#but like ultimately people r entitled to have bad takes

[butchladymaria]

feeling like the several year old post i made abt the specific type grhman enjoyers acting like they r being Oppressed TM bc not everyone agrees w their opinions abt him is topical again. like come on now. i feel like 99% of the reason he’s a “controversial” character is because like. you cant express even the mildest observation of nuance beyond “he was a good person with good intentions whose actions had no negative impact because everything bad that happened was somehow someone else’s fault” or god forbid misogyny w/o people acting like you shot their dog lol

[sopebubbles]

Just a slight input of mine, as in my two cents.

I totally absolutely understand yoongi's and tae's pov about them feeling left out when hobi goes in heat and Jin gets all possessive, but towards the end we also see how yoongi also gets a little possessive about Y/N when hobi mentions having a room for Y/N ( as in yoongi wanting y/n for himself) so in that perspective shouldn't yoongi be a little more understanding of Jin? No? Just me?? ( This is what I feel) Jin could have had his own dreams and desires no?? While trying to do his best (from his perspective) for everyone in the pack...

and somewhere my heart goes out to Jin that maybe he wants to have a child with HIS HUSBAND with whom he's been married for so long and loves so much. And Jin isn't being selfish just that hobi is his husband first and then the omega of the pack??? Jin could have been trying his best under the pressure and with what all knowledge he has?? No??

My heart goes out to jin for trying to take care of everything and everyone without being able to express himself. Maybe I am wrong but this is just something I felt. And I do agree that buying an entire house without consulting with other members is wrong, anyone would be upset.

( also being a leader isn't easy, if the members do not say how is he going to understand, and even if everyone says something and share their input but in the end their points do not get selected that too leaves a sour taste(I hope you understand what I mean) and the leader, I don't know if they do, go about talking with everyone individually? That could be exhausting no?😔)

And I am so proud of Y/N for asking for help. good job MC. I love you for this, you fighter!!

Im glad you noticed that parallel with Yoongi's possessiveness! There will definitely come a time when Yoongi has to confront those possessive feelings when she's actually around AND others want to be around her. I think there's a bit of a difference in the fact that they're in a years long relationship and Jin is trying dictate how other people can be with Hoseok. Yoongi should try to understand Jin's feelings, no doubt, but it doesn't make Jin's actions to alienate everyone acceptable. It will be interesting to compare them as alphas down the line

And yeah, Hobi is his husband but if he wanted to be exclusive like that maybe he shouldnt have brought 3 other alphas into his pack. The most troubling thing about his behavior for them is that its a change. In his own heart Jin never did use to care about whose baby hobi would have, he would've just loved any baby of Hobi's as his own. But his mom put this idea in his head and the fact that he wouldn't talk about it just shows that deep down he knows its wrong.

I think all your thoughts make sense in a way bc those are very natural ways to feel, i just dont think those are the core issues, but im glad you're in Jin's corner! Pack alpha is a tough job and theres still an important issue that Yoongi raised which is that Jin sees pack alpha as a set of privileges (i get to decide where we live) instead of responsibilities (i must provide us with a safe place to live). I strongly believe that if Jin hadn't been first he wouldn't be pack alpha. Its strictly bc of his position as Hobi's husband that he has the role BUT his upbringing/family also makes him feel entitled to it (his mother would be extremely displeased with him if he wasn't pack alpha). The stress is honestly a bit too much for him and makes him close in on himself, not discussing with others and ultimately making bad decisions. At the end of the day, he should be at least discussing important decisions with his packmates even if he ultimately thinks that his choice is the right one. In my opinion thats the more effective form of leadership.

I know everyone wants her to rush back but im honestly very happy with yn for doing the best she can rn. Asking for help was huge even though she might not have asked for all the help we think she needs.

Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.

[orcelito]

My brain just wants to focus on the 1.5k I wrote for discacc last night & the showtime zine drama

But work and school is also a thing I have to deal with and I'm just like 😐

[alatismeni-theitsa]

anti LO anon opinions

(1) If i had to guess, the fact Hephaestus was written ok in LO is because of the editor. On their official job listings, one of the editor requirements at Webtoons is to actually aid in if not completely ghostwrite some of the episodes if need be. If i had to bet, the LO editor (the 3rd they're on now btw) had the better sense than to get into more hot water like the r*pe discourse and took over writing him so RS wouldn't make him another villain. RS tends to be a PR nightmare in that regard.

(2) If there’s one thing I find strange about the writing choices in LO (and I have a lot I don’t like) it’s that it pretty constantly tells and shows us Hades is, frankly, the worst king imaginable. He’s violent, he’s entitled, he doesn’t like to be corrected or told he’s wrong. He physically threatens others if not outright attacks them (a paparazzi college student isn’t evil for trying to make ends meet.) when called out on it, he doesn’t see the error of his ways and it’s even worse when Persephone calls him out on it and he just quiets her or they make out to shut her up I guess?

Even people from Hestia to Ares don’t trust Hades and call him cruel, violent, and a bad king. You cannot constantly tells us he’s a bad king and leader and see it as fair and just he remains a king at the end. This wouldn’t be an issue if it weren’t for the fact Smythe keeps framing and excusing him as the most perfect, romantic man ever and sole voice of reason and logic in her universe and who every man should be like and who every woman wants.

He would actually be a great antagonistic love interest, a fun take on H/P as a twisted dark romance of a young woman rejecting her perfect life for the darkness and cruelty of the king of death, but LO has no use for that when its sole purpose is to whitewash him and make them “precious cinnamon rolls”.

Also, going off visual cues, Persephone will be the one to change for HIS wants and lifestyle, not the other way around, so we know he won’t change his ways or even learn, but instead will get everything he wants and then some, only with the slight slap on the wrist that he won’t be able to have sex with his child-like bride half the year. 

Persephone is ultimately rendered a prop in her supposed story. This is not a story of empowering Persephone or giving her a voice, it is a story of excusing and romanticizing a cruel, capitalistic slave owner who really wants to have sex with someone who can pass for his daughter and framing it as a progressive romance.

(3) There’s something very sad in the fact the canon of LO is that Persephone isn't even of Demeter’s blood, but rather is made of clay. Persephone has had all her friendships, any hints of personality, understanding, goals, and even her family ripped away from her so the only thing in her life is Hades and what he wants and what tells her.

In comparison, Hades is given relationships to characters he never had in the myths (his expanded sex life, friendship with Hecate, huge emphasis on Rhea having him as her favorite child, Hera being his lover, even Thanatos to an extent), he gets to keep and even gains status as the implied true heir of Kronos and controller of all the wealth/CEO, and is given more personality and goals than myth gave him.

Despite being the lead character, Persephone is given nothing beyond wanting to be Hades’ wife. Her school work doesn’t matter to her, she has no flaws or complexities, she doesn’t know her own body or powers, her sexuality is based in naivety & only wanting Hades in a narrative that shames other consenting adults, I could go on. She ends up more regressed than myth had her, and Ancient Greece wasn’t exactly as progressive as we are today, while Hades ends up having more love and care put into him.

It shows just how little Smythe cares for the mythology but also the claims of it being “progressive feminism” are all lip service. Persephone is not a character in LO, she’s a prop to self insert on (which would be fine if it weren’t for the claims Smythe is “empowering” her) and make sure people don’t feel bad about shipping a assaulted kidnapping victim with her myth canon uncle and assailant. People have been shipping and writing HxP for decades with no issue and yet LO has twisted them into something even Tumblr (which essentially created it) is souring to.

(4) I dont mean to sound like a prude but why is lo Demeter, Hera and eve Artemis all drawn so cartoonishly sexy? every one of them are all drawn with super exaggerated tapered curves with huge boobs and hips and wearing clothes that are constantly showing off their chests and are dangerously close to showing more than just leg.

they're far from the only female characters drawn like that too. basically every woman has to be drawn with extreme sex appeal. that’s not to say the characters mentioned aren’t allowed to be sexual beings (I personally would love to see hera and demeter, two often prudish mother figures, have the chose to have their own love lives) but it becomes shallow when the only sex hera is allowed is via cheating on her husband with hades (gross, sorry 😂) and demeter being so removed from sex she made her daughter through /clay/ (because making persephone an object is better than just having her being from a single mother/no father mentioned I guess) this once again shows a lack of design or character considerations on Smythe’s part.

while the male characters get more variety (not much, but some) all the women regardless of character or traits are made into more pinups than their own unique beings. That’s not even mentioning the only unique looking woman (Athena) is only that way because she’s depicted essentially as a man. If you have anything bigger than an A-cup, it’s only a matter of time before you’re sexualized. 

[heavenlyborne]

@lcho-r​ asked: 👁‍🗨💰😳🤩 (OC Questions 2)

// Snipped due to length ~ !

👁‍🗨 - Is your OC a nosey person? Are they inclined to gossip?

Shalria is most definitely VERY nosey. Celestial Dragons usually only care about instant gratification, living their lives of luxury in ignorance whereas she enjoys knowing everything there is to know about what’s going on. Limitless wealth and power are all well and good at the end of the day but even as a child, she was well aware that a little knowledge can go a long way and is always worth knowing. When it comes to gossip however, she’s fiercer than a dragon guarding it’s hoard - only foolish people spill their secrets so easily, especially without demanding some form of payment or another first. She’ll listen to idle gossip and pluck the wheat from the chaff, but genuine information is something her ears are always listening out for.

💰 - What’s your OC’s opinions around money? Are they materialistic or more frugal? Is money a concern for them, or are they comfortable with their current status? If money isn’t a worry for them, do they recognise the privilege of that?

Shalria is not frugal at all, at least not in the eyes of ordinary people. She has no qualms about spending vast amounts of money on whatever she pleases, but she’s more ‘frugal’ than her brother who would drop £500′000′000 berri on buying a mermaid just to watch her get devoured by his pet piranhas. Even if she loathes mermaids, Shalria considers it a waste to spend so much on killing what she considers to be a ‘mere fish’ and prefers meaningful purchases over what she sees as useless ones. She’s comfortable with her status, overly so as much like the rest of her kin, believes being wealthy is her right as a World Noble. She’s as greedy, entitled and avaricious as the rest of her caste, uncaring as to how so many countries struggle to afford the obscene tributes demanded by their rulers but still looks down on frivolous waste all the same.

😳 - How do they handle rejection or humiliation, both internally and externally? (how they really feel vs how they appear to react)

Shalria has never been rejected before... but is ultimately unlikely to care very much about it. Only a ‘total idiot’ would pass up the opportunity to be with somebody as magnificent as she and if they decide against that, that’s their loss not hers. It would be disappointing but no big deal should they choose to reject a gift from the very heavens themselves. Humilation on the other hand is a very different story - Shalria is proud, possessing what she believes to be the most ancient and purest bloodline in the world and striking her family as is bad as if they’d struck her themselves. She may look down upon her brother and father but they are still family and fewer instances will incite this dragon’s wrath like attacking her relatives. She’d be fierce too, promising - and planning - violent retribution against all offenders no matter how long it takes, and not only will the offender be at risk but everybody else they know and love. No price will be too high to pay in order to exact righteous vengeance, and Shalria will make sure it happens just to show the world what happens should you dare defy her will.

🤩 - Is your OC easily impressed, or are they uninterested in the achievements of others?

When you are a Celestial Dragon, you have already received the greatest of achievements. Just being born as one is as impressive as it gets, at least according to the ruling class and Shalria is no different. There are plenty of strong, intelligent and even successful people out there in the world but very few can count themselves to have descended from those ancient great kings and queens who created the world as it currently stands. Even the King of Pirates may be executed someday but nothing can change the fact that blood matters or what you are. Few things will truly impress Shalria but talent, especially self-made talent in a world that wants you to be weak, is slightly impressive and the more you claw it for yourself, the more entertaining she finds it. Gild Tesoro stands as one of the only people who has genuinely impressed her, both with his incredible talent as a singer and holding the greatest wealth outside of the Celestial Dragons themselves.

[a-student-out-of-time]

(Mod, can this anon just say I really appreciate how much self-control you have? When that Haiji defender showed up on your blog, you just said "get off my blog". This anon really appreciates how you didn't scream at them, accuse the person of secretly being a pedophile themself, tell them to kill themself or to choke on broken glass, encourage your followers to harass Haiji fans, etc. Today's generation of pop-culture-fandom could learn from your example.)

//Now that you bring this up, if you’ll indulge me, I’d like to talk for a bit about fandom toxicity.

//There is, in a way, a feeling of entitlement and ownership when it comes to characters or properties. That, because these things hold a special place in our hearts, that they belong to us and that our interpretation of them is the correct one and that anyone who disagrees is wrong.

//So when there comes creative decisions or opinions made by others with those properties, even ones by the actual creator of the work, that don’t match up to our own, there can come a feeling that these are a direct attack against us as well. With that comes a lot of the worst parts of fan culture: harassment, insults, bullying, threats, and even actual attacks on these people.

//But the truth is, these people were probably just expressing their feelings and emotions about the same work, because they enjoy it too. They were never trying to directly or indirectly attack you, they just simply had a different opinion. It’s important to keep that in mind: the people you talk to online are human beings with thoughts and feelings of their own, and those feelings are rarely going to be the exact same as yours.

