#carrot.ask

[anxiouslittlecarrot]

I completely agree with your Barbie analysis. Growing up, I don't see Barbie as the bimbofied or being "too feminine". I saw her as being passionate and driven to achieve her goals no matter if she wants to be a princess or a musketeer. I saw her as being genuinely lovely and supportive of everybody as she did her best to ensure her team (no matter what movie) to also achieve their own dreams, all those teamwork and persistence finally payed off.

I used to wait until the ending of the movie to actually literally take a photo of the Barbie quote. (All I had was a camera back then hahah) Barbie literally changed my mindset that even I can achieve what I want without comprising my own identity.

The good ol’ days of physical cameras :’] That’s really cool! Barbie is a great character and honestly I didn’t realise that until six months ago.

I wasn’t like super into Barbie growing up. I had a few because people liked gifting them to me, and I did play with them, but I guess reading worked better for me as a form of escapism than playing. I also felt very self-conscious playing. I had a few VHSs in my father's place, Barbie Rapunzel, the Nutcracker, and Swan Lake, but I was sort of embarrassed of watching them around him. But I loved watching my aunt play with hers (she’s 5 years older, and had all the things).

As I grew, I became more and more embarrassed of being a girl, of my curves, of my existence. Obviously this common demeaning of femininity had a lot to do with it, and my father’s attitude as well. I needed to be strong and I didn’t want to be objectified and started to reject all that was feminine and bury myself under clothes. Also, I was an emokid, so a lot of black and sadness inside, not much space for pink confidence. At the start of my teen years I began to absorb the critiques on Barbie; they dressed themselves as intellectualism, so of course I would.

The Barbie message is exactly what I needed and didn’t get.

But when I started design school, I met my best friend and she is the most Barbie-Sharpay Evans-Elle Woods person to ever exist. She loves pink, her house is pink, and she’s confidence itself. Besides, by studying in an art building you start to get in touch with the nuances and importance of real feminism, body positivity, body neutrality, unconditional respect, bodily autonomy, etc. So I started to make peace with femininity again.

I only became an actual Barbie stan last september. We had to pick a brand for a class project so I picked Barbie because I thought it’d be fun and did a deep dive on the history to begin with. And BOY, was I pleasantly surprised! I'm no expert, but I am a fan now.

I would never say she has been stellar in all representation facets since 1959, absolutely not! I myself am a 1,51m tall latina, I have brown eyes, brown curly hair I straightened from 11 to 19 years old… I never felt represented in her, but the actual problem was that I didn’t feel represented anywhere else either. Barbie can be incredible in some aspects and fall short in others, those things can be true at the same time. Besides, it’s okay for a thing to not cover absolutely all bases, we really need to take it easy. The point of her is "hey, you can be pink AND president, if you want to". And that's still revolutionary. She's actually a really great character, with really great messages.

We give Barbie way more grief than she deserves.

[anxiouslittlecarrot]

explain why you do/don’t ship dramione

Oof, that’s a good one, because I’m ambivalent about it.

I think the concept of Dramione is very interesting because a redemption story is always a favourite (Zuko from ATLA has spoilt us) and I think their personalities match in some aspects, but I don’t think their canonical journeys allowed for it, and personally I don’t like the way a lot of the Dramione fics portray them both (I could talk about that later if you want ^^) — but like, that is what people do and everyone has the right to write whatever they want, it’s fine, I just skip those fics.

The way canon went, Draco didn’t see Hermione as an equal. He didn’t. Not until after the war, at least. He didn’t have an awakening, this process of repeated reality checks that brought enlightenment about his beliefs and deeds and enough chances of choosing to do the opposite — like the one Zuko went through. HBP & the thick of the war clearly shocked him into questioning the side he was on. But that doesn’t mean he repented from everything. Life isn’t black or white and there was a lot of layers to his behaviour. We had moments in the Manor and the RoR, I think, that’s all. It wasn’t enough. He didn’t see Hermione as fully rounded, likeable person, let alone a girl.

Also, I’m very asexual, so I can’t really comprehend wanting to kiss/date someone if you don’t admire & connect with them, but that’s a me thing.

And Hermione isn’t a wet cabbage. She didn’t see Draco as a boy either. She was hurt by him, her loved ones were hurt by his petty wiles. She might not know her worth before Ron, but she knows her worth before an antagonist. She needs to have him repent, and she needs to forgive him, before liking him becomes a possibility.

But if there is someone who can fast track this awakening in him — maybe it’s my Zutara heart speaking here — it’s Hermione.

And I do think that they are similar and complementary in aspects. They are both driven. They both need validation and acceptance. They are both smart and witty (though canon!Draco is a poor bully, lol). His self-preservation and wolf pack protection instincts are important for her, to compliment her boldness. Hermione’s nature is to always serve all the time (to be loved), Draco’s is the opposite. She never has anyone take care of her, and Slytherins take care of those who are theirs. He is resourceful, she always has to think everything herself. He is a long-game strategist, she is a big-sudden-move strategist. She is brave, while he isn’t. He fears appearing vulnerable and weak, while she manages to be strong and vulnerable at the same time.

In summary, I don’t ship Dramione UNLESS Draco goes through an existential crisis, repents, proves himself and EARNS her forgiveness, because Hermione deserves respect. But I do believe Draco deserves a chance at redemption and for that to happen, feelings might have to get tangled with reason.

[anxiouslittlecarrot]

Hi I'm Lauren I'm new to this app, I'm just trying to make some friends. Can i be your friend?

I'm only friends with some humans and most animals, if that's okay with you

[anxiouslittlecarrot]

https://www.tumblr.com/pink--pantheress/735099375697690624/single-mom-in-distress

You know I’m not gonna check that, right?

