#does the dash have an algorithm too now???

[kanon-kun]

how come some of the people I'm following (whom I know are posting frequently) aren't showing up in the "following" tab on my dashboard??

[masterarchfiend93]

I’ve seen a handful of “SU characters as Ponies” art, but I don’t think I have seen the reverse of that. I’m sure someone out there has done it, but thanks to algorithms and search engines not working because they hate me, I haven’t seen any MLP characters reimagined as Gems. I don’t have the best drawing skills, but perhaps I can come back to this after sharing my headcanon.

Applejack: Citrine. Of course the muscle and honesty of the Mane Six would be a quartz, but I specifically picked Citrine for the colors and it is my birthstone according to some of those charts. (The other is Topaz, but I felt she had more of a rowdy quartz vibe.)

Pinkie Pie: Spinel. Do I really need to explain to the SU fans? Pink, basically made to be a jester, super stretchy, cute as all Hell? That’s just flat out Pinkie Pie!

Fluttershy: Now this one is tricky and I’m sure someone has or will think of one better, but I see her as an off-color Jasper. Kinda like Skinny, but shorter and a bit on the chubby side. Just that sort of “gentle giant” vibe without being a proper giant.

Rainbow Dash: A Lapis Lazuli. We don’t see a lot of gems with flying powers without shapeshifting a pair of wings, but but the hydrokinesis does serve as a good analog for normal pegasi powers which she uses a lot throughout the show. Sure the colors won’t match, but I don’t recall anything saying that gems can’t dye their hair.

Rarity: Pearl. Now, hear me out. A gem whose purpose is to serve the elites, look fashionable and so on? Seems like a decent origin for someone who makes fancy outfits and designs for others, enjoys being a socialite while also having the humility to be generous instead of having to be naturally haughty like proper noble gems.

Twilight Sparkle: Diamond, I mean she is a princess. Like to headcanon that she used to disguise herself as a zircon (she’s too purple to hide as a peridot, lol) and had to reveal herself as a Diamond to save her friends, which initially made things super awkward but Friendship wins out.

Spike: Literally a prehistoric lizard that Twilight accidentally made immortal and he’s just become super intelligent as time has gone on. What species? That is an excellent question and I will get back to you on that once I decide because there are a lot of good options and I’m intentionally excluding dinosaurs, lol!

After that? No idea. I’m sure their canon families are similar gems besides Twilight whose “family” are zircons she genuinely loves that way. Even if he’s not related in a biological sense, Shining Armor is always her brother. Feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions on this. All I ask is that you make it so I can see, lol!

I hope that you have a wonderful day!

[rabbits-of-negative-euphoria]

Hi, I don’t follow you and I’m not Christian but for some reason your Lilith post got algorithm-ed onto my dash and now I’m curious and by that I mean…. SERIOUSLY? Have I just been gaslit into believing about the existence of a Bible character my whole life? Is she the Goncharov of the bible? I swear I’ve seen Christians mention her so where are they getting their idea of her? Or why do they think she’s worth discussing if she doesn’t even exist? Obviously if you’re busy you don’t have to answer this but your post is literally the first I heard about this.

I'm afraid you have indeed been gaslit.

All the Christians I know would only mention her with disdain, because we're aware she's just some medieval dude's Bible OC (and adding to the Bible is kind of a no-no).

If the Christians you know discuss Lilith as if she is part of Biblical canon, there are really only two explanations: 1. They have never read Genesis (which is like, the first book any Christian is raised to know), and are not being adequately discipled. 2. They are nominal Christians who don't understand or care about the gospel, but who like the aesthetic of Christianity and Christianity-adjacent things.

The reason Lilith is such a thorn in Christians' side is that she interferes with Genesis 1-3, which is the foundation not just of the entire plot and premise of the Bible, but of our theology regarding the physical world and our place in it.

Her myth posits that God initially made both man and woman from the dust, but then made another woman from Adam's rib. It posits that the complementarian nature of man and woman must be manifest in sexual relations. It posits that a figurehead of mankind could sin (by failing to sexually submit), but not suffer the consequences God promised for sin. It posits that Adam bore no blame in the first sin. It posits that humans can become demons (they can't). And from this point on, it ceases to make any sense. Demons can't have children, demons can't have dominion over anything God didn't grant them dominion over, and there was no sickness prior to the Fall for Lilith to cause. I would even argue there were no demons before the Fall, and that Lucifer fell at the moment he decided to tempt Adam and Eve. And what does it even mean for a demon to die? Demons are already cut off from the Author of Life, and they are spiritual beings (no bodies).

Then the question arises, if Adam & Eve didn't commit the first sin, why did Jesus have to be the Second Adam? If death and sickness existed before The Fall, how could they also be the consequence of The Fall? If death and sickness existed before The Fall, why should it not exist in the New Earth after Jesus returns? If Adam and Eve sinned, why didn't they become demons, too? Why aren't all of us demons because of them? et cetera, et cetera, ad infinitum.

[scaryfangirl2001]

Changing Season (fanfic, 610 WC)

@flufftober

As the vibrant hues of October painted the streets of New York, the Library stands as a stoic fortress in the lively autumnal backdrop. Inside, the hum of computers and the rustle of papers fill the air, enveloping Harold Finch in a cocoon of work. His fingers dance across the keyboard, glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, the weight of their clandestine operations reflected in the furrow of his brow. His focus is unwavering as he delves into the intricacies of their latest case. John Reese, his loyal companion and protector, notes the change in the season with a spark in his eyes. The scent of fallen leaves and damp earth whispers through the cracks in the windows, but Harold remains steadfast in his focus, oblivious to the subtle dance of nature outside.

He hadn't noticed John's leave of absence until the man bounds into the Library with a glint of mischief in his eyes. He holds a smooth and round acorn in his hand, chiding the older man, "Harold, you've been buried in those screens for too long. Time to breathe in some fresh air. Breathe in the beginning of change."

