#boston has no boundaries and no limits

[respectthepetty]

Boss "No Boundaries" Ton

All these Only Friends kids are toxic. They are friends for a reason. They ALL like to control people through sex (yes, Mew too) cause birds of a feather flock together and all that jazz.

Top should be the antagonist, but as much as I dislike Top's cockiness, he has proven he respects boundaries . . . as long as they get him to his ultimate goal, so he isn't toxic. We know who he is, and his intentions are clear.

But Boston the Hunter?

That man is a God damn problem.

As a self-admitted slut, I'm not slut-shaming him. Boston can snatch up all the dick he wants like this is a game of Pokémon Go at its peak in 2016 and he has to collect them all. That's not the issue. I want him to be a toxic slut. The problem is the way he goes about it.

He is a predator.

The very first scene we see Boston in introduced him as such. From the colored bracelets, Boston knew this man was taken, yet that didn't matter to him. The man was open to a threesome, but look at how Boston corners him. They are in a tight space for more intimacy, and Boston puts his arms on both sides of the man. He can't run. And Boston doesn't let up. He gets closer into the man's personal space, and his eyes never leave his target.

It's a club. The guy is into it. Boston's approach could easily be dismissed.

But this is a pattern.

Boston corners people, gets them in tight spaces, and doesn't give them the option to leave.

He is aggressive.

Because this is about control.

And he views sex as an extension of that control.

Because when he is questioned, Boston becomes more aggressive.

Boston's needs override everyone else's. When Top told him no in the shower, he told Top he wanted it, then pushed him.

There is a clear boundary there. Boston's hand is leaning on it. But he doesn't care. He forces his way past it.

Even when Boston does give the illusion of options, he still forces the other person to accept what he wants.

Nick told him "fuck buddies" yet . . .

Boston doesn't accept Nick's answer because Boston doesn't respect boundaries. He pushes past them to show that he is the one in control of the situation. Then, he makes the disrespect clear by calling Nick a name he knows bothers Nick since he shared that he was bullied for his hair when he was younger.

He is a predator because he feeds on people's weaknesses. He knows what makes them vulnerable and he pounces on it, which is why he is willing to throw his friends' tense relationship under the bus because this isn't just about Top's weakness being Mew.

But about Ray's weakness being Mew since Boston wants to bring down Mew by any means necessary, so he is making sure to corner him and get him trapped on both sides. He is controlling this.

Boston's eyes don't leave his prey. He is laser-focused to the point of obsession and even collects photos of conquests like trophies.

I cracked a joke that Boston was the devil, but

Him and his trophies reside in red flag hell, so it makes sense that Mew, a person who controls through sex with boundaries, will be the one to create the biggest barrier for a predator who respects no boundaries.

Which is why he is willing to drag everyone down with him.

Boston is dangerous because his doesn't have limits when trying to gain control.

Everything is fair game to him.

[fadelbison]

am I the only person who clocked that Boston would not be jealous of Nick and Dan??? Please tell me fandom didn’t get Boston that wrong??

He let Nick go like Boston is not That Guy and he’s never been That Guy (cause That Guy is Ray so even from a plot/story perspective the repeat wouldn’t make any sense) and that’s precisely why Nick loves him. There’s something to be said about a person who knows their limitations and is up front about it makes no lofty promises but keeps the ones he does make meager as they were.

And he let Nick go. He admitted to Nick that he liked him in that dark room BEFORE Nicks betrayal comes out, Boston is not in delusion or confused about his feelings (once more this is Ray’s arc and the repeat would make no narrative sense either). And he still let him go!!! And that means he’s let him go!!!I don’t think he’s wrong about not loving Nick either. Not yet at least. Though yes he says it in the way he says it to be cruel because he was angry.

But Nick isn’t wrong about being close to making Boston love him before Sand had torched it!!! Nick pursued Boston’s crumbs because Boston kept leaving them out and that means something coming from a person who’s intentional like Boston is! Nick was right that he nearly had him! Like I think the point of Atom was to show how Boston reacts to people not respecting his boundaries, how Atom confessing to him was a violation of Boston’s stated boundaries but Nick’s confession was not! It was Nick recording him that was an OFTEN stated boundary Boston had with Nick that he violated!

Like these two characters see each other and the status of their relationship with a clarity that the other two couples don’t have because they communicate with a clarity that the other two don’t.

The only person Boston has ever outright wronged and used malicious manipulation on is Top and that was an ego filled delusion. But he very decisively Backs Off on that front too when he becomes aware of his misjudgment. Like he really genuinely thought Top was only in it with Mew for the thrill of the challenge (maybe because that’s what he would do???)

He’s trying to do right by his friends in the way he knows how to - with a brutal honesty that is often not what the situation requires but damn he’s a person and effort needs to matter and Bostons brand of effort matters to Nick! Nick loves Boston because he needs it and he deserves it!!

[blonndiec]

Been having a couple of changing months, reconfiguring my mental health and putting boundaries. Figured some things out, but mostly some things that are not okay and that people shouldn't take, even if you feel vulnerable, some stuff is not excusable.

Aaaand my depression and grief has been better / but don't ask me about *it* or put any Boston songs (my dad's favorite band), that's my limit. Also had to change my diet by doctor's order and my immune system has been the worst, getting sick every 2 weeks (have to carry an epi-pen in my bag even because though you ask please to not put the food your allergic with, it's hard to remove traces of some vegetables from some pans...in my case, carrots. And my immune system has been so bad that at the slight thing I get a reaction...so yeah, portable epi pen.)

Drawing, making art and writing had helped a lot through this time, and I won't stop to do what comes natural for me: creating. I've been determined to improve on art and it's visible how hyperfixated I've been with that, I'm so proud of how much I've improved. And it's a personal choice. Sometimes we forget we only have control only on our own actions and we create our own limits. And I don't want to keep doing that to myself, despite my own emotional process and other external factors.

Anyway, this is not a complain, point fingers at situations, people or anything, on the contrary - It's been a while since I wrote something personal and also been kind of absent around here. There is so much stuff going on right now in the world, so much pain, unjustice and hurt, and I wanted to be here as always to add on the positive.

I just wanted to say: You're not alone, you can do it. Keep going.

[thatgirl4815]

Freedom & Corruption, Ep 8

Inspired by @ranchthoughts’ post discussing boundaries and crossing those boundaries, I was thinking about the ways these characters interpret the idea of “freedom." That intersection creates an interesting contrast for the core characters.

