#social cues! nonverbal actions!

[howlsofbloodhounds]

Do you think Color& or Killer would use would use AAC? Anyone else you think would?

Sure, definitely. I feel like Sans and Gaster had their own makeshift signals and number of sounds—taps, clicks, finger snaps—for quick communication whenever one or both didn’t want or couldn’t verbally speak, and of course this likely carries over when Color first escapes the Void.

Especially if he’s too confused, too overwhelmed, too scared to communicate or interact with a world that’s unfamiliar and possibly even unreal to him at first.

Perhaps Bravery’s influence is a major factor here, compelling Sans to be brave and speak up—even if that action later, looking back, possibly feels unnatural and out of character to Sans.

I do feel that Color will be taught sign language in his facility care stay if they didn’t already know—either by staff, or by other patients. Color has the time, the patience, and the perseverance to learn.

I do believe he will still heavily struggle—he has episodes of dissociation, he has a fractured open skull, he struggles with emotional regulation, he struggles with understanding social cues, sarcasm, overstimulation, he has severe trust issues of just about everyone and everything during this time, memory issues, getting easily exhausted both physically and mentally from social interactions and physical activity. His bones are fragile, his body is possibly even athropied due to the Void.

He will struggle to regulate his frustration, anger, and embarrassment if he makes a mistake or forgets anything—which he inevitably will, more than just the “normal” forgetting of someone learning something new.

I do believe Color would struggle a lot with using pen and paper as an alternative means of communication, not only due to the the Void having likely destroyed and annihilated his fine motor skills—as well as Perseverance’s possible dysgraphia, their potential eyesight problems carrying over from when they were alive, and the body’s already existing visual impairments—and the likely awful, painful chronic migraines that he likely deals with and could be triggered by stress and frustration.

A tablet with an app could help of course, but the screen lights could probably strain his one eye—unused to brightness or light as it already is—and he’s is very likely very, very behind on the latest technology and out of practice on what he does know.

If Color even actually remembers how to operate a phone or a tablet at all after two decades of not seeing or using any, and struggling to hold on to his sanity, memories, and identity.

Which, of course, could cause all the emotional regulation issues mentioned above. Wouldn’t be surprised if he needed up crushing or breaking a piece of technology given to him in sheer frustration—or was definitely going to, only to suddenly be overwhelmed with a dizzying, yet blanket feeling of calm overtaking him. As if suddenly stuck in molasses.

So, perhaps he uses cards or pictures given to him to nonverbally communicate at first— and perhaps the staff and another patient even caught on to his and Gaster’s made up little language.

Or not, perhaps that was something Color was unwilling to share with anyone there, as if possessive of his own experiences and memories—even as he kept doing it. If anyone did catch on to it and let him know that they knew, maybe that became a point of conflict.

So maybe Color uses those cards, pictures, nonverbal communications like facial expressions, body language, and hand gestures—whenever he can’t verbally bring himself to speak—while he learns sign language, and tries to relearn motor skills and how to operate both familiar and unfamiliar technology.

I’ve seen it HC’d that Killer in Stage 4 uses Morse code to communicate, and Killer in Stage 3 is primarily via body language and vocalizations. I do think Killer would primarily rely on sign language, either something he knew as Sans or learned himself as Killer (something new, beneficial for survival), or something taught to him—perhaps by Chara or even Color—when in lower Stages. Sometimes Killer in Stage 2 may be too apathetic to even want to put in the effort to communicate.

And of course, Killer will definitely use text to speech or an app if he must. He is a bit chronically online, and im sure his phone is one of the very few physical items he places value on.

It holds his cat videos and cat photos, it has stimulating games on it, it has Color’s number on it and proof of Color’s existence on it whenever Killer can’t see him or speak to him or touch him to reassure himself Color is real for whatever reasons.

Even if he possibly does have to speak in code with Color, and find ways to hide Color’s contact such as disguising it behind a calculator app or something.

Killer can also use pen and paper of course, and his goop adds as a substitute for ink and his finger as a pen—as potentially does his knife and either his or a target’s blood—but his possible visual impairment from said ichor and lack of consistent eyelights could be a hinder here.

As well has hand and arm cramps and exhaustion, man can potentially lose entire limbs and Reset to have them back, doesn’t mean his mind doesn’t pull the opposite of a phantom limb and randomly decide, “oh hey this arm shouldn’t be here, wasn’t this cut off?” and then his body starts freaking the fuck out.

As for others I feel would use AAC, regardless of the specific form and based off nothing but pure vibes, I’ll go with..Ink (pictures, drawings), Dream (I feel he needs to use AAC actually but is actually kinda struggling to either learn or to accept that an alternative option is valid), Nightmare (pen and paper and probably drawing).

I also feel like Cross and Delta would benefit from using some form of AAC, but both are kinda too proud to admit it; even as Delta encourages Beta to use it.

I feel like Dust, one who is nonverbal in some manner or just really not one prone for verbal speaking besides from maybe talking to Papyrus, just generally prefers to communicate via vibes and body language. Man shrugs his shoulders so damn much. People struggle to either see his face at all or read his facial expressions.

There’s probably more but I’ll leave my ramble here for now.

