigenous people and People of Colour to the front, but, as it was stressed during the community kitchen thursday, must acknowledge the limits of this when even marginalised communities aren’t even equal between each other; when anti-Blackness runs through society and every community; when Greenland is still colonised; when Denmark sold 100.000 black caribbean people to the USA, who still cannot vote to this day; when muslim communities are targeted daily; when adoptees are ignored and their lives made into accessories for white heterosexuals and increasingly the lgbt community; when there are people in camps. In order to organise together, it will require work; it will require staying with the trouble; it will require conscious effort. It will require time. It will require white people decentralising themselves. 

Nørrebro Pride wants to be accessible but is not. There is work to do in making the City of Copenhagen to make a place for people without homes or living on the streets; people unable to attain shelter and health care because of their lack of cpr-numbers; people who are racialised and denied access to even the smallest resources to make our communities accessible; people with disabilities facing an infrastructure that tries to deny and limit their agency at every moment. 

Let Nørrebro Pride be one of many places where we can conspire about our next actions! Let it be the place where lovers meet, kiss and fuck!  

But most of all do not walk away from today without anger, pride or a plan. We need to build; we need to organise; and we need stronger communities! If every poor person, homeless person, working class person, migrant, black person, person of colour is not to be driven from this neighborhood or the next or the next – we need to ask questions and act on them.

Close your eyes *insert joke*

There are things we need to ask ourselves and act upon together.

Who gets the right to have a home? 

What kind of people have a right to claim a home? Home is often defined by white heteronormativity, but who are all of the other people that do not fit into that box? 

What do we have to leave behind to be welcomed home? 

How can we reclaim home? 

What does home mean if you cannot leave it, are forced to stay in it, or do not have access to it? 

How do we keep our cultures and histories alive when separated from our roots? 

How do we connect across generations? 

How do we make sure that our movements don’t just become the next hashtag that you can sell on a t-shirt? 

How do we make sure that it isn’t about individuals who can earn money of the struggle? Liberation doesn’t pay; it costs. 

How can we create sustainable economic structures that allow marginalised communities the time to have their voices heard and their own power grown? Survival is no joke. 

What do you have access to that others do not? Are you sharing it?

How do those of us privileged outside the asylum system, create sustainable structures that are capable of fighting for justice together with those imprisoned in the camps? 

How do we make sure our own communities stop accepting the premise of border regimes? 

How do we make sure our own communities stand in solidarity with sex workers? 

How do we prevent the lives of queer and trans folks from being marginalized in the struggle? As we have been in every struggle, in every political space, on every continent. No matter the movement, no matter the time. 

How do we ensure that queer and trans lives don’t become excuses for bombing, sanctioning or further exploiting the countries all diasporic folks are part of? 

How do we expand? How do we sustain? How do we lift each other? As a close friend and comrade says: How do we learn to organize with intention? What shall we do to remind each other of the fact, that we once too believed in the lies of the system? 

Open your eyes. And dream. 

Thank you. 

[terrablaze514]

Musings... Episode 2

So… can't you believe I'm heading back home? My scouts graduate today, and it's beautiful out here. Beautiful enough to wear my hair in a blowout, but…

This shuttle scenario will leave me in a horrific position of sorts. I know people wanna see me, and I wanna see them, but…

Heero: So instead of taking your chances, and instead of communicating with those who need to know what's happening, you turn back. Why?

Because, what's the use?

Heero: Those kids would've loved to see you at their graduation. Even their parents! You know how much people like having you there.

I chose the wrong career, Heero. Unlike you.

Heero: No you didn't. Nothing you chose was the wrong thing.

Quatre: In other words, we get it. The market sucks due to an impending recession and major cuts, depending on how Canada votes in a few months. But you don't give up due to a random mishap.

Pfft.

Heero: "Pfffffft" will not help you.

Shut up!

Trowa: He has a point, you know.

Quatre: Okay, I have a better idea. Since you're not attending graduation anymore, though I strongly prefer you did, get in the house, change clothes and take a stroll in the park.

A stroll in the park? How will that help?

Quatre: It will calm your nerves and mind.

Well, okay. I can always do that. As long as I don't get caught.

Quatre: ???🤔

Trowa: ????🧐

Heero: Who's watching you?

The world. Duh.

Heero: Then go and conquer it! Who cares if you need a breather, or something along those lines? Everyone has their own lives to worry about. You should stay focused on yours.

Nah, I'll hit the bed.

Quatre: You don't need anymore sleep.

I kinda do. That's the only place I can redeem myself.

Quatre: (to the others) We need to do something.

Trowa: Did she just lose her inspiration to live a little?

Quatre: I'm afraid so.

Heero: Let's give her nightmares.

Quatre: But that won't-

Heero: It will work. At least it'll force her to find better ways to spend her day.

Trowa: The past few days have been horrible.

Heero: And today is even better, possibly the best day of the week. No dramatic weather in sight.

Quatre: So how do we get her out of there?

Heero: Nightmares.

Quatre: Really? That's all you can come up with?

Heero: I strongly prefer she enjoys the sunshine, and every other beautiful thing nature has to offer.

Duo: Life sucks, man. Everything sucks.

Wufei: Agreed. Who runs this country anyway?

Zechs: Your parents. Now go outside and play.

*The others glare at Zechs, yet he doesn't flinch.*

Zechs: You know I'm right. Stop worrying about crap and enjoy yourselves.

Duo: ☹️

Wufei: 😣

Trowa: They're not happy either. What's wrong with them?

Heero: They've been TB's leading muses for the past three weeks. Three excruciating weeks, because life changed and all they do *gestures Duo and Wufei* is fight, cry, then revert back to what you're witnessing right now when she's not working on any scenes.

Trowa: Okay so, what should we do?

Heero: You follow my lead.

Zechs: I'll make some lemonade. It's hot enough for one.

Quatre: Wait, that was my job.

Zechs: Not anymore. You go keep the others in check. *Leaves the scene*

Quatre: It's hard enough dealing with unhappy people as it is.

Duo: But, you do realize the world sucks, right? Have you missed the News? I don't know if being called an American is something to be proud of anymore, due to-

Quatre: Yes, the world is going through a lot but there's not much we can do about it. Except start small. We can use the computer inside that room and research charities and organisations that are helping those parts every way possible.

Duo: Okay, so what do you think about those abortion laws? Most women don't know they're pregnant until six weeks. And guess who voted for that bull? Mostly men. Men who don't have a uterus. Though I'd hope they swap one day and live the reality for nine months straight…

Quatre: I get it. Being American is nothing to be ashamed of. It's just, people wanted what they wanted so they voted for whomever represents their views.

Duo: Right… Then what will become of babies and kids who are forced to grow up in the streets, with no access to warmth, like I did?

Wufei: *groans and rolls eyes*

Quatre: What's wrong?

Wufei: I hate this place. Hate the fact that healthcare, education and the job market are falling off-course. If we didn't send our Gundams to the Sun, I would've sent those stupid higher-ups a warning.

Duo: That's not even, Wufei. Not a fair battle if you ask me.

Wufei: There's no fair or unfair in battle! Teach those idiots a lesson! Then the world wouldn't be as messed up as it is right now.

Quatre: I suspect your problem stems from a variety of factors… the political, civil unrest in China. Injustice of all kinds against marginalized groups. And you feel powerless without your Gundam.

Wufei: Pfft.

Quatre: I understand your anger, but the Gundams weren't sent to the sun. We decimated them, remember? Anyways, I don't think it's wise for us to take on too much burden with things we can't control.

Duo: We've saved the world twice before, so what do you suggest?

Heero: Open all windows.

Trowa: Let in some air.

Heero: Make fun of clowns.

Trowa: Like you just don't care.

Heero: Except Trowa and the circus he works at.

Trowa: Thank-you.

