#also you can disagree with me but this is my OPINION which I am free to have even if it’s wrong

[thatsveryvortex]

Writing Tools for Planning Your Story

I've tried tons of writing apps and sites, so you don't have to. Here's a list of free sites to plot out your novel, with my review and some images of how I use it.

Milanote

Milanote is like having a giant pinboard with folders. You can upload anything onto it [yes even your main doc] and then draw over it or connect things with lines and arrows

Milanote lets you add up to a hundred things for free, not including drawing. This is one of the downsides of the site as I've found myself reaching that limit recently.

For me, the best part is being able to draw over stuff, and the color swatches.

Milanote is a lot less structured than other sites I've used, and personally, I don't think their templates are worth using.

8/10 overall, Milanote is what I mainly use. Here are some pics of how I use it:

Miro

Miro is a flowchart website mainly used for corporate jobs, however, it can be a great plotting tool for that reason

Miro has a lot of great starter templates if you are looking for a more structured freeform experience. It also comes with a blank page as well.

Unfortunately, I'd argue that it's a bit of a hard tool for beginners to use without a template, I've learned copy-paste is my best friend with Miro the hard way.

It's much better than most platforms at making timelines though.

It has a limit of three boards which is a bit disappointing but overall, I think it's worth the try.

5/10 Miro is very middle of the road for me due to the limited ability to customize things and the free limit. Here are some pics:

[I wrote that part weeks ago, I am now fully using Miro and believe it's the best for making timelines and charts, I just wish it let me make more boards 8/10]

Hiveword

This might be someone's jam, I can't really say it's mine though.

First off, the unpaid version is really just a few boxes saying "Write a summary here." which makes it just not worth it in my opinion

There really isn't any way to customise things which is my favorite part of most of these softwares

I've barely used this, so maybe there's something I'm missing but

1/10, Just use Google Docs at this point, here's a couple pics

World Anvil

People like this software, it's mainly used for tabletop, which is just a different way of writing adventure, and I've seen it recommended by authors.

Unfortunately, I'm going to disagree with a lot of people and say it's hard to use and isn't even really good at plotting.

I may be biased on this one as every time I've tried to use it in the past I've struggled. However, it seems like another just write it in a document and create a folder.

I'd say it's closer to an organizing tool, but even then just use something else.

3/10, I have nothing to say about it but maybe you'll enjoy it, all here are two photos

Campfire

This is the one I think I've heard the most about, but have never actually tried.

right off the bat, I'm going to say this is 100% worth it, you'll see at the end with the photos but this is like if Miro and World Anvil had an organization baby.

It's extremely easy to understand, and it makes timelines, it's more for writing your whole book but idk about that yet.

7/10, its themes are really pretty but it limits how much you can do to 20 I believe. Here are the photos

That's all for now, honestly, I think you should use Miro if you are looking to plot things out, and Milanote if you want to collect and organize your thoughts for writing, as that's what I do. Obviously what I like won't be for everyone, but hopefully, this helped you see some options

[andy-wm]

The Tarot of VMINKOOK

Their dynamic as I see it, and the absolute validation that Jimin and JK are together.

I really enjoyed the 3rd episode of Are You Sure, partly because I love the VMin dynamic, and partly becuse I was relieved to see that JK and Tae got along.

I also enjoyed watching just the three of them together without the rest of the members because I could really focus on the way they interacted.

This post is entirely my own opinion, and based on my observations. Feel free to politely disagree.

What we had was:

The Siblings - JK & KTH

The Cousins - JM & KTH

The Lovers - JM &JK

The Siblings

JK and Tae have peak adolescent sibling energy Pre-adolescent maybe....

It's typical of the petty rivalry of siblings close in age where the younger is the dominant personality and the older is slightly mistified by the audacity of their little brother.

Tae's eye-roll here 🤣

They will argue over nothing, but they will also readily unite when they have a common goal or foe. In this episode, they ganged up on Jimin for the sake of amusing the viewers (I get that they had a mandate to be entertaining but seriously, poor Jimin 🤣.)

At least it gave JK and Tae a reason to cooperate, because we know JK wasn't thrilled about him joining them. And who can blame him... how often do the two of them get away together?

Tae and JK probably have that "I can talk shit about my brother but nobody else can" thing going on, and I am 100% sure either of them would jump to defend the other if someone outside Bangtan gave them reason to.

I'm sure JK sees Tae as a genuine brother, but that doesn't mean Tae doesn't irritate the hell out of him sometimes. We've seen Tae take liberties, and we've seen JK snipe at him.

What is clear to me, seeing the three of them together, is that competitive-natured JK has to curb his desire to compete with Tae for Jimin's attention - to steal Jimin from Tae - and we've seen him do it, so it's not unheard of. The bottom line is, JK doesn't love sharing Jimin. And that being true, having to totally relinquish Jimin must have been... challenging let's say.

Even giving him a Harley to ride wasn't enough compensation for JK's FOMO when VMin were having fun in the car without him. And that grimace he wore when he was enjoying his solo gokart ride was absolutely hilarious too.

The other thing that comes between them, based on what I've seen, is JK's impatience with Tae's quirkiness. JK does not seem to have the gentle fondness or the endless patience Jimin does with Tae, which brings me to...

The Cousins

Tae and Jimin are like those cousins. You know the ones I mean? The cousins who have that magical bond. They connect on some ultraviolet wavelength nobody else can see, and it's both delightful and annoying for everyone around them (especially for the ultra-competitive boyfriend of one of the cousins, who feels like he's the third wheel when the those two get together).

Jimin and Tae are 친구 - same age friends - and this automatically puts them together - they are peers. It creates an instant friendship bond. But their connection seems like more than that, because Jimin and Tae seem to be so at ease together that neither of them has to mask, and that means they trust one another. That type of deep connection between two people can only come from unconditional acceptance.

Tae doesnt know how to use a drive-thru, and Jimin patiently helps him.

I believe that even if they grow apart, their unique connection will always remain... Because you never forget your first, right?

I'm talking about the first person who really sees you.

Maybe they're the first person you come out to and who comforts you when you're afraid of what that might mean for you. Maybe they're the person who never teases you when you miss social cues, and who will quietly explain the joke you didn't get. Whatever your situation, that person is the one who you trust with your real self. You know you're safe with them.

Both Tae and Jimin have characteristics that set them apart. I'm not in the habit of diagnosing people but Tae does make me wonder, the way he lacks social awareness and sometimes goes off on bizzare tangents, and his very individual fashion sense... not to mention his hatred of shoes. Jimin's gender and sexual identity would have been equally challenging for him, trying as he was to fit in and be a strong man.

They would both have felt like outsiders and struggled with connection and belonging, and I think their genuine support of each other is what makes their friendship so special.

I think that's what the soulmates thing is all about.

And who could possibly compete with a soulmate? Only one person...

In this social game of cards, JK holds the trump.

The Lovers

There's only one reason JK would rank higher in Jimin's books than Tae, when Tae automatically has higher standing on both a personal level with Jimin, and a broader social level.

Jimin and Tae are 친구 - they have a bond unique to people born in their year. That bond means younger or older friends are always going to be more distant, because even with close friendships across age groups, honorifics will still apply. Only with chingus can the honorifics completely fall away.

In addition, Tae is older than JK, so automatically holds a higher social standing. Even though Tae and JK are friends, JK should still defer to him, especially where his chingu is concerned. But JK does not.

This can only mean one thing:

Jimin and JK are in a relationship.

JK's status as Jimin's partner outweighs any other relationships Jimin has. Therefore JK stands as an equal next to Jimin, and that shuffles everyone else down a notch.

That's why we see JK squeezing in next to Jimin (sometimes pushing the older members out) so he can get where he needs wants to be.

That's also why, in episode 3, JK could take the bed next to Jimin and leave Tae to sleep on the floor.

Aside from JK's position as Jimin's equal, we can clearly see that he takes care of Jimin in ways he wouldn't if they were not together. He may not defer to Jimin, but he is visibly devoted to him.

I have never had any doubt that Jimin and JK were lovers, and I never for a moment thought they broke up. It's no surprise to me that this is confirned when we see them on this trip.

But I'm still dying to see the next episode with Tae.

Bring on Thursday!!

[sloanesallow]

Sebastian Sallow Headcanons

So I've seen some of my moots do one of these and decided it was my turn, even if nobody asked. 🤣

These are all ideas that are present in stories I’ve already published, or ones that are forthcoming in Void. A lot of this is word-vomit LOL. I’ve credited anyone that I’ve been inspired by, but otherwise, similar head-canons to other creators are coincidental.

Disclaimer: My opinions are mine. They might also be yours! They might also be somebody else’s. Or not. That’s the fun thing about fandom. We can all have our own thoughts! Disagree? Cool! Just don’t be mean about it. :)

Sebastian is left-handed.

Actually, ambidextrous. So while it’s probably an error in-game, if you take Sebastian with you to Hogsmeade, in the Three-Broomsticks he stands up to defend you with his wand in his left hand. I’ve just decided to run with it and think his left is more dominant than his right, but he can use both.

Sebastian is on the spectrum.

Because I am on the spectrum, it’s hard not to write this nerdy little boy as somebody who obsesses over data and information. Sebastian is a numbers guy. Counts stuff in his head; keeps lists. Obsessive about his note-taking and will throw away a page if he thinks his penmanship isn’t perfect enough. I put in a previous post that he’d be the type to stare at a jar of jelly beans and know how many are inside with one glance.

Sebastian is very intelligent but oh so stupid (affectionately)

For some reason, the only comparison I can think of right now is a weird combination of Abed and Troy from Community. You know the friend that seems to always be in weird, preventable situations and says the most out-of-pocket things but will turn around and quote Shakespeare. He probably is the smartest person in the room but isn’t humble about it. Sebastian is book-smart and thinks he’s street-smart (insert John Mullaney here) but his life experience is actually quite limited. Yes, his parents died (and he may have witnessed it to some degree), but I do think he might have been sheltered in some capacity. Which brings me to my next point:

Sebastian’s feelings are intense, and sometimes misguided

Sebastian would benefit from therapy, no joke. He likely wasn’t given the space to process his parent’s death, so it’s no wonder he SPIRALS when Anne gets sick. His desperation comes from a place of fear, but his inability to cope leads to some very unfortunate circumstances. And yes, Sebastian can be deceptive and manipulative, but I don’t think he acts this way on purpose, but because he doesn’t know any better. He acts first, thinks later, and this can lead to tension in his friendships (MC/Ominis). It’s also why so many authors write him as somewhat possessive when pairing him romantically with MC (or anyone, really). I tend to write him as being disinterested in romance (too busy) until it smacks him in the face and he chases that high obsessively. However, I think it takes a long time for Sebastian to recognize what real, healthy love is.

Sebastian would never be an Auror

I’ll die on this hill. Sebastian would probably not ever want to work for the Ministry, and distrusts authority, even as he ages and matures. Regardless if you think he acted in self-defense or not, he still killed his uncle with an unforgivable. That’s scary. And dangerous. A kid knowing and practicing Dark Magic? Even if he never does it again, he wouldn’t risk his life by flaunting himself in front of the Ministry. Also, Solomon was an Auror. Now, I’ll admit I have him working with the Ministry in some capacity in my fics (curse breaker), but for the most part, he is a free agent and does what he wants (in true Sebastian fashion).

Pocket cookies

Always has some kind of snack in his pockets for emergencies. I’ve had this come up several times now in my fics (see below) and it’s a running joke. I just love the idea of him pulling out a cookie to offer somebody in their time of need.

Other little things:

Triple Scorpio??? I did this on accident when making a birthday (November 8 1873) for him and CoStar said based on my made-up birth chart he was Scorpio Sun/Moon/Ascending which according to my astrology babes, is uhhhhh insane.  