//An unfortunate part of the problem are the inherent psychological biases that we all have, and confirmation bias especially. Where we’ll focus on information we agree with (even if it’s factually wrong) and ignore anything that conflicts with that (even if it’s factually correct). This goes beyond just fandom, but I’m going to stay on topic.

//There is not a single human being at any point in history who hasn’t been guilty of these biases. You, me, everyone you’ve ever met, we’ve all done it at one point or another. The issue is when these biases get us to leap toward intolerant conclusions about those whose viewpoints we disagree with. “You don’t have the same opinion as me, so you must be stupid/evil/bigoted/brainwashed/etc.”

//It can be so easy to draw those conclusions about people, especially when the arguments aren’t well-structured and you’re in the heat of the moment. But let’s be real: we’re never all going to 100% agree on everything. And that’s okay. Hell, if we did, that sounds more like a dystopian nightmare scenario where free thinking has been suppressed.

//And thinking is an activity I’ve always encouraged. Toxicity is ultimately at odds with critical thinking, where any dissenting opinion is hunted down and suppressed and anyone who speaks up is bullied into silence. That is not what my blogs are about. It does kinda make me sad that I’m being praised for not being a toxic asshole, because I don’t really feel like that’s praiseworthy. I want that to be a normal thing.

//Here’s an experiment: take your favorite DR character and ask yourself why you like them. What is it about them that drew you to them? Their personality? Their backstory? Their role in the narrative of whichever game they were in? When you have those reasons in mind, consider the following: what about this character is flawed? What about them is inherently dark or troubling? Why might someone else dislike them?

//And then work backwards from there: take your least favorite DR character and ask yourself why you dislike them. Then find all the ways why someone else might like them without diving straight into intolerant conclusions. Look past the surface and dig a bit deeper to see what exactly makes them tick.

//That’s not me asking for essays, that’s something I want you all to consider for yourselves.

//I’ll be the first to admit I really disliked Junko. I didn’t consider her all that interesting of a character or a villain, and she just cames off as very annoying and overblown to me. I considered everything that she sets in motion to be far more interesting. 

//I have, however, seen a lot analyses and in-depth looks at her as a character and after going through those, I came away with a lot of insights I didn’t even consider before. My opinion hasn’t changed too much, but I can definitely see (DR3 notwithstanding) all the way she can and does make for a interesting villain.

//So the takeaway is, even if you don’t end up changing your opinion, you can at least say “I still disagree, but I’ve gained some perspective into why someone would feel this way and I’m better for it.” Critical thinking does not mean you have to give up your opinions, and there does exists a very wide middle ground between total agreement and toxic harassment.

//But critical thinking is at odds with the idea that it’s best to retcon, ignore, or fabricate details of canon that we disagree with to justify those opinions. This is why I got so mad at the anon who claimed Haiji was talking about fictional underage girls, something that is not at all substantiated by evidence in the game. You can’t simply ignore these details because you don’t like them.

//Critical thinking is about being able to either say, “Okay, I fully acknowledge that these details about this character I like are problematic and I understand why it might upset people, but they’re not the sole or central reason why I like this character”, or “Okay, after careful analysis, maybe I was wrong about what I originally thought about them.”

//Me personally, I look at these details and ask “Okay, but how can we build off of this? Can we tell a new story with it?” For example, while SDRA2 Chapter 0 left a bad taste in most everyone’s mouths, I didn’t want to just retcon it. Instead,  thought Kokoro being regretful over her actions and wanting to reconnect with her daughter would make for a very interesting story.

//But the most important part of this that I’d want anyone to take away is that it’s important to listen to others and consider their viewpoints as well, and again without immediately jumping toward conclusions and talking over them before they make their case. Listen to people, ask them questions, and remember that on the other end of the conversation is another human being with thoughts and feelings of their own.

//Now, there is that invisible fear that “understand that others have different opinions” is shorthand for “just accept that some people are into r*pe/inc*st/p*dophilia and let them make content of it.” I promise you that is not at all what I’m suggesting here. I hope my previous angry rant about Haiji cemented that fact.

//What I am saying is that we need to be acutely aware of both the thoughts and feelings of others and those of ourselves. That it’ll be better for us as well as others to apply critical thinking and careful insight into our opinions, not taking them as inherent fact simply because we hold them, and understand that others will not always enjoy the same content the same way we do.

//And most importantly, being able to separate those who are willing to listen vs. those who’ll prefer to stay toxic, bitter, and unmoving is a very important skill to learn. There is no shame in withdrawing yourself from any sort of talk with a person who upsets people for fun, and it will be better for your health in the long run.

//Finally, let’s be real, what’s gained from arguing with people online? People who you never have and probably never will meet? Not much. But if someone is not going to budge and only wants to share their toxicity with the world, it’s better for you to simply walk away, block them, cut yourself off, and move on. Their toxicity is their deal, and it doesn’t have to be yours.

//But I also think there are people who are willing to listen, who may simply not know that they’re engaging in things that are hurtful or toxic. And some frank but kind insight as to why can change their opinions. A willingness to listen, not to just defend their position, is what’s important.

//I’ll be completely honest here and say I was in that position once. I’ve said and thought some awful things before, and I feel so fortunate that I met the right people who stopped me from going down that road before I got too far. Not with hostility or arguments, but honest and kind discussions and insights.

//As fans and as people in general, we can, should, and need to be better. That’s why I don’t want my space to be full of hate and bullying, but just storytelling and creative discussions, where people are welcome to express their opinions, and even if we disagree, that’s alright. We’ve at least gained some insight into each others’ views ^^

//Compassion and wisdom are what I consider the most important virtues, and being more critical of ourselves is how I think we can solve the issue of fandom toxicity. That’s what I’ve tried to apply here. My goal is just to tell a good story for you all to enjoy here, and I appreciate each and every one of you who’ve followed, liked, reblogged, or even just considered any of my posts worthwhile to read

//And if you made it all the way through this, I hope you’ll consider everything I’ve said here as well. You can’t change every single toxic person out there, but you can change yourself for the better and encourage others to do the same.

[ivyisms]

       - ̗̀ NOW INTRODUCING:  IVES ❝ IVY ❞ SERRANO !

( DANNA PAOLA, 24, CISFEMALE ) I just bumped into IVES "IVY" SERRANO the other day while walking down NORTH Kingsboro, where SHE lives. I hear they can be SEDUCTIVE and MANIPULATIVE, but when I think of them I immediately think about ROSE PETAL BLUNTS, STRAWBERRY CHAMPAGNE, AND SIX INCH STILETTOS.

hi hello it’s tay back again w another one of my demon spawn muses !! apparently chaotic bisexuals w fcs from elite is just my brand™️ but anyway ivy is probably my favorite oc i’ve ever made so i have A Lot to say abt this messy bitch !! if u go H E R E i have a very long stats/bio page with pretty much everything i could think of BUT i will try to summarize the main points semi-concisely

- ̗̀♡ — › background !

the main thing u need to know about ivy is that she is lying ! always !! her real name isn’t even actually ivy smh

she was born natalie rose serrano, to two working class parents in new york city. she knew from a young age that she was just supposed to be rich and famous, and that something had gotten mixed up somewhere and she was put in the wrong life.

in high school she got a scholarship to a fancy private catholic school, and that’s where she started to hone her craft of manipulating rich people. she would befriend all of the richest bitches at school and take advantage of everything that came along with it: vacations to far away places, stays in the family’s cabins and lake houses, even designer clothes that her friends no longer wanted and would gift to her, thinking it was their idea all along

as she grew up and got better at getting what she wanted out of people, her entitled attitude only got worse, driving a wedge between her and her parents, who kept waiting for her to develop a work ethic and kept being disappointed. a few months after she graduated high school, on her 18th birthday, her parents kicked her out of the house and cut her off, hoping that it would force her to grow up and take on any responsibility

but that plan backfired for them, her parents underestimating how truly stubborn natalie was. the day after her 18th, she wandered into a local strip club and got a job, figuring it’d be the easiest and quickest way to get some cash, and she took to it naturally and actually really enjoyed stripping

she started to embody an entirely new persona that she had created for herself, dancing under the name poison ivy and telling everyone she was a trust fund baby that had been cut off from her rich parents, needing to dance to supplement her income, and her lies just continued to spiral out of control until she almost started to believe it herself. she had never told anyone at the club her real name, not even the other strippers, just going by “ivy” for a while.

she had learned to weaponize the power she had over people by being pretty and charming, using her looks for absolute evil and doing whatever it took to get money—from straight up pickpocketing, to making men buy her expensive gifts, to blackmailing, to sugar babying, to getting patrons wasted and manipulating them into tipping her absurd amounts... she did it all, very quickly earning enough to live the life she had always dreamed of, that she felt she deserved for whatever twisted reason.

she started posting on instagram with the name poison ivy generally just flaunting her carefree, extravagant life, often exaggerating or down right lying just to really dazzle her quickly growing audience

as she started to go down the influencer route, she realized she needed to do something to hide the skeletons in her closet ( the fact that she didn’t actually come from money and was making far more than was normal for even the best of dancers, a couple of small possession / shoplifting charges, and just generally anything that could lead people to her real identity ) so she started to tell people her name was ives, fully taking on the new identity. she even went so far as to make some of the people that had been closest to her sign NDAs about her real identity, making sure that no one could sell info about her should her plan of being famous work out

and it did work out !! at first she was definitely buying followers/likes to boost her likelihood of brand sponsorships, but eventually she faked it until she made it and actually attained influencer status

she also started sleeping around with pretty much any famous person she could, having very public relationships and breakups and scandals to keep her name in the press, which ultimately lead to more exposure/people following her, if only to see what she did next, which lead to even more sponsorships

she’s probably been in kingsboro for a few years, living in a super fancy one bedroom apartment that she definitley doesn’t pay for ( she doesn’t even know how much her rent is tbh )

eventually she stopped dancing and just focused on her influencing or whatever, but she never stopped sugar babying and scamming rich stupid men, still very much using that as a means to keep up her lifestyle. she’s also done a few modeling things, but it’s mostly just like catalog work or being the face of a trendy campaign bc she’s way too short for the runway

she also recently made an only fans account bc she was bored one night and was mostly planning on posting once as a joke but then she made a bunch of money / got a bunch of subscribers and was like oh word ? i can do that ! so she will post on there from time to time but she’s not like... super serious about it ya know ?

so basically she’s jus here making money being pretty and pulling a long ass scam on... everyone

- ̗̀♡ — › personality !

she’s a real two faced bitch... she has perfected the art of becoming whoever she thinks other people want her to be, quickly adapting her personality to get whatever she wants

she’s usually pretty friendly actually, really charming and outgoing and just trying to have a good time

she has a pretty short temper tho and holds grudges like you wouldn’t believe, so once you’re on her bad side... good luck lol she is so ruthless

she’s like... deeply, deeply selfish and will always put herself first, but she’s so manipulative that she can make people do things that they think are their idea, but it’s really just something she planted in their head so it’s not always obvious

also very spoiled and will throw a mf fit if she doesn’t get her way or u say no to her

always going out !! always doing the most !! she’s the type to show up randomly at ur door at 8pm on a tuesday with a bottle of tequila and make u party with her whether u like it or not

she’s a lot smarter than she lets on sometimes, like she knows people expect her to be stupid and ditzy and shallow and she’ll let them underestimate her when it’s beneficial 

always looks perfectly put together— her nails are always meticulously manicured, usually w stiletto shaped acrylics, and you’ll literally never see her outside her house without makeup and a perfectly composed outfit. it’s also a rare occasion that she’s not wearing at least six inch heels, trying to make up for bein so mf short ( she’s 5’3 )

she talks A Lot but is really good at saying a lot of words without actually saying anything, like you can be best friends with her for months and then just be like “i don’t actually know a single thing about her”

always up to no good and sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong !! she’s always got some sort of scheme going or getting in to some kind of drama

v much a hoe and v much proud of it, will sleep w just about anyone especially if she can get something out of it

also a serial dater !! she’s always hoping in and out of relationships and being rumored to be with a dozen people at once

most definitely calls paparazzi on herself, especially when she’s around other famous ppl but will never admit it

compulsive liar, she will literally lie about the dumbest things like she doesn’t even need a reason to lie she jus.. does

- ̗̀♡ — › wanted connections !

hookups / flings / one night stands / fwbs all that shit !!

exes on bad terms ... gimme drama pls

enemies / ppl she’s stolen from maybe... she would definitely deny it and say they’re jus jealous of her or smth stupid but that could make the feud worse

party pals !! like i said she goes out a lot and always somehow manages to make new friends and drag them into her shenanigans

on again / off again exes... i want the Angst so bad..

unlikely friends !! like ppl who are nice and sweet and Pure, she could use a lil good energy in her life

neighbors ... mb they hate her for always being loud n throwing mini parties OR maybe they join in

mean girl rivalries !!

someone she’s taking advantage of / stealing from without them knowing .. oof

partner in crime !!!

