#Specific to a given population and its environment and do not generalize | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

dailyanarchistposts · 8 months ago

Text

Chapter 5. Crime

Prison is the institution that most concretely symbolizes domination. Anarchists wish to create a society that can protect itself and resolve internal problems without police, judges, or prisons; a society that does not view its problems in terms of good and evil, permitted and prohibited, law-abiders and criminals.

Who will protect us without police?

In our society, police benefit from a tremendous amount of hype, whether it’s biased and fear-mongering media coverage of crime or the flood of movies and television shows featuring cops as heroes and protectors. Yet many people’s experiences with police contrast starkly with this heavy-handed propaganda.

In a hierarchical society, whom do police protect? Who has more to fear from crime, and who has more to fear from police? In some communities, the police are like an occupying force; police and crime form the interlocking jaws of a trap that prevents people from escaping oppressive situations or rescuing their communities from violence, poverty, and fragmentation.

Historically, police did not develop out of a social necessity to protect people from rising crime. In the United States, modern police forces arose at a time when crime was already diminishing. Rather, the institution of police emerged as a means to give the ruling class greater control over the population and expand the state’s monopoly on the resolution of social conflict. This was not a response to crime or an attempt to solve it; on the contrary, it coincided with the creation of new forms of crime. At the same time police forces were being expanded and modernized, the ruling class began to criminalize predominantly lower class behaviors that had previously been acceptable such as vagrancy, gambling, and public drunkenness.[70] Those in authority define “criminal activity” according to their own needs, then present their definitions as neutral and timeless. For example, many more people may be killed by pollution and work-related accidents than by drugs, but drug dealers are branded a threat to society, not factory owners. And even when factory owners break the law in a way that kills people, they are not sent to prison.[71]

Today, over two-thirds of prisoners in the US are locked up for nonviolent offenses. It is no surprise that the majority of prisoners are poor people and people of color, given the criminalization of drugs and immigration, the disproportionately harsh penalties for the drugs typically used by poor people, and the greater chance people of color have of being convicted or sentenced more harshly for the same crimes.[72] Likewise, the intense presence of militarized police in ghettos and poor neighborhoods is connected to the fact that crime stays high in those neighborhoods while rates of incarceration increase. The police and prisons are systems of control that preserve social inequalities, spread fear and resentment, exclude and alienate whole communities, and exercise extreme violence against the most oppressed sectors of society.

Those who can organize their own lives within their communities are better equipped to protect themselves. Some societies and communities that have won autonomy from the state organize volunteer patrols to help people in need and discourage aggressions. Unlike the police, these groups generally do not have coercive authority or a closed, bureaucratic structure, and are more likely to be made up of volunteers from within the neighborhood. They focus on protecting people rather than property or privilege, and in the absence of a legal code they respond to people’s needs rather than inflexible protocol. Other societies organize against social harm without setting up specific institutions. Instead they utilize diffuse sanctions — responses and attitudes spread throughout the society and propagated in the culture — to promote a safe environment.

Anarchists take an entirely different view of the problems that authoritarian societies place within the framework of crime and punishment. A crime is the violation of a written law, and laws are imposed by elite bodies. In the final instance, the question is not whether someone is hurting others but whether she is disobeying the orders of the elite. As a response to crime, punishment creates hierarchies of morality and power between the criminal and the dispensers of justice. It denies the criminal the resources he may need to reintegrate into the community and to stop hurting others.

In an empowered society, people do not need written laws; they have the power to determine whether someone is preventing them from fulfilling their needs, and can call on their peers for help resolving conflicts. In this view, the problem is not crime, but social harm — actions such as assault and drunk driving that actually hurt other people. This paradigm does away with the category of victimless crime, and reveals the absurdity of protecting the property rights of privileged people over the survival needs of others. The outrages typical of capitalist justice, such as arresting the hungry for stealing from the wealthy, would not be possible in a needs-based paradigm.

During the February 1919 general strike in Seattle, workers took over the city. Commercially, Seattle was shut down, but the workers did not allow it to fall into disarray. On the contrary, they kept all vital services running, but organized by the workers without the management of the bosses. The workers were the ones running the city every other day of the year, anyway, and during the strike they proved that they knew how to conduct their work without managerial interference. They coordinated citywide organization through the General Strike Committee, made up of rank and file workers from every local union; the structure was similar to, and perhaps inspired by, the Paris Commune. Union locals and specific groups of workers retained autonomy over their jobs without management or interference from the Committee or any other body. Workers were free to take initiative at the local level. Milk wagon drivers, for example, set up a neighborhood milk distribution system the bosses, restricted by profit motives, would never have allowed.

The striking workers collected the garbage, set up public cafeterias, distributed free food, and maintained fire department services. They also provided protection against anti-social behavior — robberies, assaults, murders, rapes: the crime wave authoritarians always forecast. A city guard comprised of unarmed military veterans walked the streets to keep watch and respond to calls for help, though they were authorized to use warnings and persuasion only. Aided by the feelings of solidarity that created a stronger social fabric during the strike, the volunteer guard were able to maintain a peaceful environment, accomplishing what the state itself could not.

This context of solidarity, free food, and empowerment of the common person played a role in drying up crime at its source. Marginalized people gained opportunities for community involvement, decision-making, and social inclusion that were denied to them by the capitalist regime. The absence of the police, whose presence emphasizes class tensions and creates a hostile environment, may have actually decreased lower-class crime. Even the authorities remarked on how organized the city was: Major General John F. Morrison, stationed in Seattle, claimed that he had never seen “a city so quiet and so orderly.” The strike was ultimately shut down by the invasion of thousands of troops and police deputies, coupled with pressure from the union leadership.[73]

In Oaxaca City in 2006, during the five months of autonomy at the height of the revolt, the APPO, the popular assembly organized by the striking teachers and other activists to coordinate their resistance and organize life in Oaxaca City, established a volunteer watch that helped keep things peaceful in especially violent and divisive circumstances. For their part, the police and paramilitaries killed over ten people — this was the only bloodbath in the absence of state power.

The popular movement in Oaxaca was able to maintain relative peace despite all the violence imposed by the state. They accomplished this by modifying an indigenous custom for the new situation: they used topiles, rotating watches that maintain security in indigenous communities. The teacher’s union already used topiles as security volunteers during the encampment, before the APPO was formed, and the APPO quickly extended the practice as part of a security commission to protect the city against police and paramilitaries. A large part of the topiles’ duty included occupying government buildings and defending barricades and occupations. This meant they often had to fight armed police and paramilitaries with nothing but rocks and firecrackers.

Some of the worst attacks happened in front of the occupied buildings. We were guarding the Secretary of the Economy building, when we realized that somewhere inside the building there was a group of people preparing to attack us. We knocked on the door and no one responded. Five minutes later, an armed group drove out from behind the building and started shooting at us. We tried to find cover, but we knew if we backed away, all the people at the barricade in front of the building — there must have been around forty people — would be in serious danger. So we decided to hold our position, and defended ourselves with rocks. They kept firing at us until their bullets ran out and drove away, because they saw that we weren’t going anywhere. Several of us were wounded. One guy took a bullet in his leg and the other got shot in the back. Later, some reinforcements arrived, but the hit men had already retreated. We didn’t have any guns. At the Office of the Economy, we defended ourselves with stones. As time went on and we found ourselves under attack by gunfire more and more frequently, so we started making things to defend ourselves with: firecrackers, homemade bottle-rocket launchers, molotov cocktails; all of us had something. And if we didn’t have any of those things, we defended people with our bodies or bare hands.[74]

After such attacks, the topiles would help take the wounded to first aid centers.

The security volunteers also responded to common crime. If someone was being robbed or assaulted, the neighbors would raise the alarm and the neighborhood topiles would come; if the assailant was on drugs he would be tied up in the central plaza for the night, and the next day made to pick up garbage or perform another type of community service. Different people had different ideas on what long-term solutions to institute, and as the rebellion in Oaxaca was politically very diverse, not all these ideas were revolutionary; some people wanted to hand robbers or assaulters over to the courts, though it was widely believed that the government released all law-breakers and encouraged them to go back and commit more anti-social crimes.