Allergic to lavender???? Don’t ask.

He's just a silly, goofy guy, okay?

[phoenixyfriend]

How to Call Your Reps About Gaza

I make a lot of posts telling you to call your reps! Anyway, here's the overall shape of how to argue to them.

Disclaimer: I am not in politics. I do not have experience as a staffer. I am just someone who cares a lot about where things are going, and wants to help. Also, this is specific to the US, because that's where I'm based. Hopefully, people with expertise can add more suggestions on.

Find your elected officials.

My Ko-fi: this took me two days to write up, so uh. If you've got a few dollars, send them my way so I can keep doing this sort of thing, and maybe move out of my parents' house sooner.

General tips:

Be polite, or at least civil. Do not swear or shout at whoever answers the phone. This will quite possibly get your number blocked. Fifty civil calls over the course of several months will do more than one where you shout. You can be frosty, you can say you are disappointed, you can say you find the actions of your reps to be reprehensible or morally bankrupt, sure. But keep calm and aim criticism at the rep, not the staffer.

Keep it short. The staffers who answer call centers are busy. They usually start trying to hurry me off after about two minutes. I've yet to manage a call longer than four or five minutes. Pick one or two topics for the day, and focus on those. Cycle through them every time you call. Stick to just one from day to day if it's a large, ongoing issue like Gaza.

Plan for voicemail. I get voicemail more often than not. My House rep usually has a staffer free, but the Senators are almost always voicemail. This will give you a minute and a half max. Be ready to get your point squeezed into that.

Only call your representatives. The important, powerful word here is "constituent." You will be ignored or even counted against if you are from a different district or state. The first thing you start with is your name and address. A staffer will ask for the information they need. On voicemail, leave your full name, your city and state, and zip code before you go into your message. Do not lie, either. They look these things up in the system when you call. I'm not sure how--I think maybe they have access to a database of registered voters--but every time I call, they ask for my last name and address and at some point say, 'oh, yep, I've got you right here,' which indicates a database of some sort.

Research at least a little bit about their opinions. If they already agree with you, then it's much easier to leave a quick "I support you and want you to know that" to combat anyone who's arguing from the other side. If they don't, then you're best off finding out what specific issue they have so you can know the best kind of comment to leave.

Look up specific bills or arguments. I get daily emails from GovTrack about bills that are on this week's docket or have been voted on in the past day. IDK about anyone else, but being able to say that I disagree specifically with HR 815 or something makes me feel powerful, and possibly like I will be taken more seriously. Sometimes you can start with articles like this one, which include links to specific bills on the official congress website.

Email after if you can. Reportedly less effective, and takes longer, but you are more likely to get a written (canned) response, and it reinforces whatever you called about.

Basic structure of a call, at least as I've been doing it:

"Hi, my name is ____ ____, and I am a constituent from [city, state], [zip]. I am calling to express my opinion on [topic]. I am concerned about [short argument with a clear impact on the topic]. I ask that you support [measure or fellow congress member]/vote [yay/nay on specific legislature]. Thank you for your time, and I hope you keep my opinion in mind."

For this post, the topic can be stated as the war in Gaza, military funding for Israel, or unrest in the Middle East, depending on which you think your elected official will respond to best. That said, the structure should work for whatever your call is about.

Arguments to use against your elected official... or your on-the-fence cousin:

I'll be honest, some of these are not going to do much against your representative. They know the arguments, and have been going over them with each other for months. You just need to have one locked and loaded that they consider relevant instead of a nonstarter, in order to back up your opinion as 'founded' instead of 'nonsense, can be swayed with a good marketing campaign.'

I'll include explanations if I don't think something is self-evident (or needs more evidence to tell your cousin), but in most of them I'll provide some suggested verbiage that you can tweak as needed, and for a few of them, that's really enough.

THESE ARE FOR THE TOPIC OF CONCERN, ONLY. You still need to end each one with "I ask that the [official] votes to [action]" at the end. Give them something actionable (example from Feb. 13th). My go-tos right now:

Both chambers: Reinstate funding for UNRWA

Both chambers: Place mandatory restrictions on any aid to Israel, with contractual threats to cut funding if Netanyahu and his government continue to disregard civilian life

Senate: Put support behind Bernie Sanders and his motion to restrict funding to Israel until a humanitarian review of the IDF’s actions in Gaza has been completed (S.R. 504) (Tabled by the Senate on 1/16, but it is being brought back in as conditions continue to escalate)

House: Put support behind Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s petition for the US government to recognize the IDF’s actions in Gaza as ethnic cleansing and forced displacement, and put a stop to it.

House: Put support behind H.R. 786, introduced by Rep. Cori Bush, calling for an immediate deescalation and cease-fire in Israel and occupied Palestine.

What Not to Say

"There is no threat to Israel." I've talked about this elsewhere, but the short version is that this will be basically laughed out as you not knowing what you're talking about.

Anything generically antisemitic. (I mean, it might work on some of the white supremacists, but do you really want to encourage that thinking? No, so don't do it.)

Facts that you "heard somewhere" but cannot find a reliable source for. If it's being reported by the New York Times, NPR, or the BBC, it's probably trustworthy by government standards. If it's not a super common statistic, cite the journal you got it from by name. Remember, you aren't arguing to tumblr mutuals. You are arguing to your elected official or your 'I don't really pay attention' cousin. When it comes to this, big name news sources are better.

Unrealistic demands for complete isolationism, permanently abandoning Israel to its own devices, supporting Hamas, etc. Again, you will not be taken seriously. Pick an argument they might actually listen to, and use it to press them towards a possible solution. You want them to believe that if they adjust their position, they will be doing the will of most of their constituents, and thus more likely to get reelected.

The Ethics Argument

Third-party reporting has stated that that nearly 29,000 Gazans are dead since Oct. 7th, as of 2/18/24. The vast majority of those are civilians, and over half are children. Palestinians in Gaza are facing an acute hunger crisis threatening to become a full-blown famine.

The International Court of Justice has found that there is credible reason to believe that the state of Israel is committing a genocide against the Palestinians of Gaza.

This does not mean that every single Israeli is complicit. It does mean that the government, particularly Netanyahu and his associates, has been reprimanded by a large, diverse coalition of countries, and has consistently refused to listen to that court since.

This argument will possibly work on your cousin. Less likely to work on your elected official. They already know the numbers. I just wanted to get it out of the way first.

The Re-Election Argument: Michigan vs New York

Meanwhile, this is possibly the most effective. Again, this is not an argument of ethics. This is an argument of "how can I make my elected official do what I want." We do not use only the purest moral argument. We use what works.

What to say to your elected official: Michigan, as a swing state, was won by democrats on the power of the Arab-American vote in the 2020 election. We (either party) are at risk of losing Michigan due to the current Congressional approach to the Gaza conflict, as that demographic is now polling as likely to abstain from voting entirely. The risk of losing several congressional districts due to the Jewish vote is a real one, but the risk of losing the the executive branch is greater, especially after what we saw with Suozzi. Supporting Palestine might lose us parts of New York, but supporting Israel will lose us Michigan.

Explanation: Something that has been taking up a lot of time and space in the election coverage is the situation in Michigan, and more recently, there has been attention paid to the special election of New York's third district, AKA the "who gets to replace disgraced George Santos" competition.

Michigan is traditionally a swing state. While 2.1% doesn't sound like a lot, that is some 211k-278k people (depending on your source), and while not all of them can vote... Michigan was won by about 154k. Arab-Americans are not the only relevant demographic, but they sure are an important one, and they are vocally opposed to the situation. Approval has dropped from 59% to 17%. From that same article:

As Axios notes, Biden won Michigan in 2020 by 154,000 votes, but there are at least 278,000 Arab Americans in Michigan. Biden took Arizona, a state with an Arab American population of 60,000, by only 10,500 votes. In Georgia, Biden prevailed with a margin of 11,800 voters, in a state that has an Arab American population of 57,000.

Democrats cannot afford to lose these states. Pressure your congresspeople about that, especially if you live in one of those states. I assume most Arab-Americans in said states are already calling every day; the rest of you can join in.

Meanwhile, most Jews (considered the most pro-Israel demographic by strategists) in America are concentrated in a very small number of electoral districts. Of the twenty most-Jewish, ten are in New York, which is why I put it up in the section header.

One of those districts was won by a Republican in 2022: George Santos, New York's third congressional district. Following his scandals and ousting, the seat was up for a special election, and the two candidates were Tom Suozzi, a democrat who held the seat previously (he decided to run for governor, and lost), and Mazi Pilip, a Nassau county legislator who was of Ethiopian Jewish background and had been in the IDF. She ran on a campaign that leaned strongly pro-Israel and anti-immigration, and when Suozzi won, she interrupted his victory speech to accuse him of supporting a genocide against Israel due to his rather centrist, rather milquetoast stance on the conflict during his election campaign.

Now, Suozzi's win probably had more to do with Pilip being anti-choice than her pro-Israel arguments, but he still won.

Democrats can better risk possibly losing a few seats in NY than definitely losing three swing states.

"But I don't want Dems to win their districts after what they've been--" Nope. Listen to me. Surveys indicate that Republicans are on average more pro-Israel, because Trump and Netanyahu are buddy-buddy, and we do not have a viable third option.

Also, again, this is about convincing Dems to be better. "If you do not vote to put restrictions on funding to Israel, I will not vote for you in November" is a lot more powerful than "I will not vote for you either way, because of what you've been doing, but you should do what I say anyway."

The Re-Election Argument: Risk of Escalation

So, that thing I said about Trump and Netanyahu?

Yeah, so, while Biden is giving Israel military aid while cautioning them to slow down and be careful, Trump is... complicated, but suffice to say he's much closer to Netanyahu on a personal level than Biden is. Biden's relation with Netanyahu is reportedly pretty frosty, while Trump's is based on relations through the Kushners.

Just from wikipedia:

Netanyahu made his closeness to Donald Trump, a personal friend since the 1980s, central to his political appeal in Israel from 2016.[21] During Trump's presidency, the United States recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and brokered the Abraham Accords, a series of normalization agreements between Israel and various Arab states.

Trump's been more all-over-the-place recently, badmouthing Netanyahu for being what Trump perceives as a loser, which complicates understanding what his approach is. It's kind of incoherent right now.

Given Trump's general history of being pro-Israel, though, and the attempts by House Republicans to push through a bill of unconditional funding for Israel. It failed, but notable is that the more recent bill passed in part because it was paired with aid for Ukraine and Taiwan (something Dems are much more invested in having happen).

What to say to your elected official: If Trump is reelected due to his current appearance of being more critical of Netanyahu, there is evidence from his presidency to indicate that he will support Israel much less critically if elected. While he claims to want to settle the Middle East, it seems incredibly likely that he will worsen the situation for Palestinians, and ramp up retaliatory strikes to groups like the Houthis in a manner that will impact non-military parties, igniting tensions that are already tenuous.

The Disrespect/Wild Card Argument

This particular argument is best used against the Very Patriotic Politicians who are more concerned with the US's image and Being The Alpha Nation than with other things. Basically, this might work on Republicans.

This isn't really something I believe in, as a matter of foreign policy, buuuut it might work on your rep, so. Consider it!

What to say to your elected official: With Israel's recent actions in ignoring Biden, blocking US-sent aid like those flour trucks that got stopped at the Rafah border because they'd be distributed by UNWA, and generally Disrespecting The USA and Being Unpredictable is not only making the US look bad for being unable to wrangle a smaller country, but also making it so we are less able to wrangle other countries in the future, because Israel cannot be predicted and might set someone off.

