#dont know how to have social interaction that benefits both parties

[gnc-tits]

okay i overcompensate adhd wise by being extremely cautious of cutting ppl off to the point where i dont rlly speak and ive been trying to work on that but man some ppl are just so rude and will literally just cut me off mid sentence like when im clearly in the middle of saying something and its like oh okay. so this is not an actual conversation this is just a you give me prompts i answer in a brief sentence and then you direct the speaking exchange. like. and i GET that its small talk but holy shitttt like im not fuckin. performing a monologue im like trying to speak and have a personality or something and then that information is used by the other person to continue the conversation like its a back and forth kind of thing holy shit im going to become the joker

[yizhou-time]

A RANT ON MINORS AND NSFW POSTS

This is a quick one but I feel like it needs to be said because it’s getting out of hand for not just writers but also minors. As much as we don’t want minors reading NSFW content it’s basically impossible for a number of reasons:

1) The ATEEZ writing community is full of it. Whether people write it because it performs well or they enjoy it, it’s everywhere. It’s becoming rare to see SFW posts in the main two tags (ateez x reader, ateez imagines) and when people are trying to look for something to read and that’s all there is they’re going to read it. It’s basically become downright porn plastered everywhere, what else are they going to read?

2) It’s not being tagged as NSFW or MINORS DONT INTERACT. For whatever reason people aren’t tagging it and it’s just really weird. Even as an adult I don’t want to read NSFW stuff and yet when it’s untagged I come across it (the whole reason I decided to write this is because I was reading a fic this morning that jumps into smut without warning). You can say people choose what they read and if they ignore the tags it's on them but when it's not being tagged as such it's not like people have a choice. I’m an adult and I know when to stop, some minors will just keep reading.

3) a) People are tagging it wrong. Calling smut suggestive when they’re having actual sex is crazy. Some people have been tagging it as a SMAU which means social media au, kids will read that thinking they’re going to see some fake twitter or fake messages and they’re met with smut instead.

3) b) People are using other tags (ateez angst, ateez fluff) for smut. Regardless of if there’s plot keep smut out of those tags so they can be used correctly.

4) Some authors don’t block faceless/blank/ageless blogs (even when they say they have a rule for it). On any site (including YouTube when it comes to age restricted content) age can be verified with a press of a button before the viewer can start watching or you can simply change the year you were born in, but it then argues that they can read what they want here regardless of how it makes an author feel because they can do it online. They can talk to an author in DM and through their Inbox, they can’t talk to a pornstar so they’ll never know or have that lurking feeling. Block people that you aren’t sure of, even if they’re a big account or your post is doing well, it’s not worth it when there’s kids reading it.

5) Some authors don’t display their own age. This is a short one but I know so many NSFW authors who aren’t displaying their age and yet other writers still interact with them, going against their own ageless/faceless blog rule, for what I don’t know. That could be a 14 year old or a 40 year old and we don’t even know who’s in their Inbox.

6) There’s no one controlling what content the minor is reading. Although we can’t do anything about that that doesn’t mean we can’t do what we can, they may read it anyway, but if you look at the contributing factors there is something we as a community can do.

I'm well aware this post is giving them the benefit of the doubt but can you blame a kid for acting like one? As much as we get mad at them for reading NSFW posts for whatever reasons at the end of the day we have to be doing something about it too. Both parties should take responsibility and try to combat it.

This is in no way a targeted post so if you choose to ignore it and feel that you’re not part of the problem or you’re just not interested, that’s fine I won't be offended but I strongly urge to think about if you relate to even just one of the point and then do something about it.

I'm well aware that this is a sensitive topic that doesn't get spoken about because it just isn't or when it is spoken about it gets shut down by people who accidently read it the wrong way. This post isn't to hurt or upset people or accuse anyone of anything bad, just pointing out some things we could all collectively do better. If you do believe this post has hurt you or I’ve said anything that has come across offensive to you please message me about it so I can know what I did wrong!

[thequietkid-moonie]

Best friends w/ Ruan Mei

[ HEADCANONS ] [ Honkai Star Rail ]

I love Ruan Mei, she is beautiful, powerful, a mad scientist, autistic what else can you ask for????

Okay, i dont like what she have done to the little baby cakes but I already forgive her because we take care of them BUT I WILL NOT FORGIVE HER FOR MAKING ME FIGHT WITH THAT MONSTER!!! BITCH YOU KNOW HOW MUCH ATTEMPTS IT TAKE ME KILL THAT THING!!!

Ruan Mei is a hermit, she lives held in her own experiments and investigation, despite being well know in the scientific community is quite difficult to get to know her in person

If you were someone from the genious society or even just work at Herta Space Station the chances for you two to meet are higher, but still is more likely that you two won't interact much unless you can offer her some kind of help or even represent academics value, otherwise is more likely that Ruan Mei won't even glance at you

It can be quite difficult to deal with Ruan Mei, not because she is usually mean or rude but because she doesn't see the need or importance on relate to others and when she does interact with others she just act the way she things she should since she doesn't quite understand emotions or social interactions

Being able to become friends with Ruan Mei has being a surprise for everyone, and still she doesn't make a big deal out of it, after being able to interact with you for a while and had analyzed your personality and what she feels she just reached the conclution that this relationship make her feel good, make her quite happy and even help her with her experiments in indirect ways, besides it helps her get to know a little bit more about humanity so she thinks is only right to keep this relationship

Ruan Mei thinks that relationship are based on what both parts can get from the other part, but since you had already proved that you bring her a lot of benefits is only right that now Ruan Mei offer you something too, so with that your friendship start to grow in a quite unique way

No matter how much time you two have being together or how close your relasionship is Ruan Mei will always think that she must give you something in exchange of what she recives from you, so she is constantly offering you help or little gifts

In name of your friendship Ruan Mei and you often take tea and desserts together, she grow to appreciate your company so at some point she start planing little tea parties for you two to just chat, always willing to heard you out and talk about anything, her research, her plans, her past, ask you if you need help on anything or even hear you talk about your own job (specially if you are from the genious society, she will be quite interested on your work and to know how is that Nous had set their sight on you), she will even be happy to just talk about trivial things like your favorite flavor of cake

One of the signs that can show that Ruan Mei have grow to like you and see you as a really good friend is that she actively talks to you, she is a totally hermit and just concentrate in her work, but when she start to send you more messages just to talk to you or even ask your opinion, sometimes asking you for some help sometime when she has doubts or doesn't fully understand (more probably with things like the emotions), you can tell that you have win her trust and her friendship with those little hints, even so she still constantly give you little gifts like rewards for being a good friend

Ruan Mei doesn't has moral or limits when it comes to her experiments, creating all kind of creatures that can help her research but abandoning them once she doesn't see any use to them anymore, and even if you confront her about it she won't change because she just can't see them aside from their academic value, even if their are part of her she just can't think more of them, she doesn't even know how to react or see them aside form their purpose on the experiment, but if you feel bad or even like her creations Ruan Mei will be more than willing to let you keep them once she doesn't need them (wanting to help her see them in a diferent way will be a little difficult but could bring good results after a while)

Ruan Mei doesn't really like getting attached at anyone since she thinks time and live is ephemeral, just like her parents is more likely that your life will end or just will leave her somehow, she doesn't like the feeling that event give her but now that you have manage to left an impact on her she just can't just walk away from you (at the start she probably tried to do it, wanting to leave you behind and make you forget her, but that stopped when she saw the benefits of your friendship), she knows some day you'll leave her but she will be ready to accept it when it happens, hopefuly you won't leave her with the feeling of being abandoned or betrayed

[hometownrockstar]

growing up without affection or many social interactions is like in the current day you go is it ok to have a boundary of not wanting to get or give hugs to people or say i love you to them even if theyre your close friend, or is that a harmful thing to internalize that would impede growth and acceptance of receiving affection? even if it makes you uncomfortable how do you know its something you need to "deal with" to get over? how does being autistic and experiencing stuff like touch averseness or low empathy factor into it? why are there so many problems that dont seem to have an easy solution to that would benefit or satisfy both or even one of the parties?

[chiisananoinochi]

midari ikishima and the unappealing

hi everyone i have thoughts about the silly gay gambling anime after reading kakegurui midari. i am chatting to myself and i am tired so im sorry if it doesnt make sense heart emoji i think it’s really interesting how midari is the only one who has any overt 'feminist' tones to her character (defending yumeko from harrassment, and punishing ootori for her exploitative actions towards other women), and yet she's also one of the most explicitly disgusting and unappealing both in design and personality. i use 'feminist' loosely of course because of the way kakegurui is, but thats exactly why i'm here! to talk about how kakegurui is bc it's a big interest atm and i have my own feminist best interests at heart too let me just start off by saying i know judging any anime like this through a 'social justice' type of lens is ultimately redundant, because they all have flaws, and i'm not actually here to say kakegurui is bad (i enjoy it a whole lot!). i don't think it's bad, but it's no coincidence that midari, who is assertive and who takes up space, and who seems to have zero interest in men, is also made out to be the most excessive, hyperbolically disgusting, sexually unappealing character. midari's freedom from male desire (shown concisely those boys calling her a 'boner killer'!) is arguably what causes her to be characterised in this way! the other girls who are intentionally appealing (yumeko and mary, in particular) react differently, and more submissively, to their treatment. and of course to go with this they're pretty and sparkly, they're the perfect body-pillow-owning-neckbeard's fantasy. yumeko, whose charming, polite yet secretly unhinged manner makes for an ideal waifu, and mary, whose sense of justice about her own life is still noble and digestible for your average basement dweller. (i love both of them as well in their own right i am not putting them down i'm just commenting on their personalities!) they fit into more traditional, more acceptable roles for anime girls. but midari? she's none of them. midari, who demands with her manner to have her requests acknowledged! midari, who is so helplessly disgusting that not even the prim and proper yumeko can stand her, isn't noble OR digestible, and it makes her unattractive. women who take up space for themselves, who are open about their desires (this is an issue with her and i know this i'm not waiving her creepy behaviour do not get me wrong), who are loud and gross and unapologetic, as midari is - they're frowned upon. i know as well the implication that midari does these things for her own benefit - punishing ootori in an attempt to die herself, saving yumeko because of her own interest in her - but i still think it stands out that 'woman who stands up for other women in a way which is astoundingly explicit for a series of this nature' also just so happens to be a character who is incredibly cringeworthy to watch at certain moments, even more unhinged than like all of the cast combined also im not gonna leave out the gross sexual behaviour towards yumeko but i feel like i dont have to say 'i know this is bad', i'm a lesbian and im sure that people who arent lesbians who also know that kakegurui overall is not a reliable or truthful depiction of wlw relationships, despite the fact wlw seems to have reclaimed it for themselves (which i love!) on an individual basis because. the series is undeniably hella gay and honestly? i appreciate that there isn't a male protagonist in kakegurui midari OR kakegurui twin. i'm in the corpse party fandom so i'm just familiar with discussing why lesbian fetisisation is bad to a point where it is TIRING. if you want realistic, sensitive depictions of wlw relationships in anime and manga, don't turn to kakegurui. turn to lists compiled by real wlw (recommendations off the top of my head are 'goodbye, my rose garden', 'a tropical fish yearns for snow', and for people who want banging which is completely consensual and between two adults, 'our teachers are dating!') anyways midari ikishima is an underrated feminist

girlboss and im tired now. also i have never interacted with the fandom(?) in my actual life so i have no idea how midari is widely perceived by other fans of the media. also i have to sign out with 'if you dont like her thats fine' bc if i dont i'll explode thanks bye i repeated myself a lot in this xx