one sided crushes or like someone she’s stringing along smh

sugar daddies mb 😇

someone to put her in her mf place JDKDKD like they call her out on her bs and are like “i see what ur doing bitch stay away from my friends” type thing

idk anything really !! gimme all the messy plots ok :~)

[duskyvision]

agustina bazterrica - tender is the flesh

2021′s first book review is gonna be a heavy one. ever wondered what it’d be like if instead of eating animals we ate human meat, and the system was legalized? no? well, uh, too bad because that’s the whole premise of the book.

picked up the audiobook because i had some audible credits to use and i was very intrigued by the premise, and oh boy. it did just what i expected and even worse, to the point where i feel like i got sucker punched at some points while listening. horror indeed! and i don’t think i’m gonna be in the mood to eat meat in a while. also, i’m writing this review in the heat of the moment (like usual, lmao) so, don’t expect anything too objective as usual.

onto the trigger warnings, since it’s a hard one to digest (no pun intended).

trigger warnings:

cannibalism/gore (major theme)

general themes of human trafficking

r*pe mentions (frequent in the book and with mentioned extreme outcomes)

brutal and detailed dubcon scene (part 1 chapter 18)

child death

animal abuse/death (mentions throughout the book, graphic scene in part 2 chapter 6)

p*dophilia/CSA (part 2 chapter 5)

homophobic slurs (part 2 chapter 5)

--

the entire novel feels more like a worldbuilding experience more than anything else, even if there’s a thread of a plot heading somewhere. you follow marcos, the protagonist, who works at a processing plant/slaughterhouse that slaughters humans instead of animals. why? because there was a virus affecting animals that’s said to be fatal to humans and no cure was ever found for it. some believe the virus is read, and the government does everything in order to keep the belief strong, while others believe it’s just a government conspiracy to effectively reduce the population.

but the fact is- animal meat is no longer consumed. what’s on the market now is “special” meat: human meat. though the ones being consumed are not even considered humans anymore, they’re just called heads, and are treated like cattle. if they’re not being outright bred and slaughtered, they’re kept and raised domestically for later consumption, or to start your own breeding business. others are just let loose in game reserves for people to hunt. (celebrities who are in debt can also choose to be hunted to get rid of their debts. fun worldbuilding facts...?)

anyway, through marcos, you get to discover this whole fuckin shady business and its disgusting aspects, and how in some years what was considered inhumane just became the norm and not a lot of people stop to think that it’s disgusting or anything. it’s just what they do.

a bunch of... distasteful shit is mentioned, and even described throughout the book. i had to take long pauses from a couple of chapters because it was heavy to handle at times. it’s blunt and to the point. shit’s awful, disgusting, and there’s no watering down, even if some people do actively try to water down how awful the system is. some scenes are graphic for that purpose, and that’s why i wouldn’t recommend it to anyone without a strong stomach.

without going into details, the plot thread going alongside the worldbuilding made me feel... mixed emotions. or rather, it felt like some weird emotional elevator. at first it felt odd considering the “rules” the novel’s worldbuilding had set, then it made me feel hopeful, almost sympathetic, and then everything just crashed down and burned by the very end of the book. i’ll be honest, that ending fucked me up real bad. i didn’t expect it to turn out that way, and i guess that’s why, right now, it’s still lingering in my mind like... “what was the fucking point, then? just self satisfaction?”

and i guess that in a way, it’s what this book is about. what the fuck’s the point of killing humans if there are things hinting the virus that caused everything doesn’t exist? what’s the point of abiding by the system? what’s the point of hoping anything will ever change? not to mention the obvious concept that it’s much too easy for some people to categorize other beings, including other people, as “lesser” and thus feel entitled to whether or not they have the right to live or should be used as more fodder for the meatgrinder.

you know, i initially rated this a 4 stars on goodreads at first right after i was done, but the more i mull over the book itself and its scenes while writing this review, the more i find myself turned away from praising it too much due to how prevalent the shock value was, which i suppose is part of the intent but... after a while, too much shock value kills the shock value. that, and the fact that after some thinking, i find myself with a bitter taste in my mouth from the way some characters were portrayed. so i had to downrate it to 3 stars. the worldbuilding is great, the implications were bleak and terrifying, and i found it well written, but ultimately, i find some fault with the character writing and the layers upon layers of depraved shit on top of the shitcake.

i’m not sure how to end this review. i’ve never been very eloquent when it comes to writing them, really. but damn, that book hit hard. it’s blunt, gross, and well-written, i guess. i can’t outright say i’m “glad” for listening to the audiobook, but... i guess that it was effective in its purpose, if the author’s intent was to do a speedrun any% to discourage people from eating meat.

[oliver-do-the-twist]

How the Van der Linde Gang showers

(Don't worry its sfw)

Feel free to boo me if I'm wrong

Arthur

this man is a pretty regular showerer

when he gets the chance of course

his showering time tho? not regular

it entirely depends on his mood

when hes happy its like a quick 5 minute shower done and done

but when my guy is sad he will shower until the water gets cold and then some

he just needs the comfort ok??

leave him alone

Dutch

God save anyone who intervenes with his showers

hes in there for an entire hour 

and  he has a plan a structured way of cleaning himself 

sugar scrubs, exfoliates, hair and skin masks, mustache shampoo  

its all there

I would need a whole different list for just his after shower routine

but it mostly consists of him just oiling up his hair again despite all the time washing it

drives everyone up the walls with how much time it takes, but the only person who ever complains is Hosea, because everyone else is to afraid to

but then he doesn't shower until a few days later with the belief that longer showers= less showering

Hosea

Pretty average

he sees showers as just a quick way to clean off 

5-10 minutes done

but if anyone messes w him when hes bathing???

they're gonna need more than God to save them

his bath time is for HIM and HIM ALONE

he gets the candles, nice music, wine, dims the lights if he’s not reading a book

its really his time to unwind and not deal with Dutch’s crap

that’s why its so important lol

John

Ha

HAHAHAA no

Dutch and Hosea tried to make him once, everyone is still getting over the trauma

Once he starts getting more serious with Abigail he does try to be a little cleaner for her though, and she respects that even though he's still reallly greasy

Javier

Oh you know this man is a singer

He takes his hygiene very seriously, but sometimes he forgets to even wash himself hes so busy performing his concert shower

His vibrato will echo throughout the house

He always seems to shower when Bills taking his nap and his singing causes Bill to go into a blind rage

Micah

Actively tries not to shower

But once he saw how much Dutch takes his showers seriously he tried to clean himself a little bit

He quickly gave up

Mary-Beth

Showers are THE prime time for day dreaming for her

So her showers take like, forever

Sometimes like Javier where she'll forget to actually wash herself

Likes the finer things, she'll pay extra for the good products

Charles

Ok I might get hate for this

But he's not a regular showerer

BUT that doesnt mean he doesn't keep himself clean

He knows alternatives to showering because he knows how to survive for long periods in the wildness where there arnt showers

He does like good smelling stuff tho, he'll find good smelling herbs and flowers to stuff in his pockets to smell nice

he considers a good shower a nice treat, and therefore when he does shower it takes forever

Sadie

Showers quick, to the point

Kinda sees them as chores so she doesn't try too hard, just gets them out of the way

Does the bare minimum, could care less about her hairy legs and what you say about them

Sean

Showers like, maybe once a week or two unless he's bullied into more

It takes him forever to do it and he still somehow does a bad job at it

Tilly

Her showers are about 20-30 minutes

She loves to pamper herself with nice things

She actually really likes to shower, she likes the physical act of scrubbing away all the dirt and grime and the feeling of cleanliness

Kieran

I'm sorry but this sweet boy is not very clean

Have you seen at his greasy head of his??

He tries, he really does, but he just can't get the hand of showering regularly

Not to mention he's terrified of getting in anyone's way, if anyone wants the shower while he was planning to use it, he'll immediately give it up

Abigail

She used to like taking her time in the shower but ever since Jack was born she doesn't have time to :/

She still makes it a priority, but its not as possible as it used to be

As Jack got older, (like 2 or 3 yo, not rdr1 age) she would shower with him more often than not (its not weird, she's his MOM)

She always liked splashing with him and playing fun water games

Jack

Little baby loves showers!

Its all playtime and fun when he showers with mom

He is always fascinated by the fact that Abigail can make bubbles with her hands by blowing through them, he always tries to copy her but he always blows the bubble too hard and it pops

That never stops him from trying again tho

Trelawny

Dont even get me started on him lol

Bill

Honestly, he forgets to shower

Until Mrs Grimshaw uh,, gently reminds him

Even then he'll just step in, let the water run over him for a few minutes and call it good

He is then forced back in by Susan with a bottle of two in one body wash and shampoo and isn't allowed out until a good portion of it is used

Lenny

He thinks hygiene is important.

He knows it's important to be presentable, so he makes a nice habit of showering

His showers arnt anything fancy, just the basics, but that's better than some of these people here lol

Molly

Everyone HATES when she's in the shower

She's like Dutch in that she takes forever, I mean hey, this girl was raised nice, there's nothing wrong with getting rid of all the dirt and grime that comes with running with outlaws

Except unlike Dutch, she'll get a lot of hate from the meaner members, poor girl

Loan shark

Very hygienic, his showers have been mastered for ultimate efficiency

Thinks he's better than the people who don't shower regularly

Karen

She likes the idea of being clean

She thinks she showers more than she does, gets annoyed when someone (Susan) will point out that she needs a wash

Her showers also take f o r e v e r

Swanson

Poor man likes to be clean

Which really sucks when hes so drunk he can't tell what day it is

Once he does clean up his act however, he does make a pointed effort to keep himself clean

He sees it as a way to keep himself together

Pearson

Lol why would he shower?? His sweat is free seasoning

Really tho he has a version of the hygiene routine he practiced in the navy, its just not so routine

But really he's just lazy and thinks he's entitled to not have to clean up for people because he feeds everyone

Susan

Between keeping the camp running and keeping everyone alive she doesn't have much time on her plate for much

But does that stop this woman? Hell no

She won't let excuses get in the way of her hygiene

She has mastered the art of quick and effective showering

Thinks that because she can do it, everyone should (she's right)

Uncle

The King of excuses

But they swing both ways, he'll either make an excuse on why he has to use the shower before anyone else does and for as long as he wants, or he'll come up with any reason not to shower

Either way he's a pain to deal with, per usual

[sciencespies]

Ecologists find bird-deterring nets create haven for stinging venomous caterpillars

https://sciencespies.com/biology/ecologists-find-bird-deterring-nets-create-haven-for-stinging-venomous-caterpillars/

Ecologists find bird-deterring nets create haven for stinging venomous caterpillars

Asps, which resemble tufts of fur, bristle with venomous spines that can cause severe pain. Credit: Brandon Martin/Rice University

More

While collecting data from live oak trees in the world’s largest medical center, Rice University evolutionary ecologists have discovered huge quantities of one of North America’s most venomous caterpillars.

  Live oak trees lining sidewalks in the Texas Medical Center (TMC)—which is visited by 10 million people seeking health care each year—are routinely netted to discourage pesky birds such as grackles and pigeons. Now Rice researchers have learned the netting has an unintended consequence: Chasing away birds that eat insects has created a haven for a flourishing population of Megalopyge opercularis, commonly referred to as asps.

The asps bristle with venomous spines that can cause severe pain for humans unlucky enough to come in contact with them. When a human is stung by an asp, it can cause localized pain that is compared to blunt-force trauma or a bone break. Symptoms include headaches, nausea, vomiting, fever, low blood pressure, inflammation of lymph nodes and, in severe cases, abdominal distress, muscle spasms, convulsions and respiratory stress.

“I’ve been stung by a lot of things and an asp sting definitely ranks high up there,” said Mattheau Comerford, an ecology and evolutionary biology graduate student at Rice who is also a U.S. Army veteran. “It takes about 10 minutes before the pain kicks in so you might not even realize you’ve been stung at first. It feels like a broken bone and the pain lasts for hours. I was stung on the wrist and the pain traveled up my arm, into my arm pit, and my jaw started to feel pain.”

The TMC, in addition to hosting a vulnerable population seeking health care, is the eighth-largest business district in the country, employing more than 106,000 people.

“There are a lot of people that congregate in the green spaces of TMC,” said Glen Hood, a research assistant professor of biological sciences at Wayne State University and a former member of the Rice Academy of Fellows. “It becomes this scenario of what’s worse—bird guano or venomous asps—and is there a happy medium?”

Scott Egan, an assistant professor of biosciences at Rice, has spent almost 20 years studying live oaks from Florida to Texas and is used to seeing the asps, which resemble tufts of fur. He said asp stings are common in live-oak country, even though the insects typically occur in low numbers under natural conditions.

“When we saw such high numbers of asps in the TMC, we knew this was something we needed to look into,” he said. “The Egan Lab addresses important conceptual issues in ecology, evolution and conservation biology, and we do that through the lens of specializing in one single system.”