*Quatre smiles while the others share a look*

Heero: We're getting you guys out of here, okay?

Duo: But-

Trowa: No buts. We're going to the park.

Wufei: It's a boring park. No place to meditate.

Heero: Never make assumptions.

Duo and Wufei: 😡

Quatre: I have everything packed already. Let's go!

*Duo and Wufei won't budge*

Heero: *tosses car keys to Quatre* We'll catch up. *Picks up Wufei and carries him out the door*

Trowa: *Does the same with Duo*

Zechs: Lemon-

...

Zechs: Hmph. Looks like they're gone for now. *Calls the ladies*

~A few hours later~

Noin: I love this!

Sally: We should have an encore.

Une: Same here.

Zechs: What good dream should we give her next?

Sally: No more. We're running the show now. Let's make her write.

Une: My thoughts exactly.

Noin: I agree. Clear her mind so she can function at the Business Extravaganza tomorrow.

Sally: Let's make a toast to better days ahead.

Relena: Better days.

Dorothy: Better days for all the ladies.

Hilde: Better days!

Zechs: Wait, Dorothy-

Dorothy: *to Zechs* No uterus. No opinion.

Noin: More lemonade, anyone?

Relena: Over here!

Sally: I brought ice cream as well.

*Door bell rings*

Cathy: Chocolates and pineapples coming through!

Zechs: Okay, so can I-

Sally: No uterus, no opinion.

Sylvia: I never knew this place would get lit.

Hilde: Told you so! *Winks*

Relena: We should store them somewhere safe.

Zechs: I'll handle-

Une & Cathy: No uterus, no opinion.

Zechs: 'What did I get myself into?'

Sylvia: I've brought some card games if anyone wants to play.

Hilde: I'm in!

Relena: I'm in!

Dorothy: I'm in!

Cathy: Chick flicks after this!

Zechs: I need the boys to come back so-

Noin: Zechs-y baby... No uterus, no opinion. It's ladies time out here!

Zechs: 🤐

Noin: 🤭

[thesinglesjukebox]

HAIM - SUMMER GIRL

[7.92]

We think it’s fly when these girls stop by for the summer...

Nellie Gayle: I'm not exactly the least biased observer when it comes to Haim's music. I owe a good portion of my close friendships and my longterm relationship to the Twitter fandom they cultivated around the time of their first release, when I was a tiny baby in college. But, still, I think my respect and affection for them doesn't disqualify me from having a valuable opinion on them. In this case, I can especially appreciate "Summer Girl" as the rare Haim song celebrating longevity and long distance in all of its pangs and nuanced happy moments. Written for Danielle Haim's partner during a serious illness, Summer Girl is a painfully sweet momento of that moment when we realize exactly what we are to other people and walk toward that version of ourselves. There's an easy breezy quality to the song that's underpinned by the fear and trauma that can visit a relationship. To be a summer girl, here, is less about wilding out for yourself in global warming record highs (still an admirable pastime), and more about how we can find strength by viewing our own selves -- malleable, fragile, messy -- as the strength and release someone else needs. This shift in perspective creates love for both ourselves, and the vessels of care and affection in our lives *collective 'awwwww'* [10]

Joshua Minsoo Kim: Lou Reed knew how to make these sparse, simple songs that felt content with life despite knowing its many shortcomings. "Summer Girl" feels imbued with that same gritty hope, not least because its "Walk on the Wild Side" influence is patently obvious. The backstory of this song -- that it was written for Danielle Haim's partner Ariel Rechtshaid after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer -- makes this feel all the more heartfelt. But really, it's there in the music itself. This is the sort of song that feels like the product of a jam session between friends, where repetition and marginal changes in dynamics are a reflection of lazy summer days and a desire to just do something with the people you care about. Danielle Haim grounds the song with her vocals, but it's the music -- ever-loping and easy-going -- that signals the message here that everything will be all right. I'm reminded of Pavement's "Gold Soundz," specifically the notion of a mutual emptiness. What Malkmus spoke of was a romanticized ennui, but any emptiness I sense here is of a different sort: a willingness to empty oneself completely, to be filled with nothing but the love of another. [7]

Katie Gill: Thankfully, the four minute long showcase for a saxophone riff features a REALLY GOOD saxophone riff. [6]

Michael Hong: Haim may have described "Summer Girl" as an attempt to emulate "Walk on the Wild Side" by Lou Reed, but its aesthetics also seemed to be partially informed by Danielle's recent stints across Vampire Weekend's Father of the Bride, especially, the jazzy-vibes of "Sunflower" and "Flower Moon." And similar to Vampire Weekend, Haim have a strength for distilling decades of influences to make their music sound simply like the present. On the surface, "Summer Girl" sounds exactly like a summer breeze, but it's deceptively chill. The burden of forced positivity leads to a sadness and the feeling that the group is holding back that creep into the track's breezy atmosphere. That sadness and restraint should be worrying; however, Danielle's reassuring vocals flip any anxiety into peace, and everything else disappears in the meditative way she repeats the line "I'm your summer girl." [7]

Ashley Bardhan: I love how soft Danielle's vocals are and how the saxophone peeks out from behind it, like the twinkling of an ice cream truck on a sticky July night. I feel the heavy summer breeze passing when she says "You walk beside me, not behind me/Feel my unconditional love." It's a whispered command breaking into love and heat, opening the grey clouds to see the "angels coming now." As the song ends, amidst steely drums and saxophone swelling, you reached the beach in your favorite town. [8]

Wayne Weizhen Zhang: Songs about summer love take place at the beach, on bright sunny days, end at parties; they are flirtatious, playful, even dangerous; they sound like the rush of falling in love at an irresponsible pace, but being too young and dumb to give a care about the eventual season's change. To be sure, these songs are great, but "Summer Girl" is so arresting and gorgeous precisely because of its subversion of this formula. It begins after the thrill of the chase has already subsided, and focuses instead on the emotional intimacy and complexity that percolates afterwards. When Haim whisper, "I can see it in your face/I'm relief/I'm your summer girl," it's the portrait of romance so intoxicating that pillow talk doesn't require talking at all in order to understand connection -- no matter how brief. The meandering saxophone soundtracks this all sublimely, tinged with bittersweetness as if to ruminate on the nature of love that, by definition, has an expiration date. I know I'm young and supposed to be at some club hooking up to whatever song of the summer dominates the airwaves, but this year, all I want to do is lay in an open field gazing at stars, surrounded by nothing but the sound of crickets chirping, the crackle of bonfire, and this song playing in the background as I fall asleep in a stranger's arms. [9]

Josh Buck: An unexpected and disarmingly smooth four minute swerve that makes a compelling case for Haim's longevity. [8]

Alfred Soto: A minute before the "doo-doo" hook I knew the drum pattern and sax were drenched in "Walk on the Wild Side," and it fits: Danielle Haim on a casual stroll across Hamptons dunes, cheering herself up with the musical memories competing in her head. [7]

Kayla Beardslee: An absolutely perfect summer song, "Summer Girl" would work best when played on a lazy August weekend, sitting on a screened-in porch or sprawling on a wooden dock, watching the sun slowly dip below the horizon and turn the sky pink and orange -- but I'm listening to it at a dining table on a Tuesday afternoon, and it still sounds wonderful. Danielle Haim is restrained, voice gliding smoothly over the bass with a contentment that matches the lyrics, but her emotions break through on the stellar bridge, where she describes her memories of earthquake drills and tears behind dark sunglasses. These images, which in a vacuum would seem sinister, are instead imbued with a surprising nostalgia, and the best lines in the song follow moments later. Danielle sings, "Walk beside me/Not behind me/Feel my unconditional love," and you can feel a lifetime's worth of emotions -- infatuation, frustration, longing, respect, happiness -- wrapped up in those ten seconds. And behind it all are the joyful bursts of saxophone, echoing like they're coming from just around the next street corner: the instrument, like the song as a whole, blissful, content, and yet always in motion. [8]

Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: Summer in Southern California is, perhaps counter-intuitively, a dreary time. As a kid in the vast suburbs below Los Angeles, summer was mainly characterized by the absence of things -- of the structure of the school day, of the friends you picked up (gone away to various sleepaway camps), of the will to do anything that would risk your leaving the cool darkness of your room. The weather the rest of the year was good enough to be summer, and so the season itself became a sort of filler period, a tone-setter lost in the tone. "Summer Girl" is a song that captures the feeling of an endless Southern Californian summer perfectly, its lazy backbeat and drifting saxophones rattling around in my ears until the track's disparate parts melt together. For a band that's tended towards studio perfection even in their jammiest moments (c.f. "Little of Your Love"), the move towards chill is almost disconcerting. But afternoons spent waiting out the sun deserve soundtracks as much as any of the more kinetic times of summer, and "Summer Girl" fits that bill better than anything I've heard in a while. [8]

Kylo Nocom: "Summer Girl" hearkens back to weird memories of hazy 6th grade school buses playing Kendrick Lamar on the radio and 9th grade memories of looping Radiohead by myself thinking about all of the memories I was going to make in high school. It obviously doesn't resemble the former two artists at all past any invented superficial resemblances (well, the outro does resemble "Separator" a little...) but it captures something specific that I haven't felt in a long, long time. Much of this is like one long blur of looped familiarity, but the bridge is a sweet moment of lucidity quickly whipped into yet another river of pure daydreaming music. Summer's been rough on me; it's my last summer before graduating and I'm still so confused by what I want to do. This, in all of its reassuring and affirming glory, is a pleasant reminder that I've got all the time I need. [9]

Vikram Joseph: "Summer Girl" derives much of its power from the pull and tension between the crisis of health and love that inspired the song (hinted at when they sing about "the tears behind your dark sunglasses") and their determination to present the season as an airy, carefree thing nonetheless. The minimal, pastel tones of the production are impossibly classy -- there are shades of Broken Social Scene at their most light-handed here, and a saxophone part that suspends the song a few feet off the ground, like a balloon perpetually on the verge of carrying the whole thing off into the stratosphere. [8]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox]

[soulvomit]

I mostly care about people’s praxis, far more than their analysis or their fandoms. You will reach that point, too.

I feel like a lot of the culture of young Millennials and Gen Z hitting “cancel” on friendships with people who aren’t ideologically identical, is kind of interesting, because there are only a few ways that could have come about. This filtering is something I can apply to *new* friends, certainly - I have, and I do - and my newer friends are much more “like me” in terms of how I presently am. But it’s harder with legacy friends, and it’s harder with people who are clique members. There is very little way I could do this because of what the general social shape of my life is like. I wouldn’t be surprised if many of you feel the same way in your 40s, once you’ve had a chance to make a bunch of different friends in the non-digital world - at your jobs, in your neighborhood, etc. - and once you find that your same-age friends that you had in your teens and 20s, have either changed, or *not* changed (and *you* have changed). One of my groups of mismatched, imperfect people goes back to the 1980s. We are in our mid to late 40s now. This is the group I run into the most issues with, with politics. Many of them were oddballs or even radical in their day.  It’s not that they are now Trump supporters or anything. They aren’t. They largely either voted for Bernie or Hillary and not a single one of them voted for Trump. But after I moved away, I got involved in LGBTQ culture... and they simply stayed the same. Being actually in LGBTQ culture in the Bay Area, in the 90s, isn’t the same as being a hetero person in a heterocentric world who doesn’t hate gay people. Most of my friends up here are actual allies or activists. Most of my friends in LA, who I grew up with, are simply not haters. Most are super progressive by 1990s LA standards. They support trans rights and gay rights and bi rights and women’s rights at the most basic and active level I actually require from cis het middle class people: as a non-hating outsider who will back up LGBTQ people at the polls and who will back up their LGBTQ friends when there’s trouble. They call people out when people tell gay jokes. They use people’s preferred gender pronoun, respect trans people’s identities, and probably even have friends who are trans. But they have no idea what’s actually going on in the LGBTQ community or what conversations are being had or even what those conversations are being called. I’m pretty sure they don’t “get it” about any gender identities besides male and female, on a deep internalized level. But they will respect your identity despite not “getting it.”    They are not the perfect kinds of 100%-validating all-accepting friends *now* that I needed as a teenager and 20something. The funny thing is, they *were* the 100%-validating all-accepting our-politics-100%-match friends when I was initially friends with them. But people change. They meet the minimum requirement I have of family members, to be able to sit at the same dinner without me raging and walking away. There are things I simply don’t talk to them about, because I feel like they live on a different planet from me and just don’t get all the finer points of political or social stuff I’ve dealt with since leaving LA. While they don’t particularly do anything that is harmful or racist by today’s terms, I also can’t really talk about them about that stuff, because they just Haven’t Kept Up. It’s annoying sometimes, because I love to talk about that stuff and think about that stuff and a lot of them seem like they’ve closed themselves off since their early 20s.  And that’s the thing - lots of people, particularly people who are not that marginalized themselves, simply Do Not Keep Up with the latest discourse around every new movie or piece of media or every new offense. And even older marginalized people don’t necessarily have the same analysis as younger marginalized people.  The group I grew up with, knows what’s on the ballot, they support their real-life friends, but it is the kind of thing of “I don’t know your life experience, but I love *you.*” No, that is not the same at all as “hate the sinner but love the sin.” The shape of this is more like, in real life, “I support your rights and I support *you* and I voted for the right things, but I don’t get what’s wrong with the representation in that movie nor do I even know what people are saying about it.” They have no problem with analyses of racism and other forms of prejudice as a more binary thing but aren’t up on the latest analyses of it as a pervasive cultural thing or The Invisible Knapsack or 2019′s construction of cultural appropriation. I can’t even talk with some of these people about these things. They don’t even know these conversations are happening any more than they know what music the young people are listening to. Their whole world consists of other people their age, older people, and their own children. Actually the ones with teenagers more up on the issues. This will happen to you, too, because chances are, you will either politically drift from your high school and college age friends, or they will drift from you. Some of you will “keep up” more than others have.  Sometimes you’ll educate them - but sometimes you’ll just leave those topics alone. Most of the time, you’ll just leave it be. Especially since so many people past their 20s have just frozen in place, culturally and socially (those of you who are a little older know this, just think about your high school reunion).  There gets to be a point at which you just end up accepting that there is such a thing as Woke Enough.  Here is the thing: It’s a stark truth that a lot of you, in your 20s, are probably at the peak level of engagement that you will ever be. And some of you who go on being activists, will be burned out by this age. Even those among you who are LGBTQ may find a partner then just kind of close yourself off inside your world of partnered friends, and move to the burbs away from where all the discourse is taking place. And with the discourse swinging younger and younger - you may eventually find yourselves totally out of the loop. Eventually, you will find that your friends that once matched you on everything, no longer match you on everything... but provided they don’t do anything too horrific (and you get to decide what your limits are, and yes you will probably have to pick and choose your causes because by your 40s you’re going to find that it’s impossible to be all things to all people and “not being a dick” is the best you can offer.) You won’t even know it’s happening until it’s happened. And it WILL happen and there is pretty much nothing you can do about it. There are a couple of them whose politics infuriate me, because of how oblivious they seem to be about anything that has happened since 1999.   Honestly, these people do piss me off, and I feel like there is a lot of willful ignorance among a lot of cis-het white middle class people in my age group. Especially the ones who didn’t lose privilege in some major way. And honestly. I have to just hold my nose. Because after 30 years of friendship, they’re still the group in which I’m most likely to find a place to live should I need one, or a kidney donor.  It would be almost impossible to “cancel” them for not being perfect. For not knowing the newest and most woke terms. Here is a way that in your teens and 20s you get to more play “pick and choose” - if your friends are all individual people whom you met as an individual person. None of them know each other. You aren’t in some enmeshed group with a lot of overlapping, intersecting interdependencies. Small town and clique and workplace dynamics almost always have a little bit of “Geek Social Fallacies” to them, because it’s not like you can just push someone out of the group, not when they’re married to your other friend and their wife is your kids’ babysitter.  I have a couple of legacy friends from the high school days who were progressive for the 80s and 90s. Not a single one of them would ever vote for or support Trump and plenty would defriend you over the same. They’re not progressive by Gen Z standards. I just have to be okay with them not being transphobes, not being racists, not being homophobes or biphobes. I have to be okay with them backing me at the polls and boycotting problematic companies, even when their analysis is not all that. There is a lot of indirect problematica in 90s progressive politics. People just didn’t have as much information. Here’s an example. You get a lot of political analyses that are the product of people who know about the Civil Rights Movement, who generally are the most generous definition of what the 90s thinks of as “not a racist.” They voted for Obama, are great with their kids marrying a black person (or they married one), are great even with living in diverse communities. They may even be against police brutality. They grew up in upper middle class communities that weren’t necessarily ethnically or racially exclusive. But they don’t have the analysis that Gen Z leftists have, or that the LGBTQ community has, or that poor marginalized communities have. They don’t use the same framing or same words to talk about these issues. They don’t think they are racist, because their main connections with POC are with other second-generation middle class people. Their analyses almost always exclude generational poverty.   So what happens is because they’re so clueless, they support policies that they think are not racist, but lead to racist results. Because this cause and effect  can be almost invisible to someone not actually living in poor, diverse communities. They genuinely think gentrification is awful but at the same time they don’t actually know anyone who’s ever been gentrified out. Or their friends moved away who were poorer, but it’s “a mystery,” because the thing with Bay Area gentrification is that it was happening one family at a time as far back as the 90s and no one was talking about it. Most of them are well-intentioned but the particular set of issues are so incredibly nuanced that somebody on the outside just probably won’t understand unless they’ve grown up around that group or put a lot of time into learning the problem. Like, I’m pretty sure that a lot of them, as good as they are about relating to other ethnicities, don’t really get Native issues. I’ll have to settle for the fact that they know enough to only buy Native art from Native people, and they know not to wear war bonnets. But I don’t expect them to know a single thing about S’Klallam land management crises. It’s only recently that any of them would’ve had any context regarding residential schools like the one my grandfather was in. And yes I like when people listen and actually grasp what I’m saying from real empathy and understanding and interest in knowing. But you’d be surprised how short this is, about so many things, in the real world. Most people are not that interested in my long stories about ANYTHING unless that’s what they actually came for. I have to be okay with the fact that my friends that I grew up with, are not “with it” as much as I’d like them to be, and decide how “with it” I require - then once I have decided, I have to be okay with the fact that they would probably give me a kidney. My more recent friends are the ones who are more “with it” about the same things I care about.  But you’d be surprised how little a lot of subjects ever, ever actually come up in a conversation of longstanding acquaintances - when the acquaintanceship runs a decade or more. And the main metric for “listen” is, “if it DID come up, would I be able to tell them? Would they get it?” A lot of them won’t Get It to the degree that someone just like me would get it. And I’m so many things in one person, that nobody is ever going to be Just Like Me. So others’ empathy and understanding, for the purposes of my own life, has to be Good Enough. Everyone has to make an individual choice on this one and decide how much sameness they need in certain areas, how much empathy. The people who really fucked up - like the couple of people who really did turn out to be racists - I’ve long since canceled. I’m no longer friends with any radfems, either.  And what’s more is that I have a big extended world of people, but I also have a “circle of trust” that is only a few. Those are the handful of people who know me, get me, I can fully be myself with. And these are not my high school or college era friends. These are worth three times their weight in gold. But most of what younger Tumblrians expect in their dealings with people - that’s stuff I only really get out of the people in my circle of trust.  For everyone else, Good Enough will have to be okay. What’s more is that I bet a lot of you will come to the same conclusion one day.  I realize this sounds like middle class white normie neoliberal apologia. But there’s a difference between “people who are my very best friends, who I can tell everything to” (which is not actually THAT many people, but it’s enough) and “people I generally otherwise enjoy and wouldn’t kick out of an AD&D game, but can’t talk about EVERYTHING with.”

