#therefore aren’t aware of the nuance that we are

[useless-englandfacts]

sorry for the weird ask and the follow up rn, im just. extremely baffled and experiencing some sort of culture shock. were they the flags of the german empire? or like, regular modern germany? why on earth would that offend anyone? i guess it could be a faux pas to wear the german imperial flag around the families of british ww1 survivors, but uh, come on, not to make this about death tolls but literally ww1 was so much more traumatic to the german soldiers. how do you not feel compassion after 100 years.

maybe its a me problem since i live in a country of which the population got drafted into various armies of opposite sides for ww1, so there is no one side favorised in our historical politics and historiography, but. what the fuck.

Yeah no I get how this is confusing to people who don’t live where I do, especially those in the younger generation.

I live in a small town where the population is a lot older and they have very set views on who were the “goodies and baddies” in the wars. And the baddies to them are always the Germans. Even in regards to ww2 I’ve never spoken to someone who cared about the other Axis countries, but these people fucking HATE Germany.

My coat is a 1960s era khaki jacket with a small modern german flag on either sleeve. This gained me more dirty looks than my funky hair and multiple facial piercings have ever gotten me.

As much as we in the younger generation now understand the nuances of war and who the real victims were, this doesn’t matter to a lot of people in real life. A lot of people don’t use the internet in the way we do, and they don’t have any interest in changing their views on who the aggressors were.

In my area and tbh with a lot of people I’ve met who don’t use the internet a lot, it’s a very simple “Germany bad England good”. No nuance, no conversation.

Also we have a surprising amount of propaganda taught to us in schools without us realising. No one really teaches us about the atrocities we as a nation committed, or about the widespread support for the Nazi party before the holocaust. People cling onto these beliefs very tightly both nationally and in my area specifically.

The truth doesn’t matter, just what people believe, and they believe generally that me wearing my coat accidentally is a personal affront to them and the deceased. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[formlines]

Reflection

Qwalsius/Shaun Peterson

from the website: As the saying goes, hindsight is 2020. Of course this references vision, but as much as I shy from these nuanced phrases, it’s inevitable. Not unlike the other phrase, “I wish I knew then what I know now”. Just before the pandemic I was setting on making–and still am–the work of my dreams. I always wanted to see the art tradition of the land I was born and have deep roots in recognized in a higher profile. Like roots, it takes time for a message to break through and connect. All that said, there were foundations that helped me get there, which are many.

In process of carving I have always been aware that the cedar I carve was alive, and from this place, and therefore sacred. It can be daunting to think about what you are shaping into something and be lead into paralysis by analysis. Which lead to my naming of this print as such. I felt it wasn’t easy to name something with complex reflection, which it is ultimately named. It is something that isn’t talked about often, but it’s not always clear what I am making as I am making it, or why it comes to be a driving factor for me to make it.

As a Native artist, I’m often asked about casinos and stereotypes of my culture. We are unfortunately not well represented or visible. To some, we are like unicorns in the wild, which is something I have finally made peace with over the years. In the end, we are human beings like anyone else, but with a unique history in the land of the free and home of the brave.

During the time of ‘lock down’ in the early pandemic, I was nervous like anyone else, but somewhat reluctant about how I could express it. I had worked on designs that could be looked at as a card deck, and from there this image shaped itself. Examining what our ancestors would think about how we live today, caught in a game of monetary values as a gauge of worth. Yet, all the while thinking of underlying values of the environment that shaped our culture.

Harvesting cedar bark from the trees to provide shelter and clothing is, or at least was, commonplace at a time. Bark pounded into soft fiber, roots woven into hats, capes lined with eagle down as means to literally remind us our connection to the land and its values. It was a different time and a different world in many ways. However, in time of isolation–which I have to do as part of my nature of occupation painting or carving–I recalled a powerful memory of a woman and man wearing cedar clothing, not entirely, but a hat, a backpack and eagle feathers crossing the street in downtown Seattle. It made me light up to know that they were not putting on a show or flaunting culture in opposition, but moving about as we all do in our daily lives.

Something about that memory made me put a pen in my hand and start drawing something from what was not comfortable, necessarily, but felt right to me. In this time of reflection I was thinking about the mask of this day we wear for function and not for show. Then, equally, how we put on a mask to show how happy we are when we aren’t, and how it took a pandemic for some to come to grips with this. I would be lying if I said this wasn’t something I wrestle with, but I’m no shaman, I’m no leader, I’m a product of my environment. I’m fortunate to have roots that kept me grounded here and I see the power of reflection in so many ways. Like anyone else, looking into my phone doesn’t tell me who I am or where I came from. No more than a screen does, or looking in the mirror.

I also wanted to depict somehow a modern reflection of a story of a man who sought fire for power so much that he had become it. Without humility, we give up more than we know. For some it is time, for some it is value, but there is resolution where lightning touches the water.

[starbylers]

Nothing is more headache-inducing than when people say ‘Give me a single piece of evidence that Mike likes Will romantically’ because you just know what they’re looking for is simple, easily summed up and understood statements like overt flirting and obvious verbal hints etc. But this is a friends—best friends—to lovers story. Set in a completely different time period. It’s obviously going to be more nuanced than that?

The other couples on this show did not start from the same basis as Byler. Byler have been best friends since they were tiny. They’re also both boys. It’s also the 80s. Lumax, Jancy and Jopper were pretty much obviously romantically entangled from the minute their stories intertwined. (They are friends to lovers, yes, but the platonic side of their relationships was not hugely explored before their romantic interest became obvious, although they were still all friends before dating/kissing which is why they work). They are also all heterosexual couples.

Is it not obvious that Byler is probably going to look a little different in terms of its build up? Is it not obvious that it’s not as simple as ‘Mike likes Will and is 100% aware of it and cool with it and therefore treats him exactly as he would a girl he fancies’? Can people not consider context such as hmm if Byler was going to happen as they say, that means Mike would like boys, in the 80s, which would probably be a pretty difficult thing to navigate and come to terms with so maybe his feelings for Will aren’t going to be as in your face and overtly romantic as I might expect from the other pairings. And is it also not obvious that given M*leven is a canon couple, Byler happening would have to be intended as a plot twist, a twist which would be redundant if they gave obvious hints that Mike is in love?

But even keeping that in mind, Jancy, Lumax and Jopper have behaved in very similar ways to how Mike and Will have consistently done aka intimate heart to hearts, confiding in each other about their problems and fears, really emotional scenes that build the bond between them. And even aside from those glaring similarities that go right over peoples heads:

Mike confides in Will in a way he just doesn’t with El, there’s a deep sense of trust there

Mike pays extremely close attention and takes care of Will hinted in s1 and shoved in our faces in s2, a desire to protect that rises way above the rest of their friends

He treats Will with miles more maturity and compassion than he does El in s4, and is in fact made to look and feel really happy by Will’s literal (disguised) feelings in the van

And those are just a few examples of how strong and close their bond is on Mike’s end. People just brush this stuff off as platonic because well, yeah��they are friends. But it’s friends to lovers!! And a slowburn plot twist at that! Their relationship for the entire show builds the foundation for a realisation that the perfect person has been right in front of him the whole time! We might not see Mike giving Will apologetic M&Ms or calling him pretty, but what we do see over and over is how the two of them work really well together, as a team. A million times better than Mike does with his own girlfriend.