The Europe and Reputation Argument

What to say to your elected official: The United States is losing credibility as a world power known for its military and ability to manage international disputes on behalf of the UN, because it is seemingly unable to influence Israel, and losing credibility as an upstanding moral state that is not doing foreign coups and banana republics anymore, as it appears to be tacitly supporting Israel's ICJ-labelled genocide, which is a really bad look with the other Western Powers.

I'm not entirely sure who this might work on, but there's gotta be at least a few politicians who are really concerned about America's image, more than about actually doing the right thing. Figure out if your politician is one of them.

If necessary, you can bring up how Trump is threatening to pull US support for NATO if Russia attacks someone.

The Middle East Stability Argument: Iran-backed Militias

What to say to your elected official: I'm concerned that the continued support of Israel, and thus the funding of their actions in Gaza, will increase the instability of Iran-backed militias, as we have already seen with the Houthis and Hezbollah. Entire Muslim-majority nations are showing increased displeasure not only with Israel, but with the US by extension. We cannot afford another war in the Middle East when we haven't yet pulled all our troops from the last one, not with the recent and recurring economic recessions. Any situation would also very likely be complicated or inflamed by the growing tensions among Eritrea, Djibouti, and Ethiopia regarding Red Sea access as well.

Use this on the ones that claim to be pro-military or pro-veteran. See what they said about HR 815 before the foreign military funding amendment was added.

The Middle East Stability Argument: Egypt

What to say to your elected official: Egypt's government has been unstable since the Arab Spring, and even now the military government is incredibly unpopular. With that existing instability, the addition of economic strain from the reduced usage of the Suez canal, the international disputes occurring because they're the main throughway for aid into Gaza, and the threat of a sudden influx of nearly one and a half million Palestinian refugees should Israel continue to push south... Egypt is looking at a possible near-collapse as we've seen in nearby nations suffering similar instabilities.

Explanation: It took several years for Egypt to really start recovering from the revolts in 2013, and it has applied for four IMF loans in recent years. The current government is unpopular to such a degree that they are looking to build an entire new capital from scratch in the middle of the desert so that they're less open to the risk of civilian uprisings; one of the primary causes for civilian dissatisfaction is economic issues.

Due to Houthi attacks at the Bab al-Mandab Strait, traffic through the Suez canal is down massively, and since the canal "represents almost 5% of the GNP and 10% of GDP and is one of Egypt’s most important sources of hard currency." (src) Various sources are reporting that trade through the canal is down 40-50%, which is putting more strain on the already unstable economic and political situation.

Finally, Egypt's population is about 110 million, but the governorate that shares a border with Israel and Gaza, North Sinai, has a population of barely 500,000. A push of one and a half million starving, injured people will, very suddenly, nearly quadruple the population of the governorate, and require extreme aid response from Egypt's government to keep alive and prevent a larger crisis in North Sinai and neighboring governorates.

The Middle East Stability Argument: Normalized Relations

What to say to your elected official: I am concerned that Israel's continued attack on Gaza is jeopardizing any chance of normalized relations with the Arab states in the future. American has put a lot of work into trying to get these various countries to normalize with Israel, and our funding of the current attacks on Gaza are sabotaging all that effort.

This one can be combined with the Iran-Backed Militias argument: Israel, in pursuit of revenge against Hamas, is setting itself up to be in more danger long-term, rather than less.

The International Trade Argument

What to say to your elected official: I am concerned about how the war in Gaza is impacting international trade and shipping costs. With the Suez Canal down to half its usual capacity and the Panama Canal raising costs and dropping capacity in response to the water restrictions, along with rising fuel costs in Europe and Asia, global trade is incredibly strained. We are being relegated to the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Horn, and the Malacca strait for much of intercontinental trade, and the macroeconomic projections are looking very bad for America.

The Domestic Economics Argument

What to say to your elected official: Many of the plans for Israeli military funding cause damage to other parts of the budget. For instance, a recent plan put forward by the Republicans of the House suggested IRS cuts in order to move that money, a plan which would impact the US budget negatively in the long term; we need those 14 billion being spent domestically, not supporting an overreaction/possible genocide in Gaza.

Explanation: In general, pick something receiving budget cuts that your congressperson will care about. I care about IRS funding, and saw it mentioned as a target in an article, so that's what I've got in my suggested verbiage up there.

The fewer people that are working for the IRS, the more they focus on auditing poor people (simple, easy taxes) and the less they can effectively audit rich people (complicated, time-consuming taxes), which means rich people are more likely to get away with evading millions or even billions in taxation. So yeah, you want more funding in the IRS if you are poor. They are already auditing you. You want them to audit the big guys.

The Russia and China Argument

What to say to your elected official: I am worried that the current focus on funding Israel without restriction is causing us to lose sight of the international threat posed by Russia and China. Russia is actively invading Ukraine, which continues to put massive strain on the European economy with regards to oil prices, especially with the Suez situation, and China has been testing missiles near Taiwan, and thus testing US responsiveness to those threats, for months now. We cannot afford to support an internationally unpopular war if we want to remain ready for Russia and China.

This is less likely to work on Republicans, since Trump is friendly with Russia, but hey, give it a shot if they're one of the ones who aren't fully in his camp.

EDIT 2/22/24: I'm a bit unsure of this tactic, but I'm putting it out there with hopes that someone with more political experience can offer feedback:

"Congress, and the US government in general, has promised to sanction Russia for the alleged assassination of one man within a week of the suspicious death, after five months of refusing to enact even slight consequences on Israel for the deaths of nearly thirty thousand, half of which are children. This is ethically questionable at best, but for the interests of elected officials, it is a very bad look. The mismatch shows a massive bias by the American government in regards to Israel's ongoing mass murder, with over two million facing famine as a result of Israel's aid blocking, and America's reputation on the world stage, as well as individual politicians' reputations domestically with constituents, is plummeting."

-------------------------------------

Finally, my ko-fi again. I spent a long time on this and I'd like to move out of my parents' house sooner rather than later. If you appreciate my time and effort, please feel free to donate a couple bucks.

[salemlunaa]

crazy how people are getting on to you and emma for simply not agreeing with that girls post about shifting and manifesting, like i get she deactivated but how’s that anyone’s problem? everyday it’s something new on this app 💀💀

no bc i literally got a few comments (which they deleted) and many asks about how i was “super mean and need to apologise”

and i’m like

apologise for what? i heavily disagreed, no insults exchanged, no accusations of her being “wrong” all i did was disagree. No personal attacks made, she was even a mutual of mine who I respected and I saw no wrong in stating my issue with that specific post in calm manner.

I would love for them to point out where exactly i was mean, where emma apparently “bullied” people , and i would also appreciate these people rereading ops post, as she accused people of spreading misinformation solely for not agreeing with her. Her choice to deactivate her account was not anyone’s fault.

me and emma, @hrrtshape , respectfully expressed why we disagreed and why we thought some of what she said was harmful. If people can’t handle a discussion to the point of deactivating that’s not a matter i see myself wasting thought on.

So to anyone feeling offended on ops behalf (for like no reason 💀) please please please do not come to my page with all that bullshit, there is nothing i need to apologise for, nothing emma needs to apologise for, if op can express her opinion in PUBLIC and accuse other bloggers of spreading misinformation in PUBLIC, i am also free to speak my mind IN. PUBLIC. So im seeing these comments and asks like thanks but no thanks.

they’re acting like me and emma were the ones who gave “i’m right, you’re wrong” vibes, we weren’t the ones who stated our opinions as fact…

like are you guys allergic to a conversation where you’re being disagreed with…

[howlsofbloodhounds]

i am not very much in the fandom so i was wondering what the consensus was on this. how do you (and just everyone in general who sees this) feel about killer's 'multiple personalities' i really love killer and i think he's great however i feel like that part of his character is a bit of a bad stereotype of DID (the evil alter, good alter trope). let me say this: i dont think killer's creator did it with malicious intent. im just confused on that part of his character because it's kind of vague. could you possibly explain your thoughts on it a bit more?

Well, im not a professional or expert on anything, but I’ll try to give it a go. Anyone can feel free to correct me if im misinformed and misspoke, or if yall simply disagree.

In terms of in universe, the general consensus, as I see it anyway, is that Killer is not human. Not even exactly like his soul isn’t human or monster, but that his body’s species is also not human.

Which means things like disorders and mental illnesses we have not only in real life, but as humans, does not apply to Killer.

There may be similarities, but they likely wouldn’t be one for one. Another consensus in universe is that, Killer is not said to be diagnosed with anything—he’s just living with and experiencing symptoms of similar possible disorders IRL.

He does not know what exactly is happening to him, he tries to make sense of and explain his experiences to the best of his knowledge and abilities in his own terms and languages.

And due to his own self perceptions, abuse, trauma and self hatred—he often dehumanizes and demonizes himself to others, especially himself when he’s in his other higher Stages.

It’s also long been established that Killer is canonically a character who struggles with a lot of suicidal ideation—not only has he attempted on his own, but when in Stage 1, he has been shown at least twice asking people to kill him (Swap and Color), which reads to me that he is seeking out assisted suicide. Not to mention how he has stated in Stage 1 that he has “accepted death a long time ago.”

Now, a bit more out of universe, I think Rahafwabas was not only really young at the time, but she did not know much English yet. If i recall correctly, she had other people translating her comics from Arabic to English for her.

Which means that not only could information had been lost in translation or mistranslated, it’s possible her language either didn’t have the means and words to explain what she was going for with Killer, or the English language didn’t or meant something else entirely.

In terms of actual disorders or similar irl, or if Killer had physically been a human with a brain, general consensus is that Killer would definitely be diagnosed with a dissociative disorder of some kind. In my opinion, I don’t think a professional would diagnose Killer with DID or P-DID.

I think he’d be diagnosed with either UDD (Unspecified Dissociative Disorder), or OSDD (identity disturbance due to prolonged intense coercive persuasion).

This can also be caused by captivity, thought reform, brainwashing, torture, programming, recruitment by cults/sects/terror organizations, being a POW, etc. This presentation of OSDD is also called OSDD-2.

These guys are not systems, however. There’s not actually much literature or research into this presentation of OSDD or how it effects a person from their experiences and perspectives—only brief descriptions.

Especially from those with OSDD-2 who were programmed, which is an inherently very complex topic even if OSDD-2 is not a complex dissociative disorder.

Now, an argument was made to me by a system recently for why Killer could be a system as well as have symptoms of OSDD-2, but I still believe Killer would not receive a diagnosis of DID, PDID, or OSDD1/1a/1b. Even if he does show and experience symptoms similar to them.

That being said, however, it cannot be denied that Killer already has canonically experienced the type of things listed in OSDD-2.

Intense prolonged coercion, coercion based dissociation, programming (literal reprogramming of his code in the game), torture, captivity, kidnapped/being held hostage, and labor trafficking.

He also shows signs of severe dissociative identity confusion and disturbance—not only does he seem to think he is not Sans anymore, just something that is wearing Sans’ face because Sans “would never kill Papyrus,” and that he said he “wants to be Sans again” in Stage 1 as if he isn’t already or still Sans, but rahafwabas has stated that his soul being like that is one of the reasons why his mind “split.”

It’s a war between two souls, Sans’ and the human Determination soul, but the Determination soul is stronger—even if Sans’ soul often ‘peeks’ out (via that white eyelight in Killer’s right eye socket, which is described as a sign of “the real Sans we know”) or forces itself/is triggered out.

And now he doesn’t know how he should behave, human or monster. He is basically programmed and likely conditioned to behave and think a certain way when in or triggered into a certain Stage—which means dissociation is always present on some level.

However, on the case of Killer being a system or experiencing himself as plural—as more than one in one body—even if not DID, PDID, or OSDD-1 I do think there’s a way to write and portray it without falling into an evil alter trope.

