#about living in a world where you're oppressed and constantly in pain and have no power. it makes sense. i create such fantasies for myself

[snekdood]

ppl who larp about the Revolution™ almost seem to expect someone *else* to take the leading role in it all so they can sit inside on their asses and do jack shit, they know they have no meaningful skills to offer and would only slow people down, but expect to *somehow* magically radicalize most americans into doing all the work for them because awww dey're just such a weak wittle babu that needs to be pwotected and defwended awlways uwu

like. come on. get a grip. if everything went your way and someone actually stronger than you came along to take the lead, you're likely not being invited, and you'll likely be left behind... which means left to the alt right, who will no doubt come to your house to see if you're perpetuating anything "woke", and you gotta know they wont just ask, they'll barge in and look through everything even your computer.

though, you should really focus on your plan. your first step: get along with people enough to even actually convince them its a good idea, and we all know you'll never dare to try that shit. you cant even be on here w/o blocking someone like me for even suggesting you are approaching this like a child playing war and you have NO FUCKING IDEA WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

you think you want a second holocaust (which is essentially letting trump win, i mean hitler got the majority vote in germany. thats how he rose to power. didn't just materialize out of thin air), but you dont seem to grasp the gravity of what that entails, or even that you'd be thrown in the camps with everyone else, all to stick it to jewish ppl and "the libs", even if it means you and all the ones you love die along with them. you are a net negative to humanity and quite frankly should be on a fucking watch list.

[brick-van-dyke]

A little ramble about Socialist Alternative, leftist radicalisation and privilege. Mostly a vent of sorts so it's going to be messy.

//TW: mentions of suicidal thoughts, effects of capitalism on mental health and physical health, mentions of systematic abuse and oppression, etc.

"What radicalised you?"

If you're familiar with Australian leftist politics or just been to an Australian university, you've probably heard this line from Socialist Alternative at some point, particularly if you're a young leftist. At first, I personally didn't know how to answer this, but now? Now I do:

That's the wrong question, it's not about what radicalised me, it's about when I realised I wasn't allowed to exist. I think my main distrust of socialist alternative can be drawn here, as much as I respect their activism (as much as I don't like certain other parts of it and the organisation itself because of how it functions and is set up, among other things) and how they've helped the movements around me grow, I don't like their ethics because it always centres on feeling in the right when, honestly, that isn't what this fight was ever about. It's not simply about what pushes people to some realisation that capitalism isn't working, for many of us, it's about realising when we noticed that we were broken clogs that would always be discarded; realising that we wouldn't even live past 30 in a system that sees us as faulty parts and that'll end with us either starving to death or choosing to kill ourselves to have some semblance of control in a system that is so damning that it actively tries to kill us. And no I'm not even exaggerating, especially when it comes to disability and generally most marginalised groups. It's actively hostile to people like us.

This is taking out one strong example for myself here, but I just feel like every interaction has had an undertone of not really understanding the gravity of what's at stake on an individual level. I think, like Marx, they really don't have anything to lose but their chains, but for the rest of us? We have our lives, something I think others just can't quite comprehend here when I say being anti capitalist isn't a political choice, it's a matter of life or death because here just isn't any other option in order to survive. Don't get me wrong, I agree with Marx on many things, but I do think there's a difference between able bodies, white, middle class activism because capitalism is uncomfortable compared to when you're a minority that's doing this to be allowed to exist, and specifically I think there's a powerful element of privilege that's ignored, especially in the case of socialist alternative. Again, I respect their activism, but this dynamic of power and push being from a white, abled and middle to upper class lens (yes there are people who are minorities within the org, but they don't hold power and much say imo) has led to, in my view, a distorted sense of reality and, more pressingly, policy and vision that is about saving the working class rather than making a world where labour isn't a price you have to pay in order to be allowed to exist. It's not just the exploitation of the working class, though that's a huge part of it, it's also how hostile this system is to people who can't be used; who can't work or who are seen as dirty or wrong for trying to.

So when asked "so, what radicalised you?" I can only really think to reply with "when I realised that wanting to die wasn't my fault, but the people around me that convinced me that my lack of ability to produce is somehow my fault and that I somehow don't deserve basic survival". Because that's the reality and I think, at least with the SAlt members I've spoken to, that isn't something that's really understood; the gravity of this situation on a personal level and that it's not as simple as doing something to make yourself feel good or to have a moment of pride, sometimes (or oftentimes) it's literally survival.

Most of all, I think what cements this for me is the reply I get to when I've asked (genuinely and in good faith) about allegations about their internal environment being "toxic" and "cult like" and, as I explained to them, this is from many different people from different friend groups who all don't know each other but have had he same experiences:

"They're just jealous of us and our activism."

But jealous of what? In a fight for survival, none of us have the opportunity to feel jealous over how it's done because this isn't about feeling a bit better, it's about being allowed to exist. I think this really is what made me realise that this isn't about the right to live for them, but the ability to feel good for fighting on the behalf of people like me and my friends. And, to me, that's something to have healthy caution over when pity is how people have tried to control minorities in the past, and in my own personal experience.

[cure-icy-writes]

i think the reason i like the murderbot diaries so much is because the dystopia feels very real and relevant in a way that no other "oppressive government fearmongering" has, and because murderbot is such a compelling protagonist.

this is an autistic person who is struggling and angry and terrible at having emotions. it lives in a capitalist hellscape where people are disposable. it's traumatized as hell, but it's easier to consider itself disposable than confront the terrifying reality of personhood.

(it confronts the terrifying reality of personhood.)

it likes escaping into fiction. it has a fucked up relationship with pain and its own body. and it reads so strongly as disability coding to me, how it doesn't see the bullets or the chunks missing as horror but merely annoyance. it's fundamentally different from those around it, in ways that they struggle to understand. (they make a distinct effort to understand.)

this is an autistic person who is not like you, who suffered in ways that you cannot understand, in ways that would horrify you. this is just another tuesday.

this world is not kind. there is legal fine text that destroys lives and there is hereditary indenture and contract labor where you're forced to still pay for preventative medical care out of your paycheck and no one says slavery, but everyone knows what it means.

these people are kind. they will watch your favorite shows to help understand you, they will forge documents to give abandoned people their freedom, they will allow you to be near them because they like you. these people are proof that there's love in the world, and you can come out of your shell if you are ready to see yourself as a person.

science fiction is one of the genres that has the potential to be amazing, but is quite often just plain shitty to disabled people. and, to people in general? "oooooo look how scary it is, people have all their basic needs fulfilled by technology!" when technological advances are what gave housewives the time they needed to actually get jobs and put together the feminist movements, when this new technology that the narrative regards with such disdain could provide disabled people with newfound mobility and independence.

it speaks of a truly dismal view of humanity, the belief that without strict labor under capitalism to keep us all in line, we would just fall prey to our vices. and I think it also speaks to a loathing of one's self, to think that humans are not capable of self regulation, to think that pain and suffering and punishment are somehow moral and virtuous. that humans need to be punished constantly, that suffering will bring them closer to something like god, to something like goodness.

but murderbot doesn't do that. murderbot says, "i have seen humans do horrible awful stupid things. they can't be trusted with weapons or security and they shoot me all the time and it sucks. but they make stories and art. the people in the entertainment media gave me the tools to contextualize my own emotions. they are my coworkers. i don't care about them. i got shot in the back protecting them but i didn't care about them. okay fine maybe i care a little. they're annoying. i'll eviscerate anyone who hurts them. they're mine."

[apollos-olives]

hello! If this question is too personal, please feel free to ignore. I’m writing an informative essay on the Palestinian experience under occupation (college English final) and I just wanted to ask this.

As children in Palestine (or outside of Palestine, but born to Palestinian parents), are you raised with the knowledge of the hatred and disdain of the Israelis towards the Palestinians or would you say that Palestinian parents “shelter” (for lack of a better word that I can think of) or attempt to “shelter” their children from the pain of the Israeli’s hatred? I would assume that protecting the emotions and minds of the children would be somewhat impossible to do, but I would appreciate if you could provide some insight into this and also how children deal with the mental toll of being under occupation or knowing that their people are not free. My apologies if this is question is insensitive, please feel free to ignore and delete this if you feel uncomfortable. Thank you!

we, as palestinians, are raised with the complete knowledge that zionists hate us. there is no "hiding" that fact. when you live under an occupation, you know it. you feel the effects of it. you see it every day. one of the very first things i've been raised to learn is that i am a person who majority of the world hates. and you genuinely cannot hide that. even though we were, and are, children, we have to face the truth immediately. we are an oppressed people. our parents do not hide this from us. it would be cruel if they did. we deserve to know that there is a better life for us than this, and we deserve to know what is happening against us. you cannot hide the effects of oppression and occupation. we will learn about it whether someone tells us or not.

because of this, palestinians raise their children to be extremely educated. palestinians are some of the most highly educated people in the world. we become educated when we're young and continue to become more and more educated as we grow because that is what we believe will set us free. the newer generations must have knowledge to fight back. the children are the future, as we all know. the sooner we are educated, the sooner we can start fighting back against oppression. that is why we urge other people to become educated, so they can help us fight against oppression as well. oppression cannot be hidden from us. we must learn to notice it wherever we go, in order to end it. that is why palestinians do not hide away their children. of course, we love our children and we try to ease the pain for them as much as possible, but the pain is our real life. our suffering is part of our fight, our identity. and we are fighting for a day where our suffering will never have to be permanent part of our identity again. we want to protect our children, but we cannot protect them against a world that wants them dead. we cannot do it alone, so we need people to step up and stand with us, in order to raise our children without them having to know the suffering we've endured.

being a child living under the occupation is difficult. you make friends one year, you lose them the next year. you finally manage to get out of palestine, and suddenly you're never allowed to go back in. you see posters on the wall of every city, full of faces of the people who were martyred by the hands of the oppressors and you pray to god that your face isn't going to be on there next. you are constantly surrounded by death and suffering. palestine is beautiful. our culture is beautiful. we constantly try to appreciate our beauty. but we cannot just do that without also facing the reality. we are an oppressed people. we know this. we see this. we feel this.

being a child living in the diaspora is also difficult. seeing how everyone around you can go on with their day, all smiles and laughs, not knowing your family in palestine were just killed the other day. seeing the media twist the narrative and make up lies about you and your people. being wary of everyone around you because you're not sure if they're a zionist or not so you have to hide your identity and who you are. watching as your people are massacred on tv while you're sitting there in your living room from a continent away, shaking with fear because "what if that was me?"

we know zionists hate us. this is the first thing we learn. we cannot hide our children from this truth, because that would only harm them more than it would protect them.

