#I saw a post on twitter that talked about how like

[akookminsupporter]

A few days ago, I saw a tweet saying BTS made it look easy. The person was obviously referring to everything BTS has achieved in terms of records, numbers, fame, and their ability to break barriers in the Western market, not to mention their success in grabbing the attention of mainstream Western media. As BTS fans, I think many of us can agree that, despite all their accomplishments and the barriers they’ve shattered, they are still treated differently. There are still significant hurdles to overcome, but it’s undeniable what they’ve achieved, both as a group and, more recently, as solo artists over the past two years.

Yesterday, I remembered that tweet when I saw another one from someone in a different fandom. They were saying that a certain group should be invited to perform at the Grammys, even though they weren’t nominated. This got me thinking: are there other groups that have broken the same barriers BTS has? And I’m not just talking about streaming numbers, but the level of interest from the Western market, the Western music industry. Even if that attention is sometimes driven by convenience—something I feel happened when BTS first gained significant media attention, even though they already had a massive fandom in the West and their tours were already selling out—are there other groups who’ve managed to get this kind of traction? Is there any group that the mainstream media talks about as much as BTS?

One thing I mentioned in a post a few years ago was how BTS, or one of its members, was always trending. News about them would pop up on my timeline, or in the newspapers and magazines I usually read. And that’s something I haven’t really noticed with other groups. I want to clarify that I’m talking about my personal Twitter feed, which is not specifically focused on BTS. I’ve occasionally seen BP or one of their members trending, but it’s rarely related to music. I don’t recall seeing other K-pop groups mentioned in magazines, newspapers, or even tabloids, not even when they perform on music shows. So again, this made me wonder: have these other groups really broken that same barrier, or is it just that I’m not noticing it? Of course, just because I don’t see something doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

I want to emphasize that this isn’t to say that other groups aren’t successful, or that they don’t deserve to be. It’s simply a curiosity about whether other groups have reached the level of recognition in the same way BTS has.

Note: I know that many groups are really popular on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, for example, and obviously have huge fandoms, which gives them a certain level of popularity. But that’s not what I’m referring to here. I hope that’s clear in the post.

[warriorfujoshi]

please see my vision

bonus: Heathcliff smile collection

[royalarchivist]

Ironmouse: Part of the reason why I love this server so much is because everybody's so nice. Everyone! Like, every single person is super nice! And it's like- it's like, genuine nice, it's not like fake niceness. [...] I've literally talked to almost everybody at least once like outside of the QSMP. We've talked on Discord, people regularly check in on me, we get in group chats and we play games like outside of the server... You don't really find that sort of connection all the time with people.

Ironmouse recently talked about her experience on QSMP, and how kind all the members are. I'm posting the entire conversation instead of cutting it up like I usually would because I really enjoyed hearing her thoughts on the server.

[ Subtitle Transcript ]

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Ironmouse: Honestly, I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I did. He's so nice, he's so- he's always been super nice to me. He's been so nice, I– part of the reason why I- I love this server so much is because everybody's so nice. Everyone! Like, every single person is super nice! And it's like- it's like, genuine nice, it's not like fake niceness. You know how sometimes like– you always hear like, "Oh yeah, you know–" when–

Ironmouse: Whenever you like, join like a new thing, right? Whenever you like join like a new thing, you always worry, 'cuz you always think: "Oh, are the people gonna like me? Are they gonna be nice to me? What if- What if- you know, what if this, what if that?" But everybody like genuinely was nice when I first came by, and everybody has been so nice to me– not just in the game, but outside of the game, and–

