#it is the skill issue of the other person

[lua-magic]

Atamakaraka and the gifts.

Ketu teaches you to be alone and isolated and makes you realise your own inner powers

Rahu constantly gives you desires and traps you inside it, and you keep running behind it to fulfill it.

Mercury makes you a serial procrastinator but makes your mind sharp enough to grasp new skills easily.

Venus Makes you self obsessed and gives you the gift of beauty and luxury, but gives you constant search of more comfort and material gains.

Mars Gives you fighting spirit, high energy but suffers from anger issues and anxiety.

Jupiter: Gives you interest in spirituality, religion and makes you a moral person, also makes a person lazy and gain weight.

Saturn: Gives people a lot of transformations in their life, responsibilities, and opportunities to serve others. Native never stops and keeps evolving

Sun: Gives name fame but also a lot of ego.

Moon: Gives peace and calmness to a person but also makes native fickle minded.

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[gayestsimp]

DadZawa! (Batdad Aizawa reader)

How it all started.

This will be kinda another series, but ask and request relating to this is completely fine! And some can be apart of the story! No word count, laziness lol

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In this world, eighty percentage of the population had a superpower known as a quirk. Each of these people typically had unique powers, some having the ability to shoot lasers from any part of their bodies, transform into large lizards or a permanent transformation into a being made of rocks. One of those people were (Name). He had a quirk call ‘Erasure’ and as long as he kept his eyes open and on someone, they wouldn’t be able to use their own quirks- well except for mutant type quirks.

When (Name) was four, he met a six year old boy named Bruce Wayne. Both quickly becoming friends and close. Bruce was a kind and friendly person, and he didn’t seem to care about what quirk anyone had, he didn’t even have one. But instead of crying or hating that, he was fine with it- loved it even, always blabbering on how he could be like his mom and dad- neither having quirks- and still do amazing things, such as charities, and work through their company. It made (Name) happy that his best friend wants to do his best to help others even without a quirk.

Though suddenly, two years go by, and Bruce was now eight, and one night, his entire life changes, his parents being shot in front of him in an alleyway- once (Name) was made aware of what happened? Well the young boy bawled his own eyes out. He had met Thomas and Martha Wayne quite a bit in those two years- having his own birthdays with his friends, including Bruce, so the billionaire’s parents alway arrived- and he spent a couple sleepovers in Bruce’s manor- so he grew to see them a second set of parents. His own mother and father took the boy to the Manor, growing concerned for the young male as well, hoping the two best friends can stick together and help one another. They would be greeted by Alfred, all three going inside as (Name) made his way to Bruce’s room, leaving the adults to talk amongst themselves. Then he would finally see Bruce after slowly opening the boy’s door, seeing him weeping, slowly (Name) approached Bruce, looking at the older boy and sitting next to him on his bed, slowly hugging the older boy- causing Bruce to jolt for a second, eyes widening as quickly hugged back- allowing them both to cry at the passing of the Wayne’s Patriarch and Matriarch. (Name) would spend the night with Bruce, both eventually becoming exhausted and falling asleep on the bed.

Over the next couple years, just before Bruce turned fourteen, (Name) would spend a lot more time around the manor, helping his friend out with his grief as best he could, both even training a little- as (Name) planned to enter one of the greatest hero schools. Yuuei, or as as it sounds- U.A. Which was once only in Japan, before the school was transferred to the USA after more quirks started appearing the States than over Japan. The boy only had to wait three years, but he would soon be entering the entrance exam as soon as he could… though he knows the possibility that his quirk and skills may not let him pass the exam- he may have some issues, so he also planned to apply for the General Ed as backup course- he could always use the sports festival to show his talent off and enter the Hero course- if he passes it that is.

And soon enough, Bruce was fourteen and (Name) was twelve- with Bruce planning on leaving and explore the world, to gain as much skill and knowledge as he could, in order to “Protect this city and help it.” As he put it- or how (Name) remembers Bruce saying it- the boy had been practicing with his quirk a lot lately, causing bags to appear under his eyes and a little slower in processing everything with a change to his sleep schedule. But over the next ten years, both boys started to yearn for one another… at first they were confused- they both thought they just missed one another, but than a year passed- and that feeling didn’t disappear, with both eventually concluding that they were in love with one another- or at least crushing on each other. (Name) would often visit and sleep at the manor, helping Alfred and keeping the butler company- as they both awaited for Bruce’s return, and Alfred has even been teaching (Name) all sorts of skill from the butler’s older times in service, such as his combat medic training, hand to hand combat and quite a few other important skills, even cooking. On the third year that Bruce was gone, (Name) became fifteen and took the exam, both of the hero course entrance exam and than the general education exam. Than he had to wait for his letter of acceptance into either course or a complete rejection. It caused the teen some stress to wait, his parents having to comfort him. Than his letter arrived- and after opening it? He was actually happy. He was accepted for the hero course, just scraping up enough points to be accepted, immediately rushing to his parents to show them, and than calling up Alfred and telling him the news as well.

Than he had his first days in the hero course at U.A and it was fine- (Name) was truly more introverted than most, often preferring the quiet- it didn’t help that he was now constantly tired due to his quirk. But he did make a group of friend. Hizashi Yamada, Nemuri Kayama and Oboro Shirakumo. They were all loud and acted dumb at times- well Hizashi and Oboro mostly- but (Name) loved them all. They were friends and his new extended family in a way… though he won’t admit that.

And after his third year, (Name) finally graduated and was now a full blown hero, becoming the pro hero, Eraser Head- becoming an underground hero, to better use his quirk by keeping it more secretive and deploying the various stealth skills and combat skills that Alfred had taught him. And than, a few more years would pass until (Name) was twenty two, and finally Bruce would return when he was twenty four. Both friends reuniting finally, tears were shed, and spilt all over as the two finally reconnected after ten years. Though those tears weren’t many from either male.

