#mediocracy

[barleysinger]

This is Barnaby Joyce; Australian politician... the member for Gina Rinehart. Proof that capitalism is not a meritocracy.

[rwpohl]

other europe, tim roberts 1988

[adhddbt]

[dimplesandfierceeyes]

Chief Phupha and the Invasion of the Cute Twinks

[desktopmermaid]

wont get into trouble tonight 

[caressthosecheekbones]

the pasta salad i made yesterday for the bbq today is so. mid. underwhelming. still. in a disappointingly but admittedly not that unexpected twist its overnight residence in the fridge didn't somehow magically add a Special Something. should i put more lime? chickpeas? (the chickpeas where a bad idea from the start btw. its like chewing on little balls of dry sand in between all the mushy pasta/zucchini mix...)

[glauxgardenofchaos]

It's like people have forgotten that anything written, was once written by somebody. And that somebody may have opinions on what their writing is used for.

AI do not write. They cleverly copy-paste stuff based on an algorithm, from enourmous datasets scraped off the internet and other places. So anything produced by them is automatically plagiarised. There is no originality in AI. Everything is stolen.

Do not feed the plagiarism machines.

(for the record, do NOT feed by fics to any kind of AI. DO NOT)

oh I wasn’t aware it was feeding the ai. I’ve inserted hundreds of fics into chatgpt for their continuation or for a different plot within the same context just for fun and out of curiosity… but I’ve never posted any of them…

Indeed, anything that is given to AI it can use later to draw from. That's why it doesn't matter if you post them or not as it has now access to those writers' texts without their permission.

~Mod L

[amarenamoccha]

I don't just want to be good, I want to be great

[tea-academy]

So the shit coworker I hate really screwed up. I had to give him a project to manage (it was 75% of the way finished, I had done everything up until that point) because I had other projects I could not do at the same time, and it's his JOB to assist me.

He fucked it up. Deadline in 3 hours, he was sitting around, twiddling his thumbs, barely any of it done. I had to put what I was working on on hold and spend hours out of my day to get it finished. I was fuming the entire time, because guys.

HE THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. In no way, shape, or form did he seem to realize that he was responsible for finishing up the project and while everyone else scrambled around him to try to get it done, he was joking around. Doing impressions. Not hustling, not focusing, not contributing.

It confirmed what I already suspected, that he actually either does not care about this job or is too damn stupid to recognize that adults have to prioritize their time, and that he had wildly fucked up by not prioritizing the project he was responsible for. He wouldn't have started finishing it at all unless I told him to, which I did, which is 100% not my job!

This mediocre subpar, useless male coworker reminds me of the post that floats around radblr, about how being a good student holds women back in office / corporate workplace settings. The one where it outlines how men just attach themselves to projects to look more successful than they really are, taking undue credit and kissing their boss's ass, networking and making everything a bro's club.

That is 100% the behavior he's operating on, and it's 100% going to blow up in his face. Unlike a corporate setting, we're as super small business where we're basically all managers of our departments. We are supposed to be completely self-sufficient, and after two months of working here he can't grasp that.

He just sits here, laughing performatively at everything anyone says (with a super annoying higher than his natural voice laugh! It's so fucking fake), pretending to look busy on his computer, demonstrating his incompetence left and right.

I've already talked with my boss, and he agrees with me (though he's not as harsh I am), so I think he's going to be on the way out very soon. I am not letting this happen again -- next time around we're getting the first strongly motivated woman I can persuade my boss into hiring.

[rata-novus]

having a jewish wife, at least two trans friends (one of whom you employ) and still going “both sides are equally as bad, buuuuut if the [wizard] game looked fun i would still stream it”

[barcaatthemoon]

in your corner || barcelona x teen!reader ||

the team shows up to your graduation when your parents don't.

it didn't feel right sitting in the back of a taxi. you should have been riding to your graduation with your family, but they had deemed your brother's track meet more important. they believed that one day, he'd be an olympian, despite the fact that you already were. it had always been like that in your family though, your brother's accomplishments outshining yours no matter the difference.

today, you graduated from school, which you had attended while also easing your way into soccer full time. anybody else would have thought that was a marvel in and of itself except for your parents. because it was you, they only questioned why you weren't top of your class. any bit of excellence on your part looked like the pinnacle of mediocracy in your parents' eyes.

in hindsight, yelling at them to just forget about you was not your best idea. it was why after this, you were packing up your things and moving them into a new apartment. there had been an opening in bruna's building, so you took it. you could easily afford the apartment with your salary at the club, especially not that you'd be getting starter time.

the taxi came to a stop, and you were careful in picking your facial expression for the day. this was a happy day, and you couldn't let your peers know how disappointed you were about your parents abandoning you. you kept a happy face on during the ceremony, one that was fake until you looked out into the crowd while you accepted your diploma to see your teammates.

it was unmistakablely every single one of them sitting there, including girls who you had briefly played with on the b and youth teams. your heart swelled with joy, and for the first time that day, your tears were happy ones. suddenly, you couldn't wait for the ceremony to end so you could go see them. each of those girls had become like family for you, and it was your first taste of what family was supposed to be like. they were your support system, always cheering you on no matter what endeavor you pursued.

