#people are hypocrites

[shrikeseams]

Circling back, as ever, the the idea that Celegorm's treatment of Luthien was (at least in part) revenge for Aredhel.

Because often I see people responding with something along the lines of "Oh, Aredhel would be so mad at him about that!", and I am here to say: I don't necessarily buy that.

Aredhel's murder and (presumed) previous victimization do not make her some saintly bastion of virtue and Female Solidarity. It is perfectly normal and common for someone who has been wronged in some way to want revenge for that wrong, and not not care that others also become victims in the process. I don't think that's terribly uncommon among, for example, women who have been subject to domestic abuse.

Like many silm characters, I don't think we know terribly much about Aredhel as a fleshed out character/personality, but what we do know is:

She's one of the Exiled Noldor, and therefore at least superficially has a pro-revenge bias

She's actively friends with Celegorm and actively sought out his company, which suggests that to at least some degree they share values

At least by the end, her relationship with Eol had gone catastrophically, murderously bad

It is entirely possible for Aredhel to be cheering Celegorm on the whole time from Mandos. It's perfectly plausible for her to be angry, not because he wanted to rape Luthien, but because he failed to do so and thereby avenge her on Eol's kin.

It's ugly! But people so often are. And I personally think that realistic ugliness makes for more complex, chewy characters.

An Aredhel sainted and white-washed by her victimhood is so fucking boring to me.

[fussystreetlight]

https://youtu.be/D_aRzXXCv4s

I'm referring to the comments on this video because they give me a headache. No one thinks more about sex, and kids, and "kids in sexual situations" than pro-censorship people do. I don't know why they think book banning is "making sure the Kama Sutra isn't in elementary schools" but...it's not. It's really not. (I also don't like how most of the commenters are acting like the other side is just blowing things out of proportion and making a big deal out of nothing so they can hurt kids because that's what they were told. The first part of that rhetoric can easily be used by certain people to commit or sweep atrocities under the rug. And the second part, that's just the typical anti-lgbtq+ rhetoric...)

Anyway, that's not really the majority of the stuff that gets banned.

I only know about book bans in America so I can't speak about other places. And this is the site I normally use: https://pen.org/

Some of the top banned books were:

Nineteen Minutes by Jodie Picoult:

"Sterling is an ordinary New Hampshire town where nothing ever happens--until the day its complacency is shattered by a school shooting. Josie Cormier, the daughter of the judge sitting on the case, should be the state's best witness, but she can't remember what happened before her very own eyes--or can she? As the trial progresses, fault lines between the high school and the adult community begin to show--destroying the closest of friendships and families. Nineteen Minutes asks what it means to be different in our society, who has the right to judge someone else, and whether anyone is ever really who they seem to be."

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood:

"In Margaret Atwood’s dystopian future, environmental disasters and declining birthrates have led to a Second American Civil War. The result is the rise of the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian regime that enforces rigid social roles and enslaves the few remaining fertile women. Offred is one of these, a Handmaid bound to produce children for one of Gilead’s commanders. Deprived of her husband, her child, her freedom, and even her own name, Offred clings to her memories and her will to survive. At once a scathing satire, an ominous warning, and a tour de force of narrative suspense, The Handmaid’s Tale is a modern classic."

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison:

"In Morrison’s acclaimed first novel, Pecola Breedlove—an 11-year-old Black girl in an America whose love for its blond, blue-eyed children can devastate all others—prays for her eyes to turn blue: so that she will be beautiful, so that people will look at her, so that her world will be different. This is the story of the nightmare at the heart of her yearning, and the tragedy of its fulfillment."

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie:

"Junior is a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot."

Yes there are some of Sarah J. Maas' books on the list, but they're trying to ban that from high schools (teens and toddlers are different age groups people, please stop infantizing teens).

Censorship isn't really about protecting kids from "books that predators will use to groom them" or "child molesters", it's not about not giving kids access to sexual content when they're too young for it, it's really not about protecting kids at all, and it's not about getting rid of "icky sex books" in general.