Now they both say in the living room, talking as (Name) was drinking coffee, effectively his lifeline now, but there was an odd tension in the air- the cause of it was their unspoken feelings for one another. Soon enough it would be brought up. Both quickly realising the other felt the same, and so- they started dating. And they would continue to say like that for a while, though two years after they started to date, a vigilante would start appearing on the streets of Gotham, in a bat themed costume, with many people starting to call him ‘Batman’ and (Name) would quickly find out who he was- his boyfriend, Bruce , having eventually telling him- revealing his plans to help Gotham as best he could. They both knew that it would be difficult for a quirkless individual to become a hero, and Bruce didn’t want to go through all of that to just be a hero, and he can’t face any issues for using a quirk… but it was still illegal. But (Name) knowing Bruce and the hood he wants to do, and their relationship… he would have to turn a blind eye… the assistance in the dark would also be helpful. So they both just continued on, with (Name) often helping cover up Bruce’s presence in the area and allow the Bat to escape. Than another year passed, (Name) was now twenty five and Bruce was twenty seven. With the older man taking his boyfriend out on a date to a nice restaurant- something that the underground hero wasn’t entirely fond of, preferring a minimalist lifestyle himself, but still went to since Bruce wanted to treat him tonight, and for a good reason, as around half an hour in, Bruce would end up getting into one knee and asking for (Name) to marry him. (Name) said yes. (Name) had also started to take up a teaching role in U.A, alongside his friends to teach the next generation of Heroes, wanting to ensure they had what it would take, if they could handle life or death situations like himself and Bruce. Than (Name) was twenty seven, and his now husband had returned home with a twelve year old boy- his name was Dick Grayson, leaving (Name) to softly sigh and drink his coffee. “My at home problem child, huh?” Was all he asked before introducing himself to the boy. His son. His problem child.

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[makeila04]

Midlife crisis?

Why would Adler feel like he wasn’t enough?

Personal rejection and abandonment: We know he was married and that his marriage ended badly. There are hints that, if you’ve seen my other theories, he lost children, which suggests he may have faced a devastating loss or a conflicted relationship with his family. His attitude toward women in Black Ops 6 and his constant coldness toward female figures like Helen Park and Sevati Dumas could indicate a deeper issue with attachment and intimacy. It’s not about them; it’s about Adler.

Relationship with the CIA: Disposable and irrelevant. The CIA tried to retire him at 49, which must have been a brutal blow for someone whose sense of identity is so tied to his work. His line, "The CIA is like my ex-wife," suggests strong resentment, as if the organization used and discarded him. This fits the idea that he fears becoming irrelevant.

Fear of obsolescence: In Black Ops 6, he’s 54 and still in the field. He could have accepted retirement, but he didn’t. Why? Maybe because without his work, he feels like he’s nobody. His fascination with upgraded weapons in Zombies mode ("The sweet, sweet aroma of capitalism…") can be read as a metaphor: improving his gear is a way to stay competitive, to avoid feeling old or useless.

Adler Complex / Napoleon Complex: This is where the subtext comes in. His language is loaded with references to power, dominance, and compensation:

"You put in money, spit out firepower, and that’s the American way." → The association between money, power, and masculinity reinforces the idea that he needs external symbols to affirm his status.

"I think it even strengthened my hair." → A subtle reference to virility; hair is a classic symbol of youth and masculinity. If Adler feels like he’s aging or that his physical attractiveness and ability aren’t what they used to be, he’s likely compensating with an exaggerated attitude. His seductive and boastful tone could be his way of reaffirming himself: "I’m still dominant. I’m still desirable."

The desire for absolute control: Lines like "Did I give you permission to look at me?" and "Consider it a mercy kill" show that he needs to be in control of every interaction. In Zombies mode, the world is literally collapsing, but he maintains his image of superiority. This suggests that control is his defense mechanism against chaos. His insecurities aren’t about his work. Professionally, Adler is impeccable. There’s no doubt about his competence as an agent or his leadership skills. But personally… that’s where things change.

Yes, we could say he’s having a midlife crisis, though in his case, it’s more intense than the typical midlife crisis because his identity is too tied to his youth and virility. His luxurious lifestyle (expensive clothes, premium cigarettes, and whiskey) doesn’t just reflect refined taste but also a conscious effort to project power, status, and masculinity.

Fear of impotence (in every sense): It’s not just about sex. Impotence can also mean loss of control, loss of dominance, loss of relevance. Men going through age-related crises often seek to reaffirm themselves with symbols of power: expensive cars, premium alcohol, the company of younger women, or extreme adventures. In Adler’s case, these symbols are in his personality: the expensive clothes, his boastful tone, the way he enjoys upgrading his weapons, his seductive and dominant demeanor.

Some lines that reinforce this:

"I think it even strengthened my hair." → Strong hair = youth, virility. If he’s mentioning it, it’s because the idea of losing it worries him.

"The sweet, sweet aroma of capitalism…" → He says it with almost orgasmic pleasure, as if money and power give him a satisfaction that other things no longer can.

"You put in money, spit out firepower, and that’s the American way." → Again, money and power = masculinity.

So… is Adler compensating? Yes, and on multiple levels.

Emotional compensation: He may have once tried to build a personal life and failed. His divorce and the possible loss of his children reinforce this. He doesn’t try again because his defense mechanism is coldness and detachment.

Virility compensation: He’s no longer the young soldier from Vietnam, but he wants to keep seeing and feeling like one. The references to power, dominance, and strength may be his way of reaffirming himself in an aging body.

Existential compensation: If the CIA retires him, he stops being relevant. If he stops fighting, he stops existing. His ego can’t handle being irrelevant, so he keeps fighting even though his time has passed.

Conclusion Adler isn’t a man who doubts his ability on the battlefield, but he is a man who might doubt his ability in his personal life. His crisis isn’t professional; it’s emotional. His language, habits, and attitude are a shield to avoid facing that fear of irrelevance, impotence (in every sense), and loneliness.

You know, you can tell me what you think. How do you see it?

As a bonus: And yes, I’m going to repeat myself and quote myself (in case you didn’t read my other post, no worries), sorry, but I feel like this is an aspect that reinforces my hypothesis, and it’s:

It really broke me how in Black Ops 6, Adler drops a line that says, "Drinking on the job is like going back to Berlin…" while drinking a lethal daiquiri. And, I don’t know why Adler says it with so much pride or bravado (I wouldn’t be proud to say that). The line is a reference to Cold War… so… was Adler really drinking while working, and we just didn’t see it during Cold War? Wow… I guess his alcohol problem started in the 80s and not in 1991, as we see in Black Ops 6, and… that destroys me. How did we never see it? We only realize it in Black Ops 6 when we see his room for the first time while rescuing him from prison—his room is full of beer cans and whiskey bottles, but after the next mission, none of that is there… it’s… weird… and… painful… as if I could do something… ha… but… why does he do it? We always see him so strong, and then suddenly… we discover he has alcohol problems… ouch… and in 1981, Adler was 44, and in 1991, he’s 54…

¿Crisis de la mediana edad?

¿Por qué Adler sentiría que no fue suficiente?

Rechazo y abandono personal

Sabemos que estuvo casado y que su matrimonio terminó mal. Hay indicios de que, si vieron mis otras teorías, perdió hijos, lo que sugiere que pudo haber enfrentado una pérdida devastadora o una relación conflictiva con su familia.

Su actitud con las mujeres en Black Ops 6 y su constante frialdad con figuras femeninas como Helen Park y Sevati Dumas podrían indicar un problema más profundo con el apego y la intimidad, no tiene nada que ver con ellas, sino más bien con Adler.

