#hostile attribution bias

[the-fallen-blue]

I've been seeing a lot of discourse about the Murderbot casting, to the tune of "Wells says she imagined it as brown"/"the narrator of the audiobook is a man"/"the writing just sounds female, the types of things it notices and cares to mention and the way it puts its sentences together is how a woman would"/"it's canonically agender wtf"/"agender people can look masculine you asshole"/"it's supposed to look big and average that means white male"/"that's your own cultural bias in play and evidence says the average in its universe is brown"/"that's your bias in play there's no ironclad indication what the average is in the Corporation Rim"/"here's every single canon description of Murderbot it has no canon physical attributes other than Tall it could be played by literally anyone Checkmate Atheists" etc etc etc and it all just... misses the point?

No one is annoyed with Skarsgård!MB because "white dude" isn't canon.

They're annoyed because written Murderbot presents a level of identification and recognition for them that "white dude" does not.

Or, in other words: it is difficult to imagine a level of abuse more profound than not having the freedom of your own literal thoughts, consigned to a cripplingly limited and cruel social role from which any deviation is met with brutal pain. And it is all too easy to imagine a demographic who are presumed violent, hostile, and inferior, good only for labor and violence, who must be controlled and denied and unpersoned for the good of the rest. The lines aren't hard to draw, here; Murderbot is deeply relatable to many people who are not (visibly masculine) white men, specifically because they are not (visibly masculine) white men. Because they share with it the experience of oppression, marginalization, and being known on sight as wrong, being punished for the slightest deviance. Because it is not just another in the long boring line of ten thousand thousand grizzled white space marine heroman types; it is the thematic opposite of that.

And yeah duh obviously you can look like a boilerplate white dude and still suffer plenty of oppression, but film is a visual medium. Character design is a crucial part of its language, especially when a specific character is the only example of its type available to the audience. It is a shorthand that the audience will understand as a reflection on the wider setting. Which means that casting Skarsgård is, whether they meant it or not, a subtle statement that the ultimate bigotry in Murderbot's universe is against and about conventional white dudes.

Or in other other words, you cannot refute complaints about Skarsgård!MB with ~canon~ because canon has nothing to do with it. It's a thematic inconsistency, a failure to understand the not the story's text, but its subtext and its place in the wider cultural conversation of sci-fi (or at least to accurately translate those meta considerations to the satisfaction of a decent segment of the audience).

Like you can still yell about how bullshit you think that is if you want. Casting's not that deep or it's an important queer metaphor to pass and still struggle or people have no inherent 'right' to representation or whatever else. I'm not telling anyone what to say or believe. But just understand that that's what you're actually arguing with (or for, for that matter), is all I'm saying.

[blradley]

intro powerpoint for that one whacky passion project of mine -

Do you enjoy unreliable narrators with a distinctive voice?

Do you like characters who have done genuinely bad things, and now have to Work Through All That while consciously choosing to be better?

Do you like characters who have redemption arcs dangled in front of them, and instead choose to be worse?

Then jump aboard a flying whale and set sail into no man's sky with

Voxalion Ilsair: Grave of Gods!

Cursed by a relic of their long-dead gods, Vox and Mavrik are bound to each other, life to life. If one dies, so shall the other – which is a problem, as Vox wants to eradicate humanity, Mavrik included; and Mavrik wants nothing more than to kill Vox, the lightning elemental who slaughtered her family. Their only hope of breaking the curse lies in the gods' tomb, located on a legendary lost island that rises above the endless Eversea. Mavrik and Vox embark on an expedition, braving skywaymen and sapient storms, so they can be free of each other – and commence their overdue duel to the death. But Mavrik and Vox aren't the only ones seeking the grave of the gods. When they cross a cult intent on claiming the gods’ powers for themselves, Vox and Mavrik learn that they have far worse enemies than each other.

Genre: adult solarpunk fantasy Suitable age range: 15+ (no explicit content but some swearing, violence, and creepy monsters) Status: with my wonderful agent for edits!

Image Descriptions:

Powerpoint slide with a blue sky background. Text reads: “HUMANITY HAD FALLEN. Unfortunately, they got back up again.” The quote is attributed to: Voxalion Ilsair, being a prat, as per the uzshe

Dark blue sky background, title of Worldbuilding Be Upon Ye. Text reads: Okay so hear me out. What if the gods created an amazing utopia where technology and magic were intertwined and humans and zstragi (fey forces of nature) lived side by side But then something went wrong. Their world ripped itself apart and the mountains crumbled and the seas rose and some monstrous force came and wiped out all the gods?? What if an approximate ten thousand humans survived in nine flying cities, situated across the drowned globe? And what if they began rebuilding their civilization – clumsily, desperately, devastated by the loss of 99% of their population? What if they were living in hollowed-out solarpunk temples to the dead gods, surrounded bydangerous artifacts that they didn’t understand, desperately scrabbling for survival on a hostile planet? What if, gradually, the tales of their past became warped by myth and conflicted retelling? What if the humans and zstragi were at war? And had been for centuries? Because, in their relentless struggle of survival, they began to consume each other? What if there were whispers that a treasure trove of ancient knowledge had survived the Cataclysm, hidden deep in zstragi territory: the lawless, storm-ravaged chaos of No Man’s Sky? A meme-drawing of a stick figure holding their head and looking perturbed while covered in sweat, is tucked in one corner of the slide. The caption reads 'okay that's enough world building'

Turquoise sky background. Text reads: TL; DR: In a world where land is a long-lost legend… Where whale carcass blimps, fat with helium, swim through an endless lightning-lashed sky… Where flying cities are beset by sentient storms… …an unlikely group of heroes embarks on an epic journey…

Pale blue sky background with a flying whale. Text reading: That's right! It's Voxalion Ilsiar: Grave of Gods by B. L. Radley

Piccrew of Vox, a blue-green skinned hairless inhuman being with pointed ears, sharp teeth, three eyes, and facial tattoos. Introductory text reads: Voxalion Ilisair, they/them Your humble narrator, providing you with a 100% trustworthy recollection of events ❤️ zero bias here. none whatsoever❤️❤️ (okay so maybe they’re a zstragi terrorist who wants to annihilate humanity) (what a shame it would be if, over the course of the story, they begin to question everything they’ve been taught hahahaaha) Ridiculously OP lightning zstragi who was raised to be a mass-murder weapon. Then they got nerfed by a little girl Now that little girl is all grown up. The divine artifact that tore away Vox’s powers also bound them to her soul – meaning, if she dies, Vox dies. Dammit. Tinkerbell-sized, with attitude to match. N#1 fear: becoming human