The history of Exarchia, a neighborhood in central Athens, shows throughout the years that the police do not protect us, they endanger us. For years, Exarchia has been the stronghold of the anarchist movement and the counterculture. The neighborhood has protected itself from gentrification and policing through a variety of means. Luxury cars are regularly burned if they are parked there overnight. After being targeted with property destruction and social pressure, shop and restaurant owners no longer try to remove political posters from their walls, kick out vagrants, or otherwise create a commercial atmosphere in the streets; they have conceded that the streets belong to the people. Undercover cops who enter Exarchia have been brutally beaten on a number of occasions. During the run-up to the Olympics the city tried to renovate Exarchia Square to turn it into a tourist spot rather than a local hangout. The new plan, for example, included a large fountain and no benches. Neighbors began meeting, came up with their own renovation plan, and informed the construction company that they would use the local plan rather than the city government’s plan. Repeated destruction of the construction equipment finally convinced the company who was boss. The renovated park today has more green space, no touristy fountain, and nice, new benches.

Attacks against police in Exarchia are frequent, and armed riot police are always stationed nearby. Over the past years, police have gone back and forth between trying to occupy Exarchia by force, or maintaining a guard around the borders of the neighborhood with armed groups of riot cops constantly ready for an attack. At no point have the police been able to carry out normal policing activities. Police do not patrol the neighborhood on foot, and rarely drive through. When they enter, they come prepared to fight and defend themselves. People spray graffiti and put up posters in broad daylight. It is to a large extent a lawless zone, and people commit crimes with an astonishing frequency and openness. However, it is not a dangerous neighborhood. The crimes of choice are political or at least victimless, like smoking weed. It is safe to walk there alone at night, unless you are a cop, people in the streets are relaxed and friendly, and personal property faces no great threat, with the exception of luxury cars and the like. The police are not welcome here, and they are not needed here.

And it is exactly in this situation that they demonstrate their true character. They are not an institution that responds to crime or social need, they are an institution that asserts social control. In past years, police tried to flood the area, and the anarchist movement in particular, with addictive drugs like heroin, and they have directly encouraged junkies to hang out in Exarchia Square. It was up to anarchists and other neighbors to defend themselves from these forms of police violence and stop the spread of addictive drugs. Unable to break the rebellious spirit of the neighborhood, police have resorted to more aggressive tactics, taking on the characteristics of a military occupation. On December 6, 2008, this approach produced its inevitable conclusion when two cops shot 15-year-old anarchist Alexis Grigoropoulos to death in the middle of Exarchia. Within a few hours, the counterattacks began, and for days the police throughout Greece were pummeled with clubs, rocks, molotov cocktails, and in a couple of incidents, gunfire. The liberated zones of Athens and other Greek cities are expanding, and the police are afraid to evict these new occupations because the people have proven themselves to be stronger. Currently, the media is waging a campaign of fear, increasing coverage of antisocial crime and trying to conflate these crimes with the presence of autonomous areas. Crime is a tool of the state, used to scare people, isolate people, and make government seem necessary. But government is nothing but a protection racket. The state is a mafia that has won control over society, and the law is the codification of everything they have stolen from us.

The Rotuman are a traditionally stateless people who live on the island of Rotuma in the South Pacific, north of Fiji. According to anthropologist Alan Howard, members of this sedentary society are socialized not to be violent. Cultural norms promote respectful and gentle behavior towards children. Physical punishment is extremely rare, and almost never intended to actually hurt the misbehaving child. Instead, Rotuman adults use shame instead of punishment, a strategy that raises children with a high degree of social sensitivity. Adults will especially shame children who act like bullies, and in their own conflicts adults try very hard not to make others angry. From Howard’s perspective as an outsider from the more authoritarian West, children are given “an astonishing degree of autonomy” and the principle of personal autonomy extends throughout the society: “Not only do individuals exercise autonomy within their households and communities, but villages are also autonomous in relation to one another, and districts are essentially autonomous political units.”[75] The Rotuman themselves probably describe their situation with different words, though we could find no insider accounts. Perhaps they might emphasize the horizontal relationships that connect households and villages, but to observers raised in a Euro/American culture and trained in the belief that a society is only held together by authority, what stands out most is the autonomy of the different households and villages.

Though the Rotuman currently exist under an imposed government, they avoid contact with it and dependence on it. It is probably no coincidence that the Rotuman murder rate stands at the low level of 2.02 per 100,000 people per year, three times lower than in the US. Howard describe the Rotuman view of crime as being similar to that of many other stateless peoples: not as the violation of a code or statute, but as something causing harm or hurting social bonds. Accordingly, mediation is important to solving disputes peacefully. Chiefs and sub-chiefs act as mediators, though distinguished elders may intervene in that role as well. Chiefs are not judges, and if they do not appear impartial they will lose their followers, as households are free to switch between groups. The most important conflict resolution mechanism is the public apology. The public apology has great weight attached to it; depending on the seriousness of the offense, it may be accompanied by ritual peace offerings as well. Apologizing properly is honorable, while denying an apology is dishonorable. Members maintain their standing and status in the group by being accountable, being sensitive to group opinion, and resolving conflicts. If some people acted in a way that we might expect in a society based on police and punishment, they would isolate themselves and thus limit their harmful influence.

For two months in 1973, maximum-security prisoners in Massachusetts showed that supposed criminals may be less responsible for the violence in our society than their guards. After the prison massacre at Attica in 1971 focused national attention on the dramatic failure of the prison system to correct or rehabilitate people convicted of crimes, the governor of Massachusetts appointed a reformist commissioner to the Department of Corrections. Meanwhile, the inmates of Walpole state prison had formed a prisoners’ union. Their goals included protecting themselves from the guards, blocking the attempts of prison administrators to institute behavioral modification programs, and organizing prisoners’ programs for education, empowerment, and healing. They sought more visitation rights, work or volunteer assignments outside the prison, and the ability to earn money to send to their families. Ultimately, they hoped to end recidivism — ex-prisoners getting convicted again and returning to prison — and to abolish the prison system itself.

Black prisoners had formed a Black Power education and cultural group to create unity and counter the racism of the white majority, and this proved instrumental in the formation of the union in the face of repression from guards. First of all, they had to end the race war between the prisoners, a war that was encouraged by the guards. Leaders from all groups of prisoners brokered a general truce which they guaranteed with the promise to kill any inmate who broke it. The prison union was supported by an outside group of media-savvy civil rights and religious activists, though communication between the two groups was sometimes hampered by the latter’s service-provider mentality and orthodox commitment to nonviolence. It helped that the Corrections commissioner supported the idea of a prisoners’ union, rather than opposing it outright as most prison administrators would have.

Early on in the life of the Walpole prisoners’ union, the prison superintendent attempted to divide the prisoners by putting the prison under an arbitrary lockdown just as the black prisoners were preparing their Kwanzaa celebration. The white prisoners had already had their Christmas celebrations undisturbed, and the black prisoners had spent all day cooking, eagerly anticipating family visits. In an amazing display of solidarity, all the prisoners went on strike, refusing to work or leave their cells. For three months, they suffered beatings, solitary confinement, starvation, denial of medical care, addiction to tranquilizers handed out by the guards, and disgusting conditions as excrement and refuse piled up in and around their cells. But the prisoners refused to be broken or divided. Eventually the state had to negotiate; they were running out of the license plates Walpole prisoners normally produced and they were getting bad press over the crisis.

The prisoners won their first demand: the prison superintendent was forced to resign. Quickly they won additional demands for expanded visiting rights, furlough, self-organized programs, review and release of those in segregation, and civilian observers inside the prison. In exchange, they cleaned up the prison, and brought what the guards never had: peace.

In protest of their loss of control, the guards walked off the job. They thought this act would prove how necessary they were, but embarrassingly for them, it had the exact opposite effect. For two months, the prisoners ran the prison themselves. For much of that time, the guards were not present within the cell blocks, though state police controlled the prison perimeter to prevent escapes. Civilian observers were inside the prison twenty-four hours a day, but they were trained not to intervene; their role was to document the situation, talk with prisoners, and prevent violence from guards who sometimes entered the prison. One observer recounted:

The atmosphere was so relaxed — not at all what I expected. I find that my own thinking has been so conditioned by society and the media. These men are not animals, they are not dangerous maniacs. I found my own fears were really groundless.

Another observer insisted “It is imperative that none of the personnel formerly in Block 9 [a segregation block] ever return. It’s worth paying them to retire. The guards are the security problem.”[76]

Walpole had been one of the most violent prisons in the country, but while the prisoners were in control, recidivism dropped dramatically and murders and rapes fell to zero. The prisoners had disproved two fundamental myths of the criminal justice system: that people who commit crimes should be isolated, and that they should be recipients of enforced rehabilitation rather than the ones who control their own healing.