It's mostly about control and having power, especially over LGBTQ+ people and minorities. It's about the people in charge getting rid of any narrative that they personally don't like or silencing any voice that doesn't resemble theirs (anyone who's not a straight white rich man really).

And it's not about the fact that "well you can still get these books so banned books are a myth!" It's the fact that people are trying to make it harder for students to access these books. Books that can help them. Maybe they're going through a difficult time, maybe they're struggling with mental health issues, maybe their home life isn't great, maybe there aren't many other people in school like them. And these books have characters just like them, going through the same things. And it makes them feel less alone or helps them realize things about their situation and come to terms with it. But these helpful stories are the ones targeted the most. And it gets harder for anyone who's even slightly different to feel like they belong or that it's okay for them to exist and be themselves. Books being challenged and removed from libraries is about making people conform to what the people in power want them to be, and again, what they want them to be is what they can tolerate and use.

PS: some schools in Florida also had to take away and review dictionaries for "sexual conduct" because of a relatively recent bill (that seems to also be against teaching students important sex ed, "along with requiring schools to teach that "reproductive roles are binary, stable and unchangeable"). But also the Bible is apparently still allowed, despite having all that stuff people claim to dislike.

[hellscape-halogens]

*famous person dies of drug overdose after ~secretly battling addiction~*

everyone: omg rip, another legend gone too soon 🙏🙏🙏 #EndAddiction #Sobriety #AddictsArePeopleToo

*homeless person exists, regardless of if they're actually addicts or sober/never touched drugs in their lives*

everyone: *clutching their pearls, foaming at the mouth* I will literally kill you if you ask me for anything. Here's like 5 cents, don't spend it all on drugs or alcohol fucking junkie whore dumbass bitch asshole. All junkies need to die. I hope you die. Stop freeloading. I hope my taxes don't go to your rehab!!!!!!!!! Also I donate to the D.A.R.E. program and police department!!!!!!!! I will call the police on you if you look at me at all!!!!! RAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!! THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DROP OUT OF SCHOOL AND YOU HATE YOUR PARENTS!!!!!!! DIE IN HELL!!!!!!!

[captainjonnitkessler]

Sometimes I wish we would start calling out the performative radicalism on this site for the poser bullshit it is. "Remember, it's always morally correct to kill a cop!" "Don't forget to firebomb your local government office!" "Wow, it sure would be a shame if these instructions on how to make a molotov cocktail got spread around!"

Okay. But you're not killing cops or firebombing government offices. You are posting on a dying microblogging website to a carefully-curated echo chamber that has radicalized itself into thinking that taking the absolute most extreme position on any subject is praxis but that anyone discussing the most practical way to effect actual change is your sworn enemy. You do not have the street cred OR the activist cred to be talking about killing cops, babe.

[librarian-of-babbel]

It's all fun and games until I use your own logic to justify something you hate.

[traumadumpingwhisperingcanvas]

I have never understood why people throw such a big hissy fit about Dreamcest it’s literally no different from Sanscest and I’ve never heard any solid arguments against it That don’t just boil down to I personally don’t like it which yeah you’re allowed not to like it but that’s not what I asked

I asked why is it anymore morally wrong then Sanscest also isn’t that why people originally started shipping sans with himself? Because no one understands Sans better than himself? because if so that would be pretty fucking funny we’re hating on a ship for doing the exact same thing We love another for and that’s just absolutely hilarious literally comedy gold right there

really unpopular opinion but dreamcest is actually interesting in retrospect

because in my opinion the only person who can actually understand dream’s troubles is themself

nobody in the entire multiverse is ever going to feel the pain they felt or the loss they suffered unless they’d gone through something similar. even a character like ink or cross isn’t justifiable because their trauma didn’t happen at SIX FUCKING YEARS OLD

yeah, basically— jumping into what pretty much is a multiversial war at the mental age of 6 is kinda wild and saying that people are going to easily understand that is even crazier

picture this: dream just sees another them and they’re like “holy crap you understand me” and everything unfolds from there

[solarpunkani]