  More

Credit: Rice University

More

As specialists in the live oak system, Egan and his team can observe unique differences or slight changes that a general scientist might not be able to see. That’s what sparked the study entitled “Human-mediated disturbance in multitrophic interactions results in outbreak levels of North America’s most venomous caterpillar,” which is published in the journal Biology Letters.

“We thought this was a wonderful, natural, already-occurring experiment that we could exploit to understand what happens when trophic interactions get disrupted,” Egan said. “We observed that there were a higher number of asps in the TMC than on Rice’s campus, so we performed an observational study across many sites in this area over a three-year span: trees that have massive nets and deter birds, versus naturally occurring systems such as live oak trees and the caterpillars that feed on them.”

Egan’s team discovered that caterpillar abundance, on average, was more than 7,300 percent higher on netted versus non-netted trees.

“The patterns in the data are overwhelming and striking,” said Hood, the study’s lead author and a former postdoctoral research fellow in Egan’s lab. “It’s highly suggestive that when you don’t take into account the natural interactions taking place within a community or ecosystem, even in an urban setting, it can cause unforeseen consequences.”

Egan and his team were especially interested in the location of the netted trees—lining the sidewalks, green spaces and streets of the TMC.

“In this area, there is a high density of people with allergies and compromised or depleted immune systems, putting them at a higher risk for the ill effects of the asp stings,” Comerford said.

Egan said nuisance birds are a widespread problem, and the kind of nets used in the TMC are a common sight in cities, fruit orchards and commercial nurseries. He said TMC staff helped his team with its research, giving students access to trees and opening up netting for sample collection.

“There is no ‘bad guy’ here,” Egan said. “Urban bird pests are a real problem, and birds can carry diseases and pose health risks, too. Netting trees is a way to address that problem, and we do not know if netting trees leads to an increase in asp stings. What our study shows is the complexity of the problem. Asps are yet another dimension to something that was already a multi-dimensional problem.”

  More

Credit: Rice University

More

Humans may not be the only species at risk from asps. The Houston Zoo, located on the northeast edge of the TMC, houses more than 6,000 animals from 900 different species. Many zoos use netting to cover animal enclosures and observation areas, and Egan’s team said that could facilitate similar asp outbreaks and increase animal and human exposure.

Amanda Weaver noticed the surge of asps covering netted trees in the TMC while she was working on a separate project for her senior thesis as an undergrad in the Egan Lab.

“I thought this project was really interesting because I had never heard of asps before I got to Rice,” said Weaver, now a graduate student at Columbia University. “I remember getting the warning emails from Rice and seeing the rashes from my classmates who had been stung. Especially because they are not prevalent everywhere, my biggest concern is that people may not know they are venomous. In fact, they actually look cute.”

Rice’s status as a registered arboretum and its next-door proximity to the TMC allowed Egan’s team to gather data from many sites over a three-year span.

“Like a lot of things in biology, this experiment happened serendipitously,” Hood said. “If you’re inquisitive and paying attention to the details, you’ll see an opportunity to collect data.”

By spotlighting an unforeseen consequence of ecological disturbance, Egan and his team hope the study emphasizes the importance of considering ecology in urban planning.

“When we try to manage environments, it’s very difficult for us to predict all of the implications or consequences,” Comerford said. “It’s very easy to say the birds are a problem and we can fix it by removing their nesting sites. But if you don’t think through the pipeline, you can ultimately create unintended downstream effects.”

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  Explore further

  Love vine sucks life from wasps, leaving only mummies

More information: Glen R. Hood et al. Human-mediated disturbance in multitrophic interactions results in outbreak levels of North America’s most venomous caterpillar, Biology Letters (2019). DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2019.0470 

Provided by Rice University

  Citation: Ecologists find bird-deterring nets create haven for stinging venomous caterpillars (2019, September 6) retrieved 8 September 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2019-09-ecologists-bird-deterring-nets-haven-venomous.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

  #Biology

[therebelwrites]

The City, the County and the State each add a tax to the sale of most items. The City will retain its portion of those revenues as usual. New in FY20 will be a 3% tax on the sales of recreational marijuana, and revenues from that tax only will go into the Reparations Fund.  

Projected revenues for 2020 from the tax on sales of recreational marijuana are $250,000. All such tax revenues will go to the Reparations Fund until the City has contributed $10 million to the fund.

Reparations 2019

Several speakers during public comment voiced support for the measure.

Evanston resident and local historian Morris “Dino” Robinson recounted the history of discrimination in Illinois and Evanston, where, he said, “residents had to abide by ‘Black Codes.’” He added that Edwin Jourdain [Evanston’s first black alderman] ran for office for the sole purpose of defeating the Jim Crow laws and attitudes here.

Doug Sharp of Reclaim Evanston said, “We are pleased with and support the City’s intention to begin to address the longstanding theft of wealth and opportunity that has been committed against the African American residents of Evanston.

“We feel that the use of the cannabis tax as a funding source for reparations is a proper and fitting first step in righting the wrongs of past decades, especially when we consider how the arrests for possession of marijuana have been disproportionately used to incarcerate young African Americans.

Fifth Ward Alderman Robin Rue Simmons, along with Eighth Ward Alderman Ann Rainey have been the drivers of this move.

Ald. Simmons reported at the Nov. 25 City Council meeting that she had attended the National League of Cities convention earlier this month and found that many representatives of other municipalities were “in awe” of Evanston’s move toward reparations.

She also said there would be a community town hall meeting – the date as yet unscheduled – co-hosted by the National African American Reparations Commission, at which the “extensive feedback” from reparations meetings held over the summer would be incorporated.

Alderman Peter Braithwaite, 2nd Ward, recalled that his predecessor, Lionel Jean-Baptiste “had wanted to get this thing going. This is a good thing. I want to acknowledge Judge Jean-Baptiste and many other people who attempted to do this. Judge Jean-Baptiste said he’d like to support it now.”

Ald. Braithwaite added, “I think it’s going to be very special for Evanston, and I think it’s going to have one of those ripple effects that create a change in our nation. This is a special moment in the City of Evanston and in the country.”

Ald. Rainey said, “Judge Jean-Baptiste began this in 2002.” She added, “We’ve had offers of counsel as late as Saturday [Nov. 23] from national leaders of the ACLU.”

Ald. Rue Simmons read a statement about the damage done to the black community by institutional racism. “We acknowledge history wrongs in our City are directly responsible for our segregation, wealth divide and overall lesser quality of life. On June 10, we passed a resolution to end structural racism and achieve racial equality.”

She said racist practices have excluded black residents from housing, employment and education, and she noted that the black population of Evanston has “declined to a historical low of 16%.”

Comparing one of the wealthiest census tracts in the City with one of the poorest, she said there is a disparity of about $46,000 in median income and a lowered life expectancy of 13 years between the two.

“It is important that the income from marijuana sales be used toward repairing the community it unfairly policed and damaged,” she said.

Sixth Ward Alderman Thomas Suffredin was the sole “No” vote on creating the Reparations Fund. Although he did not explain his vote at the meeting, he did so in a newsletter to his constituents the next day: “Any revenue that the City of Evanston realizes from recreational cannabis sales will go to the City of Evanston Reparations Fund until funding from that source has reached $10 million. The Reparations Subcommittee is currently working to determine how the Reparations Fund dollars will be utilized in the future.

“I voted no on this, because in a town full of financial needs and obligations, I believe it is bad policy to dedicate tax revenue from a particular source, in unknown annual amounts, to a purpose that has yet to be determined.  

“Individuals and institutions who wish to make contributions to the City of Evanston Reparations Fund may do so. I voted no to funding reparations with recreational cannabis revenue not because I don’t support the City taking responsibility for the role it played in disadvantaging our African American residents, but because it is bad policy.”

Larry Gavin’s article “Developing a Segregated Town, 1900-1960,” which was published in the RoundTable’s November magazine, will soon be posted on this website.

Reparations 2002

The idea of reparations is not a new one to the City Council. The minutes of the May 20, 2002, City Council meeting reflect that during the Call of the Wards, “Alderman Jean-Baptiste reported that on June 3 and June 10, he intended to put before Council a resolution on reparations. He would first go through the Human Services Committee and then come before the Council. He hoped to get information to them in the short term, did not want them to be surprised and that they would approach it with an open mind. He referred to the UN Conference Against Racism, which he had attended in South Africa, where the slave trade and colonialism were declared as crimes against humanity. He noted that the declaration stated as well that it should always have been so. He reported that the declaration further stated that former slave-owning states ought to take up reparations and that it would be on the agenda.”

Ald. Jean-Baptiste brought a resolution, 43-R-02, to the June 10, 2002, City Council meeting, supporting U.S. House of Representatives 40, proposed by Representative John Conyers of Michigan. That resolution called for the establishment of a federal commission to study slavery and its consequences and make recommendations for compensation to black people.

Rep. Conyers first introduced that resolution in the House of Representatives in 1989. On June 19 of this year – Juneteenth – Congress held hearings on reparations for the first time in a decade.

The Evanston City Council unanimously approved Ald. Jean-Baptiste’s resolution, 7-0; the two aldermen who were absent from the meeting had indicated their support for the measure.

RoundTable reporter Mark Berry wrote in the June 19, 2002, edition that Northwestern University Professor Martha Biondi spoke at the Council meeting. She said the failure of civil rights remedies has resulted in greater socio-economic disparities between African Americans and the majority of the population. She said, Mr. Berry wrote, “Eighty percent of African American males will be arrested in their lifetimes, and 13% of African American men have lost the right to vote.

Prof. Biondi attributed the increased push for reconciliation and compensation to the treatment of other groups that sought reparations. “In 1988, Congress apologized and paid $1.2 billion to the relatives of Japanese Americans detained in camps in World War II. The German government and private corporations have paid $65.2 billion to Israel in reparations. In September, 2001, the United Nations World Conference declared slavery a crime against humanity and that reparations be made,” Mr. Berry quoted Prof. Biondi as saying.

Mr. Berry also reported comments from three of the aldermen. He wrote, “Alderman Stephen Engelman, 7th Ward, stated his support of the resolution but hoped that it was not ‘solely about money.’ … I do not believe a social compact can be founded on collective guilt or collective entitlement.’

Alderman Edmund Moran, 6th Ward, reportedly said the “aim of the resolution is to achieve reconciliation and that to some extent it can be accomplished through the means of government, but ultimately it will rest with each of us – individually and collectively – to answer the question, ‘Will we be friends?’”

Fifth Ward Alderman Joseph Kent said, according to Mr. Berry’s article, “The best thing that can happen out of this is education, so we can change some of the old curriculum. Children can’t really achieve if they don’t know who they are.”

During public comment at that June 10, 2002, meeting, several speakers said they supported then- Alderman Jean-Baptiste’s resolution on reparations, which Council approved on the consent agenda that evening.

Below are excerpts of some of the comments from the public, as reflected in the minutes of that meeting.

“Rev. Mark Adams, Hillside Free Methodist Church pastor, spoke on behalf of the Evanston Ecumenical Action Council in support of Resolution 43-R-02; said that support of House Resolution 40 allows the nation to ask questions about reparations. The recommendation is that the U.S. government begin to investigate the issue of reparations by asking the question nationally and getting the facts. He did not know what reparations would look like. ... He suggested they would never know or do the right thing until the nation no longer prohibits them from asking the question. He said if reparations were ever adopted, all would pay. Reparations are not an individual concept, rather national restitution and would be dealt with nationally. He could imagine a nation where brotherhood is a reality. He said it was time to ask the question and engage in the debate that can bring about the American dream for everyone. He hoped Evanston could help encourage the nation to ask questions to start healing.

“Neta Jackson and her husband are authors and recently wrote ‘No Random Act: Behind the Murder of Ricky Byrdsong.’ She stated it was important to stand up and be counted on the issue of reparations. In trying to understand racism, one stumbling block stands out. As a white person she does not have to face the consequences of racism daily, but black people do. She is not always aware of lingering racism because it does not directly affect her choices, but African Americans who are descendants of slaves don’t have that choice. She said the racism that lingers, affects attitudes and practices and, in spite of strides of civil rights laws, is the legacy that affects their lives. She noted that some will say their ancestors were not slave owners so why should they make reparations for something they had nothing to do with. She said the opposite is true and that all living in this country reap the benefit of living in the greatest democracy in the world with benefits provided by people who lived, worked, died and fought for freedom built on the backs of people enslaved for over 246 years.

“Ra Joy, suburban director for U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky and lifelong resident, read a letter from Congresswoman Schakowsky on Resolution 43-R-02 to Alderman Jean-Baptiste: ‘I was pleased to learn about the resolution you introduced at the City of Evanston Human Services Committee on Monday June 3. The proposed City Council resolution would call attention to the injustice of slavery and urge our federal government to investigate its negative effects. It has always been difficult for our country to come to grips with the unspeakable cruelty and massive human suffering resulting from slavery. It is estimated that more than four million Africans and their descendants were enslaved in the United States and its colonies from 1619 to 1865. I believe we must acknowledge this terrible chapter in American history and, where possible, make amends. I am proud to co-sponsor H.R. 40, a bill introduced by Representative John Conyers of Michigan. This bill would establish a commission to examine the institution of slavery and subsequent discrimination against African-Americans, study the impact of these forces on living African-Americans and make recommendations on appropriate remedies to Congress. I believe this study will help stimulate public dialogue of significant importance and assist our nation in coming to terms with this unprecedented tragedy. … I wish you much success in moving this resolution forward.”  