The guards were eager to end this embarrassing experiment in prison abolition. The guards’ union was powerful enough to provoke a political crisis, and the Corrections commissioner could not fire any of them, even those who engaged in torture or made racist statements to the press. To keep his job, the commissioner had to bring the guards back into the prison, and he eventually sold out the prisoners. Major elements of the power structure including the police, guards, prosecutors, politicians, and media opposed the prison reforms and made them impossible to achieve within democratic channels. The civilian observers unanimously agreed that the guards brought chaos and violence back to the prison, and that they intentionally disrupted the peaceful results of prisoner self-organization. In the end, to crush the prisoners’ union, the guards staged a riot and the state police were called in, shooting several prisoners and torturing key organizers. The most recognizable leader of the black prisoners only saved his life through armed self-defense.

Many of the civilian observers and the Corrections commissioner, who was soon forced out of his job, ultimately came to favor prison abolition. The prisoners who took over Walpole continued to fight for their freedom and dignity, but the guards’ union ended up with greater power than before, the media ceased talking about prison reform, and as of this writing Walpole prison, now MCI Cedar Junction, still warehouses, tortures, and kills people who deserve to be in their communities, working towards a safer society.

8 notes · View notes

solarpunkpresentspodcast · 1 year ago

Text

Infrastructures of Violence

Solarpunk isn’t new to debates about violence, its pros and cons, whether it is a true reflection of the movement’s values or antithetical to its ethical commitments. I figured I’d give my own two cents’ worth here; I know I might be retreading old ground, but given this season’s focus on housing in particular and the built environment generally, I wanted to address this topic specifically.

Before I begin, though, I want to note that I am deeply indebted in my thinking to Rob Nixon, specifically his book Slow Violence and the Environmentalism of the Poor for giving me language and a framework of thinking about this issue. There are many types of violence, it turns out! Some are just harder to see than others. On top of that, who is labelling what action as “violent”? Who gets to define violence? These are some of the questions I tend to chew over whenever the word is used.

Today, I want to talk about how infrastructure and violence are intrinsically linked, and not just in the sense of clashes between the people living there. Architecture can perpetrate violence simply in its design: take hostile architecture, for example. Apart from threatening violence in actual physicality, hostile architecture perpetrates a violent ideology: there are people who do not matter, who need to be shooed away, who don’t deserve basic human kindness or decency. This is a forerunner to genocidal action - the constant dehumanization of a particular population, making it easier to eventually do actual, physical, spectacular violence to them without causing much psychic damage to/causing protest from the rest of the population.

In my view, solarpunks’ goals are to create a world where that ideology is, as Christina put it, “beyond the pale”. A world where compassion reigns and every individual matters as an important part of the community. A world where disputes are resolved through skillful negotiation, where interpersonal conflict is arbitrated with compassion, where peace and care are valued and valorized.

We don’t live in that world yet. And it will take a lot of intentional choosing of nonviolence as well as organized opposition to a status quo that interprets any opposition to it as necessarily violent. Taking an example from my own society and culture, Canada has a history (though recent) of branding enviromentalists as terrorists, with terrible consequences. A recent episode of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) podcast “What on Earth?” explored how misogyny and racism can combine with anti-environmentalist sentiment into a toxic stew that greatly affects female environmentalists, and thus can have a chilling effect on women’s speech and actions. (Because Canada was first and foremost founded as a resource colony to extract goods for Europe, and only became a country after negotiating with the companies that had laid claim to Northern Turtle Island, any opposition to the extractive settler-colonial mindset is labelled domestic terrorism).

Speaking of racism, Canada, the status quo, and the violence inherent to certain forms of infrastructure, both 1990’s Oka Crisis and the current struggles of the Tiny House Warriors come to mind. The Oka Crisis, or Kanehsatà:ke Resistance, was basically a struggle over whether the township of Oka, Quebec, had the right to build condominiums and expand a golf course over disputed land that also included an Indigenous burial ground. Mohawk protestors blockaded a highway with trees and trucks; the Quebec Police, the Canadian Army, and the RCMP showed up with tanks. To defend infrastructure.

The Tiny House Warriors are a group of Indigenous-led protestors who are part of a mission to stop the Trans Mountain pipeline from crossing unceded Secwepemc Territory by building infrastructure of their own - tiny houses. Ten tiny houses were built in strategic places along the Trans Mountain pipeline route, reasserting Indigenous presence on their own land. They are now in court, after having been attacked and abused (sometimes physically) for their commitment to fighting violent infrastructure with infrastructure that asserts their sovereignty and provides homes.

The label of violence can be stretched, in this way, to cover even peaceful protestors. Or artists - Elizabeth LaPensée's short video game Thunderbird Strike, wherein the player directs a thunderbird to attack the oil pipeline and infrastructures encroaching on the land, was described by a Minnesota politician and oil lobbyists as “encouraging eco-terrorism”.

Much like the debater who takes a critique of their argument as an ad hominem attack, there are governments that see only violence in certain actions that solarpunks may not see as violent at all.

The violence against the Wet’suwet’en protestors, the #NoDAPL protestors, and many, many more is sourced in how those who defend the status quo see any movement against it as violence or the threat of violence, and feel justified in retaliating with force. Never mind the centuries of colonial violence and dehumanization, the official doctrine stating that non-Christians and their lands were fair game for European state invasion, the historical and ongoing land theft and consequent forcing of people out of their homes to live in unfamiliar places, the brutal repression of language and culturally important ceremonies… I could go on, but I won’t. According to the status quo, though, those aren’t technically violent acts - or, if they could be called “violent", they happened in the past, and so somehow do not count, as if history doesn’t shape our present or memory is no object.

All that said, I’m not sure where that leaves us. I do know that solarpunk is not okay with interpersonal violence at all, nor is it okay with war, oppression, torture, subjugation…. those are all the easy violences, the ones we can immediately see, identify, and react to.

But violence against infrastructure? When the term “violence” is defined by the very forces we are actively attempting to dismantle? I don’t think that acting in defense of one’s safety is wrong: pushing back against violent infrastructure might look like blockading a road or railway. It might look like tiny houses, built in the path of a pipeline. It might look like sabotaging the machines in a warehouse. It might look like a group of people united by the belief that human life and the health of the land is more valuable than any profit that could be made from this infrastructure, any benefit it might give.

To dismantle infrastructures that perpetrate violence is to commit violence. So perhaps the aims of solarpunk could be interpreted as violent in that sense, because destroying, hindering, and otherwise f&%ing up fossil fuel infrastructure, or military weaponry, or modifying hostile architecture to make it human-friendly… that is, in the eyes of society at large, violent.

I think I’m starting to think myself in circles, however. It’s time for some input, because this is just how I’m thinking about this issue, and it’s by no means any sort of manifesto or final word on the subject; it’s necessarily restricted by my own biases and location, and I need perspective. So, what do you think?

#solarpunk #violence #indigenous sovereignty #status quo #capitalism #architecture #infrastructure #homes #buildings #urban design #city planning

8 notes · View notes

queering-ecology · 9 months ago

Text

Queer Ecologies: Sex, Nature, Politics, Desire Chapter 2 : Enemy of the Species by Ladelle McWhorter (final)

The Species and Modern Genetics

The science of genetics made the basis for eugenics and much of both are still felt today. “Geneticists of the highest rank did not reject eugenics during or after World War II. Purged of its animosity towards various racial groups, eugenics was not only accepted but championed. Meanwhile, immigration quotas and restrictions remained in place. Classification of people as defective on the basis of IQ tests, diagnoses such as sexual psychopathy and transgender behavior continued and resulted in institutionalization of thousands of people, may of whom were subjected to treatments such as aversion therapy, lobotomy, clitoridectomy, and physical or chemical castration” (90). This continued well past the end of WW2 for at least another quarter-century.

What is species in modern genetic discourse?

At present, there is no generally agreed upon scientific definition of ‘species’. “Hence any attempt to argue either that queer people are enemies of the human species or that we are important contributors to it must falter for lack of a clear referent for one of its key terms” (91).

“By Making reproductive isolation an essential feature of speciation, adherents of the biological species concept import a kind of teleology into the theory of natural selection. Nature WANTS diversity of species” and “Speciation is life’s way of colonizing new environments in a drive to conquer the planet” (93).

The reality is that “life has no aims” and “does not select for diversity per se; it selects for fecundity, the opposite of sterility; diversity (the isolation of distinct gene pools) occurs as a side effect” (93)

The Recognition Concept by Hugh E. H. Patterson, “a species is ‘that most inclusive population of individual biparental organisms which share a common fertilization system” (Patterson 1992, 149) This creates the ‘gene pool’; a positive phenomenon not a negative—enable reproduction. A system of signals in which organisms identify a ‘appropriate mating partner’—chemical, aural, behavioral. Able to recognize and respond to potential mates (SMRS, specific mate recognition system)

This is still highly heteronormative; “through natural selection, deviantly gendered or sexed organisms must die off, rendering gendered heterosexuality a stable feature of normal members of any species. This is the essential truth about species and the natural way of things” (95).

