#and Feelings

[spametc123]

The phrase “maybe the curtains were just blue” is genuinely so harmful to media literacy as a whole. Yes, things can just be the way they are, but almost everything exists with context. Do you exist or do you exist because of everything that has happened in the world? Your parents met, you didn’t die that one time when you were eight, you’re the person you are because of that awful haircut you had in seventh grade. You exist because of all of that.

So, nothing pisses me off more than when someone uses an incomplete quote. “A jack of all trades is a master of none” without the second half: “but oftentimes better than a master of one” (everyone say thank you Shakespeare) has an entirely different meaning. The first half by itself is utilized to shame people into ignoring things they love or are interested in; meanwhile the full quote praises people interested in a variety of things. Ignoring context literally erodes the meaning behind anything. Machiavelli said “it’s better to be feared than to be loved.” Wrong. Loud incorrect buzzer. Kind of. As Malcolm Gladwell writes, “it’s not wrong, exactly, it’s just incomplete.” (Or something like that anyways.) Yes, Machiavelli did write that. Congrats! But you forgot a kinda, semi, VERY FUCKING IMPORTANT component of that quote. “It is better to be feared than to be loved if one cannot have both.” It should be common sense right? I wish. Ask anyone about their opinion on the incomplete quote and see how many of them think they’re revolutionary when they say “oh I’d rather have both!” If the full quote doesn’t seem to make a difference in your mind, great! But there’s still more context that you need to know to actually understand it (let alone teach it (Mr. History teacher that is NOT a philosophy teacher and should not try to be one)). The quote is from The Prince, a writing in which Machiavelli talks about what makes a good leader. In his opinion, The Prince should know when to utilize love and fear to his advantage. Be loved by your people and feared by your enemies. Seem more trusting than you are so you can see who is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He says that one should prefer to be feared than to be loved in time sensitive situations, not sustainably. That when things need immediate change being feared makes a stronger and more effective leader (which is unequivocally correct and I’m tried of hearing otherwise). So again, without context: a random quote that no one agrees with or really understands at all, whatsoever vs. with context: the assertion that in times of need it is better to be respected and feared than it is to be loved. Or, a personal favorite “dubito, ergo cogito, ergo sum.” I doubt, therefore I think, therefore I am. Oh wow! So cool, he thinks therefore he is - being capable of thought means I exist, how neat! Not wrong, sure, but lacking context. What makes the philosophy so powerful is the fact that it’s a paradox. You doubt your existence, therefore you are capable of thought, therefore you exist. Because you doubt your existence, you prove that you exist. But if you are then confident you exist, do you no longer exist anymore? And now you doubt it again. Without context, it’s just words on a page, nothing notable or interesting. Without looking for the context it’s yet another thing people will complain about having to learn because “why does it even matter?”

It’s the same with characters. Armand is batshit fucking insane, yes, but he only is that way because of who he is. The tv show fails his character when they age him up, because even with some of his backstory, he is the way he is mainly because he’s eternally trapped in the body of a 17 year old. ____ is too trusting! Maybe in different circumstances, yes, but that character is the way they are because of the life experiences they’ve had. ____ is the right amount of trusting for the life they’ve lived.w

It’s the same for people too!!! Please find it within you to have basic human empathy! Someone is the way they are because of their life experiences. You can’t have something happen to you, good or bad, and not be affected by it. Someone can only change if their experiences change. No, it’s not your responsibility to change someone’s behavior or to tolerate it, but it is your responsibility to try to understand why someone is the way they are.

Empathy and media literacy are so clearly intertwined it’s would be comical if it wasn’t depressing. Read between the lines, try to understand things that you don’t get immediately. The curtains aren’t just blue. It doesn’t matter if it’s to represent sadness or just because it’s the author’s favorite color or even because the author was so indecisive they made someone else pick it, there’s still a reason. Anti-intellectualism is the curse that keeps on dooming us all.

[scraps-n-starters]

Trapped in a book this and sentient marble shenanigans that

Give me sentient 'cursed' sword Danny. Give me a tragedy broken Danny who had to choose whether to allow the observants to use him or trap him or end him and Clockwork give him another option. To hide and grieve and rest.

The Cursed Sword left in the League vaults that slides uselessly through any innocent and if you push? If you keep trying to raise it's blade against an undeserving opponent? Will bite back on it's wielder with frost and reflected fear

Gifted or found, give me Damian carefully cleaning a neglected old blade. Give me Danny waking once more to the gentle grind of a whetstone, a sliver of electric green shining in the space that shouldn't be. A magic blade that has never resonated with anyone that sings in Robin's hand, freezing over those with cruelty in their hearts

(Dealer's choice what reverts Danny back to his humanoid form. True love's kiss? Legitimately wanting to be a person again? A tricky situation where the Bats are stuck and he's left lying useless on the floor, unable to save anyone, this time of his own volition?)

(Bonus for if the first time he's wielded against the Joker Danny just. Mimick style eats him. Blade splits down the center, cavernous maw, swallows whole. Nobody realized that could happen.)