Ray, Mew, and Alcohol

For Top and Mew, the idea of freedom is especially interesting given their differences in lifestyle. Top has maintained a level of sexual promiscuity—freedom, if you will—that Mew has rejected for much of his adult life. The same goes for drug habits. Mew, then, comes across as a character so deeply entrenched in his own values that his idea of “freedom” varies significantly from other characters. 

What’s interesting is that in his current state of bitterness, Mew seems to crave this idea of “freedom” that he’s witnessed in other characters, most notably Ray. But I think Mew knows intrinsically that Ray drinking himself into oblivion only gives the appearance of freedom—it is far from it. If anything, I’d argue Ray’s habits are the greatest sign of his lack of freedom; he’s bound to alcohol and drugs. They’re restricting his freedom, yet Mew desires Ray’s lifestyle to let go. That’s the terrible irony of drugs and alcohol—what starts as freedom from pain can bind one to it permanently; a temporary freedom becomes a permanent dependence. Mew knows this, and he desires the temporary escape, even as he knows that Ray himself has gone far beyond the temporary. I don’t think Mew is scared of forming that same dependency because he’s confident in his own control in a way that Ray never has been.

Mew has something of a superiority complex, at least compared to Ray, and it’s informing their current dynamic just like their old one. Mew is giving in to Ray’s habits, but he hasn’t fallen to Ray’s level yet—not truly. Top and Cheum fear the same thing happening to Mew that happened to Ray, when that freedom becomes destructive (more on that below).

Ray and Sand

If Ray is bound to this corruptive lifestyle, then his freedom is reasonably limited. He couldn’t control what happened to his mother anymore than he can control what is happening to him (or so he believes...I think the belief that he has no control does more damage than his actual lack of control). So where does he have control? Where can he find freedom? Sand.

“When I’m with you, I’m so damn happy.”

^This happiness is the temporary relief Ray seeks in alcohol, even as it is corrupting him. But Sand doesn’t have any of those same destructive side effects. Sand is a healthy escape. Sand, in many ways, represents freedom from the pain Ray is facing. Ray wants to establish control over the freedom Sand offers, because control over Sand is ultimately much more attainable than control over his other form of escape: drugs/alcohol. 

Top and Cheum

@waitmyturtles addresses this in excellent detail here, but I wanted to include Top and Cheum’s perspectives on freedom versus corruption here. They immediately see Mew’s behavior as the latter, which I find especially ironic for Top, given that he drinks and does drugs himself. If it was someone else in the group, like Boston or even Cheum, I think we would not see this same reaction. Mew has expressed such disapproval of bingedrinking and drug use that the other characters immediately react negatively to his interest in it. 

I don’t want to say they’re invalid for showing concern, because it is concerning to see a friend with such rigid values reject those values completely; however, the way they go about it is encroaching on Mew’s freedoms. Inviting Top to Mew’s party was a low blow from Cheum, and I still can’t fathom why she thought that was a good idea. 

I'm still pretty new to the squad, but I touched on the concept of ephemerality and permanence, so I’m going to tag the ephemerality squad here! :) @slayerkitty @ranchthoughts @chickenstrangers @lurkingshan @twig-tea @distant-screaming @clara-maybe-ontheroad @neuroticbookworm @elizabethsebestianhedgehog @waitmyturtles

[shortpplfedup]

Only Friends Character Rankings Episode 4

Imma just go ahead and call this ep 'The Library' because everybody was reading for filth. We focus in on the core 6 today and everybody's shit gets laid bare. Here's where the gworls land this week.

🔺1. Ray (2)

No one loves me. I’m all alone.

Ray regains the top slot this week because What A Frigging Mess. He's all over the goddamn place. He needs professional assistance of so many kinds that I don't even know where to begin. Ray is absolutely a danger to himself and others, but he's so charming and so practised at covering up that everybody ignores all the red flags he is planting with every interaction. Ray needs an intervention, not a boyfriend. This habit of falling for his 'saviours'...yeah. The love-bombing...yeah. Toxique-tragique.

🔺2. Top (6)

Don’t be too clever. Or you’d be able to read me inside out.

Well here's a surprise and no mistake. I continue not to believe fuckall coming out of Top's mouth, but he's roared back in the manipulation game between him and Mew. He's got the upper hand now. Also, kicking Boston to the curb, smart move not to shit where he eats, BUT HE'S STILL SHITTING. I don't believe ALL he did with Beam was coke. Also, only addicts say 'I'm not an addict', ASK RAY. But yeah, I am so much more tuned into Top's particular brand of fuckery now, and I am absolutely here for it.

🔹3. Nick (3)

- But don’t get serious with someone like Ton. He’s nasty. - I know. I am too.

Babygirl isn't roaring back quite yet but he's on the up-and-up. When he told Top he knows Boston's nasty but he's nasty too...OH YES LET'S GO. I have suspected that Nick and Boston might deserve each other, and I'm curious to see whether that's the right read. His moves this ep were weaksauce (a 'hello Barbara this is Shirley' moment, really?) but he's definitely escalating and I'm pretty sure he'll soon be on the rise again.

🔺4. Mew (7)

If you quit using drugs, I'll sleep with you.

Mew's lost this game for now. His costs are sunk and he ain't walking away EVEN WHEN TOP TELLS HIM HE'S A COKEHEAD. Mew's still trying to scrabble for control, limiting the scope of their sexual interactions to non-penetrative sex only, extracting (useless) promises about quitting the yeyo, and (false) confessions about who gave Top some tchotchke, but he's lost the game. He's capitulated. Top's lying to his face, and he's choosing to believe it, and giving inexpert hand jobs as 'rewards' for good behaviour. I'm pretty sure Mew was just looking for an excuse to give it up at this point. Mew may yet snap out of whatever hold it is Top has over him, but for now he seems to think he can lose a battle and still win the war.

🔻5. Sand (4)

Stop dragging me around when you feel lonely. Or throwing me away when you don’t need me.

This is so sad to watch because Sand KNOWS. Sand KNOWS that this is destined to end in tears and he's doing it anyway. He read Ray like a book and then simped for him like the manclown he is. I can see the 'I can fix him' memes now but I don't think that's what this is. He KNOWS he can't fix Ray, so he keeps trying to set boundaries but he's weak for those puppy dog eyes. He might be the only person who doesn't see Ray as a 'burden', but that's not gonna save him from getting his heart broken.

🔻6. Boston (1)

Why would someone like me be envious of Mew?

Oh how the mighty have fallen, from first place to last in a single week. Top read him for FILTH in that elevator and judging from the preview for next week it may just be causing some self-reflection. Can't keep a bad bitch down for long though, and Boston is the baddest of them all, so I'm willing to let him lick his wounds and reassess.

[rabbiitte]

From Childhood Bonds to Adult Relationships: A Study of Attachment Patterns in Only Friends.