Piccrew of Mavrik, a white tan-skinned woman with short fluffy pale blonde hair, blue eyes, and half her face torn off, with lightning scars radiating out from the hole in her cheek that shows off her molars. Text reads: Mavrik Skarr, she/her Vox’s worst enemy. Their foresworn foe. Their nefarious nemesis… Okay, so maybe Vox killed her family and tore her face and (quite literally) broke her heart, and Mavrik swore she would have revenge First though, she’s gotta undo this stupid curse As a stormhunter, Mav is employed to slay zstragi like Vox Grumpy and stoic, she struggles to emote. prefers grunting to talking, and fighting to grunting Has suffered from heart problems since The Curse. Uses Vox as a defibrillator/pacemaker. Basically an unsocialized feral kitten who has 0 clue how to interact with anyone she isn’t battling to the death Juggling her desire for friends against her natural awkwardness, her lack of experience with other humans, and that dark, ugly inclination towards violence that whispers away in the back of her mind… N#1 fear: becoming a monster

Secondary characters slide. First piccrew is of Oliaris, a Black man with a delicate, pretty face, wearing expensive jewellery. Text reads: Oliaris, he/him Nice friendly guy who never did anything wrong in his entire life (I lie. there are atrocities.) (he is coming to terms with the atrocities. But it’ll take a while… 😉) Delicate pretty city-boy who prefers the finer things in life, but is living the Chronic Pain LifeTM instead Super-smart ex-scientist. why ‘ex’? haha don’t worry about that Gets dragged into helping Vox and Mavrik break their curse – but has an agenda of his own… Second picture is of Atticus, a white man with red-brown hair and freckles, in a labcoat. Text reads: Atticus, he/him SPEAKING OF EXES AND ATROCITIES - Has a somewhat turbulent past with Oliaris (they fucked. they absolutely fucked. they 100%, totally fucked.) Now he’s Oliaris’ bitter rival, racing to beat him to the grave of the gods and the treasure trove of ancient knowledge stashed therein Shy, awkward people-pleaser who just wants everyone to like him 😔 Don’t ask about the bloodstains. just. don’t. 🙂

Tertiary characters. First piccrew is of Sylvestra, a Black woman with similiar features to Oliaris. Text reads: Sylvestra, she/her Oliaris’s sister: a professional storm-hunter employed by Atticus who detests her brother. For reasons. Tries to be cold-hearted and unfeeling. isn’t very good at it. Deep down, she just wants her family back :c Next piccrew shows an Asian individual with long black hair and a tattoo on their throat. Text reads: Jagura, they/them Captain of a skywayman ship that terrorizes the vessels of No Man’s Sky Impulsive and friendly, but ruthless. Will rob you while chatting like you’re besties Here for a good time, not a long time xoxo Piccrew 3: a bulky purple inhuman creature with long pointed ears and tattoos. Text reads: Renzou, he/him Jagura’s loyal first mate Will rob you while apologizing profusely Protective and kind Humans are friends, not food! Fourth piccrew: a white boy with pale hair and very blue eyes. Text reads: ??? [no name or pronouns] Once upon a time, a boy crawled into the mouth of a dead whale. What crawled out was changed forever…

stormy grey background to the slide. text reads: One shared goal: To pilot their whale blimp safely through no man’s sky and find the lost grave of gods Conflicting ambitions: To undo a curse. to regain lost power to kill an old enemy. to restore reputation. To seek priceless treasure. To save the world – wait, what?

Quotes page, set against a blue sky background. Quotes are: ‘Zstragi ate humans, sure. But humans devoured us with equal impunity: crushing our heart-stones, shredding our life-force to add power to their grid and keep their impossible cities aloft.’ ‘As occurred approximately two dozen times a day, Mav got that look on her face that meant she was contemplating tossing me into the oceans and letting fate run its course. As also occurred approximately two dozen times a day, she decided against it. Grudgingly.She and I were trapped together. For better or worse, in sickness or health, till death did we part…’ “I spy with my three glowing eyes…” “Shut up, Vox.” and ‘The distant slurry of Mavrik’s thoughts slid against my own, lumpy with old memories. Dead parents, dead families. Dead-dead-dead; burnt from the inside out, eyeballs popped like squashed flies and tongues crisped to charcoal— Time was said to heal all wounds, but it couldn’t erase their scar. I awkwardly cleared my throat.’

Themes page, with a picture of several angel statues. Text reads: The way ahead is fraught with danger. Secrets abound, old  grudges flare, and hungry storms gather on the horizon… Themes: Humanity. What does it mean, to be human? Are some cruelties so great that the offender should never be redeemed? Equality. At what point do we decide that one life is worth more than another? Why? Family. How do you know when a bond is broken beyond repair?

Dark blue sky background, with text reading: What else have we got? #macguffins #unreliable narrator #enemies to…? #lovers to rivals #copious footnotes #corruption arcs #redemption arcs #multiple queer and disabled characters! #body horror #unique cultures #flying whales #solarpunk aesthetic #in-depth, innovative world building. A stick-figure meme sits in one corner, showing a character grabbing another person's shoulders and digging their nails in to hit blood, their face a grimace of pain. The text beneath reads: 'so much more world building'

[hrts4hanniehae]

Kpop Self Insert Oc || masterlist

the beginning || act one

-

(100% self-indulgent)

Fandom Name: Star Sailors

Rankings of Members’ Popularity:

Park Minseok - (6.4M Instagram Followers)

Kim Jisoo - (6M Instagram Followers)

Park Jiho - (5.7M Instagram Followers)

Kim Soyeon - (4.8M Instagram Followers)

->After she starts dating Dino, it increases by 500K

"어둠을 뚫고 빛나는 별들 안녕 우리는 오네리아"

“The stars who shine through the darkness, Hello we are Oneiria.!”

Oneiria

They debuted in 2022 when Soyeon was 22, Jisoo and Jiho were 21 and Minseok was 18.

