#i also have the right to observe and think critically about what i've seen

[isekyaaa]

Reading Novel Updates spoiler forums makes me so sad bc you see how bland and boring some people are in that they only want to read novels with perfect male leads that treat the main character with 100% politically correct and Twitter feminist approved respect. Flawed men are morally reprehensible in their eyes and are deserving of judgment and death.

[keelanrosa]

terfs when a study shows literally anything positive about trans people/transitioning: 'hm i think this requires some fact-checking. Were those researchers REALLY unbiased? Because if they were biased this doesn't count and if they weren't knowingly biased they probably were unconsciously biased, woke media affects so much these days. Have there been any other studies on this? Because if there haven't been this could be an outlier and if there have been and they all agree that's a bit odd, why aren't there any outliers, and if there have been and any disagree we really won't know the truth until we very thoroughly analyze them all, will we? Were there enough subjects for a good sample size? Did every single subject involved stay involved through the whole study because if they didn't we should be sure nothing shady was going on resulting in people dropping out. Are we 110% sure all the subjects were fully honest and at no point were embarrassed or afraid to admit they didn't love transitioning to the people in charge of their transition? Are we 110% sure none of the subjects were manipulated into thinking they were happy with their transition? In fact we should double-check what they think with their parents, because if the subjects and their parents disagree it's probably because they've been manipulated but their cis parents have not and are very unbiased. How many autistic subjects were there because if there weren't enough then this doesn't really study the overlap between autistic and trans and if there were too many then we just don't know enough about what causes that overlap to be sure this study really explains being trans and isn't just about being autistic. How many AFAB subjects were there because if there weren't enough this is just another example of prioritizing AMAB people and ignoring the different struggles of girls and women and if there were too many how do we know sexism didn't affect the results. Was the study double-blinded? We all know double-blinded is the most reliable so if this one wasn't that's a point against it even if the thesis literally physically could not be double-blinded. Look i'm not being transphobic, i want what's best for trans people! Really! But as a person who is not trans and therefore objective in a way they cannot possibly be, i just think we should only take into account Good Science here. You want to be following science and not being manipulated or experimented upon by something unscientific, right?'

terfs when they see a study of 45 subjects so old it predates modern criteria for gender dysphoria and basically uses 'idk her parents think she's too butch', run by a guy who practiced conversion therapy, 'confirmed' by a guy who treated the significant portion of subjects who didn't follow up as all desisting, definitely in the category of 'physically cannot double-blind this', completely contradicted by multiple other studies done on actual transgender subjects, but can be kinda cited as evidence against transitioning if you ignore everything else about it: 'oOOH SEE THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TALKIN BOUT. SCIENCE. Just good ol' unbiased thorough analysis. I see absolutely no reason to dig any deeper on this and if you think it's wrong you're the one being unscientific. It's really a shame you've been so thoroughly brainwashed by the trans agenda and can't even accept science when you see it. Maybe now that someone has finally uncovered this long-lost study from 1985, we can make some actual progress on the whole trans problem.'

[makerofmadness]

Ok, op, I get where you're coming from, but I would like to state (AS SOMEONE IN A MUSLIM FAMILY, WITH MUSLIM PARENTS, WHO ARE VERY ACCEPTING OF ME FOR BEING QUEER [I've kinda flip-flopped overtime on if I consider myself Muslim or not. My dad says I am 'Cus he and my mom are but in terms of like beliefs and stuff I don't really follow anything specific. But aspects of Islam do influence my life [I believe in God and I don't eat pork, for two things): keep in mind that Islamic extremists (as with any religion) do exist and that Islamic countries aren't often the most gay-friendly places on earth (including the very country my family is from)

I know like nothing about Sudan specifically so I can't speak on it. But I think accusing people of just being racist for believing this is true is kinda extreme of you. Like I legit took it at face-value when I first saw the stuff. (though from posts I've seen people haven't bought that this was a Sudanese group, especially after I think the official ao3 Twitter themselves made a statement that they don't approve of islamophobia for this. I saw a screenshot of the tweet, and I think in the same post I saw speculation that it might've been a Russian group? I forgot and I can't find the post on my blog so I think I forgot to reblog it). I think it's rather obvious that I don't think all of Sudan is giggling maniacally at the idea of attacking gay fanfiction but I wouldn't be surprised if it was like just. A group of homophobic teens or some shxt. Like there are bad apples in every bunch, believing that sometimes extremists exist isn't racist or islamophobic or whatever it's called having a brain cell.

That being said: yeah the way that thing was worded about the attack makes it look like a parody or something. Like I don't know how their language works and how it'd translate but something definitely feels off and kinda cartoonish. Though from what I've seen the ddos itself was legit (at the very least in that it happened) and I have yet to see any real evidence that it was for some reason some elaborate setup by some ao3 dxckriders to brew hatred against Sudanese muslims... and like if it were then it's just a stupid thing like you literally attacked the website you like and for what? To have people later assume you were a group of Russian hackers or whatever people were saying?? Like. It doesn't make sense either. Y'know?

y'all cannot be fucking serious about believing that ao3 is being hacked by a "sudanese extremist group" be fucking for realllll i think you guys are just racist

[lukolathoughts]

Dearest Gentle readers,

I have been a member of Tumblr for a while without posting a blog entry. I suppose I have been getting the lay of the land and trying to formulate my thoughts. As most of you know, I am a tarot reader on YouTube and I also share my thoughts on X. I am a Lukola through and through and no amount of bullying, intimidation, nasty comments etc. will deter me from my mission. The last few weeks my trolling comments have increased exponentially from what I can only assume are desperate Jakehole's, (apparently I am credited for making the term 'Jakehole' up, I actually have no idea if it was me or not, but I like it) trying to convince me that Nicola is with Jake and Luke is with Antonia. I will come to my thoughts on this in a moment.

I do realise that a public tarot reader, I put myself at risk to exposure and criticism from these types of people. I am fully aware of that. What I underestimate sometimes is the sheer vitriol they come with. I am an empath also and I absorb a lot of a energy, not just from the fandom, Luke and Nic and adjacents, but from my own life as well. I am a teacher and I am surrounded by a lot of people daily. I have always used my television shows as a coping mechanism to detach from reality and 'switch off'. I never thought this time last year I'd be sharing tarot readings on YouTube about a real life celebrity couple that I was barely aware of in January 2024. But here we are. Bridgerton season 3 took hold of my brain and injected some sort of magic crack into it and I haven't been the same since. Don't get me started on the press tour. I've never seen anything like it and it was honestly like a spiritual awakening.

But I digress, I have been reading for a few years and learning the tarot cards and their meanings. I have watched countless YT videos by other readers and I came into this fandom watching the OG tarot readers of the fandom. I do not see myself as any different or special, I just read the cards as they come out. I also repeatedly say 'this is for fun and entertainment purposes only, I do not personally know Luke and Nicola'. And the fact of the matter is I don't know them, none of us do. I do not follow them around all day like some weird little psychic Martha from Baby Reindeer. I merely read the energy of the cards and I observe.

Why I love teaching English so much for me, is there is never a right or wrong answer in English Literature. It is up to your interpretation and all about reading the subtext of what is really going on. Now you might call me delusional, but I have always had an uncanny knack for predicting who the murderer in a story is before the end of a novel. It's called critical thinking. This drives my husband mad because he is very black and white and for him 2+2 = 4. Simple as. For me, I'm like wait a minute, what if... My brain is like a whimsical, magical unicorn sometimes, but I always go with my gut and my intuition. I will NOT waver on my intuition because I believe it is stronger than my rational mind.

Ok, so here we go. In my opinion haters!! Nicola is not now or ever has been with Jake Dunn romantically. My readings tell me he sees her as mother figure and mentor. Jake is clearly gay and most likely in some sort of relationship with Dylan. I think the Jakehole ship is a dead, rotting corpse. Nicola and Jake have reached the end of their agreement where she provides him with networking opportunities in exchange for some possible PR diversion to take the heat off Nicola's real relationship. William Tell is out. Luke is home from Rome, there is no need for Jake anymore. I also get the feeling from my readings that Jake is tired. Nicola is tired and Dylan is doing his best to set the narrative straight. I do not need tarot cards for this, it's blindingly obvious. As far as I know, Jake has no straight male friends. It is extremely rare in UK culture for straight men to hang out with all gay men and feel secure about that. It's just the way things are. I am not saying Jake and Nic are not friends, of course they are and I won't begrudge them that. I think he has a lot of genuine affection for her, but he also sees her as someone who can get him places and opportunities which we have seen time and time again.