Listen I’m not saying that *I* have the balls to buy a reflective vest and go off on a roadside or retention pond somewhere and start fucking around guerrilla gardening

But I am saying that the past week I’ve driven past many MANY people in reflective vests either doing roadwork or maintaining roadside shrubbery or whatever and the amount of times I considered questioning what the fuck they were doing is zero and the amount of times I would’ve even had the TIME to question what the fuck they were doing is zero

I saw groups of people I saw someone solo I didn’t question it I just figured ‘eh they’re doing SOMETHING and carried on. Depending on the location you pick, anyone who WOULD Karen up and interrogate you won’t even have the time space or ability to

[oatmealdoodles]

“I want you to stay with me, because you want to. Only if you want to”

also a version with strings:

OG:

Everybody raving about the “I didn’t realize you think sow low of me” while I’m still obsessing abt this

edit: forgot to add the second ver. so adding it in now

[manda-kat]

I think it's important to remember that just because you find someone basic or boring or whatever, you're actually very wrong and they are a unique and layered person with their own complicated life, emotions and interests. They don't have to perform anything to show you how interesting or special they are.

That straight white girl with her stanly cup and sephora makeup doesn't have to show you what makes her 'unique'. The older gentleman who shares conspiracy theories on facebook and mows his lawn early in the morning doesn't have to prove he isn't an 'npc' to you. The woman with the 'Karen' haircut and her son who watches stupid youtube videos don't have to drop everything to demonstrate to you that they can break the stereotypes you've associated with them.

Every person is a real person. Even if you never see them do a thing other than what you expect them to do, they are just as deep and emotional as you are because they are ALIVE! They're real! And they don't owe you a tour into their lives just to prove to you that they have thoughts and feelings! Just because you lack the empathy or understanding to see that someone who doesn't share your same lifestyle, hobbies or stereotypes might actually have a rich and detailed life, doesn't mean you're right.

[starscream-is-my-wife]

Ik it's a bit early but I can't believe it's been almost one year since this post

Btw yeah its real

[archivewriter1ont]

I like to think this scene is the moment Crosshair decided they were keeping the reg (not Hunter -- Crosshair. Because he's the baby brother and he gets what he wants). Crosshair is highly skilled and extremely irritating at times but he values loyalty, competency, and valor, and I think he saw all three in Echo right off the bat.

Crosshair was kind of the one who stuck beside Echo and General Skywalker during this arc. (I would like to point out that he shot threats off of Mr. The-Chosen-One twice in these episodes, thus proving his cool factor and my belief that Anakin was always slightly overrated.) He got a front-row seat to watch this broken, malnourished POW get jerked straight out of cryo just to 1) goof off and snark to his captain and general, 2) jump on a living dragon thing and just wing it like "Sure I can fly this why not" and 3) start popping airborne droids with ZERO armor and a borrowed (stolen?) blaster.

Of course Crosshair looked at Echo, then to his brothers, then back to Echo and went "He's ours now, deal with it." Echo reminded him so much of himself and his squadmates that he imprinted on sight.

[orionebulart]

Guys. I've noticed something.

The way Stolass` glancing at Blitzø in the "Mastermind" right before execution (as he thinks):

Is it just me or... is this expression full of loathing? I am failing to see some love, reassurance or sorrow right here. All I see is nothing but pure hate.

This look doesn't say "Don't worry, Blitzø. Everything's going to be alright. Take care of yourself. Goodbye." Noooooohohoho!

What this god damn look DOES say is "That's how I'll punish you for not reciprocating my feelings, stupid imp. I'll make you regret this. Now I'm dying because of you. It's all your fault. So you should blame yourself for the rest of your life."

You know what sucks even more? Stolass will TOTALLY guilt-trip Blitzø by this in the future. It's going to be like "But I've done so much for you, Blitzy! How dare you be so ungrateful?!" I have no doubts. He will do this. And the standom will defend him for doing this. And it won't be called neither manipulation nor emotional abuse (as it should be). It will be called "miscommunication" and "not quite being self-aware enough at times". Just as usual.

