#Moral Progress

[solace-philosophy]

Those who believe in collective moral progress define this progress by their own narrow historical, cultural, linguistic, and social experience. They see "the other" as equal only when the other is identical to themselves. They project their own values on the rest of the human race. These secular and religious fundamentalists are egocentrics unable to accept human difference. Those who are different do not need to be investigated, understood, or tolerated, for they are intellectually and morally inferior. Those who are different are imperfect versions of themselves.

I Don’t Believe in Atheists, by Chris Hedges

[worldwatcher3072]

Constitution Matters:

Part Eight - The Eighth Amendment and Its Significance

Welcome back to our ongoing series, "Constitution Matters," where we delve into the fundamental principles and amendments that shape the foundation of our democratic society. In this eighth installment, we explore the importance of the Eighth Amendment and how it safeguards the rights of every individual.

The Eighth Amendment: A Shield Against Cruel and Unusual Punishment

The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution reads: "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted." This concise yet powerful statement embodies the commitment of our nation to justice, fairness, and the protection of human dignity.

1. Protection Against Cruel and Unusual Punishment

The Eighth Amendment stands as a bulwark against the use of cruel and unusual punishment in the criminal justice system. It reflects the Founding Fathers' awareness of the potential for governmental abuse and their desire to prevent such abuse from occurring. This amendment ensures that punishments meted out by the legal system remain proportionate to the crime committed and do not cross the boundary into degrading or inhumane treatment.

2. Human Dignity and Moral Progress

By prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment, the Eighth Amendment recognizes the inherent worth and dignity of every individual, regardless of their actions. It reflects the belief that even in the face of wrongdoing, our society should strive to uphold a higher moral standard. This commitment to human dignity reinforces the idea that our justice system should aim to rehabilitate offenders, rather than subject them to dehumanizing treatment.

3. Evolving Interpretations and Contemporary Relevance

Over the years, the Eighth Amendment's interpretation has evolved to reflect changing societal norms and a deeper understanding of human rights. Courts have consistently grappled with questions about the constitutionality of various punishments, particularly in cases involving the death penalty, life imprisonment without parole for juveniles, and harsh sentences for nonviolent offenses. These debates illustrate the enduring relevance of the Eighth Amendment in guiding our legal system toward fairness and compassion.

4. A Protector of Vulnerable Populations

The Eighth Amendment serves as a safeguard for vulnerable populations, ensuring that they are not disproportionately subjected to harsh punishment. This includes individuals with mental illnesses, juveniles, and those facing economic hardship. The amendment underscores the principle that justice must be blind and unbiased, and that punitive measures should not discriminate based on an individual's background or circumstances.

The Eighth Amendment is a cornerstone of our Constitution, embodying our commitment to justice, human dignity, and the rule of law. Its prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment reflects the timeless values upon which our nation was founded, while also adapting to the changing needs and understanding of our society. As we continue to navigate the complexities of our criminal justice system, the Eighth Amendment remains an essential guidepost, reminding us that the pursuit of justice must always be tempered by compassion and respect for every individual's inherent worth.

Join us next time for Part Nine of "Constitution Matters," where we will explore the Ninth Amendment and its significance in protecting unenumerated rights.

Regenerate

[tikklil]

Working on a lil Ghostflower animatic to post on my Youtube sometime near ATSV's release date.

[ive-fallen]

Watching Civil War again: I CANNOT HANDLE how Steve and Bucky fall into their pattern again so quickly. Literally they've just been making eye contact for 2 minutes, spoken maybe 20 words in total, and then special forces drops in and BOOM. IT'S LIKE NEITHER OF THEM EVER LEFT. IMMEDIATELY. it's so sudden and as a viewer you're like "oh noo Bucky doesn't recognize him" but Steve knows he does. And Bucky can't handle that he knows so much about this guy he seemingly just met. And then he probably is freaked tf out by the fact when they're attacked, he knows exactly what Steve will do and exactly how to work with him. LIKE SUBCONSCIOUS MEMORY IS SO POWERFUL AND THEY'RE SO SOULMATES THAT THEY JUST FALL BACK IN IMMEDIATELY. LIKE WHAT.

[growling]

the way this website treats disabled people is actually horrendous

[queeraang]

sometimes, you dislike a piece of media that is very popular and objectively well made. the popularity of it will only make it more annoying to you. now, the solution is not to then comb through a thing you don’t like to see if you can find something problematic to harp on to prove it's actually bad (you will find it, no human being has ever created perfectly inclusive perfectly inoffensive art) that just tanks the vibe and discourages new art because what's the point if it can never be perfect, also sometimes you spin out of control and start accusing people of real life crimes over like... a niche webseries

as someone with over three decades of 'bad taste' under their belt, allow me to guide you on best responses using a real life example of a popular film series, i couldn't give less of a fuck about. the nolan batman trilogy

block, mute, blacklist, whatever you have to do to avoid seeing this thing on your preferred webbed sites

allow yourself a quiet “ugh this shit” when things slip through the cracks

pick a neutral element of the thing to dislike when people ask “i’m not really a batman fan" "i like more lighthearted superhero movies"

when inevitably someone can't BELIEVE you don't LOVE the best thing EVER MADE, you make it boring to talk about "yeah couldn't get into it" "it's just not my thing"

it also helps if you admit that it is good (i'm so sorry) just not good to you. the metaphor i use is gordon ramsey could make the most immaculate mushroom risotto ever made, but it's still not going to taste good if you don't like mushrooms

change the subject/leave the convo. i don't sit around listening to ppl talk about the dark knight, i ignore the gc for a few minutes, i go get a drink irl, if it's one on one i go "no, but you know i did like birds of prey, have you seen that?"