[ultramaga]

“Dear Sir - Don’t Let #MeToo Make You Afraid of Me“ Because if you are afraid, you might take defensive measures, instead of being a victim when it suits us. “Men appear to be afraid of me.” Feminists claim that men are the evil oppressors, yet Feminists are the ones in power, and men grovel and scrape before them. Who is oppressing whom? “ A male superior at work asked, “Is it okay to say that?” after complimenting me on a new pair of “funky” boots. “ Not at my former workplace. Compliments were banned, for fear of sexual harassment charges. Feminists put in the laws - then moved the goalposts for them to infinity. In the UK, this even extends to asking someone what time it is. “Another man apologized profusely after tapping my elbow. “ Feminists changed that to be assault, so at their whim, yes, they can destroy a man for tapping their elbow. If you see a Feminist about to fall into machinery, say nothing. It’s the only safe thing to do. " it’s more likely a sign that men are unsure of how to interact with women.” Record everything, and don’t talk to them alone. Yes, Feminists have succeeded in the goal of splitting humanity into two segregated parts. Well done. No wonder they are so keen on Sharia. “It’s an unintended consequence of the movement” Bullshit. Read “The Future is Female” to find out this has been their goal all along. They just want to keep men and women confused while they seize more and more power. " Lean In and SurveyMonkey found that nearly half of male managers are uncomfortable participating in mentoring, working alone, or socializing together with women” Only half? I guess the rest will learn. Do not mentor women, do not work alone or socialise with women from the workplace. In fact, at my old job, fraternisation was completely banned, to the point it occurred secretly only. Because women - generally - are heterosexual, and want men, and need men to make the first move, and without that cannot find love. There shall be no love in the Feminist Utopia.

Feminists do not experience love, of course, and cannot comprehend that need. They despise it in men, and think it is a result of the hypnosis of Patriarchy when they see it in women.

“ A recent Harvard Business Review study exploring the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements' impacts on creating lasting improvements in their organizations revealed some adverse reactions.” Only some? Dividing men and women, making them enemies, only has SOME ADVERSE REACTIONS? I have to wonder what the hell the benefits are to that, from a business perspective. I suppose you could sell both sides bullets? “Men and women are not talking to each other. The environment is becoming sterile and completely unenjoyable to work in,” Gosh. Who could have foreseen that?

" According to the survey, 65% of men indicated that since the movements began it’s “less safe” to mentor and coach their female colleagues. This unintentional consequence hurts the women the movement was meant to serve.”

World Ends: Women and Minorities Hardest Hit

Feminists will always spin anything that hurts men. They cannot stand seeing men being cared for. “Strangely, it’s men who aren’t doing anything wrong who are feeling needlessly nervous” Because the defence of innocence has been stripped away.

"why are so many men stumbling in their ordinary discourse and interactions with women at work? “ Because they know they are guilty until proven innocent - it is simply up to the whims of any woman as to whether they are sacked - or worse. Even with Kavanaugh, with years of failure from Feminists to find anything to destroy him with, they succeeded in poisoning the well of public opinion. Control social media, and you control the minds of the masses.

"Of course, there are bad actors still lurking in the office” Note that Feminists never admit the bad actors could be female? Only males are guilty, all women are victims, and feminists never, ever lie ... " this mistrust comes with a huge opportunity cost for working women — missing out on mentorship by men with valuable experience and skill sets to share”

If you are a woman who stood by and yawned while men had their rights stripped away, this is the future you deserve. If you are a Feminist, you cannot be surprised when the men you defecate on don’t want anything to do with you. "Imagine if someone watched you eat for week, and pointed out all the stuff that was unhealthy, but never thought to tell you about what was healthy. “ Except that they had no science behind their beliefs, just power, the power to hurt you arbitrarily. That’s what Feminism is - power without reason, power for its own sake, the power to cause pain and the lust to glory in that pain. "So, to all our male colleagues — it’s okay to compliment a haircut or outfit.” No, it’s a crime thanks to Feminism. Feminists will happily lie to you to get you to do it - then turn around and destroy you the second they feel like it. Look at how Mattress Girl acted, pursuing a man, and when he said no, pretending he had raped her. His evidence of her pursuit long after the alleged rape didn’t matter - she was supported by the University and he was hounded. "Don’t comment on how someone’s body looks, how their appearance makes you feel, or what someone should wear.” Stifle your feelings. Do not express emotion. Feminists hate that. It’s toxic masculinity for a man to ... act like a woman. " think about complimenting women for their work” Because that‘s what humans do when they are attracted to each other. Hello, work unit. Your output is: adequate. See. You. Tomorrow. [*robotic wave*]

"As for mentoring and meetings, if it’s feels uncomfortable to take a woman out to a drink, then take her to breakfast” Whatever you do, do not take her out for breakfast. There is absolutely no reason for this not to be seen as intimate behaviour. "lunch” Only if you are prepared to record it all or have a third party as a chaperone. "coffee” Oh yes, there is no possible way a feminist wouldn’t interpret asking a woman for coffee as sexual harassment. Jesus bloody Christ, this Reeves is an idiot! " If you are still uncertain, consider mentoring a pair of women or larger group and take them out together. “ Because it’s not like Feminists conspire when they want to get rid of someone.

" Let the mentee drive the relationship. “ I don’t think this moron understands what a Mentor IS. “Please tell me how often, when, and where you want to meet." Because women respect men who grovel and beg? JFC! "We need to work together more now than ever. “ You had a chance to do that. You made men your enemy. It’s a bit late to whine about it now.

Feminists decided long ago that men had no place in the world. Men are starting to wake up to that. And at some point, we are going to have to put their beliefs to the test.

But here’s the thing. It’s not the Feminists who are carrying the guns.

[princepriestandpirate]

hm it's A Lot so u can skip questions but abc's for lael !!

i did all of this out of hubris and pride so here u go enjoy

A: Aptitude1. what are your oc’s natural abilities, things they’ve been doing since young?

they’ve had a little scientist’s/engineer’s instincts from a young age! they’ve always been very smart and had a good eye for figuring out how systems and mechanical things function, through observation and taking them apart

2. what activities have they participated in?

this is so vague but like. a lot of magitech stuff? and robot fighting when they were in school. and as a kid a lot of running around in nature, exploring and observing and messing with everything. 

3. what abilities do they have that they’ve worked for?

they have a natural knack for it, but all their knowledge of robotics, magic, and nature is stuff they took upon themself to study

4. what things are they bad at?

they’re not terrible athletic, and they really havent put much effort into developing people skills. 

5. what is their most impressive talent?

probably to other people the fact that they do magitech

B: Basics1. what is their hair color?

black

2. what is their eye color?

dark brown

3. how tall are they?

about 5′7″

4. how old are they?

31

5. how much do they weigh?

no clue! im bad at figuring this stuff out. body type wise tho, they’re on the leaner side bc elf heritage but also. very squishy.

C: Comfort1. how do they sit in a chair?

almost never with both feet on the ground, at least with one leg up or crossed, sometimes with feet on the seat, but generally with limbs going wherever, one arm hooked over the seatback, etc. there is no order here

2. in what position do they sleep?

they can sleep anywhere and tend to either splay out with limbs everywhere or curl up tight around a pillow

3. what is their ideal comfort day?

hang out at home, read some books, eat their childhood favorites, and hang out with their parents, maybe fuck around out in nature for a bit

4. what is their major comfort food? why?

this chicken and vegetable soup that their dad would make for them when they were sick, it’s heavy and comforting and magically makes them feel a little bit better

5. who is the best at comforting them when down?

their parents, but in different ways– their mom does more of the physical ‘taking care of them’ stuff when comforting, and their dad gets more into the emotional comfort stuff

D: Decoration1. how would they decorate a house if they had one under their name?

they do have a house! although it’s also first and foremost a lab, but that’s pretty on brand for them anyway. it’s a lot of tools and practical stuff, and a lot of the furniture is based off of personal comfort or use rather than style. for decoration though there’s some blueprints and pictures pasted to the walls. the colors in general are warmer ones, and the place overall gives the impression of not being necessarily Nice but comfortable and lived in. it’s very much Lael’s Space

2. how would they decorate their child’s room?

they. would not have children. 

3. how do they decorate their own room?

same with the house– very comfortable and useful, pictures and diagrams pasted on the walls, and lots of space for books and knick-knacks along with work room

4. what type of clothes and accessories do they wear?

they have sort of a Style but it’s also pretty chill and comfortable, made to be moving around in their workroom or working outdoors. lots of basic light-weight short sleeve shirts or button-ups, pants w lots of pocket space, overalls, tool belts, etc. if they dress fancier it’s pretty basic and streamlined, look-wise, nothing very flashy or fancy unless it’s the holidays and someone makes them.

5. do they like makeup/nail/beauty trends?

not at all, that’s a lot of extraneous effort they’re not willing to put in, esp since they dont necessarily see a lot of other people regularly

E: External Personality1. does the way they do things portray their internal personality?

pretty much, yeah. lael doesn’t see the point in trying to put on a nice face for anyone else. they’re a little softer than they appear on the outside tho.

2. do they do things that conform to the norm?

they dont care much about the norm, but they’ll go along with some stuff for the sake if it being easier (although it’s not common for them). they always tend to grate against norms a little bit in general tho

3. do they follow trends or do their own thing?

do their own thing. they’ve always been something of an outsider, even in their own community, so they don’t see the value in trying to follow what others are doing.

