#it's like comparing apples & oranges because both are fruits

[dhurrbyang]

some of y'all will literally say that you hate the booktok videos that lumps books by tropes and then turn around and judge said books by those said tropes because *checks notes* you trust the recommendation style of the people who you criticize of having bad media literacy.

[briarpatch-kids]

Whenever you say something about ableism against wheelchair users specifically, they're always like "I'm disabled too uwu" and it's like, immediately obvious that they're not a wheelchair user because they wouldn't have been intentionally vague about it. There's a big difference between the experiences of someone with food allergies and someone who uses a wheelchair. Its not that one is worse or something, they're just totally different types of disabilities and you can't compare apples to oranges just because they're both fruit. We're being denied a place at the table for entirely different reasons.

[glitter-stained]

Another day another ask mysteriously disappearing from my inbox when i'm about to hit post on the reply

Anyway the question was basically "what do you think of the "Jason isn't able to get over his death while bruce is capable of forgiving joe chill and sitting by him as he dies" take and doesn't it sound a little like the "everybody died he ain't special " take?"

Why yes. Yes it does sound like that. My thoughts on that idea, in no particular order:

- it's almost 2025 are we still placing moral judgement on characters based on the comparison between how they're enduring their trauma what happened to the universal singularity of human suffering what happened to not comparing apples and bananas weren't we taught not to do that in elementary school

-Is this about the Three Joker comics? It sounds like it is, anyway uh that comics is not mainline (and has pretty shitty writing imo), in mainline even in his least flattering runs (ie Battle for the Cowl) Jason hasn't gone postal because of his death in a while (in BTFC it was Bruce's death and the mention of the "unresolved dark horrors of his childhood" triggering a bad parody of some sort of psychotic break) so like i guess criticizing Jason for something he isn't doing is kinda strange

-if anything Bruce is the one "not over" Jason's death considering the flashback he had right at the beginning of Failsafe arc (though of course demanding he just gets over the trauma of holding his dead son's corpse is just as absurd as demanding Jason gets over the trauma of having died)

-honestly staying by Chill's side as he died was pretty cool and heroic on Bruce's part, totally agreed, that was badass of him to not let him die alone despite his trauma. That being said can we please stop tying morality to the concept of forgiveness? Implying there's a goodness of heart to forgiving/getting over your trauma is weird, it way too puch pressure on the victim, we should stop with the "good victim/bad victim" narrative, martyrdom culture is harmful. If forgiving Chill helped Bruce, cool for him, Jason is in no obligation to forgive Joker, and also Bruce forgiving Chill =/= staying by his side as he died, those are two separate things

-if we're comparing coping we have to compare resources, what does Jason's support system at that time compared to Bruce? Should we make a tally to see who has more friends especially close ones? We both know who will win but also that it's a completely stupid and pointless arrangement, how many apples and oranges must we compare before we conceptualize that it's not the same fruit?

-in terms of personal taste, I find placing moral judgement on characters is about the least interesting analysis angle I can imagine, like, congrats, you've established Angel McPerfect is a better person than Asshole McInteresting! Now multiply me by one and subtract zero.

-kinda hilarious to criticise Jason for not getting over his death and compare that to the coping of a man who dresses as a bat to cope with something that happened thirty years ago. Like if he's so over his trauma why is he wearing pointy ears

-also, obviously, the idea that characters should just "get over their trauma" is insanely dumb. Trauma is like a wound. It can scar, if treated properly, and then the scar will always be there. Imagine telling someone they should get cosmetic surgery because "we get it, you got stabbed, you don't have to shove it in my face every time I look at you." Or telling someone whose wound got infected "why can't you be more like this guy? Look, his stab wound is all healed nice and clean by now. It's like you're not even trying !"

Anyway I hope that answers your question and you have a good day anon, I agree with you that that take is weird, I truly don't understand the reasoning beside "i don't like jason". Idk maybe these people just need to...chill.

[gemsofgreece]

How to follow a Mediterranean Greek diet

The Mediterranean diet naturally expands throughout the coastal countries of South Europe, North Africa and the Middle East but there are some small differences between their cuisines. So here I am writing specifically about the Greek version of the Mediterranean diet, known for its delicious, natural flavours and its significant health benefits.

Eat daily:

Olive oil: the pillar, the liquid green gold of the Mediterranean Greek diet. Olive oil should be used ideally exclusively for all purposes. It's dressing salads, it's used in cooking and in fact it's traditionally what is used in frying too. Replace all types of oils, butter and margarine with olive oil even when making pastries. The only problem here is that outside of the Mediterranean basin olive oil can be pricey, however that's the foundation the diet is based on. If you are interested in following the traditional Greek diet for taste or health purposes, it is good to really incorporate olive oil in your daily cooking. If it’s not possible to afford buying olive oil all the time (although you could balance it out by not buying other oils and butter), a non-Greek-typical but equivalent alternative could be avocado oil. However, I doubt avocado oil or any other oil can remotely compare to olive oil in health properties, taste or in any other positive quality 🫒

Vinegar: Just like olive oil, vinegar is a very important ingredient and is also used in natural remedies However, it can hurt a sensitive GI tract if consumed in large portions. A little bit of it added to meals frequently is very healthy. Apple cider vinegar is also very loved and used in salads often 🍇

Vegetables: no portion can be too much (wild greens, garlic, onions, cauliflowers, cucumbers, eggplants, beets, peppers, spinach, artichokes, zucchini, peas, lettuce, the list never ends). Tomatoes and broccoli are recent additions to the Greek diet however they were integrated perfectly to the Greek cuisine. In general, all vegetables can be enjoyed freely with some moderation in the potatoes, especially when fried 🥗

Fruits: grapes, berries, apples, melons, cherries, figs, prunes, sour cherries, peaches, pomegranates are the most historically loved fruits in the Greek diet. Since the middle ages citruses like the orange, the lemon and the mandarin are more and more loved. Greeks nowadays use lemon almost more than vinegar and both have become integral components of the Greek diet. Obviously, tropical fruits like, say, banana, mango, grapefruit are not present in the traditional Greek diet, however all fruits are good fruits and you can enjoy them freely 🍎

Legumes. Eat freely to the tolerance of your body. Legumes can be too heavy for some GI tracts. Legumes are a great source of protein and fibre. Choose brown lentils, white beans, fava beans, chickpeas, giant beans and black eyed peas the most 🫘

Nuts, seeds: almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, peanuts etc. Eat as much as your body can take, because everybody is different 🥜

Mushrooms: mushroom it up! A great healthy way to have them is grilled with herbs and plain or apple cider vinegar dressing 🍄‍🟫

Whole grains: this is the traditional way to eat grains. Brown bread, oats, whole wheat pasta 🌾

Fish and seafood: find and eat them fresh. Instead of buying them deep frozen from the big markets, find local fish stores if your place is coastal and has them. Eat both large but especially small and medium sized fish. Some fish like salmon and tuna should ideally not be consumed daily due to their high levels of mercury and fats 🐟🎣🍤

Herbs and spices. Feel free to use as much as you want however if you are interested also in the flavours of the Greek diet besides the health benefits, a tip is that Greek dishes do not contain extremely hot spices 🌿