"no more homework!" mapi exclaimed as she scooped you up into a hug. you laughed as she spun you around and around. her least favorite part of every practice was when alexia made you sit with vicky while you studied or finished up your school work. in mapi's mind, that was always during prime goofing off time. "come on, my mami wants pictures."

you let yourself get pushed around for several sets of pictures with your teammates. none of them mentioned the absence of your parents, most likely thanks to a briefing from alexia and patri. slowly, they all began to shuffle out and disperse, leaving you to catch a ride with aitana and keira for lunch. it was a team thing, so more of the girls would be there, but keira had quickly claimed the spot to drive you there.

"i'm proud of you kiddo," keira said as she wrapped her arm around your shoulders. there had been a lot of changes during the season, and while the change scared you, keira had been like your rock. she was the biggest help to you learning english and solidifying your spot in one of the best midfields in the world. "i've got a surprise for you when we get to the restaurant."

"a surprise?" you perked up instantly. it was somewhat childish, but you loved surprises. usually, they were good when it came to your teammates. you knew that keira would never do anything to hurt you, having taken you under her wing like you were her child. both of your english teammates had, but lucy had departed from spain a couple weeks ago.

you had been more than a bit bummed out by the news, but you understood. lucy had done what she felt she needed to at barcelona. you were also going to be on your way out temporarily. you had spoken with your coaches and management about going to college, and they had signed off on you taking a gap year to play the next season before you went off to america. you were committed to a school, but you had yet to tell your teammates which one.

lunch was nice, despite the fact that you couldn't focus because you kept trying to figure out what keira's surprise was. it wasn't until you noticed several of your teammates filming you that you got a bit nervous. luckily, you didn't have to wait too long after the cameras were brought out. alexia mentioned something about dessert, and when you turned around expecting to see the waiter, you saw lucy standing there in a tarheels shirt.

"i didn't tell anybody," you mumbled, unaware of how they could have known where you were going.

"sorry that i missed your graduation, but i'm so proud of you. i can't wait to watch you next year in carolina," lucy said as she wrapped one arm around you. the little plate with a slice of cake was set in front of you, but you didn't pay it any mind. you wrapped your arms around lucy's body in a tight hug. "score some goals for me, okay?"

"i'll try for more than what i score against you." everybody at the table laughed at your joke, except for lucy, who knew that you were serious. she could be the best in the world, and you'd still managed to get one or two past her. the whole team would work to make sure that you did. they wanted the world to know how good you were, which lucy knew would make for an interesting champion's league with her new team.

"we'll see about that," lucy mumbled as she pressed a kiss to the top of your head. you glanced around you at your teammates and friends surrounding you. it was the happiest that you'd ever been, but something told you that there was only going to be more to come with them in your life.

[tinycurlyfry]

Thinking about how Buggy and Shanks parallel Zoro and Luffy but if Luffy dropped his ambitions. The agreement between Zoro and Luffy was that Zoro would follow Luffy, be his first mate, be his swordsman, the first member to join his crew and set sail to achieve Luffy’s dream of being Pirate King IF Luffy never got in the way of Zoro’s dream of being the Strongest Swordsman in the world.

Buggy and Shanks were “apprentices” to Roger (and really more or less they were his sons). They were learning from Roger and learning what being a pirate SHOULD BE. So as apprentices, it would go without saying (at least as far as Buggy is concerned) that that means they need to be the ones to carry Roger’s Legacy. That they should be the ones to get their captain’s treasure and carry out what he wanted for the world. We see it in what Buggy is CURRENTLY doing. That he wants to inspire people to achieve their dreams. Crocodile sees piracy as a business, and Mihawk sees his position as a power pirate as a means to live a peaceful, lazy life where no one would dare bother him. But they don’t have the  ROMANTICISM of a dream anymore. And all those years ago Buggy heard Shanks say he was no longer throwing himself into the romanticism of pirating and adventuring anymore. He’d be a pirate sure, but there was no drive, no DREAM behind it anymore. 