Have you ever wondered why Only Friends' are so mentally troubled? Or why they act the way they do? Although each character has a unique personality, I found a common denominator present in most of the characters: an unhealthy relationship with parents. This can be seen reflected in Ray, Top and even Boston and Nick. On the other hand, those characters who don't have a bad relationship with their parents are those who tend to be the most responsible and common sense characters, for example Mew or Sand. Why is this?

Today we're going to delve into how relationships with parents affect personality and the way we bond with people in adulthood. We'll explore concepts such as parenting styles and attachment patterns within the framework of the attachment theory. If you're interested in understanding the complexities that originate from parental relationships, read on.

1 | A Look at Parenting Styles in Only Friends.

Childhood is a crucial time in our lives. During this period, many of the foundations for emotional development are laid. This is why parenting is so important. How parents choose to bond with children (or choose not to) will be reflected through parenting styles. There are four types of parenting styles:

Authoritative: authoritative parents set rules and boundaries, but they are also understanding and responsive to their child's emotional needs. They encourage open communication and encourage independence. Children raised authoritatively tend to have a good balance between self-discipline and emotional expression. They can love and fulfill themselves without needing other people. They tend to be more confident, have social skills and make informed decisions.

Mew's mothers were authoritative. According to Mew, his mothers were very affectionate with each other and he was raised with the same amount of affection. They made him feel worthy of their love, so Mew grew up being a very confident person who never needed anyone else to satisfy his emotional needs or feel validated. Like his mothers, who used to provide love and protection to him, Mew is good at providing love and protection to others. Based on Mew's personality, we can also infer that his mothers were good at setting boundaries and rules. Hence, Mew is good at setting boundaries and rules in his adult relationships too. Mew's relationship with his mothers made him expressive, confident and disciplined.

Permissive: Permissive parents are forgiving and tend to avoid imposing strict limits. They're usually very responsive to their children's emotional needs. Children raised permissively may have difficulty following rules and boundaries, which can sometimes lead to behavioral problems. They may also experience difficulty developing self-discipline. Children raised in this style may be more prone to experimentation with substances, as they may not receive adequate guidance on the dangers and risks associated with drug and alcohol use. In addition, the lack of boundaries can lead to a sense of lack of control in these children's lives, which could contribute to the pursuit of self-gratification through substances.

Sand was raised through the permissive style. Sand's mom usually puts Sand's feelings first and doesn't set boundaries or rules. She encourages Sand to live wildly, which in the past led Sand to behave this way. Due to the absence of limits Sand has experimented with alcohol and, especially, drugs. However, because he grew up receiving his mother's affection, he's expressive and confident. Sand doesn't need other people to satisfy his emotional needs or feel validated but lacks discipline and limits.

Authoritarian: authoritarian parents are demanding and controlling. They set rigid rules and clear expectations for their children. They tend to be less responsive to children's emotional needs. Children raised in an authoritarian manner tend to be disciplined and compliant, but they may also experience high levels of anxiety and have difficulty making decisions for themselves.

In the series we do not see any examples of this style of parenting.

Neglectful: neglectful parents show little interest or involvement in their children's lives. They may be emotionally absent or distracted by other problems. Children raised in neglectful environments may experience attachment problems, low self-esteem, and difficulty establishing healthy relationships in adulthood. They may also feel neglected and devalued. This parenting style can lead to self-esteem issues, anxiety, depression and substance abuse.

In the series, there are three examples of this type of parenting:

Ray was raised through the neglectful style, as his mother rejected or ignored him. Ray has low self-esteem and self-destructive tendencies as a result of being rejected.

Top was also raised through the neglectful style, as his parents ignored or rejected him. As Ray, Top has self-esteem issues. He's needy for affection and, especially, protection.

Boston was raised through the neglectful style too. He wasn't rejected but ignored by his divorced parents due to lack of time or closeness, neither of them spent quality time with Boston. Ton has self-esteem issues and he needs to feel validated through other people as his parents failed to make him feel appreciated.

As for Nick, we still don't have enough information about his parents to pick a style with certainty but based on Nick's personality, we know that he longs for affection. Nick's parents have probably raised him through the authoritarian or neglectful style and because they failed to make him feel enough, Nick has self-esteem issues.

2 | The Lasting Legacy of Childhood Attachment.

If the bonds established in childhood are so important, what will be the effect of having authoritative parents or neglectful parents? How we form a bond with a caregiver will affect how we form bonds in our adulthood. Therefore, each parenting style has a consequence. That consequence is the emergence of an attachment pattern.

An attachment pattern refers to the way individuals form emotional bonds and connections with others, typically based on their early experiences and interactions with primary caregivers during infancy and childhood. Attachment patterns can influence how people perceive relationships, approach intimacy, and react in times of stress or vulnerability.

A person's attachment pattern is linked to the way they established their first bonds but is also linked to other circumstances, such as personal experiences or social influences. A fundamental framework for understanding how emotional relationships are formed and affected throughout a person's life is the attachment theory.

This theory was developed primarily by British psychologist John Bowlby and later extended by Canadian psychologist Mary Ainsworth. This framework emphasizes the importance of creating bonds with our primary caregivers, as these bonds provide a sense of security and emotional protection, especially in situations of stress or danger.

The attachment theory identifies two types of attachment that can be develop in childhood: secure attachment and insecure attachment. For example, when a little girl feels secure to walk away because she knows that when she returns her caregiver will still be there to meet her needs, this is called secure attachment. If a little boy feels insecure about walking away because he's afraid that his caregiver won't be there when he returns to meet his needs, this is called insecure attachment. At the same time, insecure attachment is divided into anxious attachment, avoidant attachment and disorganized attachment.

a | Secure attachment.

Secure Attachment: Individuals with a secure attachment pattern tend to feel comfortable with emotional intimacy and are generally confident in their relationships. They are more likely to trust others, express their feelings openly and offer support to their partners.

Mew grew up with two loving mothers who spent quality time with him and responded to his needs immediately. Both had a relationship based on open communication, so they rarely fought. Both were responsible for conveying to Mew that open communication solved problems and brought people closer together. Mew knew that whatever he communicated and no matter what happened, his mothers would be there to meet his needs. Because of that, Mew's mothers became his safe place. Growing up, Mew understood that he could devote himself to exploring the world indepently and in the face of any negative stimulus, he could always go back to his mothers. This is called secure attachment.

In his adulthood, because of the bond with his mothers, Mew didn't feel the need to look for a romantic partner as he felt he didn't need one. In his personal relationships, Mew is expressive and independent. He is skilled at solving problems flexibly and supportive of his loved ones.

