#abyssal chic

[seokljin]

looking like the hottest lesbian 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩💔

[sooyun-ichtama]

{ credits } +ABYSSAL+ WINTER GLITTER 3D BODY SHINE- Adora-tions - BFF Heart Ribcage Tattoo Ascendant - Bade Jacket&Pants | tres chic [Belantti] Essentials Set eerie . Toofy Choker - White [for 7days sale] Le Forme Bento Nails M01 Sweet [LEGACY] Meshbody (f) Special Edition LeLUTKA Raven Head MOVEMENT- Luxury mini tote - PINK | tres chic MUDSKIN - Ravy - A - SNOW polar<3bunny. moles & blush. moles 1 Stardust - Amore Eyes | n21 TROPIX // Private Access Backdrop 02 TRUTH Collective / Jaya | access

flickr | instagram

[prskcostumes]

Card Costume Directory (Year Four, First Half)

All event cards are placed under their own tag to be grouped together properly, but this list is to help people find the exact costume they might be looking for. The list is in order of release. This post goes from after the 3rd anniversay event (BURN MY SOUL) until the 3.5 anniversary event (Rise as ONE!).

BURN MY SOUL - FLAME OF ENDEAVOR - HOT AIR GIRL - SPARK SPARKLE

Stick to your faith - Resound Sky - Beyond Cloud - Warm Sunshine

The Warmth That Guides Us - Melancholic Modern Girl - Nostalgia Modern Girl - Sentimental Modern Girl

Searching for a Reflection Beneath the Waters - Twilight Embrace - Twilight Seek - Twilight Draw - Twilight Reflect

A Story Where You Are The Star - The Phantasmagoria - Transition Gentleman - Spiral Lady

The Best Picture Wrap! - Hardworking☆Patissier - Fighting Chef - Dreaming Pastry Chef

Sanrio Collab - Apple Picnic Coordination - Relaxing Coordination - Lots of Ribbons & Strawberries Dress - Strolling Cardigan Style - Soft & Fluffy Maid Dress - Stylish Girly Dress

Over Here! Over There! Zookeeper Experience! - Fluffy Police - Fuzzy Police - Striped Police

The Tone Played on That Day - Sailor of Yearning - Sailor of Deep Sorrow - Sailor of Incitement

Colorful Festival - Dreams in Bloom Knitted Style - The Garden's Beautiful Pale-Colored Flowers Style

Next to the Unchanging Warmth - Japanese Style Lolita Fashion - Japanese Style Rock Fashion - Japanese Style Elegant Fashion

BREAK DOWN THE WALL - Lit vivid - Smashing vivid - Fleek vivid - Awesome vivid

Backlight Lens Flare - Intruder:R - Hacker:N - Observer:R

Take the Best Shot! - Devilish Sweet Chocolate - Pure & Elegant Milk Chocolate - Mature & Chic Dark Chocolate

The Courage to Lead, the Kindness in My Heart - General Commander - Aid Uniform - Colonel Uniform

The Scars Left Behind, With Time - SUNNY magician - RAINY magician - CLOUDY magician

Relax Teatime - Fleeting Light Knight Attire - Illuminated Courtyard Knight Attire - Abyss Knight Attire

Keep It Steady, Let's Aim for the Star! - King of Spades - Queen of Diamonds - Queen of Hearts - King of Clubs

The first concerto - Color the past - Cherish regret - Love suffering

Colorful Festival - Come to Life - Kind Brother - Pretty Lady

Rise as ONE! - Naughty Dog - Soothing Dog - Gentle Dog

[murmel-malt]

Six Sentence Sunday

Post six sentences of your WIP!