Ironmouse: Something special about the QSMP is like... People wanna be your friend like outside of the game? Like, I've literally talked to ev– almost– almost everybody at least once like outside of the QSMP, like... We've talked on Discord, people like regularly check in on me, and like we get in group chats and like we- we play games like outside of the server, and it's just like... You don't really find that sort of connection all the time with people? You know what I mean? It's very– it's very not common when you go on like, a content creator-like server or stuff like that, you know? You'll get like one or two people that you get close to and stuff, but like... Everybody is SO nice, and everybody's been so nice to me, and I can't tell you how many people like, wished me– not just like wished me happy birthday, or like wished- said, "Oh, you know, hap- Merry Christmas!" dadadada, it's like genuinely like... Asked how I'm doing, and like talk to me, and like... Just like– I dunno, it's just like so- so- it's so wonderful. Ironmouse: Like, I get that with VShojo a lot, like– we're all like besties, and we all like talk all the time, but I feel like it's different, 'cuz like VShojo– we're VShojo, we're like– we're our own group, but this is like... You know... You don't expect this sorta thing when you get invited to like be on some- be a part of something, you know? And it's- and it's been so– it's been so wonderful and everybody's been so GENUINELY nice to me, and I- I appreciate everybody on the server so much, and they're just some of the nicest people that I've ever met ever, and it's just–

Ironmouse: It just warms my heart, and I'm just really– really like, thankful to be a part of something so great, and something so positive! Because like, everybody's so supportive! Like– the time when like, I didn't like– I- I- I had a moment where it's like I– do you guys remember in December when I- I was not around a lot? And like, I had to take breaks and all this stuff and it turns out it was like the concert stuff? They all like would message me regularly, like, we would all keep up with each other, and we would all talk. And I remember telling them about like, how much stress I was under, and like all the- all the pressures of the concert and stuff, and– and they were cheering, and- and- and they were just so... so kind to me, it was just so– so sweet, and- and you know, I was in a group chat with a- with a few people, and they were all just so excited and- and- just super nice, and- and very- very sweet, and it's just– and it's just very– I'm sorry if I'm rambling! It's just...

Ironmouse: I dunno! I- I- I just enjoy being here, and I enjoy hanging out with everybody, and... it's just nice to meet really good people. You don't really find that. You don't find that sort of thing all the time. Don't get me wrong– it's not like I haven't met a lot of good people, like– I just feel like this whole like, my whole like– Ever, like– My streaming journey, I've just been nothing but surprised at the goodness of people? Don't get me wrong– I've met assholes and sht like that, and I've met- I've encountered some people that are NOT so nice. I'll never like, talk about it or whatever because that's their thing, and I'm just gonna do my thing and I don't wanna like, you know, spread any type of stupid drama or whatever the fck, but like... I'm just always surprised about how– how incredibly nice people are, and how genuine a lot of people are, and it's... It- it's just nice, especially since like– You're used to coming from like, a certain background and a certain like, environment where it's like, you've met a lot of like fcked up mean people in your life, and you've just been around a lot of like fckery, you know? So when- when you're around stuff that's NOT fcked, it's just like, "Woah, this is crazy! Is this- is this how life is supposed to be?!" And it's just- it's just really... it's really- it's really nice. It's very nice.

Ironmouse: Yeah, it's very refreshing, that's why I- I enjoy hanging out on here, everybody's just so nice to me. And it's not just like being nice just to be on-stream, it's nice off-stream, on-stream, friendship on-stream, off-stream, it's- it's just- it's just so- it's- it's- it's wonderful. It's wonderful. And I just have to say like... man, I'm just really thankful that like... it's crazy that like I got invited to be on here and I'm just really thankful that, you know... Quackity like, reached out to me and he's- he's just been nothing but nice, everybody- everybody's just so kind. Everybody's so nice. This is something truly special.

[ivanttakethis]

You want Ivan to live for IvanTill.

I want Ivan to live for Ivan.

We are NOT the same!!!

[starrysharks]

i want to delete my twitter account so fucking bad

[towards-toramunda]

I am on my hands and knees begging you all to talk about Ashton Greymoore as nonbinary for the love of god.

[radellama]

I wanna talk about Ryuusui cause I've been thinking about him. He's kind of an invert of (or somewhat adjacent to) the trope of living up to expectations. You become the monster because that's how people see you anyway...

He's greedy he's selfish he's self centred he's a bit of a brat and whatever other thing you can think to call a hedonist and privileged rich kid. These generally aren't seen as positive things to be, but Ryuusui takes these in stride and is proud to be all of them!