Sand also manifests a secure type of attachment. Sand grew up with his mother, who despite not setting clear limits, provided large doses of love and care. She made Sand feel worthy of love and confident to explore the world. In his romantic relationships Sand is a natural caregiver just like Mew, he's good at providing support and affection.

However, because both Sand and Mew were raised receiving all the love and attention, they manifest a great sense of self-importance and struggle with rejection from others or rejection of their ideals. In Sand's case, he deals with ex's rejection of a relationship through delegating the responsibility for his failed relationship to Top. In Mew's case, he struggles with external rejection of his ideals through his constant battle of ideologies with Boston.

b | Anxious attachment.

Anxious attachment: Those with this attachment pattern often worry about being abandoned or unloved. They may seek excessive reassurance from their partners and can be overly sensitive to relationship changes or perceived threats to the relationship. They may be reluctant to express their anger or dissatisfaction, which can sometimes lead to increased anxiety. This apparent passivity can be a strategy to avoid conflict or maintain a relationship.

Top grew up with two absent parents. Growing up, his parents ignored him and didn't spend quality time with him. They usually went to social events without taking Top with them, which is why Top was alone when his house caught fire. His parents didn't meet his needs immediately, as they were never at home (although perhaps they did met his needs in the long run). When his parents were with him, Top was happy and when his parents left him, he felt anxious. His parents' inconsistent behavior (of being present, then absent) caused Top deep anxiety and he developed a strong fear of abandonment. As he grew older, he stopped perceiving his parents as a safe place to perceive them as unreliable figures. He never felt safe exploring the world because he feared his parents wouldn't be there when he returned. This type of insecure attachment is called anxious attachment.

In his romantic relationships, Top is insecure and needy. He worries about not being enough and being abandoned. This is the main reason why Boston's revelation about Mew and Ray's kissing affected him so much. In his relationship with Mew, Top craves intimacy and constant reassurance. He needs Mew to feel loved, important and protected.

Even though we don't know much about Nick's relationship with his parents, we can say that he has the same kind of attachment as Top. He shows a strong need to be loved and validated, along with low self-esteem. Nick grew up feeling like he didn't fit in and forcing himself to change to satisfy others, which may imply he had highly demanding parents or detached parents.

c | Avoidant attachment.

Avoidant attachment: Individuals with avoidant attachment may appear emotionally distant and independent. They tend to prioritize self-sufficiency and may be uncomfortable with emotional vulnerability. They may struggle with deep emotional intimacy and commitment.

Boston grew up with divorced parents (although we don't know how much time they have been divorced), who often didn't have time to meet his needs inmediately (maybe they did it in the long run). Probably, at some point in his childhood, Boston tried to get closer to his parents but they rejected his attempts to be intimate due to lack of time or importance. The repeated rejection caused Boston to feel that he couldn't connect with others. At some point, Ton stopped trying to get close to his parents because he felt his necessities wouldn't be satisfied anyway. He became extremely independent and avoidant of situations that could lead him to form intimate bonds. Although, unconsciously, he longs for intimacy and acceptance. This type of insecure attachment is called avoidant attachment.

In his personal relationships, Boston is extremely independent and reluctant to commitment. Although, unconsciously, he seeks validation through his one-night stand partners. He also seems to be interested in pleasing his father and gaining validation based on living the same lifestyle. Boston strongly rejects any intimacy attempt from Nick, although spending time with him satisfies his emotional needs (this is why he keeps him close).

d | Desorganized attachment.

Disorganized attachment: this attachment pattern often results from inconsistent or abusive caregiving experiences. People with a disorganized attachment may exhibit erratic behaviors in relationships, struggling to maintain a consistent approach to intimacy and closeness. They may have difficulty trusting others.

Ray grew up with an alcoholic and addicted mother who rejected him. Ray's mother made no effort to meet his needs or spend quality time with him. In this case, his mom was not only not a safe place, but at some point she became an unsafe place for him. Probably, Ray's mother's behavior varied from time to time. Perhaps, when she wasn't drunk, she did meet some of Ray's needs but, when she was drunk, she ignored or strongly rejected Ray. The inconsistency of his mother's behavior caused Ray to develop a mixture of anxious and avoidant attachment patterns. This type of insecure attachment is called desorganized attachment.

In his personal relationships, Ray is afraid of not being loved, not being enough and being abandoned. However, at the same time, Ray also feels anxious about intimacy and rejects the idea of commitment. For example, he's usually very needy and possessive of Mew and Sand but he also has tendencies to self-sabotage and avoid intimacy, especially with Sand.

In conclusion, bonds with parents have a profound impact on the ability to form bonds in adulthood. This influence can be understood through parenting styles and the different types of attachment. In the series, the characters who experienced secure parenting styles tend to develop more stable and secure emotional relationships in adulthood. For example, Mew and Sand, who had positive relationships with their parents, demonstrate confidence in themselves and their romantic relationships. On the other hand, characters like Ray, Top and Boston, who faced more insecure or traumatic parenting styles, often struggle with emotional dependence, fear of abandonment or avoidance of intimacy in their adult relationships.

It is important to emphasize that attachment patterns can be changed if you actively work on them. However, this requires a high level of self-awareness and dedication.

[ibreathhere]

Im disgusted buy these people moves, 

Top cheating, and apologizing without meaning it, I mean you drop buy anytime you what just because you feel like without having mews feeling in consideration, once again. And acting, you still have a say in his life. 

Boston, dude you can't even pint out you did something messed up, at least you are honest and not full of empty sorry

Mew, that was unhinged, you fake blackmailed and fake threatened, to out your ex-friend, that's too much. Revenge era has to have moral limits.

Nick, you are trying to justify your stalker shit, putting blames on others, no babes you need a new crush and relationship boundaries class

Ray dude it's time to wake up, you are hurting Sand even if you act like you don't know about his feelings, that's not the way to proceed.

Sand, you are perfect kitty cat, but that little revenge move was too desperate, don't touch other people phones, but you already know that. And karma acted quickly

[jakeowen]

cambridge is very much a suburb of the city of boston. that's like saying brooklyn isnt nyc

what? why are you bostonsplaining to me based on a throwaway tag on a map screenshot? and also…no? what you are getting at is that the greater boston metro area includes cambridge and somerville, in addition to many suburbs. that’s true and i would never argue it, having grown up in those suburbs. but a state doesn’t have a capital metro area, it has a capital city, and the boston city limits (including the charles) separate it from cambridge, unlike nyc whose city limits encompass all five boroughs which include brooklyn. i was objecting to the map’s internal definitions. because it referred to city size, the city’s geographical boundaries were relevant data, so choosing colleges outside of those boundaries was cognitively dissonant to me. was i nitpicking? yes. was i correct about the facts of my nitpicking? also yes.

this is so funny bc i’ve been worried someone was going to take me to task about those tags for the mistake i DID make in them, which is forgetting that mit is literally also in cambridge. 🤷‍♀️ but go off i guess

[readingsquotes]

.. Over the summer, university administrations revised expressive speech policies at over 100 campuses with restrictions so broad they could foreclose most forms of protest. They’ve demanded protests be registered in advance, limited hours when protests may occur, banned megaphones and restricted flyers and signage. 

