#Sure would be a shame if there were ethical and moral dilemmas in it!

[mushroominaforest]

YES!!!! YOU GET IT!!!!!

anyone remember this moment from a flashback comic on the ask blog?

When Inv did what they felt they had to in order to protect Saint, and ended up forcing them to murder Sliver if Straw?

This comic has a lot of weight lore wise, so it’s rambling time!

Saint making the decision not to ascend Sliver, saying they’d rather face whatever Bountiful would do to them for disobeying her than take a life, was really big. Saint was standing their ground, something they almost never did. They stood by their refusal to kill Sliver, and were ready to accept the consequences.

But Inv wasn’t ready to see Saint accept the consequences. Inv ignored Saint completely, disregarding Saint’s autonomy for the sake of protecting them from the outcomes of their own decisions, regardless of what Saint determined was right for themself.

Inv decided that they knew better.

They possessed Saint, even though the last thing Saint said before Inv took control was begging them not to. They killed Sliver, using Saint to do so, since the ascension ability was required. But, because of how the possession works, Saint was still there. They were just forced to helplessly watch Sliver die to their own hands, as if they were the one to kill her. This seriously messed with their mental health. As I’ve said before, permanently taking a life is very damaging to a person’s psyche if they never wanted or intended to.

It’s hard to say if Inv made the right choice or not. Bountiful absolutely would have hurt Saint if they hadn’t killed Sliver, and probably pretty badly. But Inv, in trying to do what they thought was right, also hurt Saint. Not only did they give Saint some extra trauma, but they denied Saint one of their only attempts at making a choice for themself, controlling them just like Bountiful.

Edit:

Here’s the comic! It’s old, but just ignore the art and think of the lore lmao

[xxchromies]

I'm always suspicious of "radfems" who lean too hard into calling themselves "terfs" and then you show your whole ass by saying abortion isn't black and white. I know for a fact you've never had an abortion either lmao it's like clockwork with you people

I’m not pro-life. Were I to get pregnant right now I know I’d want an abortion. Although, I hope I’m never in that position.

Being against abortion before the fetus is capable of being in pain is moronic. But after that point, there’s a legit ethical question involved. Women deserve to not go through the pain of childbirth and physical symptoms of pregnancy if they don’t want but at the same time, granting that would cause the infliction of pain and death upon another living thing, if done at a certain point. That just is a fact. And is it okay to kill another living thing just because it can’t talk or it’s not intelligent? Do these factors make its life less valuable than that of another living thing? And if so, is it okay to kill other kinds of people (I.e. severely disabled people) just because they cause a strain on others or are straight up violent? I don’t know, that’s subjective. For some people, it is black and white. As with most ethical issues, you have people who feel that the answer is obvious. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a moral dilemma and quite honestly I’d be a bit disturbed by anyone who DIDN’T think of it that way.

It brings up the same kinds of questions that veganism brings up. I’d be being dishonest if I said that I haven’t been struggling with these questions recently. You can think whatever you want about that. But I know one thing for sure, I know that feeling that way doesn’t mean I care about women’s liberation any less. I said I’ve been pondering these questions but I don’t have full answers. I’m definitely not a pro-lifer. But I won’t be shamed into not thinking or questioning things.

[the-perfect-wagnerite-again]

Part of the ineffectiveness of the "aesthetic" model (though I would call it the deontological model) is the structure of modern spaces themselves. Where people are conditioned to view themselves as narcissistic, atomized islands of experience, distinct and separate from others, they are of course going to more easily disregard the experience of others, and consequently disregard their own duty to them. The point of the deontological model is that it's predicated on the fact that groups recognize that they are composed of individuals that are embedded in a matrix of other individuals, with whom their interactions and social networks have reality beyond themselves.

This is to say nothing of how certain groups can even conceptualize duty and obligation at all. If you lack the mental apparatus necessary to morally reason your way through empathy, which is a form of emotional abstraction, then of course moral duties will be incomprehensible. This is part of why Sub-Saharan African tribes rely so deeply on systems of tradition and hierarchical shame to enforce moral guidelines, because things like promises, obligation, and duty carry absolutely zero emotional weight.

The shopping cart dilemma is a novel phenomenon, because it demonstrates in easily observable terms the erosion of interpersonal norms that were previously simply assumed as a foundation for normative ethics. Kant's categorical imperative, the golden rule, whatever you want to call it, establishes from the outset that ethical reasoning is not simply a negotiation of rights, but also a negotiation of duties. If you are conditioned to view obligation of any form as a kind of oppressive, restrictive force that impairs free movement, action, and thought (and to be sure, this is the natural endpoint of modern narcissism), then of course the only recourse to impact the actions of the masses will be material incentives. Aldi isn't a model to be praised, it's a sad reality of modernity.

There's a meme that says the test of whether a person can be relied upon to act pro-socially is whether they will return their shopping carts to the cart corral. Leaving it wherever you want is convenient for you, and nobody will punish you for not doing, so anyone who does do it is motivated by upholding the common good.

