#it just really annoys me as someone whose actual irl sister is actually irl called cho lmao

[wetookoutallherteeth]

tbh i'm still waiting for one of these white geniuses to explain to stupid ching chong me what exactly is wrong with the name cho chang. like... quite a lot of people have the character "祖" in their name (e.g. wong cho-lam). 祖 is pronounced with a z sound in mandarin, yes, but with a ch sound elsewhere in the sinosphere.

we know cho's family aren't mandarin speakers a. because they're british (almost all british chinese are hongkonger for obvious reasons, especially those who were living in the uk in the 90s) and b. because chang is not a mandarin surname (they say zhang or chen). like... cho doesn't even have the surname chang in the mando version of the books, they had to change it to zhang for their mandarin audiences! so there's absolutely no reason to think she wouldn't use the cho version instead of the zu version.

so a non-mando girl from a non-mando family has a non-mando name, and white people have decided that means her name is bad??? is it because to their white ear it sounds like ching chong? because that's not jkr's problem, that's their own problem.

(funnily enough, cho isn't even called cho in the mandarin books, she's called qiu, which is a common SURNAME. remember all the white people going "'cho' can be a surname therefore harry potter is evil and racist"? seems like prc didn't get the tumblr memo about the evils of surnames, i guess)

Today in “we get it, you hate JKR” or “is this really activism?”:

Oh no! The community - like most - enjoys Harry Potter?! Better slap that nonsense out of their mouths ASAP. Don’t they know how bad that is? Librarians should always go against their community’s needs and interests, it’s how they stay open!

This man goes on to say that the library actually experienced a run-in with a conservative group that attacked the library through legislation, nearly got it shut down, and sent death threats to library staff. So obviously the best thing to do is write them a self-serving letter about how Harry Potter Bad:

Some brain trusts in the comments point out that their communities are not Woke Enough and continue to enjoy an engaging book series for young people. One even claims to minimize Harry Potter’s presence as much as possible at their library, like any honest librarian would.

Oh no! Children enjoy reading?? What should we do to shut that nightmare down??

Further intellectuals let us know that JKR Has Always Been Bad and Why Does Thing Need Theme At All If Not Woke:

“Surely something that’s generic and shows that we are Firmly Against That Woman would be more fun to organize?”

Harry Potter is hanging on because it is a good book series, a good movie series… it’s games and a theme park and people like it. It has nothing to do with money being “tied up” in it, that’s just called “people talking with their money” or “being normal consumers.”

I love the lengths these people will go to in order to find any fault with the series or events around it, just so they can virtue-signal how much they hate JKR.

Nick the Geek: leave your fucking library alone. Or start doing activism for it that isn’t performative. Donate books. Tutor ESL learners. Offer to give your time teaching hobbies to others. Help seniors with computers. Those all take work, but they are things the library actually needs, not another bearded man whose profile says he’s “trying to be nicer” writing them useless letters. Their programming was probably already bought and paid for, with a specifically allocated budget, and you demanding they change course does nothing but add onto the pile of nonsense they don’t need.

[oncominggstorm]

I feel like such a loser sometimes, like something must be SO wrong with me, because why don't I have friends?

I'll see people who are like, objectively worse people than me. People who are mean or selfish or bigoted or assholes, and they have friends.

I'll see other people who are shy and nerdy and awkward and they'll still have friends. Other people who are fat or ugly or disabled, and they still have friends. Other people with even weirder more niche interests than me, and they still have friends.

But I don't have friends.

My parents had friends. My mom not so much anymore I guess, but when she was in her teens and 20s and early 30s, she had a bunch of friends (including, now that I think about it, a bunch with really weird names that feel like they have inside stories behind them, like Big Bob and Cokey and Butch and Blind Bill and Chopper). She even had two best friends who we grew up calling our aunts, whose kids we called our cousins, who we saw all the time.

My dad had friends, too, despite being one of the most grumpy and anti-social neurotypicals I've ever met. Like, multiple friends that he had his whole life. One who he was in a band with from age 16 til like age 60 or something (idr how old he was when he quit. All I know is that friend of his was the most annoying guy I'd ever met). Another who he met at work like 20 years go, who he went to football and baseball games with, sometimes even weekend guys trips (one time I remember said friend coming with us on a trip to St Louis when I was like 15). His best friend from high school literally drove 5 hours one way from St Louis so he could come to my dad's funeral in person (even though we were streaming it online for people who couldn't make it).