First would be to write other system or plural characters. Have a diverse range of different systems and plurals and don’t leave Killer as the only one.

Second is, understand Killer’s environment and situation.

(Putting a read more here because the rest can potentially be a little too much or potentially triggering.)

Understand it really is a form of extreme, organized abuse. That he is in a high control group.

That he is being trafficked by Nightmare. That he is being tortured, programmed, and conditioned. That he has to survive—and he and his potential headmates simply will not survive if they try to be good people.

Hell, they may even view themselves as only existing to do awful things and being incapable of anything else (or not knowing there is anything else, and that it’s something they could have or be)—kill and hurt when no one else can, kill and hurt on command, kill and hurt without guilt or remorse that would otherwise leave Killer unable to function and likely dead a long time ago.

(Abusers may even actively make the victim(s) believe and think that way, or they may heavily encourage it by either giving alters their names or forcibly renaming a singlet, giving them numbered names or simply calling them by their ‘role.’ Like..Killer, for example. Or even more degrading, insulting names they make their victims respond to and identify with.)

For them to live, to survive, others can’t—because being trafficked, kidnapped, in organized crime, in a high control group, means having to witness and do highly illegal and immoral things if they want to live or not be tortured themselves.

This is also where the manipulation stuff comes in. Abusers, handlers, traffickers—they want the victim to not speak out, they want them to not leave or think about leaving. They’ll do anything to ensure that.

From coercing or threatening a victim to do bad things or participate in bad things with the abusers, the abusers can then begin holding that over them.

Claiming the victim isn’t any better than them to ensure guilt and silence, saying they’ll be arrested or everyone would hate them for what they did to ensure fear of outsiders and dependency on the group, claiming that they know the victim must’ve liked it—that the victim is just like their abuser, or will be.

And that can cause feelings ranging from shame and feeling like they deserve what’s done to them and they don’t deserve help, to internalizing all of that and attempting to behave and think exactly how the abuser does. Either because they start genuinely believing they’re as bad if not worse, or because it’s a survival and/or coping mechanism.

Not to mention that those in these environments will likely eventually become desensitized to the violence they’re forced to perpetuate and/or witness, they could even try to force themselves to like it in an attempt to either make it easier or feel powerful and in control.

Other alters may be programmed or simply indoctrinated in cases of cults or types of belief systems and ideologies being implemented in abuse—they may genuinely believe that the ones hurting them are godlike, or that they can communicate with a higher power, or that a higher power will punish them if they try to leave. Especially if they’re children, or if they have no access to anything or anyone saying otherwise.

Some alters may believe this type of stuff is completely normal and okay, particularly when raised in it. It can be so severe that these types of alters could embrace the idea of their death at their abusers’ hands easily, without fear or struggle, because it’s normal to them.

This all can happen to a singlet in similar situations too. Singlets can start to genuinely believe they were born, created, or only exist to do certain things or for certain purposes—from a sex slave to a killer to a weapon, especially if they’re being trafficked.

It’s just a fact that many who experienced things that Killer did/does and managed to not only survive, but escape, likely did it in bloody and/or underhanded ways.

There was no good or bad, no moral or immoral, just what had to be done — traffickers and abusers and handlers will never just let their victims go, regardless of if they ask really nicely or not. It’s life or death. They chose life.

Or in Killer’s case (has likely died multiple times, juts can never seem to stay dead), potentially something one of his Stages (such as Stage 4) believes is worse than death. It could genuinely believe that if it doesn’t do what it does, something unbelievably horrible is going to happen. Something that would make it wish it were dead.

[fiamat12]

PSA: We're all still on this ship together!

Even though some of us are on different decks! LOL

#1 - Imo, I think my post earlier about N's sm activity was misunderstood. ✌️ I get that this subject is a hot button because we love Lukola and can feel like bad shippers if we have conflicting feelings about the choices they make. But I wouldn't still be here after more than a year if I didn't still believe in Lukola and their love. In fact, not long ago I was accused of being Lukola PR and a cult leader lol and that came from a place of being strong in my Lukola shipping convictions. And I still am.

But I'm also a realist... so if you come on here to idealize Lukola, you may not always like my pov. They're real people to me w/ real lives and real feelings and real successes and real failures just like everybody else. I mostly agree w/ the post linked below ⭐️ - and if you disagree that's totally fine. We're all still shippers!

#2 - Now for what my post today was really about: a shift in N's social media behavior that may be related to the NDA obligations. I asked the following question at the end of the post: "... when S4 filming was ramping up, and she pulled back on it all, Easter eggs included... Coincidence or no?!?". So, to expand on that:

• It’s important to understand what the norm or baseline is for N, because in doing that you can understand or notice a change in behavior. Behavior changes tell a story.

• Fact is: N used to post alot during filming for previous seasons of BTON. This season, S4, she has not. The other cast members historically post less frequently than N or not at all re: BTON, and they have continued in the same way for S4.

• N posted Polin right up until Sept. of last year then it just stopped...

As @jmuz09 stated: "I was dismissive of it being part of the obligations but I completely flipped on that whilst looking at the tone of her posts in June - Aug 2024 [see original post]. I really think she pissed off A to the point where it became part of the obligations. A could have also pointed out that she does not have to post that much because other cast members don’t so it’s not expected"

• I'm uncertain of it being part of the obligations, but I do think N could've been restricted or even self monitored due to NDA re-negotiations in the Fall, meaning she decided to draw back (along w/ the Easter eggs) to "get this done".

#3 - Under this theory we're not bagging N for not posting BTON/ Polin at all. In fact, I think this shows her alot of grace because we're assuming the best about her. Per usual, we likely won't know the motivation until many months later (if ever) and we accept the reasons behind it either way. We accept Nic for who she is and regardless of the current circumstances, this Lukola ship is strong! 🙏🚢💪

✌️ Original post from today ⏬️

⭐️Post w/ which I agree ⏬️

🤔 And one last time: you are free to believe what you want... ⏬️

... I'm not here to convince anyone of anything. This is my blog and my opinion. If I block someone, it's because I think they're trolling (and if you saw my Asks and the comments from fake accounts, you'd understand). I don't block for disagreeing w/ me. I may delete your comment if you're asserting your own theory in a comment 🤔 but please don't take that personally. That's what your own blog is for and I love to read those brave enough to put it all out there!

[what-even-is-thiss]

Part of the reason I stopped writing fanfic was because my audience expected sanders sides from me and I was sort of petering out on that series already. There was more to it than that though. I could’ve moved on to other fandoms. Maybe gotten an ao3 account and just been someone that writes for a lot of fandoms. But there’s other things about it I don’t really find fulfilling anymore.

Fanfiction is by its nature really limiting. You’ve gotta stick to certain characters, certain archetypes, certain specific tropes if you want to get back a lot of positive feedback. Or feedback in general.

And constructive criticism doesn’t really exist in fandom space either. People are either really positive about your work or huge dicks to the point of easy dismissal. And that’s partially because of all the unspoken rules. Only say nice things or don’t say anything at all. Which I don’t necessarily disagree with because fanfic is free brain candy made for you by a person who’s just passionate about what they’re doing. It’s nearly cruel to try and offer unsolicited criticism in that kind of situation.

But people just want certain things from fanfiction. Fantasy fulfillment, love, very specific types of catharsis, 14 year old goth kid levels of dark and edgy. And there was a point in my life I was fine with that but I can’t anymore.

My ideas got too different. People stopped reading. I stopped wanting to finish things. My prose style is often abrupt and short and poetic. I enjoy being experimental. Experimentation isn’t generally appreciated in fanfiction. Not as much as it is in published fiction in my opinion.

Yes published fiction has its own issues. Its readers are also creatures of habit. But not quite as much as fanfiction readers. And at the end of the day, I realized I want to be a writer. Like a professional writer. Even if that just ends up being a side thing for me. And fanfiction doesn’t really get you there most of the time. For some select few it has, but those folks are often in the romance or smut marketplace. I am not.

Fanfiction has its place. It had its place in my past. I got a lot of practice. I met some good people. But I don’t really read or write it anymore.

I guess what I’m saying is that if fanfiction isn’t fulfilling for you anymore, you’re under no obligation to keep writing it or reading it. I’ve got a perfectly happy online life these days hopping from one fandom to another on a whim without any fanfiction at all. I feel a lot better getting feedback on my writing by talking with other writers and my friends and family about it. I no longer feel like I’m just sending something out into the world to be met with silence. I’m no longer embarrassed to show people I know in my personal life my writing because they haven’t seen the source material the work is based on. My work is just my work, unconnected to the baggage of a source material. I get more ideas from reading, I’m reading a larger variety of things, I’m meeting people who like reading and writing published fiction.

Fanfiction can be great, it can be for some people the kind of writing they want to do forever. But there’s a whole world outside of it. And depending on who you are, it might be holding you back. Just something worth thinking about.

[princesserica84]

Howdy, let me start off with no hate for you just here trying to help clear up a few things it seems from your post you dont know which is normal since you no a US citizen. again just trying to help you understand not an attack just trying help. 1 on the whole nazi wave https://www.tumblr.com/busterballsblog/773398848248987648?source=share also post is not the full clip here https://youtu.be/5e5Dz2EvuOY?si=NPvB0sq5Qjk2NHDK these should help you better see the whole story and facts. 2 UK, CA, GR,FR all have hate speech as a legal thing in the USA its already been ruled by highest court and even liberal judges agreed no such thing as hate speech in this USA. where each of the nations i listed have jailed people based on their words some where even jokes on stage. but in USA we have the right to say anything but a DIRECT call to action. but just as we each have the right of free speech means all sides have a voice to say as they wish. something that very different our rights listed out in black and white cant be taken away by government for any reason where yours and UK, FR and GR can and have been in name of "Greater Good". in USA its about the 1 not the Greater Good when it comes to rights. 3 on whole trans topic here the the issue its illegal to force someone to talk a set way in the usa. just as your name is Erica you cant force people to call you that they can say HEY YOU or they can call you E all they want and no law is broken in the USA. next part of this is wanting tax payers to fund trans medical issues that are not life threatening is not our way not because they trans but because they have no right to my money. also their proof this has been forced on kids ie people under 18 which is in fact grounds to remove and sue a teacher for forcing their views on kids at school. 4 you clearly listen to USA media well do you know that ABC , NBC, CNN , MSNBC all paid out 100s of millions of dollars in just 3 lawsuits for openly lied about the story and people in it. ABC even had pay Trump 15 million for a lie they told about Trump. so frankly trusting them is not really an option even for liberals have had to admit they wrong. 5 you bring up removing of rights https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights-transcript please take a look at our rights and can you link abortions to any right you see listed. ( i am assuming this is right you talking about due to your words. mind you while your looking at our rights look at 2A and then notice how liberals seek to remove rights on guns. i use this as example of how the very view that the right seeks to take away rights is not based in any logic and in fact the left is seeking to remove a right openly. again i hope this helps you understand our system in a fair and balanced way. btw i been from quebec to toronto i will say being that im Texan i understand qubec people the best in CA i have a number of pals up their and yea. to give you idea why people like me love your snow is my city just got 3 inches of snow that all the snow we gotten since 2018 and my summers are 110 F or in the 40s C in the shade with 100% humidity. anyway hope this helps you understand better again no hate just trying to help and i will leave you with how Texans see the rest of north America LOL hope you enjoy the fun joke again no hate just trying help you smile. and if you have any question here or DM me is fine just trying share some help.

^^ I give you, the American education system

Look, I disagree with everything you are saying.

If you want to talk about taking rights away, I'll give you this. A lot of pregnant women have died recently because the hospitals are not able to perform abortions. Today, there was a school shooting in Nashville that killed a 17 year old and injured another. If abortions were legal, and you have gun laws in place that weren't written in the 17th century, many people would still be alive. This isn't opinion, this is fact.

