#that reads PIRACY WAS NOT A GREAT JOB TO BE IN
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squints at OFMD fandom. you got a show set during the Golden Age of Piracy named Our Flag Means Death and you’re…surprised? that there’s character death?
#if someone tells me it’s a rom-com and there’s not supposed to be death i will just. laugh hollowly#yeah it’s a rom-com#it also has a dude die onscreen first or second episode#this is just the time they decided to play it dead seriously#i do think it could’ve been written better and i’m sitting here like yeah that’s. not a good look killing off a disabled mc#but like if you came in expecting Nobody At All to die?#bruh.#our flag means death#ofmd s2 spoilers#this is less defending and more just frantically tapping the sign#that reads PIRACY WAS NOT A GREAT JOB TO BE IN
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I believe very strongly that if you want to be an ally to marginalized groups, you should absolutely read and watch material bigoted against them.
This is because one of the big things that radicalization pipelines benefit from is the principle I've seen framed as "milk before meat", where they feed you palatable, easily digestible ideas, often with a kernel of truth, in order to work you up to the core of the bigoted ideology. If you go to the meat first, you will choke on it. This will make you more easily able to spot it when they try to feed you the milk, and more resistant because you know the meat it's building up to.
There are two keys. First, you need to start with the meat, and second, you need to read it with a sharply critical eye.
If you're looking to read something fatphobic, for example, Harry Potter may be a great mainstream example, but it's in a way that is so culturally acceptable that it can slip by if you aren't looking for it. "None For You: How Fat People Are Ruining America and the Planet and What You Can Do About It", on the other hand, is rather obvious in its biases, allowing an amateur to see them clearly for easier interrogation of the premise. Most bigoted material can be acquired by piracy or through your local library. This is one of the big reasons that libraries stock bigoted material.
Then, start noting down all of the things that the material says that seem to make sense, or that you are sure are true. There's no shame in this. Bigoted ideas are ingrained in your upbringing, and on top of this, a lot of bigots will take real problems and build on them in ways that are bigoted.
For instance, anti-immigrant sentiment in the USA is often bolstered by the fact that wages in the USA are effectively decreasing, along with job security. They say that this is because immigrants are taking the jobs, decreasing the amount of value that is available to USAmericans. To a USAmerican who does not know much about immigrants, but does know that their paycheck buys less and less, this sounds like a plausible explanation.
Then, later, look up exactly what they are saying. What are the real issues? (Racism and unchecked capitalism.) Why are they being used to bolster this argument? (Because it takes the heat off of powerful people and puts it on powerless ones, redirecting the hate to people it can more easily hurt, which satisfies the rage of the USAmerican, drives a wedge between them and immigrants, and takes heat off of the powerful.) What are real ways to tackle the real issue? (Solidarity with immigrant workers, especially undocumented ones, unions, and working for better social safety nets.) Why did I fall for that? (You did not have enough information.) Can I notice this rhetoric in the future and avoid falling for it? (Yes.)
Know that many of the ideas you encounter will be normal. Much bigotry is normal. Normal is not automatically good or right.
Know that there will be useful ideas interspersed with some bigotry. A lot of people with useful ideas have been bigots. This does not mean we must discard their ideas, nor that we must accept the bigotry. It does mean that we need to critically examine the ideas to see if they are rooted in and/or affected by the bigotry, and if it is possible to effectively remove them from their bigoted origins, or if the bigotry is so wound into the ideas that they is no longer useful if you wish to avoid harming the group the thinker was bigoted against.
This is difficult work to do. It is intellectually intensive, and emotionally exhausting. You will start seeing bigotry in all kinds of places, including media you thought of as "good" and "progressive", and that will also be emotionally exhausting and dispiriting. It will also mean that you are no longer passively absorbing those bigoted ideas because you settled on the idea that this media is "good" and that as long as you only consume "good" media, you will be free of bigoted ideas- a premise that is disturbingly popular for how incorrect it is. Knowing how to recognize and discard bigotry in works is far, far more useful than flatly refusing to consume more overtly bigoted works.
One way to make it easier is to form reading groups, so that you can lean on each other when reading something that's affecting you badly. It also means that there's more than one person processing the bigotry, so other people might notice more subtle parts of the bigotry that slipped past you in your own reading, allowing you to have a fuller picture of the book. If you can't form a reading group, more famous bigoted works often have criticism available online for you to read through. Remember to do your own research. What makes doing this so valuable is increasing your own ability to detect bigotry and to think critically about material you are consuming.
You do not have to limit yourself to traditional media, either. There are forums and social media bubbles that are hotbeds of bubbling, seething bigotry that is more extreme and repugnant than the vast majority of published work. Reading these conversations can be useful for the exact same reasons that reading overtly bigoted books, articles, letters, and essays can be, and they often contain more up to date dogwhistles. However, this is a riskier move. Social media is built to make you keep scrolling, and you can easily find yourself at your wits end and vulnerable to a bigot whose rhetoric is slightly less obvious than the others. In addition, it can be tempting to interact- at which point the bigots will either attack you or try to recruit you, both of which are damaging to you. Only read the conversations of bigots if you are well supported and have strong impulse control, and read them in small doses.
You are not immune to propaganda, but you can partially inoculate yourself into being less vulnerable by consuming it in controlled circumstances that match your ability to recognize it as such and reject it.