From my ever-growing Baldur's Gate 3/Dragon Age: Inquisition crossover, starring my Tav Juniper:

Finally, she reaches the outskirts of something - a crater? The jagged rocks have been flattened into a rough plain with only one large structure further in. Black mist swirls around the uneven ground, obscuring large patches in pitch black. Juniper carefully avoids them. There might be solid ground beneath or a bottomless abyss; she does not take any chances. As she nears the center of whatever explosion has razed this area, the mist grows thicker and the floating rocks that pass by the source of the green light above her, further obscure her view with their deep shadows.

tagging: @nusaran, @selfproclaimedunicorn, @godswood-girl, @chic-beyond-the-wall-oc-acct

Thanks to @emilykaldwen for tagging me! 💕

[omg-im-such-a-masochist]

soo i had this dream where jay was like a sex demon and i just thought of your one shots so this maybe a good idea? idk

I love incubus so…Incubus!Jay in tha house 😮‍💨

Tag: @theworldofotps , @writtingrose , @letsgivethisonemoreshot , @aerynscrichton , @daddyhausen , @damnnhausen , @unoficialy-married-to-ace-austin , @sophiewolfheart-blog , @sultryfandoms , @new-zealand-chic , @crowleysqueenofhell , @thealliasylum , @legit9thlunaticwarrior , @baysexuality , @josiewrites , @seeingstarks , @sldghmmr , @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch , @whenimakeitshine1234 , @blaquekittycat

In moments like this, you came to regret your curious nature of delving into the occult.

The darkness made you aware it was still nighttime, and the lack of furniture purposefully made you lose the complete sense of time, space, and reality.

The only concrete thing between that abyss of consciousness and unconsciousness was the large and round crimson bed, its matching velvet pillows, and of course him.

Darkness engulfed you. There was no ceiling, floors, or walls. Everything was a big, black pit of nothingness.

His gray eyes seemed to gleam in contrast with the dark, and his pearly white teeth resembled sharp fangs the closer he got to you in bed.

He pressed his knee down on the mattress between your legs as he leaned forward, supporting his weight on his arms and forcing you to lay back down on the bed.

His strong body hovered above you. A toothy grin displayed how amused he was with you.

You gathered some courage from the depths of your being, at least enough to ask: “Where am I, and who are you?”

The young man took a deep breath in, taking in the fragrance of your shampoo: “Red and green apples, cinnamon… with a hint of floral and sandalwood” His grin grew wider as he continued: “And of course, fear. The most delicious scent of them all. And you, my dear honeybee, have plenty of that”.

His tongue left a wet trail from your chin to your lips, and a low moan rumbled in his throat, “So much so that I can even taste it on your lovely skin”

Your breath quickened, and you tried your best to keep calm, at least as much as the current situation allowed you to “You didn’t answer my question”, was your brief statement before a short chuckle left his lips. The small action caused his chiseled chest to brush against your braless breasts, instantly hardening your nipples “You’re trying so hard to be tough, aren’t you, little bee? It’s kinda cute, actually…makes me wonder how long it will take me to break you”. His finger circled the hardened peak through your thin black tank top.

“You got some lovely tits, there. I’ll love to play with them”, two fingers pinched the engorged flesh, making a small whimper leave your lips.

The delicate sound made him smile wide. “You look like a newbie at this, so let me quickly explain what we’ll do”. His rough palm covered your mouth to prevent you from asking anything else, and so he continued:

"I'll take these lovely tits, these cute lips, that pretty little pussy, and that plump ass, and I'm gonna use it all as my little private toy collection".

His words, although crude and explicit, still managed to excite you. Internally you wished for him to do the most gruesome things to you. Things that would make your devoted religious family send Father David your way in no time.

"I'm gonna ruin you in ways you never thought it'd be possible. I'll leave you drowning in pools of your own cum, so desperate to have more, and more, and more of my cock that you'll never want to fuck any other man". His lips pressed a soft kiss on the outer corner of your eye, making you reach up to feel more of his lips.

"Once you have me, my cock, my tongue, and my fingers, you'll never be able to satisfy with no one else. You'll belong to me and only me, do you understand that, honeybee?"

You quickly nodded while reaching up to curl your fingers around his light brown hair. "Yes, sir", was your muffled response underneath his palm.