4. are they up-to-date on the internet fads?

the internet doesnt exist but. no. they dont really follow fads or trends outside of their own fields, where they keep up with trends but ultimately follow their own ideas.

5. do they portray their personality intentionally or let people figure it out on their own?

in some ways, yes-- they tend to broadcast their own aggressiveness and weirdness so that people know what they’re about and stay away if they’re not interested. other stuff they let people find out on their own, esp emotional soft spots and their occasional gentleness, etc

F: Fun1. what do they do for fun?

science! studying bugs and stuff. and they like gardening a lot, and doing science on the plants. when they were younger they went out more and also participated in some robot-fighting circles in their spare time.

2. what is their ideal party?

they’d think back to the days when they lived in gelt and there were some wild parties with fellow magitechnicians their age– nowadays they’d like something a bit more chill, but a good party for them would entail hanging out and drinking with other people/friends in their field

3. who would they have the most fun with?

mostly old school friends

4. can they have fun while conforming to rules?

not really, no– they dont have to break the law, but they’re always going to rub up against restrictions. everything is more fun when you have room to explore and make a little bit of trouble

5. do they go out a lot?

nope, they live out in the country and spend a lot of time working. they went out more often when they were young, though

G: Gorgeous1. what is their most attractive external feature?

those high cheekbones!!

2. what is the most attractive part of their personality?

their passion! when they care about something they Care, and it can be a little bit infectious

3. what benefits come with being their friend?

long intellectual conversations & having a friend that will 100% fight for you if you’re close enough

4. what parts of them do they like and dislike?

this is... not something they think about a lot, i’m not sure they are terribly introspective. but i think they like their own curiosity and novel approaches to problems, and dislike some of the issues they have interacting w others (but they dont think about it too hard)

5. what parts of others do they envy?

they’ll never admit it, but they’re jealous of people who can move through social situations with a ton of ease.

H: Heat1. do they rather a hot or cold room?

cold, they’re not a big fan of the heat

2. do they prefer summer or winter?

neither, but summer slightly more just because nature is much more active

3. do they like the snow?

it’s fine. pretty but also a pain in the ass

4. do they have a favorite summer activity?

bug huntin’! exploring nature! looking at plants and wildlife! taking notes!

5. do they have a favorite winter activity?

staying inside where it’s warm and working on projects. and they complain but they don’t entirely hate the rituals of going to see family during winter holidays

I: In-the-closet1. what is their sexuality?

bi/pan, idk if they have a preference label-wise

2. have they ever questioned their sexuality?

i’m not sure if they had a lot of expectations imposed on them in terms of what’s ‘normal’ sexuality-wise, but they def came to the realization of being not-straight at some point

3. have they ever questioned their gender?

im not sure they ever had a time where they didnt see themselves as non-binary, they maybe messed around w gender as a kid but fairly quickly settled on their current state of not giving a shit

4. would/was their family be okay with them being LGBT?

what’s homophobia this is fantasy land

5. how long would/did it take for them to come out?

idk if they actually came out ever, everyone just sorta knows

J: Joy1. what makes them happy?

magitech, exploring nature, weird bugs, learning new things

2. who makes them happy?

their family, their mentor, other magitechnicians who they can talk to and share ideas w

3. are there any songs that bring them joy?

songs that their parents would sing when they were young– either as lullabies or songs their father would sing while working

4. are they happy often?

lael’s emotions go all over the place, and i don’t know if they’re truly happy super often, but they’re overall content with the shape of their life right now

5. what brings them the most joy in the world?

those moments when they’re working and finally Get something or know exactly how something needs to work

K: Kill1. have they ever thought about suicide?

not really, no

2. have they ever thought about homicide?

…..yes, but more fantasizing than intent to act on it

3. if they could kill anyone without punishment, would they? who?

they would at least seriously consider it, and it’d be either their ex or whoever fucked gil up so badly

4. who would miss them if they died?

their family, a few friends

5. who would be happy they died, anyone?

hopefully no one? lael is not someone with a few friends, but while they certainly have people who dislike them, they have very few, if any, outright enemies. (to their knowledge?)

L: Lemons1. what is their favorite fruit?

they enjoy citrus but rarely get their hands on it, living in a more temperate climate. otherwise they like sour apples a lot! and blackberries

2. what is their least favorite fruit?

not a fan of pears (it’s a texture thing + they’re a bit too sweet)

3. are there any foods they hate?

not really, most of their food-dislikes are pretty mild. 

4. do they have any food intolerances?

lael is lactose-intolerant! this does not stop them from consuming dairy products.

5. what is their favorite food?

they really like the beef stew the had when they were younger! they dont get it as often now tho, only when they get home

M: Maternal1. would they want a daughter or a son?

they don’t want kids

2. how many children do they want?

zero

3. would they be a good parent?

no, they’re too obsessed with work to take care of anyone else

4. what would they name a son? what would they name a daughter?

not only do they not want kids but they are notoriously bad at naming anything and should not be allowed to do so to an actual child.

 5. would they adopt?

nope.

N: Never Have I Ever1. what would they never do? 

i don’t think they could ever like.... willingly submit to someone else? whether that be a god or a ruler or a boss. they might go along with them in some circumstances but they could never be truly devoted to someone above them

2. what have they never done that they want to do?

3. is there anything they absolutely can’t believe people do?

kind of related to #1, they think it’s wild that people follow others w/o any questioning or thinking about it for themself. even w stuff as small as w/ reading a science book-- if lael has the ability to test something out for themself they will before they trust someone else’s perspective

4. what is the most embarrassing thing they’ve done?

once tried to impress a crush by giving them a bug. it did not go well.also that one time that they got a drunken tattoo (altho i dont think they regret it-- they just don’t show it off)

5. have they done anything they thought they’d never do?

lael never really thought of themself as the type to be a teacher, so the fact that they want to and are going to try to teach some stuff to arabella is unexpected for them, even if they themself suggested the idea

O: Optimism1. are they optimistic or pessimistic?

i think they alternate depending on the situation? they tend to be pessimistic when it comes to people and their motives, but optimistic in regards to progress/science/their own work

2. are they openly optimistic, throwing it on others?

they aren’t very openly optimistic, it only really shines through when they start talking about the future of magitech or some shit

3. are they good at giving advice?

not at all! unless it’s help with a project, then maybe. dont go them to them for personal advice though-- most of the good advice they have is just verbatim from other people

4. is there anyone in their life that throws optimism on them?

their parents, esp their dad, are much more optimistic about things

5. were they always optimistic?

they’ve always been pretty optimistic about certain things, like magitech. but they learned pretty young to not be optimistic about others, and they became even more pessimistic in that area as time has gone on

P: Personality1. what is their best personality trait?

their intense love of knowledge and passion for their work

2. what is their worst personality trait?

they’re kind of an asshole and care very little about what others think of them, for better or worse. 

3. what of their personality do others love?

dm quote: “Other magitechnicians admire their ingenuity and focus, Gil and their parents love their quiet dedication and the joy they take in their passions”

4. what of their personality do others envy?

the fact that they seem to care very little of others’ opinions of them

5. do they hate anything about their personality/about other’s personalities?

they tend to dislike others who are ‘fake’ and not straightforward with their intentions. as for themself, the fact that they do not have a lot of self control, ESPECIALLY when it comes to their shit taste in romantic partners

Q: Questions1. do they ask for help?

not often, if they can avoid it, but at the end of the day they’re more concerned w progress than pride

2. do they ask questions in class?

they’re the type of kid to ask too many questions in class, actually

3. do they answer questions that make them a little uncomfortable?

they might, but they’ll generally call out the other person for asking uncomfortable questions as well

4. do they ask weird questions?

very! they did moreso as a kid, they’ve developed SOME tact now

5. are they curious?

oh yeah they’re SUPER curious about stuff, but only when it’s in their field of interest (ex: they dont care much about gossip at all, not when cool bugs exist)

R: Rules1. do they follow rules?

only when it benefits them or it aligns with their own beliefs.

2. would they be a strict or laid-back parent?

they would… not be a parent. but if they were, a fairly distant and laid back one.

3. have they ever been consequenced for breaking a rule?

almost definitely, but mostly stuff like “taking worms inside the house” or “getting in fights w others” (rarely) or generally being a weird chaotic shit as a kid. they break less rules now but mostly bc they care about keeping their job

4. have they broken any rules they now regret breaking?

hm. i don’t think so. they’re not the type to have many regrets.

5. do they find any rules they/others follow absolutely ridiculous?

they have Thoughts about some Taliare rules that limit magitechnicians and impede progress. they also have issues w bureaucracy in general

S: Streets1. are they street-smart?

they are generally pretty good at reading others and judging their intentions, but they’ve def focused more attention on book-smarts

2. would they give money to someone on the streets?

honestly? probably not, but more out of not wanting to interact with strangers than any sort of malice

3. have they ever gotten in a fight on the streets?

realistically absolutely yes, once as a kid and one or two times when they were going through their first round of magitech school.

4. has anything happened to them on the streets?

they probably got pickpocketed once or twice in gelt

5. are they cautious when out?

only a bit, but they’re very capable of protecting themself if it comes down to it (they’ve got a knife! and magic!)

T: Truth1. are they honest?

on principle, and sometimes to a fault

2. can they tell if someone is lying?

usually yeah, they can get a good read on others

3. is it obvious when they’re lying?

they rarely lie they, so they don’t have a ton of practice at it, and i think someone who knows them well or is pretty intuitive they’d be able to pick up on it

4. have they lied about anything they regret lying about?

i don’t think they lie enough for this to be the case? it’s mostly white lies if anything

5. have they told truths that have been spread against their will?

nope, not really.

U: Underdog1. have they been bullied?

when they were younger, yes. partially bc of being a half elf in an almost entirely human town (which made them a very easy target) and partially bc they were just a weird fucking kid

2. have they bullied anyone?

they’ve been MEAN to people but not actively bullied anyone. they did break a kid’s nose once but he deserved it.

3. have they been physically attacked by a bully?

i dont think so, i think it was more teasing and ostracism. any physical attacks were pretty mild or on their possessions. i think once someone tried to get physical but they were scared off by the only other non-human in town (besides lael’s dad), an older half-orc boy named Cyrus, and they never tried to attack lael again.

