#STOP MINDLESSLY CONSUMING CONTENT AND ENGAGE WITH THE MEDIA I BEG YOU

[ultravioart]

Welp, time to make this long post even longer.

"It's just pixels" in your tags says a lot. For canon dynamics in the canon story, I don't want predatory age gap grooming for a lesbian character being romanticized nor normalized by the narrative.

I don't need Fareeha to be uwu wholesome in story, I just need the canon to not fetishize/romanticize abuse lol. (And frankly, Pharah needs a rewrite because what do you MEAN Pharah is canonically a Helix 'skycop' militant for hire after her history with Overwatch/Ana... and the fact Pharah is First Nations and Egyptian??? It's distasteful. Not to mention her VA...)

Pharamercy is not a HEALTHY dynamic if a 17 year old Angela met a 12 year old Fareeha and Fareeha grew up around Overwatch to the point Cassidy(who is the same age as Mercy) was so involved that Cass was like a brother to her. Just like it would be incredibly creepy if an 18 year old Angela met a 13 year old Fareeha. (PS: Gency isn't healthy either! This isn't me defending one ship over another.)

"It's just pixels" in your tags say SOOO much, If you don't see how the age gap of a 12/13 with 'mom issues' and a 17/18 with 'abandonment issues' that watches the other grow up will becomes predatory years out, just admit you fetishize/normalize/romanticize non-con and block me, thanks.

You keep saying it's not a big deal. If you saw this happen irl where an 17/18 year old watched a 12/13 year old grow up, then a decade+ later dated, and you think nothing odd of it....? You need to do some MAJOR reflecting bc you are NOT surrounding yourself with safe people if you do that. This dismissal of the dynamic isn't funny, it's genuinely disturbing. There's millions of other people in the world, no excuses. This is how fiction can impact real life, if you genuinely are misinformed about what is and is not healthy.

Moira x Mercy is also something that should never be canon as a "cute/for the drama" ship bc thier dynamic would be abusive. If it's handled as abusive canonically, okay I guess, but it doesn't add much to the story other writting methods could handle instead im going to be honest. (Fandoms ship whatever,, i am talking CANON here). Moira is over a decade older than Mercy and they have extremely conflicting ethics. Cassidy was 17 when he joined Blackwatch btw (he is the same age as Mercy), so Moira would have been mid 30s when Angela finally joined Overwatch in her early 20s.

The human adult brain doesn't finish development until mid 20s btw, let's use around 25 as a rough estimate of a true biological adult human.

Drawing pixels on a screen doesn't actually commit the crime it depicts, but it sure as hell can be used once posted online/in media to spread disinformation and be used as a tool to desensitize and normalize abusive behavior. I am EXTRA critical with LGBT+ rep because I do NOT want this community to be constantly associated with abuse because of some stupid fetishist on the writers team. Mercy as is shouldn't even be in a relationship portrayed as "healthy" until she handles her abandonment issues that have consistently made Mercy fold her morals/ethics. (She gave her biotech to Overwatch on the stipulation it's not used for harm, but then Torbjörn makes Ana's biotic rifle... and Mercy STILL STAYS with Overwatch(the funding mostly)??? Obviously a flaw there.)

Am I missing something because Mercy was an older teen when she met kid Fareeha?? Cole and Angela are THE SAME AGE.

This is the main reason Pharah x Mercy NEVER sat right with me, even back in ow1, bc the two met/knew eachother when Pharah was just a kid(12) and Mercy was nearly an adult(17). And now official media is making it out like modern day ow2 Pharah has a thing for/with Mercy? Uh????

Plus they had Baptiste mistake Pharah and Cole as being together for NO needed reason (not a respectful way to treat found family sibs in writting, nor a lesbian character, plus the first meeting age gap between Cole and Fareeha is the same gap as Fareeha and Angela=gross), this set up was done ONLY to make space for Fareeha to say "No, definitely not. Cole and I have known eachother for a long time. He's like a brother to me. Besides, I am a lesbian."

