#even when it comes to progressive stuff

[revginapond]

Dear Americans: My Library doesn't work that way...

I see so many posts by well-meaning Americans saying "Go to your public library and check out books because it's free and it pays authors, and you can get ebooks, and and and..."

And, hey, that's quite true. In the United States. (Canada, too, and maybe a few other countries.)

Elsewhere? Not so much.

Here in Zurich, Switzerland, where I live, there's the University Library (ETH) which gives you a free library card and you can check out books for free, which is great. The city library, though, where they hold the kid's programs and stuff like that? You need to pay about 60 CHF/ year for a library card (about $63/year). Sure, that's not horrible, but it's not FREE.

Then there's the fact that not every book will be available for me here, either, since most of the books are German language books and rightly so (right now my German isn't so good that I can read adult books yet). So, my selection at my local library (for the moment) is relatively small.

All those library apps you lovingly tout? Geoblocked. Can't access them.

But I'm privileged: I have money to buy the books I want from Amazon and other ebook retailers.

But let's think outside the US box, shall we? I read a comment from a person one of these library usage posts the other day where they pointed out that they are from a 3rd world country. They have a library, but it's tiny because the library can't buy a lot of books. Then there's the added problem that most books don't get translated into their language. So, yes, they'd like to use their library, but it's limited, and they have very limted money to buy or subscribe to anything online (they make 3rd world country wages, which, compared to the dollar, are maybe a $100-300/mo. Don't entirely quote me on it, but the point is that they don't make a lot of money in US terms.) And again, most library apps are region locked/geoblocked. Not everyone can afford to use a VPN (or wants to).

And this person got shit on for saying that sometimes the only way they can get a book is to pirate it.

You know what? As an author, I'm ok with that. I'd rather they get to read my book than not. Personally, I'll provide anyone with a copy if they ping me and ask. If you have the cash to buy it, I'd appreciate that, but if you really want to read my book, just ping me and ask.

And Americans, stop being jerks about this. Be greatful that you have free libraries and utilize them, but don't shit on other people who don't have that option. America's systems aren't the rest of the world's systems, no matter how much you think they should be.

(tl;dr: Americans, it's not all about you, so stop being moralistic and shitty to people in other countries who don't have access to the same privileges you do.)

[wyvernity]

wip posting just to get something out there, and it's def a mixed bag!! the only thing more inconsistent than my posting schedule is my art style RIP

[nemotakeit]

i think that if we dig all the way down to the roots of tøp's musical theme, it all comes down to that constant internal conflict between desperately wanting to be seen and desperately wanting to stay hidden. we can see how they've been making gradual progress in "managing the tension" but it's still there on Clancy. dare i say it's the central theme of the lore as well.. the reason the character & the era Clancy feels so rebellious is because he's actively fighting to Be Seen. the oscillation continues, but a subversive variable has emerged.

[angele-midnight]

Why are so many people on Tumblr/Twitter claiming Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss are bad shows??? "They're not mid shows guys they're just bad" can y'all give me one concrete reason they're bad besides debunked "controversies" or things that other people told you were bad about em?

Like I'm halfway convinced all of these people claiming these are such bad shows and are annoyed about em haven't actually watched them - "I don't need to watch a show to know it's bad" pretty sure you do if you want to have an informed opinion, that goes for everything actually.

If you're annoyed by the hype and the fan culture?? That's fine we all got our things but that doesn't make the shows themselves bad I think y'all just like having someone to poke fun of without feeling like a bully and honestly?? That seems like a miserable way to live.

[grison-in-space]

Since the dental Tribble has been on a strict no kibble, no crunchy, no chewing diet. (In a week or so she'll be allowed to use her teeth again a bit more, but no one wants to see a dog get dry socket.) Spouse feels that canned dog food (perpetually on hand to make into pupsickles) is not experienced as filling enough, and we do know that Tribble has done better on grain inclusive foods for the past decade, so... the rice cooker has been simmering with chicken stock rice too bulk out the canned food all week, and Matilda and Benton have both gotten a fair bit of overflow rice as a treat.