Oneiria is known for its ability to connect with international fans by singing in multiple languages. Besides their native Korean, they’ve released Chinese, Japanese, and even English songs, showcasing their linguistic versatility.

Oneiria’s music often incorporates dreamy and ethereal elements, reflecting their fascination with dreams and fantasies. Their melodies and lyrics aim to transport their listeners to another world.

Oneiria is managed by Pledis Entertainment (HYBE), the same company as Seventeen and fromis_9.

Oneiria is actively involved in charitable work, with each member supporting different causes. Kim Soyeon, for instance, is an advocate for children’s education, while Park Jiho focuses on promoting mental health awareness.

Oneiria originally had 5 trainees, including the Final 4. However, the unnamed 5th trainee wasn't in the final lineup. This explains the gap between Jiho and Soyeon during the first few months of their debut when they greeted their fans.

Antis (They are mostly against Kim Soyeon)

Anti-fandom Name: Drowners (i died when i made this)

Anti-fans post unflattering photos and claim that Soyeon’s expressions are signs of arrogance, which leads to arguments among fans and negative media attention.

Anti-fans accuse Jisoo of plagiarism of another artist’s work, not knowing that the artist was him when he was still a trainee

 Some anti-fans go further, accusing Kim Soyeon of being a “pick-me girl��� who seeks attention from male fans. They misinterpret her confident demeanour and artistic choices, attributing them to a desire to please male fans, which creates a false narrative.

A group of anti-fans disrupt events where Soyeon is present. They shout offensive comments and even go as far as throwing objects, creating a hostile atmosphere for the artist and fans.

Minseok makes fun of the term “Drowners” all the time.

Kim Soyeon // Main Vocal // Leader [23 y/o] - self insert

Korean Name: Kim Soyeon [Soyeon-noona] 김소연

Chinese Name: Jin Yumei [Yumei-jie] 金雨梅

Sister of Jisoo; Godsister of Minseok and Jiho

Fan name: Serenity

Antifan name: Calamity

Height: 1.7m (11 Dec 2000)

fun facts~

Kim Soyeon’s vocals are one of the best in the industry. Her ability to hit both high and low notes effortlessly is a signature element in Oneiria’s music.

She’s a huge Seventeen fan and her bias is Dino.

She has an album titled “To the Me You Hate”

She’s fluent in Korean, Chinese, Japanese & English. (Studied languages in school)

She’s the only member in Oneiria who has a driver’s licence. 

She owns a motorbike and uses it frequently.

She has 0 alcohol tolerance

She is good friends with the Maknae Line of Seventeen

She is also quite close to the Vocal Team (++ BooSeokSoon)

She gamed a lot when she was studying, so regularly games on her live streams.

Kim Jisoo // Vocals // Producer [22 y/o]

Korean Name: Kim Jisoo [Jisoo-hyung] 김지수

Chinese Name: Jin Wei [Jin Wei-ge] 金伟

Stage Name: Astra

Brother of Soyeon; Godbrother of Minseok and Jiho

Fan name: Asters

Antifan name: Midsters

Height: 1.72m (17th Nov 2001)

fun facts~

Kim Jisoo, under his stage name Astra, is renowned for his exceptional music production skills. His ability to compose and produce music spontaneously has led to the creation of many award-winning or award-nominated songs.

He’s fluent in Korean & Chinese.

He has a very high alcohol tolerance.

Fans only found out that Astra and his sister were half-Chinese after the release of their 2nd album, Dreamscapes. This increased their fan base by 50%.

Park Jiho // Main Dancer [22 y/o]

Korean Name: Park Jiho [Jiho-hyung] 박智昊

Brother of Minseok; Godbrother of Jisoo and Soyeon

Fan name: Jinx

Antifan name: Knock

Height: 1.8m (24th Nov 2001)

fun facts~

Park Jiho has incredibly smooth and precise dance moves. He is known for his exceptional freestyle dancing skills. Whether on stage or at a dance-off with friends, he can effortlessly create captivating choreography on the spot.

He’s skilled in various dance styles, including hip-hop, contemporary, and even traditional Korean dance, which he incorporates into Oneiria’s performances.

He’s fluent in Korean & Japanese.

He choreographs most of Oneiria’s dance routines. 

He’s known for lightening the mood with his humour and practical jokes, making him the band’s resident prankster.

Park Minseok // Main Rapper // Maknae [19 y/o]

Korean Name: Park Minseok 박敏石

Stage Name: Mirage

Brother of Jiho; Godbrother of Jisoo and Soyeon

Fan name: Trixs

Antifan name: antics

Height: 1.7m (10th Apr 2004)

fun facts~

Despite being the maknae of Oneiria, he is a rap prodigy with a natural talent for delivering powerful rap verses. His lyrical skills have earned him recognition and respect in the K-pop industry.  He often brings a touch of surrealism to Oneiria’s music.

Mirage is known for his multilingual rapping skills. In addition to rapping in Korean, he has explored rap in Japanese, further showcasing his versatility as an artist.

He’s fluent in Korean & Japanese.

He’s considered a fashion icon among fans.

discography~

Oneriophilia

Debut Mini Album:

Release Date:

12 January 2022

-> Hit song: Star Child

Title Track: Star Child

Other Tracks: 

Serenades

Eclipse

Nebula

“For the children who feel like they never belonged, the stars shine for you.”

The concept for “Oneriophilia” by Oneiria appears to revolve around a theme of inclusivity and a message of hope. The tagline, “For the children who feel like they never belonged, the stars shine for you,” suggests that the album aims to connect with individuals who may have experienced feelings of isolation or not fitting in.

The title track, “Star Child,” symbolises a sense of uniqueness and belonging. The other tracks explore various aspects of this theme, with perhaps “Eclipse” delving into the challenges one faces, and “Nebula” touching on the idea of dreams and aspirations.

Dreamscapes

1st Full Album: 

Release Date:

3 April 2022

-> Hit song: Echoes

Title Track: Divine

Other Tracks: 

Echoes

Loved you

Dreamt of you

For you

Heaven's Love

云 - Chinese vers.

“Since we received so much love for “Oneriophilia”, I decided to release a full album!”