[atomsphotography]

Tamar Burduli

Can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you got into photography?

My driving character trait is curiosity and, by proxy, exploration. Inner and outer world exploration. Unsurprisingly, my profession is research. Of people and societies. I am most interested in feminist anthropology.

I don’t remember why I got drawn to taking photos but I remember begging my mom for any digital camera when I was 14-15. She got it for me which was huge because we were really poor. I was curious and tried so many things as a child and I don’t really remember or know exactly why photography was one of the very few I stuck with. The digital photos were of such poor quality and I would play with them in Photoshop and could do that for hours. Then around when I was around 20 a good friend gifted me a film camera and that’s when everything really started. I loved the limits of the film camera, where you had just a few levers and options and you had to make the best out of it. That you had to wait for it to be developed and anticipate what the results would look like which could be anything. There are still often cases where the film or the photograph ‘burns’ or just turns out blurry (I am myopic) or just bad, and that is a whole another exciting adventure for me as I start playing with the colors, figures, layers, and turn an allegedly bad, unusable, unlikeable thing into a surreal, beautiful one and both the process and the end result of all of it are so pleasurable, I cannot fathom.

What inspires you to create your art, and how do you approach the creative process?

I think it all started from escapism. Trying to find peace and focus, or focused peace of mind amidst the oppressive micro, meso, and macro environments that tended to put me down so much. I guess this is still the main theme and process for me, trying to find places where I feel the calmest and the wholest and take with me the fragments that produce this feeling (the feeling that feels like a place that is home).

Can you tell us about your favorite subjects to photograph, and why you're drawn to them?

My main theme from the genesis was nature. I did experiment with portraits for a bit and while those photographs are some of the most powerful and most favorite images I have made over the years, my heart, my mind and my body belongs to nature, the earth, the trees, the grass, the sky, the waters, the sun and the moon and all the living things in an out. All my summers and winters as a child I was spending in the mountains where the scenery was insanely beautiful. In summer in the city, I used to sleep on the balcony under the stars and the sky. And when I was at the most painful time in my life as an adult, nature was the only thing that was able to bring pieces of serenity to my mind. Every time I enter a forest, I instantly feel my body dissolving into it, I feel as one whole with it, serene and happy. All social constructs instantly shake off of me and I remain as pure me, one with nature, perfect solitude. Touching cold grass under my foot is one of the most favorite feelings of this lifetime, dissolving all my anxiety and hopelessness. Many times I have cried when seeing landscapes so striking that were just pinching my heart in the right places.

Can you walk us through your creative process, from idea to execution?

The only thing I do is try to travel as much as possible.

How do you stay inspired and motivated as a photographer, and what do you do when you're feeling creatively stuck?

The current human world is so devastating, killing everything beautiful on this earth and the earth itself too. I feel like each of us is forced to constantly look for something, anything that sets at least some of the negative impact of this limitless human greed off. So staying motivated to travel to nature, to find peace and shelter, and to try to capture and bring some of it back home, to concrete jungle, is easy, a default condition even.

If I am stuck, I just wait. I don’t force it. I trust the back of my mind to process whatever it needs to and to prompt me to pick up and do whatever comes next.

Flickr

Behance

Instagram

[crymeariveronceagain]

Share thoughts about the portrayal of structures underbodices please?

old fashioned bra.

people need to stop thinking that women back then were SOOO oppressed like no dude it was just a normal piece of clothing because bras hadn't been invented yet like how else are you gonna keep things together up there? idk? binding doesnt work well because we went from that to the corset im pretty sure, and like, corsets worked and millions and billions of women wore them during work and exercise and go outdoors and ride horses and just generally lived healthy normal lives! so often you see all these actresses talking about corsets that killed them or how awful it must have been to be a woman back when they were SOOO oppressed and had to wear! corsets! well guess what my girl Queen Victoria(y'know. badass girlboss) wore a corset and never once mentioned it. bras weren't invented until 1914!!! There were female authors, writers, and women in positions of power(although they were few), and women in the workplace! And! Not to mention! The clothing industry was primarily manufactured for and TO women for millenia! If women had issues with corsets they would have been fixed centuries before corsets and stays became widely accepted undergarments. Modern women saw a few pictures like the following:

which would have actually been COMEDIC at the time, since no one would have thought that's how to properly wear a corset, and just ran with it! I'm not saying that all corsets are good, and a lot of people now a days really have twisted ideas of how corsets were used and women who wear them now are often actively harming themselves. I think that's horrible, don't do it. but most corsets and stays were worn as legitimate undergarments, much like the modern woman wears a bra. For the same exact purpose as the modern woman wears a bra. And personally, I find it gross and disgusting how we've painted all women as these helpless little damselflies who hurt themselves constantly for male approval and just were never able to escape the cruel! swift! thumb of male oppression! when in reality corsets were made to fit you by people who knew what they were doing, and were worn under literally every dress, because y'know what? you're a woman and you've got boobs and that's just how the world works. tightlacing corsets has always been considered extreme and very inaccurate, and yet in every movie or tv show involving corsets there's always some poor actress who's getting tightlaced into one on bare skin. and that's another thing! you wore light clothes under your corset and stays!!! because that crap would hurt if it was constantly rubbing up on you!!! AND WOMEN WERE SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW THIS!!! a made to form corset would not hurt a woman, and was about as safe as a bra, and a necessary part of undergarments.

women were not harmed by corsets that were properly used and properly made to fit them, and weren't tightlaced and weren'tdying or unable to breathe or suffering severe organ damage. it's insanely idiotic and uneducated for anyone especially movie and tv shows and books and whatever else to imply that that's always been the case.

I once read a book called "shatter"(one of my favorites, by APrilynne Pike) where the main character legitimately uses tightlacing as a sort of self-harm, where she knows it's not good for her and is hurting her and she kind of uses the pain to numb her situation and take her mind off of her internal turmoil. Which is BAD! Corsets were not meant for this!!!!

Anyways.

My views on corsets can really be uncovered in the following videos(i recommend the top one if you just want a good chuckle about idiocracy):

Karolina Zebrowska: "curb your corset stereotypes"

Karolina Zebrowska: "How Victorian Men Taught Us To Hate Corsets: The Biggest Lie in Fashion History"

Karolina Zebrowska: "Rating(aka roasting) Historical Movie Corsets"

i could talk about this more, and discuss the problems with painting women from the past as helpless, weak, and generally incapable. *exhales heavily*

i have thoughts and feelings, as i said lol

[everyhowlmarksthedead]

❛ CLUB DOESN'T GO FIRST ❜

with Ezekiel Reyes.

Request: Second part of this prompt.

BY @ly--canthrope

Warnings: none.

Word count: about 2.9k

Aurora says: this writing hasn't been edited, you may find some grammar mistakes, I'm sorry about that!

Gif credits: @angels-reyes

Masterlist.

Sitting up and resting your back against the window, you cover your mouth to drown a loud yawn on the palm of your hand. Your head hurts too much, but not more than your heart, feeling yet the oppression squeezing it. Turning to the nightstand, you find a coffee with a hand written note that says ‘drink me with the pill’. Angel has been taking care of you for the last four days, sleeping on the sofa you can't imagine how hurt has to be his back. Feeling so sorry for him. The history repeats itself years ago. Lowering the blind a little, you grab the painkiller to swallow it with a sip of the cold drink. You don't want to check your phone, knowing what you are going to find. But the masochism is stronger than your desire for not doing it. Grabbing it from under Angel's pillow, you unlock it.

There are thousands of texts and lost calls from EZ's number. And, like every morning since four days ago, you read all the messages. This time, you have fifty two. The most recent is from twenty minutes ago. You're aware that he has been sleeping on his brother's door waiting for you to talk with him. But you don't want any explanation. You understood why he was leaving in the middle of the night, thinking that you were sleeping. And you don't want to think about the fact that he has been cheating you. But if it's not, what else?

To: angelito 👼🏻

“I'm still alive to my misfortune”

Leaving the phone away, you try to get up stretching your whole anatomy after putting your feet on the warmth floor because of the sun going through the window. Walking straight to the bathroom and after having another drink from the mug, you place it over the marble sink to take off your pajamas, which is basically an old Angel's shirt, you get into the shower. The hot water wets down your hair and your anatomy, rubbing your face to get rid of the rheums and gargling to clean your throat from the taste of beer and cigars courtesy of last night. When your mane is already washed, and your body too, you step out from the shower wrapped in a soft blue towel covering from your chest to your knees.

From: angelito 👼🏻

“Drink the coffee, take the painkiller and come to the clubhouse. Prez wanna talk with you”.

To: angelito 👼🏻

“Is your brother there?”

From: angelito 👼🏻

“In Yuma till tonight”.

Sighing heavily, you nod at the last message walking back to his room to get dressed. For a moment you thought that he was in the building hallway waiting again for you to talk with him. But you're starting to see ghosts in a house that it's not haunted. When you're ready, picking your basic stuff around the house, like the keys of your car and your wallet, to keep them inside your bag; you leave the Reyes house. Unlocking the black Camaro, you find a note stuck in the front windshield. ‘I love you. I'm so sorry’. Crumpling it into a ball, you throw it to the ground without giving it more importance than it already has.

Driving your way to the clubhouse, your phone rings on the codriver seat, flashing EZ's name on the screen. And you're about to throw it too by the window, when you have to stop your car dead some inches away to not run Creeper over, at the entrance of the scrapping.