Relación con la CIA: Descartable e irrelevante

La CIA intentó jubilarlo desde los 49 años, lo cual debió ser un golpe brutal para alguien cuyo sentido de identidad está tan ligado a su trabajo.

Su frase "La CIA es como mi ex esposa" sugiere un resentimiento fuerte, como si la organización lo hubiera usado y desechado. Esto encaja con la idea de que teme volverse irrelevante.

El miedo a la obsolescencia

En Black Ops 6, tiene 54 años y sigue en campo. Podría haber aceptado la jubilación, pero no lo hizo. ¿Por qué? Quizás porque sin su trabajo, siente que no es nadie.

Su fascinación con las armas mejoradas en el modo Zombies ("El dulce, dulce aroma del capitalismo...") puede leerse como una metáfora: mejorar su equipo es una forma de mantenerse competitivo, de evitar sentirse viejo o inútil.

Complejo de Adler / Complejo de Napoleón

Aquí es donde entran los subtextos. Su lenguaje está cargado de referencias a poder, dominio y compensación:

"Metes dinero, escupes potencia de fuego y ese es el estilo estadounidense." → La asociación entre dinero, poder y masculinidad refuerza la idea de que necesita símbolos externos para afirmar su estatus.

"Creo que hasta me fortaleció el cabello." → Una referencia sutil a la virilidad; el cabello es un símbolo clásico de juventud y masculinidad.

Si Adler siente que está envejeciendo o que su atractivo y capacidad física ya no son lo que eran, es probable que compense con una actitud más exagerada. Su tono seductor y sobrador podría ser su manera de reafirmarse: "Sigo siendo dominante. Sigo siendo deseable."

El deseo de control absoluto

Frases como "¿Acaso te di permiso para mirarme?" y "Tómalo como una muerte piadosa" muestran que necesita estar en control de cada interacción.

En el modo Zombies, el mundo está literalmente colapsando, pero él mantiene su imagen de superioridad. Esto sugiere que el control es su mecanismo de defensa contra el caos.

Sus inseguridades no tienen que ver con su trabajo. Profesionalmente, Adler es impecable. No hay dudas sobre su competencia como agente ni sobre su capacidad de liderazgo. Pero en lo personal… ahí es donde la cosa cambia.Sí, podríamos decir que está en una crisis de los 50s, aunque en su caso, es más intensa que la típica crisis de la mediana edad porque su identidad está demasiado ligada a su juventud y virilidad. Su estilo de vida lujoso (ropa cara, cigarrillos y whisky premium) no solo refleja un gusto refinado, sino también un esfuerzo consciente por proyectar poder, estatus y masculinidad.

Miedo a la impotencia (en todos los sentidos)

No es solo lo sexual. La impotencia también puede ser pérdida de control, pérdida de dominio, pérdida de relevancia.

Los hombres con crisis de edad suelen buscar reafirmarse con símbolos de poder: autos caros, alcohol premium, compañía de mujeres jóvenes o aventuras extremas.

En el caso de Adler, estos símbolos están en su personalidad: la ropa cara, su tono sobrador, la forma en que disfruta mejorar sus armas, su tono seductor y dominante.

Algunas frases que refuerzan esto:

"Creo que hasta me fortaleció el cabello." → Cabello fuerte = juventud, virilidad. Si lo está mencionando, es porque la idea de perderlo le preocupa.

"El dulce, dulce aroma del capitalismo..." → Lo dice con un placer casi orgásmico, como si el dinero y el poder le dieran una satisfacción que otras cosas ya no pueden.

"Metes dinero, escupes potencia de fuego y ese es el estilo estadounidense." → Otra vez, dinero y poder = masculinidad.

Entonces… ¿Adler está compensando?

Sí, y en múltiples niveles.

Compensación emocional:

Puede que alguna vez haya intentado construir una vida personal y fracasó. Su divorcio y la posible pérdida de hijos refuerzan esto.

No busca volver a intentarlo porque su mecanismo de defensa es la frialdad y el desapego.

Compensación viril:

Ya no es el joven soldado de Vietnam, pero quiere seguir viéndose y sintiéndose como uno.

Las referencias a poder, dominio y fuerza pueden ser su forma de reafirmarse en un cuerpo que envejece.

Compensación existencial:

Si la CIA lo jubila, deja de ser relevante.

Si deja de pelear, deja de existir.

Su ego no soporta ser irrelevante, así que sigue peleando aunque su tiempo ya haya pasado.

Conclusión

Adler no es un hombre que duda de su capacidad en el campo de batalla, pero sí es un hombre que podría dudar de su capacidad en lo personal. Su crisis no es profesional, es emocional. Su lenguaje, sus hábitos y su actitud son un escudo para no enfrentar ese miedo a la irrelevancia, a la impotencia (en todos los sentidos) y a la soledad.Ya saben, ustedes pueden decirme lo que quieran y qué opinan, ¿cómo lo ven?

Como bonus: Y si, me voy a repetir, y autocitarme (por si no leyeron mi otra publicación, no pasa nada), perdón, pero siento que es un aspecto que refuerza mi hipótesis y es:

Me destrozó mucho como en black ops 6 Adler suelta una frase que dice "Beber en el trabajo, es como volver a Berlín..." al beber daiquiri letal. Y, no sé por qué Adler lo dice con mucho orgullo o fanfarronería (yo no estaría orgulloso de decir eso). La frase es una referencia a cold war... entonces... ¿Adler bebía en serio mientras trabajaba y no lo vimos durante cold war? Wow...supongo que su problema con el alcohol venía desde los 80s y no desde 1991 como sí vemos en black ops 6, y...eso me destroza ¿cómo nunca lo vimos? Solo nos damos cuenta en black ops 6 cuando vemos en su habitación por única vez al rescatarlo de una prisión que su habitación queda llena de botellas de latas de cerveza y whisky pero al terminar la siguiente misión nada de eso está...es...raro...y...doloroso... como si yo pudiera hacer algo...ja....pero...¿por qué lo hace? Lo vemos siempre tan fuerte y de pronto... descubrimos que tiene problemas con el alcohol... auch... y en 1981 Adler tenía 44 años y en 1991 tiene 54 años...

[ihaznoclue]

Are your requests still open? 👀👀👀

Can I ask for TFP headcanons for Bumblebee, optimus and Arcee?? With a reader based on Jinx from arcane? (Jinx reader as a Decepticon that eventually joined team prime(??)