He's the greediest because he wants it all, so he can share it all. You'll have to pay for it, of course - but the option to buy it will be there. If HE'S having a good time, that means EVERYONE is capable of having a good time.

It's a funny way to turn such a negative connotation on its head.

No one will in the village will worry about starvation ever again! Why? Because I'm greedy enough to want more delicious food!

I just find it amusing and quite endearing that a character that could've so easily been annoying and grating based on the cores of his personality type, is instead a refreshing remix of those cores.

He's a rich kid, everyone was going to look at him and call him spoilt and greedy anyway. Why not take it in stride and use the power that comes with money to be greedy in the best possible way?

This also ties into what I like about Francois so much - their understanding of Ryuusui complements his more outlandish behaviour by recontextualising it.

Mild spoilers for the manga, but further on Francois acts as a translator quite often to ensure that people near them won't suffer because of a language barrier. They're able to translate and make sure concepts are understood so everyone is on the same page

Francois is incredibly perceptive (almost supernaturally so!) They are not only able to anticipate, but problem solve and create solutions based on those observations.

What we've already started to see in the anime with Francois in this one episode is how they're able to recontextualise Ryuusui! They understand that he's greedy to such a point of sincerity, and that's what keeps him moving forward.

And as it's been said, greed isn't necessarily a bad thing in this stone world. It's helping to motivate quick advancements that are going to be beneficial to everyone ;)

He's been super fun to read about and I hope he becomes even more fun as we get to see him animated. There's so many great moments coming up that will be really exciting >:)

[synthshenanigans]

CJ is so good at making over stimulating music but like in a good way. My brain is so busy but not in a crowded painful way.

[gurorori]

haha oh no im definitely not at all disturbed by the prevalence of leftists on all platforms who are loudly 'anti-genocide' when it comes to the palestinian cause (and a couple others at best :3c) yet the only time ukraine [ʊkrɐˈjinɐ] leaves their mouths is in critique, in stark comparison to the former or in complaint about their (american) government sending aid.

at first what i saw often was pointing out the differences in western media framing [ukraine vs palestine], and that's fair (until the words and the agenda of western journalists are used to paint, as a whole, ukrainians who have been actively going through genocide as some kind of white supremacists hogging the blanket of global attention when they kinda just want to live and have the rights to their own land, culture, names and families)

but no one is even caring to do that anymore, today bitches just invent metaphorical scenarios and people to get mad at and to throw an entire ethnos away because wahhhh i decided that you care for X but not for Y!!!.... all while doing the exact thing they are condemning. the exact absolute same and they don't even hide it but do lack the self-awareness to realise

[icharchivist]

ok im sharing because it's been my theory for years and i was surprised when i realized it's not something i really see in the fandom? (granted i do avoid the fandom a bit but i've been lurking since da4 was announced)

But i'm like. convinced. deep in my bones. that the Nightmare Demons in DAI is actually Fear from Dirthamen's codex entry. And Envy is Deceit.

they're also mentioned in Falon'Din's codex entry like this:

Nightmare's realm is full of the Crow's status we usually see in Kirkwall, which would make sense to link to Dirthamen. (also note how the first pieces of Red Lyrium and Corypheus himself are found under Kirkwall, which has adopted the Double Raven's Iconography as its own. Note also that the Lost Temple of Dirthamen is on the other side of the sea, nearby the Free Marches, possibly implying the Free Marches used to be Dirthamen's domain -- especially since Inquisition calls the Double Raven's aesthetics "Free Marches" in the decor settings).

Yet we're in Orlais, and while the Fade does what the Fade does, it's odd to see this iconography here after we associated it to the Free Marches for so long. Unless it represents Dirthamen's minions even more so than the Free Marches. (especially since otherwise we see the Double Raven in Elven Ruins or, even more accurately so, in the Shattered Library, place of Knowledge (which is credited to Dirthamen), in which "Librarians" are currently turned into Terror Demons alike to Nightmare.)

Nightmare's realm is also where we find that one codex that is most likely about the Evanuris talking through the Blight:

Nightmare=Fear makes so much sense to me. It's a Fear Demon. It has knowledge of the Blight, the ravens are everywhere in this realm, and this codex would suggest it is working with Corypheus because it knows it can help the Evanuris be freed one day.