And now we come to Antonia. I know she is only 23/4 and young and whatever. I have taught students older than her. But I will be truthful and say I don't like her energy. I don't like reading on her. I don't trust her little dancing self. I did have some sympathy for her in October as I had big crushes on boys when I was young, I get it. Luke is hot. But that pasta video she shared in Rome (a video she could have got from anywhere and shared an hour after she had seen Luke had been there) by her was mean, malicious and intentional to hurt the fandom. Her flouncing around with a shitty red bag always implying she's in Luke's vicinity is also callous and calculating and she's shared so much pasta stories now, it almost puts me off eating it. Almost, I love pasta. The biggest takeaway for me is she was not with Luke this Christmas and NYE. It is well documented where she was. We do not not know where Luke was, but we do know Nic was spotted with a lovely tan at the WT premiere. Could Antonia be PR? I sigh, because I think it's more complicated than that. In my readings, I do pick up a delusional obsession from her in regards to Luke. But she is convenient to bring up when they need her. I know the haters will call me delusional for thinking this and as my husband would say if 2 + 2 = 4 then it's 4.

But is it 4? Is it so straightforward as that? My intuition is telling me no, it's not. We have had no sign of Luke being anywhere near Antonia since July in Sorrento when he jumped on a plane and left two days early alone. All Antonia has are literally pasta videos and photos, that I am convinced, enraged Luke. She is giving me serious Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction vibes.

Let's address the elephant in the room. The comment by 'Luke's mum' on her private FB account to a relative. I think it's bullshit. I have three boys and I'm telling you now I would walk through fire if anyone touched a hair on their heads. I will go to prison for my kids. If I was Luke's mum and some 23 year old dancer had systematically tried to ruin my son's career, and she did folks, I would not be writing on a public page outing her as my son's girlfriend. It is all too suspicious and convenient. I could speculate for hours on what has happened, but you guys have group chats and your own brains for that. As one ship falls, another one rises in an unexplained manner.

In conclusion, yes I do believe Nic and Luke are together and this is a very important time for them right now. The silence is LOUD for me. I keep getting the four of swords for Nic. She is resting and taking care of herself in the way that she should. Luke is in a besotted Emperor mode. All is good. Until Nic and Luke specify otherwise, that is what I am sticking with.

[bloodpen-to-paper]

Gonna throw my hat into the ring here, as someone who very recently had a streamer they loved and supported go down for serious allegations and crimes. Feel free to skip around my long ass response, I'll break it down into parts:

---Public Reception

Part of the reason I despise these situations is because people online don't ever know enough to make 100% accurate assessments, but will act like they do anyway (I don't care if its authoritarian, I want a bill where people on Twitter can't post about drama until after at least 5 minutes of being forced to critically think). Having said that, here's my opinions on how everything should go forward:

-Shelby shared her story in order to spread awareness on domestic abuse and the signs, so that others can read those signs and keep themselves safe (or leave an actively abusive situation they've been convincing themselves isn't that bad). That is the priority here, that is what people should be focusing on. If you make this situation about stirring drama with the other CCs, you're a dumbass and you need to stop posting. Give support to Shelby, uplift the voices of women like her sharing their stories, spread awareness on what domestic abuse can look like so everyone can learn, and wait for more information. Its that simple.

-CCs don't owe statements for conflicts they weren't involved in. Philza, Tommy, Quackity, Charlie, and other CCs close to Wilbur who aren't part of this don't owe you an explanation. They're people, they're most likely having to come to terms with the fact that a dear friend, someone who could've been like family, isn't who they thought he was. Have a fucking heart and cut it with the parasocial entitlement. I'm hoping Quackity will remove Wilbur from the Qsmp, but just like with Forever, he probably won't make a big announcement of it, and that's perfectly ok. I understand wanting to make sure you're not supporting a CC who would defend someone guilty of committing domestic abuse, but its still not your right to get anything from these people. If they share, they share. If not, then they don't. If you can't handle that, then leave.

-Having said the above, its worth noting that CCs aren't just a fun group of friends, they're coworkers. Much of what they say publicly and when they say it can be shaped or restricted by situations that can affect their careers or get them in legal trouble. You don't know these people personally or what goes on behind the scenes, its a network and you can't measure their responses the same way you would your own opinion piece. The CCs will always need to be careful about how they respond to an issue, and they will most likely respond in "safe" ways considering what's on the line. Not accusing anyone of anything, nor demonizing them for it, just something to keep in mind. They're human, but they're also working a job.

-If you have Lovejoy or Wilbur-related merch, DON'T THROW IT AWAY OR DESTROY IT. I've seen lots of people pointing out merch can be donated to thrift shops or shelters, and its more eco-friendly than burning or trashing. Remember, anything can be repurposed; a book, a hoodie, there's always someone who can find a use for it. Likewise if you want to keep your old merch, that's fine to. You can wear it if it brings you comfort, or if its something you just like the look of. As long as you're not supporting the source, you already have the merch so don't let people pressure you into thinking you're bad for keeping it if you're not ready to let go/throw away those $70.

---My Opinion Regarding His Response

Everyone and their cousin has been dogpiling on Wilbur's response (rightfully), but I think people online don't understand how public responses work when there's legal team and PR interference. The tweet for me had a weird lack of personal touch and emotion from the guy I've observed to be very personal in his writings, whether its his music or a community post about a life update (blah blah parasociality I know, but I'm letting you know the observations I've made of his behavior simply as someone who notices these things). He also never explicitly stated Shelby's name, rather saying "that person" (you even had the textbook 'black text on a blank white background' screenshotted response). Finally, there was a consistent standing on Wilbur 'not being aware of how the other person really felt' regarding his actions. What I'm trying to say is... y'all really gotta start putting two and two together. Its a textbook PR response. As in, I'd be surprised if Wilbur had over 50% involvement in making it because the wording is exactly how it reads when a response has been initiated by someone's lawyers rather than themselves. The reason he doesn't take more accountability and openly admit to having abused Shelby (other than the obvious public backlash) is probably cause his lawyers are banking on the feigning ignorance angle, that Wilbur didn't intentionally abuse Shelby and was ignorant to how his actions affected her. Its the best way to get him out of hot water on the legal side, because again, this isn't messy drama; its a genuine accusation of a crime. I don't think the response is tone deaf and unaware, I think its a deliberate and measured legal move not even fully created by Wilbur himself. This isn't to say I think he's innocent, but I do know that Shelby and others have brought up some serious accusations, and Wilbur is lawyering up as a result.

---Nuance

Prefacing this part by saying that things are not looking good for Wilbur in regards to what other CCs have brought up about him, and I fully believe and support Shelby, hence why I support that the community should start distancing from him and his work. But I would like to take this opportunity to look into the greater aspects at play. We are within a system that brings up men to do what they want without teaching them to be considerate and aware of the consequences. Men are taught their harmful behavior is perfectly fine, often at women's expense, which makes these situation a very different story depending on who's telling it. Its because of this that we need to critically analyze the system and how it causes men to turn out as they do, instead of giving an immediate opinion without any nuance.

There's a possibility that Wilbur is being genuine in not realizing how bad his actions were. There's a possibility he truly is a manipulative liar who knew exactly what he was doing. He could be a piece of shit. He could be genuinely trying to improve and do better. We don't know. I'd say its pretty cut and dry that he hurt Shelby, and for that I'm glad she's getting justice for herself and spreading awareness. But if we're to entertain the idea of redemption, we need to look at situations like these with nuance so that we can understand the "why". I'm not trying to justify Wilbur's actions or even give him the benefit of the doubt, I have no idea what's going on in that guy's head. I'm just putting this out there because its something I want everyone to think about, especially when it comes to topics regarding narcissism and mental health issues. Don't support him or Lovejoy, just keep something like this in mind for the future.

---The Community/Now Displaced Fans

To everyone who's immediately telling Wilbur's fans (the ones that don't support his actions and are actively mourning no longer being able to enjoy his stuff) to just listen to other music or move on, and who are celebrating each negative new thing that comes out about Wilbur's current status, sincerely, shut the fuck up. You are completely lacking in empathy or emotional intelligence, and what you're doing is the last thing the community needs. Wilbur and his work could have and for many did get fans through some of their hardest moments, and losing that wonderful sense of community you get from streamers and their work (especially with the roleplay stuff) is awful. It fucked me up losing that after almost a year, for some of his fans its been even longer.

If you're a (former) fan of his, its ok to feel like shit. We're human, we get attached and we grieve losing something like this because that's how capable we are of loving. Take your time, as long as you know where to stand (supporting Shelby and raising awareness on domestic abuse), you're doing good. You can keep enjoying his characters and work and making content about it, separating the art from the artist (though don't stream his music from platforms that would give him the money, find a way to pirate it).

