#I think sometimes it's a genuine misunderstanding of the term

[menlove]

the way this website balks at the term "culturally christian" is so funny to me like. oh shit you mean the religion our government and culture is structured around might impact you even if you're atheist and ESPECIALLY if you're ex-christian? noooo it's the people using it to describe a phenomenon of western culture that are wrong

[psychotrenny]

One of the more depressing effects of systemic transmisogyny is the way some trans women get so desperate for any validation thar they start praising chasers. And not just specific chasers who gave them an apparently "good" experience, but with the entire concept of chasers as a whole. It's like they feel flattered by the idea of people seeing their transness as a positive characteristic, something that makes them attractive and special, while ignoring the way that even "best case" that attraction stems from a place of dehumanisation which sees you as merely part of a class of sex objects rather than an actual individual person. I say "best case" because for many chasers their attraction to transfeminity comes less from a desire for those associated characteristics in a vacuum, an inexplicably desire for girlcock or what have you, but from the vulnerability (both personal emotional and systemically socio-economic) that TMA people experience making them much easier to exploit and abuse

Like Pro-Chaser sentiment is a product of people completely misunderstanding what a Chaser is and what they do. No matter how lonely you are it doesn't do any good to see Chasers as some easy outlet for sex and validation; their treatment of transfems isn't just degrading but is often outright dangerous to an even greater extent than your average TME individual. Not the sort of people you want to be spending any time around

And sometimes you even see this sort of sentiment, this desire to be loved by someone who only loves you as a tranny because at least it's some sort of love you can get as a tranny, creep through when others are treating Chasers in a critical or mocking way. Like the Halimede MF twitter account's whole deal is roleplaying as a (somewhat exaggerated but still recognisable) specific sort of Lesbian Chaser; the "harmless transfeminist girl" if you will. Regardless of what you think of the bit, it's very clearly a bit. It's largely meant to be funny, but certainly not flattering to the kind of chaser Halimede embodies.

Most of the transfems I know recognise this, on one level or another, but you sometimes see girls express an almost genuine longing for her. A desperation for affection so great that it bleeds into how they treat a caricatured depiction of someone that is predatory on a fundamental level, just because it represents a "real woman" capable of feigning some shadow of respect for their identity and struggles despite the obviously dehumanising way with which this character regards trans women and their anatomy. Sure a lot of this "I want Halimede" stuff is just playing along with the joke, but some of it has enough genuine sentiment behind the irony that it makes you worry. To put it in Tumblr terms, HalimedeMF is another example of "You missed the point by idolising her". Which isn't to blame the individuals; the fact it happens at all is just another manifestation of a much larger and more horrible system. But it's saddening how attempts to criticise our oppression, even light-heartedly, can end up just reflecting it back into our faces. We need to do better than this

[theforesteldritch]

This is going to be hard to articulate properly, but I feel like there's a strange phenomenon where some people will amplify intersex people on the topic of IGM and condemn IGM without issue (which, to be clear, in and of itself, is a good thing) but then are entirely ignorant to, sometimes because of genuine ignorance, but too often due to the equivalent of plugging their ears and going 'lalala I can't hear you', the issue of medical abuse when it comes to older intersex people. I saw someone once agreeing with how horrific and damaging IGM is- but then proceeded to essentially accuse intersex people of lying about our experiences of medical abuse in our teens and later, often when it comes to puberty. And unfortunately, a lot of this that I've seen comes from other queer people.

Which just. Is incomprehensible to me, mostly because I've lived through medical abuse based off of being intersex, but I think it speaks to the way people view victims of oppression and abuse. They want to be seen as allies, because they know that in terms of optics, it's bad to be silent on the oppression of other marginalized people, but they don't want to examine or even consider their own underlying biases and their intersexism.

Saying 'yeah, I'm against the medical abuse of babies', but ignoring what older intersex people face is seen as fine, because babies are almost treated as the perfect victims: victims of this systemic oppression, yet also fundamentally don't understand this oppression yet, because, well, they're infants. Babies are unable to express themselves (at least until said babies grow up), and so while everyone can agree that hurting babies is bad, those babies can't push back against other biases against intersex people that someone might have. You can, and have to, speak for babies, because they can't speak for themselves, but a baby also can't challenge intersexist beliefs the same way an older or adult intersex person can. It's easy to stand up for a group that can't tell you you also have the capacity to harm us.

And so when an older intersex person says, 'hey, this is medical abuse that I went through because I'm intersex', that statement is suddenly treated with doubt, especially when it someone challenges someone's worldview. 'I was forced on HRT as a teen and that was bad' becomes uncomfortable to condemn, because that's seen as something that could challenge, say, their experiences and access to HRT, and they're unwilling to think critically and look at that from a nuanced and deeper perspective: they see our fight against oppression as a challenge to their fight, ignoring that our underlying goals align: bodily autonomy and the right to informed, non-coercive consent. They can only see the issue from the perspective of someone who, say, wants to ban HRT, because they don't want to budge an inch to anything that 'validates' that take; they can only see 'medical abuse that I went through was bad and shouldn't happen' as 'See, this is why HRT is always bad and why this should be banned,' even though the same people who want to ban and restrict HRT also want the freedom to continue to abuse intersex people. It's a fundamentally defensive position that throws intersex people to the curb because people don't want to acknowledge and make space for nuance; it's considered too 'difficult'. 'I went through something bad because it stripped me of my bodily autonomy' is seen as 'I went through something bad and so I want to strip your bodily autonomy', and this fundamental misunderstanding and this caving to internalized bias against intersex people becomes a tool to attempt to try to better a perisex person's own material conditions on the backs of intersex people. It of course doesn't work, we're all crabs in a bucket fighting for air, but people don't seem to understand that, or they just don't care.

No one is immune to intersexism. You don't get to claim to be an ally when you'd try to drown the other crabs in the bucket to try and hope of being able to get more access to the air. But people don't want to confront or examine the fact that they're someone capable of harm, someone capable of expressing hurtful beliefs. And so it devolves into attempts to delegitimize anything anyone who tells you that you are in fact being hurtful.

[menofprogress]

Here are some of my hot (or maybe tepid) takes about arcane:

(Under the cut bc i got wordy lol)

-the show could have used another season or like at least 5 more eps per season. Thats not a dig at the creators bc we know they were already forced to cut stuff out, but imho it shows a little, esp in s2. I fully believe Sevika was one of the biggest victims here, i genuinely believe she had an arc in s2 act 3 that was fully cut. And her being one of the biggest defenders of zaunite independence also means that by cutting her they basically gutted that storyline.

-the sheer lack of time with some characters also means that i simply did not connect with some of them, which made their deaths kind of underwhelming. Like i gasped when loris, isha, elora and sky died, but i cant say i was actually sad. That might be a me problem, but i need a little more time and info on a character to feel literally anything about them.

-on the other hand: we need to accept that sometimes background or minor characters are just that. No they werent robbed, no they werent underwritten, theyre simply not that important and thats OK bc theyre characters, not real people. You dont need to give equal attention to all characters for it to be "fair". And i sometimes feel like ppl think they HAVE to bemoan this. esp when its a female character a lot of fans talk about "sidelining" or "theyre using them as a plot device!!" Buddy, sometimes characters are literally just there to move the plot along, thats not inherently a social justice issue. (Ive seen this the most with sky and lest and like.... sorry, they were never gonna be more important than this. They can still be your fave, but just bc you wanted to see more of them doesnt mean they were sidelined for nefarious reasons)

-however sometimes the problem isnt that a character got too little screentime. S2 is a perfect example to show you can do a lot of character work in less time (viktor, ekko) and little character work with a lot of screentime (vi, sorry). Viktor and ekko were missing for entire episodes and managed to have full character arcs and vi was kind of there the whole time, but stuff just happened to her? Like she does do a lot, she looks incredibly cool, i liked watching her scenes, but her motivations, her goals and her values are ALL over the place. I love caitvi, but it did kinda ruin vis integrity when she threw away core beliefs (she becomes an enforcer, she temporarily agrees to kill jinx, she participates in chem warfare against the undercity) for cait. Hmmmmm.....

-i wasnt that deep in the fandom in s1 so i might have simply missed it or i might just not be following assholes, but the "jayvik shippers hate mel" thing never made sense to me. NOT because i dont believe it, bc i sure as hell have seen enough mlm shippers be fully misogynistic or racist, but the way ppl (mainly meljay shippers lbr) talked about jayvik shippers being horrible to mel like it was this HUGE thing confused me bc i personally have seen like 2 fanfics where they horribly mischaracterise mel to be a viktor-hating bitch, but thats it? Like, was that an actual problem or was it ppl deliberately misunderstanding stuff? (One specific example: ive seen someone accuse jayvik shippers of being misogynists bc they accused mel of manipulating jayce and sidelining Viktor. Which is a canonical thing happening in the show. Like ofc you can word it in a way to make mel a horrid evil bitch, im sure there are ppl who DO hate mel and think she is an evil succubus, but this person in particular just seemed upset about the fact that ppl were talking about things that mel canonically did.) This is a genuine question, bc from my pov after s1 mel was one of the fan faves and jayvik wasnt THAT big of a deal until s2. I literally saw a hundred times more jayce hate than i did mel hate, but maybe thats not the universal arcane fandom experience? Like, again, i HAVE seen (for lack of a better term) fujoshis get wildly hateful towards female characters in the vicinity of their ship, i was just pleasantly surprised that the arcane fandom seemingly DIDNT. So the unrestrained resentment and bitterness of some fans after jayvik "went canon" caught me off guard.