“Ayinde Jean-Baptiste, stated that Resolution 43-R-02 represents all movements for social justice in world history. Universally, it will send a message to state and federal governments and communities throughout the nation, including Evanston. Evanston is an inclusive, diverse and welcoming community committed to equity in America and the world. He said in communities such as Evanston, that real people are concerned about justice in America and making amends for the pitfalls of the past.

“Mary Goering said that while reparations may deal with monetary reparations, she thought equally important was the development of a good understanding of the effects of slavery on American society. … Her ancestors are the people who shaped the nation and that means ancestors who were slave traders and slave owners. She suggested that whole history needs to be dealt with. … She suggested this resolution calls national attention to focus on that to come to a fuller understanding.

“Bennett Johnson, president, Evanston branch NAACP, stated national NAACP has a policy supporting reparations. … He stated that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Harold Washington, Elijah Mohammed and Mohammed Ali among others supported reparations in principle. He did not think it was a matter of guilt. He stated there is a social dysfunction in this nation – a cancer on the body politic. Reparations will help heal that wound, help everybody because this is one people and one country. If there is a problem in one section it needs to be taken care of. “

***************

[zrw]

Letter 1.0.1

><

I'm writing this to you on Thanksgiving Day, it felt fitting despite us not celebrating it, so instead I will be wishing you a merry Christmas. A tad bit older photo added for depth, immersion and personalization while reading. None of it is scripted in any way, the idea is to make me emotional & it will all be written on the go. Make sure you read it all, and you will never hear from me again. Please do respect my terms also and do not under any circumstances share this letter or it's contents with anybody. Remember, only you will truly understand the context and true meaning of this letter. Quite likely it will change your whole perspective on me, but it won't matter anymore. If you think you're the bigger victim and believe you've had it worse than me & that you've suffered more and dealt with more... well, a bit of a free of charge reality check for you... you're dead wrong. I'm the one who is being tormented maniacally and brutally every other night, to the point where I simply don't know what's real and what's not. Scared of living life, kind of. It's clear to all I made a mistake last year. No weasely lies and fabrications in this letter, this is the Me you've longed to finally see. Anxiety through the roof, among other things/issues. I'm deeply sorry, Annie. Bless you & bless me, more importantly. Please tell me you forgive me. Do not dare to share any of the contents of this said letter with anybody, be a grown-up and act like one for once, you live all alone, now try and impress me, it's far too personal, a glimpse of me, and meant for you alone. Only you will understand the context of this letter. You're not exactly the golden carrot of the yield, but this one should be fairly easy to follow - Keep it to yourself, and stay quiet about this, I'm begging you. You're not legally obligated to do anything, this is your life and you make the rules, you're a good and kind gal, you're by no means a bloodthirsty vampire like some of them, and as I made very clear it wouldn't be fruitful & would shortly after turn into a proper clown fiesta, and possibly a meaningless waste of government resources. You wouldn't gain anything at all from this. I was going to say let me know if you need anything, and I'll gladly donate a fair sum to your PayPal, and it kind of made me realize that is something that would be morally and legally wrong of me to do, it wouldn't feel like a donation, it would almost feel like I'm trying to buy you and win you over, after causing this much pain to your heart, which I deeply regret. (I'll pay for your nsfw future cosplays maybe? Jkjk, leave that avenue to the twonks who'd actually find pleasure in doing that.) I don't donate much anyways online, if I'd donate it'd have to be an actual animal charity, I feel like when people think of charity they instantly think of like some Cancer Foundation or elderly/orphan fund, not that those are not fair causes, it's just that some dying/sick animals really need our support too, and they're just as worthy. After this i'm doing my own thing & staying away from you, promise. I'm a great citizen, mind my own business and never cause trouble. I just needed for my own sake to send something meaningful and pure your way. Everything that you will see here comes from the heart & I will do my best to be as honest as humanly possible. Whenever I begin working on these long 50,000 word essays I always tend to fear that I forget something crucial or run out of time, so let's hope it doesn't happen this time around. The writer usually spends 10 times the time and effort the reader does, so please do sit down, get comfy, and please read all of this letter. This is going on your SC and Tumblr & will be deleted once the timer on my stream deck reaches zero, you have a tendency to take photos and eventually show them to outsiders, this will ensure it's a one-off, and for your eyes only. It is mainly to apologize to you, among other things. To make you realize that in just 3 years time I'll be completely "reformed", as they say. If you must know "breaking the law" to say sorry could be considered as... noble, in most countries at least. Without a doubt in my mind they'd love for us to bury the hatchet and shake hands, but after this "letter" to you I am actually done with you altogether, and you'll not be hearing from me ever again... unless fate says otherwise. Do remember that this and me apologizing to you for being an awful male, this was mostly done so I can live, function and mentally function like a normal human being again, I will get to that later on in the letter, all you should know now is that it was more of a ME thing, and less of a YOU thing, if that makes sense. Needless to say I have 8 VPNs total with unlimited data running on all of my systems including 2 iPads, laptops, and even phones, to ensure that my IP is impossible to find and non-existent. Just a quick pitch, you could've used common sense to figure that one out yourself. Naturally somebody as wealthy as me would be untouchable, at least in the virtual world, where everything is simple and made easy. I am quite clever, yes, yes I am indeed. But I would not use it for evil deeds, deep inside I am a shockingly kind and nice guy. Oh, you were looking for a bad boy? We can talk, my dear, you know full well that I'd be/become anything for you. No candlelit dinners so I can compliment your cheekbones? You have kept your eyes open, and tonight your knowledge of me is getting greater and greater. You could write a book about us. It almost feels like deja-vu, I've been here studying and doing research on you, now I'm giving you the sheer opportunity to do the same. And 4 years after first talking to you online (in 2014), I, I touched your cat's black fluffy tail once, and catbug, she ran right away, it almost looked like she did a tiny leap forward before running. Yes, it was her 100%. I'm a shining star, just waiting to unlock my full potential, it will happen when the right time comes, you can never rush such things. My financial status would only indicate I have great things waiting for me and a brimming bright future ahead of me, should I play all my cards right, I do adore graveyards, but there is no reason at all why I should perish in the next 5-15 years. I can only hope that you're smart enough to not mention any of this to your mom, I realize you two are close, but being a grown-up means you know what to mention to somebody and what is better left unsaid. Wiser to let this one go and keep it to yourself, no need to waste government resources, and do understand that being fortunate and getting me potentially taken to a mental asylum for 3 weeks would not benefit you in the slightest, I've made it very clear that I don't associate myself with social outcasts, and we of course are done for good after this bit, so let's make it count. Being respectful is calling you a lady even though I full well know it's a girl in sheep's clothing I've been dealing with, hard to tame, always needs to have it her way, borderline blunt at times.. how come Annie the girl does not have a feminine soul, a bit odd, perhaps I do rest my case. You certainly are special, as your mom would say, she means you're not like the other girls. You're way different & not necessarily in a good way. Wanted you & Nora for the experience... Do find you both quite boring, even on the dating spectrum, she's the snappy one, you're the calm one. Will surely do better in the future. As far as I go... I'm your little ghost. I'm a spirit, roughly 500 years ago people like me were considered as and called witches, simply since we were ahead of our time. As you know there are good and bad spirits, I would stand somewhere in the middle as a classic inbetweener I've always been, casually swaying towards either or, but ultimately staying put in the middle. Some days I hate you, other days I love you... Yet here I am ending this "letter" to you with the words "I Love You", and perhaps "Muah" on top of that should I feel classy enough, as always, on the cheek, one final time. Do remember that I will always remain near you & overseer your doings, we don't need to interact, in fact it would be silly to think we can't co-exist in eachother's hearts. When you get the strange feeling that you can't find the explanation for, perhaps it's just me, and nothing more. It's been a sheer clown fiesta witnessing the names and things you've called me thus far. What's new, right? At the very least you don't take me for a joke anymore, which is wise of you, since I'm not. The casual 21st century term "stalker" simply insults me. Even somebody with as little intellect as you would know that stalkers are for years, spirits are for lifetime. I'm nothing less than a S-P-I-R-I-T, one with high capability & intellectual intelligence. I've never commented on your idiocy or your weird friends (90% of them are weird), I'm awfully passive and neutral. I've never insulted/talked-down-on the soyboys, e-slags, pre-mature losers, weebs, memers, or entitled punks you interact with every now and then. No point including the 16-21 year old boys and girls in that category, as I understand how these underage and barely of age children follow you, and you see yourself as their "mama" and friend, not strange in the slightest, not the harvest of living inside of a box for the majority of your life, when fantasy is taking over, sis. Those kids are the only community you have left... surely it would be cruel to let them off the hook, you can't let them go, some of them still see you as a role model! ~ I suppose you could say I'm on a whole different level, and people like me tend to not notice people who are "less". But good luck to them, perhaps some day they too will get themselves out of their holes and start moving towards things that actually matter. Speaking of which... God bless Great Britain if you actually end up scoring an actual decently paying job after all your studies. I would donate a fair few braincells to you... If I didn't have such a bright future ahead of me. In a universe where employers and companies actually did background checks on people before hiring, a silly bean like you would never score anything worthwhile. Personal assistant for a single individual would probably be your peak. Back to me... I am a millionaire, as you expected, seeing as how doors just open and close for me and my kind. I never worked even a day for what I have, but the people before me certainly did. Even more wealthy now in fact, as of last year, now that my professor and casual alcoholic of a grandpa is finally under ground, he was respected by many, but his lifestyle choices were hilariously fractured. See? We (are) similar, kind of. Ah, how I hate drinking and alcohol, I literally drink only twice a year and always feel guilty after, I hate people that consume alcohol in the spirit of the party at clubs or live concerts, and those who tend to constantly drown their sorrow and unhappiness into the bottle. I adore a good coffee and tea though. Living a promising life of luxury, hence the 3 years I will take to improve myself, improve my body to the maximum for the sex appeal and quality of life, get your name 'Annie' with a mini thorny rose underneath tattoo'd on my left arm, so I can take you to places and talk to you, enjoy your company & so I would never forget you (not that there is a chance in hell I'd actually ever do, of course, hahaha.), dye my hair pale/pastel color, purple in 2020, letting it heavily fade to soft pink, After that focus on the pastel spectrum of colors, re-do my driver's license, own a 40k car, but have not driven anything in 3-4 years, begin buying land and potentially own more land, farmhouses, households, countryside villas and mansions than some of the more wealthier businessmen in my area; as you can tell "owning" things & writing are two big passions of mine, the latter for expressing myself and influencing others, and so is real estate, country and marketing to an extent, legally change my first name to something sleek such as Jed, Jed Nei... or you know whatever else that feels unique and not-so-common; pick a powerful name that people will remember (and fear, jkjk), basically get my life on the line/on the rails and get a woman who will massage my strong pectorals with oil every Sunday morning only to ensure I will be more than ready to take on the next week. I adore romance, but still feel that death is the most romantic thing out there. Now of course she could cook for me just fine, but i'd actually really want to taste something you've cooked, as long as you do the cooking with just an apron on and absolutely nothing underneath. Oh Annie, unlocking your true potential would be a really easy task for me. You like cherry blossoms, I on the other hand like 400 year old oak trees. However our worlds could of collided & you could of been my sweetheart under the bright sun and moon. Currently own 2 countryside 2 floor homes and plenty of actual land around them, looking to expand in the future of course. Imagine leaving your silly big city life behind. Imagine laying there (on a hill) naked on the grass in the middle of the day, or relaxing in the bikini, depending how confident you are with your own body, and breast size, I also would not be totally satisfied if mine looked so "below average", but god does your bottom/bum make up for it. Loads of flowers that I can gather and give you, or put in your hair, plenty of forests nearby perfect for mushroom picking, hiking or picnics, loads of plants, fruit bushes, ponds, fruit trees, acorn trees ideal for climbing, farmland, greenhouse, ponds big enough for swimming, cyan blue skies large and wide enough for any balloon or kite you may want to play around with. Or if that’s not entirely your cup of tea then we can plan our big vacation to the Canary Islands in Spain, whatever you like, as long as you stay with me forever. You're a sweet creature and I'm certain we could of started something unique & exciting together, but that's all gone now, i'm still certain that I could of loved you right and shown you extreme passion, to go to bed with you and make you feel happy, loved & excited for the next day, our next day together in paradise. This is not a fantasy tale/dream, this could of potentially been our reality, assuming I would accomplish all my goals, and you willing to leave your current life for me. But why dwell on what could of been, I will never feed you fresh strawberries straight from the greenhouse, I will never "own" you, you will never be my girl, my companion, my life's purpose. I see now why I felt so heavily against friendship with you... being your friend considering the things I had planned for us, that would only lead to romance and love, that friendship would be over so quick you could not even call it one. Oh, and, I can be very sensual and passionate at times. And possibly start a IRL vlogging channel on Youtube in 3 years time, just to influence & motivate others and to portray my lifelong journey to greatness with the dozen obstacles I had to face and overcome along the way, making it all even more bittersweet, especially the main final goal, which if you can recall is to become the biggest standalone landowner/businessman in my area. Maybe you'll randomly stumble across the channel one day & wonder what could of been & what you missed out on, not only that but you'd also visually see the beautiful landscape and things I talked about earlier. Oh and I'll definitely purchase at least one or two more expensive cars, driving around with just one specific car all the time, obviously being somebody who clearly is able to afford another one, it feels kind of lame. P.S I've never ever actually been obsessed with you. You were just a girl I liked because of a few key factors/reasons. Plus we seemingly have dozens of things in common.And we have reached the part where I'll try and explain why writing this was needed for me, and my mentality; Are you a demon baby/girl? If not keep reading and don't even think about showing this letter to anybody else. If you are however... Come with me & with the assistance of our genitals let's try and produce a demon child. A bit NSFW, but we're 25 and nobody else is going to see this (Right? Good gal.), so I'd so-so-so take you raw on the floor in every single position imaginable, your front hole would naturally be so loose afterwards that no guy would want to or feel comfortable with doing it with you anymore. White stuff would go in both 'A' and 'V' holes several times to ensure pregnancy is triggered. Jeez, having and making a baby with you would be so unbelievably sexy. Anyways, back on the topic we go, so me and my issues I've been dealing it... I mentioned it at the start & will do it again... If you think you've been affected by this or you've had it worse/suffered more than me... Well think again. Ever since earlier this year I've had horrible anxiety, hearing unnatural beings and things talk to me and gradually hearing their voices around me. I don't think I'm losing my mind or going crazy, but this does all feel very real to me. Always closing my door at night, not even trying to, it just comes naturally to me to do it, much like a habit. I fell in a deep pit, and I'm so sorry to you, I really do apologize, my dear. My darling Annie. now my situation is being abused and i'm being taken advantage of by these demons/ghosts/shades, I'm now shaking for no reason, it's not even cold in here, it's awful. Psst, I'm not a monster. Imagine being too messed up mentally to go to the grocery store/supermarket alone & having to call your mom and tell her to bring you some food and supplies - telling her that the reason for it is that you have a massive headache right now & that you're unable to get out of bed. Yikes, that does sound bad. And to make it even worse, it has happened more than once. I feel like I need a 12-hour nap after sending this letter your way, feel a bit odd all of sudden, please read it all, it's a glimpse of me and my story and life. I can only hope that I will feel better and be able to go back to living my life like a normal human being now that I threw everything out there and apologized to you. I will leave you be now. It's a peek into my life essentially. I really do adore your tight little pale pink p*ssy, and Nora’s all the same, you gals are & stay important to me. Please do respect my terms and do not under any circumstances share this letter or it's contents with anybody. All the best to you and your family. I Love You. Muah. 💞