Meanwhile the other demon who actively helps Corypheus is Envy, from the Champion of the Just questline. A Demon who physically approaches the appearance of Terror Demons, who swap its appearances to look like the people it envies, deceiving people all around in order to start shit. In COTJ the Bad Future is told to us by Envy showing what it intends to do once it takes our appearance- making US be the one person to deceive our allies to do Corypheus' bidding.

in the myth, Fear and Deceit were left without master to wander the Fade and prey on the souls of the Deads. The idea that they could be lurking, waiting for someone with whom they could team up?

And who's best to help the ex-representant of Dumat, God Of Silence, than the two minions of the God Of Secrets?

[agnesandhilda]

a twitter thread by an in-universe bltv fan breaking down which neo egoist league players are stage gay (field gay?) vs. who actually just acts like that

[thawthebeez]

okay chat it's oikawa time.

(side note: oikawa enthusiasts please please provide your wisdom and knowledge. kageyama tobio is my son. i don't even go here. i am analyzing oikawa's character to get a better understanding of tobio's okay thank you)

starting at kitagawa daiichi (aka the volleyball club with the WORST FUCKING COACHES OF ALL TIME), oikawa spent AGES practicing and practicing to become a strong player. hours outside of school working on his serves, his sets, everything. he worked unbelievably hard to earn his spot on the kitaichi team, and i don't think it would be a stretch to say that he probably wasn't off the bench much in his first year (considering how the coaches run things, only sending in the players that they know are strong, not caring much for the team dynamic), only encouraging him to work harder.

when it comes to matches, thanks to oikawa, kitaichi is strong. undefeated. but the second they face off against shiratorizawa, they hit a wall. oikawa, when facing ushijima on his own, isn't strong enough to defeat him, and it almost feels like no matter how many times iwaizumi tells him "you can't defeat ushijima on your own, but there are six of us on the court" (or something along those lines) oikawa never quite understands that. in fact, i don't think oikawa fully grasps "the team that's stronger as six wins" until after graduation, seeing as he subs in kyoutani in the match they lose against karasuno, because yes, kyoutani's stronger, but he doesn't make them stronger as six, which oikawa doesn't realize.

so oikawa's left confused. confused as to why he can't beat this team. why he can't take his players to nationals. that becomes his ultimate goal- nationals- and so he practices and works so hard on his own technique, trying to bring the best out of his spikers (turning his spiker's potential into his own responsibility instead of encouraging them to work on themselves- something that kageyama encourages, like how he pushes tsukishima to achieve a higher impact point), but this doesn't get him anywhere. ushijima is still stronger. even with oikawa earning the best setter award. the best- he's the best- and yet it's not enough.

but what part of him isn't enough? what's oikawa lacking? he has the skill, the technique, the strength- so what's he lacking?

oikawa pins it on talent. ushijima has natural talent- a natural ability to hit the ball with so much force. and that's what oikawa comes to loathe - natural talent.

now we introduce kageyama. young, skilled, naturally talented kageyama tobio. kageyama comes to kitaichi with the prodigy label. he works hard, yes, but it seems to pay off so much quicker. oikawa had to work so hard for his spot as the team's setter- for his spot as captain- and in comes this eleven year old boy who's put in half the work, temporarily taking his spot on the court.

of course oikawa's pissed when kageyama asks him for help with his serves. oikawa's put in so much time perfecting them, and he knows that the second he gives kageyama advice, kageyama will advance far beyond him and leave him in the dust. because kageyama has that natural ability- the one thing oikawa's missing- why should he have to give kageyama that advice? kageyama has what oikawa wants, why does he feel entitled to ask for more?

so of course oikawa lashes out. to him, kageyama is basically saying "i know i'm already good, but i want to get better so i can take your place and bring the team to nationals." (going to nationals, despite being a common goal between both of them, is something that oikawa wants to achieve on his own, to prove to himself that he can do it since he's been trying for so long. he wants a ticket to nationals as proof that all of his training wasn't for nothing. kageyama being the one to take them to nationals would be a waste.) oikawa is blinded by jealousy and frustration.