4. have they ever been doubted?

i mean, yes almost definitely, altho i cant give u an example

5. have they surprised people with being good at something?

i feel like when they were young and first showed talent w magitech they surprised some ppl. also, when they lived in gelt i think the fact they knew so much about nature and medicine was unexpected to ppl who just met them, but for anyone who knew them well it wouldnt be surprising at all

V: Vomit1. do they vomit often?

not really, unless they’re sick

2. do they get lots of stomach aches?

not really, they dont eat particularly out-there food and their stomach isnt overly sensitive

3. are they good at comforting someone ill?

lael isn’t good at comforting period, they’re more the type to just go through necessary medical stuff but they do not have very good bedside manner.

4. what do they like as far as comfort goes?

they like to be in a place they’re comfortable, like home, and with people that Get them, w like a nice blanket, and more physical affection than usual.

5. do they burp, cough, or hiccup most when nauseous? when vomiting?

i do not know or care

W: Water1. do they drink enough water?

they probably forget while they’re working. their mom gets on them about this when they come home tho

2. have they learned to swim?

probably only the very basics, they dont live around any large bodies of water so they’re not super proficient

3. do they like to swim?

not really

4. can they dive?

o def not

5. can they swim without holding their nose?

i would hope so?

X: Xylophone1. what is their favorite genre of music?

i don’t know if they’re super up to date on music? in a modern day setting they’d be into all sorts of electronic music tho

2. do they have a favorite song?

again, not modern day so idk

3. do they have a favorite band/artist/singer?

not in-game, but they’d probably be very into all sorts of weird electronic music and lo-fi stuff that mixes ‘real’ sounds, like snail’s house

4. can they sing well?

oh no they’re not very good at it at all

5. can they rap?

….probably not

Y: You1. how old were you when you created them?

21! i made them this year

2. what inspired you to create them?

i figured if i was gonna play a character in a magitech universe i wanted them to be related to that in some way. basically they were created with the idea of “i want to play a character with a robot arm” and literally their entire backstory and personality is descended from that fact. 

the other thing is that i was learning about biomimicry-technology in german class and i thought it’d be cool to have an engineer character that very much loved and was influenced by nature

3. were they different when they were first created?

oh i first thought that their personality would be more stoic and distant, but in reality the most core thing about their personality is how fucking passionate they are about things

4. do you enjoy writing them more than other characters?

again, i dont really love playing one character more than others, i just love them for different reasons! but lael is particularly fun to play because it’s fun to not worry much about coming off as “nice” to others, and also I Love Magic. it’s also fun to play someone so passionate about their studies and work bc i can channel myself into that!

5. what’s your favorite thing about them?

man honestly it’s that aforementioned passion that they have for what they do, and their endless curiosity about how things work and how to make them better

Z: Zebra1. what’s their favorite animal?

spiders!!! they love creepy crawlys and bugs in general though

2. do they like animals?

yes but more in a scientific way than a ‘wants to have a lot of pets’ way. and it’s generally more reptiles/insects/arachnids than furry animals

3. cats or dogs?

cats

4. what’s their dream pet?

a tarantula! or a cool lizard

5. do they have any pets at the moment?

nah, but they have plants

[patriotsnet]

Are Republicans Trying To Cut Social Security

New Post has been published on https://www.patriotsnet.com/are-republicans-trying-to-cut-social-security/

Are Republicans Trying To Cut Social Security

The Republican Record On Social Security

Huff Post Reporter: Biden’s documented history of trying to cut social security

1935: Almost all Republicans in Congress oppose the creation of Social Security.

1939: 75 percent of Republicans in Senate try to kill legislation providing Social Security benefits to dependents and survivors as well as retired workers.

1950: 79 percent of House and 89 percent of Senate Republicans vote against disability insurance to defeat it.

1956: 86 percent of Republicans in Senate oppose disability insurance; program approved nonetheless.

1964: Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater and future president Ronald Reagan both suggest that Social Security be made voluntary.

1965: 93 percent of Republicans in House and 62 percent in Senate vote to kill Medicare.

1977: 58 percent of Senate votes against amendment to provide semiannual increases.

1977: 88 percent of Republicans in House and 63 percent in Senate vote against an increase in Social Security payroll tax needed to keep the system solvent.

1981: President Reagan proposes $35 billion in Social Security cuts over the next 5 years. The cuts would have included the elimination of student benefits, lump-sum death benefits, and a retroactive elimination of the $122 minimum benefit for three million recipients.

1981: Reagan administration begins a wholesale review of the Social Security Disability rolls, resulting in over 560,000 eligibility investigations in 1982 360,000 more than the year before. Ultimately, at least 106,000 families were removed from the rolls.

Republicans Aren’t Going To Take Away Social Security

Without beating around the bush, the Republican Party is often associated as being the party of the well-to-do — and the rich typically aren’t reliant in any way on Social Security income. There’s, therefore, been a long-running belief that Republicans would aim to do away with Social Security sometime in the future. This is nothing more than another in a long line of pervasive Social Security myths.

Both Democrat and Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill have an understanding of the importance that Social Security plays in keeping some 22 million people currently receiving benefits above the federal poverty line. Though both parties may have suggested tweaking how revenue is generated for the program, neither party would remove or replace any of the three funding sources: the payroll tax on earned income, the taxation of benefits, and interest income on the program’s asset reserves.

In other words, no Republican is going to advocate scraping Social Security. And even if they did, the idea would have no chance of gaining traction in Congress.

The Average Retired Worker Benefit Could Be Cut By More Than $4300 In Less Than 15 Years

The good news, if there’s a silver lining to pull out of this mess for seniors and future retirees, is that Social Security won’t be bankrupt, even if Congress fails to act. Two of Social Security’s three sources of funding — the 12.4% payroll tax on earned income and the taxation of benefits — are recurring sources of revenue. As long as the American public continues to work, money will be flowing into the Social Security program for disbursement to eligible beneficiaries.

On the other hand, no money left in asset reserves would mean that the existing payout schedule, inclusive of cost-of-living adjustments, would no longer be sustainable. Translation: Benefit cuts would be necessary to maintain Social Security’s solvency for decades to come.

According to the latest Trustees report, the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust would only be able to pay 76% of scheduled benefits once its coffers are cleaned out. Put another way, it means retired workers and survivors could face an across-the-board benefit cut of 24% by 2035.

Now, think about this for a moment. In May 2020, the Social Security Administration published data showing that the average retired worker was bringing home $1,512.63 a month. That’s $18,151.56 a year for the typical retiree. A 24% benefit cut would, in May 2020 dollars, equate to a benefit cut of $4,356 a year. That’s terrifying when you consider that 62% of retired workers rely on their monthly payout to account for at least half of their income.

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The Average Retired Worker Could Be Taking Home A Lot Less From Social Security In 15 Years

This has been a challenging year in so many respects for the American public. The COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed the way we interact with one another, and its displaced more than 20 million workers. If youre an investor, you were also taken on a wild ride, with the stock market packing about 10 years worth of volatility into a period of four months. And dont even get me started about the murder hornets.

But one of the few solaces working Americans have always been able to take is the idea that, if they earn 40 lifetime work credits, a Social Security benefit will be waiting for them when they retire.

The Social Security program has navigated through 13 recessions prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite some obviously grim outlooks during those previous recessions, youll note that Social Security is still here, and its been paying continuous retired-worker benefits for more than 80 years. This is why its often referred to as Americas most successful social program.

But just because its been a historically successful program doesnt mean its necessarily in great shape to service future generations of retirees.

What You Should Know About The Gop And Social Security

Who’s to blame for this mess? Well, some Americans would point their fingers specifically at Republicans in Congress. While they absolutely do take some of the blame, the inaction by Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill makes them equally culpable in exacerbating Social Security’s problems.

When it comes to Republicans and Social Security, here are the four things you absolutely need to know.

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With A Potential Debt Ceiling Increase Afoot Liberals Brace For Obama To Once Again Push For Social Security Cuts

Paul Ryans Wednesday Wall Street Journalop-ed was perhaps the starkest sign of a striking shift: a government shutdown and debt ceiling showdown pitched by Tea Party members to be about blocking Obamacare is being framed by GOP leaders as a push towards entitlement reform. In Wednesday interviews, leaders of liberal groups commended the presidents consistent insistence on not offering new budget concessions in exchange for reopening the government or averting debt default. But they pledged an all-out effort to defeat Social Security or Medicare cuts if Obama offers them once again after the default threat is delayed. GOP leaders push for a six-week debt ceiling increase suggests that moment could come very soon.

Charles Chamberlain, who directs the Dean campaign offshoot Democracy For America, told Salon that it would be a huge mistake for Obama to once again push the Social Security cut called chained CPI, and the president would face a gigantic amount of opposition from progressives nationwide if he did. Still, said Chamberlain, he put her on the table once before. I dont think hes going to take it off.

Meanwhile, the presidents support appears to have tempered opposition to Social Security cuts within the Democratic Caucus. A work-in-progress whip count from Social Security Works so far counts a dozen Democrats in the Senate and 46 in the House whose statements suggest they would oppose any deal including chained CPI .

They Haven’t Taken A Dime From The Social Security Program That Isn’t Accounted For

Another misconception is that the Republican Party stole money from the Social Security Trust and used it to fund wars. More specifically, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush have come under intense scrutiny for borrowing from Social Security and “not putting the money back.”

However, the truth of the matter is that Congress has been able to “borrow” Social Security’s excess cash for five decades, and it’s happened under every single president over that stretch. In fact, the Social Security Administration is required by law to purchase special-issue bonds and certificates of indebtedness with this excess cash. Please note the emphasis on “required by law” that I’ve added above. The federal government isn’t simply going to sit on this excess cash it borrows from Social Security. It’s spending this cash on various line items, which may be wars and the defense budget, as well as education, healthcare, and pretty much any other expenditure you can think of.

This setup is actually a win-win for both parties. The federal government has a relatively liquid source of borrowing with the Social Security Trust, and the Trust is able to generate significant annual income from the interest it earns on its loans. Last year, $85.1 billion of the $996.6 billion that was generated by the program came from interest income.

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Trump Keeps Proposing Entitlement Cuts And Then Denying That He Did So

In 2015 and 16, Trump differentiated himself from the rest of the Republican presidential hopefuls by campaigning on a vow to not cut entitlements.

Im not going to cut Social Security like every other Republican and Im not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid, Trump told the Daily Signal, a conservative publication affiliated with the Heritage Foundation, in 2015.

As his budget proposals indicate, this promise was an empty one. Trump, however, seems to realize that cutting entitlements is a political loser for him, and as a result has continued to make assertions about preserving them that are at odds with reality.

