#I'm not articulate enough sorry

[halflifebutawesome]

I'm not articulate in the slightest but like. Something something the first and last time you ever canonically see Barney Calhoun is when you're departing on a train or tram.

[evgar]

gunslinger abigail au update! i decided to actually take the time to give her some new cool outfits

the pink and blue shirt ones are the ones i had drawn previously, so pretty much there's two new outfits and two variants with some accessories: the white shirt with the chaps and the red neckerchief (matching with sadie's red vest outfit ofc) and the brown vest and pants inspired by her canon brown shirt just because she looks pretty wearing that color

(i thought of a winter outfit as well but i was exhausted so there'll probably be more of these in the future)

[chainsawctopus]

You, me, and our loss of autonomy.

[williamwheeler]

we talk a lot about how before blaine, kurt had never met another gay teen (who was out, that is), and how isolated that made him feel. but what about how the only gay person that kurt knew in real life (as far as we know) was sandy ryerson, a self-proclaimed “predatory gay,” that we're introduced to for the first by seeing him touching a student inappropriately

thinking about how kurt's crush on finn is twisted into some form of harassment even though we only saw him... what? sign him a song? staring at him a bit? introduce their parents to each other, surely as some sort of evil stratagem to get closer to finn and seduce him??? how is that worse than, say, finn – in front of god and everyone –singing i want jessie's girl while circling rachel, or coming up with a scheme to make quinn feel pressured into kissing him?

well i don't think it's worse, but, according to burt, since kurt “wasn't afraid to show” his crush, it makes it more justifiable for finn to sling around slurs (for what will unfortunately not be the last time)

and then kurt's interest in sam and desire to sing a song with him is somehow distorted into him “not understanding that no means no,” even though sam said YES! he ACCEPTED! no means no but sam didn't say it!!!!! and then burt, the one person who's supposed to know kurt better than anyone, agrees with finn, that maybe kurt is being pushy and “taking advantage” of poor sam

“so a gay guy can't be friendly to a straight guy without being predatory?” yes, kurt was attracted to sam and wanted to spend some time with him. but he would never force himself on him in any way. that doesn't matter, though, because even the people who are supposed to be the closest to him, who are supposed to see him for who he is, still don't get him. kurt's treated as if he has some sort of disease or if he's a threat; he's treated as if he's sandy ryerson

similarly, when blaine reveals his crush on sam to tina he feels the need to say “i'm not some predatory gay, so nothing's gonna happen.” and this makes me wonder if blaine has also had previous experiences of crushing on straight boys in the past, and if he was also ostracized for it. even if he hasn't, he clearly knows how society perceives a gay guy crushing on a straight guy

i just hate to think of these two lonely boys being isolated and mistreated for feelings that they can't control, that they don't even plan to act on, and being treated like predators for it

[the-cryptographer]

was talking about how the amount of explosive material needed for the chantry boom, even /after/ that material been refined from the raw ingredients, is probably a lot more than anders and company could gather from a single trip to the sewers/mines without even bringing a cart. (which is cooroborated by the concept art of anders's bomb setup, although I don't think that picture makes much logistic sense either). all of which makes me wonder if the quest we get in canon was more like a scouting mission for anders to see where he could get the materials or arrange the bomb setup rather than the actual dirty work.

"why did he bothering inviting hawke et al then, if he wasn't even using them for the bulk of the actual labour?"

well, that's the thing. I'm wondering how much hawke et al's involvment in helping anders gather bomb materials is entirely symbolic.

other parts of the same quest are definitely symbolic. asking hawke to distract elthina with questions about mages as he goes about his business in the chantry is symbolic. he knows elthina isn't going to budge at that point. he just needs to build up a situation where she was given this last chance to save herself from what he's about to do, so that he can justify what in his own mind feels unjustifiable (though I do not see it that way, and I don't think merrill or isabela do either for that matter)

and given anders manages to set up the bombs just fine even if you turn down the quest…

how much is hawke et al going to find drakestone and sela petrae symbolic? how much is it making them complicit in the bombing simply for the sake of it? how much is this putting hawke et al in a position where their actions mean 'you're either with me or against me (and nothing imbetween)'?

like he really wants someone on his side so badly. so much so, he's willing to interpret lukewarm statements from hawke about not hurting mages as a radical statement of support. willing to interpret what was probably a lukewarm statement from donnic about disliking meredith as a reason donnic is more meaningfully on his side than aveline's. it's not hard for me to imagine anders spinning hawke et all bumbling around as he gathers samples of shit and sulphur and charcoal into a whole emotional experience of support and solidarity.