[audreyhheart]

Any tips for writers who want to start having a following on Wattpad?

I don’t have millions of reads on my work so I’m probably the wrong person to ask but if you want tips on how to write a marginally successful gay historical fanfic that nobody asked for, step into my office 📝

1. This probably goes without saying but write a good story and write it well. Make sure you have a strong plot, characters and setting. Use correct grammar, edit and review your work for errors before you post. As they say, there’s no such thing as good writing only good rewriting.

2. Adapt your work to the platform. Design an eye-catching cover that looks good as a thumbnail on the app since most people browse and read on their phones. Make sure your chapters are satisfying but not too long. I try to cap my chapters at 3000 words. Break up the text in your chapters with dialogue and short paragraphs. It’s hard to read long chunks of exposition on one’s phone.   

3. Update on a schedule. When I first started writing on Wattpad I updated once a week and this helped me develop my audience or at least attract a group of readers who read my story week after week. They then read my next work because they knew they could depend on me to update regularly. Now I update about twice a month. Whatever schedule you choose, be consistent.    

4. Include author’s notes at the end of every chapter. I don’t mean “please vote!” or “I hope you liked it” but actually talk to your readers. Give them a little insight into your process, ask them questions about the chapter, add gifs, images and videos that inspired you. Don’t complain about how your writing sucks or how few reads you have. If you don’t believe in your story why should your readers? But don’t compliment your own writing either. Besides the fact that it’s embarrassing, you are not an impartial judge of your own work, that’s for your readers to decide.  

5. Reply to all comments. This is crucial in developing a relationship with your readers. They are more likely to come back to your work if they see you as a person rather than a nameless, faceless content generator. It’s hard to attract readers. I hate seeing writers complain about not getting enough reads when they don’t acknowledge the people that took the time to comment. Nobody is entitled to readers, it’s something you have to earn. Be humble and grateful to those who support you along the way.

6. Finish what you start. Oh boy, welcome to my biggest pet peeve: writers who abandon their work. I know this is a common problem but I have zero sympathy. I’m not going to read an author who has a bunch of unfinished works on their profile that haven’t been updated for months or years. Same goes for writers who get bored of the story they are writing and start a new story every time they have a “brilliant” idea. You’re not brilliant, you have no discipline. Ideas are a dime a dozen. Brilliant writers finish books! It’s impossible to build a readership when your readers don’t trust you. 

7. Develop a relationship with readers, but don’t get attached. Readers will abandon your story for a myriad of reasons: their cat died, they lost their phone, they have homework, they hate your last chapter, they’ve moved onto a sexting omegaverse fic. Whatever the reason, they’re dead to me. Just kidding! (not really). Don’t depend on external validation to motivate you.       

8. Become an active part of the community. I left this for last because I think it’s important to join the clubs and get your name out there but not at the expense of your writing. If you spend all of your time socializing it may distract you from your work, which should be your number one priority. Writers don’t talk about writing, they write!         

For your own sanity, I don’t recommend writing to get reads. If what you care about is followers there are MUCH easier ways to gain a following, on platforms where you don’t need to put in as much work, like Twitter and IG. Write because you have a story to tell and you want to improve your craft. It’s a leap of faith. You have to write the story that you love and hope that other people love it too.