[skyrimsimmer]

Police need to be held accountable for their actions against this kid and his family. Just up and shooting him without even asking what is going on? Nah society needs to teach these cops a lesson in how to handle disabled children. I get it he was holding a weapon but nonverbal people literally can not speak at all or know social cues.

He was pulled off of life support so basically this is murder. Charge them all seriously this is so wrong in many ways.

[do-u-know-this-autisticcharacter]

Do You Know This (non-canon) Autistic Character?

Propaganda:

Though he isn't canonically autistic, he does canonically have social anxiety, which is apparently so intense that he is essentially nonverbal all the time and masks his feelings with a stoic expression. He can get easily flustered when put into overwhelming situations and prefers to communicate through his actions and nonverbal cues rather than words. He has a lot of hobbies that he can do with his hands, like woodworking, sandcastle building, and baking, which helps him be able to show his appreciation to his loved ones, in his own way.

[stillafanofsonic]

for @the-sky-queen

writing Shadow Whipple as autistic. Some little flavoring I give him

He doesn't like crowds of people and will always leave because that makes him feel overwhelmed. Won't tell anyone he's leaving or where he's going, he doesn't plan, he just goes

Has to be comfortable to talk to people, will be nonverbal around strangers. (in a group of people he knows, he can kinda fade into the background because he'll barely speak).

If stressed is nonverbal

Is extremely interested in motorcycles and action movies. Motorcycles are his special interest.

Does not like being touched. Period. He can kinda tolerate it with the very close people he knows (dad and brother) but still needs to be on his terms and not a surprise. Might snap/bite/attack if a stranger got too close and surprised him.

Is blunt. I really try to be careful with this one, because it's a trope that people with ASD don't care about others and say whatever the hell they want (cough sheldoncooper cough). So if he's rude it's because he doesn't realize he's being rude. He understands that insulting someone to their face isn't nice and wouldn't do that on purpose. But he does sometimes miss social cues.

Follows the rules carefully unless he thinks it's a dumb rule and can disregard.

Very logical.

I try and make it clear, he cares a lot about his brother and dad. SO MUCH. But he's not good at expressing it, he's way better at showing it. (an example would be he dropped his plushie on the ground and Silver got upset he did that. It was clear he didn't understand why Silver was upset, in his eyes the toy is not real and can't feel pain but it was important to Silver so he handed the plush to Silver and told him to let their plushies hang out for the day. He wanted Silver to be happy).

Is montone and quiet.

Stims when he's upset. The stims I write have to do with his hands, he spins his rings on his wrists or flexes his fingers (light upset), flaps his hands (medium upset) and pulls on his quills or rocks back and forth. (rare extremely upset)

A big component is he isn't always doing an autistic behavior. It's part of his personality but not all of it. Think of it like a spice in cooking, it adds a nice flavoring, but if you put in too much spice, it can ruin the dish.

[amandalaeffect]

WHY CONFIDENCE IS SO IMPORTANT !!

Okay, let’s talk about confidence, the ultimate life upgrade. Confidence isn’t just about walking into a room like you own it (though, that’s definitely part of it). It’s that feeling of self-assurance, where you trust yourself to handle whatever life throws at you. It’s a combination of how you feel about your abilities, your self-worth, and your ability to tackle challenges. But what exactly goes down in your brain to make you feel confident? And how does it impact how others see you and how you behave? Let’s dive in!

THE CHEMISTRY BEHIND CONFIDENCE?

At the core of confidence, we have the brain. Seriously, your brain is like the CEO of confidence, calling the shots on how you feel and how you react. When you’re feeling confident, your brain is doing some cool stuff behind the scenes. It’s releasing feel-good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin that make you feel calm, positive, and ready to take on the world. Your brain also taps into the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making, planning, and processing emotions. When it’s working in sync, you can make decisions with clarity, trust your instincts, and go after what you want without second-guessing.

On the flip side, when you're not feeling confident, your brain might get a little stuck in "fear mode," activating the amygdala, which is your brain’s alarm system. This could lead to overthinking, anxiety, and feeling like everything is a big deal when it's really not. So, confidence is literally a chemical cocktail that happens in your brain—and the more you practice feeling confident, the more your brain gets used to it and can help you feel that way naturally.

DOES IT AFFECT PEOPLE'S PERCEPTIONS?

Now, how does all this brain chemistry impact how others see you? Spoiler: it totally affects it. When you walk into a room, people can sense your confidence (or lack of it) based on your body language, tone of voice, and the way you carry yourself. Think about it: when you feel confident, you stand taller, smile more, and your posture is open. You’re less likely to shrink away in social situations, and more likely to engage in conversations or express your opinions. These nonverbal cues speak volumes, often louder than words.

Others are naturally drawn to people who radiate confidence. It makes them feel like you’re someone they can trust, someone who’s competent, or someone who’s got their life together (even if you secretly don’t). Confident people tend to get more respect, better opportunities, and are often viewed as more attractive. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about owning your uniqueness and being comfortable in your skin.

'FAKE IT TIL YOU MAKE IT' , DOES IT WORK?