Most grocery story parking lots are indeed organized by this principle, and consequently they are filled with haphazardly-placed carts and the store needs to use its limited labor resources to collect and return them.

By contrast, Aldi's parking lot works according to a different principle: you have to pay a small cost to get a cart in the first place, and you're incentivized to return it not to a convenient corral, but all the way to the front of the store. And if you decide you don't value your quarter enough to return it yourself, someone else will. Consequently, Aldi's parking lot is free of wayward carts even without labor being used to collect them.

I think a driving force for a lot of anti-market bias is an aesthetic preference for a society where people do prosocial things just because it's the right thing to do, rather than because it's incentivized. After all, if you do a prosocial thing to get a reward, then you aren't actually being a good person, are you?

The problem for such people is that incentives actually work, and wishing that people would just be better does not. But faced with the choice between what works and what fits their moral preferences, they will choose the latter. The idea of creating a well-ordered society from selfish people through incentives is repulsive to them, and they would prefer a disordered society rather than admitting that it works.

[according-to-the-laura]

StackedNatural Day 174: 3x15, 8x22

StackedNatural Masterpost: [x]

May 8, 2022

3x15: Time Is on My Side

Written by: Sera Gamble

Directed by: Charles Beeson

Original air date: May 8, 2008

Plot Synopsis:

Sam and Dean discover a doctor who, back in 1816, became obsessed with finding the secret of eternal life by taking people's vital organs. Meanwhile, Bobby finds Bela and Dean leaves Sam to confront her.

Features:

Organ theft, some pre-season 4 demon torture, Doc Benton, chasing immortality, Rufus’ introduction, Sam hunting alone, Bela’s backstory, the maintenance of eternal life, Sam’s eyes almost getting scooped out, the Ma’lak box precursor, Bela's deal coming due.

My Thoughts:

I forgot about the monster plot of this episode and I was initially so annoyed that they were doing a monster of the week episode right before Dean’s deal came due. Honestly having the A-plot be an immoral immortality plot is perfect and really showcases the differences between Sam and Dean’s ethics in an interesting way. Dean is very black and white when it comes to what makes a monster, whereas Sam lives more in the grey and is able to see nuance. Dean’s problem with letting Doc Benton teach him the formula isn’t that it would be letting the Doc get away with it - it’s that it would turn him into a monster, whereas we know that Sam has felt unclean and monstrous his entire life anyways. 

Watching Dean’s scene with Rufus is kind of depressing post-series-finale. All of Rufus’ pessimism comes true. 

The thing I’m most salty about right now is that Bela never came back as a demon. They’ve already set up that that’s what’s going to happen to Dean, so we know it will happen to her, and Dean literally said “I’ll see you in hell” to her. What a missed opportunity. 

Notable Lines:

“Even if you manage to scrape out of this one, there's just gonna be something else down the road. Folks like us...there ain't no happy ending. We all got it coming.”

Laura’s (completely subjective) Episode Rating: 8.6

IMdB Rating: 8.5

8x22: Clip Show

Written by: Andrew Dabb

Directed by: Thomas J. Wright

Original air date: May 8, 2013

Plot Synopsis:

Sam and Dean try to figure out how to cure a demon. Crowley starts killing victims that Sam and Dean have saved from previous jobs. Castiel and Metatron begin the trials to close the gates to Heaven.

Features:

Tommy from Wendigo, Dean giving Cas the silent treatment, the discovery of the Bunker’s dungeon, weird with three exclamation points, Cas’ shopping trip, how to kill a demon, a Nephilim I completely forgot about, Handy Annie, Jenny from Shut Up Dr Phil,  Sarah Blake from Provenance, Sam’s martyr complex getting the fuel it needs.

My Thoughts:

I didn’t remember much about this episode except for Sarah Blake (I really thought I remembered her living though), but this is a great episode! Crowley is really an excellent villain in this, he makes everything so personal and that makes the stakes way higher. In contrast, Abaddon has a great aesthetic, but her motives are too generically evil to make her a good villain. The only real qualm I have with this episode is that it makes no sense as an excuse to bring her back. Cutting her up and burying her in separate pieces was such a cool way to deal with a monster that they couldn’t kill that it’s a shame to bring her back to be unceremoniously stabbed by a new, stronger knife. Also, they should have summoned a weaker demon to cure. They already know that Abaddon is way stronger than the average demon, it’s way too big a swing for their first demon cure. Society if Meg or Ruby had been alive to be cured. 

The pacing is kind of weird with the Heaven trials, although I’m not sure there’s a way around that - if we met Metatron earlier it would mess up the timing of the Hell trials. It’s so weird to remember that there was briefly a Nephilim. I wish the moral dilemma of killing her had been explored more - as foreshadowing that the Heaven trials are not as straightforwardly righteous as they seem at first glance. 

