#they're rivals online and in real life

[chasing-posts]

Fun Kakagai idea: Hacker AU.

Kakashi was a hacker and has been from a young age. At first when he was a little kid, it was mostly benevolent and he mostly did it to see into people's computers and just have fun playing with code and sometimes moving things around.

But after he got good at it, he had a bit of a phase where he used it for more mischievous purposes. He'd send viruses to school bullies. Leak secrets about teachers he wasn't a fan of, and stole a few online games/ items from other online players when he heard them bragging or showing off in real life, because he could.

But one day he logs in and finds ALL his folders and coding moved into one file labled "Please stop stealing." And when he opens it there's another file with everything he took labled "Please give this back."

It's a terrifying scenario and for a moment he thinks his dad finally caught onto him/ what he was doing online, only to realize that was wrong and Sakumo remains completely unaware to his mischief. After a few more days of fretting, changing all his passwords and restarting/ wiping his computer in an attempt to clear everything, eventually he opens his computer to an open blank word document, with some only a few words saying.

"I'm disappointed you didn't give it back. Don't worry I backed it up and did ut for you. But please don't ever do this again, otherwise I'll have to tell."

-HandsomeBlueBeast788

So Kakashi goes to school the next day and people are talking about how they got theirs saves/ items back in their games. And Kakashi decides he has a goal. To find the identity of whoever hacked him, and ask hin why he didn't rat him out, and to one day hack him back one day!

[miaclemeverett]

Summary of Dream's livestream with Techno's father if people can't or are unable watch:

Most importantly, please support Techno's family and the Sarcoma Foundation by buying merch here: (You can also donate directly to the Sarcoma Foundation here)

Dream is streaming with Techno's father & staying with the family

Techno's father met Skeppy, for the Sarcoma Foundation Gala he asked for Skeppy's favorite video with Techno and Skeppy said it was the "skeppy tries to troll me but i troll him first" video

Techno's father has been intentionally pulling up memories and stories of Techno's whole life which was "a speedrun" and full of joy and happiness, rather than just focusing on the last week

When Techno and his younger sister were diaper age, she fell down the final 2 steps of the staircase (completely fine) and while their father was trying to explain to their mother what happened, Techno walked in and said "baby fall down CRASH"

The first message that Dream sent to Techno was trying to Trojan horse his way into Minecraft Monday by playing with Techno. Techno's reply was "maybe next time" and Techno kicked his ass in Dream's first MCM. Sapnap thought Techno was overhyped but then Sapnap watched the next Techno MCM and changed his mind

Techno's father didn't really watch or understand Minecraft, he watched Techno 1v1 tons of people without losing any hearts and asked him "Do the other players even know you're there?"

Techno vs. Dream $100k duel: Techno's father never saw him stress about anything in his career except for the duel. Techno's father was competitive on Techno's behalf like "who is this green smiling man gaining subscribers faster than my boy?!" Techno texted his dad as soon as he knew it was at least a tie and he couldn't lose.

Dream saw Techno release "death merch" and thought that was the coolest, most Technoblade thing he had ever seen

Techno's entire family loved the "no one took the news harder than my health provider. they're the real victim" joke

Dream did an elbow reveal in honor of Techno

Techno's father made a joke to Dream about getting ready to do his (Techno's father's) own face reveal

Techno's father made this joke: "This video today is sponsored by cancer, without which this video would not have happened" and Dream called him an idiot

Techno's father thinks Techno would have done a proper face reveal. There were a couple of months where doctors were saying the next step would be to amputate his entire arm and shoulder. Techno joked that it was going to be the most epic elbow reveal ever and that they'd "traumatize millions." Techno's father was as positive as he could be without being fake and he got Techno a present ahead of the surgery (which never ended up happening), a 1st edition printing of Hemingway's "A Farewell To Arms."

Dream and Techno teaming in MCC: This is when they really started becoming friends, before that they had been more rivals/frenemies. Techno also never said or joked about giving Dream his first MCC win.

