#Natalie wynn is amazing

[unsolicited-opinions]

“Western civilization is built on it”

You sound like Jordan Peterson

If you haven't seen the Contrapoints video essay on Peterson, I recommend it with enthusiasm. Natalie Wynn is fantastic and I love her intellectual honesty. Instead of taking the easy cheap shots at Peterson and dismantling straw men, she presents the best version of his views...and then dismantles them.

Wynn's talent for dialectical rhetoric is breathtaking.

I do think Western thought is largely built on the dialectical model (and that dialectical argument is more than just essential to Talmud - I think it is a fundamental feature of Jewish thought).

I think that's a view shared by even the West's fiercest critics. It's not a value judgement as much as a factual observation of Western history. (Students of philosophy, history, or classics: Please shout at me if you disagree.)

I think we agree, at least, that Peterson is an asshole.

I also think, though, that you couldn't nail down what you dislike about Peterson if you tried. It was just what you had handy to throw, like a chimp flinging its feces at Jane Goodall.

Like Goodall, I can't take this personally, but find it fascinating behavior in a chimp.

Do watch the Contrapoints essay- you'll see a master class on making a supported argument with intellectual honesty AND you'll learn what the problems with his views are aside from Western chauvanism.

[lokislady17]

With the recent Oshamir ship setting sail, the whole discourse of problematic ships, toxic relationships and dark romances seems to have started up again. This is an amazing, albeit long, video by Natalie Wynn. It may be Twilight focused but the topics she discusses in this video are so fascinating especially in regards as to why attraction to problematic, fictional characters is such a thing. This video really helped me understand a few things. So, for anyone who would maybe like to examine the nature of dubious relationships in fiction and how such th8ngs are informed by real life, this video is for you.

[audikatia]

2024 Reading Review

Overall notes:

Anna Karenina truly is one of the best novels ever. It really, honestly, truly is a classic. I know a lot of people shit on classics, but goddamn. It really deserves all the hype.

With the exception of a few truly amazing stand outs, I felt like it was a poor year of reading. I want more 4-5 starred

That being said, some really amazing books. I am never going to stop thinking about Henry, Henry.

One of my goals this year was to read more sapphic fiction, which I definitely accomplished. As per usual, it was a lot of queer reading and I'm thinking maybe I should start including more breakdowns on that.

Next year's reading goals:

I want to read all of Shakespeare's plays in order of publication. I have read most of them, but it's been a while since I've read some of them and I've neglected some of the histories. Plus, I think it'll be really cool to see the evolution of his craft playwright by reading them in order.

I am hoping to raise my average rating within the 4-5 star range.

Am I really gonna read War and Peace this year since I liked Anna Karenina so much? Yeah, I think I am

Idk, man, I'm just trying to make my way through my never ending list. I'm just gonna keep tearing my way through the waitlist at the library

Full 2024 reading list and rankings under the cut

The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake ⭐️⭐️

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner ⭐️⭐️

Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Persephone Station by Stina Leicht ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues by Jonathan Kennedy ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth by Natalie Haynes ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Fury by Alex Michaelides ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Only If You’re Lucky by Stacy Willingham ⭐️⭐️ 

Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead by Jenny Hollander ⭐️⭐️ 

My Murder by Katie Williams ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In Memoriam by Alice Winn ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin ⭐️⭐️

If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales ⭐️⭐️

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímíde ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Caught in a Bad Fauxmance by Elle Gonzalez Rose ⭐️⭐️

A Restless Truth by Freya Marske ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Power Unbound by Freya Marske ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sadie by Courtney Summers ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sign Here by Claudia Lux ⭐️⭐️⭐️

See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Raven King by Nora Sakavic ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

All the King’s Men by Nora Sakavic ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger ⭐️⭐️

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tinters ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Murder Road by Simone St. James ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Sunshine Court by Nora Sakavic ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Princess of Las Vegas by Chris Bohjalian ⭐️⭐️