Queer Political Opinions

There is real danger in using the ‘species’ concept when trying to argue for diversity; the “scientific principle at issue may carry with it a whole history of connections and meanings that may not serve queer interests and purposes in the long run”. Moreover, the author argues that “science has not demonstrated that it merits the authority given to it to decide social, political, and moral questions. At its best science is an important tool and component in the process of making such decisions, not a final arbiter.” And we may do better to “question the authority” and validity “ of the science used against us” rather than embrace scientific concepts uncritically (96)

“If sexual and gender diversity are valuable in human society, they are so regardless of their value for species preservation or evolution” (96).

We must ask “opponents of our inclusion in social institutions and civil society to explain why they believe uniformity of sexuality and gender are valuable or why diversity of sexuality and gender are bad. And when they base their arguments on evolution and preservation of the species, we can be ready to counter them—because they clearly do not know what they are talking about” (96).

5 notes · View notes

dicesmasher · 8 months ago

Text

The Ecology of Owlbears

The concept of 'monster ecology' when thinking about your RPG setting is quite common, I think. Much supplementary material written for Dungeons and Dragons over the years was on this topic - see AJ Pickett's vast library of monster lore videos where he helpfully brings the contents of these old magazines to the current generation of players.

However, a thing I've noticed is lacking in these writings - and I do not fault the writers for this necessarily - is that they don't include much thought as to how a particular monster interacts specifically with other creatures in its domain, and how populations of these monsters might engineer the ecosystem.

I imagine that this subject is under-explored, partially because not everyone is an ecology nerd, and partially because exactly how a monster interacts with and affects its environment depends on what that environment is, and what else lives in it. Unless you're reading setting-specific lore, this is probably left up in the air on purpose for the DM and players to fill in the blanks.

How HARD your setting is, in terms of truly considering the implications of what you put in it, also has an effect. I've realised that, for all the deep lore and violent themes, D&D (especially modern D&D) truly lends itself mostly to what I'd call 'cartoon fantasy', where we go off primarily vibes, bright colours, and whatever sounds cool. Despite this, I will continue to endeavour to create a hard setting, with as few worldbuilding plot holes as possible.

In particular, I've been thinking mainly about the iconic owlbear to exemplify thinking about monster ecology. The 5e Monster Manual actually does a decent job of describing a plausible way this creature lives, being a strictly nocturnal hypercarnivore of forested regions. The idea that it announces its presence to all the prey in the area to flush it into ideal hunting spots is... less plausible. I mean, you'd expect things to get on high alert and start quickly increasing their distance from you if you start screeching at them, unless you can throw your voice somehow.

But what I particularly like about this description is that it gives the owlbear a unique niche that is clearly different from a regular bear. With the head of an owl, we would expect the owlbear to be a hypercarnivore rather than a generalist forager, and we would expect it to take advantage of its keen sight and hearing to hunt prey in the cover of night. This lifestyle is more similar to that of big cats, which we tend not to associate that much to the temperate forests we usually associate owlbears with (lynx, pumas and Siberian tigers notwithstanding). Bears and owlbears thus live without competition.

This said, we run into a bit of a conflict. We expect the owlbear to survive as a sneaky predator of the night, but we also expect it to be an aggressive, monstrous bruiser that has a vendetta against everything and everyone it sees - that's why it's a big scary monster and not an animal. This is the fantasy of the owlbear, a big, scary predator that can kill anything, but its physiology just doesn't lend itself to successful hunting. Nature does not award extra points for being scary and angry.

Bears are not built for stealth or agility, even though they can run fast in a straight line. Reflected by this, the owlbear lacks stealth proficiency, and we'd thus expect it to fuck up a lot of its hunts. This is made worse by the assumedly high caloric needs of such a bulky predator, usually depicted as significantly larger than a brown bear. Given a few million years of evolution, we should expect owlbears to be a lot sleeker, lighter and cat-like rather than bear-like.

Obviously, the owlbear is not an evolved creature per se - the two possible origin stories put it as coming from the Feywild (a realm where style over substance can actually work) or being the result of arcane hybridisation experiments. Still, if we expect owlbears to be able to breed and establish populations, we should also expect natural selection and competition to act on them.

I thus suggest a little tweak to owlbears. They could stay large, but be more lightly built than usually depicted. They should have stealth proficiency, and be silent predators of the night, like owls. Perhaps their feathers even help dampen the sounds they make as they move through the woods? They may compete with other nocturnal large predators, if sharing their woods with big cats for example, but with their powerful builds, they always win fights against other predators and can steal their kills. Perhaps like bears, they also catch fish when they can, giving them a backup or supplementary food source.

Their reputation for aggression comes down to feeling vulnerable during the day when they should be sleeping, and lashing out furiously to neutralise threats. Being so heavily armed and requiring large solitary territories to get enough food, they likely resolve any conflict with deadly violence, except maybe against other owlbears.

In the end, we've ended up with something combining the niches of big cats, and the extinct short-faced bears which are thought to have specialised in winning confrontations against other predators to claim their kills.

In terms of how owlbears affect their environment, their reliance on sound and sight means animals must take extra care to be quiet and hidden while sleeping, or foraging at night, to not draw attention to themselves. Their typical prey may also take pains to avoid locations where they can be ambushed easily - a landscape of fear. Other large predators would take pains to avoid owlbears, which might target them for food or steal their kills, though maybe mesopredators like foxes would follow them in hopes of getting some of the carrion that the owlbear generates.

Local people, like humans and elves, would avoid going out in the woods at night. Elves, who don't need to sleep and are still active at night, would busy themselves with home tasks, and only the most wary and skilled would try going out to forage. Camping in owlbear territory would be a big no-no unless you can find somewhere where you can't be easily ambushed, and an armed sentry was up at all times. If travelling through owlbear territory, it may be worth pushing through the night, quietly if you can, to get out of there as quickly as possible. Sturdy shelters might be set up at intervals along the roads, specifically to keep people and their horses safe from owlbears. And it goes without saying that a dead owlbear would make an incredible trophy for a hunter.

#dungeons and dragons #Local nerd discovers that fantasy doesn't work like real life - tries to make it work anyway #nature doesn't give extra points for being scary #monsters need niches

4 notes · View notes

palomasu · 1 year ago

Text

To greet, or not to greet?

One of the biggest cultural shocks I had when coming to the US happened during freshman year orientation week. As me and my fellow classmates rustled into a Huntsman classroom, we took our seats and awaited the first speaker for the day. The speaker entered and a quiet hush fell over the room as eager ears listened for them to break the silence. All that was going through my mind was, "when are we were going to say good morning to him?".

In Jamaica, it has been drilled in our brains since Kindergarten that you must always greet your teachers and speakers with a polite "Good morning" or "Good afternoon" as a sign of respect. It was one of the many forms of common courtesy that was deeply ingrained in our culture. I began to wonder if this cultural norm was specific to my school or if it was a broader cultural difference between Jamaica and the United States.

Throughout the orientation week, I noticed that while some students did greet the speakers or professors one on one, it was far less common and seemed optional. Over time, I learned that the United States had its own set of social norms and expectations when it came to greetings. While Americans were generally friendly and approachable, they tended to prioritize informality and efficiency in their interactions. It wasn't that they were being disrespectful; it was just a different way of approaching social situations.

In class this week, I discovered that this was one of the many codes of behavior that exist.

When touching on Elijah Anderson's, Code of the Street, in class, I was brought back to another experience I had when visiting New York over Thanksgiving Break. My friend, a New York native had given me a very strict list of things not to do before going on the subway:

Don't stare at anyone

Don't smile at anyone

Don't make eye contact with anyone

Keep your personal belongings close

Don't sit in the stand-alone seat at the front of a subway carriage

Me, pictured, enchanted by the wonders of 5th Ave.

I remember thinking that this list of "Don'ts" sounded more like a guide to avoiding confrontation rather than simple subway etiquette.

As I navigated the bustling New York City subway system during my visit, I couldn't help but notice that people seemed to be in their own worlds. They were reading books, listening to music with headphones on, or simply lost in thought. The avoidance of eye contact and maintaining a certain level of personal space seemed to be a way of respecting each other's privacy in a crowded and often hectic environment.

It was clear that these unwritten rules, which my friend had emphasized, were part of a social code designed to maintain order and minimize potential conflicts. In a city as diverse and densely populated as New York, where millions of people from different backgrounds and cultures intersect daily, having such a code helped to not only keep social order, but also the subway system running smoothly.

