#it shouldn't bother me as much as it does

[thebreakfastgenie]

I don't think this binary does active harm, I think this binary is a way of describing a system (patriarchy) that does active harm. It's not a perfect way of describing it, but there isn't really a perfect way. That used to bother me a lot more but then I got grad school brained and learned that conceptual models are just that, models, so even good ones will be imperfect and that's not that big a deal as long as you acknowledge limitations of the model.

I know it's deeply unsatisfying but the answer literally is "it depends." Tumblr went really hard on "men do not experience sexism/misogyny" about ten years ago and I understand why, because MRAs constantly pop up to insist the world hates men. But the reality is more complicated, and we never really got past patriarchy 101 on tumblr. When you're talking about these dynamics, most of the time perception matters much more than real identity, because the issue is with how society treats you. Of course trans men who don't pass experience misogyny, and all trans men experience misogyny pre-transition. I think trans men are in a uniquely frustrating and hard to define place in patriarchy, but misaimed misogyny is not unprecedented. Gender non-conforming cis men can experience misogyny too, along with homophobia, whether they're actually gay or not. "Passing" exists in other contexts besides gender and the same dynamic plays out. Inclusion in any privileged class may be conditional and the definitions of any privileged class may change over time. The definition of "white" in an American context has changed several times in the history of the United States. A lot of Jewish people of European descent don't easily fit into a white/not white binary, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't talk about race and the system of white supremacy in society.

Models like this are really for describing systems of power, which means they don't work nearly as well at the individual level. The point is not a flowchart to determine if you are a man or not and sort you into the correct category. There are situations where people will be sorted according to gender, of course, and those are necessary because of inequities created by patriarchy. I think the solution to that problem is just to be okay with exceptions. The human experience is too vast and beautiful to conform to any system. But we can say, okay, the purpose of this space is safety for people most impacted by systemic misogyny, and make decisions that way. Trans men may find their identity as men is more relevant in some contexts and their experiences with misogyny are more relevant in others. Again, the root of this problem is the patriarchy itself.

I'm curious about how this distinction could possibly be used to exclude people from the queer community. I'm not aware of any systemic denial that queer men exist, so being defined as a man or not should not affect a person's inclusion in the queer community.

There is no way of combatting patriarchy without defining the class of people it benefits. That class is men.

"you're either a man or a non-man" good lord you people just keep reinventing the binary over and over and over again, you are obsessed. let go already

[yuurei20]

Updated Sebek Facts Part 12: Socializing (pt1)

At the beginning of Book 7 Lilia asks Ace and Deuce about Sebek, saying that he does not seem to have made any friends at the school in the 6 months since he left Briar Valley and Ace days, “He is kind of a loner…He insults people like, ALL the time. He even says stuff right to my face…And he always finds some way to make every subject about Malleus, then drones on and on about how great he is…I can see why people would idolize him. But, like, you don't have to make it your entire personality, y'know?”

Ace asks if Lilia wants them to be friends with them and Lilia says no, he wouldn’t ask that, but he would like the two card soldiers to give him a little nudge if they happen to notice him ever stuck during his time at NRC.

Deuce asks if it wouldn’t make more sense to ask them to help him and Lilia responds, “If the people here willingly accepted the hands proffered to them, they wouldn't have been chosen by the Dark Mirror.”

Lilia then presents Sebek to the first-year group, encouraging him to take the opportunity of the farewell party to bond with students from other dorms. Sebek’s response is that he does not have the slightest intention of being friends with such “shallow” people, as there is no need to be chummy with feeble humans who are naught but dead weight.

Deuce says that Sebek is embarrassing Lilia but Sebek responds, “What’s wrong with saying it like it is?,” telling them to be grateful to Lilia for being a kind soul and that they had better not let it go to their heads.

(Sebek's straightforwardness may have been inspired by the sword of truth: he is often repeating that he is merely speaking the truth.)

Lilia tells him that his future prospects are dim if he is already so stubborn at such a young age, the very picture of his grandfather, and that he has a golden opportunity to speak with people who have different viewpoints from his own: “The world's a far bigger place than you seem to realize. There's much to learn.”