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson ⭐️⭐️

The Lighthouse Witches by C. J. Cooke ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rouge by Mona Awad ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan ⭐️⭐️

The One That Got Away with Murder by Trish Lundy ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings ⭐️⭐️

You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Everyone on This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Henry Henry by Allen Britton ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Home is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose ⭐️⭐️

The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mercury by Amy Jo Burns ⭐️⭐️

Time to Shine by Rachel Reid⭐️⭐️

The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon ⭐️⭐️

Swiped by L. M. Chilton ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dayspring by Anthony Oliveira ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

You Know What You Did by K. T. Nguyen ⭐️⭐️

UNSUB by Meg Gardiner ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Into the Black Nowhere by Meg Gardiner ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Unclaimed: Abandonment and Hope in the City of Angels ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Rome of One’s Own: The Forgotten Women of the Roman Empire by Emma Southon ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

She Left by Stacie Grey ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Four Eids and a Funeral by Faridah Àbíke-Íyímídé and Adina Jaigirdar ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous by Mae Marvel ⭐️⭐️

The Dark Corners of the Night by Meg Gardiner ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Middle of the Night by Riley Sager ⭐️⭐️⭐️

My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna van Veen ⭐️⭐️

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley ⭐️⭐️⭐️

People Love Dead Jews by Dara Horn ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum by Emma Southon ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Shadow Heart by Meg Gardiner ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell ⭐️⭐️

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston ⭐️⭐️

Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Butter: A Novel of Food and Murder by Asako Yuzuki ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh ⭐️⭐️⭐️

What You Are Getting Wrong About Apalachia by Elizabeth Catte ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Anyone’s Ghost by August Thompson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Honey by Isabel Banta ⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Haru was Here by Dustin Thao ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Love Letters to a Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell ⭐️⭐️

Better Left Buried by Mary E. Roach ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Murder on a Moon Trek by Diane Vallere ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Murder in the Master by Judy L. Murray ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Collingswood Christmas by Gail Priest ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Clues from the Canines by Darlene Dziomba ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Trouble in Queenstown by Delia Pitts ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Up Close and Pawsonal by Darlene Dziomba ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fire and Dalmatian by Darlene Dziomba ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Blue Lily Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 Opal by Maggie Stiefvater ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 Everyone is Watching by Heather Gudenkauf ⭐️⭐️⭐️

 Piglet by Lottie Hazel ⭐️⭐️

 A Misfortune of Lake Monster by Nicole M. Wolverton ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 Carry On by Rainbow Rowell ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill ⭐️⭐️

 Don’t Let the Forest In by C. G. Drews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 Agrippina: Empress, Exile, Hustler, Whore: A Biography of the Most Extraordinary Woman in the Roman World by Emma Southon ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 The Royal Art of Poison: Filthy Palaces, Fatal Cosmetics, Deadly Medicine, and Murder Most Foul by Eleanor Herman ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 I’m Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin ⭐️⭐️

 Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[juliskardigan]

i have to talk about the regency cuck tent

in case you haven't heard of the cuck tent, it's this scene from twilight.

in the scene, due to Circumstances, the heroine must cuddle with the Other Man in front of the Main Man.

(the term comes from this video by natalie wynn, it's amazing and you should absolutely watch it. yes it's very long. you need a break from rewatching the carriage scene.)

basically (or at least the way i understand it), fantasies are about creating a situation where the Circumstances make it easier for your desires to be fulfilled without feeling guilty or ashamed for even having the desire in the first place. there was only one sleeping bag.

in the cuck tent scene, bella is not choosing to do anything, she literally has to cuddle with jacob, or die from hypothermia. (edward also doesn't sleep and can hear's jacob's thoughts, which, i'm sorry, lol.) none of this is bella's decision, or even something she wants. the fantasy is not even having to admit you want something and getting it.

admittedly, my obsession with the term was primarily because "cuck tent" is very funny, but i also have thought a lot about it, and always came to the conclusion that it's not for me. i would simply implode of cringe in the situation, wasn't feeling the emotional wish-fulfillment.

