#there is a hierarchy of needs for a reason.

[zarvasace]

This looks absolutely heinous but whatever. Some Linked Nexus alien species! I’ll put a description/ramble with the words transcribed under the cut. Wind and Twilight (far right two) are half-human in what passes for my canon so they don't look perfectly like this but I wanted to do dramatic versions.

Linked Nexus masterpost

Far left boy is labeled "human, Reverb (EoW)." He's average height, moderately stocky, has round ears. He covers his neck with a blue scarf. Humans are highly attracted to their environment, so he wears a climbing harness. He wears a green poncho and tan pants with hardy sleeves beneath, since he lives on a forest world (look idk where or if he's gonna show up in LN but I needed a human and had him.)

Next is labeled "Hylian, Warriors—90%." That extra 4% Gerudo made him taller than the average Hylian, who are generally shorter than humans. Hylians have bigger, slant-ier eyes, and, not labeled, often have actually metallic hair. Pure Hylians like Warriors are rare though.

Third from the left is labeled "Hylian (Sheikah), Legend". He looks a little different than usual, and is labeled with "Sheikah coloring is more uniform than others'—white hair, red eyes." He has some bands on one of his hair thingies that indicate his role and position inside the Collective. The Sheikah have very specific cultural hierarchy and clothing styles. Only about 5% of Sheikah doppelgangers—enough to make them valuable but not irreplaceable.

Next is "Kasitan, Hyrule." He's labeled as relatively short and rather slim. He has big, reflective eyes and green blushies. Kasitans are also long-limbed and long-fingered. It isn't labeled here but they also have some natural subdermal plating!

Next is "Zora (deep), not Wind." This Zora looks kinda like Zora from Twilight Princess, but with big shiny eyes for seeing in the dark, not much nose, and sharp teeth. They have claws and webbed fingers and big flipper feet. I put this one in clothes for reasons. They're tall. There are more fins hidden beneath the clothing, such as on the arms and legs.

Last is "Twili, not Twilight." He looks a little weird sorry. Twili are labeled as very tall, with long, bright hair. "Twili shadow forms influence their light forms; Twilight's wolf gives him fangs and claws." Also "I can't decide what color to make the skin...!" Twilight also has some cyan on his armor, labeled "special tech for a variety of purposes—like light-repelling." Twili have some interesting technology :)

[dhaaruni]

The third piece that I think I know is this question of language. And of course all of these overlap with each other. But I saw an argument online that Latinx is the easy one. And it’s also easy to push back on because it’s just a fact that you can scarcely find a politician who says Latinx. But that’s not the point. The point is we have a whole language that’s maybe not offensive, or irritating. But definitely unfamiliar to regular people. I think Kamala did a really good job on focusing on middle-class concerns. But I remember her saying, ‘I’m going to center the needs of the working class.’ And I thought to myself, I don’t know anyone in the world who says center. I know people in politics who say center. I know people in academia. I know people in advocacy who say center. But centering the needs, or making space for, or all of that, is a clear indication that you are not normal. And I put myself in that category. By definition, I am a coastal progressive. But I think this question of language goes pretty deep. And it goes to not just being careful not to say things that are egregiously weird sounding, but it’s also the way we interact with advocacy groups. I remember saying I was for a cessation of hostilities in Israel and Palestine. And people said why don’t you say ceasefire? I’m thinking, that’s literally the same thing. I remember saying I was for a big, bold climate bill. And someone said why don’t you say Green New Deal? And this idea that there are magic words that we must be forced to say defines progressivism and political courage by essentially saying whatever a bunch of activists want us to say, as opposed to doing the thing. And I think that there are a bunch of people who see what we’re doing as performative, for that exact reason. But it’s also just alienating. This magic words thing has to go away.

