#but I value being able to interact with these people of all different cultures

[bizarrocloudy]

I think one of my students, a 78-year-old Korean woman, has been closeted her entire life. Just... some of the things she's said. We've known each other for a year, now, and I've heard lots of her stories. I love hearing her stories. I think she sees herself in me, and she's often told me that she views me as a daughter. Many of her stories are about her feeling different than other women, and noticing that I'm also different than other women.

I know the state of feminism in Korea today isn't uhhhh, isn't what I personally would be happy with. So I can't imagine what it would've been like growing up in Korea in the 50's, on a mountain with no electricity, the first time ever seeing a movie being when you went on a field trip in middle school. Probably pretty isolating.

I have a tendency to be protective over her when I think about her, like she's a child. But this is a grown woman with children of her own. And when I'm actually with her, I'm reminded she's just another human trying to figure shit out in whatever way she can.

Obviously I'm just speculating based on some of the things she's said to me, but, I guess the point of this story is that... There are old Korean women out there making friends with young American women (am I still young?), bridging generational and cultural differences, and finding commonality and genuinely finding connection and enjoying each others company.

Maybe me living my life so openly "different" is somewhat validating for her, even if she was never able to figure out quite why she felt so different in the first place.

[notfreetoday]

The Importance of Amae in My Personal Weatherman

Masterlist || Language Analysis Part 1

I have seen a lot of discourse in the English-speaking fandom surrounding Segasaki's apparent dismissal or trivializing of Yoh's desire to pursue his manga, and most of it is negative. His comments about wanting Yoh to remain dependent on him, or that Yoh does not need to earn money are seen as patronizing or controlling at best and oppressive at worst. It appears that Segasaki does not understand nor respect Yoh's need for independence, and that is what strains their relationship.

But what if I asked you to consider that Segasaki's behaviour is actually an invitation to Yoh to reinforce their relationship? And what if I told you that Yoh's withdrawal from Segasaki constitutes a rejection of that invitation, and it is that rejection that strains their relationship instead?

Of course, the end result is the same - a strained relationship - and in reality there is never one side wholly responsible for this. The point of this is to simply challenge the cultural notion that a successful relationship is the coming together of two equally independent individuals, as opposed to the co-creation of a relationship formed by two interdependent individuals.

"If only you could stay drunk forever..." "It's okay to feel down again for me too you know" - Segasaki, Ep 4, Ep 5

This isn't about Segasaki wanting to keep Yoh is helpless and dependent on him, but about wanting Yoh to be able to be true to his feelings and express his own desire for affection honestly, without having to hide behind "I hate you" or rejection.

Or, let's try and talk about how Segasaki and Yoh reinforce their relationship through the use of amae (featuring a brief mention of tatemae/honne) who am I kidding this is not brief at all

First: Cultural Context

The way people conceptualize and make meaning of the Self differs between Western and East Asian cultures, and this plays into the differences we see in the basis for our self-esteem, the personal attributes that we value, and even what constitutes the behavior of a mature individual. Broadly speaking, Western cultures tend towards the Independent Self Construal (whereby the Self is a distinct entity separate from others) whereas East Asian cultures tend towards Interdependent Self-Construal (whereby the Self is connected to and defined by relationships with others). Thus, in the West, expressing one's individuality is very important for one's self-esteem, and being able to communicate clearly and confidently is valued and a sign of maturity. Conversely, in the East, one's ability to integrate and become a member of the group is prized, and contributes significantly to one's self esteem. In order to be seen as a mature individual, one must learn not only to read a social situation but also how to modify one's behavior in order to respond to the changing demands of that situation, with the ultimate goal being to maintain group harmony.

tl;dr - In East Asian culture, behaviors and attitudes that emphasize interdependence and promote group harmony actually play a big role in reinforcing relationships and one's membership towards the group.

Segasaki is an expert at this - his "public mode" that Yoh refers to actually shows us how good he is at social interactions. This is the Japanese concept of tatemae/honne (crudely translated as public self/private feelings) - which I could link to a bunch of articles for you, but I'm going to suggest you check out this 9 min street interview instead. At 6:41, one of the interviewees comments that another is sunao, or "honest" (we'll cover this later too) and at 6:49 specifically talks about how reading situations is important as an adult. Segasaki reads the room well, but most importantly, he reads Yoh well.

Yoh is not good at this, at all. In Ep 6, we see that he does not integrate well with the group, and he doesn't realize how he might appear to others when he stares and sketches from afar. Yoh does not read the room well because he doesn't pick up on social cues and does not adhere to social norms (I'll point these out in Ep 6's corrections). He cannot read Segasaki, and especially cannot read Segasaki's amae, or his attempts at reinforcing their relationship. Part of this is because his low self-esteem causes him to withdraw from Segasaki's affection as a means of self-protection, and so he valiantly tries to deny his feelings for Segasaki. As Man-san commented in Ep 4, Yoh is not sunao - he has difficulty with being true/honest about his feelings, even to himself.

Sunao is another term that usually pops up when talking about feelings/relationships. It can be used to describe one's relationship with oneself, as well as the relationship with another/group. With oneself, it is usually used to mean "being honest/truthful/straightforward/frank/open-minded about one's feelings". With another person/group, it is usually used to mean "to cooperate/listen/be obedient, or "to be humble/open-minded". In essence, the word encompasses an ideal virtue that is often taught from early childhood - that we should treat both ourselves and others with humility and honesty, because that is how we accept ourselves and stay in harmony with other. This is what becoming an adult, or gaining maturity, means (not gaining independence, as adulthood is often equated to in the West - do you see a running theme here 😂). Of course, that's actually really hard to do, so you'll often hear children (and immature adults too) chided for "not being sunao" (this can therefore sound patronizing if you're not careful). We'll revisit this in a little bit.

Second: What is Amae?

Amae is a key component in Japanese relationships, both intimate and non-intimate. It happens every day, in a variety of different interactions, between a variety of different people. But it is often seen as strange or weird, and those unfamiliar with the concept can feel uncomfortable with it. This stems from the difference in self-construal - because independence is tied so strongly to an individual's self-image in the West, it is very hard to fathom why behavior that emphasizes interdependence could be looked upon favorably. It is telling that every possible English translation of the word "amae" carries a negative connotation, when in Japanese it can be both negative or positive. The original subtitles translated it as "clingy", for example. Other common translations include "dependence", "to act like a child/infant", "to act helpless", "to act spoiled", "coquettish", "seeking indulgence", "being naive" etc.

From A Multifaceted View of the Concept of Amae: Reconsidering the Indigenous Japanese Concept of Relatedness by Kazuko Y Behrens

*Note - the word "presumed" or "presumption" or "expectation" or "assumption" used in the above definition and in the rest of this post, can give the impression that all of amae is premeditated, which adds a calculative component to this concept. Whilst amae can indeed be used in a manipulative manner (benign or otherwise), it is not the case for every single situation, and often amae that seeks affection is often spontaneous and without thought, precisely because the situation allows for it to appear organically. This is the amae that Segasaki and Yoh most often exchange - so think of these assumptions and expectations as "unconscious/subconscious" thought processes.

Third: Amae Between Segasaki and Yoh

Yoh shows a lot of amae when he is drunk:

He whines, buries himself into Segasaki's embrace, refuses to move or let go of him, and keeps repeating "no". In these interactions, Yoh wants Segasaki's affection, but instead of asking, he does, well, this, and he presumes that Segasaki will indulge his behavior. Leaving to get some fresh air might not be as obvious - but it is a form of amae as well, because Man-san is his guest, not Segasaki's, and he shouldn't be leaving Segasaki to entertain her. The expectation that this is okay, and that neither of them will fault him for it, is what makes it amae.