Deaths in Canada caused by guns in 2023: less than 300

Deaths in USA caused by guns in 2023: over 43,000

There's honestly too much wrong with your entire message. I don't think I'm the right person to respond so I will leave it to everyone else.

Also, just so you are aware, your "map" did not make me laugh. It offends me. Canada is my home and I would much rather live here (with free healthcare, gun laws that weren't written over 200 years ago, the right for me to make a decision on my own body, and a place where my transgender friends are free to be who they are) than live in fucking texas.

[frjimdefroque]

!!

Hey ghesties. Just want to say something. This is something I’d love to share with all of you Ghost fans, because I think it’s pretty important. Feel free to share!

It’s okay to share your opinion on updates happening with Ghost! Guess what, we have free fucking will, and we can do whatever the fuck we want and say whatever the fuck we want, and the fact that you’re sad about the lore eventually coming to an end? That’s okay! Thank you for sharing your opinion!

And if I hear on opinion I don’t like? I take my thumb and I scroll the fuck along! I think in my head, “I disagree” and forget about it when I see a photo of a cute dog!

Our opinions are exactly that, OUR OPINIONS, and even though I don’t like to share my opinions online, I enjoy hearing what other people think! I am human! I am a social creature! Who enjoys hearing about others! And, also, I RESPECT OTHERS!!

Respect is something I feel we need to relearn in this age of the internet. If someone is feeling strong and needs to express themself, I shall let them, because I respect other humans as much, if not more than I respect myself. Because that is what is good. And if I disagree? I don’t need to start an argument about it. I don’t need to call people names. I can let people live on. Our argument will not change their mind, it will ONLY make everyone who is involved feel worse.

“Oh, but Charlie, if people can express their opinions, why can’t I say that I disagree?”

-BECAUSE YOU DON’T NEED TO BE A BITCH ABOUT IT! You do NOT have to go reblogging every. single. motherfucking post saying “well actually…… it’s always been about the music……….” because yes, I get it, it’s a BAND. A BAND. IT’S ABOUT MUSIC. LET THESE PEOPLE EXPRESS HOW THEY FEEL, KEEP YOUR OWN OPINIONS ON YOUR OWN POSTS.

Just… can we, as a fandom, stop arguing about this simple stuff? Opinions are exactly that, opinions, and they aren’t going to change the outcome of anything. Trust me, Tobias cannot hear your ass. But you can express how you feel, because it’s important for your mental health, as a human.

Thank you for listening to my yap. I shall now explain this in Jim Defroque talk, because I know this is how I can get through a lot of people’s thick skulls.

JIM DEFROQUE HERE,

Well, ya see here, these BLASPHEMOUS GHOooOoOoOoOST fans are tryin’ to state their opinions about this BLASPHEMOUS band! Look at this blasphemy! Heresy!

These people are just sharin’ their opinions, and these other youngins are fighting ‘em about it! That is not following God’s word. Y’know, Jesus’s two most important commandments?

“You shall love the Lord, our God, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Well, first of all, our dadd- our savior, Jesus Christ, He tells us to love the Lord God above all things— and well, y’know, I can tell some of y’all readin’ this love this BLASPHEMOUS band Ghost a tiny little bit more than the Lord God, which I’ll uh, let slide for now. That ain’t what I’m tryina point out ‘ere.

But Jesus also says to eh, ‘love thy neighbor.’ and arguing online is NOT lovin’ thy neighbor! Why, look at ‘em, arguing so rudely! How cruel.

I just wanna say, God gave us free will, and this ain’t a very good way to use it. Why don’t we start goin’ around, lovin’ thy neighbor? I’ll start.

Even though y’all BLASPHEMOUS individuals cannot stop talkin’ about this ‘ere band, I still love all y’all. May God bless y’all 🙏✝️

[kaylee68]

Part 2: Parentification, Abuse and Exploitation

Wanna start this section off by saying that despite my efforts I am absolutely going to be biased within this analysis. Not this section particularly but probably somewhere in the future.

I don’t hate Kalim or anything, but I do like Jamil a lot, if you couldn’t tell by me writing this whole thing and while I want to do my best to acknowledge his actions in book 4, which despite being understandable were still wrong, I need people reading this to know that I’m not perfect.

I will be criticising Kalim’s actions as well as Jamil’s, and I will also be providing my own theories and opinions on them, and I’ll try to be unbiased but I might still get things wrong.

I said it in the first part but I’ll say it again here that if you disagree with anything I say or if you think I was too harsh with Kalim and too lenient with Jamil then feel free to argue again so long as you’re respectful.

I’m also not a psychologist or anything, but I’m going to be discussing the potential affects of abuse so be warned that what I say might not be entirety accurate as it will be mostly based on what I find online.

I meant to add this in the last part but I forgot, so I thought I’d put it here. Sorry if it ends up sounding repetitive.

Anyway onwards.

Trigger warnings for discussions of abuse, but I think the title made that obvious.

The definition for parentification I found online described it as: When a child is forced to take on the role of a supportive adult within their family.

I think this is an aspect of Jamil’s childhood that is severely overlooked, granted I haven’t been in this fandom for very long, but I hardly see anyone acknowledge it, or how damaging it is.

Of course Kalim and him aren’t family so maybe Adultification would fit the situation better? But I thought the gist was still the same.

From a very young age Jamil was forced into a caretaker role for Kalim. He performed a lot of the practical responsibilities such as cooking and cleaning. And he mentions getting scolded for being too young to use the stove at some point so we know he was performing these tasks at an age where they weren’t appropriate.

He is also expected by his parents to mature a lot faster than he should be. We see this in his backstory, when they tell him to downplay his own skill for Kalim’s sake. Which as a result leads to Jamil repressing his own emotional needs which then ends up heavily affecting his mental state throughout the game.

Parentification has many lasting effects, things like: anxiety, low self esteem, increased likelihood of risky behaviors. It can also lead to struggles with setting boundaries as well as emotional regulation.

All traits that can be applied to Jamil in my opinion.

It is mentioned by several other characters that Jamil is constantly stressed and anxious and we see during the firelit sky event when with Najma that he is extremely sensitive to criticism.

Apparently as a child she called his singing bad and Jamil spent years trying to prove her wrong despite the fact that she had already forgotten about the conversation.

I think increased likelihood of risky behaviour speaks for itself when you consider how bad the consequences could’ve been after book 4 for him and his family if Azul had actually been live streaming.

Parentification itself is a form of emotional abuse. However it is not the only way Jamil is exploited.

Being a servant to Kalim and his family leaves him in a vulnerable position and this is very much taken advantage of by the Asim’s who frequently abuse him, which again I barely ever see talked about.

Maybe because it’s not so overt as most people assume it to be? Abuse of servants in media is often depicted as violent and humiliating, and Jamil’s situation is definitely more mentally damaging over all, but either way it’s still abuse.

He is being intimidated and coerced into working since he mentions how his entire family would suffer where he to disobey Kalim.

Not to mention the Viper family living on the Asim’s property, (which heavily implies Jamil’s family don’t actually own the house) is a massive red flag as their home seems to be something that could be held over their head.

Even if it hasn’t been explicitly threatened in the English translation, I think the original dialogue mentions that Jamil disobeying could put his whole family on the streets which means there is a massive power dynamic between him and Kalim, which causes several issues when it comes to consent and boundaries.

And it’s these issues that lead to Jamil being exploited labour wise throughout the game.

Where I live Jamil’s position violates several child labour laws. Of course this is a fictional world so for all I know everything he’s doing could be perfectly legal, but his workload is still very overwhelming.

He has been forced to keep up with a full time employment alongside a full time education since he was at minimum elementary school age, and potentially even younger.

This leads to his employment often disrupting his education since Jamil is expected to act as Kalim’s full time caretaker.

We see examples of this during one of Treys vignettes where it is mentioned that Jamil had to leave his own lessons because Kalim wanted to take his flying carpet to class and ended up loosing control over it, and again during one of Ace’s vignettes while attempting to complete an assignment he is called over by Kalim and made to leave his own work behind.

There’s also the fact that Kalim regularly hosts parties and gatherings for people that he expects Jamil to plan, decorate, cook for and clean up which leaves Jamil very little free time especially if you factor in having to keep up with schoolwork/studying on top of all this.

As someone who used to act as a caretaker for their younger siblings for extended periods of time I’m telling you this shit takes a toll on your mental health. It’s exhausting.

I mean it’s no wonder that he’s stressed all the time.

Even if on their own these things could be considered small, they are all still examples of work affecting his school life, and the stress/ overwhelm of it all tends to build up over time.

Then there’s the most obvious form of abuse in Jamil being expected to poison test Kalim’s meals.

We know he’s been doing this since before he came to NRC and if you read through the vignettes I think it’s implied that this likely started when he was around 13/14.

I mean I don’t really think I have to elaborate on why having a 13 year old taste test for poison is insane.

This is also why I get so confused when I see people attempt to defend the Asim family, because this alone even without all the other stuff makes them horrible people.

Like Kalim’s dad hopefully isn’t stupid considering he runs a massive trading company. Definitely not dumb enough to think Jamil is in any way willing to do this, unlike Kalim he’s a grown adult who understands that he can leverage the power he has over Jamil’s family to make him do it anyway.

It’s also another thing that makes me question just how much power the Asim’s have over Jamil’s family, because surely if they were paid a liveable wage, and were free, voluntary servants they’d have left by now?

Jamil’s parents don’t seem to like their position too much? Jamil obviously doesn’t want to be there and I personally would rather take the risk of being on the streets than the risk of my child dying.

The fact that despite this the Vipers are still working there makes me think that whatever consequence Jamil and his parents are so scared of is a lot worse than just being kicked out of their home.

Of course there’s always the possibility that his parents are just assholes. I mean they are also abusing Jamil

Though we hear very little about them outside of his backstory the two scenes we do see them in speak volumes to what Jamil’s childhood with them was like.

I’ve already mentioned the parentification, but a lot of that was instigated by his parents who put the heavy burden of their delicate situation on Jamil despite him still being a child, but there’s also the fact that they do just openly hit him and call him stupid.

Both those things happen right in front of Kalim who doesn’t say anything about it and while we already know that Kalim has been very normalised to the abuse Jamil faces I think this along with Jamil’s overall treatment and how his parents act during his backstory could also hint at abuse towards servants in general within the Asim household being pretty normalised to him.

I really don’t know enough about the Vipers or their situation to say for certain why they make the choices they do. Jamil’s parents seem terrified when they scold him and I do think they genuinely love him but although they’re in a situation where they aren’t able to protect him, I feel like there’s so much more they could’ve done instead of basically telling him to just suck it up.

I also think that part of the reason that all of this rarely gets mentioned and is also frequently excused and defended is because the twst fandom in general seems to also adultify Jamil.

I mean it’s not malicious or overt but I think even small things like jokes about him being the mom friend sort of play into this idea that Jamil is more mature than he actually is which is a position that has been thrust on him his entire life.

I mean he’s 17 and he literally does not know a life outside of work. That’s incredibly depressing and also just way too much for a child.

If anything I’d argue the abuse he’s faced in childhood has stunted his development. Especially because some of his actions make him seem a lot less mature than most of the cast all things considered.

Idk this is something I feel passionate about cause it’s something I heavily relate to and I don’t want to go too in depth into this but I wonder if his race also plays a factor in this, because it is him and Leona who I often see people hating on the most. Though then again that could just be because they are my faves.

And the fact that Kalim is very infantilised within the fandom could also be a factor.

But yeah, I think that mostly brings this section to a close? I think I want to go more in depth on how the abuse and conditioning still and honestly always will affect his relationship with Kalim, but this also ended up being really long so I think I’ll leave it here.

