#these questions are rhetorical

[damnesdelamer]

‘Socialism has never worked’?

What do you call Russia, China, and Cuba functionally eradicating homelessness and illiteracy in their respective spheres within a few years of the massive upheaval of revolution, and radically improving the living conditions of millions after generations of poverty? What do you call the Soviet Union bearing the brunt of the greatest military conflict the world has ever seen and emerging victorious? What do you call the Soviet Union holding out for four decades of sustained military and economic warfare against the greatest military and economic superpower the world has ever known? What do you call Vietnam defeating the greatest military empire the world has ever known in its anti-imperialist resistance campaign? What do you call China emerging from the 20th Century as the most populous country on earth with the highest GDP? What do you call China reducing daily covid numbers to double digits in a population of 1.4 billion? What do you call Cuba thriving after six decades of brutal embargoes? What do you call Cuba passing the most progressive and practically protective legislation for family and LGBT rights in a world historical moment marked by increased LGBTphobia among the Western powers? What do you call the people of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe shrugging off the muck of ages to usher in an era of progress, all while Western powers conspire to sabotage them at every turn while growing fat off the earth they’ve scorched?

I’d ask what history books you’re reading, but I know that you’re not reading any, and the only information you have on the subject is spoon-fed into your colonised mind by the people’s enemies, whose vested interest in fabricating events is readily apparent to any who bother to look into these things.

‘Socialism has never worked’? It has been one of the dominant political-economic models of the past century, and has made drastic strides on every front despite its relative infancy and constant opposition from Western superpowers. If you fear socialism, what do you really fear? Socialism is the people. Socialism is me; socialism is you; socialism is all of us, together.

‘Socialism has never worked’? Socialism has always worked. Socialism is working right now. We will see socialism work again, always.

[witless-winion1]

Telemachus, crying that he finally gets to meet his dad: “For twenty years, I never could outgrow you”

Odysseus, the short king, also crying: son, you are several inches taller then I am

[chaoticamelay]

hey so if sex is "immutable" does this mean we are going to stop the whole 'surgeries on intersex infants' thing, or is this more of a "we hate trans people for existing and don't understand basic biology" kinda vibe

[wolfertinger666]

fellas is a pedophilic for a trans man to call himself a "boy" 😭😭😭😀

this is getting so ridiculous

[rynli]

Harry works on his resume

[deepdwellingsteamboat]

RE-ANIMATOR 1985・dir. Stuart Gordon

[big-bird-nerd]

Did the FBI ever finish analysing that balloon? Are they having fun with it? Have they found a way to report that it's not a spy balloon in a way that's still racist?

[benevolenterrancy]

~ Kiss Kiss Fall From Heaven ~

@biboomerangboi your tag on my last picture opened my third eye, Xie Lian literally starts the series off by accidentally breaking shit and getting himself into ridiculous debt where's my Ouran High School au???? guys??????

[omegalerc]

something something the way they both immediately looked at the other for their reaction

[fennelwasp]

They’ll probably take it out of changeling game, but i still think of that line from her classic route

[jkvjimin]

tae: *exists* jk & jm: oh, you're handsome

[cr. @jung-koook]

[gothhabiba]

why do people dislike the terms "USians" and "usamericans" so much. literally what else are you supposed to say to specify who you mean

[royalarchivist]

[Brainstorming couple's costumes for a chatter who's getting married]

Phil: [Reading Kristin's chat message] "Oh, if it's two men getting married, then maybe Sonic and Knuckles costume." Ohhh.

Phil: Shadow and Sonic would be toxic yaoi. Sonic and Knuckles wouldn't be as toxic I think, so like... it depends on the relationship vibes, if they wanna do a toxic yaoi or just a regular yaoi— [Wheezes and laughs]

[naturecalls111]

[harrypotterfuryroad]

the stereotype of tumblr going back to like 2013 in most other places is literally “the male tears mug website”, do these people even know what they mean when they call someone a terf

[writingwithfolklore]

Questions from Beta Readers are Rhetorical

You know when people leave you questions on your work during the feedback process like, “why is she doing this?” or “who is this again?” or “how does this relate to what was just said?” You’re not meant to reply back and answer those.

They aren’t asking because they want you to explain it to them—or at least, that’s not very helpful to the actual work. They’re asking because something in the manuscript is unclear. Most readers won’t have the benefit of having you next to them to answer questions as they go—the work has to hold up on its own. If something is unclear, it should be addressed in the text, it’s pretty useless if it’s addressed only in your answer back to your beta reader.

So actually, when people ask me questions about my manuscript, I don’t answer them at all. I go back into the work and try to clarify, and then I have them read it again. If they have the same question, it means I need to try again until the confusion is cleared up.

Sometimes the people I edit for reply back with paragraphs of explanation, and I tell them that it’s great that they understand it, but I don’t need or want them to explain it to me afterward. I was asking the question so they knew what exactly was unclear to me (a bit more helpful than saying “this is confusing”). I want the understanding to come from just reading the piece.

That being said, some beta readers might want you to chat about it further with them—it’s up to you guys! But if you don’t also address the question in the work, you’re not doing yourself or your piece any favours.