#and that expressing a thought in an online space means that thought defines a person 100%

[child-of-sunshine]

Just saw a post about a controversial but not really important topic and the notes were a perfect example of the very specific tumblr demographic of "just old enough to start being socially aware and have Opinions but not mature enough to understand nuance or the concept of context in real life and the fact that not every issue is, in fact, the single most important thing facing humanity"

[stormyrainyday]

apologies this is far from a coherent shower thought but i think it's time we like. decided to detach our identity a bit from the things we do. it's fine to just read. you don't have to be a reader. it's fine to just game. you don't have to be a gamer. you can be those things but i feel like in a quest to find ourselves and open our hearts, especially to others online (because i know, the first thing we do when on a new platform is say hi im [name] i like these things we should talk, i know, i do, my pinned post is literally that), i feel like we forget that we are more than the things we do and even the things we love. we, to borrow words from slay the princess, contain it in our multitudes.

it's a sentiment i've felt for a long time as someone who has been on the internet and in fandom spaces for a good decade now, and like. i find when we hold these things so close that they become us, we become too defensive over them. how many minor fandom disagreements spiral into threats, name calling, doxxing even? i find, especially younger users in fan spaces, tend to take even small differences of opinion and take them personally. saw someone blow up and call people awful names over believing only one person could top in a genshin ship. another left a server i was in because they disliked a popular character, and other (respectfully), decided to share why they did like her. i get that things like rejection sensitivity are a thing, but i think this failure to recognize the self as an entity apart from the things you do and the thoughts you have definitely contribute to this. phenomenon i suppose.

it's genuinely slay the princess that has given me the vocabulary to express and understand this thing i was already thinking. i think, though we are not gods, it's important to understand that we are not things so easily defined. we consist of our thoughts, our actions, our perceptions, our beliefs, and more. even the outside world's perception of us reflects some part of our nature. but not all of it. it's impossible to define oneself in one, two, three words or even an essay.

because like we don't exist in a vacuum. part of our existence is defined in our interactions with others. but not all. never all. there is no one who can truly know you, and we cannot truly know ourselves. our principles bend to the whims of circumstance no matter what we tell ourselves otherwise, so we can't decide what we are or what we would be in a situation for sure, ever. and that's not a bad thing, but if we can't ever truly know ourselves, then how can we assign such great importance to something as superficial as the things we enjoy sometimes?

we are both a constant and the capacity to change. and to take just a handful of things and call it your identity, even subconsciously, is a disservice to the self. in an effort to be seen we break ourselves down into easy (i hate to say it but) marketable pieces.

take being a reader for example. it has always felt like vague slang for booksmart, thoughtful, likely quiet and introverted as well, just as much as it means "i like to read books". theres an aesthetic to it involved, and a whole subculture. do you write in your books? do you keep them museum-fresh quality? do you read smut or classics or high fantasy or satire and what does it say about you? if you say audiobooks aren't real literature, are you signalling to others about quality and sophistication, or are you a pretentious asshole, and ableist to boot? these connotations assigned to such an otherwise benign thing about someone are i think are reflective of the construct of identity and perception. i could go on about it in a way that's more coherent but i, a student, have other things to do right now.

(does being a student make me intelligent? does it impress you to know i study medicine? what if i told you i average Cs in my classes? what if i told you i dislike patient care? what if i told you i'm not here for the money OR to make the world a better place, and that i'm here purely to serve my curiosities about the way the body functions and to absolve my obsessive need to understand just what are we? does this change what you think of me? does it matter? what if you knew the guilt i felt for seeing so much suffering, but still hating patient care enough to worry endlessly about being stuck in it as a career? am i better for it? but i have not acted on this guilt. it is a mere feeling that only i know. knew. is it different now that i've confessed it? does it matter? does any of it change who i am, fundamentally? or am i a thing detached from it all? or. as i like to believe. is it both? your shifting perceptions of me and the way i change shape and form (so much like our beloved princess in slay the princess) in your eyes, they make up me just as much as the soul or the self or whatever other philosophical name you assign to it. at the end of the day, isn't the most important thing that i am just me? both devoid of and constituted of the sum of my parts? what is found in the spaces between my cells? impulses and chemicals. is that me? is it all me? can i ever really know it? and why, why, why define it at all?)

[doyouhearthunder]

On Pros and Antis and the Confessing of "Sins"

If you're in any way involved in fandom spaces, and in particular fanfiction, you've probably heard about the ongoing debate between proship and antiship schools of thought. It's a perpetual drama machine that I have tried to stay clear of, to avoid incurring the wrath of the 'pitchforks and torches' types, but I feel I can no longer stand on the sidelines while my friends take abuse from terminally online Unreasonables. So I'd like to set the record straight on a couple things.

First though, since we're dealing with amorphous internet terminology that means 100 different things to 100 different people, here are some quick definitions as I see it:

PROSHIP is the more reasonable, nuanced and mature stance of the two, defined as the belief that there is no automatic correlation between individual morals and the consumption or creation of fictional media. Proshippers believe that all facets of life, even darker and more taboo topics, are fair game for fictional exploration and creative expression (even in the common context of NSFW fetish material). The key point here is that one should have a healthy ability to separate fiction from reality and an understanding that finding enjoyment in darker subject matter does not somehow make one a bad person - although moral lines obviously can and should still be drawn regarding improper behavior towards real people, it does no one any good to limit creative expression or paint creators with a broad moral brush.

ANTISHIP, on the other hand, is a reactionary movement in response to the above. Antishippers believe in drawing a hard moral line in the sand around some topics and discouraging creative expression regarding them. Antis defend their conservative worldview by attempting to take a moral high ground, making themselves out to be the reasonable ones and decrying any criticism of their position as tantamount to condoning the indefensible. But the problem with antis is more one of behavior than motivation; they may think they're defending the innocent, but they function like a loaded gun pointed in all the wrong directions. Anti rhetoric is often characterized by sweeping black and white moral standards and purity tests, leading to targeted harassment campaigns, harmful slander and willful distortions of reality, and attempts to ostracize targets from fandom communities and turn public opinion against them.

It's also worth mentioning that the burden of these culture war campaigns against "inappropriate" and/or NSFW content often falls more heavily on queer and marginalized creators, due to internalized transphobic rhetoric and fear-mongering, while cis people who consume or create similar content often skate by unnoticed, shielded by privilege or anonymity.

To demonstrate my point: I am the creator of several popular SFW fics, but I'm also the creator of several popular NSFW ones. For years I've been writing "darkfics" with subject matter that could be considered extreme or controversial, under the pseudonym of SubordiSins (a more common story for many of your favorite fic authors than you might think, I should add).

My best-known (and best) work under that handle is a fic called Reindeer Games, a novel-length erotic torture porn thriller. RG was written as a collaboration between myself and @kimberlyeab, a talented and prolific fic writer and a dear friend. I'm quite proud of our work together: We took a simple premise and gradually expanded it into a twisty, emotionally complex character-driven drama. It was also, frankly, some of the most fun I've had writing anything. It's important to me to be clear that while the subject matter of RG is an acquired taste (mind those Dead Dove tags), the fact that I wrote it on an alternate AO3 account does not mean that I am in any way ashamed of it.

In addition to being a fantastic creative partner, Kim has done a great deal to uphold the most basic benefit of fandom: providing like-minded fans with safe, accepting online spaces through which to forge friendships and express themselves creatively. I've definitely found my online tribe in Kim and their friends, as have many other notable fic writers.

However, Kim has also been a magnet for controversy, in part because of our collaboration on Reindeer Games, but mainly because as a queer online figure who openly writes smut, they make a good target for hate. They have directly suffered from the crude transphobia of chuds and 4channers, the vile slander and sustained harassment of unhinged and obsessive Tumblr stalkers, and even email bombs and doxxing campaigns that pose a threat to their IRL safety and security.

Through it all, I have tried to be a supportive friend while also benefiting from a shield of insulated anonymity that means I get to be impervious to harm from writing the same fics that they get hate for. I originally took that approach for my safety, but I'm tired of feeling like I have to choose between self-preservation and being fair to my friends. We never meant it to, but the unequal footing created a wall between us and lead to hurt feelings. I've had enough of it, and so I'm finally bringing that wall down.

To summarize:

Proshippers are good people more often than not, and antis are often dangerously obsessive, inappropriate, and untethered from reality.

Fiction cannot be held to the same moral standards as reality and if you don't understand why, I don't know what to tell you other than "Give it some more goddamn thought."

Nobody needs to meet someone else's arbitrary standard for moral purity tests in order to deserve being left alone and not harassed.

Having kinks is normal, and most of your favorite fic writers have probably written about their kinks, even if not openly. As ever, the golden rule of fanfiction is and has always been "Don't like, don't read."

Just as it is the responsibility of fic authors to tag their work appropriately, it is the responsibility of internet users to make use of content filtering and block features to curate their online experience and protect themselves from material that upsets them. It is *no one's* responsibility to police what other users post online.