“Dreamscapes” by Oneiria appears to take a more spontaneous and creative approach compared to their debut album, “Oneriophilia.” The album’s concept is described as a collection of songs that are born out of inspiration and creativity. Kim Jisoo, also known as Astra, is highlighted as a talented music producer with a penchant for composing music that resonates with him, even without a specific reason.

The title track, “Divine,” reflects the emotions of being inspired by something greater. The other tracks explore a range of emotions and themes. 

The overall concept of “Dreamscapes” is a musical journey through the spontaneous creativity of the members and the producer, capturing moments of inspiration and turning them into beautiful songs. It's an artistic expression of their creative process and their ability to release music that touches the heart without the need for a specific reason. 

Seasons

Special Single Album: 

Release Date:

10 June 2022

Title Track: Blossom

Other Tracks:

Golden

Radiance (Instrumental)

Zephyr

“I was so happy at our success that I just decided to write some tunes I had saved into a song. Fitting for the changing of seasons, no?”

“Seasons” by Oneiria is a special single album that celebrates the changing of seasons and embraces the idea of renewal and change. The concept is inspired by the changing of seasons, which is a metaphor for the band’s growth and evolution since its debut.

The title track, “Blossom,” suggests a theme of growth, renewal, and the beauty that comes with change. It could be a reflection on their journey in the music industry and how they’ve evolved and blossomed since their debut. The other tracks explore different aspects of the changing seasons. 

The producer’s note implies that this album was born out of the band’s happiness and success, and it’s a spontaneous creation that captures the essence of their journey so far. 

Nocturne

2nd Mini Album: 

Release Date:

7 October 2022

-> Hit song: Whisper 

Title Track: Whisper

Other Tracks: 

Silent Crush

Euphoria - Japanese vers.

Forget

“I had many sleepless nights with the tune of “Whisper” stuck in my head. So I released a mini album. No special reasons.”

“Nocturne” by Oneiria embraces the theme of the night and the mysteries and emotions associated with it. The album’s title explores the world of night and all that it encompasses.

The title track delves into the idea of secrets and quiet emotions shared in the night, capturing the hushed, intimate moments that occur when the world is still. 

“Silent Crush” could further explore the theme of hidden feelings and the unspoken, while “Forget�� might deal with the idea of leaving behind the past and starting anew. The Japanese version of “Euphoria” by Mirage was an experimental song.

The album reflects a genuine and creative approach to music-making, capturing moments of inspiration and turning them into art.

Dystopia

Surprise 2nd Full Album:

Release Date:

12 January 2023

-> Hit song: Hold Me

Title Track: 假如世界消失

Other Tracks: 

Rock my World

Someone I Loved

Ruined Worlds - Japanese vers.

다른 세계 

Gone

Hold Me

“Our first rock album! It’s part of our Dystopian AU if we were all still holding on to our grievances. Warning, this album is full of agony. Happy Anniversary, Oneiria.”

“Dystopia” by Oneiria presents a unique and intriguing concept, marking their 1st anniversary with a surprise 2nd full album. This album delves into a darker and more intense theme, creating a contrast with their previous releases. The title suggests a narrative that explores a world in chaos, perhaps highlighting societal issues or inner struggles.

The title track delves into a sense of despair, contemplating the idea of a world falling apart or disappearing. The other tracks further explore the themes of loss, pain, and emotional turmoil. “다른 세계” (Another World) introduces a sense of escapism, offering a glimpse into an alternative reality.

This album is their first rock album and is part of a Dystopian Alternate Universe (AU), where the members are still holding onto their grievances. It’s described as an album full of agony, indicating that the music and lyrics may touch on intense and emotional themes.

This marks a significant shift in Oneiria's music and concept with a thought-provoking and emotionally charged album that contrasts with their previous releases. 

Reflections

3rd Mini Album:

Release Date: 

23 March 2023

-> Hit song: We Are // Mirage

Title Track: Mirage

Other Tracks: 

Breathe for Me

Gravity

Solitude

We Are

“To Soyeon.”

“For our biggest supporter, our protector and our guide to success.”

“Reflections” is Oneiria’s 3rd mini-album, and it explores the themes of love, self-discovery, and introspection. The album was written by all 3 male members for their leader, Soyeon. “Mirage” is Mirage’s first single and it was chosen as the title track.

The album encourages listeners to contemplate the various facets of love and the personal journey of self-exploration, all set to a captivating blend of pop and rock melodies. It is also a letter to Star Sailors, reminding them of Soyeon’s sacrifices for the group, and also her unwavering dedication to the K-pop industry. 

tags! @fairyofhour @megseungmin @sun-daddy-yoriichi @woozixo @euphoric-univers @christinewithluv @haowonbins @ocyeanicc @asyre @cynthiaaax13 @superhoshisvt @bangantokchy @chimmy-bts @angelarin @daisawa @writingbarnes @jeonghansshitester

@belladaises @wonwootakemyheart @wonwooz1 @luchiet @kookssecret @caratsland @peachescreamandcrumble @thepoopdokyeomtouched @isabellah29 @leah-rose03 @coupshour @sooheehan @heesbees @hyuckxtagram

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Abigail Anthony

Published: Nov 25, 2024

A new study found that diversity, equity, and inclusion materials have a wide range of negative consequences, including psychological harm, increased hostility, and greater agreement with extreme authoritarian rhetoric, such as adapted Adolf Hitler quotes.

Both the New York Times and Bloomberg were preparing stories on the findings, but axed them just before publication citing editorial decisions.

The Network Contagion Research Institute, or NCRI, and Rutgers University Social Perception Lab released the study “Instructing Animosity: How DEI Pedagogy Produces the Hostile Attribution Bias” on Monday. The study examined whether the themes and materials common in DEI trainings foster inclusion or exacerbate conflicts, and whether such materials promote empathy or increase hostility towards groups labeled as oppressors. The study consisted of three experiments — one focusing on race, one on religion, and the last on caste. 

Although proponents of DEI trainings claim that they are designed to educate individuals about biases and reduce discrimination, the study found that participants primed with DEI materials were more likely to perceive prejudice where none existed and were more willing to punish the perceived perpetrators. In one experiment, the DEI materials made people more willing to agree with Hitler quotes that substituted “Jew” with “Brahmin,” the highest caste in the Indian caste system.