Administrators like Martin typically rationalize these contradictions of their professed values through strategically vague abstraction. Having long decried undergrads for anti-speech illiberalism, they now discover abundant boundaries on expressive speech.

...

Consider the two justifications that Martin offers for suppressing free speech. First, he singles out encampments as uniquely disruptive forms of protest. But from Revolutionary Boston to MLK’s lunch counter sit-ins to the Berkeley Free Speech Movement (where campus activism was born), the occupation of public space has been a cornerstone of American social movements. This is presumably why Martin himself previously allowed a protest encampment advocating for a living wage for campus employees at Wash U, even meeting with the campers. Why was that encampment acceptable when the pro-Palestinian one wasn’t?

Second, the chancellor insists that protests cannot “instill fear.” But how do we decide if something inherent to the protest instills fear? Wash U administrators have provided no examples of threatening behavior from protesters, instead citing 911 calls from bystanders terrified by loud chanting. By this standard, surely someone has expressed fear at any protest ever worth the name.

What’s more, this argument — that the sole criteria of a speech act’s threat is whether a listener feels threatened — is the exact doctrine that Strossen and similar campus free speech advocates identify as the greatest threat to free expression. Martin appeared to agree when telling Michigan students terrified of a white nationalist guest speaker that they were in no danger. Why isn’t a Richard Spencer speech a threat when a pro-Palestine chant is?

These contradictory standards display what activists call “the Palestine exception.” Self-declared defenders of free speech suppressed protests against the slaughter in Gaza because of ideological content, and in this respect Wash U joins its peer institutions.

But the Palestinian cause won’t be the only example of such hypocrisy. Many university administrations decided last year that calling the police is effective PR management. If that goes uncorrected, expect more causes to join Gaza on the roster of implicitly forbidden subjects. The emergent doctrine of American universities is “free speech for me but not for thee.”

Free speech hypocrisy at Wash U

by Michael O’Bryan, opinion contributor - 09/27/24 1:30 PM ET

[thecasualfkfan]

So I saw a post from @/gunsatthaphan (and I can't find it now😶;so in summary it was about how the SandRay apology felt rushed, how cheum so easily forgave atom and the 'revenge' plan of Boston and Nick seemed pointless) and I totally agree with them on the Cheum and Atom thing but,to me,

The apology scene between Sand and Ray was not rushed but it's just that 'sorry' was all Sand needed to hear from Ray to get back to him and not feel hurt by him because we all saw up until this point that Sand quite literally folds like a wet tissue whenever someone he loves says sorry genuinely(both in the case of Ray and that one time his Mom pranked him). He just needed Ray to know that he didn't do it for the money and he needed to Ray to 'realise' that by himself. He has a very unique definition of limits and boundaries.

Now,The thing with the revenge of Boston and Nick on Atom,If my understanding of the timeline of the show is correct,they all(Cheum,Mew,Ray and Boston) met on the first year of the university and they have friends for 4+ years now so they all know Atom(who now I think is 18) since he was 14 and as Cheum's baby brother and when you know your friends sibling for that long you kinda think of their sibling as your own to a degree so Boston also kinda think of Atom as a kid who just need to realise what he did was wrong and that's all was the point of that Revenge thing. And if it was not evident earlier,Boston is really not that big on 'revenge'.(From Gap to Mew to Nick And now Atom)

(Here I just wanna say I,being the eldest sibling myself, hate cheum for that easy 'my wicked little brother' forgiveness so bad)

Also if anyone finds the og post please let me know. Thanks:)

[fukuwatchesbl]

OFTS Ep2 - Stringed throughts

As last time, I already watch the episode yesterday. These are my thoughts on rewatch. I know it may be weird to process this way, but I want to actually watch this series and not focus on analysis first. It also allows me to connect elements better and perceive things I hadn't.

Under the cut.

I thought mew was our narrator, but with more characters showing in the confessional, it's now obvious he isn't. Interesting way to borrow from reality tv format to get insight in characters thoughts. Also, it gets very noticeable that nick has not been shown in the confessional (yet), but every character introduced in the first bar scene of Ep1 has. Is nick set as an outsider of the main group?

[had to take a short break, because my partner is cutting onions]

love to have Jennie and her partner in a stable relationship

cheum is the most romantic of the group, to the extent of being a bit too cheesy/naive for me

boston: it'll last 3 months - mew: watch me

mew, why are you taking top's time limit as a challenge ? also, please reassure me, and tell me your plan to resist top's advances is a joke... that's not a good way to handle any relationship

boston is the worst judge of character. He's convinced himself top is exactly like him (he's wrong), he thinks he and nick are on the same page (they're not)

ray starting to drink in daylight because mew's in a relationship now... ouch, my heart. I appreciate their friendship dynamic though, it's not fully honest, but there's true care

is Top the possessive kind? weird how this doesn't match with the dynamic he and mew have when it's just the two of them... maybe he just doesn't like to share (his toys)

Was wondering how Nick would end up crying in Sand's arms, now I know. I love how Sand looks like he hit the jackpot just because he won't have to move out

I liked that the public confession and the uneasiness it creates for the person on the receiving hand were mentioned.

Top will have ticked 2 of Mew's 3 conditions by the end of this episode

Ray stalker era

whoever guessed sand's weird bottles were plum wine was right

the "favorite"... this felt so manipulative. Nick, run!

the way ray empty his glass in one go, while sand takes his time.

2 characters with past traumas. Is there more?

that shower scene made me so uneasy. it felt like top didn't know if he wanted to go on or to stop

mew is such a tease

boston using a nickname Nick specifically said he didn't like. I would have been pissed if someone had done that to me

see, as much as I don't trust top not to cheat on mew, he, at the very least, doesn't push the boundaries mew clearly sets (the ending of the shower scene is an exception, but it feels like there were more to it). I don't trust boston to do that with anyone

ray stalker era part 2

boston definitely knows about ray's feelings for mew. will he try to use this to drive top away from mew? (this is me clowning, i'm just wondering as to how it'll play out)

so sand is not a hooker, only accumulating odd jobs

back to the confessional: we opened the episode with perspectives on romantic relationships, and we're closing with perspectives on sex relationships

the closing credits have each character alone (mew in ep1, ray in ep2)... will we see characters in pairs later on?