"so you're saying this was all a manipulative attempt by anders to gain support - support he didn't even really need - under false pretences?"

yes...? but also... no?

i feel like the thing canon doesn't really quite capture, and the thing i don't want to belittle, is how real and visceral and human these needs are? like, yes, maybe anders doesn't /need/ someone there to help him scout bomb ingredient locations to get the bomb built anyhow but-

to want companionship and personal recognition and support and someone to hold your hand through an emotionally difficult task? those are certainly things that pretty much everyone needs to be happy, even if they can persist and survive without. and anders has been denied these things at a lot of avenues of his life, has been taught he cannot ask for these things plainly and expect to get them. so I think it's entirely understandable that he resorts to manipulative, underhanded, and aggressive methods to get those needs met in lieu of even knowing how to pursue them genuinely anymore.

like- fenris crossed several continents to get to a place and a people for whom his experience of slavery hadn't been entirely culturally normalised. where he wasn't constantly being gaslit about how, actually, what he went through was excusable.

whereas anders is really living in the middle of cultural apologism for the circle as an institution. and where the person he seems to consider his closest friend can't accept and respond to anders trying to give away his mother's pillow as the desperate cry for attention and validation and help that it is.

idk, it's difficult bc- I will definitely make fun of anders's dysfunctional methodology for trying to get the attention and help and support that he needs. because he really does behave in ways that are cruel and aggressive and manipulative and stupidly misaimed and wildly alienating, and turn away people who are actually sympathetic to chase after hawke and varric being their least genuine.

but I never want to make fun of anders actually needing attention and help and support. like, yeah, we all do. all the moreso when we're standing up against tyrants and abusive prison camp wardens.

[altruistic-meme]

of course it's exactly as I suspected

[menstits]

Still thinking about the anon from yesterday and the more i think about it the more mad i get like you're insane for calling kaeya mid i hope you blow up. Bitching in the tags ft arguments my smart sexy boyfriend brought up yesterday while we were talking about this so credit where credit is due

[anumberofcatschilling]

...why do I have such a...don't even have the words, with a character I put to paper with pencil? Fixation? Fixation on them and the misadventures they could possibly get up to.

[intertexts]

=____=

[theusernameiwantisntavailable]

Going insane over civilian characters in hero comics again

[sevilai]

KHJGBDSKJ....gfDNJ.. bd

I LVOE THEM THABK YOU AUHGDS

Message: Tfw you're trying to keep a low profile but your baby sibling is a literal star

I took a bit of creative liberties here, hope you like it!! :D

From: @nerdflowo

To: @sevilai

[neoanedotheart]

Lazy thing i wanted to do!!! they're just silly :3

I think dave is a pretty princess and John is awkward

I'll be yapping below

I believe that Dave texts John right after he gets his ass handed to him DAILY. It usually plays out like this where they banter and Dave never really goes through the extent of explaining what thoroughly happens to him so John lives in forever ignorant bliss. And this leads Dave to feel like there's more of disconnect because he first of all doesn't really know how to articulate his feelings and second abuse doesn't seem like abuse to the victim. So he goes about everyday unknowingly yearning to be saved by someone greater than him, which is why I put the snow white reference at the end hehe.

Snow white as a fairy tale is extremely cliche, you got the prince in shining armor showing up conveniently on a horse and saving the girl. There's always this hierarchy placed upon the story where the damsel in distress is saved by a man, that man being portrayed as a greater being.