...And not to be picky but the "I am a lesbian" here reads like "I am a gay" which uh... awkward/dry phrasing strikes yet again in ow short stories, it seems.

Congrats to the Bi Baptist and Lesbian Pharah confirmations, but ong if OW is actually sticking to this gross age gap first meeting script for Fareeha and Angela that is a HELL NO from me. We do NOT want problematic aspects in Lesbian/WLW/Saphic rep, thanks.

[trendingnewsb]

Why The Internet Is Killing Your Productivity

You can’t get by without being online. Our world is connected 24/7, and it has changed the way we live and work. When working on a project, it’s natural to turn to the web for answers or inspiration. The internet is a valuable tool, but it’s easy to find yourself distracted or overwhelmed by it.

Say, for example, that you’re working on a essay, and you need to do some research. Your search terms bring back 20 pages of results. Before you know it, you’ve spent an hour poring over more information than you’ll ever be able to use.

Maybe you notice a catchy title or an ad that draws you away from your work. You’re learning about the private details of your favourite celebrity’s life, or you’re buying the newest gadget. Time disappears and you’re still not done with your work.

We can’t live without the internet, so we need to learn how to live with it

Everything is online these days, and it’s so easy to Google whatever you want to know. We’ve gotten used to using the internet to find the answers to our burning questions.

You can’t even attend school without getting online. Online education portals and communication are a normal part of learning now. We’re so reliant on the internet, that we don’t always know how to find answers any other way.

Just 15 years ago, if you wanted to know the meaning of a word, you looked it up in the dictionary. Today, we just Google it. We no longer call a restaurant when we need to make a reservation. We go online or use an app to save ourselves a table. We don’t even have to set foot in a store anymore–we can buy whatever we need and have it shipped to us.

Having internet access should increase productivity because we don’t have to spend so long looking for answers. The internet’s ability to make information available at your fingertips is a blessing and a curse. For many people, the internet is extremely distracting.

How often do you catch yourself with non-work-related tabs open? It can take you twice as long to complete a task when you are bogged down by these distractions.

Addiction to social media is closely tied to our general addiction to the internet. Everyone is always on their phones. I’ve definitely caught myself checking my phone every ten minutes. I have to refresh my Facebook and Instagram feeds constantly because I am consumed by the fear of missing out (FOMO).[1]

I know I’m not alone in my compulsive page-refreshing. By the time I get around to working, I don’t have enough focus and energy to put toward the task. If this sounds like you, then your productivity has suffered because of the way you use the internet.

Distraction can have long-term consequences

Decreased productivity means that you won’t be able to achieve your full potential. It’ll take you longer to do your work, or you might lose the drive and self-discipline to take care of business. Chronic distraction can even rewire your brain.[2]

The more distracted you become, the easier it is to procrastinate. While the internet is fun and stimulating, it will almost always tempt you from working on your most-important tasks.

It just so happens that the internet has this effect on us because of our biology. The instant gratification we get from clicking, searching, and refreshing stimulates our limbic system and prompts the brain to release dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter.

Using the internet is an all-encompassing experience. We use our hands to type or engage our touchscreens. Our eyes and ears are flooded with stimulation from videos and notification. This bombardment of stimulation hijacks our attention and leaves us seeking the next click.[3]

It’s time to cut the cord

The only way to stop the internet from taking up all your time and concentration is to disconnect. When you unplug, you’ll get your focus back, and you’ll be less tempted to waste time on things like email, instant messaging, and social media. There’s a time and a place for those things, and it isn’t all day every day.

Impulsiveness and our tendency toward distraction originates in the limbic system. Piers Steel, author of The Procrastination Equation calls impulsiveness the “cornerstone of procrastination.” The more impulsive you are, the more likely you are to procrastinate.

To combat procrastination and impulsiveness, we have to get our prefrontal cortex involved. We use this part of our brain to tackle difficult projects or plan for the future. There’s an even better solution to building focus than strengthening our brain against impulse: remove time-wasters before they take up your time.