Cas and Dean’s argument in this episode is honestly so understandable and human, something I feel like we can’t say 90% of the time that they’re fighting. Dean is hurt after having been vulnerable and it blowing up in his face. The last time they spoke he told Cas he needed him, and now he’s telling Cas he doesn’t, so Cas feels like he’s worthless because he can’t help. Also insanely brutal to watch this fight where Dean says Cas always thinks he’s doing the right thing immediately after watching The Man Who Would Be King.

Notable Lines:

“Dean, I thought I was doing the right thing.” “Yeah, you always do.”

“If anybody else – I mean anybody – pulled that kind of crap, I would stab them in their neck on principle. Why should I give him a free pass?” “Because it’s Cas.”

“You don’t understand. I NEED pie.”

“There was a time when I thought I could lead our people, but I was mistaken. I spilled so much blood. And I've tried to atone for my sins and I did penance. And I betrayed my friends to protect our secrets, but I've just failed.”

“I think the people you save, they're how you justify your pathetic little lives. The alcoholism, the collateral damage, the pain you've caused – the one thing that allows you to sleep at night, the one thing is knowing that these folks are out there, still out there happy and healthy because of you, you great, big, bloody heroes!”

Laura’s (completely subjective) Episode Rating: 9.2

IMdB Rating: 8.6

In Conclusion: Today’s theme is the clock hitting midnight.

<< Previous Day  |  Next Day >>

[lunarxdaydream]

“Shame?” Amusement colored his words. “You think I keep all of this from my folks because I’d be ashamed if they found out what I was doing?” What a prospect. The sound of a chair moving across the ground rang out throughout the space as Ven dragged it closer to where the woman had been previously, somewhat peacefully, reading her work. That woman never took a break. “I keep this from my folks,” he sat down with a heavy thump to lounge backwards, “because my mom would have a heart attack if she knew I was doing something dangerous. I mean, sure she and my dad would be upset at what I was doing,” he shrugged, “but when aren’t parents upset at their kids getting in trouble?” Not that he knew if she had any familiarity with that.

“And as for Cyril, he’d worry his little head like crazy too if he knew. Plus, he’d have this whole ‘ethical dilemma’ or whatever about it.” Fingers crooked in air quotes to punctuate the words. “‘Do I report my little brother for his illegal work in alignment with my moral and ethical values or do I ignore it and live in guilt for the rest of my life for ignoring criminal activity’, things like that.” It’d only stress them all out if they knew. “So you see? There’s a certain bliss that comes with ignorance as the people say.”

(For the 9/20 Six of Crows meme post)

( continuation )

Pen encircled a few terms, a note scribbled in cursive along the sides of the page. "Amazing," Grabbing another, Lucia continuesd skimming through the material. "You're aware of the consequences and yet, it doesn't stop you." In fact the way he spoke about it as though he were commenting on the weather is striking. Well -- just a smidge. After all, hadn't he been the one to crack a joke in the middle of a confrontation?

"It's almost as if you think you have control over the entire situation." Did he honestly believe that? Or is it just another quirk in his behvaior? It is one thing to lack self-preservation in the face of danger but another entirely where his family is involved. "I find it hard to imagine someone hasn't tried digging into your background." Eyes rose, a hint of curiosity laced in her tone. Open palm allowed to cradle her cheek as she carefully examined his laxed demeanor. Not a a single care in the world ... and yet ...

"What will happen the day someone decides to get near your family?"

|| @arcxnumvitae ||

[grabosky]

My Answers to HW2case, Q3

Q3 Write up your case on your blog with the following subheadings:

Case

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, Episode 16 aptly titled "Ethics"

In case you are unfamiliar with the series, you can read the basic premise at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation

A more complete explanation of this particular episode can be found at https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Ethics_(episode)

The facts

In an serious accident, Worf is paralyzed from the neck down.

Worf is a Klingon, a race that prizes prowess in battle and personal honor above all else.  To a Klingon, living with a debilitating condition like Quadriplegia brings great shame and dishonor not only to the injured, but to his entire family as well.

Worf resolves to perform the Hegh'bat, a traditional Klingon ritual suicide. This is not only normal in Klingon society, it is considered the morally correct thing to do.

Worf pleads with Commander Riker, a close friend and a human, to help him perform the Hegh'bat. To be asked to assist someone to perform a Hegh'bat is considered a honor in Klingon society.  To refuse the request is considered despicable.

Commander Riker is torn. On the one hand, Riker treasures his friendship with Worf and, for the most part, greatly respects Klingon culture. He knows how important Klingon traditions are to Worf.  On the other hand, he sees no reason for Worf to die.  With good medical care, Worf could regain some mobility and go on to live a full life.  Assisting Worf with suicide goes against human societal norms and against Riker's personal ethical values in particular.

The Enterprise enlists the help of a brilliant, innovative, and very ambitious neurology specialist (Dr. Russell) to help treat Worf. Throughout the episode, Dr. Russell shows an inclination to take risk with her patients lives in order to advance her research into new treatments.

