#ITS THE FACTUALLY CORRECT INTERPRETATION

[these-godforsaken-halls]

listen i will be the first to say that we need to stop harassing cc's about their opinions on shipping and stuff. leave them alone keep it awayyy from them keep it out of their public spaces

that said.

finding out on stream that scott smajor himself ships scarian rpf and in fact considers them significantly more husband-coded ooc than ic? he thinks the ONLY reason a viewer can't see them as husbands is because they don't know scar and grian irl like scott does? funniest thing to EVER happen

[lousycapy]

How statistics can easily be manipulated to fit a certain agenda in Formula 1

Hello! I’ve seen a lot of f1 fans or media sources bring up statistics incorrectly to prove their points recently, which is really getting on my nerves. So here is a comprehensive guide, with examples, of how statistics work and why they are not the be-all and end-all some people might think them to be. This is a pretty long post, so the explanations are all below the cut. With that, I hope you find this useful!

Multiple factors come into play when analyzing a statistic, so I’ve separated them in different categories: what data set is used to make the stat, how the stat can be interpreted and how being factually correct doesn’t equate a valid argument :

THE DATA SET

To make a statistic, you first need values which correspond to a data set. What said data set is made of is very relevant to the exactitude of the stat and how much regard should be given to it.

For example, to determine the average lap times of a driver over a stint you would need to divide the sum of all lap times by the number of laps executed. Which means that theoretically you could use a single lap as an average, e.g. 1:57:325/1 which gives an average lap time of 1:57:325s.

However, as you might imagine this stat is not representative of a driver’s stint, since the lap chosen to be analyzed could very well be an outlier. That’s why sample sizes matter, the more values make up your data set, the more representative of reality the result obtained is.

It is also important to know what the data set consists of. Let’s reuse our average lap times of a driver over a stint example, are outlaps/inlaps included? Is it based on clean air, dirty air? Are there laps excluded due to driver mistakes (e.g. going off track)? A stat being presented without any explanation of how it was calculated is absolutely worthless.

Finally, comprehension of the data set is very valuable as well.

Let’s imagine this fictional scenario where Ferrari makes Charles and Carlos compare average lap times. They both use the same car, on the same track, on the same tires, at the same time, for a stint of a total of 10 laps. Both drivers average a lap time of 80.125s over their whole stint, so is the conclusion that they have both done the exact same thing accurate? No!

Despite having the same average lap times in this scenario, the data set suggests a different conclusion, and different trends. Considering stints in a race are going to be longer than 10 laps, it can be assumed that Charles would average better lap times thanks to his consistency compared to Carlos, who would get worse lap times as time passes as can be observed thanks to the trend line in his graph.

2. INTERPRETATION OF THE DATA

Now that we can recognize the importance of the data set and its constituents, it is time to understand how the data provided can be used to make a statistic.

More than one answer can be correct based on the same sample of data. Despite using the same set, depending on how the data is used it can lead to different statistics that drive different arguments both being factually correct.

For example, I’d like to refer to the wonderful basspro24chevy World’s Destructor Chamionship from Brazil 24 on Reddit in an effort of determining who is the most destructive driver. Here is a chart I’ve made which also includes number of races each driver took part in (Ollie not included I was too lazy to recalculate how it affects the drivers he’s replaced’s damage bill) and the average cost of damage per race of each driver.

Based on these statistics, both arguments could be made to justify either Checo being the most destructive driver, since he’s the one who’s cost his team the most damage over the whole season, or Franco, since he’s the one who on average costs the most for his team per weekend.

Depending on someone’s biases, they could make some drivers look better than others despite using the same data set as another person, and depending on how their argument is justified even if they end up with a different conclusion it doesn’t mean they aren’t right as well.

3. FACTUALLY CORRECT ≠ VALID ARGUMENT

Even if you are factually correct with your statistic’s interpretation, and it is based on an acceptable data set, it doesn’t mean it has a direct link of causality with your argument and provides validation to the point you are trying to make.

For example, someone could argue that Checo is a safer pair of hands in races than Pierre, because over the course of the 2024 season he has DNFed 2 out of 21 races, meanwhile Pierre has DNFed 3 out of 21 races. However, the point being argued here is which driver is a safer pair of hands, and other variables than the drivers come into play when discussing those two’s DNFs.

Indeed, Checo drives a RedBull with a Honda engine, whilst Pierre drives an Alpine with a Renault engine. Out of Checo’s 2 DNFs, 2 were caused by driver mistakes. Out of Pierre’s 3 DNFs, 3 were caused by engine issues. The World’s Destructor Championship can also be used as a counterpoint to Checo being a safer pair of hands than Pierre by comparing damage bills.

Thus, instead of the conclusion being that Checo is a safer pair of hands than Pierre, the DNFs statistic is more appropriate to conclude that the Honda engine is more reliable than the Renault engine.

Which means that to make a valid argument, you need to be able to explain why the statistic presented is relevant and what it suggests. Alleviating circonstances also need to be taken into account to solidify the point being made.

For example, let’s imagine a scenario where Fernando is 1.235s off Lance during a qualifying run. To use this stat in an argument, you need to be able to justify why he was so far off. Was it genuine pace? Did he make a mistake which ruined the lap? Were they on the same tires? Was it track evolution? Are they on the same setup? Did Fernando come across traffic? Did Lance get a significant tow?

Contextualization matters twice as much as the actual statistic being presented, because the statistic without context can easily be manipulated in a way to drive a certain agenda.

4. CONCLUSION

All in all, what I’m trying to say is that even maths can be used to drive agendas. Statistics can not be taken at face value, because there are multiple factors that can influence their relevance. I hope you found this little guide helpful, and that it will help you analyze better the information you see online on how drivers are performing (or argue better with crazed fans, you do you 🫡)

Thanks for reading and have a good day!

[witchyintention]

Red Flags to Watch for Online as a Witch or Pagan

The internet is a wonderful place for witches and pagans to connect, learn, and share experiences. But just like a bubbling cauldron can contain both healing potions and questionable concoctions, the online witchcraft and pagan community has its fair share of red flags. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or a baby witch just starting out, knowing what to look out for can save you from misinformation, scams, and straight-up cult-like behavior.

1. The "One True Way" Mentality

If someone claims their way is the only correct way, run. Fast. Witchcraft and paganism are vast, diverse, and deeply personal paths. No single tradition, spell, or deity is superior to another. Anyone who insists otherwise is likely more interested in controlling you than in fostering genuine spiritual growth.

2. Gatekeeping and Elitism

"You’re not a real witch unless you do XYZ." Sound familiar? Gatekeeping is rampant online, and it usually serves to boost egos rather than build community. Whether it’s requiring a specific lineage, expensive tools, or obscure knowledge, true spiritual paths welcome curiosity and growth, not exclusion.