The only real difference with Byler and the other couples is that the obvious romantic vibes for those couples began way early on. Because they could. Because there was nothing really preventing them from realising and acting on their feelings other than ‘we’re attracted to each other but oh I’m dating someone else or oh we’re scared to take that next step’. When it comes to Byler, Mike and Will and Mike specifically have much bigger barriers to contend with. Mike may not understand what he feels for Will is actually love. Mike may not even realise he likes boys, he’s had a gf this whole time after all. Mike may be really scared to even subtly act on his feelings if he is aware. And these people expect Mike to be smiling all lovesick at Will, staring into his eyes, saying romantically coded things? (The biggest joke of all is of course that these things actually have happened but when they do? It’s oh they’re just good friends stop being delusional!!)

Byler is just a very complex and nuanced relationship, you can’t take the same approach to analysing it as you would M*leven like oh proof Mike likes El? That one scene where he called her pretty. He said he was scared she’d leave him. He said he loved her. It’s very easy to cherry pick and point to these moments, but to understand Byler you have to look at the bigger picture and not everyone’s willing to take the time to do that I guess 🤷🏽‍♀️

[111tblog]

CRINGE.

i looooove being cringe. it’s the most freeing thing someone could do in nowadays culture. and i’m not talking about being annoying and desperate of attention kind of cringe but in a more being yourself and dgaf nuance.

what about being “cool”?

what about it? as i have said in my “about” post “cool” actually doesn’t exist imo. it’s just a projection of that we praise and we don’t think we have enough of in ourselves. it’s like glorifying someone. but for example what if you meet that someone you perceive as “cool” and they are actually bitchy; or what if they also have anxiety or are just shy in general. people are just people and just bc you think someone looks or acts in a manner that you don’t evaluate as “cool” doesn’t mean that they aren’t actually a good, nice and interesting human being.

someone who actually matches your vibe or your frequency is way more valuable than someone who has all the things that you think you need. therefore, being yourself is the best option you have and having the balls to be cringe is just great. that way you filtrate the people surrounding you. you just attract people that are here because of what you actually bring to the table not bc of some facade.

i’m not saying that acting cringe is always the way.

thus our society is built in a way that sometimes you have to put a facade. for example being professional, or being aware of people not reciprocating that kind of vibe is also a must, because in that scenario you just don’t give them that very open version of yourself. at the end of the day you should be protecting your energy and be mindful about where you invest it in.

nobody cares about you that much, actually.

everybody lives in their own reality so why bother to conform with everyone else’s in a way that is not beneficial for either parts. if you think about it, we are all directors of our own movies- meaning lives. therefore all the power you have is over yourself and how you perceive yourself, every other perception of you is none of your business. not to be extreme in that opinion, because of course reality check is needed and usually should be heard from those who love us. but generally speaking i feel like we should realise that no one cares so much about us as us. so i for myself like to act on my own terms whenever i feel like it’s appropriate.

think about all the things and experiences that you are stopping yourself from just because you think something is cringe…

just like this blog.

am i aware that this whole blog thing may come off as cringe? hell yeah. that’s what i’m betting on, so i can have the readers that actually enjoy it to stay.

am i gonna think that it’s silly in a couple of years? prly but i have time, i’m in my twenties and i will most definitely be laughing at my own thoughts on here in a couple of years. but who cares. that is the natural coarse of things. it would be kind of scary if we didn’t do things out of fear and then just wonder why did we not do them…

then why do i not allow myself to be cringe on instagram or other platforms? as i have explained, i do care about when i show my truest self and on this blog i’m doing it bc i think a few other people would care to read it. and tbh i see my instagram profile as a portfolio/business card. and i also love creating something aesthetically pleasing out of some ransom pictures. bc SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT REAL LIFE and it’s just a place where you show your best version, so why would i care for another 1300 people, 80% of which i don’t know, to actually know who i am.

how to let go and be cringe?

to be completely honest i don’t think i’m the one to give you any kind of advice on being yourself because that is just your own thing. however,… i feel like these steps have worked for me:

1. get to know yourself by journaling, exploring and seeing what is your own way of doing things. e.g. think about what things you used to looove doing as a child

2. try to attune your surroundings by what feels good and peaceful for you. whoever and whatever causes anxiety or stress should be considered. obviously don’t take extreme decisions and always have conversations especially when other people are involved.

3.get out of your comfort zone so you can broaden it. new things always feel weird at first, but that doesn’t mean they are bad for you.

4.do little things that boost your confidence, but not your ego. smile to a random person or give them a compliment. read some affirmations on pinterest and all little nice things.

5.remind yourself that not everyone thinks about you the way you think they do.

anyways, BE WILLING TO BE CRINGE. it’s sm fun, cause nothing is really that serious.

[ghostdrinkssoup]

// omori spoilers

honestly I really love omori’s character. he’s often seen as the villain but I think he’s more nuanced than that. for the majority of the game he suffers from dissociative amnesia and doesn’t remember what he did to mari, and so is simply watching as everything collapses after basil disappears. and it’s interesting because we play as omori longer than we play as sunny. omori is the first one we meet too, so we quickly become attached to him because he’s us. when you’re playing as omori it’s unlikely you’d see him as a separate character from yourself, even though you don’t get to identify with him the same way you can with sunny (by choosing his name, for instance). but because we spend so much time with omori you can’t help but feel the same tie to him that sunny likely does.

you’ll notice that the game often takes advantage of its medium to liken us to the characters. because we also aren’t aware of what happened (unless you saw spoilers before playing, which ruins the effect) we can relate to omori’s pursuit of the truth since our unfamiliarity with the story mimics his amnesia. thus, it’s his relationship with the player that characterises him. everything we feel is also what he feels. our confusion, curiosity and dread are all things he experiences as his world begins to crumble, because basil glimpsing the truth and disappearing into black space disrupted sunny’s rejection of reality, and therefore forced omori to become aware of the dream he’s stuck in. he discovers all this at the same rate the player does, and the fact that the game implies that omori has tried and failed to accept the truth time and time again showcases how powerful sunny’s denial is and how difficult it is for him to challenge his own safety mechanisms.

