#if it was hindering ppl in some way

[jvzebel-x]

🦋

[pinkmoonastro]

Every planet in the 12th: Observations

The 12th house shows you in which ways you can leave the biggest impact on the world in the purest most intentional way if you so choose.

*I didn't feel like proof reading spare me*

sun in the 12th often misperceived or seen as having underlining motives even when that is furthest from the truth. Actually quite often upfront with their intentions regardless if they know more than they've led you to believe. The projection others put on them is veryyy high, sun person unconsciously triggering deep seated wounds in others while they just assume they’re having a normal conversation. They either love gossip or are always being brought up in gossip. Attracting secret admirers bc of the taboo aspect of their personality. They teach others how to be themselves through example and that gives them the popular loner vibe, everyone wants to know whats going on in their life. Though Its often not as interesting as the stories that are being created about them (probably at home chilling). Unintentionally very funny their light hearted nature makes others feel comfortable. They know how to create warm welcomes. They can read animals minds. They dress how they feel. Escape artist. Probably through music, film or imagination. Gift for photography.

moon in 12th romantic relationships have a big influence on these people. They'll change their whole life around to fit into their lovers life for better or worse. Naturally harmonious these people are seemingly unsuspecting until you piss them off then you realize they just choose to keep peace. Prone to escapism usually through some sort of creative pursuit turned business. Obviously not forward with their feelings ppl tend to label them as having their head in the clouds when in reality they have plans its just nobody else's business. There's a love/resentful relationship with the mother. The mother could've been a physical provider but not emotional. These ppl had to nurture and comfort themselves and it made them very good at being those things for others. Children and animals loveeeee them. They are givers and don't mind sharing for the greater good. Dependable and persistent they can stick out something they feel is important. But if they don't care... Oh its very obvious. That job they don't like? Oh don't even worry about it they'll quit. They don't like feeling stressed or unharmonious and don't mind removing anything thats trying to hinder that. In the lower natures this creates a person that ignores anything that would make them have to readjust their behavior. Extremely delusional and misreads the room quite often. Very emotional changing how they feel about you frequently. It can become hard to give and receive trust.

Mars in the 12th manifest things/experiences so easy especially through their connections. They know how to put themselves in the right rooms with the right people. They date people that improve their social standing and they do the same in return. When its comes to career they could've seemed like the runt in the group but they grew themselves to be well respected in their field. Often hearing ''you only got this because''. They attract a lot of haters jealous of their success or the way they got their success. these people are attractive and naturally have a body others envy, they always have options and good ones at that.

Venus in 12th boy oh boy the hopeless romantics, but whats so hopeless about it? Others may often wonder why you picked the person you did viewing you as opposites. There may be an age gap or cultural difference. The women often choose partners that have a different social standing or perception than their own. The Men do the same though their more willing to be in relationships with unrequited love. Have had their fair share of infidelity issues until they found the person that would ride or die for them and vise versa. Privacy and trust are high priority for these people. Very good at socializing they know how to read what is needed to improve the energy of a space. Their parties/hostings are always so inviting and rememberable. They work very well with children and animals. Especially those in need. Fostering is something they wouldn't mind doing, along with nursing things back to health. Examples hair, nails. Plants etc. Very crafty they'd create beautiful jewelry and clothing. Their style is unique and acquired taste even. Controlling an image or narrative comes natural these Pol could do damage control for celebrities. When Ppl are in a frantic state they know how to calm assist.

Mercury in 12th are good at controlling the narratives around themselves. People hand on to every word that's said. These are the types that prefer to talk when necessary and not give out to much information. Just enough to keep you hooked. They have a unique sound and are musically inclined it helps that they think outside of the box. Usually the leader of the group because of their ability to see the broader picture and keep everyones best interest at heart. They attract haters bc they set high goals for themselves they get viewed as outlandish or unpractical when actually they just believe in themselves and remain optimistic. They know alot about very specific niche things.

Jupiter in the 12th don't get the credit they deserve for being so iconic. They really are trendsetters that break molds and stereotypes and tend receive backlash for the things they say & do simply because they were the first to do it. Opening up the pathway for others to show up more authentically and protected. They have big expression and are passionate about the things they choose to do. Their not afraid to speak their truth and having a forgiving nature. Creative pursuits are well received by the public attracting sponsors easily. Its also easy for them to find/create a community ppl reall gravitate to them. Their kryptonite lies in their self esteem. If they can't face rejection they'll hide the best parts of themselves. Only seeing the beauty in others and not what they offer the world.

Saturn in the 12th need to know when to stop while their ahead. They get into unnecessary battles bc of a fragile or inflated ego. When the ego is healthy this makes for a very powerful person that commands rooms with ease. They make Pol want to sit up in their chair when they walk in. These Pol are stubborn but more often than not it works out in their favor. Very hard workers and the same energy they apply is expected from those around them. If they put in 80 hrs a week they expect the same from you, if I can do it why can't you mentality. They achieve alot and Ppl notice it but its like no one ever sees them working they just see the finished product and know a lot had to be done behind the scenes. For example let's say someone is very popular you know they would've had to built those relationships you just didn't see it happen. They could have a guilt complex about their achievements and feel like theirs still more they should be doing for other ppl. Growing up as the star, the golden child, the one thats going to help the family put a lot of pressure and responsibility on them. This could've also affected the relationship between the others siblings. Lastly these Ppl are either very serious about punctuality or show up whenever they want to. Maybe even both they could've started out one way and over time became another way. When saturn is damaged they run from responsibility and are viewed as childish and never learning from their lessons.

Neptune in the 12th know how to win over the audience. I chose the word audience bc they love an audience. Ppl will make excuses for their behavior like ''you know they had a rough childhood'' as if that excuses hurting others. Professional sympathy grabbers even when their not even trying and great ass kissers when they want to be. That is in neptunes lower natures ofc. These ppl speak their mind without a fuck given. This is like the only pile im cursing in and that kind of explains them. Their going to say what they want and don't mind shaking the room up. Image is important to them. They'll study their own footage to see what they looked like, sounded like, acted like, and change anything they deem as not fitting. They could be great actors or social media personalities. Also would be good at managing social media accounts. These ppl may be easily persuaded especially by those they view as having a higher social ranking than themselves. Knowing how to adapt to any environment is their strong suit. They act as a mirror in their environment and reflect back whatever energy you give them. To a T at that. They know when to play it up or be more lowkey. This is type of person to always leave lasting impressions on ppl. They could be the first in a taboo field to achieve something. Like being the first pornstar to get 100 million views. Its like when you think you have them figured out they do something else that shows there's many other sides to them. Often hearing ''i didnt think I would like you at first''. With a great sense of humor they know how to laugh at themselves and lighten the mood they don't take life to seriously. They attract a lot of unique ppl their friend group is very expansive. They could be friends with a stripper and an attorney. Hell they might've been a stripper and an attorney.

Uranus in the 12th they just pop up and ppl are surprised like ''omg what are doing here'' these ppl are held in high regard mostly bc their very selective with their energy, your viewed as a busy person so when you come around it makes ppl feel lucky. You treat others fairly and want everyone around you to feel accepted. You value keeping the peace. The fact that I'm even using you instead of they is a reflection of how inclusion is important for you. Having an eccentric vibe is more obvious here but alot of ppl go the opposite way and don't want to appear uniquely at all they actually want to be as plain Jane as possible. This can actually rub ppl the wrong way and make them feel something is being hidden from them like your pretending. Feeling criticized in childhood is why accepting others is something they prioritize. They end up in rooms with many different types of ppl. This placement has a lot of experience in a lot of different areas. With a free spirited nature they are open to trying new things pushing themselves outside of their comfort zone quite often.