Water: A lot of water daily and, mind you, plain clear mineral water. No flavoured water, definitely not sparkling water and ideally no other liquids in place of the water. I mean, sure you can have liquids but you should ALSO have plain water 💧

Eat a few times per week:

Poultry: Poultry and lean meats entered the Greek cuisine mostly after the Middle Ages however they are nowadays enjoyed as part of the Greek Mediterranean diet because they are tasty and healthier than other types of meat. Chicken has become especially popular in the Greek cuisine. Other birds are the pheasant, the quail, the turkey and more sparsely the duck 🍗

Eggs: eggs are healthy and should be consumed a few times per week but not daily because they can cause a rise in cholesterol levels 🥚

Dairy: Greeks LOVE dairy products, especially the various types of cheese, however they are often irritating to the GI tract and they are linked with rises in the level of inflammation in the body. This is why you should ideally limit them to a few times per week. One exception is the yoghurt, which is fermented and can be perhaps consumed more frequently due to its beneficial properties. Important note: if you want to follow the Greek diet, you should ideally opt for milk and other dairy products from goats and sheep! Cow milk is not traditionally used in the Greek cuisine often and sheep and goat milk are significantly healthier and more nutritious. The only drawback is the stronger smell, however if you can get past that, it is strongly advised to switch to those instead of cow milk. Another note: what is known as “Greek yoghurt” in western countries is not in fact a true Greek yoghurt. What you call Greek yoghurt is to us simply a strained yoghurt, a yoghurt from which the whey has been removed. Sometimes in western markets (and in Greek “modern” dessert yoghurt products) butterfat and powdermilk is added to them and they are mostly made of cow’s milk. Again, a traditional Greek yoghurt is made of sheep, goat milk or a mix of both and is unstrained. It also has a trademark thickened skin on its top (dunno if this is the actual term lol) which is in fact the part of the yoghurt that contains the most nutrients and personally it’s the tastiest part of the yoghurt but apparently it is not for everyone. As an example, a study showed that an unstrained sheep yoghurt has more protein, more omega-3 fatty acids and minerals yet fewer calories and fats than a strained cow yoghurt 🍦🧀

Wine: in small portions, like a small glass up to a few times per week and always in combination with your meal. You don’t drink it to get hammered, you drink it for the health benefits it has in very moderate quantities and for the reasonable mild euphoria it causes before it becomes harmful. The GI tract is linked to the brain and is detrimentally influenced by negative emotions. This is why it is important to try to be in a good mood, relaxed and peaceful when you sit down to eat. A sip of wine now and then can be good for that 🍷

Eat once per week or ideally less:

Red meat like pork or beef. In fact, beef should be the one most avoided not only because it is indeed the rarest of the common meats used in traditional Greek cuisine but also because you can’t separate the fat from the meat as easily as with pork. To follow the Greek style in a healthy way opt for goat, then lamb or pork and make beef your most occasional meat dish 🥩

Processed meats should be eaten rarely. If you are in a mood for it though, opt for Greek style sausages with herbs in or bacon at most. Cured meats like ham are better to be avoided but turkey is the healthiest of them. They are not a part of a traditional Greek cuisine though.

Refined grains can be enjoyed weekly but should not replace whole grains

Pastries. What’s new, pastries are not ideal for health. However, if you are yearning for something sweet, if you want to keep it healthy as much as possible in the “Greek way”, opt for desserts made of healthy ingredients like honey, nuts, olive oil and fruits. Chocolate came to Greece in the 19th century, however it has become an integral part of confectionery since then. Opt ideally for dark chocolate, combined with nuts or fruits such as oranges and prunes. Greeks especially love chocolate combined with nuts.

Soft and sugary drinks. Avoid them overall, especially the processed products in the markets. If you need a sweet drink really bad, you can keep it traditional by making your own sweet lemonade, sour cherry, pomegranate etc drink at home. You could also enjoy small quantities of lemon or mastic liquors which are good for digestion.

BONUS TIPS & PHILOSOPHY:

Try to find mastic if it’s available where you live. The mastic is a resin produced from the mastic tree, a species endemic to the Greek island of Chios and a small part of the opposite coast of Turkey. It has numerous beneficial properties, especially for digestion and gut health, and it combines them with a very pleasant fresh and sweet flavour. You can find it in gums that boost digestion, in drinks, in pastries and even in non-edible products like toothpastes. Learn about it and give it a try, no matter if you are interested in following Greek diet or not.

Greek cuisine does not go berserk on as many ingredients as possible (however Greeks typically add more ingredients than, say, Italians and perhaps fewer than the Middle Easterners). Don’t worry about adding as many foods and nutrients in one single dish. The most important thing in Greek cuisine philosophy is to pick the finest ingredients. Avoid deep frozen or precooked and processed ingredients. Pick whole fruits and vegetables from your local small grocery store. For example, don’t buy a watermelon slice in a zelatin bag from the supermarket. Take the whole freaking watermelon home. You heard me right. It’s heavy, yes, but you would be surprised how much tastier and healthier it is this way. Go to the butcher for meat. Go to the specific cheese shop for cheese. Go to the fisherman for fish and seafood. Go to the pastry shop and get a nice dessert instead of buying candies from the market.

Remember that in moderation you can eat most of the foods you desire, especially if they are not processed foods. There is nothing about the Greek diet that is restrictive in terms of its philosophy - historically the intake of various foods was regulated only based on availability and price. There are no foods you should limit due to any perception of them being “bad” and you should never feel guilty the moment you are actually having the food. Just work slowly and progressively by building gradual appreciation for healthy foods and prize less nutritious foods as occasional taste bud rewards.

As said above, a good mood is crucial when you sit down to eat. In the history of the Greek society this translated into eating with friends and / or family, maybe with the occasional sip of wine, ideally in a pleasant environment and always taking your time with your food. If some of these are less feasible than others, try alternatively to improve the setting in which you eat, to eat in an environment that calms you down. Schedule your meal so that you won’t eat in anxiety or hurry, if this is possible. Think of pleasant memories and feel grateful for your food. Cheers! Or, you know, εις υγείαν!

[avocado-writing]

Kinktober 8

8. Sex Pollen/Fuck or Die, Chastity, Sexual Competition

You are going to die.

It didn’t take that first time, almost two thousand years ago when they hammered you up, but now? In this bed? Oh, this is it. You’re going to cum to death.

“One more, nightingale.”

“I can’t,” you choke. The tears have been dry for a long time, you simply have no more left in you. Now you’re just exhausted. The apex of your legs felt like it was on fire three orgasms ago and now you’re at a grand total of eight - four from each of them.

They can be utterly petty when it comes down to brass tacks. Your boys started getting under each other’s skin over something small, which turned into an argument, which turned into something they wanted to rope you into. And that became “which first time did you prefer?”

You cannot answer that question. To compare them is to compare apples to oranges, and you want a whole fruit salad. Making love to them both is so utterly different you couldn’t begin to pull at threads because it’s always better together.

They didn’t accept that answer, though. So they took you to bed.