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I love how like, every major character in ofmd is min-maxed. like they each have 1 or a couple of things they're really fucking good at and then outside of that they are very bad at most things. there's stede and his sky high confidence and willingness to learn vs. his naiveté and ineptitude and -8 self-esteem. ed's great at being a pirate and coming up with clever schemes but as soon as plan A fails he resigns himself to death. frenchie can plot and scheme and code switch but also can't use a hammer. jim has their knives and zero emotional intelligence. izzy has his sword and zero creativity or leadership skills or anything else really. pete can whittle and that's literally it. lucius can read and write and play therapist and it's only because reading and writing were in high demand for stede that he landed a job in the world of piracy. roach... ok roach can cook and sort of be a surgeon which is pretty damn impressive honestly. wee john can sew. buttons is also a bit of an outlier since he's an all-around talented pirate. the swede... bless him but so far he's got nothing. ok like yeah maybe not all of them are perfectly min-maxed but a lot of them are and I love it. cringefail only good at 1 thing loser representation
EDIT: I know the swede can sing I'm sorry 😭😭😭😭 I'm so sorry I forgot your beautiful voice babygirl please you can stop yelling at me about this now I know and I'm sorry 😭
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I think the thing that would've made season 3 so interesting, and still makes it so much fun to write and read about Ed and Stede settling into a steady, comfortable, loving relationship, is they have such a great foundation in the show for how they behave when they're upset with each other.
We get two moments of conflict with them in season 2, and they may not be perfect at communicating, but they're really good with each other. Their first argument in s2e4, obviously, is coming out of a very, very high-stress situation and Ed's in an extremely emotionally vulnerable space. Their argument in s2e7, too, is an argument that Ed goes into it absolutely determined to walk away over because he's terrified Stede is going to choose piracy over him.
These are both set in very rough, scary circumstances, but it gives us a good framework here for how they treat each other during arguments.
Ed especially can be a bit catty and petty, and and they will both say things that are a bit harsh, but never overly so. Ed says earlier in s2e4 that he "regretted" shaving his beard, by which he really meant "I shouldn't have trusted you, Stede." Stede calls Ed a coward in s2e7 (which, in his defense, Ed kind of is being a coward in that moment because he's too scared to just ask Stede to stay with him).
Neither of them really raise their voices at all. Ed shouts a bit in s2e4, but quickly brings his voice back down, and for the most part they do a commendable job of talking calmly with each other even when emotions are high.
There is potential for Stede to leave things out and for Ed to phrase things in ways that come across as overly harsh or might lead Stede to miss the point. Stede is entirely unwilling in s2e4 to explain why he left Ed other than "panicking," when elaborating that he was held at gunpoint would probably in fact make Ed feel better about the whole thing because Stede was suddenly put into a situation where thinking rationally was very difficult. Ed, too, told Stede that he thought "last night was a mistake," which could make Stede worry about about the sex they had specifically when Ed was aiming for a more general "everything is moving very fast and I'm scared."
They're both actually really very good at communicating even in arguments. In s2e4 they both clearly tell each other what they're feeling without stooping to personal attacks. In s2e7, Ed is determined for the argument to escalate, but Stede is always trying to meet him calmly and talk it through reasonably even though he doesn't really understand what's going on. When Ed sets a boundary that he's not ready to hear Stede tell him he loves him yet, Stede pivots smoothly and easily.
They very clearly do not want to hurt each other, and they don't believe the other will hurt them. Ed never once reacts to Stede's compliments like he thinks they might be disingenuous, despite the circumstances, and he explicitly doesn't want the argument to escalate to a point where they "say things we can't take back" in s2e7.
Altogether, I think Ed and Stede definitely do have the potential to hurt each other in arguments and say hurtful things that come across differently than they intended, but they have such a strong foundation here for excellent communication. They're never overy harsh with each other, and there are opportunities for miscommunication, but on the whole they're both really good at listening to each other calmly and communicating their feelings even in high-stress situations. Their worst argument is definitely the one in s2e7, and even then it's more of a "stomp out of your boyfriend's house in a huff then apologize the next day" kind of argument.
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Please rant about it!!
Ok!
But also, I'm linking the videos just incase people stumble across this and want to watch the videos after seeing this:
HBomberguy's Video
Todd in the Shadows video
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I'm starting out with some of my favorite parts before a mini rant bc, yeah! (This is nowhere near all of my favorite parts, but there's just so much it'd take me hours to compile.
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Immediately starting with a Harlan Ellison moment was amazing
The "world's most fuckable twink" line absolutely took me out, but then him going into the explanation about plagiarism being disrespectful right after was like two back to back gut punches, in the best way. Because he was so fucking right about it.
The grammar mistakes he points out are so funny
Him overlaying Brian Deer's documentary over Blair's video was also great.
Him calling Blair out for being lazy and honestly a shitty person was also great.
ALSO! BLAIR CITING HER SOURSE AND IT BEING A PIRACY WEBCITE!?
Also also him making fun of how her sprite moves 😭
Him calling out Internet Historian for being a piece of shit
German board game joke
How he points out Reilly's skill and talent
"Just don't touch the screen or move the mouse awa..."
"MASTER OF SHIT!" (rips the wall down)
"There's one group more important than historians, or journalists, or anyone else with a real job, and that's gay people."