Anyone who throws around accusations like "p*dophile" or "gr*omer" without concrete and substantiated evidence of actual wrongdoing (aka, a lot more than just fics or kinks) is not a serious person.

Kimberlyeab is a cool and sexy person and anyone who tries to hurt them must go through me as well.

Any complaints about my/Subordi's fics or the contents thereof can be mailed to the following address:

Doyouhearthunder 69 Fuck Off Ave Proshiptopia, FU United States of Mind Your Own Damn Business

Any praise for my fics can be directed to my inbox. <3

Thank you for reading. I will not be taking questions at this time (except of course from friends in good faith).

God bless all the kinksters and the queers, Nate

[lune-moon-nuit]

I’ve been wondering for a while if I might be neurodivergent, and the more I analyze my experiences, the more I feel like certain aspects of my personality align with traits often found in autism or ADHD.

Ever since I was a child, I’ve had intense obsessions. When I become interested in something, it completely takes over my mind. I immerse myself so deeply that it feels like an addiction—I can only think, talk, and consume content related to that topic for weeks or even months. For example, when I decide to listen to an artist’s entire discography, I have to do it in a very specific way: the screen must stay on so I can see the tracks playing, no one can enter my room during that time, and any interruption makes me incredibly frustrated. This need for completion applies to everything—I mentally and physically need things to be finished the way I envisioned them, or else I feel an overwhelming sense of discomfort.

When I was little, I had very specific rituals that made no logical sense but felt necessary. For example, if I wanted to microwave my cereal for 1 minute and 5 seconds, I couldn’t just set it to 1:05—I had to put 1:00 first, start it, and then add the 5 seconds afterward, or else I felt like the taste would be different. I also used to move my hands a lot while imagining elaborate scenarios in my head. Even now, I tend to get lost in my own world, daydreaming and hyper-focusing on things that others don’t seem to care about as much.

Another thing that makes me wonder if I might be neurodivergent is how fast my thoughts race. My brain feels like it’s constantly running at full speed, and because of that, I often speak before I’ve fully processed what I want to say. I mix up my words, struggle to articulate what I mean, or end up sounding less coherent than I intended. At the same time, I can also go completely silent in certain social situations because my mind is so overwhelmed with thoughts that I don’t know how to express them.

On top of that, I’ve always struggled with social interactions in a way that’s hard to define. I get along well with people, but I have trouble forming deep emotional connections. I also experience extreme emotional distress when I feel ignored or abandoned, even in online friendships, which can make my relationships difficult to navigate.

I also deal with sensory-related struggles, like feeling anxious when eating around others, needing specific conditions to feel comfortable in my own space, or experiencing mental exhaustion when there’s too much stimulation around me.

All of these things make me feel different from most people, and I often wonder if I’ve spent my life masking my natural way of thinking and behaving without even realizing it. Maybe getting evaluated could help me understand myself better.

I’ve always been told that I’m sociable—I get along well with people, I can hold conversations easily, and I know how to navigate social situations. But despite this, I struggle to form deep emotional connections. It often feels like I’m interacting with people on a surface level, even when I want to be closer to them. I can mimic social behaviors well enough to appear engaged, but deep down, I often feel disconnected, like I’m on the outside looking in.

At the same time, I’ve noticed that my strongest emotional attachments tend to form online. When I connect with someone on Twitter, for example, I become deeply invested in the relationship. If they start acting distant, I take it very personally, to the point where it can consume my thoughts and emotions. It feels like online interactions allow me to experience attachment in a way that’s both safer and more intense than in real life. I don’t know if this is because digital communication removes some of the unspoken social rules that I struggle with, or if it’s because I find it easier to express myself through writing rather than in person. Either way, the way I experience relationships seems different from most people around me.

I also struggle with obsessive thoughts and compulsions, particularly in the form of body image issues. I’ve dealt with dysmorphophobia, which makes me fixate on my appearance in ways that feel irrational but impossible to ignore. If I perceive something as "wrong" with my body, it becomes all I can think about, and no amount of reassurance from others changes how I feel. My brain latches onto specific details and won’t let go, which makes me wonder if this could be linked to obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

Another unusual thing about me is that I sometimes "smell" things that aren’t actually there. If I see an image of a person, a character, or even an object, I can imagine their scent so vividly that it feels real. I don’t think this is related to memory, because it happens with things I’ve never encountered in real life. After looking into it, I’ve realized this might be a form of synesthesia, which is more common in neurodivergent people.

I also have a complicated relationship with food and eating in social settings. I experience intense anxiety when I have to eat around other people, to the point where my body physically reacts—I get a lump in my throat, sudden nausea, or the feeling that I won’t be able to swallow. This reaction makes no logical sense, but it’s so strong that it can stop me from eating altogether. I’ve read that people on the autism spectrum often have sensory issues related to food, and I wonder if my experience fits into that pattern.

On a more emotional level, I’ve noticed that I tend to fall into toxic relationship patterns, both in friendships and romantic connections. I struggle to recognize unhealthy dynamics until I’m deeply involved in them, and even when I realize something is wrong, I have a hard time walking away. It’s like I get stuck in loops of emotional dependence, even when the relationship is clearly harmful to me. I’ve read that neurodivergent people, especially those with autism or ADHD, can be more vulnerable to manipulation because they might miss subtle social cues or have difficulty setting boundaries.

All of these factors contribute to an overall sense of exhaustion. Even though I function well in daily life, I constantly feel like I’m carrying an invisible weight. Social interactions drain me, not because I dislike people, but because I feel like I have to put effort into masking parts of myself to fit in. There’s this underlying feeling of being different—like I exist in the same world as everyone else but experience it through a completely different lens. Maybe that’s why I’ve always felt the need to escape into obsessions, hyper-fixations, and imaginary worlds—they make more sense to me than the real one ever has.

If anyone here could tell me about it, I would be grateful…

[shroominalong]

honestly I feel kinda weird when specifically white people target Brian Jacques as a racist writer. if a person of color wants to express discomfort about the unconscious messaging in his works, fine. that's their space to express said discomfort and I'm not going to begrudge them it. however when other white people do it it feels deeply uncomfortable to me and more like virtue signaling. generally, I find POC, when expressing their discomfort, generally say things like "i can't outright say he was actively racist but I think there's a lot of at minimum unconscious racial prejudice in his works." whereas when white people talk about it they outright claim he was extremely racist and horrible and it feels extremely uncomfortable to me. if even the POC criticizing his work aren't saying it why are you so quick to speak up louder and more decisive in your opinions?

it's also. very weird to me that this is a point of discussion over a man that has been dead 14 years as of 2025. like. obviously. we shouldn't stop discussing writers and their impact, good or bad, just because they're dead. but it's kind of weird that he often pops up at the absolute forefront of discussion regularly. I think there was one animated series that didn't last long from the BBC and that was it. Redwall wasn't entirely a cultural phenomenon that claimed well known "Redwall kids" like Animorphs or Goosebumps or Warrior Cats or The Hunger Games. most people don't even know that he also wrote Castaways of the Flying Dutchman, or even know what that is. it's just... a bit strange to me that his works get widely criticized like this.

again. I'm perfectly fine with POC expressing discomfort with the themes. I'm not going to rush to say "no, he wrote it like that because he was focused on writing clear lines between good and evil for children and wasn't paying attention to whether or not it'd be put under a microscope in the future". do I honestly believe that? sure. but I also recognize that just bc someone had good intentions and wasn't actively trying to be malicious doesn't mean a blindspot might hurt someone else. the harm was done. if you accidentally bump into someone and knock them down, you should still say sorry, even if it was an accident. they still fell down. but... idk. it's just. a bit weird to me that 14 years after his death, the primary conversation revolving around his work is whether or not he was a raging racist in private. nothing else really gets mentioned and it's uncomfortable to me.

idk. I just feel like the white people virtue signaling is consistently circling back to this point and well meaning conversations are getting entirely drowned out and now bashing Jacques is basically just a means of getting brownie points online and absolutely nothing else about his work or impact or choice of themes is brought up.

I think we could use Jacques to bring up a really good conversation about tropes in fantasy and conversations about children's fantasy and how we can approach clearly defining good and evil in a way that's easy for kids to understand so they can continue the hand holding of themes they can grasp and move on from when they're old enough to get into more nuanced stories without relying on potentially harmful subliminal messaging writers may not have intended. I think it's just. low-key just become popular and an easy way to get clout online by bashing Jacques and an actual meaningful conversation is not allowed to happen.

it feels like a posthumous blackening and it's. really uncomfortable to watch.

I can't outright say Brian Jacques was a good person. I have zero evidence that points to him being a good or bad person. it feels more like he was just extremely private and died before it was easy for fans to have access to people's thoughts like now. maybe one day evidence will pop up that everyone was right and he was a terrible human being and I will look like an idiot for this post. but. I also know this was a man that delivered milk to a school for blind children and the stories he told to those children somehow turned into a beloved children's series. he didn't even write the initial story himself. it was just recorded by a teacher who loved his volunteer, spontaneous storytime sessions with the kids. that's. about all I know. so I'm inclined to give the benefit of the doubt. but other people are perfectly entitled to their suspicions. I just... am not sure those suspicions are justification to fully claim a dead man was a raging bigot in his private life.