Dr Russell has been pioneering an impressive, but very experimental new procedure that could be used to completely heal Worf.  However, the procedure has never been used on a live patient before and thus carries significant risk of death.

The ship's doctor (Dr. Crusher) recommends neural implants.  A proven technology that has no risks and will give Worf aobut 60% of his normal mobility.

Due to the significant deadly risk of Dr. Russell's treatment and knowing Worf's suicidal mental state, Dr. Crusher forbids the procedure and instructs everyone to refrain from mentioning it to Worf.

Against Dr. Crusher's wishes, Dr. Russell informs Worf of the experimental procedure that is very risky but may restore Worf to 100%. She greatly desires to prove her new treatment theories, knows it will be difficualt for Worf to decline any chance to be fully healed, and knows Worf's insistence is the only chance she has to change Dr. Crusher mind about allowing the procedure.

Worf chooses the experimental procedure.  After much drama, the procedure is ultimately successful and Worf fully recovers.

A number of ethical dilemmas are presented in this episode

Analysis / Conclusions

The well discussed ethical dilemma of euthanasia.  The individual's right to end one's life to relieve pain and suffering and whether assisting one exercise that right.

Dr. Kevorkian in the late 90s purportedly assisted 130 terminally ill patients end their life. He was tried 4 times for assisting patients commit suicide and walked free 4 times.  However, after he broadcast the voluntary euthanasia of a patient in the final states of Lou Gehigs disease very publicly on CBS News' 60 minutes, he was tried and convicted of second-degree murder.

This story seems to mirror societies view on euthanasia.  Eliminating religious thread from the matter as that is it's own rule book, I don't think many would be willing to morally condemn someone wishing to end their life by choice and bypass a few last moments of agony.  For unambiguous cases, I think assistance would be looked upon as an act of compassion as opposed to an act of evil. But, if someone were to put assistance on display, to advertise it, or to seem too eager - well that is an entirely different matter.  To let that pass would be an implicit sanction of the practice and society is not comfortable with that.

Me personally, as i stated in part II of this case, I believe in the protection of life.  In most cases I would consider suicide an unethical choice.  However, I will not judge someone who makes that choice in pain at the final moments of their life.

A good standard here would be if the decision for an experimental treatment is made with an honest expectation that it is the best option for the patient's survival, then it would be considered ethical.  We could think of many hypothetical scenarios where this standard would be difficult to cleanly apply, but ,if the decision is grey enough, then there really isn't a black answer or a white answer, an ethical decision and an unethical decision.

There is the question about when a doctor should recommend experimental treatments, those with high risk and only theoretical rewards.  As with many things, this isn't a yes or no answer but more of a spectrum answer. In the show, Dr. Crusher allows the experimental treatment against her own ethical code in order to respect Worf's wishes and his Klingon influenced ethical code.

Dr. Crusher has a great quote at the end of the show directed toward Dr. Russell that sums up the shows intended moral lesson.

"I am delighted that Worf is going to recover. You gambled. He won. Not all of your patients are so lucky. You scare me, Doctor. You risk your patients' lives, and justify it in the name of research. Genuine research takes time. Sometimes a lifetime of painstaking, detailed work in order to get any results. Not for you. You take shortcuts, right through living tissue. You put your research ahead of your patients' lives. And as far as I'm concerned, that's a violation of our most sacred trust. I'm sure your work will be hailed as a stunning breakthrough. Enjoy your laurels, Doctor. I'm not sure I could."

Future environment / Scenario

Well, interestingly, the setting for this case is in the future and the advanced technology doesn't change the dilemma presented, just possibly how frequently it would occur.

[whifferdills]

Okay, I'm not particularly fond of smut, and admittingly I probably wouldn't read this if you write this; but I just need the solace of knowing that there is Eleventh Doctor/Eleventh Ganger Doctor smut out there. Maybe set after the Ganger Doctor gets brought back from having melted some time further in the future for Doctor 1.0.

it’s set during the episode and isn’t actually porn because i could not get my head around it but uh

an attempt was made?

11/Ganger!11, ~950 words. semi-intentional pronoun confusion, implied Dr Who having a crush on they own dang self, semi-dark Dr Who in a canon-compliant way, vague EU references. rated uh Teen i guess

In 2007, Earth-standard-chronology-adjusted-for-temporal-whatsits, they are watching a copy of themself walk away into a parallel universe, arm in arm with the human woman they love. In 2010 there is a monster staring them down, wearing their face, threatening the destruction of the planet. In 2x098kB, Gallifrey-relative time, they are cautioning the current head of the CIA against cloning operatives, even if these skirmishes and battles at whatever contested borders have gone on too long, even if there are so few of them left to fight. In the second century of the War, the Cwejen army makes camp outside The Great Divide. In the fourth century of the War, Compassion comes to rest on a desolate, uninhabited, and undiscovered planet. Right now, right now: there are two Amy Ponds, and one of them is worth saving.

There is more than one of everything. The Doctor inhales, and steps towards the creature wearing their life.