My grandma, who is 80 and has late stage dementia, STILL gets occasional visits and phone calls from a friend who she has known since childhood, who grew up down the street from her.

Meanwhile I don't think I've EVER had a friendship last more than like, idk, 7 years? MAYBE? Usually whenever the thing I met the friend through (school or work or w/e) ends, the friendship ends.

And I've NEVER had a CLOSE friend, EVER. I've NEVER had someone that I felt like I could call up if I needed to talk, or invite to just hang out and do nothing. I've NEVER had someone I felt like I could trust with my secrets. I've NEVER had someone I felt like would really be there for me when I need them. I've NEVER had someone I wasn't worried was gonna drop me the second I was a little too weird. I've NEVER had a friend I didn't need to mask around.

I haven't hung out with a friend since like, 2015 maybe? I no longer HAVE any friends.

And I don't even know how to begin trying to find friends. I'm not in school, I don't work (and am not able to), I have no community at all. Like I swear I am not exaggerating when I say the ONLY people I interact with on a regular basis are my mom, grandma, 2 sisters, and therapist. That is IT.

I can't even figure out how to make friends on like, tumblr. Let alone irl. But I desperately need some friends. I know everyone says you have to fix yourself first before you find people to love you or whatever but I just like...1.) don't know how true that is and 2.) genuinely don't know that it's possible for me.

I have been trying to go it alone for SO LONG. And I've been REALLY trying. I go to therapy twice a week. I put in the effort. I really really am trying. Like for the longest time I genuinely believed that I needed to "fix" myself before I could have friends, that I am the problem. But now I know that all the stuff I thought I needed to "fix" is actually just the autism and isn't going away.

But I feel like the biggest things missing from my life, the things that would ACTUALLY help me start feeling better and doing better, are things I CAN'T give myself. Support. Love. Companionship. A shoulder to cry on. A hand to hold. A hug. Someone to spend time with. Like, I am very much missing those things in my life. And I don't think it's wrong to want those. And I don't think it's wrong to say my life would be better and easier if I had those things.

Idk. I'm just really lonely and I feel like no one likes me or will ever like me and like I'll be alone forever. It gets harder and harder the older I get too cuz it's like, when I was 15 and lonely, sure it sucked but I still had the rest of my life ahead of me! I had college and a career and a future, I'd meet people! But now I'm 33 and I'm done with school and I can't work and I have no friends and I don't know how to make friends and most people my age have way more life experiences than me, they're already past the "making new friends and hanging out talking and watching tv til late hours of the night" stage of life, they're into the "married with kids and we see our friends for 2 hours for dinner once a month" stage of life, and I'm very decidedly not. Like I'm still craving the experiences I missed out on in high school and college.

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #446

“so you can throw me to the wolves  /  tomorrow i will come back, leader of the whole pack”