and what’s tragic is that omori is a safety mechanism too, although he probably doesn’t realise that either. at least not until we stop playing as him and become sunny instead. by the time we confront omori during the final battle (strange, because we’re essentially fighting ourselves) he’s fully aware that he’s the god of this world, and that his main purpose is to maintain sunny’s unhealthy coping mechanisms. he embodies all of sunny’s self-hatred and guilt, but only because sunny genuinely believes he’s a monster, which is why omori becomes one. if sunny were to forgive himself, it would contradict the safety mechanisms he has in place and he’d fall into cognitive dissonance. there would be no reason for omori to exist anymore. it’s the same reason everyone other than omori begins to forget basil as the game progresses, because the purpose of headspace is to forget the truth and everything that contradicts the imaginary world sunny created for himself — one where he never did anything wrong and childhood lasts forever and his sister is alive and still loves him.

ultimately, even though omori is a parasite he’s just trying to keep sunny safe. he’s sunny trying to protect himself from his own trauma. he’s not evil, and I think this is clear based on how sunny ends up defeating him. it’s not through violence, since omori will never succumb. instead, it’s through forgiveness and self-acceptance. it’s sunny going out of his way to change his worldview and untangle himself from his own damaged psyche, proving that he no longer needs to escape from the horrors of the truth. their final embrace signifies this, because omori also personifies the extent of sunny’s suffering. if he is to forgive himself, he must also forgive omori. likewise, if the player is to forgive themselves (as omori), we must also forgive sunny

[sugartwst]

‼️SPOILERS FOR BOOK SEVEN‼️

You know I understand the frustration with Lilia but I also think that there’s some nuance here. I mean looking at Lilia for a second he’s just lost his magic which has been established to 1) be very important to the fae and 2) almost necessary to live in Briar Valley so it makes sense he doesn’t want to go back.

Also this was a very sudden change and one he noted he thought he had more time before. He’s essentially had the rug pulled from under him and now has far less ability to do things he used to. It’s also clear this is a part of aging and therefore means he’s either going towards or into his last leg of life.

All of this that I’ve mentioned to this point (and I believe dropping out of school) aren’t his fault. I doubt NRC would let someone who doesn’t have magic stay. (Yuu being a special exception given it’s the schools fault they are here and wouldn’t have a residence anywhere else).

It’s also like… he’s going through a really major life event, basically equal to a life-altering health complication, I can imagine wanting to leave high school after that.

As for leaving Silver… I honestly don’t think it’s that bad. Don’t get me wrong— Silver is very justified in being upset but most children don’t go to school with their parents and maybe it would be good that he starts to branch off from Lilia like every other child with their parents. I imagine him a lot more worried about Lilia’s health which is something Lilia can’t control obv.

Now do I think he could have broached it better. Yeah lol but also for all the reasons above I think it’s fair to think he did the best he could. After all he did explicitly say this was a surprise to him as well.

Him moving to the East is definitely a choice… but I don’t think a morally wrong one. It’s something he’s said he’s wanted to do when he got old for a while so it isn’t on a whim. It’s definitely going to be the hardest on Malleus who will have a hard time visiting, but he did seem to encourage Lilia to do what he wanted with his end-of-life plan even if it’s not what he wanted.

But as we know, Malleus is starting to overblot but I’d argue this isn’t Lilia’s fault. Lilia trusts Malleus and has enough faith in him to know this will hurt him but he will recover. Loosing people is a part of life.

Malleus really only started his downward slope once Yuu told him that they may be leaving soon (Also not Yuu’s fault lol) and having two people leaving in a way he can’t follow is what’s damaging. I think Lilia is right to think under normal circumstances Malleus would be able to handle him leaving but the circumstances are no longer normal with Yuu’s addition.

I also think it may be fair to add that even with the awareness Yuu was always meant to leave Lilia may not have thought that would happen soon or that Malleus was nearly as attached as he is to Yuu. Hindsight on that sort of thing is 20/20 y’know?

Like I get the frustration with Lilia (cause I’m frustrated too) but some of the Lilia hate seems a bit much. :/

What do you guys think?

🦇💕

[katsu-curry835]

I cannot stress this enough tiktok has a policy whereby it CENSORS CONVENTIONALLY UNATTRACTIVE PPL. They will demote your video if you have wrinkles, an obvious beer belly, are too fat or too thin or have dwarfism. Among other horrid policies of course. The below is a leaked document from the moderators detailing what should be demoted by the algorithm.

I’m aware that most social media apps harvest your data, are prone to pipelines and shadowbanning and don’t pay their creators enough but TikTok is genuinely the w o r s t in every category. You genuinely lose nothing by not using it. Below is another image of a glitch that showed activist hashtags such relating to BLM with 0 views (they got shadowbanned)

Another huge problem that exists on the app is the radicalisation pipelines are so strong because the three minute vid and 150 character comment format completely flattens nuance. All it takes is for someone to sound confident and talk fast enough with a vaguely coherent argument before you start thinking that overpopulation is a myth and engaging in needless drama (see: Drew Afualo and Bela Delgato, Danisha Carter and her critics etc.) This is poisoning how we interact with politics. YouTube is nowhere near perfect but it at the very least rewards longer form content this stuff like video essays is promoted on there. Tumblr has no character limit so you can read the entirety of this shitty essay without me needing to cut things for brevity. Typing a TikTok comment has driven me insane before because 150 characters is not even close to enough to have an informed discussion. Who is correct has now become who can slam dunk on someone else the best.

I do genuinely think that Drew Afualo is a net positive for the world and I’m glad she’s using the TikTok algorithm to spread good messages. But let’s be honest here, her videos aren’t well researched takes on misogyny. And I don’t think they’re trying to be either. Drew shouldn’t be expected to sit down and research a TikTok while she’s shitting on some asshole; that’s not her style. I think the problem is beyond her control. People are taking her quips and one-liners to formulate their opinions on the world around them. This is ok in this example given that Drew a positive influence. But this can and has been weaponised so easily to spread harmful rhetoric left and right and when you’re on political TikTok it’s impossible to tell which is which. Misinformation is also shockingly common and incentivised by the format.

Finally, your attention span is dying. Let’s look at YouTube. YouTube’s policies make it so that longer content is rewarded and, and this is a crucial point, you choose what you want to watch. On TikTok, because you are given content with the assumption you’ll enjoy it, you have to decide while watching if you want to scroll or not. Eventually your window of tolerance of videos before they get good shrinks and you’ll end up judging the quality of the content based on the first seven seconds. Comparatively, YouTube has you choose videos assuming you’ll like them and therefore you’ll spend more time with the art before you decide whether or not it’s for you. When your attention shrinks to seven seconds on TikTok, this bleeds into other aspects of your life and is incredibly unhealthy (speaking from experience). I had to watch two hour long video essays to compensate for how TikTok was just wrecking my focus.

Most people know TikTok sucks and use it anyway but then encourage others not to get it. Why don’t we delete it? Here’s an idea, if you have TikTok, get rid of it now. Destroy its ubiquity and only use Tumblr and YouTube /j No but seriously delete the app I’m so happy I did. My life has improved infinitely since.