-the reason i ask this: i saw a video where someone talked about some rando homophobic timebomb fans who apparently resented caitvi for getting a happy ending instead of jinx and ekko. So i commented "i s2g het-shippers act like theyre an oppressed group sometimes" to which another person responded "well jayvik fans were really shitty about mel, soo...." and i was so fucking confused bc what? The video wasnt even about mel or jayvik?? They just heard me make a snarky comment about het ships and immediately felt called out. But yeah thats what prompted my question.

-i dont get the thirst for the fish man. I get the salo thirst even less. I cheered when jayce bonked him.

-i actually dont want jayce or viktor to appear in future projects. While i love the idea of them being ~not dead~, i think any further canonical storylines about them would devalue the extremely emotional ending they had. Like, imagine if they only bring one of them back?? What then?? No, i actually prefer post-canon fix it fanfics in this case. (Cough cough esp bc this way i can still plausibly delude myself into them being actually canon and yall KNOW it probably would not stay this way if their story continues)

[catboymoments]

okay not that I'm defending people like lolicons and shit, but like. that part about proshippers is straight up misinformation.

proship, as it is, was never only about romanticising things people view as deplorable and or problematic (fun fact, the pro doesn't and has never come from problematic!! you can look it up). initially, it was a term people used to simply say "hey, i think that's super fucked up, so im just going to avoid the people making that kinda stuff and not start shit"!!

However, during the pandemic more people got into fandoms without the knowledge of proper fandom etiquette ("don't like don't read") and it was also accompanied by the rise of Main Character Syndrome - so we ended up with young people otherwise not used to filtering their own internet experience finding darker works and going "um. why would you write that. you must be a bad person if you willingly wrote that."

(basically the same type of people who'd assume guys in long leather jackets are soon-to-be school shooters.)

and so, it spiralled into the ridiculousness we have today, that you've also been a victim of with people calling you a deviant for headcanoning that belos was sexually abusive, with either entitled and/or misguided kids & weird adults who have nothing better to do, pointing fingers at strangers online and accusing them of promoting pedophilia if the strangers in question ship two characters with a 4 year age gap. And so, what was originally a term for internet neutrality turned into a label to mark people for the smallest, sometimes non-existent, grievances.

Granted, there are some actual basement dwelling freakazoids who describe themselves as proship, but that has nothing to do with the term itself. I've seen plenty of creeps under the anti label, too.

This isn't meant as an attack, not in the slightest - my only intention is to clean up this misunderstanding, because I think you're genuinely a good person who's not in the slightest about internet witch hunts (...but if you were, it'd be kinda morbidly hilarious, given the history of deranged anons coming to your blog with pitchforks and insane assumptions about you as a person), and I trust that you're open to clearing up this egregious misunderstanding.

Hope this helps!

You are so real

[changingplumbob]

CW: Low level sim spice, language - Guide to content warnings

Glenn: I missed you, but I get why you didn't come last weekend

Silver: And be a chew toy for the twins in their own house? There was no way. Thanks for not asking me to

Glenn: I mean... I think they improve on closer acquaintance. Henri was right, a lot of their venom is just figuring out when I'll snap

Silver: You're far too generous

Glenn: You like me generous

Silver: Sometimes. I do enjoy...

Glenn: Go on

The pair laid on the lawn behind Howard's house but within the barrier spells. The night was clear and it gave them a perfect view of the stars.

Silver: Fine. I do like when you're insolent

Glenn: What does insolent mean

Silver: Audaciously rude and disrespectful

Glenn: What does disrespectful mean

Silver: It means- *sighs* You knew what insolent meant didn't you

Glenn: *chuckles* Pretty sure they just use the term brat now. You wouldn't know because you're ancient. A whole 743

Silver: Definitely not that old, but keep trying. I love you by the way

Glenn: You do?

Silver: Is it such a shock?

Glenn: Well no, I love you to. I just figured that was me being quick to feel stuff

Silver: Not that quick, we met five months ago

Glenn: What? It has not been that long

Silver: It has. Or are you being a- brat?

Glenn: No I genuinely just did not notice it had been that long. I mean it doesn't feel that long. But then it also feels like I've known you forever

Silver: That's not very flattering

Glenn: You misunderstand. I just- I feel so comfortable when you're here. It feels natural you know

Silver: Yeah. To me you feel safe

Glenn: Safe? I- really?

Silver: Yes. You're confused?

Glenn: I just... I don't think of myself as very good at protecting. Like me feeling safe makes sense because you could tear the arms off anything that tried to hurt me-

Silver: Obviously

Glenn: But what would I do? Throw flowers?

Silver: Some of those planter pots you have are really heavy

Glenn: True. I just think of my abs more as decorative instead of functional

Silver: I mean you make my soul feel safe

Glenn: Me to. I'm really glad it's dark so you can't see how I'm blushing

Silver: Ah, I'm a werewolf. I can feel the heat from here

Glenn: Cheater

Silver: I'm just using my natural born gifts

Glenn: You do have a lot of them. Oh there, do you see the bunny

Silver: In the stars?

Glenn: No on my chest, YES in the stars

Silver: *sighs* Something tells me werewolves and spellcasters use different constellations

Glenn: That... that is probably true. Why is it like this Silver

Silver: What do you mean

Glenn: Why is there all this separation and hate and division in the world

Silver: I wish I had a good answer, but I don't understand it either

Glenn: Why can't people just get along? Why can't the humans just accept occults? Why can't occults accept other occults?

Silver: Maybe one day they will

Glenn: Do you think that or are you just trying to make me feel better

Silver: I mean, one thing you notice when time passes is that things change. Not just the treelines or the flow of rivers but attitudes can change to

Glenn: I hope so. Except your attitude to me, I hope that doesn't change

Silver: It won't. Now show me where I'm meant to be seeing this bunny in the stars

Glenn smiled and began explaining using stars they both knew. He enjoyed the passionate moments he and Silver shared. The ones where he had trouble thinking and keeping quiet. But moments like these- where there was calm and companionship, they were just as special to him.

Previous ... Next

[the--highlanders]

how do you think jamie views each of the other companions he's travelled with?

(obviously, if staying with the doctor wasn't an option) do you think jamie would've left with any of them instead?

ooooh interesting!!

I do love that ben and polly canonically think of jamie as their younger sibling, and I think he probably thinks of them in similar terms. polly fusses over him a lot (and maybe sometimes oversteps and gets a bit condescending), and he worries about her and wants to keep her out of danger, but they also have a pretty happy joking friendship. jamie and ben are fairly similar - they see each other on a bit more of a level playing field once they're settled into their friendship, but also spend a lot of time ribbing each other. it's a pretty warm, light-hearted tardis team, and that helps jamie settle in. but on the other hand ben and polly are very much a unit, having their own situationship/relationship, and also with the familiarity that comes from being from the same time and place in amongst everything else going on. so I think jamie feels isolated from them at times, and this in part fuels his closeness with the doctor in s4 - they naturally gravitate to each other when they're feeling a bit alienated by or sick of ben and polly just Getting each other and leaving them in the dust.

victoria is....... incredibly important and also incredibly painful for jamie. I think he sees a lot of himself in her (their time periods aren't a million miles apart, she's just been through a deeply traumatic experience and is seeking refuge on board the tardis, has buckets of buried loneliness, is brave when she needs to be but would really rather just slow down and be kind). in many ways she's his mini me (the way they wear the same outfit!!!) and they genuinely get on like a house on fire. it's less jokey than with ben and polly, a bit more tender, with a LOT of care on both sides. for her part victoria latches onto jamie as well, because he's similarly familiar, and finds a lot of safety in him. but there's a fundamental misunderstanding at the heart of their relationship, because jamie especially thinks they're more similar than they are, and expects victoria to measure up to that even when it's killing her. she tries, too, but it's far too overwhelming. he genuinely thinks that she'll want to travel together forever because he wants that, and when she grows up enough to put her foot down and say no, I'm my own person, I have to do what's best for me, it takes him aback entirely. not in the sense that he doesn't want her to do what's best for her, but because he was so blinded by all their similarities that he couldn't wrap his head around this one major difference. & that irreconcilable issue hurts them both a lot towards the end. but also it's a relationship they'll both treasure forever because they really /were/ so similar, and did just click. I think both of them spend the rest of their lives turning around to tell each other something, and it sort of hurts forever but also they'd never want to stop.

all that hurt with victoria feeds into jamie's initial slight disapproval of zoe (as well as the fact that he feels like she's looking down on him) - in a lot of ways zoe is the doctor's mini me, and jamie definitely feels like he's replacing victoria far too quickly, whereas jamie himself probably isn't ready to open up to someone else like that yet. I think they do have a pretty rocky start beyond what they see on-screen, where neither of them understand each other's issues and baggage and they're both unknowingly hurting each other far more than they would ever want to. but eventually they find some sort of shared experience or something that makes things fall into place, and he ends up helping her a lot as she sort of tries to re-learn how to be a person. their dynamic is a bit more joking/teasing like with ben and polly, and that's also good for him after how serious his dynamic with victoria could get.