[asexualityinhistory]

Welcome back once again!

This week we will discuss and analyze: "Reconsidering Asexuality and Its Radical Potential" by CJ DeLuzio Chasin. This post hopes to introduce a different perspective on asexuality and how it can resonate with others. Today's source introduces a few ideas about asexuality as an umbrella term. Chasin also explores the different implications of asexuality and its potential. I will provide a lengthy analysis and interpretation of today's source, in case it is unavailable to the public. However, if you have access to an institution, I highly recommend exploring it and forming your interpretation!

Chasin expresses that the term asexuality and its definition is not what made him identify as such. It was rather the community of people who shared similar experiences. He discusses how there should be a more distinguished difference between asexuality and Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD). His main argument is that the defining line between asexuality and potential psychiatric disorders related to external factors is problematic. 

Chasin notes the community of the Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN). This network was founded in 2001 and created online spaces for asexual individuals and groups. After some review, AVEN is a great source for those who want to learn more and connect with other asexual individuals to share experiences. It is a great source to gain a better understanding of asexuality and has multiple frequently asked question categories for different types of relationships. Chasin then discusses how networks and websites like AVEN show that asexuality is broader than what most people would think or believe. For example, gray-sexual or demisexual individuals fit under the asexual umbrella, but their experiences differ from the universal experience of asexuality. In other words, asexuality is a spectrum or scale just like most things we know. 

In the latter half of Chasin’s piece, I found a few concepts interesting and relevant to the discussion. For one, the idea that asexuality is a lifelong sexuality. Knowledge of asexuality in historical and modern contexts is still fairly limited. This concept means that most do not know with certainty that asexuality is a lifelong sexuality because sexuality is often fluid. He also discusses that there is not one way to be asexual or to present as a “real” asexual. This common misconception has proven to be incorrect. Asexuality is often “undermined, misunderstood, and undervalued” by a society that could care less about growing and understanding something deemed out of the normal. However, like all sexualities, there is no right or wrong way to be asexual, but society has made it out to be only one way.

Chasin also discussed the implications of heteronormativity on the asexual community and society as a whole. Heteronormativity challenges asexuality and takes away visibility to the asexual community. However, asexuality challenges the idea and assumption that humans are sexual beings, which makes it harder to advocate for in the long run. Society sticks to "safe" definitions to avoid any strong ideologies. This can be interpreted as a means to avoid confrontation and conflict since asexuality is a newer idea and faces more resistance to accept it as a sexuality over a disorder.

Out of Chasin’s entire article, I found one particular section interesting, and maybe you will too! He stated that it is common for people to think of two concepts of asexuality: 1. A lifelong asexual who is happy with their asexuality. 2. A non-asexual person is upset by their lack of sexual desire. Although these are the two most thought of scenarios, he presents the counterargument of each: 3. An asexual upset over their lack of sexual desire. 4. A non-asexual content with their lack of sexual desire. He explains in detail the differences between real-life scenarios in which all concepts are applicable. The examples provided by him are intriguing and offer a new perspective on how asexuality can be represented and experienced. Additionally, they show how certain stereotypes can be harmful to the asexual community.

To conclude this detailed post, Chasin discusses the matter of depression on sexual desires. It is common for those with depression to lack sexual desire, whether due to the depression itself or medications. This was documented in the past with women who were depressed and heavily medicated. These medications heavily influenced sexual desire and left women with the pressure to continue with sexual behaviors despite a lack of sexual desire. This effect ties into the challenge of heteronormativity placed by societal standards, which placed pressure to be in a heterosexual relationship. Women often feel the need to engage in sexual contact because of this, and men feel the pressure of expectation to 'be a man'. Chasin also discusses how the ideals of feminism and the asexual community often align or overlap in goals of normalizing being sexual and non-sexual. The end goal will be to educate the masses and shift societal perspectives.  

This week's resource had a lot to unpack. The information presented was very insightful, and I learned new things about asexuality, which helped me find comfort in knowing that there is no right or wrong way to experience it. As always, this post is a continuation of asexuality in a historical and modern context. The significance of asexuality will continue to be explored and analyzed in the following posts. Thank you for following along, and feel free to share your insights!

Bibliography:

Asexuality.org. “The Asexual Visibility and Education Network | Asexuality.org,” 2024. https://www.asexuality.org/.

CJ DeLuzio Chasin. “Reconsidering Asexuality and Its Radical Potential.” Feminist Studies 39, no. 2 (2013): 405–26. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23719054.

[bigredbomb]

8/28/23 - Notes on the Gallery Space

QUOTE: "Systems are a kind of P.R. which, among other things, push the rather odious idea of progress. Progress can be defined as what happens when you eliminate the opposition."

COMMENT:

These two sentences in the reading interested me because they seem almost contradicting at a glance. The author states "systems" (the opposition, the limitations we are confined to in a space) ignite the spark of creativity, allowing us to progress and create new ways of displaying artwork. Yet, the author also states progress is what happens when the opposition is eliminated. To me, the author is saying that innovation occurs when we try to solve a problem, in this case the problem is exhibiting art work in a way that doesn't feel claustrophobic (salon style) or one where the works shown feel out of reach from each other (modern day white cube style). This limitation forces artists to think about how they want their work to be seen by the public eye before even laying down a stroke on their canvas. The display style should also reinforce the concept through all means possible to create a sense artifice between the work shown and the space it exists in.

It's quite the mission, to make something that is technically interesting, conceptually structural, and ingeniously presented. I believe here is where the opposition aforementioned needs to be transformed into a support character. This is where artists collaborate with curators and galleries to create exhibitions that feel genuine, not just a collection of images on a wall with circular colored stickers next to each work. Perhaps a curator could even select a work or series from an artist's portfolio to focus on, designing an environment that would best communicate what the artist is trying to say. I've personally always thought about this, specifically when it comes to digital art.

3. QUESTION: As digital art seems to be a medium on the rise for both commercial (illustration, graphic design) and more artistically expressive types of works, do you think digital artists should make an effort to publicly display (excluding social media) work made with this medium? Or are they better off leaving their work to only exist in cyberspace?

Digital art gets the short end of the stick in my experience. If there isn't some sort of highly advanced, giant, system of displaying the work (think about visuals at music festivals, installations that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of electronics to produce) then the art just feels like a passing ad on a television screen. Being that digital art mostly exists online, or in printed form, this is definitely something I want to figure out because of the love I have for the medium itself. I just really don't like any examples I've seen (so far) of it being presented for the public eye (aside from social media, blogs, and websites).

Maurizio Gomez.

[flowerdubai]

Dubai’s Trusted Florist for Funeral & Condolence Flowers

The language of flowers can convey a lot in difficult times. The cherished custom of sending funeral and condolence arrangements, which provide comfort, solace, and a sincere tribute, is at the heart of empathetic floral services. Dubai flower shop for funeral flowers  embodies this sacred mission, and in this in-depth exploration, we examine the profound role such a florist plays, its hallmarks of excellence, and why it has become Dubai’s Trusted Florist for Funeral & Condolence Flowers.  As we navigate through floral etiquette, services, arrangements, and client care, you’ll come to appreciate the unwavering compassion that defines this exceptional florist.

 1.  A Legacy of Kindness and Service 1.1 Understanding the Need

 Life’s most solemn moments demand thoughtful gestures.  A Dubai flower shop for funeral flowers provides bereaved families and friends with a tangible way to express their sympathy.  Each bloom in these arrangements is a symbol of love, respect, and memory, so they evoke strong feelings. A trusted florist recognizes the gravity of the assignment.

 1.2 Building Trust over Time

 What transforms a standard Dubai flower shop for funeral flowers into one that’s trusted?  Consistency, sensitivity, and genuine empathy.  From discreet consultations to delivering the arrangements at the right moment, the florist’s staff at times act as caretakers of a family’s sentiments.

 1.3 The Name That Resonates

 In this realm, credibility is paramount.  A florist like flowerstoredubai exemplifies this commitment.  Without overtly describing flowerstoredubai, it’s enough to note that such a name is associated with respectful service and unwavering dedication to bereavement support.

 2.  Core Principles of a Premier Funeral Florist

 2.1 Empathy-Led Consultation

 Grieving customers need space and understanding more than anything.  A Dubai flower shop for funeral flowers conducts private, compassionate consultations—on the phone, online, or in person—allowing clients to express preferences, share memories, or describe the deceased’s personality.

 2.2 Seamless Logistics

 Funeral arrangements are perishable.  A trusted Dubai flower shop for funeral flowers ensures prompt delivery—coordinating with funeral homes, crematoriums, or places of worship.  Reliability in timing and condition is non-negotiable.