Everything repeats, iterates -There are parallel universes, where they do the same things, only not exactly. There are parallel universes and they are watching themselves walk away -

“That wasn’t how I intended things to work out,” they say.

“We had plans,” not-them says. “If only people could do -”

“What’s right,” they finish. “What they’re meant to do. Go where they’re supposed to go.”

Other-Doctor understands, of course. They always do.

You knew, you knew, you knew what would happen. An entity that learns from exposure and copies on contact. You threw your hearts into the pool, let the sonic linger. An infinity sustained for an eternity. Or, well, what you had for breakfast, and five seconds, but close enough. Are you really surprised this happened?

Physic communication, maybe, given a theoretical exact facsimile of their mediocre abilities - they should be on the same wavelength, after all - or an imagined conversation. They know what they’ll say. Close enough. Them, not-them, close enough to touch, although not touching. This is fun, and this is easy (slipping off the ends of sentences, moving in tandem), and this is something they had a word for, once.

(And could not-them, other-them, given an infinite or nearly-so capability to transform, to flex into place; could they manage to fit Gallifreyan back into their mouth? It’s a thought, shame there won’t be time to explore it.)

Not-Amy doesn’t understand, and they don’t know why her fear makes them angry, but it does. They are close enough to touch, the two of them. Doctors Who: a double act. The set-up, the punch-line, the appreciative laugh. They don’t touch. The world isn’t ending but they’re all maybe dying and they should pay more attention. Not-Amy is afraid and they are pressing down, down on that itch, that wound. She’ll have to come to terms with this soon enough.

They’re close, closer than close, more them than they are. Does the bowtie untie? Is the silk lining of their jacket slippery-cold, the tweed rough and heavy? Do the seams of their shirt cuffs scratch their wrists? Does the detail exist, or is it created upon discovery? If, say, they were to take not-them’s (other-them’s) coat off, shirt off, all the distracting scratchy-smooth texture done away with - would they be making the body they found underneath?

They should be paying more attention, but the thing is: a plan always comes when they aren’t looking for it. So. Back to the most important part. Not the mortal danger, that’s old hat. This, this thing. Existing here and just to the left of here. They can hear them breathing. The heartsbeat. Is it someone else can be me, instead of me or is it there I am or is it finally, someone who understands or is it -

The Doctor used to have a word to describe this feeling, not anymore. It won’t fit in their mouth. Maybe it’d fit into other-them’s mouth, or into the body they’d make when they took off their clothes. If they were to, say, push other-them against the wall, and the tweed felt like tweed and the cotton felt like cotton and skin felt like skin, and if they taught other-them their skeleton and nervous system, the buzz in their blood, if they touched other-them the way they know they like it - would the word fit inside them?

Build a house around it, around your ego and your touch-starved desperation and your need to be known and your cheap, shit arousal. A joke is the fence, a coward’s moralizing is the gate. Two preachers preaching, and they’re both so pragmatic. Open the doors, and here’s all the people.

(One of the few words they remember, even if they cannot say it, translates roughly around the idea of the specific narcissism of meeting another version of you and wondering if it’d be masturbation or incest and what if you were to, you know, fuck yourself. Let it be known that they recall at least one thing from their Temporal Ethics courses.)

Everything repeats; they iterate. Under a particular set of suns they are Theta and they are making a series of mistakes. On another planet, they are dying to save the life of someone they’ve only just met. On another planet, they are resolving not to let emotions get in the way of winning. On another planet, they are dying again, because they’ve forgotten the lesson they learned last time. On another planet they are watching everything crashing down. History repeats, despite their good intentions. There is more than one of everything; there are many of them.

Other-Amy is afraid and Rory is kind and they are, they are. What.

Close enough to touch. They are leaning towards themselves and they feel - despite the situation, the about-to-die, the textbook moral dilemma with a surely clever solution - they feel fine. They feel alright. They’re about to stumble on a plan. Watch and learn.

[ramajmedia]

X-Men: 5 Best & Worst Movies, According To IMDb | ScreenRant

The X-Men universe is finally over, as we know it, after kicking off this parade of superheroes back in 2000. Thanks to some hefty source material, the franchise allowed for some interesting social issues to be explored. Because of their sheer population and ability, mutants are treated as threatening minorities rather than superheroes. Racism, ethics, governmental cynicism, and personal vengeance are ingrained throughout the mythology. In hindsight, the films were a solid run, with the majority garnering positive reception. The series was also frequently cast very well. It often featured stylish direction, great CGI, compelling music, and wasn’t afraid to embrace new creative voices. Here’s how fans rated the best and worst of this memorable, unique franchise.