This sucks. I feel it as a casual fan who was once hugely into his content, I can imagine what its like for those who were huge supporters all the way up until now. You didn't do anything wrong supporting someone you thought was a good person, its just a thing that happens and its so fucking shitty. You ain't alone though, I know some of you have that knee-jerk reaction to avoid anything to do with him but reaching out to others in the community and actually processing it all is way better, you won't be bottling it all up. Don't be afraid to continue engaging with this part of your life until you're ready to move on from it in your own time, and be kind to yourself. From someone who went through exactly what you are now, trust me, you'll get through it.

[sliverslipped]

What qualities of you attract friends?

Piles: 1-3 from left to right

Please do note that this is my first pac. I'm still a beginner and is practicing tarot with very limited resources. Please be mindful of your words and as it's said not everything might resonate. This is a general reading. Take what resonates and leave the rest. This is for entertainment purposes only.

Credits: Pictures aren't mine. I got it from Pinterest. I've also used the divider from @cafekitsune !! Check them out

Close your eyes and take a deep breath after taking a close look at the images. Choose the one that attracts you the most. Feel free to choose two piles if you feel drawn to both.

Comments and feedback are highly appreciated.

PILE 1

Queen of cups you're someone who's seen as the mom of the group, the one who's always there for their friends, the one who's very loyal. Very loving too and this is one of the key qualities that attract strong friendship to you. You're a nurturing soul. Not only are you nurturing you're also very intuitive. You're very sensitive and when you make a connection with a person you treasure them. Page of swords you're a very charming individual who knows how to give the rest a good company. As pages depict someone who's younger either you might be younger by age or you have a youthful energy to you. You're quick witted and you might also be very curious and open minded. Five of cups you're not afraid to show your vulnerable side to your friends. Crying over spilt milk doesn't make you a miserable person either. Though the cards may depict a miserable one, think of it as you showing your vulnerable side to your friends and how much they cherish that you trusted them enough to open up to them about your worries and insecurities. Hermit you're someone who's wise and mature. You know when to withdraw from people and situations to assess and evaluate your feelings and thoughts better. You also have a healing energy to you. You're also very self aware and critical and is also the friend who's very reliable. You're also very spiritual. The sun you have strong leadership skills. You're very charming and you do not hesitate to shower your friends with compliments. You're not afraid of others stealing your spotlight either. You have a healthy ego. You also help people to grow and see their potential.

Gemini, cancer, virgo. Some of you may have these signs or have these placements. It doesn't necessarily have to be though.

PILE 2

Strength you have great leadership qualities. You're someone who's very resilient. You have a healthy self esteem. You don't find the need to get extrrnal approval or validation because you're very confident in who you are. You also make your friends feel supported. Four of wands you're someone who enjoys your life. There's never a dull moment with you. You don't take anything for granted either. You're also someone who's very social. You're also full of ideas and curiosity. Seven of pentacle you're someone who's well organized, patient and systematic. You have a balance between feminine and masculine energy. You're also a keen observer. You know when to let go and what to let go of if you think that you no longer have a control over it. You do not rush into things, it doesn't mean that you don't want to get it done fast but rather you take your time and know when to rest. You're very reliable and commited. Hanged man you're patient and is capable of viewing things from different point of views. You're someone who's afraid to stand out from a crowd. You're very welcoming of others and make them feel at ease.

Leo, venus in aries, saturn in taurus. You may have these signs or have these placements in your chart. It doesn't necessarily have to be though.

PILE 3

Hanged man you're capable of viewing things and situations from a new perspective or point of view. Very open minded. You're also very patient. You also make people feel at ease and welcomed.Queen of cups you're someone who's seen as the mom of the group. You're always there for your friends and is very loyal. Very loving too. You're a nurturing soul. Not only are you nurturing you're also very intuitive. You're very sensitive. Seven of cups you're very fun to be around. Your energy may feel like it's all over the place but in this context and getting the card upright it's not bad. You may also have many interests that keep you engaged and make you bit more interesting to your friends. You're also able to view things from different perspective. Page of cups you're vulnerable and emotionally open. You're attentive to the needs of others and is there for them. You're also Idealistic. You're very caring and compassionate. You're selfless. You also make others feel loved and appreciated.

Gemini, virgo, Venus in scorpio, Saturn in libra. You may have these signs or have these placements in your chart. It doesn't necessarily have to be though.

I'm sorry that this pile is very short compared to the previous ones so feel free to check the other ones if you felt attracted to any for more messages.

Ⓒsliverslipped

[losticaruss]

not sure if people have already posted about this but i think it's important to share. i know they've posted follow-ups on tiktok (and maybe ig), including the statement that it is OFFICIALLY happening CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY. DECEMBER 24 AND 25. there's also an official list that includes, but isn't limited to, spotify, tiktok, ig, ANY meta products, hulu, netflix, and the like. genuinely this is SOSOSO important

[ID: a tiktok from @/skyfisherforskyfish.

audio begins:

"i've moved on from feeling spiteful. im officially feeling... diabolical. the next big thing we can do to harm big business- after you've cancelled your amazon subscription, after you've cancelled your audible, after you've moved your money out of big banks and into local credit union, after you've figured out a way to buy local- the next big thing, ladies and gentlemen, is the data strike of Christmas 2024. why would a data strike be effective? because data is the most valuable asset on earth, right after human suffering from denying people who need healthcare, healthcare. that is actually the reason behind the tiktok ban. it's not about national security, it's about the data war that's happening between the united states and china. Christmas is a very pivotal moment, because all of the gifts are purchased, and now companies get to observe what you do with the money and gifts you've been given. your data is critically important right now for training their models and training their campaigns going forward on how consumer behavior is influenced by the holidays. that's not the only thing. following the shooting of the united healthcare ceo, the surveillance state has absolutely exploded in popularity- as you can see, many cities particularly los angeles (where i live) expanding their budgets for next year to use video surveillance on its populations. it's horrifying! it's dystopian! it's entirely preventable. the data strike is one to two days where we simply get off social media. you do not give them a second of your time for advertising dollars, for data mining, for any of it. this would not only kneecap the marketing budgets of big businesses, which have already been spent, they've already been expended, you will only ruin their r.o.i.. you will also prevent them from furthering the expansion of the surveillance state. you could directly say fuck you to zuckerberg and musk easily, with no pain. further, it's a great opportunity because during the holidays, we're pretty busy anyways, and you're there with family. and i know you're like 'oh, i don't want to hang out with my family, i just want to tap out!' challenge yourself. even if you're not having a good time, just have a time, rather than being completely numbed out by your screen, don't you think? one day won't kill you. two days would be a superhuman feat and i would be so impressed, i'd be so proud of you. you could also save on carbon emissions, because it requires a lot of energy to run this app (tiktok) and all of its servers, and every other social media. i have already seen such an enormous amount of collective action taken- people cancelling their amazon subscriptions, people taking their money out of big banks, going to local credit unions, decentralizing their purchases, starting small, local community gardens, going back to their libraries- people are taking action, and just because you don't see it online does not mean it's not happening. in fact, i want you to be absolutely aware that the reason you're not seeing it online is because it is happening. together, we can do the data strike of Christmas 2024. please share this video, please encourage your friends and family to take this shit seriously because the effect and the impact we could have on the market, on the surveillance state, and on the environment is legitimately enormous, and i believe in us. thank you for watching, i know this video is long, i know you've got shit to do. have fun scrolling. talk to later, bye."

/end ID]

[wild-magic-oops]

People really be bending backwards in order to defend Larian and the consistent way that Gale is treated worse than other companions. Truly baffling behavior, but I guess that's what happens when people can't extend the same amount of care to characters other than their favs, and think Larian is amazing for doing what should be the bare minimum in the industry actually (but the industry is so shit that people are ready to praise and defend any studio which doesn't try to rob them while spitting in their faces). Not criticizing obvious flaws won't get you a better product next time, and since I'm a petty person - I hope everyone who's telling people it's not a big deal now have the next character they're really into be the one done dirty by both the creators and the fandom.

Another thing I've never seen anyone bring up is how Gale is specifically the only companion whom Durge can kill due to an urge (which is even worded in a way which you can't guess the outcome of). Where's the urge option to kill Astari*n while he attacks you hm? Or that's right, there isn't one. Guess the fuck why. And retaliating while attacked makes a ton more sense, but sense is not smth that Larian bothers with much when it comes to their preferences.

And people choosing to indulge the urge and explaining how it's in character... I bet the majority would be finding loopholes real quick if it was their fav getting killed instead. Double standards is smth that really irks me and they're just so apparent in this fandom, it's exhausting.

Gale is also a companion you can accidentally kill instead of recruit by failing a simple dice roll. That's all it takes.