Segasaki obviously enjoys indulging Yoh when Yoh does amae, because he recognises this as Yoh's request for affection from him. It's not that Segasaki enjoys Yoh in this drunk, helpless state; it's not even that Segasaki feels reassured by Yoh's requests for affection. Segasaki knows Yoh likes him, and recognizes that Yoh is struggling with those feelings. That Yoh is actually able to do amae to Segasaki is what delights him the most, because it is something that requires a lot of trust in Segasaki and a willingness to be vulnerable in front of him. This is how amae reinforces relationships - when a request for amae is granted, both the giver and the receiver experience pleasant feelings.

That said, an amae request can also be perceived negatively - if amae is excessive, or if the person responding feels they are obligated to do so. In Ep 5, Man-san chides Yoh for his amae - the fact that he expected to do well from the beginning, and became upset when he failed. He told her about his unemployment, presuming that she would comfort him, but alas.

Segasaki also does amae - but unfortunately Yoh misses many of his cues, and so neither of them really gain pleasant feelings from the interaction (ok so maybe Segasaki does, but I will argue that is more because Segasaki also enjoys it when Yoh obeys him - see @lutawolf's posts for the D/s perspective on this!).

Did you catch it? Segasaki wants Yoh to pass him the Soy Sauce, which, clearly, he is capable of getting himself. He tells Yoh to feed him, because he wants Yoh's affection. And the real kicker - he asked for curry, and expected Yoh to know he wanted pork. In all these interactions, Segasaki presumes that Yoh will indulge him and do for him things he can do himself perfectly well (and even better at that) - this is what makes this amae. But look at Yoh's reactions:

Yoh just stares between the Soy Sauce and Segasaki, between Segasaki and his food, and then just at Segasaki himself. He doesn't recognise any of this as amae, and in the case of feeding Segasaki makes the conclusion that this is somehow a new slave duty he's acquired. And therefore, he does not gain pleasant feelings from it.

In Ep 3 we see a turning point in Yoh's behaviour - his first (sober) attempt at amae (the argument in Ep 2 is debatable - it's not amae from Yoh's POV, but Segasaki responds as if it were, with a head pat and a "when you get drunk, you talk a lot don't you?").

Here, Yoh wants to express his desire for Segasaki's affection, but he can't bring himself to say it aloud. Instead, he dumps bedsheets on Segasaki's lap, as if the bigger the scene he makes the greater the intensity of his desire he can convey. It is the presumption that Segasaki will understand him that makes this amae. And then, we get this:

Not only a happy Segasaki and a sweetly shy Yoh, but also a Yoh who's emboldened by Segasaki's response, and who finally, for the first time, reciprocates touch, and considers the possibility that Segasaki might actually like him.

With every episode, Yoh gets more and more comfortable with doing amae towards Segasaki, because Segasaki picks up on his cues and always responds to them. In Ep 5, Yoh's amae comes out naturally, triggered by the stress of his unemployment, and we see it in all those moments he sounds and acts like a child, and as I mentioned, Segasaki spends the whole episode reassuring Yoh that his amae is welcomed, and that Segasaki likes responding to it. If you've been wondering why the relationship between Segasaki and Yoh can, at times, feel somewhat parental in nature - this is it. It's because Segasaki sees the contradiction between Yoh's childlike insistence that he does not like Segasaki and his desire for Segasaki's attention and affection, for what it really is - Yoh's struggle with accepting himself. When Yoh is able to be sunao, he does amae naturally, and Segasaki responds to him in kind.

Now, all we need is for Yoh to recognize when Segasaki does amae, which will likely happen soon, given that Yoh has grown with every episode.

As always, thank you for reading :))

[neptunes-sol-angel]

Another pick a card...but make it cunt 😆 im lowkey cringing with myself, but I don't care, I loved this idea and this aesthetic. I've always been a cherry cola kind of gal.

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Pile One

You serve cunt in a classy way. Elegance is your niche, beauty and brains IS your motif. There's magic behind your allure that's very old fashioned, an era that's been mimicked by so many, but only truly reincarnated by fewer individuals. It's so nostalgic, and reminds me of this longing that's present in each generation. "I miss the 90s", "There's hardly any superstars in Hollywood anymore", "Where's the talent?", "Video Vixens of today are lacking sex appeal". Aesthetics and "vibes" are easy to wear as a costume, but will always fall short as if something is missing. You have something that isn't ephemeral and can't be cloned because it isn't studied by the naked eye, but is definitely hard to not notice. It's derived from your authenticity, and is most adored by when you're in your element. I'm getting that one of your talents involve visuals, if you're the model when it comes to art, people love your sense of style and the way that you walk, if you're the creator, whether it's digital or concrete, the people love how your creations are like air, it isn't try hard, it doesn't demand to be seen, it's a force to be reckoned naturally. Maybe you guys are enthusiasts, and are the audience that admires the art, but just because of your passion, you generate a following that's interested in how you see things and what you have to say. This could definitely be a pile for cinephiles, anime cosplayers, or even beauty influencers. Continue using your voice, serving cunt is when speak your mind. You're able to strike a nerve in people without being vulgar. Both your stance on things and tone are profound. People are intimidated by your intellect, eloquence, self-efficacy, and mental independence. I'm seeing archivists in this pile, people that are very protective over cultural traditions, history, but also protective over themselves. Even if you're still learning how to set boundaries in a healthy way with others, you demonstrate a lot of vigor by making the first step, which is knowing what's beneath your worth. Your physical attraction is lethal because you create your own category of appeal, what's preventing you from weilding it to its full potential is seeing it for yourself, without needing another person or social construct to point it out for you. Maybe some of you are trying to get out of the grass is greener on the other side mindset when it comes attracting what you want. If it's love in all aspects, recognition, self-worth, manifestation, or just confidence to interact with others as who you are, this relates to your femininity, a misconception that your feminine energy has to be soft, dark, hyper, or even concealed. For some of you, you could have had a rough upbringing, where although you unfortunatelt had to withstand pressure, it turned you into a diamond. Especially if you're ethnic, and resonate with being a historian, scrutiny over your physical and cultural differences, could have taught you to really value yourself, not feel guilty for defending yourself, and recognize how special you really are.

Pile Two

You're approaching a special glow up and it's definitely going to be something "cunty" that'll have some people upset. I don't even see this as a villain era, but more so something very personal. I feel like this pile has dealt with a lot of situations with people cornering you into making you doubt yourself or just outright trying to sabotage your spirit that could convince you out of opportunities that are divinely meant for you. Even though it says a lot about what you're capable of, if people have to kick you down when you're low or can't take you down by themselves, it takes a powerful person to stand up for themselves ten toes down against intimidation. You're going to achieve a milestone that's going to be very important to you but also a big deal to others as well, especially your haters. People that underestimated your might, are going to have to witness these rewards that you've worked so hard for, and it isn't even the peak of blessings that your endurance will reap. You serve cunt, by getting stuff done, accessorizing initiative with your charm, having a lot of endurance and scorching optimism amongst being met with cold situations like betrayal, failure, and people that aren't kind. You serve cunt with your quirks, creativity, and self-awareness, you're like this fountain that doesn't stop pouring when it comes to your capacity to grow and hone your gifts. You serve cunt with the way you keep fighting for your wishes and your stability. Even if it's not on some woo-woo abracadabra shit, you serve cunt in a "witchy" way. You guys are alchemizers, you make peace with your darkness by letting it transform you for the better. You're not afraid to show your scars, your sensitivities, your imperfections, or your mistakes, or your shadow. You wear them like a Picasso painting, abstract, thought-provoking, inspiring, mesmerizing. The way that you serve cunt is only a weapon to those who feel inadequate compared to your range. You could attract a lot of envy, people who feel personally feel like what you're blessed with should be given to them, but this is petty energy, hence why it never prevails against you. It could sting, but it never keeps you down. You could have a strong spiritual team that's protective over you, but part of your protection also comes from understanding that you DO have teasurable qualities that'll bring you success one day. You serve cunt, by the way you empower yourself instead of blaming others for hiccups in your life, you take control by knowing that no amount of evil eye, tower moments, or swords in your back can ruin or take away your abundance, that energy can't be destroyed, it can only be blocked by you, continue to keep your motivation high and always recognize when you're getting in your own way. The magic just doesn't stop, it starts with you and how you create your life by how you apply your actions in your present reality. Keep chasing after what you want, because it's out there, seeking for you too.