RELATED: 10 Times The X-Men Movies Ignored Its Own Canon

10 Worst: X-Men: Apocalypse - 6.9

This film had a tough act to follow, but that wasn’t its core issue. It was simply a somewhat messy, overlong, and generic superhero movie. It wasn’t without its moments, to be sure. Magneto’s drama is always compelling, and his apparently never-ending tragedy is deliberately the character’s hurdle. Quicksilver gets a fantastic slow-mo scene, Wolverine wrecks a hallway, and the opening in ancient Egypt is superb. But every highlight is undone by something senseless or haphazard, resulting in a very uneven story. For example, the copout of Quicksilver withholding his secret from Magneto was an absolute letdown. The final fight is excessively overlong, and the story really jumps around.

9 Best: X-Men: First Class - 7.7

X-Men: The Last Stand made an incredible amount of money, but it wasn’t exactly a critical darling. And after Wolverine’s solo outing was a disaster, the series needed serious rejuvenation. And Matthew Vaughn, hot off of the brilliant Kick-Ass, brought bold ideas and enthusiasm that radiates from every scene.

RELATED: X-Men: The 10 Most Powerful Members Of The Xavier Family, Ranked

The young cast all fit their characters perfectly. But the driving force of the film is the relationship between Xavier and Magneto. Eric’s path of vengeance provides thrilling action and sincere drama. This story explores all of the most interesting elements of the mythology with verve, superb character development, and outstanding action.

8 Worst: The Wolverine - 6.7

Wolverine was the focus of the original trilogy, and yet he still got his own spin-off series. It’s a testament to Hugh Jackman’s unexpectedly iconic portrayal. This particular entry was certainly a vast improvement over the first attempt at these spin-offs. And the premise of sending Logan to Japan sounded very promising, indeed. The problem is that this movie had an identity crisis. It wasn’t a splashy superhero outing with countless mutants, where its predecessor unfortunately fell into an outright cartoonish tone. But The Wolverine wasn’t gritty enough to provide the truth in its titular character, either. As such, it doesn’t feel like an X-Men movie, or a Wolverine movie. But the worst offense is that the film was just terribly dull.

7 Best: Deadpool 2 - 7.7

Alright, so they killed Vanessa, which is definitely a copout move. It makes sure that Deadpool 2 won’t have the organic, superb romance that made the first so endearing. But this sequel certainly makes the most of it, because anguish is at the heart of the protagonist. The comedy is on point throughout, most of it absolute gold—again!

RELATED: X-Men: 10 Mutants Who Are Close To Being Omega-Level

The new characters are terrific, and the moral dilemmas are compelling. It’s conceptually perfect that the X-Force is what helps Wade recuperate from losing Vanessa. It really is a fantastic family movie. It also has fun, gratuitous gore, exciting action, and genuine drama.

6 Worst: X-Men: The Last Stand - 6.7

Bryan Singer got the opportunity to direct Superman Returns, and abandoned ship from the franchise he’d built. It was ultimately a very messy production, and even the most expensive movie ever made, at that time. The primary issues with the film included an overpopulation of characters, and tug-of-war screenplay. It failed to give enough time to either the Dark Phoenix saga or the “Cure” storyline. It’s a shame, because both had great promise. Further, Brett Ratner’s juvenile tone didn’t quite feel on brand. The cinematography is slick, the action is visually arresting, and certain moments genuinely deliver—Xavier’s death scene is legitimately tragic. The story was simply too messy, and its tone unwelcome.

5 Best: X-Men: Days Of Future Past - 8.0

This was a perfect blend of the new cast with the classic, and a terrific adaptation of the source material. The dystopian future instantly raises the stakes, and sustains a terrifying urgency throughout. The film is full of intriguing themes, with a climax that is entirely predicated on mercy. The time travel element is actually handled exceptionally well, and the setting in time is thematically fitting.

RELATED: The 10 Worst Things Magneto Has Done Across The X-Men Franchise

It was a turbulent decade, and the secret histories are fun. Quicksilver is a fun, well-performed addition. The Sentinels, and everything else, are visualized exceptionally well. The action is engaging, the pacing is perfectly balanced, and the character motivations are clear and interesting.

4 Worst: X-Men Origins: Wolverine - 6.6

There are very few insults left to throw at this movie, but it’s certainly a miserable time. Firstly, it’s obvious enough that the film absolutely ruins Deadpool. Reynolds had to personally shoot that iteration in the head multiple times. But worse, the story even butchers Wolverine himself. The story is boring, and the CGI is awful. Most of all, the tone is mercilessly inane. It completely compromises the entire conceit of the story because it is wholly antithetical to Wolverine. There’s a ridiculous fight with the Blob, Sabretooth is a joke, and we learn the origin of Logan’s jacket. Ultimately, the film never provides a reason for its existence.

3 Best: Deadpool - 8.0

It’s fascinating that the spin-offs took three of the top five rankings on IMDb. But Deadpool was successful because of its fearless depiction of the titular character. Sure, it’s over the top, but the story is grounded in a very sincere romance. Wade’s new relationship informs absolutely everything in the film. Also, his origin is uniquely rooted in illness, which is handled well. But the comedy is non-stop, and is still well-balanced, without a single miss. There’s just the right blend of pop culture, meta humor, and creative slapstick. The action is addictive, and inventive. It is the most truthful portrayal of Deadpool imaginable, and more so than most other comic book characters have received.