[the-did-bunny]

A Simple Intro & Quick Guide

Hello! Let me introduce myself:

I am a college student (and current art major) in my mid 20s. I learned I had DID when i was about 15, but wasn’t “officially” diagnosed for a few more years, and now have been diagnosed for over 7 years. I do not always have full amnesic walls, and therefore technically have OSDD-1b.

I also have Autism, ADHD, C-PTSD, Anxiety, and Fibromyalgia. So these things interact with my dissociative disorder, and inform some aspects of what I talk about.

I’m also trans/nonbinary, and mostly use they/them, or he/him pronouns, but some alters use different ones. I have at least 12 alters that I’m aware of.

I intend to post useful or important information about DID and OSDD 1b on this blog, as well as letting my alters post, posting about my alters and personal experiences with the disorder, and memes. I do NOT partake in discourse. This is a safe blog for browsing.

I also intend to share coping skills and suggestions, as well as things i’ve learned from my therapists, and my excellent psychology & psychiatry professor who also had DID.

Now, A Quick Guide:

What is DID? DID stands for Dissociative Identity Disorder. it is a disorder which develops in early childhood, typically by the age of 9 caused by trauma, of periods of prolonged intense stress. The non-nuanced definition is a disorder that manifests with a person presenting multiple different personalities, who often have amnesia between them. There is no maximum, but at least 2 distinct ‘alters’ must be present. Of course, like any disorder it is a spectrum. But this is just a quick and basic explanation. There are also a few variations knows as OSDDs (Other Specified Dissociative Disorder) the ones most closely related to DID being types 1A and 1b.

Does DID only come from abuse? No. DID develops from prolonged or multiple traumas in childhood. This can include things which caused intense stress for a young child over a period of time, not exclusively abuse. It can include medical trauma, multiple moves, major interfamily conflict such as divorce, or death of a loved one, severe bullying, emotional neglect, repeated exposure to distressing or stressful situations, you get the idea. It doesn’t have to be a specific type of trauma, but it comes from trauma. However, due to the nature of the disorder it is common that individuals with DID will not remember their trauma. But this means DID is inherently a traumagenic disorder.

What Are Alters? Alters is the term used to refer to the alternate personalities, or ‘other people’ that make up a system- all the members of a system so to speak. Individuals will DID/OSDD are called systems, or plural, referring to the fact that while physically one person, they can have any number of additional people within them. Alters aren’t just personalities for many, they have their own names, ages, appearances, etc, but they appear outwardly as a different personality. Since we can’t shapeshift.

How does OSDD-1A and OSDD-1b differ from DID? These two particular subtypes are most close to DID. With 1A a person may not experience their alters as distinctly separate people, but rather as just other versions of themselves, while with 1B, a person experiences distinct alters, but doesn’t have complete amnesic walls between alters, only having partial or emotional amnesia.

What are amnesic walls? What is emotional amnesia? Amnesic walls refers to amnesia, or memory loss between alters. Meaning that when one personality is present, they do not remember, or fully remember what another personality did while present. Emotional amnesia means that a newly present personality may remember, but feel no attachment to the memory, as if despite the body experiencing it, it is not theirs.

What are Fronting and Switching? Fronting refers for being the one who is present, interacting with the real world, in “the front” of the body. When an alter is fronting they are controlling the body. When two or more alters are present it’s called co-fronting. Or being co-conscious. “Switching” refers to when one alter/personality leaves or comes to the front, taking the place of another.

What is splitting? Splitting refers to the “creation” of new alters. It is not intentional, or controllable. And typically is caused when confronting stressful situations. If the system is under too much stress, or faces a problem and the brain feels the need for someone who can solve it, a new alter will “split off” of the system. not necessarily fully developed.

Can you have DID/OSDD without early trauma? No. But you can have it without remembering any of the trauma or stress, either because you were too young, or since that’s part of the “job” of the disorder, to protect you from the stress/trauma. And you can also have it without necessarily realizing that you experienced trauma.

How common is DID/OSDD? Currently it is believed to exist within roughly 1.2-1.5% of the population l, which is considered rare, but is only slightly less common than bipolar, or red hair. to give perspective.

~and lastly~

What is DID Not? DID is NOT “having a different personality at work with coworkers than with friends.” or “acting differently with your friends than around your family.” it is common and normal for people to present different sides of themselves based on what is appropriate behavior for a setting. This is called code-switching. it’s very common for people to act differently with their coworkers, close friends, classmates, or family members, because you know these people in different contexts. DID is also NOT your personality being different based on your mood. People do act differently when they are sad vs angry vs happy, or calm vs stressed. And lastly, DID is NOT hallucinating your alters. Alters/other personalities are not hallucinations, regardless of a person’s tendency towards delusions or hallucinations. the alters exist within a person, and may or may not be actively present in their mind, giving input, etc. they present sometimes covertly, meaning they will ‘act like’ the person you know, to keep safe, or they will act blatantly different from how that person ‘usually’ acts. (But I’ll probably make a whole post about this.)

Thank you for reading! My askbox is open for questions and clarifications!

[explodingthunder]

listen like… on one hand most of those passengers absolutely deserved their fate seeing as it came from their own shit decisions. (i’m excluding the teenager when I say passengers from this point on seeing as according to his family he actually really didn’t want to go, but everyone else? yeah.) as people have said, this whole titan sub thing has been poetry. this was entirely on them.

but on the other hand! that little space has one window, a toilet that’s a fucking plastic bag, and not even enough room to stand up in. their two options were a) a nigh-instantaneous death (I’m aware of all the videos of how quick it would have been at the Titanic’s depth, but we have no idea if they’d even reached that level when the sub imploded), or b) slow asphyxiation. for DAYS. that’s fucking horrific! that’s horror movie levels of horrific! that’s to the point that a game developer literally made this concept a while before the incident because it was the most terrifying thing he could think of.

and I’m seeing all these people on like… tiktok and twitter and whatnot yell at people for expressing any SHRED of empathy for the billionaires in the sub, because they were billionaires, and therefore everyone who has sympathy for them is a class traitor or something. I saw someone go “eat the rich means eat the rich! with forks and knives!” and… okay. that’s a fair viewpoint that you can have. these were horrible people.

but… it’s still an awful way to die. it’s such a horrific concept I feel sick just thinking about it. not because of the people who had to go through it, but because if it were somehow me down there I would be so fucking scared.

so… eat the rich, I guess. let this be a lesson to them and whatever. but… I just don’t think that this is so important to the rage against the machine that everyone should shit on others nonstop for having a little empathy, y’know? people’s feelings aren’t an all or nothing. no battle is truly an all or nothing. there’s nuance. the passengers can deserve their fate, and it can be a horrifying way to die, and those two concepts can coexist.