Pile Three

"I don't chase—I attract" but make it cunt. The burst of energy in this pile is both chaotic but ironically contained at the same time? It's like how a cat always lands on its feet. The universe LOVES you, and you know it, I'm getting major princess treatment vibes in this pile, but it's not something that you take for granted nor is your life just completely sunshine and rainbows. The struggles that weigh on your shoulders, you carry them well, and you always manage to give others a smile or just the things that you say will make their day or change their way of thinking about life. People admire your confidence, they love your humor, some people just want to BE you entirely because of how other individuals and opportunities just seem to gravitate towards you. People in general just deem you as someone's who is lucky. Words are spells, and people liken yours to the Midas touch. You're great at giving yourself and others, affirmations, and a part of what expands your abundance is how you show gratitude. Even if it's not much, the way that you speak of things, will make others believe that what you have is golden. I'm getting a  hypothetical scenario where you're in a financial bind, that's inevitable and out of your control, but instead of mentally just shutting down or letting this problem consume your day, you order an iced coffee, but do you know what you're gonna do with that iced coffee? You're gonna romanticize the hell out of that coffee! This also applies to how you look as well, doing a baddie on a budget haul at Marshall's? Best believe you're gonna still be serving CUNT in that outfit, name-brand or not. You know that each person's expiration date on life is unknown until it happens, so you really serve cunt by living each day like the world is your oyster. I notice that you're also very clear with your intent which is why the universe meets you half way. When you take a leap, you can fall, you know you're not invincible, but most of the time, you fly, and soar away into the next adventure. When you lose things or people that are not for you, don't resonate with anymore, or take you for granted, you could find yourself immediately seeing your losses being replaced with something better. You treat life like a celebration, and that's why people enjoy your company, others may feel that it's always going to be a fun, pleasant, and memory making moment when hanging out with you. You're wild in a way that may be scary for others, but also induce an adrenaline rush in others because your aura just feels so carefree and like they're being liberated.

[ceilidhtransing]

I feel like so much shitty discourse could be avoided if people more consciously bore in mind the fact that Mainstream Society and The Queer Community are, you know, meaningfully different spaces that often have different social phenomena and different issues.

Random example, there'll be a discussion about femininity often being prized over masculinity, especially transmasculinity, in some queer spaces. And there'll be a bunch of transmasculine people talking about being made to feel unwelcome once they came out, feeling pressured to identify as nonbinary rather than as a binary man as that receive less hostility, being increasingly isolated and othered once they started T, feeling pressured to act more feminine and GNC, being told that their presence as a man makes others in the space uncomfortable, etc.

And then inevitably someone will respond with something like “OP what fucking planet are you on. You're fucking insane if you think femininity is prized over masculinity in society. And the idea that nonbinary people have privilege over binary trans people - what is this fucking enbyphobic bullshit? God, some people are so stuck in an echo chamber of terminally online tumblr queers with their invented problems that they've forgotten what it's like in the real world.”

But was the discussion about wider mainstream society? Or was it very particularly about the queer community and issues that these people have faced specifically within that community?

The queer community is a subculture (arguably many subcultures but let's try to keep it simple), and it's totally, utterly standard for subcultures to - even deliberately, as an act of pushback - value different things from the mainstream culture. Aesthetics thought of as “weird” or “[insert slur here]” by the mainstream can be highly prized in the queer community. Identities that are all thought of as equally “fucked-up” and “cringe” by the mainstream can find themselves organised into some weird hierarchy of validity and oppressed-ness within the community. Politics which are considered extremely fringe and radical by the mainstream can be considered the default norm, even a necessity, in the queer community. Gender expressions that are seen as the most basic “normal” thing ever in the mainstream can be devalued by the queer community for “not looking queer enough” or “being straight-passing”. And none of this is a contradiction because this is pretty much how subcultures operate! They assert different values and cultural norms from the culture they exist within and that's partly what makes them subcultures.

So if someone's pointing out “I face this issue specifically when I'm interacting with queer spaces”, it doesn't do the conversation any good to assume that they're talking about mainstream society and attack them for “being deluded about how the real world works” or “inventing fake problems to sound more oppressed” or something. (And the inverse - someone pointing out “I face this issue when I'm interacting with the mainstream” and someone else responding with “I don't know what you're talking about; I never face that issue at all [in my exclusively queer friend group and support network]” - is far rarer, but it does still happen, and it's just as unhealthy for the discussion. Probably the most common example of this I can think of is when cis gay and lesbian people discuss homophobia they've faced, for instance to do with their gender expression, and someone goes “but that doesn't happen, because actually cis gays are a privileged group and I've never seen anyone attack their presentations” - yes, because the frame of reference you're using is the queer community, where being gay is pretty much the expected default, and you're forgetting that in mainstream society, even cisgender gays and lesbians are by no means “a privileged group” that experiences no oppression ever.)

People need to be able to discuss issues in the specific social contexts they're talking about without it being basically guaranteed that someone will misinterpret them and start jumping down their throat in anger at something that wasn't even said or implied. It is so bad for the community when people seemingly can't fathom that the dynamics at play might be different within queer spaces versus out in mainstream society and it leads to so much pointless toxicity and aggressive misunderstanding.

[wilcze-kudly]

"she really struggles with adopting their philosophies and their morals. I don't know if she'll ever be fully able to grasp them" - about Opal

Thoughts on how Tenzin and his kids expect every new airbender (who as he rightfully said didn't choose to become airbenders) to adopt their philosophies and their diet etc?

To me it felt like you can learn airbending from me but you need to be a pacifist etc. Especially because I kind of think them being pacifists was also what gave the Fire Nation advantage (together with the comet if I remember correctly) when Aang was 12 and the airbenders were attacked.

I personally thought they'd kinda let that aspect go because they were nearly wiped out. I might be looking at it totally wrong though, so what are your thoughts? (I'm a different anon from the one I quoted from)

Hmmm... that's a tough one.

I mean, in the show we saw Tenzin attempt to teach some of the new airbenders old Air Nomad philosophies and he did also shave that one guy's head lol.

In the Avatar lore, airbending is very tied to spirituality, and focusing on more material things can lead to airbending weakening significantly, I believe we see an example of this in the Kyoshi Novels. We don't, however, know if the same rules apply to post Harmonic Convergence airbenders.

It seems that a lot of the modern airbenders do eventually settle into some semblance of the old Air Nomad lifestyle, meditating and travelling, just like their forebearers. I assume that adherence to the more... restricting customs is optional. For example, sex segregation seems to have been done away with completely, and I assume that "modern" airbenders will probably maintain more nuclear family dynamics rather than raising children as a community.

Pacifism seems to be still a big part of airbender culture, but it seems to appear as more of a "don't throw the first punch" kind of thing. However we see that there don't seem to be an exact consensus on what exactly warrants retaliation. For example Opal getting admonished for *checks notes* wanting to rescue her family members from a facist who is currently laying siege to their city. (Still absolutely hysterical over Korra and Jinora teaming up to gaslight Opal that this isn't a good reason for violence)

I think it's inevitable that the culture clash of new airbenders from the other nations all interacting will probably lead to different sects and groups splintering off, probably mixing the philosophies of their original nation with those of the Air Nomads.

I think Opal may be one of those people that mixes her Earth Kingdom heritage with her newfound love for Airbending and some of its values.

But honestly, I don't think we have that much info on how new airbenders were handled past the initial months in B3. Shame.