Confidence doesn’t just show up on its own. It’s a skill that you build, and you can start practicing by behaving in ways that reflect how you want to feel. Ever heard of the phrase “fake it ‘til you make it?” Well, there’s actually some science behind it. By adopting confident behaviors, like making eye contact, speaking clearly, and asserting yourself in conversations, you signal to your brain that you’re in control. Over time, your brain will start to believe that you’re confident, and you’ll feel that way even when you’re not consciously trying.

Think about how you act when you’re super sure of yourself—maybe you’re more decisive or willing to take risks. When you behave confidently, you start seeing opportunities instead of obstacles. And that, in turn, makes you actually more confident because you prove to yourself that you can handle things. Plus, people pick up on that energy and respond positively, which creates a cycle of boosting your confidence even more. It’s like a confidence loop—you put it out there, and the world reflects it back to you.

A SUMMARY OF CONFIDENCE !!

In short, confidence is a mental and physical state that originates in your brain but shows up in the world through your actions and how others perceive you. It's about balancing your inner belief in yourself with the way you present yourself to the outside world. You don’t need to be perfect to be confident. In fact, confidence is all about embracing imperfection and owning who you are—flaws and all. When you do that, the world will see you as strong, capable, and magnetic, and guess what? You’ll start believing it, too. So go ahead, rock your confidence—it’s all in your head (and your body), and it’s waiting to be unleashed.

★☆★☆

[death-in-a-handbasket]

I am ALSO a huge aku fan and I have tons to discuss about him! I totally agree with you about him being quiet/nonverbal when off work, also super awkward and kinda offputting in some situations. Also feel like that if he had a s/o he would prefer to show love and affection through actions and gifts rather than with words. He would def do household chores/cook etc for them. But when he does tell them he loves them it’s always really sweet to hear and AHHHH I LOVE HIM SM. I’m def gonna be in your asks a lot, I’m bee btw

hello bee ! lovely to meet you :D I saw you going through my aku posts in my notifs, thank you for sending something in ^_^ !! I love this man and I am always ready to talk about him more

I’m glad we can shake hands over the fact that he is indeed odd and offputting, I feel like if people want to get a better handle on his character they should def read beast, I mean it’s shot from his pov and this man’s ways of thinking are very direct and whenever he’s conversing with someone else he really seems to either remain silent or incite the most uncomfortable conversations known to man

this is not a man who socializes well, he has no way with words to speak of, literally

so yeah, I don’t see words of affirmation being a talent of his in relation to his partner and by proxy I don’t think dirty talk would fly well unless you’re looking to get degraded in the same way he talks to his adversaries 😭 speaking kindly is foreign to this man

I 100% agree he shows love in actions or gifts, he knows how to appease people with actions and performing well, so I think he’d take a cue from that and try his best to express love in that way, whether it’s being protective or keeping the house tidy or even gifting you something personal after some quiet observation of your interests, he’s doing his darndest 😭

when he does speak to you, he doesn’t say much but what he does say is incredibly genuine and profound, and for him to say something so tender would probably be a huge step for him in learning how to love

committing to someone would take a lot of trust and by that point I feel like he’d really give it his all even if he doesn’t really know what to do or how to express it properly, the mere fact that anyone would choose to be with him speaks volumes and means a great deal to him especially since his lifespan is unlikely to last long

also please do send lots of asks 🙏 I love this

[darksturnioloqueen]

Wonderful Things To Do For CNC Writing

But first, what is consensual non-consent, CNC?

CNC is a form of sexual role-play where the people involved play out nonconsensual situations.

Why is it restricted by social norms and controversial?

CNC is restricted by social norms due to its idea of role-playing a non-consensual situation and dark theming. (i.e. coercion, rape, reluctance, drugging, etc.)

Even with its socially unacceptable status, a lot of people perform this type of role-play. Some have been victims of non-consensual situations in their lives who use CNC as a way to gain back their sense of control, whether they are the dominant or the submissive. CNC is a normal sexual practice within the BDSM and kink community.

Having fantasies about CNC with a consenting partner is normal, but having fantasies about rape or not.

How to write a proper CNC scenario

Safewords (verbal and nonverbal) --

safe·word /ˈsāfwərd/ noun safeword; plural noun: safewords A word serving as a prearranged (chosen) and unambiguous (obvious) signal to end an activity, such as between a dominant and submissive sexual couple.

Your characters can say "no" and "stop" (unless you want to use one of those as a SafeWord, especially for beginners), but establish a confirmed SafeWord between your characters. The whole point of CNC is that the characters involved are consenting to role-playing a non-consensual scenario.

Safewords have to be evident in CNC scenarios because of this type of roleplay's nature. Characters can choose any random word like a color or animal, a series of taps, or some sort of blinking in code.

Every type of role-play or practice of kink/BDSM needs a safe word in case things go too far and lines are being crossed; even people who practice vanilla sex can use a SafeWord, so I’d write a scene that’s clear about establishing a safe word.

Aftercare!

"Aftercare" means, in a sexual context to describe acts of intimacy and affection following sexual activity to help someone feel comfortable and relaxed.

