#ill read it point out some quotes or whatever commit a crime and then never mention it again

[wintersettled]

Deciding to choose peace (now pretending beast doesnt exist and never happened)

[longitudinalwaveme]

Arkham Files: The Top

Hugo Strange: From the patient files of Dr. Hugo Strange, director of Arkham Asylum. Patient: Roscoe Dillon, also known as the Top. Patient suffers from Bipolar Disorder, type one, and is on the autism spectrum. Session One. Good day, Mr. Dillon. 

The Top: I am not autistic, Doctor Hugo Strange.

Hugo Strange: Mr. Dillon, the psychologist at Iron Heights has tested you for the condition multiple times, and the results are always consistent with your being on the autism spectrum. What’s more, the psychological tests we gave to you upon your arrival to Arkham Asylum also suggest that you are, indeed, autistic. 

The Top: I do not care what that quack at Iron Heights says, Doctor Hugo Strange. I am not intellectually subnormal. 

Hugo Strange: Mr. Dillon, being on the autism spectrum has nothing to do with your level of intelligence. It simply means that you have difficulty in understanding social cues. 

The Top: In my experience, it is the world that has trouble understanding me, not the other way around. I do not understand why everyone believes that I am odd because I enjoy educating them about tops. Tops are fascinating; certainly much more so than sports or beer or whatever else it is that so-called “normal” people enjoy. 

Hugo Strange: Tops? 

The Top: Yes, tops. You know, Doctor Hugo Strange, the basic principles involved in the spinning of a top are also those used in gyroscopes, guided missile systems, and the gyro stabilizers in ocean liners. Tops are amazing! 

Hugo Strange: Tops? 

The Top: Yes, Doctor Hugo Strange. Tops! 

Hugo Strange: Tops? As in, the children’s toy? 

The Top: Is there something wrong with your hearing, Doctor Hugo Strange? 

Hugo Strange: Do you mean to tell me that, in calling yourself the Top, you are not making a claim as to your superiority, but rather making a reference to a toy? 

The Top: Actually, Doctor Hugo Strange, I am doing both. I am both a living top and at the top of my profession. My costume has stripes on it so that I may better emulate a top when I spin. 

Hugo Strange: Your costume is intended to make you look like a giant top? 

The Top: It is, Doctor Hugo Strange. Why? 

Hugo Strange: Well, that certainly explains its...unusual appearance. 

The Top: (Offended) My costume is no more unusual than that of the Trickster or the Mirror Master, Doctor Hugo Strange. 

Hugo Strange: I didn’t say that it was, Mr. Dillon. 

The Top: Good. (Pause) Now, Doctor Hugo Strange, would you care to explain why I was transported to an institution a thousand miles away from my base of operations upon my most recent arrest? 

Hugo Strange: I wish I knew myself, Mr. Dillon. The workings of the judicial system as it regards the costumed population never cease to bewilder me. However, I must say that I am glad to have you here, Mr. Dillon. You are clearly mentally ill, and Iron Heights clearly has made no progress in treating your condition. 

The Top: I am not mentally ill, Doctor Hugo Strange! 

Hugo Strange: Mr. Dillon, mental illness is not a sign of a moral or intellectual deficit. It simply means that your brain has become diseased, just as any other part of your body might. 

The Top: Nevertheless, I maintain that I am not mentally ill, Doctor Hugo Strange. 

Doctor Strange: According to your record, when you first became the Top, you threatened to blow up half the world with a, quote, “atomic grenade”  if all the governments of the world did not acknowledge you as the ruler of the world within ten hours. You did this while under the belief that you would somehow be safe on the other side of the planet should the bomb go off. Mr. Dillon, can you spot the flaw in this plan? You are obviously an intelligent man. 

The Top: Of course I can, Doctor Hugo Strange. If half the planet was blown up, the entire planet would have been devastated. Even if I was on the other side of the planet from the epicenter of the explosion, I likely still would have been killed.

Hugo Strange: (Shocked) Wait...you actually built an atomic grenade with the power to blow up half the world? 

The Top: Of course. I am a genius, Doctor Hugo Strange. 

Hugo Strange: You built an atomic grenade that could spin around like a top and possessed the capacity to blow up half the world? 

The Top: You have a dreadful habit of repeating yourself, Doctor Hugo Strange. But yes, I did. 

Hugo Strange: Then all those other tops your record claims you invented actually worked as well? And you actually made a giant top-shaped satellite that you launched into orbit? 

The Top: I am supposed to have a mood disorder, not a psychotic disorder, Dr. Hugo Strange. 

Hugo Strange: Well, yes, but severe bouts of mania and depression are known to sometimes bring on psychotic symptoms. I had thought that your claims of having successfully invented such an improbable array of top-shaped weapons were the result of delusions brought on by one of your mood episodes. 