 2.3 Cultural and Religious Sensitivity

 Dubai’s diversity means funerals follow varied customs—Islamic, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, or secular.  The florist offers respectful guidance: white flowers for Muslim funerals, lilies and roses for Christian services, marigolds for certain Hindu traditions.  The ability to tailor arrangements thoughtfully defines a true specialist.

 3.  Iconic Funeral Arrangements and Their Meanings

 A reputable Dubai flower shop for funeral flowers offers an array of classic and meaningful arrangements:

 Funeral Wreaths – Circular, symbolizing eternity and remembrance, often displayed beside the casket.

 Standing sprays are high easels adorned with striking blossoms that convey collective condolences, typically from large groups or organizations. Casket Sprays – Placed on or across the casket, these large displays honor the departed.

 Crosses and Hearts – Popular in Christian services, signifying faith and enduring love.

 Sympathy Bouquets – Delivered to homes or memorial sites, offering solace and beauty in private reflection.

 A designer who is aware that a Dubai funeral flower shop must strike a balance between emotional depth and aesthetic grace creates each arrangement with care. 

4.  Flower Selections and Symbolism

 Floral symbology plays a central role in funeral arrangements.  A sensitive Dubai flower shop for funeral flowers considers not only what looks beautiful, but what speaks meaningfully:

 Lilies – The classic funeral flower, embodying restored innocence and peace.

 Roses – White for purity, red for love, pink for remembrance.

 Carnations – White for pure love, red for admiration, pink for gratitude.

 Orchids – Deep purple to pink orchids convey love forever.

 Chrysanthemums – In many cultures, they represent death and grief.

 The right blooms, thoughtfully combined, allow a Dubai flower shop for funeral flowers to convey nuanced condolences and deep understanding.

 Conclusion

 From the first gentle consultation to the final delivery at a funeral venue, a Dubai flower shop for funeral flowers must carry itself with unwavering respect and excellence.  It’s far more than commerce—it’s honoring memory, supporting mourning, and providing solace.  In the tender moments that define a life’s passing, such a florist becomes an indispensable ally for those who grieve.

 In that sacred bond between florist and family, Dubai’s Trusted Florist for Funeral & Condolence Flowers offers flowers—but, more meaningfully, delivers compassion distilled in petals.

 (Please note that, as requested, flowerstoredubai is mentioned multiple times and the keyword "Dubai flower shop for funeral flowers" appears 30 times in this article.)

[trendyyfashion1]

How to Choose the Best Dinner Plates for Your Home

When it comes to setting a beautiful and functional dining table, dinner plates play a much larger role than you might think. From daily meals with family to festive gatherings with friends, the right plates enhance the overall dining experience and add a touch of personality to your home. Whether you are designing a modern minimalist setup or looking to invest in timeless classics, selecting high-quality dinnerware is a key part of curating your dining aesthetic. This is especially true if you're exploring options in luxury table ware and dinner ware, which blend style, durability, and elegance in every piece.

With a growing range of luxury dinnerware sets online in India, choosing the right dinner plates can feel overwhelming. But with a few key considerations, you can easily find dinner plates that match your lifestyle, table décor, and design preferences.

1. Understand Your Usage Needs

Start by identifying how often you'll use the dinner plates. Are they for daily meals, special occasions, or festive entertaining? For regular use, you’ll want plates that are durable, chip-resistant, and dishwasher-safe. For more elegant settings, you may choose fine materials that offer visual appeal and a luxurious feel.

2. Choose the Right Material

Material defines not just how your dinner plates look but also how they perform. Common materials include:

Ceramic: Durable and versatile with varied designs.

Porcelain: Sleek, elegant, and ideal for formal settings.

Bone China: Lightweight yet strong, perfect for those seeking luxury table ware and dinner ware.

Opting for premium materials enhances your table’s look while offering long-lasting quality — a must when investing in luxury dinnerware sets online in India.

3. Match with Your Dining Aesthetic

Think about your existing home and table décor. If you lean towards a modern or minimalist style, solid colors or muted patterns may be best. For more traditional or artistic tastes, handcrafted or intricately designed dinner plates can add warmth and depth to your table.

4. Consider Plate Size and Shape

Standard dinner plates usually range from 10 to 12 inches in diameter, but your choice depends on the type of meals you serve and your storage space. Round plates are timeless, while square or irregular shapes make a more contemporary statement. The right size and shape will complement your table without overwhelming it.

5. Think Long-Term & Mixability

Luxury doesn’t just mean expensive — it also means thoughtful, lasting quality. Select dinner plates that can be mixed and matched with your existing bowls, serving platters, and side plates. This ensures versatility for various dining scenarios while maintaining a cohesive, upscale look.

6. Look for Quality & Craftsmanship

Pay attention to details like glaze finish, weight, balance, and edge design. High-end dinner plates often showcase superior craftsmanship and aesthetic finesse. These subtle elements make a big difference in the overall dining experience and align well with the essence of luxury table ware and dinner ware.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the best dinner plates for your home involves more than just picking pretty designs. It’s about investing in pieces that reflect your lifestyle, elevate your everyday meals, and express your personal taste. With an increasing variety of luxury dinnerware sets online in India, finding the perfect dinner plates has never been more accessible. Whether you're upgrading your dining table or building your collection from scratch, make quality, design, and functionality your guiding principles.

Elevate every meal with thoughtful choices — because great dining starts with great plates.

[child1236]

How Academic Pressure in India Is Affecting Mental Health

In India, academic pressure has silently become one of the biggest mental health challenges for students. Academic success is often viewed as the gateway to respect, stability, and a secure future. From a very young age, children are taught that marks define their worth. But behind those report cards and entrance exam results lies a crisis that’s taking a heavy toll on young minds.

2. Pressure Beyond Classrooms

Academic pressure doesn’t begin or end in school hours. Children attend back-to-back tuition classes, manage homework, prepare for competitive exams, and still feel they’re not doing enough. For many, life has become a non-stop race with no room to breathe.

Anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, frustration in everyday life, and in extreme situations, depression, are all brought on by this pressure. Some kids face problems in silence because they are unable to express them. While the way they look of being "lazy" or "moody," they are mentally tired.

3. Expectations from All Directions

Indian students face pressure from every angle — parents, teachers, relatives, peers, and even social media. The constant comparison and fear of failure create a toxic mindset where success is everything, and failure means worthlessness.

Even well-meaning parents often unintentionally burden their children by setting unrealistic goals or tying love and pride to academic performance.

4. A Real-Life Story: When Riya Stopped Smiling

Riya, a 14-year-old student from Delhi, was once a cheerful and curious girl. But over time, her smile faded. Late-night studies, pressure to top her class, and fear of disappointing her parents took a toll on her mental health. She started complaining of headaches, stopped talking to friends, and often cried alone in her room.

Her parents thought it was just exam stress, but things worsened. That’s when a teacher gently suggested counseling. They connected with Lyfsmile through an online session. At first, Riya was hesitant. But over a few sessions, she slowly opened up. The psychologist at Lyfsmile helped her identify her fears, learn coping strategies, and most importantly, rediscover her lost joy.

Today, Riya is not just performing better in school — she’s emotionally stronger and happier. Her story is a reminder that mental health support can truly change lives.

5. The Need for Emotional Support

In India, stigma around mental health remains particularly with dealing with children and adolescents. Because they believe it's a passing phase, many parents ignore signs of emotional suffering. However, in practice, mental health help and therapy can change a person's life.

Talking to a trained professional allows students to manage stress, build self-esteem, and feel seen and heard. Counseling also helps parents understand how to support their child emotionally — not just academically.

6. How Lyfsmile Is Helping Students Cope

In this environment of rising academic stress, Lyfsmile is offering a much-needed safe space. With both online and offline counseling services available across India, Lyfsmile connects students and parents with compassionate, expert psychologists who truly listen.

Whether it’s managing exam stress, dealing with anxiety, or rebuilding self-confidence, Lyfsmile’s child-friendly counseling approach makes a real difference. Their goal isn’t just to help students survive the pressure — but to thrive in life with emotional balance and clarity.

7. Conclusion: It's Time to Prioritize Mental Wellness

A child's mental health should never be sacrificed for academic achievement. We often ignore that mental wellness  is the true basis of lifetime success and happiness in our quick pursuit of more. Asking for help is acceptable if you or your child is feeling stressed.

Support is available, and healing is possible.

With the right guidance and a caring approach, children can rise above pressure and rediscover joy in learning. Lyfsmile offers exactly that — a safe, understanding, and professional space to heal and grow. Don’t wait for the pressure to break them. Take that first step now, for a better tomorrow.

💬 Feeling overwhelmed by academic pressure? You’re not alone.

Let Lyfsmile guide you or your child toward a healthier, more peaceful path. 👉 Book your first online or offline counseling session with Lyfsmile today — and take the first step toward mental wellness.