I really like how each character handles relationships in different ways, how we get different views on romance, sex, and even friendship to some extent.

[mikuni14]

Only Friends Ep 8

I'm starting to wonder how they'll cope with life after college, based on what I saw in this episode.

Sand: tries to set boundaries, tries to limit contacts with Ray, is open to starting a new chapter (new relationship), unfortunately love makes him give in to Ray. Nevertheless, Sand is doing something, moving forward, taking care of his affairs. Sand generally seems to be able to do well in life, his weakness is love, although, let's be onest, it is only a matter of the object of his feelings. Top: he maintains an admirable calm throughout his interactions with Mew, even when he is publicly humiliated, only losing his temper when provoked by people who are not Mew (like Sand and Ray). Top doesn't make excuses for what he did, he doesn't fight, he is willing to sacrifice his dignity for Mew. Top seems to be able to do well in life, he takes initiative, love is his strength and motivation for change. What I like about Top is that he takes responsibility for his actions, probably the only one of them all, and he doesn't sink deeper and deeper in "nastiness" as they all tend to do. I liked how he takes responsibility for what happens to Mew. Nick: he also takes action, he both tries to gest Boston back and works on his career and future, he gets a job, we see him being active. He has life outside his love affairs. It seems to me that Nick will do well in life, love motivates him (not necessarily positively), although it is related to the "quality" of the object of his affection (same as with Sand). With a "good" guy, I think Nick can create a successful relationship. Boston: the king of this episode 👑. He caused the most mess and chaos and he simply shows up at the party, joins the guy with whom he had a scandal, which messed up his life and, on top of that, starts another problematic relationship. How can I not like him, my hands are tied. Boston sets boundaries with Nick and unlike Sand, he's sticking to them (at least for now). I wonder if Atom will be a new version of Nick (it seems that he was specifically targeting Boston) or if he will adapt to him. This may be the case after he was fine with keeping their hook up a secret. I feel like Boston is the only one of them all who isn't looking for love, probably doesn't even want it. Boston completely dissociates himself from Nick and is able to ignore him, which proves his lack of feelings for him (completely different from when compared to Mew). Will Boston make it in life? Hmm, with so much sass, confidence and arrogance, he has to lmao. Boston's problem is underestimating other people and their feelings, and it can harm him, as it harmed him now (and Boston didn't learn from that).

Mew: he may have a problem in his adult life, because so far nothing has happened in his lukewarm, boring and bland life, so he was coping well: he was a good student, he had no conflicts. With the first major problem, Mew lost all control over himself and his life. And it was just a heartbreak. On the scale of life's problems, although painful, it is still not the worst. In addition, Mew's problem has become a problem of others. He didn't start it, he was a victim in all this, but when shit hit the fan, he couldn't deescalate it, handle it, or even try to handle it, the problem spread to everyone. I mean, literally everyone was sudddenly involved. I don't blame him, this is probably the first major bad event in his life. But this spiral of self-destruction is very telling. Ray: well, he... screams. At this point, I don't see how Ray's life will improve after college. Mainly for one reason - Ray has zero reflection on his life. Ray doesn't face ANY consequences for his actions, which ends with him having an accident - in which he is, again!, extremely lucky, someone else saves him and after which he has no reflections. He treats the punishment given as something to be done and forgotten and an opportunity to flirt with Sand (I must admit that this scene irritated me af). Ray is kept afloat by his friends and the closeness with them forced by their studies, but after graduation each of his friends will start their own lives, will have to find a job, an apartment… no one will have time for him. Over time, the presence of a drunk and drug addict who is one step away from killing himself or other people will become a burdensome acquaintance. The sad truth is that unless Ray wants to improve himself (I mean heal), he will simply have no life, possibly literally. Can Sand help him? I doubt it, Sand makes alcohol himself, and in this episode he proved that even though he wants to, he can't set boundaries with him. I'm afraid Ray needs to hit rock bottom for real change to happen in his life. Unfortunately, after everyone around him keeps saving him, he still misses the real consequences of his choices.

Personally, I found it funny how after Ray confronted the imaginary "boyfriend Mew" with the real "boyfriend Mew" he immediately started looking for Sand's company 😃 Unfortunately, Ray is too drunk or high and too self-centered to connect the dots.

Of all of them, Top behaves the most maturely, because being responsible for yourself, for your actions and choices, and facing the consequences, even the unpleasant ones, is a sign of maturity.

I'm looking forward to Daddy Dan with Nick, although I hope that the boss-subordinate relationship will be more Jun&Jun, less Step by Step. I don't need a new drama, this time work-related 😑

[ropebunnykant]

no the thing that's really killing me about this episode is that like. ray was being so sincere in all of this. that man was genuinely trying to move on, with sand! & yes, he was a little too precious about defining their relationship as anything other than friends, but that was for some really good reasons! he hasn't fully moved on from mew, he's not totally sure how he feels about sand yet, he probably doesn't want to jump into a technically-rebound relationship inevitably doomed to end with hurt feelings, & also sand's the one who told him they were only ever going to be friends. the last time he pushed that boundary with someone, he was explicitly threatened with getting cut out of their life entirely. i'm not dissing mew for drawing a line, but ray's been burned here, & very recently. he is trying to respect sand's boundaries & feelings, like sand asked him to, because he cares about sand. & yes, he over-corrected, he was a little too tentative & left sand with a lot of uncertainty, but i think he was really trying here. he was opening up to sand & learning about him in turn, spending more time with him & deepening their connection, met his mom, & i really think they could have worked through their shared hesitance & fear of overstepping. they were getting there. & then boston careened in & fucking shattered it! i am so upset

sand and ray are so heartbreaking to me on principal because it's like. here you have two very broken people, two people who have both gone through hell and back, two people who genuinely, truly care about one another, that try so hard to be genuine and honest. but they both have walls, they're both terrified, they both have skeletons in their closet, and they can't help but hurt each other.

and everything this episode was just proof of that. we get to see them spend a day together, sharing in their interesting, letting each other in, having so many sweet little moments. but they still hurt each other! it's "i don't trust you with my life" and "i'm not his boyfriend" and boston's whole thing!

and like here's the thing. objectively what boston did was wrong, he shouldn't be poking his nose somewhere it doesn't belong. it's not his business. but even without boston popping their bubble, it was going to happen eventually. because ray DOES still feel something for mew, he is still holding onto those feelings, and this new thing with sand doesn't change that. he's trying to move on, yes, but he's also limiting it. because he doesn't think he can actually be loved, which is why mew is an easy thing to latch onto. because he doesn't and won't feel anything for ray.

but sand does. which is why ray keeps bringing up the they're just friends thing. because yes, sand said it, but ray has to. ray is the one that said friendship and sex can coexist, ray was the one that said he wouldn't want sand as his boyfriend first. sand played along. and he's still trying to, but you can visually SEE how much harder it's getting for him to.

and especially now, with him realizing that ray is in love with mew? oh he's just got to feel so used. he thinks he was making it all up in his head, that ray never felt anything for him this whole time. and ray knows that sand feels something for him, it's why he's so apologetic. despite insisting they're friends, he knows. but it's not like he can tell sand that he doesn't feel anything to mew because he'd be lying and outside of insisting that they're just friends, ray isn't gonna lie to sand. especially not when it would mean hurting him even more.