Harold hums and raises an eyebrow, his attention tethered to the complex web of data before him. Oblivious to the acorn's significance, he dismisses it with a wave of his hand, much to John's amusement. "That's nice, Mr. Reese. But please, let's focus on our number."

Undeterred, John spies a chestnut resting on the windowsill, its spiky shell catching the sunlight. He picks it up and places it on Harold's desk, careful not to tip anything over.

"Come on, now. Embrace the season with me. You can't ignore the signs of fall forever," John teases.

Harold sighs softly, his mind preoccupied with algorithms and code. "I appreciate the sentiment, Mr. Reese. But we have a schedule to keep."

John walks away, not willing to give up. He joins Bear, their loyal Belgian Malinois, at the nearest window. They take in nature as October paints the city in golden browns and fiery reds. Bear is a very smart dog and, with a twinkle in his eye, John instructs him to fetch a particular item. Bear dashes out of the room and returns moments later, a pine cone delicately held in his mouth. The precious dog looks up at John with big doe eyes, and John clicks his tongue.

"Go show Papa."

Bear understands and pads into Harold's work area, tail wagging in excitement. When the older man looks over, Bear drops the pine cone at his papa's feet, and Harold chortles.

"Alright, alright. Maybe I've been too focused on work," Harold admits, a soft smile tugging at his lips.

John beams, pleased to see Harold finally acknowledging the beauty of the changing season.

"John, be a dear and fetch my coat, would you?"

He happily does so as Harold finds Bear's leash. They emerge into the crisp afternoon, a symphony of colors enveloping them. The crunch of fallen leaves underfoot is accompanied by the distant chirping of birds filling the air. The sounds of their fond banter mix with the rustling, and Bear finds a squirrel particularly interesting. The men let him run more freely at the dog park once they arrive, and Harold's eyes fall upon a lone pinecone nestled among the fallen leaves. A resigned sigh escapes his lips as he carefully stoops down to pick it up

"John, sometimes I believe you and Bear are the only ones who truly appreciate the simplicity of the changing seasons."

John chuckles and leans down to plant a kiss on Harold's temple, warmth spreading through his chest.

[jasper-unofficial]

i wonder how you deal with bad opinions on your dear blorbo(s)? i’ve become increasingly attached to yotha 😔 and if i have to read another opinion about him being a terrible brother i might set something on fire /j but that seems like maybe not the best way to deal with it hdgdjsk

i am a highly sensitive person (who is also autistic which in my case means my feelings are quite big in the first place), so i understand very well just how much bad opinions can cause a deeply visceral reaction and genuine pain 😔✊️

my special condolences on the yotha of it all btw, i love that boy and he does not deserve all the hate he is getting 🥺

now, my personal strategies to avoid incorrect opinions on my blorbos depend on the website.

when it comes to tumblr, i don't seek out unfiltered opinions in the first place. which does kind of mean that i rarely engage with the wider fandom on here directly. i only have my dash, which consists of my mutuals and the blogs i follow: both groups are people whose opinions i trust. i read what they think and also what people who they reblog think (aka peer reviewed opinions). if i like what i see from the latter category, i go over to their blog, check them out, and if everything looks good - they get a follow and end up on my sacred dash too. that is my circle of life on tumblr that (mostly) keeps me safe.

when it comes to ye instagrams and tiktoks, where you are at the mercy of an evil algorithm, i mostly just do not give people many chances jfkdjfkdkd i see an edit - i stick around. i see an essay on how someone feels about my blorbo? i scroll scroll scroll. and to be fair! this is because i do not come on instagram to see opinions. that's what tumblr is for. instagram is for edits to music that is hopefully not just currently trending but also appropriate for the character(s). that said, i definitely still end up seeing some bullshit on occasion. in which case i immediately block the person who said whatever they said, which lessens my fear of seeing their fuckass takes in the future. and then, depending on how bad it was, i either rant about it to myself or come here to rant about it.

when it comes to twitter, there is only one piece of advice to give: do not read what people say on twitter.

now, these are all pretty extreme solutions to be fair, but i know myself. i'm a little baby when it comes to this stuff. and i pick my battles, so - where fictional characters are concerned - i reserve the right to be as stubborn and stuck in my opinions as i wish. because there are actual serious matters in the world i can not afford to be close-minded about.

at the end of the day, this is your fandom experience and it is - for the lack of a better term - "not serious", which actually and contrary to popular belief means you can be as passionate and weird and particular and strict about it as you like. block to your heart's content! do not attempt to understand the haters if it makes you feel bad! consider whatever you disagree with outright fucking stupid! fandom is a hobby, a moment for relaxation and fun - avoid anything that makes it the opposite of that without shame 🫶 (and hey! perhaps do set something on fire a little! metaphorically! by maybe ranting about how great your blorbo is or how wrong others are about them on your own terms! that's basically the fuel behind 70% of meta posts 😏)

[tbalderdash-art-blog]

Going on a Riddler fanart break

I'm having a break from posting Riddler fanart to Tumblr. The backlog will still be posted on Cara and Instagram (both @ tbalderdash), and if the break is long enough for it to catch up I will post things made during the break on there before Tumblr. I will still be posting bird art here. I will still post fanart for other fandoms here if I make any (I am currently undecided about non-Riddler DC). The break will be for at least a month. I will probably come back when the OCD medication has kicked in for a bit. Thank you for all of the support on the last post. I don't want to take a break, but I have to for my mental health.

"Organised" ramble about reasoning (this is heavily influenced by neurodivergence/mental illness and I am not trying to sound like an entitled/ungrateful twat. I don't want to guilt trip anyone, please don't feel guilty):

The Timezone Curse: Tumblr has a reverse-chronological dashboard. I am British. I live earlier than the majority of the userbase. I have no idea what time to post things so they don't get buried. Recently I've tried to stop waiting for the exact right minute to post things, as it doesn't stop them from flopping.