Favourite cheese? American. Superman or Batman? I know literally nothing of Superman, but I like Batman. Who are your best friends? The only person I consider a best friend is Sara. Name the 3 most important people in your life: My mom, Sara, and... I suppose myself since I cherish my mental health VERY deeply. Are you currently learning from anyone how to play any instruments? No. Do you know anyone who is overly flirty with people? Girl or a boy? In my personal opinion, yes. I do believe it's possible to be "overly" flirty, considering you can really lead people on. It's a she. Do you believe vampires are real? Not the stereotypical Twilight kind. No. Have you ever been to a porn website? Were you addicted to it afterword? No. I'm really not into that. What is the most disgusting thing you think the opposite sex can do? I think the most disgusting thing anyone can do is commit rape. Would you rather be able to teleport or freeze time? Which one seems best? I feel teleportation is obviously more convenient and useful in dangerous situations. Have you seen the movie Twister? Did the tornadoes look real to you? LKJFL;AKSDJFKLASJDLFKA;WE NOOOOOOOOOO. I am WAY too terrified of tornadoes to watch that. Have you actually been through a devastating natural disaster before? Hurricane Floyd was pretty devastating. I was too young to really remember it, though. Did your mom ever fix your eggs and bacon into a smiley face as a kid? She probably did. What fast food place, in your opinion, has the best french fries? BOJANGLE'S, AHHHHHHHHHHHH. Do you believe one day aliens might take over the planet Earth? I mean, it's possible, but I don't know. Do you remember when they used to actually throw candy out at parades? I didn't know they stopped. Does it bother you when people burp around you or do you do it too? I couldn't possibly care less, it's a natural bodily function. Just because of societal standards though, I don't burp in public, though, but only around family and close friends. What is one kind of music you’d do anything to not listen to in the car? Anything like rap that has a STUPIDLY loud bass that just annoys everyone within a ten mile radius. When was the last time you babysat, if ever? Did anything bad happen? A year or two ago, for my nephew. No one else was free to watch him, so I had no choice. Nothing bad happened, besides nearly having a panic attack. Do you ever talk to people you met online through webcam? Or is that weird? No. Even Sara and I don't do it, because I'm too self-conscious of how I look. Even though she's seen me plenty before irl. Would you ever consider becoming a scientist? Why would you or why not? Well, I majored in biology briefly... I wanted to be a wildlife biologist. I just adore animals and thought I could do it. I just couldn't handle school. When is the next time you’ll talk to the cousin you’re closest to? I'm not especially close to any of my cousins. Are you really into vintage things? Have you ever been into that stuff? Yessss! is writing something that you enjoy doing? Definitely. Would you rather read or write? Write. Would you rather draw or take photographs? If I wind up being very proud of the product, I prefer drawing, but I take pictures far more. When was the last time you cheated at something? I have no clue. Has anyone ever copied off of your homework assignments? I think so? Do you have any pictures of celebs saved to your computer? ... *stares at my folder labelled "Mark"* What would you consider your favorite holiday? Why is this? Christmas. I love the whole vibe of it. The weather, the smells, the treats, my niece's and nephew's excitement... I adore all the lights and decorations, the gratefulness for family and your loved ones in general... I just love Christmas. If you’re a girl, do you have big hips? Too big? I'd say my hips are normal. Girls, do you think you look good in dresses or not? God no. Not anymore. Have you ever taken a pottery class before? Nope. How many times have you seen Star Wars? Be honest. Once. I didn't like it. Has your best friend ever made you cry? Yes. But in her defense, we've both made the other cry. Have you ever entered a talent competition? God no, I ain't got shit to flaunt. Are you smiling in your Facebook profile picture? Yes. If you wear eye shadow, do you put on a dark colour or a light? And if you wear mascara, what colour is it? I only ever wear black for both of those. What is your favourite Christmas movie? Jim Carrey's How the Grinch Stole Christmas. What do you get complimented on the most? My Markiplier tattoo, actually. What do you think of your best friend’s ex? One I REALLY don't like, the other I'm neutral about. Are you biracial? No. Do you have Pop-Tarts in your house right now? No. We try to not buy them, given they're just TOTALLY empty calories. They don't fill me at all. Is anyone’s birthday coming up? No. Does/did either of your parents serve in the military? No. Do you like sour candy? I LOVE sour candy. Where would you like to go on your honeymoon? Alaska, to see the Northern Lights. Do you usually wear sunglasses when you’re driving? I haven't driven in well over a year. Hell, maybe two. But no, because I'd need prescription sunglasses. Ignoring nutrition, could you live off veggies for the rest of your life? God no. Has anyone taken their shirt off in front of you? Yeah. What time do you usually have dinner? 