Write your characters engaging in aftercare right after their scenario. It isn’t just cuddling, especially not in a heavy scenario like this. Applying soothing creams, washing up with each other, having a conversation about what worked and what didn’t, and other methods are great to establish aftercare, and you can look up different things as well to help fit your characters.

Check-ins

"Checking in" during sex means taking a brief pause to verbally communicate with your partner about how you're feeling, if you're enjoying yourself, or if there's anything you'd like to change or try, essentially ensuring that both partners are comfortable and consenting to the current activity throughout the sexual encounter; it's a way to actively listen to your partner's needs and express your own.

Have your characters check in with each other every now and then. This can be in the form of breaks where they briefly stop to ask questions about the scenario, drink some water, have a laugh, use the restroom, or do other activities that can help the persons involved to stay in reality, especially if they’re doing a really intense scene. They can also do nonverbal check-ins where they can use nonverbal cues such as blinks, taps, and other evident and intentional physical actions, just as mentioned above.

This is kind of a copycat post from a tumblr I really looked up to. They were always an excellent space for non-judgment and an unbiased opinion. After I butchered my original CNC fic they posted guidelines like this and I loved it so much.

Never be afraid of constructive criticism.

-- The Dark Queen

[smiley-positivity-potato]

As an autistic D.I.D system with alters, I have constant anxiety about the bits and pieces of conversations I remember my alts having. I wonder if I talked too much, was my alter too harsh, did we say the wrong thing, did I behave too energetically, was I too honest in how I felt about other's actions, and etc.

It's a constant battle of second guessing, doubt and inner fear from the continuous anxiety we feel while interacting with others. We don't always read social cues fast enough to not hurt other's feelings. Sometimes we repeat ourselves in various ways because we think we didn't make sense the first time. Other times we seem so distant due to the fear of annoying or hurting others. We just don't know what the right actions are, and even if other's react positively, we still second guess ourselves later.

When we go outside our comfort zone sometimes we feel powerful, but other times we feel weak. We question EVERYTHING we do and compare it to other's. We look back on the expressions others made that day towards us and question if we angered or annoyed them. Did their tone change or sound off due to something you did? It all is one big loop. And every alter feels differently about it ALL.

One feels anger and confusion because why can't people just be direct? Why can't we just UNDERSTAND THIS!? Another feels pressure and anxiety. Another hates themselves for feeling so different from others and they are too young to understand it's OK to be different. The alter that is a group of entities don't understand how to communicate. So they stay nonverbal and distant from everyone.

Being autistic with D.I.D is a struggle, even when meeting kind, like minded people. For you can't help but wonder, am I doing this right? Am I behaving like a good, communicative person and not an absolute asshole? Will I even remember? And what about the things I do remember? Are they important or am I overthinking? Again.

Trying to be mindful can be hard when you feel like an unreliable narrator in your life. But you can do this. You can learn your mind and acknowledge your actions. And you can always take accountability for your alters and for who you all are. That is within your control. Always.

[mischiefmanifold]

An Explanation of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Levels System

There are three levels of autism described in the DSM-5-TR. Typically, when diagnosed with autism using the DSM, one will receive a level alongside their diagnosis (e.g., "level three autism" or "autism spectrum disorder, level three"). [Please do not use this to determine your own level. That is something that should be done with a professional]

Level One (Requiring Support)

(Social communication) Without supports in place, deficits in social communication cause noticeable impairments. Difficulty initiating social interactions, and clear examples of atypical or unsuccessful responses to social overtures of others. May appear to have decreased interest in social interactions. For example, a person who is able to speak in full sentences and engages in communication but whose to-and-fro conversation with others fails, and whose attempts to make friends are odd and typically unsuccessful.

(Restricted, repetitive behaviors) Inflexibility of behavior causes significant interference with functioning in one or more contexts. Difficulty switching between activities. Problems of organization and planning hamper independence.

Usually able to speak and use complex language, but may experience speech loss or verbal shutdowns

Difficulty with small talk and/or reading social cues

Difficulty making and/or keeping friends

Transitions and change may be stressful but manageable

Poor eye contact

Difficulty initiating social interactions

Poor back-and-forth conversations

May appear to have decreased interest in social interactions

Atypical responses to attempts by others to initiate conversations/relationships

Inflexibility around behaviors and routines

Poor organizational skills

Restricted and/or repetitive behaviors impair functioning in one or more contexts

Has special interests but is able to hold conversation about other topics as well

Has mild sensory issues

Able to live independently with minimal support

Level Two (Requiring Substantial Support)

(Social communication) Marked deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills; social impairments apparent even with supports in place; limited initiation of social interactions; and reduced or abnormal responses to social overtures from others. For example, a person who speaks simple sentences, whose interaction is limited to narrow special interests, and who has markedly odd nonverbal communication.

(Restricted, repetitive behaviors) Inflexibility of behavior, difficulty coping with change, or other restricted/repetitive behaviors appear frequently enough to be obvious to the casual observer and interfere with functioning in a variety of contexts. Distress and/or difficulty changing focus or action.