“Shit, mami!”

“Sorry, Crep'!” You say, sticking your head out of the car for a moment.

Biting your bottom lip, dying of shame, you continue by the gravel road to the front yard. Parking close to the motorcycles, Angel receives you between his strong arms, as soon as you step out of the Camaro.

“Gotcha!” He screams with a singing voice, lifting you up some seconds, squeezing you under his grip and making you laugh.

“Stop! You're gonna break me!”

“Yeah, sure… 'cause you're soft and fluffy, aren't you?” He jokes pocking the tip of your nose, before placing an arm on your shoulders.

“What does Bishop want?”

“You will see, (Y/N)”. He smirks at you, bringing you to the inside of the clubhouse. “He's in the Templo”.

Greeting the other members and grabbing another cup of coffee, you take off the sunglasses that cover the black bags under your eyes coming into it. Closing the sliding door, El Presidente gets up from his chair to hug you with an arm on your back.

“Sit down, querida”.

You have been all day thinking about the thing you want EZ to explain to you, making a whole speech in your head that you know you're going to forget when you see him again. Yes, you still be raged and bereaved, but you can't erase all at once a year of relationship, and a life of friendship. Your hands tremble over the steer wheel, clinging your fingers around it when you drive through the scrapping again when the night has fallen down above Santo Padre. Soon, you find him sitting on the porch waiting for you, after his brothers told him that you wanted to talk. Licking your bottom lip and breathing by your nose, you leave the car parked close to the motorbikes, getting out of it with dubious steps and your hands keeped in the back pockets of your jeans. Ezekiel smiles with a saddened aura wrapping him, noticing that the shine you used to have in your eyes now is gone. Standing up on his feet, you follow him to the roulotte, where everything happens. And even if you would like to have this conversation in another place, you know it's going to help you because of all the memories you have built there. This place is going to keep you in the real world.

Opening the door, the younger Reyes lets you come in first, closing it behind his back in the meantime you sit at the table. Your hands are intertwined in a first over the wood, with your gaze fixed on them, until he has a seat in front of you. Emboldening, you look at him.

“Those… three or four times you left past midnight, you went to see her?”

He nods.

“Yes”.

Licking your incisors with the tip of your tongue, you tour your lower lip with it. You already knew it. But it's painful hearing him confirming it to you.

“Did you f—”.

“No”. He just says, interrupting you with his eyes constantly on yours. No doubts, no trembling tone of voice. “I would never touch her. I would never touch any woman that it's not you”.

“Well, you were ‘actually’ touching her”. You laugh with a bitter and sarcastic laughter, resting your back against the sofa watching him snort. “Why? Why did you lie to me?”

“I couldn't tell you anything until being sure”.

“Being sure about what, Ezekiel? Fuck off with your secrets!” You bark hitting the table with the palm of your hand.

“Until being sure of who killed my mother... and who hired him”.

Placing both forearms on the table, frowning confused and your mouth slightly opened, you try to say something. Stuttering nonsense words. Now, in part, you feel like shit. You don't care anymore why he didn't tell you but the fact he has been through this alone. Rubbing your face with both hands and pulling back your hair from the roots to flood them onto your nape, you snort.

“Angel knows it?”

“No”.

“And… why Emily? What does she have to do with all this?”

“Jose Galindo hired a hitman to kill my parents”. EZ briefly explains, keeping his gaze on yours at all times. “Pops worked for him, but when he met my mom and got pregnant of Angel, he left the Cartel and ran away. I don't know if he… did it because he thought that pops could speak with the DEA or… I don't know… I don't know yet”.

“Do you… know the name of the… man who shot your mother?” Ez told you that he saw his face, but it wasn't enough to find him. He just nods, freezing your blood.

And you know it's the exact and perfect moment to drop your condition on the table.

“I want you to leave the club”.

The youngest Reyes twists his neck confused, because he wasn't expecting these words and you're talking pretty serious.

“If you want me to come back, I want you to leave the club. I want you away from Emily, from the Cartel, from all this shit. I'm not gonna live as your mother did. I love you, but this life is not for me, Ezekiel”.

“You can't ask m—”.

“Yes, I can. And I'm doing it. I've been with you for the last eight years. Unconditionally. Always by your side. But I can't. I can't anymore”. You sentence about to cry, gesticulating with one hand to cut the air between both. “I'm leaving Santo Padre tomorrow. You have until noon”.

You're hating Bishop right now more than you thought you could ever hate someone in your life. But that man is wise like a damn rat. And sometimes, he knows you better than yourself. Even so, you're fucking up EZ so bad that he's about to break into pieces when he watches you getting up from the sofa. A lot of bullshit dances in your head. His mother's murderer, Emily trying to get him closer, Angel living happily in his ignorance. You're sure that your brain is going to explode from one moment to another, when a strong and firm hand grabs your left wrist. Bowing down your orbs to the fingers clinged around your skin, you raise up your gaze to the man with his eyes filled with tears.

“I cho—choose you over everything”. He says with a broken thread of voice, shaking like a scared kid, slowly pulling you closer.

Surprised and stunned, you let him sit you on his lap. Sinking his face in your neck, he finally lets go of all those things that were oppressing his heart, turning them into tears. His tensed arms surrounding your waist, making you know that he doesn't want you to go.

“Isn't it enough to asking him to do it?”

“Querida, words will always be words. And words are gone with the wind”.

“I'm gonna destroy him”.

“Didn't he do it first? I want his kutte on my table”.

Doubting, you bring your hands to the back of his head. As soon as he feels your touch again, his cry gets louder staining your shirt holding you stronger. EZ is trying to ask you to stay, to tell you that he's going to do whatever you ask him for, but his voice is so low that you can't hear him well. Your fingers caress his scalp slowly, from his nape to the top of his head, resting your cheek on it.

Ezekiel takes one last look at the leather kutte exposed over the table of the roulotte. Since he came out of jail, the only two reasons he have had to continue his life have been you and this piece of clothes. They're his family. They love him. He enjoys the shit he does in some kind of way, but he can't imagine a life without you. For him it's going to be easy to find a job, start from zero in another city, another country. He knows it well. But he's going to miss riding his bike as much as he has done until now.

Taking the kutte and cleaning his tears, EZ has a deep breath before stepping out of the trailer, guiding his steps through the alley towards the clubhouse. Every member of his charter is sitting at the table inside the templo, without understanding what's happening when they watch him coming in with the vest in a hand. No one, except Bishop and Angel. He's devastated, having his heart divided in two. One of them falling into pieces. But that feeling is taken to the background because of the confusion that tours through his body, when he finds you there too behind Bishop's chair, resting your back on the dark wall.

“I just… want to thank you for… welcoming me here, as one more of you. For letting me be part of this family, but…” Ezekiel leaves the kutte over the table with trembling fingers, running his hands through the fabric to wipe out some small wrinkles. “I leave the club”.

“What?” “Brother, the fuck?” “Bishop, what is that?”

All the members talk in unison, while Angel looks at his brother in silence. Actually, he's feeling proud of what he is doing. Yes, he's leaving the club. But Ezekiel is showing that he cares about his family, more than anything.

“I don't know if I have to do… something before… leaving”. He says then, clearing his throat and tangling his hands behind his back.

“Wear that fucking kutte and place the boxes of beers that came this morning”. Bishop just says, while you take some steps to put your hands on his shoulders. “See? I told you, kid”.

“Listen, querida, I would leave the club too if you asked me to do it. You're the kind of person that could put out the flames of hell”.

“But… I don't want him to do it”.

“He will do it, if he loves you. If he truly considers you his family. We're always with this shit about ‘club goes first’, but that's not true. Blood. Blood goes first. No matter how bad your true family treated you, it's in our DNA. I will not let him go, it's just a test. And if he chooses the club over you, I'll fuck him up”.

“If you cross a single world, again, with Galindo's wife, listen to me, Ezekiel”. El Presidente gets up from his chair, placing one hand over the table to use the other to point at him. “I will cut your body into pieces, keeping you alive all the time possible, to spread it all over the desert. Don't play dumb, prospect, I am not kidding”.

The crew are still confused, but they know that as soon as you leave the Templo, Angel will explain to them what was the conversation between Bishop and you.

“And about you, querida”. The man turns a little, twisting his neck. “Look where you drive by. Creeper was shot some months ago, don't run him over too”.

“Yeah! Exactly! I'm fucking fragile, mami”.

“Like a Fabergé's egg”. You say rolling your eyes.

“If you say that because of what I'm thinking… I'm not bald, I like to shave my head”. He replies making fun of you, watching how you walk closer to EZ.

“Oh, c'mon! Isn't that bad to be bald, Creeper. You save money on shampoo”.

The laughs flood the Templo, in the meantime that you grab the kutte to help a confused EZ to put it on.

“Let's go, prospect, you have work to do”. Palming his shoulders, you accompany him to the bar, after closing the glass door.

“I… I… Wha—What hap…” Your boyfriend isn't able to form a sentence, rubbing his face with both hands. “Did you… Did he…?”

“We did” You reply, crossing the bar to grab some beers. Opening both, you offer him one. “I didn't want to reach the extreme of watching you hand over the kutte, but Bishop wanted to push you to your limits”.

“But, then… What happens with us? Are you leaving? Are you leaving Santo Padre? I did what you ask me to, you ca—”.

“Sometimes, I really think that you're not this… smart as you used to, Ezekiel”. Drinking from your bottle, you shake your head with a fleeting smile. “It was just a test, EZ. I'm not going anywhere. Bishop had the… brilliant idea of makes you proof me your love over the club”.

“So… You're staying?”

“I'm ready to punch you in the face, if you ask me again”.

Leaving his beer away over a table, he takes three big steps towards you, clinging his arms around your body. For a second you're sure that you're running out of air, before he starts to kiss your face all over it. He was truly fucked, and now is when you're seeing it. Surrounding his back with your arms, you push him closer to you, shortening all the possible distance between both.