5:30-6:30, usually. What’s your favourite meat? Chicken, I think. What is your favourite meal of the day and why? Breakfast. I just enjoy breakfast foods. What colour is your shampoo? White. Tell me a silly little old wive’s tale you believed when you were a child: My older sister got me to believe that if you said a word a ridiculous amount of times, it'd be the only word you knew how to say anymore, lmao. Shut up, I was little. What was the last magazine you bought? Do you subscribe to any? I don't buy magazines. Whose Facebook profile did you last look at? Was there anything that caught your attention? Uh, that's a good question. Do you regret your last relationship? Not at all. What’s better, mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes? Mashed potatoes, though I'm picky with them and the texture. Did you ever used to make cookies, cakes, or pie with your grandma? No. Do you like kids? Not especially. They ask too many questions and can be really rude, even though I know they usually don't mean to be. What are you listening to? I'm watching Gab Smolders play Dino Crisis 2. I finished her playthrough of Final Fantasy X, so now I feel a void in my soul that I am trying to fill with a new series lmao. Do you burn incense? Not really anymore. I'm not against it, I just... haven't. What is your favorite kind of cracker? Cheese-Itz. Can you name a single song by Billy Joel without looking it up? Yeah; I can name a few, actually. My dad loves Billy Joel, so I heard him a lot growing up. "Piano Man" is a classic. Do you like regular peppermint candy canes, or do you prefer different flavored ones [fruits, bubble gum, cinnamon, etc.]? I actually really like the Jolly Rancher ones. Have you ever been kissed while sitting atop the hood of a car? That's actually possible... but I'm not sure. I think I have a faint memory of lying on a car hood with Jason before. What do you think is the dumbest/tackiest piercing? I don't like calling a piercing either of those, like if they make someone feel more confident and attractive, good for them. I can say I'm personally not a fan of the smiley piercing, though. Have you ever requested a song on the radio? No. When I was a kid at a birthday party, though, one of the girls did. Does your mother still take care of you if you get ill? She helps a lot, yeah. What is one song that always brings back memories every time you hear it? Honestly, too many. I attach way too aggressively to songs. Do you currently have any pimples? Not currently, no. Did anything disturb your sleep at all last night? Ugh, yes. I couldn't sleep for shit. How does it make you feel looking at pics with your ex and someone else? I have only seen one picture of Jason with the girl he dated after me and it. Set. Me. On. Fucking. Fire. It's pathetic. If you’re not in college, why? All it did was give me emotional breakdowns. What do you think about MTV? I am way too out of the loop on what goes on on any TV channel to answer this. What was your very first day of your very first job like? What’d you do? How long did it take you to get the hang of it, and feel comfortable with working? This was waaaay too long ago... All I remember is actually being hopeful, though nervous. I never got to the point of feeling comfortable there. Or at any job. If you have a dog, are they friendly to strangers or other dogs? We don't have a dog, but we do have a cat that is EXTREMELY skittish around strangers. Someone he doesn't know comes through the door? He's bolting to hide. Do people ever comment on or joke about your driving? Well, I got flipped off once by a driver, so... I'd consider that a silent comment. I, to this day, don't know why they (it was a group of guys) did it, but it's stuck with me. What was the last thing to move you? Are you easily moved or inspired? The ending of FFX alsdkfjkaljlkwjer. And yes. If you`ve ever seen your very favorite band, did you cry when you saw them? Was it like a dream come true? If you`ve never seen them, do you think you would? I haven't, but I probably would a little bit. Of all the reality competitions you’ve watched, who are some of your all-time favorite contestants and what shows were they from? From America's Got Talent, I adore(d) Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., as well as Prince Poppycock. I keep up with them both on Facebook. Ever had a friend named Alex or John? One of my closest online friends was Alex. A couple years ago she just... got a boyfriend and fell off the face of the earth. Are you happy with your relationship status? I mean... no, I'm ridiculously lonely, but being single is for the best right now. What kind of stuff do you like on your hot dogs? Just ketchup and mustard. Have you ever been in a spelling bee? No. What is the most annoying thing that your parents do? Mom absolutely always assumes she's right. Dad repeats himself like CRAZY. Would you say you’re someone who has good manners? Yes. Did you parents know what gender you were before you were born? Actually, the doctors couldn't determine mine (or any of Mom's kids') because my legs were ALWAYS crossed when they did ultrasounds. Mom says she "knew" I was a girl, though. Have you ever been addicted to something unhealthy? I'm addicted to caffeine, yes. Who makes the best desserts in your entire family? Hm, I dunno. Do you have good dreams or nightmares more? I have very severe sleep apnea that results in very violent nightmares almost any time I sleep without my APAP mask. Even WITH the damn mask, I have them a lot. When was the last time someone insulted you? What was the insult? *shrug* Do you have trouble reading small fonts? Yes. I used to find it aesthetically pleasing, but my vision is just too bad now, even with my (shitty) glasses. Do you know anybody that believes that magic/witchery truly exists? I think so. Do you find watching animals in their natural habitat to be exciting & fascinating? Absolutely!! The last time you had sex: did you want it, or did the other person want it? ... You know it's supposed to be a mutual desire, right?? What does your sibling(s) call you? "Britt." Has anyone you’ve known claimed to be psychic? Maybe? I'm unsure. Did/do you believe them? Hell no. I don't believe in psychics and believe people who claim to be so are manipulative pieces of shit. Is anything annoying you right now? I am bored to an inexplicable level askldjfla;wejlr. Have you ever worn a pair of scrubs? Yeah. Anything in your room that you’re hiding from your parents or someone else? No. Have you ever felt abandoned? Well yes. By definition, my dad abandoned our family. Where are you? I’m in my bed. What’s been the worst part of this day? I've just been so, so bored. I'm sick and fucking tired of dealing with anhedonia. Who last encouraged you to better yourself? My therapist.