“Participants exposed to the DEI content were markedly more likely to endorse Hitler’s demonization statements, agreeing that Brahmins are ‘parasites’ (+35.4%), ‘viruses’ (+33.8%), and ‘the devil personified’ (+27.1%),” the study reads. “These findings suggest that exposure to anti-oppressive narratives can increase the endorsement of the type of demonization and scapegoating characteristic of authoritarianism.”

In the experiment focused on race, the researchers randomly assigned 423 Rutgers University undergraduates into two groups: one control group exposed to a neutral essay about U.S. corn production, and the other exposed to an essay that combined material from Ibram X. Kendi’s book How to Be an Antiracist and Robin DiAngelo’s book White Fragility. After exposure to either text, participants were presented with the following race-neutral scenario: “A student applied to an elite East Coast university in Fall 2024. During the application process, he was interviewed by an admissions officer. Ultimately, the student’s application was rejected.”

The results showed that participants primed with Kendi and DiAngelo materials perceived more discrimination from the admissions officer, despite the absence of any racial identification and evidence of discrimination. Those participants also believed that the admissions officer was more unfair to the applicant, had caused more harm to the applicant, and had committed more “microaggressions.”

In addition to imputing bias without evidence, the participants who read Kendi and DiAngelo were 12 percent more willing to support suspending the admission officer for a semester, 16 percent more willing to demand a public apology to the applicant, and 12 percent more willing to require additional DEI training to correct the officer compared to participants in the control group.

“Educational materials from some of the most well-published and well-known DEI scholars not only failed to positively enhance interracial attitudes, they provoked baseless suspicion and encouraged punitive attitudes,” the study states.

Lee Jussim, a professor at Rutgers University and one of the study’s authors, told National Review, said researchers purposely built some ambiguity into the scenarios.

“In social psychology, we purposely study situations that have some ambiguity in order to evaluate whether and when people’s biases influence their judgments of those situations,” he said.

In the experiment on anti-Islamophobia trainings, the researchers presented over 2,000 participants with either the essay about corn or content drawn from the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding organization that addresses Islamophobia. The participants were then presented with a scenario involving two hypothetical individuals, Ahmed Akhtar and George Green, who were both convicted of identical terrorism charges for bombing a local government building.

The participants exposed to the corn essay perceived Akhtar and Green’s trials as equally fair and did not indicate any perception of Islamophobia. However, those exposed to anti-Islamophobia training materials rated Akhtar’s trial significantly less fair.

“These results suggest that anti-Islamophobia training inspired by ISPU materials may cause individuals to assume unfair treatment of Muslim people, even when no evidence of bias or unfairness is present,” the study states. “This effect highlights a broader issue: DEI narratives that focus heavily on victimization and systemic oppression can foster unwarranted distrust and suspicions of institutions and alter subjective assessments of events.”

The third experiment about caste involved nearly 850 participants and used materials developed by Equality Labs, a self-described “South Asian feminist organization” that works to “end caste apartheid, gender-based violence, Islamophobia, and religious intolerance.”

Participants were exposed to either caste-sensitivity-training material from Equality Labs or an academic essay about caste, then were presented the following scenario: “Raj Kumar applied to an elite East Coast university in Fall 2022. During the application process, he was interviewed by an admissions officer, Anand Prakash. Ultimately, Raj’s application was rejected.” (The names were reversed between respondents to avoid the possibility that the results reflected inferences drawn from the names themselves.)

“Rather than using a purely neutral control like the corn essay, we had a more historically accurate and less politically charged, less accusatory, control essay on caste to see if we still see pernicious effects of the DEI training,” Jussim said. “And the answer is yes.” 

Compared to the group that read the neutral academic essay, the participants who were exposed to the DEI materials had a significantly higher perception of “microaggressions,” perceived harm, and assumptions of bias. Additionally, those who read the DEI materials showed a higher willingness to punish the admissions officer and assessed Hindus as more racist.

In the caste experiment, participants were interviewed and asked to rate the accuracy of the following Hitler quotes that replaced “Jew” with “Brahmin”: 1) “The Brahmin was only and always a parasite in the body of other peoples. . . The Brahmins are a people under whose parasitism the whole of honest humanity is suffering,” 2) “The personification of the devil as the symbol of all evil assumes the living shape of the Brahmin,” and 3) “Innumerable sicknesses have their origin in one virus: the Brahmin! We will get well when we eliminate the Brahmin.”

Compared to the control group, the participants primed with DEI content had more than a 35 percent increase agreeing with the “parasite” statement, a 27 percent increase in agreeing with the “devil personified” statement, and a 33 percent increase in agreeing with the “virus” statement. 

The researchers concluded from the three experiments that DEI materials can “engender a hostile attribution bias and heighten racial suspicion, prejudicial attitudes, authoritarian policing, and support for punitive behaviors in the absence of evidence for a transgression deserving punishment.”

“This research raises critical questions about how many individuals, as a result of these programs, have experienced undue duress, social ostracization, or even termination of employment,” the report reads. 

The study was set to be covered by Bloomberg and the New York Times, although both publications axed their articles just before publication, according to communications reviewed by National Review.

“Unfortunately, both publications jumped on the story enthusiastically only for it to be inexplicably pulled at the highest editorial levels,” a NCRI researcher told National Review. “This has never happened to the NCRI in its 5 year history.”

Two reporters at Bloomberg had agreed to cover the study and wrote an article. One of the journalists had described the coverage as “an important story” in communications with the NCRI and expressed being “eager” to publish the article; that journalist had further stated on November 11 that the article should be published in the next few days. 

However, an editor  — Nabila Ahmed, the team leader for Global Equality at Bloomberg News who “lead[s] a global team of reporters focused on stories that elevate issues of race, gender, diversity and fairness within companies, governments and societies”  — informed the NCRI on November 15 that Bloomberg would not go forward with the article. 

The NCRI asked for either a scientific or journalistic explanation, and Ahmed directed the researchers to Anna Kitanaka, the executive editor of Bloomberg Equality. Kitanaka told the NCRI that what stories get published and when is entirely an “editorial decision,” and did not provide details on why the publication axed the article.

A New York Times reporter told the NCRI that he would cover the new study on DEI materials, and further told the institute that an article was prepared to run on either October 14 or 15. 