[koishua]

sha'ban and his mother alaa's murderers still walk on their two feet while people scramble to find their missing limbs. his pictures from before show his spotless and glowing face and the last we see of him is him burning into a charred piece of flesh. he was going to become a software engineer. he was my age. he had a future. they were burned to death and we could only see them because there were people to document it. even more atrocious crimes are committed elsewhere where no one is there too see or live long enough to tell. glory to the day palestinians celebrate their victory with the boisterous sounds of laughing children. on the day of judgement, they will have the whole world as their witness.

i feel so distraught because why is no one talking about the people of this country anymore. please don't get tired. please don't forget that you have the precious right to feel tired and the ability to rest. if only i had a bigger platform and a bigger ladder to step on, but this is as far as my voice can reach for now. please don't forget. please don't get tired. i understand how everyone has lives of their own and problems they face on the daily, be it financially or with their health and well-being of all forms or more, but the least you can do is not forget.

those who have been chased out of their home countries to an oppressive figure know the sorrow more than others ever could so please, do at least the very least. those who have faced the threat of imminent and violent death can understand. please don't forget those starving, those aching, those fighting, those murdered, those burned, those shot, those raped, those beaten, those tortured, those swept away, those bombed, those children, those women, those men, those helpless to the power of evil, those crumbling under pressure, those truly oppressed, those breaking tooth and nail to keep moving forward in life, those reaching out for help.

please lend and use your voice for those unheard and shushed. please make a sound for those who can't for themselves. please don't waste it on people who have more money and opportunities than they give.

[oscarpiastriwdc]

[trappedinafantasy37]

You are backed into a corner, there is nowhere for you to go, except forward. Unfortunately, in front of you is a man who is intent on shoving his knife between your ribs and stealing everything from your corpse. What are you going to do? Are you going to stand there and ask yourself, "Would I be a bad person if I fought this man, maybe kill him?" or are you going to pull your own knife and fight back? Cause, I will tell you what is more than likely going to happen. Your fight-or-flight sense is going to try to override your asinine desire to have a philosophical debate with yourself, and try to get you out of the situation alive. You will instinctively and without thinking, either pull your knife and try to fight back, or you will try to run away from this man, hell, you might actually try to just hand over your wallet if it meant securing your life.

Does this scenario make sense? Does the outcome make sense? Is it reasonable, in this moment, to forego morality for your own survival? Because if it does, then try to expand this idea to understand the TWO HUNDRED YEARS of bullshit Minthara has lived through in Menzoberranzan. Every single day of her life was a nonstop survival scenario, her fight-or-flight sense was always active, and she always defaulted to fight because that was what she was good at. Her conversation about someone always trying to kill her isn't her having an over inflated sense of self-importance. She was important. Many people actually did want to kill her, and many people actually did try. For fuck's sake, she was almost assassinated when she was just a baby!

And she prevailed above it all because she didn't waste a single second of her time asking herself, "would I be a bad person for trying to survive?" No, she picked up her maces and did what she had to and guaranteed her survival and she didn't spend a single second stewing in regret. Because what good does that do her when there are still threats out there?

This is why you will never be able to make her less "evil" because she doesn't see "evil", nor does she see "good". She does not subscribe to the concept of morality. If anything, she's amoral. She sees things in terms of you either kill or you get killed. And Minthara would rather kill. A majority of the decisions that she makes is about her own survival and increasing her chances of survival. She does not waste a moment of her time thinking on the morality of her choices. This may be a little bit charged when I say this, but the consideration of morality in ones choices takes an incredible amount of privilege and safety. And, in spite the abundance of privilege Minthara had as a Baenre, concerns of morality was not one of them because she was never safe. And she has never felt safe.

When she does something that guarantees her survival, only you see it as "evil" because you haven't been conditioned for 200+ years to view survival in the same way she does and you do subscribe to morality. She does not see it as an atrocity, nor as a bad thing and you won't be able to change her mind because the two of you lived in the end, and that is what is important to her. This is also why she will stand by you when you make what you perceive to be "good" choices. She doesn't see the action as "good", but more of "this action helps us survive." She does not care about being "good", she cares about being alive.

For example, Minthara does approve of you protecting Isobel and warning her of Marcus' intentions. She approves you making a seemingly "good" decision, but not because it is morally good. Isobel is providing you and the entire gang a safe place to eat and sleep in the Shadow Lands, as well as providing you with a blessing that allows you to walk around freely within it. Protecting Isobel is practical as it guarantees your survival. She does not care that it's morally good to help Isobel, she cares that protecting Isobel means you get to keep a safe place to sleep. Not to mention, it interrupts whatever plans the Absolute may have had for Isobel and Minthara certainly does want to fuck over the Absolute.