The Top: No. The quack at Iron Heights says that I was having a manic episode during my attempt to become ruler of the Earth, and that that is why I did not realize the flaws in my plan. They allege that I was having “mood-congruent delusions of grandeur and invulnerability”, but at no point did they accuse me of outright hallucinating. Surely that is in the report, Doctor Hugo Strange. 

Hugo Strange: (Annoyed, but not with the Top) While I do not fully agree with your assertions that the psychologist at Iron Heights is a quack, Mr. Dillon, I must admit that they are distinctly lacking in some key areas-such as specifying which of your behaviors and claims were the results of a mood episode and which were not. Knowing that you have had at least five manic episodes and at least three depressive episodes is worthwhile knowledge, but without adequate context, how do they expect me to know what behaviors are a sign that you are no longer in a healthy state of mind? 

The Top: Three depressive episodes, Doctor Hugo Strange? As far as I am aware, the quack has only had me hospitalized for depression twice. 

Hugo Strange: That is because the first listed depressive episode was an attempted suicide at the age of 17, which would have been before you ever went to prison. 

The Top: Oh. Yes, that did...that did happen, Doctor Hugo Strange. It was how I learned that taking a dozen different types of pills is not the most efficient way in which to kill oneself. 

Hugo Strange: (Alarmed, but making an effort to remain calm) You aren’t planning to make another attempt, are you? The Top: No, no. I have far too much to live for-and besides, my fianceé would never forgive me if I killed myself, Doctor Hugo Strange. 

Hugo Strange: Your fianceé?

The Top: Yes. Her name is Lisa Snart, although you, Doctor Hugo Strange, are likely more familiar with her nom de guerre: the Golden Glider. 

Hugo Strange: So, another one of the Rogues? 

The Top: Yes. I met her while posing as an ice skating coach, and we have been deeply in love ever since, Doctor Hugo Strange. 

Hugo Strange: I see. How long have the two of you been romantically linked? 

The Top: About seven years now, Doctor Hugo Strange. 

Hugo Strange: In other words, the relationship began shortly after your second attempted suicide? 

The Top: I admit I was in a rather dark place at that point in my life, Doctor Hugo Strange. My beloved was responsible for helping to pull me out of it. 

Hugo Strange: (Concerned) And what would happen if she died, or broke off your relationship? 

The Top: That will not happen, Doctor Hugo Strange. 

Hugo Strange: But if it did? 

The Top: (Agitated) I… I don’t know. She...she’s the only person who ever really loved me, Doctor Hugo Strange. The only one. 

Hugo Strange: I’m concerned that you seem to be placing your mental stability and overall self-esteem so heavily on one relationship, Mr. Dillon. That cannot be healthy, for either one of you. (Pause) I know you don’t believe yourself to be mentally ill, but for Lisa’s sake, if nothing else, I really do think that it is urgent that we continue these sessions. 

The Top: I would never do anything to hurt Lisa, Doctor Hugo Strange. Never! 

Hugo Strange: In an earlier manic episode, you threatened to blow up half the world. That would have included your beloved Lisa, would it not? 

The Top: I had not yet met Lisa when I came up with that scheme. If I had known her, I never would have endangered her in such a way, Doctor Hugo Strange.

Hugo Strange: Maybe so, but that incident serves to prove that your judgement is compromised when you are in the midst of a manic episode. While I believe that you would never intentionally hurt Lisa, should you have another manic episode, you might cause harm to her without realizing it. 

The Top: I...I suppose you may have a point, Doctor Hugo Strange. I will take your suggestion into consideration. I certainly do not wish to accidentally harm Lisa. 

Hugo Strange: I’m glad to hear that, Mr. Dillon. (Pause) You are a metahuman, correct? 

The Top: Do you think I am wearing this collar because it is fashionable, Doctor Hugo Strange? 

Hugo Strange: A metahuman power dampener. Well, I suppose that answers that question. What powers do you possess, Mr. Dillon? 

The Top: I have the ability to spin at superhuman speeds, I am telekinetic, and I have a limited degree of telepathy, Doctor Hugo Strange. I cannot read or outright control minds, but I can induce vertigo and push people into doing things that they otherwise might not be inclined to do. 

Hugo Strange: I see. So, Mr. Dillon, what prompted you to put on a costume, call yourself the Top, and use your intellect and your not inconsiderable array of powers to commit crimes? 

The Top: My father always told me that I needed to be a success; get on top of the world. I had to prove that I wasn’t the failure that everyone thought I was...and I did. No one laughs at Roscoe Dillon anymore, Doctor Hugo Strange.

Hugo Strange: Yes, yes...but why do it in a silly costume and with gimmicked tops? 

The Top: I thought we already went over this. It’s because I like tops. They are fascinating. (Pause) Do you want to hear about my collection, Doctor Hugo Strange? There’s so much you could learn from it. 

Hugo Strange: Perhaps some other time, Mr. Dillon. (Pause) And the Flash had nothing to do with your decision to put on the costume? 