Unplugging from the internet is one of the best ways to prevent yourself from wasting time in the first place. You’ll be amazed at how much more productive you are when you take control of the internet rather than let it control you.

Tips for embracing an unplugged workday

1. Disconnect when the work seems hard

The internet rewards us on a neurochemical level when we avoid doing things that we don’t want to do. When you’re working on a high-impact or challenging task, disconnecting will be so helpful for you. After you get used to not refreshing your browser or checking your email, you’ll be amazed at the sense of calm and productivity that you experience.

2. Put your phone away

Lock it up, leave it in your bag, or put it in another room. Whatever you do, don’t leave it faceup on your desk. It’s just begging for you to pick it up, and the notifications are sure to draw you away from more important matters.

3. Put your mind to it

It’s not enough to put your phone away. Go into your work with the intention of having greater focus and energy. Setting your intention will also help you fight off the temptation to scroll mindlessly.

4. Give yourself deadlines

When you don’t have a deadline, projects can take a lot longer to finish. If you weren’t given a deadline, make your own. That pressure will help you focus and get the job done on time.

5. Close the extra tabs on your browser

There are probably a few tabs that you don’t need to have open on your screen right now. Each one is an invitation to click away from your high-impact task. Get rid of anything you don’t need–even your inbox tab can be closed for a little while.

6. Prevent information overload

There are an infinite number of pages and articles on the web. Don’t let them prevent you from taking action.[4] Put a time limit on your research. If you find an unrelated article that interests you, bookmark it for later.

Bookmarking apps such as “Pocket” and “Feedly” are great ways to save online content so that you can look back on it later.

The internet was made to improve your life

The web has changed the way our world works. It’s a bonus that adds to the quality of our life, but it isn’t critical to your survival. Use the internet to be more productive and produce better work so that you can have more energy for the things you love.

Reference

[1]^Psychology Today: Fear of missing out[2]^Chris Kesser: How Distraction Is Rewiring Our Brains—and How Mindfulness Can Help[3]^Chris Bailey: The Productivity Project[4]^Interaction Design Foundation: Information Overload, Why it Matters and How to Combat It

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The post Why The Internet Is Killing Your Productivity appeared first on Lifehack.

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[thehumanifestation-blog]

Entertainment & Inspiration

I would like to make a daring confession... I want you. I want you so bad that I can't stop thinking about you.  I've been looking into you...How can I get you to look my way? How can I make you like what you see when you do? How can I make you eagerly await to come back for more?  Yes, I know what you're thinking... starting a blog is a SEXY business and while there are all sorts of pleasurable tips available on organization, layout, navigation, promotion, and presentation of content; the real deal of how to produce material worthy of those efforts seems shrouded in mysterious mystery. People have spent loads of time, and engaged in lots of intercourse to figure out what works and what doesn't concerning how to get your attention, sustain it, and make you come again; but it seems to me those efforts are all for naught without the first, foremost, and oft forgotten priority of creating something worthy of catching your eye to begin with. Applying this to the entire entertainment industry begs a myriad of questions on how we are valuing being entertained in relation to being inspired. For instance, do we just want to be stimulated or would we rather go deeper by including learning and growth? Is there really anything soo bad and dirty about an enjoyable distraction anyway? Could we better balance our desires for both by somehow demanding our entertainment be forcefully held to a higher standard or should we aim to make inspirational, spiritual, or educational material to be more entertaining and therefore more eagerly taken in by the average media consumer? (And just how many sexual innuendos are there in this introduction!?) 

First of all, I absolutely love my entertainment! I'm an introverted person and so A LOT (exactly guesstimated at eleventy zillion bajillion hours) of my time has been passed through watching movies, TV shows, listening to music, reading books, and playing video games.