[clexa--warrior]

Five years ago this week was the first time most people in America had ever heard of an incel. For me, it was the first time I spent a week of my life explaining to those people what an incel was.

As soon as the news of Elliot Rodger's killing spree in Isla Vista broke, as soon as they released his videos, I knew. At the time, I was working at Death & Taxes, and I announced in our work chatroom, "I know exactly what this is. He posts on PUAHate. I'd bet my life on it."

Back then, PUAHate was the primary forum for men who had spent a lot of time and money investing in the pick-up-artist craze of the late aughts, with not particularly great results. Furious that the technique of wearing giant velvet hats and walking up to random women in bars and insulting them had not worked out as well as they had hoped, these men commiserated online.

But that wasn't all. As the pick-up artist trend subsided, the forum evolved from complaining about pick-up gurus and became more about the horrible evil and shallowness of the women they had failed to woo with these techniques. They adopted the term incel—short for "involuntarily celibate"—from less overtly misogynistic parts of the internet and started referring to themselves as such. After George Sodini—a man who had also tried and failed to become a pick-up artist and was furious at women for his lack of romantic success—shot and killed 4 people at an L.A. Fitness in Collier Township, Pennsylvania, he became a PUAHate hero.

As it turns out, Rodger did post on PUAHate, and in his manifesto he even credited the forum with giving him a community of men who confirmed "many of the theories [he] had about how wicked and degenerate women really are."

It sounds naive to say now, but as terrifying as PUAHate was to read, as much as you'd look at it and go "Oh shit, one of these nuts is going to kill someone someday," it just didn't seem quite as serious of a possibility as it does now. It was more of an "Oh god, have you seen this weird shit on the internet?" thing.

There was a lot of that in those days, actually. Shock sites were a thing. There was Goat.se, "Two Girls One Cup" (still have not seen it, thank you very much), the kind of sites you'd send people to in order to freak them out and see their reaction. Then there were message boards in which participants were constantly upping the ante to see who could say the most offensive thing, post the most abhorrent image, shock people already inured to the shocking. This is how things operated in PUAHate, but also how people saw PUAHate. It was shocking, but it wasn't dangerous. Not yet.

A few months after the Isla Vista attacks, Gamergate happened. Women who wrote about video games had to go into hiding and feared for their lives because these asshats were scared they were going to steal "video games" from them. Soon, misogynistic 4Chan trolls gained support from more mainstream misogynistic sites like Breitbart, an alliance that would later help propel Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States.

I think it's clear that Trump would not have happened without Gamergate, but I've also wondered a lot over the years about whether or not Gamergate would have even happened to the degree that it did if it were not for Elliot Rodger, and I have been leaning for a while now into camp "I don't think it would have." I think that as repulsive as Rodger's actions and words were to normal people, a whole lot of men out there heard them and thought "that's fucked up ... but he's not wrong." I think that there are men who saw what he had to say and then went and joined those groups themselves. I think that while they may not have all gone on murder sprees, they did find other ways to lash out at women.

Not everything that happened since then is bad. When I look back at things I wrote back then in light of Isla Vista, I am genuinely impressed with the way the Left has aggressively fought against the misogyny and male entitlement that was coming from inside the house. We don't dole out passes or progressive street cred to "lefty" men who are shitty to women, we don't assume that men who are not the traditional, macho bro are not a threat. Good for us, damn the manarchists.

PUAHate disappeared after the murders, overwhelmed by bad publicity. Soon it became Sluthate. Now it's Redpilltalk, though it's much less popular these days than r/braincels, incels.co, 4chan's R9K board, and other sites where men rage against being denied by the women they believe they are entitled to. They make references to St. Elliot, talk about "going ER," gush over other men who have gone on murder sprees, and today they plan to go to Starbucks, order vanilla lattes -- the drink he threw at happy young people he saw out and about while working himself up to their murder -- and give their name as Elliot in his honor.

These days, rather than men who had been fed a diet of Girls Gone Wild, Tucker Max, Suicide Girls, professional pick-up artists and celebrity sex tapes, who had expected life to be a hedonistic sex buffet, many of the incels on these boards were raised in the heyday of sexual purity. They were raised to expect a virgin bride. They were raised to think of women who had sex before marriage as buckets of their classmate's spit.

Since that day five years ago, there have been at least six other "incel murders" in the United States and Canada. At least 47 people, including Rodger's victims, have lost their lives, more have been injured. Online radicalization is an increasingly serious problem and the way it happens is really not so different from the way it happened with PUAHate. People who feel they've been denied something they were supposed to be entitled to often want a target for the rage they feel, a group they can dehumanize.

The one thing I have learned in my years covering these groups is that they ultimately force themselves into a self-fulfilling prophecy. They create environments where they can be as repulsive as they like, where there are no consequences and only rewards for being horrible and offensive, and then they go and try to take that act on the road, only to find that other people do not feel this is an acceptable way of behaving. The things they felt entitled to become even further out of their reach, because they no longer know how to socialize normally. They get rejected even more, and they get angrier than before. They get more dangerous than before.

Five years ago I wrote:

Elliot Rodger was the product of a culture that teaches male entitlement. Men are entitled to women, to sex, to jobs, to money–and if they don't get them, then women are to blame. He felt entitled to all these things and was livid over not getting them. You don't see women committing crimes like this because we are not taught to feel entitled to these things. The only way to stop more people like Elliot Rodger–or George Sodini who murdered women in an L.A. Fitness center for the same reason–is to stop teaching men to feel entitled. Start with not telling them "boys will be boys." Start by telling them there's no such thing as "friendzoning" and that women are allowed to not be sexually attracted to them. Start by telling them to listen when we say that we don't want their "compliments" on the street, and that we don't have to be flattered by them. Start by telling them they have no right to demand that we "smile" at them. It'll work out better for all of us.

We still teach men that they are entitled to certain things. We still teach men that women are evil and will use their sexuality as a weapon. We are still making men dangerous. And we still don't really know what the hell to do about it.

[moonraccoon-exe]

(1) Hello Coonie! *hugs you real tight* Thank you so much for being so understanding and not expecting asks when I‘m not feeling like it. You are the most amazing being. How is/was your weekend? Mine was a bit exhausting because my mom made go shopping for a wedding. It was necessary because I had nothing to wear on that wedding but I don’t like shopping. All that changing in tiny hot changing rooms. Not a fan.

PERIDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*TACKLE-HUGS YOU AND STAYS HUGGED TO YOUR HEAD*

PERIDOT MY SWEET MUFFIN, CUTIE PIE DARLING YOU PRECIOUS WONDERFUL SUPERB LITTLE STAR!!!!!!!! HEWWOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( ˙꒳​˙ )❤

ZOMG PERIDOT IT U!!!! I’M SO SO SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY TO BE REPLYING TO YOU FINALLY AND TO HEAR FROM YOU AFTER SO LONG, I mean so long after the previous one from the previous one (wat) AKSJDSLAKGDJAKLGJALKG YOU GET MY POINT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, SWEETIE CUPCAKE, IT FEELS LIKE SUCH A LONG TIME SINCE I LAST HEARD ABOUT YOU!!!!!! I’M A MESS OF HYPE AND JOY READING YOU AGAIN AND GETTING TO REPLY TO YOU!!!!!! 

*sQUEEZES YOU* MY PRECIOUS PERIDOT!!! ( ´ ▽ ` )

It okay, Peridot! You and my other friends here have never expected me to put up any content, reblogs, or asks or anything when I’m not feeling like it or when I’m exhausted, so why should I do otherwise? Nono. Real life goes first, even if it’s something “simple” like needing a rest. It’s not a favor you have to say thanks for, it’s what should be done. We’re not entitled (?) to be there for others 24/7, that’s not what friendship is about. So you take all the time you need between asks, dear Peridot. I’ll be here :3

My weekend was okay, I think! Saturday was a bit tired because we were out most of the day, and I feared it’d be horrible because we had to go see some relatives that we don’t get along with very well. And it’s not that they’re bad people, no, they care and we care, and they have good intentions, they just sometimes make some comments and have some behaviors that aren’t really that good. Uncle and one of my cousins, mostly, tend to make and have always made mean comments because they think themselves superior in a lot of senses (classism is abundant in them aaaahhhhh), and a lot of my other relatives have sworn to never again go to their house for their comments XD 

But my aunt and little cousin are okay. My other cousin is more or less okay, too. Another problem was that there’d be my extremist-fanatic catholic aunt there so that’s not very enjoyable, but it was fine in the end. My cousins have a Switch, so I got to play the Smash Ultimate and we have a blast!! It started because my little cousin was playing alone (and we had gone to celebrate HIS birthday lmao) so I joined him, later on my two other cousins, and their friends, so I was mostly with strangers, but they weren’t mean and we had a good time. I was just uncomfortable when they brought up an anti-feminist conversation and some other bad comments, and I was there with my controller nervously sweating because I think I was expected to at least react positively lmao

But it was okay! Smash is one of my ultimate (hah!) favorites and I’m constantly sad that I can’t play the Wii U or the Switch ones, so it was a very good and refreshing evening of gaming :3 

Thank you for asking, dear Peridot

Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh, I’m sorry you had to go shopping!! Sometimes, when it’s for particular liking, it can be fun, but going because you HAVE to, nhgnnfghf. No wonder it was a bit exhausting. Changing and trying and changing and trying more things on, for something that you’ll rarely wear more than once, it can be sort of a mess, indeed!! 