[solar-sunnyside-up]

heyyy its me again :3

so my culture is VERY anti-mending bc of reasons (torn/mended clothing brings poverty or some bs, im not following it but my parents are very strict) and i have little chance of even being able to go to the library much less participate

so all i can really do is gather resources, which is really disheartening since, yk, im two years away from moving out and 2 years is a long time for a teen like me

i guess im really just asking for affirmation since i can do next to nothing and i kinda feel bad for calling myself solarpunk bc it just feels like the anger at the system is festering and kinda hurting me since i cant DO anything

and all i can do is wait and watch as the world feels like its going to shit bc of climate change and people hurting each other bc theyre different

and i honestly hate actually gardening even though i like the idea of it (or maybe im just too burnt out to put any effort into anything idk)

im not sure what else to say, sorry about the vent/asking for affirmation

Hey I hear ya! There's a lot of stigma around mending and the ability to interact with our groups irl given the way our system is currently built is extra hard!

This doesn't devalue what you do, doesn't mean your wants and values mean any less just bc society and current situation are literally built to keep you isolated.

The thing is, we have to find where we can and sometimes that means all we can do is daydream or read or nit take physical action.

And that is super duper tough. To be so far from the end of the tunnel that you honestly can't see the light. The big thing is that we inspire each other so that we can wax and wane as needed!

I was once a "useless lazy" teen who only daydreamed of earthships and solarpanels. And now I'm on the board for my community. Writing grants and emails to get food at events so kids can come and so we'll known in my community I can't go on walks with headphones in bc ppl wanna chat. But even if I had never done any of it, my value as a person isn't diminished and I'd still proudly be solarpunk. And so, even if you do nothing the rest of your life, you are too.

[herotome]

I've been scrolling through your blog, which is great by the way but anyway what I came to say, or well write, is that almost every answer by jade or post tagged as jade just makes me go: This is uncannily me?. So I just wanted to ask how did you get inside my brain and who allowed you? - Jades long lost twin??

You see, anon, Jade is also uncannily me... We're all Jade here. 😔🎈

No I'm jk but lol I think she's the one most people actually relate to on a certain level?

Griffin is the part of me that operates at 200% and has enough spoons to rival a kitchen drawer - the part that makes good impressions, makes people laugh and smile and regard me with that awed look of 'I didn't realize you were cool.' (But like, I tap into that energy a few times a year at most, sometimes needing to rely on alcohol to access it, whereas Griffin has an apparent endless supply even when sober l o l).

Mia is my late teens and early-twenties, constantly second guessing, wondering if I was too much, unsure of who I was and how I came across, immediately regretting it every time I had a big emotional reaction; yet at the same time had such a big heart that was ready for love and to be loved in all of love's different forms, just didn't know how.

Dart is how I behave in public - guarded, dismissive, unwilling to interact, but with glimpses into an unwaveringly kind and patient nature that I dole out in cautious doses to people who actually need help. It's the part of me that's seen how people take advantage of others and knows how people can be cruel and ignorant, but nonetheless feels compelled to do the right thing.

Jade is my anxiety and my compulsion to put myself under review, under a microscope, the part of me that is all too aware of being Perceived and wants nothing more than to hide under the covers and sleep for a thousand years, to be away from everyone. The part that is so, so tired, the part that would feel quite done if not for Mr/Ms 200% egging me on and on and providing some levity and good humor.

I think between enjoying yet fretting over the unpredictably fluctuating nature of internet culture, living in an age of monitoring and security and scrutiny, and maybe even a general millennial angst, the Jade mindset has become very commonplace and therefore #relatable.

bonus-

Warden... uhhh. Warden is like... the part of me that's more instinctual - my first reaction to things, which includes my skepticism and my willingness to believe things at face value? He's my capacity for faith and for withholding judgement - even when he wonders deep down if he's making the right call. When placed in a position of authority, the wondering and overwhelm runs rampant. Tbh I'm putting him last because he's also a lot like Jade in a weird low-key way - the way they think is very similar, the way they express themselves couldn't be more different.

And finally, MC. As best as I'm able to write it, MC is my surface level running stream of consciousness. It's capable of deeper thought and introspection, but I make an effort to keep it on the crust rather than allowing it to descend too deeply into the magma (where Jade and Warden live).

All this to say I bet every character is #relatable, if you dig deep enough and see them in the right light!

anyway tldr we're all sharing a brain, we're all in the matrix

[brujitaadinbo]

They say that love manifests itself as if it were fire, like flames burning you, like something that leaves you breathless, I and others can say the opposite; It manifests itself to each person differently; But when we talk about love in general, the healthiest, the best way we can live it is when it gives us that calm in times of storm, when it gives us tranquility and not anxiety and makes us feel comforted.

Love, affection or that feeling that begins to be born in you and that sometimes you cannot show it, because of your past wounds, for fear of being rejected, because you are just beginning to connect with that other person, etc… You begin to show it in a way in which the majority can label it as something "not romantic" because society is still locked in that cliche that is sometimes very toxic and very unreal. Sometimes it is not necessary to wear flowers and exaggerated decorations, , expensive details or that very typical scene that sometimes tends to handle sometimes very cold or very superficial kisses. Most of the time your actions and your words are what demonstrate your deepest feelings and your most intimate emotions. How much you care about that person and you begin to be consistent with what you think and feel and what you do for them and you show it like this.

I will explain this to you first, so that you can understand the context of this analysis dynamic that I am going to start uploading here. Very iconic couples, famous in pop culture around the world, being known in many places, through movies, series, books, etc… managing this dynamic that I explain to them and managing the deepest feelings like love, that way. different way that sometimes people don't usually understand or it bores them and they begin to disqualify it as "there is nothing between them" when in reality there is something there and they are wrong! It suddenly becomes canon…

Coincidentally like what has been happening with Din Djarin and Bo katan Kryze, yes coincidentally… aha (remember well what I tell you, coincidences do not exist here)

For me Faramir and Eowyn are a beautiful couple and one of my favorites in books and movies, I am a fan of Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings is… poetry, love, magic, so much that I can't explain it in words. And definitely if you have read Faramir and Eowyn's interaction in the book, you will understand my point, since in the movies, that interaction was so short but it was still a very nice reflection of the book.

The parallel between them and Din and Bo is that these characters find themselves in a critical situation, surrounded by war, conflict, pain, wounds from the past, an uncertain future, everything is against them and love is a word and a feeling that It cannot cross your mind even for a moment.

Eowyn, a warrior princess full of pain from rejection, from loss, because the war has consumed her innocence and that hunger for battle has consumed her. Bo Katan is a warrior princess consumed by the pain of loss, because the war has subjected her to living a cold life without hope for anything, because her proposal was taken away by a sword, where all her value is measured by that.

Faramir rejected by his father, having the position he has, yet he is seen as nothing by him, not meeting the standards he has and not being able to be like his brother, always living with that feeling and now the pain that he lost him in a battle where he also lost his hometown. Din Djarin lives with the pain of having lost his parents, he lives with people unknown to him, trying by all means to fit in and be recognized by this new tribe, his family that has welcomed him all this time. Live this way or survive under this creed.

Both couples in the depths of their lives, when they are hitting rock bottom or when they begin to experience a new way of redeeming themselves, cross their paths, with pain but with that hope of being able to heal and flourish again, that is when love, too, something that could not be in their lives suddenly becomes like a vitamin that gives them the strength to take that first step.

Faramir and Eowyn in the healing temples, healing and realizing that maybe the pain was just part of that growth and that process to find healing and start living a different life, if all goes well, living outside of war , from sadness and everything that hurts them, they allow themselves to get to know each other, interact and at the end of the day they manage to love each other and live a happy life within their possibilities, because in this work good triumphed over evil.