"That's right, little one, start to train that sentence because you'll say that a lot tonight".

[dropout-if]

Note written as a reminder: Wanda

From this ask game!

Hey W,

Remember, you promised yourself that you’d conquer that mountain of laundry today. Yeah, that one that’s become a part of the furniture but not in a chic way. It’s time to say goodbye to the clothes avalanche!

Put on your superhero cape (or just your comfiest sweatpants) and dive in. And hey, don’t forget to rescue that missing sock from the abyss – it’s been living its own adventure down there.

After this heroic feat, treat yourself to a victory dance party. You’ve earned it, laundry warrior!

I think Gabi’s superhero obsession is getting to me...

Love,

Your Super Motivated Self💚

[blueskyscraperi]

Every time I pass by the house you lived in when we were kids

Every time I pass by the house you lived in when we were kids, 

I think about you.

Your obsession with fairies

which matched mine,

of if you're still there

in a room with ceiling full of fluorescent stars we put up together

- or not.

Every time I pass by the house you lived in when we were kids, 

I think of Legally Blond.

How there was a chic lawyer with heels on your paper

when the teacher asked us to draw our future for her.

How you never fought for it 

like I did just because I copied your picture.

Every time I pass by the house you lived in when we were kids, 

I think about the last time we spoke on the phone

About how you said you'd really like to see me

And then it didn't work out,

how we agreed to catch up later

and never did. 

Every time I pass by the house you lived in when we were kids, 

I think about how it probably was jealousy

that made that abyss rip bridges between us

just because you tasted his love

when it was me who saw him first.

Every time I pass by the house you lived in when we were kids,  

I think of the shock I felt

meeting Anna, our classmate, at the shop recently,

having her say 

that your kid goes to second grade with her nephew.

Every time I pass by the house you lived in when we were kids,  

I think of ringing the bell.

But I never do.

I feel ashamed

for every emotion I held towards you (except the love I could never switch off)

when I judged you

instead of being your friend.

by @blueskyscraperi

[forestgames03]

70+ CC HAUL WITH LINKS 🌿 The Sims 4: Must-Have Maxis Match CC! 🌿🔆

HAIR

1. regina

2. alfalfa braids

3. hibiscus bob

4. sabrina met

5. buffy homecoming

6. larsa

7. brat hair

8. monique

9. sabrina tour

10. sabrina city

11. karen

HAT

12. sachiko fuzzy hat

MAKEUP

13. lipstick 198 gravity

14. lipstick 199 zea

15. petals blush

16. eyeliner n111 invictus

17. ink’d collection

18. floating eyeliner

19. eyeliner n32

20. north eyeliner

21. prism eyeshadow

22. eyebrows glitter

23. softglam eyeshadow

24. petals eyeshadow

25. petals eyeshadow v2

NECKLACES

26. pearl necklace

27. necklace nords

EARRINGS

28. ultimate earring collection

TOPS

29. sp34 shirtbow

30. ep13 knit polo

31. skylight taylor tank

32. protein shake top

33. future self top

34. lelia blouse

35. mercy shirt

36. daisy cropped top

37. rainy day sweater

38. lovestruck top

39. alter ego top

40. vision sweater

41. aether top

42. nighttime sweater

43. rush top

44. alessi top

45. love bomb lingerie

BOTTOMS

46. wonder denim mini skirt

47. jeans Margaret

48. trousers sherry

49. flare jeans

50. blue blood jeans low waist

51. solshark short leggings

52. cameron pants

DRESS

53. amelia dress

54. Friday

55. simblreen 2021 dress

56. daisy dress

57. dina dress

SHOES

58. blackout chunky platform

59. abyss boots

60. journey sandals

61. grunge revamp skater shoes

62. blake loafers

63. charged shoes

64. rush hour platform boots

65. switch platform heels

66. teddy bear slippers

67. antifragile boots

SOCKS + TIGHTS

68 + 69. peak performance socks

70. floral sheer socks 01

71. downtown chic tights

72. sp34 tights

ACCESSORIES

73. chain belts

74. circles belt

75. piper waist chain

76. jolie watch

77. all night long watches

TATTOOS

78. tattoo scarab

79. caroline tattoo

🌿 please consider supporting me here!