[anxiouslittlecarrot]

Hey, I'm sorry your family is treating you poorly. I do appreciate the response because my goal is to make sure people are not seen as projects and your response helps show people that it does happen even if its not their intent.

Aw, that’s very sweet, thank you! And I’m glad I was able to help! I totally agree. I think we are sort of brought up instructed to advertise God like salespeople. You carve roundabout, artificial ways to almost shove God in people’s faces; you help them and listen to them with this underlying goal of getting a segue for the hook at the end. I find it very icky and dishonest, and so will they.

Love is not a means to an end, love is the end itself.

If my six years in uni at a very artistic alt building with a very alt crowd have taught me anything is that people have the right to not believe and the right to have their religious trauma respected. Many will, and you need most of all to learn to hold your tongue. It is not denying Christ, it’s just respecting the circumstances.

Jesus never shamed or pressured anyone into believing, he was only blunt and incisive when talking to people from inside his culture, the ones who claimed to be amazing because they loved God when they actually didn’t get Him at all and did things that gave Him a bad name. With gentiles, Jesus was always kind and honest and sincere. Sometimes, that made them go “Dude, you’re so amazing & different, why are you like this?” and then he told them the good tidings because they were the reason. Many times, that didn't happen, and that was okay. He knew that some would be his and others would not.

We should just live. Live and our principles will show through our life, and if God sparks curiosity in someone, they will come and ask, and then you tell them. No preaching, no advertising, no forcing or convincing, just talking! (Speaking AND listening!! There's a song I really like that says, in free translation, "there is Grace in everything.")

In the end, it’s the Holy Spirit who will sprout the seed, there’s no use in us trying to plant it forcefully. Plus, the soil needs to be ready to receive it, right? Forcing will only hurt it.

If people need help, help them. If people need love, love them. That's is the job. Don’t try to squeeze a little sermon or a prayer or something demonstratively Christian-esque in there to check a box, that will corrupt everything you have just done.

Sorry for the loooong answer, this is just something I feel very deeply. I hope it makes sense! x

[anxiouslittlecarrot]

What’s your favorite type of animal, and if it has multiple breeds, can you specify? Also, if you own the animal that is your favorite, then its disqualified and you need to say your second favorite plz and tnx u

Oh my God, that one is too DIFFICULT, I don't knowww T.T

But if I must choose… My mum sort of installed a deep kinship to mice and rats in me ever since I was born. All rodents, actually. She calls me by multiple rodent-based and rodent-adjacent nicknames, relates me to characters, etc. Sounds mean but it's lovingly, I swear. By now, I really do feel a bond to them, lol

So I'll say a mouse (loose term). I can't specify anymore!

But that one was DIRTY. I was a Zooboomafoo kid, dude, I love animals too much

[anxiouslittlecarrot]

What is your Hogwarts house?

Gryffindor =[

[anxiouslittlecarrot]

You’re kinda dumb huh

Aren’t we all…

[anxiouslittlecarrot]

What I forgot to say here was that most all fanfic I read is Dramione, lmao

But Draco has to go through or to have gone through A Thing™ that’s like sensible

explain why you do/don’t ship dramione

Oof, that’s a good one, because I’m ambivalent about it.

I think the concept of Dramione is very interesting because a redemption story is always a favourite (Zuko from ATLA has spoilt us) and I think their personalities match in some aspects, but I don’t think their canonical journeys allowed for it, and personally I don’t like the way a lot of the Dramione fics portray them both (I could talk about that later if you want ^^) — but like, that is what people do and everyone has the right to write whatever they want, it’s fine, I just skip those fics.

The way canon went, Draco didn’t see Hermione as an equal. He didn’t. Not until after the war, at least. He didn’t have an awakening, this process of repeated reality checks that brought enlightenment about his beliefs and deeds and enough chances of choosing to do the opposite — like the one Zuko went through. HBP & the thick of the war clearly shocked him into questioning the side he was on. But that doesn’t mean he repented from everything. Life isn’t black or white and there was a lot of layers to his behaviour. We had moments in the Manor and the RoR, I think, that’s all. It wasn’t enough. He didn’t see Hermione as fully rounded, likeable person, let alone a girl.

Also, I’m very asexual, so I can’t really comprehend wanting to kiss/date someone if you don’t admire & connect with them, but that’s a me thing.

And Hermione isn’t a wet cabbage. She didn’t see Draco as a boy either. She was hurt by him, her loved ones were hurt by his petty wiles. She might not know her worth before Ron, but she knows her worth before an antagonist. She needs to have him repent, and she needs to forgive him, before liking him becomes a possibility.

But if there is someone who can fast track this awakening in him — maybe it’s my Zutara heart speaking here — it’s Hermione.

And I do think that they are similar and complementary in aspects. They are both driven. They both need validation and acceptance. They are both smart and witty (though canon!Draco is a poor bully, lol). His self-preservation and wolf pack protection instincts are important for her, to compliment her boldness. Hermione’s nature is to always serve all the time (to be loved), Draco’s is the opposite. She never has anyone take care of her, and Slytherins take care of those who are theirs. He is resourceful, she always has to think everything herself. He is a long-game strategist, she is a big-sudden-move strategist. She is brave, while he isn’t. He fears appearing vulnerable and weak, while she manages to be strong and vulnerable at the same time.

In summary, I don’t ship Dramione UNLESS Draco goes through an existential crisis, repents, proves himself and EARNS her forgiveness, because Hermione deserves respect. But I do believe Draco deserves a chance at redemption and for that to happen, feelings might have to get tangled with reason.