2 Worst: Dark Phoenix - 6.0

It may be a controversial view, but perhaps this movie received undue hatred. Audiences had tired of the franchise by this point, and were keen for Marvel’s interpretation. Arms were crossed after the third entry, and Apocalypse. But truthfully, this was a surprisingly intimate story. The ethics of Xavier’s secret is stressed, and Mystique’s death inspires some solid drama. It’s certainly the catalyst for many motivations. The serious tone is appropriate, and McAvoy and Fassbender always give gripping performances.

RELATED: 10 Heroes Powerful Enough To Take Down The Phoenix

The movie has more going for it than most would probably think. However, the aliens and their goals were generic, to be sure. This resulted in a formulaic plot, which is actually much slower in comparison to previous films. So, if you aren’t invested, you’ll really feel that runtime. Unfortunately, Sophie Turner’s performance doesn’t feel especially engaged, and Jean’s epiphany about “emotion” is totally misplaced.

1 Best: Logan - 8.1

The success of this film is further proof that fans truly understand their comic book characters. Because, just like Deadpool, this movie captures the absolute essence of its protagonist. Logan is a tough, gritty character with surprising empathy and adamant principles. True, the story incorporates some tired ingredients, regarding its villain and tropes from the Western genre. But it’s a relentlessly bleak, bloody story that is unique amongst fellow superhero conventions. It is also strongly character-oriented, with stunning, nuanced performances. The action is also very striking because of its practical stunts, and the intimate motivations behind it. It’s a tale of redemption, and a perfect sendoff for the series’ most beloved mutant.

NEXT: Every X-Men Movie, Ranked By Rotten Tomatoes Score

source https://screenrant.com/x-men-best-worst-movie-imdb-rating/

[sin-emberstalker]

Tmit: Is his family aware of his work and past killings?

His twin sister Mercilia is more than familiar with his past work, but considering she is in the same line of work there has never been any sort of judgement passed the others way. Sin’s mother is dead however I am sure if she were alive today that seeing the state of her children and how far both have fallen from the noble path of their house would cause her a terrible case of the weepy hearts. Sin’s father Genrath might be the one family member that judges him for this but not because of some ethical dilemma with killing. No rather that instead of killing hundreds or thousands for power he only kids a few hundred and for coin which in his fathers eyes is more shameful.That brings us to Nivaeh, now Nivaeh is by no means simple, she gets what it is Sin does and has done. But she has never expected him to go into details about it and thats to due with the fact she knows that the burden doesn’t weigh on him. If killing people for profit was something Sin struggled with morally or spiritually I think Nivaeh would try to help him. But since its Sin’s equivalent of punching the clock she doesn’t pry, she doesn’t have a fetish for murder so she isn’t exactly waiting with baited breath for news of every fresh kill. She knows that if Sin needs to talk about work he will, but unless he does she isn’t going to pry.Mentions: @missnivaeh @merciliaemberstalkerThanks for the great questions @kharrisdawndancer

[theliterateape]

“I Don’t Regret My Past but I Do Regret That There is Proof of It...”

By Don Hall

Here at The Ape, we’re relatively new to the issues of publishing content. Sure, David was an editor of a health rag and I’ve been publishing blog posts since before some of you were born (I believe my first piece was all about Hoovervilles and “a chicken in every pot”), but this is a different kind of animal.

We had a bit of a conundrum to solve when we committed to publish an anonymous piece in January of last year (Hey, Second City, Maybe Hire Some Actual Professional Comedians?)  and took some heat for it. We tried to be as fair as we could — that piece was pitched by an employee of Second City with a request of anonymity and was heavily edited from the moment it was sent to us and even following its publication.

Just recently, we encountered another dilemma:

The photo in question was one used by regular contributor Joe Janes in his weekly parody column, “The Minutes Of Our Last Meeting” and featured an open source photograph of a Neo-Nazi rally. In the forefront was a young woman, wearing a red t-shirt bearing a huge swastika, her hand in the Heil Hitler mode.

I responded:

“Whoa. How is it ruining your life? In order to remove the photo, we’ll just need proof you are actually in the photo. Thanks!”

Her response was to first call me and leave a voicemail.

Excerpted:

“Would it be ruining your life if someone were trying to use these photographs in the negative manner to take your child away because that is what my son’s father is trying to do. I don't regret my past but I can't have my past showing up when I am in a court battle over keeping my son.

I don't regret my past but I do regret that there is proof of it.”

Then another email:

“You supplied a phone number. I just called. "Ruining my life" is a mild over statement.. But if something posed a threat about taking your child away, wouldnt that ruin your life?

I was terrified. Angry. Scared when I sent that email below. As i still am. My ex is abusive. Mentally and was physically to my son while we We're together. He's stalking me and runnjng my name in the mid and found my photo on this page..