kageyama also feels some jealousy towards oikawa, but more often than not these feelings manifest in admiration, because that's just how kageyama is- he respects and admires his upperclassmen.

what's been interesting me lately, though, is in season 4 episode 6 when we get a collage of players kageyama sees as 'strong' or "the best," as kageyama puts it. the players shown are hoshiumi, komori, sakusa, aone, shirabu, bokuto, ushijima, and iwaizumi.

including both komori and sakusa shows that this collage can include more than one player from a single team, and shirabu shows that setters can appear in this list, so why isn't oikawa there? these are players kageyama considers "the best" in terms of skill. it's understandable as to why iwaizumi is there, but to not have oikawa? it's a very interesting idea, indeed.

i haven't figured out an answer to this just yet. if anyone wants to help me out on this one that would be much appreciated.

but yes, tis all. i fear i have major oikage brainworms now so feel free to indulge me and yap about them in the comments or the tags (or, like, full reblogs. that would be sick too)

[oceanwithouthermoon]

the realization that tumblr does not work like twitter and i cant just vague post about random discourse or arguments otherwise people will wrongfully assume its about them has flipped my whole life upside down

[sendmyresignation]

one of the things about where are your boys tonight i really appreciated and, to me, seemed like the most significant thrust of the book (but never garnered much attention, imo), was the focus on the business side of things and particularly the way the many bands never saw long term success or stability or the way a lot of very young people were taken advantage of even after making their labels and handlers metric butt-tones of money and this really culminated with the discussion about paramores record deal and the inherently coercive nature of making a 14 year old sign a record deal (not even really mentioning that record deal was 20 fucking years lmao) and yet i still see people argue she was an industry plant or whatever. sorry ig one of my fatal flaws is i give child stars the benefit of the doubt considering the fundamental exploitation necessary for that position to exist or whatever

[cutneteel]

so many things wrong with this where do i even start

"-but women know that we don't need men at all."

from @honestwamen on twitter:

Out of the 338 jobs listed by the US Department of Labor, if you removed just the top 10 of male-dominated jobs, your economy would have no;

running cars housing electricity operating machinery materials or fabrics or computers.

And there would be no need for firefighters because there would be no buildings built for a fire to burn down.

Furthermore, that's just the top 10. If you go further down the list, there's some pretty key and critical components of the economy that would either disappear wholly or be whittled down to such a small level society simply wouldn't be able to function.

98% of women would be homeless because only 2% of carpenters are women. And of the 2% of homes that would exist, 98% of them wouldn't have electricity because 98% of electricians are men.

You wouldn't be able to buy anything for your non-existent house on Amazon because 95% of truck drivers are men.

And don't bother going to Wal-Mart, because 95% of their deliveries are done by men too...optimistically assuming the 2% of female seafarers could ship anything to port from China that would be deliverable in the first place.

What meager items you do manage to buy could only be replaced, never fixed, because 94% of repairmen are…well…men. And you'd be lucky to order the repair over a phone. Not because phones are predominantly made by men (which they are), but 80% of the software that runs ALL computers in the world is generated by men.

Women would have to cut their traveling down by 87% as 7/8th of aerospace engineers and mechanics are men.

Women would be victimized at 8 times the rate they are now without the 86% of male cops who protect them today, though there is the fact there'd be less crime in an all-female society…that is assuming they aren't invaded by a foreign country as they would only have 14% of the military force we have today.

Unless women were planning on majoring in civil engineering or becoming plumbers, you'll just have to flush 1/6th the time you do now. Because with only 16% of the civil engineers being women the sewer capacity will require you and your pretty investment banker boyfriend take 6 dumps before flushing once.

However, it's not all bad news. Because with 87% of the farmers being men, obesity will no longer be a problem, and women will finally lose all that weight they wanted.

😂😂😂

https://x.com/honestwamen/status/1749494695523442825?s=20

this bitch is insane

[jakeperalta]

whenever swifties think one of jack antonoff's silly little jokes or bleachers related references are taylor easter eggs it makes me severely cringe