↓ download ↓

(patreon)

[corrodedcoughin]

hi sorry I got tagged in this while I was away by the every lovely @breadbirdlives @cheatghost @kermitsleftnipple . thank you!! I love tag games so v big thank you

game: pick a song for each letter of your url and tag some people.

so i didn't go with what i'm currently listening to, I just picked three old playlist and typed the letter in and picked the first song that came up, excuse the non-theme of it all and I promise my taste has expanded since this

c car song - the cat empire

o only the good die young - billy joel

r rain - the cult

r rumour of a good life - toby johnson

o lorna shore - of the abyss

d dirty love - thunder

e every1's a winner - gun

d death rattle - night flight

c chic tweetz - desert sessions

o ode to billie joe - bobbie gentry

u underdog - kasabian

g give it to me - northern boys

h houseplants - squid

i i think i'm going to kill myself - elton john

n night walking - lazarus rising

I’m tagging @djosephqueery @chocopoo @stargyles @metal-dads @scoops-stevie @whisper-fool @stevebabey @sharpbutsoft @yournowheregirl if you want but no obligation EVER

[alteredstatesstuff]

"Discovering Cool Trends: Unleash Your Inner Trendsetter!"

Greetings, my fellow trend seekers! This article unveils the hidden gems of discovering new trends in your field or industry. Prepare to be introduced to unconventional tools and ingenious methods that will revolutionize your trend-spotting game. Whether you're a fashion guru, a tech aficionado, or simply yearn to stay ahead of the curve, fear not! We have you covered.

Let's unleash your dormant trendsetter spirit and embark on an exhilarating journey to unravel the secrets of unearthing the coolest trends!

Embrace the Whisper Network: Cast your mind back to those playground days when whispers traveled faster than the speed of light. Unleash that childhood skill and tune in to what people are murmuring about. Amidst those hushed conversations lies a treasure trove of juicy tidbits, revealing the latest trends. Just beware of sifting through tales of Mrs. Jenkins' peculiar cat obsession. Our focus is purely on the chic and trendy!

Unveil the Mysteries of the Digital Realm: Ah, the boundless wonders of social media await! Venture forth, donning your virtual detective hat, and dive into the infinite abyss of your favorite platforms. From Instagram's visual extravaganza to TikTok's infectious dance routines, and Twitter's lively chatter, these digital havens hold the key to unlocking the essence of what's "in" right now.

Magazines: Your Trusty Trend Navigator: While some may consider magazines as relics of the past, they wield an unyielding power in the realm of trend-spotting. Delve into the glossy pages of fashion-forward magazines and captivating lifestyle publications. Let them be your faithful companion, guiding you through the ever-evolving tapestry of trends. Just remember to keep your focus intact amidst the bewitching allure of those enigmatic model gazes. Stay strong, my friend!

Serendipitous Wanderings: Have you ever embarked on a whimsical journey through the window displays of bustling shopping districts? Prepare to be captivated! Take leisurely strides through enchanting malls or embark on virtual escapades through online stores. Remain vigilant, for you never know when an extraordinary revelation awaits. It may manifest as a captivating design or an extraordinary creation that bewitches your senses. Trust your instincts, and behold the concealed treasures of trendsetting.

Seek Wisdom from the Vanguard: Recall those individuals from your school days who possessed an unparalleled understanding of what was hip and happening? Fear not, for they have gracefully aged alongside us. Venture forth and seek the counsel of trendsetters within your social circles. Approach your stylish confidant, your tech-savvy cousin, or even your delightfully eccentric neighbor. Allow their wisdom to illuminate your path and introduce you to the awe-inspiring wonders that lie within the realm of cutting-edge coolness. And who knows? You might even gain some bonus points for expressing genuine interest in their expertise!