They’ve taken turns fucking you. You’re so full of come there’s no chance of it staying inside you, now. Your hole is fucked-out and pliant, your lovers’ spend dripping from it in a sinful cocktail. Their mouths, fingers, cocks, cunts - all of them have made you come as they shift into whatever the next challenge is.

You’re boneless. You’re exhausted. You’re sure you’ve been taken in every possible way on this bed, all angles, all positions, and you can’t do it any more. You’re not certain if it was Aziraphale holding you up against the wall and pistoning into you that did it, that sex-filled slap of skin on skin; or if it was Crowley pressing his pussy down onto your face while he took deep mouthfuls of your sex which definitely already tasted like both him and the angel.

As Aziraphale moves to put his hand between your legs one more time you hiss and push him away. He immediately retreats.

“Darling?”

“No more!” you cry, throat raw from fucking and moaning. “No more. I’m done.”

And then you can cry again, and suddenly they’re either side of you, not to rut but to comfort. Aziraphale catches your hand and presses soft, feather-light kisses to it, Crowley caressing your face. A glass of water is summoned and they help you drink it, a cold washcloth pressed to your sex. You hiss and then relax as it begins to cool you down.

“We’re sorry, nightingale,” Crowley whispers, yellow eyes full of concern and care. You wave it off.

“Don’t apologise to me. I’ll be fine. Apologise to each other for being so silly. If you’re going to give me eight orgasms again I’d much prefer they were collaborative,” you say, laughing huskily. And it’s true. All is forgiven on your part; if you tap out they’ll listen. Crowley and Aziraphale lock eyes across the plains of you, the remnants of their lovemaking.

“I’m sorry, angel.”

“I’m sorry, Crowley.”

They kiss, long and slow and sincere, and you smile.

“There we go,” you hum, bringing them both to your chest to hold them tightly. “I like fruit salad.”

“What?”

“Mmm, nothing.”

@bootlmoth @elleofdragons  @angelic-anarchy27 @yeethaw13 @candlewitch-cryptic @kwyn-q @rat-that-writes @buryustogether @letthenightingalessingagain @ltlthetrifecta @angiestopit @purplefrog1sblog @wereallbrokenangels @angelspathway @clarina04 @belilwen @chaospossum @eightsdoctor @oo-delallymrcrow @silcosmoke @climbingivy97 @live-logs-and-proper @project-sad @just-a-beatlemaniac69 @imagination-phantom @anonymously35 @corgis04 @peytonpenguin37 @catlynharper @unabashedgentlemenpirate @wolfe-houler @darktealrat @mxxny-lupin @willbedecided @detectiveapparatiagreen @shadowluna25 @kaylinelizabeth4004 @xquinn-bartonx @blue-bell22 @foolishprincipalitee @fandomawesomeness @eweweweewewe @latersgaters-steven @llamaproblem @night-affiliate @randompost18 @hunterispunk @jessica-laufeysdottir @uxcaran @bunnymallowo @jae-michael @jelly-terror @larkiesparkie

[pi-creates]

Because I have my issues with Veilguard’s writing, but I also note that there are moments that I like quite a lot – figured it’s only fair to talk about both sides of that coin. While I think the strongest parts of Veilguard are things which are more general to talk about as opposed to specifics, there are moments in the writing I do really enjoy in isolation, and would like more moments that resonated as well as I found those moments did with me.

Oh, and naturally as before – personal opinions. No judgement on people who view things otherwise. From what I understand from talking to my small circle of interactions in regards to DA, that’s a thing which is being lost in some discussions on what people like/dislike in the game – which I think is a shame, be nice people.

Non-specific observations.

The cinematics are something which have been on a path of improvement in each instalment in the franchise. I think this is the biggest strength in Veilguard. Characters feel alive in cutscenes, they interact with each other and it doesn’t come across as robotic or stiff. Even in Inquisition, if it wasn’t a scene involving you and your love interest, it’s primarily Character A standing to one side and doing their thing, and Character B on the other side doing their thing – they remain separate. Most of the focus is on the face. Sometimes that’s just a thing that happens, but in Veilguard we get more instances where they break away from that as a standard, and it’s refreshing. Overall, we’ve come a long way from Origins and the interpretive dance romance scenes around the campfire.

As for the combat… I will be honest and say I was very concerned when the original teasers showed the combat changes. I was one of the people who did use the tactical camera and enjoyed playing on the harder difficulties that would require frequent pausing, character switching, picking up fallen companions and getting by moment-to-moment. And I also played the Mass Effect trilogy and could not mesh well with the combat at all – I struggled a lot due to both the closer camera and a crosshair which confused my brain (it wasn’t my natural understanding that I can hold a gun off-centre and have it hit at the crosshair at the centre of the screen regardless of depth and angles).

But in spite of those concerns, I actively do enjoy the combat in Veilguard, and I’m immensely happy about that. It’s different, but it’s good. Maybe a case of trying to compare apples to oranges since it’s vastly different types of combat gameplay, but you can always say whether you like a fruit or you don’t– and this one is good for me.

The one drawback that I find with this combat is that my companions are invincible and I kind of like the roleplaying of having to pick them up when they’re in trouble. But that’s a nit-pick, I don’t know how they could balance that in properly nor would they be required to.

It’s also a nice upgrade that characters are designed with variations in build/stature. It really is such a simple sounding thing but it adds an element of realism that is wonderful – having the height variation alone is great, but then also different balances of muscle to body fat (or lack thereof)? It creates much more individual differences that are more real. It feels like a huge advancement, and I’m hoping this means that stuff like this gets further improved upon going forward – whether in this franchise or others.

Like, can you imagine further improvements based on how specific characters carry their weight? Body proportions that are different from what is considered standardised? And a tiny part of me just wants to see the buff character who clearly skips leg day on their muscle building routine.

Specific Moments in the writing…

When we first talk to Solas in the fade, and he realises Rook is unaware of what ultimately happened to Varric.

He starts with a seemingly troubled expression on saying Varric’s name – whether this is because he is feeling distress over his actions or is anticipating some form of verbal lashing from Rook, we don’t really know (and I like not knowing). Then he starts a statement, a correction because Rook is wrong in saying Varric is (only) hurt, then a pause, and we can see the flash of thought crossing Solas’ mind. We see the moment when he formulates a plan.

It’s such a good visual moment which means nothing on playthrough one but hints at so much on replay.

And after that moment he doesn’t correct Rook, he doesn’t change the start of his statement, but he tells us a half-truth that lets us make all the assumptions and run away with them. We’re led to believe Rook isn’t wrong for thinking Varric is hurt, nope, Solas is just upset that Varric told us his interpretation when it’s assuming Solas’ own motives which Solas disagrees with. He gives us a truth nugget, because yes, if we’re familiar with the series Varric is good at shading the truth when he needs to spin something favourably.

I love this moment, it’s clever, it lines up with how others reflect on his behaviour and mannerisms. It’s not an in-your-face lie, it’s a lie by omission where he never gives us the false information, but lets us walk right into it. And the game is blatant enough to tell us right before he says this “he will tell half-truths”, and he immediately shows that, it’s his style – but we don’t have all the information yet to realise. This is great, I love this moment and how it means something completely different on replay.

