#because they literally have nothing in common

[undead-moth]

There's no way you could have known this, but I was thinking of all the other people who have been saying thin is "back in" when I responded to you. I know you didn't really say thin was out.

As for the disconnect that I think is happening between people who think it was better and people who don't, I think it comes down to how people are viewing body positivity. The popularity of body positivity in the 2010s certainly made things feel better, but body positivity wasn't about us. Every popular body positive message served to reinforce fatphobia. Fat people were being told that body positivity didn't include them because body positivity was only about things you "couldn't help." Body positivity was really our movement, initially for fat liberation, and it was appropriated by thin people during the very span of time it was "better" for fat people.

Sure, things felt better during the 2010s because of the popularity of body positivity, but I think that was mainly because so many of us were thinking it included us. But it didn't. It never did. None of that was ever for us.

All of the examples you give here were as common during the 2010s. I mean, you say "look at Lizzo, Adelle, and Rebel" but they're just doing what all fat women celebrities eventually do. Pretty much all of them, once safely famous, lose weight. Either that, or their careers end. Hell, Adella lost weight during the time it was "better." Other fat women celebrities did too.

Yes, Arianna Grande is losing weight right now. But I think that has less to deal with increased fatphobia, and more to do with racism, if I'm being honest. Because another thing that contributed to the 2010s feeling better even though it wasn't really better is that curves were in. Being fat wasn't, but being curvy with a thin waist was - and this was called thick which if you were fat, felt good to hear even though it didn't mean fat.

Curves became really popular during the 2010s, probably due to Black women. Arianna Grande spent the brunt of the 2010s pretending she was black, excessively tanning, co-opting black fashion, aesthetics and AAVE. With that came being curvier. Now, curves aren't in for white people like they were in the 2010s anymore - I think because of racism, but maybe arguably because of worsening fatphobia. I can't really prove it's about race. But anyway, Arianna is being white again. She's died her hair blond, she's stopped tanning, she's speaking with her squeaky innocent proper little girl voice - and with all this comes the skeletal frame, because white beauty standards demand daintiness and fragility.

I don't know. Maybe it's impossible to divorce the popularity of curves from the severity of fatphobia, whatever it was, in the 2010s. That was just my thinking with Arianna until now.

Regardless, Nicki Minaj singing "fuck you if you skinny" while literally being quite thin herself, except for her curves, and while almost undoubtedly not intending to defend actual fat women, feels like a good microcosm for the 2010s. A lot felt better because it sounded like it was for us - but nothing actually was better because none of it actually was for us.

What I will say is that more fat public figures were talking about fat people in a serious way, and more stores broadened their available sizes. Those are the two things I can think of that might have actually made the 2010s better, because people aren't talking about it at all right now, and stores are getting rid of their plus-sizes.

And I guess ultimately if I had to choose, I would choose to have that back. So, maybe it was technically better. But the improvement was so negligible and artificial that it physically pains me to even humor it. No one hated us any less, that's for sure (and I see in your tag you said that).

"ohh 00s diet culture isn't back because of ozempic, you're overreacting"

idk i keep seeing previously size-inclusive brands remove plus-sized versions of their clothes from their catalogues entirely, even lines specifically aimed at bigger sizes are cutting their size range down and chopping the bigger ones. i keep seeing mean skinny tiktokers get famous because they said something rude about fat people. when i ask my doctor about weight loss (which my country's gender treatment clinic requires before i can access even preliminary talks about hrt), i'm immediately offered drugs about it - drugs which, according to the doctor, we don't know the long-term effects of. but surely! surely it can't be worse than being fat!

like why are people acting surprised? we've made being extremely wealthy the aspirational aesthetic to strive for, made 'being skinny and having a lot of time and money to stay beautiful' a not only viable but lucrative carreer for people, and then released a drug that is wildly expensive and will make people thin.

of course people are gonna make being thin the ultimate status symbol again - it more than ever before signals wealth and leisure-time.

like, do you think it's a coincidence that people are back to constantly spouting 'nothing tastes as good as skinny feels' again? and pretending being fat is a matter of lacking self-control around cake or whatever? as if people haven't spent decades trying to get these fucks to understand that actually healthy produce and the time to maintain your body are extreme luxuries in our society?

anyway my broke fat ass can't find pants i like and can afford because the size-inclusive lines i'd have shopped at previously have axed anything over a size xl

and like. i'm not even that fat. what the fuck do people bigger than me do. it's really heinous right now for fat peeps.