[psin314]

well I guess he will try to behave for the next 5 minutes

[skiaskai]

our boy took a tumble at the end of ep7

[stay-pos-cos]

I think that the Supernatural fandom doesn't give Dean Winchester enough credit or hold John Winchester accountable nearly enough. I would argue that John's abuse (mental, emotional and physical) and its constant effect in both boys lives is constantly downplayed by a majority of the fanbase.

The parentification of an elder sibling has been proven to cause lasting issues and we see this throughout the show; when Dean is overly protective of Sam, treats Sam's life as more valuable than his own, can't picture a life where he's not needed, and his dismissal of Sam as a valuable contributor in an equal partnership. Dean is often criticized both in canon and by fans for being overbearing and codependent on Sam. This is a direct result of John Winchester's inability to parent.

Dean's emotional repression is shown to be caused by his father's militant behaviors and approach to parenting. Dean doesn't see his feelings as valid or important and thus turns to repression or unhealthy coping mechanisms as illustrated throughout the show. His alcoholism, violent outbursts, and unhealthy relationship with sex are all coping mechanisms he uses not to feel.

Through flashbacks (and some dialog) the viewer is show that Sam is more resentful towards John than Dean, and that he even holds resentment towards Dean for being the "perfect little soldier".

That's part of the reason Castiel is such a great foil for Dean, both are loyal to absent fathers' but while Dean was born with free will he follows his father's orders unwaveringly until sometime after his death, Cass a being created without free will breaks free of the command of his father and from his father's mission, becoming for all intents and purposes a Prodigal son like Sam.

Dean's adherence to his father's word is, much like Sam's rebellion a response to continued and repeated abuse, neither brother is perfect. And their father was the furthest thing from it.

[qaey]

okay i’m thinking about fhsy in the context of fhjy because it is SO wild that kipperlily sees the bad kids as being favored when i always felt like the very premise of sophomore year especially was created by unfairness. they were forced to spend their BREAK on a PASS/FAIL project that was worth so much of their grade that failing it meant failing the year no matter how much effort they had put in up to that point. like that is not a favor

[beestandsforbiancanottheanimal]

Thinking about how lonely Kageyama must have felt, probably accustomed to almost no one sharing the same passion for volleyball as intensely as he does. Always being a peculiar outcast in that aspect, likely cherishing it as something he used to share with his family when he was little, only for his sister to abandon him. Even then, he probably thought he still had his grandfather, only for the grandfather to pass away. Yet, he continued with the same dedication, not reducing the effort he put into the sport just because it was what he loved and something that connected him to his now-deceased grandfather. He probably didn't allow himself to properly grieve and overcome it due to this.

Worse still, this event serves to make him even more alone because his behavior starts to change, and it's evident that it changes drastically. His teammates, instead of being concerned and asking about it, preferred to get angry and leave him aside, to the point of getting him benched in a match. They practically ruined one of the few positive things in his life at that moment.

And how crucial it was for him to meet Hinata, someone with exactly the same level of passion and dedication, willing to play with him despite everything. Hinata saw his bad behavior and didn't reject him but adapted to it. Later on, he even helped Kageyama accept that part of himself, to stop living in constant fear of history repeating itself, and to embrace his role and attitude as the "king of the court."

Meeting Hinata and realizing that he is the person his grandfather promised must have been the first time in Kageyama's life that he felt 100% understood. As an autistic person, I can confirm how beautiful it is to meet someone and realize that they understand you, know who you are, and are probably mostly the same. Even in the aspects where you're not similar, it doesn't matter because they accept and love you just the way you are.

And now, he knows that he doesn't have to live in fear or feel like he doesn't fit in or that he'll always be alone in his bubble.

[dandylions101]

I was trying to sort out some Feng Xin headcanons in my head, and I wonder if his parents died young. I wonder if they were loving? Did his father gently teach him how to use the bow? Did he guide his hands carefully when stringing this tiny weapon? Did his mother teach him how to put his hair up? Did she tuck flowers behind his ear? When his mother fell ill, did he notice the way his father started smiling less, losing his appetite along with his love’s? Did he hold onto her robes, asking her to stay? A few months later, did he clutch his father’s hand just as tightly, asking him not to leave him too? Did he ever break down into his Crown Prince’s arms, apologising fervently for his breach in protocol, but unable to let his best friend go? Did he cry harder when his Crown Prince, his best friend, shushed him and held him back just as tightly? Do you think as they grew up, he caught himself from calling his Queen ‘mama’? Do you think he ever felt guilty for it? Do you think he stared with dread as his best friend lost his appetite as well? As the queen and king did? Do you think years later when his Crown Prince ordered him to leave, he thought this time his best friend wouldn’t let him hold on? Did he, very briefly, think Mu Qing was clever for having let go first? Do you think he cried just as hard over the empty house as he did for his parents? As he does for the one person he still has had left? Or did the grief lodge in his throat and didn’t budge no matter how hard he hoped it would? When he saw the remainder of his old life haunting the heavens in the form of his rival, do you think he was angry? Did it bring him comfort? Or did their shared tragedy only leave a chasm in its wake? Did he ever think he still had someone left, or that he had lost him first? Was he ever his? Do you think he managed to bury the grief lodged in his throat after 800 years? Did it hurt more than the clock when the grief came back? Did he find any comfort in the way his crown prince best friend fellow god recognised him still? Did he recognise him (of course he did, he would know him anywhere)? Do you think after all the hurt of losing another home, when he finally swallowed the grief, he let himself reach out again? Do you think he startled when his best friend best friends reached for him first? Do you think he held onto to Xie Lian and Mu Qing, glaring half heartedly at this snarky crimson ghost who came back to them against all odds? Had he had gained a person too? When he finally fell asleep, was he glad to be held again as well? Do you ever think about Feng Xin…