When it's time for the movie of my life to play before my eyes I will be well prepared to watch the screen of me watching screens! "Are you ready?" The angels will say. And they'll look at me strangely as I turn and look in a random direction at an imaginary camera with the greatest hero look in my eyes that the angels have ever seen. Pause...hold for a moment...and say "I've been training my whole life for this."  

See, there are times when I need to be able to be alone without driving myself crazy, and there are also times when I know I "should" be doing something productive but settle down to enjoy some beloved entertainment anyway. So I can see from both sides on this one, and can honestly say this isn't a fight that I've made black and white and picked a side to be the winner on, it's simply a fight that I feel needs to be had within each of us. To seriously ask yourself what is your standard for entertainment? Not in how hot the people in the show are, how great the graphics of the game are, how well choreographed the action scene is...but in weighing whether or not it is truly worthy of your time and attention... this is what I mean when I say quality. I only ask this of you because some people don't know their own worth and now is the perfect time to begin. In my heart of hearts, I know that a societal shift would be healthy, but it hasn't been a piece of writing I've ever considered embarking upon before now because my mind of minds knows the extraordinary difficulty involved.

I mean, is it in the realm of possibility for an arrangement of words to actually create a shift in priority towards wisdom, beauty, and inspiration rather than mere entertainment? YES! Could any of your words ever stop me from seeing the new star wars movies?

So while I'm not apart from it and I don't consider this an attack on the entertainment industry...the point I really want to get at is that YOU deserve for YOU to valUe YOU. A job that no one else can do. I see better men than me around me who are smart and capable who spend countless hours attaining achievements within a video game while they could be attaining achievements in reality. I see beautiful and interesting women who spend more time relating with people on TV shows than relating to people in their life. In seeing this and truly believing in the holy potential of humans, I can't help but see this as tragic...not because people are dumb, or stupid, or wasting their time, no, but because they are of tremendous value and often aren't realizing it! I've sometimes found myself living vicariously through relating to characters who go through experiences rather than getting off my ass and going through experiences myself. The perk of this mode of living is that it is safe and the downside of it is that it is safe.

So is it really outlandish to say that AT THE VERY LEAST we deserve for our entertainment to be of a certain quality? I think not! But it isn't the industry's place to raise the bar, that is our job. If we are going to be media consumers, then we must be conscious consumers. We simply have to care about what we absorb. It may seem harmless but we accidentally do something devastating by absorbing low quality diversions mindlessly. We allow our thoughts and feelings to be influenced by content that isn't worthy of influencing us. We are often better than what we are allowing ourselves to be entertained by! 

As much as I know that to be true, today I will not yet embark on the mission impossible of trying to convince you into prioritizing quality material over entertaining material. I have not fully made that shift so I have no right to attempt to sway you. All I can say is that on some level I've channeled my desire to be entertained into a desire to be entertained by content worthy of my consciousness and that isn't something I regret at all but something I am thankful for. Take it or leave it.  I won't try to push or pull you in any direction with your entertainment rather than suggesting to you that you remember to value yourself, your time, and consciously choose what you view. So what I'd like to do instead is propose three of the lowest minimal standards  that I can think of that you can set for yourself in regard to media engagement that are truly coming from a long time (and continuing) entertainment lover.

1. Enjoy your entertainment! 

It seems silly to say this, but I can't tell you how often I've been to someone's house and we watch something just because it's on. We watch a re-run of a show we've both seen and aren't even engaged in watching but we also don't interact. This kind of consumption provides absolutely nothing. No new stimulus, no mental engagement, nothing. Actually it prevents new stimulus and mental engagement by keeping yourself tied to it even without it stimulating you. Yet plenty of people will watch anything rather than turn it off.  Don't do this. Laugh together, discuss with one another, or watch alone attentively. But if you sit alone or with others and watch things that no one is engaged in then you have participated in a minor modern misfortune. With this standard you don't have to agree with me or anyone else on what is good or bad entertainment. Simply make sure it's good to you. This is the lowest standard imaginable... so please don't fail to set it.

2. Watch commercials on purpose or not at all.

Most people now have the option of recording their programs and with this comes the magical ability of pausing it even when you are watching live TV.