Marked deficits in both verbal and nonverbal communication

Impairments are evident even with support

More limited verbal communication abilities (echolalia, speaking in shorter and simpler sentences, difficulty putting words together in ways that make sense)

Limited initiation and interaction with others

Restricted and/or repetitive behaviors are noticeable by the untrained eye and interfere with a variety of contexts

Difficulty expressing their needs

Difficulty with some daily living skills (bADLS and iADLS)

Delayed language development; may not begin to speak until later or may have limited speech abilities

Behaviors are harder to redirect

More severe sensory issues than level 1

More focused on special interests than level 1 -> rarely (if at all) speak about or engage in other topics

Cannot use much complex language

More likely to experience extreme distress from changes to routine or attempts to redirect from interests or behaviors

May have an extremely hard time being independent and may need a caregiver

Level Three (Requiring Very Substantial Support)

(Social communication) Severe deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills cause severe impairments in functioning, very limited initiation of social interactions, and minimal response to social overtures from others. For example, a person with few words of intelligible speech who rarely initiates interaction and, when he or she does, makes unusual approaches to meet needs only and responds to only very direct social approaches.

(Restricted, repetitive behaviors) Inflexibility of behavior, extreme difficulty coping with change, or other restricted/repetitive behaviors markedly interfere with functioning in all spheres. Great distress/difficulty changing focus or action.

Often nonverbal or have extremely limited verbal skills

Most severe presentation of autism

Significant difficulty with daily living skills (bADLS and iADLS)

Aggressive self-injurious behavior

May find even the slightest changes in routine extremely distressing

Sensory issues resulting in frequent meltdowns when coming into contact with specific stimuli

Responsive only to very basic verbal and nonverbal instructions

Responding very little or not at all to their social environment

Cannot be independent and needs 24/7 care

May be unable to form actual relationships

Tend to have lower IQs and intellectual disability

Many, very noticeable repetitive behaviors

Self-injurious behavior is much more common with level 3

Commonly has problems with wandering or eloping

Traits of levels 1/2 but to an extreme

Sources:

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-the-levels-of-autism-5271572

https://www.thetreetop.com/aba-therapy/levels-of-autism

https://www.choosingtherapy.com/levels-of-autism/

https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-severe-autism-260044

[jaskersneakthief]

I LOVE LOSER

okay....

1, .....breif summary of loser background story??? flutters my lashes.

2, ..is loser's current status alive or ded? i hope he's alive D:>

3, can me and loser beat the shit out of flumpty together one day

4, ...what specifically is his relationship with the others???.. meow.

TELL LOSER I SAID HAPPY HOLIDAAAAAAAAAAYS

Teehee hiii TELLING HIM RIGHT AWAY!🎁🎁

So, ANSWERSS

1) he was a college student in new dork(obvs) before he got kidnapped. He was in a group of friends, and he was the most reserved and shy out of all of them, there he also met his future girlfriend.

He got kidnapped when he was walking home alone at night, after Sonia's (his gf) birthday party.

Silly old drawing I did↓

2) about that I have very bad news.

Uh, well at least he lasted 3 years! And then everyone forgot he existed,everyone except Redman,he misses that guy...

3) YEAH! idk if he would want to participate though he doesn't like physical violence he's a kind guy

He would tell flumpty to fuck off though.

4) Since he's like nonverbal 80% of the time there, most of Flumpty's friends don't really pay much attention to him (Blam, grunkfuss,beaver)

About that Redman, he was first a jerk to Loser but that's how he copes , THEY WANTED EACH OTHER DEAD.

But then time passed and they started getting along,they talked about their interests in technology, their life before being stuck in Flumpty's funhouse and all that. He was the only creature Loser felt comfortable talking to.

ABOUT FLUMP, Loser is terrified of him but also confused on his actions (they both have no idea about social cues imagine 😭) he's like "oh he's mean and evil but he's also very nice to me sometimes should I hate him or not". Loser has no idea how to feel about him

Also, he always follows Flumpty like a confused duckling and no one knows why, probably not even Loser himself.

[obleke-yoonique-otherkin]

I once had the thought while watching anthropomorphic media . . .

You simply can't make a human face evoke the same level of emotion as baring teeth or ears moving.

Now, that's not to say that live action and animated human faces can't be very expressive, and exaggeratedly so depending on style.

That's also not to say that real human faces have a subtlety to them that we've evolved to notice, that can be very arresting in that it holds our whole, undivided attention and can be of paramount importance. Nonverbal cues make up more communication than verbal, some researchers say.

(autism cry in the corner)

But. you can't get the same basal ganglion reaction as a wolf snarling, or intense curiosity of a cat swiveling its ears forward to focus, nor can you create the contrast of previous placidity, the same degree of whoa freaky as a real horse rolling its eyes back so your can suddenly see the whites.

In the cartoon realm, if a chameleon, after its eyes have been wandering the entire conversation, then converge them both on you, that signifies far more this is important, hey emphasis than a human exchange where everyone's used to keeping eye contact the whole time.

The animal kingdom simply has more hit you in the head potential for emotions than a typical human quirk of an eyebrow, or tightened grimace.