“I promise I'll not keep any other secret from you. Never. I swear to my mom, baby. There's no one in this life over you, over what I feel for you”. Ezekiel assures you, sinking his face in the space between his forearm and your neck. “I love you. You're gonna see it every fucking day, mi amor”.

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[inkprintedfox]

OC Study

Tagged by @advena87 to fill out -THIS- OC question prompt.

I tag @starsandskies @1orweth @kanawolf

This is time consuming so I can understand if you guys don't want to do it, so no pressure. I spent roughly a week and a half, almost two weeks on this? No regrets, mostly took so long for me because I work full time and I tend to space out a lot and ramble. Lol

It is quite a bit of fun and a good exercise to help develop your characters so I do recommend It! Don't recommend doing more than three OCs at a time though, three was hard for me and usually I'm an over-achiever. Go easy and dont burn yourself out! Also would be a good exercise if you're writing with a canon character and want to get a handle on working with them.

I wanted to answer this in character originally but it would have been twice as long and probably taken me a month or more. 😅 Perhaps I'll do something like that one day....

Dragon Age OCs per usual for me.

Warden-Commander and Hero of Fereldan (DAO & DAOA)

Growing up in the Denerim Alienage has made Feiell a very bitter, angry, and agressive person. Biting and scrabbling to survive she also had to fight to keep her family and neighbors safe from the rich humans that liked to exploit the destitute elves. She gained a reputation as a protector but also a very hard woman.

She redibly accepted her conscription into the Grey Wardens, not only to escape the persecution of the law, but also to escape the narrow world of the Alianage. Collecting the people that would later be affectionately called "The Blight Brigade" exposed her to many new adventures as well as lifelong friendships, love, and personal growth that could not have happened otherwise.

The Champion of Kirkwall (DA2)

Laid-back, vain, and honestly somewhat lazy, Aiden has never wanted to be anyone's savior let alone a whole city's. Family has been the only thing that mattered in his life and after his father's death, he naturally took on the role of protector and main provider for his mother and siblings. This also made it very natural to take in the stray band of misfits that became almost like family and also why it is so natural for Aiden to constantly help people, even at times he would rather not.

His bleeding heart drags Aiden into the center of conflict far more often than he likes and he constantly berates himself for it. This automatic altruism has jaded him which fuels his sarcastic and sometimes bitter, self-deprecating humor. A tad over dramatic at times means that while he rarely, it ever, says no to aiding someone in need, it certainly doesn't mean he has to be quiet about it either.

The Inqusitor (DAI)

Max has been fortunate for most of his life, from growing up in the wealthy Trevelyan family, to his good looks and, quiet frankly, fantastic smile it's easy to assume he'd be another spoiled rich brat. You'd be giving in to a stereotype that doesn't, quiet, fit him though. From a young age Max has always been outgoing and adventurous which made him a handful to raise. His father frequently grappled with finding things to keep his youngest son occupied in ways that he hadn't had to do with his previous three children.

Born with a naturally sharp mind and quick wit, Max picks up new concepts quickly and with ease. Which means he often grew board with tutors, burned through the family library in a handful of years, quickly became very competent on horseback as well as the breeding and rearing of them (part of the family business), and often terrorized his siblings as well as the hired staff. Once he exhausted most of the interesting things at home he started running off to search for new adventures. Boredom and frequent arguments with his father often lead to habitual bouts of running away from home. Hence where Max got to truly learn about the world and open his eyes to the kind of privilege he's been so lucky to be born with. Unfortunately this also has ingrained his habit of running away from problems he doesn't see a forward solution to. (*cough*theinqusiton*cough*)

OC Study

Featuring:

Warden-Commander Feiell “Fe" Tabris

Champion of Kirkwall Aiden Hawke

Inquisitor Maxwell “Max" Trevelyan

1. Is your OC easily bothered by things?

Feiell – Small things don’t really bother her but she is a tad hot-headed so if you give her a hard time you might not be in for the best experience. She also has zero tolerance for idiots or assholes.

Aiden – He’s a petty bitch that mostly whines and complains to annoy his friends. Also whining about petty things is a good cover for the bigger worries and anxieties he hides underneath.

Max – Mostly an easygoing, carefree type. It takes the numerous responsibilities of the Inquisition weighing down on him all at once before he starts cracking.

2. How easily does your OC make friends?

Feiell – Most defiantly not a people person. Her natural stoic demure and biting sarcasm keeps people at bay. You have to spend quite a bit of time around her before she warms up to you.

Aiden – For reasons he doesn’t really understand people like Aiden. It’s probably his easy smile and sense of humor which he uses to get what he wants or needs out of them. Not really manipulative just doesn’t feel like he deserves the attention. The humor mostly hides his pain and keeps people at arms length, mostly unintentionally. He hates to burden those he loves.

Max – Max loves people, mostly entertaining, or teasing them. His signature charming smile and good looks usually put people at ease which makes him very likable. It also lets him get away with the mischief he often gets into.

3. Does your OC go beyond what they have to do or do they usually do just enough work to get by?

Feiell – Has almost literally killed herself to get where she is. Her work ethic is legendary and she’ll do almost anything to support her family and friends.

Aiden – Will do the barest minimum to get by. Her lazy as hell, even though he is incapable of saying no when someone needs help.

Max – Believes in doing things right the first time and if not the first time then defiantly the second time. Whatever the job needs to get done he willing to do and if it’s a favorite project he can lose himself in it indefinitely.

4. Is your OC respectful of others?

Feiell – She will be as respectful to you as you are to her, but will out match you if you’re a dick to her or her friends.

Aiden – Respectful enough to not cause trouble and get people to leave him alone.

Max – Perfect manners, and ridiculously charming. He believes everyone deserves respect unless they prove otherwise.

5. Is your OC imaginative or more down-to-earth?

Feiell – Defiantly no-nonsense and down-to-earth. She believes in hard work to active your goals.

Aiden – More of a day-dreamer but pulls a practical side together to care for and help family and friends. Dreams are nice but plans put food on the table.

Max – Total idealist, truly believes even the most impossible is attainable if you work at it long enough. Most of that idealistic optimism is broken after Trespasser, but that’s a long story.

6. Is your OC comfortable with themselves?

Feiell – She’s always been comfortable with who she is and has never felt any shame for it. She owes that to her parents and cousin.

Aiden – Feels like a constant failure and a burden despite how hard he tries not to. Doesn’t feel comfortable with opening up about his feelings and weighing others down with them. Is also terrible with expressing more painful emotions.

Max – Is mostly comfortable with himself. Always felt like a disappointment to his family because he never had the kind of goals for his life he thought they would want from him. Also never really saw himself as reliable but the Inquisition changed all that.

7. Does your OC plan things and stick to it or do they make it up as their go?

Feiell – Always has a plan and is a master of adjusting things on the fly if needed. Prefers to stick to the plan but has accepted how rarely that can happen.

Aiden – He’s been winging his whole life and it somehow hasn’t killed him yet.

Max – Usually has more of an outline than a hard plan. Trial & error are his best friends and somehow he’s still alive, that’s probably because he uses educated guesses more that throwing things to the wind.

8. Was their life eventful before the start of the story, or was it more dull?

Feiell – Depends if living in poverty and oppression is dull to you. I guess since it was normal for her it was boring.

Aiden – The stress of hiding a mage father and sister was more than Aiden ever wanted. He would have preferred boring.

Max – While the constant mischief Max got himself into means things were never dull they certainly seem boring when compared to life in the Inquisition. Josephine certainly had her hands full going through all of Max’s past exploits.

9. Do they have the habit to insult other people?

Feiell – Is a salty, little bitch so defiantly yes. She has a sharp tongue.

Aiden – Bit of a smart-ass and occasionally he can’t help it so it gets him in trouble.

Max – Mostly no, it takes quite a bit to get on his nerves enough to make him snap at you. Usually very polite.

10. Would your OC be described as “the life of the party”?

Feiell – She can be described as the death of the party.

Aiden – Likes to think he is.

Max – Is the actual life of the party if he wants to be. Usually he is.

11. Are they critical of others?

Feiell – To a degree, yes

Aiden - Mostly critical of himself

Max – Not really, he’s pretty non-judgmental

12. Do they like art? what is their favorite type (paintings, songs, fashion, etc)?

Feiell – The art of war perhaps, but music is good too.

Aiden – He considers Fenris a work of art if that counts.

Max – Paintings, music, nature, pretty clothes (mostly on Dorian), Max loves it all. He was especially fond of watching Solar paint his murals.

13. Are they more accepting or more controlling of the people in their life?

Feiell – As long as you’re not bothering her and no one gets hurt she doesn’t really care what people do.

Aiden – He has no control over his own life let alone any one else.

Max – Very accepting of people but not above a subtle nudge to do things he feels might benefit them.

14. Is your OC a good listener?

Feiell – She listens more than she talks, so yes.

Aiden – The one who’s always there to listen when you need him.

Max - Yes, he also has a great memory so he's very good at keeping track of all the drama in life. Lol

15. Are they opinionated or more willing to change their minds?

Feiell – Pretty opinionated but not impossible to change her mind, not that it is easy to do so mind you.

Aiden – Too changeable at times and mostly keeps his opinions to himself.

Max – A few solid moral opinions that he won’t move on but open-minded on nearly everything else.

16. Are they the kind of person who’s always on the defensive?

Feiell – Much less than she use to be but definitely yes.

Aiden – Only when he feels blamed for everything, which he is often.

Max – No, he dose his best to own up to his mistakes and rarely takes things personally.

17. Do people like hanging around them? do they have a positive, friendly energy?

Feiell – I will file this under HELL NO. She scares the crap out of most people if she doesn’t piss them off. It can take quite awhile for friends to warm up to her, if at all.

Aiden – People love Aiden, but the older he gets the less Aiden likes people. They demand too much from him but he’ll never be able to say no, or miss a chance at a passive-aggressive joke. Or a regular bad joke for that matter.