But it’s over and that’s what matters! Plus, I bet you picked something that you’re happy with, and that you look absolutely R A D I A N T IN IT YOU BEAUTIFUL FIRE WITCH, 10/10, DAMN ON POINT, FLAMING GORGEOUS!!! (╯✧▽✧)╯

GASPS

PERIDOT

IT WAS YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IT WAS YOUR BIRTHDAY AND YOUR BROTHER’S AKSDJKLFGDJDAKLFJASLKFDJGAG KLAJG DALKGJ ALKGADJLKGAJG LKAJGALKGJ OMG PERIDOT IT WAS YOUR BIRTHDAY SWEETIE BBY IT WAS YOUR BIRTHDAY AKSLJDKGJDA IT WAS YOUR BIRTHDAY IT WAS YOUT  BIRTH DAY YAD KLGJH KLAJDLFDJF HGLKDFSGJ LFH LTJLFKEJGTR KSJDKS SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

*BURSTS INTO FLAMES AND EXPLODES INTO A THOUSAND SNOWFLAKES ALL AT ONCE*

*AGGRESSIVELY THROWS ALL THE CONFETTI AND SPARKLES AT YOU*

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPY BIIIIIIIIIIRTHDAAAAAAAAAAAAY TOOOO YOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUU

HAPPEH BIRRRRRRRRRRTHDAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY TOOOOOOO YOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUU ヽ(>∀

*AGGRESSIVELY THROWS A MILLION CAKES AT YOU*

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPEEEEEEEEEEH BIRTHDAAAAAAAAAAAAY DEAR PEEEEEEEERIDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT o(≧▽≦)o 

*AGGRESSIVELY DROPS A BILLION GIFTS ON YOU*

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH BIRTHDAAAAAAAAAAAAY TO YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ☆*:.｡.o(≧▽≦)o.｡.:*☆

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ*:･.｡.:*☆.｡.:*☆.｡.:*☆.｡.:*☆.｡.:*☆.｡.:*☆.｡.:*☆.｡.:*☆ .｡.:*☆.｡.:*☆.｡.:*☆.｡.:*☆.｡.:*☆.｡.:*☆.｡.:*☆.｡.:*☆.｡.:*☆.｡.:*☆.｡.:*☆.｡.:*☆.｡.:*☆.｡.:*☆.｡.:*.｡.:*☆ 

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

PERIDOT

I HAD NO IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YOU SWEETIE COOKIE MADE OF SWEETNESS AND EVERYTHING THAT’S RADIANT AND PURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ

*SQUEEZES SO TIGHTLY I SQUEAK*

Dear Peridot!!!!!!!!!! Happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh, you gave another lap around the sun, and blessed our existence with one more year of your presence here. One more year of all that kindness, warmth, beautiful creativity, immense sweetness, selflessness and goodwill. What a blessing!! ( ´ ▽ ` )

I’m sorry that you guys were busy on the exact day, but the good part is that you got to celebrate, even if a few days later!!! And with your whole family, aaaahh, YOU MUST HAVE HAD A LOT OF FUN!! ヽ(>∀

GASPS

WHAT A TRADITION YOUR BROTHER AND YOU HAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, I AM SO JEALOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! o(≧▽≦)o

Seriously, Peridot, that’s one hella AMAZING tradition you two have, perhaps the goddamn BEST. Avatar is THE MOST EPIC, BESTEST SHOW EVER, I COULD WATCH IT ENDLESS TIMES AND NEVER BE TIRED OF IT. I suck at watching TV even though I love it, I’m lucky if I watch two, three chapters of something the same day, but Avatar? The only show so far that can hook me there for an entire day since morning to night binge watching as much as I can!! AND YOU TWO HAVE THE TRADITION TO START RE-WATCHING YOUR BIRTHDAY?!!?!??! SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK THAT IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’ve got no one in real life to properly nerd out about Avatar, and not only you do, but it’s also your twin!!!!!!! WHAT A BLESSING YOU HAVE, DEAR PERIDOT OMG I WISH I HAD A TWIN BRO TOO AS AWESOME AS YOURS AND WITH A SIBLINGHOOD AS BEAUTIFUL AND NICE AND PURE LIKE YOURS AKLSJDKLDGJAKLGJA OMG PERIDOT PLEASE TREASURE HIM FOREVER

Have LOTS of fun with this new go at Avatar!!! Enjoy all the epic battles, the most exquisite worldbuilding and lore, all the incredible characters, the BEST IMPOSSIBLE-TO-TOP CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT OF ONE FIRE PRINCE, all the dialogues as badass as “I love him more than I fear YOU!” (CHILLSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and “I was never angry at you, I was sad because I thought you’d lost your way” (SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH) and all the incredible beautiful animation and the cabagges and HOYFUCKNGSHIT HOW IS AVATAR REAL, THIS IS OTHERWORLDY BEST GODDAMN SHOW EVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER

*eXPLODES INTO A MLLION SNOWFLAKES, MOONRACCOON.EXE HAS CRASHED CANNOT REBOOT PLEASE FEED IT SOME AVATAR IT’S MORE NECESSARY THAN OXYGEN*

GASPS

And next year it’s Lord of the Rings marathon!?!?!? PERIDOT YOU AND YOUR BROTHER ARE LIVING LIFE AND BIRTHDAYS DAMN RIGHT :D

I haven’t watched them, BLASPHEMY I KNOW but it’s because I’m waiting to grab the books too. I may as well give in to just watch them anyway before the books lmao hahaha. So I can’t freak out properly about it with you, BUT I FREAK OUT ABOUT IT ANYWAY BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH I HAVEN’T GOTTEN INTO LOTR, IT’S ALREADY ONE OF MY FAVORITES

I mean it’s basically the bible of fantasty!! AND YOU KNOW FANTASY IS MY JAM!!! All this about magical creatures, other humanoid races, medieval-like settings, DRAGONS, swords, ADVENTURE!!!!!!!!!!! MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I honestly admire mister Tolkien SO MUCH despite not having yet gotten properly into the story, because I know the size of the importance of his work. It’s, again, like the bible of fantasy writing!!! BOY, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL THING AKSJDKADHJAKLGJADGKAJ

And I knw how much you love fantasy too, and you had already told me that LOTR is your fave. So of course you’ll have a blast of a time with your brother next year!! Meanwhile, AVATAR IT IS!!! Zomg Peridot HAVE LOTSA FUN!! >w

GASPS

YOU GOT THE NICHOLAS FLAMEL BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ASKLDJKADLGJ AKLFSJALKGJALKGAJDG KDLGJAKLGJDAGLKAJGKGJDA GKLJ SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

OHMY GOD ASJDGKLJGK OH MY GOD YES I HOPE YOU LIKE IT, ARE YOU LIKING IT? AKLLSJDFKLGJDAKGLJA AIN’T THE COVER PRECIOUS? I CHECKED ONLINE AND THE GERMAN COVER IS BASICALLY THE SAME JUST MORE COLORFUL WHAT DO YOU THINK OF NICK? AND JOSH AND SOPHIE? WHO HAVE YOU MET SO FAR? FUCK, GODDAMN, OMG NERD MODE ACTIVATE

*SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK*

PERIDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU GOT THE FIRST OF THE FLAMEL BOOKS!!! HOLYMOOGLESABOVE I’M FREAKING OUT IT’S BEEN SO LONG SINCE I READ IT BUT I REMEMBER LOVING IT IT’S SO FULL OF MYTHOLOGY OF EVERYWHERE ALKJSDKLAJGD YOU’RE GOING TO FREAK OUT WITH EVERY NEW CHARACTER ALONG THE SERIES AKSJDSDKJLFJAJGD

Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I’m going to stop my nerding here because I’ll just start spoiling you and we don’t want that!!! Where are you in the story so far? Have you started? BOY AM I EXCITED*VIBRATES*

Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Peridot, thank you so so so much for taking up on one of my recommendations!! I hope that you like it. It’s modern setting and not the medieval-fantasy we’re so into, but it’s still GORGEOUS and full of magic. I hope you like it and, if that’s the case, can’t wait to nerd out with you about characters and stuff that happens!! KAJSFKGJAKDLGJDKLGJSLDKGJ OMG PERIDOT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING MY RECOMMENDATION I FEEL SO FLATTERED!!!!!!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, sweet precious wonderful Peridot, you’ve no idea how refreshing it’s been to talk with you again. It feels so good!! I’ve missed you dearly, my friend. I’m happy to get to be answering to you again.

Oh, Peridot, by the way, I’m...afraid to say this, but among the asks I lost, I lost some of yours :( I have two in my drafts because I was already answering them, they must be the oldest. But I lost the one where you talked with me about one time when you were away for a couple weeks, partly because of your job tutoring kids in maths and german, and one where you started calling me by “tiny sparkly gem” (LKASJDKLSAJGDAKLGJA KLFAJKLFGDAJGKLAJGADLK GJAD LKGAJ I MELT) and spoke about how you believe in the magic of words, and I think the rest was about how the medieval market was back in december....I kept the one where you talked to me about getting to visit your cousin and we freaked out about our dogs, too, but it’s also a very old ask by now...

I’m very embarrassed, blushing out of embarrassment indeed, but this isn’t about me and apologizing, it’s you and the asks I lost...first to say I’m very sorry. I tend to screenshot the multiple parts and keep them as images, to erase the multiparts from my inbox and keep only part 1, so losing my computer was losing all the multiparts and keeping just part 1 of your asks...I don’t have a way to recover it....but still, I wanted to ask if you want me to reply anyway? To the ones I lost. It’s sorta strange but you could write to me again. It doesn’t make much sense because they were personal asks rather than prompts hahaha, so it’d be like talking to me as if it was november or something, but I could do it if you want. If it’s okay to not answer to them, that’s okay too, though it does embarrass me so deeply...

And should I still reply to that old one about our dogs and your cousin and everything? It’s...so old and I feel very embarrassed for that too (gods I’m a mess hahahahah!) but if you want me to, I can finish the answer no problem. Just tell me what you prefer. Asks are gifts to me, I’m responsible for them and I’m alright with either way, it’s YOU who put the trust to share things with me, so it’s you who has to choose what you’re happier with. Please, do let me know, and agian, I’m so very sorry for losing the asks...more ethan sad, now I’m just plain embarrassed akjsdlkafjglkdj ksdja dkgljlsfjalgj

Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, but enough of my rant, dear Peridot!!!!

Anyways, buddy

Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to write to me. Thank you so, so, so much for letting me know what’s been going on, and how you’ve been, It felt so refreshing and so good, you’ve no idea how happy it makes me to hear from you, buddy. Thank you for updating me and for asking how I’ve been. Thank you for taking the time to write to me, and for being as kind as always. :3 

Dear Peridot, I hope you had a FANTASTIC birthday celebration, and that you’ve been alright, buddy!!!! Thank you again for writing to me and for reading me!

Sending lots of raccoonie hugs your way! I HOPE YOU’RE HAVING A FANTASTIC DAY!! (ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ

[gifsbysimplysonia]

I’m so tired. Honestly. This is why I can’t go to forums or any place people congregate to discuss things I like...the way other people act like they are entitled to comment on anything/everything DETRACTS from my enjoyment of what I love. And I’d been doing SO WELL! I’d stayed away from places where the things people said upset me. 

BUT ... things happened, as they tend to do, so I had to go check out what prompted the re-releasing of some new music by a band I’ve dedicated over a decade of my life to. And in going to search out what prompted the discovery of a bad mix of a song being released, I stumbled onto a thread where a well known malcontent was - for the 1 millionth time - dictating why his “favorite band” are no longer any good in his eyes and what steps he feels they need to take to “make A7X great again.” 

I’ve dealt with this person on a personal level, I’ve witnessed his behavior TIME AND TIME AGAIN over the last 3 years, as well as him defend his behavior with saying “being a real fan means you can be critical and not love everything.” Please know, I 100% AGREE with this sentiment; being a fan does not mean being a blind consumer and issuing approval over every move and decision and release. HOWEVER ...

And in this particular case ... despite his feelings that he was / is providing some kind of constructive criticism, what he actually did was once again spew his OPINION. It’s an opinion of when HE felt that A7X was at “their best,” and that OPINION includes statements which I feel are body shaming. While he did not directly insult M Shadows current physical appearance, he DID state that Shadows was “at his best when he was at his buffest.” The clear implication in that OPINION is “M Shadows sucks now, partly because he is not buff.” 

I saw red when I read that. And besides rubbing my eyes and shaking my head, I sighed heavily and just felt TIRED. So much of what I see these days involves shaming people for who they are in some way, shape or form. And my soul is T-I-R-E-D. And while I KNOW, logically, it happens to everyone ... it was still a big surprise to me to see a dude do this to another dude. And do it so nonchalantly, KNOWING that the recipient of the criticism ACTIVELY READS EVERYTHING posted on the forum.

Maybe nobody takes him seriously. Maybe the people who are important just treat everything coming from the Twitter fingers as hot air. Maybe I care WAY TOO MUCH about something that isn’t important to anyone else. Maybe this isn’t a big deal. 

But, y’know what? Double standards EXHAUST me, as does behavior from people who seem to truly believe they are speaking to the well being of people they don’t know. And, I mean, what do you do when people are that steadfast in what they are saying? Do you just let it be because they THINK they are being a “true fan,” or do you stop and say, “Hey, I GET that you think this is ok but if you look at what you’re ACTUALLY saying...” I’m not the police, and I know that fans policing other fans turns into gatekeeping and then it can get really dodgy and ugly, and I’m not here for any of that. I’m content to sit in my corner, with my besties only, and for us to talk amongst ourselves because for as long as I’ve TRIED to belong to a bigger community, I only ever find myself an outcast because when I speak up, people don’t like what I’m saying so LESSON LEARNED. 