This experience reinforced the idea that cultural norms and codes of behavior can vary widely not only between countries but also within different regions of the same country. Just as I had to adapt to the informal greetings, I also needed to learn the unspoken rules of the subway in New York City. It was a reminder that understanding and respecting these codes were essential for harmonious coexistence in a multicultural society.

As I continued my studies and interactions in the United States, I found myself continually learning and adapting to the subtleties of social norms and expectations in urban areas, recognizing that each community and environment may have its own unique code of conduct.

#urban life #psychology #new york #diversity

2 notes · View notes

ichthyopokethologist · 2 years ago

Text

Sharpedo Analysis Post

Sharpedo - The Sharpedo is clearer in its inspirations than its preceding form. It is based on the stereotypical image of the shark, though combined with the body form of the ocean sunfish (as well as the torpedo). Its Mega form also has an extended snout with teeth protruding, influenced by either a sawfish or a sawshark, both cartilaginous fish.

Due to its pointed snout and aggressive portrayal, Sharpedo may be modeled after the white sharks (family Lamnidae), a group of mackerel sharks that includes the great white and mako species. The pokedex entries for Sharpedo are similar to that of Carvanha, except on a much larger scale- several report that the pokemon has the ability to chew through steel, and it is said to be nicknamed the “bully” or “ruffian of the sea”. There are also entries retaining the attraction to blood. Finally, the more recent entries (Moon) reveal that Sharpedo populations are low due to past fishing for their fins, reflecting real world culling of sharks and fin hunting- unfortunately there is no way to know how the population is in recovery, and if the unfortunate nicknames and stigma around these pokemon contributed to their hunting.

As discussed previously, Sharpedo appears to be a generic “shark” pokemon, but its design contains nuances that imply white shark influence. With their torpedo-like bodies and snouts, as well as their bloody reputation, it is likely that these pokemon most specifically drew its model from the great white, Carcharodon carcharias. It retains the “Rough Skin” ability of its younger form, which is a reference to the denticles owned by sharks as well as by the sunfish. We are told that, due to Sharpedo’s lack of a tail fin, it swims by “jetting” through the water. This is impossible for all sharks, who need their fins to maneuver properly, hence why sharks with their fins removed always die when thrown back into the sea. It does show a similarity to the movement of octopi, who jet water out through a siphon by their mantle. It is unclear how Sharpedo would accomplish this, unless the organ is underneath their skin, or located in the gold star-like shape on their backside.

(id: a picture of a medium-sized great white shark facing to the left, above a loose school of fish. there appears to be bubbles in the upper right behind the shark, indicating some disturbance in the water.)

(2nd id: a pokemon card from 2010. it has an illustration of sharpedo, a sharklike pokemon, swimming through the sea. part of the sharpedo's dorsal fin is breaking the surface of the ocean, its mouth is open, and there appears to be a rush of bubbles from its backside.)

Due to Carvanha’s presence in rivers, there are some interesting implications to Sharpedo breeding. For one, it is probably anadromous, with the hatchlings either pulled or born upstream. If we assume that the Carvanha eggs are laid upstream as with salmon, then that means that Sharpedo, similar to the bull shark, are capable of surviving in freshwater. Due to their euryhaline states, bull sharks are able to survive in estuaries, with the strongest among them being able to be in freshwater environments. However, it is not indicated if Sharpedo has this ability. If it does, it raises the question of why Sharpedo is primarily an ocean species. The best answers are that a) the Sharpedo who spawn die, or b) there simply isn’t enough food around to sustain the pokemon, hence their departure. It could be, of course, that the young Carvanha simply swim upstream of their own accord, but without concrete evidence we must keep an open mind. Additionally, we do not know if Sharpedo continue their schooling habits. Many mackerel sharks, despite their solitary appearances, actually have very elaborate migration and hunting routes. It is possible that Sharpedo also form shivers (a term for schools of sharks), and frankly it would make sense, given the habits of Carvanha.

#og text #sharpedo #water pokemon #ruby and sapphire #pokemon oras #speculative biology #pkmn irl

6 notes · View notes

aceduchessdragoness · 1 year ago

Text

[id: 1st picture is a fact taken from Wikipedia that says, “Sharks can have cancer. The misconception that sharks do not get cancer was spread by the 1992 book Sharks Don’t Get Cancer,”

2nd picture is a 1 panel comic. It’s a drawing of a teacher looking at her laptop and saying, “Okay, middle school students, it’s the first Tuesday in February. This means that by law and custom, we must spend the morning reading through the Wikipedia article List of Common Misconceptions, so you can spend the rest of your lives being a little less wrong. The guests at every party you’ll ever attend thank us in advance.”

Pictures 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are more facts from the Wikipedia article: “Urine is not sterile, even in the bladder.” / “Female praying mantises rarely eat the males during reproduction, especially in their natural environment. In a study in a laboratory at the University of Central Akransas, it was observed that 1 out of 45 times the female ate the male before mating, and the male ate the female with the same frequency.” / “Sugar does not cause hyperactivity in children. Double-blind trials have shown no difference in behavior between children given sugar-full or sugar-free diets, even in studies specifically looking at children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or those considered sensitive to sugar. A 2019 meta-analysis found no positive effect of sugar consumption on mood but did find an association with lower alertness and increased fatigue within an hour of consumption, known as a sugar crash.” / “All humans learn in fundamentally similar ways. In particular, there is no evidence that people have different learning styles, or that catering teaching styles to purported learning styles improves retention.” / ““420” did not originate from the Los Angeles police or penal code for marijuana use. California Penal Code section 420 prohibits the obstruction of access to public land. The use of “420” started in 1971 at San Rafael High School, where it indicated the time, 4:20 pm, when a group of students would go to smoke.”

Picture 8 is another fact: “Infants can and do feel pain.”

Picture 9 is a fact and picture 10 is a reaction: “People do not swallow large amounts of spiders during sleep. A sleeping person makes noises that warn spiders of danger.” And the next image is of a person pointing in confusion.

Pictures 11 and 12 are comments regarding the “learning styles” fact:

11:

micheghost02: I’ll have to look into the misconception about learning styles. As someone who has an auditory processing disorder, i benefit from more with a visual and hands on process (if available, can’t do hands on with history).

dementedmk, @micheghost02: I could be wrong here, but my guess is that this probably doesn’t take processing disorders or similar learning challenges into account, which makes it less true as a universal statement but might be more specifically helpful for the general population? Idk

tinbells: Yea. the learning styles one, has like… ignores the existence of people with disabilities? Also doesn’t make is obvious the kind of ways we teach doesn’t line up with how people learn.

chlora-boii: the learning styles one is super suspect

12:

gay-4-space, @chlora-boii @tinbells: the learning styles one has quite a bit of scientific literature to back it up, not just the ones linked in the article. And yes, it does ignore people with disabilities as its focusing of the idea of the general public, while most papers and reviews of the topic acknowledge that people have preferences in how information is presented, the retention of that information is

gay-4-space: is not affected by those different types. I have a learning disability myself so I was also skeptical but the science to back it up in the general populace just isn’t there /id]

wikipedia is a gem

159K notes · View notes

mayaduffphleb · 13 days ago

Text

Phlebotomy Pay Revealed: How Much Do Certified Technicians Really Earn?

Phlebotomy⁣ Pay⁣ Revealed: How Much Do Certified Technicians Really Earn?

Phlebotomy, the practice of drawing blood for testing and diagnosis, is a crucial role in the ⁣medical field. Certified phlebotomists can play a vital role in patient care while enjoying a rewarding ⁤career. But how much do these skilled technicians really earn? In this comprehensive article, we’ll dive into phlebotomy pay, factors influencing salaries, and tips for enhancing your income.

Understanding Phlebotomy Careers

Before delving into specific salary figures, it’s essential to understand what being a phlebotomist entails. Certified phlebotomists are trained⁣ to:

Draw�� blood from‍ patients safely and⁣ effectively.

Handle specimens for lab tests.

Ensure that all equipment is⁤ properly sterilized.

Maintain accurate patient records.

Given the pivotal role they play in healthcare, ⁤you might ⁣find it surprising how much phlebotomists⁢ earn,⁢ especially considering the relatively ‍short training period involved.

Phlebotomy Salary Overview

According to⁤ recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a phlebotomist in the United States is approximately $37,000 annually. However, this figure ⁢can vary significantly based on several factors:

Factors Influencing Phlebotomy Pay

Location: Salaries can vary widely from state ⁤to state. For instance, urban areas typically offer higher pay compared to rural ones.

Experience: Like many professions, more experienced phlebotomists tend to ‌earn higher wages.