Max – People love Max almost from the moment they meet him. There is just something about him that puts everyone at ease and makes it easier to trust and smile. Must be the charming smile, yeah, has to be. He’s not bad looking either.

18. Is your OC a procrastinator? if they are, what’s an example of how much?

Feiell – People die if she puts things off, so no. Some days she wishes she could put many things off though. Like dying anytime soon, there’s too much to accomplish.

Aiden – What is productivity? If nobody is dying or it’s not dragging him, kicking and screaming, by the hair then its probably not getting done. At least no time soon. Guilt trip him hard to speed things up.

Max – Important things get done but if it’s not a pressing issue then it often can be temporarily abandoned for more enjoyable activities. Even if it’s set aside, the thing will still be done in a reasonable amount of time. Unless he forgets, which can happen frequently.

19. Do they tend to panic in certain situations or are they more calm?

Feiell – Always calm, if something bothers her you’ll never know.

Aiden – Panics constantly. Somewhat hides it well…somewhat…

Max – Takes most things in stride, the sudden dump of responsibility and people’s lives was really stressful but he adjusted to it.

20. Are they vengeful?

Feiell – I literally made a post of her being a deity of vengeance lol.

Aiden – Petty or bitter, perhaps, but not full on vengeful.

Max – Yes, touch the people he loves and see a whole different side of him.

21. What are some skills your OC has a talent for and what are some that they worked for?

Feiell – She’s has a natural flair for swordsmanship, her mother started training her and Fe kept up the practice even after her mother’s passing. Her leadership skills were…a little more rough. She had to learn how to organize and lead people on the fly because of the Blight but luckily she learns quickly.

Aiden – He’s scary good at lying, not even Varric can catch him in one. (Honestly most of his book is just Varric's best guess on Aiden's thoughts) Knife throwing took quite a bit of practice though. He can now nail someone at 100 pages and is unmatched at darts.

Max – Politics and navigating the Great Game are weirdly natural for Max even though he kinda hates it. His archery skill is something he is extremely proud of because he’s practiced relentlessly to be as good as he is. And he really is good, until a natural like Sera comes and shatters his ego. Lol

22. Are they more socially awkward or socially confident?

Feiell – Awkward, but in the way that she doesn’t care what people do or say. She dose her own thing and ignores everyone else.

Aiden – Smooth on the outside, tired wreak on the inside. Not that anyone will ever know.

Max – Social chameleon, and life of the party. Until he slips away unnoticed somehow.

23. What is something really dumb that irritates your OC a lot?

Feiell – Dumb questions about her hair: “How long is it?”, “Why do you keep it that long?”, “Is it really that red?”. Usually answered with “Why do you care so much, it’s not your hair.” Also people touching her constantly, she doesn’t see the need to constantly clap people on the shoulder or grab their arms when somethings funny.

Aiden – Orlesians, if you don’t know anything about DA then I’m sorry, this probably doesn’t make sense to you.

Max – Assuming he's stupid or that because of his wealth that he doesn't do any work. He's a natural busy-body so assuming he sits on his are all day is really irritating.

24. Do they tend to see the good in people?

Feiell – No, she’s had too many bad experiences before so distrust is her default until proven otherwise.

Aiden – Sometimes, mostly sees people in shades of grey. No one is 100% good or bad.

Max – He sees the good in people as often as he can and tries to pull some good out of those who are sometimes a little lost.

25. What does it take for your OC to trust someone?

Feiell – Doing what you say you will, not hiding things, sticking up for others when it clearly has no benefit for you, and give it a few weeks….or months and she may trust you.

Aiden – Help him out in a hard spot, or help family/friends.

Max – If you’re not openly malicious or he doesn’t feel like you’re lying/hiding anything his default if to trust until proven otherwise.

26. Do they have a lot of mood swings?

Feiell – Not really, she’s not a very emotional person. Unless you count her temper which can light like a matchstick.

Aiden - Known to be moody, to the point of it being a well known joke among friends. On bad days he can even out do Anders.

Max – Only if the stress is overwhelming him or he’s pretty sick. Otherwise he’s pretty even tempered.

27. Do they like to be the center of attention or do they prefer to be in the background?

Feiell – Hates being the center of attention and would rather be left alone. Unfortunately she’s had to get use to the attention after becoming Warden-Commander.

Aiden – If people could forget who he is it would be really nice. Likes being the center of attention among friends and family, doesn’t like it with crowds of strangers.

Max – Loves entertaining people and making them laugh which makes him great for parties. He grew up attending big gatherings and is an expert at navigating them, which means he's also very good at slipping away from them when he tires of the crowds.

28. Do people think they’re pretentious?

Feiell – Sometimes, her natural expression can give that impression but most of those people that make this mistake are racist shems that don’t like the power she has. Or the fact that she could kill them without breaking a sweat.

Aiden – No, his face is too friendly and if that doesn’t do it the self-deprecating jokes do.

Max – Yes, it’s easy for people to assume that since he comes from money. He’s never thought himself better than anyone though and tries to dispel that impression, but you can’t control what people want to think of you.

29. Is your OC detail oriented or do they focus more on the big picture?

Feiell – Details, details, you add them all up and that’s how you get a bigger picture. Other words, very detail oriented.

Aiden – Big picture. How you get there is a mystery though.

Max – Big picture first then an outline of the main details to get there.

30. Which high school movie stereotype would they fit best?

Feiell – The ice queen/The strict, scary teacher.

Aiden – Class clown/Troublemaker/Weird but laid back teacher

Max – The jock that befriends the weird kid/Hot science teacher

31. Are they good giving advice?

Feiell – Defiantly not, she’s better at giving orders.

Aiden – Only ask if you want to get in trouble. Ok, that’s not completely true, occasionally he can give good advice. Particularly to help cheer someone up.

Max – I would say yes, he’s gotten quite a bit of good advice over the years and likes to pass it on.

32. Which one of the 7 deadly sins fit your OC more? do they see it as a flaw?

Feiell – Wrath: Only a flaw if you think beating your enemies is a bad thing.

Aiden - Sloth: Regrets this flaw. If he had acted sooner on many things they might not have escalated the way they did.

Max – Pride: A flaw he has worked hard to temper over the years. Was more of a problem when he was younger than now.

33. Is your OC more likely to keep their feelings to themselves or to share them?

Feiell – Keeps them mostly to herself. A couple close friends may get a glimpse but only Zevran knows her well. He’s learned when to prod to get her to open up.

Aiden – Doesn’t like to burden others so keeps his feelings to himself even when he shouldn’t.

Max – His oldest sister is his best friend and confidant, she gets to hear everything. Max has started to lean on Dorian in this way too. Basically immediate family and good friends will know what’s up.

[r3negade-x]

So, here's the thing - I know you're trying to say that this is a slippery slope and that if he can decide to kill someone he doesn't like, anyone can, but the problem is that that's already what's happening.

CEOs like Brian Thompson are in the position to be deciding the fates of thousands, if not tens or hundreds of thousands, of people. People who need their insurance to cover their life-saving care. And the majority of the time, they are denied.

That denial often directly leads to these people's deaths - deaths that could easily be prevented if they got their medical bills covered. You've said before in previous posts that police violence is justified if the person they're perpetrating it against is going to or is currently harming other people. By that logic, Mangione was justified in enacting violence against Thompson because he (Thompson) was hurting vast multitudes of people every day. Or is this only the case when the state does it?

That's another thing - this issue isn't partisan, or woke, or anti-work, or anything on the political spectrum - it's American. This was going to happen at some point because this is what America set itself up for.

From practically birth we are spoon-fed a narrative that America was born from a desperate revolution against an evil empire, that we only exist thanks to brave men on the battlefield. Time and again, we are told stories of America beating back the bad guys with violence. We stopped slavery with violence. We stopped Hitler with violence. Our movies and tv shows are filled with heroes violently defeating evil empires who oppress their people. If you're christian, which is highly likely if you're american, you're told that the world is constantly against you and you will one day need to rise up and defend your freedoms. That we are only free thanks to the constant battles of our military.

Then we grow up.

We realize that we are not free. We are made slaves by the need for food and shelter, commodities held for ransom by those who hoard them. We are forced into back-breaking or humiliating work for most of the week, sometimes even more than a week, with little respite between days. We exhaust ourselves to be able to live, while the people we work for live in luxury. They feast on rare delicacies while we starve, they own fleets of cars and yachts bought with the money we give them, and then when we ask for a little help, the help they promised us, in order to continue living, they deny us and leave us to die.

I don't know about you, but to me, that sounds like an evil empire. And overthrowing evil empires is what America is all about. At least, it's what we like to tell ourselves it's all about.

Truthfully, I wish I could wholeheartedly condemn this murder. To say it was injust to take a father away from his wife and kids. But how can I, when he has destroyed countless families the same way, the only difference being his weapon of choice is bureaucracy? And worse, how can I say that violence is not the answer when it clearly gets results?

After Thompson was shot, there was an entire day where everyone who filed a claim with United Healthcare got approved. Every. Single. One. They could have done that at any time, but only did it at that point because they were afraid. Because they knew that people are getting fed up of being oppressed and abused.

Like I said before, America is built on the idea that violence is the solution to oppressive regimes. We see this throughout history; if you want something done, get a weapon. Get violent. Get mad. Make life take the lemons back. I don't want violence to be the best option, but if it gets results, it's only a matter of time before more people take up arms.

Cyan: OSP does not condone violence. Or at least not murder. And usually not violence. Blue: OSP condones sending a message!

Ultimately, I don't think it's fair to condemn a majority for celebrating the death of a man who has directly caused so much pain and misery. To call them insensitive is to ignore the many lives that Thompson has taken, however indirectly.