In THIS case, though? Ultimately, I feel the behavior needs to be called out and attention should be put on it, if for no other reason than to recognize it for what it is, at least in part, and that it happens .... and that IT IS NOT OK. Even if someone thinks they are speaking for others or to others about what is best for another person/group of people (especially when they DO NOT KNOW that person/said people)...it’s not ok to (body) shame anyone for their choices. 

I can appreciate the passion that is behind wanting to be a “true fan,” which YOU believe means speaking up and out AGAINST the “wrong choices” YOU think the person/people you admire are making ... but honestly? So many people are confusing “constructive criticism” with OPINION and taking it to a level that’s way too negative and possibly harmful and I’M JUST TIRED. So here I am, saying my piece which I have no business saying but I feel that what I saw was gross enough that I have to say something so I can know I spoke what’s in my own heart. My HOPE is that this can lead to conversation about all aspects involved in the situation, which can lead to education, which can lead to overall more positive discourse. Cuz, like, I’m at an age where sitting around spewing negativity about things I purport to love makes ZERO sense to me (it’s why I had to stop actively watching Monday Night Raw), and instead of doing that, I’d rather switch my focus to something I love that makes me FEEL GOOD and BE EXCITED about that instead. So maybe this is a generational gap, cuz I’m an old a$$ broad? I dunno. What I DO know is that this is the Intarwebz so hahahaha at my hope things could ever become less toxic, right? Siiiiiiiigh.

Please remember, especially when you might be privileged to have an audience with someone you speak directly about ... WORDS MATTER. Sticks & stone breaks bones, which can heal up and be STRONGER than before. Words get stuck in tiny crevices in your mind and hide there, peeking out to haunt you over and over, and often at the most inopportune of times. 

I’m not suggesting Shadows gives a good 

about anything this malcontent or anyone else has to say about him. 99/100 he doesn’t, but he’s human, as we are all supposed to be. And again, I just wanna take a moment to call out this behavior and say it’s not ok because it’s not. It goes for us and it goes for celebrities and it should go for everybody...

[/end TED talk] and if you made it this far? THANK YOU.

PS

[redemptiionss]

Let me go over what I learned happened in s8.... this is just what I’ve learned from other people’s posts. Let me know I’ve gotten things wrong (and any further clarification would be appreciated, if you’ve seen s8)

Lotor’s corpse was shown onscreen shortly after flashbacks proving that he was a good person who grew up abused & brainwashed by his parents. His corpse was then used as a puppet by Haggar, his mother and abuser. Allura finally says that Lotor had good intentions after two seasons of not once showing regret or second thoughts on what they’ve done to him. Haggar tells her that Lotor was truly happy when he was with her. No remorse is shown, apparently nobody cares that they’ve murdered him. The fact that they created a power vacuum within the Galra Empire and caused the deaths of thousands of people all because they didn’t think twice before attacking & abandoning Lotor (aka the one who GENUINELY wanted to help bring peace & also the one who was literally the SOLUTION) to die in the rift, is never addressed or questioned. The Colony story that was the Plot in s6 was never addressed. I’m wondering what were the writers’ intention with Lotor?! It’s like they can’t make up their minds. They had people-- including those who he once most trusted-- slander and demonize him. Then they humanized him and showed us that he was a Good person who was abused and traumatized by his parents & tried not to be like them. Then they showed us a grotesque imagery of his corpse. Then they went all like, yup he was a Good Person all along who was “misguided” & he could have had a Redemption Arc, but whoops, he’s dead. His death was meaningless. It was without reason or purpose. All I’m seeing from this is a terrible message surrounding abuse victims. They ditched a story of hope, a redemption/vindication arc for a meaningless tragedy. Congrats. I can’t forgive them for what they did. I can’t.

Line from s6, from Lotor’s confrontation with Haggar, who’s kidnapped him and tries to get him to stay with her, but is rejected by Lotor. Lotor says this to her: “The end is near, witch. I know you can sense it. If you beg for your life now, maybe I will take pity on you when the time comes.”  This was CLEAR foreshadowing. But in the end? Lotor’s rotting corpse being used as a puppet. Then in the end, him immediately forgiving his parents & happily reconciling with them in the afterlife. What. The. Flippin. Heck. What was the POINT of that whole confrontation then? More importantly, what was the point of the whole colony plot?! It was the Plot of s6!! It was what led them to abandon & murder Lotor, which then led to a power vacuum in the Galra Empire & death of thousands!! & led to what happened in s7 & s8!!! The entire situation surrounding the colony plot was clearly Fishy as Hell, implied that there was a misunderstanding going on, that Lotor was likely going to get vindicated/redeemed, and also that Haggar had her nasty fingers in the PIe. But literally nothing came out of it. WHAT. WAS. THE. POINT. Clearly something happened behind the scenes between s6 & s8.

Somehow Zarkon comes back via Haggar & quintessence, but he’s Good guy Zarkon (aka pre-corrupted)? I’m not sure how this happened, but okay. I mean, if anyone could give me the full rundown on how things led up to this. He got a redemption arc. Hagerva got a redemption arc too.

I don’t have a problem with redemption arcs. I love them. I hate the whole Tumblr™ “you have to earn redemption” thing. Redemption isn’t something that is earned. Anyone can be redeemed-- even the worst person possible. However, in stories it HAS to be told well. It’s got to be meaningful. And frankly the main reason why I have a problem with them getting redemption arcs is because Lotor never got one while his parents did. He never got a redemption or a vindication arc. Zarkon and Haggar was allowed to have a voice, while Lotor was not. This just comes across as them somehow being More Deserving of a redemption arc than Lotor, which is honestly just bullshit.

Zarkon & Honerva apparently weren’t corrupted anymore when they got redeemed, so that.. makes everything they did over 10,000 years okay I guess? Since it technically wasn’t them? But like, they still did that. They got corrupted by the bad quintessence by their own direct actions, and then proceeded to commit genocide, enslave and conquer thousands of planets and people, and abuse their son. None of that has changed. I never thought that they’d get redeemed mainly because I didn’t think there would be any way it would be written well & that it wouldn’t have been able to be fit into the story’s plot well.

While Corrupted!Bad Guy Zarkon told Shiro that he was Too Weak and Unworthy to be the Paladin for the Black Lion, Good Guy Zarkon told Keith that he was a good leader & a good Black Paladin because of his Galra Lineage. Like.. uh, what? RACISM MUCH? I guess Keith didn’t say anything. What happened to him being the #1 Black Paladin!Shiro stan? Oh wait, he stopped back in like S3 or something.

This makes me think of that one Nightmare post I read months ago. It was basically “What if Shiro is not the Black Paladin because the Black Lion is racist against non-Galra?” [It cited that when Shiro was the Black Paladin, he had a Galra arm. & now that he doesn’t have a Galra arm, he is no longer the Black Paladin.] I thought it was utterly ridiculous and that it was the stupidest thing ever. But I guess being Galra is indeed what makes you great for the Black Lion after all. Oof. Wtf.

Apparently Shiro also barely had a meaningful interaction with... pretty much anyone, least of all Keith, who’s supposed to be like his little brother. This has been happening for a while even before s8. (I honestly hate that Shiro was reduced to just being mere plot device for Keith’s development and arcs. Don’t think I’ve forgotten how JDS & LM called him boring, wanted to kill him off permanently, but then was forced to bring him back, and how they pretty much got around that loophole by killing him off at least twice and finally pushing him into the background. Oh and they didn’t even give him a family either lol. WTF.)

Lance says his “I’m good at winning prizes” line at Allura. Wtf. It seems that the context is Allura asking Lance to get something for her, but I saw the screenshot and.. G R O S S. They KNEW what they were fucking doing, especially with THAT expression. *shudders* I like Lance, I really do. But I hate him for Allura. He became smitten with Allura the minute he saw him, and pretty much called dibs on her. Spent a majority of his time hitting on her while she reacted in distaste & discomfort, continually rejecting him or brushing him off. Showed jealousy and entitlement when Allura exhibited interest in other guys or when other guys seemed interested in Allura. [Lance, you do not own Allura. You’re not even with her, she’s not interested in you. BACK. OFF.] Even made fun of Allura’s Altean culture and heritage, and never once showed any signs of interest in learning about it. And I’m not even going to go over all the ways how they are not compatible with each other at all. A//urance literally plays into the trope that if the Nice Guy is persistent enough, he will get the Girl. The Girl is his Prize. Again, they KNEW what they were doing with that line. So that coupled with the imagery from S3-ish of Lance’s fantasy-- in which he is revered and praised by all, standing at the very top holding a big flag saying “Winner” with a dream starry-eyed Allura at his feet. Ugh, BARF.

A//urance happens. Apparently neither of them are very happy??? [and honestly it just confuses me why it even happened because there is such a stark difference between how Lotura & A//urance was written-- but I guess Lotura was just a stepping stone for the less well-written & clearly-forced ship after all? Tf.]

There’s some stuff about Hagerva breaking into alternate realities because she can’t cope with the fact that her son is dead, so she’s trying to enter her alternate families’s lives.

There’s some stuff about Altea & Daizabaal being brought back. I.. don’t know. I’ve seen some people say that if those could be brought back, then why couldn’t Lotor & the others be brought back too?

Allura kisses Lance twice. Tells him that she’ll always love him. (lmaoooo what? okay sure) She transfers her Altean Marks onto Lance. (What. the. HECK?! THAT MAKES NO SENSE.) She then.... sacrifices herself? To save her Reality? To save all of existence? From what I’m hearing from other people, there was no real good reason for her to sacrifice herself. She then steps into the afterlife with her father, her mother, Zarkon, Honerva, and Lotor. There’s a legit outline of her [who is clearly defined], with Lotor at her back [who is not as defined], in the stars.

I cannot believe they killed off their main female protagonist & a princess. You don’t just.. do that in children’s media. I don’t know of any children’s media in which a princess dies. I thought she was untouchable. Not to mention there was absolutely no pay off for Allura at all aside from her being dead and in the afterlife reuniting with her family. She’s had to sacrifice everything every season-- her planet & her family was destroyed, then she lost her castle, her rank, her crown, her clothes, her people. I thought there was going to be an ultimate pay off for her in end, but no she even had to lose her own life. Really?! This doesn’t speak of Hope to me.

Lance spends the rest of his life with Allura’s Altean marks tattooed on his face. He’s a farmer, growing Altean flowers (???) and it’s implied that he never gets over her. I... just can’t. The bitter irony. In giving Lance what he wanted, the writers took everything from him. Much of his character, aside from growing in his role as a Paladin, bonding with others, and dreaming of being a pilot, also revolved around Getting Allura. He was never allowed to grow out of that. Now they’ve effectively erased his identity-- he no longer has an identity separate from Allura. That isn’t.... what his arc should’ve been. Also does the marks mean he’s Altean now or what?? You can’t just change races like that. Tf. If he has an Altean lifespan now, that means that he’s going to watch everyone he loves die. His infatuation for Allura has become his curse. And while it’s been implied that he’s worked on a farm before [look, it’s canon that he knows how to milk a cow. that’s enough of an implication.], that was never his dream. He wanted to be a pilot.. and now he’s just a farmer forever pining over Allura and growing flowers in her memory, or something. They destroyed Lance’s character.

Apparently Allura didn’t just transfer her Altean Marks to Lance, but also gave him Leadership over the Alteans. WHAT. THE. FUCK? So Lance didn’t just Get Allura & then is cursed by Allura’s selfish act, but he also gets Allura’s ROLE. They seriously had Allura sacrifice HER own leadership & give it to a boy who has NEVER once shown interest in HER culture, & has even mocked it more than once. THE. AUDACITY.

“Lance will get what he needs, not what he wants.” That implies that he was Not going to end up with Allura, seeing as she is what he clearly wants. So.. what is it then? Unless him being a lonely pining farmer for all of eternity was what he needed? Either they straight up lied or like I said before, something happened behind the scenes.

Keith apparently is leading Lotor’s Generals & the Galra now or something..?? WHAT? Why TF would the Galra listen to him? And I guess he gave a speech that was essentially Lotor’s speech in S5. EXCUSE. ME.?! Also apparently Keith now has magical powers and is a diplomat dedicated to spreading good will in the universe..?? So basically he was given Shiro’s position, and then Lotor & Allura’s ROLES. Ha ha ha.

There was a line from a crack-foreshadowing episode in s7, in which Lance says Keith “is the future”-- and a lot of people came up with the Emperor!Keith theory. I quickly concluded that it was total bullshit because it made ZERO sense within canon. It still makes no sense, but then again not much makes sense in s8 apparently.

Apparently Nothing is Really Solved. The Galra still need Quintessence to survive. The Quintessence Rift is closed, so there’s nowhere for them to get their quintessence. Lotor, the only person who had the solution, wanted peace, & intended on leading an Alliance between the Paladins & the Galra, is dead. Allura, who could’ve allied with Lotor to help the cause of leading the universe & Galra into an new era of peace, is dead. But Apparently there’s Peace now. Okie dokie.

I... don’t really know anything about Katie & Hunk. What happened to them?

 I can’t think of anything else right now. All I can say is that s8 sounds vile.