And with John taking place as the prince in this context paints him as this greater being. And I feel like a part of Dave envies and despises John for being this way, for being "perfect" or in a way. Greater than him.

The thing is in the original snow white story she's unconscious, that's undesirable. But it adds to the desperation of wanting to be saved, shining a better looking light on a person who isn't really there for reasons you want them to be. However John is a sincere person, it's more so the lack of communication or true understanding of one another that leads to this rift, this belief that John isn't there for Dave because he loves him, but because he's his friend and it's John's duty as a friend to save him. Which also brings me to the last line where Dave never corrects himself, and how he insinuates that he'll be unconscious due to being placed in a glass coffin much like snow white was when she was poisoned. He's at this stage where he doesn't want to be saved by an outer source, a greater person than him. He wants to be saved by himself he wants to prove worthy, but then conflicting within his mind is also this idea he isn't good enough to. We all know that Dave believes he isn't a hero and explicitly states John is the hero multiple times throughout homestuck. So he stays waiting.

John however, refers to Dave as Cinderella, Cinderella gets abused and put through plenty of torture from her step sisters and is saved through marriage of some person she just met. There's still this base line of being saved by man however there's this more mutual understanding of what they're getting into, a similar yearn for one another. Though he never caught her name he was still willing to find her, the real her. Which is John in this case, he probably understands he's missing something in the big picture but can never find out what and the best he can do is hope that the other half still held on to what they once were and was willing to share.

This is a pre-sburb interaction btw they're just unknowingly foreshadowing a shit ton.

Sorry if there's like bad shitty writing in here, I'm rambling and it's like almost midnight hehe

[takes1]

ur blog is so pretty...

if you are okay with it, do you have any headcanons bout what type or p0rn the Karasuno boys would watch? 🌹

what type of p*rn would the karasuno team watch?

warnings. heavy nsfw under the cut. minors DNI

characters. suga. daichi. asahi. tsukki. kageyama. hinata. nishinoya. tanaka. yamaguchi. details. lots of kink discussion - just about anything you can think of

links. my masterlist. my ao3. more haikyuu. my imagines. requests open.

suga९᠀ - likes a good storyline video. loves a bad one. shitty acting gets him laughing, and he needs every chance he can get to feel as though he isn't sinning. won't say no to an amateur flick, but he likes the structure of 4k videos, and is a suuuucker for the 'oiled up' aesthetic.

asahi९᠀ - buddy has a rampant size kink that doesn't get much of an outlet. downside: most videos that cater to this are not what he wants, because of the unavoidable infantilization in most of them. so he opts for amateur vids with bigger guys turning out their smaller girlfriends, wives; extra props if there's some real, organic dirty talk, or if it happens to be super low-quality.

daichi९᠀ - has no shame about his oral fixation. face fucking. deepthroat. he's got any video with some lucky dude getting good head memorized by the title and the preview. his favorites are either: when the guy stays hands-off and silent, or when she takes a load down her throat. not much in between.

tsukishima ९᠀ - is a filthy animal with a porn addiction. will watch/has watched just about everything under the sun. he had a bukkake faze, a gangbang faze, but is now proudly serving his bdsm faze with specific interest in femdoms. shiny, black heels get him hard in an instant. has done the tried-and-true bdsm questionnaire in his spare time and does heaps of research on the community, usually as a pregame to jerking off.

kageyama ९᠀ - no particular preferences. but if he's got a crush on somebody, he will strictly watch lookalikes. it wasn't a conscious habit at first, but after the third time it happened, he couldn't articulate any other reason to look up seven descriptors in the search bar and get 0 results. how well/quickly he gets off is based on how well the actor or subject looks his crush. it's a long endeavor, too. he edges for as long as he can, and almost always does it twice.

hinata ९᠀ - can't watch porn long enough to build any strong preferences. has sensitivity/premature ejaculation issues, so he tends to just listen to whatever video he landed on. this has opened more of a pipeline to nsfw audios, instead. loves the sound of two bodies coming together, especially all the little pants and huffs in a video that aren't faked. has gotten insanely good at being able to tell if it's fake, too.