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Rant time :)
My mini rant is just about how fucking stomach churning the second half is. Like, let me tell you, I watched that entire section, mouth agape, in shock and horror. I can bearly fathom how lazy, pathetic, and malicious you'd have to be to pull some of the shit he (Somerton) did. (The first half stuff was insanely bad too don't get me wrong)
Hbomberguy did an amazing job showing the visual of how many parts of the queer horror video were plagiarized, I legitimately gasped when the highlighted portions were shown.
Every time you think he can't get any lower, he does. It's baffling, and honestly, I wish I could say more about how mad this makes me, but I'm so mad and tired that I can't think of words so mini rant over, I suppose.
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But also, sorry, this is one thing I feel like no one is mentioning, and it's driving me insane. I also watched Todd in the Shadows video (which is also really good btw) and at least three parts of the video debunk lies Somerton said about nazis, the main ones being, (and I'm taking the titles from the yt video so you can find these in the time stamps)
1. The SS was "teeming with homosexuals"
2. The hitler youth was also run by homosexuals
3. The nazis created our current body standards.
In the three mentioned above, Somerton's lies are genuinely just him writing gay fan fic about nazi Germany (at least that's how I felt about what he was speaking and wording things) and it's fucking disgusting. He says things in such a skin crawling way it makes me sick.
And no one seems to be talking about it or how fucking weird it is, but hey, maybe I'm reading too much into it.
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed my mini rant and my favorite parts. Sorry it's all kinda messy.
#sorry its not too much of a rant </3#also sorry if parts dont make sence im so tired#james somerton#hbomberguy#also#ive watched it so many times#at least 3#because its so good#if you havent seen it please watch it!
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When I say I’m relieved that homophobia isn’t something they had to deal with in OFMD I mean that the homophobia is not The Plot. Yeah it’s there in the subtext because the whole thing can be read as an allegory in which piracy is very clearly a heavy-handed metaphor for queerness, but that’s not the same thing. I’m relieved that it’s completely in the subtext and never explicitly stated. I’m relieved that I didn’t have to watch characters learn not to hate the queer part of themselves and eventually come out while we the audience held our breath to see if they’d face another homophobic plot obstacle upon doing so. Im relieved the friction in the romance isn’t one guy can’t accept he’s not straight and the other knows he’s queer but his family/society/job/whatever won’t approve if he was out. There’s so much difference between homophobia that’s subtextual or implied and that which is The Plot and also the major flaws of the MCs. And I think OFMD did a great job shaping this how they did.
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I have no real feelings towards izzy hands. I do not hate him, I do not feel particular adoration for him, I’ve always felt neutral about him but I do appreciate izzy for what he is. but boy do I have some takes on him! and though I’ve refrained from speaking my mind I’ve learned that the hate mail will come anyway so fuck it, I’m doing a meta. please, if you feel very passionately about izzy on either side of the spectrum, please do not read this. this is a singular person’s interpretation of things, it means absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of the world so please just be respectful. ok let’s do it:
*takes deep breath* *taps the mic*
to me, izzy hands is/was an antagonist not because of any internalized homophobia that may or may not be there but because the world of piracy has adopted its own system and practice of hegemonic masculinity.
hegemonic masculinity is the practice of the dominance of men— or, certain kinds of men— in society, so women and other marginalized ways of being a man are subordinated (i.e. queer men, trans men, disabled men, fem men). our flag means death does a great job of establishing two very different worlds and their takes on hegemonic masculinity: high society, and piracy. in high society, whiteness and wealth are two main pillars of masculinity. men are allowed to exhibit more feminine behaviour or attire such as ornate and colourful clothing, wigs, bows, tights, makeup, etc. because they are displays of social status and material wealth. in the world of piracy, however, those things aren’t exactly possible. violence is the real currency and the main tool in constructing the toxic masculine hierarchy. their attire has to be intimidating and express a capacity for violence. toxic masculinity is also established and formed through a sort of stoicism/being emotionally closed off, intimidation, power, deception, and fear.
ed has mastered how to perform fear and masculinity all too well over the years, but he also hasn’t been happy whatsoever in that role so when he discovers stede, he finds stede’s attitude refreshing and transformative.
season 1 izzy is different. season 1 izzy has thrived within the pirating world by adhering to the standards of hegemonic masculinity and does not see any problem with it. he enjoys the existence of a hierarchy and, though he dreams of being captain/top dog, still thoroughly adored (past tense now, though I originally wrote this before the teaser clip came out) being servile to edward. this sort of devotion does come from a place of being in love with ed. he does not have a problem with that, nor does he have a problem with the fact that men love other men. if it were up to izzy, gayness/homosexuality would be integrated as an acceptable characteristic of hegemonic masculinity.
but stede does not want that. he questions why patriarchal society has dictated that men not, under any circumstance, display their creativity, their emotion, vulnerability, hopes, dreams, or fears in front of each other. he questions why men have been taught to bottle things up, and why they aren’t more kind to one another. he actively works to dismantle toxic/hegemonic masculine standards within his own crew and season 1 izzy hates that. he sees those as the qualities of someone weak, soft, and effeminate. he wants to have queerness subscribe to the qualities of toxic masculinity that have been enforced upon him which is why his main beefs have been with lucius and stede, who are the most “feminine” and open gay men on the ship (stede being emotionally open in izzy’s eyes at least, and lucius being sexually open/vocally open and indifferent to authority). that’s why he uses lucius’s flirtatiousness and “promiscuity” as blackmail, and not his actual gayness. his problem has to do with his version of masculinity. he sees lucius and stede’s ways of being a man as worthy of subordination.