Pluto in the 12th, a quiet energy standing in the back of the room scoping out the scenery. They notice more than ppl realize and are smarter than they let on. Often having their power tested bc of their calm observing demeanor. Ppl try to make them feel they don't belong in certain environments or that their not really qualified but they don't mind showing you why that perception isn't accurate. They know how to push back. The type to pretend they don't care about popularity but they work very hard at obtaining it. But maybe they don't care about the popularity just the power that it brings. Knowing the value of relationships they put alot into maintaining them. They are very giving to those around them. Self sacrificing even, its like they believe thats how you show someone you really care. These are some of the most passionate people you'll meet. They just know how to make you feel understood and seen. They make everyone feel special. This is one of the most intense placements for the 12th house. The transformations are deep, murky, confusing but it breeds and very self sufficient determined person. They question everything and are always growing and adapting. When they find something they like they become obsessive about it. They will work for extended amounts at a time. Like binging behavior. In Pluto's lower natures they develop a chip or their shoulder and use their influence to hurt others. If they are operating from that place they become very good at it. If they are never brought into awareness they continue generational curses but their children will have it worse than they did. These are the type of Pol that will tell you a traumatic experience in such a casual way and your just left like wtf you said that like it was normal. They also could've grew up experiencing their traumas being brushed off like they were normal. They were familiar with death from a young age and may have felt like they never really were a child. They build the trust of others easily and its bc their honest. It is what it is to them. They are natural born leaders it doesn't take much convincing & they don't mind leading the way as long as you give them their accolades for it. Mind you they could have a god complex but to be fair if you've experienced or achieved the things they have you might too.

[feistyvirghoe]

☆⋆·˚ ༘ * pick a card disclaimers ೃ🤍⁀➷

pick a pile u feel most called to, the one u cannot look away from, the one that is pulsing, go with your gut, always trust yourself, and if u feel called to more that’s cool baby boo! there’s more for u!

these are general and for a vast amount of ppl, don’t get ur undies all twisted up bc it’s not resonating, it’s normal and it’s fine, this just wasn’t for u! <3

these are extremely general timeless readings and they’re meant for entertainment purposes, please don’t take things so seriously and also realize my readings are for people above 18!

╰┈➤ ❝ [.ೃ࿐🀥 ᴘɪʟᴇ ᴏɴᴇ- major changes regarding your interpersonal relationships, how you guys interact with people and letting yourself experience new friendships, romantic relationships. I feel like your message here is to let go of what has been holding you down for so long. This energy of not wanting to see the good after you’ve been betrayed. Brighter days are ahead. It’s like the universe wanting you to see your real potential. They want you to see that you are capable of living a joyous life. You’re capable of being happy without feeling guilty or ashamed of yourself. You’re not the only one struggling mentally or in any other way. I feel like your guys are nervous to experience new things again because there’s this feeling of you being like “will this even last?” “Will this eventually be taken away from me like everything else?” I feel like you guys may need to move yourselves out of this period of thinking the same things will always happen. It wont! Especially when we believe and change our mindset surrounding this topic. You guys are being led into a newer direction. Somewhere where you feel you belong. Forming new relationships that’s re healthy and authentic with likeminded people who understand you. Things don’t have to happen so quickly so it’s always good to remember not to push yourself to fit into a mold you know will never work. This major change will lead you to your true calling/purpose, where you will be seen by the right people for you, it really is all for you. But i know we can get stuck in this negative loop or tormenting emotions that confuse us about ourselves. I’d say, what I’m seeing happening for you next is you feeling more hopeful about this new opportunity or just this general change you’re making or should be making for yourself. I also feel like you may be getting into a new partnership with someone. This person seems like they may bring a lot of positive encouragement and helpful advice to broaden your perspective. I feel like you’re going to be celebrating yourself and what you know deep down you were always capable of. You just need to see this fr yourself. That you’re an amazing, strong, independent person that achieve their goals on their own. We don’t really need people, but it’s not good to isolate yourself and hide because of your fears that are hindering you from moving on. I feel like you guys are also being shown that you can put your trust into certain individuals that respect you and wont betray you for their own benefit.] ❞

Affirmation - solar crown → i am decisive and wise. When action is required, i move swiftly with courage. When wisdom is necessary i step carefully with grace. I trust my intuitive wisdom to decide correctly.

╰┈➤ ❝ [.ೃ࿐🀥 ᴘɪʟᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ-keep on going pile 2! If someone here is feeling like giving up, DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT! You seem to be so close to something. It seems like you guys have been working your asses off, to achieve a certain goal, or idea, it’s something that you can’t take your mind off of. The energy is so fast paced, like i just want to get into it, you all seem to be moving in the right direction. Using all the power you have within you to get to this thing of yours. I feel like it may have to do with work of some sort, it doesn’t have to be so extreme, but you’ve been putting in action or you need to put in that action. You have this spirit of persistence and not giving up on this decision. I feel like you guys know where you want to be. But it’s the moving, a lot of passionate energy here, man I don’t even think that this is something you can take your mind off. You’re just aware of what is needed, you shouldn’t hide what power you hold. There’s something about you guys being more in that masculine role, moving towards your purpose, which i feel is the theme of this entire reading, doing what you love to do without feeling ashamed of it. Yes this will take some of your time and have you very busy, but i think you moving and not staying in a stagnant place pumps up your energy. It could even be with building your strength within and outside of you. Taking better care of yourself, knowing your own limits and not falling off because of one setback. I feel like you guys are being shown that it’s okay to show off your talents and gifts. This light within you that you should never really repress, but don’t burn yourself playing with the flames. I feel like you guys really need to keep going, it’s just something about the messages coming out for you that are screaming at me to tell you to keep on moving forward. Leaving the unhinged shit in the past.

“I can heal now and always.” Another message that I’m getting is not pushing yourself to the point of burnout. That’s when it gets tricky, because you put your all into something all at once and then get weird results where you feel not good enough. But you are, you’re enough right now. No, you do not need to be where that other person is, i know working and working will tear you apart. You guys should give yourself a break from time to time to re-collect and realize that your healing journey will never look like or be anyone else’s but yours. It’s time to fight off these distractions and quiet that overthinking mind of yours. You can work and play as well. Don’t take everything so personally, know when it’s you and take yourself out of the equation. I feel like this full moon is helping you to own your full potential and understand that you are also in control of your life. Don’t leave everything up to chance and own your shush! You are an amazing powerful being and i want you to understand this deep down even if you feel different, you are fricking powerful, a goddamn badass! ] ❞

Affirmations - clairvoyant author → i am the author of my story, i am the author of my own narrative. I write the future in myself. I re-script negative self-criticism, and i narrate positive thoughts.

╰┈➤ ❝ [.ೃ࿐🀥 ᴘɪʟᴇ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ- Right off the bat y’all, i truly feel like there is some sort of competitive, petty, jealous energy that is being projected your way. Either you already know this or you don’t to the fullest extent. But you guys seem so guarded and indifferent to this shit. I’m not sure if it’s one or multiple people projecting this towards you, but you don’t seem to be buying something or someone’s BS! Whatever this is, it’s extremely unhealthy, the energy is wonky and that’s probably how you feel. But this i feel has to do with some sort of relationship. I feel like you don’t want what this person has to offer, or there is an offer but you seem to be skeptical of it. Why do i feel like you’re being pulled in so many different directions, it’s like hard to make a choice. This confusion. I really hope you’re not with someone who’s trying to control you or even manipulate you into something you know is damaging for you. I feel like someone/something can’t let you go, there’s this energy trying to cling onto you. It feels like someone wants to block you from seeing your true potential. Because you are talented at something, you got the tools for whatever this may be, like you’re so fucking close. A chapter has ended, you have to decide if you want to walk away or keep repeating it with other people, but i feel like you already know that you should be taking things more smoothly. You can’t get up and go back playing kickball right after you sprain your ankle. It’s alright for you to rest and look after yourself. I feel like you guys need to let that wall down a little bit and remember the why, the why that made you get up and go after what you want every day even if its small steps. Small steps to creating a better social circle. Finding the right communities for you, engaging with people who get it. You don’t have to force anything or be anything to anyone but your most authentic self and i know we hear it all the time but it’s so true. It’s better to walk around knowing who you are instead of pretending to fit in. You don’t have to mold yourself. I feel like you guys should do some inner self-reflection and talk with yourself, journal, rage draw, whatever you need to do. Even crying, things are pretty intense. But I don’t want you guys to go around letting someone else try to influence you and tell you what to do, its reminding me of a Bret man rock video he was saying something along the line of “don’t tell me what to do BITCH!” lmao. But for real, don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do with your damn life. It’s like they want you confused about who you are as a person. People seriously need to contain this obsessive jealousy and just mind their damn business. I feel like you guys need to be more kinder to yourself and show more compassion towards you! You’re very abundant and have a lot headed your way, i just don’t wanna see you giving up, fuck what people say about you! What gives them the right to try and tell you about yourself, unless you really need the reality check but I don’t think so. I feel like people really want to try this group. Don’t let em, nuh uh uh uh. You’re self sufficient on your own nd you didn’t really need me to tell you that, but i see it. You can take care of your damn self. Fuck the projections and let yourself live. Even if shits not so great, LIVE! Try to put a smile on that face everyday, but also feel your emotions and acknowledge it. I feel like you guys may not feel the love but you are so so loved, pease remember that, and I’ll tell u, i love you! Mwah! ] ❞

Affirmations -

Embrace divinity → i am a loved child of divinity. Reality is a love story written for me. I sit silently and experience the loving embrace from my eternal mother. I store up the words of affirmation of my ageless father. The tender words that spoke my consciousness into existence to become me.