if he were to stay with anyone though, I do think it would be victoria. he'd be happy to keep in touch with ben and polly forever (and if he wound up in 60s england with victoria, he'd definitely be looking them up!), but I think he's conscious that they want to live their own lives. leaving with them would ultimately be leaving to be on his own, at least to some degree. he would clearly have been happy to travel with zoe forever, but if she'd left in the same way victoria did, I don't think he would have followed. obviously he doesn't actually go with victoria either, but I think the loss of her is one of his biggest /what if-s/, in that he'll always regret that she didn't want to stay with them like zoe did. adding that to how protective he is of her - if he was cut loose from the doctor and had to pick someone to go with, I think he'd go straight for victoria. which would potentially be challenging for /her/, because then she'd have to live her life with her very mother hen bestie rip

[iseos]

: CHERISH

wc. 978 archive. pairing. nishimura riki x fm!r synopsis. imperfect chemistry genre. fluff now playing. cherish by ive

  HIGH SCHOOL WAS A CONFUSING TIME, and for niki, navigating the complexities of teenage emotions felt like solving a never-ending puzzle.

he had harbored secret feelings for y/n since they first met in their freshman year; but, expressing those emotions was an intricate challenge he was yet to conquer. instead, he often found himself acting rude towards her, which, to his dismay, she often returned.

  now with graduation quickly approaching, niki and y/n were still, to put it mildly, not on the best terms when it came to their interactions. from snarky comments in class to unintentional eye-rolls during group projects, their relationship was fraught with tension and misunderstanding.

  yet, underneath the façade of bickering and sarcasm, it was obvious to those around them that there was a connection waiting to be explored.

  it was just a question of when, or if, it would happen.

  having grown tired of watching niki push y/n further and further away with his ruthless teasing, all while in private hearing how hopelessly enamored he was for the girl, his friends convinced him to take a different approach. urging him to set aside his pride and initiate an open conversation with y/n, they hoped it would bridge the gap between the two teens and pave the way for a genuine friendship.

  niki found her in the library like he expected, and he couldn't help but notice the frustration etched across y/n's face. she seemed utterly absorbed in her book, scribbling down notes in a frenzy. despite approaching with good intentions, he couldn't resist the urge to interrupt.

  "working hard, i see," niki teased, leaning his hip against the table she was using.

  y/n looked up, her expression a mix of annoyance and weariness. "what do you want, niki? finally come to help with the assignment we were both supposed to work on?"

  niki hesitated for a moment, his confidence slipping as he briefly made eye contact with his friends, who were sitting at a table on the other side of the room as support, animatedly trying to encourage him with dramatic arm movements. realizing this was his chance to finally try and mend their tense relationship, he cleared his throat and decided to be more sincere for once.

  "look, i know sometimes i'm rude to you—"

  "sometimes is the understatement of the century," y/n interrupts monotonously, her eyes back on her notes as she continues to write.

  "—but i wanted to say i'm sorry for that. we have to work on this project together, and i want it to go smoothly."

  y/n looked up at the dark-haired boy with a raised eyebrow, a hint of skepticism in her gaze. "you're apologizing?" she turned and looked around the relatively empty library, expecting this interaction to just be some cruel prank. she didn't even notice his friend group quickly busying themselves with random books.

  she eventually turned back to the boy standing in front of her again.

  "yeah, i am," niki nodded, his voice tinged with genuine sincerity. "i don't want us to keep arguing like this. i think we could actually make a pretty good team if we put our differences aside."

  y/n regarded him with curiosity, her guard slightly lowered now, "you really mean that?"

  "i do. i want us to work well together," he nodded again, his determination shining through, "i also need to get a good grade on this project so i don't fail this class..."

  his last comment made y/n scoff, however, there was a hint of laughter behind it as she pointed to the empty chair beside her for him to sit in.

  as they worked on the project together, niki and y/n slowly started to shed their defensive layers and engage in more meaningful conversations, some of which occasionally taking place outside the regular time they spent working in the library together. the arguments became less frequent, replaced by laughter and shared moments of understanding.

  their chemistry project became the turning point in their animosity-turned-newfound friendship. they spent hours working side by side, forming a deeper connection between discussing equations.

  y/n began to see the kind, thoughtful side of niki that she hadn't noticed before, and niki found himself admiring her intelligence and determination even more.

  one sunny afternoon, as they wrapped up the final parts of their project, niki couldn't help but steal a glance at y/n. her eyes sparkled as she explained a complex chemical reaction, and niki realized he couldn't keep his feelings hidden any longer. he cleared his throat, trying to sound as genuine as he could.

  "y/n, there's something i need to tell you."

  she turned to look at him, a hint of curiosity in her gaze as she hummed in acknowledgment.

niki hesitated for a moment, it felt like he flashed back to the day their friendship began to form; the weight of his unspoken words once again hanging in the air

  "i really like you, y/n. i have for a long time."

  y/n's eyes widened in surprise, and niki could see the mixture of shock and confusion dancing on her features. she didn't know how to react.

  niki cleared his throat once more, his heart feeling like it would pound out of his chest at any moment. "i know i was rude to you a lot — so i don't blame you if you don't feel the same, but i really do like you a lot."

  she remained silent for a moment, her gaze locked with his. then to niki's surprise, a smile crept across her face.

  "you're serious?"

  niki nodded, his vulnerability evident. "i am."

  y/n leaned in closer, face just inches from his, "you're the most confusing person i've ever met, niki, but maybe i like you too."

“although im selfish, i never lie you know, i really like you”

© iseos

[thetreehousechronicles]

Sector V's mental issues/disabilities

After rewatching Codename: Kids Next Door and paying closer attention to the characters, I’ve come up with these headcanons about their mental health and personal struggles. These interpretations are based on my observations and how I perceive the characters, so please take them with a grain of salt. I was inspired by @spicedwatermel0n , as they discuss these types of issues often and are really inspiring with the work they do. Definitely check out their content for more thoughtful insights on mental health and how it’s represented in media!

Wally (ADHD & Autism)

Wally is a character who exemplifies a unique blend of energy, impulsivity, and social quirks that align with ADHD and Autism. His ADHD shows through in his boundless enthusiasm, unpredictability, and inability to focus for long periods. Whether he’s bouncing from one idea to another or charging into action without thinking through the consequences, his impulsiveness can sometimes get him into trouble. His tendency to jump between ideas or tasks highlights how his mind works quickly, but it can also make it hard for him to finish things. This relentless energy is part of what makes him stand out, but it’s also a source of frustration for him at times, as he struggles to focus and follow through on long-term goals.

On the autism spectrum, Wally’s interactions with others can sometimes feel off, especially when he’s misinterpreted. He’s straightforward, and sometimes his bluntness can be taken as rudeness, even though he doesn’t intend to hurt anyone. His difficulty with reading social cues and understanding the emotional subtleties of interactions is a part of his autism. This makes him seem out of sync with others, even when he’s trying to communicate or be friendly. Wally might also prefer predictability and routine, which contrasts with the chaotic, fast-paced world around him. His struggles with change or unanticipated surprises can throw him off balance, making him act out or retreat into his own head.

Additionally, Wally’s preference for consistency is a key part of his personality. It’s not just about wanting things to stay the same because he’s lazy or stubborn—it’s about finding comfort in patterns and structure. When things feel too chaotic or unpredictable, Wally can get overwhelmed, and his response may be a meltdown or withdrawal. It’s not a matter of defiance; it’s more about his sensory overload or need for a sense of control in a world that feels a bit too much at times.

His ADHD and autism also affect how he approaches relationships. While he is fiercely loyal and caring to his friends, his impulsiveness and occasional social missteps can make it harder for him to navigate these relationships in a way that feels effortless. He might have difficulty understanding social expectations, or he might inadvertently say something that’s too blunt, which could lead to misunderstandings. Despite this, Wally’s raw honesty and genuine heart are what make him such a likable and relatable character. He might not always fit in with the norm, but his unique approach to life and his unapologetic individuality make him a standout and a friend everyone can count on.

Ultimately, Wally’s ADHD and autism don’t define him, but they do shape how he interacts with the world. He’s a character who doesn’t shy away from who he is, even if it means breaking a few rules or creating chaos along the way. He’s not perfect, but he’s authentic, and that’s what makes him such a beloved character.

Kuki (ADHD & Masking)

Kuki is a character whose behavior reflects a blend of ADHD traits and the emotional toll of constantly masking her true self. Her ADHD is evident in her difficulty with maintaining focus, her tendency to become easily distracted, and her desire for constant stimulation. She’s a dreamer who can be caught up in her own thoughts, making it hard for her to concentrate on tasks for long periods. This impulsivity and restlessness give her an energetic, spontaneous nature that is fun-loving but can sometimes come off as scatterbrained. Kuki’s mind seems to constantly jump from one thing to another, which aligns with how ADHD can make it difficult to stay organized or finish what’s been started.

However, Kuki’s ADHD is complicated by her perfectionism, particularly when it comes to how she presents herself. She has a strong desire to be liked and accepted, which leads her to wear a “mask” to hide the frustrations and emotional challenges that come with her neurodiversity. Kuki works hard to keep up the appearance of being happy and carefree, even when she’s overwhelmed or struggling internally. This masking behavior is a survival tactic; by projecting positivity, she hopes to avoid the judgment or stigma that could arise if people saw her as anything less than perfect. Her cheerful exterior becomes a coping mechanism, one that allows her to blend in and avoid being perceived as different or flawed.