and yes, that is bad and he needs to work to unpack all that shit. but you can see through his comments in the trailer about piracy fostering a sense of belonging, through the teaser clip of him crying in front of others, through the unhealthy dynamic he finds himself in with ed where he pushed a button that he didn’t realize was going to set off a bomb in ed (metaphorically speaking), that he is starting to unpack it, and is learning the hard way (through much sympathizable suffering) that this system benefits no one, not even him. it harms him, in fact. his loyalty to a standard of masculinity that is so unobtainable, to a system that is not built in anyone’s favour, and one that makes him the losing dog every time, is starting to crack!! we can see him learn to develop a form of masculine self-expression without any of the toxic qualities that made him so wound up as before, and instead allow healthy masculinity to co-exist with a culture of acceptance and queer community!!! but his antagonism in season 1 doesn’t mean he’s homophobic per se, it just made him gender normative and annoying.
#I swear I have never been more nervous posting something#be normal about this one okay? cause someone *cough cough nonny in my inbox cough cough* wasn’t#my thoughts#izzy hands#ofmd#our flag means death#stede bonnet
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15 Questions for 15 Friends
Thanks @ineffable-piracy for tagging me!
Are you named after anyone? Yes I am named after Janis Joplin. My mom was a massive hippie and also in a blues band.
When was the last time you cried? I think it was when my mom died. I don't cry very easily, wish I could more often.
Do you have kids? No, and I probably won't ever have any. Too many debilitating things for them to likely inherit. (Wow these answers are off to a great start huh! Keeping a nice light tone here.)
What sports do you play/have you played? I tend to prefer solitary exercise. I do run a lot and love what that does for my mental health and mood.
Do you use sarcasm? Yeah I do, sarcasm might almost be my default tone but I try to never be mean-spirited about it.
What is the first thing you notice about people? This sounds really creepy but probably their mouths. Also just the way that the person makes me feel I guess.
What’s your eye colour? Blue
Scary movies or happy endings? Definitely happy endings.
Any talents? Ehh I used to play guitar and write some music but I haven't done any of that for quite a while. I do like to draw and paint. I guess that would be my main talent but there are so many more talented people out there.
Where were you born? Nova Scotia, Canada
What are your hobbies? Drawing, reading, gaming... I've been known to disappear into mmos for weeks on end.
Do you have any pets? I have one cat named Gru. He has cerebellar hypoplasia and is a bit wobbly and very fluffy.
How tall are you? 5'6"
Favourite subject in school? Art and History. I studied history in university.
Dream job? I always thought that being the groundskeeper for a cemetery would be nice. Sometimes they even have a little cabin on site and it just sounds cosy as heck. Also involves minimal contact with the living who can be so much more unpredictable.
No pressure whatsoever and I feel like I might even be imposing by suggesting it, but I'll tag @atticollateral @crowleys-curl @dandelionjedi @echeveriaaa @ladyashtoreth @lunar-mischief @lxvenderjewel @tales-from-drama-school @taraiha @taurielofmirkwood77777 if any of you feel like doing it!
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15 QUESTIONS FOR 15 FRIENDS
I was tagged by @neverbelessthan. Thankyou for the tag, lovely ❤️
Are you named after anyone?
I think my mum once said I was named after an old actress, but I can't remember which one 😂 My uncle used to joke that I was named after Jessica Rabbit but unfortunately that isn't true!
When was the last time you cried?
A few days ago.
Do you have kids?
Nope.
What sports do you play/have you played?
None. I hate sport of any kind 😂 The only things that come close for me are walking and swimming!
Do you use sarcasm?
Yep, way too much! I'm definitely the Chandler Bing of my friendship group (I'm also lonely and awkward and desperate for love😂)
What is the first thing you notice about people?
Usually their general friendliness, i.e. if they're smiling and look approachable etc. I'm quite good at reading people and I can usually tell if someone is uncomfortable! I also notice someone's eye colour I think.
What’s your eye colour?
Light blue.
Scary movies or happy endings?
Both!
Any talents?
I am so unbelievably talentless 😂 The only things I can think of are: I've been told I'm good at organising things (parties, weekends away, etc) and also that I'm good in an emergency (supporting people and giving advice etc). But I'm not sure they count as talents!!
Where were you born?
Sheffield, UK.
What are your hobbies?
I'm a big walker, I walk everywhere and it really helps my mental health. I got into rollerskating a bit last year so I'm going to try and pick it up again when the weather is better. I enjoy writing but I'm not sure I'm any good at it...
Do you have any pets?
I have a dog, Dylan, who is a border terrier and he turned 13 yesterday. I love him so much 🩷
How tall are you?
5"6 ish.
Favourite subject in school?
My school wasn't great, so I spent most of my time desperate for the days to be over, but I've always been quite good at English and IT related stuff. Rubbish at anything art or drama ish!!
Dream job?
Rhys Darby's bicep massager.
🩷💙🩷💙🩷💙🩷💙
I tag you all with love and no pressure at all to join in!: @edandstede @poisonintopositivity @ineffable-piracy @livwifeofkarl @agaywithcoffee @allthinky @niti-who @johnlockismyreligion @zstraps @orangeparsleyprincess @ineffabeatlemindpalace
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I’ve always wanted to participate in a Dracula-daily type event, but I can’t concentrate long enough to make old classical books make sense. But The Martian is a perfect book to do it with!! I cannot tell you how excited I am!! AHHHHHHH!!