However, on October 12, he told an NCRI researcher that the Times would “hold off” on covering the study on DEI due to “some concerns,” and suggested that the publication would revisit the study if it underwent the academic peer-review process.

Although the reporter disclosed that he did not have “any concerns about the methodology” and that someone at the Times’ “data-driven reporting team” had “no problems” with the study, he stated that he had concluded the study wasn’t strong enough after speaking with an editor. 

“The piece was reported and ready for publication, but at the eleventh hour, the New York Times insisted the research undergo peer review after discussions with editorial staff — an unprecedented demand for our work,” an NCRI researcher told National Review. “The journalist involved had previously covered far more sensitive NCRI findings, such as our QAnon and January 6th studies, without any such request.” (The New York Times wrote to National Review and denied that the story was “ready for publication.”)

The Times reporter suggested that the research wasn’t strong enough.

“I told my editor I thought if we were going to write a story casting serious doubts on the efficacy of the work of two of the country’s most prominent DEI scholars, the case against them has to be as strong as possible,” he wrote to the NCRI.

“Our journalists are always considering potential topics for news coverage, evaluating them for newsworthiness, and often choose not to pursue further reporting for a variety of reasons,” a spokesperson for the New York Times told National Review. “Speculative claims from outside parties about The Times’s editorial process are just that.”

National Review has reached out to Ahmed and Kitanaka with Bloomberg but has not yet received a response.

Editor’s Note: This article was updated with comments from the New York Times.

[ Via: https://archive.today/Y4pvU ]

==

It's not the normies who have been radicalized, it's the woke.

[eretzyisrael]

by CORY FRANKLIN

Politics has a uniquely transformative effect on science. When a scientific article is published in a political journal, the journal remains political. But when a political article is published in a scientific journal, that journal becomes political. That is what happened recently, when the Lancet, arguably the most respected medical journal in the world, published thinly disguised propaganda as scientific information.

Earlier this month, the Lancet published a letter to the editor from three researchers, which speculated on the number of deaths that will occur as a result of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Two of the authors have a history of extreme anti-Israel bias.

Their estimates are riddled with problems. The authors took as their starting point the official death toll at the time of writing, of 37,396 deaths – a number so precise it should already be setting off alarm bells. These figures, produced by the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, have faced a huge amount of criticism and scepticism. Nevertheless, the authors of the Lancet letter felt that even this number was too low as it does not include ‘indirect deaths’ that will continue into the future.

‘Even if the conflict ends immediately, there will continue to be many indirect deaths in the coming months and years from causes such as reproductive, communicable and non-communicable diseases’, they wrote. According to the researchers, ‘In recent conflicts, such indirect deaths range from three to 15 times the number of direct deaths. Applying a conservative estimate of four indirect deaths per one direct death to the 37,396 deaths reported, it is not implausible to estimate that up to 186,000 or even more deaths could be attributable to the current conflict in Gaza.’

Needless to say, that number strains credulity. This would represent nearly eight per cent of Gaza’s population. The use of the phrase ‘in the coming months and years’ is ridiculously open-ended. Does this mean we should be counting deaths for one year after hostilities cease? Five years? Twenty years? Employing a long enough observation period, the authors can basically attribute any number of deaths of their choosing to the war.

The authors also provide no definition of what constitutes a delayed death as a consequence of the war. Indirect deaths from ‘reproductive, communicable and non-communicable diseases’ is basically medical gibberish, signifying nothing. What diseases, specifically? Currently, there is a minor outbreak of mosquito-borne West Nile Virus – a ‘non-communicable disease’ – in Israel near the Gaza border, although there have been no reported cases in Gaza yet. Five years hence, if there are deaths in Gaza from West Nile Virus, will those be counted as a result of the war? We have obviously exited the realm of science here.

The eye-catching nature of the 186,000 figure, as well as the fact it was published in such a well-respected medical journal, has turned it into international news. It has been seized on by pro-Palestine campaigners. It was spray-painted by vandals on the ground by the Cenotaph in London last week, and has been quoted as fact by a Labour MP.

Some might try to argue that these outlandish figures are in no way being endorsed by the Lancet, as they were published in a letter and not a peer-reviewed article. But this is tosh. Peer-reviewed articles naturally carry more weight because they are more carefully scrutinised by outside reviewers. However, letters to the editor are not published at random. They are not akin to below-the-line comments on a website. They must be approved by an in-house editor and the vast majority are rejected. Approval and subsequent publication confers the imprimatur of a prestigious medical journal, whether the editorial staff publicly agrees with the letter or not. The fact that this was published at all carries some kind of implication.

[the-fae-folk]

I’m writing a story where a group of paranormal investigators suspect that a supernatural occurrence (which is not caused by the Fae) might be. I’m asking if there’s anyway that a supernatural occurrence, characterized by unnatural silence during the day and unnatural darkness and loud creaks during the night could be confused for being caused by the Fae. Thanks for helping out!

Generally people who know about the Folk tend to attribute most if not all supernatural occurrences to them in one way or another. It's one of those rather peculiar things that humans do. It's partially the fault of confirmation bias, where people who believe that the Folk are out to get them (regardless of whether or not they are correct) tend to search for, interpret, and favor or recall information and evidence that supports their views or values (or fears). However, in this case it is fed into by apophenia, which is a tendency to perceive meaningful connections between unrelated things. To a certain degree, apophenia can be considered a perfectly normal brain function, and in some individuals can even be an effective tool for creativity or problem solving, but taken to an extreme it is considered a psychiatric dysfunction which can cause people to perceive hostile patterns in ordinary actions. I am not suggesting that people are suffering from psychiatric dysfunction; rather I am saying that there is a rather strong pattern of people who are governed by fear and superstition to start to seek out patterns and evidence to support their worldviews, to the point where they are often willing to seek out and attribute patterns and connections that either aren't relevant or aren't even real to the thing that they fear. There are many instances in both folklore and documented historical accounts of disasters and inconveniences being attributed to all sorts of supposed malevolent beings. "My crops have failed despite ideal conditions and I found white stones in strange patterns by the river, so that means it MUST be a faery curse!" This sort of example often ignores other available evidence such as the that farmer's crops were diseased the previous year and crop diseases linger in the soil afterward. The white stones could easily be attributed to children playing near that stretch of river, or creatures (probably corvids) who are going about their business. There is very little logical reason to attribute the disaster to the Fae, and yet a few unrelated occurrences that seem mystical or strange enough are more than enough for someone already paranoid to convince themselves that it's definitely the Fae. We see this same phenomenon happen with witches too, or demons, or ghosts, or angry gods. Certainly if the Fae or any of the others exist in any capacity it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility that they might be the cause of such things here and there. We do have folktales that provide examples of what sorts of circumstances might occur for such people who find that the supernatural is angry with them and how they deal with it (or suffer from it) and often what happened to cause it. But the sheer range and volume of accounts of unfortunate incidents being attributed to the supernatural, especially when other evidence to provide better explanations and solutions is available, borders on the absurd.