Din and Bo are in this process of achieving their purposes, suddenly they come together, they visit Mandalore, they visit the living waters, they somehow manage to redeem themselves, they work together, in the hope of recovering their planet and achieving this new purpose, of reclaiming to their people and their planet and in the process, they resolve their differences, their bond grows and becomes more intimate. From pain a new hope is born, it is part of growth, they accept it, they know that their paths were wrong and by agreeing and doing it together they feel comfortable and know that they are doing it right, they both protect each other in a very bilateral and synchronized way. . . and it is seen that there is something more, because in the end they do not know and we do not know what can happen, there is still the doubt of who will win in this battle. Hoping, of course, that that balance is achieved and by this I mean that good definitively triumphs over evil.

And what I love is that Filoni has worked on symbolism from Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings and especially Peter Jackson. Faramir and Eowyn are a couple who never showed a kiss on stage, but their looks, their approach, their words, their actions, said it all. In the books, the way they love each other is shown in how they talk and interact, Faramir's words to Eowyn are very beautiful. It reminds me of a certain Mandalorian couple, casual (lol) where their interaction and attraction is unspoken, visible but hidden in elements like body and non-verbal language and those words of the oath, that is definitely the moment for these two. But now time is what will write the last part of his paths. Let's hope it's a journey together too,

[janeyshivers]

how Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and SEED Destiny misunderstands eugenics (and how 0079, Zeta, and ZZ nailed it)

(note; unless i specify otherwise, i'm using 'Gundam SEED' as a catch-all for the combined 100 episode run of both Cosmic Era shows)

Gundam SEED is built around the idea of genetic modification on steroids, where huge populations of Coordinators (Spacenoid stand-ins, living in the Cosmic Era's equivalent of the Sides, the PLANTs) are genetically modified in-vitro to be immune to disease, to be stronger, smarter, and kind of better at everything than unmodified Naturals (Earthnoid stand-ins who are just normal-ass Earth people). i feel like this core setup, and the way the show handles it, falls into the trap of treating the arguments of eugenicists seriously, when there's absolutely no reason to give them an inch on anything, something that the early UC understood all too well.

for one thing, Gundam SEED fails to actually address any of the really pertinent questions gene therapy raises, especially since SEED doesn't just feature genetic engineering as a plot device like G-Witch and ZZ, it bases an entire faction around its use and makes it the driving force of the show's core conflict. the show does not, for example, broach the extremely thorny topic of how genetic modification will affect the marginalised. many current pushes for genetic modification are pushed by insane eugenics groups, and the show never addresses whether, for example, the PLANTs try to gene edit out autism, or screen for any kind of genetic markers for being gay or trans. it doesn't ask whether there is any validity to the search for genetic explanations for these things, as contemporary eugenics organisations such as Autism Speaks insist. would non-white Coordinator parents be pressured to bump their kid's skin up a couple of shades to reduce the impact of racism and colourism on their lives? we see from the forced-labour camps the Alliance sets up in North Africa during Destiny that the CE is a world where racism is still very much a cultural force, and yet SEED never addresses how that interacts with Coordinators, despite a lot of the roots of modern genetic research (undoubtedly something that has led to a lot of positive medical advances) nonetheless lying in the 'scientific racism' of the early 20th century. an unfavourable reading might even point out that since we never see any of this stuff addressed or treated as a problem (for example, we don't meet any queer or neurodivergent Coordinators), SEED accepts that these are indeed qualities for which there are genetic markers, and it's not worth examining that the PLANTs bin them. that is a slightly unfair reading because the lack of those kinds of characters among Naturals suggest it just wasn't something the writers felt they could include for whatever reason, but then I would argue that if you're not able to address these things then you have no business writing a science fiction story where an entire core culture is built around genetic modification in the first place.

i'm not arguing that any stories about genetic modification are, by definition, eugenicist; G-Witch features it in the form of Suletta herself, and Notrette's patented brand of Tasty Tomatoes. the difference is that the show doesn't feature an entire society built from the ground-up around genetic engineering, which makes the comparisons to fascists less immediate, and even then G-Witch takes the time to address that Suletta herself feels like her only value is as a tool, precisely because she was genetically engineered to fulfil a specific purpose. it comes closer to grappling with the real dark side of these ideas in a 25 episode run than SEED did in 100.

instead, the framing of genetic modification in SEED as creating people who are, unambiguously, better at absolutely everything, and whose main obstacle is jealousy from unmodified people, accepts at face value the premise that to be superior due to your genetics is possible. by doing this, and also ignoring any of the real concerns marginalised people had at the time, and continue to have to this day about the possible uses of genetic modification, the show comes off as validating eugenicists. while SEED hedges on the details, i would argue that by accepting this as a basic premise to begin with, the show has already validated an extremely noxious worldview.

that being said, the Coordinators do experience significant problems with fertility, with birthrates collapsing in the third generation and requiring interbreeding with Naturals to sustain their population. the show does not assert that genetic modification makes the Coordinators into flawless ubermensch, and clumsily attempts to argue for a middle ground between fascistic genetic purity and a degree of equality between Naturals and Coordinators. imo the issues the PLANTs end up having is because SEED isn't like, actively trying to write a treatise on why eugenics is good, instead, the writers chose a hot-button issue to address and then badly fumbled it, in the process treating seriously and partially validating ideas that are in the real world just a flimsy cover for racial hatred and other bigotries. to my mind, it's saying that eugenics works to a point and then starts to break down, but i think the idea that it can work up to any kind of point is giving it a lot more credit than it really deserves.

my core frustrations with that are a) that SEED is actually pretty good when it shunts that stuff into the background, e.g. in the first half of Destiny, and it's frustrating watching the show fall back into being about this shit and neglecting the stronger elements like the solid character work with Shinn and Athrun, and b) previous Gundam shows already staked out a strong position that what SEED takes as a given is actually total horseshit. the show's themes would be frustrating enough if they didn't exist as part of a franchise which has previously gotten this issue more or less right, with the highly combat-effective Coordinators being an obvious stand-in for the UC's Newtypes. the Zabis hijack the idea of Newtypes from Zeon Deikun and treat being a Newtype as a matter of genetics because it made their fascist spacenoid supremacy sound semi-legitimate and scientific. meanwhile, the text of 0079, Zeta, and ZZ insists that to be a Newtype is something almost impossible to define quantifiably. characters who are stated in-universe to be Oldtypes nonetheless experience Newtype visions, and the defining factor in developing Newtype abilities is nothing to do with being a pure-blooded Spacenoid, but about the simple fact of existing in space and allowing that to change the way you interact with the world. to my mind, the early UC's position is that while capable of providing miracles like the Sides, science is also too often invoked as a rhetorical device to retroactively justify existing dehumanisation and hatred by making it sound objective and logical, leading to Zeon seeing Earthnoids as so inhuman that killing billions of them in Operation British was acceptable to them. SEED doesn't just lack an interesting take on this core element of the UC (like Iron-Blooded Orphans' focus on how this creates avenues for labour exploitation through the stigmatisation of the Alaya-Vinjana system), it fails to understand it by accepting such a retroactive justification as part of its core premise, something that sticks out really badly because the CE shows are so interested in being a modern update of 0079 and Zeta.

my animosity towards the character of Kira in particular is that he's emblematic of these thematic and worldbuilding fuckups, cut as he is from the eugenic cloth. SEED Destiny's best moments were early on when Athrun seriously questioned Kira on his beliefs for the first time, after Kira insisted that Athrun betray ZAFT over nothing more than a hunch. and yet, Kira is vindicated, and his worldview of peace at all costs, while initially challenged by Shinn and Athrun in Destiny, is treated seriously by the show's end. Destiny's conclusion is that Kira, due to his superior genetics, simply knows better, and that we should sit down, shut the fuck up, and let our families be vaporised by nuclear murderbeams if that's what our genetically pure overlords think is best, even if the best evidence Kira has to support his worldview is little more than a hunch, wisdom granted by his superior genes. again, i don't think SEED understands that this is what it's saying; Kira talks the talk about equality between Naturals and Coordinators, it's just that the text of the show is so muddled and poorly written that it ends up saying the opposite. taken along with all of the other ways in which his character ends up screwing with the elements of SEED that i find legitimately compelling and interesting, it's difficult not to really hate him, and to find SEED as a whole deeply frustrating and disappointing.