The Top: The Flash? You insult me, Doctor Hugo Strange. Why would I ever be inspired to do anything by someone like him? 

Hugo Strange: Isn’t he your enemy? 

The Top: Only because he constantly stands in the way of my achieving greatness. If he left me alone, I would not fight him….but as it is, he’s made things rather personal. 

Hugo Strange: So the reason you have continued to commit crimes is in order to get revenge on the Flash? 

The Top: Really, Doctor Hugo Strange, you must get your hearing problems checked out. I do not commit crimes to get revenge on the Flash. I commit crimes to make myself wealthy and to get revenge on the world. It rejected me; branded me as a freak. I simply rejected it in turn. 

Hugo Strange: And has your life of crime made you happy, Mr. Dillon? 

The Top: Not yet...but I am afraid, Doctor Hugo Strange, that it does not matter whether being a criminal makes me happy or not. It’s the only life that will ever accept someone like me. I learned that lesson long ago. 

Hugo Strange: I stand by my initial assessment of you, Mr. Dillon. You need help. I just hope you will permit me to provide it. 

[gothamdad]

THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS PART ONE: CINEMATIC WRONGS AND ANALYSIS COMMENTARY

DO NOT REBLOG.

This is going to be a bullet point list of incidents that occur in the movie, and will either have my general commentary or an analysis of what makes the scene terrible (or in some rare cases, good). TRIGGERS FOR SUICIDE, MENTAL HEALTH, AND DYSMORPHIA 

-bruce trying to kill himself in the beginning of the movie. 

Hes reckless, and willing to risk his life, but not suicidal. But he just purposefully gets into a wreck at 2 minutes into the movie?? for no reason??? theres literally no reason for it other than it being angsty bc they COULDVE started the movie with the mutants doing crime, as the next scene cuts right into it and the following news reports 

-"This reporter hopes that wherever he is, hes enjoying a toast with good friends" said when its the anniversary of batman’s disappearance 

this is stupid I hate this movie. You're telling me Gotham forgives Batman for just disappearing on them? DID THAT NOT HAPPEN IN NML AND EVERYONE GOT PISSED??? Like everyone in this movie seems to have forgot he abandoned the city. Not to mention, and I'm gonna go off on a tangent here, bruce will be batman for as long as he lives. He calls himself batman in his mind even when hes retired. He believes that Bruce wayne is the mask. His whole identity is batman. Saying that hed quit because of jason is not only stupid because it implies Jason's death isnt just as important as his parents, but shows that any tragedy is enough to permanently knock him down. And as if the league, or the family, would have let him give up. Anyway the whole reason the retirement in batman beyond works is because it shows bruce was going to fight until he literally died on the spot, but instead he pointed a gun, didn't even use it, just pointed it, and he realized he wasnt fit to HONOR batman anymore. He broke the rule. And he doesnt deserve to wear the mantle. This is so good because 1) bruce still wants to be batman and 2) it doesnt imply that he gave up at all, and at this point with his decreasing wellness his family WOULD be telling him to stop

-Gordon toasts with Bruce on the anniversary

FBKSBSOANSISSB OH MY GOD IT JUST SHOWED HIM SHARING A TOAST WITH GORDON. this is the anniversary of the last time batman is sighted and gordon. JIM FUCKING GORDON. Is celebrating. When they were literally partners and hed shine the batsignal each night TELL ME WHERE THE LOGIC IS!!! I CANT FIND THE LOGIC!!!!! I'm literally 3 minutes into this movie..... and already this is how its going...

-Gordon and Bruce talk

"You're not worried about me, are you?" Asked when hes in clear danger of being attacked by mutants "noT MorE tHAn i aM tHe ReST oF tHis CItY" ah yes. I forgot that Bruce hated gotham and jim Gordon. My mistake. Common misconception.

-the mutants are introduced

Ugh and it's the worst kind of villains too, jim just described the mutants as "the worst kind of criminals. They are only after violence, with no humanity at all" GIVE! VILLAINS! REASONING! I hate these joker wannabes Joker was already enough we dont need a million more "lol I'm just evil deal with it" villains

"Talk to Dick lately?"asks Gordon "You know I havent" Bruce responds

THIS CONVERSATION IS GETTING W O R S E BC I KNOW HOW THIS MOVIE GOES AND HE JUST INSTANTLY HAS CARRIE BE THE NEW ROBIN- WHICH, IS N O T BRUCE'S TO GIVE. ITS ALWAYS BEEN DICK'S MANTLE TO PASS DOWN- WHEN HE HASNT BEEN SPEAKING TO DICK????

-tangent on how it’s overlooked that Dick Grayson was the one to make Robin, not Batman

This is a sin that not just the movie, but the batman franchise in general seems to always make. Robin was made as a tribute to the flying graysons, and is meant to be colorful and aerodynamic for acrobatic tricks. it should always be dick’s to pass down, or the next robin after. 