Unfortunately, this constant masking takes a toll on Kuki’s mental health. The emotional labor required to suppress her true feelings leads to burnout and exhaustion. She often feels like she has to keep up an act, which can leave her feeling disconnected from those around her. Her true feelings are buried beneath the surface, and while she may appear carefree and upbeat, there’s a deeper, more vulnerable side of her that she hides away. Kuki's desire to please others and her fear of being judged makes it difficult for her to ask for help or show any signs of vulnerability, even when she’s at her breaking point.

The pressure to maintain this happy facade is especially draining because it prevents Kuki from dealing with her own emotions in a healthy way. She has moments of frustration and sadness, but instead of expressing these feelings, she pushes them down in favor of appearing “okay.” As a result, Kuki often internalizes her struggles, and while she is incredibly kind and thoughtful to her friends, she doesn’t always allow herself the same compassion.

Kuki’s perfectionism, combined with her ADHD and masking, creates a complex emotional landscape. She is a deeply empathetic and caring person, but she sometimes feels isolated in her own struggles because she is so focused on appearing perfect to the outside world. The weight of this can make her feel misunderstood or unsupported, even though she’s surrounded by people who care for her. In the end, Kuki’s journey is about learning to balance her playful, optimistic persona with embracing her true feelings and letting others in, allowing herself the space to be imperfect without fear of judgment.

Hoagie (People-Pleasing, RSD, Anxiety, & Overthinking)

Hoagie’s cheerful, laid-back demeanor often hides a deeper struggle with anxiety and a strong desire to make others happy. His people-pleasing tendencies are evident in how he always strives to ensure that everyone around him is content, often going out of his way to avoid conflict or disappointment. He’s constantly looking for validation and approval from others, and the idea of letting someone down—whether it’s a friend, a teammate, or even an authority figure—weighs heavily on him. This desire to please others often leads Hoagie to suppress his own needs, making him a reliable friend but sometimes neglecting his own emotional health.

A key aspect of Hoagie’s emotional experience is his struggle with Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD), a condition that makes him hypersensitive to any form of criticism or perceived rejection. This sensitivity makes even minor criticisms feel like significant failures, and he’s prone to ruminating over them for extended periods. Whether it’s a joke at his expense or a small disagreement, Hoagie internalizes these moments deeply, questioning his worth and the relationships around him. His RSD causes him to overanalyze interactions, making him feel as though he’s always on the verge of disappointing someone—even when no one has actually expressed disappointment.

This constant fear of rejection is compounded by his anxiety and tendency to overthink. Hoagie often replays conversations in his mind, second-guessing himself and wondering if he said the wrong thing or did something that could have upset someone. He struggles with decision-making, particularly when it comes to matters that might affect his friends or the team. His desire to do things “right” means he constantly questions if his actions are good enough, leaving him feeling exhausted and anxious, even in seemingly simple situations.

One of Hoagie’s primary coping mechanisms is humor, which he uses to deflect any tension or awkwardness he feels. His jokes, often lighthearted and playful, serve as a way to mask his true emotions and distract from any uncomfortable feelings he’s experiencing. This tendency to joke around can make it difficult for others to see when Hoagie is struggling because he’s always quick to put on a happy face and make others laugh. While this is endearing and often brings joy to his friends, it’s also a defense mechanism that prevents him from fully expressing his vulnerability or seeking support when he needs it.

However, this reliance on humor can also create a sense of emotional isolation. By constantly deflecting with jokes, Hoagie risks never fully addressing the deeper emotional challenges he faces. His internal struggles, particularly his fear of rejection, often go unnoticed by others, leaving him to carry the weight of his anxiety and self-doubt on his own. As much as he tries to make everyone else feel good, Hoagie can sometimes forget to take care of himself and acknowledge his own feelings.

At his core, Hoagie is someone who deeply cares for his friends and wants to ensure their happiness. But his anxiety, overthinking, and fear of rejection make it difficult for him to truly relax and feel secure in his relationships. His coping mechanisms—like his jokes and efforts to please others—are attempts to manage these overwhelming emotions, even though they can sometimes hinder his ability to process his true feelings and seek help. Learning to be more open about his struggles and accepting that he doesn’t always have to be perfect could allow Hoagie to find more peace with himself and those around him.

Nigel (Perfectionism, Imposter Syndrome, & Anxiety)

Nigel Uno is often seen as the confident, natural leader of the Kids Next Door, with a strong sense of responsibility and a seemingly unshakeable determination to do things right. However, beneath his confident exterior lies a constant battle with perfectionism that significantly affects his mental well-being. His deep-rooted need to be perfect in every aspect of his life, whether it’s his leadership abilities, his decisions, or his personal conduct, can be incredibly taxing. Nigel’s perfectionism drives him to relentlessly scrutinize his choices and actions, constantly second-guessing himself even when he’s made a seemingly simple decision.

This self-imposed pressure is compounded by his struggle with Imposter Syndrome, a condition that makes him feel like a fraud despite his accomplishments. Nigel is driven by a deep fear that he’s not truly capable of being the leader everyone expects him to be. His internal dialogue often revolves around doubts about whether he’s worthy of the role he holds, leading him to work harder and push himself beyond healthy limits. He constantly worries that any misstep will confirm his fear that he’s not good enough, and this can result in severe anxiety, especially when stakes are high.

Despite his outward confidence, Nigel often experiences deep internal struggles with self-doubt and anxiety. He worries that the pressure to always be perfect will cause him to fail and, by extension, let down his friends and teammates. His overthinking extends to even the smallest of decisions, as he tends to get caught up in minute details, afraid that even the slightest mistake could lead to catastrophe. The mental strain from this overanalysis often leads to stress, affecting his ability to relax or feel at ease. He puts tremendous pressure on himself to meet not only his own standards but also the expectations of those around him, especially when he’s leading others in high-stakes missions.

Nigel’s perfectionism also stems from a desire to prove himself, not just to his team, but to himself. He struggles with accepting imperfection as a part of being human, and his fear of failure is tied to the belief that failure means he is not valuable or competent. This internalized fear pushes him to constantly push his limits, leaving little room for self-compassion or moments of rest. In his mind, taking breaks or admitting that he needs help is a sign of weakness, which only feeds into his cycle of overwork and self-criticism.

This ongoing internal struggle, despite his confident appearance, can lead to emotional burnout and exhaustion. His perfectionist tendencies are not just about being the best leader he can be, but about an almost unattainable standard he’s set for himself. Because of this, Nigel often finds it difficult to ask for help or admit vulnerability. He fears that asking for support would reveal that he is not as flawless as others might believe, deepening his sense of imposter syndrome. In his eyes, any crack in his seemingly perfect facade would shatter his ability to lead effectively.

Though he’s the kind of person who always appears in control, Nigel’s mental health is deeply affected by these internal pressures. His perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and anxiety combine to create a constant cycle of self-doubt and fear of failure, preventing him from fully accepting that it’s okay to not be perfect. With time, learning to embrace imperfection and allow himself to rely on others might help Nigel find a healthier balance between his role as a leader and his own well-being.

Abby (Perfectionism, Anxiety, & Emotional Suppression)

Abby’s perfectionism is driven by an intense need for control and the desire to meet the high expectations she sets for herself as a leader. She constantly strives to be the ideal version of herself, both for the team and for the world around her. This drive to always be perfect comes with an enormous amount of pressure. Abby fears disappointing others or falling short of her own standards, and this fear can be overwhelming at times. The idea of failure is intolerable to her, and she works tirelessly to prevent it, even when it means sacrificing her own well-being.

Her perfectionism often manifests as anxiety, as Abby’s mind races with worries about her performance, whether she’s doing enough, and if others are counting on her. The weight of responsibility, combined with her desire to always be in control, fuels her constant anxiety. She’s often the one taking charge, making decisions, and ensuring everything runs smoothly, but this can leave her feeling exhausted and mentally drained. The fear of failure amplifies this anxiety, and she becomes paralyzed by the thought of making mistakes. Abby is constantly in a state of vigilance, analyzing her actions and decisions for any potential flaws, which can lead to overthinking and self-doubt.

Despite her inner turmoil, Abby is remarkably skilled at suppressing her emotional needs. She hides her vulnerabilities behind a calm, collected exterior, believing that showing any sign of weakness would make her appear unfit for leadership. She’s deeply afraid of being seen as incapable or vulnerable, so she masks her struggles to maintain her image as the reliable, composed leader everyone expects her to be. This emotional suppression can lead to burnout, as Abby rarely allows herself the time or space to process her emotions. She is so focused on keeping things under control that she neglects her own needs, leading to feelings of isolation and frustration when she can't keep everything in check.

Abby’s tendency to push her emotions aside and prioritize the needs of others can also lead to a lack of self-compassion. She doesn’t give herself the same understanding and kindness that she so freely extends to others. This disconnect from her own feelings makes it difficult for her to recognize when she’s overwhelmed or when she needs help, further contributing to her anxiety. She might struggle to admit when she's struggling, even to those closest to her, because of her fear of disappointing them.

Ultimately, Abby’s perfectionism, anxiety, and emotional suppression are a direct result of her need for control, her fear of failure, and her desire to protect herself from the vulnerability that comes with being imperfect. Her struggle lies in learning to accept that it's okay to not have everything under control all the time and that seeking help or showing emotion doesn’t make her any less of a leader. The journey to finding balance between being a strong, reliable leader and taking care of her own mental health is one that Abby will likely have to navigate as she learns to embrace her imperfections and the strength that comes from vulnerability.