SEED Freedom does so little to develop any of these ideas that it's honestly barely worth mentioning. having spent 100 episodes ceding ground to the eugenics shit, Freedom mostly just plays in the space that was created for it. it's much more concerned with bullshit comphet and assassinating the blackened, charred remains of Shinn's character than it is with grappling with the fact that "hey the show kept saying eugenics works do we maybe want to examine that a little in our legacy sequel". bad movie for a variety of reasons, but mostly unconnected from what im on about here.

[akenvs3000f24]

BLOG 2: My Dream Role as an Interpreter

My ideal role as an environmental interpreter would definitely be something where I can actively contribute to conservation efforts while also helping people understand the delicate balance within various habitats– as both preservation and awareness is crucial to keep the world that we have now.

Working at a wildlife rehabilitation center or sanctuary is particularly appealing to me. The idea of caring for injured or orphaned animals, helping them recover and return to the wild, aligns perfectly with my passion for nature. In this role, I’d be able to directly impact wildlife preservation while raising awareness about the challenges these species face, specifically emphasizing how human actions affect ecosystems and biodiversity. While many animals may be injured or orphaned from natural causes such as an encounter with a predator, humans have just as much of an effect through urbanization, hunting and more. Habitat loss through deforestation and cars pose a large threat towards wildlife like deer, rabbits, and birds. I believe in letting nature take its course, however with the ever-steep decline of populations all over the world, I also believe that we hold a certain responsibility to help nature when it’s in need. Being a wildlife rehabilitator will allow me to help the environment directly, and equips me with the skills and requirements to educate others on the topic and raise awareness.

In my opinion, it’s important for an environmental interpreter to be able to adapt, to stay open minded, to be knowledgeable and know how to communicate with others to share that knowledge. Interpreters should be able to inspire and provoke others to broaden their horizons. To be open-minded gives them the ability to engage with a diverse audience from different backgrounds, cultures and perspectives and ensure that everyone feels included and understood. It is also necessary for an interpreter to be able to adapt not only to a variety of situations, but also to their audience.Every individual has a unique learning style, and I am no exception. As a tactile-style learner, I can most definitely say that one of my eye-opening experiences was when a wildlife rehabilitator came into school with creatures that couldn’t be released back into the wild due to human-caused injuries. Being able to interact and gain that experience with the animals extends to my reasoning that part of being an effective interpreter is being able to recognize the differences between individuals and their audiences, and tailor the experience accordingly. Some people may connect more deeply with hands-on experiences, while others prefer stories or scientific explanations. By understanding and adapting to those needs, interpreters can foster a deeper connection between people and the natural world, helping them see the value in preserving and protecting it.

Above all else, however, an interpreter must have passion. Having a passion for your subject can make all the difference when it comes to delivering a message to the audience. Environmental interpretation should give the desire to sense the beauty in their surroundings and to encourage the preservation of what’s around us.

These are skills I believe I possess. Ultimately, my goal as an environmental interpreter would be to make meaningful connections between people and the environment, helping them understand the complexities of ecosystems and the impact humans have on the planet. 

[redjadethewriter]

Age Superiority and Toxic Views on Age Differences in Blank The Series

Yes, I'm back to ranting about this series. You would think I had enough by now, but there's so much to talk about that my mind goes rampant, thinking about it. Okay... Let's get into it.

First, age superiority is a silly thing. I'm not gonna lie; it erks me.

Storytime to start this off.

Once, I shared with someone the secret to my youthful appearance, saying, “I hang around a lot of young people.” This statement made him laugh uncontrollably, likely because of the sly grin on my face as I said it. However, my words were both a joke and a reflection of my true beliefs. I hold a great deal of respect for the younger generations and have cultivated a mindset that values respect for all individuals, regardless of their age, gender, culture, or ethnic background.

My guiding motto is simple: “I respect those who respect me.” If someone shows disrespect towards me, it matters little what their status, wealth, or accomplishments may be—I will not tolerate it. In such situations, I prefer to turn my back and walk away, as no one is deserving of my time and energy, not even in pointless arguments. Overcoming highly emotional states and the passage of time have taught me this lesson.

As time goes on, some things can be learned, while others require dedicated effort and experience to truly grasp. My effort has always been about becoming aware, and the only way to gain awareness is through knowledge and experience. However, some go through life not learning from their mistakes or grow from certain experiences. Some choose to ignore the surrounding people, not listen to them, or have a superiority complex, especially around younger folk or someone who’s less fortunate. This triggered me in Blank the Series. Look, I understand certain cultures its ingrained in us to respect our elders. I come from a background as such. It may not be an Eastern Asian background, but it parallels on a similar level.

Okay, let me share my opinion on something that bothered me in the series, even though I know the story intentionally crafted it that way. In the novel, I can understand why everyone would treat Anueng like a child. After all, she was written as only 18 years old, and in my country, we still consider that too young. However, in the series, she was 20, almost 21. At that age, I had a lot more freedom compared to her. I had a job; I was going to university; I was going out, drinking, and even hooking up with older women facing no judgment from my parents or society. Although the standards in my country may be more relaxed, it’s not something that would shock anyone, I know.

So, when I watched Anueng, an adult woman, being treated as less than an adult, it really bothered me. Yes, she acted annoying most of the time, but I understood she used it as a way to get a reaction from Khun Nueng and to hide her true feelings. It was her way of wearing a mask, just like we all do. I mean, who really acts like themselves in public?

Throughout the show, I witnessed a scared Anueng who simply wanted others to see her as an adult and not subject her to abuse, control, or assumptions about her best interests. She wanted to be able to decide for herself and express her true feelings. And let me tell you, I’ve worked in retail and have interacted with people of all ages, from 18 to senior years. I’ve talked to them, listened to them, and got to know them. And using age as a measure of superiority is just plain dumb. I’ve met older people who make unwise choices and never learn from them, while I’ve also met young people who are wise beyond their years. So, I never judge a book by its cover.

Some young people I’ve had the privilege of getting to know have had experiences just as crazy as mine, if not crazier than someone twice their age. And then there are those who still have a lot to learn. That’s why I never assume their level of experience. And that’s also why older women who dated me were okay with pursuing a relationship with me. They saw my book was thick, filled with experiences and wisdom or… I was just a good…cough… LOL!

So, in the series, when Khun Nueng invited Folk to the amusement park, I couldn’t help but interject. Assuming Anueng would be bored with the adults infuriated me. I coughed and said, “Excuse me, but she’s an adult, too.” It’s unfair to assume that a 20-year-old wouldn’t enjoy the company of 36-year-olds. “What the fuck are you talking about,” I thought. That girl would have a blast with me. I’m sure she would have had an awesome time with Khun Nueng if she wasn’t falling for the Fah’s cruel antics to gain the love of her daughter after abandoning her most of her life.

Rant moment about Fah:

“Excuse me, I don’t care if you gave birth to Anueng. You're a dang stranger to her and you have to earn her love. At this rate, you’re just a child yourself, pretending to be a mother.” I’m not sorry for saying it, but Anueng deserves so much better. If Fah truly wanted to be a part of her daughter’s life, she would have defied her own mother and been there from the beginning. But she didn’t. She only showed up when Anueng turned 20, after all the difficult times were over, and suddenly wanted to play the mother role. Hell no. Even if there wasn’t a romantic involvement between Anueng and Khun Nueng, Khun Nueng acted more like a mother figure than both the biological mother and grandmother did. Family doesn’t have to be defined by blood relations. I can easily envision a scenario where a lonely artist adopts a mistreated, abandoned girl, and they become a genuine family. Then, the royal grandmother would throw a fit over Khun Nueng adopting a daughter. Oh my, that would just cause a stir.