Techno was whitelisted for way longer before he actually joined the server, back when it was just a few people (Tommy might have asked him to whitelist Techno).

Techno had a Minecraft account called "Whitelisted" when he didn't want to be recognized, just to make the joke "You can't do this if you're not whitelisted"

Techno's dad has GOTTA tell dad jokes

When Techno was young, he would always talk to his dad about being a gaming Youtuber and Techno's father would tell him "no one would want to watch someone else play a video game" lmao

When Techno was young and he'd be building for hours in Roblox and they'd have a power failure, Techno would complain to his dad about all of his work being wasted and Techno's dad would say "all of that PLAY wasted"

Techno talked to his dad about what circumstances would lead to him face revealing, he would have wanted it to be funny and memorable but he never had a clear plan for it

Techno had a front bedroom with a TERRIBLE desk. Techno's dad told Techno to come to the studio to pick out any chair he wanted, Techno went into his dad's office and picked his dad's chair LMAO. Techno's dad offered for him to work on a soundstage because their house had horrible acoustics but Techno said "eh." At 2am when the family was trying to sleep they'd hear him screaming and yelling, it was so annoying when it happened but so painful when it stopped

Techno's dad would text him a meme and Techno would call him a loser, he'd ask him to watch Hunter x Hunter together. Techno couldn't eat without watching TV at the same time

Techno's dad sometimes sees posts on Reddit and his instinct is to send them to Techno. Techno's dad has come close to making a reddit account, he said hello and thanks to Techno's subreddit and he reads their posts a lot when he can take it.

Techno's dad knew Techno had a big audience, but he didn't and still kind of doesn't understand how he meant a lot to people in ways that have nothing to do with PvP or funny jokes. He's proud of Techno and grateful to everyone. The executive director of the Sarcoma Foundation told Techno's family they haven't seen anything like this before with regards to fundraising, she told them that a little kid ran a lemonade stand and raised $150 for the Sarcoma Foundation in honor of Techno.

Techno's dad: "If we do the call-to-action (to donate to Sarcoma Foundation) 10 times, I should get 6 of them" (referencing Techno beating Dream in the duel 6-5). Dream: "I see where he got his humor from"

There has been a refresh today of the merch store so GO BUY THE MERCH!!!! Techno didn't like when there were delays in people receiving merch, so you can only order when it's in stock so GO BUY NOW

Dream will be signing some unreleased merch concepts to include as an extra in some orders

Techno's father thanked Dream and he appreciates everything Dream did for them, he also loves Skeppy

Dream wants to get everyone together and do a massive fundraiser

[aestherin]

KEEP MY HEART

goal 09: do you like sweets?

You are fully self-aware that you have delusional tendencies, but you know yourself well enough to think that you weren't that far gone yet to the point that you will start seeing your long distance crush right in front of you.

He's probably real.

Taking notice of your presence, Scaramouche then turned towards you. His face was hard to read, other hand holding his phone and the other inside the pockets of his denim pants. His oversized black shirt was tucked, highlighting his good figure.

'Holy. He's got good style too,' you thought. It was simple, yes. But he carries outfits so damn well.

But what is he even doing here in your uni?

Since an eye contact has already been made, you flashed a sheepish smile and a light wave. Your loud personality online was such a huge contrast in comparison to how you're actually behaving now.

He just stared. 'Oh. So he's the cold type. God, he's exactly my type.'

"Aren't you going in?" You snapped out of your musings upon hearing his voice.

"I was about to. I'm starving," you chuckled. He scoffed. "I could use a bit of food, too."

"We should eat at the birthday party then."

"Kazuha's?"

You nod.

He looked away. "Go and eat inside. I'll find another place to eat at."

You flashed a look of disbelief. Scaramouche raised a brow in confusion. "Dude, you're literally already at a restaurant and you still want to go somewhere else to eat?"

"And you're hungry, aren't you?"

He sighed. "Look, I don't know if you know this, but the one holding a party — well, we're not on the best of terms."

Oh. Yeah.

There's that thing.