3. Charging Exorbitant Fees for Basic Knowledge

It’s fair for experienced practitioners to charge for in-depth classes, readings, or handcrafted tools. But if someone wants hundreds of dollars to "unlock your true potential" or sell you a "highly exclusive" spellbook, take a step back. A lot of foundational knowledge in witchcraft and paganism is freely available through books, forums, and online communities.

4. Fear-Based Marketing

Beware of anyone who tells you that you’re cursed and that only *they* can remove it—for a hefty fee, of course. Fear-based marketing plays on insecurity and panic, leading people to spend unnecessary money or perform rituals they don’t understand. Authentic practitioners empower, not frighten.

5. Toxic Positivity or Love-and-Light Only Spaces

Yes, positivity is great, but shadow work and acknowledging the dark are just as important as embracing the light. Beware of spaces that shut down conversations about struggle, trauma, or the more challenging aspects of spiritual growth. True spirituality isn't just "good vibes only."

6. Cult-Like Behavior

If a group or individual discourages questioning, insists you cut off family and friends, or demands unwavering loyalty, you’re stepping into cult territory. Healthy communities encourage independence and critical thinking.

7. Misinformation and Historical Inaccuracy

Social media is full of posts that sound mystical but are factually incorrect. If someone confidently declares that "witches were burned at the stake in Salem" (they weren’t, they were hanged), or claims an ancient spell that clearly came from a 1970s book, do some fact-checking. Reliable sources and scholarly research are your friends.

8. Unverified UPG as Universal Truth

UPG (Unverified Personal Gnosis) refers to personal spiritual experiences. They can be powerful, but they’re just that—personal. If someone insists their deity *only* communicates in a specific way or that their interpretation is the only correct one, take it with a grain of salt.

9. Overuse of Fear Tactics About "Wrong" Practices

While certain precautions in magic are important, some practitioners online will have you believe that if you so much as light a candle incorrectly, you’ll be cursed for eternity. Magic isn’t that fragile. Mistakes happen, and the universe isn’t waiting to punish you for using the wrong incense.

10. Exclusivity and Hierarchies in Online Groups

Some online covens or groups try to create a hierarchy where only a select few are deemed "worthy" of deeper knowledge. While mentorship and initiatory traditions do exist, beware of groups that make you jump through endless hoops for basic spiritual insights.

11. Fake "Secret Ancient Knowledge" Claims

If someone claims to have knowledge that no one else in the history of witchcraft has ever had and will only share it for a price, it’s likely nonsense. Most magical traditions have been passed down for centuries, and while personal gnosis is valid, true wisdom isn’t exclusive.

12. Cultural Appropriation Disguised as Spirituality

Be mindful of practitioners who claim to be able to teach you "Native American Shamanism" when they have no actual connection to the culture, or those who mix and match sacred traditions without understanding them. Respect and research go a long way.

13. Demonization of Certain Practices Without Context

If someone tells you that working with certain deities or spirits is automatically "evil" without any nuance, they’re likely spreading fear-based misinformation. Not every dark god is "dangerous," and not every light being is "safe." Context is everything.

14. "Instant Results" Promises

If someone guarantees that their spell or product will give *instant* results, be skeptical. Magic, like anything worth doing, takes effort, energy, and patience. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

15. Dismissing Science Entirely

While magic and spirituality involve metaphysical elements, dismissing science completely is a big red flag. If someone tells you that "quantum physics proves magic is real" but can’t explain how, or insists that modern medicine is useless in favor of "pure energy healing," be cautious.

Final Thoughts

Navigating the online witchcraft and pagan community can be both magical and overwhelming. The key is to stay curious, question things that don’t sit right, and trust your intuition. The best teachers and communities will encourage your growth, not stifle it.

Happy practicing, and may your online journey be as enlightening as your magical path!

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How to Support the Blog

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[orchideous-nox]

Regarding Ethan/p4perback

Upon reviewing the stream that Ethan/EJ/p4perback did on October 11th 2024 called "clearing up some stuff", there is a specific thing that he said that needs to be discussed because I have not seen a single person mention this. And yes, we are using names now. I will be speaking factually about this one particular thing Ethan said in this livestream and this thing alone. Yes, I have opinions on other things he said, however, these are down to my interpretation of Ethan's words and attitude and therefore do not have a place in this post. Maybe in the future I will speak more openly about other my opinions if I feel like it, but not in this post. I am in no way speaking on anyone's behalf either, this is purely from me.

At 02:34:32, Ethan reads out a comment explaining that the mod who made a thread about Ethan uses it/xin/they pronouns on Twitter (it has since made a post saying it does not use they pronouns) but told Ethan directly it uses it/its. Ethan then replied by saying:

"Maybe it's because it's a day-to-day thing, I know that there are people who are genderfluid. Or they just did it to trip me up. Could be one or the other."

As someone who identifies as genderfluid, I find it incredibly hurtful to insinuate that someone who is genderfluid or uses multiple pronouns or neopronouns would give someone the incorrect pronouns to "trip them up". This is disgusting and hurtful and it shouldn't take being genderfluid to understand why you should not say something like this.

The person Ethan was referring to told Ethan its pronouns directly and therefore he should believe that it was being sincere and honest rather than misgendering itself to "trip" Ethan up.

I'm going to address the rest of this directly to Ethan, not that I expect him to see this, but I hope people pay attention. Not everybody has a constant agenda to catch you out Ethan, I understand this stream was following a Twitter thread regarding you, however, I believe the mod/ex-mod wanted accountability for current actions as well as past ones. But its gender and pronouns have nothing to do with this. If somebody had said you told them you were using he/him pronouns to trip them up, you would be enraged and rightfully so, please consider this and look back at what you said in your stream.

You said this on a stream of hundreds if not thousands of people who look up to you and admire you and expect explanations for things outlined in the thread. Like I said, I'm not going to acknowledge anything said in that thread right now, but I understand it was a stressful situation to go through. You were tired, exhausted, and in pain from filming and travelling, but this does not excuse what you said about your ex-mod's pronouns and frankly, it would be appalling if you used that as an excuse. If you were tired to the point of saying things you did not mean in a stream where you are trying to be genuine, honest and authentic, end the stream. If you were tired to the point of accusing someone of purposefully misgendering itself for the same of tripping you up, please consider where this came from within you.

I appreciate you really tried to get its pronouns correct in the stream, adjusting to pronouns you are unfamiliar with and how to use them respectfully can be a struggle, I say this as someone who has had to be patient with a lot of people getting used to they/them pronouns for my sake, but you can be angry at someone without saying things that are hurtful not just to that person but to an entire community of people. I would expect better from you.

Finally, I want to end with a message to Ethan's fans if they have read this far. I have seen some a lot of people including Andy in the comments of posts on multiple platforms that about Ethan, who very clearly want to defend and support Ethan and see him happy. I think it is great that you support someone so faithfully and defend them. However, there is a portion of the community who fail to recognise that people don't have to like Ethan and they will have their reasons for this. We are entitled to our opinions. You are entitled to like Ethan, we are entitled not to. You can think of him however you like, I used to watch Ethan's tiktoks and like them and share them with friends, but you do not need to tell people they are jealous of what he has and that they're bullying Ethan for no reason simply because they don't like him. This post is not bullying, it is accountability.