[szopenhauer]

have you got any brothers or sisters who annoy you? my sister annoys me indeed

as a younger teenager, did you have any older guys/girls hit on you? as a teenager nobody hit on me

would you ever want to be changed into a vampire? doubt it, the only thing that would truly interest me about it is immortality which isn’t actually living forever as even sun can kill you and knowing my luck that would happen fast 

does the thought of dying give you cold chills? kinda how many times has someone called you boring, if ever? several times because I don’t travel, I don’t party, I don’t like sports and out of some other reasons has anyone ever told you that you had “so many” months to live? not exactly as a teen, were you trusted to be alone with a boyfriend/girlfriend? as a teen I had no real bf/gf do your parents both have a job? my mom’s retired already are you currently unemployed? if not, what’s your job? I am where do you belong? nowhere?... were you anyone’s first kiss? I was what is the color of your cellular telephone? black what color are your gloves/mittens? I have few pairs when was the last time you listened to the radio; and do you remember which song was the last you heard on there? not counting online radio that I still rarely listen to (usually just during Christmas time, that special playlist on rmf) - years and I don’t remember the last song because I didn’t think it will be the last one and that just made me sad do you think English the hardest language to learn? noooo do you clean under your nails with safety pins? I use toothpicks how long after your shower do you walk around naked, or in your towel, until you decide to get dressed? I get dressed right away  does it bother you that so many people start going out like a week or two before valentine’s day, as if it’s just because they don’t want to be alone? that’s really lame, I’m sorry for them what do(es) you(r mom) grow in your garden? lots of stuff what do you think of facial piercings? meh, some are ugly, some are ok did your shoe laces come with your shoes? yeah but they still have zippers as I wouldn’t bother to own shoes with just laces do you have any cds you bought at the concert?. never bought a CD at the concert what does your second oldest sibling do for a living? I have only one sibling and what she does is not your business (pun intended) are there any beanie babies with your birthday? Beanie Boos   Carrots - rabbit - style 36031   Julep - monkey - style 36056   Pashun - dog - style 36206 Beanie Babies   Bunga Raya - bear - style 4615 - (birth year 2002)   Dewi Y Ddraig - dragon - style 46157 - (birth year 2010)   D'Vine - monkey - style 40767 - (birth year 2008)   Flower - meerkat - style 46155 - (birth year 2010)   Niles - camel - style 4284 -(birth year 2000)   Peace - bear - style 4053 - (birth year 1996)   Peepers - bushbaby - style 40795 - (birth year 2009)   TOUR Teddy - bear - style 40347 - (birth year 2006) Teenie Beanie Boppers   Terrific Tessa - style 0334 Boppers   Lovely Lily - style 0223

what color is your cat? it was all black with yellow eyes

do you own any buddha? nooo, why would I  do you know what color hazel really is? .. my eyes? XD what color is your toaster? don’t own one what color is your webcam? white but I don’t use it as I have no mic, I tried to buy one but they never work so I prefer to use my cellphone as a cam instead do you have anything real gold? I think I still own that one tiny item (necklace with the letter Z) and if I do I will probably sell it

Do you own any adult colouring books?  those gimme anxiety  When was the last time you got some new headphones? mine are about 5 years old

Do you know anyone whose name starts with the letter X? I don’t :o

Name a food that you dislike the texture of. pears 

Describe the cover illustration of the book closest to you. it has the Stranger things villain on it behind the room with no. 11

Do you wear a mask when you go to the store? of course, if you don’t - I hate you!

Are you expecting a package right now? am not

What is one thing you hate about summer? mosquitos for an example

Did you go outside today? just our garden

Have you ever received a misdiagnosis from a doctor? yup

Do you have a book that you’ve read multiple times? I never reread books

Do you enjoy babysitting? ugh...

What was your favorite book you had to read for school? I used to like Cierpienia młodego Wertera - that was stupid of me

Have you ever wanted to be a teacher? in pre-school 

What’s one childhood dream that has stuck with you? my own apartment

Would you want to re-live your childhood over again if you could? I believe

Which do you like more: being an adult or being a kid? being a kid 

Did your parents smoke or drink when you were growing up? nope

Do you enjoy bonfires? they were fine

Have you ever ridden in an ambulence? couple of times

Do you know anyone who used to be loving, but then turned cold?  that would be me...

What color are your bedroom walls? green and yellow

Is there an old friend that you miss and would like to reconnect with? I tried...