I just had this idea in my head and I can't stop thinking about it

Jinx is a really complex character and has so much potential, I love her

Pairings -> Bumblee, Optimus Prime, Arcee x Reader

Warnings -> Mental health Issues

Note -> Reader is based on Jinx from Arcane and switched from Decepticon to the prime team

Genre -> Fluff

Bumblebee

You relationship with Bumblebee is a bit complex

Meaning that you have no idea what he is saying as all you heard is beep and boops

You remembered when you were on the side of the Decepticons, Megatron talked about the scout of the autobot team and how he ripped his audio box out

Meaning that he has no voice

I mean you were feeling bad for the poor guy but you just didn't really care that much as you had your own problems to deal with

But being in the autobots team for a while now you started to realise that they never yelled at you for something, they never told you off or did anything to you

Bee respected your privacy and personal space as you told that you didn't like to be touched

Bee wanted to get closer to you, so he tried some stuff that he thought you would like

Maybe some parts that he found from a mission for you to do your inventions

He heard from Miko that you like to create and fix stuff

You appreciated it, thanking him and then went your own way

You felt like you found a family

A family that you hoped you wouldn't mess up on

Optimus Prime

Ever since you came to the autobots teams

Optimus always welcomed you in open arms even though you didn't some horrible stuff in the past when you were with the Decepticons

Optimus knows that you didn't mean to do any of that since Megatron is very manipulative towards his colleagues

Spite you being a 'criminal' he knows that you were kind of messed up int he head

He knows your past, he knows how your past was when you were younger and he is willing to help

But for now he is going to respect you and your boundaries

Optimus will often tell his friends they should keep a safe distance from you as he was told you didn't like to be touch because of 'reasons'

You felt like Optimsu was becoming a father figure to you

He was gentle and never disrespected you

He sort of pulled out your other personality which was rare of people to see

Whenever you are doing something, like fixing or making your inventions

He will always tell the others that you are busy and need some space on your own for a bit

Optimus doesn't want you to feel like your on your own

He wants you to feel like you are wanted

Arcee

Okay you know when Smokescreen was like coming to earth in a decepticon pod and Arcee had to take a while to warm up to him

Yeah I feel like she would be like towards you after being on the Decepticon warship and all

Thinking that you were a spy or something that would get information from the autobot team and then spread it out to the cons to defeat the autobots

But instantly she notices nothing from you

You were a distant sometimes loud and chaotic person

But she decided to keep an eye on you for a while until she knows your not working for the cons

When she does warm up to you, she would try to keep a conversation but if she knows that you are not int he mood to talk she would leave you be

Sometimes she would catch you fixing your gun or your machine gun

She would be tense about that but would ask you if you are use to guns

You were very talented when you were little always getting the target so you decided to show her some of your skills of your own

You and Arcee would be quite close in my opinion

-A<3

[unforth]

Revelation: my whole life, when I've responded to sarcasm seriously, people have been like "uh...why you so serious... I was being sarcastic..." and it makes me insane because like... duh? Why am I not allowed to respond to sarcasm seriously? Why does it have to be treated as hOw DiD yOu MiSs ThAt I wAs KiDdInG? Basically: why is it framed as me failing when I absolutely knew it was sarcasm?

Anyway, this just happened with my wife (no shade, it's very rare with her as compared to like, my uncle, and I told her it made me uncomfortable, we're good, it was just the spur to the revelation) and I think I've realized why it happens and why it bothers me so much.

It's always framed as me missing something, but it's not.

I knew they were being sarcastic, and I chose to respond seriously.

THEY failed to interpret MY response.

Or: damn boy (genderneutral) sorry my Yes, And game is just SO FUCKIN SUPERIOR yall should work on recognizing deadpan. Skill issue.

[arsenicflame]

happy "our marriage is never gonna recover from this" day

[jytan2018]

Yessss.

Hope OP doesn't mind me adding on, but another thing that makes Shen Gongbao a good Nezha/Ao Bing foil is how their parents contributed to their self worth.

Nezha grew up with parents that relentlessly defended him from an entire town that's hated him since his birth, even if Nezha went on to act out in ways the townsfolk rightfully resents him for (property damage and serious physical injury is no joke when you're a peasant who does manual labour for a living, y'all). Ao Bing grew up with a father who not only got the entire dragon clan to pry off their toughest scales (which is explicitly shown to be a PAINFUL process) in order to forge armour for him, but also admitted that his life experience may not be applicable to Ao Bing's pursuit of happiness and allowed him to resume risking his life with Nezha.

Shen Gongbao, on the other hand, grew up with a bootstrap-mentality father that teaches his disciples, "If you must hate, then hate the fact that you were born a demon!".

Like, I understand it's intended to be motivational, but that can't have been good for Shen Gongbao's self esteem. Papa Shen was unknowingly setting his own son up for a lifetime of failure, not because of a skill issue on SGB's part, but because Papa Shen himself is so loyal to the oppressive status quo that he doomed his own disciples by asking them to surrender to the Chan Sect. And when the only way to win the game is to change the rules entirely, is it any wonder that SGB found himself repeatedly losing and got desperate enough to turn evil?

I'm gonna go off on a tangent here, but another character I've seen people suggest SGB is a foil to is Taiyi Zhenren, and I find that especially interesting. Taiyi is consistently portrayed as the favoured disciple throughout both movies, be it through SGB's jealousy when he discovers their master gifted him the Shan He She Ji Painting (Taiyi's Doraemon pouch of ridiculously OP magical items suggests it's a regular occurence) or Wuliang calling Taiyi "privileged" while ranting about his justification for committing demon genocide. Literally, the plot of Nezha 1 kicks off because SGB got nothing after years of doing Wuliang's dirty work, and all Taiyi had to do to score the Golden Immortal title was babysit the Spirit Pearl's reincarnation (a.k.a. Nezha) for 3 years.

This privilege is also glaringly obvious in the simplistic suggestions he provides to them. Why don't you just ask Tianzun for Liquid Jade instead of going through the three trials? Why can't you simply apologise to Tianzun instead of killing everyone? These are solutions that can only come out the mouth of someone who's never been told no.

By all accounts, Taiyi is just as much a personification of the system's inequality as SGB is, and he should be its staunchest defender because of everything he stands to lose when it falls.

And yet, who was the one that decided to risk it all for Nezha and Ao Bing when they were caught in the Heavenly Trial Curse? Taiyi. Shen Gongbao gave up when the Curse struck because he simply couldn't see a way out of it, but Taiyi was the one who jumped in the moment they survived long enough for a glimmer of hope to emerge. He was only able to help BECAUSE he's never been discouraged and therefore has rock-solid confidence in his ability to save them. His magical items were only there to guarantee his success.

Another notable thing about Taiyi is that he's the only non-family person that SGB doesn't stutter around. Jiaozi has confirmed in the past that the stutter was a result of Chan Sect folks repeatedly speaking over/interrupting SGB and destroying his self esteem, so it says a lot about SGB's trust in Taiyi AND Taiyi's respectful treatment of SGB if the guy instinctively feels safer and more relaxed around him than he is with Ao Bing, the universally acknowledged precious boy who's never done anything wrong except when he tried to massacre all of Chen Tang Guan.