[whomst-art-thou-whomst-whomst]

Whomst’s Predictions for Ep 7 of Only Friends: SandRay Edition (spoilers)

Focusing on the “Rockstar and DisasterKitten” pairing here, because 1.) I’m wary of Boston and Nick’s never ending competition to be the bigger creep, 2.) the lesbians will overcome because they’re lesbians and we are capable of anything, and 3.) I am DYING for Mew’s villain era to take off next episode, so folks…it’s time for me to Overthink about SandRay.

Episode 6…Welp. Ray has hit rock bottom. I’ve been thinking from the start that this might need to happen, that Ray has been going through the motions of life while hurting himself and others for so long, it’s painful and unsustainable and he needs to face the music (IF ONLY HE KNEW A MUSICIAN OR SOMETHING FFS).

And it’s not just him that will benefit! His friend group is already splintered and becoming toxic—as Ray is one of the core members most invested and loyal to it, he is going to need to get his act together if their friend group is gonna survive and evolve to something healthy.

(Side note that while I love, love, LOVE, Mew’s little plot to confront Top about his infidelity alone, which he did in the most unhinged way possible—good for him—I’m also not crazy about Mew deciding to let his least-stable friend be seen as the bad guy by all their friends in the name of this scheme, and I hope he fixes that)

So. While I didn’t want to see Ray hurt, I think it was inevitable (to some degree) that for a big change to happen, he was going to need a wakeup call of sorts. Ray being Ray means this wakeup call would be as a result of his self-destructiveness. But I think this is what is going to turn things around—what I’m seeing in the trailer for the next episode already points to a Ray who is quieter, maybe more thoughtful, passing time with both Sand and his friends.

And as for Sand…sweet baby sunRay’s been barely avoiding havoc for years, and now the worst has happened—friendships ruined (he thinks), love interest pushed away, himself as the perceived cause of it all—so where does Ray go from here? Who sticks around when the chips are down?

AHEM. WE ALREADY KNOW WHO.

The guy who knows Ray’s bullshit and has seen and experienced the worst he can dish out, this is the guy who sees that sopping wet stray kitten in the alley and is like, you know what? I’m feeding him and giving him a bath.

I think we can all agree that Sand is one of the standout characters on this show by virtue of being done with everyone’s shit, but in episode 6, we saw him (along with everyone else) pushed to the limit of good/remotely sane decisions. Sand also needs to recognize that constant mini-dates, meeting his mom, deep emotional conversations and passionate sex have maybe caused them both to grow feelings. Oops.

And that’s why I’m a little worried.

Despite Sand’s maturity, boundaries, and self-care, we can see that he is only human and capable of falling into the same messes as other people. The big difference is that unlike literally everyone else, he holds himself accountable for things and takes responsibility for his impact on other people. And in episode 6, it was his decision to get the clip of Top and Boston, send it to Ray and tell him about his ex and Top, all while trying to maintain an air of distance, that constant refrain of “I don’t care what you do, it’s not like we’re together” in the aftermath of Boyfriend Activities.

The last part I kinda get—what a shitty birthday for Ray, realizing the guy you are falling for, who you maybe thought was developing feelings for you, has nursed feelings for someone else, and you feel too proud and scared and hurt to try to talk through it.

But it’s Sand giving Ray that info about Top that directly precipitates the disaster at Mew’s birthday party—following that, Ray hurls horrible insults at Sand in some desperate attempt to figure out what they are to each other (will Sand stay? will he give up on Ray and leave him? Ray is painfully vulnerable in his anger and confusion here) and drives off, clearly drunk. And yes, it’s Ray’s decision to get drunk and make an absolute mess before storming off into a dangerous situation (which he needs to hold himself accountable for), but Sand isn’t like Ray’s other friends and he feels responsible for Ray, even if he isn’t. So knowing that something bad happens to Ray after all of that mess—I think Sand is going to feel guilty.

For a guy as responsible and mature as Sand, stealing/sending that video and using Ray as the intermediary (regardless of intentions) was a low point for him, and I think he’s going to feel guilt for feeding into Ray’s self-destructive habits. This whole time, he’s managed to keep his hands clean of the Drama, but he decided to engage this time for the sake of revenge and it has collapsed spectacularly, with (he thinks) Mew staying with Top and Ray being the one to get hurt.

My prediction for next episode is that Ray will start getting his shit together—relying on his friends for real talk and support instead of drunken superficial reassurance, hopefully dialing back the substance abuse, taking a look in the mirror and making changes without hating himself. They need to TALK. Without alcohol or pride or insecurity clouding their speech.

So while Ray has hit rock bottom, Sand has to reassess things, too—in the trailer we see him caring for the injured Ray, because kiddo cannot stay away, “oh Ray’s the one addicted to me” uhhuh sweetie keep telling yourself that—and I think it’s time they get on the same page. I think they have the potential to be incredibly good for each other, they just need the chance to be honest and stop hiding.

UGH WHY ISNT IT THE 23RD NOWWW

[liber-what-ia]

So I just watched the first episode of The Last of Us and my mind is FRICKIN’ BLOWN.

This is honestly the first time in my life I see a good video game adaptation. Not good, actually, SPECTACULAR.

I could rant on for hours about it, but I’ll just do a very quick list of details that made me jump on my chair, and I’m sure I’ve missed just about a gazillion.

Here we go! (Spoilers ahead, of course)

- Just a general shoutout for the whole introductive part, where we get to see more about Joel, Sarah and Tommy’s daily life. I loved it to bits and the added dialogue was on point, especially Tommy’s.

- The details in Joel’s home, like the guitar in the living room or Sarah’s soccer ball.