Please give that same kindness to others that you say Ethan gives to his community. I know this saying is overdone but it is free to be kind, it is also free to be respectful and understand what spaces are for you and what aren't. Yes, people are talking about Ethan now and eyes are on him, but they are on you too. I will not stand for harassment and bullying for expressing how his words made me feel. Please be respectful.

[orcinus-veterinarius]

Hey! I have some questions about water animals.

1. Sorry if this is a bit morbid, but I read in a book a few years ago that vets use clove oil to euthanize fish, and do they still do that?

2. Are there any other animals besides starfish, sponges, and jellyfish that don’t have brains?

3. Are jellyfish the only ones without hearts?

4. I know now that most of the stuff in Blackfish is bunk but is there anything right in there? If so, what? I know Dawn Branchau really died and I know about the first Shamu, but was any of the other stuff in there right, or was it literally just the two facts and then a bunch of BS?

5. Read somewhere that dolphins can do math, is that correct?

Yes! Clove oil is considered an acceptable method of euthanasia for fish. Its active ingredient, eugenol, induces painless loss of consciousness and then death. But I would always advise consulting with a veterinarian before making end-of-life decisions for a pet fish. All animals, fish included, deserve dignity and care.

Jellyfish are cnidarians, an enormous phylum of animals (including corals and sea anemones) that do not have brains. Neither do echinoderms like sea stars and sea urchins. However, many of these animals still have rudimentary nervous/sensory systems that allow them to interact with their environment. Except sponges. They have nothing.

Basically none of the animals I mentioned above have hearts either!

It's been a long time since I watched Blackfish, but as far as I know, there are no completely fictious stories in it. The issue lie more in the interpretations of factual events ("Tilikum killed Dawn Brancheau = he's psychotic from captivity") and, to a lesser extent, the use of misleading visuals (i.e., footage of an orca with its mouth open "screaming," when orcas vocalize entirely through their blowholes).

They can recognize numbers, but we do not know if they can perform mathematics the way a human does.

[werecreature-addicted]

Im sorry if this is a weird question!

Im writing a fallen angel for a story i have, and it’s supposed to be a conduit and also a character study but i keep getting caught up in accurate portrayals and instead of slutting out the idea of someone whos sinned discovering sins that feel good n why and also a lil bit of guilt and repression into bible study. Like fucckkk Biblically angels have no form no dick no gender and by projecting sin am i divorcing my character from divinity (the hot thing) and making them illogically susceptible too callous/fragile in their fall? Is my interpretation of the bible and its fallen angels fetishistic to the point of missing the core? Am i doing a disservice to the complexity by indulging in the devotion and worship sharpened into a point by proxy of the fall, an angel now getting to choose its own master, should i leave it to people who ‘get it’ more?

Basically i keep falling into the ‘Not narratively or factually correct or compelling. Orgasm denied.’ Trap. 😔

How would you go about writing such a character? Is it a very interpretive, personal trope, is there some inherent truisms i can keep in mind, or should i scrap? Or not the point- is this the fun cop in my head speaking? Id love to hear your thoughts!

The Bible has always been a living text. While everyone has their own personal translations, no one interpretation is going to be more true than another, despite what every single religious sect will tell you. We are all unique individuals. We all bring our own baggage and experiences to the Bible and we will all see that reflected back at us in different ways. This is true of all art really but I think it’s really potent when it comes to this ancient book that has been adapted and translated and reimagined and recontextualized hundreds- thousands of times. To focus on consensus misses the point I think.

The Bible says we are all made in gods image, that we have that spark of divinity deep in our bodies- but we’re more than that there’s a whole soul and body and life around that divine spark. To shame yourself for not meeting the standards set by others is to sacrifice your own personal relationship to god to the point it borders on sacrilege. Because really the point, or at least one points, of the Bible is to meet god through the stories it tells and everyone will have a different favorite part or a part that moves them to tears.

To use the word of god as fuel for fallen angel smut is just as noble and valid use of the Bible as anything. In fact I’d argue it is more beautiful than a lot of the evil people do in the name of the Bible. To create art is the most important thing you can do in your life and I’m telling you now if you let yourself be dissuaded from this story it will haunt you for the rest of your life until you do write it. This has happened to me and to every writer I know. because you love the story so much you think you cannot do it justice, that the story deserves a “better” author but the truth is that you are the only one who can do it justice because of that love!!! No one else can do your passions for you and any god who claims to love his creations would want you to write that fallen angel smut.

Angels were gods first attempt at making humans so I think it’s perfectly within the bounds of Christianity to say that angels could have some sort of dick and balls situation going on. Just- you know a rough draft version. Or perhaps they are so different from humans that they have entirely new and alien erogenous zones. Maybe their human lover is accidentally getting them off with a touch that was meant to be platonic. Or vice versa. The angel doesn’t realize that fingering a human is sex and they stumble backwards into committing a sin. Orgasms are mostly mental anyways. Maybe they don’t need to be touched just talked to in the right way to get them off.

There is a lot of fun to be had with angels and with fallen angels and personally I think the kind of smut that comes from it should be character driven and tied to the reason they fell in the first place and focusing on character motivations for having sex will probably help move the story along.

Angels are known for their devotion. Did they like Lucifer fall for being too devoted to god and not being willing to put another master (mankind) before him? How would that play out in the bedroom? Would they be bratty and defiant only becoming pliant and obsessively obedient after being broken by a sadistic human? Or are they so desperate to serve someone- anyone- they’re moping around bdsm clubs just falling at the feet of any dom who will play with them and assure them they’re being a good obedient pet? Do they see humanity as beneath them and that a human only exists for their pleasure? Toys meant to be broken?

Sometimes if you’re struggling to have a concrete answer to the question “is this something this character would do?” It’s better to ask yourself the reverse “what circumstances would make this character do X?” And see if that helps.

I think it’s perfectly fine to deny your angel orgasms as long as you the writer aren’t denying yourself peak erotic wish fulfillment. The best writing advice is always follow your heart and do what you think is hot, let the rest fall into place afterwards.

TL;DR: the Bible is a great jumping off point for your erotic fallen angel fantasies but don’t get too caught up in being accurate or a faithful adaptation and never stop creating horny, self indulgent art.

[invested-in-your-future]

One of the interesting aspects to me when writing about two events happening simultaneously in locations half a world apart is how the loss of information can play a role, and how people with different knowledge might interpret it differently.

It is such a useful tool to highlight the breakdown of communication, especially in a story where the focus is on its importance and how a lack of communication sows division.

Specific different things are happening in Vale, Mistral, Vacuo, and Atlas, yet characters in each location are only really aware of their surrounding circumstances right now.