nishinoya ९᠀ - doesn't watch videos; similar problem to hinata. instead, yuu buys physical hentai novels. big fan of monster-fucking. tentacle stuff is a staple in his readable porn. he guards his collection with his life and would sooner lose a limb than have anybody go near the shelf that he keeps them hidden behind. once, asahi stood too close during a sleepover and -naturally- yuu bit him as a distraction, just to get him away from the area.

tanaka ९᠀ - wlw videos. solo-girl vids. he can't stand to watch something with a guy in it. it's huge turn-off, especially when the dude is too loud, or in the way, too soft, or straight-up ugly. learned to love the slow, women-catered stuff that's 40 minutes long and has plot to follow. also picked up a lot of tongue tricks from these vids, too. (congrats, kiyoko!)

yamaguchi ९᠀ - mmf threesomes. i think ya'll know what i'm getting at, here. either he 1: is poly and doesn't know it, 2: is gay and doesn't know it, 3: is genuinely very enticed by the idea of overstimulating a gorgeous girl, OR 4: can't see himself as enough for a potential partner, and this might be a subconscious way of evading that insecurity.

notes. i'm very sorry to any who were looking for ennoshita, kinoshita, or narita. i tried, but genuinely couldn't get anything going for any of them. they all seem like nice guys, but there's no material that i can properly make nasty.

taglist. @integers @paradoxicalwritings @yuchacco

links. my masterlist. requests open.

[fleuriion]

✦ Chiming Bell ノ MODERN! High school hcs with the Chrysos Heir because I love them so much ⸝⸝ gn reader ⸝⸝ wc: 1780 ✦ Note ; The usual grammar error and spelling mistakes warning ⸝⸝ if they come across as ooc then I apologize because I'm still not very confident in my ability of writing HSR characters haha ⸝⸝ This can be interpreted as both romantic and platonic as your liking! ⸝⸝ will probably edit out some mistakes ⸝⸝ I'm very sorry for not including Hyacine TT

♡ Phainon ⸝⸝ I feel like he's kind of a jock BUT also not a jock. Like, he's not THOSE jocks that get angry at you if you cannot catch the ball that is beaming at 1000 mph to your face. ⸝⸝ Those popular kids that are actually super nice to everyone. I feel like he doesn't judge people much and if he does dislike someone, will not rub it in their face unless they deserve to. ⸝⸝ Basically just a ray of sunshine. Definitely has Mydei as his seatmate and I just imagine Phainon walking into class greeting everyone every morning and then Mydei is just sitting there massaging his temple, wondering how he's so bright this early. ⸝⸝ While he's generally super nice, I think Phainon is also pretty mischievous though. I can already imagine him getting into some light troubles and then having to sweep the hallway as a punishment LMAO. ⸝⸝ Probably enjoys learning history and literature, he just gets super sleepy and perhaps bored in them. Decent at math but HORRIBLE at science like chemistry. Phainon comes up to Mydei as lab partner and Mydei prays the two of them don't get involved in any sorts of explosion or chemical accident /j ⸝⸝ When Phainon is pinning on you, he will 100% turn into a golden retriever. Follows you around in a non-creepy way, helps you carry stuff, probably tries tutoring you the best he could, sometimes ask to have lunch together and then drags you to the rest of his friends. ⸝⸝ Gets super shy about it and it didn't escape his friends. Also gets not bullied but teased a lot for it, when you walked past them far enough, I feel like most likely Mydei would go "holy shit is that Phainon's lover walking past by just now?!" ⸝⸝ When he announced that the two of you are dating to his friends, they would hold their pearl necklace and pretend like they're shocked (except it's so purposefully exaggerated it's hilarious wow Phainon you're so slick!) ♡ Aglaea ⸝⸝ I hc'd that the Chrysos Heir is basically akin to the Student Council in the modern world, so expect no less that Aglaea is definitely the president or at the VERY least the vice president. ⸝⸝ That one strict classmate who always looks her best and behaves the best too. Probably a class president or rep too?? Would reprimand her classmates or the other students to mind both their attire and attitude. ⸝⸝ Teacher's pet, except she's one that you can't really walk over or trample. Girl just has that aura in her for not only being smart but also beautiful?!?! (My GOAT Aglaea as always) ⸝⸝ Looks scary at first glance, but if you need her help with studying she would help say no more! That one meme that goes like "would you let me copy your homework?" "no, but I'll help you with it" ⸝⸝ This may sound pretty personal and specific but hc that she excels and enjoys public speaking. Her words and articulations are probably amazing if you get what I mean... ⸝⸝ Honestly, if she is pinning on you? Nobody would pretty much find out about it unless she personally said so. I'm sorry but Aglaea strikes off to me as the type to be super good at hiding aka slick with her feelings for someone. (Ironically for being the bearer of Mnestia's coreflame in lore lol) ⸝⸝ So when she told her friends that you two are dating, their surprise is actually real and pure. ⸝⸝ It's still noticeable though subtle tho! Aglaea will be extra mindful of you and will no doubt worry about your grades and your performance. Would help you study even if it takes time say less! ♡ Mydei