I'm glad this is reaching out to you! I totally feel your pain, I was able to do Dracula but I tried Les Mis and just couldn't get through it XP
I will say there's a lot of technical jargon in The Martian, but it sounds like you've already read it before? psa for all new readers, I guess: this is a science book. it is science fiction, yes, but it is a NASA book full of NASA acronyms and names and it's so much fun but also. it has math. be prepared.
Mark is a great protagonist though, and Weir does a phenomenal job of taking real science and working through it in layman's terms. yeah, there's a lot of talk about kilowatt-hours-per-sol and percentages, but there's also piracy. and martian coffee. it's a lot of fun.
#the martian#martian messages#press conference#not really sure if im helping. but oh well#the math isnt even that bad#it just threw me for a loop the first time through#normally numbers dont belong in novels#this book is a book for nerds#and thriller fans#but mostly nerds#thankfully tumblr is full of those!
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Thoughts on Izzy/Prince Ricky pre episodes 4/5.
When I first saw the trailer, I got it. We got a dumb blonde on screen with Con O'Neill, and yeah. That is, in fact, enough.
Pair it with the actual show, where Ricky is a mirror to Stede from S1? Oh yeah. Pair off an idiot trying and a competent man in leather, and Tumblr will ship it. Hell, I can't blame them.
Overall, tldr outside of theorizing. It's a fine ship! I do think Rickey will get killed off, but hey. If fans want to write spin-off stories where Rickey realizes he's queer, runs away from the Navy, and falls in love with Izzy(not necessarily in that order) I WILL READ IT. SEND IT TO ME.
I read the fucking Aubrey-Maturin book series(aka 'Masters and Commanders') for the HINTS of tension between two men.
NOW- Speculation time.
I *THEORIZE* Ricky is a high-ranking official spying on Stede and his crew in s2ep 1.
History:
[At this time(1700s ish), younger sons further down the line of a large inheritance were often sent to the Military. Their family hoped that maybe their 'spare' kids could give their name legacy in the military; gaining them social status and money. If the older kids die, then your younger ones can still come back...but you can just forget they exist for a bit.
Their parents pay for their rank, so rich young men with no ship experience would be in charge of sections or even the entirety of a crew (of men who were so poor they chose THIS over death).]
This matches what we've seen of his personality so far. Not very good with people with a misguided understanding of what Piercy is, thanks to novels and propaganda.
This explains the scenes we see in the trailer with Prince Rickey in military garb. So why did he get himself caught in s2ep1? Simple. He's an idiot who paid his way in.
Maybe it's all a game, sure, maybe he's playing 5d chess. Maybe he didn't mean to get caught, but the 'Ricky' drink? Purposefully slowing down their escape, making his target lose trust in him? No. It screams dumbass.
SO-here's what I think.
Ricky was put in charge since the Navy thought Stede WAS dead. But, for official 'escaping the Act Of Grace' reasons, they still needed to investigate. Enter: Guy they don't know what to do with, whose family/(or hell, maybe HE ALONE) has paid quite a bit of money to play 'hero'. Ricky gets a lead at the Republic and BAM he finds his man. He doesn't have long so he tries to make Stede trust and maybe even follow him(?). (This is the most flimsy part of the theory, but fuck it). So he tells Stede about a bit of a rumor he heard. Knowing they both knew what exactly that chest meant. Then, he gets caught and loses a nose.
He's not great at his job.
(I also theorize that Izzy is ex-navy and left to become a pirate due to a rich twat abusing power. This could explain why Izzy REALLY hated Stede's shows of wealth in S1. Which could make these two a really funny ship that actually discusses class, power, and the effects of wealth.)
[I had a whole list of links for historical piracy sources if anyone needs me to find 'evidence' I will try! It wasn't the ONLY way people became heads of ship, but it was fairly common to pay your way to the position in the Navy vs. Merit in piracy!]
#prizkey#Pizzy?#What are we going with for a ship name#prince ricky#Prince-Izz#prince rikey/izzy hands#izzy hands#ofmd s2#ofmd s2 speculation#ofmd#ofmd season 2#ofmd2#ofmd season 2 spoilers#who knows
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Tech Revolution: Reflection on the Pirates of the Silicon Valley
Hi, it’s me again. I decided to drop double or triple updates on my blog today. I just feel like it. I wrote this blog on a rainy evening. I hope you are all doing fine.
Just like the three Idiots, I was also wondering why this movie is called, “Pirates of the Silicon Valley”. Did you wonder too? Spoiler alert! Honestly, at first I thought this movie is like the famous Pirates of the Caribbean or typical Pirate story, hunting for treasures. It is actually way more than that. Waaaaaaay more. I wondered why this movie weren’t introduced to me back in my elementary or high school days. Man, this talks about how the world changed. So great, so worth it.
The film is titled as it is because it is about fraud and piracy in computer technology. In which the term Silicon Valley is actually a region in the state of California that is known for its prominence in the computer industry. The term pirate is actually the typical word we can associate it with, piracy.