Likewise, this provides the possibility to delay specific context for the audience too. We often don't think about six degrees of separation unless it's pointed out to us, so it's fascinating to delay that knowledge and have specific events happen in a specific way without the characters involved (or the audience) being aware of how and what had set them in motion.

A character can enter a town and have a completely different experience there from someone close to them. They might experience something and not have the context of how it relates to someone they know, too.

Case in point, Nemea.

To Ruby, its value comes from Pyrrha's family hailing from here (and from the specific circumstances of the journey there). The city is new and unexpected—something completely foreign and alien. It opens up new possibilities for her, both negative and positive.

Meanwhile, for Blake, the city is woefully familiar—a place that had shaped her, providing a formative experience for the path she chose.

To Yang and Weiss? It's just a random city somewhere on the map right now. Literally just a location name.

By being divided, the four of them are provided with completely unique experiences and learning different things.

In a way, the four lead characters become the microcosm reflection of the macrocosm of the four Kingdoms.

What happens when the said characters meet? Is there a factual "correct' stance to take then?

I think it's interesting to ponder upon.

[moonshynecybin]

everyone has their own interpretations but 2me marc’s primary erogenous zone is the racetrack

factually correct information. literally in my head my man marc sees vale do an asshole overtake on him as a hey. fuck you. while they were testing those bikes in portimao in preseason and he goes okay motherfucker ! and they just start fucking racing each other. can’t help it! they did the same thing on a familiarization or practice lap in assen 2016 if i’m not mistaken ! like genuinely they’re both just wrong in the head. i digress. vale passes marc, marc hits back immediately (vale voice he bites down harder….) and then they realize there’s limited media presence to report/annoy them on this SOOOO they can go buckshit crazy and suddenly it’s a real fucking race. academy kids like uh what the hell. alex like. cmon. enea’s in a raybans commercial. ALL THIS TO SAYYYYY the thrill of earnestly getting to race vale for the first time in a hot minute (they’re on unfamiliar bikes. his arm is healthy. it’s been a while…) and vale like. GIVING IT TO HIM a bit on track gets him so hornyfrustrated he’s pissed off for the rest of the day just wanting something he can’t have. explains these pictures to me VERY well. a mix of repressed sexual frustration and anger because he KNOWSSS hes only gonna get this precise blend of emotions when vale is out there with him. penis starts throbbing my arch rival is near.... of course little does he know that its the most alive on track that vale has felt in literal YEARS and hes in the exact same little sexy boat. and then he knocks on marc's door in jerez

[xxven323nevxx]

OC introduction!!

Basics

Full name: Zero

Species: ???/ human

Age: ???

Height: 5’ 7” / ≈173cm

Gender: alien. (amab/ non conforming)

Pronouns: doesn‘t care and therefore adapts to humanity‘s norms; mostly he/ they/ it

Sexuality: AroAce (because I am)

Appearance

Hair: Black hair (usually short, varies in length)

Eyes: grey-ish, depends on the lighting

Looks: somewhat unassuming looks, average build

Clothing Style: anywhere between casual and somewhat fem

I’m not super specific with the looks because I love the creative freedom and situational interpretations! :3

Origin

Zero was created, not born. Or at least he does not have any memories from before his creation. He might have been a regular teenager growing up but if so, he doesn't remember anything. The origin of his abilities are it's creation too. Wether or not they exited before, they didn't have abilities. Zero is at the same time 100% human and 100% not human. The paradox resulted in a battle between the two which could only be resolved with the help of Welt Yang ( from Honkai Impact/ Honkai Star Rail). I like to leave space for theories wether they were a human before creation or were fabricated merely for the cause of creation :> The reason for it's creation was likely to be a war weapon, but that plan lowkey very much failed (fck war).

Abilities

Oh boy… where do I even start? I made him purposely OP so his abilities are kinda… complicated. It has a reality altering/ mind related ability, but neither terms are actually 100% correct. And I also made him immortal bc why not.

1. Mind related abilities include (but are not limited to): Mind reading, telepathy, mind control, hallucinations, you name it. These abilities have absolutely zero (hehe) drawbacks. There are no limitations in range, quantity, quality, duration etc. Neither does this require concentration nor effort - not anymore, at least. They can use this ability at will. The only downside is not being able to manipulate their own mind.

2. Expanding these abilities to inanimate objects (which makes the term ‘mind related’ factually wrong. I still like to use it to make my explanations easier to understand, though): Most abilities that apply to animate beings work on inanimate objects too. A book could be controlled and moved just like a person could be, creating a telekinesis-like effect. However, they could not “read a books mind” because a book simply does not think. If the ability is applied to an inanimate object, it has to stick to the object’s capabilities (e.g. a book has atoms which can be moved but does not have thoughts to be read). This part of the ability is harder to master and requires concentration.

2.1 What determines if and how much effort or concentration it takes to use the ability on someone or something? Consciousness/ intelligence. Beings with a consciousness are generally easier to manipulate (same goes for the existence of a brain). The more intelligence a creature has, the easier it is to manipulate. However, all animate beings require no effort or concentration (thanks to their personal skill level). But even with inanimate object’s there are still differences: Technology for example is pretty easy to manipulate too while it will be harder to manipulate a simple rock. The better the tech, the easier the manipulation.

2.2 Trainability: These abilities can be trained. His skill level may increase/ decrease as time passes. This applies mostly to the inanimate object part. Its skills were originally uncontrolled and trained until he finally mastered them. Manipulating animate beings effortlessly has become a permanent thing while manipulating inanimate things varies according to the training status.

3. Specials, loop holes etc.: Numerous silly special abilities and loop holes come with this. Since its ability relies a lot on manifestation-based mechanics, it is possible to make e.g. a human think they never existed, resulting in an irreversible sudden disappearance that I like to describe as crumbling into pieces into dust into nothing as their cells die and dissolve. Creepy, right. That’s why it’s careful with sharing this part of their ability - in fact, they didn’t know about it for a long time themselves. Similar use of the ability is possible, like making someone believe they had superpowers so much that they actually get them (I rarely use this in my lore though)

4. Not really an ability per se, but space- & time travel: I don't feel competent enough to come up with an actual way of space-time travel, but thanks to the range of Zero's ability they found a way for space- & time travel, eventually figuring out how to travel between universes. The timeline's a mess, one day I write lore where he is like 25y/o and the other they're 10,000+ y/o, lol. I guess this point makes much more sense once u realise how much info they had access to in their origin world (colliding universes).

5. Last but not least: immortality. It is unclear wether they were immortal to begin with (they were able to pass out with dropping vitals though) but he acquired a form of immortality in a Honkai: Star Rail related universe. There, they became mara-struck (it's too much to explain here, but you can go read about it online!). It's only thanks to their ability that it's able to remain sane and manipulate the mara. He takes advantage of it by manipulating it anywhere between complete supression of the mara and enhancing it's healing abilities to stay immortal at will.

5.1 pain tolerance: While it is immortal, his pain receptors work just fine. He feels every bit of pain inflicted upon him but regularily exposes himself to it in order to maintain his resilience (it does a lot of not-very-humane-things since it's not just human).