And then he asks Buggy to still be a part of his crew. I can only imagine what that request must have felt like to Buggy. For Shanks to tell him “I won’t be the pirate king you saw me as. I’m not seeking any dream. But come be a part of my mediocracy. Just settle for less, Buggy.”

Now of course, Shanks still went and became a HUGE big name pirate. One that achieved Emperor level. But in that moment? In that moment it felt like Shanks was asking Buggy to give up on his dream, settle for being a pirate simply to be a pirate, and betray what they had learned from Roger.

Luffy was never going to get in the way of Zoro’s dream. Zoro’s desire was Luffy’s desire and vice versa, because as they said themselves in the show- the pirate king shouldn’t have anything less than the best swordsman on his crew. But Buggy’s desire was not Shank’s desire. I’d argue it probably still isn’t! I know Shanks is now making his move for the One Piece, but I honestly don’t know that that is his true objective. I think he thinks his place is to BE THERE when the battle for the One Piece happens. He placed a bet on the new generation and he is going to be there to see that bet come to fruition.

And I think part of that conversation between Shanks and Buggy was how they were each grieving. They had both lost a captain, but also a father.

But Buggy has not given up. His own dream was rekindled this most recent chapter (yes partially because he believes Shanks finally wants to be pirate king too), but partially because he finds himself SURROUNDED by people who know longer believe in the child-like wonder of adventure and treasure and the DREAM of becoming PIRATE KING. I think Buggy HAD also given up down the line. I think we saw a Buggy who’d lost his way at the beginning of the series. I do think Buggy doesn’t have the... best morals... But whether it’s intentional or not Buggy is not who we saw at the beginning of the series and he’s rallying so many people under him, and giving them sanctuary, and honestly? Reaching a king’s status to so many people. 

But honestly? If Luffy suddenly went “You know what? I’m happy with what I’ve got here. I don’t need to be pirate king anymore. We don’t need to get the One Piece.” The Straw Hats would be SO LOST. Sure maybe they wouldn’t all get immediately angry or upset as Buggy had and asked “Well, what DO you want then?” But they are a crew made from the collection of DREAMS. And everyone’s dream is their own dreams. Zoro’s ambition became Luffy’s ambition, but that would never had happened if there was even a small chance that Luffy would be satisfied with anything that fell lower than reaching their dreams.

All this to say I’m proud of Buggy and support him as Leader of Cross Guild LMAO I hope he continues to fail upwards.

[mcytblrconfessions]

i love seeing asks answered that were clearly vying for a certain tag but didnt get it. theyre not even getting heckled theyre getting mediocracy

[thetraumaking]

The Accursed Crown

Other chapters

Chapter 10: In Name

Due to excitement, she had trouble sleeping.

After her unfortunate “accident” the whole day you were by her side, treating her as if she were glass. The treatment may have been targeted toward the weak but Azula’s excuse was simply research.

She was curious to see how you would react and she was also curious to know how it feels to receive such attention. While she herself is training and focusing on improvement, her brother Zuko is being pampered as if his life depended on it. She simply wanted to know what it was like being in his position. To know if that lifestyle was worth sabotaging his future and development.

She lay in her bed, awake.

Only getting up alongside the sun. Knowing you would be already awake by this time, she made her way to you.

Despite the lack of sleep, she was in a good mood. Her demeanor was calm and relaxed, as she walked through the patio. Her steps halted when she heard grunts from the training ground.

Deciding to investigate, she redirected to the field. When she found the source of the gasping, her eyes widened.

Azula could not describe what she was feeling. Nothing good that's for sure. There was a pain in her chest that she could not fully describe.

The sight before her made her jaw clench.

Zuko was there on her training ground, doing her training drills, and taking lessons from her mentor. Who does he think he is?

He is nothing but a fish swimming in a sea of mediocracy. How dare he waste your time on some useless fodder?

She’s a firebender but even then she never imagined she could feel her blood boil. She watches as her brother heaves, leaning on his knees, trying to catch his breath. You gaze at him, evaluating his performance.

Deciding to put a stop to this, she tugged at her bandages before marching in with her head held high. She had hoped to spend the remainder of the week with you.

Calling out to you, she showed you her bandaged hand, which was coming out undone. You handed the wooden sword to Zuko and walked to her. “How did this happen?” You ask while retying the gauze.

“It could be that I moved too much in my sleep, or you just didn’t do a good enough job bandaging it.” She huffed. “Also, didn’t you promise to make me breakfast? And why are you here with him?” she looked pointedly at Zuko.