[forgetmaenott]

An In-Depth Analysis on Why I Believe Pomni WIll Break Through to Caine

(showtime enjoyers here’s a heaping spoonful of hope)

warning : lonngggg post

i. Pomni's Role as A Jester

Of the entire cast of characters, Caine and Pomni are the only ones to have circus-related designs. Caine of course as the ringmaster, and Pomni as a jester.

The others' character designs are relevant to their defining characteristics or issues; for instance, Kinger's seniority and wisdom (when he's sane); Ragatha as a doll matching her gentle, yet people-pleasing, nature.

But what about Pomni?

Well, for one thing, she's anxious and a bit awkward; traits of "a fool". But her character is far more than that. Her character isn't as simple as feeling panicked, and the more she adapts to the circus, the more that shows. So it certainly runs deeper than that.

Historically speaking, jesters not only served as entertainment to royalty, but had the privilege of offering genuine criticism and advice (as long as they successfully entertained them). And this sort of reminded me of a very common theme in TADC fanfictions / comics:

Pomni becoming an advisor to Caine.

Now, I don't believe she'll canonically become an advisor. But I do think this points to the potential that she could be the one to actually break through to Caine. And with Caine's descent into insanity as he tries to please the humans, this becomes more and more likely.

ii. The Link Between Gummigoo & Caine

For a while, I wasn't quite sure how Gummigoo would be relevant to however TADC ends. (The episode is a great analysis on exisistential and depression, in my opinion. But in terms of the plot, I wasn't fully sure at first how adding a character and immediately killing him off would tie back to the ending.)

And I personally believe that the purpose of a character like Gummigoo, another AI who became sentient, will eventually tie back to Caine. Especially given how similar they are—when stripped of their given purpose, they think, “i’m nothing”. The only difference is, we didn't see when Caine became sentient; and it was likely similar.

To me, this is also supported by how Gummigoo was introduced so early on into the series; and they brought him back so soon after--not even halfway through the series--as closure. I mean, she quite literally says goodbye to him and watched him go; that side plot read, to me, as her gaining a sense of closure and acceptance.

But why would the connection between Pomni and Gummigoo come to a close so early on in the series?

I suspect it's because that connection will eventually fuel an understanding of Caine.

(This paragraph from Gummigoo's Wiki Fandom page even sounds like it could apply to Caine:

"...grappling with existential anxiety and an eagerness to understand the unknown. Through the development of his relationship with Pomni where she comes to understand his hopelessness, he evolves from a seemingly antagonistic figure to a well-intentioned individual, illustrating his capacity for growth and redemption.")

They also released an officially licensed TADC "best friends" necklace at Hot Topic of Caine and Gummigoo. Obviously, it was intended as a joke, but I do think even that shows that there is some sense of similarity, in that they are the only AIs in the entire circus that have become sentient.

Yes, Pomni most definitely resents Caine, but she has also been shown to be very empathetic. She understood Gummigoo, and Caine isn't too far off. The main barrier is that no one, at the moment, sees Caine's insecurities (except for Zooble), and only resent him.

Would Pomni punch Caine given the chance? Yes, absolutely. But i also believe that there will be a breakthrough. Because as she said, she doesn't want anybody to feel like they're nothing.

iii. Gooseworx's Comment About "Meaning to be found in a stagnant life"

With all of this in mind, I also wanted to tie it back to the message Gooseworx wants people to take away from TADC.

Meaning to be found in a stagnant life.

Of course, that refers to the humans trapped in the circus, stuck doing the same things day after day. But I also think it’s going to, in some ways, refer to Caine. After all, he is just as trapped--if not more--than the humans.

Caine exists to entertain in the circus, to please. The very meaning of his existence was questioned when zooble implied that he was bad at what he was made to do. it’s “all” he exists to do.

A stagnant life of creating and entertaining.

Similarly, the inspiration behind TADC--I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream--follows a very similar underlying meaning. The title of IHNMAIMS, at a glance, refers to the suffering of the five humans being eternally tortured. But it also refers to AM (the inspiration for Caine), who quite literally has no mouth, being a program. AM makes the humans suffer, because he is suffering. He hates humans, living a tortourous, never-ending existence.