-Bruce begins having trouble with holding back his urge to be Batman

His whole wanting to be batman again thing started because of a newspaper with a family's death and pearls being sold. On the same front cover. I'm. THATS WHEN HE REMEMBERS HIS PARENTS? NOT EVERY FUCKING TIME HE HEARS A GUNSHOT? OR CLOSES HIS EYES? OR SEES BLOOD? HE READS A NEWSPAPER THATS FLOATING IN THE WIND??????NOT EVERY TIME HE LOOKS AT JASONS COSTUME? OR THE OTHER CRIMES COMMITTED??????LOGIC!!!!!!!!!! I NEED !!!! TO KNOW!!!!! WHERE IT IS!!!!!!!! ARE U KIDDING ME NOW THE MARK OF ZORRO, WHICH IS WHO THE FUCK KNOWS HOW OLD NOW, IS ON TV??????????? AND HE JUST HAPPENS TO FLIP TO THE CHANNEL.. Batman telling bruce "you've tried to hold me back. But you're weak. Ypu know it in your soul. You're nothing but a hollow shell." Is so STUPID!! WHY HAS HE BEEN FIGHTING BEING BATMAN!!!!!!!!!! BRUCE SHOULD WANT TO BE BATMAN!!!! AND HATE HAVING TO NOT BE!!!! AND A BAT FLYING INTO HIS WINDOW AGAIN???? STOP THE FUCKING CLICHES IM SICK OF THIS . UR NOT BEING NEXT LEVEL, MOVIE. ITS JUST DUMB. ITS DUMB!!!

-Carrie Kelly

her first ??? Appearance??? Is her going into KNOWN MUTANT GANG TERRITORY instead of going through the rain. And scolding her friend for not having backbone WHEN THEY COULD LITERALLY DIE and saying, and I quote, "its better than out there." then when interviewed about the incident her friend says  "It was a flying monster! With wings and fangs!" and she replies with "Reality check, Michelle, it was definitely a man, but he had to be like 12 feet tall" OH YEAH THATS VERY REALISTIC CARRIE. Shes an asshole to her friend and we're supposed to like her.  Oh and Carrie's reason for wanting to be robin? She saw the bat signal while her parents were talking about public marches. That's it. That's her reason. Not because she was attacked by mutants and almost died.

-Giving the movie credit

Okay but if theres another thing I'll give credit for, and I'm sure its unintentional, is that Harvey is the first criminal he wants to take down. Because Harvey is always going to be Bruce's priority. He didnt go after the mutants, but Two-Face. And the way that confrontation goes when it’s revealed harvey thinks both sides of his face are scarred. the Arkham staff fixed his scars before he was ready for treatment, and his mental health wasn’t priority. he was going to have dysmorphia either way, but not treating mental illness worsened it.  kinda? good writing? But I think it was unintentional to have the idea that Arkham didnt know what they were doing and the belief that scars are important before trauma, and how trauma has to be helped first. I dont believe for an instant that's what's meant. 

-Carrie Kelly part two

She gets a Robin costume and goes out onto the roof and is like.... almost dies. THEN THE NEXT SCENE WE SEE HER SHES LIKE COMPLETELY ACROBATIC? WHY IS SHE SO ACROBATIC NOW!!! THIS TAKES PRACTICE!!!

-Batman confronting the man who supplied the mutant gang with guns

Oh, this scene...He hands a guy a gun, knowing full well that he was depressed because his wife was dying and he had to make more money to save her by supplying the mutants with weapons, and just walks away as he kills himself. (input from a friend which i like:  think about everything bruce did to help mr freeze and his wife now think about this scene )

Batman vs Mutants 

oh, and the "batmobile". Aka his tank. Rubber bullets. Ok fine, whatever, but RUNNING THEM OVER AND SHOOTING MISSCLES ISNT LETHAL? AND HOW IS CARRIE KELLY GOOD AT FIGHTING ALL OF THEM WHEN SHE COULDNT HANDLE HERSELF WITH ONE LIKE A WEEK AGO.  hate that the mutant leader is just a ripoff of bane with long pointed nipples I hate this. I hate that batman cant take him down, but carrie kelly can. AND THE MUTANT LEADRER TOTALLY DIED WHEN BRUCE THREW ADHESIVE ON HIS FACE AND HE WAS SUFFOCATED BUT LATER ON IT SHOWS HE LIVES ??

Bruce talks to Carrie 

"What is this thing?" -carrie "Dick called it the batmobile" -bruce "SIR!!" -alfred over the radio There are no words. Then she pops his arm into place and creates a makeshift cast And he says "where'd you learn to do that?” and because she’s a mary sue she says nothing, because miller doesnt know why she should, so he cuts to "what's your name?" and she says "Carrie. Carrie Kelly. robin" and HE FUCKING GOES "MINES BRUCE." and then immediately tells Alfred hes bringing "robin" to the cave. I hate it here I hate that he forgets what happened to Jason aFTER ITS HIS LITERAL REASON FOR QUITTING. WHAT IS THE POINT IF HE’S GOING TO ACCEPT THIS GIRL HE DOESNT EVEN KNOW AS ROBIN?