[mae-i-scribble]

My post on How I Attended and All Guys Mixer picked up a few more notes than I was expecting recently and it reminded me that I've been wanting to talk about how appreciative I am about how the series handles sexuality. I'll only be talking about the manga here bc I haven't seen the live action drama nor do I plan to. But I just think it's really neat that with our 3 male protags we get to see 3 very unique reactions to 1) learning that crossdressing is a thing and 2) how they in turn feel attraction wise.

I'll start off with Asagi as I feel his is the most straightforward in that he just takes everything in stride. Literally nothing phases him. Thanks to that he's the most nonchalant of the group, just chatting up and trying to make friends per usual. He's confused somewhat, but doesn't pay it any mind and just tries to get to know everyone as he would any other new friend. Personally, I can really see an aro/ace argument for Asagi due to the way he's just, completely unaffected and uninterested in the romantic ongoings around him. He compliments the girls and such but even when the manga is going pretty hard pushing its other pairings Asagi and Fuji truly just seem like good friends. I'm not delusional, this is a romance manga that from the get-go clearly has these pairings in mind to all get together romantically, but until it happens I can gaslight myself into believing my aroace truth (is coping so bad).

Going from most chill about everything to 2nd most chill we have Tokiwa. Tokiwa is an interesting case in that he's polite to such a degree that he does his best to mask his initial confusion and shock (to the extent that yknow, a comedy manga will allow). Though it doesn't really work because he is very overwhelmed by the situation at hand. However, I don't think this is attributed to the girls' crossdressing alone in the same way that Hagi can't get over his initial shock of the concept. Tokiwa's chief concern isn't the "weirdness" of it all but the fact that he came here expecting a meet cute with a cute girl and instead is getting a meet cute with someone equally as charming but with none of the reserved attitude we see Suo have while she's fem-presenting. My boy is not worried about gender norms he is worried for his sanity due to the attractive person flirting with him.

Honestly, this panel here implies that he finds masc-presenting Suo even more attractive. The fact that he even tries to reassure himself that because Suo is a woman this situation is less flustering is very interesting. Not that it does anything. Pouring one out for Tokiwa for real. As the manga goes on, Tokiwa gives off the vibe of someone who is comfortable with his sexuality enough that the gender presentation of the person he likes is irrelevant, both are attractive to him in different ways. Again, while Suo's crossdressing is a point of interest in the sense that it's not something he understands or gets intuitively, he doesn't have nearly the same level of crisis as Hagi does. His attraction to Suo is never questioned- rather it seems to be a question of whether or not he thinks Suo is genuine in her flirting.

And our last boy is Hagi, poor beloved Hagi who is having the time of his life trying to figure out that hey, sometimes people don't dress or present stereotypically. It's a rough life for you Hagi. However, his inner conflict is very gripping. I find his reaction and subsequent coming to terms with the idea of crossdressing a very realistic take on the subject much more akin to your average person being introduced to everything for the first time. It never feels mean spirited even if Hagi can be offensive in this thoughts and comments at first- it's born from a place of genuine confusion, both towards himself and towards the girls. Hagi falling in love with Kohaku, while a little to rife with misunderstandings for my taste, I think is a wonderful narrative of how even being straight doesn't mean that there is one way to feel attraction. While Kohaku throws around the idea of him being bi due to him being attracted to Kohaku while she's masc-presenting, Suo best sums it up when she says that it's not about the words or the looks, its about who it's coming from. And given that we haven't seen Hagi struggle with this from anyone else, it's a safe bet to say he likes Kohaku as masc-presenting, not necessarily masc-presenting people or men in general. Attraction as a fluid concept is something most straight romance stories, let alone a comedy based one, seldom bother to explore along the gender spectrum. Hagi's struggle to understand himself and what his attraction to Kohaku means to him personally is such an interesting take that it elevates the entire storyline out of miscommunication hell almost (just almost).

Idk idk this feels like a very silly rant to have but I do in fact love this manga more than a reasonable amount and this is definitely one of the top reasons for it. I would love for it to get a bit more attention but I shall settle for rereading it for the 20th time I suppose

[yuseirra]

Kamiki(+Ai) Mini-analysis

I feel the best part of this work comes from the psychological aspects, it's intriguing how real and complex it can get. It's honestly what's drew me in this time around, and I really hope they revert back to exploring things in relation to it after some dire events get resolved somehow.

Today I wrote a small anaysis of Kamiki's character since he tends to be a bit confusing at first glance: I can be wrong, of course, but I'm confident with my analysis regarding the emotional aspect of things. I felt it would be nice to bring up!

Honestly, I don’t think Kamiki is such a difficult character to understand regarding his mentality. His self-esteem is severely low, so he internalizes all the negative criticism and accusations thrown at him without resistance, accepting them as they are. In fact, he adds to it by blaming himself even more. Sometimes, he even goes out of his way to act in ways that invite misunderstandings. Since he’s already trapped in a state of self-loathing, the fact that he doesn’t bother to make excuses is just an extension of that.

He has an incredibly low opinion of himself. That's because he was constantly mistreated and never been properly loved all his life till Ai came along. At the same time, it’s not like he dislikes people… Ai, on the other hand, seemed to have some defensive feelings toward others, maybe even a little distaste for people (which, in a way, can act as a shield to protect oneself). But Kamiki? When someone comes to him, he’s just happy to have a shred of affection and, like a puppy, he eagerly follows along, giving everything he has. He’s been starved for love. Him trusting people so eagerly and easily—that’s where it comes from. His trust in Ryosuke and Nino is also rooted in this. Kamiki seems to genuinely like people. When he receives kindness, it makes him purely happy… he wants to believe in their good intent and think 'oh, they like it, so it's fine, right? It's a good thing if others are happy' But again and again, he’s taken advantage of and abandoned. And, at some point, he realized—even though it seemed like people cared about him, this wasn’t right. They just used him up and it wasn't real affection that he'd received. The real problem is with those who used him. If they had been decent people, this wouldn’t have happened… But when these things happen, instead of blaming others, he always turns the arrow on himself. His already low self-esteem sinks even lower, and he blames himself and hates himself even more. Ai, on the other hand, had enough of a backbone to protect herself by holding onto some anger toward others. So, even though she couldn’t quite love herself, she could still carry some pride and confidence, enough to live life on her own terms. But Kamiki? When something goes wrong, he blames himself. He tries to rationalize these sorts of situations by believing that it’s because he’s not good enough, or because he’s unworthy, that everyone leaves him. That’s also one of the reason why he lacks aggression—he always sees the fault within himself. Look at the flower bouquet incident. He probably wasn’t at fault at all, but because he bought the flowers, he lied at first and said it was his doing. The fact that it was a lie implies that the rest of what he said was likely the unfiltered truth. If he were truly guilty, the story would have ended in chapter 154, but it didn’t—there was more to it after that.

I’ve mentioned before that you have to dig deeper to understand the real intent behind his words. In chapter 153, he said he killed Ai.

In chapter 154, he changed his story, saying he only manipulated Ryosuke to scare her, but he never intended to kill her.

Then, in chapter 160, the tone softens again—he says he really just wanted to give her the bouquet. And this is the real truth.

What’s happening here is that he hates himself so much that he piles more blame on himself, amplifying his responsibility for what happened. He feels like the person he loved died because of him, and that’s why he can’t forgive himself… But the more he talks about Ai, the more sincere he becomes, gradually revealing his true feelings.

When it comes to attachment styles, Ai had some avoidant tendencies,

While Kamiki shows a lot of traits typical of anxious attachment.

Yet despite this, the two of them clearly got along well. I keep coming back to this, and there’s hardly any room to argue otherwise. The fact that Ai could think so highly of him is honestly so remarkable…

For someone with avoidant tendencies to say, 'I want to live with this person forever,' that means the other person was truly perfect and lovable in their eyes. That’s an incredibly strong bond. I wish people would recognize this... believe in that idea for once, They really did find a huge liking to each other, and that family Ai imagined WAS really possible. They would have built a nice and happy one. It wasn't a messed-up relationship they had. They are tragic because they could have been perfect.

Even though both of them had their own struggles, they were good people at heart, and they surely could have supported each other to live well together. The real problems came from the outside.

I wrote this up as I attempted to draw a piece earlier(going to complete it and post it today!) these are sort of the things that pass through my head when I draw things sometimes

I need to understand the psychology of these characters to at least some degree in order to portray them, I may not be perfect with these, but I really try!

[mywitchyblog]

@shiftmaxxer

masterlist

In response to your post:

Thank you for your thoughtful contribution. It’s refreshing to engage in a counter-argument and have meaningful discussions that don’t devolve into insults or death threats. This kind of respectful dialogue is what allows for growth and understanding, even when we don’t see eye to eye.

Part 1: Clarifying Intent and Addressing Misrepresentation

First and foremost, it seems there may have been some misunderstandings regarding the purpose of my original post and the intentions behind it. I understand that you’re critiquing my previous rant, which I admit was written in a heated moment. In hindsight, I recognize that I should have taken the time to calm down before writing, as it might have conveyed my thoughts more clearly and without the emotional charge.