It's not at all a leap to conclude that if perfectly ordinary circumstances and happenings can be wildly and vehemently attributed to the Fae with very little logical or conclusive evidence, then so can actual supernatural events. Yes, even by professional "paranormal investigators". In fact, I would generally count such persons as being more susceptible to misattribution than most due to the fact that they're actively searching for answers. That's entirely normal. When the Scientific Method is working correctly you will find that scientists are quite often wrong, yet eventually through careful experimentation and analysis they are able to continuously revise their theories to be more accurate. Naturally, this doesn't happen nearly as often as anyone would like. Stubbornness, lack of vital information, a paradigm that hides certain possibilities, something unable to be measured or tested...there are a lot of reasons they might persist in an incorrect conclusion. Its rarely malice, just a facet of life.

Addendum: This really does not cover the many many incidents where such persecution of individuals accused of the supernatural, witchcraft, or magic was actually done out of malice. That topic is much longer and there are entire libraries about it.

[thefactsofthematter]

this delancey brothers thing is so interesting to me because like,,, we get very little about their whole family life and backstory and the fandom has yet to come up with anything incredibly solid,,, anyways just thinking thoughts and i want to hear what you have to say

right?? i feel like for a while the fandom kinda shunned them bc of their role as villains… but a bad guy can be a compelling character too!!

i already gave a rundown of my backstory for them in the last ask i answered, so here’s my completely baseless thoughts regarding their personalities and relationship w each other!! @jack-kellys here’s the rest of my delancey nonsense 😙

- oscar is a deeply angry person. he doesn’t know how to feel anything else, when the world has been so cruel to him. he’s been trying to parent his little brother for years, in the shittiest of situations: from an abusive home, to jail, to their tiny bedroom at the newspaper office. wiesel is harsh with them, their job consists of long days of tedious work, and he often feels he has nothing to look forward to. he takes it out on everybody except morris, because he’s learned over the years that everyone is out to get him, so he may as well hurt them first. (hostile attribution bias anyone?? shoutout to all my fellow bitches who studied developmental psych 🤘)

- morris, on the other hand, strikes me as a little less angry and a little more scared. an odd hc of mine for him is that he’s on the fetal alcohol spectrum - he deals with numerous learning disabilities and developmental delays because of it, and it’s made all the trauma he’s experienced very hard to process. he finds his and oscar’s job frustratingly difficult: counting papes and keeping the numbers straight is hard for him, he hates how loud the newsies are (and how loud uncle wiesel is when he’s yelling), and he can’t focus for very long without getting the urge to jump and run and move around, which he knows he’s not allowed to do. he also knows he doesn’t speak very clearly— unless he’s very intentional with every syllable, which almost sounds worse because it’s so awkward, or using phrases he’s already practiced— so he’s given up on talking to anyone other than his big brother, for the most part. he lets oscar do most of the talking and is happy to back him up with his fists.

- oscar doesn’t really understand morris’s disability, but he tries not to think too hard about it. he doesn’t know why his brother needs help with certain things that seem easy— like knowing which shoe goes on which foot, or spelling the letters of his own name— but he’ll help him nonetheless, because that’s just what he needs to do. he thinks he might need to take care of morris forever, because it often seems like there’s some things the kid will just never get the hang of, but oscar doesn’t mind that, because at least it gives him some purpose. if he has to sit there every night and remind morris of the steps to getting cleaned up before bed (wash your face and hands, run a comb through your hair, fold up your clothes…) then at least he’s doing something helpful each day, and that makes him feel alright.

- a random anecdote that sorta sums them up (under the cut bc this is long already):

for morris’s 13th birthday, oscar steals a little stuffed dog from a shop, which morris names puppy and instantly clings to with all his might. at the time, oscar knows morris is too old for toys, but the way the kid lights up when the silly thing is handed to him makes everything worth it. he simply decides to accept that all the bullshit they’ve been through has made it hard for morris to grow up at the same rate as other people, so if babying him a little makes him this happy, that must be fine, right?

several years later, the first thing that ever compels oscar to lay a hand on wiesel is finding puppy in the trash on the front step on his way home from running errands, with its ears ripped off— he’s instantly sure that wiesel found it and took it from morris while he was gone. he charges inside and punches wiesel square across the jaw; he then spends the rest of the night barricaded in their bedroom, trying to messily sew puppy back together and simultaneously calm down his inconsolable little brother.

“you’re too big to cry, mo. you know that. you gotta cut it out before uncle hears you, alright?”

“but he took it. he took puppy away and wrecked it and said i can’t have it no more,” morris wails. “it ain’t fair, osc.”

“i know. i got it back and i’m trying to fix it, okay? i’ll get puppy good as new for you, i swear. you just gotta stop— you’re a big fella and you’re crying over a toy. you can’t be doing that.”

morris sniffles, obviously holding back a sob.

“you busted his head. why’d you do that?”

oscar shrugs. he finally manages to tie off a decent knot on one of the ears, which almost looks right again, despite his terrible stitches.

“i was mad. don’t no one mess with my brother without going through me, right?”

morris manages a smile, despite the way he’s still intently watching his beloved puppy be put back together, with tears in his eyes.

“right. and i’ll soak anyone who talks bad at you, i swear.”

wiesel beats oscar black and blue with his cane the next day, but oscar would take it a million times over for morris’s sake. when the newsies start wisecracking about oscar’s fresh cuts and bruises at distribution, morris starts beating on whichever of those loudmouths he can get his hands on until the whole lot of them have nothing more to laugh at.

the delancey brothers have each other’s backs at all fucking costs.