[bigskydreaming]

This is just one bi guy’s stance here, so I’m sure other gay and bi people who have their own experiences in the closet might have different takes, but like, for any straight people who ever have someone in their life that they’re SURE is gay and just in the closet? Here are some ideas of what you could do to make them more comfortable or let them know they’d have your support should they ever come out of the closet...WITHOUT outing them before they’re ready, and yes, that includes a private conversation just between the two of you. Even if no one else is around, you telling someone you know they’re gay, based just off your assumption that you’re right and not off of any invitation they’ve actually given you to weigh in on THEIR identity....its still not cool. Its still possibly forcing a confrontation between them and personal issues that keep them in the closet or in denial and that they’re not ready to face yet. 

Sending someone into a battle they’re not yet ready to fight, when your own ass isn’t remotely on the line, is not something a friend does. Ever. It is not in the best interests of your friend. Ever.

And on a related note, the following are NOT ideas on how to ‘encourage’ someone to come out of the closet, because first off, check that very idea off your fucking To Do List entirely, that is none of your damn business, because no straight person should be in the business of telling someone who lives w/experiences they don’t share in - aka being subjected to homophobia - when it is or isn’t time to come out of the closet. I don’t care how okay with them being gay you are personally, like, that’s great, but like, when you are not the one with anything at stake, you do not have anything credible to tell someone as to whether or not ‘it’ll all be okay’ if they come out. Maybe it will, maybe it won’t. Either way, it won’t ultimately affect you all that much, so keep your vote on that where it counts - in the trash. Your opinion there is as irrelevant as your nonexistent experience with life in the closet both before and after coming out. Keep your opinion to whether or not a closeted gay person in your life has your support, both before and after coming out. THAT can actually be helpful.

So on that matter, again, just my two cents based on my own personal experiences, but things you can do to show someone you suspect is in the closet they’d have your support IF and WHEN they choose on their own to come out:

1) Don’t assume they know your feelings on gay people, or that they can afford to take it for granted that you’d be okay with them being gay. Speak up, and often, about your support of gay people and concern for issues they face. Do it in a way that shows you’ve made an effort to educate yourself on such things, that you’re not just expressing your opinions on what they should do, but are signal boosting things you’ve read and heard actual gay people saying is what they need and want from allies. Show them that you think about gay people and struggles they may face on your own time, that you care enough to learn more and educate yourself. 

Demonstrate that you’re a potential resource for them to learn more from other gay people and about gay-specific issues, not from you specifically, but from other gay people you can direct them towards online, without them ever having to clarify its because they themselves are gay, instead of just another straight friend interested in learning more.

And then, get into the habit of doing this regularly, in conversations even when they’re not around. Don’t make them antsy or uncomfortable as they start to notice that you only ever seem to talk about gay stuff when around them, make them start to worry about whether or not you suspect they’re gay....because when someone’s in the closet and feels safe in the closet, ANY hint at cracking open that door before they’re ready can feel threatening, no matter how its couched. Your goal here should not be to hint around that you ‘know the truth’ about them, or to ultimately clue them in that you know and are just trying to let them know its okay with you. Your goal should simply to be to make it clear, gay people have your support, and you’re willing to speak up vocally, in public, in front of other strangers even, and say that. So that if and when they do choose to come out, they can feel comfortable coming to you for support, not because they think you already know, but because they feel like you’re a person who’d support them regardless.

2) Call people out for their homophobic jokes. If you hear them, your closeted friend is hearing them too, and its cutting them just as deeply in the closet as it would out of the closet. Weaponized words have omnidirectional aim. They don’t have to have a specific target to hit everyone in proximity. If you’d shut down a homophobic joke said around your friend when they were out of the closet, there’s absolutely no reason you’re not capable of doing the same while they’re in it. And if you wouldn’t shut down a homophobic joke said around your friend when out of the closet, like.....recheck your stance on how supportive you actually are because uh...that’s not support.

3) Be friendly with gay or bi people you know who are out. Interact with them casually and comfortably, the same way you do with your straight friends, demonstrate that you’re not uncomfortable hearing them talk about their sexuality or their same-gender significant other. Joke with them about such matters the same way you joke with your straight friends. Show that you see gay and bi people as people no different from you yourself, that you’re not mythologizing some marginalized group in an attempt to feel better about yourself or look progressive. Help any potentially closeted friends feel like should they come out to you, the important stuff about your dynamic wouldn’t change, that superficial adjustments might have to be made to acknowledge and accommodate the changes they’re making in their life, but that your connection, the way you interact, the casual ease you have and that they draw comfort from now, that will remain largely the same.

4) Talk about these gay or bi friends when they’re not around. Not in a gossip-y way, but just in the way that you talk about other friends that you genuinely like when they’re not present. The way that makes clear that you’re not just faking being friends with them for appearances, but that you genuinely like them, so that your friend doesn’t feel that again, you’re just trying to appear more progressive and get a social justice gold star, you genuinely like this person as a person. That you’re as comfortable with them being gay when they’re not around as you seem to be when interacting with them face to face.

DON’T talk about how ‘brave’ you think they are for being out, because quite frankly, you probably don’t have access to their full life story and don’t actually know how much courage specifically it took for them to live life out of the closet. So don’t pretend you do. This isn’t to insinuate that they aren’t brave, because its courageous for anyone to live out of the closet. Rather, its to avoid any implication that a lack of courage is the reason people stay in the closet. Its not. There are a million influencing factors that keep people in the closet that are different for every individual. It’s a complicated tapestry of motivations that has to do with personal feelings, comfort level with their own sexuality absent anyone else weighing in, the opinions and attitudes of their friends and family, how large or effective a support system they do or don’t have. Race, gender, disabilities, religion, class, opportunities, geography, community, ALL of these things and more add up to the reasons a person is or isn’t in the closet, and its simply arrogance to think that any one of us has the ability to speak with any authority on whether or not someone else has reason enough to still be in the closet. So don’t try.

And be aware that no matter what, a closeted friend or loved one is likely already comparing themselves to every person they meet who is out. And likely feeling that they measure up short in comparison. Because an innate component of privilege, particularly in marginalized communities that include persons of multiple different marginalizations, is that those with the most privilege in that community are most likely to be the most visible face of it in society, and have the loudest voices (at least that society is willing to acknowledge).

And we have to add to that the fact that privilege compounds. A white gay person is going to have white privilege that gay people of color don’t have. A white gay man is going to have white male privilege a white lesbian doesn’t have. A rich white gay man or even just a white middle class teenage boy is going to have additional class privilege that even some other white gay men don’t have.

And often, this can add up to an unbalanced or inaccurate impression of how much better things are or aren’t these days for ‘gay people’ in general. Life being a lot more comfortable in 2018 for a rich white gay man than it would have been in 1980 is not proof that a similar gap in experiences and quality of life exists for a lower class lesbian of color. 

So the fact that what we see depicted on TV and in movies as the ‘modern’ experiences of the most socially acceptable gay members of society does not in any way mean that things universally are better for gay people now, at least not to a degree that’s actually worth measuring. A gay teen growing up in a deeply homophobic area of the country with limited resources and a nonexistent family support system is not better off because Love Simon was a commercial success, or because rich white gay men in Hollywood have successful movie careers.

My point with all that being - closeted people are always going to be comparing themselves to people out of the closet, because we as a society, have ‘progressed’ to the point where gay people with a  large amount of privilege borrowed or carried over from other aspects of their identity can be very visibly seen living happy, comfortable lives and voicing how much better they have it these days. And again, when this isn’t examined or discussed carefully, it leads to the not only inaccurate but potentially harmful impression that everything is better in 2018 for gay people and that the closet is no longer necessary. Lots of closeted people struggle with impostor syndrome, and the feeling that their fears are invalid, the insecurity that their reasons for being in the closet aren’t actually reason enough, and that they’re Being Gay Wrong and should come out already. 

Coming out of the closet because you’re ready for whatever might happen and you’ve decided for yourself that its what you want for yourself, regardless of what might happen is awesome and excellent.