You mentioned, and I quote: "Calling other people of color 'pathetic' for what I believe to be perfectly understandable reactions to race-changing is reductive." I want to clarify that this was not my intention at all. The individuals I labeled as "pathetic" were those who, unlike you, resort to insults and threats, using logical fallacies as their only arguments—arguments that aren’t even valid to begin with.

The only other instance where I used the word "pathetic" in that post was in reference to certain white individuals who oppose race-changing without providing proper arguments. Here’s the passage in question: "As a person of color, this issue is especially relevant to me, yet the opposition I see frequently comes from individuals who don’t share my lived experiences—often white people who have no stake in the matter, telling me what I should or shouldn’t do. They’ll throw around terms like 'DNI,' 'I don't wanna argue with you,' 'if you support race-changing, block me,' or brand me as a bad person without engaging in any meaningful dialogue. It proves that they are cowards, pathetic, and that their claims hold no weight and reek of insecurity."

This quote is crucial because it explains why I referred to these individuals as insecure and pathetic: they immediately resort to name-calling without providing proper explanations. The "bad person" I referenced is someone who attacks me with labels like "racist" or even "pedophile"—terms that have nothing to do with the actual debate at hand. This is an example of a Strawman Fallacy because it misrepresents my argument by suggesting I called all POC "pathetic," which wasn’t the case. My criticism was aimed specifically at those who rely on insults and threats rather than valid arguments.

Part 2: Addressing Claims of Hostility and Spite

You also pointed out that I "completely dismiss any opposing arguments, calling it 'close-minded.'" Yes, I agree—logical fallacies and insults are indeed close-minded arguments. The only counter-argument I had is the one I mentioned earlier; feel free to check it out. So yes, I called it close-minded because that’s exactly what it is. Furthermore, accusing me of writing with ChatGPT is an Ad Hominem Fallacy, which targets my character rather than engaging with the substance of my arguments.

Regarding your statement: "You've stated yourself that you argue in a way to 'spite' people who oppose your opinion." Let me clarify—spite plays a dual role in my approach. On one hand, I genuinely want to uplift and educate people, sharing knowledge and perspectives that can help others grow and expand their understanding. On the other hand, there’s a part of me that’s driven by a desire to challenge and provoke—to make people think harder and question the status quo. Sometimes, that means making people uncomfortable or challenging their deeply held beliefs, especially when those beliefs are rooted in ignorance or prejudice. It’s about making them confront their biases to the point where their limited thinking is forced to evolve—or at the very least, be exposed.

And yes, I will not budge on the point that ad hominem attacks, threats, and insults are not acceptable forms of argumentation. They don’t contribute to meaningful discourse, and they certainly don’t challenge or strengthen any position.

You mentioned that my tone "is hostile and full of what I see as 'conversation enders' (you argue in a way that shuts down discourse rather than encourages it)." I apologize if my tone came across that way; it was not intended to be hostile. In the future, I’ll make an effort to use better disclaimers and perhaps even include tone tags to ensure that my intent is clear. My aim was never to shut down conversation but to challenge the status quo and encourage intelligent debate, free of ad hominem attacks—much like the approach you’ve taken in your response.

Part 3: Hypocrisy and Nuance in Race-Changing Discussions

You also raised the point that I’m "hypocritical for disregarding the value of people's hurt and frustrations and calling it a desire to be 'empathetic.'" This is not the case. In my essay, I acknowledged that there’s a fine line between empathy and the potential for fetishization, romanticization, and even racism if not handled carefully. For example, I specifically stated that "race-changing in reality shifting can serve as a unique and valuable tool for promoting intercultural understanding, challenging racial prejudices, and fostering a more empathetic and inclusive society" when done thoughtfully and ethically (Essay, Part I). If I were truly disregarding these concerns, I wouldn’t have included the parts of my essay where I emphasized the importance of treading lightly and being considerate.

Initially, I planned to argue that race-changing was entirely okay and not disrespectful at all. However, as I continued writing, I recognized the need to include those critical nuances—because nothing in this world is black and white. Consequently, I changed the direction of my essay to reflect this, and I quote myself: "By maintaining this careful balance, race-changing in reality shifting can serve as a unique and valuable tool for promoting intercultural understanding, challenging racial prejudices, and fostering a more empathetic and inclusive society. As with any powerful tool, its value lies not in the practice itself, but in how we choose to use it."

Originally, I might have said something like "Race-changing is okay and a good thing," but instead, I concluded, "Race-changing can be a good thing, but we need to be careful not to be disrespectful, as we have a duty and responsibility."

Part 4: Loaded Questions and Hasty Generalizations

You asked: "You would rather shift to be another race to 'understand' a race than engage with their media, their lived, documented experiences, or talk to others about their experiences? Are others' experiences meaningless to you unless you physically ARE them? If you lack that amount of empathy that you have to become another race, I don't think empathy was ever in the cards for you." I’m not sure if you’re addressing me directly here, but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.

As for me, I never stated or implied that in my previous posts. Moreover, asserting that race-changers shift to another race because the experiences of POC are meaningless to them, ergo they never had any empathy to begin with, is a Hasty Generalization Fallacy. Additionally, the framing of the question is a Loaded Question Fallacy because it presumes a lot about my intentions without evidence, and frames the question in a way that makes any answer seem incriminating. It's an unfair setup.

In my essay, I made it clear that "shifting allows for experiencing life through different perspectives which can be enlightening as fuck" (Essay, Part I). The goal is not to dismiss or undermine anyone’s experiences but to gain a deeper understanding through direct experience in another reality, which is a legitimate and complex method of exploring identity and empathy.

Part 5: The Complexity of Reality Shifting and Allegory in Fiction

You also wrote: "For people from the racial identities being appropriated, witnessing individuals casually adopt and discard their race can be distressing. It can feel as though their experiences and struggles are being reduced to mere fantasy elements rather than being respected and understood. This disregard can contribute to feelings of marginalization and invalidate the real-life challenges faced by those of different races."

I completely agree with you that this can be distressing, and I cannot invalidate your feelings—you are entitled to them. However, I must disagree with the notion that race-changing "invalidates the real-life challenges" faced by those of different races, simply because in the context of reality shifting, the line between "real" and "fake" life blurs. If you meant "OR," then I retract my disagreement.

However, to suggest that some race-changers do this with the intention of causing this effect on POC is reductive. As a POC myself, if someone were to tell me they shifted to a reality where they are the same race as I am and then shared their experiences of discrimination, I would feel a sense of joy that they finally understand my pain—rather than dismissing it in this reality with statements like "Oh, come on, you’re exaggerating," or "It’s not so bad after all." Like, why don’t you walk in my shoes before saying that? Oh wait, they did, and now they get it.

You stated: "Being black and being a 'werewolf' aren't comparable in any version of reality. To trivialize a lived experience of an inconceivable number of people (because remember, this is the multiverse) is extremely bold." I have never trivialized or reduced the pain of other POC or marginalized communities. I merely pointed out that they share some similarities in that they are perceived as monstrous, discriminated against, and persecuted. The difference, of course, is that one is considered fictional in this reality, and the other is not.

It is you who is being bold by claiming they have nothing in common. Consider that some writers create fictional races as allegories for what marginalized communities face in our world. A prime example is the Na’vi from Avatar. James Cameron, the director of Avatar, explicitly stated: "Avatar very pointedly made reference to the colonial period in the Americas, with all its conflict and bloodshed between the military aggressors from Europe and the indigenous peoples. Europe equals Earth. The Native Americans are the Na'vi. It's not meant to be subtle."

In this context, someone shifting to be a Na’vi could be seen as analogous to race-changing to be a Native American, only with a superficial, fantastical layer added on top—a "pink bow" if you will. While the Na’vi might be fictional, their creation is deeply rooted in the real experiences and histories of Native Americans, particularly their suffering at the hands of colonial forces. The narratives of exploitation, resistance, and survival embodied by the Na’vi are direct reflections of those faced by Indigenous peoples.

Thus, shifting to become a Na’vi in a desired reality is not just adopting a fictional identity but engaging with the complex and painful history that the Na’vi represent. Whether or not the person shifting acknowledges this connection, the allegory remains. The act of shifting to a race that is explicitly crafted as a stand-in for a real marginalized group comes with inherent implications, making it far more than a mere fantasy element.

Therefore, equating the Na'vi with werewolves, and dismissing the deeper connections between these fictional and real marginalized groups, misses the point entirely. The comparison trivializes the intent behind these allegories, reducing complex social and historical narratives to mere fantasy. It's not bold to recognize these connections—it's simply understanding the truth of how fiction often reflects reality.

Part 6: Logical Fallacies and the Nature of Empathy

Regarding your statement: "Discrediting one's lived experiences (ergo, attacking their credibility) is not just questioning the validity of their personal story; it's denying the nuanced realities that intertwine us as people. If you can do that so easily, how can you become better and more understanding from rcta alone?" If I were discrediting my fellow POC’s experiences, I wouldn’t have brought a nuanced perspective to the subject. I acknowledged that it’s a topic that requires careful handling and that it’s not black and white, even though I tried to simplify it but couldn’t.

However, your assertion that "It won’t fix or better your empathy because you already lack it from the way you react to those who don’t agree with the practice" is an Ad Hominem Fallacy. You’re attacking my character without providing evidence to support your claim that I lack empathy.

In my essay, I discussed how "morals and ethics are not universal constants but are shaped by cultural, temporal, and situational factors" (Essay, Part I). This underscores the importance of understanding that empathy and moral considerations can vary greatly depending on the context and the reality in which they are applied.