⸝⸝ Similarly to Phainon, seems like a jock but isn't too much of a jock once you get to know about him. I think it's pretty much just a first impression since he's physically well built and healthy. For someone with his looks, Mydei is a pretty quiet and calm seatmate, ones targeted by people who is just full on comical nonsense (Trailblazer for instance…. They're so stupid I love them).

⸝⸝ Seemingly messy appearance (that slightly loose collar and messily tied tie fix that rn Mydei i hate hastily tied tie and sometimes spends 5 minutes redoing it if I couldn't get it right sobs), but is actually very discipline and a pretty decent student. Also hc that he uses reading glasses.

⸝⸝ Bluddy is probably the first to arrive at class and is usually pretty punctual with a few exceptions being made. Definitely that one friend who sleeps early and wakes up early. Probably lets you copy his homework just so you can get off his ass.

⸝⸝ Excels at history, terrible at math, probably decent at chemistry??? Hear me out though, he's terrible at math and physics but he's interested in them so it's kind of a party pooper LAMFAO (self projecting). Mydei doesn't hate it, he probably just doesn't understand it.

⸝⸝ Those type of guys that people are scared of because of his appearance, but is actually good with juniors. He helps them with studying and getting the subject's concept wrapped around their head and somehow patient for a man that doesn't look like he has patience at all.

⸝⸝ When Mydei pins on you, he won't look nor act THAT much different around you. If you're a much more comical or hilarious kind of person, he endures and tolerates you more. He will offer more lending hands though; for instance, explaining things you don't understand more, willingly tutors you, sneaks gifts into your desk or locker and then softly denies it when questioned (you're not slick bro.)

⸝⸝ Mydei doesn't announce it if you two are dating, rather, his friends found out on their own by the slight flush on his face when he's around you and the way his fierce eyes seemed to simmer down a little when you're around.

♡ Castorice

⸝⸝ SUPER quiet and probably finds it hard to communicate all the time. The reason people know her is mostly because she's apart of the Student Council, but that aside, she's also super kind and nice!

⸝⸝ Hangs around Aglaea a lot and acts as her 'assistant' or similar. Also a teacher's pet except on the more mellow side and one that even the meanest of the mean doesn't have the heart to mock.

⸝⸝ She probably could be vice president.. But that's just a rough gut and because I see her as one. Also reprimands her classmates and other students to be mindful of their attire and attitude.

⸝⸝ Generally good at any subjects given, but I hc that Castorice really likes art and music classes. The atmosphere is quieter and much more peaceful that even her mind could rest a little. Definitely joins clubs like sewing club.

⸝⸝ Sometimes sleeps on recess because I see her as those super-tired looking type of people who can doze off while standing but refrains on doing so in classes. Due to this, probably picks the seat closer to the window to hide away from the lights at the center of the class.