“Do you understand what I'm saying?" shouted Moist. "You can't just go around killing people!" "Why Not? You Do." The golem lowered his arm. "What?" snapped Moist. "I do not! Who told you that?" "I Worked It Out. You Have Killed Two Point Three Three Eight People," said the golem calmly. "I have never laid a finger on anyone in my life, Mr Pump. I may be–– all the things you know I am, but I am not a killer! I have never so much as drawn a sword!" "No, You Have Not. But You Have Stolen, Embezzled, Defrauded And Swindled Without Discrimination, Mr Lipvig. You Have Ruined Businesses And Destroyed Jobs. When Banks Fail, It Is Seldom Bankers Who Starve. Your Actions Have Taken Money From Those Who Had Little Enough To Begin With. In A Myriad Small Ways You Have Hastened The Deaths Of Many. You Do Not Know Them. You Did Not See Them Bleed. But You Snatched Bread From Their Mouths And Tore Clothes From Their Backs. For Sport, Mr Lipvig. For Sport. For The Joy Of The Game.” --Going Postal

By: Colin Wright

Published: Dec 23, 2024

A new study from the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) has revealed an alarming surge in anti-civil activity online following the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The NCRI study, titled “Killing with Applause: Emergent Permission Structures for Murder in the Digital Age,” highlights the profound societal implications of this event, showcasing the disturbing normalization of violence against corporate figures and the role of social media in amplifying such narratives.

While the specifics of Thompson’s murder are shocking, the NCRI warns that the broader cultural shift it appears to be facilitating may be even more worrisome. The data reveals an evolving “permission structure” online—a system in which social media platforms amplify narratives, and susceptible individuals provide justification—resulting in the normalization of violence on a scale previously confined to small extremist communities.

The murder, which occurred outside a Manhattan hotel during an investors’ conference, has sparked a wave of online glorification, memes, and merchandise celebrating the shooter, Luigi Mangione. The NCRI’s findings expose an unsettling trend: mainstream social media platforms are becoming breeding grounds for rhetoric that not only justifies violence but also facilitates its transition from the digital realm to the real world.

Public Opinion Reflects Shifting Norms

The NCRI’s research reveals a major societal shift, highlighting how public opinion has veered dangerously toward accepting violence as a legitimate response to perceived systemic injustices. Nearly half of Americans surveyed (44 percent) believe that Thompson’s murder was at least somewhat justified, reflecting a growing openness to violent means of addressing grievances. This finding is particularly alarming as it indicates that support for such extreme measures is no longer confined to isolated groups but is increasingly mainstream.

The data shows that social media plays a critical role in shaping these attitudes. Among heavy social media users—those who spend more than 5.4 hours per day on these platforms—the justification rate surges to 64 percent, starkly contrasting with just 23 percent among low-use individuals (0-1.3 hours per day).

Even more concerning is the generational divide: a staggering 78.8 percent of respondents aged 18-27 expressed at least partial justification for the murder, signaling a profound shift among younger demographics toward endorsing “targeted violence.”

The younger generation’s overwhelming approval for violent actions suggests a troubling cultural normalization of aggression as a tool for addressing grievances.

Platforms of Concern: Bluesky and Beyond

One of the most striking revelations in the NCRI study is the role of mainstream platforms like Bluesky in fostering permissive attitudes toward violence. Bluesky, widely lauded by political progressives as a kinder and friendlier alternative to X/Twitter, now exhibits the highest justification rates for the UHC CEO’s murder (78 percent), surpassing even extremist platforms like Gab and 4chan.

Bluesky’s user base skews younger and more tech-savvy, demographics that the NCRI study identifies as particularly susceptible to violent rhetoric. The combination of algorithmic amplification of extreme views and a vulnerable audience creates an environment ripe for the proliferation of violent narratives. This grim reality was recently illustrated when Bluesky users called for the murder of journalist Jesse Singal, en masse, due to his fact-based reporting on pediatric “gender medicine.” Users even posted what they believed to be his address and photos of his apartment door online.

Across social media platforms, including X, Reddit, and TikTok, there has been an alarming increase in content justifying violence. Viral hashtags like #EatTheRich and “Free Luigi” dominate many online discussions, and moderation efforts often lag behind the pace of content creation and dissemination, allowing violent rhetoric to flourish.

From Memes to Real-World Impacts

The transition of violent rhetoric from online spaces to real-world actions is perhaps one of the most troubling revelations of the NCRI study. Viral memes, fancam edits, and merchandise such as “Free Luigi” t-shirts have commodified his image. Events like the “UHC Shooter Lookalike Contest,” held in Washington Square Park, reveals how online rhetoric is influencing real-world behaviors. Participants, many of whom were dressed to mimic Mangione, gathered to celebrate and parody the assassination, demonstrating an alarming erosion of societal norms.

On social media, fancam edits and viral videos glorify Mangione’s actions, framing him as an anti-establishment icon. According to the report:

These videos frequently feature romantic or hyperbolic captions, highlight niche cultural affinities, or focus on his physical appearance, further amplifying his image and fueling narratives that glamorize his actions. This glorification fuels permission structures that could inspire others to perceive violence as a legitimate form of activism.

The hashtag #EatTheRich has surged by over 500 percent week-over-week, accompanying calls for violence against corporate figures and circulating “CEO Wanted” posters and executive “hit lists.” These posters, which feature “mocked-up mugshots of healthcare executives,” promote vigilante justice and represent “a deliberate attempt to provoke fear and destabilize corporate leadership.”

According to the NCRI report, “The murder of Brian Thompson appears to have catalyzed a dangerous feedback loop, where glorification, humor, conspiracy, and targeted harassment create an environment ripe for further violence.”

This blending of online rhetoric and offline action reflects what the NCRI describes as an “emergent permission structure,” which they describe as “a framework that justifies previously unacceptable beliefs or actions, with a clear division of labor: Social media platforms provide the amplification, while psychologically susceptible individuals provide the justification…” Taken in concert, these elements form a system that normalizes and even glamorizes acts of violence.

The Lionization of Luigi Mangione

Luigi Mangione’s transformation from an obscure figure to a symbol of anti-establishment resistance has been meteoric. Within days of his arrest, his social media following exploded from 5,000 to over 400,000. The slogan “Free Luigi” was posted 47,000 times in 48 hours, generating nearly 800,000 engagements across X and Reddit.

The commodification of Mangione’s image extends beyond social media. T-shirts, mugs, and other merchandise featuring his likeness are being sold on e-commerce platforms, trivializing his actions while profiting from the controversy. New cryptocurrency “memecoins” such as $LUIGI have also emerged, turning a deadly act into a speculative financial opportunity.

Psychological Drivers

The NCRI study identifies three key predictors of support for the murder: authoritarian tendencies, heavy social media use, and diminished personal agency. These factors interact in a synergistic way, with social media amplifying authoritarian predispositions and fostering the normalization of violence.

The combination of authoritarianism, an external locus of control, and social media’s amplifying effects appears to be a perfect storm for radicalization. These factors interact in a way that makes violence seem rational and even heroic to those who might otherwise feel marginalized or voiceless.

The interaction between these psychological drivers is particularly pronounced among younger demographics, who are both heavy social media users and more likely to experience anxiety or disillusionment with traditional systems. The NCRI study reveals that among users aged 18-27, those with high authoritarian tendencies and heavy social media use were the most likely to justify violence.

A Call to Action

The NCRI study concludes with a warning:

As digital platforms become arenas for ideological conflict, the consequences extend beyond individual incidents of violence to threaten broader public safety and societal cohesion. This transformation underscores the urgent need for strategies that address the root causes of digital radicalization and mitigate its impacts.

The challenges we face require a comprehensive and collaborative response. No single entity can address the complexities of digital radicalization alone. Policymakers, educators, platforms, and community leaders must work in unison to restore the moral boundaries against violent extremism.

The study concludes:

The spread and scope of justification for murder have significantly eroded what was once the monopoly of fringe communities in supporting violence and glorifying shooters online. This shift underscores the urgency of initiatives aimed at reinforcing the bonds of civic trust and restoring civility. Such efforts are essential not only in countering the tide of extremism but also in fostering a resilient society where dialogue and mutual respect prevail.

==

EDIT: Wow, this managed to attract the murderous psychopaths. I hope you'll be just as understanding when someone kills someone you care about and justifies it in the name of nebulous "systemic" somethingisms.

If there was ever any doubt about Colin's premise, it has been proven by the insanity of those cheering it on in the reblogs.

[echo-occultism-blog]

Pluto - God of Death and Rebirth

Pluto Correspondences

Colours:

Black and Red combined (preferably deep, blood or wine reds)

Weekday:

Tuesday

Element:

Water

Stones and Metals:

Pluto is the Master of the Underworld and everything that is hidden beneath the surface, Metals and Gemstones that are covered with earth and stone are seen as Pluto's gift to humanity, so all ores, metals and gemstones found in nature correspond to Pluto

Zodiac Sign:

Scorpio

Currently in the Sign of:

Capricorn

Astrological:

Suffering, psychological transformation, beginnings and endings of life stages and historical eras and events...

Magical:

Power, malediction, (psychological) transformation, letting go, (spiritual) death and rebirth...

In this article I'm not going to focus on the Roman god Pluto or his Greek counterpart Hades as well as on more scientific detail, since the internet is already full with information about these topics.

Pluto in Astrology

In the case of Pluto he spends different amounts of time in different signs due to its elliptical orbit.

In the moment (meaning from 2008 to 2024) Pluto is in the sign of Capricorn.

These era made the discussion about privilege big and tries to hold up a mirror up to everyone in society aiming to stop oppression.

Pluto is a generational planet, meaning that he spends long periods of time in one sign resulting in ruling over the fate of an entire generation.

Pluto is the planet of hidden motivations, of things that drive us without most of us knowing why.

Societal issues are a thing Capricorn does not understand on a fundamental level and needs to be made aware of rather than a thing Capricorn does make people aware of.

But we must keep in mind that all Pluto in Capricorns are still very very young and therefore couldn't make themselves noticeable yet, so we will only see in the future what changes the Capricorn generation as people will bring with them.

On the other hand we have the two generations that made themselves more than just noticeable:

the loudest in our society today are the Scorpios (1983-1995) also known as millenials and the Sagittariuses (1995-2008) who brought a new era of transperant knowledge with them.