Harding in the midst of mourning… and Rook not knowing that.

I love this scene. And I think I primarily love it because it feels very emotionally charged, but we’re not given all the information here on the source of this emotion on a first run of the game. Because we can assume lots of things – it could be about Varric being injured, it could be about how the ritual may have been stopped but had repercussions, or it could just in general be about how we didn’t solve the actual issue we were hoping for and we just kinda uncovered more problems.

And asking Harding if she’s ok in this moment puts her on the defensive to a degree… and maybe it’s because I talked to her after Neve who seems to put on a work focus immediately that this defensive reaction caught me off-guard.

This is one of those things where Harding’s reaction is very different to the same statement depending on Rook’s previous interactions with her. For reference, Harding when Rook didn’t bring her to help break the supports for the statues at the ritual site:

[I will note there is an approval bonus for asking her “Are you okay?”, but apparently, I missed the pop up in my screenshots - oops]

And for if Harding is the one you choose at the ritual site for help:

And I love that in this moment, she’s emotionally worked up but in different ways – and on a second run of this game, it becomes much clearer that this is her mourning. She’s in the midst of dealing with an emotional tragedy, and when compounded with a physical injury that threatens to bench her to the infirmary (where Varric’s belongings are just sitting on a cot) – she doesn’t like us implying she’s not ok.

And I think it’s clear she’s not alright in this moment. She’s mourning. None of them should be ok.

But Rook is… Rook is ok enough to be asking Harding if she’s ok and needs time to handle things, while Rook doesn’t acknowledge any turmoil within themself.

Rook is the weirdo here – and I like that.

I like how we have a scene where a character is talking about one thing, and Rook is interpreting another because Rook just doesn’t have the capacity to be on the same page.

The romance starting points.

… look, I just think most of these are really cute.

Personally, my first playthrough I romanced Emmrich with my warrior, Veil Jumper, elven lady. And the cheeky peek when Emmrich asks her to close her eyes – very cute, it got me. It feels playful and like a moment of connection that is mutually shared.

That does also seem to be an ongoing theme with Emmrich's romance for me, there's Emmrich doing his best to give Rook all the romantic centrepieces so they can mutually know each other better... and Rook puts a playful spin on him and it like... highlights the love of similarities and differences? I can't put my finger on the correct way to word this, but I like it.

And on my second playthrough I romanced Harding as my rogue, Shadow Dragon, elven fella. And I personally loved the awkward but nervous talk trying to determine if they’re on the same page or not. I dunno, I’m not immune to the cute.

Plus the ongoing theme of togetherness being the solution to anything that comes their way - I think it's sweet. Whatever complications show up, they're gonna stick it out and find a way through it. And I always have a soft spot for the concept of a pair of archers… it’s a weakness. I can’t help that.

I have also watched the romance scenes for all the other companions at this point and can see some very nice moments of warm fuzzies in the other routes too, but having not played them myself and only watched those on Youtube, I don't feel it's entirely my space to talk about those.

Solas and Elgar’nan snapping at each other.

This moment really stands out to me, and I don’t know exactly why? My closest guess is that it’s one of the instances where it’s an argument between two people who cannot ever meet in the middle – they are both angry and sniping at each other and there is no de-escalation to be had. It stands out to me, and I can’t help but think it’s hilarious that these two ancient elves have chosen to enter a battle of words in the middle of Rook’s head of all places.

It’s such a toothless attempt at biting each other, because they physically can do nothing to the other, but they’re just both so pissed off with the other they can’t give up the want to have the last word. It’s petty, it’s charged, and it’s just like… I dunno, it stands out to me in a positive way. It says something about the both of them in what they choose to say and why they’re bothering to say it.

Add to that how the whole point of this interaction is Solas trying to divide Elgar'nan's attention and inevitably bring it to only Solas instead of Rook - but I think this makes it even more hilarious because imagine forgetting you're meant to be paying attention to someone while they are literally the platform you're standing on to have this argument.

And the fact that it’s apparently loud enough in Rook’s head due to these two elves bickering that they can’t hear their companions talking to them? I chuckled, it’s silly, but I like how it feels.

The companions interacting with each other.

It really does feel like our companions gain strong relationships with each other throughout the story. They have friction that can be worked on, and I really like seeing the friction in particular and how it fosters actual discussions on those points. When there is no friction it can make people feel static and unchanging – but the companions expose those moments and work through them. They work together in spite of them, and they find areas to connect over.

And overall, moments where they just gather together and chat about things casually? Love that, it’s another of those moments where it does help make them feel more relatable since yeah – sometimes it’s nice to just ask someone what their favourite colour is and why. Does it advance things substantially? Not really, but do I feel like I know more about this person for knowing these little bits of inconsequential information? Damn right I do. So I can equally be excited to see Bellara and Lucanis start talking about serials and where they think plots are going after cliff-hangers.

My one gripe about this stuff is I wish Rook could contribute more to these moments when they happen. I want to be part of book club, please – it sounds fun.

[disabledweedreviews]

MY DISABLED REVIEW OF: Tyson 2.0 Mike Bites Delta-8 Gummies | 500mg Per Bag/25mg Per Piece

Hi everyone! This is my first review, so I'm still ironing out the kinks of how I want these to look. There's an image description attached to the image, though if unavailable to see, it reads "A bright orange resealable bag of Mike Tyson edibles is pictured. There is a large black and white illustration of an ear, with a shape at the top of the cartilage of a bite mark taken out of the ear. The large text reads "TYSON. MIKE BITES. (Δ8) (THC)" while the small text on the bottom reads "25mg Delta 8 Hemp Derived THC per gummy." The flavor reads as "SOUR APPLE PUNCH."

First of all. Props to Mike Tyson for biting off Holyfield's ear in the 90s in an insane move that, at first, everybody was mad about because it meant the match ended super early and they wanted their money back for the full match. Especially pay-per-view watchers. But then years later everybody makes jokes about it so now it's like. His brand for weedibles. Imagine you're Holyfield and your ear is bitten off, and the dude who bit off your ear has it as his logo for ear shaped edibles 20 yrs later. Objectively funny. Now to get into the review!

TASTE: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)

They taste like. Ehhhhh. Ok. Fine but Kinda Bad. The best flavor imo is the one pictured, Sour Apple Punch. The other flavors are Watermelon and Black Eye Cherry. They both taste like Shit and have effects that actually make me feel worse. They are all REALLY slimy though, not just in texture but like. they have so much SLIME GOOP everywhere in the bag like every time I get these. So for the autism slime texture haters, this one is already NOT for you. Autism slime texture lovers however? Perfect. Though be warned, it is REALLY sticky. Stickier than most edibles. Sticky as in you can throw it at a wall and it'd stay there all day. It gets everywhere, so if you don't want to wash your hands of a goop mess after reaching in the bag, use a kitchen utensil👍

FOR PAIN: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

OVERALL BODY EFFECTS: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)

Overall decent. Breakdowns below.