and then bridgerton said hold my... brandy? lemonade? cupcake?

the episode starts on the highest of high notes, colin having almost comically romantic sex dreams and immediately ceasing to function. there is a themed activity, with themed decorations. i'm already in a great mood.

penny looks like an actual goddess

but she is also doing this

colin is wearing a vest pointing to his penis, and asking his bros if they also heard that vegetarians are weirdo losers

and then the wind picks up and i realize what's about to unfold, and i suddenly understand why this works.

he has to watch debling spoon penny. he physically cannot save her because he wanted to save everyone and now he has to stay looking Like This.

debling's hat somehow stays on his head

and then they to This

it is hilarious how blatant it is, and it does not matter. it is very funny and very hot at the same time.

[queergaygaygaygay]

hey how did you know you were trans I don’t know if I’m going crazy or if the egg’s (me) cracked i am not trying to mock in any way girl I don’t know if it’s a phase or panic

you don’t have to answer unless you 100% want to i promise

Happy you asked and I’m glad to tell you some of what I’ve learnt from my experience.

Honestly my best advice is to explore this side of yourself by dressing as feminine as you want, trying make up or just expressing yourself in a way of your own. Feminine outfits and make up are things associated with women and can give some trans women euphoria but it doesn’t mean you’re not a trans girl, if you don’t have that experience. It’s not just a good way of finding euphoria but also a way of getting to know who you are. No one is just a trans woman or just feminine- everyone’s way more complicated and to truly know what makes you happy you have to know who you are in detail.

Now as for how I know I’m a girl… that is a harder question but, to summarise, I never fitted in with masculine social circles and would end up with the girls and outcasts.

As I grew up I just noticed, I wasn’t traditionally masculine, had no interest in becoming more masculine and was disgusted when I was compared to male peers. It was then when I started growing out my hair and dressing androgynously since this disguised my masculinity but wasn’t something I was going to regularly get beaten for.

Now, what did I identify as at this time (between 12 and 16)? I would only use labels around friends and just let people assume. These labels included gender fluid and nonbinary. When people assumed and called me a girl, it felt amazing.

I also had a hard time labelling my sexuality. I had an attraction to girls from a very young age but, I think by 12, I felt masculine when I was attracted to girls but feminine when I was attracted to boys so I began identifying as gay because it made me feel feminine. Gay relationships don’t need heteronormative dynamics but I later realised that my level of femininity was not accepted by my male partners and I wanted to be loved in a feminine way. I wanted a girl to love me but I couldn’t accept that because I didn’t know a single thing about lesbians. As I have finally accepted my femininity, I can now confidently say that I’m a lesbian.

Anyway, I think my self acceptance was fairly slow but was helped by media. If it wasn’t for people, like Vera Wylde of Council of Geeks and Natalie Wynn, I would never know what trans was. If it wasn’t for Strange Aeons I could never understand what it could mean to be a lesbian.

So ye it’s just exploration and learning about other people. I now know that I’m happy being treated as a woman and I think it’s about finding what makes you happy. Keep in mind this isn’t everyone’s experience and mine will be different from the next persons. Wish you luck on your trans journey.

[arrows-unofficial-ocs]

arrow | she/her | isfp | hobby oc creator | a menagerie of ocs | no plans for fics

main blog: @unfortunate-arrow

⤷ find hp/wizarding world & bridgerton: next gen ocs, follows, and likes there

General Tags:

⤷ my aesthetic • my character profiles

Other People’s Amazing Work:

⤷ dividers • aesthetics • ocs

𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐄: 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐂𝐒

An AU of the Arrowverse where the multiverse wasn’t destroyed, both Zaris were able to exist outside of the totem, Ronnie Raymond and Earth-1!Laurel Lance are permanently alive, and Oliver Queen was relieved of his duties as Spectre in 2022 by another earth’s Oliver Queen, who had lost everything and everyone.