Likes vs Reblogs, (and OCD?): I will preface this and say: a lot of this is my brain's fault. Since Likes don't do anything to spread things, my brain gets upset when things keep getting Liked without Reblogged. Unless it is from a bird fan on the fanart, better artist, or irl friend, Likes mean nothing to me. I know this is silly and irrational, but I can't help it and this is the main reason why my brain is suffering posting fanart. I hope medication will fix my feelings. Additionally, OCD brain keeps trying to find a reason: Am I dislikable? Is my art bad? Does it have no appeal? Is it aphobia? Did I do something cancellable without knowing and now everyone hates me? I (think I) know the answer is people just don't use this website that way, but my brain is never sure. This is why I don't have the problem on the other websites, every like helps the algorithm and actually means something in my brain

The combination of the Timezone Curse and lack of reblogs means my art often gets barely any reach (or reach my brain deems meaningful). I desperately want to feel like part of the Riddler fandom community. Unfortunately, due to Tumblr making me suffer (overwhelmed by compulsive need to scroll entire dash, repulsed aroace, and simple posts being able to make me ruminate unpleasantly for a long time) I find it very hard to follow new blogs or connect with people on this site. I love birds, but I need Riddler interaction. I can't look at much fandom on other sites, as they have barely any/no tag filtering, which means I will suffer if I look for him.

Why it's just fanart and not birds affected by this: I started off as a fanartist with no expectation to get big with birds, so I had a que sera sera attitude and I post them whenever they're ready, I didn't expect to get big. I am more fulfilled when it comes to the bird interest (more community interaction + every day can have different birds out there + people in my real life are interested in birds). Additionally, the bird art spreads a lot more (due to bird blogs reblogging). Bird art is my "job" art (it is where I plan to make money from) whereas Riddler is where my passion lies the most (I still love the birds but I have many other ways of interacting with them without needing art). This means I get more emotionally invested in the Riddler art than the bird art

Is art becoming a compulsion? This applies to the birds as well, but since they're "job art" it doesn't matter too much. I keep being worried about not posting enough Riddler art, and feelings of social media sometimes overshadow the joy of creating - I keep thinking about posting, rather than doing. I get too anxious to make art that is "unpostable" (eg: self-insert and him hugging), especially due to the fact I'm trying to get more professional. I feel like there's more I want to expand on this but it's been too long and I'm tired. This break might help me do more high-quality art instead of having to churn it out out of fear of everyone forgetting me.

Sorry for all the text. I don't know if I've explained everything very well but it's been an hour and usually if I post something after 8 it fails, which I don't usually want to worry about but it's a bit important for an announcement like this

[lurkiestvoid]

Hey TT refugees:

I've been dabbling in various socmed for almost thirty years, starting in the Before Times even before MySpace. Now, usually I come back to Tumblr eventually, I've been back this time for I think a little over a year.

long tumblrites are mostly gonna tell you "Tumblr has no algorithm" and "your FYP is worthless, no one uses it," blahdiblah. The rest of their advice is perfectly fine! but that first is outright false and second is ... Nuanced.

Just like on TT, you have your "Following"/dashboard, then your "For You Page," then any other tags/tabs settings you have like Trending etc. And just like on TT, you mostly wanna spend time engaging your dashboard and following/followers, BUT despite what some Tumblrs might say, yeah some new/'micro' blogs absolutely do still use the FYP because we're not already following more content than we could possibly consume, as is common after several years here. lol

Anyways Tumblr's algorithm is not nearly as beefy, but it DOES exist. You'll see it suggesting posts/content you may like on your regular dash in between posts you follow; please do not freak out if it's... not at all related to your interests, it's just stupid. It's the Bing of algos. You can freely ignore Suggested posts. and lol feel free to ignore "Tumblr tv" it's not TT quality you're not missing anything, they're just trying too hard to be TT, y'know how it goes. If Tumblr tries to "we'll think you'll like" and starts just showing you hardcore porn ads, as has been known to happen (personal note: yes even with mature filters on. Yes even with every tag I can think of blacklisted. Yes even when I'm personally somewhere around asexual and so very much do NOT have similar content in my browser history. Yeah no I tried everything) just report and move on.

Where the algorithm works best is, indeed, your FYP. Aside from just looking through tags/fandoms/etc you're interested in to find people to follow, this is more often where you'll find More Stuff To Follow, since it's not really chronological. When you're first starting on Tumblr even if you follow like 200 blogs right off the bat, your dashboard isn't going to be very busy. If you find yourself refreshing it frequently, slide over to the FYP. This feels MUCH more like the algo you're used to, and is a great way to find new people and content to follow! Just like on TT tho remember to slide back over to your Following dash and engage with each other on those posts, too!

Once your dash is busy enough, you really don't Need the FYP anymore, but as always do what ye want and have fun! 💜 Welcome!

[regexkind]

You think determinism is real??? Unfollowed.

No, but seriously, would you possibly mind explaining a bit more? I have been Having Some Feelings about the ways in which life plays out that are very uncanny and to see and recognize all these patterns has been tripping me up (frustrating me, too, but that is good I think—there is information in there) and there's a sense of delusion I've been trying to shake off because, honestly, I Want To Believe, especially in myself and my senses, even if the idea of being told what to do by something else is very annoying to my sensibilities. I don't even believe in Angel Numbers, really, but I have been constantly seeing eights and sixes and I know what they mean, regardless. Sorry. Infodumping.

Seriously, though! It is neat and it does feel like I have been claiming some sense of power and just... being on the right path.

And because it's a topic that has been on my mind right now, and I came across that post, I thought that I would just ask.

Hyper-glib answer: my view on free-will is close to that espoused in the "Thou Art Physics" LessWrong article, with a dash of Daniel Dennett's perspective in "Elbow Room" that what people are distressed by in the question of free-will is the feeling that their agency is being encroached on, and that even if free-will is an illusion, a life in which the decision-making algorithms inside your skull are an ingredient in the outcomes is totally sufficient for happiness.

Less glib, and more in response to your actual ask: I also recognize that what you're talking about when I say "determinism" seems to be different than what I am talking about. Your response makes me think you're imagining that "determinism" is necessarily the result of some sort of planner—you are concerned about being "told what to do by something else", but that isn't necessarily what I'm imagining at all.