if someone really won't let up, stop talking to them! a guy who always wants to talk about how i should watch batman is a fucking weird guy to know

vent about this with like minded people SPARINGLY, too much and you'll fall down the "and everyone who does like it is morally bankrupt" hole

crucially, don't do this to other people for stuff you like. you're not the arbiter of taste, your "best movie ever" could be someone else's "if i have to hear about that shit again i'll scream"

like i'm sure i could figure out ways the dark knight trilogy is racist/ableist/etc if i really examined it, but like... i would so much rather just NOT WATCH THREE MOVIES I DON'T FUCKING LIKE

[anexplosionofchaos]

little sneak peek of a sskk page wip i probably may or may not finish who fucking knows

[mrdarcysdadbod]

All else aside, vis a vis the cunnilingus poll, I do appreciate the general agreement that Mr. Darcy (among many other heroes but Darcy is the standout for obvious reasons) is a good and upstanding man who loves his wife deeply and immensely and that does not necessarily translate to any particular sexual proclivity or proficiency. Meanwhile that one blog that's just "does this character eat pussy" polls is always a referendum on whether people think a guy sucks as a person or not. You gotta be realistic about these things.

Anyway I think Darcy would happily go down on Elizabeth on request but I think he'd have to come to terms with not being able to kiss her while his mouth is otherwise occupied. He seems like a guy who would be bummed about not being able to kiss his wife during sex. I do think hearing her talk the whole time would bring him around on it though.

[tomlivingspace]

man whatever it just kinda frustrates me that people will say "well it makes sense that the three would be upset with squirrelflight and leafpool BUT" but then proceed to explain that they shouldnt be upset with them. the problem is that when you find out a parent has been lying to you, you're not going to react reasonably. there's shit that doesnt seem like a big deal that completely ruptures a parental relationship because it feels like a betrayal. these are people who you are supposed to be able to have implicit trust in.

so I DONT KNOW it's just frustrating to me. and i'm not saying this in a "why is it always the DADS that are the bad parents" but rather that people are willing to explore complex relationships with a father figure but totally shut down the idea that a character could have a complex relationship with their mother. because motherhood does not automatically make someone flawless or even a good person. but at the same time, being a young mother and making a lot of mistakes and even having a fraught relationship with a child doesn't necessarily mean theyre a completely bad person.

[ai3xx0]

WORK IN PROGRESS

just began making a new animation for orel and christina...augh they melt my heart every time!!! COMING SOON... i hope !

[irishironclad]

Christ loves you as you are,

Christ welcomes you as you are,

But He does not accept the way you are.

He lifts you up to stand beside him,

And to stand beside Him is conditional that you abandon your sin,

To stand besides Christ inherently means to confess your sins and reject Satan. It is conditional upon your part, you cannot change nothing about yourself and stand up with Him.

But He is always there waiting.

[anotherpapercut]

genuinely so many of you want to be leftist and "punk" and countercultural soooooo bad but you refuse to become comfortable with the concept of people taking drugs for fun because they like it and not because they were somehow tricked or forced into it without knowing what they were getting themselves into

you'll be like "addiction is a disease!!" but think you're better than those degenerate stoners because you only drink energy drinks and white claws and would never touch "illegal drugs"

many if not most drugs CAN be consumed completely safely with almost 0 risk to the user and even if that werent true and all drugs were extremely dangerous you still wouldn't be better than those of us who love doing drugs recreationally

lighten up and grow up. get offline, talk to real adults, and stop being shocked to discover that they enjoy doing stuff that adults do like have sex and do drugs and even listen to rock and roll

[idylls-of-the-divine-romance]

Okay I want some people to try this:

Using only science, math, logic, reason, etc, explain to me why murder is wrong. No theology, morality, philosophy, emotions, feelings, etc. Only cold hard facts. Explain why murder is wrong.

I am trying to see something here.

[invertedspoon]

does anyone have any scans/close-up images of the Progress Day booklet that came in the portfolio editions of the Arcane artbook? i'm really, really curious what's inside but can't find anything about it aside from one picture and am NOT paying $160+ USD(?) for it :,)

[the-mountain-flower]

Me: I'm scared for Theia. I'll write a fic abt and then give her some help from a sympathetic person to make it a little better

Me: this is a one-off character who I only made for the purpose of this one-shot, I'll probably never come back to them

*one Tumblr ask and over 1000 words later*

Me: wow I really thought I was done with this bit lol

[quiet-admirer]

Ok I think non-feedists can stop trying to go to bat for us now. I don't want to see thousands of non-feedists debate and have ~discourse~ about what they think feedism is. I don't even care that there are a lot of people arguing in our favor either - and a lot more than there used to be, too. They're not feedists, they have no bearing on my sexual life. It's rude to debate whether other people you have nothing to do with have a right to keep doing their shit in their bedrooms and kitchens that has nothing to do with you!

Go away, just keep ignoring us. I do not care for your approval and we are, have always been, and always will be over here just existing regardless of your opinions. All I want to hear from non-feedists in response to anti-kink sentiments is "it's none of our business tho."

Am I supposed to be grateful that more normies don't think I'm actually-for-real evil? What does their stamp of approval have to do with me? Sorry, but nobody's getting a gold star from me for white knighting for us. Did not ask your opinion, did not need you to defend us.