[adulting-sucks]

I love the blogs who say to enjoy the quiet while simultaneously stirring the pot. “We can’t post because you accuse us of gaslighting. We got false information and posted about it cryptically but just know it’s your fault we can’t say anything”.

We say you’re gaslighting because you are. Please stop blaming the fandom for what you all say and do. It’s old.

[snakeredbirdbatkatana]

"I'm angry at you" Tim forces out.

It's been a long time coming, the words that have been circling his mind for years. Rotting the back of his throat.

Jason is Bruce's son in a way that he will never be. It's just a simple fact.

Maybe he could have picked a different time maybe a family dinner wasn't the place, but he was the one that spent year's of his life having to dodge bullets and murder attempts. He had to spend month's in physical therapy after the tower.

The place he felt safe was ripped away because Jason who is traumatized he hasn't forgot that fact, decided to hunt him down and hurt him.

Maybe Robin isn't a child, but Tim Drake was.

He turns to Bruce who's face is of course blank he's the one who wants Jason here yet not an emotion in sight.

Turns back to look Jason in the eye the man who's sitting next to Damian sometimes he wonders if Alfred does it on purpose a way to remind Tim that his murderers will always have something he doesn't.

He will look him in the eye he will not falter today.

"I was a child, I should have never been the exception to your rule. Say what you will about Robin being something else but you didn't care about Robin you cared it was me"

Silence it's funny how comforting it can be.

"I should not have to sit at the same table as two of my attempted murderers and pretend that it's ok. You are both traumatized I understand that but it will never be an excuse for traumatizing me. I see the Red hood and Robin in my nightmares."

He turns to look at Dick who as always is to the right of him once again pointing to Alfred doing this seating on purpose.

"You are a hypocrite who has never shut up about drying but goes out his way to kill another Robin."

He sees Alfred step forward closer to Bruce he wonders what the point is will he say anything, not likely but why move he almost asks yet if he doesn't finish he never will.

"This was your home first it still is, but I have bled and given more than you will ever know to secure my place here. So Bruce I do not ever want to partnered with either one of them in the field. You or Dick are the only options. You will not argue with me this is me laying my boundaries which I am entitled to."

He stares at Alfred loosing the blank look to let some of the anger out. He wants him to know.

"You will also never again force me to sit at a dinner table across from them again. Whatever British Passive-Aggressive gesture this is. You have no right to do. I will never forgive you for my birthday."

Dick goes to interrupt he doesn't let him.

"Bruce and Alfred have my full permission to discuss the psychological torture they put me through as my birthday present. But from now on none of you get to treat me as if I am some replacement or placeholder. I am a person with feelings, I will not be treated like a doormat."

He makes eye contact with each of them Alfred, Bruce, Jason and Damian.

Before turning to Dick for the last part.

"You are the only person here who has never deliberately hurt me, your my brother and I love you. I want to spend more time with you and I am specifically requesting that you come with me when I leave this table. We can get dinner or hang out but I need you to leave with me."

----------

Bruce is speechless.

How did he do this, his child is sitting at his table trembling and he can't move.

His child who just spent ten minutes defending himself and he is doing nothing.

Dick interrupts what he can admit is a pity party.

"Your my brother, I will happily follow you to the ends of the earth and if we leave now we can go to the Thai place that you like."

He can't let them leave he has to say something.

Tell Tim that he loves him, that he can fix this that this isn't the end. That it matters but before he can there gone.

His boys leave.

His precious sons, one loyal to a fault and one hurt beyond measure and what did he do nothing.

What he always does nothing.

[bunnieswithknives]

Gore, Violence and Blood under the cut

What a mess

[letmereadinpeace4]

This is probably a controversial opinion, but Asmodeus and Beelzebub are evidence that if you are a pleasant enough person who mingles and parties with the lower class and doesn't say overtly classist stuff, people will let you get away with the bare minimum and give you a truly astounding amount of benefit of the doubt, even if you enable, maintain and benefit from an insanely classist system that massively and negatively impacts your partner, not to mention the people you're supposed to rule over.