The loudest doesn't mean that they are the ones who hold the most power at the moment but they hold the future so they kinda do.

They shifted the collective consciousness dramatically and will continue to do so.

(Photography can be seen above)

The same book tells us this about Pluto in Capricorn:

(Photography can be seen above)

Which pretty much the opposite happend concerning the end of war and the stability of confederations of states.

But personally I think that either this time period or the Capricorn people themselves will bring a big reality check to the world. It is a Capricorn trait I appreciate and something that everyone needs from time to time, especially applies to the former two Pluto generations.

Scorpio is smart when it comes to resources, but this resourcefulness can easily reach dimensions of "just give some water and bread and I will stay in my room and live in my mind ", Sagittarius is very practical in nature, but can be extremely delusional when it comes to certain things.

No matter in what sign Pluto stands, it always brings huge historical events and of course destruction and downfall of old eras as well as the beginning of new ones, that correspond to the particular sign.

Now let's talk about Pluto in your birthchart, since all of the same age as you share the same Pluto sign, you all share some sort of spirit but the house in which your Pluto stands in plays an important role then it comes to how this spirit plays out and is a far more personal approach.

Most astrology books will tell you that Pluto will bring a great transformation into your live so that you will rise from the ashes and become greater than you were beforehand.

Well the transformation is true and stuff but where do you think the ashes come from?

Like Mars, Pluto is malefic in nature, he won't take your hand and lead you down the path of glory.

Just look at the sign Pluto is ruling:

Scorpio

-the sign of suffering if you will.

It is the sign that can go through the biggest transformations but also the one that oftentimes doesn't live up.to it's potential.

Scorpios (more precisely Scorpios who are more immature) easily go through many cycles of death and resurrection and they are a new person after every of those spiritual 'deaths',

an new person with the same fundamental problems as the person before.

Scorpios can easily play reaper and kill everything that is already dead to them but they are masters in holding on to their suffering, getting caught in a phase of dying that goes low but never hit the lowest point.

Scorpions like to hide beneath rocks, Scorpio people like to hide beneath suffering.

Some Scorpios will deal with the exact same problems, that may have been caused by outside circumstances at one point but long only exists within themselves, for their entire live, "living" like a silent martyr and secretly getting off from their painful holiness. It's a Jesus complex. They like to play this role, dying for the world, constantly carrying it's weight on their shoulders causing a deep emptiness within them. They like it but they never ever will get anywhere near being fulfilled if they continue to play it.

Scorpios need to learn to let go and not only let go but to also move on and act on the physical plane and not only in their minds, they need to kill their old ego completely in order to truly live .

In whatever house Pluto is he will cause trouble.

The transformation part does not mean that you will start out hating everything that house stands for and later on become the perfect embodiment of the house.

Most likely you will grow up with various problems in that areas of your life resulting in traumas you will have to solve later on, on yourself.

Again Pluto is malefic he won't lead you to transformation he will limit you.

A position that is considered standard and easy to achieve for you might be covered with barbed wire and laced with landmines, you might be drawn to that situation because it's so easy to get there or be forced to be in it for some time.

That limitation can make you free later on because you know that the easy path is just pain for you so have to go down your own.

It's up to you to leave the easy way behind and rise above the suffering so you can pursue whatever greatness you're up to.

Pluto in Magic

The existence of the planet was first proven in 1930, so for obvious reasons he isn't mentioned in old works about planetary magic, but nevertheless the motives of death and resurrection always played a big role in former day magic as they still do today.

Nowadays a lot of practitioners chose to work with Pluto's energy. But that all tends to be more personal in the approach since there isn't much knowledge out there so far, so there is a lot left to discover.

His properties are very versatile even though they are often times reduced to the death/rebirth aspect.

Apart from the ones I mentioned at the very beginning for instance he is also good for establishing obsessions as well as getting rid of obsessions....

He also shares a lot of aspects with the planets Mars (especially his warrior energy) and Saturn and can be used instead of those , it just puts another tone on the energy.

When you wanna include something like candles in your workings it's best to combine both colours black for death and red for life.

But keep in mind that Pluto is only used for big workings never for small petty shit, it isn't worth it.

Where Pluto works a massive change takes place.

It's no force you would like to work with everyday.

Again Pluto is everything but benevolent.

And nevertheless the planet of actual physical death.

If you ask Pluto to throw a small jinx at your boss, it will be your luck if he doesn't care and does nothing or he let's the situation end up to be a fatal car accident.

Even without seeking Pluto out actively, his energy is always present when you (need to) go through a massive transformation or shift in consciousness, when you realise that you can go with the flow or in this case the under water current and therefore manifest things more easily into physical reality.

Pluto's Death Philosophy

-The Phoenix Death

Earlier I was speaking about immature and mature Scorpios, Scorpio in fact is the only sign that has seven symbols to it which are:

The spider, the scorpion, the lizard, the serpent, the wolf, the eagle

and THE PHOENIX

in that order, each of them represents a maturity level

The Pluto death is the death of the Phoenix, a being that is oftentimes depicted as bird that can burn itself anytime it wants and rises from its ashes to grow to the same it was before which would rather be the behavior of immature Scorpios.Myths of the Phoenix exist in almost every culture around the globe and their significance never died, however they can get misinterpreted.The Phoenix only burns itself at the end of a lifetime, when there is nothing left for it. He leaves his life behind, everything it was it can be never again, it won't be the same.The bird itself is immortal but its ego dies. It goes up in flames and produces ashes that will be its nurturing ground as it hatches out of its egg again, starting out with nothing.When most people find themselves in a situation there they think a transformation is necessary, they already know what bridge they have to take. They stand at the brick of it knowing what they would leave behind, knowing that they have to leave it behind to get what they want, to become who they want. It's also quite handy to know what you want to become in the first place.But they are scared to walk over the bridge.If you ask Pluto to help you evolve he will do that in his way. He will set everything on fire, including everything behind you and the bridge, but also the side you're wanna get to so you aren't blinded by false expectations.You have to get other the burning bridge and it's your thing to survive, Pluto doesn't care if you live or die he did his job he'll wait for you on the other side once you're done with yours.Spiritual rebirth in real life isn't done with a quick meditation it's process, you have to work for it, you have to get rid of everything you used to be at least for a little while, to start a new life.If you're a Phoenix (I'm referring to everyone not only Scorpios ) you can just stand behind a waterfall safe and sound and watch how your ego struggles and goes up in flames, enjoying its death, but for most people this isn't the case.For most it's a painful journey and no matter what way you go, you will burn.And once you made to the other side of bridge you'll have nothing but ashes.Ash is the purest thing there is.It is a new beginning.Pluto already planted his seeds deep down in the ground, you earned his respect, and if you look closely you can see how they are breaking through the surface.If you nurture them Pluto will help you to grow whatever trees you want.

[ontologic-catgirl]

Yeah I think there is some very interesting points here. Really reminds me of some critiques of stoicism, and Frantz Fanon's critiques of psychology. Which heavily abridged as a proper summary would be both beyond my time and probably means. Is that people come to him and his field would have him try to "fix" them. To make them functional in the world. As a African in the french colony of Martinique and a communist. He was often of the mind how can he ask people to be functional(particularly in senses of being able to navigate the world and speak its "language" aka be able to get jobs portray aspects of whiteness and such) When the world was killing them causing them to suffer and dehumanizing them. When the world was so wrong so broken that the person upon whom the colonial violence was inflicted was incapable of relating to the world without great friction against the oppressive society, or great violence against themselves to be functional.

The politics of the situation have hijacked the means of relation to the world to such a degree that he saw very little way to engage in the world except through despair and anger. That this couldn't be fixed internally that the only way forward was to change the system through any means possible. To which in many regards fair, I come at this from a angle of queerness rather then from colonial violence. But if people are willing to attack define the narrative of and control aspects of me like my transness and indeed people i relate to are killed silenced and inflected violence upon constantly. It becomes a very difficult question on how to be a happy person. I have to hide core aspects of myself to be successful, lest i am banned from talking, have my wages cut, forced into poverty and then because of poverty forced to focus on survival rather then actualization. In one sense I have been offered a choice of being authentic, or being capable. Of course this is an example and there are many grey zones but using this example it then becomes argument able that you should drop everything risk everything do anything you can to make things better, become a martyr. This is not a path to a long life Frantz Fanon only lived 36 years himself. Going back towards the Grey zones though how do I change anything when even trying to be something risks everything? Its a hard question. Sometimes when you ask that question you are to tired to change things, to broken to find happiness to sad to be better. And yet you are still alive you've not committed suicide? Why people don't commit suicide is one that existentialists spend a lot of time on. The tradition came out of world war 2 which fair enough depression rates where high. Camu another existentialist thought a lot about why we dont commit suicide and what this shows us about living. Ultimately concluding that suicide is the rejection of the freedom to change anything, that even if the world is broken even if you are to weak to tired to fix it, even if you yourself are causing your own problems. To kill yourself is to remove yourself from the equation to make it all nothing. Conversely every moment spent living was something a choice that you made and indeed if anything was to get better the only option is to make choices. This philosophy I think fits very well with what the games argues from such lines as,

"No. This is somewhere to be. This is all you have, but it's still something. Streets and sodium lights. The sky, the world. You're still alive."

— Volition Spoken after looking at a map and in response towards Harry's suspicion of the meaningless of it all. Yes it is meaningless but it still is and that's worth something.

"That we continue to persist at all is a testament to our faith in one another."