So, what did I learn? I don’t know where to start because I honestly learned so much from this. The film is actually about the men behind the birth of two famous technology company we have today, Apple and Microsoft. You see, I’m using Microsoft right now, I also use it in doing my paper works, and everything. And I’m looking forward to have an Apple someday. XD
1. “Good artists copy; great artists steal” – Steve Jobs
This line means so much. I suddenly remembered, my techno professor told us something like, even if you’re not the first one to create or invent it, only the first one to implement it matters. Like people won’t even care if it’s not your idea, they care about who made it happen for real, not the one who only imagined it to be. Put yourself in a situation wherein you stole something, could be an idea or whatsoever. But then you did something to improve that idea and made it even better. When you become great for something that is not originally from you, you will be seen as great and people will assume that it’s from you.
What does this tells us? As a future IT professional, we are already taught about the ten commandments of computer ethics. Though shall not appropriate other people’s intellectual output, though shall not use a computer to steal. Yes, I know how much glory we can gain by merely copying the works of other people. But what about the conscience? What about the things that we learned in our school? What about morality? Is fame and glory more worth it than your morality as a person? If you are reading this, I want you to think thoroughly about the decisions you make in your life. As future IT professional, let us be the beacon of integrity and principles. Being evil is easy, but choosing to do the right thing requires courage. I’m not saying that do not do what Steve Jobs or Bill Gates did. I’m saying that do the thing you think is right, do the thing that you think the world needs.
2. Information is power
This is one of the lines in the movie that really caught my attention. Information is power, as long as you can transform it into action. Just like what Steve and Bill did, they used their expertise well which eventually led them to success. Knowledge is very powerful. It has the ability to change and conquer the world. However, knowledge itself can’t bring you to success, you have to make an action, use it efficiently to help the society. Knowledge also have the ability to influence and empower people.
3. “When I was still in Berkeley, I kept making some weird electronic gadgets that were basically just jokes, but hey, you know jokes are important” - Woz
I think Woz was the one who said this in the movie, it showed an old man trying to fix his television because Woz at the back is trying to interrupt the signal. Hence, the line is so true. We may think sometimes that an idea is too absurd or ridiculous to be even given a thought. But great things come off from silly ideas. Don’t worry if it doesn’t sound as good as others, think of what could be the impact of this tiny idea to the world.
4. Sometimes, not knowing how crazy something is, is a good thing
I think we can all relate. Because based on my experience, the more I worry about something, the more situation gets worse. Like I realized that I’m worrying too much over a thing that doesn’t need my worry. Sometimes, we just have to put the trust in the things that we do, and surely, something good will follow. Thinking of something that is like, “Can I really do this?” soon enough, it’ll be “I’m so glad I did it, it turned out pretty cool”. In the movie, we can recall that during the computer faire, Woz asked Steve if people will show up. I feel like he has doubts if people will come to their booth. Then Steve replied like “How would I know?” or something like that and he added, “Of course, they’re going to show up” which pretty much sounded like a joke but with confidence. Then it just happened, they didn’t know. Hoardes of people running towards their booth just to see the amazing little machine with 63 chips that makes all these colors. And then boom.
5. Good things won’t chase you, it needs to be chased
Knowing how Steve Jobs and his friends started, in his parent’s garage. And Bill too. They kept on looking for possible investors or persons who can provide them the fund that they need in order to turn their ideas into reality. The movie showed that Steve tried to get a loan from the bank, bringing with him is invention. Unfortunately, the bank according to Steve, “doesn’t like beards”. The bank declined his loan request, just because he has beard, or he didn’t wear business attire or maybe because the bank don’t trust his idea enough. But did Steve stop? No. And now we have Apple. What brought Steve and his team success is their perseverance, intelligence. And Bill Gates? One of the richest man in the world. Remember, life doesn’t stop when one opportunity closes.
6. Respect your coworkers, your employees, respect everyone.
A culture of respect in the workplace encourages innovation and idea sharing, as well as staff wellbeing, satisfaction, performance, and productivity. When employees know they are valued by their managers and team members, they are less stressed and more committed to their work. In the movie, we can see how Steve disrespected some of his employees at work, shouting and insulting them and even putting his feet on the table. Even we become the boss, we must not forget where we came from and always be humble.
I think that is all guys, that you so much. Next update will be very soon
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Pirate History Reading List!
I'm teaching a class on the golden age of piracy at my university this upcoming semester and I wanted to post the reading list, just in case anyone's interested in some good pirate history books!
I require three books, which I think are excellent if you're interested in pirate history at all:
Under the Black Flag by David Cordingly is THE pirate history book, I do not think any pirate history library is complete without it! This book covers all your major players and does an excellent job at arguing what the reality of pirate life was like. This is the definitive text on pirate history and if you can only get one book, I recommend this one.
Enemy of All Mankind by Steven Johnson is about the global hunt for pirate Henry Every. It's fantastic and a very entertaining account; Johnson has a gift for casual, enthralling history writing.
A General History of the Pirates by Captain Charles Johnson is a primary text, written in 1724 by a contemporary of many of the pirates who were alive during the golden age. This account is biased and over-dramatic and absolutely fascinating. It's the most complete and detailed primary account of piracy you will ever find. You'll notice that some quotations from OFMD were lifted directly from this text, including Stede Bonnet being "uncomfortable in a married state" and Blackbeard "desiring [Bonnet's] company." However, because this book is so overblown and dramatic, I strongly recommend reading it alongside a history text, such as Under the Black Flag, to contextualize it.
I also included these as supplemental reading; I think they're all very solid texts and if you're interested in pirate history you will enjoy them.
The Republic of Pirates by Colin Woodard is another classic and has biographical information on many famous pirates. Woodard makes a compelling argument that pirate society was shockingly meritocratic and allowed opportunities for people of color not found anywhere else in the world. It's a great text.