Certifications: Additional certifications can boost a phlebotomist’s earning potential.

Work Environment: Phlebotomists working in hospitals generally earn more than those in clinics or labs.

Average Phlebotomy Salary by State

State

Average Annual Salary

California

$48,000

Texas

$34,000

New York

$45,000

Florida

$36,000

Illinois

$40,000

Types ⁤of Phlebotomy Positions

Phlebotomists can work in a variety of settings which ‍can also impact⁣ their salary:

Clinical Laboratories: Entry-level phlebotomists may start here, typically earning lower wages initially.

Hospitals: Often pay higher due to the ⁤demanding environment.

Blood Donation ⁣Centers: A rewarding ⁣option, these positions often ⁢offer competitive pay.

Mobile Phlebotomy Services: Flexible hours ⁣but may ⁢come with varying salaries based on client demand.

Benefits of Becoming a Phlebotomist

Besides earning a decent salary, there are other advantages to working ⁢as a certified phlebotomist:

High Demand: With an aging population, the need for skilled phlebotomists is on the rise.

Flexible Scheduling: Many phlebotomists enjoy flexible shifts, allowing for work-life balance.

Career ‌Advancement: With experience and further education, phlebotomists‍ can advance to higher-paying roles within the healthcare system.

Strategies to Increase Your ⁤Phlebotomy Salary

If you’re looking ⁣to maximize your earnings as a phlebotomist, consider the following strategies:

Continuing Education: Pursue advanced certifications such as a Certified Phlebotomy Technician ⁣(CPT).

Seek Specialized Training: Skills in areas like pediatric phlebotomy can⁢ make you more valuable.

Network: Join professional organizations to connect with other professionals and discover job opportunities.

Be Flexible: Consider part-time or on-call positions which can offer higher hourly rates.

Real-World Experiences

To provide a clearer picture of life as a phlebotomist, we spoke with several professionals in the field. Here’s what they had to say:

Emma, 5 years as a phlebotomist: “My first ⁤job‌ paid around $30,000, but after getting certified and developing my ⁣skills in a hospital setting, I now earn $45,000 annually. Networking has also opened ⁣doors for me.”

James, Mobile Phlebotomist: “Working for myself has its challenges, but I can set my rates. On a good day, I can make $400 or ⁢more, depending on how ‍many patients I see.”

Conclusion

Phlebotomy can be a ‌rewarding career both financially and personally. With the average salary hovering around $37,000 but highly influenced by location, ‌experience, and‌ certifications, ‌there is significant potential for growth. ‌By⁤ pursuing additional training and leveraging networking opportunities, certified phlebotomists can maximize their earnings while enjoying a fulfilling role in ⁢the healthcare sector. So, if you’re⁤ considering a career ⁣in phlebotomy, rest assured that it offers promising prospects both ⁣in terms of income and job satisfaction.

youtube

https://phlebotomyclassesonline.net/phlebotomy-pay-revealed-how-much-do-certified-technicians-really-earn/

0 notes

paragonrobits · 28 days ago

Text

so in my main original setting, one idea i keep drifting towards concerns roughly three groups of characters who are each their own faction, with a specific territory (either areas they generally like or a specific territory, or both if you get into weird self-contained worlds within a given region premise), certain agendas they pursue and a huge cast of followers, soldiers and allies. the initial idea was that teams of adventurers like them can be rivals or allies depending purely on context, and these ones in particular are friendly but over time, its started to feel more like

they're one big group. story ideas have focused on them all eventually forming an alliance of the Good Guy groups by the standards of the story, similar to the Shield of Civilization mechanic in Total War Warhammer where the factions that value the world's survival and are not worst than True Neutral in alignment terms (including the Lizardmen, the High Elves, Grand Cathay, the Empire, Brettonia, the Dwarfen Kingdoms, and Kislev) but as a long term and permanent alliance of nations that cooperates and comes into conflict with big villain groups

functionally, still adventuring teams but on a huge scale, allowing for things such as military actions, wide-scale campaigns against monsters and political intrigue without getting into iffy stuff like questions of imperialism (long story short but due to the world being deeply magical and procedurally generated as you go out, there's very little reason to conquer except for power because you can get more territory just by wandering outwards)

so in practice, they, and others who might pop up, are all part of the same big meta-group. There's an upcoming fighting game called Knock Off, I think and the general aesthetic of the characters maps to the ideas i might have in mind here:

youtube

they all have a science fantasy look with magitech and a use of modifying their bodies and spirits to gain new abilities, with a focus on a vaguely transhumanist concept of 'turning yourself into a walking tank is just so GODDAMN COOL', with such technologies being both biological and cyborg-ish, drawing on a mix of big bulky and squarish mechanical designs (huge wires and cables that clip on, cartridges instead of discs or chips, a mix of cassette futurism and more) and strangely biological-emulating mechanisms

the three factions figured out so far include:

The OC Squad: the main characters of the setting in my stories, and so far do not have a canonical team name (I'm thinking something like... Gremlins, drawing on their themes of alchemic refinement and chaotic mutation, maybe with themes of rot or decay played positively??). A chaotic and bizarre band of punk rock heroes causing problems on purpose, challenging tyrants and undergoing adventure. they make heavy use of necromancy and powers that draw upon soul energy and bargains with the natural spirits. Their powers have a focus on transformation, defense and whimsical/wacky powers that are generally pretty weird.

Inspirations include Brutal Legend (Ironheade, specifically), superheros settings, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Final Fantasy 6/7/10, the Borderlands series (Vault Hunters and Psychos, generally), X-Men and the Doom Patrol, and Warcraft's Horde (under Thrall).

Generally prefer swamps, wetlands and similar environments. Large populations of reptille beastfolk (turtles, alligators), cat beastfolk, sapient robots, mutated animals and anamalous beings in general. Goblins, pig-beast folk, and others. Chaotic Good by default.

The Cutie Squad: A group of charming, non-threatening and helpful characters generally inspired by toyetic cartoons and series such as magical girls, monster trainer series, game/sport manga and anime. They tend to have very niche powers focused on their particular expertise, or emulating magical power sets they like with technology and magical tricks out of sheer fondness for the vibe, and using clever techniques to outperform stronger but less flexible opponents.

they tend to favor forests, riversides, and grasslands. Their populations include bird folk (generally small insectivores and hummingbirds), MLP-inspired pony beastfolk, cutesy robots that were originally made as living toys, ACTUAL living toys, imaginary friends that became their own entity, talking pets and animate ink-blob things.

The Power Metal Kings: A power metal-inspired team of heroes focused on long term empire-building and restoring order, and generally care more about helping people, defeating warlords and ambitious tyrants, forming the core of this alliance. They're mostly based on toyetic action series of the 80s and other series; inspirations include Transformers, He-Man, Netflix She-Ra, Thundercats and others, Warcraft's Alliance as well as high fantasy in general. Later inspirations in the future could include Warhammer's Grand Cathay, the Tau and others. High fantasy inspirations include dwarves and elves (generally dark elves).

They tend to favor mountains and nearby regions to them. (This might mean I should look at cultures that historically lived in such places for inspiration and character concepts.) Their populations often include small but growing populations of surviving humans, eagle-folk, wolf beastfolk, unusual dwarf and elf-inspired concepts, fox beastfolk, freed sapient robots, snake beastfolk, and monster boys/girls/nonbinary of many different kinds.

Ghoul Crew: a new faction recently devised as the founders of a nation of a Hammer Horror/Universal Horror themed land of monsters; imagine a place ruled by vampires, councils of werewolves, with populations of respected Frankenstein-ish cyborg homunculi and Creature from the Black Lagoon fishmen as common people, and you get the idea. They're among the more noble on an organizational level, happening to have a spooky vibe. This particular group is lead by a currently unfinished vampire lady and the other members would also serve as representaives of their respective peoples, building a place they can all call home.

They favor forested mountains, colder climates in general and lots of fog and rain. Their populations include vampires, werebeasts, homunculi, fishfolk and creatures often associated with darkness, scavenging and are considered Bad despite just being animals. Flies, bats, vultures and worms are common beastfolk, for instance. Necromancy is very common here, and mad scienst wonders are almost ubiquotious, and associated with higher status.

#my OCs #OC stuff #ideas #Youtube

1 note · View note

drhanidaudish · 10 months ago

Text

Common Misconceptions About Clinical Trial Participation by Dr. Hanid Audish

Clinical trials can provide patients access to new treatments and improve health outcomes. Still, many hold certain misconceptions about participating in them that prevent them from making the effort needed.

Addressing myths surrounding clinical trials is vital to create an environment where patients feel comfortable engaging in this research.