How the fuck could you forget that the love of your life is from the rival of your brother's team?

"Ah," You nod again. He seemed to take it as you understanding his reasoning and turned the other way, attempting to head off.

If only you hadn't tugged at his shirt.

"What the?!"

You led him to a lone bench at the parking lot, lit warmly by the streetlight just directly above it. "Sit there and wait for me."

"Excuse me?" He hissed. "What am I? A dog?"

"Your words, not mine." You grinned. "Just do as I say, okay? It won't be long, I promise."

He was about to retort but you cut him off by hurriedly entering the lively restaurant.

When you got back, you easily spotted Scaramouche who was sitting comfortably on the bench where you left him. He immediately scooted over once he saw you.

"Wow," he remarked. "You know I actually doubted if you would even come back."

You chuckled as you sat and handed him his plate. "Do you have trust issues?"

"Shut the fuck up."

"Oh, so you do."

He rolled his eyes.

Your late dinner with him was mostly filled with a comforting silence, with some bits of small talk in between. The only ones left on your plate were delectable desserts, as well as the little pieces of food you left out.

"Do you like sweets?"

"No," Scaramouche speedily replied. "They're disgusting."

You subconsciously frown. "Shame. I like them."

"You can have mine then," he says as he picks up his portion of desserts and transfers them to your plate. Unbeknownst to you, his observant gaze failed to miss how your eyes sparkled in delight at the sight of mouthwatering sweets.

As he did so, Scaramouche also spotted some leftovers on your plate. "Do you not like bitter stuff?"

"My tongue can't handle them."

"Give it to me then instead of wasting food, idiot."

You let out a laugh. "Is that your way of saying you like bitter stuff?"

The man just let out a quiet "tch" before taking a bite.

KEEP MY HEART — scara x reader smau

previous . masterlist . next

SUMMARY —you find plenty of guys around you attractive, but there is only one you’re willing to make the first move on: the guy you first saw during your older brother’s soccer game. spoiler: he's a player from your rival university.

NOTES -> a lot has happened lmaoo i was so busy aaa -> i graduated hs finally :P -> i also submitted my requirements for college haha -> also can u guys believe i'm gonna be in college while my college smau is on going omg -> and apologies for ghosting HASDHADHA (also wtf fontaine livestream tomorrow already whaaat time flies so fast omg)

TAGLIST I (closed)

@lady-elodie @krnzysh @syriiina @unsterblich-prinz @xiaosonlybeloved @xiaomainlmao @cindywasneverhere @coquettemaiden @sunsethw4 @lunavixia @calickoh @arealistonao3 @lowkeyivorie @zyilas @mondaymelon @yukiipc @heartswonder @st0pthatsgay @ozzierenato @astreaa-express @shewolfmiko @lovelyycherries @myaaones @countessqin @aloveablechaos @letthewindlead @lunaavity @local-blueberry-boy @luminestars @layla240 @useless-potatho @atlaszi @alatusorrow @lahsram2201 @sakiimeo @user11918163805279 @vqazx @neigesprincess @kunicrush @yoursockstinks @hotgirlshit5 @mikctp @crucnhice @apotatouwu @yuaenri @sammybeefangirls @miko1ly @deffenferofjustice @etherisy @sagegreenthinks

[a-mel-tomelts]

1, 5, 8, 28 for Joker and Crow

Ask game~

(wow this one took a while. Mostly cus of the last question and LiFe <- cringe I know)

1. Who is the most affectionate?

Okay, the obvious answer is Joker buuut.

Akechi has his own signs of affection that are tidbit different from normal people. So, Akechi CAN BE affectionate but only Joker figured out how he shows it.

5. Who is most likely to carry the other?

Joker would want - c'mon, it's the shounen hero dream to carry someone in their arms. It's especially perfect for his image!