As a self-proclaimed lazy boy I made myself a bit more productive when I started implementing this by not accidentally watching commercials that I didn't want to watch anyway. Pause it and load the laundry, pause it and take out the trash, pause it and take a shower. You won't miss the entertainment you desired to see anyway, and now your absorption isn't as mindless and unceasing. Hell you could even choose to use the extra time for more entertainment, just don't allow yourself to get so lost that you aren't mentally engaged enough that you end up watching commercials accidentally.

3. Remember real life awaits you.

What I've found most beautiful about my endless endeavors into imaginary lands, is the pure and simple enjoyment of escape. Sometimes it's wonderful after a long day of work to read, play a video game, or watch a movie. It's relaxing to take my focus off of thoughts that are stressing me out and simply zone out for a while. Which is why I chose not to limit you in these 3 standards in anyway of your choice in how you escape via entertainment. All is acceptable. Simply aim to acknowledge if that is what you are doing. 

The times I've felt most unhealthy with my entertainment consumption is when there are serious problems at my work, within my relationships,or with my life in general that I am ignoring. I entertain myself, and never want to stop. It becomes unhealthy because I'd rather keep escaping into an alternate reality while the problems just get bigger and bigger, rather than begin building a life that I don't want to escape from. If we use entertainment in this way, then we are trapping ourselves in it. The desire to escape will only lead to more escaping. There is no need to be trapped, no need to create an addiction around it. It simply doesn't serve you to do so.

The only difference between entertainment and inspiration really is that while entertainment enables escape from yourself,  inspiration will always lead you back to yourself, your center, your source. So it is truly a gift when you put your energy out into something that ultimately directs you back in. Entertainment and inspiration do not have to be mutually exclusive.  So enjoy all of your entertainment and in the meantime keep your eyes open for any wisdom, insight, or inspiration that happens to be within it and know that you are worthy of a life filled with immense beauty. A beauty whose value is deep and whose fulfillment extends far beyond mere entertainment.

Matt King is co-creator of The Humanifestation. His efforts are to aid humanity in prioritizing people over profit by actualizing and sharing a philosophy of love. He writes blogs, hosts podcasts, and more.

[trendingnewsb]

Why The Internet Is Killing Your Productivity

You can’t get by without being online. Our world is connected 24/7, and it has changed the way we live and work. When working on a project, it’s natural to turn to the web for answers or inspiration. The internet is a valuable tool, but it’s easy to find yourself distracted or overwhelmed by it.

Say, for example, that you’re working on a essay, and you need to do some research. Your search terms bring back 20 pages of results. Before you know it, you’ve spent an hour poring over more information than you’ll ever be able to use.

Maybe you notice a catchy title or an ad that draws you away from your work. You’re learning about the private details of your favourite celebrity’s life, or you’re buying the newest gadget. Time disappears and you’re still not done with your work.

We can’t live without the internet, so we need to learn how to live with it

Everything is online these days, and it’s so easy to Google whatever you want to know. We’ve gotten used to using the internet to find the answers to our burning questions.

You can’t even attend school without getting online. Online education portals and communication are a normal part of learning now. We’re so reliant on the internet, that we don’t always know how to find answers any other way.

Just 15 years ago, if you wanted to know the meaning of a word, you looked it up in the dictionary. Today, we just Google it. We no longer call a restaurant when we need to make a reservation. We go online or use an app to save ourselves a table. We don’t even have to set foot in a store anymore–we can buy whatever we need and have it shipped to us.

Having internet access should increase productivity because we don’t have to spend so long looking for answers. The internet’s ability to make information available at your fingertips is a blessing and a curse. For many people, the internet is extremely distracting.

How often do you catch yourself with non-work-related tabs open? It can take you twice as long to complete a task when you are bogged down by these distractions.