All Republicans support people with pre-existing conditions, and if they dont, they will after I speak to them. I am in total support. Also, Democrats will destroy your Medicare, and I will keep it healthy and well!

Donald J. Trump

Last month, however, Trump seemed to have a moment of radical honesty when he told CNBC during an interview conducted in Davos that at some point entitlement cuts will be on the table.

CNBC: Will entitlements ever be on your plate ?TRUMP: “At some point they will be”CNBC: But you said you wouldn’t do that in the pastTRUMP: “We also have assets that we never had”

Aaron Rupar

Those comments created a negative stir, so the very next day Trump tried to walk them back.

Democrats are going to destroy your Social Security. I have totally left it alone, as promised, and will save it!

Donald J. Trump

Democrats Have Already Signaled Trumps Budget Is Going Nowhere

Trump Vows To Protect Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid

While Trump tries to have it both ways by proposing entitlement cuts while claiming hes not really doing that, Treasury Department spokesperson Monica Crowley was somewhat more straightforward during a Monday morning appearance on Fox Business.

Asked by host Stuart Varney if she agrees that the new budget hits the safety net, Crowley said the president understands that Washingtons habit of out of control spending without consequence has to be stopped.

Treasury Secretary Assistant Sec. Monica Crowley defends cuts to entitlements in Trumps new 2021 budget proposal: The president also understands that Washingtons habit of out of control spending without consequence has to be stopped.

Aaron Rupar

But for Trump, not all spending is bad. While his budget cuts non-defense spending by 5 percent, he actually slates defense spending for an increase to $740.5 billion for fiscal year 2021.

Budget proposals are just that proposals. And while Trump insists that Republicans are the ones trying to save entitlements from destruction, the irony is that the truth is exactly the opposite: Entitlement cuts are dead on arrival as long as Democrats control a chamber of Congress.

Related

House Budget Committee Chair John Yarmuth alluded to this reality in a statement he released on Sunday blasting Trump for proposing deep cuts to critical programs that help American families.

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Is The Gop Really Trying To Do Away With Social Security

Social Security is unquestionably the nation’s most important social program, with more than three out of five current retired workers leaning on it to account for at least half of their monthly income. Yet, this crucial program is on shaky ground, with the latest annual report from the Social Security Board of Trustees painting a grim intermediate- and long-term picture for the program.

According to the report, Social Security is facing an inflection point this year. For the first time since 1982, aggregate expenditures, which almost entirely includes benefits, but also takes into account administrative expenses and Railroad Retirement exchange contributions, will exceed revenue generated. Although the net cash outflow is only estimated at $1.7 billion, which is relative peanuts when compared to the $2.89 trillion currently in asset reserves, it’s a conclusive sign that the existing payout schedule isn’t sustainable.

Things begin to get really dicey in 2020 and beyond. Beginning at the turn of the decade, ongoing demographic shifts are expected to cause the net cash outflow to balloon. By 2034, following 16 years of outflows, the $2.89 trillion in excess cash is expected to be completely gone. Should this happen, Social Security would survive, but payouts to then-current and future retirees could be cut by up to 21%. That’s not a pleasant forecast given the noted reliance of seniors on the program.

Meet The New Gop Plan To End Medicare Same As The Old Gop Plan To End Medicare

We here in the Democratic Whip Press shop will give Republicans credit for their transparency. They are not even trying to hide the fact that their Cut, Cap and End Medicare bill would end the programs guarantee.

Republican Study Committee Chairman Jim Jordan said yesterday the plan basically mirrors the budget proposal that the House passed this year.

That would be the same Republican budget proposal that ends the Medicare guarantee and more than doubles heath care costs for seniors, all while preserving tax breaks for the wealthy.

And the Republican Cut, Cap and End Medicare plan is no different.

But dont just take our word for it. According to theCenter on Budget and Policy Priorities, the measure:

stands out as one of the most ideologically extreme pieces of major budget legislation to come before Congress in years, if not decades.

The legislation would inexorably subject Social Security and Medicare to deep reductions.

In addition, the extreme and draconian Republican proposal would reverse decades of precedent that exempt cuts to basic services for the most vulnerable among us. More from the CBPP:

Since the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings law of 1985, all such laws have exempted the core basic assistance programs for the poorest Americans from such across-the-board cuts. Cut, Cap, and Balance, by contrast, specifically subjects all such programs to across-the-board cuts if its spending caps would be exceeded.

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Republicans Will Cut Social Security And Medicare After Tax Plan Passes Says Marco Rubio

Update | Florida Senator Marco Rubio admits that the Republican tax cut plan, which benefits corporations and the wealthy, will require cuts to Social Security and Medicare to pay for it.

To address the federal deficit, which will grow by at least $1 trillion if the tax plan passes, Congress will need to cut entitlement programs such as Social Security, Rubio told reporters this week. Advocates for the elderly and the poor have warned that entitlement programs would be on the chopping block, but this is the first time a prominent Republican has backed their claims.

Expect all the guests on the Sunday shows to be Republicans explaining how they now have no choice but to slash Social Security & Medicare because the deficit has suddenly and mysteriously gotten much worse.

Bruce “Snarking and Barking” Bartlett

“You have got to generate economic growth because growth generates revenue,” Rubio said at a Politico conference. “But you also have to bring spending under control. And not discretionary spending. That isn’t the driver of our debt. The driver of our debt is the structure of Social Security and Medicare for future beneficiaries.”

Rubio’s talk of structural change is vague but will likely include changing the rate and age of Social Security and Medicare payouts.

So where does that money come from?

Senate Finance Committee Chair Orrin Hatch said Thursday that “liberal programs” for the poor were wasting Americans’ money.

The Political Outlook For Social Security Reforms

But the Biden administration and its Congressional allies are instead focused on threading the political needle for an ambitious $3.5 trillion infrastructure spending package, while also dealing with the fallout from the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Leading Republican legislators have called for so-called entitlement reform , but that’s a tough sell in the current ;Democratically controlled Congress.

“Does the report mean the timetable argues for real concrete action on Social Security? Probably not. Will it revive the rhetoric that the sky is falling? Sure,” says Robert Blancato, national coordinator of the Elder Justice Coalition advocacy group, president of Matz Blancato and Associates and a 2016 Next Avenue Influencer in Aging.

The issue over how best to restore financial solvency to Social Security isn’t going away. That’s because the program is fundamental to the economic security of retired Americans. Social Security currently pays benefits to 49 million retired workers and dependents of retired workers .

However, the tenor of the longer-term solvency discussion has significantly changed in recent years.

To be sure, a number of leading Republicans still want to cut Social Security retirement benefits to reduce the impending shortfall. Their latest maneuver is what’s known as The TRUST Act, sponsored by Utah Sen. Mitt Romney.

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Democrats Urged To Reject Latest Gop Attempt To Hold Social Security ‘hostage’

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham on Wednesday said he would be willing to vote to raise the federal debt ceiling in exchange for a policy that could result in cuts to Social Security and Medicare, a proposed trade-off that progressive advocacy groups implored Democrats to reject.

“Fortunately, Democrats can protect Social Security and Medicare by raising the debt ceiling in the forthcoming reconciliation package.”Alex Lawson, Social Security Works

With members of Congress staring down an to increase the debt limitthe amount of money the federal government is legally permitted to borrow to meet its financial obligationsGraham toldBloomberg that he could bring himself to vote yes on a debt ceiling hike if Democrats agree to legislation establishing commissions tasked with crafting Social Security and Medicare “reforms.”

But Social Security Works, a progressive advocacy organization, was quick to warn that Graham’s offer is a thinly veiled trap.

“Lindsey Graham and his fellow Republicans will stop at nothing to cut the American people’s earned Social Security and Medicare benefits,” Alex Lawson, executive director of Social Security Works, said in a statement. “Graham has now telegraphed his party’s intention to demand a commission to cut Social Security and Medicare as the price for raising the debt ceiling.”

Social Security Works and other groups warned at the time that the proposal was nothing more than “a plot to gut Social Security behind closed doors.”

[paulatoo]

To impeach or not to impeach has taken center stage... for a minute anyway.

Now that the Mueller report is out the question of to impeach or not to impeach has taken center stage.  Sadly even before the time that President Trump took office there was a ruling that lying politicians are allowed to because campaign rhetoric, for some reason, doesn't carry the same weight as a lie in any other situation.  To some extent there's a benefit to that for any otherwise honest candidates who get into office and find themselves unable to fulfill campaign promises.

However, in a situation where you have individual chronically, habitually and intentionally disseminating false information, especially when they are using the Office of the President of the United States as their platform, we need to have an option for removal.  For those reasons I think the Republican Party should have moved to remove him at most three months into his presidency.

The Mueller report is detailing a lot of the ways Russia has attempt to interfere with our elections, actual areas of interference, covering some of the interactions between Donald J Trump and Russia that predate his candidacy,  and his obstruction of/attempts to obstruct the investigation in to those things, impeachment is a buzzword.

I'd like to look at these options even though I'm more strongly in favor of removing him from office via the 25th Amendment and think that that is long overdue as well.

First question: Is there enough evidence to impeach successfully?  Although we do not have option to view the unredacted information in the Mueller report, that may contain information that could verify a successful impeachment, is there enough evidence to bring a strong enough case to actually successfully impeach Trump?

To remind you Despite what Donald says, there is a lot of evidence in the Mueller report, he definitely repeatedly at least attempts to obstruct justice or ordered an obstructionary act.  Fortunately for him now, the people who President Trump told or ordered to obstruct the investigation, or fire someone, or otherwise stop, silence, etc. didn't listen to him.  His reaction to that has been to trash those individuals all over the place on Twitter and in the press, when he should be thanking them so that takes us back to the 25th Amendment.  Then there is Trump & Putin referring to all of this as a ‘mouse’. 

If they attempt to impeach Trump and fail( primarily due to the overly Republican Senate having and cashed in the security of the country in favor of maintaining a unified front, regardless of the fact that's a President could potentially be working on behalf of Russia, or even another foreign national to bring down the country. It's not like we're seeing the 1990s Lindsey Graham trying to hold Bill Clinton accountable, sadly he's gone the opposite direction this time, quoting misleading statements. Do they have him too? Btw I was not Bill Clinton’s biggest fan back then either) would that preclude him being charged once the protections of the office of a sitting President are removed?  Reportedly no, even post successful impeachment, he could still be charged, but post impeachment the court would most likely go easier on him since he already had penalties placed on him by virtue of the impeachment.