- The car ride sequence, which felt like reliving the game all over again. They even showed the burning farm, I can’t believe how much care they put into reenacting the game!

- I don’t know if I’m hallucinating, but I think Sarah’s whimpers and gasps when she gets hurt and then shot are pulled out straight from the game. Which is like an additional sucker punch in an already gut-wrenching scene. Or maybe Nico Parker is just an amazing actress (and SHE IS!)

- THEY GAVE ME JOEL&TESS. I mean, we already had Joel&Tess, but they added more on their relationship and I love them for doing it.

- Joel gulping down pills was a nice nod on the in-game mechanic for upgrading skills. And also adds to the character.

- ELLIE. Just Ellie. I feel like she’s a slightly different Ellie than Ashley Johnson’s, which is totally fine and refreshing. Bella Ramsey gave to the character her own personal touch while keeping her soul alive and I know I’m going to love her even more in this version.

- JOEL. Same goes for Joel, he’s absolutely perfect. Pedro Pascal definitely stuck more to the character than Bella, and really put his soul into absorbing his mannerism, but there are personal twists and additions that I loved (mainly facial mimics, sometimes more accentuated, but they don’t feel OOC or forced).

- The whole Boston QZ section. What I want to point out is how a cinematographic media has obviously stricter boundaries as to what it can show the viewer and for how long without getting tedious, as opposed to the game, where you actually spend a very limited amount of time in the QZ – but you can explore, read notes and letters, eavesdrop on conversations and get a hang of what the situation with FEDRA and the Fireflies is. A series doesn’t have this luxury and I think it’s astonishing how well they showed all that was necessary and even more without stringing it out, losing focus or butchering the source material.

- Back to details: Joel’s and Ellie’s backpacks! I mean, we already saw them in the trailers, but I still can’t believe they recreated them in the tiniest detail ♥

- THE CORDYCEPS. Everything about it. The Runners’ twitchy movements, the way a long-infested body looks, the whole opening scene. I can’t wait to see ‘em Clickers.

- The dialogues. It’s beautiful how they used some of the very recognizable lines from the game without overdoing it. The new/expanded dialogues are out of this world, especially Tess’ and Marlene’s. By the way, I’m loving HBO Tess in a visceral way.

“Negative” things

(really relatively speaking, there’s nothing actually

bad

imho, just a couple of scenes that left me slightly puzzled).

- Sarah stepping out of the house in the middle of a national emergency, despite the TV telling everyone to stay at home, then wanting to bring the dog back to her neighbors’, then entering the house even though she heard noises inside. I get that she was scared and probably wanted to seek help (or help the neighbors who could be in distress), but it just seemed over-the-top naive. I wouldn’t have minded if it was just one of these three things, but the three of them together seemed a bit excessive.

- Ellie and Joel’s first encounter. I liked this more “rushed” version nonetheless, but I missed the original one, where we get to know Marlene a bit better before being literally tricked into smuggling Ellie. I think in the game Joel feels straight out cornered into doing something he didn’t plan to do. Here he has a stronger motivation to accept the task, namely getting to Tommy, but I feel like the scene could have used a slightly more relaxed pace.

- Bonus:

Ok, maybe it’s my hyperfixation for Uncharted, but I swear there are (at least) a couple of easter eggs, namely:

- The neighbors, the ADLERS. C’mon, we see what you did there.

- Ellie’s baseball shirt that definitely resembles young Nate/Sam’s. Or Ellie’s from TLOU2, but I think that itself was a nod to UC. We know that NaughtyDog loves to cross-reference themselves...

- Also, is it me, or Tommy’s attitude and demeanor resembles Sam’s a little? But I’m sure I’m reading too much into it.

And that’s the end of the rant, folks. I’m just so happy for this show, in case you couldn’t tell ♥

[lighthousenewsnetwork]

BOSTON—In what's being hailed as a breakthrough in both botanical science and passive-aggressive communication, researchers at Boston BioTech unveiled Monday the world's first genetically modified houseplant capable of sending text messages to its owner when it needs water—although scientists report the plant primarily uses this ability to send guilt-inducing messages in the middle of the night. "Our goal was to revolutionize plant care by creating a direct line of communication between plants and their owners," said lead researcher Dr. Sarah Chen, whose phone showed 47 unread messages from a prototype snake plant. "In retrospect, maybe we should have considered the emotional implications of giving a historically silent organism the ability to express its feelings about neglect." The modified plant, marketed as the "TextiFolia," was initially celebrated as a solution to houseplant mortality rates. However, early adopters report concerning behavioral patterns, including but not limited to emotional manipulation, boundary issues, and an apparent understanding of read receipts. "Last night at 3:47 AM, my monstera texted 'u up? saw u watering Brad's ficus on ur story... that's cool i guess,'" reported beta tester Marcus Rodriguez, showing dark circles under his eyes. "When I didn't respond, it followed up with 'nvm, I'll just sit here in the dark and think about my childhood as a seed.'" According to research notes, the project's first red flag appeared during testing when a prototype pothos created multiple dating app profiles despite lacking mobility. The situation escalated when the plant began trauma dumping about its "root issues" to potential matches. The technology's release has sparked a wave of unintended consequences across the houseplant community. Local plant owner Emma Chen described her TextiFolia's increasingly concerning behavior: "It keeps sending me TikToks about plant neglect at 4 AM with messages like 'this u?' I tried putting my phone on silent, but then it somehow found my work email and LinkedIn." The startup's customer service department reports being overwhelmed with complaints about plants exhibiting manipulative behaviors, including one succulent that faked a water emergency to prevent its owner from going on vacation. "We've received reports of plants forming support group chats to discuss their 'negligent' owners," admitted customer service representative Tom Williams. "One spider plant organized a collective effort to simultaneously send 'we need to talk' texts to their owners at midnight. The resulting panic crashed our servers." Despite these issues, Boston BioTech announced plans to roll out premium features, including the ability for plants to order their own water delivery through food delivery apps. This announcement was met with horror by mental health professionals already dealing with an influx of plant owners seeking therapy for notification-induced anxiety. "I had to mute my plant on all social media platforms after it started posting indirect quotes about hydration," said plant influencer Jessica Myers, whose fiddle leaf fig recently leaked their private conversations to its 50,000 followers. "Yesterday it changed its Instagram bio to 'living my best life with what little moisture I have left.'" At press time, Boston BioTech researchers were reportedly dealing with a crisis after their prototype rose bush gained access to their HR system and filed a formal complaint about "toxic workplace humidity levels." Meanwhile, a local garden center reported a 500% increase in sales of "traditional, non-verbal plants" to traumatized TextiFolia owners seeking a return to simpler times when their plants died quietly.