1. They are a waste of time

Dr. Hanid Audish suggests that clinical trials are essential in medical advances, helping us discover cures and prolong lifespans. Unfortunately, however, many people remain reluctant to participate due to various misconceptions preventing participation, which has resulted in inadequate recruitment and retention rates in trials.

Although not every trial produces positive outcomes, most studies provide tangible benefits to participants. By participating in trials, patients can access investigational drugs not yet on the market, receive quality care from physicians, and gain a deeper understanding of their conditions.

Although all clinical trials involve certain risks, they aim to assess whether experimental treatments are safe and effective in humans. Any risks involved with taking part are beforehand evaluated and communicated to participants as part of the informed consent process. Furthermore, most health insurance policies cover most of the costs associated with participation, such as doctor visits or lab tests. Finally, many medications involved have undergone extensive testing before being included in trials, showing promise in treating specific conditions being studied.

2. They are dangerous

Many patients believe that participation in clinical trials puts their health at risk; however, this is far from true: clinical trials provide opportunities to test new treatments that could one day help improve patient health.

As highlighted by Dr. Hanid Audish, studies are carefully planned with researchers using eligibility criteria as screening tools, with care given to age, gender, overall health status, and diagnosing or treatment history before accepting anyone to their study.

All potential participants must sign a written document, known as informed consent, that contains details about the study, such as its purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits - this will ensure all information is provided to participants understandably before agreeing to participate.

While the research process can take time, people who participate in clinical trials do so voluntarily and often report feeling valued for their contribution to medical advancement and improving quality of life; furthermore, they also benefit by contributing towards an expanded knowledge of their disease.

3. They are expensive

Dr. Hanid Audish points out that clinical trials are integral to modern medical research, providing researchers with data for prospective procedures, treatments, and cures in safe, controlled settings before making them widely available to the general public. But they can be daunting for potential participants.

Many patients believe they will suffer by participating in clinical trials; however, this is rarely the case. Most research focuses on issues that affect large populations and could benefit from knowledge gained through trial participation.

Trial participants rarely pay any costs associated with participating, as most research organizations cover research costs, while health insurance carriers often cover doctor visits and laboratory tests. Therefore, it's essential that before making your decision on participating or not participating, you discuss the specifics with both research teams and your health insurer so you are fully informed of all expenses involved. Additionally, many trials provide cash incentives as an added incentive.

4. They are not for everyone

Dr. Hanid Audish conveys that clinical trials provide vital medical data on potential procedures, treatments, and cures. As an integral component of modern medicine, they give people access to lifesaving drugs before they're available to the general public.

Though attempts are underway to address past medical and research abuses, many factors contribute to why some individuals opt not to participate in clinical trials. A key issue is the lack of awareness; patients should encourage their physicians to provide more information on available trials.

Fear of harm or receiving subpar care can also act as a barrier. Still, participants need not fear this happening: clinical trials adhere to stringent safety guidelines that put participant safety first. Furthermore, researchers are trained to offer superior clinical care - often administering standard of care alongside investigational drugs (placebo is rarely used).

Participating in studies often requires making time commitments that don't fit with one's lifestyle - additional doctor visits, driving to study sites, or recording data at home are just some examples. Some may find the amount of effort involved too significant of an obstacle.

Bottom Line

Dr. Hanid Audish articulates that clinical trials are an indispensable element of medical research. They allow researchers to gather medical data on prospective procedures, treatments, or cures using safe and controlled methods before offering them to the general public. Furthermore, clinical trials give people with specific health needs access to breakthrough therapies that could save their lives or extend their quality of life.

Contrary to popular belief, participating in a clinical trial does not render you an unwilling guinea pig. Participants receive regular and compassionate medical attention throughout their participation and are free to opt-out at any time without penalty; additionally, medications being tested have already passed rigorous FDA standards, lowering any potential risk to them.

#dr. hanid audish

0 notes

jcmarchi · 11 months ago

Text

Harnessing AI: The Future of Social Media Content Creation

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/harnessing-ai-the-future-of-social-media-content-creation/

Harnessing AI: The Future of Social Media Content Creation

Social media has become a marketing necessity – a wide-reaching platform for quickly cultivating pervasive brand awareness.

But it’s not always easy to do right – even in our savvy social media age.

One reason is oversaturation. For example, it’s difficult to create video content that stands out against a teeming digital environment in which 95 million photos and videos are posted to Instagram, 1 billion stories shared on Facebook, and 34 million videos posted to TikTok every day. And content volumes in the next five years will likely dwarf these already staggering figures.

In addition, consistent content distribution – a key to high engagement rates and a robust online presence amidst rapidly shifting trends and audiences – is growing increasingly difficult for content professionals. Afterall, the resources, creativity, and time needed to produce captivating content on a regular basis is often be impeded by other important tasks and priorities. In fact, around 44% of marketers say producing engaging content is one of their top challenges.

The saturated market, coupled with the necessity for ongoing content streams, places significant pressure on content professionals. That’s why social media has quickly become indispensable for businesses and brands, given its capacity to swiftly attract and retain attention in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. The strain is becoming evident. A recent report reveals that 75% of content creators grapple with anxiety due to the relentless demand for content production, and 79% are experiencing creator burnout.

As the social media ecosystem continues to expand, brands and businesses will need to tap into solutions that facilitate consistent video content creation and diminish creative burnout to maximize social media visibility.

A Very ‘Reel’ Rise

With just shy of 60% of the world population already on social media, the major platforms offer brands, businesses, and individual content creators alike a dynamic and reliable hub for disseminating video content to as many users as possible.

Content professionals, however, face several hurdles when navigating the landscape’s persistent fluctuations, including ever-evolving algorithms, limited agency over content once shared, and the short-lived relevance of content in general. So, while social media platforms offer unparalleled opportunities for audience engagement and brand visibility, they at the same time demand a high degree of adaptability and strategic foresight to maneuver their often-unpredictable terrain.

One key strategic solution: social media offers an ideal platform for short-form video content, which has become increasingly effective for engaging audiences. In an era where online information is growing and attentions spans are ebbing, short-form content scratches the itch for quick, digestible material without necessarily sacrificing quality.

Many savvy marketers accomplish this by repurposing longer pieces of media into bite-sized video content, which should ideally be no longer than two minutes. However, this can be a labor-intensive and draining task commonly relegated to video production services. And depending on the particular service, average costs per minute of video production can be prohibitively expensive, with rates ranging from $1,000 to as high as $10,000. The longer the video is, the higher the cost will be.

AI – A Lifeline

This is where Artificial Intelligence can help upgrade the often taxing process of churning out concise, meaningful short-form video content for social media.

For one, AI tools can be used to analyze user interactions and preferences to create highly tailored content. By understanding what specific segments of the audience like, share, or spend their time on, AI can assist in crafting personalized messages and content that genuinely resonate with the viewers they reach, raising engagement rates and fostering brand loyalty.

Similarly, AI’s capacity to process and analyze vast amounts of data quickly allows it to spot emerging trends in real-time. This lets businesses stay ahead of the curve and create content that accurately taps into the latest user interests and popular discourse.

The more personalized the content is, the more likely it is to be shared, reshared, and seen by more and more people.

Another advantage is that AI tools can expedite the entire content production process. Aside from their capacity to automate finer editing details like trimming, color correction, subtitle generation, and audio integration, among others, AI tools can also be leveraged to generate content ideas, suggest edits, and even write initial script drafts based on specifically inputted parameters. With hours of time saved, content professionals can focus on the more creative aspects of content creation and adhere to more consistent posting schedules – all without sacrificing quality for efficiency.

Beyond content creation, AI is useful for tracking and analyzing content reception across social channels. With the ability to automatically assess which posts drive the most engagements, conversions, or website traffic, AI can provide content professionals with actionable insights, helping brands and businesses refine content strategies for higher ROI.

Lights, Camera, AI!

The ability of videos to captivate audiences, convey messages effectively, and foster meaningful connections makes them indispensable in the social media arena. But it is easier said than done – maintaining consistent, demanding upload schedules to keep pace with emerging trends is getting more and more difficult to sustain.

As the digital landscape continues to shift, the supportive role AI plays for businesses and brands will continue to grow, as it will help content creators strike a balance between creativity, length, quality, and upload frequency.

Tapping into AI-powered solutions that optimize content distribution, automate editing, and facilitate trend and performance analysis accomplishes three things: One, it alleviates the otherwise tedious workload of short-form video content creation; two, it enhances and maintains creative output amid fast-paced social media culture; and three, it empowers creators to better traverse and engage with the oversaturated social media market.