— You This ones fun because it is faith, not a a rationale conviction not something you have reason to believe but that you have faith in each other that something can be done even if by all rights all of you should be keeled over from the pain and indeed many of the people in REVACHOLIÈRE are keeled over form the pain. Steban: The theorists Puncher and Wattmann — not infra-materialists, but theorists nonetheless — say that communism is a secular version of Perikarnassian theology, that it replaces faith in the divine with faith in humanity's future... I have to say, I've never *entirely* understood what they mean, but I think maybe the answer is in there, somewhere. You: Wait, you're saying communism is some kind of religion? Steban: Only in this very specific sense. Communism doesn't dangle any promises of eternal bliss or reward. The only promise it offers is that the future can be better than the past, if we're willing to work and fight and die for it. You: But what if humanity keeps letting us down? Steban: Nobody said fulfilling the proletariat's historic role would be easy. (he smiles a tight smile) It demands great faith with no promise of tangible reward. But that doesn't mean we can simply give up. You: Even when they ignore us? Steban: Even then. Ulixes: Mazov says it's the arrogance of capital that will be its ultimate undoing. It does not believe it can fail, which is why it must fail. Volition: So young. So *unbearably* young... Half Light: Why do you see the two of them with their backs against a bullet-pocked wall, all of a sudden? Inland Empire: Their faces, blurred yet frozen as though in ambrotype. You were never *that young*, were you? Steban: I guess you could say we believe it *because it's impossible*. (he looks at the scattered matchboxes on the ground) It's our way of saying we refuse to accept that the world has to remain... like this... Speaking of faith here is someone in universe making an argument for why you should have faith. In response to the critique that it is impossible to make the world better that it is impossible to do something meaningful. That the arguments based in faith not reality are enough to move people to bind the wound to be meaning. And I think this is one of the core arguments of the game. That the world is to broken to be fixed on rationality this way that you need faith in each other to do anything to bind the wound and such activities are meaningful. And it is a argument I think has worth especially when you are really down on your luck there is worth in finding beauty in the meaningless.

Conclusion: Regardless I mostly actually agree with you? Red skin White masks is a book that riffs on Frantz Fanon's work this time focusing on native americans in Canada and to me read as much more actionable then Black Skin White Masks, We know the devil is a game that focuses on many of the same ideas of how to find meaning in the world that hurts so much, but its true ending is one in where the faith in each other does something. I personally think that while the tools on holding on with every strength in your fingers if only so you can see how hard you held that Disco Elysium argues doesn't get you the whole way because sometimes you are in a position to actually do something. But I would say sometimes you aren't and the philosophy to hold on when you cant climb out of the pit is what Disco Elysium is arguing and I think its a good representation of that argument. SOURCES FROM PEOPLE SMARTER THEN ME: Black Skin, White Masks Frantz Fanon Red Skin, White Masks Glen Coulthard -Above two cover some of the ideas around changing the world that are relevent to Disco Elysium American Gods Neil Gaiman The Night Birds Feather Jenna Katerin Moran -Fiction books that offer some of of the best insight into Identity and how it shapes and is shaped by the world around you also 10/10 books i highly recommend everyone read them on their own merits :D Kino's Journey: Amazing anime that covers many of the same ideas as Disco Elysium, its tagline being "the world is not beautiful therefore it is" Philosphy Tube on Stoicism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSvKNNtkUSU&t=1431s Presents a good thoughts on philosophy of changing the world, as opposed to philosophy of changing the relationship to the world Heaven will be mine -Luna terra route, memorial foundation ending The memorial foundation ending presents a wonderful argument for the faith in each other as faith and not reason, while the other endings present arguments against such a thing that really make this game a good overview of arguments about how to exist in a hard world https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeU57voLjKE

The above two songs provide some good idea's on narratives around people just holding on which reinforce Disco Elysium's start point as when you are to tired to make it work.

Here's a few thoughts i have about Disco Elysium and it's lack of philosophical approach towards Harry's experiences. (Not to mistake it with psychology. There is plenty of that in Disco and the characters and ideologies are pulled apart in many fun ways.)

Explanation below the cut, so it's not a long-ass post.

So, Harry is very much suffering. He says "I am in pain. I have no idea how to get better, I'm about to fucking give up." What he gets as response, from his own mind and other people, is things like: "Get your shit together. You have to go through this hell. It will be awful, depressing and boring. Forget her. Stay strong, don't give up, you will eventually feel better. This is how normal people live. Do it for the (...)." This is encouragement. What it does is it keeps him on his feet and helps him move forward. But it's the only type of response he ever gets. What it doesn't do is challenge how he experiences his life in the first place. There is not a single sentence, a thought, any kind of spark in the game that would begin some sort of reform within him. He's the same sad, old Harry utill the end. The rest is accessories.

Beyond that, the gameplay is screaming at you: SEIZE THE MOMENT! There is so much work put into describing things happening around Harry. And so much fondness towards that world. But it's just there, next to him and his pain. Beautiful and worth living for, but it's not used to reveal anything that would inspire him to change. Something about humanity, the meaning of his suffering, maybe a hint about that hole in the world. Yknow, philosophical stuff. Even the miracle of the story, the phasmid, answers Harry's most existential question with "I don’t know, nobody knows." It's not there to guide him away from the vicious circle he's stuck in. It's more like a pat on the back. "Look, something incredible happened today! Life can be great sometimes." Here are a few statements meant by the game to be impactful: "Something beautiful is going to happen", "The night is always darkest before the dawn", "One day, i will return to your side", "The road to healing is going to be a long one. You will make it, some day." They sound like coping mechanism. They are motivational, hopeful, but don't speak about reality. "I'm suffering RIGHT NOW. The world and my head are still fucking broken. Heelp!" Harry cries out. "Hope for a better future. Go for a run. Focus on your job, get a hobby, take your mind off the pain." Try to be happier while remaining the same. Switch alcohol and drugs for non destructive activities to help you endure through that persisting pain. Look out of the window each morning, wait for that special thing to happen. And when it happens? The core stays unmoved. You don't even know what it is about you, where lies the first mistake. You learned nothing new about yourself.

I think all of this fits with the creators' views, which are sparsely hinted at throughout the game. "God is indifferent. This is our curse", "The world is inherently meaningless", "True love is possible in the next world, for new people, it's too late for us." Maybe that's why the game didn't allow Harry to change, because it doesn't believe there is anything out there that could help him. He's a human, therefore he has no choice but to think and suffer exactly the way he does. So yeah, that's my thoughts on it. Feel free to comment, disagree and enlighten me if you think i'm wrong. I'm always open to change my mind.

[sunbutter-fem]

FYI, I tagged that because you implied that I had it. We all have it to some degree, no?

I'm not saying that being a lesbian makes me incapable of projecting internalized misogyny. I've seen and heard others do it all the time. It's that a lot of people think of lesbians as being similar to men (or non-women by default) and that they hate women like men do because they're attracted to women.

And, on another note, I really wish you hadn't brought up TERFs just because I brought up being a lesbian. I'm QUITE familiar with TERFs. Are you seriously implying I'm a TERF, though, right now? Like, yes, TERFS tend to also be SWERFs, but they're not TERFs because they hate men: They're TERFs because they hate trans women.

I'm really sorry to hear about the treatment you've received. None of that is justified, and I can empathize with your pain. Similar things have been said to me. Honestly, you've been the nicest to me out of everyone on this post, and I think we have much more in common than not. I want you to know that I don't hate you. I just wasn't about to take your comments seriously after dealing with so much misogyny on this post and having people tell me I can't dislike men or else it's oppression.

About using "men are trash" as an excuse for all that other bigotry: Yes, it happens. I've seen white women justify being antiblack under the guise of distrusting men. I've seen straight women using their distrust of men to be homophobic and lesbophobic. I've seen neurotypical women paint nuerodivergent women as "women with male brains. " On and on ad nauseum.

What I don't understand, however, is why it's okay to drag a woman who says she hates men. Is a POC who says they hate white people displaying internalized racism? If a disabled person says they hate able-bodied people, is that internalized ableism? Are these people saying these things as excuses to be bigots towards others just like them?

I've had to unpack so much internalized misogyny because of my own mother. I've helped her unpack her own now that I'm older and she takes me more seriously. I understand that you're hurt and that you've been hurt by other women. I have as well. It's not a fun experience. I know of the women you talk about, and I have been affected greatly by them, too.

How can you be upset with me for expressing frustration with men, though? I don't feel like expressing said frustration is inherently a bad thing. It's not as though I go around murdering random men the way men have done to women because of my trauma with them. I'm not advocating for mass sterilization and eugenics. I have a hard time investing trust in men because they've constantly let me down. Their actions won't align with their words, or they expressed that I could trust them and then violated boundaries, etc.

Are there men doing good things? Yes. Do men deserve happy lives? Yes. Is it possible to have fulfilling relationships with men that aren't riddled with mistreatment? Yes. Do I still feel as though I'm allowed to express my frustration with them? Yes, and I don't care to be tone-policed. Sometimes women bond over their distrust of men. Is that wrong? About as wrong as it would be for Indigenous folks to bond over their distrust of settlers: Not wrong at all.

I tend to distrust white women, though, because our understandings of misogyny tend to clash. My understanding of the lost balance between men, women, and other genders has to do with colonialism. My ancestors were raised in Matriarchies in which women had considerable control over their lives and weren't micromanaged and murdered by settler states that brought with them an overwhelmingly white, patriarchal mindset into their realities. Sadly, a lot of Indigenous men now take part in that colonial patriarchy, and decolonization (or Indigenization) is what can help restore balance. I live in a world where men who were meant to be my brothers are now people who might disproportionately disrespect, humiliate, r*pe, and murder me for the smallest reasons. In many of my experiences and that of others, simply for existing.

Yes, women can hurt and betray me, too, and it wouldn't necessarily be any less horrible than if a man were doing it, but men have the historical precedent of colonial patriarchy behind them, and it adds a certain dimension to the experience. Women don't oppress women for being women; they can exercise lateral violence against each other, though, and oftentimes there's a special kind of hurt where solidarity could have been.

So, from one sapphic WOC to another: Even if you don't agree with my tone or how I conceptualize my own place in social hierarchies, I'm sure you can understand where I'm coming from.

Guess I'm a sexist c*nt because I say "men are trash" unironically. /S

Misandry... is not institutionalized or systemic oppression. Women don't hold power over men.