Black Flags, Blue Waters by Eric Dolin is a great history of piracy in US waters. I love this one for its detail on Edward Low - OFMD got inspiration for his sadistic streak from real history!
Sodomy and the Pirate Tradition by B. R. Burg is an older one so do not expect modern terminology, but it's a classic; its argument that queerness was common and at least somewhat accepted among pirates holds up well. If you're interested in how pirates understood homosexuality then this is the text for you!
Blackbeard: A Reappraisal of his Life and Times by Robert Lee is the text for you if you're interested in the historical Blackbeard. It synthesizes pretty much all of the primary information out there and makes a strong case that the real Blackbeard intentionally cultivated a fearsome reputation that helped him become so successful. This one is an oldie but a goodie, I'm yet to find a better and more comprehensive text about Blackbeard than this one.
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I’m sorry but the way some of you guys talk about piracy is a little goofy… like so many posts and memes do not do a great job of selling how easy it is when you make it sound like some kind of lost ancient art or that you need to enlist the help of discord experts or whatever… people are not dumb or technologically illiterate just because they don’t know how to do something they may have never felt the need to do; a big part of why streaming became so popular is because for a long time it was a very convenient and affordable way to have legal access to a wide variety of content. I promise if you know how to read, click on and download things you are basically already set. People use vpns and p2p software for perfectly legal and innocuous reasons and they are not going to automatically send a SWAT team to your house for looking up how to install and use these things. Tbh if you’re just trying to watch an old show on your laptop or find a book searching “x online free” is also totally fine as long as you have an adblocker
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Sam didn't believe in soulmates. Well, he no longer believed it.
OFMD Rare Pair Week 2023 @ofmdrarepairweek
Day 03: Soulmates / Heartbreak / (Found) Families [art & 1.6k oneshot]
This is also a backstory of Sam Bellamy from my long Bellhands The Last Voyage [AO3 HERE]
As usual, you can read the fic on [AO3 HERE] or you can click read more and read it here!
Sam didn't believe in soulmates. Well, he no longer believed it.
He once believed in true love and soulmates, when he was still an innocent country boy making his name in a big town. As an orphan living alone in the harsh busy town, the thought of there was someone out there for him was a comforting thought. Isn't it great how the universe creates someone to accompany you for the rest of your life? He only needed to look at his ma and pa and how the love they shared helped them to get through the agony of dying slowly from starvation. Love couldn’t sustain their physical body, but at least it brought comfort knowing that they had someone to get through the hardship together.
So young Sam Bellamy dreamed of finding the right girl for him. He worked hard, learned his letters and numbers on his own, begged people to teach him things he didn't know, and tried to become better. He saved his money. He only bought things he needed. He only ate to sustain his body so he could wake up and repeat the process. He did all that because he believed that if he lived an honest life then surely gods or the universe would reward him, right?
Time went by. The innocent boy grew into a naive young man. He still looked at the bright side of the world and dreamed of finding his soulmate. For years he worked and educated himself with borrowed books from the library. For years he found friendship with his boss' son Paulsgrave. Years went by and the right girl had yet come into his life. Maybe he was just too young. Maybe when he was older, he would find that girl.
He was eighteen when he finally met someone who made his heart leap and his world brightened simply by her smile and soft words.
Maria Hallet was her name. She was the daughter of a wealthy farmer who just moved to Cape Cod. She made his heart skip a beat when she smiled at him. His bleak world suddenly had colors in it. He loved her way too much and she loved him back. Young Sam was convinced she was the girl fate had given to him and he was determined to marry her. If only her father allowed him to do that.
He didn't blame her father for not giving her hand to him in marriage. After all, he was nothing but a poor man who made a living by working odd jobs here and there. But it didn't deter him. It was nothing but a test to prove his love, wasn't it? In the fairy tale books he borrowed from Paul's house, a prince must slay the dragon to get the princes. He just needed to find a way to get more money.
So he dragged his best pal Paul with him for a treasure hunt. He had worked in the dock long enough to know a lot of sailors who were willing to go to his endeavor. Treasure hunting was not as profitable as he thought but he didn't give up. Every night his soul yearned for his soul mate and it motivated him to press forward.
When his ship was boarded by pirates, Sam joined them, thinking that piracy was the quickest way to get rich. Paul - his loyal best friend who got dragged to his messy life - told him he got used to piracy too quickly, it terrified him. Sam pitied him a little. As a son of a merchant, Paul never knew real hardship. Sam's hard lonely life had prepared him for this. He had spent his childhood hungry most of the time. His teenage years were spent on the street, fighting for food. He knew how to use his fist to defend himself. He could do it all over again. Learn, adapt, survive. All for love.
Sam believed things would work out in the end if he gave his best. Everything started to go accordingly. Captain Hornigold took a liking on him and made him his first mate. When they captured a new ship, he gave her to him. He was sure he made the right decision when he led the mutiny and took over Marriane with Paul as his first mate. He captured more ships, got more money. It was great. After five years, he finally had enough money to marry Maria.
He came home too late.
Maria died alone, starving, and in poverty three years ago. Her father disowned her after he found out she was pregnant with Sam's baby.