This integration of AI into social media strategy represents a pivotal step forward for content professionals seeking to enhance their creative output and engage more effectively with their audiences, whilst maintaining relevance in the ever-fluctuating world of social media.

Short-form videos can bring about long-term benefits for businesses, brands, content professionals, and everyone in between. AI is therefore more than just an expedient video editing tool – it is an essential on-set assistant throughout the entire content creation process.

1 note · View note

eazy-group · 1 year ago

Text

Can You Wild Camp in Wales?

New Post has been published on https://eazycamping.net/can-you-wild-camp-in-wales/

Can You Wild Camp in Wales?

Wild camping in the UK can be a rewarding and memorable experience, whether you are an avid camper or a beginner. Several of the most popular destinations are located in Wales. It is widely known for its three national parks, the scenic Wales Coast Path, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

But before you pack your bags and camping essentials, it’s important to note that specific rules and regulations must be complied with to ensure you won’t get in trouble while trying to have fun and explore nature.

So, today, let’s go over the critical information you need to plan your trip. Can you wild camp in Wales and set up camp wherever you like? How can you guarantee you will leave no trace and show respect for the environment?

We will also give a quick rundown of the most beautiful places to pitch your tent in Wales and answer some of the common questions that campers have about the area and this outdoor activity.

The law on wild camping in Wales

Technically speaking, the law forbids wild camping in Wales. This rule generally applies to the UK, except for certain parts of Dartmoor and Scotland. While it may seem too restrictive, the government impose this as a way of protecting the interests of the landowners. Getting caught wild camping is considered trespassing, a civil offence under UK law.

Can you wild camp in Wales?

Though the law explicitly states that wild camping in Wales is not legal, this activity is tolerated under certain conditions. For example, you can set up your tent on a given land provided that you have been granted the permission of the respective landowner.

Campers in remote places far from cultivated land can also get away with wild camping as long as they stay only for one night and leave no trace. Some campgrounds near hiking or walking trails are also popular among wild campers. They are typically allowed so long as they do not obstruct the pathways, disturb others, or harm the environment.

Top 5 rules to follow when wild camping in Wales

Now that you understand the legality of wild camping in Wales, let us share the top 5 rules you should always keep in mind. These rules are established to prevent you from getting into legal trouble and conserve the beauty of the places you intend to visit.

Breaking any one of them can lead to severe repercussions including but limited to being driven away from the area, getting arrested for damaging property or endangerment of the indigenous lifeforms.

1) Don’t damage your surroundings

As innocent as camping may sound, some reckless actions can cause undue damage to the terrain, bodies of water, and nearby plants and animals. Therefore, you must exercise caution throughout your entire stay. You must also avoid altering your chosen campsite by moving rocks, cutting trees, or trampling plants.

Approaching wildlife may also be damaging because it disrupts the ecological balance. Some adverse effects include a change in the local population or increased transmission of diseases or parasites to humans or other animals.

2) Try to camp in small numbers

Camping with several of your family and friends can be an exciting and unforgettable trip for everyone involved. However, too many people in the same campsite can create excessive noise, litter, erosion, and fire risk. It will also be harder for you to find a suitable place to camp, especially if people or wildlife live there.

Given these, it’s best to limit your count to no more than four campers at the same time. This will allow you to go wild camping with minimal gear and reduced environmental impact.

3) Don’t stay longer than 3 Days

Following this wild camping rule will help you stay discreet and avoid facing legal consequences. The longer you stay, the higher the likelihood of being noticed by the landowner or the locals. Spending more days in the same camping spot may also lead to more harm or disturbance to the surroundings.

You will also likely bring more supplies to last more than three days, which can mean more litter and thus prevent you from leaving no trace. Finally, overstaying might ruin the itinerary of other campers in the area because fewer campsites will be available.

4) Do not litter

Littering can do more damage than you might initially realize. Aside from destroying the beauty of the place, it is a significant source of pollution to the soil and water sources. Trash can also attract animals to your campsite, and that can cause them to become more dependent on our food and be more aggressive towards humans.

Your litter may also be a choking or ingestion hazard for those animals. If you have gear, accessories or supplies you don’t need anymore, bring them to recycle or consider selling them on websites for used camping gear.

5) Camp away from buildings or historic structures

Buildings and structures may belong to landowners who do not welcome wild campers. Most historical monuments or sites in Wales are also protected by law to preserve their integrity. Camping near any of them can lead to conflict with the involved landowners or the local authorities.

Suppose you are found trespassing or you have inflicted damage to cultural heritage. In that case, you will face penalties and fines in addition to the headaches of ending your camping trip earlier than planned. Respect the land and its inhabitants by camping discreetly somewhere far from buildings or historic structures.

Where to go wild camping in Wales

Having learned the best practices aligned with the wild camping laws in Wales, you should start researching the most beautiful camping spots in the country. You’re in luck if you choose Wales because there are so many places to discover and explore.

From dramatic mountains and hills to stunning beaches and coastlines, you will have your pick of where to pitch your camping tent. Regardless of your choice, however, remember to dig deeper by finding out the weather conditions, terrain, and local rules and regulations that may affect you during your trip.

Wild camping in Snowdonia

Snowdonia is a mountainous National Park in northwestern Wales. It has fifteen mountains, including the highest peak in Wales, Snowdon. In addition, the area also has a variety of landscapes, such as magnificent beaches, limestone cliffs, open lands, and salt marshes. Regarding wildlife diversity, Snowdonia is home to different types of birds, dolphins, and rare plants.

One of our favourite wild camping spots in Snowdonia is the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. This is the only one of its kind in the UK. It covers almost 300 meters of coastline, offering views of nearby islands and mountainous peaks.

If you’re into hiking or trekking, we recommend going to Rhinogydd, a mountain range in the middle south of Snowdonia, or Carneddau on the northeastern side. Expect the terrains to be rugged and secluded, but you can still find great wild camping spots near the lakes or on the plateaus.

Wild camping on the Welsh Coast

The Welsh coast stretches from Chepstow on the English border, passing through Pembrokeshire and Anglesey before circling back to Flint near the border. In total, it has a length of about 2,700 kilometres. Within this is a continuous coastal footpath called the Wales Coast Path, which draws in thousands of hikers, cyclists, and fans of wildlife watching every year.

Wild camping on the Welsh Coast should be done carefully since pitching a tent on a beach or near water sources is frowned upon. Fortunately, several excellent camping spots are away from such areas, but do not skimp on the views. We recommend looking for one in Anglesey on the north-west part of the Welsh Coast.

It offers a nice balance of scenic sights, historical sites, and cultural heritage. The Gower Peninsula in the southern region is also a great choice. It is the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK, so be sure to include it in your places to visit in Wales.

Wild Camping in the Brecon Beacons

Brecon Beacons is a National Park located in south Wales. Covering an area of 1,344 square kilometres, this popular camping destination offers a wide variety of stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife. The skies over the Brecon Beacons are also perfect for stargazing as they become so dark and tranquil at night.

Hikers and climbers flock to Brecon Beacons for its mountains and hills. You can find there some of the highest peaks in the area, such as the Pen y Fan and Corn Du. The mountain range of Mynydd Llangynidr is one of the favourite picks for wild camping for its picturesque views and a secluded cave open for explorers.

Choose Wales for your next wild camping adventure

Wales remains to rank high among our list of camping destinations. Experienced travellers can attest to its natural beauty, but beginners might still be dissuaded to visit due to the complexities involved. We hope our post has helped clarify if you can wild camp in Wales or not. Remember our tips on how to stay on the good side of the law and locals so that you can focus more on discovering everything Wales has to offer.

You’re also in luck because the country has so many astounding places to wild camp. Check out our recommendations earlier to get started with your trip planning now. Whether you brave the mountains or relax on the coastline, you will have a fantastic time wild camping in Wales.

FAQs about wild camping in Wales

What happens if you get caught wild camping in Wales?

Wild camping in Wales is not legal but is possible with the landowner’s permission. If you push through without permission, you will be asked to leave and move on by the landowner, their representative, or the local police.

Refusing to comply immediately or returning to the same land within three months of the first time you trespassed will increase your charges to aggravated trespassing. This criminal offence has a maximum fine of £2,500, a penalty of 3 months imprisonment, or both.

Where can you legally wild camp in Wales?

There are no legal wild camping spots in Wales. However, you won’t face legal consequences if you wild camp with the explicit permission of the landowner. In this case, you are not trespassing in their lands and can pitch your wild camping tent there.

Other areas that may be considered can be found in remote and secluded places. The ideal ones are far from farms, bodies of water, buildings, historical or cultural structures, or residential areas.

Source

#camper

0 notes