My esteemed trailblazer! You have now acquired the art of uncovering new trends while reveling in the thrill of discovery. Remember, trend-spotting is an adventure without predefined rules. Embrace your insatiable curiosity, keep an open mind, and let the trends guide you toward uncharted horizons of excitement. Now, go forth with confidence, radiate those effortlessly trendy vibes, and prepare to astound the world with your extraordinary trendsetting prowess!

[faytalepsy]

Andylind + Wedding AU

This got longer than anticipated and is far from what you would imagine from a Wedding AU but welllllll...Andylind takes my mind to weird places.

Hope you like it Anne!!

(under the cut only because it's long....not because it's explicit...because it isn't)

"Will you stop that!"

His hands went still, the fabric of his jacket that he had been fiddling with slipping from his fingers at the steely voice of his general.

As always she was the picture of bored disinterest, her eyes focused on the phone in her hand. Just another day.

He shifted in his seat, the wound where Sauls's sword had pierced his torso still aching with every move he made. At least today's plans spared him from the endless replays of the moment his life had been irrevocably smashed. Not that Rosalind batted even one lash at the fact that they were tumbling down into an abyss and he couldn't spot the lifeline she promised. Still, he followed her whether it be into battle or to the dusty town hall of some backwater First World town.

The residents had probably never seen a pair so out of place in the waiting area of the wedding officiant's office.

In his military gear bar the sword and daggers he looked like a soldier tying the knot before leaving for war when in truth it was the exact opposite. He had been to war. And he had lost bitterly. Or opened a new window of opportunity according to the unperturbed woman next to him.

Rosalind looked impeccable as always, her ashen hair swept back into a plain braid. But her simple grey suit set her apart from the other waiting brides all in some manner of dress or chic suit combination. If that plus their slightly obvious age gap hadn't been enough to stir irritation, her demeanour earned them a lot of cross looks from the giggly couples around them.

He flexed his hands, watching as a blushing bride admonished her husband for ruining her make-up with the many kisses he tried to pepper to her cheek. He was inclined to frown at them but swallowed his bitterness.

Rosalind would never let him kiss her in public, not even on the day of their wedding.

Not able to stand the tense silence any longer he swallowed the knot in his throat.

"Are you sure this will work?"

Her eyes flickered up briefly before settling back on the device in her hands. "You have doubts?"

"No, I just-"

"It will work." Still fully focused on her phone her voice dropped to a whisper.

"They will incapacitate me. All my possessions go to my husband as stated in my will. Regular proceeding."

It was beyond him how Rosalind managed to make something this outrageous sound like a bored remark on the weather. He swallowed, his throat as dry as parchment.

"Who says she won't kill you."

The question had been burning in his mind, leaving him sleepless and restless. It felt so wrong, so incredibly precipitous to bet everything they had on that simple card. And if it were anyone but Rosalind he would call them crazy.

"She won't." Her finger stopped, hovering just millimetres over the screen, her following words more of an afterthought.

"And if she does you know what to do."

The prospect that even Rosalind with all her scheming had just a sliver of doubt in her plan had him move before he could comprehend what he was doing.

He gripped her arm and finally, her head snapped up. Brows furrowing she felt her gaze take him in, fully and completely. She had always been able to brush every layer of his armour away like dusty cobwebs, baring him in a way no one else could. Exposing his fears.

They could still change their minds. Run away from the madness. As soon as the thought crossed his mind it dissolved. Staring into her grey eyes hardened with that familiar determination that some might say bordered on obsession left no doubts. Rosalind would never run.

Her gaze travelled over his face from his brows to the beard he had trimmed too much for his liking to better fit the identity she had made up for him. She leaned in slightly, her voice but a whisper.

"No matter how hard I tried to change it, Farah is soft. We both know that."