-Bruce talks about Jason

OH BRUCE'S FUCKING LINE. HIS LINE. IM FURIOUS Alfred asks "have you forgotten what happened to Jason?" And he says "I'll never forget. he was a good soldier. He honored me" I AM !!!! SHAKING!!!! WITH HOW MAD !!!! I AM!!! Bruce would NOT say that shit. Implying that jason wasnt his son, or that jason was only a casualty in a war, or that HE FUCKING HONORED HIM AND NOT THE CITY, OR THE TITLE OF ROBIN "He honored me" shut the fuck up I hate this and dont even get me started on the misconceptions of Robin in the first place. i dont want to go into the debate on whether or not they’re soldiers, which I personally don’t believe. but its just stupid because Jason considered being Robin the best thing that’s ever happened to him, and he was THE BEST. it wasnt his fault he was killed, either. 

-The ending

So the mutant escapes his cell by going through a VENT. A . V E N T. AND ENDS UP IN THE SEWER. I hate that these mutants are just an army of evil people and have no motivation and the leader is just a brute I fucking hate Bruce calling him "son" And the mutants become the sons of batman who fight crime......??? because their leader is gone?? werent they supposed to be evil criminals with no humanity in them?

-Joker

Okay but Joker being absent the entire first part , only to show up in the end hearing news reports about batman, and then smiling as he stands up and just fucking creepily says "darling" holy shit that gave me goosebumps. another credit i have to give. 

[goingrampant]

Desert Bus is a Strawman

Desert Bus is a 1995 satirical bus simulator created by comedy-magic/libertarian-pundit duo Penn & Teller to make a statement about what they believed was the absurdity of Attorney General Janet Reno suggesting video games should prepare children for real life and not contain sensationalistic violence with no real world consequences. Desert Bus is a game so boringly reflective of reality that no one would ever want to play it. The goal is to drive through a featureless desert for 40 minutes, get a point, and back the trip back. Going off-road ends the game, and a slight tilt to the right keeps the player occupied, but nothing interesting ever happens on the trip. It is the antithesis of what makes an interesting video game and is just repugnant to play. Every facet is designed to bore you out of your skull.

The utter lack of entertainment value makes it appealing only in a sadomasochistic way. No one would ever play it except to challenge themselves with something hard to do from its sheer unpleasantness, and there is shadenfreude value in watching people torture themselves. This combination has led to Desert Bus for Hope, an annual event where people donate money for charity in exchange for making people torture themselves playing the game. At least with charity marathons, you can imagine the participants are getting some health benefits; this is just straight-up shadenfreude. Over the course of ten years, they have raised over three million eight-hundred thousand dollars. This raised such interest in a one-shot satirical game from the ‘90s that it has been adapted for smart phone and virtual reality, so that people can participate in this piece of sadomasochism with modern graphics and be bored like never before. This modern popularity presents the game out of context and uncritically perpetuates the understanding that it served a very important political point that video games should have no obligation to realism because realism would remove all entertainment value.

What Reno actually said appears to not have been recorded. All we have is Penn Jillette’s paraphrase. I sent an email to his associate Reddi Rich to ask if they had a quote. They do not. We can speculate that it was similar to a warning she issued in 1993 that broadcast television clean up their depiction of violence or else deal with regulations from the federal government. In response to that, Penn & Teller made a provocative Comedy Central skit where Penn smears fake blood on his face to make a point about the inherent difference between fictional and real violence. He would face the camera and say, “Only dangerous psychotics celebrate real blood. Your job, Janet, arrest dangerous psychotics and let people like us celebrate playful artists.”

This echoes comments Teller made in an op-ed from 1992: “A bad idea does no harm until someone acts upon it. That's the beauty of the First Amendment. It allows us to use our imagination freely but keeps us accountable for our deeds. So Americans can read Poe and watch Hitchcock. They can even make up stories featuring whatever sordid crimes tickle their fancies. But if they commit these crimes, we punish them. It's a great arrangement.”

I would agree with this sentiment. There is value in macabre art. Penn & Teller themselves are macabre artists who do things like pretend to accidentally drop rabbits in wood-chippers and die in escape stunts gone wrong. Unless they actually hurt people, the worst that should happen is a warning that they’re strictly PG-13. I find the notion very slim that violent art would make one a violent person as a strict 1:1 action such that would warrant government action against the artist as a form of literal violence, which was the kind of idea being tossed around by politicians like Reno at the time. The Comedy Central skit--while using framing around mental illness I wouldn’t prefer--was exactly the appropriate response. Desert Bus, however, was not.