5.2 How does immortality work? There's different approaches to immortality. In their case, it's regeneration based for anyone interested. He can heal any wounds that have previously been inflicted and does so almost instinctively.

6. Huge af brain: Where to store all of this information from hundreds and thousands of years of living? Where to store all the information from e.g. mind reading? In an infinitely large space. Zero has an infinitely large amount of brain capacity. He's not above average smart, but can remember things easily.

Personality

Strengths: Morals, abilities

Weaknesses: illiterate af (languages lowkey sound and look the same)

Likes: Adventures, challenges, the unexpected, the unknown, traveling, and anything exciting. His sword, dressing up from time to time, using their abilities in general, Welt Yang.

Dislikes: boredom, repetition, explaining his abilities to others & questions about them, reading, writing, daily nuisances, routine

Morals: A strong understanding of their own abilities that came at a high price and an according set of morals. Carefully thinks about the consequences before using them (esp. to large extents). Zero is very fond of the balance of the world and takes a neutral standpoint with a willingness to choose a side depending on the situation. They also don't believe in stereotypes of good and evil.

Other character traits & quirks: either nonchalant af or the most chaotic fucker known to mankind, confident but only rightfully so.

Universes

So far, I have written lore for Bungo Stray Dogs, Naruto, Jujutsu Kaisen, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Saiki K, Honkai: Star Rail, Dr Stone, Death Note and probably a few more. There's a few major events early on in Honkai related universes and I wrote a shit ton of Bungo Stray Dogs lore from multiple different timelines. I also wrote a teensy bit of Devil May Cry lore (or tried at least) and some not canon What-If Doctor Who lore with the 10th Doctor. All in all, I think I put about 400 hours into lore writing. I kinda lost track of the exact time though, oopsies :3

I usually write 1:1 interactions because everything else overwhelms me, lol. And I really focus on character dynamics, parallels and differences which is easier to do with only 2 or a few characters. I also try to stay in character for both parties with very few exceptions due to different personalities in characters in different timelines (a.k.a. an excuse to write the plot I want even if it's not in character).

[darkmaga-returns]

OpenAI Text Summary

The text discusses the evolution and application of advanced AI technology, specifically focusing on a system called Deep Research developed by OpenAI. Ron Unz, the author, shares his experiences with AI in the context of fact-checking his own articles published on his platform, The Unz Review. After initially experimenting with chatbot technology to engage readers with simulations of various authors, Unz transitioned to using Deep Research to fact-check his extensive body of work—over a million words. This new AI system offers a more in-depth and nuanced analysis of articles compared to conventional chatbots, promising remarkable accuracy in evaluating complex narratives.

Unz highlights the capabilities of Deep Research, particularly in identifying factual inaccuracies within his articles. He describes how the AI can generate detailed critiques that go beyond surface-level assessments, analyzing the logical consistency and representation of sources in his writing. Unz observes that while the AI effectively corrects minor inaccuracies, it also raises questions about the broader accuracy of his claims, often challenging the mainstream narrative. This thoroughness has led Unz to appreciate the AI’s contributions to his work, despite the inherent limitations of the technology, such as occasional failures in its processing.

Throughout the text, Unz shares specific examples of fact-checking conducted by the AI on various controversial topics he has written about, such as the JFK assassination, racial violence, and the role of British intelligence in U.S. politics. In many instances, the AI affirmed the accuracy of his claims, lending credibility to his often contentious perspectives. However, it also flagged certain assertions as speculative or exaggerated, prompting Unz to engage with the feedback critically. The author emphasizes that while the AI is a powerful tool for verifying information, it also highlights the subjective nature of interpreting historical events.

In conclusion, Unz expresses a high level of confidence in the accuracy of his writings, bolstered by the comprehensive analyses provided by the Deep Research AI. He acknowledges the potential for error and the complexity of fact-checking in historical discourse but remains steadfast in his belief that the majority of his assertions are well-founded. The engagement with AI technology has allowed him to refine his arguments, correct past mistakes, and present his work with a renewed sense of reliability. Unz's exploration of AI in the context of fact-checking serves as a testament to the evolving landscape of information verification in an era where digital tools offer unprecedented access to knowledge and scrutiny.

[comiverse]

...Okay but hear me out; DID!Ink.

Just- just think about it! What if each paint vial represented/switched to a different alter every time he drank them? Like--

❤️ Red would be a very pissed off and violent alter, and they would probably be to blame for most of Ink's outbursts. However, they would also be known for their determination, and the fact that they will not give in easily to anything that they don't see fit.

🧡 Orange would definitely be a leader type; a strong, stubborn, and sturdy alter who more often than not knows what they're doing. They would be very street-smart, knowing how to easily defend themselves and possibly others if needed.

💛 Yellow would be a bubbly, sunshiny, happy-go-lucky alter who saw the bright side in anything and everything. Sure, they'd be irresponsible and mayyybe a little unhinged, but hey! They'd be the warm ball of joy that lit up everyone's day.

💚 Green would be a very... judgmental alter. They would point out every single little flaw in everything with zero regards, and they would tend to also be narcissistic. However, they are indeed good for creating aus, since they'd make sure each one had no code glitches.

🩵 Light Blue would rarely be used, but they would be a quiet, shy, fearful alter who just wanted to be left alone. They would be a more panicky and pessimistic type who's a bit of a Debbie Downer, and they would likely get very concerned over the smallest of things.

💙 Blue would be a gentle, protective, and bittersweet alter who tends to be depressive. They'd try not to bring others down, but it would be their nature to be like a melancholic rain cloud that hovers around, trying to find a purpose. They'd also be quite empathetic.

💜 Purple would be prickish as fu-- *ahem*, I mean, they would be a mysterious and distant alter who is very knowledgeable, especially when it came to aus. They would also be very book-smart, but they don't tend to 'grace people with their expertise' very often.

🩷 Pink would also rarely be used, but they would be a flirtier and softer alter. They would either be seen as annoying for flirting so often, or they would be loved for their gentleness. They may also be quite clingy at times.

🖤 Black... cannot be switched to via a vial, nor is it represented by one. It is characterized by its complete lack of morals, and its use as a last-ditch survival resort. It could not care less about anything or anyone other than itself, and it will do anything to stay alive.

🤍 White would be the host of the system! They would be numb, emotionless, but not without morals like Black. They would pretty much be a blank slate for all of the other alters to inhabit, but they otherwise wouldn't really serve a purpose.

Don't ask where this idea came from, I have no clue either- ;-;

I haven't named any of the alters yet, this is just the basics! I don't know if I'll actually keep the au, but maybe. We'll see.

Also, I cannot say that this is actually accurate to real life DID cases; this is just a fictional au with fictional interpretation, so I'm sorry but not sorry if this isn't a correct portrayal of the disorder! Remember that this is just for fun, and it isn't meant to be either fully factual or offensive in any way.