Have you been bullied? all of my school years basically

Which talent show, if any, would you most like to audition for?  I have no talent

Do you feel like time goes by fast, or slow? both slow and fast

Who do you know who has died of cancer? my aunt that I didn’t really know

Have you ever stayed overnight in a hospital, and if so, what for? couple of times, once even almost entire month, long story (stories actually)

Have you ever been so angry you wanted to sue someone? hahaha

Have you ever been a victim of racism? I’m white so not really

Did you go to prom? nah

Are you an aunt or uncle? yep

Do you feel like you are currently in a state of suffering? and that not all of your basic needs are being met? If so, how long have you been in a state of suffering? I’ve always been and it only got worse

Life isn’t fair. True or false? it seems

Name a few people who seem to have everything handed to them. born rich

Do you pray less or more than you did 5 years ago? more

Do you pray a lot? not enough

Have you ever used an epi pen? hope I won’t have to

What was the name of the biggest bully in your high school? HS didn’t have big bullies but for me that was A.L.

How many kids do you want to have? 0

Do you want to get married? hmm...

Best date you’ve been on? dunno

Dream date? *shrug*

Ever kissed someone on New Year’s? never

Have you ever been in so much pain you prayed that you would die? other kind of suffering

Who always tries to stop you whenever you try to go after your dreams? life/world so God I guess 

are you in love with llamas? they’re cool

do you like hats? beanies and those winter ones in animal shapes 

have you ever had surgery? not yet

do you have an enemy? some I call this way

do you want to save the trees? yes

what size shoe do you wear? 38-39

do you cook? I do not

do you like taking pictures? at times

pink flamingos? cute for the garden :3

do you like spiders? I don’t mind them

do you own an mp3 player? but I don’t use it anymore, not even sure if it still works

why are you hitting yourself? self harm

what’s your mom’s name? personal

what about your dad? same

have you ever won anything? yep

is revenge sweet? in movies might be and sometimes I laugh when ppl get what they deserve, sorry not sorry?

have you ever had someone lie for you so you wouldn’t get in trouble? sort of

who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Spongebob

do you like night or day better? night

do you like finding nemo? nooo

plaid or polka dots? why not stripes?

have you ever done yoga? a bit

what posters do you have on your wall? no posters

do you wear dresses a lot? noooo

how many school dances have you been to? all of them besides prom

can you swim? can’t

don’t you just want to mass murder all barbie dolls? why? :o

who was the last person you were under a blanket with? my gf

name something great that happened today? for example - Choices chapters were great

who was the last person’s voice you heard? mom’s

did you speak to your mother today? of course

what color is your hair? naturally dark brown

when was the last time you talked to one of your siblings? online or irl?

how did you wake up this morning? by myself

how many letters are in your last name? 11

do you still talk to the last person you kissed? in general because at this very moment she’s asleep

do you believe that everything happens for a reason? not everything

do you ever pretend to text/talk on the phone when you’re in public? yeah  have you ever had spinach? if not, would you ever want to? I ate it before don’t you hate when the wires pop out of your bra and poke you all day? my bra has no wires am i the only one who likes to go grocery shopping? you’re not alone

is anything wrong with your eyes? possibly do you ever write notes on your hand? used to last time you cried? why? I was moved by the game on my cellphone

when is the last time you were in a swimming pool? in middle school have you ever fallen backwards on a chair? I don’t recall what do you feel like watching? nothing atm do you ever try to write with your non-dominant hand? with feet too who makes you laugh the most? my gf and my dad who starred in your last dream? besides me - no one that I know  do you regret doing something today? maybe do you think you’re old? I’m not but I often feel like I am  are you afraid of the dark? at home only - especially mirrors and windows in the dark are scary

sometimes, do you wish you were someone else? not a particular person have you ever told anyone you were ok when you really weren’t? it’s bad but I did that before do you talk a lot? do I?

which member of your family are you closest to? dad

would you ever apply to be on reality tv?  doubt it do you have a hard time letting things go? I guess have you ever struggled with your weight? slightly when you are out with your friends are you loud and outgoing or shy and reserved? depends  do you like to stay in your pajamas all day long? whatever in high school did you have a lot of friends? do you still keep in touch? group and not really at what age did you get your period? 13? fuzzy socks: yay or nay? yay

When was the last time you held a puppy? years ago

Was the person that last slept over at your house a boy or girl? girl Who’s name first comes to mind that starts with the letter “P”? Paulina and Patrycja

Do you have any kind of jewelry on at the moment? not at the moment Would you say you use “lol” too often? get used to this!