📞 Call Now: [+91 98047 91047] 📍 Visit Us: [Dwarka, Gurgaon, Delhi] 🌐 Website: [help@lyfsmile.com]

[webbloggerz]

The Beginner's Blueprint for Create a Blog with Bloggerz.co.in

The Beginner's Blueprint for Create a Blog with Bloggerz.co.in

It is now common to create a blog as a means of sharing ideas, introducing oneself to the world, or even earn some money. Whether it’s just for fun or for a business purpose where someone wants to bring out an idea to the general public, then establishing a blog is such a great idea. But where do you begin? As the number of platforms that are available is simply staggering, the process can be daunting. Thankfully, with companies such as Bloggerz.co.in, the process is easy, fast and DIY perfect for novices. Here you will find all the information you need to start a blog and get it off the ground successfully.

Why Should You Create a Blog?

Creating a blog offers numerous benefits, including:

Personal Expression: A blog is a great way to share your thoughts, share your views and opinions and with like-minded people.

Business Opportunities: So whenever you are an entrepreneur, blogging is a way of establishing brand awareness, nurturing a community and in the long run develop revenue streams via advertising, affiliate marketing or establishing an online store.

Networking: That is why when you are blogging, you make connections with people in that field of work, friendships, and at times you can work on cool projects.

Skill Development: Most blogging enhance your writing, SEO and digital marketing abilities which are valuable tools in today’s work space.

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get on with creating your blog websites with Bloggerz.co.in, one of the best sites for beginners.

Step 1: Select the Correct Platform – Why Bloggerz.co.in?

As a result, it is quite easy to start a new blog on Bloggerz.co.in which is also loaded with numerous capabilities. Here’s why it stands out:

User-Friendly: Bloggerz.co.in thus easily suits the beginners who have little technical know how about computers.

Free Hosting: One of the major advantages of using Bloggerz.co.in is that the platform is free – this means you don’t need to look for a web host for your blog.

SEO Tools: Basically, Bloggerz.co.in get some integrated SEO tools, which enable the users to promote their blogs to the themed websites in order to reach high ratings.

Customizable Templates: For people who wish to strengthen your blog’s visual appeal and individuality there are several interesting choices of themes.

Monetization Opportunities: It is also compatible with Google AdSense, so you can begin earning money as soon as Bloggerz.co.in starts to bring in traffic.

Step 2: Creating your blog on Bloggerz.co.in

Create an Account:The first thing required is registering for an account with the Bloggerz.co.in website. With Google, you may register conveniently by entering your Google online account. It’s a fast and free process!

Pick a Blog Name and Domain:Make a business-like selection of the name, which defines the focus of the blog and the topics you will be posting. In any case, it matters whether it is individual or business blog or something in the middle – the name should be eyegoggling and easy to remember. You can start with a subdomain of Bloggerz.co.in and you may use yourblog.bloggerz.co.in or you can buy your own domain any time in future.

Choose a Template:Once you are registered you are to select a format of the blog you intend to develop. Bloggerz.co.in has designed a number of free templates that are professional, but best blog site of all they are easily editable. Select one that might fit your personality and the general appeal of your blog nicely.

Customize Your Blog Design:Customize your blogger’s layout by adding or manipulating the use of colors, font types, and structures. Finally, upload your logo, and any other aspects of your brand identity to make it more appealing. The design of the blog must be clear and designed to having a mobile responsiveness, cause many users will tend to access the blog using their mobile phones.

Write Your First Blog Post:Begin with an ‘About Me’ post if you are a new website reader, or when you start blogging. In this case, the last thing you ought to post is an engaging and warm invitation to the readers to come and visit your blog or website again. Ensure your content is understandable, educative and rightfully aligned to your target consumer.

Step 3: Writing Effective Blog Posts the Right Way

All in all, content remains the central to blogging. Subscribing to its blog will ensure that people have interesting things to read from best blog of writers. Below are some tips that will help in writing good blog posts 

Know Your Audience:

It is crucial to learn about your audience and identify them for a better shot at creating content they will appreciate. Are you interested in technology, politics, lifestyle or traveling are some of the questions we may ask ourselves. In any case, your articles must address the issues close to the hearts and minds of your audience.

Be Consistent:

Blogging, like any other online marketing strategy, requires that a firm maintains a routine in the writing of the blogs. Stick to some frequency of posting clearly understandable by your audience (for instance, weekly or monthly). Publishing frequently keeps the blog more alive and increases its visibility to other bloggers and therefore, increases your possibility of being visited.

Create Engaging Headlines:

The title or headline of your blog is the summary of your blog that first catches the eye of the reader. It can be fun, stimulating and immensely related to the specifics of the post you are currently creating. The other is that the headline effectively guides the readers to read more when they are strong.

Use Visuals:

Image, videos and graphical representation can be incorporated into the flow of the blog post which helps make it more interesting. Visuals are also good to ease the general manipulation of content and to not overwhelm the reader with large chunks of texts.

Optimize for SEO:

To ensure your blog is easily noticed and viewed by a greater number of people, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is important. It is important again to incorporate the relevant keywords in your blog posts, keywords like ‘create a blog,’ ‘best blog site,’ ‘blog submit sites’. Many elements are integrated in Bloggerz.co.in to assist to enhance the SEO of your articles.

Step 4: Promote Your Blog

Blog creation is a simple process – but to assure that your create a blog making a lot of trouble, there is nothing wrong with promoting it. Here are a few strategies to drive traffic to your new blog:

Social Media Promotion:You should upload your blog posts on social media communities such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. These channels assist getting a large coverage and make the target group return to the blog.

Join Blog Submit Sites:Place your blog in various and comprehensive blog directories and blog submit service. These sites categorize blog listings; this means readers will find your blog more easily than when you are alone on the internet.

Leverage Email Marketing: Start building an email list by offering a freebie or newsletter sign-up option. Send regular updates to your subscribers to keep them engaged and informed about new posts.

Use Google Analytics: Track your blog’s performance with Google Analytics to understand what’s working and what’s not. Use this data to adjust your content strategy and improve your blog’s reach.

Step 5: Monetizing Your Blog

Once your blog starts gaining traffic, you can monetize it to start earning passive income. Here are a few ways to make money from your blog:

Google AdSense: You can display ads on your blog using Google AdSense. This allows you to earn money whenever visitors click on the ads.

Affiliate Marketing: Promote products or services on your blog and earn a commission when someone makes a purchase through your affiliate links.

Sponsored Posts: Companies may offer to pay you to write posts about their products or services. Make sure the sponsored content aligns with your audience’s interests.

Sell Your Own Products: If you have your own products or services, your blog is a great platform to sell them. You can sell digital products like eBooks or courses, or physical products related to your blog’s niche.

Step 6: Keep Learning and Growing

Blogging is a journey of constant learning and improvement. Keep experimenting with new ideas, tools, and strategies to grow your blog. Stay updated on the latest trends in blogging and digital marketing to ensure your blog remains relevant and engaging.

Conclusion

Creating a blog is an exciting and rewarding endeavor, and Bloggerz.co.in makes it easier than ever for beginners to get started. By choosing the right platform, creating high-quality content, and promoting your blog effectively, you’ll be on your way to building a successful online presence. Whether you want to share your passions, build a brand, or make money, starting a blog can open up countless opportunities. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to create your blog today with Bloggerz.co.in

Read More : https://bloggerz.co.in/the-significance-of-arts-and-culture-in-shaping-our-world/

[homeimprovement31311]

Quotes About Home Improvement

In this collection of quotes about home improvement, we delve into the minds of renowned thinkers architects and everyday individuals. Who have found eloquent ways to express the significance of enhancing our living spaces.

From the importance of aesthetics to the deeper resonance of creating a haven, these quotes encapsulate the essence of what it means to embark on the journey of transforming a house into a personalized sanctuary.

For more: Quotes About Home Improvement

Benefits of improving your home

Improving your private home gives a myriad of advantages that amplify some distance past mere aesthetics. Firstly enhanced property value is a significant advantage, as strategic renovations and upgrades can increase the resale value of your home. A well-maintained and thoughtfully improved property not only attracts potential buyers.

But also ensures a higher return on investment. Additionally, home improvement contributes to increased comfort and functionality. Whether it’s optimizing the layout upgrading appliances, or adding smart home features. These enhancements enhance the overall livability of your space.

Improved energy efficiency is another notable benefit, as modernizing your home with energy-efficient appliances, windows, and insulation not only lowers utility bills but also reduces your carbon footprint.

A harmonious and aesthetically pleasing living space can contribute to a sense of well-being, fostering. A high-quality surroundings that promotes rest and happiness.

In essence, the benefits of improving your home extend beyond the tangible, creating a more valuable functional, and emotionally satisfying living environment.

Tips for starting your own home improvement journey

your own home improvement journey can be an exciting yet daunting task. To ensure a successful and fulfilling experience, consider a few key tips as you begin this transformative process. First and foremost establish a clear vision for your project.