It's also the same exact reason as to why she doesn't give a shit if you kill Isobel while playing Durge. But it does depend on why you killed her. If you tell Minthara that you killed Isobel for the thrill of it, she will be quite peeved because not only did you lose a safe place to sleep, but you introduced threats to your lives that could have been avoided all for your entertainment. Your dumb actions jeopardized your survival for no reason, and that's a big no-no for her. But, if you tell her that Isobel would have seen you as a threat eventually, then Minthara would approve of it as she perceives killing Isobel in that moment as necessary for your survival. She's only mad because you didn't tell her before hand and she wasn't prepared.

And there are plenty of other situations in which she actually does approve of you doing "good" things, as well as disapproving of you doing "evil" things. In the end, she does not nor has ever cared about the morality of your decisions. She cares on whether or not you act with your survival in mind. But if you tell her that you did something because it was the "right thing to do" she will laugh in your face because doing the "right thing" often means going out of your way and endangering yourself, risking your survival and with nothing to gain in return.

This does not mean Minthara does not change, nor cannot change. She is not a stagnant person and she is constantly adjusting herself to the situation she finds herself in. But these adjustments have nothing to do with morality, but more reorganizing her priorities and desires. There is a reason why I keep circling back to the romance in the Karlach origin because it does demonstrate that Minthara is indeed capable of changing. In this particular ending, she demonstrates that she is capable of prioritizing the life of someone else over her own desire for power. She doesn't magically become "less evil" or "more good", her priorities have merely changed and you perceive that as a change in morality because you are trying to shove her into a box that she doesn't fit in.

She chooses to make changes within herself because she is inspired by you and your actions. But she will never change to appease you or make you feel better about her lack of morality. She changes because change is necessary for survival. If you do not like her, then that is your problem, one she will not fix for you. You either learn to like her, or you can leave her alone. But she will remain as herself and she will not compromise on who she is just because you want her to. She wants you to accept her as she is, because she accepts you as you are. She will never ask you to compromise yourself for her sake, and she expects the same in return.

Minthara is one of those characters that is meant to challenge your perception of what is and isn't evil. Would I say that you are wrong for seeing her actions as evil? No, I wouldn't because I do understand why some people see her as evil. But it is wrong to say that she is evil because she wants to be or that is just who she is. Minthara just wants to live and she will do whatever she has to do to live, and she is constantly readjusting herself to fit whatever environment she is in. If that means resorting to actions that you perceive as "evil" then so be it. But she is also capable of doing actions that you may perceive as "good" because sometimes, "good" actions can be beneficial to one's survival. Minthara heavily weighs the pros and cons and each decision made available to you and she tends to go with the choice with the highest chances of survival, which more often than not are "evil" choices. This is also why it seems like Minthara has a tendency to play both sides of things and that is because she can see the survival benefit of both "good" and "evil" choices simultaneously.

[rearranging-deck-chairs]

once again thinking abt undiagnosed unsuspected autistic yaz

[unsolicitedadvicecatlady]

Six-axis model of influence

**WARNING** The following text is simply a tool. Like a hammer, it can be used to build something or break something. Like a scalpel, it can be used to save a life or end a life. The ethics in using the tool lies in the hands of the user. The manufacturer cannot assume responsibility for how the tool is used.

The Six-Axis Model of Influence:

The first four elements are leveraged to influence the "ancestor" within a person – the primal part of their brain that governs their actions and decisions: Focus, Authority, Tribe/Trauma, Emotion.

The first axis, focus, refers to the ability to prioritize and direct our attention. By understanding what truly matters to us and where we should invest our focus, we can effectively influence others.

The next axis is openness, which measures a person's willingness to be vulnerable. Building trust and creating allies requires a certain level of vulnerability, as it allows for genuine connections to be formed. By being open and honest with others, we invite them to do the same, fostering an environment of trust and collaboration.

Connection, the third axis, measures the level of interpersonal connection a person feels. We are social beings by nature, and our connections with others play a significant role in our overall well-being. Building strong connections with those around us is crucial in creating lasting alliances built on trust and mutual understanding.

Expectancy, the fourth axis, refers to a person's belief that something positive will happen in the future. It is the hope and optimism that drives us to take action and pursue our goals. By instilling a sense of expectancy in others, we can motivate and inspire them to join us in our endeavors.

Compliance: Compliance refers to a person's willingness to respond to a direct command.