Addiction to social media is closely tied to our general addiction to the internet. Everyone is always on their phones. I’ve definitely caught myself checking my phone every ten minutes. I have to refresh my Facebook and Instagram feeds constantly because I am consumed by the fear of missing out (FOMO).[1]

I know I’m not alone in my compulsive page-refreshing. By the time I get around to working, I don’t have enough focus and energy to put toward the task. If this sounds like you, then your productivity has suffered because of the way you use the internet.

Distraction can have long-term consequences

Decreased productivity means that you won’t be able to achieve your full potential. It’ll take you longer to do your work, or you might lose the drive and self-discipline to take care of business. Chronic distraction can even rewire your brain.[2]

The more distracted you become, the easier it is to procrastinate. While the internet is fun and stimulating, it will almost always tempt you from working on your most-important tasks.

It just so happens that the internet has this effect on us because of our biology. The instant gratification we get from clicking, searching, and refreshing stimulates our limbic system and prompts the brain to release dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter.

Using the internet is an all-encompassing experience. We use our hands to type or engage our touchscreens. Our eyes and ears are flooded with stimulation from videos and notification. This bombardment of stimulation hijacks our attention and leaves us seeking the next click.[3]

It’s time to cut the cord

The only way to stop the internet from taking up all your time and concentration is to disconnect. When you unplug, you’ll get your focus back, and you’ll be less tempted to waste time on things like email, instant messaging, and social media. There’s a time and a place for those things, and it isn’t all day every day.

Impulsiveness and our tendency toward distraction originates in the limbic system. Piers Steel, author of The Procrastination Equation calls impulsiveness the “cornerstone of procrastination.” The more impulsive you are, the more likely you are to procrastinate.

To combat procrastination and impulsiveness, we have to get our prefrontal cortex involved. We use this part of our brain to tackle difficult projects or plan for the future. There’s an even better solution to building focus than strengthening our brain against impulse: remove time-wasters before they take up your time.

Unplugging from the internet is one of the best ways to prevent yourself from wasting time in the first place. You’ll be amazed at how much more productive you are when you take control of the internet rather than let it control you.

Tips for embracing an unplugged workday

1. Disconnect when the work seems hard

The internet rewards us on a neurochemical level when we avoid doing things that we don’t want to do. When you’re working on a high-impact or challenging task, disconnecting will be so helpful for you. After you get used to not refreshing your browser or checking your email, you’ll be amazed at the sense of calm and productivity that you experience.

2. Put your phone away

Lock it up, leave it in your bag, or put it in another room. Whatever you do, don’t leave it faceup on your desk. It’s just begging for you to pick it up, and the notifications are sure to draw you away from more important matters.

3. Put your mind to it

It’s not enough to put your phone away. Go into your work with the intention of having greater focus and energy. Setting your intention will also help you fight off the temptation to scroll mindlessly.

4. Give yourself deadlines

When you don’t have a deadline, projects can take a lot longer to finish. If you weren’t given a deadline, make your own. That pressure will help you focus and get the job done on time.

5. Close the extra tabs on your browser

There are probably a few tabs that you don’t need to have open on your screen right now. Each one is an invitation to click away from your high-impact task. Get rid of anything you don’t need–even your inbox tab can be closed for a little while.

6. Prevent information overload

There are an infinite number of pages and articles on the web. Don’t let them prevent you from taking action.[4] Put a time limit on your research. If you find an unrelated article that interests you, bookmark it for later.

Bookmarking apps such as “Pocket” and “Feedly” are great ways to save online content so that you can look back on it later.

The internet was made to improve your life

The web has changed the way our world works. It’s a bonus that adds to the quality of our life, but it isn’t critical to your survival. Use the internet to be more productive and produce better work so that you can have more energy for the things you love.

Reference

[1]^Psychology Today: Fear of missing out[2]^Chris Kesser: How Distraction Is Rewiring Our Brains—and How Mindfulness Can Help[3]^Chris Bailey: The Productivity Project[4]^Interaction Design Foundation: Information Overload, Why it Matters and How to Combat It

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