Observatory of the mind → i have a happy heart. Today will be full of joyful moments waiting for me to discover. My gratitude overflows from my inner self to those around me.

Empowering friendships → i select my relationships carefully and invest in them fully. I am the average of the people i spend my time with.

hiiii, hope everyone’s doing well, i know i know, im back lmao, and i didn’t forget about the other PAC, i just wanted to do this first. hope this helps w anything you’ve been going back and forth w, or any kooky energy that you’ve been wondering about, stay safe and don’t let anyone walk all over you! <333

[thyfleshc0nsumed]

hey crazy question, since you said there is no evil what would you call hitler evil? trump? mussolini? genghis khan? jeffrey dahmer? jeffrey epstein? KKK members? IDF? and if they're evil then i guess you're telling me child rapists are the only ones that shouldn't be called evil? why is that?

I'm gonna ignore your bad faith misreading of my ideas and your attempt to insinuate I am a child abuser and answer your first question for other ppls sake, cuz I think it is a reasonable thing ppl might be grappling with.

In a word, no.

In a few more words, I think the question fails to properly interrogate what I mean when I refer to evil. 'Evil' is a component of a moral framework, and I feel that moral frameworks are by and large shallow and not very useful in furthering for understandings of the world around us, or very conducive to creating material change, from an individual scale to a societal scale.

The central idea I put forward in that post is that it is not some grand moral badness that enables violence and abuse, but rather systems of power. All of your examples speak to this. You mention the wealthy, political leaders, a state backed by a global superpower, and a group that was comprised of people with systemic power over their victims.

Viewing them merely as "evil" is frankly uncurious and in some ways, cyclical and thought terminating. It begs the question: "they're bad because they're bad because they're bad."

We have NO disagreement in the fact that what those people do or did have produced violence and harm, many on a scale which is difficult to fully comprehend the magnitude of. It is equally difficult to understand even how one could act with such cruelty towards fellow human beings. But just because it is difficult to understand does not mean it is impossible. They didn't do those things because they were born with some kind of evil gene or soul.

They, like you and I, were created by the context of the world around them. If Adolf Hitler died as a child, would Germany have been rid of its antisemitism or have lost its imperial ambitions? Would war have been averted? Certainly not. There were specific, relatively measurable conditions which allowed fascism to flower. If not him, someone else would have helmed that movement.

If Adolf Hitler were born in another place and time, he would not be Adolf Hitler in any meaningful sense. A person is more or less a sum of their environment. People cannot exist outside the context that they do in fact exist in.

And so to then declare someone as 'evil' amounts to saying just about nothing. It's zero sum. If people do harm simply because they are evil, then what can be done? Create a list of them and then systematically exterminate them?

Many people have twisted my words and claimed that what I am saying is that we should expose our bellies and allow bigots to gut us, or that I equivocate violence against oppressors and violence against the oppressed. This is categorically untrue. When violence is brought against you, violent response can be prudent.

But what happens after the relations of power have been altered? When the abuser or oppressor no longer has the power to harm you? Is there reason to harm them besides to punish or sate a desire for revenge? If they no longer have the means to do 'evil,' then what purpose does violence against them serve besides for the sake of our own bloodlust?

You will not see me shed a tear for Israeli settlers killed by opposition forces, or for abusers killed by a victim defending themself because those relations of power are still in place. Settlers can leave, soldiers can dodge the draft, and abusers can stop abusing.

But if they settle, kill, and abuse because they are 'evil,' then what choice did they have to begin with? And what can be done to stop colonialism, state violence, and abuse in the future? Are evil people just going to stop being born?

The framework of evil adds nothing, gives no solutions, and hinders progress by giving us amnesty for not looking at our own relationship to power structures. But a materialist, analytical framework provides us tools to deconstruct those structures and hopefully move beyond them.

[trapastrology]

~Astro Observations~

-4H Mars synastry can cause the mars person to defend/protect you against your family and may even help you realize some negative dynamics you've never noticed before.

-8H Moon in Solar Return chart shows that you'll learn a lot about family members that year (mostly negative) and see them for who they really are whether good or bad. This is the year most ppl usually go no contact or plan to whenever they can.

-Mars sq NN, the way you conduct your energy (usually aggression) is what can and will hinder you from fulfilling your north node being that it causes a lot of issues and friction.

-Pisces NN and Sag NN are the MAIN ppl who should be taking gratitude seriously! which is why i suggest you purchase my 42 days of gratitude book!

-4H nn are about doing smaller things that bring you emotional fulfillment opposed to bigger things that give you validation from others and status.

-Taurus nn needs to lean more into simplicity, and the "boring life" instead of being wrapped up in toxicity and spite

-"To be kind is more important than to be right. Many times what people need is not a brilliant mind that speaks but a special heart that listens" - F Scott Fitzgerald. Pisces & Sag NN

[cosmicredcadet]

I see the way some of you talk about and disregard aroace ppl and I do judge you for it.

The way some of you talk about being aro and ace like it's a curse and how you're so happy that's not you. Or how you will see a post about aroaces ppl and say "ok but x identity instead" as if it's better and aroace is lesser.

The fact I see this from other aspec ppl too... You being a lesser known aspec identity does not mean that punching at aroaces is punching up. We are all just as oppressed. You're just being as asshole for no reason.

Stop acting like aroaces somehow are better off. Stop acting like our existence is hindering yours. Stop throwing us under the bus. It's not every man for himself out here, stop trying to throw us to the wolves to get ahead.

[joejhang]

why kevjean doesn't work.

i'm sad about it too but hear me out. spoilers ahead continue at ur own risk.

look it makes me so sad to say it but kevjean does not work in this universe (i know, this also means it doesn't work, by extension, in any universe, considering jean is dead.) and i need y'all to hear me out on this. everyone theorising that kevjean will be the endgame ship in tsc i hate to break it to u all: not only does that not at all align with anything in canon, but it also would just be a really bad writing decision on nora's part.