⸝⸝ When Castorice pins on you, she will subtly get super shy around you. Sometimes stutters on her speech and is extra polite at you much to the awkwardness. Be prepared for cuteness overload!!

⸝⸝ Castorice definitely makes things for you! A small crochet plush, flower crowns, or some fake flowers that reminds her of you. Surfs into flower language to express her affection to you by making said flowers for you!

⸝⸝ Castorice would reluctantly yet shyly declares her love for you one random evening, and the rest of the Chyrsos Heir is totally NOT spying at you two from behind some bushes. ♡ Anaxa

⸝⸝ This man is canonically a professor according to the in-game lore what else do I need to say??

⸝⸝ That one smart kid who's super snarky and sarcastic. If you think Mydei is pretty sarcastic for someone, then behold Anaxagoras and his sharp yet elegant tongue that totally does not remind me of a certain doctor.

⸝⸝ He definitely no doubt enjoys subjects science related. Chemistry, physics, biology, name it. Yet nobody really dares to approach him and ask him to be their lab partner due to, again, the aura that surrounds him. You feel like you're shrinking per second you stand next to him if you don't know anything about him. Also hc that he enjoys scientific debates.

⸝⸝ He probably goes overseas to attend science olympics like a lot, and obviously comes back with victory by his side. He's probably academic rivals with Aglaea haha. I can just see them competing for the school's 1st place.

⸝⸝ Anaxa gets avoided by plenty people because of his personality, but he doesn't pay any mind nor does he care about it. After all, his only interest currently is knowledge, isn't it..?

⸝⸝ Well that's until you, who doesn't seem to be that much avoidant of him, came along to his life. Anaxa is that one person that goes deep into denial when he has feelings for someone. "NO. WDYM I HAVE FEELINGS FOR THEM. FUCK."

⸝⸝ The rest of the Chrysos Heir found out about this when one random day, Anaxa suddenly came up to Hyacine and started asking her questions related to feelings that are leaning a little bit tooooo much on the romantic side (much to his dismay and denial). Even with his denial, he found himself coming up to the pink haired girl and asking her about this… Very foreign feeling of what she described as "butterflies fluttering in his stomach" and a suspiciously big grin on her face.

⸝⸝ Like Phainon, Anaxa doesn't escape the constant teasing from the Chrysos Heir for this, mainly Aglaea. She will devilishly giggle into her fingertips and make subtle jabs at him when she talks to you; "[name], do you have just any idea how breathtaking you are?" while giving Anaxa looks to which he responded with not only a glare but a suspiciously burning pair of ear tips <3

[fresalana]

i'll take care of you.

synopsis: first time with kate.

warnings: strap on sex.

type: blurb

a/n: kate martin hours. y'all know how much i love phantom strap. not proof read, sorry for mistakes.

"please- please don't stop-" kate was practically pleading with you as her head fell back, resting against the headboard. she was overwhelmed with the feeling of you on top of her, and she was quickly losing her mind.

"you feel so good- you're perfect," she breathed out, and her words were completely sincere. she was almost unable to articulate a sentence as a result of her bliss.

"i love you, so, so much," you whispered, your breath hot against kate's ear. you both were completely addicted, both unable to get enough of the other. your love for one another was overwhelming, and the only way to express that love was through physical touch. the sex was filled with love throughout. gentle touches and tender kisses. at first, it was steady and gentle, but now it was hard and fast.

"i love you too," kate let out a soft, low moan, and her nails started digging into the flesh of your hips. her hips rocked up when you would push down, desperate for all the friction she could get.

"harder, please, baby-" she pleaded, her head tilted back against the headboard, exposing her arched throat. kate couldn't help but think about what would happen if this ever went further. the thought of calling you her *wife* sent a chill through her body, and her chest warmed at the idea.

"you're mine, forever-" kate spoke in a slightly husky voice as she continued to thrust up, desperate to be as close to you as possible.

"i want all of you. every inch, every part, every bit."