[softer-ua]

Periodic reminder that this is a pro ship account, I genuinely don’t give af what y’all do with your imaginations

I care too much about what happens to real people to even try to find the time or energy to pretend to assign morality to make believe, frankly I think it’s kinda neat that some people can take horrible dark things and splash enough fantasy on them to make it not so

We know that video games don’t make kids violent, kids being ignored, neglected, and never taught healthy emotional processing makes them violent. The idea that video games were the problem is fear mongering propaganda

The idea that porn addictions exists or that consuming it can desensitize an individual is of the same vain, it takes blame off the individuals who do horrible things and assigns it to some abstract concept that has no bases in reality

Of course people can become addicted to anything technically, even eating couch cushions, anything that acts as a stress reliever for any reason can become a compulsion. But like with couch cushions, there’s a different problem at hand

And someone can become desensitized in the idea that the shock and urgency lesson with exposure, but core values and your morals do not change without extensive personal work

These things are even less when not attached to irl human faces. Humans are very capable of distinguishing fiction from reality, even when we get really involved with them

The myth that we can’t comes from misunderstood and misconstrued findings that when we imagine something it lights up the same areas of the brain as actually doing the action

Which is true, but how we interpret those sensations is different, most people can sense something and still objectively know it isn’t real and will therefore act on that. Someone of sound mind can and does cry at a sad movie, but they will leave the theater aware that while they may still feel sad the character died no real person is actually dead

Porn is similar, it can invoke physical and emotional responses but people are aware it’s not real.

There is of course some nuances to that because of the fat cats in the industry trying convince viewers that the people in the videos aren’t actors performing bits

That has been dangerous for young people who were unfortunately getting their sex education from them because no one in their lives took the time to actually teach them about their bodies and relationships involving other bodies but as awareness of that issue rises the number of victims to that propaganda falls

So the rich try to profit off ignorance and shift blame from themselves while their worst consumers use them as excuses, that’s nothing new. Violent depraved people are like that for their own personal reasons, no media consomption or mental illness makes them like that, it’s all on individuals and their personal failure of morals

Fan creations has the smallest hat in the media ring, from every angle it’s near impossible to have it confused with reality without choosing to do so(like for escapism, which within limits is normal and fine)

Whatever fan creation you’re outraged about, it could be the most deaddove thing ever, like the most rottingest zombie of dead doves, and it still starts with acknowledging that it’s being modeled after a fictitious source like a book or a parasocial relationship with a celebrity

And when I consider that vs the physical irl actions people are taking against irl people I simply can’t bring myself to give a flying rats ass about fiction^2

Like Canada is still finding unmarked graves for native children who were taken from their homes by the church to be forced into dying at residential schools, and I don’t think enough people are taking into account that the indifference shown to these children’s deaths by the church is cruel by Christian standards

Seriously we aren’t even acknowledging that had these children been home with their loved ones the practices around their death would have been vastly different, some cultures don’t practice burials and to put anyone let alone their child in the ground without ceremony would have been the most vial act their community could ever enact

So yeah idgf if you’re blorbo commits a war crime and gets sexy with it, there’s very real war crimes being committed today and very real war crimes of the past going unacknowledged that are vastly more worth of my outrage

[transluscentcats]

Shadows are so weird in Persona 5. 

You kill one but come across the same one later and it still remembers you after you execute it for fusion and doesn’t seem to hold a grudge for all the times you killed it or extorted it for money/items in negotiations. So, do they have a hive mind or are they individuals? 

They apparently come from the sea of human souls but get brainwashed (?) I guess when coming into contact with serious distortion. And when you successfully make on your mask they say they came from the sea of human souls. Does this make them ghosts in a sense? They talk about their friends and family during negotiations. So thy must have some kind of lives and can be considered alive in a sense despite how much you kill them while grinding in mementos. 

personas/shadows take forms that are commonly known or though about in the public conscious. Taking the forms of spirits (pixie), historical figures, characters (Narcissus), or gods that are well known if not believed in (Thor). Basically if someone on the street is aware on some level of that thing, it’s probably a shadow type. Though interpretations may vary on their appearance and persona-(hah) lity. it still begs the question of why some personas look completely different from  what most people would think of them for example Dionysus: why does he look like a mosais? most people would assume he would have normal (Greek/ Mediterranean) skin color not this mosaic thing. 

 or Cerberus: Original myths MAY have depicted him as one headed but everyone only thinks of him as three headed so why doesn’t his appearance reflect that? 

So many questions and most aren’t important

We know regular peoples shadows become normal personas such as Jack frost or Nekomata from mementos requests but maybe with some alteration of weaknesses. Personas found behave the same as personas awakened to so they must have the similar component of being essentially a shadow. So, if someone dies do they become their persona and float around the metaverse before being reincarnated? Does that make the metaverse kind of the afterlife? Are wildcards technically mediums/ ghost whisperers?

Given this information if I would have been the persona 5 protag I think I would have theorized that Morgana was a human who got reincarnated into the wrong body. The shadows come from the sea of HUMAN souls not any old animal souls. 

But this is still circling back to the question of , if the shadows you fight and recruit are technically people, or at least their souls, why do shadows of the same type all act as a hive mind instead of individuals? 

My theory is that the shadows/personas are souls but they lose their memories of the real world the longer they spend in the metaverse. This memory loss is caused by distortions and a shared hive mind of information with other people of the same exact personality as you. 

There are no real foods or places similar to the real world other than in palaces which act kind of like fly traps of familiarity and intrigue. Shadows when they talk about stuff from the real world, only know about that stuff as a result of shared information with like minded individuals. And their opinions that may have had more nuance and individuality in life are scrubbed into the same thing as those who are similar to them at a base level. And technically killing shadows IS murder but since it’s the metaverse, it doesn’t stick and therefore doesn’t count since you’re killing ghosts which aren’t really alive and might just regenerate.

I’ve never played persona 3 or 4 so if anyone has any other ideas, evidence, headcanons or thoughts I would love to hear them

[burningtheroots]

[sorry for this very long vent about my thoughts/feelings concerning radical feminism]

I am deeply convinced that the radical feminist approach is the only actual solution to the longest and worst oppression to exist, a.k.a. the exploitation, enslavement, undervaluement, objectification and dehumanization of women all around the world.

I also believe that *all* feminism CAN theoretically contribute something — simply because every feminist movement makes some good points FOR the sake of women — and yet the practical effect is dimmed because most of it has lost its focus and purpose. Most feminists have been conditioned, socialized and brainwashed to cater to misogyny, patriarchy, fascism and conservatism at the end of the day, even if they fight a different fight in the beginning.

So, in conclusion, I put my faith and energy into radical feminism. Yes, it frustrates me that we're a minority and I'm aware that our goals are utopian, but they're still worth it because every little improvement is necessary and can be life-changing for some.

And yes, I also think that the nuances which separate radical feminism from other types of feminism are very important.

For example, Marxist feminism and radical feminism are quite compatible, however, the realization that the key problem is misogyny & patriarchy itself did it for me. Radical feminism has adapted the good ideas from other feminist movements such as Marxist feminism and digs even deeper until it gets to the ROOT of it. It's literally in the name.