But back to age insecurities.

Even to this day, as a 38-year-old, I still ride rollercoasters and explore various interests. It’s why young people are drawn to me everywhere I work and go. I have a wide range of interests that appeal to people of all ages. I can spend hours talking and listening to 19-year-olds and those in their twenties without any of us getting bored. It’s all about having charisma that goes beyond the norm.

Moreover, it was clear to anyone that Anueng truly desired to spend her birthday with Khun Nueng. However, following Fah’s orders, Khun Nueng attempted to distance herself from Anueng. This action deeply hurt Anueng, especially because she expected someone she loved to offer support and not to push her away. I couldn’t help but exclaim, “Oh, my gosh! It’s her birthday! Can you please respect that she’s an adult? It’s her special day, and she wants you to acknowledge that!”

In romantic relationships, simply being in the same space as the person you are interested in, even with no activities, is not boring at all. However, it is important to note that Khun Nueng has never experienced being in love or loving someone before, which justifies her ignorance in this matter. Nevertheless, I cannot stress enough that Anueng is not naïve. She can sense that Khun Nueng’s feelings for her run deeper than she lets on. This is why it was incredibly frustrating for her to get Khun Nueng to be open and honest about her emotions.

Eventually, in the end of episode 4, Khun Nueng reached a breaking point. She grabbed Anueng by the arm, preventing her from walking away, and expressed her desire for her to stay. Furthermore, in episode 5, she attempted to convince the family that Anueng wanted to remain in Thailand and even volunteered to help her study and prepare for the university entrance exam. Ultimately, her efforts succeeded.

Spoiler alert: Since I read the novel, I’m going to reveal the chaotic age insecurities Khun Nueng has. I don’t think they will use the scene in the series, but Anueng and Khun Nueng go on a run together. Khun Nueng basically can’t keep up with her and automatically goes into doom and gloom about getting older and not being able to physically keep up with Anueng’s stamina. I laughed so hard at that passage in the book that I cried because I couldn’t breathe from laughing so dang hard. I’m like, “Woman, how long has it been since you’ve done legit exercise such as running?” Because I know that being an artist, you are not active in heavier impact exercises. “Girl, please. At 36, I was running circles around ladies younger than me. I could sprint 3 miles and lift 50 to 75 pounds daily, like the bitch of steel.” I’ve met 40- and 50-year-old women that could break me in half. So, please… don’t feed me that bullshit. Age is not a factor in performance; it’s keeping up with activities and pushing your body to work that keeps you mobile and strong as fuck to take on a lady in her 20s with no issues. I’ve known 70-year-olds that can out-bench ladies younger than them. No one can use the excuse of age with me.

Now, I can see certain challenges that come with being in a romantic relationship with someone younger. One major factor is the ability to connect with them, considering the generational gap. Different time periods bring different mindsets. Khun Nueng, 36, probably grew up in a time when same-sex relationships were deemed unacceptable. I can relate to that. Being 38, I witnessed the tail end of a time when it was dangerous to be a lesbian. Nevertheless, I understand her concerns about being forgotten. In episode 6, she expressed her fear that Anueng will eventually make new friends, flirt with other people, and move on. But honestly, I can’t help but think and laugh. “Yeah, right! No one’s ever gonna leave you, let alone forget about you.” A woman like Khun Nueng leaves an indelible mark on your soul. Her eyes pierce through you like daggers, leaving you exposed. She’s fierce and full of spice. No one will forget Khun Nueng for generations to come. She’s absolutely crazy, in the best way possible.

Khun Nueng…Just openly love that girl already, and stop torturing yourself like a masochistic princess. We all know you’re head over heels for her. She’s an adult, so let go of your worries. Thank you.

[granulesofsand]

System Accountability, Again

🗝️🏷️ RAMCOA, syscourse

My opinion has not changed since last time this was up for debate; system accountability relies on the system being seen as one whole, and we do not use that model.

There are pieces of decency that I extend as a person, but I won’t pick up any more than that because I share a body with others.

Some things I will do, as a person:

Try to mediate: if I care about the outsider or the insider involved, I do my best to deescalate and resolve. I am the only one who gets to decide whether or not to put myself at risk. If any of the participants are dangerous to me, I don’t give a rat’s ass what is morally correct — I am allowed to maintain my own safety, even if my giving it up would be detrimental for the situation.

Educate: either the insider about why their behavior was inappropriate/unhealthy or the outsider about why this behavior is appropriate/helpful. Still refuse to be forced into the role; it’s a decency thing, and I’m not respecting the personhood of an outsider over my own. We are both important, and we don’t have to coexist if one of us is being harmed.

Discuss: before or after a conflict does escalate, many of us are now able to clarify and communicate without turning to inappropriate behavior. Many is not all, and while I respect the right of an outsider to cease interaction with our system, I’m not taking responsibility for whatever that alter did. It’s not unlike social media, where the website is not responsible for the content unless they are knowingly hosting threats. It wasn’t me, and we will not be adopting a model that hurts us because it would be convenient.

Walk away: I, as an alter, have enough proficiency with technology to block off channels of access if an outsider does decide to cease contact. It’s okay if you can’t find safety with other of our alters after a bad encounter with one. You are allowed to leave (or ask us to leave, if it’s your space) and make decisions about your own boundaries.

Sometimes I do take it upon myself to repair damages another alter caused, but it is not required of me. I see it much the same as our external family; they can be dangerous, and they do cause harm both because we were involved and for other reasons — I did not cause that harm, and my reaction to that is up to me, just as anyone who faced that impact.

Some of our alters care more about relationships than others, and they might go further for the sake of preserving a bond. That’s great, and it’s their choice.

The choices are very important to us because we did not always have them. Our background in programming and coexisting with many programmed systems informs our opinions quite a bit, and we were not allowed to present ourselves authentically as a requirement of that environment. Our individuality is crucial to our existence, and while you are free to describe yourself/selves however you want, you do not get to choose for us.

I can talk more about why we insist on being separate people rather than feeling like separate people, or anything along those lines. I know it’s contrary to dominating clinicians, but I still value my/our lived experience over their learned experience. We do listen to their opinions and mind the evidence presented, and the stance we present externally is as close to a consensus as we can get. You don’t have to understand right now to give us this kind of respect, however, if you don’t, I will not continue to extend it to you.

There’s a lot of ideas in RAMCOA and general CDD spaces that are cultural, and that can be good and safe if it feels right to you. We will still reflect whatever you use when we address you, but please be aware that what works for you might not for us. Differences are okay, and I have yet to find the statement without exception. It’s part of being a person, and you are doing it just fine. I need you to consider we are doing the same.

[terra-feminarum]

As a detrans woman it's important for me that people see me as a woman. People mistaking me for a man doesn't hurt like misgendering did when I identified as trans but I don't like it. It doesn't threaten my sense of self as my existance as a woman doesn't rely on other people's acceptance or percreption of me.

But people relate differently to men and women. It doesn't really do any good for my social life to be mistaken for an extra feminine man when I'm the opposite. Most often younger people assume me to be female with male or non-binary identity and that doesn't bother me all that much. That doesn't really change the social dynamics like it does when people assume I'm a literal male.

Some people still assume I'm male. Every time I walk into a new social situation, I can't be sure how I'll be perceived. It's not like it matters in small everyday interactions and it does no good to be obsessed with how you're perceived by others. But I'm not really into getting to know new people with them assuming I'm a man and a lot of you probably understand why.

I wonder if other detrans women struggle with balancing their comfort, their feminist values and being seen as a woman?

Women should be able to just exist in their natural state with no pressure to perform femininity. Just existing in a neutral state carries remnants of me having used testosterone in the past and that won't ever change. What I did in my 20's will stay as part of me in my 50's, in my 70's and to the end, and people will assume those parts to reflect who I am, in that moment.