Suggestibility: Suggestibility measures their inclination to act on a suggested action. The lower a person is on Maslow's pyramid of needs, the more susceptible they are to suggestibility. There is no exception to that rule.

By understanding where someone falls on these axes, we can tailor our approach to effectively influence their behavior.

In conclusion, understanding human behavior and mastering the art of persuasion is an invaluable skill that can help us overcome our fears and insecurities. Six-Axis Model of Influence provides a comprehensive framework for building trust and creating allies.

By focusing on the key elements of focus, authority, trauma, and emotion, and considering the axes of openness, connection, expectancy, compliance, and suggestibility, we can navigate the intricacies of human behavior and forge strong alliances rooted in trust. So, let's embrace this knowledge and unlock our potential for personal development and growth.

[billdenbrough]

i keep thinking about rocket’s “there ain’t no thing like me ‘cept me” and how it’s presented initially as an indicator of who he is—his mouthiness, his independence, his absolute lack of knowledge of what a raccoon looks like—and like. it is those things! it is! but it’s also — yeah, so, the first time we hear it, there’s a hint of story behind it, like: who or what made rocket this?

and now we know it’s the high evolutionary, and now we know the other layer to that statement: yeah, rocket’s confident when he says there’s no thing like him, because a) they were all individual experiments for the same cause but b) because rocket, and therefore the ones ‘like’ him, were classified as defective, and he knows the high evolutionary killed them all

[just-sp-in-inginthevoid]

Shio @ Gido 'Come home with me and I'll take care of you' vs Shio @ Terasu 'Don't pay attention to them I'll protect you'

[thekimspoblog]

Demon trying to feed on my insecurities: "You're a bad driver"

Me: "Of course I am. I hate driving. Going 80 mph surrounded by tons of metal is nerve-wrecking. I try to do it as little as possible. Of course I'm bad at it"

Demon: "You're a bad writer"

Me: "Well that part's simply not true. I never claimed I was the greatest author of my generation, but when I put pen to paper I know what I want to communicate and I usually do it well. If someone isn't impressed with my work, that's unfortunate but they're entitled to their opinion"

Demon: "You're a bad leader"

Me: "Well I don't know about that! I mean there was that one time when... Ok look just because people don't see me as an authority figure doesn't mean... 😠 You know you can be a real asshole, demon!"

[pepprs]

like at some point i have ti admit it to myself. it’s a 2am delirious ramble after a hard sad day. but i don’t think i like my job very much actually. i mean i do i love it and it was made for me and i made it for me too. but how come something that i love and was made for me and that i made hurts so bad and so primally? how can i like something that brings me so much stress and grief and despair so regularly?

[evilvarric666-archive]

Opened an older word doc last night and learned that apparently long before I ever knew about the Red Hawke nickname I had written Leske calling Brosca "Killer"

[ddarker-dreams]

Will there be more walking dead content? Daryl, my sweet boy, I love how you write him! It great! If there is gonna be more content for twd will it be with other characters or will you drop lore between Daryl and the reader? 👀 both? Or if not that’s cool too, you got lots of good stuff here going already :] so don’t stress it, thanks for the great content :D

thank you so much for reading it!! 💖💖

i do plan on writing more for daryl!!!!!!!!! i actually have like... around 10 ish ideas or so for the hierarchy of needs universe, because i'm absolutely in love with butterfly MC and daryl's relationship. not to toot on my own horn but their chemistry is so good. i'm obsessed. i plotted out everything from their first meeting in season 1 to the name of their first kid together. completely normal behavior, i swear. nothing deranged happening here. 👍

i'm not sure about writing for other characters, i'm just laser focused on daryl. the closest we'll get to that is butterfly MC flirting with maggie in the earlier seasons because that's what god intended. 🙏

[p0rchc0ll4ps3]

It's four am. Time for unpopular opinion: I don't like it . I don't like!!!! It! When fitzconte is unrequited!!!!!! Please for the love of god let dundy have this one joy in his life 😭

[rearranging-deck-chairs]

i think the villa diodati speech probably had a big effect on how yaz approached the doctor in flux and after

[widevibratobitch]

huh. maybe its actually all about the amateur acting/singing group where you do stupid unfunny very low quality plays but you do it with friends who make you laugh until you cry