Of course, it's very easy to do good when you have the cultivation equivalent of a Doraemon pouch in your pants and you're not being constantly beaten down by the status quo, but I feel it's important to realise that Taiyi as a character isn't meant to prove that SGB had no excuse for what he did, and that the current system is still salvageable if it could produce wholesome thicc chads like him.

Nah, I'd argue Taiyi is meant to showcase the importance of refusing to succumb to bitterness and despair. This particular trait also makes Taiyi a foil to Oubing, because both of them grew up with the depressing realisation that their parents may have their back, but the world doesn't. SGB used the resulting bitterness to fuel his cultivation efforts, but he failed to realise that it doesn't work the same way as anger. Anger is your heart telling you that something is wrong and you must fight back, bitterness is your mind telling you EVERYTHING is wrong, so you don't have to hold back your worst self against anyone, not even those who don't deserve it. The ability to process that bitterness and despair (or at the very least, block it out temporarily) via self-care, mutual aid etc. can make or break a revolution, and it shows when the only thing Ao Guang had to say when demons were dying by the dozen in that cauldron was, "Don't give up." Taiyi had a lot of chances to turn bitter when asked to teach Nezha, or after he realised how far gone Wuliang was, but he continued to put the "relief" in "comedic relief" and kept everyone going with the resources he had at his disposal and/or his refusal to give up.

With Nezha 2's post credit scene implying SGB will accept the deal with Wuliang to save Papa Shen, I think Nezha 3 will set up another crossroads moment where he decides who he truly wants to be. However, given that Nezha's OG myth revolves around this epic battle between the Chan and Jie Sects where multiple major characters die and subsequently attain godhood for their service (both movies reference the Fengshen Bang/Fengshen Da Zhan, or God Induction List/God Induction Battle for this reason), literally everyone will likely be struggling just to stay alive, let alone reach out to a enemy-turned-ally-turned-enemy-again guy like SGB. Well, everyone except the comedic relief guy who's had god-tier plot armour for two movies straight.

It'll come down to Taiyi Zhenren, the one Chan Sect Guy who he can trust AND has the resources to shield him from some of the immediate backlash for his betrayal, to help SGB complete his redemption arc.

Nezha 2 spoilers - on the character of Sheng Gongbao.

More on Sheng Gongbao, because I think what the movie did in introducing this classic antagonist's parent and kid brother may feel really random at first, but totally recontextualsies him to be (1) an even closer foil to Ao Bing and (2) a new foil to Nezha.

Ao Bing

In Nezha 1, Shen Gongbao explains his nature to Ao Bing so he could share the similarities of their situations: that he is a leopard demon, and demons suffer the same disrepute and disadvantage of dragons in the world of cultivation. That's why he did all this scheming from Ao Bing's birth to set him on a path that can diverge from his own - so he can prepare his disciple to advance where he can't - so Ao Bing can climb higher on the cultivation ladder. Shen Gongbao would benefit from Ao Bing's advancement as the master who trained, raised, and sponsored him to advance on the celestial stage. Ao Bing's father and people would also benefit from Ao Bing's ascension.

The foil Shen Gongbao plays for Ao Bing is being a demon - underpriviledged, undesired, having to struggle and claw his way in everything, being twice as good and yet not good enough, all because of what they are and how they were born. But he's known to Ao Bing only as his master and senior, someone who understands how the world works and whom taught Ao Bing his martial arts and magic.

In Nezha 2, the characters Sheng Zhengdao, the father, and Sheng Xiaobao, the kid brother, are introduced. This immediately changes the reading of Shen Gongbao. Not only is he a master, senior and an 'adult' in the complicated and cruel cultivation world - but he is also a son. Not only is he a son, there is an intricate backstory about what kind of son he is - he's the son who left his home and backwater town to go to celestial university, he's the first in the family to be accepted into the Chan Sect, the son who achieved human form, the over-achieving son, the son with a career, the son who made it, the absolute pride of the family. The eldest son who's family think he is living it up.

He is..........decidedly not. This is where the 'demon' storyline comes back: he has hit wall after wall. He's done dirty quid pro quo. He's been decieved, used, and even cowed by the system. One can't be treated fairly as a demon. Since he cannot make it any further by himself, he's resorted to relying on Ao Bing.

However, Sheng Gongbao's new role as a 'son' now paints him in an interesting light to both Ao Bing and Nezha. We instantly see that his motivation isn't just about feeling oppressed as a demon and wanting to be recognised for his merits. There is also clearly some insane filial piety driving him - because his position and ascention is supposed to benefit his kid brother and aging father back home! He is not just doing it for himself. He did all that dirty quid pro quo, being used as a tool, cowed by the system....because he needed to be the good son for his family. Because the truth is he has not made it at all. But if only he trains the perfect disciple, more perfect than himself...if only he gets him accepted into the celestial word...if only Ao Bing becomes a god of the Fengshen Bang...if Sheng Gongbao is reocognised as one of the 12 Golden Gods.........

On and on. His foil to Ao Bing as a son adds an extra dimension to Nezha 1. Ao Bing trained his whole life (being given the advantage of being the 'Yang pill') to advance his father's and people's position. To the point of being convinced, even if for a moment, that levelling Chentang Guan and killing all the people to keep the shameful secret of his dragon nature, was the only way forward...This now sounds very similar to his master. This is the solution his trusted, experienced master sold him. In Nezha 2, we learn Shen Gongbao has done terrible things for the celestial Wuliang (his senior cultivation brother)...it follows he would unload that same treacherous cycle onto Ao Bing.

2. Nezha

In a broad sense, Sheng Gongbao as the son becomes 'young,' a former protagonist himself, the hero of his own story, with his own parents and brother to appease. What I found endlessly interesting, is that with this new role, Shen Gongbao explicitly becomes a foil to Nezha as well. But the specific foil to Nezha in this case is 'being a son who will go on a total rampage out of love for his parents/family.'

With the knowledge of his parent's 'deaths,' Nezha goes on a total rampage out of love for his parents and the pain of losing them, that ends in beating up dragons and locking them in a huge magic furnace, completely playing into the hands of the evil celestial Wuliang. When our hero Nezha mitakenly fights the Eastern Dragon King Ao Guang, with the threat of his unfinished flesh body being disintegrated (he's not ready to fight in that condition yet!) - what does he say? He says "I don't care if I'll die, so long as I kill you!" The urge to avenge his parents is stronger than his self-preservation. But it's a twist. His parents are alive!