When asked why "mediocre humans" bother him so much if he has already written them all off Sebek says, "Because I can't stand them making things harder for me!"

He gives the example of Ace and Deuce bickering in the library, and, when chastised, insisting that Sebek help with their assignment.

Trey thanks Sebek for helping Heartslabyul first-year students and Sebek responds, "You're not supposed to THANK me! Aren't you the Heartslabyul vice housewarden?! I shouldn't HAVE to look out for them. You clearly need to set a better example!"

[mr-s33k]

Every Historical Inaccuracy in TGS part 1

In this episode of Enoch is a nerd, I'm going to tell you about the little details that aren't quite right so they can now bother you too.

First thing to be discussed is the police.

All in all not an awful representation. I can't really see their collars because of the cloaks which I can't say are exactly uniform regulation because I can't find any photos of cops with coats on from the 1880s. The sleeves are missing a bit of stripy-ness and their belts are missing the buckle but like I said, not bad.

The police are the only notable thing in the first chapter so on to chapter two!

This carriage shouldn't even really be big enough for Henry and wolf form Jasper, much less all those cages.

These are roughly the same as the carriage they're riding in albeit much less glamorous. You really only have enough room for yourself and maybe one other person. The space in here is more akin to what you'd get in a train which. is very not where they are.

Now this one will be shocking to you,

but Neil Degrasse Tyson was not alive in 1886.

This thing indeed. That's not very Victorian Marketing of you. I do know it wasn't intended to be accurate though so it gets my approval.

One does not simply go to the theatre this is the 19th century we're not animals we have standards! You can't just go in your casual clothes you have to dress up! At least Jekyll is wearing gloves but they've both severely neglected the procedure of Going Out.

Where did she even GET this dress? It follows none of the trends of the 1880s or. any time ever really. I'll be talking about character design more in another post but since she's not a main character I thought I'd go for it.

The term lesbian would not be popularized until the start of second-wave feminism in the mid to late 20th century. You're a little early Hyde but he's got the spirit. Hyde probably would've used the word "sapphic" in this instance because that was the more popular term. The term "lesbian" wouldn't appear in a medical publication until 1890.

The police station is so... tall and fancy? This isn't the usual 19th century police station look, they were pretty straight forward and simple and only one floor tall. I'm also wondering where they got the funding for this.

Now I've made a post on this one before but I'll say it again for the people in the back

This is not the procedure you follow to ask someone to dance in the 19th century. Typically you do not dance with women you've just met (unless you're flirting, which Jekyll doesn't do). They also skipped the step of filling out her dance card.

Dance cards were these nifty little slips of paper given to women at balls, much like the one Henry is attending. They looked like this:

Usually they would be attached to a woman's dress or wrist. They would be filled out throughout the evening by the different people she danced with. Henry didn't even ask for hers. Masher behavior. You're telling me he asked a woman he just met to dance and didn't even fill out her dance card? What a creep.

Now I can understand why Sage wouldn't add that detail and it's completely reasonable to assume there was a cut between him asking her and them dancing but the more important issue here is that they're Not Wearing Gloves. Their hands are touching someone call a doctor I just broke my 19th century sensibilities they now need to be amputated they're holding bands premaritally what is this I thought he was a gentleman.

I would like everyone to take note however that the gloves issue makes this scene more romantic

Robert's collar is unbuttoned and they're not wearing gloved Henry must've been loosing his mind.

please reblog this or at least like it I crave validation

[shittygothbitch]

>

[amethystina]

Hi there <3!

I hope you’re doing well! I was wondering if I could ask you a couple of questions from the fanfics ask game. Here:

13. How much planning do you do before writing?

18. What’s one of your favorite lines you’ve written in a fic?

19. Give us a small teaser from one of your WIPs.

22. Do you know how your fic will end before you start writing?

27. Is there a fic you were nervous to post/share? Why?

Happy New Year! May this year bring you success, happiness, and good health. Wishing you and your loved ones a prosperous and joyful 2024!