Abigail “Abby” Cohen-Stein

Natalie “Nat” Constantine

Ethan Goldberg

Alyssa Harper

Roberta “Bobbi” Harper

Brian Hart

Henry B. Heywood

Sonia Heywood

Diana “Di” Lance-Sharpe

Quincy Lance-Sharpe

Rebecca “Becca” Lance-Merlyn

Quinley Lance-Merlyn

Carson Palmer

Tristan Palmer

Elowyn “Ellie” Palmer

Thomas “Tommy” Queen

Adalyn “Ada” Queen

Lucas Queen

Elena Ramon

Lizzie Raymond

Albert “Al” Raymond

Asa Watanabe

Raiden Watanabe

Joseph West-Allen

Ben West-Allen

Dawn West-Allen

Morgan West-Wells

Canon Character Interpretations:

⤷ Ronnie (Cohen-)Stein • Connor Hawke • JJ Diggle • Sara Diggle • Martina Jackson • William Clayton • Mia Smoak-Queen • Nora West-Allen • Jenna West

𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐍𝐄𝐘’𝐒 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐂𝐒

Prince Henri of Auradon | intro

Princess Melody

Prince Maximillian | intro

Caroline Darling | intro

Anthony Davis | intro

Maisie Davis

Arianna Fitzherbert | intro

Frederic Fitzherbert | intro

Nova Fitzherbert | intro

Wyatt Gothel | intro

Percy C. McLeach | intro

Kalani of Motunui | intro

Gavin Pendragon

Molly Poppins | intro

Timothy “Tim” Radcliffe | intro

Jean Radcliffe | intro

Nicola Radcliffe | intro

Julia Radcliffe | intro

Ian Radcliffe | intro

Edward Radcliffe | intro

Harriet Radcliffe | intro

𝐆𝐈𝐋𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋𝐒 𝐎𝐂𝐒

Delaney Ballard

Carlos Foster | intro

Ricky Gilmore

Levi Powell | intro

Plot Bunnies:

⤷ Aurelia Ballard • Clay Ballard • Gregory Ballard • Adam Kim • Josh Ellis • Aaron Weatherford

𝐆𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐌 𝐎𝐂𝐒 (post-series)

Will Gordon — jim & lee’s son

Canon Character Interpretations:

⤷ Barbara Lee Gordon • possibly other batkids

𝐌𝐂𝐔 𝐎𝐂𝐒

Grant Barnes — bucky’s son

Jo Rogers — steve & peggy’s daughter

Jamie Rogers — steve & peggy’s daughter

Carter Rogers — steve & peggy’s son

Riley Wilson — sam’s daughter

Canon Character Interpretations:

⤷ Cooper Barton • Lila Barton • Nate Barton • Morgan Stark

Plot Bunnies:

⤷ Dani Watson • Jade Duncomb

𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐀 𝐎𝐂𝐒

Patrick Joseph Mallon | intro

Plot Bunnies:

⤷ Aoife, daughter of Ramandu • Emily Bastable • Charlotte Thompson • George Thompson

𝐏𝐉𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐂𝐒

Dominic Bailey

Valentina “Val” Flores | intro

Ivy Gao

Eloise Kittredge | intro

Landon McCallister | intro

Olivia Mitchell

Florian Mostyn

Harmony Reyes

Arlo Stanhope

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐒: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐋𝐒 𝐎𝐂𝐒

Maddox Solo | intro

Tullia “Tully” Nash | intro

𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐎𝐂𝐒

Isaac Mayfield | intro

Missy Sinclair

𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐓 𝐁𝐔𝐍𝐍𝐘 𝐎𝐂𝐒

Bridgerton:

⤷ Martha Barrington • Susannah Baxter • Alex Rokesby • Liza Stickland • Robert Wynn

Ghosts (BBC):

⤷ John Turner • Dorcas Snowley

Ghosts (CBS):

⤷ Jacqueline “Jackie” Sterling • Michael & Daniel “Danny” Coyle

Heartstopper:

⤷ Theodore “Ted” Ainsworth

Ted Lasso:

⤷ Megan Armstrong

[ferdifz]

From Natalie Wynn's "ContraPoints Live" YouTube channel:

Playing the piano was the first thing I ever put my whole heart into. When I was a teenager, being a musician was my identity. I was one of the best in my school district, and I got used to being told how amazing I was. So I went to college for music in Boston, where, suddenly, I wasn't the best anymore. Not even close. There were 13 year olds who were better than me. I got discouraged, and dropped out after two years. It was around that time I got interested in philosophy ("intellectual" often being the persona adopted by people who have failed at everything else). Though I eventually found success as a video essayist, for the last twelve years I've been haunted by that original sense of failure. The formative ego-wound. It's why I'm captivated by characters like Squidward and Salieri, "the patron saint of mediocrities." I hate the part of me that they remind me of. If you try to bury the ugly parts of your mind, they end up directing your life from beyond your awareness. So like Jung says, it's best to remain on speaking terms with your own shadow. I've been playing the piano again lately. It's one of the few things that I love so unironically I struggle to even talk about it. The word "amateur" originally meant "lover," a person who does something out of passion, not professionally. So despite its current sneering connotations, I think being an amateur is good, actually. You don't have to be "the best" at something for it to be worth doing. But I do still struggle to play in front of other people, or to record myself. I'm much better at listening to music than I am at playing it, and I always hear the defects, everything that could be improved. I try to see the upside—recognizing the possibility for improvement gives you a reason get out of bed. What if one day I sat down at the piano and played perfectly? What then? What were there be left to to do? Just die I guess, like Nina in Black Swan. Anyway here's some music by Erik Satie, a relatably drink-sodden and all-around not-perfect person, who still managed to write some languidly beautiful music.

[leam1983]

On Whiners

i used to follow up on YouTubers like Moon or Sargon of Akkad. As you might imagine, my entering a polyamory and emerging as an openly bisexual man has had quite an effect on my Watchlist.

In my early thirties, I was virtually any other Left-of-Center guy you could possibly cross paths with in Montreal, and I had occasional Right-leaning turns for things lie Provincial rights or financial autonomy. I took a hard Left once I realized that the former "critical thinkers" I casually watched were turning into serial whiners, and simultaneously dismissed the "technically Leftist but behaviorally Right-leaning" commentators like The Amazing Atheist. By 36, I was absolutely over the idea of opposing Fire-and-Brimstone institutional hatred with nothing except more vitriol, and started looking for purveyors of Sense, effectively. I now feel better picking at Stephen Fry and Richad Dawkins clips than I do watching Cult of Dusty's -nth autodafé of some braindead Deep South congregation's beliefs, when I'll never meet one of its members or even have the opportunity to debate one of them. I'd rather watch Natalie Wynn than anything close to a Mister Metokur reupload.

Things always tend to circle around the same Right-leaning points, even at their most Progressive. The Internet is now too corporate, too clean, too policed, to be a clear place for innovation or discussion in the marketplace of ideas, they think. You might be willing to concede the point that it's hard to enunciate anything when you know Google, Meta and OpenAI are going to slurp it up for API use, but it's also next-to-impossible to imagine the current Web as a wholly Cyberpunk Fascist hellhole. We're not all behind thirty-six VPNs, we haven't broken off from the Web and followed in Cuba's footsteps in creating a multitude of isolated micro-networks, and unless there's something about your job or your interests that actually warrants end-to-end encryption, it's much more of a choice than a necessity.

None of us are Cyberpunks in the Gibsonian or Pondsmithian senses of the word. If you are, you're ostensibly a hacker and chances are you've done something that warrants you being the object of more attention. While I'll always advocate for piracy and VPN use, the Feds aren't after your average hit-and-run perpetrators on Torrent trackers; nobody's going to end up locked up because they dared to crack the latest Call of Duty - it's the seedboxes that they're after. To go back to the notion of censorship, most corpos aren't looking to prevent anyone from saying shit that hurts their bottom line; they can only expunge records of you having done so.