Coming out of the closet because you’ve been convinced that nothing bad is going to happen and other people have told you its what you should want and that if you’re unhappy now, its probably just because of the closet and coming out will change that? Not awesome. Not excellent.

So the last thing you want to do if you truly want to make a potentially closeted friend feel comfortable and safe, is to add on to these comparisons, ignite them, fan further life into them. So just don’t talk about how brave a gay person out of the closet is, not if your aim specifically is to make sure that you’re someone who is actively helping any closeted people in your life breathe a little easier, feel a little more supported and secure. Its just not necessary, and potentially does far more harm than good. Instead, again, just stick to talking about them the same way you would any other person you like or admire and is someone you want to be around.

5)  Keep yourself and your own interests and opinions on the periphery of any conversation about gay people or gay-specific issues, never in the middle of it. Make clear when you’re contributing a viewpoint or piece of information that you learned or are repeating from an actual gay person, and that you’re only seeking to contribute the actual words for everyone’s consideration, not get anything out of being the one seen saying the words. Give any closeted friends or loved ones evidence that you know when your own self-interests aren’t relevant to a conversation about matters or issues that are more relevant to them than they are to you. And that you’re capable of talking about these things, and more importantly, hearing about these things, without making it about you. 

Give them a reason to believe that they could come to you at some point in the future and unburden themselves, and you would be a listening ear rather than another person telling them what to do or think or be. That you would wait for them to tell you what they need from you, how you can help, even if they haven’t figured it out yet and you need to wait awhile, rather than just you assuming for yourself that you know more about what they’re feeling and what they’ve been struggling with than they do.

There’s more probably, but that’s what I’ve got at the moment. It all sounds basic and simple, and that’s because it IS. This doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need to like, strategize Operation Help My Closeted Gay Friend Be Happy. Just...be their friend, and prioritize showing with actions that whether your suspicions about them being gay and closeted are correct or not, if they should ever happen to come out of the closet, that is not something that will fundamentally change your relationship with them or cost them your support.

All of this is so much more helpful and effective, IMO, at helping a closeted friend or loved one feel comfortable and secure when around you, than like, dropping hints or pushing them with leading questions that are clearly you fishing for a certain answer from them that they simply might not even be prepared to give to themselves yet.

And if you’re truly your friend, if you truly love them, what’s important should never ever be if ‘you were right’ about them being gay or not. It should begin and end with you being someone they think of going to when they want to feel safe, and comfortable, and secure, whether they’re in the closet or out of it.

(Also to be clear, this is not me trying to say that there aren’t other identities that have experiences with being closeted, for instance trans individuals. I specified gay and bi closeted individuals and experiences only because same-gender attraction and the homophobia around such are what directly informed my own experiences in the closet and out of it, and thus those are the only experiences I’m trying to speak with any personal authority or credibility on.

I have the utmost sympathy for any trans individuals who have their own struggles or experience being in the closet, I just don’t want to claim their specific reasons or the things that would make a closeted trans friend comfortable are interchangeable with mine, or that mine give me anymore insight there than any other cis person would have.)

[snkpolls]

SnK S3E2 Poll Results (Manga Reader Version)

The poll closed with 590 responses! Thank you to everyone who participated. 

Please note that this is the results of the manga reader poll. Anime only watchers are suggested not to read if you do not wish to be spoiled about certain events! Anime only viewers, click here to view your poll results! 

Rate the Episode

The vast majority gave the episode their approval, with the largest percentage rating it a five.

Levi vs MP chase blew me away and I didn't remember rest of the show except Linked Horizon.

Animation blew me away and Kenny is better than I had imagined him in the manga.

They made Levi more bishy and badass at the same time. As expected of WIT. I find myself surprised at some of the changes and the new pacing, but I’m just here to enjoy this wild ride, so I’m open to anything. I can’t wait for Frieda to finally appear and confuse the fuck out of anime-onlies.

ep2 has already become my fav episode

It feels rushed. But I can only hope they make up for it later on.

I enjoyed it, especially the fight scene! A lot of things were missing from the manga, but I'm thinking they will be included in a different context. The ED was absolutely perfect! I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.

It was super enjoyable in its own right even if I'm a bit skeptical of the changed pacing.

The animation in this episode was amazing!

Rate the Ending

Respondents have agreed that the ending is a bop, with votes heavily favoring the positive. Feelings were much more mixed for the opening. We’re happy to see that most were at least satisfied with the ending!

I think it's the perfect mood for an ED. I'm really glad Historia got such a great focus; the OP focuses more on several characters an the ED on her.. I like it that way.

It's great! I love Red Swan so much and I'm happy with both songs!

Loved it a lot. You could immediately tell the signature Sounds Horizon influence, which is great. The song’s been stuck in my head for days. I also love the fact that the visuals are Historia-centric.

I don't think it should've been the opening per say......maybe with different visuals but I absolutely loved it. I'm glad that unlike the opening it didn't disappoint.

The Sasageyo in the middle caught me off guard lol

but like why did they have to make me feel so many emotions over that ending tho???

i'm literally in love with the ED it sounds like a fairy tale and i need the full version stat

the ed took me to nirvana

The ending was really beautiful. The animation with little Historia was beautiful because we will see more of Historia. Heck, this is her time to shine. This is her spotlight.

How do you feel about Linked Horizon performing the ending this time?

The majority of respondents are happy that Linked Horizon is back this season, even if it’s the ending instead of the opening. A smaller percentage still wished they had done the opening instead, however.

Who Linked Horizon is?

I hope they perform the opening for the next arc

Ending or opening I wouldn't care. As long as we have Link Horizon.

I'm glad they are still sticking around but I'm still so upset the OP/ED were 100% from some romance high school anime.

Which one is your favorite ED?

Do we as a fandom have a bias toward Linked Horizon? Quite possibly, as the new ending has already captured the hearts of the largest group. Great escape came in second, and Yuuguri no Tori remains the least liked ending of the series.

The new ending is beautiful. The scenario, music, how sad it is considering the recent events in the manga. Beautiful. I've to admit that I prefer by far the ending to the opening.

Which scene(s) did you like best?

It goes without saying that the Levi vs. Kenny/MP chase is what blew away the fandom this week. It was the favorite scene by a huge margin. The runner up was Armin taking aim and shooting in order to save Jean’s life.

I've been waiting five years to see the bar scene, BANG! BANG!

not ashamed to admit I rewatched the Levi vs Kenny chase dozens of times

Favorite anime-only scene: Sasha saved Armin this time, i couldn't be happier for my girl. She ain't useless and definitely not a comic relief, i hope Isayama will do something in the future so that people appreciate &miss her more when 105 is animated.

Also, something I'm loving this season and doesn't receive enough credit is to hear Traute's voice. Her voice sounds so badass. Love it

The animation is so gorgeous and literally jaw dropping. I enjoy absorbing every single second of action. And seeing and hearing the scene of Jean almost being shot and Armin killing somehow has made me officially ship Jearmin.

On a scale of 1-5 how much did the animation during the Levi vs. MP chase blow you away?

As expected, the animation left the majority of respondents in awe. It took one month for the animators to get in that 30 second sequence and it was so worth the efforts of the animation staff!

The Levi fight scene was breathtaking. Genius.

Best animation. Ever. Levi you awesome badass.

On a scale of 1-5, how daddy is Kenny?

While a fair amount of voters wouldn’t let Kenny touch them with a 50 foot poll, a larger portion of voters agree that Kenny is daddy material.

I want Kenny to be my daddy :P

The only thing so far that is completely good is KENNY BANG BANG ACKERMAN! They're making a wonderful job with him and I hope the dudes from Wit studio won't turn him upside-down or change some important scenes. In the end... KENNY IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND COOL UNCLE/COWBOY ON EARTH. I'll always follow him

Kenny is even colder bastard than he was in the manga. I like him!