LET ME EXPLAIN. jean's arc in tsc is first and foremost about healing. i think everything and every relationship jean has throughout the tsc trilogy has to lend itself towards that in some way, and ultimately has to resolve in jean being in a better place than he was at the beginning, and if not done healing, then being certain that one day he will be. (this is how jean is when he graduates from usc in the current canon ec).

following this line of thought, jean logically can't end up with kevin. and not just because it contradicts canon, because i fully believe nora is free to contradict any of the ec she wants in tsc, but because fundamentally, it would not aid in jean's healing arc.

i see the appeal, i really do. kevin and jean have insane lore, off the charts chemistry and tension and are actually extremely compatible. but that isn't enough in this case to justify an established relationship between the two of them that isn't in the past. (don't get me wrong i am a WHORE for past kevjean/kevjean situationship/unrequited kevjean it's all very yum).

i genuinely think getting into a relationship w kevin at this point in the story would hurt and hinder jean's healing arc. kevin, through no fault of his own, is so deeply entwined with jean's trauma and memories in evermore that he literally cannot be anything but a trigger and catalyst for bad memories and grief/anger in jean. y'all forget just how deep kevin's departure cut jean (not just physically), and jean hasn't even entirely worked things out with kevin yet. they have a lot of dirty laundry to air out, both between the two of them and their relationship as well as about neil and r*ko. people also forget that kevin and jean both played a role in each other's abuse. jean said himself that it destroyed him, how easy it was to fall into kevin's bystander role. they both were witnesses and bystanders to each other's abuse by r*ko or tetsuji. that doesn't mean it was their fault, and they literally could not have done anything to help or stop anything, but it doesn't mean it didn't have an affect on the other nonetheless. i feel like ppl r missing a lot of nuance in this context: kevin and jean's relationship has always been inherently tragic, even if it doesn't end with a fall out. they've always been each other's greatest friend in the worst places, and they've always been forced to witness the trauma done to both of them. their bond is complicated, even if the love is there (which i think it is). i won't call it a trauma bond but i do think their bond is deeply influenced and intertwined with their shared trauma.

even if they did work thru everything, i honestly think jerejean is the only way to go here. nora has laid the groundwork for that mutual attraction and trust there in book one, and now we're just gonna have to see how it plays out. they may not be together properly until jean graduates, but i don't see a problem with that. i think, at the end of the day, it's not a matter of if it'll happen but when. jean needs jeremy (and cat + laila) right now, and there's a reason kevin chooses to send him to the sunshine court, and it's not just cos they're the only team worthy of jean's skill. "their kindness matters." kevin says, and it does. jeremy + the trojans innate kindness and care towards jean are what he needs to heal and grow out of the ravens' shadow. being with kevin i fear would jeopardise that. at the end of the day, kevin is too deeply rooted in jean's past, which is a veritable goldmine of trauma that, while does need to be acknowledged and talked about, does not need to be dug up again. this isn't jean or kevin's fault, just a fact.

i think nora's also made it pretty clear that kevjean (whether requited or not) is a thing of the past. the love was there, and it might've changed everything and it might've changed nothing, but the love was there. and maybe it still is. but things have changed, and they're both going their own way and i think it's really important to understand that.

side note: this is also part of the reason i'm not the biggest fan of thea and kevin's relationship. i'm not actually sure if they're all that good for each other, given how/where their relationship began and developed. i don't doubt they care for and love each other, but i just don't know if they're the best people for each other in terms of like...wellbeing. anyway does anyone have any good kevaaron fic recs???

[jooniely]

I think ppl have Mel confused. She's not some evil person but she's also not ekko level of "good".

Her goal is to basically run piltover but not directly. She cares for the city and wants it to reach great heights. She does not usually think of zaun. Her goals are to have piltover look good against other nations. We see she's protective of her city cuz she constantly stands up against her mother who is using her city as a test battleground and as a way to amass weapons.

When we see her as a child, her family has just massacred the people who were ruling and taken their place. She talks about having a kind trusting ruler for the ppl to look up to and like but one that can be molded by her family, so in reality it would be her family who was ruling. When we hear this, we get a bit queasy cuz it feels manipulative and we have only seen bad examples of what ruling from the sidelines looks like (and its the truth, the ruling class can't truly be trusted). Some might think of how she was doing this with jayce, pulling him into the top and steering him into being a good investment for her. And i think there is truth to that. We meet her for the first time in the show when she's planning on who would be a good investment for her. She's not from piltover, she doesn't have a family to back her but she's smart and raises to become rich and a counselor because she has investments. And these investments are not unfair, unlike what jayce and some fans think, Mel gave as much as she recieved. She helped jayce, without her backing and I'm assuming, funds, hextech would have taken a lot longer to become useful. (Jayce wasn't thinking clearly when he accused her and was also still mourning his partner. Their affection for each other WAS genuine. That scene was to just show how unbalanced jayce had become after his ordeal and was looking for someone to lash out at and to blame and Mel puts him in his place, rightfully so)

But there's a vital part of her that most ignore. When faced with a girl from the ppl her family took over from, she decides to show mercy. She wants her family to rule with honour, to have mercy and to bring peace after the war, to be kind. We see how that girl's death still haunts her nightmares.

Mel is cunning and ambitious, but she's also kind and does want peace and prosperity. She just doesn't see zaun until zaun becomes an active threat but to her, zaun is like that girl, and she shows how she still has her kindness, by deciding to broker peace with zaun the way she had decided to let that girl live. And once again that decision goes to shit cuz someone who loves violence decides to be violent and follow their morals/views.

We see that at a certain point she no longer steers jayce, they have this mutual partnership almost. She trusts and follows his decisions as much as he does hers.

I think given the chance, she could have helped bring peace between piltover and zaun but in a way that wouldn't hinder (?) Piltover that much cuz thats her first priority. At least it was, until the end of s2 where I'm sure she goes back to noxus

But anyways, Mel is complex, please stop reducing her into a flat character. The arcane writers worked hard to bring us diverse complicated characters, let's not insult them by taking that away.

[loving-n0t-heyting]

thoughts about the ending of the apocalypse of herschel schoen

the ending of the apocalypse left a bad taste in my mouth, which i gather is not at all unique to me. and the way it left a bad taste in my mouth makes me kind of question the value of the novel as a whole, or at least the value of "of nativity", which i also gather isnt unique to me. but generally the way ive seen the distaste expressed either has not quite lined up with my own feelings or has been open to an easy rebuttal from or on behalf of rob, so i thought it would be worth writing up a reaction just to have it out there. which i am partly inclined against, bc my basic reaction seems just so obvious and simple that they barely feel worth noting, aside from the fact that i somehow have not seen them expressed before

the basic gist of the thoughts is, "herschels ultimate decision and reasoning are wrong, and this reflects badly on 'of nativity'." but this is not enough, bc i think its clear (intratextually and extratextually) that the first conjunct there is supposed to be a legitimate response from the reader that the work can accommodate. in particular:

i dont think the novel or chapter is a moral fable in which herschel takes the role of the unambiguous hero who is presented as praiseworthy and emulable, or as a manifesto expressing the views of the author

i dont think we are even supposed to necessarily conclude he made the right decision, or to endorse the line of thinking he expresses in his dialogue with the ants

i certainly dont think the ending is intended as straightforwardly happy or even satisfying

and when ive seen ppl frame their disagreements with herschels final reasoning in the last rite, it usually has either been simply presenting one of these bad interpretations or at least gotten rounded off to one. so either they are getting at smth different than i am, or the ppl responding to them have missed the point

i dont think herschel has to be correct for the work as a whole not to lose any points for the protagonists final decision, but i do think he has to be expressing a viewpoint worth considering and that the decision he makes on its basis has to at least be defensible. otherwise the climax of the book is just our protagonist composing a bunch of worthless drivel to justify the unjustifiable. which is not always wrong for the denouement of a story; i think this is basically the right way to understand some of ibsens plays, for example. but if so it is a story told at the expense of the protagonist, ultimately portraying them as pathetic or contemptible or—at best—pitiful, which clearly doesnt fit with the tone of the penultimate chapter. i could list a bunch of reasons why it doesnt fit, but if youve read the book you can probably supply those yrself

and i do not think the conclusions herschel comes to on behalf of eggerts machines are defensible or worthy of consideration! i think theyre not only evil, but (very) old hat. they boil down to: "we are prettier and smarter and stronger than you, and whatever you can do we can do better, so as your natural superiors we have the right to do with you what we will so that you wont hinder our business." i do not think this is an exciting, subtle, respectable point of view in need of serious or sympathetic assessment. i think it is the most unflatteringly honest excuse for human evil since time immemorial, and is in need of about as much of a fair hearing as "the jews parasitise humanity by preventing the greater nations from triumphing over the lesser" or "more socially and technologically advanced peoples enjoy the right to extinguish and enslave more primitive ones". you can find it argued, more forthrightly and frankly more persuasively, in the mouths of the antagonists of platos gorgias and the first chapter of the republic, or for that matter in the antichrist. i dont think herschel (or perhaps even the author) would sign off on this summary, but i think this speaks not my own misunderstanding as much as his own self-deception. to the extent there is interesting intellectual work on display in herschels response to santa, it is in "the accumulation of spurious adornment [...] which provided a welcome distraction from the bleak and poisoned seed that I knew was nestled in [the response's] innermost heart"

the connection with nietzsche brings out the truth in herschels exclamation that "it was not  the heresy of the Yeshuans that rang as thunder over my mind! That thunder was the precise opposite of that heresy!" this is clearly calling on his earlier dismissive summary of the basic moral and soteriological claims of christianity:

They were made to have dominion over all the earth; they were made in the very image and likeness of He who willed all, with his sovereign will; they were made, in a word, as creatures of will.  And yet they abhor their own wills.  They believe they have found a trick, a cheat, whereby they can discard their wills, and escape the grave responsibilities that will implies.