Both of those instances are smth very much outside of Gale's writer's control, so immediately the bias is showing, how easy it is to kill him.

So please, by all means, keep defending a company against the fans' criticism based on clear observations (which other people have brought up, not specifically what I talked about in this post) which you just don't want to acknowledge, I'm sure that'll work out so nicely for you the moment your preferences stop aligning with theirs.

And if you're a Gale fan who doesn't care and think people are overreacting - you do you, but the way Gale's exploding ending is treated gives really ugly irl implications which can't be ignored. Characters are fictional, but the way certain types are treated speaks of irl biases, and if you can't realize that, I really don't know what to tell you honestly. But aside from all that - professionals shouldn't let their biases show. But they did and continue to do, and that alone is definitely 100% worthy of criticism.

[ensemblesongs]

Hello, I’m the anon who said I was disappointed and I’m here to apologize. When writing that comment I was going through a mental episode which (due to unrelated and personal issues) isn’t an excuse but definitely aided in the way I wrote that comment. I realize that it sounded very rude which was not my intention and makes me disappointed in myself. I was really sad to see one of my favorite enstars creators support the boycott because from the research I’ve done, by observing the reactions from both Japanese and Ryukyuan Enstars fans, they don’t seem to be very happy with the racial part of the boycott. Some are definitely still not happy that Akatsuki went from 3 to 4 but it has nothing to due with race for them. The reason I said the boycott itself seemed racist is because I’m seeing a lot of boycott supporters saying that BECAUSE of Ibuki’s Ryukyuan heritage he shouldn’t be in any unit at all and should remain by himself which makes me sad because he deserves a loving and supportive unit which Akatsuki definitely is. Again I’m very sorry for the way my previous comment came off and I still appreciate your work. I just hope that this informed you on the perspective of actual Japanese and Ryukyuan people.

Sweet thing! It's okay! Don't beat yourself up. I hope I didn't come off as aggressive, I can be emotional in the face of criticism but try my best to leave it out of my responses. I was explaining my motives!

He DOES deserve to be in a unit that will give him love. I felt a bit sad seeing him be neglected during the Esupuri debut, and I was personally hoping for him to be able to shine as a solo idol because that'd mean he would get to collab with all sorts of units like Madara does, and it felt like he was being set up to seek freedom and parallel him in some sort of way given his rejection of his role as a kid, but I would have also loved for him to belatedly join the rest of the new face idols in Esupuri, because I think his dynamic with Esu could have been interesting ♪ I even pondered the delusional combination of Ibuki and Kaname, though that would never happen, just because it's interesting to imagine.

I've definitely seen the people you're talking about, and also those who focus more on the AKATSUKI dilemma than Happy Element's mishandling of Ibuki. I only mentioned it because I think both are valid to be upset about and thought that maybe you didn't see anything wrong with the story at all. But one issue is so much larger than the other, especially when it's being done in a game with as big of an audience as Ansta, and I feel sad seeing people misdirect their hatred towards Ibuki — not just because he is a child and the victim here regardless of Keito's kindness (the traditional, Yamato Japanese character who is here to guide the proud, "indigenous demon" character down the right path. Do you see how that sounds? It's one thing for Keito to be his senior, drawn to him because of his experience with Kurou... ah, I don't know...), but because he is not real. The people who love him and feel connected to him are, though.

The "because" factor is less that because of his ethnicity he doesn't deserve to be in a unit, and more so that they are really doubtful that the writers will be able to pull it off inoffensively or that they already find it offensive due to the implications. At least, that's most of what I've seen. And again, the execution was just very poor. Ibuki and Esu are my favourite of the new kids, as I've mentioned. When it was revealed, I felt a sense of dread that still doesn't fade days after, cementing itself in my stomach as I watched the stream featuring the seiyuu via a third party. The way they're going for it is already rather reflective of history and not in a necessarily good way. I want to have hope that they will find a way to make this better, but I don't deserve to tell AKATSUKI-p to have that same faith, nor do I expect them to. It's sad that Happy Elements' official account is blocking people with genuine criticism, and very immature of them.

Anyway, I hope you'll feel better soon, Anon! And know that I, and many others, really do mean well. I've only seen two or so tweets in Japanese addressing the racism angle, honestly... even that much I was happy to see. Not that I think they're stupid or unaware. But there's a lot of work put into brushing Ryukyuan struggles under the rug.

[gilbirda]

what are your thoughts on watcher’s new announcement?

So.

I've been watching the Boys since they started back in 2016 (i think around that era), and honestly I'm very conflicted about the decision. I've read so much stuff in favor and against the announcement and I don't know if my answer will satisfy you.

I have managed a community and I have the blessing and curse of being somewhat of a Name, experiencing the ordeal of being Known, and I can tell you that 1)you can never please everyone 2)people will always rush to crush you the second you do something they don't agree with 3)people will always twist everything you do with the worst faith in mind and 4)fandom forget very quickly that at the end of the day you are just human.

I think they made a calculated risk based on a purely economical viewpoint. I think they considered their loyal fanbase and how willing people have been so far with spending extra cash to support them — The live shows, the exclusive streams (like the Valentine's Too Many Spirits) and Patreon. How much of their fanbase was the "broke students" tumblr claim they are and how much was people with spending money willing to pay extra for them.

I also think that the decision seem stupid if you look at it from the perspective of "why the hell would I pay $6 to watch such little variety of content?" and that's a Correct Assumption, but Observe — they have been very slowly pulling everyone that made Buzzfeed famous and enrolling them in. Very recently they gathered the Worth It boys, the second show that kind of carried Buzzfeed back in the day (apart from the Try Guys). I think they can't talk about it right now, but the goal is to relaunch Buzzfeed but without ads and without making it the soulless content machine it became. I think their dream and goal has always been making what Buzzfeed could have been with better management, kind of like "If I was the Management in this company, things would have been better" dream fulfillment. That's why they made the direct jump to a streaming service instead of the logical steps of Patreon-exclusive content or even jumping to Nebula like other youtubers. It was never meant to stay one single channel, it was supposed to be bigger.

Is the projection of making a "better Buzzfeed" worth risking this step? Time will tell. I don't know. I personally never cared about anyone except Buzzfeed Unsolved. I still watch Unsolved on repeat. Is my comfort show. Maybe they are overestimating how much people care about other shows not hosted by them.

Although they did hint that "we want shows not hosted by us". This tells me that they are settling down, they want to ramp down a little bit, do the hook with Ghost Files aka Unsolved Supernatural Lite for the streaming service, and once people are hooked, launch more shows by the old-school Buzzfeed people. Won't be as big as a show hosted by Shane and Ryan, but it will still make people feel like they are getting their money's worth.

I would forgive all of this if only they didn't use the excuse of "if we want to do Netflix-level productions we need money". I'm sorry but that means nothing to me. We loved them when it was a powerpoint slide show with 2 idiots in a set. We didn't fall in love with the toys or the trips or the high tech. We didn't fall in love with the fancy animations at the beginning of Ghost Files episodes that they are so proud of. That was all their idea.

I've seen this trend of content creators ramping up their creations to an unsustainable point, completely crash and burn and then having to apologize about having to step back. Then making it the moral trap of an argument that they have been doing their best to bring quality content to their audience, and of course making it impossible to argue against. If you speak up and say "well we never asked you to break your back" then you are ungrateful audience. That's exactly what's going on in here with the Watcher announcement — "true fans" criticizing people who point out the fact that they created this money problem on their own. Is not the fanbase responsibility to cater to a company's bad money decisions. Is not our fault that they decide to scale up their operation to a point they "haven't been making a profit for 2 years". It's unfair that the fans are at each other's throats for daring stepping back and saying "I don't want to be part of this".

I don't think Watcher Entertainment is actively wanting to collapse their fandom like this. I don't think this was a calculated move. But I do think that they are a group of adults trying to make a career of something they enjoy doing. I think they made this move with the perspective that fandom is not end all and they can always rebuild it.

— And that they are planning on making a machine that can work without them, and that requires breaking something in the fans, it requires kicking themselves out of the pedestal fans have put them on. They know they won't be allowed to have a normal life until people stop looking at them waiting for them to say their phrase.

In conclusion I think they made a choice that made sense if they are planning on separating Watcher Entertainment from "The Ghoul Boys" fame, and it makes sense if they are aiming at something bigger than what they've been doing now. Money of course is the goal and the reason presented, but there's a lot that they are not saying and we will not know until it happens.

Until then, it does feel like they have just shot their careers in the foot.

Also I'm salty that I can't join the service because I'm outside the US.