When was the last time you vacuumed a room? I mop the floor 

You can only shop at one store for the rest of your life, what store is it? but food? :o

Have you ever donated to a cause? yup

[plldetectives-blog]

My feelings on the PLL Finale

This is the post I promised about all of my feelings about the finale and the show, now that it has come to a close. I don’t have many good things to say about it so I am warning you now before you start reading. If you enjoyed the finale and are the kind of person whose mood (and in turn opinions) can be affected by those of others if they don’t match their own, don’t read on. Unfollow me, because a lot of what I post or reblog from now until I stop using this account will not be positive.

I envy any of you who loved the finale, as I mentioned yesterday, because this show has been really close to my heart, and I wouldn’t want to be the person who ruins those memories for you because I know how easy it is to change your mind about how you feel about something if everyone (or at least the majority) around you doesn’t feel the same way as you. If I were you, I would guard my feelings fiercely (if I were content with the finale) and keep away from all accounts that might make me second guess my views. However, if you are interested and can tolerate diverse views, or if you share the same frustrations as me, you’re welcome to read on!

Starting with the positives, things I liked about the finale:

The music. It really did make it feel like a movie, and I got the feeling that it would be a very special episode (which I was proven wrong about shortly after).

Ali and Emily with their adorable girls. That made me smile.

“I may not be able to see, but I can smell a BITCH from a mile away.” I really don’t need to say more on this except that this has probably become my favourite line of the whole series.

Mona getting her happy ending and winning the game.

SPOBY SCENES! I’m not a crazy shipper (haleb is my favourite) but spoby won my whole heart that episode. The scene where Spencer and Toby are the only ones outside before she asks if she can join him in his room, the exchange that happens and the playing of the scrabble, and the scene where Toby recognises Spencer from Alex were just perfection.

Wine moms. I could have used more of that in the episode.

The way we found out about A.D. Despite not being a fan of the reveal, I thought that was pretty epic and clever.

The flashback of Alex and Charlotte. That was the only part where I got slightly teary-eyed when I found out what the Patsy Cline connection was.

Where it all went wrong (which was, most of it for me):

The time dedicated to the mystery was so little (and no, I don’t count Alex pretending to be Spencer mystery oriented because there was no information given to us at the time) that I felt like Marlene forgot she was writing a FINALE. It didn’t feel like a finale. I never felt on the edge of my seat. I was never scared for Spencer, nor Ezra.

The one year time jump was so useless and done only for the purpose of making emison (fans of a RELATIONSHIP, not mystery which the show has been built on) fans happy by getting them to see their babies. What was the point of the time jump for the mystery? You’re telling me A.D. took a year off, chilled, saw Ezria were to be married a year later, and decided it was time to take Spencer’s life? Why didn’t Alex do that before? It doesn’t make sense. Again, an utterly stupid decision to flash-forward a year.

The British accent. I got really annoyed by it because I didn’t find it believable at all. Some might say it is just because we weren’t used to hearing Troian speak that way but that’s not the case. We saw Archer drop his phony American accent in 6x20 but that helped form his character because it not only worked, but because Huw is British it was done well too. I understand the reasoning behind wanting Alex to sound Essex-like (how Troian described it) but I couldn’t stop ignoring the accent, and couldn’t try to understand Alex beyond it. The_pll_sherlock on Instagram explains it perfectly here: “Whenever either one of us expresses our disdain for Alex’s accent, we get dozens of comments educating us on class. So here’s a clearer explanation of what we’re saying. By a Londoner: No one’s suggesting that Troian should have adopted a more upper-middle accent! 😂 Julian’s accent IRL is hardly “posh” & wouldve been perfect for Alex. I can’t imagine that anyone actually from London would call what we heard true Cockney. As for Essex…two things. Essex isn’t actually in London & it’s not ‘working class’ as many have suggested. But all of this is irrelevant because the reason why we point it out is - as we’ve both said multiple times - that IT WAS DISTRACTING 😩. It felt cartoonish. I found it a little upsetting as I was jolted out of the story every time she spoke.” My point is, Marlene shouldn’t have chosen Alex to be British. Andrea managed to play Mary flawlessly without changing her accent. She used her aesthetic, facial expressions and body language to make us believe in Mary. If the same choice was made for Alex, I may have believed in her. 