How did Erwin light the match with one hand?

Will the mystery ever be solved? We don’t know, but the majority of voters are quite certain that Erwin’s chiseled jawline may have something to do with it!

How excited are you to see kidwin’s eyebrow game next week?

61% of respondents are ready to see Kidwin moving and talking. Possibly also the heartbreak that will follow as we watch his backstory unfold. We’re pretty excited for small Erwin too!

Is your heart ready for Historia’s childhood flashback?

The majority of voters are ready for Historia’s “not very happy” backstory to unfold in episode 40. Some are eager, some just think she’s cute as a button and others are ready for their hearts to hurt. About 12% of voters aren’t as enthused, however.

I hope we will finally see Frieda in the next one !

On a scale of 1 - 5, how much do you relate to Bartender-kun?

I think we can almost all agree with the bartender when he says “EEEK!” It’s quite relatable really.

It took 4 years to finally see Bartender-kun in his moe glory and it was beautiful. 10 outta 10 would EEEEKK again.

EEK!

Would you want Levi as your motivational counselor?

68% of you would appreciate Levi’s straightforward and blunt was of saying things in order to help you cope and sort things out. 32%, however, would prefer a more gentler approach.

Does Erwin have a gambling problem?

68% of respondents agree that Erwin’s gambles are a positive thing! The thrill of it all is quite a ride for both the Survey Corps and the audience. We look forward to watching his gambles pan out in animated form soon!

How are you guys holding up?

The largest group of voters are unsure about the changes and feel pretty sketchy toward WIT and Isayama for making and agreeing to the changes. However, a combined 50% of respondents overall are enjoying the anime so far, with 31% of those voters having a great time watching the events unfold in a new way. 8% of voters have already lost all hope at enjoying the adaptation.

Jokes aside, the pacing's still left me reeling a little. But I can see how this might make sense from the studio's perspective. If I was an anime-only, I think this episode would have THRILLED me. So yes, I am still invested in the anime and am looking forward to the rest of the season!

Thoughts withheld until we see how the rest of the arc is adapted

i thought it was really good! most manga readers disagree, but i have hope that important scenes will be included later, and we shouldn’t be so quick to judge only 2 eps. i think we should be grateful that the scenes they DID include followed the manga pretty well. i have faith in the changes isayama wanted to make, he is the creator after all. have hope yall!

How do you feel about the restructuring so far?

We were quite surprised to find that 57% of respondents are still open to  the changes, looking to see what happens next before ultimately deciding if the anime is in good hands or not. A small 15% are excited for the changes, while another 15% are not feeling them at all. A very small percentage aren’t enjoying anything about the restructuring so far.

I'm really trying to enjoy the season and not judge too fast before seeing all of the arc, but damn WIT, Isayama, you guys are making it so hard, I'm hella confuse by the changes you're making

In my opinion, the change of pace is for the worse. I'm sad Isayama hates the arc this much, and that he agreed to many crucial character scenes being cut. I think the arc in the manga only felt slow because of waiting for the next monthly chapter.

I'm confused by all the changes but it's only episode 2 so I'm waiting for what's coming next. The animation is beautiful, Levi is beautiful (even with his shirt on) so I like it so far!

Still generally hyped about the season, but wary of the changes. A little bit disappointed about the cutting of the minor characters' (dimo, nifa) screentime/character moments. But I'm gonna wait with my judgement 'till the arc's over.

Character development will not be the same. Hopefully they can build up Armin’s and Erwin’s characters in time for RTS or nobody will care.

What best describes what you think about the missing scenes so far?

While we’re all a bit sad to see some of our favorite scenes lost, the largest group of respondents have accepted that as a fact and are ready to just move forward. 26% are holding out hope that everything will be implemented one way or another. 13% of respondents are finding that the missing scenes are making it very difficult to enjoy anything about the season so far.

I literally want to fly to WIT Studio, go in banging a cowbell in everyone's ears until they put the cute scenes of titan eren and his dorky yet fine ass back in the anime.

I'm afraid that loosing some scenes now will take away more important ones later on. No Dimo telling Historia to give Levi a good punch. No Levi basically threatening Historia to take up the mantle of Queen. These interactions added depth to the characters. There's still time for them to include a few other things in flashbacks, but the changes have me a little on edge. Maybe it's just cognitive dissonance - I'll not write off WIT's and Isayama's restructuring efforts yet. But I will sit on my hands and bite my tongue when I ask my Anime-only friends about their thoughts on the pacing thus far.

the only thing I’m really upset they cut is the scene where Armin talks about how to manipulate the mass and everyone stares at him horrified, everyone’s bitching about the abs but the true loss is not seeing the horrifying expression Armin makes

Dimo's the real victim of the cuts here ;_;

My hype for this season died seeing how they are dealing with this arc

I think that people  complain too much about snk anime. Yes, some things are different and even some favourite scenes of mine where removed but overall this is still the best anime of the season, maybe even the year.

How do you feel about the scenes they did keep?

A combined 63% of voters were satisfied with the scenes that we did still get and many of those believe WIT excelled at executing them. 29% thought the scenes were still alright, but lost some of the impact they had in the original work.

The animation of all of it is phenomenal, but all the scenes/events are jumbled in comparison to the manga. It has me like ?????

The whole bit with Jean being "shot" was better in the manga IMO

Again, as before I am not the Uprising Arc's biggest fan, but one thing I did enjoy was whenever the focus was on the 104th kids coming to terms with fighting humans, struggling with their own morality and the orders Levi was giving them. In the manga, this takes place over a longer period of them, so you really get to see Sasha, Jean and Connie question things and come to their own decision not to kill. By reordering things now, I feel that has completely lost its impact.

The scene at the end where the SC crew learns about rod reminds me a bit of the AT & CT reveal when the way in which the SC reacted to Reiner and Bertholdt possibly being titans was withheld from the viewer so I think that maybe thats what they might be going for this season in the sense that they will find a way to cram a lot of moments in flashbacks later.

Rushed. Scenes have less impact. I’m just thankful I’ve read the manga so I have the context of how bamf these things really are.

They removed way too many Dimo scenes which makes him a very different character to the anime canon. In the manga he was a good-hearted opportunist trying to avoid the deaths of himself and his comrades whereas in the anime this was watered down significantly. Also, #BringBackGesumin2018

I like the pacing but many scenes lost their impact, e.g. Reeves death, Armin's kill.

Where do you think Rod, Historia and Eren are right now?

We definitely know they aren’t in the cave, but the largest group of voters aren’t even sure where to theorize they could be right now. Although there is a near tie between people who believe they are either at the ranch or the chapel. One commenter on the poll pointed out an area we hadn’t even considered, however: 

Because this option didn't show up in where Eren and Historia are: The Central MP Headquarters! The torture of Sannes was used as a way to find where Eren and Historia are, which is the original point of that mission. So there'd be a different, less redundant reason to go to the HQ in the first place! You can even add some missing scenes there.

How did you feel about the way the torture scene was handled?

Most of us did believe that WIT would censor the torture sequence a bit, but the largest group are shocked at just how much of it wasn’t shown at all. Nearly one quarter of voters are disheartened that they didn’t show it all. Commenters are mourning Hange’s memorable line about which testicle Sannes wants to keep the most.

THEY REMOVED THE “WHICH TESTICLE DO YOU NOT NEED” LINE. BUT THE BALL-REMOVING INSTRUMENT WAS THERE. TALK ABOUT AN UNFULFILLING CHEKHOVS GUN.

They cut out Hange's best line

Even though i expected it would be a little bit censored, but wasn't thinking it would that much, they turned it into a joke, a humouristic torture...like seriously wit?

I'm upset because they removed Hange's best line.

Where was Levi punching?