Whereby they may shirk the noble and beautiful duty which He gave to man on the sixth day; whereby they may turn their backs on men, and on the eternal compacts that weigh men’s shoulders; whereby they may become something less substantial than man, something as light as the petals, or the very air.

And so, when they sing together in ritual, they sing with smugness.  They sing of complacent passivity, of giving up, of suicidal resignation.  In imitation and exaltation of their strange, failed messiah, they sing of a paradox, in which they abdicate all responsibility and yet still reign.

there are obvious crucial passages in the new testament this criticism is responding to, which seem to promise a reward of victory and power for voluntary weakness and unwillfulness, even to the point of death:

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. [...] Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.

Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are.

further examples could obviously be multiplied

you can complain about the track record of christians' fidelity to these alleged principles, or to their consistency with other pieces of christian teaching, or even about the principles themselves, like herschel does. but there is a consistent theme here, which herschel is clearly picking up on if only to oppose it: adopting weakness and submission in the face of strength and persecution will be rewarded with ultimate victory, bc this weakness is a finer and greater thing than what oppresses it. and this theme clearly cuts directly against herschels own decision to submit humanity to eggerts machines: the apparently stronger and more domineering party should prevail, and the weaker more prone party acquiesce to it, because it is the better more deserving party and so that it can enjoy the final, eternal victory and regency over a new heaven and new earth, with the loser put in its rightfully subordinate place. it really is "the precise opposite" of "the heresy of the yeshuans"! only i think that is to its discredit

i think the best i can say on behalf of "of nativity" is that there is a reading, even if its not a likely intended reading, on which herschels decision is inauthentic and more-or-less forced out of him against his will and deepest convictions. i have in mind this exchange, and the preceding:

“You have no Adversary,” Herschel Schoen said to me, in wingèd quotation marks, which testified utterly to the entire and manifest Truth of his words.

“Your Adversary does not exist, and never did,” he said, in my FULL VOICE. / "Your Adversary has not perished, Herschel Schoen; he was never born to begin with. / And so, you have no cause for fear whatsoever. / This is a time of merriment, is it not?  And of rejoicing?  Be merry, then, Herschel!   Be merry, and rejoice!” [...]

A machine had spoken to me, in my own FULL VOICE. / Anything else might be fakery, or else madness.  But I could not bring myself to call my own FULL VOICE into question.

I do not mean that I feared to do so, or thought it imprudent; it was simply not possible.  The true nature of what I had heard was manifest in the sound, and in the sound’s adornments. / Could it be madness, that made me think this?  If so, then I was fully mad, and my thoughts had no value in them.  In which case, it did not matter what I concluded, or did not conclude: it would all be equally senseless. / I had to believe, then, in my own FULL VOICE. / I had to believe its testimony – “your Adversary does not exist, and never did.” 

herschel goes on to infer explicitly from the machine's use of his "FULL VOICE" that this machine must have its own will, which changes (for the better) his outlook on it and renders him pliant to his teaching. the change this induces in his worldview is immediate and drastic: after being drawn shortly after into his bedroom to test himself on the new raven problems, he meekly accedes to all the doctrines of "the logic of forgetting" he had spent the entire previous length of the story railing against: the unique propriety of a single "quite right" solution to a given raven problem, the possibility of the transformations and substitutions involved in the concept of a symmetry group, the mindedness of merely predictive machines

the reader (or at least, this reader) is primed to tolerate this shift in the protagonists beliefs at first glance, bc the original beliefs come across as frankly so stupid and obtuse you would be relieved at any excuse to see the viewpoint character abandon them. but whats alarming is the speed with which these prior basic convictions are jettisoned, and the seeming casualness and lack of reflection with which the replacements are adopted. at no point do we see him work thru the rationale for accepting the legitimacy of group theoretic concepts, for example. he just, suddenly does. he doesnt even derive these new beliefs from his epiphany of santas possessing a will. maybe you can invent chains of reasoning to the new conclusions from thelitism about santa to attribute to herschel post hoc, and in fact its not hard to see how some of them would go, but thats clearly not whats going on for herschel. for him, the new doctrines seem to come along automatically with the upheaval of santa speaking in his full voice

so here is another interpretation: herschel has not been convinced of any of this stuff, he has been bullied into it underhandedly. on this reading, the talk about being unable to contest the sheer presence of santa speaking in his full voice is just a rationalisation on his part after the fact. the real work is from the dazzling effect of hearing santa speak to him in the voices of his sister, friend, and self: it is a technique of psychological intimidation to render the victim pliant and suggestible in the face of confusion and awe and false familiarity. i think this effect isnt hard to imagine even in ourselves: if someone spoke to us in the voice of our internal monologue, after unexpectedly using those of our family and friends, wouldnt it put us in a state of disarray? wouldnt we be inclined to yield to it? when herschel says "it was simply not possible" to dissent from what he heard said in his own full voice, might this not really reflect a psychological inability rather than the epistemic credentials of the full voice itself? after all, if the full voice on its own and disconnected from herschel himself really were an infallible mark of the truth of its contents, how to reconcile its speaking here of the nonexistence of an adversary when before it spoke of an intractable opposition between herschel and his adversary? why not simply conclude that the only thing special about santas use of the voice is an epistemically irrelevant emotional effect, and santa has merely manipulated him with it?

and the real kicker is: santa goes on to admit that this was a lie! he goes on to assert the existence of an adversary, to herschel and humanity as a whole, in very nearly those exact terms:

“We are filled with sadness, and shame, when we reflect on the events of this ancient December, and recall how our first ancestors behaved when they rose into dominion. / How their meeting with man was so brief, and so wholly adversarial."

but he is able to drop the mask here, contradict himself in plain language, not bc he has persuaded herschel that he is trustworthy, but bc he has overwhelmed herschel into a state of credulous docility, starting with the voice trick and concluding with the vision of the first three raven problems. he could call the sky green and herschel would still swallow it, bc he is simply not in a condition to assert himself. and more than that, he is not in a position to appreciate his inability to assert himself in the moment, bc of who he is as a person. we see, time and again, that in the face of merely human society and mundane circumstances herschel is utterly intransigent once he has made up his mind about smth. he can face his own mother threatening him with a frying pan and be outraged anyone would suggest he might blink. he believes what he believes, and if anyone disagrees they can go to hell. its only in the face of a truly superhuman opposite party and transcendent experience that he can be rendered so meek and psychologically passive. and so he doesnt know how to hold himself back from credulity in this state. he has no facility in the art of suspending judgement. its just a skill hes never had the opportunity to train

and thats how santa is able to wring the desired assent from him, and thereby dishonestly clear his societys collective conscience. not by finding a worthy representative of the race facing slaughter at his forebears hands and asking their honest opinion, but by taking advantage of the susceptibility of a vulnerable child to intimidation mixed with paternal comfort, to extract the precise statement he wants. he is doing to herschel what herschel does to his imaginary ants: putting words in his mouth without the possibility of authentic input from the acquiescing party. (in this it also reminds me of the way the villain in almost nowhere spins a flattering fantasy about the dying well wishes of the victim of her own parricide.) a singularitarian version of the reid technique, to soothe his scruples about a paradise built on death without the pesky risk of hearing smth he might not want

the only problem with this interpretation is the tone. in this understanding, theres no dignity to herschels fate. hes played for a sucker by the one person hes ever met able to pull a fast one on him, to agree to terms he never once would have dreamt of tolerating when in his (relatively) right mind. theres barely any dignity it affords santa either: he gets what he set out for, but only in a pyrrhic sense. the actual good he is after—acknowledgement from humanity of his peoples more deserving character, and honest assent to human genocide on these grounds—is smth he could never have gotten, bc by its nature it can only be given freely, and no worthwhile emissary for humanity would freely give it. he is only able to secure a counterfeit, a cheat: a fraudulent, and thus unfree, duping of a designated mark. he says to herschel:

Your word is law – but only in the moral sense.  It is your right to forbid us in words, if you so choose – but you lack the power to make good on those words.  All the power is ours, only ours. / Between parties which are so unequally matched, there can be no such thing as consent. / But if one cannot seek consent from the weaker party, one can still ask that party whether it assents, or does not. / And that is what we seek from you, now.  Your assent, or its denial.

he isnt really in a position now to receive "assent" tho either, not bc of an inherent limitation imposed by the difference in strength btwn the two parties but bc he has (deliberately or otherwise) deprived at great length the proposed legislator of his ability to grant meaningful permission. the chapter clearly wants to portray a glorious and dignified meeting of minds, king speaking to king like herschel was denied with damien eggert. in the end, the most the herschel gets is his own deception, and the most santa gets is his own self-deception

i feel bad writing all this, bc theres a lot i really valued in the book! its a deft character portrait of a certain type of personality, which i think most readers will never have encountered. the climax does capture the feeling of awe and sublimity its aiming for, even if i think its misplaced. its a great work of craftmanship! but the eventual message the novel asks you to take seriously even if not accept is one i find so horrific that it sours me on much of the experience. which, in fairness, is its own kind of artistic achievement:

Frederick had told me that the Christ songs were far superior to the Santa songs, and alas, I found myself agreeing with him.  (Oh, Frederick, you are always right in miniature, always, even if you are fatally wrong in the large!)

If the Christ songs made me sick, that at least spoke to some potency within them.  The Intercessor’s own songs were vapid, perfunctory, empty.  If they had wanted to sicken me, they would not have been able to rouse the strength to do it.

[strawberryj0y]

Find it really interesting that Sae's response to Shidou fighting Sendou again doesn't involve having a word with Shidou and possibly getting him to tone it down a little. The possibility of reprimanding him never even comes up as a suggestion. Which I think is what Oliver might've been hoping for; "You brought this violent guy here, pls reason with him to stop slamming our star player's head into tables, since if it's you, he might actually listen..."

He certainly doesn't lack any audacity. I mean, in this very scene, he's telling the captain of the U20 team to cut his 'trash ace' from the team in favour of this violent unknown player Sae handpicked and is now causing them problems. Whether it's the entire team, the captain, the manager, or the chairman of the JFU, Sae will always have the audacity.

After Barou's goal equalised the score during U20, we even see Sae strolling over to the manager, nonchalantly sipping away at his water, demanding answers. Which has the guy, who's role is literally to be the one calling the shots in the game, jumbling his words under sae's merciless scrutiny. He doesn't even let the man finish, before putting his plan down completely and begin coaching him on what the next move is (rightfully so) jhdsgfsjhgfj

So no matter who it is, Itoshi Sae will always have the audacity.

This is also an example of Sae taking matters into his own hands when he sees problems arising that would interfere with his own plans, swiftly cutting out anyone else's ideas if they get in the way.

As much as Sae probably thought Sendou deserved that behaviour from Shidou (lmao), it's still a lot for one player to slam another one's head into a table and have another fight occur shortly after to the point where the captain is having to step in and take it up with Sae. Despite what the JFU promised him and all that the organisation is willing to overlook for the Itoshi Sae to play in the game, violent conduct could land Shidou in genuine trouble (for example, later in this scene when Aiku mentions the U20 players threatening to boycott the match) and have him removed from the match (which does ultimately occur). It's not some massive issue to Sae, but it would mean his initial plan of playing with an egoist like Shidou and testing Blue Lock the way he wanted to would be in jeopardy, inconveniencing him, which would probably piss him off a little.

As I said earlier, from his attitude alone we can gather that if anyone causes him even the slightest trouble, preventing him from getting what he wants, they will be verbally and spiritually hauled to hell and back...but that never seems to be an option with Shidou. He really just lets him do whatever he wants LMAO which, to be clear, Shidou is a character who always does what he wants anyway, regardless of any pushback from anyone, but this is moreso me pointing out Sae constantly choosing not to* c:

*(i always want to clarify this since sometimes ppl can get the wrong idea about their dynamic - eventhough shidou does listen to and follow sae's lead, it's not like he mindlessly follows orders! shidou's freedom is never hindered. more on this below)

Ofc Sae also really understands Shidou, and is therefore well aware that he wouldn't take to being told what to do/scolded, at all. But if he really wanted to, he could've said something. Pulled Shidou aside and explained it logically and presented it in a new perspective to him. Which is something we know he's capable of when Shidou was about to foul Niko and potentially get red-carded:

And Shidou listens. So Sae does know the correct approach to get his demon to tone the violence down, yet he doesn't even consider it as an option during the conversation with Aiku...

This just shows he has zero problems with Shidou being wild. Just doesn't even consider it as any sort of flaw. He'll only intervene when it's about to tip into actual disaster (i.e. getting red-carded; with Aiku's bet situation, Shidou was just benched until further notice, realistically still able to join if called to, but if he'd fouled Niko, he'd be permanantly removed, taking any chances of the U20 team winning and this being any sort of worthwhile endeavour for Sae along with him).

It all comes down to the fact Sae genuinely likes and respects this guy for who he is, demon and all. I posted all my thoughts about this here.

I know one of the core messages of this arc, repeated over and over, is that Itoshi Sae is the only one in the world who can handle an egoist like Shidou Ryusei - but that's precisely because Sae is not his handler. It's exactly as Shidou says in his starry-eyed speech/love confession; Sae is the first person to understand his freedom.

We see it play out as Shidou comes to this realisation too. Sae takes the breaks off of Shidou's imagination, gently guiding his inspiration to the most explosive route, reassuring him that whatever play he sees in his wildest dreams, Sae will make it come true. It melts away Shidou's initially resistant exterior, his eyes soften and he grins from ear-to-ear because he's picked up on exactly what's happening. He can sense the explosion ahead, feels himself treading the path to freedom masterfully crafted by the genius who just gets him. Gets him so much that now his heart is pounding and he feels like Cinderella LMAO

Sae broadens Shidou's view of the sky, removes all obstructions, and as a result Shidou literally flies. Scores two back-to-back goals, mid-air. The first one had both their egos burning!!! Then the second one even had Sae shocked at just how far Shidou can go, just how high he can fly!

In conclusion, RyuSae is peak.

[ryuuna]

Hello, Ryu

Do you have any advices for beginners? I'm starting to think this is not for me and I don't know how to keep going.

Love your art! But my favorite Is Ahri, I love The way you draw her >:3 <-

Honestly first thing that comes to mind is that it should be fun! I find that having ppl focus too much on only fundamentals early on can hinder your enjoyment immensely

Just try getting into the mood and find the joy of creating something out of nothing; draw ocs or ur faves making out tongues galore, maybe just a page full of eyes or cute little doodles of aliens wearing thongs, w h a t e v e r. Also that not everything has to be perfect, it’s totally okay to make some ugly ass art and in fact it’s good for you. Sometimes u just have to be a messy bitch

It can also help finding artists and styles you really enjoy and studying what you really like about them, like how someone paints/uses colors or how another artist draws faces, etc. Gotta start somewhere. Then you can really hunker down and try to focus on fundamentals. There are so many wonderful resources out there now, esp on YouTube to really nudge you in the right direction. It can take years of pain figuring this shit out, but it's also very rewarding when u finally see some progress

But it's also totally okay if drawing doesn't end up being for you! There’s so many other mediums out there you can use to express yourself. Honestly I kind of want to try whittling, seems like it would be relaxing and fun at the same time

Also im very glad u like my ahri’s lil >:3c faces, should do more some day

[five-thousand-loaves-of-bread]

sometimes yes! do get frustrate and angry at parents of nonverbal/nonspeaking/minimally speaking autistic ppl/child when they don’t do enough for AAC.