Part 7: Nuanced Perspectives and False Dichotomy

Finally, I want to emphasize that it’s okay to feel offended by those who race-change. I won’t dictate your feelings—you are entitled to them. But you also need to acknowledge that not everything is black and white; not everyone who engages in race-changing does so to invalidate or trivialize the lives and experiences of other people of color.

You said: "But refusing to be accountable for the real reasons you race change (and why at least 50% of us shift) is disingenuous." If I were truly being disingenuous, as you claim, why would I have written in my essay that the issue is nuanced? By acknowledging the fact that we must tread lightly and be careful, I’ve already implicitly stated that those people exist. If I didn’t acknowledge that fact, I wouldn’t have discussed it at all.

You also mentioned: "There is no morality play. People don’t shift races to 'grow' or just because they're 'curious'. You make such an (understandably) loaded and controversial topic more innocent and sweet than it is." Let me stop you right there. I do not make a controversial topic more innocent and sweet than it is—I made it more nuanced.

Stating that race-changing is inherently bad is a False Dichotomy Fallacy; it reduces the topic to two simplistic notions when there are other perspectives. I acknowledge that some POC may be offended by it. But they must also acknowledge that not everyone who engages in race-changing does so to trivialize their experiences—quite the opposite.

How many POC (myself included) have been so sick and tired of having people dismiss our pain, wanting them to understand instead of diminishing it? I can’t recall the number of times I wanted those people to walk a mile in my shoes just to see what it feels like. And with shifting, they can.

Part 8: Conclusion and Invitation for Further Discussion

You concluded with: "It makes you someone who can't and won't make room for those who feel invalidated by those who race-change frivolously." So, what do you propose we should do? I specifically said in my post that we shouldn’t be frivolous about it—that we have a responsibility and a duty when engaging in such practices. And yes, I admit that saying "DNI," or "block me if you support race-changing," may have been too much, but when those same people are the ones who insult and threaten me, I cannot be blamed for making such assumptions about them.

To conclude, I really enjoyed your respectful perspective on the subject. However, stating that people who race-change immediately do it for disrespectful reasons is simply wrong. You should understand that nothing in Reality Shifting is purely good or bad, black or white; it is a spectrum of gray.

I’m also quite curious to hear your stance on bi/multiracial shifters who choose to change or "suppress" one of their races.

Ergo i have to refute those arguments, it was delightful to debate with you.

I wish you good luck and success in your shifting journey

Kind regards,

Luno

[thewritingmagician2022]

Hi! I was wondering if you could write how the boys would react to an mc that don’t speak English very well? Spanish it’s my first language and it’s funny because some times I misunderstand what they say and I just stay like 🤷🏻‍♀️

Sorry for my bad english 😅 I hope you’re fine and healthy uwu

Ironically, I am not healthy - hence the really long delay. But thank you!

Lucifer: Lucifer is not impressed with himself; how did he manage to not realize that you didn’t speak English as a primary language? This complicates things just a little bit but he’s not going to feel too bad about it or give you any leeway.

His favorite thing to say is “you know what I mean!” when you act like you don’t understand what he’s saying. Sometimes you’re able to figure it out and sometimes you’re not but Lucifer doesn’t care. He pushes you to be self-sufficient; you better find a way to make it work while you’re down here.

On the low, he will sign you up for English classes at RAD or get you a private tutor to make sure you’re able to communicate well enough while you live down there.

Mammon: He is so confused sometimes. The two of you will go back and forth, just confusing each other more and more as you try to figure out what the other person said/meant.

Mammon is the kind of person who’s flipping through a pocket dictionary and trying to speak Spanish to you but he’s absolutely butchering it almost every time and ends up saying something rude/nonsensical by accident

It’s really cute that he tries though and he usually just finds it more funny than anything when you don’t understand him

Levi: Levi is embarrassed when you guys can’t fully understand each other. He feels ashamed that he obviously can’t communicate clearly and wonders why you would ever bother trying to talk to an otaku like him

He definitely hides away in the beginning because the language barrier bugs him

The more you talk, the more you both understand each other. He even starts speaking Spanish a little; he learned Japanese for anime so the least he can do is learn a little Spanish for you

Still, he much prefers texting because the phones can auto translate everything and he doesn’t have to worry about either of you being confused/a misunderstanding

Satan: Satan finds it funny in the “well, well, well, Lucifer finally screwed up” kind of way and he tends to dramatize how many misunderstandings there are just to spite Lucifer even more for accidentally choosing a human that doesn’t speak fluent english

With that in mind, Satan starts learning Spanish pretty much immediately and, once you two are on friendly terms, he starts tutoring you in English as well to make sure you can understand and communicate well while you live in the Devildom

Like Mammon, he carries around a little pocket dictionary; however, he’s much more efficient with it and can actually use it to translate

Asmo: Asmo doesn’t need to understand what you’re saying for him to understand you and vice Versa!

He thinks it’s so cute when you get confused and he loves to use gestures and dramatic facial expressions to convey whatever point he is trying to make - it usually doesn’t work well and ends up even more confusing but you both have fun the whole time

Definitely someone who will sometimes pretend to not notice you’re confused (or if he’s rambling about something he genuinely may not even notice) and he doesn’t need you to reply to keep the conversation going; he can talk enough for you both

Beel: Beel is confused and you’re confused

Like Levi, he may avoid communication in the beginning because Beel is usually quiet anyway but it sometimes feels like it’s not worth the hassle and confusion

Beel mimes things to you sometimes to try to better explain himself. He’s surprisingly good at charades and it usually clears things up well enough for you.

If he doesn’t understand you, he usually tries that nod/smile people do when they have no idea what the fuck is going on because he wants to be polite

Belphie: Belphie is too tired for this shit. You’re just going to have to figure out what he said for yourself; use your phone to translate or something

He will draw pictures sometimes, if it’s something he really wants to share with you and he can’t find the right words

When he doesn’t understand you, he doesn’t even pretend to. He just stares at you until you figure out a way to say it in English or make your point known in another way

Diavolo: Diavolo is entirely charmed by the language barrier. He loves that humans have so many different languages and loves how clever you all are about trying to understand each other

He does feel a bit bad considering it makes your life more difficult and miscommunications can be a pain in the ass

To rectify this issue, he tries to make all the demons learn Spanish and asks you to lead them in Spanish lessons and then everyone can speak your language!

Obviously that’s not realistic though and he settles for learning some Spanish himself and making sure all of your learning materials at RAD are translated for you to make things easier

Barbatos: Somehow Barbatos always knows how to say things in a way you understand and he’s always able to understand what you’re saying too

You have a sneaking suspicion that he may actually be fluent in Spanish but he refuses to admit it

Barbatos doesn’t even needs words; he understands your mannerisms and facial expressions well enough and he’s equally good about making himself clear to you

Solomon: Solomon speaks all human languages, both current and past. However, he’s not very good at it because he doesn’t practice the skill often so he’ll be a bit rusty in the beginning

Definitely uses spells and engagements to help communicate better and auto translates books and things for you so you have an easier time rather than struggling to read everything in English and he’ll translate any papers you write in Spanish to English too to make your life easier

Being the mischievous man he is, Solomon does love to laugh a little when you’re not able to understand someone, especially the brothers, and occasionally he may “misinterpret” what they’ve said to cause a bit more chaos

Simeon: Simeon actually already speaks some Spanish. He’s not fluent like Solomon but he understands enough to get by and he’s really good at helping translate between you and another person if there’s an issue

He’s asked you to teach him more Spanish so you guys can communicate better and he offers to help you with English as well

Simeon is a little ridiculous and loves playing the guessing game when he doesn’t understand something, rather than looking it up. He and Luke make a bit of a game of it to see who can figure it out first when there’s a miscommunication

[zombiecowboy65]

sorry to bring discourse into ur blog but it genuinely baffles me how poorly some kevjeans understand both kevin jean (AND jeremy sometimes). the way they paint kevin as this madly-in-love-in-the-closet bitter about jerejean (as if he hasn't teased jean about his crush on jeremy for years and sent him to the trojans knowing jeremy was gay) and also this relatively new idea that jean would cheat on jeremy with kevin as if they would ever do anything to break his trust. kevin makes it VERY clear that he trusts jeremy and considers him his friend/equal in tgr and im not even gonna elaborate on jean and his care for jeremy anyone with eyes can see he would never do anything to hurt him after reading tgr. at this point I think they should read some random romance with a love triangle bc it's clear that aftg it's not doing it for them if they have to mischaracterize their allegedly favs to be interested in the story, they also project on kevin like crazy and are more worried about jean dating someone else than kevin will ever be.

Lol I don’t mind discourse so don’t be sorry.

Also yeah, I think the hc that Kevin is jealous of jerejean is funny, but (and especially after TGR) it is in fact just a hc. And hc what u wanna hc, but to try and push it as canon is something else entirely.

To me personally (and once again, after reading TGR) , the concept of Jean cheating on anyone seems like , completely insane. Cheating on Jeremy even more so.

I know there was a popular fic with that exact premise floating around, and maybe that’s where ppl are coming from with that take? But also I know a lot of ppl don’t like Jeremy, so that’s another factor on where that idea might be coming from. Most of the stuff I saw was —admittedly—pre TGR , but reasonings were pretty much narrowed to Jeremy is too nice/too controlling and Kevin was the better fit for Jean bc Jeremy could never understand. But that always seemed kind of contradictory to me because Kevin was the one constantly pulling rank?