[bayetea]

your takes on stuff about pjo/hoo are so validating... it's so hard being a woman enjoyer in this fandom sometimes. i get that we love the main character of the first series but some people act like percy is a little baby who can do no wrong and anyone who breathes on him weirdly deserves the death penalty.

anyways i love what you do with hazel. hippocrene is so good, and i know you said you won't delve into the womens' povs, but i am ITCHING to see inside hazel's head especially after the last chapter!!! can't wait to see how that eventual conversation shakes out.

i just love hazel, and i wish more people actually LOVED her instead of passively liking her. so thank you for loving her as much as you do

yeah fandom has been intensely patriarchal for forever and it sucks to see, and it's very bad in the pjo fandom especially :/ we have so many great female characters but they don't actually seem to garner a ton of real interest, particularly outside of how they relate to male characters (I do place some blame for this on rick tho; pjo desperately needed to have more fleshed out dynamics between female characters and hoo was the best time to do it with its implementation of female perspectives, but rick just... didn't really do that. one can only blame rick so much tho because people latch onto underdeveloped male characters and m/m dynamics all the time). hazel in particular has (imo) the craziest and most fascinating backstory in the entire franchise and yet she seems to barely get acknowledged beyond her relation to nico? which is just crazy to me but yk. people like what they like and there's nothing to be done about that

as for percy specifically I mean, I love him forever (I think I'm clearly biased, he's a main character in like every fic I write lol) but I just feel so uninterested in the way that people often talk about him? like yeah he's a badass and yes he's super powerful and intimidating and attractive I guess but those are like the least interesting things about him (imo). I certainly don't care for the whole "this character can do no wrong/has never done anything wrong" attitude either because what's the point? why soften their edges? why are we infantilizing them? I swear people have this kneejerk reaction to dismiss any "poor" behaviors on percy's behalf as him being ooc (I see this talking point irt percy in hoo especially) and it's like... maybe you're right, or maybe percy just isn't a perfectly perfect nice boy 100% of the time? it's like people grasp that characters should be flawed but don't want to acknowledge those flaws when there's a chance that they might come off as unlikable. imo if you've read the entirety of pjo and weren't questioning/critical of some of percy's thoughts/actions/behaviors at least once then I don't think you were paying attention.... (or you just haven't read the books in a hot minute). he's also just not a perfectly written character regardless but that's a post for another day (that's not saying much tho, because no pjo character is "flawlessly" written)

one of the reasons why I've latched onto the percy/frank/hazel dynamic so much (beyond my deep love for all three of them individually) is because they're characters who really get to see percy at his weakest moments (outside of a romantic context, aka with annabeth who has certainly seen him at his lowest). I keep seeing people highlight how impressive he was to frank and hazel (which is completely true, I'm not saying that that's an incorrect take) but he also broke down in front of them multiple times because losing his memories really put him through the wringer. he was SO profoundly unhappy throughout son which is another reason why it's one of the better books in the franchise. even the shift from first person to third person offers something new to observe in the percy jackson character

anyways this was a long answer and wasn't all totally related to your ask lol, but it's nice to talk about these things with like-minded people! re: hazel in hippocrene, I'm having fun writing about frazel from frank's perspective especially as an opportunity to observe hazel - because he doesn't know what exactly goes on in her head either, and his attempts to understand her better (even after dating for so long) will be an important conflict in the story. hazel is such a mysterious girl imo, like there's just so much going on with her that I don't think she really understands herself either

[petrichor-idyllic]

Vol and Friends Information | The Maze Runner Fanfic Concept

MASTERLIST

This is a character and idea I wrote a long time ago and found sitting in my drafts. So, I figured I would finally share her with you guys. Character writing is my thing and I thought I should post something since I've been so inactive.

UNIVERSE WRITING NOTES

As most of you know, the Maze Runner movies and books are actually quite different from each other. Of course, I prefer the books but there are some things I think the movies do better, so I've decided to use aspects from both the books and the movies to use in this potential fanfiction.

From the Movies

Takes a couple of days to recall names.

Layout of the Glade/the Maze is the same.

Characters look like their Movie counterparts for the sake of simplicity.

The Grievers look how they're depicted.

Alby is kinder and less brutal like how he's depicted in the movies.

The Gladers have been there for three years (as of the arrival of Thomas, the story starts a year before the end.)

From the Books

The Beetle Blades exist and are how the Creators observe the Glade.

Thomas and Teresa have their telepathic connection and psychic style dreams/flashbacks exist.

Minho is more sarcastic like how he is depicted in the book.

Grievers don't only come out at night. Whilst not as common, Grievers are active during the day. The Runners have encountered them many times.

The Changing isn't rare to go through and the Gladers already have the serum provided by the Creators.

The Box comes up once a week with supplies and once a month with a new Greenie.

I thought it would be smart to clarify and show the best aspects of both media.

GENERAL CHARACTER INFORMATION

Protagonist Name: Vol

Named after: Voltaire; François-Marie Arouet, also known as M. de Voltaire was a French Enlightment writer, historian and philosopher in the 1700s. He was famous for his wit, and his criticism of Christianity (especially of the Roman Catholic Church) and of slavery. Voltaire was an advocate of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state.

Subject: A0 "The Trespasser"

Sex: Female

Pronouns: she/her

Sexuality: Unlabeled

Age: 17-19, exact age is unknown

Job: Builder, then later a Med-jack

Appearance:

Face claim: Iva Varvarchuk

About 5'4" with a slim but lean build, she has white skin with freckles and some scarring. She has brown almond eyes and dark eyebrows. She has short, slightly messy brown hair that is often tied half up half down or pulled back in a tight messy french braid. She wears whatever clothes she can get her hands on, but is normally seen wearing the worn leather jacket and off-white hoodie combo that she came up in the box in. She also can be found wearing the grey tank top and baggy cargo pants she arrived in.

Personality: Vol is fiery and critical with a slight violent streak and a drive to do what's right. She believes strongly in equality and that she is just as capable as her male counterparts. She has no problem putting the boys in their places if they stare for too long or make an inappropriate comment. She often gets in arguments for her beliefs and ideas and isn't above going against the Keepers and Alby to get her point across. She's often described as "too smart for her own good"; her intelligence and quick nature often being a tense point in the Glade. Her intelligence is also exaggerated by her suspiciously good biology knowledge. She's very easily frustrated, especially when people don't listen to her. Despite being very critical and harsh, she can't always take what she dishes out; Vol struggles to take valid criticism and is quick to become defensive as she takes most things to heart. Due to her politically charged nature, she's often routing for the underdog and has a soft spot for Greenies and struggling Gladders- she's almost always willing to risk her mental and physical health for anyone that needs it. She's also beyond willing to jump to anyone's defence should she believe they need it. Because of this, she becomes somewhat of a big sister figure in the Glade- caring but sarcastic and occasionally violent. When she's around the few people she actually looks up to/admires, she becomes more relaxed. She's genuinely witty and often makes jokes that go over people's heads, but she's not nearly as reckless and cutthroat. She tries to lighten the mood after rough days and try and lift spirits, especially after the dreary repetition the Runners go through. She even makes flirty comments and jokes just to watch the boys squirm. Though, the pressure can get too much, especially after certain events skyrocket her into more popularity and conflict than she'd already managed.

OTHER ORIGINAL CHARACTERS

LEO

Name: Leo

Named after: Leonardo Da Vinci - Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (15 April 1452 – 2 May 1519) was an Italian polymath of the High Renaissance who was active as a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect.

Subject: A17 "The Deliquent"

Sex: Male

Pronouns: He/him

Age: 16 - 18

Sexuality: Bisexual

Relationship to Vol: Friend

Job: Slicer

Appearance:

Face Claim: Benjamin Wadsworth

About 5'11" and with a pretty strong build. He has tanned skin and several scars and can often be found stained with blood.

Personality: He's extroverted and boisterous, often causing problems and liking being the centre of attention. He's weak-willed and doesn't seem to care about leaving as much as the other boys. He doesn't get along with Minho and most of the Runners for this reason. He's a thorn in Alby's side and has a record for breaking most of the rules- the Slammer is basically his home. He can be incredibly overprotective and forward with his feelings and opinions. He loves to argue and get a rise out of people. He is a definition problem child.

OTTO

Name: Otto

Named after: Otto Hahn - a German Scientist known as the "Father of nuclear chemistry."

Subject: A23 "The Shield"

Sex: Male

Pronouns: He/they (the latter going unused in the Glade)

Age: 16 - 18

Sexuality: Homosexual

Relationship to Vol: Best friend/found brother

Job: Track-hoe

Appearance:

Face Claim: Unknown model

About 6'1" and very skinny. He has slightly crooked teeth and a slit in his eyebrow.