At this point it is my understanding that the Trump 2020 campaign could be run under the slogan: ‘Please vote for me, I don't want to go to jail’. Will he be charged when leaving office if he's not impeached or removed under the 25th amendment? We will have to wait and see. http://time.com/5123598/president-trump-impeach-criminal-constitution/

What will the tear in the societal fabric be when unfortunately, despite the evidence in both the congressional election interference investigations and Mueller report, many Republicans still don't understand what has been happening with Donald Trump and Russia. The stuff he keeps claiming is a hoax (when there's definitely, proven times over, been interference and interference attempts by Russia and other countries in our electoral process and in our society as a whole.) Information that the Senate Investigative Committee publish in 2018 (The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) July 3, 2018 https://www.burr.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/SSCI%20ICA%20ASSESSMENT_FINALJULY3.pdf ) (Remember they also released information on many of the false Facebook pages & ads as well as other social media accounts involved.) The things Trump has still been dismissive about if not straight up denying.  More of Trump & Putin’s ‘mouse’.

What will the cost of not acting be?  The lack of action on the part of the Republican majority and super-majority has already made it acceptable for another highly contradictory, pathological liar to behave in the ways that Donald Trump has behaved in office going forward. God knows Nixon must be on full spin rotation in his grave during this Presidency. I am not sure we can afford this Presidency let alone this precedent.

If no action is taken will the message going forward be that it's okay to at least strongly attempt to obstruct Justice? Will being charged, and possibly landing in prison, after leaving office be enough of a deterrent to prevent future presidents from obstructing justice?

As I said earlier I think the Republican party should have removed him from office very shortly after he took office for all the other things he does wrong.  The whole of the country should remove him from office, invoking the 25th Amendment because of the things he does and says, and the way he behaves so very inconsistently and untruthfully.  Not long ago he was claiming his own father, born in New York City, was actually born in Germany.  Prior to his campaign he was claiming President Obama was not a United States citizen.  

There are lines that can be drawn to separate the difference of a misstatement, or something that turns out not to be true(singular event, or very infrequent event done without the intent to fool or defraud) from a fraud, and intentionally, pathologically misstating information and flat out lying, as well as the crazy statements he makes to prevent abuse of this precedent in the future.

As badly as I want this incompetent, divisive, liar out of office, even I am weary of the continual hearings. If you don’t know me I am sure it is hard to read this & believe I am nonpartisan, but it’s not about Rep vs. Dem or Ind or any of the other 20+ political parties.  It is about behavior & protecting my country.  All I can do is assure you that I would react the same way to anyone from any party behaving this way.

Again, I was not Bill Clinton’s biggest fan back then either. The Republican Party has lost me at least the Democrats have done a better job of consistently presenting factual information this century to date. Hopefully when DJT is done breaking the Republicans they can choose truth over spin, and we will all have more honest trustworthy politicians until we  https://paulatoo.tumblr.com/post/176167819317/tired-of-congress-not-getting-things-done-not  anyway. 

I think it’s beyond time that Republican members of Congress start using facts to educate their party and American’s in general, but most of them are acting like a Democrat will replace an impeached Trump instead of Pence, that’s concerning on it’s own.

We didn’t start the fire, but we need to put it out!  What other choice do we have to preserve our legal & behavioral standards for the office of the president, or any office really? I am already very concerned about what we are going to do when another Donald Trump type candidate, without the 30 years of public red flags, comes along.  If people could be so fooled by this one how will we ever avoid another less obvious one?

Some resources for the honest politicians & honest ads movement

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/great-leaders-may-lie-but-great-liars-dont-lead-2016-07-06

I think between partyist political spin machines & multination interference via social media inroads manipulating opinions https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/when-lying-demagogue-authentic-candidate Lying ads https://www.natcom.org/communication-currents/political-speech-protection-and-supreme-court-united-states Sword cuts both ways http://www.klrn.org/blogs/texas-week/this-isnt-first-time-a-judges-ruling-considered-political-rhetoric/ “Where false claims are made to effect a fraud or secure moneys or other valuable considerations, say offers of employment, it is well established that the Government may restrict speech without affronting the First Amendment. See, e.g., Virginia Bd. of Pharmacy, 425 U. S., at 771 (noting that fraudulent speech generally falls outside the protections of the First Amendment)” &” But to recite the Government’s compelling interests is not to end the matter. The First Amendment requires that the Government’s chosen restriction on the speech at issue be “actually necessary” to achieve its interest. Entertainment Merchants Assn., 564 U. S., at ___ (slip op., at12). There must be a direct causal link between the restriction imposed and the injury to be prevented. See ibid.” Justice Kennedy, UNITED STATES v. ALVAREZ    https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/11-210d4e9.pdf  I think the last few years prove we are closer to establishing a link to demolish lies told from being protected as political rhetoric, hopefully anyway.  In an environment where so much spin & misinformation is allowed to grow & spread too many people seem unable to discern truth from lies at the expense of all of us. 

Please note that I rabbit holed my way into that First Amendment information by, instead of just emotionally reacting to the headlines(in this case a synopsis I found inflaming):” The Court held that the Stolen Valor Act, which makes it a crime to lie about having received military honors or decorations, violates the First Amendment right to freedom of speech.” https://www.freedomforuminstitute.org/first-amendment-center/supreme-court-cases/ I read on to discover it wasn’t pro imitator as much as anti-poorly written law.  Researching past click bait headlines is part of our best defense against manipulation and poor decision making.  One thing we can thank the Trump campaign above others for is pointing out how misinformed how many people are, even in the information age.  I pray we learn from that soon, but sadly still see people sharing opinions, articles & videos with headlines they support, but content they may not agree with.

[tathan]

Takis AthanassiouThe Do’s and Don’ts of Influencer Marketing. This is a guest article written by Callum Mundine. Callum is the head of digital marketing at Warble Media – a boutique website design company based in Dubbo, NSW, Australia. When done correctly, influencer marketing has the potential to quickly gain exposure for your brand. Essentially, it’s about identifying people who have influence over potential buyers and collaborating with them to promote your business, product, or service. Image Source: Pixabay But there are definite do’s and don’ts when it comes to influencer marketing, and learning about them could be the difference between a successful social media campaign and a waste of time and resources. The Do’s Find The Right Influencer For Your Brand Identifying an influencer you want to work with is one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make. Choosing someone based on their large following alone simply isn’t enough to go on and may end up wasting time and valuable resources. The best approach is to look for someone who is an active social media user, knows the correct format for different social networks, and has an engaged following with posts that generate actions. Most importantly, try to identify an influencer whose following aligns with your target consumer. Your campaign is unlikely to succeed unless it’s displayed to an audience which matches your market. Know Your Strategy Before you contact a potential influencer, think about your plan of action. Are you interested in a single post about your product? Or a more integrated approach to an account takeover? If your aim is to drive traffic to a landing page, ensure you provide the necessary URL. The same goes with any specific hashtags you’d like the influencer to use. Providing simple, clear instructions will increase the chances of producing the results you’re looking for, but to do this, you need to have a strategy in place first. Build A Relationship Think of influencer marketing as building valuable business relationships which will help promote your current campaign as well as others you may run in the future. There are several ways to compensate an influencer you’re working with, and it’s usually best to negotiate terms on an individual basis. Popular compensation methods include giving away a product or service, working out a fee, agreeing to a commission based on leads or sales, or exchanging features on social media channels. Depending on the influencer’s experience in the world of marketing, they may already have established rates which vary depending on the needs of a campaign. Showcase Your Best Features Whether your campaign aims to drive traffic or boost followers, make sure your account or landing page showcases your best content. Give users a reason to engage with your business and follow you, and make use of the new eyes checking out your brand. Not capitalizing on new traffic is a common mistake and often renders any marketing efforts fruitless. The Don’ts Ignore Micro Influencers Your definition of a micro influencer may differ greatly from the next person. Some view them as accounts with 5.000 to 50.000 followers, whilst others would consider them around the 100.000 mark. Many brands dismiss micro influencers due to their lower following, but this can be a big mistake. They often have a more niche audience and therefore higher engagement rates, as well as a more authentic reputation with their audience. Finally, as micro influencers are in an earlier stage of developing their online presence, you’ll often find they’re more eager to work with brands and will likely accept lower rates. Take Over Completely No one knows their audience better than the influencer who built it up, so including them in the creative process is a good way to ensure your campaign piques their interest. Choosing someone based on their unique content style but then taking complete control of the post will likely be counter-intuitive. Talk to them about your brand, let them know what you’re expecting from the campaign, and then let them create something using their own vision. This is the best way of ensuring a successful relationship and making sure both parties benefit from the partnership. Discard Influencer Content Once The Campaign Has Ended Instead, take advantage of the content an influencer has created for you. As well as using it to promote your current campaign, think about integrating it into your content strategy and reusing it in other forms of advertising. Think about it, repurposing influencer content is much easier than creating brand new content, and if your campaign was a success, you’ll know you’re working with material which attracts your target audience. Take note of users who responded to the campaign and use this valuable information to tailor your next one towards this audience. Be Unrealistic About Results You may have already established the parameters for choosing an influencer, but a lot of research needs to be carried out to find the right person for your specific campaign. The more you understand about different types of content and how they attract different types of engagement, the easier it will be to find a good match for your brand. Remember this is account specific, so whilst some influencers receive a high engagement from video posts, others will generate a much higher interaction with tagged photos. Expecting great things by asking a fashion blogger to post a video which is unrelated to their audience’s interests will likely yield disappointing results, no matter how many followers they have. To Sum Up Different social media influencers will provide very different results. Planning ahead, understanding an influencer’s audience and post engagement, and being realistic about the expected results from a campaign should pave the way for a successful influencer marketing partnership. The post The Do’s and Don’ts of Influencer Marketing appeared first on Takis Athanassiou.

[viralhottopics]

In defense of ghosting: It’s a valuable dating tool, not a problem to be fixed

Image: Christopher Mineses/Mashable

Ghosting is everywhere, and dating apps are desperate to put an end to this disappearing act. But ghosting doesn’t need a solution it is the solution.

If you didnt already know before plunging into the deep, dark depths that is online dating, you certainly learned quickly thereafter: dating is a numbers game. And when youre messaging with what turns out to be your third lamest match of the day, ghosting becomes a necessary tool to manage the exhaustion that is mining through the hundreds of (probably boring) people at your fingertips.

For the record: This isnt the nicest way of looking at people.