Helps the pain a pretty good chunk, though if the pain is pretty intense then it merely softens everything. The body relaxation will make you feel all loosey-goosey like a wet noodle, except not unpleasant. Works really well for my all around back pain. and my muscle cramps. Doesn't work too well, however, for head pain (ironically enough) or for other areas of the body. So migraine havers should probably look elsewhere.

FOR SLEEP: ★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5)

These will knock your ass out if you take more than one, however. You do need to take more than one for sleep, depending on your tolerance. The sleep is pretty nice, very decent on these. Though I don't recommend falling asleep high to the Mike Bites because they give me weird dreams. My roommates don't get this, however. So it could be a me only thing...

FOR APPETITE: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Works decently well, especially in a pinch! My appetite is the first thing to start working on these, then come the sillies, and then the pain relief. I usually have to smoke a few hits of a dab cart to Really get my stomach full hands on deck for appetite, though it certainly does most of the work.

HIGH: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

The high is decently pleasant, almost like a really soft buzzing that eventually replaces the pain. I get pretty silly on these, it's a Silly Weedible. Will get me to laugh at the worst low hanging fruit that other edibles DO NOT do to me. It's a pretty even combination of head high and body high, though I usually feel the body high more on these. Great for winding down before bed, as the high does not last too long, which is honestly my biggest complaint about the high for these. Like I know they're 25mg a piece, but they're not as long lasting as compared to others, such as the Urb 25mg delta-8 edibles. Other complaint is afterwards they leave me feeling foggier brained than most other brands of edibles.

PRICE: ★★★★★ (5/5)

They usually go anywhere from $20-30 USD. Can be found at convenience stores, dispos, or online. Here's The Link To Buy Them From My Favorite WebbedSite and they're on sale at the time of writing this, March 28th, 2024. Also I am Not Sponsored.

OVERALL RATING AND SUMMARY: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)

NOW TIME FOR A POLL!

Ultimately, I like them. They're not too expensive and work pretty well for their price, if you find them on the cheaper side of the pricetag scale. Not the fanciest by far, though they do the job nicely! I would recommend them if you mostly need the appetite and/or silly boost.

Feel free to reply with any anecdotes in the reblogs or replies of your experience with these if you're also disabled! Specific questions? Reblog or reply as well. Or send me an ask or DM!

[psychewritesbs]

I was reading your post about the megumi character trope and this is related but not?

Anyways, as someone who likes both sasuke and megumi, and I've come to like sasuke recently as I've finally checked out naruto, but it's bizarre to me how superficial their similarities are and it's crazier how people reduce their characters to their aloofness or dar hair or things like that and use that as a way to judge a character overall when their character arcs are so different imo. I have issues with how sasuke's character was handled in the story, but I've become very fond of the things he did for the story overall, so no problem for me, but I'm not sure megumi's arc will end or proceed any similiar to sasuke's with revenge as the main motivation, or at least I don't think so, I'm a couple chaps behind, but yeah, the way both characters process their own trauma or how their motivations are different enough for me to ignore the superficial ways in which they are similiar

I say it's also tough liking both in fandom spaces because naruto is still really popular and jjk is in the spotlight currently, so fandoms can be tense with each other and it's exhausting to see the slander going every which way lol

They say this as a way to slander mgm, but the "Megumi will never be sasuke" is funny because I don't think he's trying to be???

HOLA!

WELCOME to THE ULTIMATE SHONEN BATTLE FOR THE BEST "QUIET AND ALOOF DEUTERAGONIST-KUN": MEGUMI VS SASUKE!

Who's better? Well... let's ask the internet...

ok nvm. NEVER ask the internet for an opinion. ESPECIALLY when the Naruto fans who think Kishimoto is the mother of all anime tropes get involved.

This isn't even a question of whether Gege took inspiration from Sasuke for Megumi because 1) Sasuke himself takes inspiration from a Togashi character and, 2) "quiet and aloof deuteragonist-kun" is one of the most prevalent tropes in animanga--the trope is not even unique to shonen, hell even the 3-man team isn't unique to Naruto.

Nothing against Kishi but... he's doing the same thing every mangaka or author EVER has done--copying tropes.

At least Gege subverts them.

Let's taco'bout it more under the cut because I have many words to vomit about the topic.

Also... man, this is a fantastic conversation to have because, based on the comments I've seen about why Sasuke is "objectively" better, I feel like it comes back to a lack of introspection, dare I say toxic masculinity (?), and perhaps just not understanding or relating to Megumi as a character.

I've written before about Megumi's character development and how relating to him has a lot to do with how deeply you can be introspective about yourself. I won't address character development much here, so if you want to, you can read that post here.

But when it comes to Megumi vs. Sasuke, it's almost like comparing apples to oranges. Yes, they're both fruit (quiet and aloof deuteragonist-kun), AND they also have a different flavor profile, different texture, different scent... the list goes on.

And the way I see it, if someone can't see how the differences between Sasuke and Megumi make them fundamentally different despite sharing the same trope, then they can't "objectively" claim one is better than the other.

So I'm going to go ahead and just say it.

I don't like Sasuke. I never did and I never understood why he was so popular.

The comments about Megumi having the depth of a kiddie pool?

I feel the exact same about Sasuke.

I literally can't think of much to say about him other than he was pissy and had a sour attitude the whole time... umm... he wanted revenge and power... ? I guess?

And you know what? It's perfectly ok that I don't like Sasuke because my subjective opinion does not mean that someone who loves Sasuke is wrong about loving him. After all, my opinion should not be a measuring stick for someone who loves Sasuke.

In fact, I have moots who think very highly of Sasuke AND Megumi, and like them for different reasons. So I actually try to refrain from speaking negatively of Sasuke because I respect my moot's opinions and know that perhaps I am not seeing something they can.

That said, when we compare Sasuke and Megumi, we're measuring the characters against standards that don't apply to either of them.

Since Sasuke is on a revenge character arc, you can't really talk about how he explores his sense of self in order to re-define it (which is one of the main reasons I love Megumi). Sasuke wants power, but that just means he has to train harder.

Megumi does go the training route, but in the end, perhaps it was a moment of clarity and introspection that helped him level up, not just the physical training.

Likewise, since Megumi is on an arc meant to re-define his sense of self, you can't really talk about how he went about seeking power to reach his goal because Megumi is not interested in power for the sake of power, and/or does not have grandiose aspirations.

As you say, their motivations couldn't be more different.

Now, I think it bears repeating that when I started watching jjk, even though I liked him right from the beginning, I thought Megumi was underwhelming af given his trope.

But that's only because, again, I was measuring Megumi against the wrong standards.

In retrospect, I also do feel like Gege wanted Megumi to be perceived as "underwhelming given his trope" (MOST ESPECIALLY SASUKE imo), otherwise the payoff in chapter 58 would not have had the same impact.

So anyways.

To your point. Existing at the intersection of these two fandoms must be an interesting experience because most of the bad comparisons are rooted on surface level similarities.

Thing is, being able to see the nuance between the two characters and why neither is objectively better than the other, does require the ability to read below the surface AND to at least have a certain degree of emotional investment in the story and the characters.

Also, can I just say fandom wars are so pointless?