In the furnace scene, Nezha is offered a chance to save his parents who are getting cooked into cultivation pills by Wuliang. To accept a pill that makes him lose his memory and fall under the control of Wuliang. But Nezha's mother bats that thing out of Wuliang's hands, that's stupid and her son will never be a puppet for nefarious gods! Nezha, in the end, comes from a loving and supportive family who knows and understand him. They accept him for who he is. They would never stand for it. And so Nezha is protected from being manipulated.

Upon the Chentang Guan plot twist, it's revealed Shen Gongbao actually has the same reaction Nezha has when he thinks his family has died. Except for the point that his kid brother really does die - right in front of him! After whisking away Nezha's parents, Sheng Gongbao steps out again to the war-torn Chentang Guan, to fight off a thousand demons and the three traitor dragons. All by himself. There's dialogue, Nezha's parents ask Master Shen Gongbao what is he doing - where is going - why doesn't he take shelter with them?! And Shen Gongbao answers with bitter acceptance, "What's the point? My family's gone." And he goes out to fight. To take a last stand. To die.

Going back to Nezha, doesn't that reveal Sheng Gongbao's deepest motivations as the same as our hero's? He wasn't really doing it - all of it - entirely for himself. Now that his father and kid brother are dead, there is no reason to strive further. Shen Gongbao can let go of being one of the 12 Golden Gods or whatever. He's going to go out into danger, satisfy the urge to avenge his father and brother, and die.

Which takes me to the very delicious, delicious, diabolical end credits scene. The villainous Wuliang goes to a terrible prison where Shen Gongbao and his barely-ok father are alive. In a scene that totally parallels Nezha's choice in the furnace, he presents the same offer to Shen Gongbao. Accept a curse on his mind and body that will enslave him to Wuliang in exchange for his father's life.

But Shen Gongbao doesn't have the same honesty, understanding, protection from his father...because all this time he has been away from home...not returning because he hasn't made it...his father under the impression he is living it up as a celestial...his father not even conscious...

His kid brother died.

He has just this one family member left.

A person he was supposed to be doing all this for, to make proud.

A person he was ready to get revenge and die for.

After all he has already done - what is a little curse on Sheng Gongbao for the benefit of his father?

[telesodalite]

Never getting over Fulcrum being a project manager...

Idk why, but something about that is so funny to me. Not just because the title of "project manager" is inherently kinda funny for a Decepticon, but also because-

1. It's vague sounding and hard to explain irl because it technically exists in multiple fields, like healthcare or manufacturing, which surely translates into canon in some way.

2. In canon, it's simultaneously a really mundane, innocuous sounding job, yet it's also a super morally awful position to reside over depending on the context. (*cough* forced colonization and cyberforming *cough*)

And 3. It solidifies the fact that behind all the surface level militaristic work we get with both the Decepticons and Autobots, there's also Cons and Bots with "normal" jobs in both factions.

Like, sure yeah we get scientists and doctors, engineers and programmers, but usually in big important or warfront positions. (For plot reasons, understandably.) But it's also really funny and interesting to think of those that worked background positions, or minor jobs.

Like an Autobot working in their equivalent of an HR department, or a Decepticon who runs one of their outpost's or starship's kitchens.

Just all the pre-war jobs that didn't just disappear with the war, but instead evolved to exist within the factions.

It's particularly funny with the Decepticons though, because it could be a super mundane job or situation, but because it's them, it has to have an air of ~e v i l~ to it, either legitimately and/or merely for the vibes, like Tarn's "performance reviews".

[louismygf]

some louis tomlinsons i never posted ^_^

[danadiadea]

I mean I don't disagree with your concept and I didn't in my previous post too, this line of thought is very fair and much better than hegemonic body positivity. of course, one never is going to find every single person beautiful, so we should internalize the idea of theating aestetucally unpleasant for us peoole with as much dignity as the ones whose appearance we like or have no strong opinion about. I just have a problem with:

1) the word ugly itself, but it's an English language problem I suppose, because I also can't really think about one word what would convey the meaning and don't carry so much negative emotional charge in it. "not beautiful" is my best bet, I guess, or "not aesthetically pleasing/unpleasant". overall, the words change their meanings or at least soften them, so maybe this one would too, but right now I don't feel comfortable using it or hearing it used towards real people, since in the linguistical context we exist in it automatically implies contempt;

2) ugly/beautiful not being as relatively objective as tall/short. we can set an objective criteria for being tall – let's say "taller than 170" or "taller than average", with average being a number that can be objectively measured. this just doesn't work that way with beauty, because the concept is too multilayered and also based exclusively on subjective perception, whether it's rooted in the way our brain works or how our culture shaped us or which internal beliefs we posess. any skill also is judged (if we are being reasonable) with objective criteria. spotted skin is just as objective as an inability to solve a trigonometry function, but the ugliness of spotted skin is not objective.

and I don't really agree with "everyone knows what tall is", let alone with stretching it to "everyone knows what beautiful is", because subjective perception will always remain subjective. for someone leaving in Timor-Leste a 170cm person is rather tall, for someone from Netherlands it's rather short. Not only the concept of beauty vastly (and I mean VASTLY) differs among cultures, the previous issue I've discussed, wich is the inability to set any kind of universal standard, makes this not a usable concept for me (like for the height we can technically count the average height of a person in 2025 and decide is 170 objectively tall or short based on that, but subjective perspectives of people from different regions wouldn't rely on statistics). Even if technically we could ask a big sample whether they find person A attractive and see if more or less then 50% agree, it is 1) inapplicable to other people 2) doesn't erase the fact that the descriptive "beautiful" can be honestly applied to them. Like I understand that both you and I probably understand whether the person is "generally" considered beautiful when we look at them, especially if they are unusually fitting/not-fitting to the "global" beauty standards, but I still think it's not all that universal and obvious. My autistic ass living in non-native for me culture is so often genuinely shocked when other people frame someone as beautiful/not beautiful, I've thought I was pranked a couple of times I swear. Us living in the times of globalisation doesn't help, but I think that when Japanese people described first Portuguese that contacted them in 1543 as the ugliest beasts possible, they weren't joking, but also the Portuguese people were perfectly ordinary. Now it all blends together a bit more.

so the concept of "letting people be ugly" doesn't exactly work for me if it's intended as "let people be objectively ugly". if it's "let yourself think someone is ugly and be normal about it" – I'm all for it.