So riddle me this, Right-wingers: you put your rucksacks down in Corporate territory, pitch your tents under Corporate suns, and then throw a fit because the Corporate lords-'o-the-manor dared to deem your chain-shaking and fear-mongering to be a harmful posture...

Go home. As in, build yourselves a website, like you keep trying to do with Parler or Truth Social or Gab.

One last point on the matter: I'll always hold that the Left's Morality Police is Leftist in name only. There's a ton of people who claim to hold ideological points similar to mine who'd honestly be better off voting to the right, as strong is their volition to hate other people without actually trying to understand or educate them.

[liquideggs]

y’all are forgetting this queen of camp; Natalie Wynn aka ContraPoints

[themarkofoxin]

stan ContraPoints

[veronicasanders]

You guys.

I’m in love with ContraPoints.

That is all.

[fictive-fodder]

Hello! It’s been a hot minute since I’ve made a post regarding the social and creative reclamation of harry potter and I wanted to provide some resources that have really helped me, heartened me, and deepened my appreciation for my queer community! I feel like every time I see Joanne continue to be harmful, it’s like a fresh slap. Somehow, I’m always surprised that it’s just as bad, that its getting worse. There must just be some part of me that is naive to how ingrained hatred for trans liberation runs, because every time I see it happening it feels like I’ve swallowed ice. If you’ve been in search of support, of analysis and comfort I have been keeping a list of people and content that has really helped me that I am happy to share, so without further ado~ Witch Please - This is an amazing podcast hosted by two incredibly intelligent people, Hannah and Marcelle who are both professors and scholars. Every episode takes a larger scholarly theme, defines it, exemplifies it within a larger context and then finally zeros in on how it relates to a specific book in the harry potter series. My first episode of theirs was Queer Theory and I was absolutely hooked as soon as I finished the episode. Not only do you learn a lot listening to this show, but it feels a bit like being in the most engaging critical thinking class you could imagine. Their guest hosts are also all scholar experts for the episode theme. Jessie Gender’s Response Video - This is really recent news, but this is an amazing response from a trans gamer regarding financially supporting officially licensed harry potter merchandise after Joanne attacked this creator on twitter. Transgender Rights II: Last Week Tonight - This focuses on American politics and news, but is a really powerful, comprehensive look at some of the struggles trans* people face regarding law as well as social liberty. I wanted to include this because it has some great points that even some of my closest friends didn’t know about what the process is for transitioning and how its affected legally and socially.

J. K. Rowling | ContraPoints - This video essay by Natalie Wynn goes into how bigotry towards trans liberation works and where it stems from, in part. It also looks specifically into statements Joanne has made and deconstructs the issues within her arguments.

So if you’re feeling like you need to hear some strong voices reject all of her hate, here you are <3

[absentia-if]

Hii! 10, 19 and 26 for all the Ros, please?? 🤗 (I have a really big soft spot for M🥺😍)

Does your character feel more comfortable with more clothing, or with less clothing?

Kade/Kara: Just depends on their mood. Sweaters are their usual go to, but they just go with what the weather permits.

Michael/Margot: They don’t truly care. M isn’t self conscious about their body, but they can be bashful.

Blaine/Blaire: If it’s something they like wearing they will wear it.

Wren/Wynn: Less clothing. It’s less restrictive that way, but it just needs to remain business like.

Nicholas/Natalie: They like to were oversized hoodies, which should give a slight indicator.

What is your character’s biggest relationship flaw? Has this flaw destroyed relationships for them before?

Kade/Kara: They can get somewhat moody at times. Not in a way that they’ll lash out or anything, but they’ll become quiet and introspective whenever they have a lot on their mind. During that time it’s for the best that they’re left alone to ruminate on whatever it is going through their mind.