"What about Saul?" The name alone left a shale taste on his tongue. "He won't forgive you and he is not above shedding a few drops of blood." That fact was a thorn deeply wedged between his ribs. Rosalind's eyes narrowed slightly.

"He will heed her word like the lapdog he is. We've gone through this."

they had indeed. More times than he could count. He softened his grip on her arm, letting his fingers slide over the fabric until it gave way to the warm skin of her hand. It was delicate, dwarfed by his own and still held so much power. Cupping all that potential he gently squeezed making a promise he didn't dare voice.

And Rosalind let him. He felt her fingers interlace with his own with a rare gentleness. Her other hand finally lowered the phone to her lap. Lips forming a small smile her voice carried the dry note he came to associate with her lighter moods as she spoke again.

"Even if you don't get a hefty life insurance as soon as I'm gone you can at least look forward to the compensation."

He snorted. "Doubt the benefits for widowers apply to ghosts."

"David Langdon is no ghost."

He grimaced at the shitty alias she had chosen for him. Apparently the only fake identity she was able to acquire.

The soft click of the door prevented him from voicing his complaint. A bespectacled clerk with light brown hair checked his notepad before calling out the next name.

"Hale."

All eyes were trained on them as Rosalind rose with that honed sense of purpose he could only follow. He trailed the officiant and his general into the First World office, ignoring the whispers that rose in their wake.

No matter what rumours they made up in their minds, nobody would ever guess the true reason that the dead man and doomed war general tied their knots today.

If he was honest, Andreas himself couldn't quite believe it.

[voidic3ntity]

beyond the abyss of blackness, the great unchanging vastness, engaging within such structured rearrangement, maze of mind, burrowed under the brow of rising dissatisfaction, an iris breaks: opal starlight, sprawling rivers, the placid placental compassion, beginning again, within the waxing & the waning of an essence, such tranquil stillness, so invisible & indivisible, the unified aura, born forth from form to form, the disintegration of our sacrifice, ritualism & deification, such ill-tempered endless arrangement, diamond shaped opal, casts forth from the light of an essence, waning séance, opaline chic, the misrepresentation of pure air, so elemental in silent stasis, so be swallowed whole by aether; we're bastardized stardust, the hermaphroditic formlessness, our own baalic unfoldment, phallic involvement, aura of gold.

[sincerelypoet]

Poised Little Butterfly ♡

Trigger Warning: Anorexia!

Poised little butterfly, sat across the room. Her ribs stick out like wings, each bone as precious as china plates, the skin suffocating between her bones, creating her perfection. Heroin chic, they call it.

The purple shade to her elegant wings tell a story of how she became to be free, to be lighter than the thin sheets of fabric that hung off her pointed hips and sharp shoulder blades.

Her collarbone looks as if it has been precisely carved by a carpenter, her skin chipping like splints of wood.

She is a small figurine, her touch colder than a midnight’s breeze in the Sahara, and her skin yellowed with an insufficiency of blood, because why would this butterfly need blood? She tells herself that a creature of such beauty to have this necessity is a self taught lie, and the wants become superior.

Superiority becomes an idol, and she’s a slave, walking into an abyss.

Sincerely, ♡

[viciousgold]

a post season/book 3 marisa is just so different from season/book 1 marisa and like I know that's an obvious statement, I just wanna talk about like, how different she is

for starters, we have the way she holds herself appearance wise, in season/book 1 we have absolute chic couture perfection

and like, in an au like the au @mrscoultxr and I are doing, marisa will still dress up like this for events and major things but for the most part, she's gained so much perspective and been through so much that like, she still looks lovely and presentable and beautiful, but she by no means tries so hard and worries so much about not having a hair out of place. all of the events over seasons/books 2 and 3 gave her such different perspectives and priorities. not just that but also trauma, never knowing when she might have to go back into pure survival fight or flight mode, and with this she's both in some ways way more laid back than her previous self while in different ways being way more on edge.