It's just a bunch of people who can't handle the idea that other people could have a different opinion because they see their opinion as the ultimate truth.

And don't let me act like I'm not the kind of pretentious asshat who will say something like "Megumi is a purposeful deconstruction but Aki is a copy" because I can be quite elitist myself. I just also don't take my opinion too seriously because I know I don't own the ultimate truth about what is and isn't good media.

Also I like to indulge in trash tv like every normal human being in this planet so that alone makes my taste questionable.

To that point, I saw a really good quote that is so relevant to your ask:

The price for certainty means that other people must be wrong. And that leads to holy war.

Lionel Corbett

"uwu Megumi is weak"

But... there's something that has been nagging me about why people don't like Megumi in general that is highly related to how his predecessors, Sasuke included, set the bar we use to measure the trope, most specifically in Battle Shonen.

And that's that the way me measure what makes Megumi a good character is based on toxic masculinity values.

Now... I'm not an expert on the topic, so please correct me if I'm wrong or need to expand my perspective here but...

There's something inherently "toxic" about how people are approaching both Megumi independently of Sasuke, and Megumi compared to Sasuke.

Like... if Sasuke wouldn't curl up in a ball because he's had to experience a traumatic event and instead just keeps on going, that's called repression and/or suppression and it's both not a healthy coping mechanism AND not realistically written.

So what if Sasuke would never?

Why is it wrong for a character (or a real human for that matter) to feel so defeated after the trauma they've had to face?

I am more interested in learning why we are so obsessed with looking down on a fictional character for feeling down on himself... like, Momo, are you ok, dude?

Do you ever allow yourself to feel all your feels or do you just berate yourself when you feel down on yourself?

And why are we measuring trauma on a scale of who has it worse just so that we can cancel someone else's trauma?

Actually, the fact that we can sit here and talk about who has it best and who has it worse like it's a competition?

That's gaslighting, and it's toxic af.

But again. The problem is that jjk fans themselves hate on Megumi independently of whether they compare him to Sasuke or not.

And I'm not sure whether kin here just has shitty reading comprehension skills, but...

I'm noticing a trend that has EVERYTHING to do with my female gaze and it's the fact that I kind of don't give a fuck about power scaling.

Like, it's cool. I'm not hating on people who do, you know. I'm just saying I don't care for it. But what I'm trying to say here is that people hate on Megumi for weird reasons...

Like... I don't think Hyena here is reading the same manga if he can't tell that Megumi has had character development, unless what he expects in terms of character development is...

Which is fine too... I loved dbz back in the day.

Who could ever forget Goku looking like he has to poop so bad his hair grows really long?

But like... are we fucking for real? JJK is far too nuanced to limit your experience of the manga to flashy fights and power ups only.

Again, if this is the standard we are using to measure Megumi as a character, no wonder people are disappointed.

So I say let them eat cake.

No shade to all of the people who I screenshotted here, but they're going to have to come up with smarter arguments to back up their subjective opinions about Sasuke's supposed objective superiority and why Megumi sucks.

In all honesty, the fact that Megumi is perceived as weak strikes me as toxic masculinity.

I get that some people read fiction to escape from their daily lives and not have to face the failures and successes they experience in the real world, but I personally want more human characters who fail and cry because that's more relatable to me than Goku's super powered instinct Saiyan form or whatever its called.

I guess we all read for different reasons. All I'm saying is "don't hate on Megumi for shortsighted reasons."

To bring it back to where it all started, let's be real here:

Megumi will NEVER be Sasuke

and that is fantastic news because Megumi is Megumi and that's exactly why we love him.

Dear anon, I think I went on a rant there hahahaha.

BAH! I just get so annoyed when people hate on Megumi for shallow reasons. Like, if you don't like him, you don't like him and that's that. But like some of the comments about him are just...

LOL!

Thank you for stopping by anon!

[kiwisandpearls]

honestly, looking back at my original post about fiction being used to groom minors, I stand by what I say but to be honest I am still so frustrated at the equation of me arguing that any fiction can be used to groom minors so the argument that some problematic fiction isn’t ok because it can do so is flawed to anti-gun control laws.

like, I can see why they’d argue that but it still super flawed. Fiction can be used to harm others but unlike guns that’s not its intended purpose. Guns are literally made to kill and injure. Fiction is not. It can be used by others to cause harm but unlike guns that’s not its intended purpose.

You could maybe argue some have made fiction in order to harm others but even then on its own and as a whole that’s not what most people make fiction for.

idk it’s such a flawed argument to try and equate people pointing out that any fiction can be used to groom minors to anti-gun control arguments when fiction and guns aren’t even made for the same purpose. It’s like comparing apples to oranges, they’re both fruits, but at the end of the day they’re still two different fruits.

[stranger-rants]

I need people to understand that billy and jonathans situations arent the same. Yeah they were both abused but jonathan wasnt actively living with his abuser or being neglected by the time the show came around.

And while yeah he was being parentified to an extent, he wasnt having to watch after will 24/7 nor was he at fault for wills actions. Billy was so controlling over max because whatever she did influenced whether or not he got abused.

Billy had no support system, especially not after being moved 2000 miles away from everybody he knows. Jonathan had a mom who cared about him and protected him and got their abuser out of the picture.

There are tons of parallels and similarities between their situations but it isnt fair to act like they were the same.

Just like apples and oranges are both fruits, but taste vastly different... we can acknowledge that Jonathan and Billy both had abusive dads, but also understand that these experiences were not the same. At all. It's ridiculous to even compare the two in this manner.

[polyamorousmood]

Hello, it's 'just got into a poly relationship' anon. (Might go off anon next time.) But anyways, it's really interesting how having two partners makes it so much easier to discern what exactly I enjoy about them both, making me love them even more. My long time partner is super chill, easy going and a soothing presence. My newest partner is very passionate about everything, excitable, and while can be subdued, is usually vibrant and high energy. I love this, I love both of them a lot and what they bring to the table. nd knowing what makes them both special makes me love them both even more. Funny how that works.

If you stay on anon you gotta at least pick a more concise pen name 😂

I agree! Its amazing! Its interesting because people are often worried about being compared to others, but at least for me personally it really just highlights the best parts of each. 😊🥰

To me, its not comparing as in "X is better than Y at this thing I like", but more "X enriches these experiences, while Y enriches those aspects." Apples 🍎 to oranges 🍊in that I evaluate them on different metrics, but you can still say "citrus is better suited for this", you know? And realizing that not every fruit should be covered in chocolate does make me appreciate chocolate covered orange slices more.

Anyway. Same hat, I love you, keep coming back 💖

[mossbark]

You are defining "gender affirming care" and "care trans people receive" and the people on the post are defining it as "care which is sought out and used to affirm one's gender".

You are correct that Viagra and HRT for menopausal cis woman are not medically exactly equivalent to HRT for trans people, but that is not the point being argued. The point being argued is that cis people also take medical actions that are primarily to make them feel better in their gender.

It is similar to the common point that a cis woman with a moustache who does laser hair removal for it is doing so because a moustache does not fit her idea of her own gender presentation; this is the same reason a trans woman might get laser hair removal.