“The Fire Lord ordered me to train Prince Zuko. He may not have started to fire bend but he should at least know some basic forms. As for breakfast, I thought you would have liked to sleep in a bit more so I conducted his highness’s training a bit early so I could have time to prepare.” Even when you’re finished retying the bandages, you still held her hand.

Seeing her attempt to draw your attention away from her brother was working, she continued on with the conversation.

“I am already used to waking up at this time so from now on, I want to train with you. I will be present in every training session you hold for him, so tell me a day prior before your meeting.”

She didn’t wait for you to respond and began pulling you back to the palace, away from Zuko. “I’m hungry, make me food.” She ordered, sparing a glance at the boy left behind.

Why must her quality time with you suffer because he’s weak? If he was the slightest bit more competent, this would not have happened. And why must her father and grandfather constantly interfere with her plans? Why do people always get in her way and try to steal you away from her?

She felt a comforting hand on her head, stopping her in her tracks. The tension seemed to melt away the moment you stepped closer, letting her lean her head on your middle.

“What caused this reaction?” You began combing her hair with your fingers, working through the knots. “Did your brother wrong you in some way?”

“He did.” She replied without missing a beat.

Of course he did. He tried to stand between you and her. She heard the stories from the servants about how it was you who used to attend to him before she was born. She also heard how he complained to his mother about how she was the one who took you away from him. She has even heard her father tell his council member how he believes that you are his daughter.

Her age does not fully reflect her maturity. She is young but she is not dumb. She has ears, she can hear the whispers that go around you. Her eyes can see the respectful, jealous, angry gaze of the servant that targets around you, the longing gaze of her mother, the admiration from her brother, and possession from both her father and grandfather.

Someone always tries to either harm or steal you away from her. She may not have authority now but in the future, she will.

She stood up and straightened her back. She will not show weakness. You will see and recognize her capabilities.

Pulling you by the hand, she walked forward towards the cooking area. Where you, as promised, made her breakfast.

It may not have tasted the best but… it was warm.

Till the day her hand made a full recovery, she has been spectating your and Zuko’s training sessions. Unlike her, he was making mistakes in every form. Elbow too low, fingers too spread out, chin too low, and stance unstable.

Anyone could tell which of the siblings were the most pampered.

She knows you would not have wasted your time on him if it was not a direct order from the Fire Lord. It seems as though everyone you have interacted with wants to take you away from her.

Ever since Zuko has started to train with her, his mother began to make an appearance. And she also seemed to have the intention of stealing your time. After every training session, Ursa would pull you aside to talk to you while Azula and Zuko would leave to get themselves cleaned.

Letting out a breath, Azula hugs her pillow. Not only do you return later than the previously agreed-upon time, but you come back to her half-dead as if your will has been sucked out. She’s curious as to what that woman had said to you.

Judging by how much Ursa involves herself with her son, you most likely have to do weekly reports of his development, similar to the ones you give to Azula’s father.

She couldn’t help but yawn. Her eyelids felt heavy.

Unlike the boy, she trains twice a day. One with him, where they focus on forms and physical strength. Second, where she works on her bending, guided by you and through your instructions.

Her fire output has greatly improved compared to her first time bending. You have told her to now focus on control and speed. And what better way than a good old spar?

You once said, that to be a leader, one must know and understand their people. Once she can identify what motivates a person and what their drive is, she’ll have an easier time leading them. While fear may be easier and faster, by doing things your way, they’ll be more loyal.

She does not need to like her brother, she simply needs to know how to read him.

Tomorrow would be her recovery day.

As she gets taken by sleep, she hopes there will be no interaction between you and Ursa, at least on her free day. Unlike her brother, Ursa has no power or authority, at least he’s a prince in name.

[asteldev]

Hello, from a Cosmic Chimera

I've had this account for a while and finally decided to put it to use, my name is Astel, I'm a transgender/genderfluid (MtF) Therian/Otherkin (still not sure which applies better) who produces various forms of art albeit with varying degrees of mediocracy. I haven't really used Tumblr before so bare with me for a second here.

Sooo yeah expect art/music/3D modelling posts pretty soon, for now, let's start off with my main character, the one I use to represent myself the most, Equinox, Cosmic Chimera/Eldritch Goddess

[unganseylike]

deep in htn bewilderment but i’d just like to comment the way ianthe describes her soup making process sounds like me. im always telling my roommates “oh i made really mediocre soup if u want”

if i finally start locked tomb will u guys promise to explain wtf is happening to me when i get confused