[professorspork]

Hey, a little while ago, you reblogged that post about AI learning when people insert fics into AI text generators, and I wanted to offer good news and bad news: the good news is that AI learning models mostly don’t work like this. The publicly accessible text generator isn’t the whole learning model, it’s a single machine that the learning model generated. It won’t get fed directly back into the AI.

The BAD news is that there’s not really anything stopping them from saving that information separately to use later, and (much worse) anything that’s publicly available has probably already been scraped and saved. The good-in-this-context-but-depressing-overall news is that these models operate on the scale of billions of words, so, like. Idk. Individual fics ending up in a database mostly isn’t going to matter. That’s part of why the data-scraping isn’t something devs think about, ethically. This info is a paraphrase of another post I’ve seen going around saying the same thing, but I can personally corroborate it; before AI was a “crypto people hate when artists can earn a living” thing, I took some college courses on it and followed blogs about AI stuff for years. The last year or two of AI news has been really shitty :P It’s been really cool to me for a long time, but it is now clear that it’s even-more-vulnerable-than-usual to “capitalism uses every tool for oppression first” Knowing how it works is exhausting because anti-AI people are sometimes not all that much more accurate about how it actually works than the fervently pro-AI “I think chat-gpt is a person and human-generated art is dead” people, and then both of them skip talking about the more concrete problems like the “chat-gpt is propped up by slave labor” stuff.

I really appreciated this series of asks and wanted to make it available for all!

I think what we run into here is where like. A rhetorical device to invoke a sense of stakes and a bit of a guilt trip ("this is plagiarism because it feeds the AI" and its many permutations) can run up against misinformation (it's not literally becoming part of the AI's knowledge base, though as you noted it certainly COULD.) Because like

Where that post was coming from was someone being like "but why shouldn't I do this?" and the answerer resorting to "because it takes my work away from me" and this is still true in like, the rules of community and creativity if not necessarily in the hard lines of code. it's harder to articulate "this makes me uncomfortable because it's violated my ineffable sense of mutual belonging with and ownership of my own work, which I already felt on shaky ground on because it's fanwork but still FEEL with my WHOLE HEART" than it is to say "this concretely makes my words fuel for the machine" which I think people grok as a more sort of understandable breach of that social contract.

Which is why I like this post a lot because it gets at the WHY of why this is so perturbing and violating and isolating

Fandom was never meant to be a solo endeavor! when I write fic and put it out into the world, it's like echolocation. the words I put out are only half of what gives it shape and meaning to me-- the other half is the sound of it reverberating back to me as it bounces off the people it hits by way of comments, tags in reblogs, and DMs and they tell me their reactions and interpretations. that's what makes it a complete picture and not just screaming into the void.

to be removed from that process at all is a heartbreak to me; to have my words taken without my consent is insulting and misses the point and just. ultimately makes all of us that much more alone. which is to say that it's factually correct to say individual fics ending up in a database won't matter because it's probably already been scraped anyway because that's true for the AI and for the data. but individual fics DO matter insofar as like, these are choices people are making about what this hobby is and means and why they like it and what they think it's for and how they enjoy it, on a communal and social level, and THAT matters to me a great deal, in the same way that like, people now might end up getting videoed for a tiktok without their consent or whatever. it's about the erosion of privacy and respect.

but also yeah ChatGPT also runs thanks to exploited and underpaid workers, consumes horrific amounts of water in a time of increasing drought crisis and emits tons of carbon to boot.

[saltybean03]

if godrick was a "distant relation" that could mean a lotta things, esp since the archives or whatever about him were destroyed like the library of alexandria. im gonna go over a few of my personal favorite theories, if yall dont mind!

first and foremost, i like to imagine it means he was conceived by marika and a tarnished we dont know about, which might explain the diluted blood, and possibly..

..why so much info regarding godrick's past is gone. if marika was ashamed of her actions, it would make sense that she had that section of history cut out, especially with her being royalty n all with a reputation to uphold

second runner up, it could also mean marika had so many children that by the time godrick came along, the blood had lost most of its potency. and in the context of gods and demigods, i dont see why this wouldn't be a thing

Now i had to look this up, but godrick could be either Godfrey's OR Godwyn's son. Sticking with the first theory, if Marika was getting around, then who's to say Godrick's dad WASN'T a tarnished? She had consorts, which, to me, means none of her relationships were all that serious. yes, she had kids with them, but you know gods by now. they just kinda have kids willy nilly, only to either neglect them (omen twins) or praise them so much (miquella) that they become shitheads, not thinking of how it'll impact things, namely the rest of the lineage..

to add, and im not saying it occurred, weakened genes can ALSO be the result of uh.. inbreeding

and again, given the context of gods and demigods, who are beings known to "keep it in the family", it IS a possibility - especially when we consider the whole ordeal with miquella and radahn

third, is that godrick isnt even true kin to marika, but maybe to two other people who were related her, if we're gonna really stretch the distance thing

And i can hear mfs already. "Then he would look like those parents!"

mmmmmm, not necessarily. kids can look like their third aunt or fifth uncle, depending on how strong those genes are. and given we dont know who conceived godrick's parents, its open to interpretation. morgott looks the most like his daddy, but istg the rest of that family looks nothing like their parents..

just sayin. excluding mohg, for obvious reasons

but anyway, my last theory is that he's adopted. but not from nothing. maybe someone on marika or godfrey or godwyns side had him, and didnt want him because of his weak blood, and any one of those gods took him in (preferably godfrey)

in conclusion, i feel like anything is possible in a world where there's literal fucking magic, living jars, and dragons and that this whole post should be taken with a grain of salt because i could be completely wrong about ALL of this

byyyyye ✨ (also feel free to correct me on any factual info i got wrong, im not neck deep in the fandom like that)

[mkenvs3000f24]

Unit 10 Blog Post

Developing My Personal Ethic as a Nature Interpreter

Interpreting nature is an opportunity to inspire, educate, and foster deep relationships between humans and the natural world, not just a job or duty. As I cultivate my own ethics as a nature interpreter, I think carefully about the values I uphold, the obligations I have, and the methods that best suit my character and life experiences. These components will be examined in this blog post, which will weave together the knowledge I've gained from this course, my past experiences, and my future goals.

Beliefs That Shape My Approach

My conviction in the inherent worth of nature is the foundation of my work as a nature interpreter. My early upbringing in an environment with well-kept parks and gardens gave me a deep appreciation for the natural world. These areas served as more than just backgrounds for my life; they were havens of inspiration, happiness, and comfort. Nature can be a source of serenity, concentration, and sensory engagement, as Richard Louv stated in Last Child in the Woods. These encounters shaped my conviction that nature merits our protection not because it is useful but rather because it is valuable in and of itself.

The value of developing a close relationship with nature is another guiding belief. The notion that people protect what they love inspires me greatly. I want to encourage people to take care of the environment by giving them the chance to feel amazement and wonder in natural environments. This viewpoint supports the notion that interpreting nature is about fostering a closer bond between humans and the natural world rather than only dispensing knowledge.