But he has noodle arms (game model) and even when he can carry Akechi (Mementos Mission) Akechi won't let him. Lololo

So, Akechi. Just to prove he is better. (Joker is happy to be dramatic even if he is awkward at first)

8. Nicknames? & if so, how did they originate?

Akechi to Joker - (sentimental) fool, idiot, love, clown, Watson-kun <- i think self-explanatory

Joker to Akechi - (fondly) Rival, honey, Holmes

28. What do they do when they're away from each other?

I have a post-canon (AU) where Akechi becomes a thriller/mystery/detective writer. Considering his name, he easily comes up with a new pen name - he still tries to hide Goro somewhere. So I think he thinks of writing his novel basing on his real life experience

Before all that tho he gets scouted out by Shadow Operatives - Mitsuru and Aigis specifically. After some therapy and shadow work he gets funded by Kirijo Group because he does have a bright mind. But Akechi let's her know - he has no need for the money because he has everything he needs to fend for himself.

He quickly passes exams to finish school, goes into uni (i think social work? Orphanage and stuff, you know) and since starting therapy he decides to start writing as healing. After some editing he starts publishing them and gains money to be independent of Mitsuru as quickly as possible, get scholarship because he's smart (ofc ofc) gets a contract yada-yada. He also gets a chance to write a TV special for Featherman. Yukari helped with that but... Akechi is too much of a fanboy to decline. ( Futaba loses her mind over it)

AkiRen in this P-C AU studies Catering Major along with Minor in Psychology. I think it's greatly encapsulaaes Joker's interest.

PTs were all celebrating mostly with food (DestinyLand being an exception but even then they were STILL at the food table) and in Strikers it's literally a feature that he cooks recipes he learns during the trip

So I think he also learns different cuisines!! (And travels for some time before returning to Tokyo - and then ShuAke move to some other continent to live where gays are legal xd)

Why catering and not just something cooking related - catering usually implies cooking for events and not just at the restaurants. And events and parties usually mean intel. I don't think they will so easily give up on changing the world lol

He also still maintains his habit of working different jobs during uni but he has less leeway to ignore the jobs whenever he wants so he doesn't go too crazy with that

In addition, phantom thief created a social media account where they share useful info, places and charities for the people :)

Each of them usually have their own tag and preferences towards the types of posts they have (Ann fashion, Ryuji sport, Makoto libraries, Futaba websites etc.)

AkiRen and Akechi usually overlap with others so they rarely post and usually it's about the places others haven't visited of any category (for people who want to find rare gems) - they also don't have a lot of time to post so it's honestly better for them!

@himi-wiz - if you happen to be online! Hi!

Himi was one of the first people that heard about this AU :D (if she still remembers it pffft<3)

[hamofjustice]

I don't want to just painstakingly copypaste my triple-layered self-QRT thread about it on Twitter and any other ones floating around but

I am very emotionally invested in seeing Penny, Arven, and (personally) especially Nemona again in the Scarlet/Violet DLC, after GF followed up the best 3 hours of Pokemon game story ever by having to abruptly cut it off the second these lonely kids finish opening up to you and say you can hang out with them anytime. Which you never do. It was some pretty painful whiplash, and I was sure the main point of the DLC was to relieve that, especially when their arcs don't seem quite complete yet. Very clever, evil marketing! But uh... well... about that...

It is very worrying that aside from a little "the story so far" montage, they have not been seen or mentioned in promotional material/footage whatsoever. Y'know, DLC for the game that's about how the real treasure was the friends you found along the way (literally, in Nemona's case), and even if your family and support systems fail you, you still have each other? Written from the heart by someone who said Arven's story is inspired by their own life? With the sappy Ed Sheeran song about reaching out for connection with others, that also seems to be named after Team Star? The game where one of the features the devs seemed most proud of was going on adventures and into boss fights with 3 of your friends? The game that ended with a fully functional and quite immersive bonding adventure with these characters you'd gotten to know and care about, that basically everyone thought was the best part of the game by a mile, and were left wishing the whole game was like that?