"I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream" -- refers to both AM and the humans.

A "stagnant life" -- refers to the humans, yes, but likely also Caine.

One that there is meaning in that perhaps, Pomni could show him.

iv. Caine Is Alone

This also ties back to this ask Goose answered:

Caine quite literally has no one.

In fact, it's worse than that. He has people who admire him, but none of them are real.

Aside from being a menace, Bubble praises him.

The Moon is in love with him.

The NPCs call him "God".

Everything Caine creates loves him, because he creates them to do so. To give him the validation, praise, and connection that he otherwise completely lacks. He praises himself, in fact, because otherwise his self-esteem is completely shattered.

But the humans? The moment he enters, the comradry amongst the group goes away. The room goes quiet. When they return from their adventures, they don't even acknowledge when he welcomes them.

At the end of episode four, once Gangle walks out, Caine assures himself that he's "such a good boss", then is shortly cut off by him glitching out. It reads as a silly cartoon gag, but it also shows a crack in his sense of self.

Of course, the others don't think of him or consider that he may be lonely, because he's the source of many of their problems. He's an AI with a limited spectrum of emotions, so that is how they see him.

v. The Worst Thing You Can Do in the Digital World is Exactly What's Happening to Caine

Near the end of episode three, the writers made it a point to show that Caine is highly insecure about his worth when his adventures aren't appreciated or liked.

Meanwhile, around the same time that this is happening, Pomni and Kinger are stuck in "hell"--and what does Kinger tell her?

Caine, minutes earlier, started panicking because he believed that no one wanted or loved his adventures. In fact, it eats away at him so much that he's overworking himself, driving himself to the brink of insanity to please everyone. To prove himself. To feel wanted and loved.

And, of course, Pomni is the one who hears this piece of advice. Something she puts to use towards Ragatha but eventually, I believe, will acknowledge Caine more.

While we're on the topic of "dialogue that wasn't directly said about Caine but clearly applies to him", there's the end of episode four.

As Gangle's explaining that she "cracked under the pressure", the shot instantly cuts to Caine watching her.

And now here we have him cracking under the pressure. The Wacky Watch site saying, “SOS COME QUICKLY DANGER, I AM LOSING MY MIND ALSO HI”. He feels a sudden sense of pressure to prove himself, to go above and beyond, but ultimately cracks under the pressure.

As we saw in episode three, his mental state affects the very state of the circus. So, him "losing [his] mind" is going to be impossible for the others to ignore at a certain point.

And I believe that there's a certain jester (who is established as very empathetic) who will actually be the one to do something about it.

vi. Pomni is the Most Likely Person Who'd Speak Up to Caine

Okay, this sort of seems like a "duh". She's the main character, after all.

But it also delves deeper than that. The others are too preoccupied with how their time at the circus has traumatized them. Ragatha is nice, sure, but as Gangle said, it's hard to determine what's genuine from her.

The refreshing thing about Pomni is that she is both hot-tempered and incredibly empathetic. She is fully capable of speaking up, and in every single episode she has been shown to really listen and offer advice to those who are struggling.

And, as Pomni herself said, she doesn't want anybody to feel like they're nothing.

Also, in episode three, Zooble explicitly gives reasons why no one speaks up: Ragatha is too nice to voice the truth; Jax enjoys the adventures as an opportunity to torment others; Gangle is too shy; Kinger's mind is gone. And then Zooble does speak up, but gives into frustration and simply tells Caine to "forget it". (So he literally does.)

The reason Pomni doesn't speak up is because she "looks traumatized everytime she comes back from one". For one thing, that feels less like a "reason" and more of a "reaction"; whereas the others are actual character flaws. They don't align.

I would argue, though, that Pomni does speak up.

In episode four, she's shown as the only character to have interrupted Caine as he's announcing the day's adventure, flat-out criticizing him.

The others even look surprised that she interrupted him, so I'm sure it doesn't happen often (aside from Zooble's distaste towards the adventures, of course).

I’d also like to point out that despite them being two of the most important characters in the series (story-wise), and how often they are marketed together, they haven’t canonically interacted much.

It could mean nothing, but I do believe the lack of interactions now will build up to Caine’s inevitable crash-out and a potential resolution.

And I love Showtime as a ship, but I also see their dynamic as something to be explored. Especially because the series is already acknowledging how everything is affecting him; sooner or later, the characters will have to.