"The point being argued is that cis people also take medical actions that are primarily to make them feel better in their gender."

The point I am actually making is that cis people are not taking Viagra or estrogen to primarily affirm their gender. They are taking them to correct symptoms of physiological dysfunction. This isn't a hard distinction to grasp.

"I can't maintain an erection, which makes sexual intimacy difficult if not impossible. (And/or) I also have concerns about high blood pressure." Viagra.

"I am suffering from fatigue, hot flashes, hair loss, osteoporosis, insomnia, unstable mood, and pain during sexual intercourse due to my body's natural hormonal cycle being discontinued as I age." Estrogen for menopause. Also, for what it's worth, there are numerous physiological risks associated with being estrogen-deficient long-term, including an increased risk of dementia.

I think it is utterly out of touch, and uncompassionate, to completely ignore all these symptoms so these treatments can be framed as being about gender identity instead of physical day-to-day functioning. Again, I cannot overstate, I am in favor of gender-affirming therapies for those who want them, but it is crucial to understand why it isn't fair, accurate, or helpful to declare apples are really oranges because they're both round fruits. Overlap can exist between treatment outcomes, but that doesn't make the treatment the same.

While I agree cis women, trans women, and anyone else who gets LHR (edit: Lazer hair Removal) likely do so for the same reasons, you're again comparing apples to oranges by saying medical intervention is similar to a cosmetic procedure. You can also get into a discussion that goes beyond the scope of this conversation about drawing the line between personal aesthetic and gender presentation, which I would argue is what most cis people are actually experiencing in these given contexts as opposed to gender dysphoria. A woman who feels ugly because her skin is wrinkling and her hair is falling out is experiencing body dysmorphia, a diagnostic category that can overlap with gender dysphoria, but also includes eating disorders. If this same women declared she felt like less of a woman because she doesn't feel beautiful, you should probably have the empathy to understand she isn't declaring she doesn't truly feel misaligned with her gender identity, but is lamenting her appearance. These are fundamentally different experiences that due to the limitations of language, may be expressed verbally in similar ways. Also, I think the discomfort *most* presented in the initial argument is wildly overstated.

My biggest contention with everyone who has engaged with my perspective is that they are prioritizing gender expression, which is reflective of their own lived experiences, over the realities of these given diagnoses. It amounts to speaking over the lived experience of patients. To put it in perspective for you, how does this argument break down if a trans woman has ED, but wants to have PIV sex with her partner? What if a transgender man, who realized his identity later in life and does not want to seek transition, suffers from osteoporosis after entering menopause, and opts for estrogen therapy to reduce bone loss? In these situations, the argument breaks down and is no longer about affirming gender. The ultimate point I am making, simply put, is that treatments meant to restore bodily function are not the same as gender-affirming care because of coincidental overlap. The targeted symptoms are different, and it is a blatant misrepresentation to claim that cis people seek out these treatments primarily to feel better aligned with their gender.

Its popular on this website to demonize the fields of psychology and psychiatry, because I suppose they can feel restrictive to people who are untrained and uneducated on why we abide by the DSM and other treatment guidelines. This conversation is a perfect example of why it requires a master's or above to even get a job in the field. It requires critical thinking, good judgement, scientific integrity, and a solid understanding to tease out the nuances of why one diagnosis over another. I think it has become common to assume bigotry is at the root of every distinction, and sometimes it is, but this particular subject is not one to take at face value.

Hopefully this clarifies why I think this conversation is getting redundant, because at the end of the day, it's an argument the OP admitted is based on their personal politics and desire to push social boundaries rather than an understanding of how the human body works.

TL;DR not everything is the same and it doesn't have to be.

[siren-darkocean]

Ninth Grade Samurai aka Samurai Series Incorrect Quotes

Of books:

Ninth Grade Samurai (Book 1)

Phoenix Song (Book 2)

Curtain Call (Book 3)

Nothing is accurate to canon y'all it's an AU!

Howard: This blood line ends with me!

Randy: That's the fanciest way I've heard someone say "I'm gay".

**

Heidi: (with finding herself in the middle of the Ninja and Samurai fights against the Sorcerer and McFist) I don’t go looking for trouble. Trouble usually finds me first.

**

Howard: What did you order this morning?

Rei: What do you mean?

Howard: I heard you answer the door, and I sensed food.

**

Rei: Comparing Howard and Randy is like comparing apples and oranges.

Howard: We’re both unique in our own ways?

Rei: Apples are superior in every way and all oranges should be eliminated.

Randy: Which one of us is the orange?

**

Randy: So oxygen went on a date with potassium, it went... OK.

Julian: I thought oxygen was dating magnesium, OMG.

Randy: Actually oxygen first asked nitrogen out, but nitrogen was all like NO.

Heidi: I thought oxygen had that double bond with the hydrogen twins.

Howard: Looks like someone's a HO.

Julian: NaBrO.

Rei: I'm done with all of you!

**

Rei: State your name, rank, and intention.

Randy: Randy, Randy, fun.

**

Heidi: Randy, you'll be working with Julian and Rei.

Randy: Alright! My fantasy threesome!

Everyone else: *blank stares*

Randy: ...Of people on a team.

**

Howard: Is the plural of milf/dilf milfs/dilfs or milves/dilves?

Randy: Milfs.

Rei: Milf/dilf is an acronym, you can't change the spelling to milves/dilves.

Heidi: Mom in late forties, dad in late fourties.

Heidi: I learned that from the movie called M.I.L.F that I saw the trailer of in theaters probably 5 to 7 years ago.

Randy: Mom/dad I'd Love to Fuck.

Rei: WAIT, WHAT THE FUCK—

Rei: I NEVER REALIZED IT WAS ACTUALLY HORNY!

Heidi: Oh, is it not mom in late fouries?

Julian: What? No! It isn't!

Heidi: THE MOVIE TRAILER LIED TO ME!

Howard: Heidi...

Heidi: THIS IS WHY I DIDN'T THINK CALLING PEOPLE MILFS WAS ALL THAT BAD BECAUSE IT STOOD FOR SOMETHING HARMLESS IT JUST HAD A SLIGHTLY SEXUAL CONNOTATION!

Howardy: I am entirely unsurprised that this is coming from you.

Heidi: HOWARD, DOES IT MAKE SENSE WHY I CALLED THE DIARY OF A WIMPY KID MOM A MILF NOW BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS LITERALLY JUST A DESCRIPTOR WITH FUNNY CONNOTATION!

Howard: The word milf has been ruined for me.

Julian: THAT'S ITS DEFINITION, IT CAN'T BE RUINED THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS!

Rei: Y'all are dumbasses.

**

Randy i and Howard: *making loud, shouty gorilla sounds at each other*

Julian:

Rei, exasperatedly: We have a guest.

**

Heidi: I spy with my little eye something that begins with the letter “s”.

Rei: *looks over at Howard and Julian* Rei: Is it “sexual tension”?

**

Julian: Where’s my chair?

Rei: Randy broke it over Howard’s back while they were wrestling.

Howard: Correction, Randy was wrestling. I was eating soup.