Michael/Margot: They’re inability, at times, to express their deeper thoughts/feelings. It’s been a burden, but they always try so hard to get them out. It has caused a few of their past relationships to implode, but that’s also mainly due to the fact they got cheated on.

Blaine/Blaire: They can be a bit clingy at times, but if you tell them gently about it they’ll back off. They just like to be near their partner at all times and showcase their adoration through spending time with them. It has caused past relationships to fizzle out, but they’re okay with it.

Wren/Wynn: Can be a little too over protective at times— not in a controlling way— but it’s definitely caused issues for them in the past. Fortunately, Heather always set them straight.

Nicholas/Natalie: When the world becomes too much sometimes, they have a tendency of just vanishing into the woods for hours, or days, on end. Just going into the one place where they feel like themself has always been something that’s calmed them down quickly. It’s caused issues in the past, but mainly with their family and M.

How does your character behave around children?

Kade/Kara: They’re fine around children. They’re gentle and kind with them, but they don’t go out of their way to interact with kids. As they know they’re not exactly the best at it, but they do like kids.

Michael/Margot: Absolutely amazing. All of their usual barriers come down when around their patients, and they can quickly get them smiling and laughing again. They know exactly what to do and say to make them feel better.

Blaine/Blaire: Great as well. Playing with their students has always been something they’ve enjoyed doing, and their students absolutely adore them.

Wren/Wynn: They’re not bad at interacting with kids, but they’d rather not have to do so. Shaw is definitely the go to person whenever there’s a child present, but if they had to interact they’d do okay.

Nicholas/Natalie: Panic mode. They don’t dislike children, but they definitely don’t exactly know how to interact with them; they barely know how to interact with adults as it is. They’d be stressed to the point that if the child started crying they’d probably start doing so too.

[mythrilhusk]

pls give ~gender~

Most of the people I see being called ~gender~ and inducing gender envy lean towards masculine, which is great and all, but I think we need more variety for people who don’t just envy only masculine traits. So here are a bunch of youtubers/celebrities I think count as ~gender~, varying on the gender spectrum. I’ll include some under-appreciated men who I think count as ~gender~, and of course Technoblade, because Technoblade. 

Marina from Marina and the Diamonds (she’s rebranded to just MARINA now): This woman’s voice is absolutely amazing, and she controls it so well. She looks astounding and moves elegantly, too. Anything and everything automatically becomes royal garb when she wears it. 

Stefflon Don: Her voice is seriously fuckin incredible, and she knows it. Her expressions are perfection, ranging from queenly disdain to confident smugness.

Natalie Wynn (AKA Contrapoints): Her dark, sensual wit captivates her audience and drags them willingly into her web of comprehensively explained philosophy and sociology. 

Xiran Jay Zhao: if you have not seen at least one of her videos, what are you doing with your life?? This woman is absolutely magnificent. Bow to your queen, you peasants. 

D’Angelo Wallace: Perfection himself. His snark is great, and his confidence is enviable. What more can I say? He already knows he’s epic. 

Tee Noir: Amazing woman. She comments on society and media with snark and badass confidence. 

Kat Blaque: Go watch her videos. Just. Go. She’s humorous, nuanced, and incredible. 

Technoblade.

Adam Lambert: Probably old news, but have you seen his music videos?? Dude. Gimme that ~gender~. 

Andy Biersack (Andy Black/Black Veil Brides): his voice. I want.

...this is just a list of underrated people and technoblade that I want to steal gender from, lmao 

k, so, as you can see, I’ve devolved into incoherence as I get sleepier and sleepier. I’m sure there are more people who give me gender envy, but ye, these are all the peeps I could name off the top of my head. 

edit: still sleepy, but i remembered PIERRE XO... ye, him too, he’s cool. night.

[phanficawards]

2019 Phanfic Awards: Voting!

It’s finally time to vote for your favorite Phanfics of 2019! We’re very excited for all our nominated authors, and we hope you are too. 

DISCLAIMER

To allow multiple fics to get well-deserved recognition, each fic is only eligible to win first place in one award.