Unconnectedly, tonight happens to be my first night alone as the sole human all evening in quite a few months. Matilda has been doing her job of enforcing bed, of course, but I can also rely on other humans to help make routine happen if she's too tired to be on it.

If I was worried that Tilly hadn't worked out her evening routine enforcement functions before now, I shouldn't have been. I don't think I've ever seen a dog so excited to move the evening along towards the part where dinner and the good cookies are.

[cosmocove]

some bobbles (+ two unfinished things)

[monster-noises]

Anyone out there got a solution for when you're feeling really stuck with your art and everyone and their mother tells you the solution is to do studies and figure drawings and other such things but even just thinking about doing those things makes you Spiral and want to Kill Yourself?

[defiledtomb]

selene what's got you smiling so sweetly? (is it the hunter, covered in blood?) ๏˽๏

[monards]

i know hoyo is setting up rhine to have good intent and whatever in her trying to 'save' khaneri'ah or whatever; but i REALLY hope they stay with the cruel persona thats been built up for her. because it would be so wonderful to see a character who had good intent in the beginning just get absolutely corrupted; with the inability to ever go back to that prior state purely because of what had happened. also because there is NO way in her turning back after all that shit

[ryderdire]

One of These days I will claw my way out of my depression hole, but let me rest on the way up please.

[queencvbra]

I am. So so scared about that they're doing with Tory this season lol.

[stellacadente]

when the kind-of-therapist says you're making progress.........

[ley-med]

Sometimes progress is calling in sick in time, because I realise that I got some flu and no it won't be better in the few hours I would need to head out for my shift. Unlike previous times when I convinced myself I'm not even that sick and worked through the pain and all...

It might have something to do with the fact that the only position where my back doesn't feel like it's splitting in half is kneeling on all fours, but whatever, insignificant detail, I'm proud of my progress

[leori-the-unlearned]

the yearning to be part of something big and celebrated for your ideas but also. you dont have any ideas and youve never been part of something very big.

[pallanophblargh]

Tomorrow I embark on a most boring journey that will culminate in the first in-person holiday with family since pre-plague times.

I’ll likely step on eggshells for a good portion of my visit, but I’m medicated this time around, so I hope that will make a difference for me.

*deep breath* Fingers crossed.

[retired-yowane]

I might come back here. I sorta lied about why I left I guess. Well it’s true I wasn’t in any arguments with anyone I had issues with another member of the official vocaloid community. (There’s a lot of swearing and unmedicated rage under the cut)

In my mind this person bullied a lot of other blogs over misunderstandings or minor disagreements. At the time I felt like this person was very defensive and I felt like this was their way of protecting themself. But as some who was bullied quite frequently I always felt a little anxious around them.

In hindsight that was stupid as hell. I’m in university now and I now bullies are fucking babies who attack other people because they want to feel superior or take out their emotions in an unhealthy way.

It’s come to my attention however that this person may not have just been a bully. It’s possible this person was doing some pretty bad shit to people. And honestly it makes me really fucking mad that this person went around playing moral guardian nitpicking things 14 year olds were saying. All the while this person was allegedly doing some god awful things. It makes me mad that this person got a following with this type of blog. These blogs are supposed to make people smile or want to join in the fun. Not make people scared or harm anyone.

Honestly it just makes me mad that I bent to that person. I wish I stood up for myself on my petty grievances and I admire the bravery the two people I know of for stand up after some genuinely god awful shit.

I just want to say this now. No matter if I do come back or not if anyone in the officialoid community makes you feel uncomfortable tell Aunt Haku and I’ll listen. I’ll do my best to help and I’ll let that person know they aren’t welcome around you.

We’re silly rp blogs for god’s sake it’s time we start acting like it