**

Julian: Hah! 69! you know what that means?

Randy: What?

Rei: That you're a child.

Howard: HOW YOU GUESS MY IQ?!?

**

Heidi: What are you getting Howard for the holidays?

Julian: I don't know. It's kind of hard buying a gift for your partner when they already got everything they could've ever wanted when they married you. So I'm not sure yet.

Rei: I'm getting Howard a divorce lawyer.

**

Heidi: I told Howard to grab snacks for everyone.

Rei, looking through the options: Why did you grab fruit snacks? Are you five? Who even likes Fruit Snacks?

*Julian, Howard, and Randy raise their hands*

**

Rei: This food is too hot... I cant eat it.

Randy: You’re very hot, and I still eat you.

Everyone at the table: *silence*

Howard: YOU GUYS ARE DISGUSTING!

Julian: One dinner... I just want ONE DINNER!

**

Julian: *about Rei and Randy* They make a cute couple, huh?

Howard: They certainly are standing next to each other.

**

Heidi: I sleep with a gun under my pillow.

Julian: I sleep with a knife.

Randy: Both of you are pathetic.

Heidi: Oh yeah? What do you sleep with?

Randy: Rei.

**

Rei: *does 99% of the work*

Randy: *has no idea what’s going on*

Julian: *says they’re gonna help but does not*

Howard: *disappears at the very beginning and doesn’t show up again until the very end*

**

Heidi: Why are your tongues purple?

Rei: We had slushies. I had a blue one.

Randy: I had a red one.

Heidi: oh.

Heidi:

Heidi: OH.

Howard:

Howard: You drank eachothers slushies?

**

Post curtain call ig

Julian: Why is Rei crying on the floor?

Heidi: She's drunk.

Julian: And?

Heidi: She saw a picture of Randy's spouse.

Julian: But she's Randy's spouse.

Heidi: I know.

**

Howard: I still don’t have a New Year’s resolution.

Rei: You could lose a few.

Heidi: You could be less lazy.

Randy: Don’t be such a bitch.

Howard: Okay DAMN, SHIT.

**

*The gang when they drop food on the floor*

Rei: Aw man. *Throws it away*

Howard: Five second rule!

Julian: Foolish germs, thinking they can stop me!? *Eats it off the floor*

Randy: *Sobs on the floor*

**

Randy: It’s Christmas! Are you all in a Christmas mood?!

Rei: Merry crisis.

Heidi: Jingle bells, jingle bells, single all the way.

Howard: Hoe hoe hoe.

Randy: Guys, please.

**

Howard: Ducks are better than rabbits.

Rei: What? Rabbits are adorable. Have you ever been in a fight with a duck? Ducks are jerks.

Julian: Duck is delicious! Rabbit is all gamey.

Rei: We’re not talking about flavour, Julian!

Julian: Flavour counts!

Rei: Who carries around a duck’s foot for good luck? Anyone?

Randy: You wrap yourself in a comforter stuffed with rabbit hair. I’ll wrap myself in a comforter stuffed with duck feathers! Who’s cozier?

Rei: Okay, but-

Randy: NO, NO, NO, NO. WHO’S COZIER?

Julian: Then why don’t we take a rabbit, a duck, stick ‘em in a cardboard box and let them fight it out!

Rei: BECAUSE IT’S ILLEGAL, JULIAN!

Julian: ONLY IF WE BET ON IT, REI!

Howard: I- Jesus-

[ponco-tsu]

People like to compare apples and oranges because they are both fruit (Minecraft and Terraria, Werewolves and Vampires, etc etc.) instead of realizing they have different niches that are filled by their existence.

[sufficientlylargen]

Do people not know what the idiom "comparing apples to oranges" means? Like, it's about comparing *quantities* of apples to *quantities* of oranges, in contexts where the difference between an apple and an orange matters. It's about *conflating* apples and oranges.

If Sally and Tommy both threw things at unsuspecting mall patrons, and you say "Sally did it ten different times but Tommy only did it once so Tommy is a better person", and then it turns out that Sally was upsetting people by throwing rotten fruit at them and Tommy straight-up firebombed the mall and murdered a bunch of folks, then you have committed the logical fallacy of "comparing apples to hand grenades", because it turns out that on the axis of "things thrown at people" apples and hand grenades are very different things! But if you say "a hand grenade is about the size of a medium apple", you are also comparing apples and grenades, but this isn't a fallacy because you're not conflating them - in fact, you're doing the opposite!

Self-indulgently turning over some thoughts about “comparing apples and hand grenades”

[a-god-in-ruins-rises]

You didn't even answer the part about if you think you should be torn from your family for jaywalking.

oh yeah i didn't because i thought it was obviously dumb as fuck and unworthy of a response. but since you insist...

jaywalking and illegal immigration are not the same. the fact that they are both technically civil violations does not mean they share identical natures. the category of "civil offense" encompasses a wide variety of offenses of varying natures and severities. you are comparing apples to oranges. they're both fruit, sure, but they're very different kinds.

you try to conflate the two but just legally speaking, jaywalking gets you a fine (if anyone even bothers to enforce it) and illegal immigration triggers deportation; a federal procedure administered by a wholly different legal apparatus. they’re not adjudicated the same way because they’re not the same.

but sure, maybe you're not talking about legal technicalities. maybe you are trying to say that they are morally similar and should be treated similarly. maybe you think that illegal immigrants should just....have to pay a small one time fine and then automatically start the process for acquiring citizenship. this is a very common argument i see people make.

but this is wrong and stupid for a multitude of reasons:

why would we reward people for break our laws? why wouldn't this just incentivize more people to break the law? and how isn't this a slap in the face of the people who went through the effort of doing it the right way? it serves only to delegitimize the system itself. people stop believing the system is fair or real. and once that faith is gone, everything becomes up for grabs. you're illegally entering a political community that has rules about admission. if those rules can be ignored without consequence, then you’re saying the community has no right to self-define or set boundaries; morally or legally. that’s not a trivial issue. it strikes at the core of any polity's legitimacy. it implicates national sovereignty, demographic policy, labor markets, or rule-of-law dynamics.

people want to act like it's a harmless little thing because there isn't some obvious immediate victim. but illegal immigration has cumulative effects on labor markets, infrastructure, housing, political cohesion, national identity, social trust, citizenship norms, resource allocation, etc. it imposes diffuse but real costs. ask low-wage citizens undercut by off-the-books labor, or voters whose preferences get warped by demographic shifts they never consented to. the harm may be indirect, but it undeniably exists.

illegal immigration isn't just some trivial violation like jaywalking. it is existential. it’s fundamentally jeopardizes sovereignty, fairness, and the survival of institutional legitimacy.

and i suspect you know all of this -- the legal distinctions, the consequences, the stakes. you just deliberately omit mentioning them because you don't actually care and you’re hoping the people you talk to are too ignorant to notice your rhetorical sleight-of-hand. you’re not arguing in good faith at all. i suspect you’re probably an anarchist or communist who doesn’t even believe borders or nations should exist in principle and you’re just laundering your open-borders ideology through moral condescension and hoping no one calls your bluff.