The skit was a celebration of the macabre values directly threatened by the possibility of federal regulations on an art form, but Desert Bus is pretentious snark that attempts to prove by example that removing fantastic and macabre themes from an art form would never work. Desert Bus is not an honest attempt to make something good that turned out bad like, say, a car made by communism compared to a car made by capitalism, an example libertarian pundit John Stossel seems particularly fond of. Desert Bus is awful by design and so easy to tear down that it is a strawman argument. If Penn & Teller had held a $10,000 contest for game designers to make an entertaining game without fantastic scenarios or unrealistic consequences for violence and the best that came out of it was Desert Bus, then that would be strong evidence that the regulations would mean the death of the art form, but what they did was just the game design equivalent of repeating someone in a funny voice to mock them.

The idea of what a good video game can look like has changed since 1995. The accessibility of the mobile phone medium and Steam downloads has caused an explosion of innovative content, and semi-realistic simulators have become a popular genre. The simulator game Jalopy, currently in development, is an example of the basic Desert Bus concept undertaken by a designer who actually wants to make an entertaining game. It’s about maintaining a breaking down car... made by communism... while going on a road trip through the Eastern Bloc. It’s a similar deal: mundane driving through a featureless landscape while collecting supplies and doing maintenance. The difference here is that the designer opted for an interesting aesthetic, went to effort to make the atmospheric realism be visually engaging, and make the practice of performing the mundane actions confer the realistic experience of going on a road trip that is sometimes boring but can be engaging--the whole reason people go on road trips in the real world. Jalopy offers what all good video games offer: an interesting experience to those for whom the content is a form of escapism. Desert Bus is just bad on purpose.

I’ll take it a step further: Desert Bus is anti-libertarian, the antithesis of the macabre skit. In Penn Jillette’s book God No, he describes how he values the humility to admit one’s own fallibility. That is a strong contributor to his libertarian beliefs, where he thinks that no one has the ability to know what’s best for other people, that no one should tell people how to live their lives. In one interview or another, he uses himself as an example, saying that it could look like a young man would be throwing his life away to join a carnival and become a fire-eater, but it was his passion, and he knew himself better than anyone. I feel he subverts his libertarian philosophy with Desert Bus by asserting that no one would ever want to play a game that reflects mundane reality, that he knows other people’s interests 100% and wants to put a social rule in place to say it must be according to his own personal preference. Recognizing one’s own fallibility at knowing what’s best for other people is the libertarian value that caused them to condemn Janet Reno’s attempt to restrict fictional content, but they let their anger at her override that core value.

I don’t feel that games ought to be made without violence, but non-violent games can be made well. The 2009 game Flower is beautiful and engaging without the need for any violent conflict. There is value in promoting diversity in content. Not everyone engages with games the same way, and it’s problematic to try to put gamers into a little box based on personal preference of an outspoken division of the gaming demographic.

To be perfectly fair, Penn & Teller did not expect Desert Bus to blow up like this and can’t be held responsible for how gamers treat it, especially over twenty years later. However, it should not be treated as a shining example of how the push for nonviolent games is fundamentally wrong. Desert Bus is a strawman.

(This post is based on concepts discussed by Noah Caldwell-Gervais on his excellent YouTube channel. Go check out his videos.)

[intelligentautisticmedia-blog]

Autistic people are not murderers

First things first, let me just say, what happened in Las Vegas on October 1st was horrendous and genuinely my heart goes out to everyone affected by the shooting. I'm not going to comment on the shooting, nor the ever on-going argument over gun control. What I am going to comment on though, is articles such as this: https://respvblica.com/2017/10/05/did-stephen-paddock-have-aspergers-disorder-does-that-explain-what-he-did/ I'll show you the headline and main photo:

And this is how it appears on Facebook:

So what do we have here before we even get into the Article?  Well we have a giant Police mugshot of a mass murder with the word 'Asperger's' sat right next to it... How many negative connotations will now be derived from that...? So, to save you the trouble of reading it and also to prevent the website getting clickbait links, I'll summarise: A "Professional'" person diagnoses another person he has never met, with a condition he doesn't even know the proper name of. (He calls it Asperger's Disorder - which is not a thing) Keith Ablow, the Author and resident Forensic Psychiatrist has NEVER met Stephen Paddock.  All he knows of him and his life is taken from interviews and quotes, posted in news reports in print and on TV.  So any information he has on Paddock is, at best, second-hand.  So, on this basis and in his eminent wisdom (please note my sarcasm) he has deemed his skills as a Diagnostician great enough to diagnose Paddock with Asperger's Syndrome.  Except he calls it Asperger's Disorder...  Which isn't a thing by the way. Headlines and articles directly linking Autism and murder, as this one does, are dangerous and not to be trusted. If Dr Ablow were to read my response to his article I'm sure he would rebut by saying that in the very first paragraph of his article he states that most people with Autism do no harm:

"...please note the fact that the vast, vast majority of people who suffer with autism spectrum disorders do not harm anyone."