The thing I mean is more like the determinism that is implied by the thought experiment of Laplace's Demon. The idea is that if you know the state of the universe at a fixed point in time, and knew the ruleset along which evolution of the universe progressed, you would be capable in principle of computing the state of the universe at any given future moment. Nothing about this scenario presupposes that there was any intentionality in this initial configuration.

In fact, what seems much, much more likely is that the universe is both vast and essentially random in its initial configuration, so that it was inevitable that some corner of the cosmos would contain the seeds for our particular world. It isn't the result of any plan. For a sufficiently small change from our world, there would be a size of universe that would be big enough to contain a version of our world that is that distance away or smaller, and in an infinite universe, arbitrarily small variations of our world prevail. (This is Tegmark Level I multiverse theory; I would link to the specific part of the article but every day mobile web browsing becomes a worse experience and I can't do that anymore it seems)

Anyways, the type of determinism I espouse seems very very different from the one you seem troubled by.

[keaalu]

Good Morning!* (*in Welsh)

I was watching Terrahawks on YouTube the other evening, and what should the algorithm serve up as a suggestion afterwards but Ivor the Engine!

And one of the little gremlins who has recently set up home in my brain went “What better way to wind up Doctor Ninestein than start speaking Welsh.”

Oliver Postgate voice: Sergeant Major Zero. There he is, look. On his way to the White House lounge, to cause trouble for poor Doctor Ninestein no doubt...

------------

Sergeant Major Zero was not, as a general rule, one to rise with the larks.

This worked perfectly for Doctor Ninestein, because he could get started on work – or... well, okay, fine: “work” – without too many interruptions, while Zero snored contentedly to himself in a corner.

Usually worked perfectly.

This morning, any hopes Ninestein might have had to quietly step past and get stuck in reviewing the night’s reports were dashed at finding Zero already on his perch and watching expectantly for him, for a change. That was rarely a great sign.

“Bore da, Doctor Ninestein!” the zeroid said, cheerfully.

It was clearly going to be one of THOSE days. With a sigh, Ninestein slipped into the chair behind his desk and bumped his computer out of sleep. “What have you borrowed?” he asked, distracted.

���No no, sir. Bore da,” Zero enunciated. After a beat of silence, waiting for a response, he added; “Good morning.”

Ninestein finally looked up at him, eyes narrowed in a suspicious frown. “Are you speaking a foreign language?”

“No sir. Welsh.”

Oh, it was definitely one of those days. Ninestein felt his shoulders sag, with no particular conscious control behind it. “Fine.” He let his chin come down to rest on his hand. “I’ll bite. WHY are you speaking Welsh.”

“Well, sir!” The zeroid beamed, rocking back slightly on his perch, puffing up with glee at being asked. “I thought, seeing as I was getting on a bit, I should make more of an effort to honour the language of my homeland. Turns out I’m pretty good at it, as it happens!”

“Zero.” Ninestein sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “You were built in a lab in Japan, like every other zeroid. If anything, your ‘native language’ should be Japanese.” After a half-second of thinking space, he pointed a semi-threatening finger at him. “And don’t start speaking that, either!”

“Oh no sir, I wouldn’t do that. Lieutenant Hiro might think I was being unkind.” Zero paused, for effect. “...not to mention, I’d have to face the wrath of that twit 101, thinkin’ I was being mean to his sweetheart.”

“You pretend you can’t pronounce ‘Dix-Huit’ correctly, even when he constantly tells you how to.” Ninestein let his face rest in his hands. “But Welsh, of all languages, is the one you decide you’re going to speak fluently? Because you… think you are Welsh?”

“Ten-ten, sir! Or should I say: deg-deg.”

“I think I shoulda stayed in bed.”

--------

...and because they’re all zeroids with computers in their heads, no-one bats a single eyeshutter at the fact their commanding officer is giving them all their instructions in Welsh, now, they just get on and do it. “Oh, we’re speaking Welsh now? Okay!” Even 101 kinda rolls his eyes at him but goes along with it because who says they HAVE to speak English? They chatter in their own native electronic language all the time anyway. Welsh is just another language? (And anyway Dix-Huit curses in French all the time.)

And just in case the Welsh language alone wasn’t bad enough...

“You know what else they does a lot of in Wales, sir? SINGING!”

“-please don’t-”

“That little train was in a choir.”

“-he wasn’t real, Zero-”

“...And at least I’d do it proper, like. Not like that little twit in orbit who sings badly on purpose.”

(It’s probably only when he catches 21 trying very very hard but taking three times as long as normal to get through a sentence that Ninestein puts his foot down and says no more flaming Welsh, all right?)

[jayflrt]

HELLO!

I like your work a lot like it's genuinely Hilarious so I thought you would be the best person to ask for this.

I want to make a writing tumblr for enhypen but I'm a little lost because I've never used tumblr (as a creator) before LOL just used twitter and AO3 to write/socmed for fictional fandoms (tbh this is my first time like being a proper fan of a kpop group as to occasionally liking a song or two).

Anyways! What I've gathered from my experience on twitter and the writers I've followed here is obviously your blog should have an intro about you (inc. what you're comfy with, what you write, etc.) and a master list of your works BUT some of Tumblr's mechanics are Confusing.

Like,

1) should I create specific tags for my asks?

2) on twt, usually you create a tweet like "Hi! New to #___twt, looking for moots blah blah" to get an initial burst of likewise new people to bond and communicate with, does it work similarly here and if so/not please elaborate TT

3) is the etiquette to reblog every work you like, or is that spammy and you should just like them?

4) is there any other advice you have for navigating tumblr (like odd quirks)

5) ALSO this is a small dumb question but in the fandoms I've been in until now we usually used socmed au instead of smau do you have any idea why that's different (low-key smau is smarter tho bcus it's a shorter abbreviation)

I think that's all. I tried going through your rules and intro again, but I didn't see anything on whether an ask like this was alright or not, but I hope it is! I didn't want to Like intrude, but I felt most comfortable asking you because you're also desi ❤️❤️.