Why was Faye so cruel like this? Why did the universe give Maria to him and take her away? And his child! They were conceived and then died like that? Why? Why promised a life full of happiness and love just to take it? Was it a punishment for all the bad deeds he had done as a pirate? It couldn't be, right? Maria was a good person. Her only sin was probably sleeping with him. And maybe some little petty things. But surely it didn't mean she needed to die so miserably like that.
Was it all his fault? He wasn't a good man. Even though he tried to be good, his hands were too bloodied. Was she punished because of his sin? Was that how to work? You did good and good would come to you and vice versa.
No. No, he wouldn't accept this.
There was no god, only humans. Their neighbor deceived his parents and forced them into poverty. Her father was the one that sent her to the street to die. Men hurt each other. Real humans were the reason for his suffering. Men's cruelty and greed for money.
Money. He needed money if he wanted to protect himself. It was the reason why he was hungry when he was a child. If he had money, Maria would still be alive.
The naive young man grew into a vindictive and avaricious man on the day he watched Mr. Hallet was stripped for all his wealth and status and was forced to live on the street. Those who wronged him must suffer.
If fate was so cruel to punish good people then he swore he would go against Fate itself.
Paul told him he had changed, but he didn’t care. He raged against the world. He captured more ships, amassing his wealth and influence. People knew him. People feared him. He paved his way on blood, trying to minimize collateral damage while doing so. He took people who were victims of the system like himself and showed them a new life. He was hungry to learn more so he kept the company of people more skillful than him.
For almost two decades, he raised from no one to become The Prince of Pirates, the Robin Hood of the Sea. He was richer than the governors in the Bahamas. He had more influence here than the king of England. The universe tried to screw him and he gave it his middle finger and became the most successful pirate in history. He chose his own path.
Then the universe came knocking on his door.
The storm hit his ship. His crew sank with Whydah. His money lay forgotten at the bottom of the ocean. A lot of people died yet he survived.
Maybe it was the way the universe humbled him. He had gone astray for far too long. The anger he had before was gone, replaced by sinking guilt and depression. He was just a man trying to fight against the world and failed. Maybe it was all in vain. There was no escape from this cruel world. Maybe there were gods and they were all cruel and liked to play sadistic games.
He had lost all hope. His days were bleak. He just wished the time could just stop. He felt the world was moving on without him. Something was missing in his life, but he didn’t know what it was. He decided to sail again, naming his ship Last Voyage. He told his friends that it was another chance to be happy again. One more voyage. If the void in his life was still there after this then maybe… maybe it was better for him to just…
He met Israel Hands and suddenly the world was not so bleak anymore.
Sam didn’t believe in soulmates. He didn’t want to believe someone was made specifically for him. Fate was cruel and gods like to play with you. But Israel made his heart beat again. He made him feel something. The moment he lied his eyes on Israel’s bruised knuckles and feral grin as he punched people away from him, a spark ignited within him. He hadn’t seen anyone as beautiful as Israel. He was utterly besotted with that little angry man.
Maybe gods indeed like to play sadistic games because how on earth did he fall for an angry feral man like Israel Hands?
Israel Hands was a complicated man with a short fuse. Learning his tick and buttons was fun at first. Then he became genuinely obsessed because he wanted to see Israel smile. He wanted to hear him laugh. He wanted to shower Israel with affection because it was clear the man was underappreciated before this. He wanted to buy him things. He wanted to cherish him. He wanted to make him his.
Sam didn’t believe in soulmate but he was sure Israel Hands was the missing piece of his life.
He wouldn’t let anyone take the love of his life ever again. Those who attempted to do that would suffer.
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It was so funny when Penny left the looking glass to Crocus to go with Ace “You’re running off with him?”. It sounded like they were running away to get married 😂 and then Sabo asking Ace if they’re dating😂😂
But seriously I haven’t really figured out their relationship. What do they think about each other? What do they think about how they split after their time together?
I don't think Ace and Penny really know either. How do you feel about someone you spent months trying to help with his vengeance/grief? For Penny, Ace very much is someone who needs her help. She doesn't say/think it often, but her actions are full of worry for him. He's someone who is both stunningly strong and cannot stand himself and we know Ace has so much self-hatred because of Roger. And Penny kinda realizes why Shanks asked her to intervene, because what's a writer other than someone who can read the human soul, right?
Whereas for Ace, Penny's someone he thinks deserves pure happiness and that's kinda why he splits up from her in Alabasta. She does a terrible job at hiding the fact that her heart isn't into this hunt for Blackbeard and that she's really only there for him and I don't he's comfortable at all with the level of sacrifice Penny's actually done for him. She's left most of her life behind and Sabo's off-hand comment is kinda geared toward that (also as we'll humorously learn soon, Sabo's opinion of Penny's romantic endeavors is very very low). No one really understands why Penny's gone and done this, but we kinda learn about it the very first time she meets Ace.
It's really all because of Luffy--she's lost her entire family to senseless violence without ever knowing why. She has no idea about Doflamingo or the Gorosei's involvement and part of her has always retained this wound regarding violence, especially around people she cares about, so when it comes to sparing Luffy of that pain, of course she'll go to great lengths to do it. Luffy's an embodiment of all that joy Penny once had about piracy and because he's her friend.
And all of this just spells tragedy 😭😭😭
But...back to the funny side of things...Penny's past romantic decisions have been...comical to say the least. No one really explained that she couldn't just accept marriage proposals because she wanted to throw a party. Crocus was too old to get involved in that. ���🤣
As it's the weekend, I hope you have a relaxing one!
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