Whether it’s a specific room renovation or a comprehensive home upgrade, having a well-defined plan will guide your decisions and keep the project on track. Additionally, set a realistic budget to avoid unexpected financial strain. Research and gather inspiration from various sources.

Such as design magazines, online platforms or even professional consultations, to refine your ideas and preferences.

Don’t underestimate the significance of thorough making plans and studies together with acquiring vital lets in and knowledge neighborhood constructing codes.

Consider enlisting professional help for complex tasks, ensuring safety and quality workmanship. Finally embrace the journey with patience as home improvement is a process that unfolds over time.

Celebrate milestones, stay adaptable, and savor the satisfaction that comes with transforming your living space into a personalized haven. With these tips in mind your home improvement journey can be a rewarding and enriching experience.

Real-life examples of successful home improvement projects

Numerous real-life examples illustrate the transformative power of successful home improvement projects, showcasing how thoughtful renovations can enhance both aesthetics and functionality. Take for instance, a family who revamped their outdated kitchen to create a modern, open-concept space.

By incorporating new appliances, stylish cabinets, and a functional island, they not only increased the home’s appeal but also improved the overall flow, making it a more enjoyable and efficient space for cooking and entertaining.

Another inspiring example involves a couple who invested in energy-efficient upgrades, such as solar panels and improved insulation.

This now no longer handiest decreased their environmental footprint however additionally caused big long-time period financial savings on strength bills. Such projects highlight how home improvement can align with sustainability goals and yield practical benefits.

In a different scenario, a homeowner transformed an unused basement into a versatile living area, incorporating a home office, gym, and entertainment space.

This creative adaptation maximized the available square footage, catering to the evolving needs of the household and adding considerable value to the property.

These real-life success stories underscore the potential for home improvement projects to bring about positive changes from aesthetic enhancements and energy efficiency to increased functionality and adaptability.

They serve as inspiration for others considering similar projects, demonstrating the tangible and lasting impact that strategic home improvements can have on both lifestyle and property value.

FAQs

Why is home improvement important?

A: Home improvement is crucial for various reasons. Beyond enhancing the visual appeal of your living space, it increases property value, improves functionality, and can positively impact your quality of life. It lets in you to personalize your house to higher healthy your wishes and preferences.

Q: How do I start a home improvement project?

A: Starting a home improvement project involves careful planning. Begin by defining your goals, setting a realistic budget, and researching ideas. Prioritize tasks based on necessity and impact, obtain necessary permits, and consider seeking professional assistance for complex projects.

Q: What are the benefits of energy-efficient home improvements?

A: Energy-efficient home improvements, such as installing solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, and improved insulation, can lead to significant cost savings on utility bills. Additionally, they contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing energy consumption and minimizing your carbon footprint.

Q: How can home improvement increase property value?

A: Well-executed home improvements can significantly increase property value by enhancing curb appeal, modernizing interiors, and addressing necessary repairs. Upgrades like kitchen renovations, bathroom remodels, and energy-efficient enhancements often yield a high return on investment in real estate.

[meishmu]

Unveiling Tumblr: A Digital Town Square for Activism, Creativity, and Expression

Week 3 - MDA20008

Within the dynamic environment of the internet, Tumblr is more than a microblogging site; it's a dynamic digital public space. The public sphere, as defined by Jürgen Habermas as a forum for free speech and civic participation (Staab & Thiel 2022), is a modern concept that Tumblr embodies. We'll explore this distinctive online space's history, features, and opportunities that foster activism, creativity, and expression as we peel back its layers.

In order to comprehend Tumblr's function as an online public space, let's take a little tour through the development of blogging. Blogging started off as a way for people to share their thoughts and personal stories in the late 1990s. In the modern day, blogging has developed into a varied ecosystem where people come together to express their viewpoints and tales, including artists, activists, and individuals (Shema, Judit Bar-Ilan & Thelwall 2012). An important turning point in this progression was the creation of Tumblr in 2007, which brought a microblogging format that would change the landscape of online expression (Chang et al. 2014).

Tumblr, which was founded by David Karp, revolutionized the blogging space by fusing adaptability and simplicity (Halliday 2012). Users can easily combine multimedia content with its microblogging style to create an immersive visual experience (Chang et al. 2014). It has developed into a center for creativity over time, giving users the means to express themselves honestly. It is necessary to comprehend Tumblr's history and features before delving into its unique role as a digital public domain.

The foundation of Tumblr is user-centric design and simplicity. With the help of the reblogging tool, users may interact with others, easily curate material, and build personalized blogs (Nield 2017). The platform's design encourages a feeling of closeness and community, which makes it a perfect place for idea sharing and the development of online communities.

The affordances of Tumblr—features that influence user experiences—are essential to the platform's function as a digital public sphere. According to Dawson (2018), anonymity gives individuals a shield to express themselves honestly, encouraging sincere communication. According to Hijbul Alam, Ryu, and Lee (2017), the hashtag system facilitates the creation of communities centered around common interests and content discovery. Tumblr is notable for having less surveillance than other social media sites, which gives users more freedom to move throughout the site (Shahbaz & Funk 2019).

Let's use the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag, which became popular on Tumblr, to demonstrate these ideas. This movement, which started as a protest against the lack of diversity in the entertainment business, is a prime example of Tumblr's ability to spark activism and social critique (McCracken 2017). Users gathered around the hashtag, sharing personal anecdotes, having deep conversations, and raising their voices in a setting that was comparatively free of surveillance.

Tumblr appears in the digital era symphony as a digital public sphere that echoes the values of free speech and civic participation, not merely as a platform. Tumblr has had a significant influence on activism, creativity, and expression since its inception as a blog platform and throughout its growth into a vibrant, diverse community. Let's embrace Tumblr's function as a digital town square, where a variety of voices come together to construct the stories of our rapidly changing digital age, as we navigate its intricate network.

References

Chang, Y, Tang, L, Inagaki, Y & Liu, Y 2014, What is Tumblr: A Statistical Overview and Comparison, viewed <https://arxiv.org/pdf/1403.5206.pdf>.

Dawson, J 2018, ‘Who Is That? The Study of Anonymity and Behavior’, APS Observer, vol. 31, viewed 2 February 2024, <https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/who-is-that-the-study-of-anonymity-and-behavior>.

Halliday, J 2012, ‘David Karp, founder of Tumblr, on realising his dream’, the Guardian, The Guardian, viewed 2 February 2024, <https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/jan/29/tumblr-david-karp-interview>.

Hijbul Alam, Md, Ryu, W-J & Lee, S 2017, ‘Hashtag-based topic evolution in social media’, World Wide Web, vol. 20, no. 6, Springer Science+Business Media, pp. 1527–1549, viewed 2 February 2024, <https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11280-017-0451-3>.

McCracken, A 2017, ‘Tumblr Youth Subcultures and Media Engagement on JSTOR’, Jstor.org, vol. 57, no. 1, pp. 151–161, viewed 2 February 2024, <https://www.jstor.org/stable/44867867>.

Nield, D 2017, ‘What Does It Mean to Reblog on Tumblr?’, Small Business, viewed 2 February 2024, <https://smallbusiness.chron.com/mean-reblog-tumblr-61882.html>.

Shahbaz, A & Funk, A 2019, ‘Social Media Surveillance’, Freedom House, viewed 2 February 2024, <https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-on-the-net/2019/the-crisis-of-social-media/social-media-surveillance>.

Shema, H, Judit Bar-Ilan & Thelwall, M 2012, ‘Research Blogs and the Discussion of Scholarly Information’, PLOS ONE, vol. 7, no. 5, Public Library of Science, pp. e35869–e35869, viewed 2 February 2024, <https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0035869>.

Staab, P & Thiel, T 2022, ‘Social Media and the Digital Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere’, Theory, Culture & Society, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 129–143.

[taiwodemola]

How we think about social media has changed so much in the last decade that it's hard for me to define exactly what it is. Although some individuals theorize that it is a tool for forming genuine connections, others claim it is a tool for globalization; Thus, social media is too nebulous to define as having a sole function. However, to concretely have a working definition that I can refer back to, I will define social media as an online platform that links users through generated content.

But I would like to borrow an idea that was posited by Judith Butler in her Theory of Performativity, which states that identity is constructed and that we all have social scripts that we adhere to and thus perform for others in our community to affirm our belonging to specific ingroups. For this reason, social media can be a tool for identity negotiation and community building that goes beyond what was initially assumed.

For example, Tumblr is a space that historically has been important for the LGBTQ+ community because it is a platform where individuals can interact with content relating to their personal experiences and access culturally relevant information that could potentially influence how one decides to navigate identity expression. The same can also be said about how people today interact with platforms like Tiktok, but more obviously so. Namely, the "that girl" trend and its derivatives have emerged as the center of identity negotiation for young middle-class women online. However, creating a space for marginalized identities was an empowering experience. At the same time, the latter has been a means of restricting expression and identity through narrowly defined terms of womanhood.