I apologise for any spelling mistakes!

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

[apollosgiftofprophecy]

crawling into your asks to whine about percy being a mary sue

I maaaaay have to disagree with you here 😅(but also not? hear me out.)

Percy is absolutely one of those characters that you look at and go "isn't he a mary sue?" (especially when you're a fan of an equally-powerful girl who gets called a mary sue by the wider fandom. meg haters i am looking in your direction.)

According to Wikipedia, a Mary Sue is "a type of fictional character, usually a young woman, who is portrayed as free of weaknesses or character flaws." TV Tropes expands on this by saying it "differs wildly from circle to circle, and often from person to person.

"These traits usually reference the character's perceived importance in the story, their physical design and an irrelevantly over-skilled or over-idealized nature."

This is where I would question if Percy is really a Mary Sue - the first series is, after all, his story, so he will of course be important to it. His physical design isn't anything new, either, since attractive black-haired, green-eyed boy has been used before in other media. Now is he overly-skill?

*steeples fingers* Yes and no. Let me explain.

No, because he is, after all, a child of one of the elder gods. It's a given that he'd be much more powerful than other demigods.

Yes, however, because Percy absolutely serves as a power-fantasy for readers. He does have a leg-up on other demigods of the elder gods in comparison, like Thalia, Jason, Hazel, and even Nico.

But what I would argue separates him from being a Mary Sue is that he does struggle (losing control of his powers, for once, becoming fearful of them even), and he does have flaws (obvs his fatal one is the most prevalent, and yeah you can argue since it's a "good natured" one it doesn't count, but I'd point out that even good things can become bad if not used in moderation - which is something Percy eventually learns and overcomes in TLO by handing the knife to Luke, and ergo defeating his desire to be the one to save his friends and letting Luke fulfill his own destiny) - and he's not universally loved by everyone in-story, either (eventually...yes, but really that's kinda understandable, considering he's saved the world twice by then). He was after all ostracized TWICE in the first two books by CHB, and CJ wasn't all the welcoming to him either - some even said "another loser for the Fifth" when the Fifth took him in, DESPITE the fact that he's obviously a powerful demigod and was JUST given Juno's blessing to boot.

But but but...I can definitely see why he could be argued to be a Mary Sue.

Especially when we think about Meg McCaffrey and how some people in the wider fandom call her a Mary Sue.

Mad she's just as powerful as Percy? That she has the potential to be even more so? Too bad. Meg rules. This blog loves Meg McCaffrey send tweet.

Notice how I didn't mention her with the other children of the elder gods before? That was on purpose.

Because Meg is allowed to BE powerful. She gets to flex her skills and practice her abilities! That sets her apart from the other elder god kids, who, besides Nico, really don't get much time to shine in the Power department. Like yeah, we KNOW they're powerful, but...we don't really see it?

Thalia, for one. The most powerful thing she does in-series is a lightningstorm in TLO. And it's not described in any detail. Jason? Capturing the wind spirits, likely. Hazel? Defeating Scyron with the Mist.

Nico also has different treatment when it comes to power compared to the other three, though he does have a handicap for shadow travel.

All's this to say, I guess, is that I can see the argument for Percy being a Mary Sue, but also I can't because there is nuances to consider, and Meg absolutely matches him and she is NOT a Mary Sue (fight me haters).

Also, "Mary Sue" has become a rather...hmm...sexist term, in my opinion? Particularly towards women, ofc, but also I think it's damaging to how men are written too.

Plus, Mary Sues and their male counterparts aren't always bad characters. Going back to wikipedia for a hot second; "In a 2011 interview, Smith cited James Bond and Superman as examples of male Mary Sues, arguing that such characters benefit the male audience's coming of age." Kirk from Star Trek has also been debated over of being a Mary Sue, and yet he, Bond, and Superman are all popular characters.

...I suppose this is where the part on the perception of female vs male characters kicks in - AKA, the "sexism in fandoms" talk and OH BOY DOES THE RRVERSE FANDOM HAVE THAT PROBLEM

#HOTTAKEALERT (not for the toa fandom tho. we know what we're on about :3)

Case in Point: the above talk about Meg. god forbid a girl be skilled or powerful at anything.

"but she's twelve she's not supposed to be able to fight good-!" SHE'S BEEN ABUSED AND VIGOROUSLY TRAINED SINCE SHE WAS 6 AND PERCY WAS ABLE TO DEFEAT THE GOD OF WAR AT 12 AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF TRAINING + WATER

"she's annoying!!" bro have you NEVER met a twelve year old?? were YOU a twelve year old?? because I sure was and man i was annoying. also, Percy & co don't come off as annoying because we are IN THEIR PERSPECTIVE, and twelve year olds are not as visibly annoying to other twelve year olds - MEANWHILE we're seeing Meg through the eyes of a 4,000+ year old god.

also, her "annoying" qualities are endearing. Rick has correctly written a likable 12 year old y'all just hate girls that don't fit your stereotypical vision. traffic light outfits FTW i want to be as unapologetically myself as Meg is unapologetically Meg.

a 12 year old is inspiring to ME, and ADULT. so yeah.

hot take of the day is Meg is/will be more powerful than Percy. Haters just refuse to accept she's anything but a "mArY sUe!" because they hate the thought of any woman being able to match up to Percy.

Anyway I guess this was all to say that I don't personally consider Percy a Mary Sue, because he's a good comparison to use for other characters to determine just how shafted by the narrative they were.

Cheers to Meg and Nico for measuring up well, and pour one out for Thalia, Jason, and Hazel who are victims of "tell and not show".

[bananonbinary]

my most unpopular opinion i think is that i don't actually like the idea of "fairly compensated labor" (stay with me) because i don't really like the idea that output is connected to your ability to survive at all.

like. the word "fairly" implies here that there is some sort of objective balance between "effort" and "payment," and it's not something we made up based on current cost of living and all that. which has the somewhat nasty corollary that if you DON'T work, you haven't earned that payment, do not deserve it, and in fact you getting it is "unfair." it's also....just really confusing and conceptual? like, you're trying to put a concrete number on someone's time, their concentration, their experience, their materials, AND weigh that against how much food and shelter costs. it's the problem of "unskilled labor," anyone can come along and disagree with you about what any of those things is worth. and the solution can't just be "all labor is worth whatever it costs to live," because again, we start to get into sick days and disability and children and elderly, and it gets muddied again. it makes far more sense to me to say "living is a human right," and then "labor is a social obligation, like voting or jury duty." you pay into society because that's what a society is, not because you need to in order to eat.

to be clear, i am NOT saying people should work for free. and within our current system, we should pay people as best we can to keep them alive and comfortable. i just think when envisioning the future, it's a mistake to continue trying to quantify someone's Societal Contribution with some sort of hard number.

[parkminijiminie]

AYS - Jeju trip /my recap/

Now that all of the Jeju episodes have aired, I've come back to quickly share my opinion. Disclaimer: This is just my opinion and speculation, you are more than free to disagree with me.

Overall, I managed to enjoy the episodes despite my initial hesitation. I was 50-50 about the first episode and I liked the other two. It wasn't a full love because while watching, I couldn't relax completely knowing how certain things would be twisted later on, but overall I enjoyed Jeju much more than I anticipated.

Let's start with the obvious difference between Jeju and NY, namely "the guest". TH's presence didn't add anything of value for me, apart from some cute Vmin moments and very few but still cute Vminkook ones. His being there didn't show me any new insight into their relationships, and there was no major change in either Vmin or Taekook. Even though Tae and JK spent a lot of time together in the first half of 2023, I didn't see any change in their dynamics or any new emotional depth to it. As many people have already said, JK and Tae together are two kids bouncing off each other's energies. They really bring out the immaturity in each other, and even if I tried, I could not get any romantic vibes from their interactions. Jk made it abundantly clear that TH being there was something he didn't choose and even seemed mildly annoyed by it the first day.

When it comes to JM and JK, this trip also didn't show anything new for me, but rather things I've always associated them with - their own private jokes, their being in sync with each other at all times, just existing in their own little world. They really do click. I loved their scenes at the pool, both days, I loved that JK is JM's personal chef, I loved that JM always pays attention to what JK is doing, even when driving, I loved their little joint routine at all times of the day. This really was JM and JK's trip through and through, and even a third party being there didn't really change anything. The only time we didn't have the signature JK and JM interactions was when JM was feeling unwell, after that they were back to their usual antics.

Jeju to me showed them being as close as ever. None of the tension and awkwardness from NY was present, which means that whatever issues they previously had, it was all resolved between the two trips.

As for them individually, I would say I am more and more and more amazed with Jimin with every new footage of this man I see. Firstly, he is just so naturally uniquely gorgeous. I kept staring at his bare face and wondering how one person could be so pretty even when sleeping, driving, and feeling sick. It's just like magic to me. More than that, he is just a class act through and through. He is polite, fun, considerate, energetic, just the whole package.

When it comes to JK, I would say he is a special person and probably a lot to handle in real life. He can be really sweet and his love language is definitely acts of service, but he also has an immature side to him. Maybe that comes from being the youngest and I think it was especially amplified because he was with the youngest members who always let him off easily. I think he is very kind-hearted, definitely not mean-spirited like some people make him out to be, but he is also a little bit impulsive at times. Personally, for me, he would probably be a little too much to handle in real life, but I can see that JM for sure knows how to handle him really well. As for JK's feelings towards Jimin, I think this boy lives and breathes for Jimin's attention. When JM is near, he is downright obsessed with having his eyes on him. He truly is like a big energetic, sometimes unruly puppy, wanting to be played with, praised, and loved upon. I can't really blame him, though. I, too, would turn into a clown or a personal chef, if it meant having Park Jimin's love and attention directed at me. In my opinion, nobody could truly deserve Jimin, but it is clear that Jimin truly adores Jungkook.

Jeju definitely showed that Jm and Jk have a very special type of relationship. The vibes between them were as weird as ever and it left me with more questions about the nature of their relationship than answers, but then again, this is also nothing new. 2023 Jikook remains confusing to me, but I am okay with that.

In conclusion, I liked the Jeju trip and I am not afraid to admit I love the solo parts between Jm and Jk the most. After all, this is what I paid for and wanted to see from the beginning and I am glad there were still plenty of JM and JK solo interactions. While these three episodes were better than what I expected them to be, I am the most excited about the upcoming Japan ones. I must admit I dreaded the Jeju episodes a little bit, which is why I actually didn't watch the first two right away, but I am fully, and 100% excited about Japan.

[ratlesshonret]

RatlessHonret's (Totally Biased) Ranking of RPG-Maker Horror* Games

*Some games, namely Yume Nikki/2kki and OFF, may be argued to not be "horror" games. However, I included them because, even if they do not fit the genre of RPG-Maker Horror, they are both adjacent to and incredibly influential upon the genre

This is gonna be a long post. But I love RPG-Maker Horror. I've loved it for a long time. So I decided, why not take every one I've played, and put them in one big tier list of Twenty-Three Games.

Below the cut, I'm going to explain my rankings of each game. So if you disagree with me, then uh. At least read that first, and then mald in the comments about OFF only being C or some random shit nobody has ever heard of making it into A.

(Also, every game will have a link to download/buy in this post, in case one interests you)

Pocket Mirror / Pocket Mirror ~ GoldenerTraum 10/10 Creator: Astral Shift Original Release: July 22, 2016 (Free!) GoldenerTraum Release: February 6, 2023 ($20 USD)

Originally released in 2016, I was just the right age for this game to leave a massive impression on my psyche. This game has shaped who I am as a person in ways that I'm still just coming to understand (like possible plurality?)