"you're so beautiful- so perfect, all mine," she mumbled as her lips started trailing kisses along your exposed neck and collarbone, leaving little hickies in their path along your skin. her thrusts started growing harder, more sloppy, and she was getting close to the edge.

kate could tell you were overstimulated - you were getting more and more loud as time went on. your moans were getting slightly higher and more desperate, and it was driving her mad. she found herself close to the edge when she heard those pretty sounds coming from you, and she buried her face in your neck to muffle her own moans.

"i'm close-" she breathed out, one of her hands moving down to rub your sensitive clit with her thumb. your movements became jerky as you felt her fingers on your clit. you brought your hand down, clutching hers tightly, your breathing quickening.

"it's okay, baby. i'll take care of you," kate murmured before capturing your lips in a quick kiss, her thumb continuing to rub your clit at the same pace. her movements had slowed down, and it was obvious that she had other priorities in mind.

although you knew you could handle much more, you didn't think you could. with your face tucked into the crook of your neck and your breathing irregular, you were having an orgasm that felt like a freight train. kate could *feel* your sensitivity - you were practically trembling in her lap, and your body was so close to her.

"shh, it's okay-" she tried to soothe you as she felt you grip her hand, her lips against your jaw. her thumb continued its gentle, slow circles on your clit.

"i said i'd take care of you."

[cultivating-wildflowers]

I was debating even responding to this, because I agree that people performing good deeds for acclaim are still “doing good” (I didn’t say they weren’t), but then I googled the trend that irritated me and this was the first thing I saw

It’s not just that the motivation behind an act of kindness does in fact matter; or that some “kindnesses” are actually violating another person’s privacy, safety, or dignity. It’s that these acts are largely ineffective and often backfire as others rush to get their own dopamine hit and check “do a good deed” off of their to-do list with minimal effort and calling it “good enough”. And sometimes it backfires even more and harm takes the place of good.

From the article:

(Click for full text. She goes on to blame violent teenagers and says “a parent would never damage stuff a baby needs” and “women can’t have anything”, which I disagree with.)

To all of those people (especially the “influencers”) saying “I wish I could find that mom and buy her the purse” or “women deserve better”, I have good news! You CAN find a mom in need and buy her something she wants. You probably know several such mothers, or know someone who does. You CAN reach out to organizations in your local community that support women and children. Shelters and food banks and crisis centers ALWAYS need supplies. You CAN check in on your own mom and gift her something as a way to say thank you for everything she sacrificed in raising you.

And not every charity trend rubs me the wrong way. There are some I absolutely love, and others that at least have a clear net positive. The first that comes to mind are the influencer hair stylists who offer free consultations and services to people with damaged and matted hair from long illness. It’s a trend because numerous salons participate, evidently after seeing one do so and get engagement from the videos. There’s the woman who does free home cleanings for people in a similar situation (chronic illness, mobility issues, etc). She raises donations via her platform to provide new furniture for the people she volunteers for. There’s the woman with (I believe) alopaecia who offers free wig consultations and fittings for girls and women with hair loss. They all treat their recipients with dignity and respect and are actively helping an individual, not a faceless hypothetical. And while they definitely earn engagement from what they do, I would argue their platform at least partially allows for people in need to find them.

The problem is that real charity requires elbow grease. It’s not glamorous. It’s up close and personal, and it requires you to be engaged with other human beings, often in your own community. (Unless you’re Mr. Beast digging wells in Kenya and ticking off the local government.) People who participate in these trends would rather shove $10 into a box of diapers or contribute to a scam gofundme they found on tumblr than actually put in any effort doing actual good. If all you can or will do is give money, that’s totally fine. Maybe donate toward Hurricane Helene relief or write a check to your local food bank. Do actual, provable, immediate good, and not just the appearance of good. And then encourage others to do the same.

And stop filming yourself every time you’re a decent human being.

STOP RECORDING YOURSELF PERFORMING ACTS OF CHARITY OR KINDNESS AND THEN POSTING THE VIDEOS FOR INTERNET CLOUT