Personality: Otto is more timid and introverted than his counterparts. He lives is Vol and Leo's shadow, opting to just be known as the boy that came up with the girl than making a name for himself. He's kind of a pushover and can be talked into pretty much anything. He kind of a hopeless romantic but he's fueled by logic, providing a much needed level-headedness to his friends, especially when Vol is worked up and willing to go along with Leo's schemes.

DALTON

Name: Dalton

Named after: John Dalton - An English chemist best know for introducing the atomic theory into chemistry.

Subject: A19 "The Statue"

Sex: Male

Pronouns: He/him

Sexuality: Asexual/Aromantic

Relationship to Vol: Friend/Body Guard

Job: Bulider

Appearance:

Face claim: Mukasa Kakonge

About 6'4" and well-built. He towers over most of the other Gladers. Has a lot of scars on his hands from his job.

Personality: Dalton is the quietest one of the group. He prefers to stick to himself and the only reason he's social at all is because Leo was the Greenie before him, and had to show him around - now they're friends. Though, unlike Otto, he isn't timid. He has a very intimidating presence and simply doesn't care for the Gladers' conversations or opinions. He is very protective of the people he does care about, though, and isn't scared to intervene when the others get themselves in trouble.

RELATIONSHIPS TO VOL

Friends

Otto: After waking up in the Box, Otto was lost and dazed but had enough common sense to try and wake up the teenage girl who was also passed out. After that, Vol took to protecting her timid friend and is often the more offensive of the pair despite her being the odd one out. Otto is the only person she truly trusts because they're the only person that she's knows for sure is in the same situation as her.

Leo: Vol meets Leo during her trial as a Slicer. He offers her advice and helps out, giving her tricks and ways to make the job easier. He's also the person that convinced Vol to ask Newt about becoming a Med-jack due to her anatomy knowledge. He's more laid-back than most of the Gladers around her so she gains some respect for him and they quickly become friends. Though, Leo quickly shows himself as a bad influence, causing problems in Vol's other relationships. But, due to Leo's unfaltering loyalty, she sticks by him.

Dalton: He kind of came as a deal package with Leo. Vol wasn't sure what to think of him at first, but Dalton proved to be a big softy that would crush anyone that got too close to her, and the pair became close fairly quickly.

Newt: Like most of the Gladers, his relationship with Vol is few and far between as she's got her own little group and she chooses to spend time with them. That being said, Newt is probably one of her more favoured people in the Glade. He's one of the most respectful Gladers and he helps where he's needed, even if he can be sarcastic and nihilistic.

Alby: Alby is more of a leader than a friend to Vol, probably because he is. Though, he does have a soft spot for the girl and sees the same admirable traits in her that he saw in Minho when he first assigned him as the Keeper of the Runners. He tends to keep an eye on her so that he can make sure none of the boys are causing her problems.

Frypan: Due to his small crush on the girl, Frypan is very kind and understanding towards Vol, often letting her vent and giving her extra food under the table. Because of his kindness, Vol occasionally helps out in the kitchen, even delivering and making food for the Runners before they go out into the Maze for the day.

Chuck: She becomes somewhat a mother figure to Chuck, her need to protect and look after him coming to the forefront of their relationship. She's definitely one of Chuck's favourite people in the Glade.

Jeff and Clint: Her coworkers who try and keep her out of trouble. She likes them both equally and appreciates their help and the lack of questioning of her abilities.

Love Interest: Minho

Kinda Enemies to Lovers.

They got off to a bad start when Vol tried to escape the Glade on her first day and Minho had to stop her.

She punched him in the jaw and had a meltdown.

She tried to apologise once she'd calmed down (and Ably made her) but Minho was just sarcastic and bitter. Due to her stubborn nature, she insulted him and stormed off.

Leo's negative opinion of the Runners only adds to this.

Tension lies in physical attraction and occasional staring at first.

Minho comes to admire her morals.

She comes to admire his work ethic.

The pair argue for fun, but no one else seems to notice the spark behind their sarcastic exchanges.

Alby thinks they don't like each other because they're too similar.

Which is exactly why Newt thinks they do like each other.

Other

Gally: The pair got off to a rough start on her trail as a Builder, and then later arguments during her time as a Builder, so there is some tension between them. She eventually comes to admire Gally and his passionate and caring ways, even if he doesn't show it in the best way. She finally starts to respect him as a Keeper, even if their frenemy status still remains.

Thomas: A late arrival to the Glade, she tried to be kind to Thomas when he appears but since he moves at a million miles an hour and is more reckless than she is, she's normally too busy to spend time listening to his antics.

Teresa: Initially, she was beyond pleased to have another girl in the Glade, but overall they don't spend much time together apart from Vol attempting to befriend the girl, who's all too interested in thinking up ideas with Thomas.

Ben: Since he's a Runner and spends a lot of time with Minho, the pair have had a fair few conversations and he witnesses a lot of arguments. He actually likes siding with her because he enjoys annoying Minho. But she wouldn't exactly consider him a friend.

Winston: He's a Glader she sees around and doesn't really talk to. He seems nice enough and she has nothing against him.

Zart: The same applies to Zart as it does Winston.

[rebeccathenaturalist]

So. ID apps. Do I use them in my classes? Yes, but only iNaturalist, because you get an additional layer of verification by actual human beings rather than just the initial algorithmic suggestions. And, more importantly, I stress again and again and again that apps are NOT to be the only tool you use, but need to be used in conjunction with field guides, online groups, and other tools, which we also discuss in class. This is especially true if you're planning to eat anything you pick.

I get incredibly frustrated by how ID apps are often touted as all you need to identify animals, plants, and fungi. (I've even seen them described as "a Master Naturalist in your pocket".) Yes, it's nice to have a convenient tool on your phone that allows you to take a picture of something and get a suggestion of what it is. But that's all it is--a suggestion. iNaturalist, Google Lens, PlantSnap, and other apps are incapable of critical thinking and observation skills. All they can do is take the visual, temporal, and location data that you give them and churn up suggestions based on whatever they already have in their databases.

Nature identification is a detail-oriented skill that takes time and practice to learn, and if you want to do it right there aren't any one-step shortcuts. Can an app potentially narrow down the possible species you're observing? Sure. But YOU still have to be the one to do the actual work in determining whether the species the app has suggested is the one you're looking at in person or not; you CANNOT just take the app at its word, because apps can often be wrong.

And this is even more the case when we're talking about edible mushrooms, many of which have lookalikes. (Trying to figure out which Little Brown Mushroom you have can be an exercise in frustration, to say the least.) While there are a lot of people getting into foraging who are willing to do the actual work needed to determine a given mushroom's species, there are unfortunately also those who just want quick and easy answers without a lot of effort, and those are the people who are going to go no further than the app's results. The articles that promote apps as the quick and easy answers these people want aren't helping, either.

By the way, I am ALWAYS happy to help people find resources to help them with identifying various beings in nature. I'm also fine with taking a look at photos and giving my perspective on what something may be (though, again, don't use me as your only source.) While I do teach foraging, I am first and foremost a nature identification instructor, and I want to help people go about learning the life forms around them correctly (and in the case of edible species, safely.)

[bogkeep]

hmm

so a sentiment i've seen repeated many times over the years is "advocate for intersex people because we deserve rights, not as a gotcha to prove transphobes wrong" and obviously i 100000% agree with this, human rights are their own merit and argument!!!

HOWEVER i am struggling to wrap my head around, like... How do you educate about gender Without talking about the reality of intersex people? i will fully admit that i might just not be plugged in enough to the intersex community to have experienced the particular phenomenon that's being referred to. there's probably discussions i'm fully unaware of.

like, theoretically, even if sex WAS a very rigid, strictly binary phenomenon, we would still have to advocate for the rights of transgender and non-binary people on the basis that we deserve human rights and dignity.

but "biological sex" is NOT a very rigid, strictly binary phenomenon. to me, the understanding of biological sex as an incredibly diverse spectrum is FUNDAMENTAL to understanding gender. when i was volunteering for the queer youth organization, i was taking courses on how to educate teens about sex and gender. what that particular education initative had found, through experience, was that teens best understood what was meant by "gender assigned at birth" and gender as a social construct when we started the whole section by explaining that intersex people exist and that "biological gender" is a lot more complicated than we're often taught.

i think the thing is maybe, like, that intersex people as a category are frequently thought of as outliers, 'defects' even, when we're not. intersex people are a part of the natural diversity of humans. our existence is as natural as the existence of any non-intersex person. like that's the THING. is it a gotcha to reinforce the reality of our existence? to remind bioessentialists over and over that they're the ones denying the observable truth?

i also just think that advocating for intersex rights and trans rights are deeply intertwined in so many ways. so much of the societal fear around transition and detransition strikes me as a fear of intersex bodies. by accepting the capability of a human body to change, to exist within multitudes, to not be beholden to our silly little categories nobody has ever fully belonged to perfectly to begin with - to accept women with beards and men with boobs as not only possible but perfectly natural, to prioritize our own health, wellbeing and bodily autonomy above the tyrannical categorization of the gender binary...

idk!!! my personal intersex experiences are vital to how i experience and talk about gender and how i advocate for trans rights. i can't separate them. maybe it's different for me because i do self-identify as intersex. maybe i'm just clueless about what the criticism is directed towards. this is my personal and biased opinion, please don't take my word over that of far more established intersex activists :')

[horizon-verizon]

May I ask why you don’t like Jace and Sara Snow? I wouldn’t say it’s the same as Rhaegar and Lyanna, but the situation does have some similarities. Maybe it’s even closer to Robb and Jeyne/Talisa (though I’m not sure if you like that pairing). Personally, I think Sara isn’t real, but let’s pretend she is for a moment. What about their dynamic doesn’t work for you?