Hi there, darling! 💜

13. How much planning do you do before writing?

It varies. For shorter fics like oneshots I usually start when I have the concept and a sketchy grasp on what I want to accomplish with it. Maybe I have a couple of scenes in mind and the ending, but it's all pretty undefined still. Since the fic is meant to be short, I don't waste too much time on plotting and planning.

For longer fics, I try to be more careful with my planning. Though "planning" might not be the most accurate term. It sounds way more structured than what I'm actually doing, which is basically just thinking about the fic for a couple of days/weeks/months before finally deciding that I'm ready to start it. I rarely write anything down — like notes and such — but I do spend a little more time trying to figure out the structure and what events I want to occur, as well as the themes and plots to address. Since the story is meant to be longer, I need to make sure that the pacing and plot actually last long enough to make the story plausible. Or that it doesn't drag on forever, for that matter. Both would be undesirable.

But, just like with my endings, I like to keep things pretty open so while I always have a general idea of where I'm going, I try to leave gaps for changes and unexpected bursts of inspiration. This may seem like a bit of a risk but I seem to have an innate ability to gauge pacing and how to plot the actions and events to make the fics rewarding (except, perhaps, for Who Holds the Devil — which I have completely given up on at this point 🤣)

I'm lucky enough that I don't actually have to plan all that much and can still write engaging and well-plotted fics. It's very neat.

18. What’s one of your favourite lines you’ve written in a fic?

I've already gotten this question so I'm taking this as an opportunity to showcase another section of writing I'm very proud of. It's more than one line, I know, but cutting it off wouldn't do it justice. This is from Who Holds the Devil and is, quite possibly, one of the most poetic and pretentious pieces of writing I've ever written but, by god, do I love it:

Something within Ga On resonated with the darkness and secrets that hid at Yo Han's core. Like a constant pull, a taut thread of tension, tying them together. Drawing them closer, making them align. Like a steady hum of rightness that left ripples long after they parted, reverberating inside Ga On until his very essence seemed to change frequency.

Until the only thing that mattered was that resonance — to feel the faint, lingering echoes of Yo Han.

19. Give us a small teaser from one of your WIPs.

This one is honestly very tricky because I don't have much to show, I'm afraid. I have many WIPs, yes, but nothing written on the ones I think people are the most interested in. Or nothing finished at least.

But, uh, here's a snippet from that chapter of The Gentle Light that I'm slowly ambling my way through. Because some Yo Han is always nice, I guess?

___

It hadn't been like this before Ga On.

Back then, everything had been easy, Yo Han's goals crystal clear — the road ahead of him winding but carefully mapped. He'd known exactly where he was heading and how to get there. He'd maintained an iron grip on his emotions, never hesitating, never faltering. There had been no room for doubt, let alone gentleness or compassion. Everything had been under his control.

And now it wasn't.

Now, the sight of a couple of withering plants was enough to throw Yo Han off balance, his chest tight with concern. His emotions surged without his consent, the taste of guilt lingering on the back of his tongue, acrid and distracting.

Yo Han was no longer in control.

And he loathed that. Some part of him even loathed Ga On for having taken that control from him. For having such power over Yo Han — power Yo Han couldn't remember giving him. The thought of it made Yo Han's skin crawl, his instincts screaming at him to face the threat, to challenge it, to seize it, to destroy it.

But he couldn't, could he?

Because while Kim Ga On was a threat, he was also what Yo Han wanted most of all.

22. Do you know how your fic will end before you start writing?

Copy-pasted answer from a previous ask with the same question:

Nine times out of ten, yes. I don't always know the journey there or the exact details of the ending, but I always know what point I want to reach before I start. That said, I'm not against certain things changing as I go along and, more than once, I've tweaked the events of the ending because I ended up exploring something in the middle that I then had to tie into the ending.

So while I know the general idea of what I want, I keep it loose enough that I can change it as I go along. I would feel too hindered if I didn't. The one time I did try to plan it in detail to the very end was my first fanfic The Thunder Moon Chronicles because that's what I was told that I should do. But I found that around 60% of the last instalment had to be altered compared to my original plan, simply because the story had evolved in a way I couldn't predict when I first structured it.