Anyways!! If this is something you don't want to/don't feel comfortable answering or it's like annoying genuinely just ignore this, I don't want to be make anyone uncomfortable!

omg thank you so much ml, i'm so glad you enjoyed my works!! 🥹 welcome to the kpop community first of all!! did you recently become an engene? :') and welcome to the tumblr ff community too! honestly i feel like if you can navigate ao3 just fine then tumblr shouldn't be too difficult after a while but i'm sure it's confusing at first 😵‍💫

as for your questions i'll answer them in the same order you asked them:

1. honestly i'm not 100% sure if there's any real purpose behind specific tags for your asks other than organization personally LOL but it's pretty helpful if you want to go back to look through your asks for something instead of scrolling past all the posts on your blog !!

2. omg yes i love the twt intros 💗 honestly for tumblr i think i just started posting content right away whenever i made a blog 🤧 i think intros are usually just in your navigation anyways but if you want to talk to different authors then it doesn't hurt to send an ask!! usually people communicate with different authors via the ask box 🥰

3. all sorts of interaction is great but i think reblogs are preferred!! i typically use likes as my bookmarks and then reblogs to comment on work or share it to a wider audience. the algorithm for tumblr works so that your likes don't show for others (unless you make it public on your profile) but your reblogs are on the dashes of people who follow you

4. ooh i'd say make use of the tagging system!! using tags like #enhypen fluff or #enhypen x reader on your fics will make it easier for people to find your work 💘

5. HAHAH I USED TO CALL IT SOCMED AU TOO BEFORE I JOINED TUMBLR 😭 i still use social media au as a tag but i think smau is more widely used here!! not exactly sure why but im guessing its just easier to tag 🙂‍↕️ i get you tho bc i experienced the same culture shock

dont worry you're most welcome to send asks !! 🥰💘 and thank you for reading my rules and intro!! i definitely don't turn away anyone who's looking for advice <33 also omg fellow desi 🫶 welcome to enhablr !

[irvinis]

Thanks for responding 😊

I was browsing your posts just before and I was wondering, how come these amazingly done artworks don’t have many many more notes? I’m particularly fond of your thin dark duke art, my heart grew a couple of sizes when I saw it on Instagram and I came to your tumblr to find the art to reblog but got distracted with David’s beautiful eyes and your post lol.

I fully agree with your analysis of their exchange of energy, sounds on point 🥹 please feel free to share more of your d/m thoughts if you felt like it. I LOVE seeing that kind of content on my dash so very much 😊

Thank you for your kind words @avengersnewb! This is apparently how the algorithm of Tumblr, and indeed any social network, works. Popularity is unpredictable - some things “take off”, but people don’t go further and one-time success does not give much coverage. My work in other fandoms was more successful. I've gotten plenty of responses from Michael in past years, but not this time, so I'd be lying if I said it didn't bother me, haha. I hope it's not because I'm crossing his personal line fingers crossed. As for the Thin Dark Duke - oh, I try not to look at this fanart. He seems to be too frank. It's quite difficult to walk the line between what you want to portray (with all the respect and love for real people) and not falling under the new oppressive laws against the queer community. Among my audience there are those who know me personally… Our “closets” take strange forms and the impossibility of leaving them. Especially if you are supposedly not non-hetero or even a political activist.

This is why I can't post D/M openly on my page, but my spontaneous cries are similar to Michael's sudden tweets.

Returning to spontaneous thoughts about D and M. I don’t know if you watched the premiere of Fellow Travelers. This was practically the first serious project of this kind that I watched after “GO”. So, in my opinion, the chemistry between the characters in the series is really very powerful and the candid scenes create a feeling of great intimacy. It can be assumed that the actors have a special relationship. But watching their joint promotional sessions and interviews, you notice the respectful, friendly distance they keep from each other (especially Matt Bomer, who tries to mention his husband as often as possible). And it made a huge impression on me compared to D/M. Now it seems to me more and more that “GO2” was one big date (of course this is not a reproach to the acting or talent!).

[northwest-cryptid]

I believe I've finally figured out why this website feels so exhausting to me. It's a few reasons but they all sort of funnel down into the same sort of "overall thing" which is that you're not allowed.

Allowed to what? Anything.

No no, stay with me a moment here let me explain.

See Tumblr doesn't really have an algorithm outside of the "For You" tab, everything you see is funneled into your dash through the people you follow, and by extension the people they follow, and then their dashboard is populated by the people they follow. What this means is that you don't have a lick of real privacy here.

That's true for most of the internet, however if I make my own website, host my own blog; and write my own thoughts and opinions there. It's a pretty clear concept that what I'm writing is mostly for me, secondarily for you as the reader; and ultimately not for "everyone" which is fine.

What we have on tumblr is essentially a huge open forum, where anyone can add anything; to any post. Which isn't inherently the issue, but you've got so many smaller fandoms, communities, and politically aligned groups who believe whatever the hot topic of the week is.

Which, for all the nuance people want to put forth in issues like "do you like coffee" becoming "I only like certain kinds" or "I only like certain flavors" or "I only like it cold!" Suddenly becomes a no nuance "no actually coffee is bitter." If you dare to say "well not all coffee is bitter" you're labeled with "oh look they said #Not All Coffee!" You're sent anon hate, you're ridiculed and dragged through the mud for stating something. It doesn't matter how right you might be either, if it's not popular to side with you; people won't do so.

Obviously my coffee question metaphor is a sort of blanket example that is meant to encompass a broader topic of discussion. We don't talk about the nuance of issues, everything is black and white; and furthermore people act like they want to.

But because it's an open forum for everyone, someone from an opposing side of the argument, or someone who doesn't like what you're saying or how much attention it's getting; can easily toss in their two cents.