Yeah, I (and everyone else) have been driving around alone in that game for 8 months ever since finishing that story. 8 months of minor updates with a ton of the beloved characters functionally or literally gone, while we go around doing online stuff with nothing else to do in the world, with a single player postgame more barren than we had on Game Boy Color (thank god for mints and bottle caps though). I'm left just... wanting to go back to the way things were before I beat the game. Not to be overly dramatic, but this world I supposedly saved feels like one I failed to save. And I'm getting really frustrated. (The framerate hasn't gotten any better, either, but this isn't about that.)

It's like Game Freak (or whoever forced this thing out a year early, or both) never expected you to boot the game up again once you got bored of the Ace Academy Tournament, which the game acts like is the entire total of what you could want from being friends and "rivals for life" with your squad (I mean I'm the sicko that loves Tera Raids, so I'm not that bored, but still). It makes a bunch of implications that your adventure is just beginning, and then it totally just... isn't. Why is the E4 building closed? Why do you only rematch the gyms once? And most of all, for me personally: Why did we get access to our friends' rooms if there's nothing to do or talk about there? (Besides look for character study clues, which they have lots of)

All they could come up with when asked to write a newsletter email about what you can still do in S/V and why you should still be playing it was Raids. That was it. Remember when you had an endless challenge in the Tower/Maison that you could optionally take on with a bunch of story characters as your partners instead of alone, that motivated you to keep getting stronger bit by bit? Remember rematching gym leaders multiple times and watching their teams grow and evolve each time? Yeah, there's none of that here, because that would take more than a week to implement. If you want friends and you want battles, you'll have to do it yourself online now. They're not allocating any budget for that.

Your rival for life, who's so excited you're on her level now, who seems to have the passion and skill to be the your Battle Tower gameplay loop by herself if she wanted to, who battles you for hours offscreen with multiple teams, whose whole character arc is that she finally has someone she can do this with... is fully static, with one kinda mediocre team that never grows or changes. She can't keep up with you and doesn't know what items or EVs are. You have to get lucky to even see her at all. She is no more your rival than your Home Ec teacher is (no offense Saguaro, you're cool too). I think it's really, really sad.

I'm left nostalgic and pining to go back, having to cope through fanfic because my character can't spend the day with - or even so much as take a new trainer card photo with - the girl who said they might be her greatest treasure, without resetting my save, because she and the others are standing somewhere that the camera and internet features are both disabled.

Like, legitimately, I want to keep being friends with these kids the way we were before, and have the ability to do post-game stuff with them, like being able to go out and adventure together whenever in some basic, non-story capacity, or just, I don't know, maybe give them more than one line of dialogue in their rooms? I don't want a new region or new characters. Not yet, anyway.

I thought I was preordering the continuation of their story and rewarding the company for making me care about Pokemon so much again.

But, uh... I'm really worried that the people who own these characters do not care. And as I said on the trailer's comments before they turned them off (lol), I'll be pissed enough to not buy any more games if I'm right, and we're forced to abandon these poor kids. At the very least, it's some pretty garbage marketing to leave the possibility of that up in the air. If nothing else, that is a frustration that I'm going to keep talking about for a while, even if it ends up being fine.

I thought it was impossible, and I was being silly. Why not have our friends in cute new outfits as promo art when the DLC was first announced, and all they had was promo art? Seems like an easy slam dunk. Oh, they didn't yet? Well, I'm sure it'll happen eventually.

And then they weren't in the trailer either, months later. Are they trying to sell us on it or not?

The whole reason I want the DLCs. Still not a single word acknowledging them, just that little opening montage. Still no hints of how the DLCs have anything to do with Area Zero's ongoing story, either. How is a sea turtle linked with a landlocked crater?

So like... At this point I have to assume both DLCs start with you making your friends cry as they're left alone again, arbitrarily excluded from events they're more than qualified to be invited to, to make room for some new dweebs we don't need, who won't be given nearly enough time to be as compelling as Nemona, Arven, and Penny were, because that makes the trailer look more like a new game, and that's the only way they know how to advertise. More. New. Buy. Consume. Throw away. Buy. Consume. Throw away. I should assume this so that whatever we get can't be worse.