A young girl wakes up in a room with no memory of who she is or what she must do. With nothing but a Pocket Mirror in her possession, and a voice telling her to keep her memories close to her heart, she must navigate a frightening world full of the unknown and the untrustworthy.

The music? Amazing. The graphics? For the time, amazing, and only improved in the remaster. The story? Top tier for a game of its kind. Characters? Super memorable. The scares are not that great, but honestly you don't play any of the games on this list for the horror.

I love every single thing about this game. It changed who I am as a person for the better, and has become the lens through which I view most things in my life. I frequently refer to it as my favorite game of all time, because it is.

This game is also the axis upon which every other game on this list is judged. If a game is a 5/10, it does not mean its a 5/10 game necessarily, just that it is when I compare it to Pocket Mirror.

So please, play Pocket Mirror. I beg of you.

.flow 10/10 Creator: lolrust Original Release: February 15, 2009 (Free!)

The single best Yume Nikki Fangame (ynfg) ever released, in my humble opinion. A combination of small worlds, a hostile feeling environment, and a general eerie ambience make this game an unsettling one to walk around in.

The game follows the traditional Yume Nikki formula. Go to computer, enter dream world, walk around, see random shit, gather effects, get endings.

The smallness is what I enjoy about this game. Some other ynfgs (and even the original) tend to have massive worlds, and a lot of them at that. It isn't as though navigation in .flow isn't confusing, but its not as much of a chore as a game that makes you run for two hours to get anywhere.

The story is also not clear. Up to interpretation. Kind of like the original Yume Nikki before they made a bunch of stuff trying to add a story to it and canonize fan theories, or whatever is happening with that game. lolrust has been very cagey about a lot of aspects of the "plot" to the game, and aside from occasional talks of a potential sequel, the game has been dormant for about six years now, with its last update in 2019.

If any developer mastered the Yume Nikki formula and made it into something I actively enjoy playing, its lolrust. I have to give massive props to them for making such a great game. (Also, I gotta support fellow enbies in gamedev when I can)

Lily's Well 10/10 Creator: PureIceBlue Original Release: January 4, 2022 ($10 USD)

A delightful little body-horror focused mindfuck of a game. In fact, if you like body horror, this may be the best game on this list. And there's lots of bonus content beyond the game as well, such as the Lily's Birthday video, for those who really wanna delve deep into the lore.

A young girl is home alone, and hears a voice coming from her well outside. She must gather materials for a rope, to descend deep into the well. But what is truly at the bottom?

This game's story is told brilliantly, and the twist really is a horrifying one to think about for too long. I don't wanna say too much, so I'll just recommend you to play it for yourself. Its only like, 3-4 hours long at most.

I Cannot Drown 9/10 Creator: PureIceBlue Original Release: June 30, 2019 (Free!)

A sort of prequel to Lily's Well, I Cannot Drown is a game about trying to be returned to the mortal realm. Another body horror adventure, this game focuses a lot more on the eerie ambience typical of the ynfg genre.

Honestly, there isn't much to say. Its a ynfg, there's body horror, you know the deal. Though I must say, it is probably the only ynfg to genuinely creep me out. So pick it up, its free, and play for a few hours. It isn't that long.

Ib 8/10 Creator: kouri Original Release: February 27, 2012 (Free!) Remake Release: April 11, 2022 ($13 USD)

You know this game. I don't even need to explain it, honestly.

What is there to say about Ib? It's Ib. Better puzzles than usual for an RPG Maker Horror experience (though not quite top tier imo), an interesting story, INCREDIBLY charming characters, and its just. Fun to play, I find.

I get why this game is a classic I have dissed on it too hard over the years, I've come to learn.

Cat in the Box 8/10 Creator: Gustav Original Release: May 1, 2020 ($7 USD)

This is probably one of the most confusing games on the list in terms of placement for many. This small game, which many have never heard of, getting this high of a placement on the list?

You are a content creator for an unspecified video sharing platform, looking to hit it big. So, you decide to head to a haunted house, said to be home to a cult that mysteriously disappeared. In your chase of the content, you become trapped inside, and must find your way out.

In a nutshell, this game is a twist on the typical "girl gets stuck in big house with scary killer" genre of RPG Maker Horror. However, the twists, turns, and visuals within this game make it an interesting take on the formula. The art that is original is good, which more than makes up for the default assets that make up the majority of the game (which imo, isn't much of a negative in the first place.)

Give it a look if you have some free time. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Project Kat - Paper Lily Prologue 8/10 Creator: Leef 6010 Original Release: October 15, 2021 (Free!)

Another smaller game, with less of a fanbase. I want to be clear that I haven't found the time to play the game to which this is a prologue, of which the first chapter came out... semi-recently.

An occultism-obsessed girl sneaks into her school at night, looking to perform a ritual to test its validity. As a skeptic, she doubts it'll work, but tries it out regardless.

I love the writing in this game. The characters are strong, there's some cute moments, and it gets appropriately fearsome if you follow the intended path to the "true" ending.

Though honestly, this is one of those games where the true ending is so depressing I almost want some of the happier alternate endings to be canon instead. Either way, its a fun way to kill some hours, and a good take on a classic formula. You can't go wrong with that.

Little Goody Two Shoes 8/10 Creator: Astral Shift Original Release: October 31, 2023 ($20 USD)

Going to be up front: This game was saved from a 7 rating by it being Pocket Mirror's prequel.

Elise is a girl tired of living in her boring old town with her annoying neighbors. So she does what any reasonable person would do: partakes in a deal with a demon. What will happen next? Find out for yourself.

This game for sure has its issues, but I love it. The art is phenomenal, and the story is great. My main issues come from how much dialogue you need to skip through on replaying for endings and some of the puzzles being a bit obtuse and annoying.

Overall, I do love this game. I may have overhyped myself for it, causing a touch of disappointment when it wasn't literally a perfect game, but I think anyone playing it will heavily enjoy their time with the game if they're inclined to liking these sorts of games (which, if you're reading this post, you probably do)

Sorry, We're Open + No Delivery 7/10 Creator: Oates Original Release (SWO): February 17, 2023 ($8 USD) Original Release (ND): September 26, 2019 ($5 USD)

The first "VCRPGs" by Oates on this list, these two games are being ranked as a pair due to their similarities with each other and my identical overall ranking of the two. I'd say Sorry, We're Open is a bit stronger overall, but not enough to bump it up a point for me.

No Delivery follows a pizza restaurant in the 80's, with a mysterious past and odd rumors floating around. As a roguelike, your job is to delve deeper into the pizzeria, gaining more knowledge with each new employee you control.

Sorry, We're Open is a very similar premise, although following a retail store instead.

These two games sort of blend together in my mind, but I think you'll know if you like them just on sight. The aesthetics are good, the writing is good, and overall I really enjoy these games for what they are.

The Boogie Man 6/10 Creator: Uri Games Original Release: Feb 13, 2018 ($3 USD)

The third game in the "Strange Men" series, you follow a detective sent on vacation to an old castle by your boss. As you're there, your strained relationship with your wife comes to a head, your past comes to haunt you, and some fucking guy is also trying to kill people or whatever.

This is much closer to "classic" RPG Maker Horrors than some of the previous entries on this list. Many endings, obscure requirements, and frequent tropes that aren't as common now as they used to be.

Overall, this game is my favorite in the series. Its very rough around the edges, but has enough intrigue to it that I don't mind it so much after getting used to it.

Ann 6/10 Creator: Rong Rong Original Release: August 26, 2021 (Free!)

This game, while short, has a lot of charm to it. The art is great, and the story, while maybe a weak point of the game, does have its moments for sure.

An art student named Ann is locked in her school after hours, and strange events begin to occur. As she's helped by the security guard, she must uncover the history behind the school and attempt to escape with her life.

Overall, this game's main strength is just the charm it carries. Its very earnest in a way I love. And as mentioned earlier, the art really carries it. If you're just looking for a free, low-energy way to pass a night, this game is perfectly good. Who knows, you may end up liking it even more than I do.

Turtle Head / Turtle Head Unmasked 6/10 Creator: Pikasprey Original Release: May 3, 2016 (Free!) Unmasked Release: May 9, 2021 (Free!)

What happens when a YouTuber known for making RPG Horror content decides to create his own RPG Horror game? The answer is a veritable love-letter to the genre, with enough of a following to create a fanmade (and officially endorsed) remake five years later.

You and your friends sneak into school after hours to look into rumors about whether or not it is haunted. Along the way, you encounter spooks, scares, and the titular Turtle Head.

This game is practically the definition of traditional. As I mentioned, it is basically a love letter to the classics of the late-2000's to early-2010's. And while many of its ideas are old, they're executed rather well, and the game has no lack of charm to back those ideas up.

If you want to play a nice homage to games of eras past, both the original release and the remake are free to play whenever you want, and only take an estimated 2 or so hours to clear. I think the short length is actually the only thing holding it back from being even higher on this list for me.

(Also, this ranking is totally biased by my being a Pikasprey fan, and him having been what got me into this genre in the first place all those years ago)

Nobody's Home 6/10 Creator: Oates Original Release: March 25, 2020

Another "VCRPG" by Oates, this game is much shorter than the ones higher up this list. However, it carries the exact same style as the games before, albeit with slightly different gameplay.

After a rager of a party, you wake up in a house, and must wander around to figure out why... Nobody's Home.

I think the short length of this game compared to the other two is the only reason I placed it so low compared to them. If this game were much longer, I'd place it higher. But if you want a bite-sized Oates experience to introduce yourself to these "VCRPGs," then this is the place to look.

OFF 5/10 Creator: Mortis Ghost Original Release: May 14, 2008 (Free!) Remake Release: 2025 (Not Yet Released)

This ranking may be divisive. I don't think I even need to explain what OFF is, since you've probably heard of it if you're reading this.

I don't dislike OFF. I simply don't find much enjoyment in it, either. That's why I give it a perfect 5/10. Middle of the road for the genre, to me. I also have no nostalgia for this game, having only first experienced it like... last year?

I get why people love it, and if you haven't tried it you totally should, but its just not for me.

Coffin of Ashes 5/10 Creator: Ladomu Original Release: December 8, 2016 ($7 USD)

Another one very few have probably heard of.

Tell me if you've heard this one before: A girl gets caught in the rain, takes shelter in a mansion, and has spooky stuff happen.

The art of the game is really good, which makes up for all the default assets used. The plot is also pretty good, which is this game's saving grace to becoming memorable for me.

...Until the end. Honestly, the game really drops the ball with the plot in the last, like, five minutes. Which is the only reason this game isn't a 6 or maybe even a 7.

Overall, this is a good one to check out if you've played through a bunch of other games like this and are looking for something new to play. One of those "make fun of it but because you kind of like it" kind of games.

The Witch's House / The Witch's House MV 4/10 Creator: Fummy Original Release: October 3, 2012 (Free!) MV Release: October 31, 2018 ($15 USD)

The classic of classics, this game exploded when it released, and really served as an inspiration for the entire genre.

Which means it, to me, suffers the problem of "everything in the genre was inspired by it, so by the time i first experienced it, it felt super basic and bland"

I get why it is important! And why people still like it! I just, like some others on this list, have no nostalgia for it and wasn't gripped by the plot or characters or art. Or really anything about it. Maybe if I had seen it earlier, or it had been my first RPG Maker Horror, like it was for so many others, I would like it more.

As it stands, this game is a classic, for better and for worse.

The Sand Man + The Crooked Man 4/10 Creator: Uri Games Original Release (SM): February 28, 2014 ($3 USD) Original Release (CM): April 1, 2013 ($3 USD)

The first two games in the Strange Men series, The Crooked Man and The Sand Man are basically one long game in my mind. So I ranked them together.