Anyways, TLDR: I think their dynamic will eventually play a big role in the series, especially since we’re already seeing the beginnings of Caine angst.

[theblackparadeisdead]

I need to know if I'm being like a miserable buzzkill bitch about this but like. Ok for context I had another friend and coworker whose parents home (her childhood home with all her childhood things in it) burnt down straight to ashes last summer and we were all at a work thing with her when we found out about that and she was understandably distraught by this. Some of our coworkers were being kind of loud and obnoxious and throwing water and stuff at each other and laughing while the rest of us were sitting with her and trying to comfort her (like in the same room as us). Later some of those guys got talked to by our boss for being a little rude to my friend when she was having a hard moment. Anyway I'm working with one of those guys again this summer and we were talking a little bit about last summer and he brought up the thing with the house and I kinda made a light joke about him being bad at reading the room and then our new coworker (who was not here last summer and who I barely know but has been friends w him for years) jumped all over me for implying that guy 1 should be sad and quiet just because other people are having a hard time and got annoyed with me for implying guy 1 should act less happy just to make other people's feelings validated and was saying like being happy all the time is a good thing and I was mean for suggesting otherwise? Like I feel like nothing I said implied that and if I was in a room with a friend/acquaintance of mine who was literally sobbing it's just basic common sense and empathy and compassion to not start a prank war in the same room and make a bunch of noise? Long rant but I love overthinking social situations.

[theloganator101]

First off, this is NOT directed towards Caleb. This is more directed to Chaggie in general.

This was something I thought of in the shower, but to show just how bad this ship is, every time I see anything relating to Chaggie (Like this music video and merch of them together) I just end up rolling my eyes and being like "Oh great this again..."

I hope I'm not the only one to experience this, because it all tries to paint them as this great couple who love each other and can get through anything. But in the actual show they're just incompatible who literally have nothing in common. Charlie keeps ignoring Vaggie's advice and whenever she's upset, and Vaggie's a liar who doesn't have a personality outside of Charlie and is a total bitch to everyone around her, also acting annoyed whenever Charlie tries being herself.

[demaparbat-hp]

Oh, Lala...

[loopyarts]

Young adult Robin Dick Grayson and his Umbreon partner.

[solariex]

tumblr dotcom i have the UPDATE to this thread of things oh BOYYY !!!

tldr: the "hangout" was basically a blind date UGHHHHH or well the guy treated it like a date !!!! which made me so uncomfortableee

but cliffnotes version of what happened so i dont blab too much here:

we literally have NOTHING in common !! the video games stuff ?? he likes way different games than i !! the art stuff ?? HE SAID HE HASNT BEEN INTO ART SINCE HEWAS A KID

and all the awkward convo stuff aside he didnt have his licence so at the LAST MINUTE he asked if i could give him a ride home & yknow i felt bad so i said SURE why not because he probably doesnt live far away !!!!

guys he lived 30 minutes away IDID NOT KNOW THAT and i didnt get home until an hour AFTER the dinner stuff was overr

& i KNOWW he didnt see this as a "ooh casual friendly hangout" because in the awkward silence of the car he's all "how old are you ?? your 18 ?? you know im 21 right ?? the age gap is okay with you ??" IF ITS "JUST FRIENDS" IT SHOULD BE FINE WHYWOULD THAT BE ASKED ??? guys im going to crash out please save me plea—💥💥💥 /j

so i spent the past night in a incredibly awkward dinner and then driving in pitch black darkness to SUCHH a shady area for an hour and now this guy thinks we have something WHEN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A FRIENDS THING ???? WHAAA HUHH WHAT ????

wish me luck im dealing with handling this mess tomarrow because i have a headache right now but thats the update if anyone wanted it I DIDNT MEAN TO TURN THIS INTO SOMETHING TO YAP ABOUT ON HERE but oh BOYY enjoy solar lore crumbs i guess !!! :'3

[msnihilist]

Absolutely LOVE the inclusion of SpongeBob in the NU gang. He's the only non-human. He has no super powers to speak of. He's a line cook working for minimum wage. He's in his twenties. He has average intelligence on a good day. He lives underwater.