Anon is either talking about all the Sara Snow posts I've done or this post.

Rhaegar failed bc he was way too idealistic that he let ideas of heroism carry him away from observing issues with is own acrions or how e implemented a lot of them. So he was both irresponsible in one sense and was obsessed w/fufilling an ultimate level of "responsibility" through a prophecy I think he took as way to justify/redeem te corruption around him. Yes, he wanted to be "authentic", but went about it unfairly & disastrously under that inevitable weight. Jace didn't have this issue.

A)

I explain why Jace and Sara vs Rhaegar and Lyanna aren't similar enough to warrant the pairing people put them in the link above.

Other than what I wrote there, it's also bc Rhaegar did not abandon Elia (at least not to die; is fault, yeah, but people make as if he went out of his way tomake sure is family were in danger for p*ssy; Jace did not ave te same problem of yper-idealism as Rhaegar to beleive that things would work out & thus put is family at risk), like Jace would be doing to Baela and Rhaenyra IF Sara Snow and him were a thing and married AND to be like what people think Rhaegar did, Jace would have had to run off somewhere else entirely with Sara and trigger another problem for himself and the whole black team...which doesn't happen.

Even if Sara were real, nothing came of it. She's still at Winterfell. He quite clearly came back and resumed his duties. None of it goes anywhere. So what exactly is the point or true motivation/inspiration, I wonder, to shipping him and Sara, and nothing major or plot-defining comes from them beign together or trying to be? When with Lyanna and Rhaegar, their relationship triggered a war and had purpose and definitively shaped the entire country for years to come--to induce another critical event in the story? RobbxJeyne: Robb broke his betrothal and was unfairly murdered in a forever historical event that brought the War of the Fiver kings to a close and opened a new "wound" in the society similar bec the punishment did not fit the crime, even went too far. He may not have been in love with Jeyne like some imagine Rhaegar-Lyanna and Daemyra to be, but there is a nobility in his decision, too...I don't see the same for the SaraxJace ship.

Second, unlike Robb, Jace in this scenario is never described as "doing right" by Sara by marrying her after impregnating her. Both bec she is a known bastard who could never really marry him (remember Ellaria and Oberyn, Aemond and Alys) in this hypothetical where she is real and she we hear nothing about her being pregnant in the first place. In every single scenario that I have seen Sara SnowxJace shipping, these two fall in love and oftentimes just elope just because they are in love and Jace is motivated to stop shouldering the pressures of his own birth and obligations. that might be attractive to people, but there are other things that contextualize my dislike and suspicion of it actually being about "love for love's sake" or "love is the relief of duty".

Third, unlike Rhaegar and Elia (which GRRM describes as a marriage of "tragedy", and I while I do think it was clearly more a tragedy for Elia than Rhaegar [Rhaegar not loving her when it was possible that she would have tried to love him, her illness on top of pushing herself to birth his heirs, Rhaegar having given Lyanna the crown publicly, then her horrific death and the murder of her kids]), Jace and Baela showed no unreciprocated reluctance or hesitation or lack of chemistry/compatibility nor was there testimony of such. For Rhaegar-Lyanna, the narrative tells us that it was never something that was going to be emotionally fufilling for either person through Barristan Selmy and Rhaegar's own actions and much symbolism written into several parts of AWoIaF, the main series etc. about blue roses and such--no such thing exists for Rhaegar and Elia. He may not have "hated" her, but their's was not a marriage of "love" of a certain kind. And for JacexBAela, while we don't see any hint of passion or love from him towards Baela in the same degree that would be a match as much as something can be for a book like F&B's section of the Dance, again, we still do not see any hint of his reluctance/non-attraction towards her that some SaraxJace shippers may try to argue. This matters, too, bc the passion that some argue makes Rhaegar risk it all for Lyanna & then ruin the realm is at least admirable in the sense of agency for Lyanna.

Fourthly, what dynamic? We literally know nothing about Sara Snow. Just that she is a bastard of the Starks, Cregan's sister, and possibly a figment of Mushroom's desire for attention and drama. And because we know nothing about her for certain (and for real this time, unlike stuff we know about Alicent, Rhaenyra, Daemon, etc. even though this is a history book), there's no reliable material to give reality to Sara Snow even if I wanted to pretend she was real. I have to do independent work to create a personality for me to even be able to ship her with anyone, much less a young boy who's narrative purpose leaned on opposing the Westerosi understanding of bastardry like his brothers and Addam/Alyn Velaryon all did. Jace can't do that by just deciding to break his betrothal or dishonor his betrothal to Baela (and we don't even see or have any suggestion of his supposed discomfort to being married to her in the first place, this is another thing people made up and projected into canon!) because he fell for her. Again, Robb married Jeyne not just because he liked her, but because she got pregnant.

This is a dynamic(?) that, like a lot of ships, tends to take one aspect the shippers like a lot, they see some aspects of that narrative-of-a-ship they like or created in a canon circumstance (Rhaegar-elia-Lyanna) or what they think happened, and then they mash it together to give more credit to the new ship they have. I find it disengnuous. Especially when my biggest issue I have with this ship is it has gotten so much more support or relevance only after HotD came on and Baela "became" Black. I've tried searching for this ship prior to the show, and only a miniscule amount of desire for it existed then in comparison to all other ships, canon or not. And it parallels people saying Baela should be Lady of Driftmark while Helaena is queen, esp in lieu of the show making Rhaenyra offer this marriage arrnagement...bookwise, Baela and Jace were betrothed since both were tiny kids bc Rhaenyra and Laena had been best friends AND it made sure to bind Corlys/the Velaryons more to Rhaenyra's side/make sure Luke could have a better chance of being the future Lord of Driftmark--as he was betrothed to Rhaena since very young as well. The betrothals were a matched set, one came with the other.

Canon!Baela was happiest betrothed to Jace, growing up with Jace, growing up a Targaryen under Daemyra's "roof" even as she was obviously loved by her Velaryon grandfather and likely visited him often. Because she seemed to have developed a relationship with Jace, they would have made a good ruling couple and Baela would have been the most prestigious, highest ranking woman in the realm, with as much influence as maybe Alysanne since I don't see any suggestion of her being shunted to the side once he rules. Involved and shaping decisions that involve the ENTIRE realm, not just a small area like Driftmark. There's even a healthier degree of remove because she is still connected to the Velaryons, has her father and sister and her other stepbrothers anc vice versa. Both individuals preoccupied with other things in away that Jaehaerys and Laysanne were not while they had to hide away from Maegor and were confined relatively to each other alone. So it's possible the pitfalls of intramarriages is mitigated a little bit here despite them clearly growing both together and separate enough to be themselves, Baela having some practical agency, and not so dependent on each other. So, again, why is it that people are so eager to make Jace disatisfied with her or them not devoted to each other or Baela being "better off" being a mere Lady when the white!Helaena gets to be queen...I'd even say Helaena needs to be away from her family and marry out more than Baela does, as the latter in canon had more protections with her relatives than show!Helaena did.

This JacexSara ship is only as popular as it is bc it entirely depends on a rejection of Baela AND Laena AND Rhaenyra's canon female bonds and possible politicking apart from Alicent. Or against Alicent or just for Rhaenyra herself. Laena's relationship with Rhaenyra is erased for Rhaenicent, which gives way to that Helaena-Jace idea that only gets thrown back in Rhaenyra's face. Contrast that with her successful and satisfying arrangement (satisfying to the kids themsleves) between her sons and Laena's daughters--now instead we have this weird back and forth that makes no sense.