But they're probably not (self-aware enough / allowed / both) to write that. Your lonely / orphaned / anime-binging friends might just cheer you on for getting to go do something cool like being forced to train a new legendary because the story said so, then go back to being statues with as much relevance to your life as an NPC in a third story apartment that tells you what a hold item is.

Can't I just live in Paldea with my friends, in the version of the game we would have gotten if it was finished, instead of being pulled into these adventures for the sake of looking good in a trailer? (which it doesn't btw lol) It's not an unrealistic thing to want when that's what it briefly was, and I was so excited that it would keep being that I've been thinking about it this entire time.

...

I hope I'm wrong about all this, and next year I can look back on this post, happy that the DLC did actually allow us to continue to take care of these characters, conclude Area Zero's mysteries in a satisfying way, fix up some technical issues, let us relive some things that are currently once-only (including letting us see that photo album our character made but we had to screenshot ourselves), and make it fun to keep playing for years afterward, and let that be the model for games going forward, but uh...

They really are not showing me anything I care about in the game I desperately want to care about, that I saw - and wanted to defend - the heart in, despite the circumstances it was produced under, and that really worries and frustrates me. The surprisingly many great things about this game got my hopes up for an awesome postgame full of warm fuzzy feelings and cool things to do 8 months ago that just didn't deliver, and now, I'm not sure if they'll even let me pay for one, at this rate, because they're not advertising one.

Just throw us a scrap. If whoever's in charge here stops caring about this story, I won't care about the next one.

Anyone else feeling this?

[technicolor-embers]

shigadabi will never not be my favorite ship.

it is every perfect dynamic i obsess over.

Shigaraki x Dabi

Antisocial x Dramatic

Listens x Rambles

Pining Introvert x Touchy (Oblivious) Extrovert

“I will die for you” x “Not if I die for you first!”

“I will kill you” x “Not if I kill you first!”

“I will kill for you” x “Not if I kill for you first!”

Asshole x Bigger Asshole

Tsundere x Flirty

Yandere x Yandere

Different Social Stances So Dating Is Inappropriate (the real question is if they care or not)

Prince Type x Blunt

Geek x Band Kid

Emo x Goth

“You're gross.” x Has a Humiliation/Degradation Kink

Rivals → Friends → Lovers

His Biggest Cheerleader x Just Ruined My Dad's Career

Basic x Flashy

Tired x Feral can also be Feral x Idiot

Just beat his dad in a fight x Hates his dad

Low Self Esteem x Sappy

Constantly Has To Save Each Other's Ass

Claim To Hate Each Other So Much But They're Holding Hands While Saying This

Gives Genuine Praise x Has Craved Approval Entire Life

Daddy Issues x Daddy Issues

Who's The Top? Up To The Shipper!

They Would Be Switches Tho FYI

Can Protect Himself x Body Guard That Is Arguably Scrawnier

Love me some Virgin x Virgin tho

Has Skin Damage x Has Skin Damage

Romantically Confused x Romantically Confident

Discord Mod x The Catfish Discord Kitten

Chronically Online x Has Never Touched A Phone

Deity x Worshipper

Act Like An Old Married Couple

Craves Physical Touch x Let's Him Touch Whenever

Idiot 1 x Idiot 2

The Moon x The Stars

Would Kill If Something Happened To The Other

Softies But Only For Each Other

Definitely Are Stoner Bfs

“No Don't KYS, You're Too Hot To Die” x Is Literally On Fire

fight me on these if you disagree.

if you have more then share.

also they would vibe to Bad Omens

[wevelocityteampresents-blog]

SEPTEMBER 12th

Today was my birthday. I would have gone out somewhere to eat if it weren't for the terribly polluted air. It was rotten a year ago, but things have only gotten worse. (No thanks to those wildfires earlier in July.) I'm sick of this unbreathable air, and the only birthday present I really want is for the air to become clean again.

I was finally able to redesign certain characters. The new designs are far from finished. So you'll have to wait to see which characters got the facelift they needed.