This links in with my previous point but just the way Alex Drake was developed and played. I kid you not when A.D. was revealed, for most of the finale I was expecting her to take her mask off. We didn’t get enough backstory and not nearly enough flashbacks. We were promised a heart-breaking story but they failed to deliver it. Yes, it is horrible that Mary sold her and she lived on the streets and grew up without a family BUT we didn’t really see Alex feeling remorse over it. She found everything she did humorous, like someone with too much time and money on their hands. She didn’t show emotion, and that’s why I struggled to believe she was a real person. They didn’t humanise her. Why weren’t we shown a flashback of Alex visiting Charlotte’s grave? Why weren’t we shown the harsh details of the difficult life she lived? Why weren’t we shown flashbacks of her with Wren, Archer and Charlotte?

I’ve mentioned this before here that in my opinion, Troian was the wrong choice to play the ultimate villain on the show. I love her to death but I could not picture her pulling this off successfully. To play a villain well, you have to make the audience somewhat fear your character, or fear for the character in danger because of them, which didn’t happen for me. I found Alex to be comical rather than a villain I could take seriously. There are many other cast members who in my opinion were a much better fit to play a villain. I’m talking about Sasha, Janel, Torrey, Tammin, Vanessa and Ian. First 5 actors in particular, are probably the best out of the entire cast.    

There were not nearly enough clues pointing to Alex. Marlene kept on saying 7B has tonnes of clues. WHAT CLUES?? I found nothing aside from the Wren and Toby scene that pointed towards Spencer having a twin. Even those scenes only make Spencer shady. The_pll_sherlock again, explains my point well: “When you say “I knew it” or when Marlene talks about leaving eggshells, all I think is “well, yes, everyone SAW the strangeness of Spencer.” But those weren’t real clues. There was absolutely nothing pointing to the ENGLISHNESS of a twin (other than Troian’s interview with the bros, but no one thought that then lol) or to other aspects of her story. And that’s why Twincer made no sense. We all saw the physical signs Troian was giving us, but they seemed (and SEEM) random & irrelevant to the plot. It’s probably also why a lot of Twincer supporters aren’t happy, despite being right. You were sure it would be her (even though you could never have guessed the “why”….which was just handed to you). I had a similar problem with the CeCe reveal. But at least in her case, we could see clues in previous seasons. There are clues pointing to Spencer having a twin, yes. #shadowhastings. But Marlene didn’t try to weave them in; there’s nothing referring to Alex until season 7. Remember Mona? Clues pointed to the 'who’ AND the 'why’”. There were probably more clues for people who weren’t A.D. than for Alex herself.

Inconsistencies were also a huge issue for me, as were character choices in the finale. Alex’s motive was to find and punish Charlotte’s killer yet instead of doing that she recruits Mona to help her in her final game against her sister who has NOTHING to do with Charlotte’s death. You expect me to believe that Alex, who has probably grown up without the privileges of most people, would use the carissimi money, not to build herself a better life but to buy supplies (for spying, the board game) for torturing the girls?? Black hoodies. We see Alex throwing them away and then buying new uniforms, saying she hides in plain sight yet we see her wearing the hoody numerous times in season 7. How does that make any sense?

Mary Drake. Why didn’t she tell Spencer she had a twin? Why was she working for her if she cared so much for Spencer? Why was she at the blind school when Alex shot Spencer? Her character makes no sense to me anymore.

Interviews

This was the thing that let me down the most - lies and building false expectations of fans. Setting aside Marlene comments (because we know by this point she lies as much as she breathes), Keegan lied in SO many interviews claiming, the reveal makes the show “rewatable”, it “ties a lot of plot points” and “it’s so clearly in every episode.” Lucy said it’s “the real A”, Janel said clues are “sprinkled throughout the series”, Ashley said this person has been behind “all of this” and “for the last 7 years.” Not a single of those statements is true, or close to it. Why would you say that, I want to ask these people. You literally told us to expect this explosive reveal that’ll tie all 7 seasons AND clues will go all the way back, and now knowing that they don’t no wonder so many of us are deeply hurt by it. All that time theorising, rewatching the whole series the way I did, I’ll never get back the time that I wasted. Even when I go back to rewatch the show (I don’t even know when that’ll happen), I’ll never be able to watch an episode the same way again. Plot holes will remain just that, and I will forever dwell on the missed opportunities in the plot lines that would have made the show end amazingly.

Marlene didn’t write this finale for us that began watching this show to find out what happened to Alison, she wrote it for those who have been cheering on the problematic Ezria romance ever since their famous kiss in the bathroom. She wrote it for those who wanted Emison together despite the fact that Alison is not a good person. The saddest thing of all is, Marlene and her team of writers forgot about the people who made this show what it became, and she forgot what Pretty Little liars was really about - a mystery.