How lovely of him to write that...  Except, according to a Forbes Article from 2016, a study found that 59% of Social Media viewers share articles without ever having actually read them.  They don't even go so far as opening them. Now Dr Ablow knows this.  The editors and headline writers at Respvblica know this. Anyone with a little savvy on Social Media knows this.  So they have deliberately made a contentious headline, knowing that two thirds of their audience will share this article, based on that headline. Something else extremely problematic is that he follows that last sentence with this one:

"They are brave victims of mental illnessand perpetrators of nothing."

This makes me fear for all the Asperger's SYNDROME people he has 'treated'. It's not a mental illness.  It's a Neurological Developmental Disorder.  A mental illness is treatable and usually curable.  A Neurological Developmental Disorder is not.  But hey, what do I know? I'm not a Forensic Psychiatrist... Apparently Dr Ablow is though, and one with 25 years of experience, so the fact that he can easily confuse the two is extremely worrying...

Keith Ablow calls himself a medical 'professional'.  Yet has made two grave errors regarding Asperger's Syndrome, something he claims to be an expert on.  Maybe I'm putting words in his mouth but I have little doubt that Dr Ablow adheres to the belief that Autistics have no empathy, yet here he is showing zero empathy for Autistics and zero for anyone affected by Stephen Paddock's horrific act.  He shows no empathyhimself, because he's riding a trend and a newsworthy story, knowing every click on his headline earns money from advertising on Repvblic's website (He probably gets a percentage of that, he can correct me if I am wrong...).

Articles like this cause great HARM.  It's difficult enough already when the News Media narrative of Autism is so negative, but to actually (and not for the first time) have Autism associated with murder is just NOT acceptable.  The subtle subtext to the current Media narrative is the Autistics are dangerous and not to be trusted.  I do not find this message acceptable because it is not true. Don't just take my word for it.  Luciane Hatadini, Autistic, says:

"This is the kind of thing that only causes harm, nothing else. I remember when a pilot caused a crash a few years ago killing all the passengers and all the media was talking about him suffering from depression, as if depression makes someone want to kill a lot of people with them. It's wrong."

Chuck McIntyre, an Autistic Advocate, had this to say:

"People should know that Autism alone does not give people homicidal tendencies and does not mean you do not know right from wrong. Asperger's does not make you a Sociopath or psychopath."

He went on to say:

"There been some bad people with Autism of course but now this article is just going to become vocal point for anti-Autism"

A., a fellow Autistic Advocate agreed:

"It (Asperger's) would not explain why someone would commit a crime, it isn't that simple or ridiculous. Many autistic people suffer from repeat discrimination, rejection, persecution, bullying and do not commit crimes as a result.  This is simply another news story demonising, dehumanising, or discrediting people on the spectrum and disseminating false information."

A. also had a message for Dr Ablow:

"Putting 'MD' at the end of the entire article after one's name, does not give it some kind of stamp of authenticity, or make it untouchably, unchallengeably factually correct."

I want it made clear that statistically there is no link between Autism/Asperger's and murder. Autistic people are not homocidal and are not more likely to be homocidal, despite the headlines claiming otherwise.

The bigger concern for me is that every single day Allistic (non-Autistic) people commit murders and atrocities.  Why don't they get fear-mongering headlines about the likelihood of them being not Autistic?! Maybe because it's not as newsworthy and it certainly doesn't fit the narrative. Autistic people find it difficult enough to live in a Neurotypical world, without the tar of being unsafe to be around. Everywhere I look, I see someone who has committed a crime being described as 'being a loner' and therefore Autistic, and before you know it there are articles by 'professionals' such as Dr Ablow  garnering hundreds of likes. It's 'diagnosis' by association and those who have the diagnosis, or suspect themselves, are given one more barrier to manoeuvre around. Keith Ablow has the initials MD after his name. He swore the Hippocratic Oath:

"I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous."

He has sworn to do no harm.  Yet he does. And gets paid well for it.

*This post is property of Kieran Rose (The Autistic Advocate and originally appeared on http://www.theautisticadvocate.com/2017/10/autistic-people-are-not-murderers.html?m=1

[beer-and-breakdowns]