I'm usually not one to hurl on ships; in this case, my disdain comes from fans taking and misunderstanding "death of the author" and then hypocritically transposing their own ideas onto the canon by sheer force of will. It comes from the show amplifying people's biases and misunderstandings of the text. It encourages willful reading before comprehensive reading, which is dangerous; one example of why is people say Aegon would have been happiest or most powerful and safe still married to Jaehaera, or that this entire story should have ended with them together bc "both sides bad, marriage makes good, it ends the war"...the disabled child forced to be impregnated...sure. And it that why Jaehaera gets killed by another guy who wants to put his own daughter on the thoen so he could have descendants as Otto did...while having been on the green side? That guy that perpetuates the violent disposal of girls/women like Rhaenyra? Sure, it's just about "both sides bad" because Rhaenyra was not a "good" queen. Gotcha.

Contrast this situation to people shipping Jayce and Viktor of the League of Legends show; in that case, no people are well within their rights to ship them and even to believe that it was textual that they had romantic feelings or a soul connection that outstrips mere friendship.

Why?

there is strong SUGGESTION in the mannerims and dialouge that could easily lend to romance or high-feeling many times throughout the series, where the two share an understanding or faith and devotion in the other while they try--in their own disjointed ways--to make their society a better place through Hextech, their shared "creation", which brought them close.

that suggestiveness was deliberately played into by the voice actors and animators and writers themselves even though a few writers didn't see it that way

(This is not me saying Jayce didn't care nor didn't love Mel, this is me saying that Jayce and Viktor discover the real meaning and value of life through each other when they forgot that they should have questioned the ethics of their development of Hextech and its effects on humanity's greed and fight to survive just in the classism of their society. The reason why this inspires people sometimes more than Jayce's love for Mel or their perception of Mel at all is because this entire story's center ond direction is coming from the characters' desire to "fix" humanity and that going wrong because of things utterly out of their control they never should have or just couldn't get a handle on...and lots of grief. Mel was a big part of all that, but she has her own story and Piltover seems more like a "stop" in her story more than anything.)

I said once shipping is or can't be detatched from how people view politics AND can often be a political act -- I don't like what I'm seeing in this particular ship's politics. Or the fans' quiet motive behind it.

B)

I actually like Robb and Jeyne (not Talisa, bc the show tweaked that in a way that was...weird), much better than Jace x Sara Snow. Robb marries Jeyne both because he genuinely likes her and wishes to preserve her "honor", thinking it is honorable for him to go out of his way and risk his own political advantage so that he will not produce a suffering bastard or have Jeyne's life ruined for having extramarital sex. In this world, men get to have all these affairs and produce children who would have it much tougher and even be in danger from their other kids or wives or others who wish to destroy possible competition or just out of pain/jealousy/pride.

Meanwhile, the women--whether raped or having had conseneual sex with him--almost always have their lives ruined. Society thinks them as "spoiled goods" and they cannot have more stable economic means through the prime way women can such--potential husbands, who again would not want "spoiled goods"...or their relatives arranging any marriage for them. And if they have illegitmate kids, they're left with little means of future security or protection for them or themselves. sure some might have families who keep them till they are older, but again, their lives as "proper" people who can go out with their head held high or unaccosted by other degradations is done. Here Robb takes responsibility by marrying his lover and making sure his child comes out legitmate--he's extending his socially granted protection when he has all the space and ability not to do so and still be seen as "trustworthy" by his peers and other potential allies or whatever. Because "men have needs".

A lot of people say he was stupid for doing that, but the point was not to berate the person doing the right, moral thing; it was to point out how mush it costs to to the right thing, how that potnetial cost is innately unfair and life-destroying. How it even destroys the better men who in any way divert from what the system tries to compel its beneficiaries to do. It's about exploring the human cost of power and the ethics inherently connected to it all. You were not supposed to treat this story as a stats-session, who's "smarter", or "better" at politics for the sake of seeing who is the "best" at the cost of forgoing human worth.

Walder Frey is rather the "stupid" party, morally AND politically, so in any way you slice it, WALDER is actually the "stupid" one. why? He broke one of the biggest social rules of Westeros, espe for the northmen: the guest rights, where the host must give complete shelter to anyone he/she provides food and shelter to. Walder basically shut himself in to only ever be allied "faithfully" with the Lannisters and the Boltons, because we know that if he does later, he's basically opened himself up to others doing similar or worse to him, or run the risk of them betraying him quickly once they get the chance. He killed a young man and a pregnant woman and his mother (a scion of another great hous, the Tullys, his own great lord paramount). Nothing he did in retaliation to Robb breaking the betrothal was "normal" nor justifiable, it was an extreme, amoral, very prideful action that he did partly bec he thought copying Tywin was his go to for power by both showing that he'd "go the mile" for this man we wanted an alliance with and become another "big dog".

It is reflective of exactly how this feudalist patriarchy compels people to seek for self gratifying power above all else and imitate the "mightiest" above all else, to "fall in line" with/behind the biggest fish/man and reap the benefits for yourself. Tywin, who got his way by also having a mother killed with her kids), who how we all know ended up. Killed by his own abused child.

Walder Frey is also a "predator" of young girls barely out of their preteens, almost always marrying them very obviously for sex since he has no need at all for more heirs. Contrast that with Robb, who merely broke a betrothal AND did right by the girl he chose to have sex with nearer to his own age and who he very clearly respected. Robb deserves no flack at all for what he did, Walder does.

In order to criticize Robb, many people thought it was in good taste to let Walder Frey off the hook entirely, bc they've accepted the status quo and even have decided that such should be the case. they've grown morally complacent or were never truly ethical to begin with.

This narrow-minded, jaded fandom prizes instant power gratification and "playing smart" to miss the bigger picture and what's actually being written and "advocated" for, what this entire series is really about just as they refuse to understand Daenerys:

[dragonseeds] The Existentialism of ASoIaF Leadership and Heroism in a Violent, Exploitative World

[nobodysuspectsthebutterfly] What is "Heroic" and MOST Meaningful is to be willing to fight for What's Right despite Mistakes, Controversy, or Disadvantage

[rainahadaenerys] Quote from Frederick Douglass on GRRM's Blog

[jozor-johai] LoTR and ASoIaF, the Orcs and the Meereenes Slaver Kid Hostages

[cerseiandjaime] Human Heart in Conflict with Itself

Dragon Fire as Deterrents

Jon & Gilly, Male Violence vs Female Violence

[ingravinoveritas]

impalationship replied to your post "| NTAs red carpet 2021 vs. Pride of Britain red…”

I've been in a fandom for quite some time now where there used to be a fan who was a professional body language expert. They taught us a lot about what to look for in photos like this and I have to say it's clear as day that M and AL can barely tolerate being near each other while M and D are exhibiting signs of strong physical and emotional closeness and attraction. Who knows what goes on in their lives behind closed doors but this is what we can see from all of these pics and videos.

rainbowposes replied to your post "New red carpet pics and ugh what is wrong with..."

Anna especially looks so uncomfortable. As a couple they never look quite right. The age difference for one looks too pronounced. Michael looks like her father! I know they have two daughters but I still really can't see them going the distance. Anna's dress is gorgeous, though, and she looks stunning. Their vibes are just so off though. I can only really say that here. In most SM places you get slaughtered for any Anna negativity. Same with Georgia!😳

@impalationship Oh, wow. That is very interesting, and I appreciate you sharing those observations about Michael and AL vs. Michael and David. I think many of us have wondered what a body language professional would have to say about their body language, and so I am wondering if this expert has ever shared anything about "tells" (i.e., small gestures or signs that give away what a person is truly feeling). If so, would you be able to share those/what sort of "tells" you think Michael and David are giving off? I know deciphering subtle body language cues has never been my forte, so your insights are certainly fascinating.

To your comment, @rainbowposes, I agree with you about the vibes between Michael and AL being off. I've said this previously, but for me it's never been about the age gap (although I find that the legitimitiate criticisms many of us have are decried and often chalked up solely to that). It's the "everything else" gap that is so noticeable, IMO. It's that Michael and AL have nothing in common except for the kids. It's that neither one of them "lights up" around the other, and that the normally ever-present twinkle in Michael's eye disappears when he is with her. I'm genuinely at a loss for how Anna in particular seems so uncomfortable holding her own boyfriend's hand and looks like she would rather be anywhere and doing anything else instead. I'm also floored at the disconnect happening with the fans on Twitter saying how happy they both look, as at this point it seems like willfully ignoring everything that is actually happening in those pictures.

I'm glad you felt comfortable sharing your thoughts here, though. Going by the sheer volume of comments on both of these posts, a lot of other people feel similarly. Truthfully, I've never seen this many comments of people speaking honestly about what they are seeing in the last four years. I'm not sure what exactly has caused the change, except that what's plainly obvious apparently can no longer be overlooked. So interesting...