Responsibilities as a Nature Interpreter

I recognize the responsibility that comes with being a nature interpreter. First and foremost, it is your role to convey important and correct information. In a time of environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change, it is critical that I base my interpretations on facts while also making difficult subjects approachable and relatable to a wide range of audiences.

Promoting accessibility and inclusivity is a further responsibility a nature interpreter would have. Everyone has a right to nature, yet access to its wonders may be privileged; restricted by obstacles, whether they are educational, cultural, or physical as discussed in Unit 3. By developing interpretive experiences that speak to people of all backgrounds and skill levels, I hope to dismantle these boundaries. This entails taking into account various learning preferences and making sure my language and teaching strategies are welcoming and inclusive.

My obligation to future generations is just as significant. Children are not only participants in the events of today, but they will also be the future stewards of the environment, as Richard Louv discussed in Unit 8. Young people can develop lifelong curiosity and compassion by being exposed to the wonders of nature, whether through up-close interactions with wildlife, an engrossing tale, or a practical activity.

Approaches That Reflect My Personality and Skills

My approach to interpretation is both disciplined and dynamic, as I thrive on organization, passion, and goal-oriented communication. Presenting factual information while fostering moments of wonder and engagement is something I try to balance. One of my favorite methods is storytelling, since it enables me to relate relatable anecdotes to scientific principles. For instance, in our first Podcast instead of just outlining the ecological effects of outdoor cats, I might tell a tale about a particular species of bird that is impacted by predation, allowing my audience to sympathize with the difficulties that wildlife faces.

Another essential component of my strategy is interactive experiences. I place a high value on conversation and active engagement whether I'm presenting a workshop, leading a nature walk, or producing a podcast. In addition to keeping the audience interested, questions, observations, and comments provide them the chance to influence the event in ways that are significant to them.

Another aspect of my evolving strategy is the careful integration of technology as mentioned in Unit 8. The significance of employing platforms like blogs and podcasts to reach people who might not be physically present in the field was emphasized in this session. I can share tales, photos, and thoughts with a worldwide audience while preserving the warmth and genuineness of in-person encounters by utilizing digital platforms to expand the reach of my interpretive work.

Balancing Challenges with Hope

Addressing the gravity of environmental issues without overpowering the audience is one of the biggest challenges in nature interpretation. Being an environmental educator can be like attempting to use a teaspoon to halt a rushing river, as Jacob Rodenburg points out in Unit 9. The enormity of the issues we confront such as plastic pollution, habitat devastation, and climate change can seem intimidating. But hope, in my opinion, is a powerful remedy for despair.

To balance honesty with hope, I focus on actionable insights and success stories. Promoting regional conservation initiatives, outlining easy activities people can take to lessen their influence, and acknowledging any advancements made, no matter how miniscule, can give people the confidence that their actions count. For example, to provide participants a practical approach to support biodiversity, a pollinator program can incorporate a hands-on lesson on growing native flowers.

The possibility of regeneration is another source of hope. According to Rodenburg, communities that are rich in nature should be established where kids may both maintain and revitalize the natural systems in their immediate surroundings as mentioned in Unit 9. I see my job as a nature interpreter as fostering this regenerative mindset and assisting others in progressing from awareness to action and, eventually, advocacy.

Making Interpretation Meaningful

In my opinion, the key to meaningful interpretation lies in authenticity and passion. The inspiration for my interpretive work comes from my own relationship with nature. I can provide programs and content that are not only educational but also profoundly personal and influential if I remain loyal to my experiences, values, and voice.

Adapting experiences to the audience is another way to make interpretation meaningful. I can create messages that connect when I know who they are—their needs, interests, and degree of nature acquaintance. A program for a group of young children can emphasize sensory exploration, such as discovering edible wild berries by their leaf patterns or acknowledging the differences in birds based on their chirp. A guided hike for adults could cover ecological principles or conservation tactics.

Finally, I will try to use every interpretative experience as an opportunity to improve, both for my audience and for myself. A crucial step in this process is reflection. What went effectively? I ask myself after every program. What might be made better? How can I learn more about the subjects I'm presenting? My work will always be effective, current, and new because of my dedication to learning and adapting.

Carrying the “So What?” Forward

This course has forced me to reflect critically on my identity as a nature interpreter, reaffirming that nature interpretation is a calling rather than merely a career—an opportunity to uplift people, build relationships, and support the survival of the earth. I carry with me as I go ahead the knowledge that interpretation may lead to change, the obligation to make good use of my education and privilege, and the conviction that even a modest act of connection can have a significant influence. I'm dedicated to making every minute matter, whether I'm hosting a forest walk or producing a podcast, for the sake of the environment and its inhabitants.

[bnhaobservation]

I think people didn’t understand the context of the scene is that Endevor views his own fathers action, he views his action of saving the girl but getting killed as a failure He treats his fathers failure as his own but about him he was looking down on him for it the example would be in how he Calls his corpses of Lump of meat. There was no empathy or understanding towards the father's actions, just his reaction. This scene is focused on how Enji feels than his own father's feelings. 

Hum...

...I'm not sure what triggered this ask (maybe this reply to another ask?) but the charming part of a manga being a narrative and visual story is that, unless the text or the author say something explicit, the rest is up to interpretation.

So, unless I'm backed up by Horikoshi's statements or by something factual in the manga, I can't tell others how a scene MUST be read, just list various possible readings or merely my own.

For example you say Enji calls his father's corpse a lump of meat because he looks down on him.

It's an interpretation. Another possible interpretation is that it's merely a factual description of his father's remains along with the girl's remains (he calls them both lump of meats) as the area is devasted as if a great explosion has taken place, Enji's father's body could have been mangled beyond recognition and Enji seems to be in shock.

People in shock can distance themselves in this way by refusing to accept what remains of their beloved is what once was their beloved in a 'that's not my father, that's a lump of meat'... or just by being coldly factual because they find relief in it.

Am I trying to say THIS IS THE CORRECT INTERPRETATION? How should I know? This is just a possible interpretation and I'm not Horikoshi.

It stands on equal ground with all the possible interpretations.

We don't know how was Enji's relationship with his father, if he loved the guy or hated the guy, we don't even know if his father was a Hero or just a common person, if he was a well known coward who had a sudden moment of heroism but lacked the ability to save people or a braggart who liked to claim he could defeat any villain with ease.

Everything is possible.

If we analize the scene from a visual perspective, Enji's eyes are wide open and with no pupils inside, which is generally the visual used to represent shock. The rain on his face can be viewed as symbolically representing tears, and therefore sadness.

So if we extrapolate from the visual Enji felt shock and sadness at his father's death but, again, this is not written in stone, this is an analysis done by comparing Enji's image to similar ones and extrapolating from it the recurring visual tropes and their meaning.

Again, it's interpretation, nothing is factual, people are free to disagree.