For the record: This isnt the nicest way of looking at people. But neither is the meat-market display of the swiping mechanism employed by the most popular apps. It is, as they say, what it is. If youre going to partake, this objectification is an inherent and unavoidable aspect of dating app culture.

SEE ALSO: We’re so tired of dating apps but we just can’t quit them

There are a literal million reasons why a match can flop. You can chalk most failed conversations up to lack of spark you either have a connection or you dont. Not everyone wants to partake in games of witty one-upmanship (*raises hand*) or blatant innuendo (*puts hand down*). You might just be on completely different pages right off the bat.

Some people are lazy swipers. Theyll casually swipe right before really analyzing your profile only to later discover oh, wait they actually really hate people with cats and ew thats a cat in your last picture and they missed it the first time. It happens.

Other people are coming off their last breakup sore and just looking for the validation, comfort and ego boost that newcomers tend to feel from the matching experience they were never there to meet up anyway.

See: a literal million reasons.

So when someone doesnt chat you back, the rejection isnt necessarily personal. Its cheesy but its true: Its not you, its them. Youre not a fit, and thats okay.

Its cheesy but its true: Its not you, its them.

Ghosting isnt unique to the online world. Weve done it countless times in person, it just doesnt seem as pointed. If you were at a party full of single people and chatted briefly to someone before pausing to chat to another, and then turned back to discover the first person had disappeared, you probably wouldn’t think too much of it after all, it’s a big party and you’re all there to mingle, a 45-year-old single writer who uses a combination of Tinder, Happn and Bumble told me.

Speaking briefly with someone in person does not imply an investment, and neither does an online greeting. You havent met, you can barely remember this persons name without going back to check their profile, and youve made no promises or commitments.

As a 32-year-old single software developer said, I think that’s why people feel okay ghosting. I hardly know this person. Do I really have to go through the exercise of telling them why I’m not interested? And thats the main issue: formally cutting off every conversation you might have with a stranger online would be exhausting.

Even as someone who only casually flips through dating apps, I have 200+ matches that I do not speak with, either ever or any longer. Some I stopped replying to, some stopped replying to me. Thats online dating.

SEE ALSO: The internet baes who ‘breadcrumb’ you and never meet you in person

I have so many conversations going on at the same time that don’t result in actual dates that I can’t actually reject all of them. So I ghost, a 29-year-old investment professional told me. I don’t think the person really devoted any resources to chat me along with other multiple people at the same time online.

Ghosting is easy. Sitting down to explain why you arent interested in continuing a conversation with someone you barely know is not.

And what good would come of it anyway? As much as some people might feel like understanding why the other person disappeared would be helpful, there are too many variables.

Even with the best intentions, some criticism might read as offensive. Or they might just not know what the hell theyre talking about. (They dont actually know anything about you, after all.) Or it might be one of those incredibly personal literal million reasons that would have no impact on your future involvements.

As the 29-year-old investment professional put it, How would the other person possibly benefit by an internet stranger saying he or she doesn’t wanna meet up because I find you boring. The 45-year-old writer said something similar: If I hardly know a person, I think I have little right to judge their behavior. It’d be massively egotistical of me to judge them after so little interaction.

Its just not feasible for every match to answer your requests for feedback.

Online dating moves quickly. One day youre all about one or two threads of interaction, and the next its an entirely different set of people. Its just not feasible for every match to answer your requests for feedback.

I think it’s slightly unrealistic to expect people to pour their hearts out to you when you hardly know them, the 45-year-old writer said. The problem is that one person might just not be into it (call it chemistry, call it feeling, call it vibe, whatever) while the other person is projecting all sorts of stuff on the other person and building up the proto-relationship in their mind.

The only effort we can reasonably expect from a match is to take a stab at an honest-to-goodness conversation. If it doesnt pass the initial chemistry test, anything else is unnecessary.

There are, of course, scenarios where ghosting is bad. If youve been dating someone even casually for a chunk of time, for instance. But when youre just chatting, gauging who the hell this person even is? When you havent even committed to a first date? Its not rude its just part of the process. Its expected, as the 29-year-old said.

Dating apps like The League and others are rushing to try to “solve” the problem of ghosting. Theyre offering features like read receipts or expiring messages that feel more like shaming. Those features, along with other attempts to engineer social interactions between matches (like limiting how many people you see, especially with The Leagues penalization of people who dip into any kind of inactivity) are manipulating your behaviors by controlling your experience.

SEE ALSO: The best dating apps to get you laid

So why are these apps even bothering? Ghosting is always going to be a part of online dating, as long as its a numbers game. But neither of those things are inherently bad. Dating apps, as abhorrent as they can be, are at least convenient and manageable. You can gauge a potential match from a safe and fairly anonymous distance, and you can decide when to pull the plug without the risk of them continuing to have unfettered access to you.

The fact that online dating is on your terms is one of the few things it has going for it.

The fact that online dating is on your terms is one of the few things it has going for it. The best feature these apps introduced was making communication gated rather than leaving it open to a wild west world of negging and sexually-charged commentary. Thats done. But theres certainly still room for features that would minimize the need for ghosting.

The most cumbersome part of all this is swiping through the piles of profiles some of which are joke accounts or spam to get to someone you could see yourself liking. Anything that would help that experience vague and magical algorithms, for instance would be more effective than these features that feel like yet another opportunity for a cash grab (with paid-for member accounts nabbing extra flexibility) rather than a service to the user.

If, one day, apps were able to accurately detect and record your most personal-interest swiping habits to better predict who you would like as in, be an actual matchmaker wed probably spend less time swiping and ghosting in favor of more time actually dating.

SEE ALSO: Hater, the app that lets you find love based on what you hate

Most of the current algorithmic qualifiers dont have much of a bearing on what kinds of people personality, look, style, character youre looking at. Tinders voting-as-ranking system, based on what we know about it, seems far too much like a Black Mirror Season 3, episode 1 popularity contest than a personalized matching system.

For now, were left with an imperfect system. Theres plenty about the culture of online dating that would deter any number of people. Ghosting, I would argue, is one of the less offensive ones a tool of efficiency rather than rejection. But its up to you to decide if its worth the hassle.

WATCH: This nail polish is made from prosecco making you both sparkly and tipsy

Read more: http://ift.tt/2mzJknk

from In defense of ghosting: It’s a valuable dating tool, not a problem to be fixed

[leftpress]

From Standing Rock to DC: Call for a Week of Solidarity to Support Arrestees : April 1-7

CrimethInc. Ex-Workers Collective | IT'S GOING DOWN | March 13th 2017

The post From Standing Rock to DC: Call for a Week of Solidarity to Support Arrestees : April 1-7 appeared first on IT'S GOING DOWN.

c.com/2017/01/29/dont-see-what-happens-be-what-happens-continuous-updates-from-the-airport-blockades">airport blockades, and the shutting down of advocates of nationalist violence like Milo Yiannopoulos. These efforts have emboldened dissidents from Slovenia to the White House itself, catalyzing global resistance and destabilizing the Trump administration from within. In response, the authorities are bringing felony charges against hundreds of people and seeking to criminalize protest altogether. How effectively we support arrestees will determine how effectively we can continue resisting.

April 1 to 7: Call for a Week of Solidarity

Over two hundred people mass-arrested during the demonstrations against Trump’s Inauguration are facing felony rioting charges punishable by up to ten years in prison apiece. Though these people were arrested simply for happening to be on the same city block, the prosecutor has not dropped or diminished the charges, instead using the court process as a kind of judicial harassment.

Since April 2016, when the Sacred Stone camp was founded, there have been nearly 800 arrests in the struggle against the Dakota Access Pipeline. These include state charges ranging from misdemeanor criminal trespass to felony terrorizing and rioting, federal charges against six Indigenous Water Protectors, and an active grand jury convened to investigate the activities of everyone resisting the pipeline. While the camps have been evicted and the people forcibly removed in a militarized operation, resistance continues.

California Highway Patrol is recommending that felony charges be brought against 106 alleged participants in the clashes in Sacramento last summer that prevented a fascist rally from taking place. Berkeley police are seeking to bring charges against those who clashed with nationalists on March 4.

Meanwhile, Trump and his cronies have been spreading conspiracy theories about protesters, alleging without a shred of evidence that they are being paid to protest. The idea is to delegitimize dissidents by accusing them of the same profit motive that Trump and his cronies are flagrantly pursuing in the full light of day. These outright lies send a message to far-right vigilantes that they will have a free hand to attack demonstrators and dissidents without consequences from the state.

At the same time, the legislatures in many states are seeking to pass anti-protest laws to further criminalize anyone who take to the streets in protest.

In short, the state is opening a new phase of repression. Having done nothing to protect the black people, Muslims, and Jews targeted in an explosion of racist and anti-Semitic attacks, the state is openly carrying out its own attacks on Middle Eastern refugees and immigrants from Mexico and Central America, and now aims to crush everyone who opposes this. The one-two punch of state repression and vigilante attacks is calculated to destroy social movements, softening up America so Trump can force through his totalitarian agenda.

What We Can Do

Make sure that everyone who has been arrested has all the resources they need to see them through the court process so they can get back out on the street and active again. Below, you can find a list of fundraisers to support arrestees. Donate right now while you’re thinking about it! What do you want people to do when you are facing charges?

Set up benefit events to raise funds for the defendants. You could set up a punk show, a dance party, a cake auction, or a bake sale; you could do the rounds with a donation jar at a bookstore or farmer’s market.

Organize an event for the upcoming grand jury resistance tour that the Water Protector Anti-Repression Crew from Standing Rock is setting up.

Help people understand Trump’s disinformation campaign as propaganda intended to set the stage for a totalitarian crackdown. This isn’t an issue for protesters alone—everyone’s freedom is at stake here. Any precedents that are set in repression against protesters will be used against everyone else.

Identify key figures responsible for this wave of repression and put direct pressure on them, connecting them with the crackdown on freedom. Make it clear that there will be personal consequences for taking the side of oppression.

Drop banners, post fliers, set up educational events, and distribute information about the charges and how to support arrestees. Make sure the subject is on everyone’s minds at all times.

Refuse to cooperate with state investigations and grand juries. Teach people to know their rights, to remain silent when police and federal agents interrogate and threaten them, to support grand jury resisters.

Keep fighting. The best defense is a good offense! If there is a powerful movement against Trump and the forces he represents, defendants from the previous clashes will be more likely to receive the support they deserve. Keep organizing new efforts against Trump, police, nationalists, and the pipelines and profiteering from which they draw their power.