[theanxiousbookdevourer]

I love learning all these little, weird things about the characters in Disco Elysium. Like, is Bird's Nest Roy not one of the weirdest little guys you've ever met?

He doesn't like beaches.

He doesn't like music...

... but he records random sounds...

... including the Col Do Ma Ma Daqua.

He also spends about 10% of any given interaction spacing out.

But to get a little more serious, I think there's a lot more to him. I even think it's possible to draw parallels between Bird's Nest Roy and Lt. Kim Kitsuragi.

He, like Lt. Kitsuragi with the RCM, was part of a voluntary clean-up organization...

... despite knowing it wouldn't do much good.

He's also very willing to look away and distance himself from things of which he doesn't approve or doesn't want to get entangled.

In this very same exchange, you can see Lt. Kitsuragi try to distance himself from your bad decisions in the same way, if you choose to take Pyrholidion.

I think the biggest difference between Bird's Nest Roy and Lt. Kitsuragi is that Bird's Nest Roy acts like he's a cynic...

... but the fact that he tried to help with the People's Pile makes me think he's not.

In fact, he likes imagining, losing himself in his own thoughts, more than anything real.

Did you see that? Did you get what he's saying?

The Man from Hjelmdall may not have been real before the stories were written and read, but he's real now, because he's in the stories.

I don't think Lt. Kitsuragi agrees with that.

But I do.

And if you're reading this post, I bet you do too. You had no idea who Bird's Nest Roy or Lt. Kim Kitsuragi or Raphaël Ambrosius Costeau was.

But you do now.

[fablesanddreams]

Lore hasn't even ended yet but I'd just like to say whenever Beck's Minecraft tabbed out and went into the void I thought of the stupid Sonic fandub quote of "I'M BACK IN THE FUCKING BUILDING AGAIN, OH MY GOD-" /ref

[amysilvas]

[iifishizzleii]

johnny mactavish who has a sister— you.

pt. 1 (unedited😛)

things got…different around johnny following you and ghost’s wedding.

he still loved you. johnny still loved you. of course he did. you were his baby sister. his little ladybug that was born to be protected and cared for. by him, obviously.

but, simon was his first. his first captain. his first memory in the field. his first protector. his first person to come to his aid during a mission gone wrong. his first face when johnny woke up in the med wing and saw ghost hunched over in the chair by his bed, lashes resting on the high of his cheekbones as he slept. his first friend.

his first love.

but, what is loneliness, but a first love that’s come too early?

so, johnny still loves you. and he still loves his ghost. but, you were the piece of johnny that was there before he even knew what love was. so, i suppose, the proper view of it is that you were his heart. and ghost was his love.

but, ghost has your heart now. and you have his love.

and johnny.

well. johnny has two hands. and that’s enough to hold his own empty heart, and keep it warm.

[hajihiko]

You can be in love with your friends like head over heels stars in your eyes cartoon heart beating out of your chest for your friends and it still isnt the same as having romantic feelings

[fleetsparrow]

Thinking about Dick and Roy as kind of parallels to each other.

Both taken in by heroes. Both raised as sidekicks and partners but not quite sons. Both ended up coming of age with distance between them and their mentors.

But then things start to differ as adults.

(Correct me if I'm wrong on anything with Roy, because I only know pieces and I'd love to know more.)

Dick is constantly pulled back into Bruce's orbit by force or by choice. Roy seems to have a more... active role in deciding when to let Oliver back into his life.

Roy raises Lian, getting to have her as a center of his world, and establishes himself as his own hero.

Dick is a bit more stuck in the shadow of Batman. Every marriage attempt gets destroyed. Every new balance found gets toppled by catastrophe.

Roy actually gets a life outside being a hero. Dick's whole world revolves around the superhero community.

It's just very interesting that the things DC seems so eager to erase from Roy's story are the things that let him grow up and become his own person.

Which, now that I'm thinking about it, also maps onto Dick. Every time he gets Free of Gotham’s everything, something pulls him back into it. Like an unwilling or unknowing Peter Pan, he's not allowed to grow up, not really.

And after all the reboots and retcons and resets, their relationship gets lost, too.

Idk, man. I miss when things for "adults" also meant growth and maturity. Not just tits and senseless violence.

[fandominstability]

Poor Athena thinking she was about to give up sex for the rest of her life, thinking Michael was going to do that, only to be told he met somebody else