And sure, ppl have pointed out that him pulling rank is in terms of like, keeping Jean alive/forcing him to get help , but idk , once u pull a line like “you cannot refuse me” , the relationship is already doomed .

Sorry this is getting like really long and like diverging slightly from what u initially sent, but essentially I think it’s like you said. Ppl are misunderstanding/mischaracterizing Kevin / Jeremy / Jean (mostly Jean in my opinion, I think a lot of ppl kind of stunt his growth/healing/do not give the man credit where credit is due) to a point where it’s going against the narrative in its entirety.

[a-lost-illusion]

I love your page! I found so many gems through the beauty and the beast week event from this year some happy you’re still here and sharing your content with us. Could I please ask you the following: what do you feel many people either misunderstand or get wrong about Adam the most– I know there’s a lot to choose from and even incorporated things in your writing but what, whenever you come across it, almost causes a knee-jerk reaction?

And

What do you think Adam misunderstands or gets wrong about himself – looking at this post transformation/reverting back to being a human. Let’s say he’s had a little bit of time to reflect on what happened. What do you think he would have trouble understanding about himself?

Oh wow, what an ask! While I didn’t participate in the BatB week this year, I’m honoured to know that you’ve taken the time to follow my blog and read through all my posts, as dated as some of them might be. The fact that I’ve been running this blog for over 10 years now makes me feel incredibly old; it's not even funny.

It was hard for me to peg down the one thing I’d say that people get wrong about Adam the most, so I’ll share two instead (posted under the cut).

He was vain and self-obsessed with himself before the curse, just like Gaston

This is an interpretation that seems to have taken off since the release of the 2017 film and Disney-sanctioned fanfic novels like Serena Valentino’s The Beast Within and Alex Singer’s Disney Mirrorverse: Belle—none of which I consider canon. The prologue of the original movie describes the Prince as “spoiled, selfish, and unkind,” not a vain narcissist who enjoys drawing attention to himself. And while I get that fans like to argue that Gaston is a narrative foil for the Beast, that doesn’t mean they need to have the exact same character traits to effectively complement one another. What’s wrong with giving your male characters different flaws—one who’s entitled and greedy, but secretly unhappy on the inside, and one who’s shallow, arrogant and doesn’t feel he needs to change to get what he wants? I genuinely can’t tell if Disney’s trying to make Adam more villainous to justify why he should be in their Disney Villains line, or if they’re padding on more flaws to make him more dislikeable to viewers (which is especially problematic, since these extra flaws make you question why Belle would fall in love with him in the first place).

In post-transformation, Adam is utterly dependent on Belle while she wears the pants in their relationship

I get that this is likely Disney’s way of doing damage control, especially after all the Disney-bashing that came out in the 2010s, arguing that their princesses are too meek and antifeminist for their own good. But you also don’t have to take away the male lead’s autonomy to create a strong, independent female character. Personally, I think Belle and Adam would be equals in their relationship, mutually supporting one another as they acclimatize (or in Adam’s case, re-acclimatize) to life as a provincial prince and princess. Please stop going the Frozen route and either sidelining or making the male lead a dumbass so the female lead seems smarter and more competent. It’s boring, and it’s just going to alienate your fanbase in the long run.

In terms of what Adam misunderstands or gets wrong about himself, I’d say it’s that his identity isn’t defined by his mistakes, but by what he learns from them. In almost all my multichapter fics, there comes a point where Adam’s guilt over the curse makes him feel he’s unworthy of love. Sometimes, Belle is the one who convinces him otherwise, sometimes it’s himself. As a side note, one interpretation I’ve gleaned from the film’s “vincit qui se vincit” motto is that to be victorious, you must learn to overcome your moral weaknesses, including your desire to be cruel and selfish. To me, this movie isn’t just about a beast learning to love. It’s about a beast learning to overcome his inner darkness so he can “conquer” his curse and become the man he’s supposed to be. But that kind of narrative doesn't jive with Disney these days, so it's better for them to give Belle full credit for changing him so it's more #feminist.

I hope I answered these questions well enough for you, OP, but in case I missed anything, feel free to let me know. Thank you for stopping by my inbox!

[ellena-asg]

Do you have any specific sparrington headcanons?

Hey ♥️🫂

Oh, yes! I have a little AU for them 😄 Post AWE, James survives!AU + headcanons

James befriends Will and Lizzie and this means he sees Jack very often; one day Jack and James have a sincere talk and they forgive each other - they still love to banter but they're now on good terms only

Jack sees that James is lost and lonely so he says that James isn't admiral anymore but he will always be a seaman and Pearl needs such a fine sailor and then James, seeing that there's a place for him and feeling something in his heart (and being tired of his society) decides to join Jack's crew 

Jack and James are more and more fascinated with each other, they enjoy working together (and admire each other's skills - maybe Jack will finally hear "the best pirate I have ever seen" 😂), they notice there are things they share, they talk a lot about sea, books (James loves Jack's knowledge), legends, so many things, about Will and other friends, they joke sometimes, Jack helps James in his new pirate life and is amazed how much piratey (and hard-working) James is 

they truly enjoy each other's company but they still have some issues and they misunderstand each other sometimes; Gibbs sees that and tries to help them, he tells James about Jack's trust issues, about all people that betrayed and hurt Jack, he tells that Jack (like James) was abused by own family, he also tells about Jack's heroic deeds and all great adventures he had

James talks with Jack, he says how much he understands him now, he says Jack can always trust him, he also tells Jack about his own past, about abusive childhood (those details that Jack didn't know) and dreams; they become friends

soon they see they're in love but they're both insecure/they panic - Jack thinks that James wants some fine lady and that he's generally the worst love interest for James and James thinks that he's not romantically good/interesting enough for Jack, he also thinks that Jack may see a relationship as chains, plus: James needs a stable and long-term relationship and he wants to be someone's the only one 

somehow these two dorks confess their love and their fears (maybe when they're arguing? when they're jealous? - let's say Angelica or someone else pops up and they and James behave like two fighting cats, Jack is irritated so he is irritating 😉, James is pissed of, boys start teasing each other and soon they're yelling and boom!)

after confessing they have a talk, they realize they need each other and can heal their souls together; James says that he wants Jack, he loves and respects everything about him and Jack says that he never felt needed but it is nice to be needed, he was bitter about love issues but James happens to be his love, a genuine one so Jack is lost 😄 Jack needs James as much as he needs the sea (even more, he fears 😉) and sweet sassy Norrington (never Borrington!) is definitely enough for him

Jack makes James' first tattoo (it's a bank swallow) 

James wants to have another tattoo (with Jack's name or something like that) and Jack wants to have “Jamie” tattoo on his chest (close to his heart)

Hm, what else…

they are forever together, they have many adventures with their pirate family, they can get married or not (if they decide to, then Gibbs is their officiant and Will & Lizzie are their groomsman and groomsmaid)

they have no kids but they are fantastic uncles for little Turner(s) and all pirate kids (James calls them piratelings)

they find a very poor stray cat on the street and they take him with them (they live on Pearl but they also have some cosy place somewhere) - they have a Cat's Name Discussion 😛

of course they have their Sparrington Chemistry all the time and they still love teasing and flirting with each other

Jack loves when James is sassy to their enemies and he generally loves his sarcasm, sometimes he calls James “Your Sarcasmness” 

James is grateful that Teague once saved his life but he has no respect for him and he isn't afraid to tell Teague what an awful father he’s for Jack

Jack says that James is the only good in Norrington family; they both have hate for Lawrence (James now understands what an evil his father was) and for James' cousin Fitzwilliam P. Dalton III (they call him Fitzy and they pronounce it in a funny way) - Jack sees him as annoying remorseless liar, James sees his older cousin as spoiled man and Lawrence’s favourite boy (Lawrence treated Fitzy much better than he treated James and he was always like “James, your cousin this… your cousin that…”)

they're a perfect duo also when they fight (enemies know it well)

they love kissing each other, they shiver from love and desire, they love cuddling in bed (they love their physical and mental intimacy, they're happy they're lovers AND friends, they feel soooo safe and good with each other)

they don't hide their emotions, they don't lie to each other, there's no shame in their relationship (You need to cry? Then cry! I will cry with you. I will comfort you. I will give you warmth)

they support each other and are loyal to each other but sometimes they have different ideas or one is like "NO, we WON'T do it!" and the other is like "Oh yes, darling, we WILL!" and their pirate family is so done 😂 They're comedy gold sometimes!

when they need some relationship advice they both go to Will (Lizzie hears everything and she usually rolls her eyes 😂)

they are very grateful they have such friends like Will and Lizzie (and all their pirate family)

James is friends with monkey Jack, Cotton's parrot, Poochie and Will's donkey and it cracks Jack up (plus: "That monkey, REALLY?"); Jack also finds it adorable and oh, he pretends he's irritated when James says that deep down Jack loves that monkey 😄

when people ask James why he "betrayed" his society (king's men) he says "Saved by pirates" and he smiles (or "Saved by a pirate" and he looks at Jack lovingly)

sometimes after arguing with Jack, Hector goes to James and is like "You are rational one, right? So PLEASE, if you could..." - but sometimes James is more goofy than Jack and then Hector is dying inside 😛