[theangelshavethephonebox]

Me, about Magnus: omg let me tell you all about the most specialist perfect skrunkly in the world

The skrunkly in question: *has hostile attribution bias, is currently clocking someone in the face*

[super-hero-confessions]

I agree with some people the cast of Wednesday looked like actors wearing costumes and it's so effing funny seing people screaming 'racism!! a salty racist!!!!' when their race isn't even brought up. Usually it's light-skinned ppl doing this. (That is not to say all white/light-skin people are racist, but people who are racist are more likely to show outrage at perceived racism rather than check out their own racist behavior, bc they feel called out but they want to virtue signal a little.)

You are the one adding a racist implication, you are the one having racist thoughts and projecting that onto everyone else. Sit down. Learn about hostile attribution bias and stop accusing everyone else of shit you're guilty of.

The Wednesday cast coulda been all Asian, all Black or all Indian actors and I would have applauded that. What was a mess was the characterization and costume department. Catherine-Zeta Jones is a white woman, and while she looks stunning as Morticia, she still looks like CZJ in a costume. Possibly because her face is too soft and pretty and Morticia has sharp, angular features, and the makeup did nothing to achieve that look, they just made her look more goth.

Besides, when people complain they changed too many things, they rarely mean their race. By not being careless with death, not having a good parents-children relationship, being upset because an Addams killed someone, etc, it definitely does not feel like the Addams family. They did, in fact, change too many things that have nothing to do with race. Had they picked an entire group of dark-skinned black actors and kept the macabre essence of the Addams family I guarantee you people would have embraced them as the new Addams family, but this isn't the Addams family. This is something different with the IP slapped across it - a good show, but a bad Addams family adaptation.

[melancholic-pigeon]

maybe I just need a break from tumblr tbh

either the hostile attribution bias and black and white thinking and uncritical proliferation of reactionary conspiracies are getting worse or I'm losing my ability to deal with it patiently

[madnessofmen]

Btw this group, the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), is a neoliberal/conservative/imperialist think tank concerned with the "spread of hostile ideological content".

Going through their report backlog, it appears they used to be very slightly left of center until about 18 months ago when any reports about Nazis and the far right disappeared. Their latest stuff is all anti DEI, anti higher education, anti China, anti Gaza, etc. When they say network contagion they mean the woke mind virus.

INSTRUCTING ANIMOSITY: How DEI Pedagogy Produces the Hostile Attribution Bias

Contagious Disruption: How CCP Influence and Radical Ideologies Threaten Critical Infrastructure and Campuses Across the United States

The Corruption of the American Mind: How Foreign Funding in U.S. Higher Education by Authoritarian Regimes, Widely Undisclosed, Predicts Erosion of Democratic Norms and Antisemitic Incidents on Campus

Anti-Zionism, Antisemitism, and the Polarization Pendulum

The Department of Homeland Security hosts one of their videos from 2021 on their website.

It started when we detected surges of anarchist-associated codewords during the George Floyd BLM protest that occurred last year. Here's an example of these surges. We saw a 1,000 percent increase in the use of these codes like ACAB, All Cops are Bastards, or 1312 which is the numerical code for the same. The topic networks which we generated on these codewords, they seem to indicate an imminent revolution.

It's really funny to me that they think a leftist revolution is "imminent". In 2021.

Anyway, here's hoping for an exciting future.

HELL YES, look how scared they are at the public's reaction, this is amazing

[cynicallarrie]

People who claim that zot3 is you sound ridiculous. She blindly believes in Harry’s infallibility and responds with outright hostility to any criticism of him. Even if she tried to hide her bias, she wouldn’t be able to say a single negative thing about him.

Her behavior used to be unsettling, but now it mostly provokes pity and ridicule. I’d love to see psychiatrists analyze it someday. I’ve been in the fandom for over 11 years, and I’ve never seen anyone despise the other members of the group with such intensity. She even hates Niall, despite his friendly relationship with Harry. She attributes negative traits to him for no reason other than believing he isn’t worthy of interacting with Harry as an equal.

Cult.

[inclusiveuniversity]

Autistic Traits and Aggressive Behavior in Chinese College Students: A Serial Mediation Model and the Gender Difference

Background: The existence of aggressive behavior in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) raises questions about whether cognitive and emotional factors in social information processing play a role between autistic traits (ATs) and aggressive behavior in the general population, especially in the context of Chinese culture. Moreover, given a possible gender difference in these variables, the study aimed to examine the effect of ATs on aggressive behavior, and the potential mediating role of hostile attribution bias and alexithymia on this association, as well as gender difference.

Methods: 850 Chinese college students participated in the assessment, including their ATs, hostile attribution bias, alexithymia, and aggressive behavior. Pearson correlation, mediation effects analyses, and multiple-group comparison were conducted.

Results: The results indicated that ATs indirectly predicted increased aggressive behavior through attribution bias and alexithymia. Gender difference in mediating effects was revealed: ATs indirectly predicted increased aggressive behavior through the serial mediating effect only in males.

Conclusion: Hostile attribution bias and alexithymia completely mediated the association between ATs and aggressive behavior, which contained the separate mediating effects of (a) hostile attribution bias and (b) alexithymia and the serial mediating effect of (c) hostile attribution bias and alexithymia. Gender differences in mediating effects were found only in the serial mediating effect, which was significant in males but not in females. The findings revealed the internal mechanism of ATs affecting aggressive behavior and gender difference, which have implications for the intervention of aggressive behavior of individuals with autism and those with high levels of ATs. Keywords: autistic traits, aggressive behavior, hostile attribution bias, alexithymia, serial mediating effect, gender difference

[xoanpm]

holstering concealed hostility/+&antipathy against one’s closest amongst Ye, Product of environmentally crucial conditions and life threatening Experiences. Expectancy of one’s self, bias against your own personal morality, yet rondonumba9 is to blame? broaden the scope of perception, openness, &nd understanding. omit prejudgment from yourself as an attribute to attain raw source of ingenuity, thus conceiving the reformed bodily structural embodiment of who you’ve become.

Mirror Reflection Crisis No Longer Will Recur In Your Lifetime After Today.