Your only option to stop this? Disable reblogs from everyone, stop the conversation with you. Isolate yourself to the point using SOCIAL media is all but pointless. I have enjoyed using this website significantly less after having to turn off asks and submissions, but can you blame me when I was actively getting hate and annoying remarks on the daily?

Now normally I'd argue "hey if that many people don't like me maybe I'm doing or saying something wrong!" Thing is, it's not like I've not reflected on that; when I get some form of hate, I tend to do my best to ignore the actual hate and focus on what's trying to be said under the layers of "go kill yourself." Typically it's "I don't like what you're saying" or "you said too much and I didn't bother reading it all because I have TikTok brain!" However there's a handful of times when people actually do explain their side of the argument politely and I can sort of learn that this isn't the place to talk about certain things.

Like when I openly talk about how porn addiction isn't real, I get a lot of people saying they themselves are victims of it. Yea fam I thought I used to be as well, and then I educated myself about what addiction really is; and understood the nuance of the situation:

To put it plainly, addiction is when your brain chemistry is physically changed in a way where you form a genuine dependency on the substance that changed it. This change can be temporary or permanent; which means something like coffee can be actually addicting since it can even temporarily make you dependent on the caffeine to function.

However, did you know; that there's literally no way to change your brain chemistry with pornography? Yea believe it or not, that's a total myth. That being said it's not a myth that masturbation does release dopamine and generally can help people suffering from a lack of dopamine; typically this involves people who are depressed.

This is a two fold thing, since if you're not literally ace your brain likely produces hormones that tell you that you're supposed to be reproducing; which means it will more easily motivate you to masturbate than say, play a video game or listen to music.

You brain isn't just concerned with producing dopamine, it's just hardwired for survival of the species; so you can easily get yourself to jack off but god forbid you try to do something fun with your time. Depression is just sort of like that; you lack the motivation to do much of anything, so falling back on masturbation for a quick hit of dopamine is easy.

Now this causes a feedback loop where you find the easiest, and most effective method of keeping yourself happy is to watch porn and jack off. That's not a clinical addiction; that's just literally the nature of your brain at work.

Why do I say all of this? Because this is the sort of thing I can't talk about on this site; not without 50 random anon messages either agreeing with me or telling me this is a women's issue and I shouldn't talk on it "as a man." Which is fun because I thought we were all supportive of LGBT but it turns out I'm not a valid NB because I don't shave my facial hair or something.

We don't discuss the nuance, we don't actually bother to read and understand what each other have to say; we just get mad about shit constantly. How dare you have an opinion that I don't have.

We say buzz words are bad, but then we use buzz words when they benefit us.

We say generalization is bad when it applies to the LGBT, or PoC but you know; those white people and cis and christians are all the same... right?

Talking on this site is like walking through a mine field; my mutuals might politely just go about their day, or maybe even agree with me. God forbid my post "breach containment" I start getting messages from people I don't even know. People start commenting and reblogging on my posts to yell at me about shit I literally covered already.

I can literally say "I don't think this is bad, but I think it's a bit more nuanced than this and we need to look at it from this angle too" and I'll get comments saying "I can't believe you think this is bad!" To which I just kind of sit there wondering how you somehow couldn't be fucked to actually read what I said and understand it.

I know we joke about the reading comprehension on this site, but I am serious when I say people will READ what I say; but not COMPREHEND what I say. I didn't understand how or why that was happening for a long time and now I think I finally get it.

It's because this site is all about knee-jerk emotional reaction response.

Don't tell me it's not, think about it; every time someone on this site needs help or financial aid what are the first words you see?

Typically it's some form of their entire label chain "help a lesbian, genderfluid, PoC, with [Disabilities] pay rent!" Not just "Hey I lost my job and need help paying my bills" Like dude I'd help if I could in either scenario but when you lead in with literally like 10 random labels I have to wonder if maybe you're trying to say "we're the same you and I, we come from the same community" or if you're trying to say "you get woke points for helping ME because I'm not just some cis white straight guy!" It feels like borderline guilt tripping.

When we see posts about how "love language" is fake, I'm literally told "it was invented by some CHRISTIAN MAN so he could PRESSURE his POOR WIFE into SEX!" Like whoa boy that's one hell of a claim; even if it's true that's still a bit of an emotionally charged statement you know?

It's like, well sure; I'd love to talk about how the concept of love languages isn't entirely false. To say that is to ignore that people love in different ways, and feel loved in different ways. Let's not even get me started, as someone who became hypersexual thanks to being sexually abused (and yes I am in fact amab, and was in fact groomed by a cis woman when I was a minor; and she was a 26 year old in the navy. Later I was again sexually abused by a cis woman when I was a few years older.) On the topic of the whole "people pressure others into sex saying it's the only way they feel worth and love." Like alright yea let's literally not perhaps look into that trauma response and maybe try to help these people live normal lives.

It's the same way I see people talk about pornography. They go off about the porn industry being extremely horrible towards women. Which like, yea it absolutely can be; and mostly is. There's no mention of the way we view men, and how the way the media portrays men is just as harmful to young boys with self esteem issues and all that. We don't talk about how stupid the idea of dick size mattering is; no we in fact reinforce negative amab issues by saying "that's small dick energy bro" and the like. You bring that up and people will say you're ignoring women's issues; absolutely the fuck I'm not? I'm just trying to make you aware the problem is actually larger than just that. "Oh but we're just focusing on this right now" right, that's fine; but you're literally ignoring the other problems.

It's like how when people bring up how there's bans on pornography or, how people view pornography we always have to make it about how this effects the LGBT before people care. We go around saying "sex work is real work" but then we also go "these poor women on OnlyFans who are FORCED to do sex work need to be saved uwu" meanwhile I know a LOT of women who enjoy doing work on OnlyFans, and who hit me up to be their manager because I have a reputation as being a chill dude who can help them grow their numbers. I have a lot of connections in NSFW spaces and yes believe it or not sex work IS in fact real work; which is why like we should probably actually focus on the real industry problems. The women and even men being harmed by this are not typically your OnlyFans indies; but your industry people.