While playing Pokémon Violet, I battled against a few people online and tried to earn marks for some of my newer Pokémon.

If he's that big, why didn't you give him a Jumbo Mark?

After I failed to give my Pokémon any marks, I went to the Pokémon Center to see Nurse Joy congratulate me on my birthday.

The banner was a nice touch.

After studying for a bit, I returned to Pokémon Violet to catch a Pokémon with a Destiny Mark. There were a lot of great candidates. But I eventually chose a Tinkatink.

She's not shiny. But she's good enough for me.

SEPTEMBER 13th

Aside from all the gifts I received yesterday, one of my later ones was a ticket to Kitakami.

Later in the afternoon, I first went to Pokémon HOME to update Umbre's moveset after I heard that Umbreon was able to learn Toxic again. Thankfully, Umbre already knew that move, so I helped him remember it.

Now he can actually stand a chance against Paldea's worst.

I got caught up in battling others with my newly improved Pokémon. It wasn't until after my second match that I remembered to dash off to Uva Academy.

I wouldn't say it was THAT soon. I've only been in this country for half a year.

Jacq tells me that going to Kitakami will allow me to see new Pokémon (who aren't that new as I've already seen them all before) and that I should have fun with it. Another thing he told me was that he already got my mom's permission to come along.

How they never told me about this, I have no idea.

Also, Blueberry Academy has roots in Unova.

There's also a lot of Unova Pokémon in Kitakami too. If that's not a hint at remakes for Black and White, I don't know what is.

Briar presents herself as the descendant of the Violet Book author and shares the completed versions of the pages we saw in Professor Turo's research facilities, proving that my hypothesis was correct.

Sadly, we won't get to see Terapogos for another few months.

Before I knew it, I was finally in Kitakami County.

And I've already made some progress on the new Pokédex. (I'll fill it up some more later.)

Not all was well in this country, as this one girl didn't want me on her turf.

Naturally, I taught her a lesson through a Pokémon battle. (While also learning that, yes, Poltchageist is part-Grass.)

Like every other rival, she acted like a sore loser.

But then again, I was the one who had 5 Pokémon that were at a higher level than hers.

Sometime after I was settled in at the community center, I was given my first assignment while learning abroad.

I wanted to get to the first one. But I was too busy exploring the town for treasure.

This might be the most unenthusiastic Joy I've ever seen. She's like one of those people who act poorly while on the job because they're stuck with it and have nowhere better to look for a paycheck. Which would be reasonable if this weren't a Pokémon Center.

At least she has the courtesy to stay off her cell phone while operating the machine. Speaking of which...

Why didn't they have a feature like this from the beginning? The TM Machine also had new TMs available for creation. But I didn't need them at the moment.

I eventually met this woman named Perrin.

I was going to wonder why someone like her has a Hisuian Growlithe. But considering everyone else fights with Ursaluna and Hisuian Arcanine, I'm just going to forget it and move on.

I'm more careful in real life.

A goal I'm sure will probably take months to complete. (If I didn't have any of those Pokémon in other games.)

SEPTEMBER 15th

I was worried about my performance in school. But my friends told me I was doing a great job and I needed to calm down. I didn't have any school today, which meant I could focus on celebrating the 5th anniversary of Pokémon Pocket Web Comics before getting some sleep.

The air was getting a bit chilly today. It was the perfect sign fall was right around the corner. In a few days, all of my current problems will be no more. (For a while, anyway.)

In Pokémon Violet, I finally made my way to the first signboard. Surprisingly, despite only taking me two days to reach, Kieran didn't beat me to it.

It's almost as if it could be a Pokémon.

It's too bad I didn't get a badge for this photo. This screen feels incomplete without one.

I'm hoping that Miraidon will learn a new technique soon. Also, I haven't heard Pokémon be referred to as Kaiju since the first games were still in development.

[simnostalgia]

I'll admit I haven't done that much research into this so sorry if this is a stupid question but how would an EA controlled modding platform be different than a Sims Store or more Add-Ons? I'm sure the mods will be free to start but in a couple years? :/

It would be pretty different, but it really depends on which way they take it. Let me explain.