That's not to say that I ever lost track or control of it — I am very much in control the entire time I write — but rather that new and better ideas kept popping up as I was writing it and I wasn't stupid enough to discard them just because they weren't in my original plan. Sometimes, the story just has to be allowed to evolve, otherwise it might feel stilted or stagnate (or at least that's the case for me).

27. Is there a fic you were nervous to post/share? Why?

The first fic in a new fandom is always nerve-wracking to post. Because I don't know the fandom, don't know if I've gotten the characters or tone right, don't know how it will be received, and don't know if I'll regret sharing it. I never have, though, so, by now, I know that anxiety is just me being silly. Usually, it passes once the first chapter is posted 😆

Sometimes, I also worry if people will even bother to read the fics, especially when they're too niche. I was pretty nervous when I started posting Autonomy, for example. Not only because it was my first fanfic in the Winteriron fandom, but also because it was a super long space opera and I had no idea if anyone would even be interested in it. The fandom was really small at the time so it felt like the story might be too specific. But, as always, I needn't have worried.

Another fic I was kind of nervous to post was Until Death Do Us Unite simply for how utterly unhinged it is. Like, seriously. Hallucinations? Gaslighting? Necrophilia? What even? I'm pretty sure I'm on some sort of list now, after having written that. And I did consider posting it from my secret AO3 account instead but, in the end, I decided I was too proud of the fic to hide it.

And yes, I have a secret AO3 account that I intended to use for fics I didn't want to post under the Amethystina screen name for one reason or another. But, so far, I haven't actually posted anything (so don't worry — there are no hidden fics out there that you've missed 😛). Partly because the fics I planned to post there were never finished, but also because I just... ended up talking myself into posting those that were finished on my main account instead.

We'll see if I ever end up using it. I admit that I have a guilty-pleasure ship that I kind of want to write for right now and, if I did, I might feel inclined to put it on that account instead. But I'm holding back simply because I don't have the time to start new fanfics, let alone in a completely different fandom. Especially a fandom that has enough lore, history, and world-building to fill literal books. Ain't nobody got time for that.

Anyhow! Thank you so much for the ask! I wish you the best possible 2025 as well! Please take care 💜

Fanfic Writer Asks

[vimbry-moved]

"this tmbg song doesn't actually have a deeper meaning"

yes yes yes

"all of tmbg's songs are silly nonsense with no deeper meaning"

no no no no no no

[n3-x-us]

Hi i'm going on a huge rant I know I should do it on the tsams confession thing but I'd rather do it on my own blog

Absolutely no hate to the creators by the way, this is just stuff that ticks me off :3

Completely fine if you like the stuff I stated!

VA's if you somehow see this uhhhh please ignore this entire post

I want to rewrite ruin's character as a whole so hes just canonical eclipse

Sadly no jigsaw but at least it isn't whats happening on tsams

God i want to go on a huge rant about how much i despise whats happening with the lore to get it off my chest but i just know that some people will take ir the wrong way and assume I want it to change and I hate tsams as a whole

I don't hate it as a whole but i dp kind of wish to say this

It kind of feels like that after the ruin dlc released that what the creators had planned was changed from it- for one their reaction to canonical eclipse, which was them saying 'no' over him being nice- and the fact that ruin i think was originally supposed to be canon eclipse with how he acted after being 'cured'

Does it feel like they hate canon eclipse or at least dislike him? Yes, yes it does

Does it feel like the lore is rushed a bit now? Honetsly kinda

Is the excessive amount of angst overwhelming? For me at least, it is (hence why i've stopped watching and moved to laes)

Also it would be so refreshing if it didn't seem like this was the whoke "all eclipses are bad but solar" because i know thats not true

A character does not need to have a bad backstory to be rude or nice or whateverz but it feels like that way in tsams which ticks me off so much FOR INSTANCE, BASICALLY THE ENTIRE FAMILY

They could've turned out rude but didn't because THEY CHOSE NOT TO

I think i rememver ruin saying that solar was a rare eclipse but idk if thats bc hes nice or bc of the change but if its bc hes nice im gonna scream