also about the unhygienic stuff – I've put it to refer to that "people are trying to find exuses for Snape's hair" bit, because problems with hygiene are not exclusively about appearance, they also are about actions or a lack of them, and this is something people fairly wish to discuss when analysing a character. it's absolutely wrong to bully or demean actual people for it, but when people introduce "reasons" for Snape's hair being this way, I believe they mostly try to either debunk the implications of it being dirty or explain it – people very rarely neglect something that basic without any reason behind it, just as there are reasons for people to not have enough sleep or not eat enough. greasy hair which are just greasy don't need justifications (of the fandom, obv real people who neglect their hygiene for whatever reasons don't owe anyone explanations on their choices, but when we analyse a character saying that they can't keep up with showering is important for character characterization) though, because this is a purely aesthetic question, just like a hooked nose, and it doesn't define a character in any way. so I'd say that it's fair to approach the issue of Snape's hair differently if he neglects its state v/s if he just has oily hair because oily hair exists, since he's a BOOK CHARACTER, not a real person, and in the first case his action or inaction has motivations that may interest us as readers, in the second case it's just hair and whether we find it beautiful or not beautiful or neither is just our personal issue.

also people airbrushing charachters into "prettier" ones should be called Hermione Granger fenomenon fr, I am so sad she is almost always depicted as a literal supermodel:(

I love how the Marauders fandom is like everybody is perfect the way they are, they can be black, brown, white, fat, skinny, tall, short, everyone is pretty. Except Snape, no no no, he cannot be pretty, he has greasy hair, you cannot be pretty with greasy hair

[secretagentspydetectiveninja]

(Alright, going to stop procrastinating and finally make this post.) After playing through the new trilogy in French to see what was different, here are some things about the French localisation of Spirit of Justice I thought you should know:

First of all, I usually like the French and English versions of the games equally. This marks the first time I've actually enjoyed the French version... more than the English one?? Especially Turnabout Revolution? Don't get me wrong, I already loved it in English, but I think the next time I replay it I'll actively choose French. Idk man it just hits different when a bunch of French people are talking about revolution and overthrowing the tyrannical regime etc

Oh yes, speaking of which, yes, the "Japanifornia" parts of the game take place in Paris, France, as usual. No, I have no idea how Kurain village can be next to the mountains and also the sea while also being in the vicinity of Paris. I also don't know why the entire population of a small country in the Himalayas are fluent in French and use it on a daily basis. But seriously, the main characters mention SO OFTEN that they're French and from France, like, all the fricking time. Remember the incredibly Japanese rakugo case? Imagine that taking place in France.

The Khura'inese pun names are hysterical in French. An example that English speakers can get too: the first culprit's name in French is Sterh'uey Tu'heiven. I'm not making this up. That's his name.

RAYFA'S FRENCH VOICE ACTUALLY SOUNDS LIKE A TEENAGER INSTEAD OF A 30 YEAR OLD, THANK THE HOLY MOTHER

Unfortunately the Holy Mother giveth, but she also taketh away, and they gave Nahyuta a crunchy old man voice that doesn't suit his ethereal appearance at all...

Athena has now added German and Italian to her random English and Spanish phrases from the prev game. I mean... it made sense before, since she was meant to have lived in the USA in this version, but now I guess she just does it for fun? Who knows

French Roger Retinz uses €50 notes (euros) to fan himself instead of dollar bills

Inga's full name is "Inga Karkhuul Kel Nomh Bowkhou Tro'lon Pohm'peu Eh'Duhr Apronh Ons'ai Khura'in III" ("quel nom beaucoup trop long, pompeux et dur à prononcer")

Nahyuta's nickname in French is just "Yuta"

Ema and Apollo now use informal pronouns for each other, so do Ema and Trucy now, Maya starts using informal pronouns for Apollo from almost the first moment she meets him (though he uses formal pronouns for her lmao), and yes Dhurke and Apollo use informal pronouns with each other the whole time, even when things are awkward at the start. Rayfa and her mother always use formal pronouns for each other, which is a little depressing.

AS FOR NAHYUTA AND APOLLO... HOHOHO. Obviously they're both using "vous" (formal) in court, but in the scene afterwards Apollo switches to "tu" (informal) when he asks Nahyuta if he remembers him. Later in Turnabout Revolution, Apollo has gone back to vous but he's at least saying "Nahyuta" rather than "Prosecutor Sahdmadhi" or whatever (I think that happened in the English version too). Then during the final trial, after that one insanely angsty scene, Apollo starts using tu again and even (internally) uses the nickname Yuta once! Nahyuta eventually starts referring to him as Apollo and starts using tu after finally openly acknowledging Apollo as his family aaauuuuuugh ;o;

(Listen Apollo usually always tries to be formal and professional in court so this is a big deal!!! It's a big deal to me at least!!!!!!!!!)

In the English version there were a few times our good ol' American Apollo had a sort of "haha I'm just a foreigner I don't know anything here" vibe which... no you're not lol. The French version didn't have that (or at least toned it down a lot) and made him feel less like a tourist and more like an immigrant returning to his old home country with complex feelings, which he is. It makes it more personal that he's the one to bring about the revolution imo -- he's not some random foreigner swooping in to save the day, this is his home and his family, he belongs here. (As an immigrant myself I find aspects of him relatable and will defend his Khura'inese backstory to the death DON'T TEST ME)

The "what's crack-a-lackin' homie" line in all its glory:

[quins-makeshift-menagerie]

Why are you so closed off with your story? Other Mewtwo creators are very open with a lot of their plans.

That’s their choice! It’s mine to be more secretive about details.

[katsdynam1ght]

i need you all to understand and remember that mha takes place like 200 years in the future and there are people with literal windex bottles and guns for heads. queerness is probably the last concern of most parents these days. quirks and mutations are a much bigger issue

“kats what do you mean touya’s the reason natsuo’s homophobic” because he and his boyfriend-then-husband keigo can’t keep their hands off each other and natsuo thinks it’s gross. (for any aftg fans out there it’s like aaron with nicky ok)

“aren’t rei and enji more likely to be—” no. i don’t care how traditionally they were raised. enji is obsessed with all might and while it is fine for a man to be obsessed with another man without having feelings for him, there is an inherent layer of homoeroticism there (not necessarily queerness, but definitely homoeroticism) and even subconsciously i think enji can understand there’s something to all of that. he just doesn’t ever process it consciously. i genuinely do not think this man has it in him to be homophobic he has too much else to worry about (and he loves his family. if they’re happy who cares who they’re into)

rei, on the other hand, though she grew up with a certain set of standards, i believe works very hard to break away from all of those biases. again, she loves her family. as long as everyone’s happy, that’s really all she wants to see. she can’t control her children’s lives and she wouldn’t want to—that sort of behavior is what got them into all of this mess to begin with

“okay well why is natsuo—” i told you already also he canonically has a girlfriend (future wife? idk i haven’t read the manga i’ve just seen the panel) and he’s too much like my brother (i.e. the only straight person out of four kids) for me to ignore his blatant heterosexuality. also if you ask me i think he’s far more prone to repeating the abuse cycle than anyone in the family but that’s a topic for another day