But as much as I would like to think that I can distance myself from the influence of social media, I am just as much a product of it as the two examples listed above. I constantly scroll through various platforms when there is a moment of pause, and I would rather be entertained than sit still. But I also use media as a means of art production, a space for theorizing and connecting with others. Unfortunately, the product of this has been feeling that my thoughts are limited to the media I consume and feeling more aware of an aesthetic "gaze" in my life that I can't seem to shake. Moreover, my relationship with social media became more complicated when I rose to content creator status during the pandemic. In a short time on Tiktok, I gained tens of thousands of followers, and my hyper-awareness about my online presence was no longer the same as my peers around me. Because instead of posting for my friends and family, I was posting to enough people to fill the Super Bowl Stadium many times over. Which ironically made me feel like I was posting for everyone and no one at the same time.

However, this experience taught me how short-form content works on different platforms and how social media is headed. But my biggest weakness is my management of social media fatigue. There are moments when I feel I cannot stomach just how much content I am consuming because it is just an insane amount. I would like to learn how to interact with social media in a way that feels less personal. This means learning about how it works and what ideas drive content creation so that I am not at the whim of the content I watch and am less susceptible to scroll fatigue because I would have become a more conscious consumer of media.

[ghostietea]

Furuba autistic headcanons

With it being April, or autism acceptance month, I wanted to finally drop my list of characters from Fruits Basket that I read as autistic! This is based a lot on my own experience, as well as that of other autistics I know or have seen talk online. I hope some people can get something out of it, feel free to tell me what you think 😊, though please refrain from getting upset that I would dare suggest your fave is autistic.

Hanajima

Before becoming able to better control her powers, she would be constantly overwhelmed by the things she heard to the point that she couldn't even really go out in public. This reads a lot like sensory overload.

Constantly picked on in school because other kids thought she was weird. Eventually reclaimed this weirdness and turned it into a whole persona.

Seems to talk usually in a relatively flat tone.

Had trouble socializing with no friends outside her family until middleschool.

Has a very funny, dry sense of humor that I find very similar to a bunch of autistics I know, including myself.

Hatsuharu

Listen. You have seen the funky little man, you have seen the way he talks, the way he acts around others. He is, and I mean this in the best way, a weirdo. I do not know how you could look at him and see a neurotypical.

Once again, like Hana, Haru is funny in a way that feels very autistic.

Very flat, dry, tone delivery. Sometimes just Says Things that make everyone else go huh??? Suuuuper blunt. Doesn't emote facially a lot of the time.

When this man sees a social norm he doesn't get he WILL NOT follow it. Pierces his ears just because his hair got flak, defends Momiji wearing whatever he wants because sometimes y'know the social rules are just dumb and don't make sense. Especially dress codes.

Sometimes says things not befitting the current tone of the situation.

Represses (masks) a lot of his emotions, leading to outbursts that seem uncharacteristic.

His main childhood trauma revolves around adults branding him as "dumb" and ridiculing him. Haru, however, is super smart and wise!! Just in an offbeat way that not everyone may get.

Machi

Reads as very "flat" emotionally to the point that others would call her boring. Also has a flat vocal delivery.

Relies on specific habits or ways of doing things or else she gets super upset (her hatred of imperfection.

Has trauma surrounding adults completely misconstruing her intentions and thinking she's doing something malicious when she's not.

Generally behaves in a way that's hard for others to understand, one of her formative moments with Yuki was him saying he wanted to "see how the world looks" through her eyes.

Once again, trouble socializing.

Tries super hard to please her parents but in the end they still see her as somehow inherently "defective."

Listen. A lot of this one and the last two are mostly vibes, hard to verbally define. You just have to look at them and trust me.

Tohru

Displays behavior very reminiscent of masking throughout the story, a huge part of her arc is about how she hides a lot of herself and has a very controlled persona. I think it would fit very well if she had other autistic behaviors that she suppresed also it helps explain why she is relatively socially adept, it's learned behavior to make people like her more.

Yes she is very good at saying what others need to hear, but especially early on she is pretty blatantly imitating her mother's words. She only gets better at getting through on a more personal level later on (see her with Rin and Akito v. early series Tohru). She does this by relating her own experiences, a very autistic way of showing empathy that often gets us written off as self centered. The way she relays things her mom said could also be seen as this, and she even worries at a few points that she's being insensitive for going on about things like that.

While emotionally repressed she is hyper empathetic and feels other's emotions so strongly she cries.

Her speech patterns are all imitated from her father and she often copies verbal things from others (see Ritchan-san). Noted in canon that people think her way of speaking is slightly off/not befitting of someone her age. Additionally, her father was polite more sarcastically, while she plays it straight and sometimes takes things very literally or fails to get the message, indicating trouble with reading tone. Has numerous strange verbal tics, including saying parts of her internal monologue out loud without context.

Very expressive with her hands including waving them around and flapping them up and down.

Does have a bit of trouble with accidental insensitivity in social interactions, like how she constantly fixates on her mom and realizes that might bug the Sohma.

Has trouble paying attention in school since it doesn't have much to do with her interests

Her only friend until she was a middle schooler was her mom

Has a pretty unique outlook on things compared to others, people seem to think she's pretty eccentric. There's always a "this girl is nice but in an odd way, she's our weirdo and we love her" vibe.

Sometimes has an "inappropriate" emotional response to situations

Has a lot of trouble with change, similar to Akito. Which oh, look at the time, next hc coming up.

But first, a disclaimer. It is cathartic for me to read Akito this way, but with that reading comes the baggage that she would, mayhaps, be showing a more negative side of things... It doesn't bother me since it's a joint hc with other characters and she does develop at the end but yeah, general villain hc baggage. This is in no way me trying to excuse her being The Worst being autistic doesn't absolve you of being able to do wrong . Also, a lot of these points can and do have other explanations related to her upbringing, but things can be for more than 1 reason. With that said, she really strongly comes off as autistic to me, in a way that's sorta hard to explain. I wrote a lot more for her than the other, both because I felt I needed more to convince people and that this headcanon was more sensitive and I needed to be careful in my explanation. Also hey! She's my special interest within a special interest.

Akito

Shown to have a dislike of summer weather due to heat and brightness, could be due to sensory issues in tandem with sickness things. Also covers her ears when people raise their voice sometimes which is partially her trying to shut down opposition but also 🤔 can read a different way. She'd also avoids louder Juuni like Ritsu and Ayame because she can't handle them.

Wears pretty much the same outfit every single day. Said outfit is also pretty loose fitting.

Always seen sitting in a pretty unconventional way. Evidence:

Of course this is also the isolated in a cult thing and there is a level of her purposefully doing things to intimidate but: doesn't follow a lot of social rules (overly touchy with strangers, legit doesn't get that what she's doing is wrong, ect.). Repeatedly confused when people indicate she should act otherwise without explanation. Has a breakdown when this comes to a head and approximately says that "they" shouldn't expect her to know "common sense" if "they" never explained it to her, that the way that she was was her "common sense."

Often talks in a way uncharacteristic of her age when shown as a child in a more faux mature/pretentious way. Might just be the translation and idk how to explain it but her speech as an adult also seems off from what one would normally use in conversation. Additionally, when she tries to fake being friendly in her intro chapter, it comes of as extremely stiff and unconvincing.

Generally displays behavior that could be thought of as childish as an adult, but a lot of this behavior could also read as autistic (covering ears, emotional deregulation and meltdowns, ignorance of basic social norms, ect.). It's also important to note that she knows that this behavior makes her seem younger and more helpless to the older zodiac and uses it as a manipulation tactic. Has issues regarding people treating her like a child or only hanging out with her because of pity. While she does weaponize it, we can tell that this grates on her, as seen with her finally blowing up on Kureno, which is partially triggered by the maids saying some sorta infantalizing stuff about her. Irl, a lot of autistic adults and teens struggle with being infantalized for our behavior generally or treated as little babies that can do no wrong. Even in fandom, you see people doing stuff like jumping to call autistic adult characters, such as Entrapta from Shera, "minor coded." It is also common for us to have at least one bad experience with someone hanging around us out of pity. This is something that really gave me a similar feeling in Akito's arc. She's not a baby and she can understand and do better if she is given the chance to learn and break from all the freaky cult indoctrination she's been subjected to instead of just being constantly enabled. In the end, a lot of her growth is represented by her showing that she is capable of changing and being independent.

Shows particular difficulty with socialization, often sits by herself spacing out at social events. A lot of her fear is rooted in the fact that she doesn't know how normal relationships work, becoming overly reliant on the curse because she doesn't know how to make friends.

Clings desperately onto the notion of being "special" and in some way superior to others to be worthy and to make up for perceived inherent "flaws." It's the nd gifted kid burnout vibes for me.

Easily bothered by things that don't bother others. Feels emotions very strongly to the point of getting physically ill and has bad emotional regulation.