And that's ironic, given that humans are (supposedly, who knows about elephants) the most emotionally aware animals. Visually, compared to animals, we are almost detached from strong, turbulent displays. We can't puff out a tail, or raise or lower one, we can't even raise or lower our own body hair in a visually noticeable way (unless an eagle was watching you from at least 18 feet away maybe, and had the sapience to note the significance of it)

Perhaps, at some level, this actually allows us to gain distance from emotions. Perhaps, as we vaguely take note of whether someone is acting defensive or anticipatory, we are able to focus more on language, as new as it is, this abstract form of communication, on the evolutionary front. Of course this distancing ourselves, even though it may keep us from acting on every impulse that occurs to us, isn't always a good thing- repression is the pits, and not being in tune with emotions can, in other patterns, also wreak havoc with being able to have self-control of our words or behavior. I think most everyone envisions a future where we are more and more logical- but I think not only do most humans not act logically 51%+ of the time (despite assuring yourself you do) I think losing a bit of this ability to both express and read body language on each other and other species is either a culturally developed trait we should look at ameliorating, or an evolved trait we should look at ameliorating the same way we moderate our violent tendencies. (as an extreme example- probably shoulda picked something different there)

I don't know if media can help us recapture this exactly- but as media does not contain the same social pressure of reading cues correctly and consequences of failure, it may be a good testing ground, especially for ND folks. May already be that. Serving that purpose.

Maybe that's why hyperfixation happens, to parse small meanings with no stakes.

We've had entirely silent series and silent movies (and I'm talking about recently, not 'silent movies' or 'move-ies' as the derivation goes). So what happens when we fill half of a scene with silence, as someone or an anthro someone tries to read the other. What happens when anthros and humans interact, and humans comment on the difficulty of reading cats, while solitude-oriented cats think other species entirely annoying at the level of emoting they do on a regular basis. A cat character raised by a human family tries to detangle how much they simply can't read due to missing the development window and how much is instinctual. A human character raised by dogs is astounded by how much other humans miss. A human character who goes to converse and study mice and learn their language has to be incredibly mindful of any even vaguely threatening tone or behavior on their part. And meanwhile, the audience has discourse among itself . . . did that mysterious character we don't know much about mean this or that by all those different head tilts? Because none of the main cast can figure it out and it's never resolved.

Then you go back to your IRL existence and find yourself starting to pay more attention to the subtleties of your own friends and enemies.

[leafsheep]

Idc what people say to me, if you aren’t intentionally flirting then you aren’t flirting. Like omg no that’s not how that fucking works, I am not an “unintentional flirt” because I tease and banter with people, I just tease and banter with people.

Social interactions are driven by verbal and nonverbal cues. Yes, someone could take your tone and the way you’re standing or looking at them as flirtatious but that doesn’t mean you’re flirting, that just means someone has interpreted your actions that way. If your intent is different, that’s just a misunderstanding, that’s not “unintentional flirting.”

Let me be clear, if you’re constantly being told you’re flirting with people, you should contemplate why people think that so often and possibly adjust your behavior but that doesn’t mean you were flirting.

And don’t anyone dare try and pull up a definition and point out how flirting is “to behave as though attracted to someone but not seriously/for amusement” so therefore if you tease someone you could accidentally flirt bc that’s not what that means. The definition there is referring to the low commitment of the act of flirting, when you flirt with someone you aren’t blatantly asking them out, you’re just showing interest, that interest isn’t on a serious, immediate level, and can be played off as joking. You’re still showing actual interest when flirting, even if it’s not serious or is in a joking manner.

TLDR; you have to ACTUALLY want to be flirting, ‘accidentally/unintentionally flirting’ isn’t real, thank you, goodnight.

[angelsureno]

one thing i love/hate about zero day is how emotionally inept cal and andre are because as a derivative work of the basement tapes you cant really predict the way they were formated and even less in the time they were recorded but one thing i think kind of lacks is monologues from the two boys. sure cal talks a bit at the camera all alone but thats the thing though

calandre have unresolved issues with each other and themselves, which you can figure out through their nonverbal actions and the little interactive social cues between them and family/friends, as much as i wouldve liked seeing an andre monologue he wouldnt do it, he's that disconnected with his own feelings and his feelings towards this thing that they're doing that even when he's breathless about to die with his best friend, his way of speaking is choppy and limited, and cal is like yeah man cool.

also that thing about cal killing a cat and being arrested before zero day its so smart it recontextualizes the whole thing

[mikkeneko]

@mikkeneko said: Laios actually has mad wis, I will stand by this claim

@bluebandedagate said: I disagree! Laios consistently demonstrates very low insight, which is a WIS skill, but beyond that he also doesn't have very good survival. His Nature skill is plenty high, but this is an INT skill - the difference between these skills is demonstrated by Senshi, who actually does have high Survival.

Breaking this out into a reblog rather than a reply because this will probably get long!

I want to preface this with, this is intended as a friendly debate and not a "you're wrong about," and I fully understand if you aren't convinced by it and stick to your own guns, but I want to lay out my reasoning.

So my position here is that Laios, imagined as a D&D character, actually "has mad wisdom" and actually has high Insight, and your contention is that he is very poor at Insight and shows no particular skill at other Wisdom skills. Here's where I disagree.