Narratively though, the scene is shown in relation to a discussion about weakness, or, more specifically, about Enji's innate weakness (生来の弱さ seirai no yowasa), not about failure.

Enji's themes were always tied with "strenght" (強い 'tsuyoi') and its opposite, "weakness" (弱い 'yowai'), the one tied to a theme of failure, or more specifically of "failed work/creation" (失敗作 'Shippaisaku') is Touya, who's haunted by that word to the point it triggers him even when he hears it in the orphanage.

Of course you can interpret this as weakness= failure because, again, we're free to interpret things and the connection 'if you're weak you'll fail' can be done. It's not in the text since the whole thing continues with young Enji telling old Enji he has to continue cursing his true enemy, his own weakness, as this is the only thing that had kept him alive and, in the following chapter he insists he'll keep raging against himself (anger is another of Enji's themes)... but also that he must win.

Failure/fear of failure isn't really considered, not even when he lists the big four that lead to expose the weakness that was always within him...

Said all this, I don't mean to say your interpretation is wrong. I'm not Horikoshi, I don't know which interpretation is right.

The fact that multiple interpretations of a manga scene can exist is what for me, makes things interesting so I'm actually grateful you shared your view with me.

I like to read of different possible readings for scenes, even when they don't match with mine and don't make me change my opinion. For me they're still interesting because they express the different ways in which things can be read.

So again, thank you for sharing your vision for your ask and for allowing me to talk again about the Todorokis as I love to do it.

Let's wait together and see if Horikoshi will give us more bits of Enji's past (or more info about the Todorokis in general, or more scenes with them at least... I'll really take anything at this point...)!

[namethatghostling]

Please tell us EVERYTHING about your dyke scarecrow au🎃🐦‍⬛

ghjk its not even rly like a full fledged au or anything i just resonate so heavily w the character and i was like. sure ok everyones making their own version of their fav rogues, why not me? so basically shes just like a mishmash of all my favorite interpretations and adaptations of the character with a heavy sprinkling of Gender

(also some vaguely paranormal spooky shit bc im so obsessed w scarecrows potential as like an actual horror character. in my version its left deliberately unclear if scarecrow the villain is %100 a persona made up by jon or if its a literal possessing force that has haunted her from childhood. make of it what u will.)

the whole origin story thing goes a little like this. jon crane (she/he/they/it), born johanna keeny, was raised by his fundie xtian grandma, mary keeny, in a farming town in georgia. from childhood she was kind of an oddball, and had a strange preoccupation with fear, loving ghost stories and occasionally menacing the crows that were common on the family land just to see them scatter.

they were always booksmart but also pretty socially inept. bullied at school and either ignored or brutally "disciplined" at home, she found consolation and comfort in books, everything from classic literature to dense scientific texts to trashy pulp horror. jon also struggled with (largely undiagnosed/untreated) chronic pain and, as a result, sleep issues. when she was able to sleep she often experienced sleep paralysis which manifested in nightmares and waking hallucinations of the scarecrow in the field outside the window speaking to her. its voice was wretched like nails scraping glass, but it spoke kindly to them, promising to protect them from the true nightmare that was yet to come. jon tried not to listen. she considered herself too sensible to believe in boogiemen. but as she got older things got worse, her body and mind continued to act against her, certain secrets regarding her sexuality came to light, followed by a confrontation with her granny after she began to threaten her with the promise of "exorcism"...

eventually, jon was left with no choice but to let the scarecrow handle things.

more assorted infodumping below the cut

after using the meager inheritance left by dear departed granny to pursue higher education in gotham, jon legally changed their name both in order to make it harder to track down their history and as a final spiteful gesture, taking the surname of the man grandma keeny had blamed for the corruption of her daughter.

legally she is still johanna and doesnt necessarily mind her given name but still vastly prefers jon. a very select few people are allowed to call her jonny, and NO ONE is allowed to call her joni/joanie any variant thereof.

their rise to villainy is still mostly the same since thats one thing that is generally p consistent in canon. professor of psychology, not well liked by students or staff, secretly working on a pet project involving testing the affects of fear on the human mind with some less than willing test subjects, yadda yadda yadda

scarecrow both is and isnt a separate entity from jon. jon, being scientifically minded, most of the time considers scarecrow to be the natural result of a traumatic childhood manifesting in a protector figure that gains control of their shared body during moments of intense stress or panic. this is true! in certain less rational moments however she believes it to be a completely foreign being, a literal demon that has plagued her family line for generations, like granny always said. this is also true! how can both of those things be factually correct? figure it out yourself!

scarecrow is always eager to wreak some havoc on anyone who gets in jon's way, but as for jon, he has refused to directly inflict violence on anyone since his grandmother. she was his first and last. jon's far from a pacifist, but hes also not bloodthirsty, and scarecrow begrudgingly respects his wishes. after all, its better if the test subjects stay alive as long as possible anyway.

jon has hypermobile eds. as a kid they used to freak out their classmates by messing around with their double joints and stretching out their skin. it became a lot less fun for them in adolescence when the background hum of joint pain suddenly teamed up with their growing pains, also made worse by grannys dislike of doctors delaying their diagnosis for years and their refusal to use mobility aids when they needed them out of fear of the bullying getting any worse. they finally gave in and started regularly using a cane in college but sometimes theyll still try to go without it. not great.

also related to the above, she has had kind of a fucked relationship with self medicating to deal with pain in the past. and in the present to a degree. also kind of a fucked relationship with pain in general.

probably autistic and definitely experiences some flavor of paranoid psychosis and ptsd but was never diagnosed with either because 1) they knew it would impact their ability to pursue their field of choice since they would always be considered "too close" when it came to matters of psychology and 2) theyre pretty sure theres nothing another doctor could tell them about themself that they dont already know and better.

masks like their life depends on it in public and pretty well most of the time. people for sure know theres something up with that crane guy but not enough to really give a shit most of the time. fucking hates stimming around other people. fucking HATES being treated as infantile or less capable.

one of the many benefits of becoming scarecrow, whether in terms of the villain persona or the being that is and isnt jon, is being able to be a lot more visibly bizarre without being treated like a child. instead people just treat it like a threat, which it prefers greatly.

vocal stim of quoting lines from favorite books, old nursery rhymes, and even the occasional half-remembered church song. jons grandmothers religion was largely a burden she dropped as soon as she could, but unfortunately they kinda went off with the southern gospel.

she had her first kiss with a girl from her class after sneaking away from a halloween party together. they got caught and after the news got out the girl hurriedly got back together with her ex boyfriend to protect herself from the inevitable backlash. scarecrow thinks she should have gone the way of dear old granny, but jon stubbornly disagrees to this day despite it all.

people generally think jon is older than he is. this used to bother him but now hes kind of into the whole weathered old butch vibe. certified queer elder moment.

still as much of a nerdass bookworm as she was as a kid. cried until she made herself sick the first time she read carrie. will take this to her grave.

of course theres more but once again this is fuckin long enough already.