I could make a difference to how I'm being perceived with wearing make-up and performing femininity in other ways. It seems like even wearing bright colors shift the perception, so what the hell, maybe I should wear pink accessiories like every other otherwise practical woman seems to do to signal they're normal women even if they wear cargo pants.

In other words, to pass as my sex more reliably, I could rely on stereotypes. That's an idea that's completely repulsive to me. I didn't go through this all to comply. I detransitioned because I was able to broaden my understanding of womanhood and realized that my hate of patriarchal idea of womanhood made me hate my womanhood. I confused the patriarchal idea of womanhood with being a woman.

I often ask myself: which parts of "presenting as a woman" are degrading? Which parts are female culture that isn't harmful to women? I have no answers. The color pink, associated with children, with superficiality, with "girl power"? Degrading, I think. The color itself is neutral, but the connotations are not. High heels? Degrading, this is obvious. Clothes with restricting cutting? Degrading. Long skirts with enough width to walk comfortably but which still restrict running? I don't know. Jewelry that I feel all the time, making me aware of it at all times and thus taking away attention from more important things ? I don't know. I'm not exactly sure when I'm just being hypersensitive.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm just dumb for causing so much stress to myself by refusing to perform femininity. But it would feel artificial and degrading. I wouldn't blame myself for doing it, it's not about ideological purity. I just couldn't do that to myself.

I can't often tell where is the line between personal preference and something I feel is degrading at it's core.

[eoenvs3000f24]

Unit 03: Blog Post

When I first began reading the chapter for this week, I have to admit that I was asking myself, “What would privilege have to do with nature interpretation?” However, I can understand now after finishing said chapter that I was wrong and that there is privilege in all things, and understanding nature and communicating about how nature makes us feel and how we see nature has been reserved for a select few privileged people. My working definition is “a specific right or immunity that is granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage, or favour; such a right or immunity attached specifically to a position or an office.” (Merriam-Webster).

As a nature interpreter, my identity shapes my approach in how I convey my understanding and beliefs of nature. I bring my own experiences, values, and these invisible biases to the table. For instance, as someone who has had access to a higher level of education and resources, I have the privilege of being able to study at the University of Guelph and understand the environmental sciences deeply. This background allows me to engage with complex topics, such as biodiversity and conservation, in a way that may not be as easily accessible to most. However, I must also acknowledge that my privilege can create a barrier. My academic language and scientific jargon might alienate those who lack a similar educational background or those who come from communities historically marginalized in environmental conversations. Being able to better communicate to my audience and reduce my privilege will help me be a better interpreter.

Understanding my audience is critical to effective nature interpretation. Audiences can be incredibly diverse, encompassing individuals from various backgrounds, cultures, and levels of environmental literacy. Each person brings their own experiences and perspectives shaped by their unique privileges or lack thereof. For instance, members of Indigenous communities may have a deep-rooted relationship with the land that transcends scientific explanations. It’s essential to honour and integrate these perspectives into my interpretations. I have always believed in the words “Many hands make light work” although this is slightly different then helping my dad do work around the house, I think the same principle applies. Having different opinions and views of nature and taking them into consideration with your own is like getting help from a friend to carry a large load, every little bit is a contribution and should be included in with the rest.

Being able to incorporate every opinion and person equally isn’t easy needs the audiences to have a meaningful experience, it’s vital to approach nature interpretation with humility and openness so others feel comfortable sharing their views. Recognizing my privilege prompts me to facilitate conversations rather than dominate them. I aim to create a safe space where everyone feels empowered to share their thoughts and experiences related to nature. This might involve using language that is accessible and relatable, rather than overly technical. I caught myself at the end of this chapter asking myself another question, “How can I recognize the privilege that is inherently attached to me, while also valuing the views that others bring?”. Privilege plays a significant role in nature interpretation, shaping both the interpreter's approach and the audience's experiences. By critically examining my own privileges and trying to reduce them, I can create richer, more meaningful interactions with nature. Nature interpretation is not just about conveying information; it’s about building bridges across experiences and creating a shared appreciation for the environment. By engaging thoughtfully with privilege, I can help ensure that nature speaks to everyone, and not just those privileged few.

Reference:

“Privilege.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/privilege. Accessed 27 Sep. 2024.

[monstrousproductions]

I just wanted to say thank you. I've been listening to traveling light avidly woth each episode. And traveling light has captured a humanity that no other scifi I've read or interacted with (and being honest very little fantasy and fiction I've read either) has been able to capture. Traveling light makes its world truly feel like a mishmash of different species and cultures with people all having different forms and communication and ideas and I feel really welcome and comforted by its world. So thank you.

I loved the scene for episode 2 with the small traditions for how each traveler leaves a ribbon. It just felt so personable. And it was a moment of connection that I've missed in many stories. And even my own writings.

Ya'll are doing a lovely job and I live the show. Thank you for sharing your art and making a world where I can feel welcome (especially when I'm queer and disabled).

I hope yall have a lovely evening.

Aaah thank you!!! This is so so kind and sweet, thank you so much. I read it out to Matt and he was delighted - the ribbon part in particular was his idea, and I agree it feels like such a nice little "human" moment (for the lack of a better word!)

I'm so glad you feel welcome and comforted by Travelling Light. We both knew right from the get go that we wanted this universe to be one where difference was celebrated and valued rather than swept under the rug, and I'm glad that's coming across. Thank you so much for listening and for sharing your thoughts! xxx

[aeternallis]

It's been hanging out in the back of my mind for the past few months, but I think the reason why it's so hard for me to interact with the kpts fandom on here (with the exception of a very select few people) is because fanon has taken over to such an extent for kpts that subsequently, a lot, and I mean A LOT of the cultural context in this show has been erased because it's just easier to do so to a story with a modern setting, as opposed to a historical one, yknow?

And with that ease comes the resulting of some of the most...colorful interpretations and HCs that ngl, definitely hints at a more western mindset, than anything else.

Which is not necessarily...a surprise, based on what I've seen this site do to Asian media in general. Hahaha. After all, this is the site that said Sesshoumaru from Inuyasha is a pedo for marrying his ward, that Kaname from Vampire Knight is "ewww incestuous" for being in love with his distant ancestor. This is the same site that said JGY from MDZS did nothing wrong (ever), and thinks LWJ can't talk properly and speaks like Netflix's terrible subtitles.

And last but not least, this is the site that thinks dom/sub and top/bottom discourse is #immature and #feteshization when in reality the Asian BL subculture is literally built and maintained on this very important distinction of pairing order, which transcends who's sticking who in the ass, and has more to do with interpretation of characters as the author's explicit intent.

MXTX isn't being a whiny bitch when they say they hate it when their pairings are switched, it's because by switching up their pairings, you erase the literary importance of the gong love interest, and why MXTX positioned them that way. There's a reason why every single one of the MXTX novels is written from the POV of the shou, yo.

But, anyway.

I'm not Thai. I'm Filipino-American, who grew up in the Philippines for a good portion of her life and regularly goes back, and who is still somewhat fluent in Tagalog. And the borders of SE Asia contains within it a wonderful blend of so many different cultures that there are some scholars who, although dedicate their entire lives to studying this region, will never be able to fully grasp the cultural nuances that just aren't easily translatable to English sentences.

Having said that, there is still a set of cultural values and norms that unites this region AS Southeast Asia. I will definitely say for my own experience with kpts, one of the biggest factors as to why I fell in love with this show is because there were so many things about it that reminded me of my own upbringing, the cultural values and experiences that I grew up with, that makes this show special to me.

But Tumblr being Tumblr, it's no surprise that as always with non-western media, the cultural nuances are minimized or outright forgotten entirely.

In which case, KPTS is yet another victim to this inevitability, alas alas.