Unfortunately, this also means that I feel hopeless and isolated at times because it's the most marginalized and demonized form of feminism, I'm practically alone with it in my personal life, and yet it is the most factual and progressive one. We don't need reformative feminism, we need revolutionary feminism. Feminism that prioritizes women and women only. Everything else comes after BECAUSE everything else came after, and was built and still is upheld by the very same men who are also responsible for OUR oppression.

"Radical feminism is a theory that blames women's oppression and exploitation on men. Society has been built by and dominated by men to oppress women and exploit them because of their biological functions. Patriarchy characterises the whole of society, and the only way to remove it is by restructuring society.

Radical feminists see patriarchy as embedded into all aspects of society, including legal, political and social institutions. Therefore, any change within those institutions is unlikely to address the root cause of oppression, which is patriarchy. Due to this, radical feminists seek to dismantle the entire system of patriarchy rather than make changes within the existing system through legal or social changes."

It's not capitalism, it's not ethnicity, it's not classism, it's SEXISM.

And this very sexism makes all the other forms of oppression worse for women, makes them automatically more oppressed than every single man, and put men as a class into a position where THEY could create further systems of oppression and violence.

I just had to share this somewhere. Perhaps I take this too seriously, but to me it‘s very personal and I wish I could just surround myself with like-minded people and live my life happily. I set my priorities and I can‘t let go of it anymore because all these realizations went right under my skin.

People used to scare me off because I wanted to please them and was afraid that I couldn’t, now they scare me off because I can‘t trust them and they‘re all potentially against me when it comes to my stance on my very own and basically every other woman‘s sex-based oppression.

We aren’t exaggerating, most of us are doing quite the opposite. I mean, women have been oppressed for thousands of years based on our reproductive capabilities and overall femaleness, isn‘t that enough? Why are we still expected to tolerate some sexism here, some sexism there, put ourselves behind for other causes … ?

Sex-based intergenerational and intragenerational trauma is real and just as much as it is real, it is overlooked.

Also sex-based PTSD and other conditions are ignored and underestimated, although they‘re pretty common whether you‘ve experienced direct violence or not. Like, just look at the world we grow up in, and how we grow up in it, and how we can‘t escape our own dehumanization and oppression wherever we go and whoever we meet. Is there anyone who understands? Will there ever be comfort and soothing and safety?

…

[sbaloanonline]

How SBA Loan Service Provider Can Simplify the Loan Procedure?

Securing funding is crucial for many small business owners to facilitate growth, expand operations, or cover daily expenses.  A popular method for obtaining financing is through loans provided by the Small Business Administration (SBA). However, the SBA loan process can be overwhelming and confusing, especially for entrepreneurs unfamiliar with the nuances of loan applications. This is where an SBA Loan Facilitator can make all the difference.

SBA Loan Facilitator acts as a bridge between small business owners and lenders offering SBA-backed loans. They offer expertise and guidance, helping borrowers navigate the complexities of the application and approval stages. By managing documentation and ensuring compliance with SBA requirements, SBA Loan service providers reduce the time and effort needed for businesses to secure funding. Their support ultimately enhances the overall efficiency of obtaining an SBA loan.

While securing an SBA loan might seem like a straightforward task-especially with many banks advertising their services-there are numerous hurdles and requirements that many applicants aren’t fully aware of. This is where an SBA Loan Facilitator comes in, helping business owners understand the process and enhance their chances of approval by ensuring everything is done correctly.

SBA Loan service providers for Simplifying, Streamlining, and Supporting

The loan application process is more than just filling out a form and waiting for approval. It involves gathering financial records, compiling business plans, understanding loan eligibility, and navigating SBA regulations. As SBA Loan facilitators, we assist at every stage:

Document Preparation: One of the most tedious aspects of the loan application is gathering the required documents. SBA Loan service providers help you organize and present your financial records, business plan, and any other necessary paperwork in a way that aligns with SBA requirements.

Navigating SBA Requirements: There are different SBA loan programs, such as the 7(a) Loan Program, CDC/504 Loan Program, and microloans. Each has its requirements, benefits, and limitations. SBA Loan service providers assist in identifying the best option based on your business’s unique needs and guide you through the requirements.

Choosing the Right Loan Program: Not all SBA loans are created equal. Depending on whether you’re looking for working capital, buying real estate, or purchasing equipment, SBA Loan service providers match your business with the most suitable SBA loan program.

 Why Use SBA Loan Service Providers Instead of Going Directly to a Bank?

Applying for an SBA loan is not as simple as walking into a bank and asking for financing. Many entrepreneurs who go the DIY route often get bogged down in paperwork, miss key requirements, or become overwhelmed by the process. This leads to unnecessary delays, rejections, and even missed opportunities for funding. According to the Small Business Credit Survey 2019, slightly more than half (52%) of SBA loans are approved for the more than 2,000 businesses that they surveyed. This was the lowest approval rate of any type of loan or line of credit, including mortgages (69% approval rate), business loans (67%) and personal loans (55%).

Therefore, working with an SBA Loan Facilitator ensures that you have an experienced professional handling the intricacies of the application process, avoiding common pitfalls, and reducing the risk of rejection. Our deep understanding of SBA loans and relationships with lenders means that we are often able to expedite the process, address any issues before they become roadblocks, and make sure your application stands out from the rest.

How We Maximize Your Loan Approval Chances

When SBA Loan service providers work with you, they strategically help to improve your chances of securing approval:

Expertise: With years of experience in the industry, SBA Loan service providers know exactly what lenders are looking for. They  ensure that the business plan is robust to making sure your financial statements meet the necessary criteria.

Lender Connections: SBA Loan service providers have cultivated strong relationships with a network of SBA-preferred lenders. This means that they can connect you with the right lenders who are more likely to approve your loan, based on their lending criteria and your business profile.

Streamlining the Process: Applying for a loan can be time-consuming, but SBA Loan service providers streamline the process, making it smoother and faster. We help avoid unnecessary back-and-forth with lenders by submitting a well-prepared application the first time.

Securing an SBA loan doesn’t have to be a daunting experience. By working with an SBA Loan service provider, you ensure that you are taking a strategic approach to funding your business. Whether you’re a startup looking for initial capital or an established business in need of expansion financing, our expertise, and personalized guidance can help you maximize your chances of loan approval.

Please schedule a consultation with us today to see how we can assist you in navigating the SBA loan process and securing the funding you need to achieve your business goals.

You can also directly enter your requirements, and we will contact you within 24 hours.

[languagestudymaterials]

Pre-translation text analysis and language learning

based on Katherina Reiss’ and Christine Nord’s translation theories

I had always regarded science as a universal and believed there are no differences in science at all between countries. But I was wrong. People with different cultures think in different ways, and therefore their science also may well be different. (Motokawa 1989, p. 489)

I love this quote because it shows that culture affects how we use languages to express thoughts and write them down. Noticing differences in styles (writing styles/speaking styles) and genres can speed up the learning process tremendously and help us learn more natural English or any other language you’re currently learning.