It may've not been directly shown, but sometimes there's more horror in what you can’t see than in what you can

I expected it to be censored but it's ok, they managed to transmit the grotesque and black humorous feeling that the manga gave.

im sad about hange’s line not being included, but other than that, i thought it was really good, and i didnt expect them to be as brutal as the manga anyways. :/

Armin contemplates how they are torturing and killing people because they have different views. How does this relate to the current manga events?

The majority of voters believe that this was a good foreshadowing for the events that have taken place much later in the manga. 17% of voters don’t feel that the situations are comparable, however.

Both sides are fighthing for their own good

Eh, that’s how human history has always been since time immemorial. It’s always people killing other people because of a difference in views and ideologies. Not saying that it should be tolerated, but everything is a case-by-case basis. Sometimes, you need to extinguish the enemy because the enemy alive is a far bigger threat to the world. That’s just how it is.

Everyone else is stuck in the mid-Uprising chapters while Armin is 57D pathsmancing his way to mid-Marley chapters

The uprising and ao Liberio aren’t comparable, but Armin is consistent through each

We didn’t get shirtless Levi, how are you feeling about it?

39% of voters are sad about not getting treated to some eye candy this week, while 34% just don’t care about it at all. 15% were happy just to see Levi’s nice bara tiddies outlining his shirt, while 12% of you are still holding out hope for rock-hard abs.

I was robbed of the abs I was promised and am like... really pissed off? Sad? Bemusedly confused? I know in the grand scheme of things it shouldn't really matter that much but dang, it hurts.

It might just be the lesbian in me talking but I don’t care they didn’t show abswin and Levi shirtless lol

Levi is daddy af. Thanks for exploding my ovaries bc I didn't want children. Super convenient.

But Levi still looked badass tho

What about abswin?

Similar to Levi, the largest groups of respondents either feel betrayed by WIT or don’t care about it. A larger portion than with Levi were completely satisfied simply by Erwin’s presence.

ABS ABS ABS!!!

Apparently this world doesn’t deserve Levi and Erwin’s abs... Looks like we’re not worthy of such a blessing.

I AM FEELING ABSOLUTELY BETRAYED BY THE LACK OF ABS I mean c'mon, WIT, you can't give me, a grown adult, just an angsty adolescent's steaming abs (from the Titan tyvm) and expect me to be satisfied with that.

The Ackerman reveal was handled a bit differently, with Kenny telling Traute about how he raised Levi instead of telling Dimo he is his pride. How do you feel about the change?

The majority of voters believe that the small change in the Ackerman reveal wasn’t a big deal. However, a pretty sizable portion do believe that the weight of the reveal was lost, with many commenters lamenting the loss of Kenny saying that Levi is his pride.

I think we'll have more impactful Acerkreveal to come when Levi and Mikasa talk. *nervous chucking*

Levi being an Ackerman is the less secret thing anyway, the way it's reveals hardly matter

Most of the fandom read some good ol fanfic, i'd be surprised if like 95% of the people watching it didn't know he was an Ackerman (or just log in to tumblr)

Lol so many anime-only reactors didn’t even notice the Ackerman name-drop so WIT pretty much failed at that. And it’s okay for fans to feel disappointed with the anime. We’re not **obligated** to think it’s amazing especially if we think there are parts of it that weren’t adapted well.

I expect another encounter between Kenny and Levi that leads to the talk about Levi being Kenny's pride, probably directed to Rod instead. This scene, on the other hand, worked as a wonderful namedrop and setup for a second encounter.

I love how he called Levi his pride in the manga so i’m very sad they changed it, it made Kenny’s death even more emotional.

It flew right past me oops

Levi threatening Historia didn't happen, breaking the chain of events that builds up to her punching him later. What best describes your thoughts?

It’s probably safe to say that many of us are raising questions about the loss of this scene and how WIT will make up for it or whether it was truly needed in the first place. 39% believe that WIT will still work it in somehow, while the majority believe that the scene is lost forever, with split opinions about whether WIT will make up for it in another way or whether their faith in Historia and Levi’s arcs is shattered forever.

The only thing I'm keeping my eyes on is anything related to Historia and her future step up as queen.  I'm sure she'll learn that she is royal next episode via her father, so I wonder if eventually deciding to take rule in place of her hidden relatives and corrupt government, will actually end up being her idea, which could explain why Levi's altercation with her was removed.  That would be really interesting and I think it could work out just as well!  I always thought his anger toward her was a little too sudden and misplaced in the manga, anyway, and if it's removed for good, I'm glad we don't have to live through that controversy again.

I’m kinda disappointed that they didn’t include Dimo Reeves’s redemption arc. It was very essential to Historia & Levi’s character. Maybe I’m worrying over nothing & instead Fligel will replace Dimo in that role, but Eren & Historia were already captured so I’m not sure how they intend to go about rewriting Historia & Levi’s character progression. However, the production team & Isayama do seem to understand how important character development is for this arc, so maybe they’re finding different ways to make it better in ways we didn’t even realize were possible. Maybe by the end we’ll all say “Wow! This was handled a million times better than in the manga!” But right now, it just seems like Isayama had a negative bias towards this arc & was only so accepting of the changes cause he just thought of the Uprising Arc as his worst piece of work to date despite it being the most important for character development & plot progression. I hope I am wrong though.

Which group of characters are your favorite?

Where do you primarily discuss the series?

I discuss the series in Facebook, dunno why you don't have that option :/

Additional thoughts on the episode?

Isayama reacting to S3 complaints: “Am I out of touch? No, it's the manga readers who are wrong.”

BUT NO FLEGEL QUESTION IN THE POLL!!!?!?!?!? THAT'S IT!!(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻ I'm actually not going to do anything about it though. but still. Flegel is best boy.

I’m blown away by the animation!  I’m kind of enjoying guessing what might happen next and what other changes they’re going to make.  I still have faith that WIT and Isayama will deliver an amazing season three - holding out for more episodes until I lose my mind about changes.  It’s super entertaining so far.

I am aware that a 100% adaptation of the manga is impossible and I'm usually not bothered by it. However, I'm slowly getting nervous that too much could get lost and that those fans who want an accurate adaptation will get too frustrated with it to continue. I really hope WIT has a plan here and listens to the fans.

I really, really, really wanted Kenny to say that he was proud of Levi. It was really bittersweet. I hope WIT puts it later on when Kenny is about to die and hopefully he tells it to Levi straight up. But I’m not gonna lie, Levi never knowing that his “father figure” was proud of him all this time puts a tragic and beautiful twist to their relationship. There’s always been something sublime about unexpressed emotions that will forever be hidden because death claimed it first.

I feel like they're sacrificing character interactions and developments for the sake of pacing and action.  

I know lots of people are saying that everyone should chill before jumping to conclusions, but as far as I’m concerned all our opinions - mine included, as well as the opinions of those who are dissatisfied with the episode - are valid. And in my opinion, there was so much that the anime skipped. Sure, they were just small details. But it were these details that enriched the story. I trust Isayama, but at the end of the day, he too errs. He too commits mistakes. I don’t know, but if I feel overly dissatisfied with the adaptation even after the season is over, and in my defense am able to bring up valid reasons why I didn’t like it, then so be it.

It's a shame Dimo got reduced to such a minor character.

I felt a bit sorry for the girl who was killed by Armin. I didn't pay attention on her in the manga but in Armin's flashbacks she was more human. It was the proof that even such cold monsters like anti-human squad members have some heart.

I love it so far but Levi and Erwin need more love and they'll get it if they are shirtless and have moar scenes

Traute made me gay.

Ackerman bastards! How they can violate chairs like that?! Right now I can trust only Mikasa with my poor chair babies <3

everyone is like 'where are the abs' while my lesbian ass is sad about no gesumin smh

Thanks to everyone who participated! We’ll see you again on Monday!