I think our main split is on what we consider Insight, and why I commented that there may be a version disparity. In modern D&D, 5E, Insight is used primarily as the skill of "reading other people's body language or facial expression and using those cues to guess what they are really thinking." And I agree that this is indeed something Laios is bad at; he (and Chilchuck, and Toshiro) would all agree on that. My contention is that this is not the only thing Insight is for, nor what it is primarily for in this setting.

Dungeon Meshi (and this could be a whole nother post on its own,) seems to be drawing more heavily from older versions of D&D than 5E, inasmuch as it's drawing on D&D at all. In older versions of D&D, the "reading people" skill is not Insight at all; it would be classed under Social or Society checks. Insight, instead, is more often used when a player is trying to read the situation at large for more clues or cues as to what is really going on, often in an exchange between DM and player; the player appeals for more information, the DM tells them to make an Insight check, if they succeed, they can be given hints or clues that were previously overlooked.

This is what I hold that Laios is exceptional at. (Manga spoilers ahead.) There are multiple times throughout the story where Laios reads the situation, discerns some information about it that other players have missed, and acts on it. Usually, though not always, illustrated with a voiceover of his thoughts as he reasons through the dangers and his course of action.

In the episode with the Tansu party, Laios determines that the tentacles can only be taken out by a ranged strike, and acts on a strategy to get a ranged weapon into the hands of the person present with the best skill at ranged weapons (Namari.)

In the Living Armor episode, he determines that the reason the Living Armors are acting so aggressively is that they are protecting something, and then identifies what they are protecting, and uses that to get around them.

In the Hippogriff episode, he is able to determine that the creature Senshi and his fellows faced was not a Griffon, seventy years after the fact based only on incomplete eyewitness testimony! (He also correctly concludes that what Senshi really needs for his peace of mind is not to bury the question and never speak of it again, but to face the truth and find closure; so while he may be bad at reading nonverbal cues, he is actually very good at considering the feelings and thoughts of others.)

During the final confrontation with Thistle, after all of his party members are slain and he is facing the Mad Sorcerer alone, Laios determines that Thistle has called up monsters that the sorcerer does not fully understand and therefore can not fully control, and is able to play that against Thistle to the latter's ultimate defeat.

This is not only Monster Facts (Nature), although Monster Facts are the information base he's starting from. (I also think his Survival is fine, although Senshi's, as a ranger on his favored terrain, is definitely better.) This is an ability to take in the situation, perceive what others don't, come to conclusions about what's really going on, and formulate a strategy to act on that new information. This is Insight.

What is the difference between Wisdom and Intelligence, really? It's a philosophical discussion, but as far as D&D is concerned, the answer must be found in the skills they govern. Wisdom's two most notable skills are Perception and Insight, while Intelligence rules over Arcana, Nature, History, et cetera. If you had to differentiate them based on that: Intelligence is the skill of recalling information you already know, but Wisdom is the art of gaining new information that you did not previously have.

Based on that, Laios' Intelligence is probably fine, if not slightly above average (he does indeed have that catalogue of Monster Facts, and he's able to pick up on Marcille's spellcaster tutoring without significant difficulty) but he is strongest in Wisdom.

I cannot, however, vouch for his Charisma.

Everyone: Laios is a generic blond human fighter!

Laios: Learns healing magic, can sense the presence of undead when nobody else can, is constantly being contacted by a higher power.

Y'all, Laios isn't a generic fighter. He's a paladin.

[castlebyersafterdark]

Oh, want to add a caveat that people process the world in different ways and someone who is on the spectrum, for example, may not read vibes in the same way - but that's no reason to callously dismiss the large amount of people who do indeed communicate mostly and successfully through non-verbal cues, vibes, and in other indrect and roundabout ways. We are all a complex bunch, but saying that 'vibes' aren't important is simply... it's just wrong.

Great point! That's definitely something that is to be considered - and ultimately is up to the individual to reconcile with. So much human communication and personality is body language, tone, the way someone carries themselves, inflection of voice, mannerism, nonverbal expression, the subtle ways we observe people interacting. It's not only clear words and direct actions. That's communication, that's ✨️vibes✨️

And not everyone is so immediately able or proficient at detecting these things all at once. Social cues. Tone. Sarcasm. I have issues with this myself sometimes, a contribution to my anxiety. And that's on me to reflect and figure out and manage, with the benefit of having the opportunity if decisive enough to discuss or try to clarify or interact with a person, say something directly in a chat. But that's life, that's how people operate.

We can't interact directly with the actors, so thus, sooooo much is interpretive and observational. Facts are facts, reality is reality, vibes are vibes.

[keirasauce-blog]

Cultural Blog Assignment #2

Multiculturalism and My Sense of Right and Wrong

As a child, I believed I understood the fundamentals of right and wrong, such as saying "thank you," arriving on time, and lending a hand without being asked. To me, these were merely "good manners." However, I've come to understand that even behaviours that appear universal are deeply shaped by cultural norms and values. What I once assumed to be moral universals were actually culturally constructed conventions. For example, when I paid for a friend's coffee, I recall becoming irritated with them because they never said "thank you." I perceived this as inconsiderate, filtering their behaviour through my own cultural lens, which emphasized individualistic expressions of gratitude through verbal acknowledgment. However, my friend came from a more collectivistic background where implicit communication and actions were prioritized over words, where relational harmony and nonverbal cues conveyed appreciation more meaningfully than spoken thanks. I now recognize that my initial interpretation reflected ethnocentrism, as I was unconsciously using my own cultural standards as the default. This experience has helped me appreciate the importance of cultural relativism in understanding moral behaviour across cultures.