OMG 1-100 TOO

Sunrise or sunset? Sunset, all the wayAre you mentally ill? NopeAre you physically ill? Probably notWhat is the most expensive thing you have bought? Probably my computer actuallyDo you have a job? A temp. one yeah!!! (Got it the other day))Are you in school? Just finishedAre you a dropout? NopeAre you in college? NopeIntrovert or extrovert? Bit of bith reallyWhat do you think when you look at your body? Eh, alright, I'll roll with itWhat have others said when they look at your body? NothingDo you have a particular song that you feel deeply? TOO. MANY.Talk about a time in your life where you have felt most alive? Idk, probably while exploring some of the abandoned places I've urbexed at, thats stuff is fun and a rushAre you confident wearing a bikini? Yes;)Can you look people in the eyes while talking? I can but not for very long at a timeHas anything terrible happened to you? Not really, in respect to the rest if the world, which I wish more people I knew could realiseHas anything wonderful happened to you? Yes!!Favorite part of your personality? C r e a t i v i t yLeast favorite part of your personality? An occassional lack of determination, but only if I'm dissinterested in the thing (which to be honest is most things)Favorite part of your body? My... hair... I guessLeast favorite part of your body? My entire middle sectionFavorite quote? I havent had to think about this in a while and now I can't think of one:(Do you have friendships with all genders? YupDo you have a good relationship with your father? YeahDo you have a good relationship with your mother? YusDo you have a good relationship with your siblings? I dont have any:oHave you ever been hurt physically or mentally by a family member? Probably not to much of an extent, never physicallyHave you ever had a near death experience? Dont think soDo you know anyone who has taken their own life? No, fortunatelyHave you ever tried to take your own life? Definitely notBiggest lie you have told? "Nah, I'm fine"Do you follow any conspiracies? Nothing major I dont thinkDo you believe in a New World Order? NopeDo you respect your government and the way your country is run? Not in the current state, but things could be worseIs there currently any strife in your country? Not reallyHave you ever been displaced within your country? NoAre your friendships healthy? Most of emAre you currently fighting with a friend? NopeAre you jealous of a friend? Why? Not a friendDo you believe in the Illuminati? NoDo you think any celebrities are associated with the Illuminati? Who? N o n eHow can people tell you are nervous? I stress easily and its quite obviousHow can people tell you are sad? I'm quiet and I "act" like I'm not sad (I'm not a good actor)Do you ever express your true feelings? YesRegrets in your life? NoneAchievements in your life? Writing an EPWhat did people say about you in school? I'm funnyWhat did you say about people in school? Nothing reallyIs there something you have never told anyone? I'm not sure, maybeHave you committed an illegal act? To be honest, maybe some kind of minor tresspassory laws, but nothing major and I'm not even sure if thats trueIf you had two days to spend one million dollars how would you spend it? I'd splurge on myself and buy whatever I could think of, and spoil the heck out of the people I love, because one mill would be HARD to spend in 48 hoursWhat were your aspirations at age 5, 10, 15, 18? 5, nothing / 10, video game designer / 15, musician / 18, musicianDescribe your first kiss? Was it how you imagined? It was actually quite early on and I hadnt really thought about it up until the point where it happenedGrowing up were you in a wealthy, average, or low income household? Pretty avergaeAre you from a broken marriage? NopeHave you been raised by a solo parent? NopeDo you know both your parents? YeahWhat colour eyes, hair and skin do you have? Brown, VERY dark brown, and whiteHave you abused drugs or alcohol? NahWhat languages can you speak? EnglishDo you conform to your societies standards? Pretty muchDo you cry often? Very rarelyDo you tell people what you think of them? Not often tbhAre you comfortable accepting compliments? YeahAre you comfortable giving compliments? YeahIs any mental illness hindering your life? NopeIs any physical illness hindering your life? NopsDo you keep up with current events? Nah tbhWhat’s the latest news in the world you have heard/read? George A. Romero passing away 3What have you done today? Worked, played some video games, watched some YouTube, and not a lot elseDo you sleep well? Like a logDo you sleep badly? Heck noHave you ever hurt anyone because you were hurting? YeahHas anyone ever hurt you because they were hurting? NahHave you ever had to end a friendship/relationship? Why? Yeah, just wasnt working at allHave you ever stopped someone from hurting themselves? YeahHas anyone ever stopped you from hurting yourself? NahDo you like your laugh? Its alrightAre you preparing for an apocalypse? And what kind? Nope, maybe I should:oDo you have any funny family stories? Too many, my family is insaneAre you religious? Nope, but I believe in spiritsDo you like to watch true crime shows or movies? Y E S OMGAre you interested in cults? Y E S OOMMGGWould you like to raise a family in your country? YeahList some things you wanted in your childhood but never got? Idk, I was alright tbhIs there a large age gap between you and a sibling? Dont have oneAre you from a blended family? NopeDo you believe in marriage? Why/Why not? Of course!! Its nice yanoWhat is the nicest thing anyone has said to you? That they love meDo you keep a journal? NopeWould anyone be hurt by reading it? I dont have oneDo you have children? NopeHave you been pregnant? NopeList your favorite movies? Pulp Fiction, Patriots Day, Tropic Thunder, The Godfather 1 and 2, Goodfellas, Casino ((I like ganster movies))List your favorite people? Tiffany, Leo, Zac, Ethan, Imogen, EmilyTalk about the birthmarks and scars on your body? I have a birthmark somewhere on my body but I will not reveal where >:)Do you look after yourself? I guessDo you put yourself or others first? DependsAre you happy today? YeahAre you loved? I hope soThanking you!!!