My names [redacted.] Where the photograph originally came from was a [redacted] paper showing my name as [redacted.] I only went to that rally for the person I was with at the time. I didn't go because I held the same beliefs. I went because surprise, it was a bad relationship and I didn't want to make them cross..

I don't regret my past.. I hate it is going to cause trouble in a custody case in keeping my son SAFE with me. My reputation is all i have. I have no criminal record. But being involved with Nazis would cause too many questions.

I'm a good 100pouds heavier. Having a child, 2 miscarriages and currently pregnant will do that to a woman.. I enclosed photos.

Please. Use a different woman. Please don't use that photo. I'm a mutt anyways. My mothee is 1/4 Cherokee. And my great great grandfather immigrated from Germany, so not only American Indian, I am of Jewish decent..

My fiancee is trying to send me the Facebook post of my ex sharing the page of the photo and what he's said. Its all a joke to him. He doesn't care about my son. He only wants to make me miserable. All he wants to do is hurt and control me. I'm out of his grasp, so he's trying anything to make me look bad.

My fiancee is a good man. A hard working blue collar man. This doesn't only effect me. It could blow back on his too, and our kids. And makes my reputation dirty.

Please.”

And then three more emails like it.

I went into the InterTubez and vetted the photo. Everything she said was on the up and up, so I found a different Neo-Nazi rally shot (sadly, there are far too many) and changed it out.

She expressed gratitude, there were screenshots of her ex online, and she used the phrase “not all heroes have capes.”

I’m not so sure I feel heroic but I feel ethical and I suppose that’s a decent way to feel. I can’t, however, get past the fact that, in my gut, I feel like this woman deserves to be terrified of her past. The initial photo was taken in 2015, leading up to the election of Our Reality Star President, at a Neo-Nazi rally.

“I don’t regret my past but I do regret that there is proof it.”

That statement says an awful lot about where we are in the ongoing evolution of modern society. I can hear Weinstein, Spacey and even Trump saying the same thing. I can imagine certain police officers saying it. Politicians saying it. Internet trolls saying it.

Christ, that statement could be the lasting meme that defines this particular era of social media, call out culture and unrelenting intolerance for disagreement on moralistic grounds.

I wonder about the kid in question and the horrifying circumstances, far beyond his control, that will shape who he becomes. Who will he be in 10 years — a Neo-Nazi? A misogynist? Even worse, a Republican? Will he learn to regret his youthful indiscretion or just the proof of its existence?

I used to believe that I could (and should) live without regret. As I grow older, that belief is shifting into a one that knows I will regret some things but will not endure shame for them as long as I have truly changed for the better.

To be completely forthcoming, when I received her initial takedown request and saw the photo, I didn’t want to help her. At all. In the same vein as the Nazi-punching memes of last year, the idea of being kind to a Neo-Nazi whose life was being ruined by a past she does not regret left me conflicted.

I wanted to fuck with her, to make her twist in her own pictorial legacy, to pay for the crime of being at a Neo-Nazi rally, wearing a huge swastika on her chest and saluting an ideology I find to be reprehensible in every way imaginable. Judgment is the national past time these days and using the internet as a means to vigilantism has become commonplace. We don’t even wait until accusations or context has been vetted by journalists anymore — the appearance of either acting like or simply not condemning the enemy is enough for a solid, full-throated trolling.

Once I told a friend that I believed all white people in the United States are racists because they all benefit from a racist paradigm. This friend later turned enemy and used this as my admission that I was racist. “He said he was a racist!” she wrote. “I have the receipts!” This quickly flashed through my mind as I read the Neo-Nazi mom’s plea that she only attended the rally to appease an abusive man.

“I believe her.” “Punch a Nazi.” “But I believe her.” “But she’s a fucking Nazi!”

So, yes. We took the photo down and replaced it with something else but I don’t feel good about it.

Why did we take it down? Because no one appointed us the punisher of those who do not regret their past but do regret that there is proof of it. No one made us the internet Batman, doling out our version of punishment to those who offend us or disagree with us. The low road is filled with vengeful, gleeful monsters, thrilled to destroy anyone they deem the Moral Enemy. The high road is harder emotionally and so there are fewer taking it.

The new activism is to react to hatred and ignorance and perhaps a lifetime of shitty patriarchal indoctrination with nothing less than complete destruction. That those afflicted by bullies and toxicity are using bullying and toxicity to fight back is the irony of our times.

I want this woman in the photo to regret her past and not only the proof of it. I want to see her have to bathe in the consequences of a sick and putrid worldview so willingly displayed.

It is not, however, my place to play executioner. Vengeance against someone I don’t know for things I find morally bankrupt is petty and self-righteous and I can’t allow myself to sink to that status. My personal feelings cannot be the guide to my conscience. More importantly, as The Ape continues to become something bigger and more culturally significant as a publication, it is our place to be ethical.

I still really hope the kid comes out a thinking, caring human being. I hope I never see a photo featuring him saluting hate like his mother.