personality wise, choices wise, she is still in part survival mode, part grateful to be alive, part both a shell of her former self and an improvement of her former self. she doesn't seek to harm people, and she's lost her taste for ambition, broken by everything and quite frankly exhausted. but she does still seek purpose, and it's why in our au, she claims helping the alternate version of herself as her purpose, so that maybe she and her lyra can have a better chance at having a better outcome than her own. she feels longing for her daughter but has also accepted that her lyra is almost definitely forever gone to her now.

she questions why she's even still alive, thinking herself undeserving of it, though her attempts to help the alternate marisa, however successful or unsuccessful the attempts are, at least give her some sense of reason for still existing. she has so much uncertainty and fear now, severely lessened is her cocky confidence, she worries about lyra and if she's safe and happy, she even worries about asriel, wondering if he too escaped the abyss somehow or if he's still there, falling for all of eternity.

her confidence and sureness remains, however, when interacting with others in this alternate world, especially so since she knows how these events play out for the most part, though she still has a modicum of doubt in every decision she makes in trying to help. all she can do is make what decision she thinks is right at the time, and hope that it isn't the wrong one.

with her different perspective now, she does now see her previous work with the magisterium as horrible, and she immensely regrets it. her biggest sadness in being alive in this alternate world was that she hadn't been here in time to stop the other marisa from creating intercision. her once guiltless nature was torn from her, no longer able to be in denial of all her wrong-doings. she sees them and herself for what they are now, and she's trying to both be better and to make up for it, while trying to help the alternate marisa do the same. not just that, but to hopefully prevent her from making anymore devastating mistakes that she made from this point forward. this is not only her purpose, it's also her penance, she decides.

[so-true-overdue]

The Era of Perpetual Doomscrolling: Why You’re Miserable Despite Living in a Golden Age

Catastrophe is chic. That’s the secret sauce of modern society: the world is, by virtually every measurable metric, improving, yet the prevailing sentiment is that we are spiraling toward the apocalypse. Infant mortality rates have plummeted, global poverty has nosedived, and life expectancy is higher than ever—but, sure, let’s all agree that things are worse than they’ve ever been. After all, nothing says "intellectual cachet" like lamenting the state of humanity over a $7 latte.

The truth, however inconvenient, is that negativity sells. News outlets, social media algorithms, and even your self-proclaimed “realist” friend thrive on feeding you an unrelenting buffet of despair. And why wouldn’t they? Disaster is riveting. It’s far easier to wring your hands over an economic downturn or a political scandal than to appreciate the subtle, almost boring, triumph of humanity systematically eradicating diseases that wiped out entire civilizations not so long ago. Who wants to hear about how the global literacy rate has climbed to unprecedented heights when there’s a viral video of a fire tornado?

But here’s the kicker: your predilection for pessimism isn’t just encouraged; it’s rewarded. There's a certain je ne sais quoi in being the person at the dinner party who grimly announces that society is on the brink of collapse. A carefully cultivated cynicism is seen as a mark of sophistication, a badge of intellectual superiority. The optimist, by contrast, is ridiculed as naive, their sunny outlook dismissed as embarrassingly passé.

And yet, data—a pesky little thing—says otherwise. You are statistically less likely to be murdered, starve to death, or succumb to a plague than almost anyone in history. Violence is down, access to education is up, and technological advances have made life safer, healthier, and more convenient than ever. But acknowledging these gains doesn’t make you sound like a tortured philosopher; it makes you sound, well, boring.

So, by all means, keep clutching your pearls every time a negative headline graces your screen. Continue perpetuating the illusion that we’re teetering on the precipice of an existential abyss. After all, misery loves company—and it absolutely adores attention. Just remember that while you’re busy wallowing in catastrophism, the rest of humanity is quietly thriving, whether you choose to notice it or not.

And that, my dear reader, is the modern tragedy: the inability to celebrate progress in an age that fetishizes despair. How terribly on brand.

[kennethesweetjr]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Stephen Kings Pennywise Custom Printed Gothic It Movie Nice T-shirt Mens Small.