This is like how if I bring up the stigma on pornography I'm labeled poorly for it, I'm told I'm misogynistic which like, I don't believe I am; but believe it or not I have done a lot of self reflection on it. I even went around to a lot of women I know and sat down with them to talk about whether or not they believed I was misogynistic or if I had some form of unnoticed internalized misogyny. Do you know what those women (and yes, some were in fact; as we say here on tumblr transwomen) had to tell me? They literally told me that I need to chill the fuck out and get off tumblr because it was only contributing to my anxiety.

You're not allowed to talk about things on this site, because you're not allowed to be wrong. You're not allowed to grow and change, you're not allowed to have a flawed opinion that needs to be workshopped with some other people who could talk with you on the subject. You're not allowed to be given kindness, you're not allowed to speak up on issues that matter to you.

It's how I speak up on Native issues, even more specifically sometimes Lakota issues. Only to have other Natives and even other Lakota disagree with me; and then a bunch of their followers dogpile into my inbox to tell me how stupid and wrong and bad I am for having lived the experience of being a "breed" back during a time when racism in Native communities was much more rampant than it still is.

On this site you're told how bad and wrong and sad it is, that we as people have been reduced to being "content creators" who have to make the most palatable entertainment for the masses. Then you speak to a niche, say something about your lived experience; or simply have an opinion and whoops there it is. You're now public enemy number 1, all those posts about how it's rotten and evil and wrong to tell someone to kill themself? That doesn't matter anymore, not to the dozens of anons in your inbox who have found "slightly more creative ways" to say the same thing.

You either get to be an aesthetics blog, who never has an opinion, or a voice of their own; and you get to keep your ask box open and enjoy being toted around as a good person and shit. Or you speak your mind and immediately get labeled by someone as something.

Tumblr is no better than twitter in this regard, it's no better than reddit; it's not even any better than 4chan if I'm being honest. We just really don't want to admit that because there ARE a handful of us who are genuinely just chill people trying to enjoy blogging and staying in our lane. The problem comes when other people decide they're going to merge into oncoming traffic without so much as a turn signal because they revel in the discourse.

It sucks because I cannot tell you how valuable discussion and such is to me. I cannot tell you how many times I've come out here and said my piece, spoke my mind; and someone has politely come out to the post to mention things from their own angle. We have a back and forth, maybe we both learn something. I walk away with information I didn't have before, and they do as well. It's a way for us to see things from someone else's perspective. We're all unique individuals, we all have different lived experiences; we all know stuff other's do not. I value that information, the interaction we're allowed to have as human beings who can communicate.

This website however does not.

It feels strongly like this website merely wants to tell me to shut up and kill myself.

But hey, don't worry I'll probably reblog a funny video of a cat; or wholesome anime picture; or a funny meme in 2 minutes and we'll all just move on with our day.

[heliza24]

For me, figure skating seems still like such a niche interest despite it being so much of my life, and I know some (well 2) Olympic skaters. To see someone's post on my dash and it be skating always throws me through a loop.

Oh that's so funny! It's nice to find another fan! Now I need to know who your favorite skaters are, if you skate yourself, and which olympians you know! Please fill me in. I'm gonna use your ask as an excuse to talk about skating a little bit.

I started watching figure skating in the 2018 Olympics and just never stopped. (The algorithm served me some Virtue/Moir clips and the rest was history.) It's the only sport I follow, which honestly tracks for someone very into art and not that into sports :D

Dance is definitely my favorite discipline because it's the most expressive- despite the judging occasionally being extremely rigged. I have so many opinions about the different dance teams and their programs haha. I like pairs a lot too and then with singles I have specific skaters I like and will seek out to watch. If I had to pick a favorite from every discipline it would probably be Gilles/Poirier, Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps, Jason Brown, and either Kaori Sakomoto or Loena Hendrickx.

I've never skated myself but I did dance for years before I became disabled, so skating is a nice medium place for me-- it scratches the same itch as dance, but it doesn't make me feel sad in the same way dance does.

I haven't posted much about skating on here/dipped into the tumblr figure skating community at all until now but maybe I'll start!

P.S. I've always secretly wanted someone to skate to Simon's song or one of Omar's songs. I'm not sure they would make the most competitive program but I would enjoy it!

[lysitheatheglasscannon]

I read on here once that “tumblr doesn’t have an algorithm.” Being as I am still newish to tumblr and don’t know much at all, I figured that was true. I fully admit that idk what I am doing. But that was then.

Now, now I know whoever said that was tripping. Because I like ONE mob psycho post bc it’s funny, and now it’s all I see. (I have never seen mob psycho and have no idea what it’s about.) Before that, it was pretty cure or whatever the heck it’s called. Never seen it, know nothing. Then Superman/Batman and their kids or whatever (look, I haven’t seen anything DC related ever. Idk). I haven’t been involved in Apothecary Diaries for a bit- have purposefully NOT liked anything because the story pissed me off- and I STILL get posts on my dash about it.

Tumblr does too have some kind of algorithm.

[xpressluna]

The Only 7 Signs of AI Writing You Need to Remove in Your Text

With the rise of AI-generated content, readers and algorithms alike have grown more adept at spotting machine-written text. Whether you're using AI to brainstorm, write, or edit, it's crucial to humanize the final product. In this article, we break down the seven telltale signs of AI writing and show you exactly how to eliminate them for more authentic, trustworthy, and engaging content.

Overuse of Generic or Vague Language

The problem: AI tends to rely on safe, overly broad phrases like "In today's world," "It is important to note," or "This can be beneficial in many ways." These filler phrases add little value and make content feel impersonal or padded.

The fix: Replace vague language with specific, concrete ideas. Use real-world examples, statistics, or case studies that reflect your experience or knowledge.

✅ Instead of: "Technology is important in many industries." ✅ Try: "Hospitals now rely on AI-powered diagnostic tools to detect diseases earlier and more accurately."