From this post, you’ll learn how to compare two languages - where to start and what to pay attention to.

Pre-translation text analysis 

Pre-translation text analysis involves examining the source text before translating it to ensure accuracy, clarity, and consistency. This process helps identify potential issues such as ambiguous terms, cultural references, technical jargon, or complex sentence structures. Such analysis can help translators produce a more accurate and contextually appropriate translation. 

In simple words, you pinpoint characteristic features of a text. 

I already made such an analysis in this post - I analyzed the Japanese writing style and tried to determine how it differs from the English style. 

More on that here

How will that help me learn a language then? 

In short, it will help you:

Improve your understanding of the target language. By that, I mean identifying grammar points, difficult or unusual vocabulary, or complex sentence structures.

Identify challenges. Once you’re done analyzing the language layer, you can highlight challenging points, allowing yourself to focus on specific language challenges. 

Build cultural awareness. It helps recognize cultural nuances in the text, which improves the ability to use language in context.

How do I start such an analysis? 

According to Katherina Reiss and Christine Nord, German linguists and translators, you can start off with determining:

extralinguistic factors of a text. 

intralinguistic factors of a text.

Extra means that something “comes from the outside” and linguistic refers to language. You’re looking for features that aren’t related to the language itself (elements from outside the text). This means that you want to determine:

Function. What is the text trying to say/convey? Authors have intentions. Texts are written for a reason. What is the text’s function in its source culture? To inform, to evoke emotions, to educate, to entertain? 

The recipient. Who is the target reader/audience? Doctors, teenagers, politicians? Depending on the target audience, the language will differ as well. Different vocabulary, different syntax, register, and so on.

Time and place of reception/publication. It might seem unimportant, but if the text was published 30 years ago, it will give a rough idea about the language conventions and standards prevailing at that time.

Medium. Was it a book? Was it a magazine? Was it displayed on a screen? A medium can affect language too. What if there was not enough space and the text had to be shortened. We don’t think about it on a daily basis, but when we communicate in the online world, we use ungrammatical language, and we compose short messages (often omitting words because they are clear from the context).

Intra means “inside” so, we need to analyze the language itself. Try to answer these:

What is the text about? What is the subject matter of the text? Does it require any special terminology or background knowledge?

How is the text organized? Chapters, subchapters, paragraphs, layout, any characteristic features that seem off to you because in your culture you don’t do that. Any visual features.

How would you characterize the vocabulary? (technical, jargonistic or colloquial, are there collocations, idioms, keywords, words chosen for particular effects, lots of acronyms or abbreviations, neologisms, particular lexical fields, examples of regional or social variation)

What are the features of the sentence structure? (long or short sentences, simple or complex ones)

How would you characterize the style? (Journalistic, rambling, colloquial, smart, etc.)?

What about grammar? What tenses are used in the text? Any other grammar structures? What about punctuation?

Example

it’s a fake memo

Let’s start with extralinguistic factors first

Function ⇒ providing information. The memo's primary purpose is to provide important logistical information about the temporary unavailability of the parking lot. Employees are expected to adjust their parking arrangements based on the information, so the text is practical, prompting immediate action.

The recipient ⇒ Employees. The memo is directed at all workers in the organization who typically use the parking lot.

Time and place of reception ⇒ in this case, this information is unimportant because it’s a very fresh memo.

Medium ⇒ e-mail message. It could also be printed out and pinned on the notice board in the office.  

Intralinguistic factors up next: 

Clarity and simplicity: The language is straightforward, using simple vocabulary and short sentences to ensure that all employees, regardless of their role or education level, can easily understand the message.

Formal tone: The memo uses a professional tone, as it is an internal communication addressing all employees.

It avoids technical jargon, ensuring it applies to all employees, from administrative workers to maintenance staff.

It’s brief, focusing only on necessary details—dates, alternative parking, and an apology for the inconvenience (no necessary explanations, they don't need to know why the parking lot will be maintained).

Now you know how to write a short memo to all employees informing them about an important issue. 

You can go even deeper, and analyze grammar structures as well - is the memo written in passive voice or active voice? Are there any conjunctions? What about modal verbs or conditional sentences? Are there any words that can be substituted with simpler words (vehicles ⇒ cars).

If your language intuition is already sharp, then you won’t need to go that deep, you will take a look at the memo and intuitively know how to recreate it. However, if you struggle, you can look for examples online, perform the analysis, and then write your own memo. 

In this article, you can also find some tips on how to write business letters/memos.  

References:

Wytrębowicz, J. (2009). O poprawności językowej publikacji naukowo-technicznych. Zagadnienia Naukozanwstwa. Kemp, A. (2007, May). University of Central Florida. Retrieved January 22, 2020, from Electronic Theses and Dissertations: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/3223

Tabakowska, E. (1999). O przekładzie na przykładzie. Kraków: Znak.

http://www.tree-genie.co.uk/Translation/Analysing%20your%20Source%20Text.pdf

Reiss, K. (2000). “Type, Kind and Individuality of Text, Decision making in translation.” In L. Ventui, The Translation Studies Reader .Routledge.

Sawaki, T. (2016). Analyzing Structure in Academic Writing. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK.

Motokawa, Tatsuo. “Sushi Science and Hamburger Science.” Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, vol. 32 no. 4, 1989, p. 489-504. Project MUSE, HYPERLINK “http://doi.org/10.1353/pbm.1989.0023” doi:10.1353/pbm.1989.0023 .

“High-Context Culture: Definition & Examples.” Study.com, 21 May 2015, study.com/academy/lesson/high-context-culture-definition-examples-quiz.html

[confusedgoldenflower]

That art is so fucking cute except FX isn’t that tall

Rant/vent. No hate towards the people of the hub (lmao had no idea that even was a thing before now), I’m just tired. Let’s hope I can articulate.

First of all, “so many amazing submissions”… only to get, well, this. I’m sorry but it feels a bit lame to me somehow? Maybe it’s mostly just the nsfw. Which—what’s even going on with the CANNONICALLY ace character without any, like, reminder to the phobes (and yes, you can fully be ace AND be acephobic, it’s called internalization) about the said asexuality that would need to be a big part of whatever narrative is crafted.

Like I’ve always hated pwp because it forces characters into sexual situations, and it feels especially, weird, at least, to have explicit “permission,” so to say, with an ace-couple in a fandom known to disrespect the ace member (this means a majority just throw him into sex with hardly any regard for his aceness/cultivation or only having half assed, shitty excuses).—But then his cultivation is mentioned and it’s paired with an obvious sexual status/position.

As someone who’s seen and been the target of a lot of acephobia not the least of which is in this very fandom, it feels icky.

Something more like:

FengQing Week ‘24, time to celebrate everyone’s favorite ace couple!