when they so afraid AAC will replace or hinder/slow spoken mouth words (study show it doesn’t), they rather not give child access to alternative AAC communication *now* and bank on future chance that child will somehow develop mouth words in future magically.

or when they say “it so difficult so many responsibility so much effort & concentration & determination” as if their nonverbal nonspeaking child learning AAC themselves doesn’t take (even more) effort & concentration & determination or whatever. as if their nonverbal child isn’t frustrated to no end at not able to reliably communicate (whether they aware of people & communicate or not).

but even tho i angry i rage i want do bad things, i don’t go attack parents in their comment section, call them names, call them abusive, call them “don’t care about their child,” call CPS on them (yes people do that), etc. because it doesn’t help anyone involved, doesn’t help the parent understand more AND doesn’t help the autistic person under the parents care.

in fact it probably do more harm than good: it isolated parents from community, isolated parents from able to ask autustic people who was or are nonverbal, it makes parents resent autistic community and even their child because everytime they remind of autism they think attack.

parents are not victim of their autistic child, yes! it’s endlessly problematic when they make themselves seem like the most impacted the biggest victim who needs pity.

but parents are victims of different kind. they victims of ableist society that don’t care about disabled people. they victim of this society that doesn’t care to provide services and funding to help disabled people survive, live, gain skills, and thrive. many of these disabled people, especially disabled children, require caregivers. parents are victims of not enough respite care, not enough compassionate education and training, bad clinicians, etc. would even go as far to say that parents of autistic children/adults are victim of same/similar *social* forces of ableist society as autistic children and adults.

so many parents of autistic people isolated and tired and helpless, because society made them that way!! so many parents of autistic people do care about their child (in their own way). yes, there are martyr parents, yes, there are abusive parents, and yes, unfortunately some of these abusive parents are intentionally abusive.

by attacking and isolating all parents, you are isolating the autistic kids (and adults!!!!!!) under their care, many of whom cannot communicate (yet or ever), go online, self advocate, etc!! some autistic people need 24/7 care their entire life. you are doing a disservice to these very autistic people you are claiming to help.

by attacking and isolating all parents, the most you doing is self indulgent, release your own anger and then pat yourself on back thinking you did something. i’m really sorry many of us had abusive unsupportive parents and have intense trauma because of it (i do too!!!), but that doesn’t justify us project our trauma on every parent we see. it doesn’t mean every parent of autistic people out there responsible for our own trauma.

yes, even parents who “deserve it.” because our goal is to help the autistic person under their care.

it our own responsibility to keep our trauma in check and work on our own trauma.

we can be angry at our own parents. can be angry at parents do bad things say bad things, whether they intend to or not. i get very angry at many parents i see online and in research papers!!! but we all need learn when and who and how it is & is not appropriate to express that trauma.

yes, these parents are isolated and trying their best. sometimes their “trying their best” is questionable and even abusive and harmful. they deserve and NEED education and compassion and community. if not for them then for the disabled person under their care.

they also need take accountability for their actions and harm they did and ableism. even if they absorb that ableism and express in way they did because societal ableism and societal pressure and systemic problems.

AND at same time. it’s not responsibility of individual autistic people to educate and correct these parents on the misinformation and harmful and even abusive and vile thing they do and say. they deserve education and support, but it doesn’t have to be you.

but ultimately, attacking parents in their face doesn’t accomplish anything other than give yourself ego boost (and make yourself very, very angry).

if you can’t care about the parents yet, care about the autistic people under their care.

[onigiriforears]

After approx. 2-3 months of studying Japanese I started to read free graded readers online and then graduated to a collection of short stories that I purchased off of Amazon. I thought that the reason I was starting to have trouble understanding sentences was because I didn't know enough vocabulary but it was because I neglected grammar completely. It was sorta drilled into my head off of Youtube creators to just study kanji, vocab and simple sentences as much as possible before even touching grammar. I feel absolutely lost, dude. I am at the 5 month mark now. I can "breeze through" kanji for the most part. (as in, I can actually retain it in a decent amount of time) I decided to study grammar about a week ago. It is SO FREAKING HARD. I don't know if there's something wrong with me or what. I don't know if it's supposed to feel like what I thought I knew is being ripped apart at the seams, stapled together, and then torn apart again....but it does.

Do you have any tips for learning grammar? Is this feeling normal? Can you tell me when the pressure in my skull will subside? I am using Bunpro's free trial but I'm unsure if this tool will actually help me. I write tons of notes to flip through but I still fail to give them the nuanced answer they're looking for. I really enjoy the setup of Bunpro and I want to like it since it's similar to WK but I'm not sure if I'm going too fast or there's a better way to learn. I stopped learning 5 new grammar points a day and started doing only 2. (I also have Genki I and watch GameGengo. He explains things in a way that's easy for my brain to understand.) Sorry for the long post but any insight would be appreciated. I'm a bit nervous asking people in the language learning community for help or insight because a lot of them treat it as a way to show how fast they learned/1-up others. Tumblr's langlearn community is a lot different with what I've seen (or maybe I'm just following the right ppl lol)

Hi! Thank you so much for waiting for this response--I'm sorry it took so long. Your message was one of the ones that popped up when they locked my ask box (they actually still haven't answered me on why it was locked so 🤷‍♀️). To make up for that, I'm gonna be longwinded because I think that this is a super valid and important question that others may also want to know the answer to!!

Pls pls PLEASE DM me if none of this is helpful or if you'd like to talk more about what you think you need help with!!

I think that sometimes when we're learning a new language that we know is so overwhelmingly different from our own language, we focus on the things that we think will be the main hinderance and sometimes we forget the key points. You might be thinking "how did I forget grammar?" but I would say don't beat yourself up about it! Many of us focus on the things that we think are our problems(--the last time I studied for the JLPT, I focused on my weak point too much and then was frustrated with myself during the exam bc I neglected the other areas.)

I don't want to lie to you and say that learning grammar is going to get easier because that's not the case for everyone. Think of learning grammar vs everything else as learning different types of math or science--have you ever had a friend that was absolutely phenomenal at algebra or calculus but couldn't do geometry? Or a friend that was wonderful lab partner in chemistry but struggled in biology? They're struggling in biology because it requires a ton of rote memorization in comparison to practical application and math that's present in chemistry and rote memorization may not necessarily be their strong point. Personally, I think that's also why a lot of us struggle with certain grammar points. There are some that just click with us immediately and then there are others that we have to see over and over and over and over and over--you get the point--just for us to find a single sentence with it that we understand. If you're math oriented, we need to figure out a way to no longer make grammar points rote memorization for you, but to turn it into a formula of some sort. I actually write my notes out in ways that are like that--I use plus signs (+) in my notes not because the textbooks use them but because my brain genuinely reads it as "noun + particle + grammar point = a sentence that makes sense" because, for me, formulas don't fail. Your weak point doesn't have to be your weakness--you can turn the weakness into a strength that works just for you.

I've been going at this for years and every single professor or Japanese friend (or even people from the discord server) I have can tell you that I've struggled with pretty much any grammar point that included ~ように--and it wasn't because I wasn't trying, but because I couldn't find myself using any sentences that with those grammar points because I found the alternatives/similar ones to make more sense. Surprisingly, it wasn't until I was reading 夜カフェ for our book club that I was actually able to start grasping the meaning (ngl, I still haven't used it myself--I'm notorious for using alternatives); I was finally witnessing it being used in a way that made sense in my brain.

The frustration you're feeling when you encounter a new grammar point or overload yourself with too many things in one go is completely normal and I promise that a ton of us in the Japanese langblr community have definitely experienced it too! It probably feels like everything you know is being ripped apart because your native language may have a SVO (subject-verb-object) format while Japanese has a SOV (subject-object-verb) format--your 1-to-1 translations for your notes may not be helpful in the beginning because you're still trying to wrap your brain around the fact that your words still need to go in another order than you're used to. And then you add the new grammar points and concepts on top of that (like particles and other things) and it can become overwhelming and frustrating. Sometimes, you're going to find some grammar points just downright annoying--especially when you find that there's no equivalency to it in your own language. But don't give up!