These are also classics among classics, albeit maybe not to the level of OFF or Witch's House. Overall these games are fine, but suffer for their age.

Both games are obviously dated, using tropes and design elements characteristic of early-2010's RPG Maker Horror games. But they're good overall, with decent enough plots and art. I'd say give them a try if you have a spare afternoon or two to play through them. (There are also ways to get the original versions of these games for free, but from what I can tell the Steam versions are identical. You can search out those other versions if you don't wanna blow six bucks on them)

Yume Nikki 3/10 Creator: kikiyama Original Release: June 26, 2004

This may end up being the most controversial placing on this list. A THREE? FOR YUME NIKKI? JUST WHO ARE YOU???

I don't like this game. I'm sorry but I don't. And I won't go on a long diatribe about how its actually bad or anything, because that'd be boring, but I just don't.

I think this game suffers from what came after. Every subsequent attempt to make some "official" Yume Nikki thing that came after was terrible. And in my mind it made the original less and less interesting over time. It also just suffers from oversaturation to me.

Finally, there's just SO MANY ynfgs out there that are better. There's not much reason to play the original, in my mind.

So, let me give you a list of Games I'd Rather Play: .flow answered prayers deep dreams muma|rope amillusion dream genie mikan muzou

Ao Oni 2/10 Creator: noprops Original Release*: October 2008 (Free!) Remake Release: July 25, 2024 ($10 USD) *no link is given for the reason of too many versions of the game to choose which one i want to link as the "definitive" one

If you read my sections on OFF, Witch's House, Ib, and Yume Nikki, then you'd know why I don't like this game. Its kind of a combination of all of the above, to be honest.

No nostalgia, not gripped by the art or plot, and kind of milked to death after release, as well as being oversaturated in the culture of those who play these games.

Truly suffering from success, I'd say. Though to be honest, this game really feels like a relic of its time to me. Something better left in the past.

But maybe to some, its more of a treasure of a bygone era.

Mad Father 2/10 Creator: Sen Original Release: December 10, 2012 (Free!) Remake Release: September 23, 2016 ($10 USD)

Where to start? A plot that I remember as "confused," a remake that was plagued with bugs on release, and a cultural impact that I'd best describe as "overrated," Mad Father is obviously, by its ranking, a game I have never enjoyed.

You've heard me say this all a lot, but: No nostalgia, not gripped by the plot, and not caring for the fandom. Truly a triple-threat.

I don't want to keep talking shit about Mad Father, because I know fans of it are probably reading this, but it is one of three games on this list I genuinely do not like.

And the third game is...

Yume 2kki 1/10 Creator: Various Original Release: May 26, 2007

If "Quantity over Quality" was a video game.

[trans-luis-serra-navarro]

okay i'm asking this because you're the friendliest ever, but I wanted to ask: what do you think the scene was like between Leon and Luis when Leon got off the elevator (after almost collapsing/passing out/whatever the hell was going on with him and Las Plagas) and from the point in which Leon was sitting there at the start of the next chapter squeezing is hand and saying he felt better???? Because it must have been a little while (both because of the seemingly time cut between chapters, but also later when Leon gives Ashley the suppressant and he clearly settles down to wait which implies it took Leon a while to respond and he is anticipating the same thing with Ashley) and surely they talked? Luis I'm-not-that-kind-of-doctor-but-wow-you-look-bad Serra and Leon I'll-rest-when-I'm-dead Kennedy must have talked, right???? I just wanna talk about themmmmmmmmm

Okokok I left this ask unanswered for SO LONG cuz the SECOND I started reading it I just KNEW I was gonna be lead down a rabbit hole that I wanted to do justice because like,,,, what WOULD they have talked about?!?!

Edit: this got a L O T longer than I intended I’m so sorry HDNEHENDJ so everything’s gonna be under the cut!!!! Give me the opportunity and I’ll talk about Luis for hours (also obligatory This Is All My Personal Opinion/Reading You Don’t Have To Agree If You Dont Wanna please don’t kill me HCHDNEDJ)

Like you said there seems to be a fair bit of time inbetween chapter breaks we just don’t see for the sake of pacing that REALLY fascinates me, ESPECIALLY because we’re at a pretty interesting point in Leon (and subsequently the player) and Luis’ relationship. It’s right after Luis has fluked us twice on call, and it’s right before the massive mine section you fight together in- it’s a pretty pivotal point in their relationship where Luis needs to up his game and prove to Leon that he CAN trust him. Yet he’s still gotta maintain some sort of mysterious and/or suave persona that I think throws a lot of people off when talking about how his and Leon’s relationship develop

Now of course this is all just MYYYYYY personal opinion/reading of his character cuz I am very very very invested in it BCNENEJD and you’re free to disagree!!! But I think that scene is a pretty perfect example of just how DESPERATE Luis is for companionship and trust. I think a lot of people are of the assumption that Luis only started ‘changing for the better’ AFTER he met Ashley and Leon- which personally I don’t think is the case!! We meet Luis after he’s clearly hit a moral rock-bottom. He’s been trapped under Los Illuminados’ reign for however long for whatever reason and has been COMPLETELY isolated from any human contact aside from his own coworkers for at the VERY LEAST five years. And in those five years, he’s watched the people who were most likely once individuals he grew up with become infected and loose all sense of humanity. RIGHT AFTER he escaped Umbrella too, most likely cuz he found out that all the hard work he poured into that company was being used for malicious reasons. One horrible thing on top of the other.

His life is a cycle of trying and failing over and over again- he watches his Grandfather pass away from something entirely out of his control as a young boy, and takes that trauma and grief and pours it into his research with Umbrella possibly in the hopes of preventing something like that to ever happen again- only for that to backfire. Whether it’s because he had no idea or because he purposefully let that anger consume him and let apathy fester and grow to the point where he just didn’t care, either way, he’s lost everything he loved once again. And when he returns to the only place he knows he can find solace in companionship, his childhood home, it all comes crumbling down on him too. Every attempt he’s made at righting his last wrongs, proving himself to the people he loves- it fails every single time. Obviously we don’t know WHY exactly Luis joined Los Illuminados, but if you were asking ME PERSONALLY based off of the beginning of Seperate Ways I think he didn’t have a choice but I DIGRESS!!!! Luis is at a point where he’s hit a rock-bottom he’s unsure he can come back from. Every attempt at doing good has been squashed, and no matter how hard he tries, the cycle just keeps on repeating. He’s desperate not just to escape Valdelobos, but to prove to SOMEBODY, ANYBODY, that he CAN do good. That he CAN right his wrongs. And I think the first place we physically SEE that need and desperation is in his relationship with Ada during Seperate Ways

(But I’m gonna save that for another post cuz this one’s already getting too long and rambly BCNEJSNJX but the tl;dr is that Ada and Luis are two sides of the same coin. Ada is in a similar situation as Luis where her hands are tied and she has no other option BUT to do what she’s told, despite not wanting to, and I think Luis can tell that. He trusts her and puts so much faith in her cuz he KNOWS that when the time comes, she’ll do the right thing)

But getting back on track- at the point where we first meet Luis he’s hit a rock-bottom. All attempts to help people, to prove that he can do good things- ie joining Umbrella under the guise of medical research, creating the Plagas removal machine etc- have been squashed. Every. Single. Time. He’s living a cycle of trying to do good, trying to live up to the people he’s lost and is desperate to prove that to ANYONE. The guilt of his actions is consuming and in my humble opinion it’s genuinely so admirable that he STILL KEPT GOING despite it all!!!! but anyways!!!!!!! When Leon and Ashley roll into his life, two people who are completely innocent in everything happening around him, it’s the perfect chance for Luis to genuinely help somebody and prove that he can do good. They don’t know about his past! They don’t know about all the blood on his hands!!! He can FINALLY prove to somebody that he’s a good person!!!! They’re probably some of the first people he’s been able to have a proper conversation with aside from Ada in YEARS- he’s been beaten to the ground so many times that he’s willing to do ANYTHING to gain not just their trust, but their friendship and appreciation too.

I think a pretty subtly overlooked fact about Luis is that deep down, no matter how much bad he does, no matter how much he throws himself into his work, he craves companionship and human company. He keeps the photo of the Umbrella Dream Team and his lighter with him, the first place he runs to when things turn south is his childhood home- no matter how badly he tries to resist it, he craves human contact and a sense of familiarity over anything. He wants friends, people who see him as more than just his mistakes, as more than all the wrong he’s caused- he wants people to see him for who he is in the now, in the moment. Even when he feels as though he doesn’t deserve forgiveness or friendship. And yet Leon and Ashley and Ada give that to him before they even know his full story, before they even know what his motives are and why he cares so much. The last time Ashley met him, she put her faith in his work- the last time Ada saw him before his death, she equally put her faith into his work, too. And he gives that faith back tenfold, which I think is what makes his friendship with them all so compelling among other things.

But then there’s Leon. Leon, who by all means from Luis’ point of view, is the complete opposite of him. No matter how much life throws his way, no matter how much danger he’s in- Leon is seemingly incapable of doing the wrong thing. He’s EFFORTLESSLY a hero, his actions never backfire on him… something Luis craves so, so badly. He’s everything Luis wishes he could be, even when he has to uphold that uncaring suave persona, which going back to the original point of this ask (this got extremely rambly very quickly im so sorry GDNEHENCUDN) I think that cutscene where Luis gives Leon the medicine is where we can see that trust between characters fully cementing. Leon already KNOWS Luis worked with Umbrella, and I think at that point he’s already hazarded a guess at his involvement with Los Illuminados- by all means, he’s got zero reason to trust Luis. Yet he still does. He’s the person Luis has been craving for so long; somebody who can see straight past all his flaws and his past self and see Luis for LUIS (And once again, that blind trust is S O COMPELLING in my humble opinion) But obviously, Luis doesn’t know this at this point. He’s still trying to hesitantly form a friendship with Leon and prove to him that he’s a decent person whose deserving of love, even when he doesn’t feel that way about himself, and I think that’s probably what their conversation inbetween cutscenes would’ve been about.

Like you said, I think Luis probably would’ve been pretty concerned to say the least about the state Leon’s in HXNSHENDI we can see that he prioritises the safety of his friends (ie refusing to leave when Ada was showing symptoms, dropping his persona to comfort Ashley when she started coughing etc etc) so there definitely would’ve been some level of, ‘oh my god you dunce how tf did you get so bad here lemme did you up’, but also,,, I think Luis probably would’ve tried to make conversation with Leon. About literally anything- his love for Don Quixote, what he was getting up to while sexily waiting for Leon to get off the elevator etc etc- anything to strengthen that fragile yet ever growing bond between them. Again, just looking for companionship and somebody to see past the skeletons in his closet. And I’m SURE Leon probably would’ve done the most Leon thing ever and just respond with a bunch of ‘yeah’s or ‘ok’s WHENDHDNJXJX but whatever it was they talked about, if they talked at all, it clearly strengthened their bond. Or at the very least, if they didn’t say anything to each other, the pretty intimate act of administering medicine to another person probably would’ve been enough to more or less solidify Leon’s growing trust. I think also it would’ve given Luis an insight into how Leon works- ESPECIALLY with the way Leon’s insistent on prioritising Ashley immediately after. Then of course right after that cutscene is the first time we see Luis’ love for Don Quixote be said OUT LOUD but again I’ll save that for another post BCNSHENDJXNXN

Again I really really really really hope you don’t mind how LONG this turned out to be!!!!!!! I just LOVE talking about Luis’ character and his effect on the story and motivations etc and I love to ramble BCNEHENDJDJ there’s SO MANY OTHER fade to black cutscenes with Luis I’d love to dig my teeth into (cough cough THE HAND HOLD) so!!!!!!! Maybe someday soon idk!!!!!!!!!