[Benign prompts] Please keep in mind asexuality has a lot of facets and dynamics have nuances! There’s many different ways to have sex or just to be intimate, especially non sexual intimacy which can also get an R rating. NSFW prompts; [_]

Would make more sense/feel more respectful.

I mention all this even though tHeY’rE fIcTiOnAl AnD tHeReFoRe DoNt HaVe To Be ReSpEcTeD, because that’s a load of shit. If you don’t respect characters, you’re unlikely to respect real people, on and offline. Never mind what this sex saturation announces to others especially youngins/closet aces; “you’re not allowed not to not have/participate in sex; it’s part of adulthood/life and everyone wants it.” And yes, we’re in communities, we have inherent responsibility towards one another.

Again, having an over saturation of smut, specifically the ‘traditional’ sort, is very ace erasure-esque.

No, I’m not “gatekeeping” how this character is handled by the fandom at large, I don’t go harassing anyone who pulls this acephobia crap, I’m keeping it as a reminder that this is an ace character and that, again, the overwhelming sexual content don’t smell right.

Everyone can have their own interpretations about how to “get around” his cultivation or change it (especially when it’s used as an excuse in order to get him into sex and/or to specifically put him with the sex fiend PM, is so gross to me), I’m telling you that that isn’t what’s happening. That, again, there’s acephobia in how his character is handled on a majority scale. If you only want smut or pwp, there’s the pre-given cannonically demi and sex fiendish couple HuaLian. Among all the other pairings none else of which—except JW and MNQ as hinted—are also ace. That’s a large roster just in this fandom.

Also, no, fandom isn’t just for pornographic content, so don’t even start.

Explorations of trauma from being ace aren’t included but should be tagged as such given the author’s aware of what they’re doing. And if it’s an exploration into how an ace character might get into some heated to sexual situations, there’s a lot left to be desired.

No, I’m not expecting every single representation to “conform to my ideas,” I’m trying to encourage ace-acceptance and respect.

Tldr: just remember asexual characters and people exist, always have and will continue, and there’s always more to learn about intimacy and sex. In fact, it’s actually fascinating. Especially non-sexual intimacy, which I know is a learning curve because of how weird our culture is about sex. “You either practice abstinence until you marry and have sex the second you are married, or your brokeeennnn🤪.”

***I’m NOT discouraging anyone from participating or anything. Again, just trying to keep/put it in the fandom’s mind that ace characters ought to be respected. I’m participating and having fun with it. It’s even pushing my writing boundaries a little bit.

Do release the full prompt suggestions list please, I wanna see what I can do with it XD gold belt on Hanahaki having been suggested

Acephobes DNI

EDIT: Imma make a Mu Qing/FengQing Ace Visibility Week. Might also expand into a few other fandoms I frequent too to spread the love. I’d love if anyone was willing to participate with me in ~late October. I got graphic editing abilities so if anyone has any prompts f/or character/fandoms they’d like to see, let me know 🖤🤍💜

🏹 FengQing Nation, get ready to create! ⚔️

After so many amazing idea submissions, we present you the official Prompt List for #FQWeek24

🄰🅄🄶🅄🅂🅃 26-31

Please read the rules and guidelines below!

Happy Creating! Happy FQWeek24! 💛🩶

[mfenvs3000f23]

Who are we, (individually and as a collective) in nature?

Who are you to interpret nature through art? How do you interpret “the gift of beauty”?

To me, one of the most inviting parts about nature interpretation, is that all you really need to get started is a passion for the outdoors. The landscapes aren’t exclusive about who can observe them. Of course, there is nuance with this as we discussed last week regarding privilege. Accessibility is an issue. On a very basic level however, the riverbeds and tree trunks aren’t watching us with judgment as if to say, “who is this measly human teaching this group of other measly humans about me?”, (or maybe they are and maybe we ought to be on our best respectful behavior). I like to think that nature is watching us with appreciation as we try to deepen the bond between humans and nature. If we wish to get started, we could begin with one singular tree in the break of the sidewalk. We could explore google earth, choose locations we feel particularly called to, and reflect on what it might feel like to be there. We could then draw or paint a picture of how the scene makes us feel. Our minds are the limit.

Some of our relationships with nature have only ever involved academia, and therefore exploring through art requires some courage and open-mindedness. Some of our relationships with nature were born through the artistic lens, and therefore might be a very comfortable process. As people interpreting nature through art, we might have some things in common. Perhaps many of us lean towards the creative side, perhaps we see humans and nature as being on the same hierarchy level, perhaps our parents washed a lot of mud out of our clothes when we were kids. Some of us might be painters, photographers, sketch artists, poets, and we are all bloggers! There is not a wrong way to interpret nature through art, and there are probably infinite options. Some people will be looking for hard facts and information. Is that everyone’s favourite presentation style? No, but it is somebody’s. Others may prefer an abstract approach that involves the senses instead of historic or ecological facts. So, who are we to interpret nature through art? Well, I believe we are just students of nature with no graduation date, intrinsically driven to know and share as much as we can about it, in a variety of mediums. We are all humans who find inspiration or comfort of some kind in nature, and express it differently.

As stated on page 82 of our textbook, army park guards were the original interpreters of many national parks. This career path for some or hobby for others is sometimes stumbled upon by chance or circumstance. Folks might end up in such a role even though it was not their original plan. In those cases, I think there must have been some compelling factor that drew them in or kept them from pursuing their original plan, perhaps “the gift of beauty”. In our textbook, the gift of beauty is described as the awareness and recognition of the inherent wonder of the environment. The idea is that this sentiment gives us peace with our place in nature and drives us to protect natural systems. The gift of beauty could be a starting point for many who either seek involvement in nature leadership, or as a participant.

As we read in the textbook, if we put words to a scenic view and try to describe its beauty, we often fail to do it justice. We would also be taking away from the imagination and creativity of the moment for the viewer. This is what makes “How do you interpret the gift of beauty” a difficult question. The answer is different for everyone. We might all be able to agree that a bright sunny day in a wildflower field has a calming effect. However, we might not all be able to agree why it has this effect on us. For some, maybe it reminds them of summers at their grandparent’s house. For someone else, maybe it is the presence of pollinators and getting to observe their interactions with the flowers. In my mind, the gift of beauty differs from a sense of place, in the way that you can give someone a sense of place, but perhaps the same cannot be said about the gift of beauty. I think holding space for the group to come up with their own conclusions and reflections is important. Younger groups might need some prompts or reflection questions, others might only need your guidance to the lookout point. I believe interpreting the gift of beauty is about giving someone the opportunity to see that the world is beautiful, and allowing them to decide why they think so.

At the end of the day, you want your group to form their own connection with the space, and personal feelings of relatedness. When this happens, the nature interpretation doesn’t end when they leave the green space. Now, they have this relationship that they contributed to individually within themselves, and they can always return to that feeling and headspace without even being outdoors.