Nominations will remain the same, but if the same fic places first in multiple votes, it will only win first place in the one it won by the highest margin in.

In the others, the second place winner will be bumped to first. Secondly, we are discouraging any form of self-promotion if you have been nominated as this can easily sway voting. A simple ‘hey guys! I was nominated for the phanfiction awards!’ will be fine, but a ‘hey guys! I was nominated for these awards on these fics and if you like those fics, maybe you can vote!’ can lead to a disqualification of those fics in the final results. To keep the voting fair, we’ll be checking to see if authors are swaying voting in any way.

We also want to remind everyone that the awards are meant to give authors a boost of positivity about their work! If any author is uncomfortable being a part of the awards, we’re completely open to speaking to them about that and removing their fics. We just want to give recognition to the people who work so hard on so many fics in this community. And even if you haven’t been nominated for anything, we still appreciate your contribution to our amazing fic community! 

Now, onto our voting! Below we’ve linked the six posts that hold links to each of the fics nominated.  

Best By Genre

Best By Trope

Best By Length/Status

Best Miscellaneous

Best Overall

Original Awards Categories 

Now, we also have a few more categories that we didn’t shout out in those posts because they weren’t for fics! Check them out underneath our voting link, which will allow you to vote for all of our categories. 

CAST YOUR VOTE HERE!

Best Genre

Angst

AU (Alternate Universe)

Combination

Enemies to Lovers

Fluff

Magical Realism

Slow Burn

Smut

Best Trope

Coffee Shop AU

Flower Shop AU

Friends With Benefits

Parent!Phan

Slow Burn AU

Favorite Friend of Dan and Phil to Add to a Fic

Bryony

Cornelia

Jimmy

Louise

Natalie Wynn (Contrapoints

Tyler Oakley 

Best Beta Reader

@insectbah​

@maybeformepersonally​

@phinalphantasy7​

@queerdaniel​

@sudden-sky​

Favorite Blogger

@ahappydnp​

@alittledizzy​

@doineedtohaveawordwithyou​

@fay-pepper​

@goldenpinof​

Favorite Dan Moment

Coming out

Dan’s first pride event

Dan’s appearance as Benvolio on PhilosophyTube’s Charity Livestream

Favorite Phil Video

Coming Out To You

Doing A Makeup Tutorial Inspired By My Fish

Trying To Follow A Festive Bob Ross Tutorial! (gone wrong)

Favorite Phan Moment

Coming out

Japhan 2.0 

The short segment in Phil’s “buying wish ad’s” video where he ran towards Dan behind the camera

VidCon

Favorite Dan Tweet

Falling Asleep Sitting Up

Halloween Jumpscare: Straight Dan

No Context Japan

SIN COS TAN

Vaguely Sexual Election Tweet

Favorite Phil Tweet

M

Nose Twitch (+ Realization)

“Well Done On the Baby Making”

Favorite Dan Instagram Story

Kardashians Could Never

Legalise Catboys

Nipple Out (Showing Pride Jacket)

Sexually Eating Minion Ice Cream

Favorite Phil Instagram Story 

Deer Chasing Phil In Japan

Phil Attempting to Feed Deer

[bloodandbandages]

2, 15, and 25!

2. what would you name your future kids?

Oh god, I have no idea. Maybe Grace to honor a friend?  But honestly, more likely just Worm or Boob (short for bubonic plague)

15. personality description

Theater brat, huge animal lover, mega gay, approximately one (1) braincell, sappy, lover of words, obsessed with all things fae, still emo in this year of our lord satan and somehow the mom friend of the group despite being a guy.

25. role model

Can I say more than one? I have so many. Hozier, John Mulaney, Rick Riordan, John Darnielle, Natalie Wynn, Daniel Radcliffe and Laura Jane Grace are the ones off the top of my head but I’m sure there’s fifteen or so I’m forgetting. And that’s not counting any of the amazing role models I have in my day to day life!

Thank you for the asks anon!