Motivation and Emotion

This course has caused me to pause and consider the source of pressure. When I'm not consistently doing something "productive," why do I feel like I'm failing? I've come to see that this internalized pressure is closely tied to Western cultural values that emphasize individualism, autonomy, and self actualization. Within this framework, the self is often defined through personal achievement, and one's worth is measured by accomplishments and visible progress, what cultural psychologists might call an independent self construal. This belief system is embedded in institutional structures like education, in dominant narratives around success, and even in how we present ourselves online. There's this persistent, low level fear of falling behind, a culturally reinforced anxiety tied to not fulfilling the "ideal self." I've also realized how deeply I've been socialized into emotional regulation norms that prioritize emotional suppressionand restraint in public settings. In many Western, individualistic cultures, the ability to remain composed, what display rules would label as low arousal positive states, like calmness or self control, is considered mature and appropriate. I was taught that emotional expression, especially intense or vulnerable displays, risked being seen as oversharing or being "too much." However, in other cultural contexts, particularly in more interdependent, collectivist cultures, open emotional expression is not only normalized but can also serve to strengthen social bonds and demonstrate authenticity. What I once dismissed as exaggerated or dramatic, I now understand as a valid and culturally shaped way of experiencing and communicating emotion. I've also begun to reflect on how my instinct to immediately “fix” someone’s problem, rather than sit with their discomfort, stems from culturally rooted assumptions about the value of emotional control and problem solving. This cultural lens shift has made me more patient, more compassionate, and far less quick to judge.

Health, Productivity, and the Pressure to “Keep Going”

One of the hardest pills to swallow in this course was recognizing how deeply my Western cultural values have shaped my unhealthy relationship with rest. I've long equated productivity with self worth, internalizing a model where rest is seen as a reward rather than a basic human need. This reflects a Western, individualistic cultural model of self, where constant striving, self enhancement, and goal achievement are prioritized. Within this framework, time is often viewed as linear and scarce, a resource that must be optimized. So if I wasn’t actively doing something, working, studying, organizing, I felt guilty, as though I were wasting time or falling short. In contrast, many other cultural contexts promote a more holistic view of well being, where mental, emotional, spiritual, and relational health are seen as interconnected and essential, not secondary to productivity. In some Indigenous worldviews or Eastern philosophies, practices like rest and reflection are not indulgent but necessary for maintaining balance and harmony within the self and the community. These cultures often operate under looser norms and cyclical or relational conceptions of time, where slowing down is not equated with failure, but with realignment, a way to reconnect with deeper values. Realizing this has made me question how much of my tendency toward burnout stems from cultural conditioning, not just personal weakness. I'm starting to deconstruct culture bound assumptions around achievement and worth, and learning to unlearn the relentless push to “grind” and “prove myself.” There's a kind of cultural wisdom in attending to your well being before it becomes an emergency, one that I’m finally beginning to value.

Relationships and the “Right” Way to Communicate

Coming from a Western, individualistic background, I’ve always believed that honesty and directness were essential for healthy relationships. If something’s wrong, say it. If someone hurt you, tell them. If you need something, ask. I equated this style of low context communication with maturity and emotional health. But this class has challenged that assumption. In many collectivist cultures, where maintaining relational harmony is prioritized over self expression, conflict is often navigated through indirect communication, using subtle cues, context, and nonverbal signals to convey meaning. "Reading the room" becomes more important than stating your feelings explicitly. What I used to interpret as avoidance or passive aggressiveness, I now recognize as a different cultural norm of emotional regulation and interpersonal care. This shift in perspective has helped me reframe past cultural misunderstandings in friendships and relationships. When someone didn’t confront me directly, it didn’t mean they didn’t care, it meant they were expressing respect and consideration in a culturally meaningful way. I’ve also come to appreciate the level of emotional intelligence and sensitivity required to navigate relationships in high context cultures, where communication depends more on implication, tone, and situational awareness than on literal words. Understanding this has expanded my definition of what it means to be a good communicator and reminded me that there are many valid ways to express care.

If there’s one big takeaway from this course so far, it’s that no one exists outside of culture. I used to think my worldview was just common sense, and that other cultures were “different.” But now I understand that I am also cultural. My default settings, how I define success, how I express emotion, how I manage time, how I relate to others, are all shaped by the Western world I grew up in. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s been humbling to realize that other cultural perspectives are just as valid, sometimes even more balanced or compassionate than the ones I’ve internalized. Learning about other ways of being has made me more reflective, more respectful, and more curious. I’m beginning to ask myself not just how I do things, but why. Why do I think independence is so important? Why do I avoid asking for help? Why do I feel the need to constantly be “achieving” something? These aren’t easy questions, but they’re good ones. And I think that’s what cultural psychology is all about, not just understanding others, but finally learning to see yourself a little more clearly too.