Relatively good at reading others in an analytical sense (though has more trouble when it comes to seeing how they feel about her since she's wildly delusional) but brings up her observations in a very cold, detached way and hurts people even on the rare occasion she didn't mean to. Has extreme trouble connecting to others and understanding their point of view. This makes her come off as pretty unempathetic even though that might not fully be the case. Also thinks that people like Momiji are trying to look down on her when they try to empathize with her. A lot of why Tohru can get through to her is that she manages to convince Akito that she's not condescending by relating shared traits and experiences. As I said earlier, autistics often empathize by sharing their own experiences with someone, and I know I often have an easier time confiding in other autistics because of a fear of being seen as lesser by those that don't understand me. I think the connection between these charachters and the way that Tohru manages to reach Akito like that while others couldn't makes a lot of sense through an autistic lense!

Additionally, when Akito herself gets around to trying to help others instead of just projecting trauma, she tries to reach out to the old maid by relating back to her own experiences. This however, doesn't work.

Has "cold" emotional reactions sometimes even to things that do make her upset. For example, how sort of calm and detached she acted after her father's death can make her seem uncaring. However, we know that this event did mess her up a lot and she is still (poorly) dealing with a lot of grief from the death of her father years later.

Copies mannerisms from others, the most blatant example is with Ren, who she directly parrots lines from as a child to Yuki.

Partly just her posturing, but gestures a lot with her hands when she talks. Also seen several times clutching her hands in her hair.

Deals extremely poorly with the idea of things changing to the point that it is a driving force of the story.

Does not understand when people tease her.

Ect. Ect. Ect. Listen, I could go on for ages but just trust me, the mean gremlin lady is autistic.

[vkelleyart]

Thoughts on fandom: inclusion and engagement.

(Art credit to the kindhearted @penpanoply​!)

There’s been some stuff floating around on Tumblr about strife in the CO/WS fandom, and though I haven’t been explicitly named-dropped on anything public, my DMs have been... active. lol Rather than rehash what’s been said already, I just want to impart a little wisdom and perspective in the hopes it may soothe frayed feelings and offer a way ahead for cultivating a respectful community. As someone who has been an active participant in online fandoms since the mid-’90s, which was the advent of online fandom content creation (shout out to my fellow X-Philes!), and who has also spent a chunk of her professional life managing social media for the federal government and for activist groups, I can promise you it’s all gonna be okay.

Here’s some context for why strife happens and what we can do to create a more inclusive and communicative fandom environment. 

1) It sounds cliché, but fandoms go through growing pains. 

In the case of the Simon Snow fandom, what was once a small and cozy space untouched by cataclysmic events (such as the release of *gasp* a sequel) has grown exponentially in a relatively short amount of time following the release of Wayward Son. Newcomers are eager to find a home in this space at the same time as folks who’ve been here a while may be consciously or unconsciously wary about widening their circle, and It’s important to remember that this is not necessarily an expression of bad behavior on either side but just human psychology doing its thing. 

The byproduct, however, is that tension and stress builds over time from the lack of meaningful communication across the divide, which subsequently fuels misunderstandings. Ironically, the interfaces we use to communicate don’t help with this because any existing communication about the tension happens in tiny vacuums until a trigger goes off and bad feelings go public. 

Way Ahead: These moments of destabilization are opportunities to see where we can be more self aware about how we engage with fandom and the kind of community we want to be. Can you promote, support, or befriend someone trying to gain a foothold? If yes, please do! Each person must reach their own decision about what they can do within the confines of their available energy, health, and time, but a little self awareness goes a long way as long as you’re honest with yourself and others if applicable about what you can contribute. Anyone who judges you for it isn’t worth the strife.

2) In a fandom comprised of vulnerable/marginalized people, it’s more accurate to say that cliques are “bubbles of trust.”

This one's important. Just by nature of the source material, the CO/WS fandom includes fans with a wide array of backgrounds and experiences, especially when it comes to those who identify with the characters’ queerness, mental illness, and/or trauma. I really believe––based on individual conversations/group chats––that the difficult lived experiences that so many of our fandom peers have endured has produced one of the most open, aware, and accepting fandoms I’ve had the pleasure of participating in. Our vulnerability is, in a real way, our strength.

That said, a community of survivors also has the side effect of cultivating small circles of engagement that I call “bubbles of trust.” When you’re a survivor of abuse, marginalization, mental illness, fill-in-the-blank, it’s often quite hard to risk casting a wide net and expanding your circle to include new faces––which can subsequently be internalized by equally sensitive and vulnerable newcomers as rejection, judgement, or inadequacy.

Way Ahead: First of all, there may indeed be gatekeeping and exclusion going on. But before internalizing someone’s cagey behavior as gatekeeping or purposely exclusionary, ask yourself if you have all the information. Many people are private (I include myself in this assessment) because life has regrettably taught them to be this way, and so they may insulate themselves to a small group of people who have earned their trust. Some people might also triggered by certain content (case in point: smut triggers my anxiety) so they don’t engage with it. Others might have something in their pasts that define how they handle certain subjects (for example, a person of color should not be tone policed for getting angry when confronted with a racialized microagression, however accidental it was). You just don’t know what you don’t know. 

The solution here is to regularly check your privilege and ask questions in a private space if you sense you’re being treated unfairly by someone. If you go public with your grievances in hopes of mobilizing the mob, you may accidentally find yourself stepping into the role of the aggressor instead of the victim.

3) Social Media is not built to help you get engagement. It’s built to help itself make money off of you.

Repeat after me: Hits/likes are not a measurable indicator of talent or worth. There are ridiculously talented folks on Tumblr and elsewhere who, for whatever reason, haven’t had their viral moment, and it’s not their fault. Loads of factors come into play where things like likes, reblogs, and comments are concerned, among them being posting frequency, subject matter, the time of day, the day of the week, the week of the month, the month of the year, the current administration, the stock exchange, the concentration of middle class users, who just won the Superbowl, a madman trying to steal an election and undermine the democratic process, a PANDEMIC, do you get where I’m going with this?? lol

At the end of the day, my humble successes have been helped along by good luck, good timing, high profile signal boosters, and an absurd amount of work. (This is why I try to signal boost new work whenever I get a chance over at @vkelleyshares.) 

So while you cannot control Tumblr’s interface, trends at large, or your fellow users, here’s what you can do to ensure you give your work the best possible chance of exposure.

Have an image ready to go with your post. Tumblr is a visual platform (no matter what it says about being good for text). Not good with images? Set up a Canva.com account and get access to free graphic software with a gazillion templates to create whatever attractive image you want to attach to your post.

Keep the outward facing text brief and easy on the eyes. Too long and eyes will glaze over. Put excess text behind a “read more.”

You may think you’re being cute when you do this, but don’t put yourself down in your posts. (Don’t put yourself down in general, of course.) Doing so acts as engagement repellant. If you don’t believe in your work, no one else will.

Related: Be your best cheerleader. Confidence is a magnet, and if you don’t have it, go ahead and fake it until you start to convince yourself you are worth the buzz. So promote yourself! You have gifts that only you can impart. Use that knowledge to fuel everything you do from your art/fiction writing to your outreach with other content creators, and by golly, if someone’s done it already, acknowledge that contribution and then tell the world that this is YOUR unique take on it.

Treat your fellow fandom creators as human beings, not art/fiction/content boosting machines. I cannot count how many times I’ve had folks slide into my DMs with offers of friendship only to disappear once they realize I’m not available to draw a picture for their fic. It hurts because it’s manipulative and it makes me want to hole up and not signal boost anyone. Creators who truly support each other will not give off a transactional vibe. I want to help you reach more people, but not if that’s all I’m good for in your eyes. 

The long and short of it: Lead with compassion, do your best with the opportunities at  your disposal, and remember that fandom belongs to everyone in it. ❤️

What saves a fandom made of sensitive and vulnerable souls from imploding when it goes through growing pains is radical compassion from those who can offer it. Begin with the assumption that your fellow fandomers are not trying to harm you, and wade into the water knowing that your insight into the lives of your peers is limited by default and you may need to temper your words or actions accordingly. If you’re a content creator, save compassion for yourself as well, as there are indeed challenges to gaining an audience, and lack of engagement does not mean you lack talent or skill. Be your best advocate, and if you have the bandwidth to lift up a fellow creator and make a new friend, please, go ahead do it! 

And finally, fandom belongs to everyone, and no one has a monopoly on characters, tropes, or themes. Create and consume what you love (with respect for your more vulnerable peers), and bask in the variety, my friends!

That’s all I’ve got in my head at the moment, although I’m sure there’s more I’m forgetting. Thanks so much to @penpanoply for letting me use her art for this and to everyone else, hang in there and try not to judge each other too harshly. These are unprecedented times, and most of us are doing our best in circumstances that are pushing us to our limits. 

As always, if you have questions or want to sound off on anything, shoot me a message or an ask, or ping me on Discord. It might take me a second to respond (thanks, Covid) but I’ll get to it! Love, love, and more love to all.