“fuyumi?” lesbian. if anything deals with comphet. but i think by default she feels more secure and free around other women. even though she loves her father there are still impacts of bearing witness to his abusive behavior over the years and i think that is imprinted into every interaction she has with men her age and older throughout her life. she deserves a woman/women who will love and cherish her better than a man could

i will take no criticisms about touya as we should all be well aware by now that dabihawks is the only ship i can put him in. anything else and he loses his opportunities to be a better person and i am morally obligated to hate him. also sorry touya but keigo is the only person who can genuinely love you as you are. nobody else would be so attuned to your mood swings and so patient with your tantrums. also he wants to bite you a little bit but you’ll enjoy that

and finally

shouto: poly class A is all i’ll say about him

let the record show i do not care at all what anyone else’s opinions are about these characters. you will not change my mind. as far as i’m concerned everything i say is canon and i have the writing skill to back it up. i will be writing fic with all of this eventually

thank you and goodnight

sorry but i’m convinced natsuo is the only straight person in the todoroki family. he’s only homophobic because of touya though. (he would be more homophobic if he knew about his dad but i don’t think enji even processes his own sexuality so none of them know)

[chellychuu]

Me; when I stare at a blank canvas for hours instead of actually drawing something

[rigelmejo]

Something that always annoys me is the idea only 1 language learning method works. Which is not true. While it may be possible that, for a particular individual, only a few out of many study methods may work well enough for That Individual to make progress and stay motivated... that doesn't mean all the other study methods won't work for anyone else out there, or that those few methods will work for every other given person.

Obviously if you've been studying a while, then you already figured out what kinds of things work for you and don't. If you're a beginner, just wading into studying?

I would suggest you simply look for study methods that: 1. Teach you new things regularly, 2. Review and practice things you've learned, 3. Include studying things you need for your particular goals (for example if your goal is to read X book then the study materials at some point should involve reading practice and some words the book contains, if your goal is to talk about Y then the study materials should include some information about pronunciation and words you'll need to be able to say).

As you can imagine, a TON of study materials will meet these requirements. And you can study a given skill in a LOT of ways.

(Reading is my focus lol so just for reading, a beginner might: do vocabulary study with lists or conversations with native speakers or watching shows and looking words up or listening to dialogues with a transcript like in a textbook or graded readers or a picture book with word labels in the target language or a video game with labelled objects in target language, all of those things as long as your vocabulary is improving or reading practice is happening would help you make progress). So to improve reading skill as a beginner: you could study with a textbook, a podcast with transcript, a classroom or tutor with words written down in target language (like TPRS), a video game, a TV show and a translate app on your phone, a friend you talk with (who either writes words down or you look up words you hear with a translate app), a friend you text with, srs flashcards like anki (provided there's text) etc. As long as there's new words, and/or you're practicing reading, the study method may work. If it works will come down to if you can stay motivated doing it regularly, and make sure you regularly learn some new things and review/practice things you've already studied.

So consider those things when you see people selling a study method as a product (especially when it's costing you money). Consider if it teaches you NEW things, and are those new things related to your goals, and how MUCH new stuff will it teach you before you finish it? Consider if it provides review or practice, or if you can use it's materials to review on your own making up your own method, or if you'll need to do separate review/practice.

So examples:

LingQ. Can it teach you many new words? Yes, thousands, since you can import any texts you want when you get done with their provided material (I have no idea how much their beginner material covers though in terms of words... I would hope 1000-3000 words but that can be researched). Is your goal reading? It's suited to reading, so you will practice and review often with it. Cost? I think it was $12 a month when I last had it, and the price may have increased. Is it worth it? Depends on a learner's needs. I found it was wasting my money, so I chose to use free tools like Pleco and Readibu apps - since those apps are suited for Chinese learners and have better translations, Pleco has better paid graded reader material if I was going to spend money, and both Pleco and Readibu let me import texts so I can learn thousands of new words just like LingQ but free. Now that I'm not a beginner, I often use Microsoft Edge to read chinese... since I can still click-translate words easily (all my web browsers have that tool free), and Edge's TTS voice is helpful for pronunciation and sounds quite good. I read webnovels online so Edge works well. But it's translations aren't as good as Pleco or Readibu, so if I still needed translations more I would use them. So... is LingQ a good study method? Its certainly a study method marketed to buy. Well... the method is suited to improving reading skill, at least. It costs money, which is a negative, but it does offer a lot. However: everything it does regarding reading can be done free with other apps or sites or web browsers on their own. So if paying money motivates you to read... sure. LingQ does have a few word tracking features a learner may find worth the money, keeping in mind the actual read-to-learn method can be done free without lingq. (Also... while LingQ is a valid option for improving reading, if the learners goal is speaking then it would be important to think of what study activities the learner will do OUTSIDE of LingQ to improve speaking... because I've seen how LingQ is marketed as "how to learn a language" but it's only focused on some skills. It has vocabulary and grammar in some sense, since you'll read a lot and encounter new words and structures. But it doesnt have speaking or writing practice at least last time I was on it. Those activities would need to be worked on, on your own).

You can do that kind of cost/benefit contemplating with any study method material you see being sold. Amother example: there's a beginner Mandarin course called Mandarin Blueprint. It teaches like 800 words. Thats all. It may be worthwhile for a beginner... who still needs to learn 800 common words. But if you already know a few hundred words, the benefit of the course is less, you'll need to find a new material to teach you more new stuff soon. And the price was like a few hundred for the course... which for me personally was too much to spend, when I had already learned 800 hanzi from a book that cost me 12 dollars and 2000 words from a free user made memrise deck. The course claimed to get a person speaking, competent, but anyone not a beginner would say speaking basically with 800 words is nowhere near the level of working in Chinese or just doing a lot of daily life stuff, or reading/listening to media. (Although for the motivated beginner if you're learning 800 words on your own like I was, its definitely close to the point of jumping to learn more words and start reading kids and teenager books, and watching easier shows if you're willing to look new words up). So to me... Mandarin Blueprint felt like overselling some basic beginner materials. (Again when I know several other things that teach beginner stuff either more in depth so HSK test prep classes, and college courses, or that teach beginner stuff to the same depth as Mandarin Blueprint but free).

Some study materials aren't going to act like they teach everything. I've seen chinese courses just for learning to speak tones better and general pronunciation - probably worthwhile if your goal is to improve speaking and a teacher could help improve the issues your having. But a learner needs to be aware for that course that they'll need to study vocabulary on their own, its JUST a pronunciation improvement course.

[livelaughliushen]

Tfw the hyperfixation gets so bad you relearn how to render

(Pretty please for my sanity don’t tag this as ship art thanks pookies <3)