Contribute Events and Report Backs to IGD

Have your own poster or sticker design? Send it to us, we’ll add it to this page!

If you are organizing an event, let us know by submitting this event here on the site or at info [at] itsgoingdown [dot] org. 

Do the same for action report backs. Send us reports of both events organized (demonstrations, educational events, benefits), as well as wheatpasting campaigns, banner drops, and written graffiti slogans. While some of these actions may seem small in scale, when put together they show that we are an active movement with material force to protect ourselves, support our comrades facing repression, and a desire to communicate and interact with those on the outside we have yet to meet.

Fundraising

Publishing the following links to these support campaigns in no way indicates that the defendants in question endorse this call for solidarity, nor that they have ever been exposed to anarchist politics or this site in particular. The point is simply that everyone swept up in these charges deserves support.

Donate to Support J20 Arrestees in DC!

Hampton Roads Justice Network Antifascist Legal Fund for defendants in the Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach, and Norfolk area

Support Pittsburghers Arrested at J20

North Carolina #J20 Defense Fund

Support #DisruptJ20 Richmond Arrestees

Help the #Baltimore13 Fight Felony Riot Charges

Support the NYC #DisruptJ20 Codefendants!

#NYC2DisruptJ20 Legal Fund

Philly J20 Solidarity Financial Support Fund

West Michigan J20 Support Fund

everribbon.com/ribbon/view/62971

“Help Human Rights Activists Fight for Justice”

Disrupt J20 Legal Fund

Donate to Support J20 Arrestees Elsewhere around the US!

Please Help the #J20NOLA Arrestees

Donate to Support Standing Rock Arrestees!

Donate to the Freshet Collective

Donate to the Water Protector Legal Collective

Support Shirts!

Burning Limousine/“Our Actions Are a Signal Fire…” benefit t-shirt

Punch Nazis benefit t-shirt

Week of Solidarity Poster

DOWNLOAD + PRINT HERE

Donate to help us grow and expand!

[viralhottopics]

Snapchat just released a 35-minute video about itself

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel

Image: snap

It’s time for Snapchat to convince Wall Street and the world why they should be worth more than $20 billion and here’s a look at their secret 35-minute video that’s meant to do just that.

The video is part of Snap’s “roadshow” a tradition in which companies about to go public visit with investors and analysts to drum up interest. The video is under password protection, but Mashable found a way in and we’re here to tell you what you need to know.

Let’s break down what’s in the video:

‘Snap is a camera company’

CEO Evan Spiegel starts off the 35-minute video by describing where Snapchat fits in. Snapchat for the last year has been referring to itself publicly as a camera company.

“Snap is a camera company. We feel like were really at the beginning of what cameras can do, evolve from being just a piece of hardware to software connected to the internet. Before cameras were the best way to perfectly save something that you saw. They sort of helped augmented memory and now making sure they augment the way that we talk,” he said.

Image: snap

Spiegel positions Snapchat as a camera company that can innovate that form of communication, just as what happened with writing and with the telephone.

“At Snapchat, the camera has become the primary input for the phone. Throughout history people have wanted to communicate in intimate ways… I cant imagine the way that it must have felt on that first phone call where you could hear the other persons voice in real-time coming through,” he said.

“Snapchat really tapped into that human desire to communicate in a way thats face to face even if youre far away. The first time you use it and you can see what someone else is seeing at the same time, from their perspective, that moment makes you feel close.”

Then, Spiegel shares his story about their first office.

“Our dream was always to have an office on the beach,” he said. The montage of Venice is followed by the appearance of Bobby Murphy, chief technology officer.

“We thought it was pretty big to what we needed at the time that was the period of the time that we started a lot of the traditions that are carried out today,” Murphy said.

Image: snap

Breaking the norm with ‘Delete By Default’

Spiegel asserts that Snapchat’s creative strategy has already broken the norm with it’s “delete by default” approach.

“Everyone thought of cameras as a way to save really important memories. When we created Snapchat, where its delete by default, it didnt make sense at the beginning. Thats why people love creating snaps, there isnt pressure to feel pretty or perfect,” Speigel said. “Its about being a way to communicate how you feel and doing that in the moment.”

Murphy then quips in to say that in addition to Spiegel’s own genius, a lot of the product innovations are really inspired by what the users have done and the company prides itself in listening to users.

“People are sending so many snaps back and forth that they kept asking us for a select all button, but we were really worried that might ruin Snapchat so came up with Stories,” Spiegel adds.

Image: snap

Then, came the first of several dings at Facebook

“If you remember social media was always a reverse chronological feed,” Spiegel said. “You were always scrolling backwards through a story and that didnt make sense to us.”

A quick reminder that even though people and especially investors may love Facebook, Spiegel is smart: This ultimately comes from the brilliance of Evan, but the strong emphasis of building the product that makes people feel happy when using our service, Murphy said.

The more that we can create an environment where people feel comfortable trying things, feel comfortable expressing themselves, the more innovative our company can be, Spiegel said.

Image: snap

About six minutes in, we have the stats

Murphy said the 60 percent of users create snaps every day. Snapchat users, on average, visit the app more than 18 times per day and spend 25 to 30 minutes a day on the app.

Just about everything in the app is focused around content creation, he said.

For Snapchat, content creation isnt just taking a photo. Murphy pointed to the identity screen, where users can create a Snapcode that allows them to share their accounts and follow their users.

The camera should do more than just capture and share, he said.

Augmented Reality

And Snapchat is also betting on a future in augmented reality. We always care a lot about interactive that the camera can be a launch point for interactive experiences, he said.

Elaborating on Stories, Spiegel and Bobby share their first test of the Live Story product. Both of them had traveled to Las Vegas for the Electric Daisy Carnival.

We were half expecting to see nothing, instead we saw the most amazing content, Spiegel said, very cool and creative fresh content.

Image: snap

Discover and Spectacles

Discover was, in part, inspired by Live Stories.

You could watch something that was happening as if you were there but you didnt understand why that was happening and thats whats led us to create publisher stories, Spiegel said.

And that part is something Snapchat is going to continue investing in.

Lastly for the product, Spiegel discusses Spectacles and how it fits into the overall mission of creation.

Snapchat has really empowered this human desire to feel closer to someone, Spiegel said. Thats an example of a way weve created a better way to make memories.

Now, time for round two of dinging Facebook.

Remember Move fast and break things? Supposedly, never a thing at Snapchat.

We approach innovation in a different way at Snap, Spiegel said. Its not a throw things at the wall and see what sticks kind of company. We try to take time to really listen to our community.

That doesnt mean they are slow builders.

Weve launched more products every year from the year before, Murphy said. We love this pace of innovation.

Image: andrew hutchinson/snap

According to Spiegel, what they do change isnt driving people away. Our community is receptive to new things, Spiegel said, excited to see what you can build next.

A continued issue is on metrics such as follower accounts, which Snapchat still declines to disclose. Its because Snapchat would rather you not worry about it and rather you connect more closely with less people.

What we identified with Snapchat is people were missing the intimacy of communication, Spiegel said. We love when people are selective with the friends that they add, we wanted to make a place that was comfortable for you to talk to the 7 most people.

Snap CSO Imran Khan

Image: snap

Nearly 13 minutes in and were onto the business.

Imran Khan, formerly of Credit Suisse, now Snapchats Chief Strategy Officer outlines their advertising play and ad products.

For Snapchat, its all being the mobile/digital pull to TV budgets. It becomes harder for advertisers to reach the same number of people as they did in the past spend less time watching traditional tv, Khan said.

The description of a typical Snapchat user beyond the word millennial: The people that use Snapchat are curious about the world, embrace change and are into learning new things, Khan said.

Image: snap

Then came the guys from Universal Pictures

Snapchat, like most companies built on advertising, is focused on ad products, ad delivery, measurement and sales channels.

Kenny Mitchell of Gatorade, Chris Watt of Adidas and Doug Neil of Universal Pictures all give their bullish view of Snapchat:

30 percent completion rate on a 7 minute video. You dont get that on the other platforms, Mitchell said.

We have a really collaborative relationship with the guys at Snapchat, Watt said.

We want to have as much real estate as possible, Neil said.

Image: snap

The road to greater profitability

Khan ends his presentation on the note of strategy, pointing out that Snapchat has a long tail future.

Our user growth is driven by our product innovation, Khan said. It takes a while to make great products.

Right now, Snapchat isnt profitable. Enter Chief Financial Officer Andrew Vollero to tell you how thatll change.

Snapchat, again like most companies, has three phrases: user engagement; monetization; profitability.

Snap CFO Andrew Vollero

Image: snap

Snapchat has more than 158 million daily active users. They don’t bother providing monthly numbers. “We believe that daily investment is the most reliable way to understand engagement,” Vollero said.

Unlike Facebook, Snapchat is not after accessibility for all and connecting the world for now. It operates best in areas with “strong wireless networks” and to the benefit of advertisers these are more likely to be people who have “higher disposable income.”

Snapchat, as we said, isn’t a money printing machine. But it doesn’t shy away from admitting that. “We have significant advertising revenue available,” Vollero said.

Snapchat’s gotten a lot of flack for not being profitable, though that’s quite hard when you’re trying to grow rapidly.

Where Snapchat thinks they have an advantage is low infrastructure cost. Vollero positions Snap’s choice to use third-party infrastructure, such as Google Cloud, as a smart business move.

“We can focus on product innovation,” he said.

About 30 minutes in, it’s time for a talk on privacy.

Re-enter Spiegel, who offers up some charming language on how important it is to him.

After Chris Handman, General Counsel at Snapchat, emphasizes their commitment to privacy and how in fact they’re product is built upon that. “We built snapchat to hopefully restore some of that honesty, intimacy,” Handman said.

Image: snap

Snapchat has written its privacy standards, in plain English though Handman forgets to mention that came after Snapchat was sued by the Federal Trade Commission.

Turns out the word of disappear was vague enough to be brought up in court. Snapchat’s messages aren’t completely ephemeral since they’re temporarily saved on Snapchat servers.

“We use Snapchat constantly both in work and in our personal lives, and we handle personal information with the same care as we would for our families,” Handman said.

Image: snap

The remaining minutes of Snapchat’s video are about people.

VP of Communications Mary Ritti shares that the company as a whole is committed to diversity.

Spiegel then highlights a tradition at the company called Council. There, Snapchat employees sit down in a circle and chat openly about their work.

“There’s a really strong sense of not just are we driving numbers, but really making people happy,” he said.

BONUS: Finally the perfect kitchen invention for people who hate making salads

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