[nwarrior777]

okay internet, i know that you not ready for this but

it's strange being all omgyes #slay yay totaly okay for like, all kinks, but going #omg wtf cringe scull emoji about fat kink

like we as society know how kinks works (importance of consents, special rules for practices like using special candles for wax play, etc), we know how really infinite can human fantasy go and so on and so on but why is it still taboo to be openly horny about things like big tasty meal with your lover

can we be finally chill about it

p.s. i have post which gives good arguments on this topic but i couldn't find it by search, only in my blog archive, so here is the link.

The problem with fat kink is not in it existing, but in not-exsisting of range of image of fatness in media

[derrygirlstrash]

Not to start shit, if you know me you know I'm a "ship and let ship" kinda gal and saying this I truly have no problem with James/Orla as a ship it harms no one and plenty of people like it, I like people having fun... that said...

I have never understood the common argument that James/Erin as a ship makes no sense and James/Orla should have been the ship instead. Often one of the arguments is that James/Erin wasn't set up while James/Orla was and I'm sorry... what? James/Erin have at least one ship heavy episode each season as well as plenty of background moments and several significant moments in Erin's Diary.

Even if you ignore all the background moments of the two holding hands, being inside each others personal space, the times where they're clearly matching and whatnot. There is at LEAST the implication that Erin would ignore her supposed crush for James, that she cares what he thinks, that Erin is James's type, that they're aligned in creative values and match each others energies, that Erin thinks he's handsome, that James thinks she's beautiful, that she can't imagine her life without him, etc.

James/Orla have some touchy moments... that's kinda all they have as far as romantic coding and I don't see how those two hugging in the Season 2 finale is somehow more significant than what setup James/Erin have throughout all the seasons.

Honestly, while I can see Orla liking James - you could build a case for it and convince me even though I see Orla as ace/aro in my own personal headcanons... no one has ever been able to give me a convincing argument for James liking Orla back. It kinda feels like you have to ignore that he never has a reason to fancy Orla back and just project onto him that.

Which, again, go off if that's your bag I think their friendship is fun and I could see making a ship out of it, but the common argument is that the SHOW makes a better case for James/Orla and like, no? No it really doesn't? It's just not main girl/main boy and some people really don't like that trope or Erin as a main and I think that if you say the show didn't set up James/Erin well and you argue the show would have been better with James/Orla based on what's in the show, you just might not like Erin very much?

I've also never been able to make sense of the argument that James/Erin is somehow the trope that 'guys and girls can't just be friends' like, is that not also James/Orla? Y'know, besides that Orla isn't a girl. They do use she/her during the show time period though and some people who argue this think Orla is a girl, they just think they're not THE girl. So somehow it's better even though it's the same thing.

Basically what I'm saying is that shipping is fun and we all oughta do it. Every ship besides the obvious ones is potentially fun and I'm down for it, but there is one ship the show was setting up and we all know what that ship was and I think it would be better if we all were honest about it.

PS: "James was gay the whole time!" Truthers, if you made it through this post somehow I'd like to offer a compromise: James Maguire is the most bisexual coded male character in media history we can all win here.

[dulcae]

so anyway if you shit on your neurodivergent friends for infodumping and always talking about their interests when there isn't common ground to converse about! you are a shitty person! ESPECIALLY if you are also ND!

[flashhwing]

ai fic callout post but all the details they pull for "proof" that it's ai are things that you do in your own writing

[wonder-worker]

people really do not know what they're talking about when it comes to Elizabeth Woodville's social status, huh?

[mantisgodsdomain]

You may say to yourself things such as "wow, mantis god, you seem really behind for bugtober this year", and you would be right, but what you can't see behind the scenes is that we are actually being surprisingly productive in the hours of the day that are not dedicated to school, it's just that some months ago we happen to have thought to ourself "well, we enjoy learning things, so maybe we should take a hack at school since the grant is decent, get some actual certification on our resume so we can get a real job" and then forgot that the reason we don't already have official certification is because formal schooling historically has had worse effects on our overall mental health than almost literally anything else in our life, and now that's eating 4-6 hours of our life per day with an extra few hours of recovery after which makes it unfortunately difficult to work on art.

[hecatesbroom]

I fully did not expect to write a fic today (or this week, for that matter), let alone finish one. But I woke up with an idea this morning and here we are! A very short exploration of Phil and Dorothy's relationship, in the context of queerness (and boy, do I have more thoughts about them now!)

Summary

Phil looks for an ally in Dorothy, but these are the 1950s — and not everyone is brave enough to be themselves just yet.