Repetitive Sentence Structures

The problem: AI often produces multiple sentences with identical rhythms, like:

"AI is changing healthcare. AI is improving education. AI is helping businesses grow."

This makes your writing sound robotic.

The fix: Vary your sentence lengths and structures. Use compound and complex sentences. Mix short, punchy statements with longer, descriptive ones.

Lack of Personal Voice or Tone

The problem: AI-generated content can feel flat or generic because it lacks a unique voice, humor, emotion, or strong opinion.

The fix: Inject your personality. Share anecdotes, use rhetorical questions, or include emotional or expressive language when appropriate.

✅ Try adding:

"I remember testing my first AI tool and being both amazed and terrified—like watching magic with a manual."

Unnatural Transitions Between Paragraphs

The problem: AI can struggle with flow. Paragraphs might feel disconnected, jumping from topic to topic without logical bridges.

The fix: Use clear, transitional phrases that guide the reader from one idea to the next. Check the logic between paragraphs. Does the next point naturally follow from the one before it?

✅ Use transitions like:

“Building on that idea…” “In contrast…” “To illustrate this further…”

Too Formal or Stiff Tone

The problem: AI often defaults to academic or overly formal language that doesn't suit most blog posts, marketing copy, or conversational articles.

The fix: Write like you're talking to a friend or colleague. Use contractions ("it's" instead of "it is") and casual language if appropriate for your audience.

✅ Instead of: "It is imperative to acknowledge the significance of content strategy." ✅ Try: "You can’t skip content strategy if you want results—it’s that important."

Lack of Errors or "Too Perfect" Grammar

The problem: Ironically, flawless grammar and punctuation can make writing seem robotic. Humans make small stylistic choices, break grammar rules for voice, or use slang and sentence fragments.

The fix: Intentionally add human-like quirks. Use em dashes, ellipses, or sentence fragments for style and rhythm.

✅ Example:

"It was fast. Too fast, honestly. Like someone hit 'turbo mode' and forgot to turn it off."

No Clear Perspective or Argument

The problem: AI writing often hedges. It avoids taking a stand and fills space with neutral observations. As a result, the text may lack a strong thesis or point of view.

The fix: Make your opinion clear. Take a stance. Readers trust and engage with confident, well-supported arguments.

✅ Instead of: "Some people think AI is useful, while others worry about its risks." ✅ Try: "AI is already reshaping our lives, and ignoring its impact is no longer an option."

[charleyad]

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who's the Most Stylish of Them All?

In the not-so-hilarious comedy that is my life, the eternal quest for the perfect hairdo has often been a tumultuous experience. The clippers have sung their victorious song as I've watched, helplessly, strands of hair fall to the floor in a regular hair-mageddon. Yet, the siren call of a fresh cut lures me back, time and again. Enter iFoto's AI Hairstyle—the digital demigod of do's, offering a lifeline to the style-challenged like myself.

Let's paint a picture, shall we? The clock strikes three in the morning, and there I am, a bleary-eyed zombie, combing through hair tutorials that promise miracles. The kind where you look like a cover model without stepping foot in a salon. How naive of me to believe that life is just one DIY tutorial away from being a movie montage. Enter stage left: iFoto's AI Hairstyle. A beacon of hope, or so I thought, in the of bad hair days.

So, how does this magical contraption work? Well, it's like playing a high-stakes game of dress-up, except with hair. You upload a pic—your mug, your noggin, that adorable photo where you think you look like a movie star. Then, with a few clicks and the hum of AI algorithms, you're virtually swapping your bedhead for a sleek pixie cut, a flowing mane, or the man bun that you've always dreamed of but were too scared to ask for.

The beauty of this AI Hairstyle is that it's free. Free like the birds, free like the wind, free like the feeling you get when you realize you've spent the last hour trying on virtual hair instead of, oh, I don't know, sleeping. iFoto doesn't judge. It doesn't laugh. It just simulates, and in a weird way, that's comforting.

But let's get down to brass tacks. We all know that a picture is worth a thousand words, but how many of those words are, "Whoa, that looks fantastic?" versus "What was I thinking?" With iFoto's AI Hairstyle, you can have a few goes at the 'do without the salon's cold, hard stare and the expensive price tag that comes with it.

But here's the rub: as much as I want to believe that these virtual hairstyles are a crystal ball into the future of my coiffure, they're not foolproof. They're the digital equivalent of that friend who swears you'd look great with a mohawk. You try it, and suddenly you're the star of a bad episode of "What Not to Wear." But hey, at least you didn't pay for that mohawk. Thanks, iFoto.

I've spent countless moments marveling at my reflection, think abouting the age-old question: "Is this what I really look like, or is the AI playing a cruel joke on me?" The AI Hairstyle feature doesn't just change your hair; it messes with your mind. It's like looking into a funhouse mirror, except the mirror is telling you that you could be a hair model if you just took the leap. seductive, isn't it?

Now, don't get me wrong. The idea that I can experiment with hair that I'd never dare to try in real life is like a door to a brave new world. But every time I close that virtual door, I'm hit with the stark reality of my reflection in the actual mirror. It's a cruel, cruel world when your fantasy hair is just a digital mirage.

As I continue to toggle between my real-life frizz and my virtual fantasy, I can't help but wonder: What if I actually took the plunge and got that mohawk? Or the buzz cut? Or the flowing locks? Would the AI Hairstyle simulator have prepared me for the looks on the subway, or would I still be that person who tried something too bold and is nowing?

In the end, iFoto's AI Hairstyle is both a savior and a tease. It offers a tantalizing glimpse into the world of hair without commitment, but it also serves as a stark reminder that the grass isn't always greener on the other side—or in this case, the hair isn't always thicker or thinner or curlier or straighter. It's a digital playground where dreams are made, and occasionally, where they're dashed.

So, as I step away from the virtual mirror and back into reality, I can't help but laugh—or at least chuckle—a hollow, bittersweet chuckle at the absurdity of it all. The AI Hairstyle feature may not have given me the perfect hairdo, but it sure did give me a tale to tell.