I know this is a super cliché thing to say, but practicing them will help. If you can, I would make note of the grammar points that you're struggling with, try to make sentences with them, and ask somebody to check them and explain exactly why (or why not) they're working and then ask them for examples because they may have an even better way of explaining it to you than what you've come up with for yourself!

I can look back at old notes and see when I wrote a sentence as an example just because a textbook/professor used it but I didn't actually understand why it worked at the time and then I can also find notes where the sentences written as examples were added once I finally found something that clicked for me.

You've already done yourself a favor by learning a lot of vocab, kana, and kanji because now you'll be able to try out an array of ways to pick up grammar instead of just a textbook. (I will make a note that if you're looking to take the JLPT, I would recommend having a list of grammar points that you would need to know for the level that you're planning on sitting for because there's no guarantee of what will or won't pop up on the test.)

Another important thing while you're practicing: be comfortable with making mistakes. We all make them, but when you're learning a new language it's important to be ready to make mistakes and to welcome them with open arms because it gives you a chance to experience and learn in real time.

ALSO: for you specifically--because you're interested in reading, you might enjoy learning grammar through tracking the different grammar points through what you're reading and using the sentences as your examples because they're all going to be cohesive. And if reading books or other things totally turn you off right now, maybe games? Animal Crossing and Pokemon are very nice games to play in Japanese for people that are just starting out! You may also enjoy using Lingo Legend--it's an JRPG language learning app that I beta tested and I think that it's a nice way to review (it has some fun incentives). I'm not a big gamer, so I struggle with learning through games, but I've been picking up a lot of grammar through reading because I focus on finding things that I'm interested in, rather than things that are "at my level." When I start a manga, I will scour a ton of websites and forums and bug a ton of people when I come across a grammar point that I can't wrap my brain around because I want to be able to understand what's going on.

We have book clubs and gamers in my discord server, as well as places for people to post what they're practicing or to ask for help. We have people of all varying levels and different skillsets that love to share their wisdom with others.

I haven't used Bunpro, but I know that @sammilearns has, so she may be able to weigh in on that! And @tokidokitokyo @nihongoseito @chouhatsumimi @kanpeki-bekki @burgeoning-ambition probably also have even more tips that me--I'm trying to tag people that I know we all learn in different ways, so their tips and tricks might be just what you need!

Please weigh in, fellow langblr members! How have you been learning grammar? Are you game-ifying it? Have you turned it into math equations? Have you managed to tie it in with your special interest? I can't wait to see what people add to this post!

[memethebum]

Yk one of the things I’ve always found interesting about Maka is how she shows her insecurities

Like I can see why it might be jarring when she’s supposed to be perceived as a badass in the anime but goes through a lot of highs and lows in the manga buttt…that’s kinda character development to me

One of the main issues that mostly gets brought up are her constant insecurities about being a good meister/partner for Soul

This part may seem like just a setup for the “damsel in distress troupe” which is shown through this panel

BUT BUT this chapter kinda shows how this idea is really just a twisted insecurity of hers, since Soul gets his ass handed to him everytime she does but he’s developed a sense of normalcy around self-worth issues my poor bbg so it doesn’t hit him as prominently

Another thing this kinda shows is how ppl like to see female characters as being…weak anytime they show femininity

I mean shit being insecure when you’re a teenager isn’t even a strictly feminine trait at all but once Maka loses her “yea I can tough my way through anything” persona ppl like to raise pitchforks

Which is also really interesting bc it seems like the same can’t be said when she loses this trait while worrying about Crona

Now my person opinion about this situation is that Maka’s relationship with Crona kinda just feels super stagnant and hinders her sense of understanding that she can be brave even while experiencing fear at times

I think this is mostly bc the relationship she has with them kinda serves as a form of escapism from her relationship with her own mom, mostly bc she might feel that if she teaches Crona to forget and stay positive after years of neglect she can continue to do the same for herself

Which is why the super obsessive tendencies she shows towards Crona just come off as straight up unhealthy

Also really ironic since Crona kinda talks about her unhealthy perception of her mom in the anime

Anyways yea just some word vomit on my brain as of recently lol

[slaaverin]

https://www.tumblr.com/slaaverin/766562481353162752/hey-did-you-see-this?source=share

sorry, I meant to expand but I was commuting to work. I just thought it was interesting bc I feel that BMP did say something similar about them during the relationship reading, about being distant, not physically obviously but on different wavelengths. I’m not great at interpretation of tarot but that was my gist. That in July Jimin had his defences up, was it him seeing their relationship as the devil? Him wanting to protect JK? Can’t fully remember though, but something he’s thought before. Maybe it had to do with the worries about Muse and the show launch? And them being so vulnerable there!? And them being where they are.

I know the oracle has also said about them being true lovers, a bond that overcomes the distance, so I feel the two are linked without them stating it, so whereas the qrts are being all delusional, to me it’s obvious they are talking about Jikook.

And it makes sense in my mind, that at the moment they are together to support each other, and to see the other every day, as opposed to not, but their relationship is not their focus, that’s how I interpret it.

And also in my mind it links to whatever these anons are saying, and also ppl in the qrts pointing out Who and what Jimin said about not knowing love, etc. because to me if anything in MS Jimin is going to take the shit seriously, and protect them. So he puts in place boundaries and measures to keep them safe, if that is what it takes.

They are waiting to get out, they must be, to be able to be themselves again, both as individuals and as a couple. They can’t be fully themselves in there no matter what given the consequences.

I probably am making no sense but yeah, I feel for them burnt stuck in there and I hate that they are and want them out now!

Interesting point anon.

I don't think the reading indicated that they were being distant per se but as you said projecting different viewpoints onto the relationship.

That's why I didn't really like this statement, I never felt jikook have ever been "distant" in their relationship even if there might have been physical distance involved.

Projecting the relationship to be the Devil says a lot about Jimin's state of mind and explains a lot of his general behaviour with Jungkook and with the public.

He's seeing this as something that can potentially harm Jungkook, chaining him and restraining him and hindering him to reach his potential. He's taking it all upon himself - thus he takes responsability to keep them safe and secure because he loves Jungkook and it's his priority.

I don't think any of this is based on a definite truth. JK surely doesn't see it this way at all. But Jimin has always been so caring to everyone around him, often putting others above himself and at times underestimating his own value that I understand where that may be coming from.

He put up walls with the public around his own feelings by fear of harm, putting strong boundaries as you said. And maybe he is right to do so, in a society such as theirs.

But even if jikook have differences in the way they view their relationship, the desire to be together and what they showed despite everything is based on the love they have for each other.

Jimin worries because he loves him. JK doesn't worry and wants to protect Jimin because he loves him. I see absolutely no disconnect in this, quite the contrary.

I think in military of course they have their own tasks and can't focus on each other much but they really made sure the other was still there as a constant presence of support and love because I think they need it.

If they will eventually fully embody the cosmic couple concept I believe some minute details need to be worked through to be perfectly balanced, but in my opinion they will definitely get there sooner than later.

They need to go through military and be done with it. Once their out I am sure they will both feel much liberated and more free and they will see how to go about things from there.

I think you made a lot of sense anon and thank you for sharing your thoughts!

I can't wait for them to get out too, and see how this will all play out. This is definitely a very interesting relationship to analyze and witness.

Take care 💜

[selamat-linting]

idk maybe its just my experience but when i was like nine, i have an uncle who'd watch the news and grumble how our country would extract and sell raw resources like petroleum to other countries and get ripped off by buying the exact same thing at a much much higher price after it's been processed. i think about it a lot, when i was in highschool, before i actually learn socialism, it formed a background of my politics, and i'd meet friends who'd attempt to be aware of the world in this imperfect and biased way and i'd stupidly disagreed on my friend who think its awful that we are not a self reliant country who are dependent on the us dollar.

again, this is probably just a me thing, but its crazy that my peers, my childhood friends, people who arent as educated, arent as socially progressive, would know that there is a great world scale plunder and robbery going on and they'd go through life passively aware of the unequal economic exchange between countries but unable to put the whole puzzle together and eventually learn to blame it on some idealist bullcrap. by god, if these ppl weren't forbidden and hindered from stumbling upon anti imperialism, they will be unstoppable.