Uhm uhm what else uuhhhhdhdhdhhe

Oh yeah the fact that ruin straight up doesn't give a shit about his actions it pisses me off

He watched his friends suffer for ages, and you'd think hed have some remorse because he wouldm't want that to happen to anyone else, but nope! Bro he seemingly didn't evej care when all the family was greiving

YOU'D THINK AFTER THE TIME HE'D SPEND WITH THEM HE'D CARE ECEN THE SLIGJTEST

SURE THEY'RE FROM DIFFERENT AUS BUT HE WAS AROUND THEM LONG ENOUGH TO AT LEAST CARE ABOUT WHAT HIS ACTIONS WOULD CAUSE

Dude i really do hope the VA's don't find this i feel bad enough making this post but i gotta let off some steam 😭 if they see it i'll just feel worse than before

[torchmlp]

So in my most recent playthrough of The Quarry, I noticed something in the freezer.

Why is there a random ass half-eaten jar of pickles, in the fucking freezer? Like, a fridge makes sense, but a freezer? Please tell me I'm not the only one who thinks that's weird.

[hunnyy-bunnyyy]

The phrase "I am the rock against which the surf crashes" is such a foreboding sentence, especially when it's used in an inspirational context.

The rock the surf is crashing against is deteriorating. It's loosing itself to the persistent might of the waves. It's not like a sand dune that'll reform somewhere else, the rock just becomes bits of sediment scattered amongst other bits of sediment. The rock's sediment is getting broken down and tossed around by the ocean's current.

How is that inspirational? The rock doesn't reform when it's broken. The rock is eroded into millions of tiny bits of itself that will go millennia without meeting again. The rock is constantly getting worn down until it disappears under the water's surface. The rock isn't getting better, it's perpetually getting worse.

Being the surf crashing against the rock is infinitely more inspirational. The surf is persistent. The surf is fluid. The surf may be weak one day, but it will get stronger. Parts of the water will evaporate, but it'll never lose its strength.

You are the surf, not the rock. You are strong and you will overcome all obstacles.

[iregreteverythingpleasehelpme]

nooo my younger brother is turning into a fortnite bro :(((((((((((( he played it for hours today after getting it hes so sweet and small i dont want him to be like the guys in my class who play till 3am and waste all their money on v bucks

[sovamurka]

minor mistakes on timebomb shipping wiki page makes me wanna go and sign in so I could edit the page and correct those mistakes because I don't want our fandom to have a misinformation problem 😑

[geddy-leesbian]

Trying so hard to not have a mental breakdown on main over something stupid

[shakebelton]

every morning i wake up and thank god i didn't even know what shevine was in 2019. i was already having a shitty year, i wouldn't have been able to handle the meltdown of everyone on twitter screaming how terrible blake was for some reason. and the reason of course was that blake chose gwen, which was also a fake pr relationship, over adam, who was apparently in love with him so much that he couldn't stay on the voice anymore. not anything normal like that perhaps adam was burned out for reasons completely unrelated to blake and didn't let blake know in advance that he was leaving.

so i guess what i'm saying is that fandom delusion is a hell of a thing and i've experienced it before and that shit is enough for a lifetime even if you go through it once, so happy "i found out about shevine only in late 2022" to me, all day every day.

anyway read my 2019 fix-it fic where adam does in fact talk to blake in advance about wanting to leave the show, because i'm once again thinking about it and feeling glad i wrote it.

[e3khatena]

The most irritating part of their cringe-ass Disney Y2K show advertisement gimmick is that their "1999"-era post options are very clearly inspired by Mid-2000s skeuomorphism than any semblance of the actual era's Internet. These are like buttons you'd see in Windows XP or Vista. This is what the iPhone 3GS looked like.

[7nsomnia]

I've realised that dc's cb is feeling like it's catering a lot to the male gaze and I think that's the biggest reason why I'm not really into it

[lynxgirlpaws]

Was in the middle of scratching my own chin (as you do since no one is there to do it for me) when I. Y'know. Remembered the whole facial hair thing. And now I'm a bit less than pleased.