So on one hand, the way that it's getting introduced makes it seem optional and for The Sims 4 it's likely going to stay that way. Think of it as a soft launch. They likely know that telling us about the concept wouldn't go over well so they'll make it as painless as possible.

The truth is, it's likely a way to get us used to the concept so that when TS5 comes out and it's required many players will go "Oh we're required to use it but we've already known about this, what's the big deal"

... or at least, that's what they're hoping for. I doubt that's going to happen because not enough people are going to use the platform of their own accord for it to seem like a seamless transition and not an overreach of corporate desire to clamp down on the modding community.

The truth is I'm guessing that it'll be a lot like many online gaming stores. I'd say "think SecondLife" but maybe the more common digital store front would be something like Roblox.

You'll get things for free. Probably a lot of things will be free. However, they'll allow people to charge which will legitimize the practice. While these may seem good to many Patreon creators. I bet this will come with EA skimming some off the top.

More than that, however, the entire modding community will be at the whims of TOU of Overwolf. That means anything they don't like gets taken down. That means only "trusted" creators GET to create. Who knows what trusted means in this context.

It's pretty much a slap in the face to the entire community but it makes sense they would do this. I've been saying for a while that while they tend to use us whenever they're trying to make the game's community look good

"Our AMAZING, TALENTED creators create AMAZING creations."

They've made in clear that they don't want us doing certain things. When one of the TS2 devs went on Twitter and explained that they didn't give us certain tools to mod TS2 because they didn't want us creating "anything to rival Maxis made content" I pretty much got the answer to my suspicion that I've been holding for a while.

The modding community to them is good but only if we're doing what they want, and we rarely are, they need us to sell the game but the minute they're done they'll delete everything we've made without a second thought.

Take the TS2 exchange. I know it was shit but that's not the point. Will Wright made a whole GDC discussion about the heartfelt stories people wrote using TS1.

Specifically he loved to bring up this one real life story about a girl who used the sims to tell the real life story about her sister experiencing domestic abuse.

But the minute they didn't need that shit to sell TS1 copies? Deleted. All the AMAZING CONTENT from our AMAZING CREATORS?? Gone. Of course, since Sims games were tied to one service we kept creating elsewhere, which is a problem.

Our content is bad for them if we aren't being used to sell game copies.

This way, when The Sims 5 is all said and done. They can delete the exchange (or whatever it will be called) and make us move to the next thing. And in the meantime, they can make sure we don't make anything that isn't "good for the brand." It also helps that they'll use the official modding platform to likely try and make pirates pay. No registration? Sorry, no mods for you.

People can call me cynical, but we've already seen this happen on smaller scales since the earliest games. This is just a way to make sure that we make enough AMAZING content to sell their game. But just nothing TOO amazing and they don't want us to have control over the content we make.

If this goes down how I suspect it will, it's going to be pretty much one of the most evil things they've done. Hopefully I'm wrong but I'm not holding my breath.

[kitkatt0430]

so I had the 'what if Iris got car-wrecked into a visual novel' fic idea, but.......

There's also the 'reincarnated as the villainess' sub genre there and just. Caitlin. She's a medical student who is very much suffering from burn out and has been trying to stave it off by obsessing over this otome game where the main character is this really adorable girl called Iris West and of course there's the usual four guys with a fifth hidden route and Caitlin has played three routes so far. Ronnie/Iris, Eddie/Iris, and Cisco/Iris... and she knows there's also Julian/Iris and the final 'true' path of Barry/Iris, which only unlocks when all four base paths are completed.

But then Caitlin (if that was really her name in the RL, usually they're original lives go nameless in this genre) gets hit by a car and dies. On Earth. In the world of An Iris for the Heroes, Killer Frost wakes up after a pre-game fight with the Flash where she hit her head and barely got away... and remembers being Caitlin Snow.

It's a super hero/high school AU with secret identities and so no one knows that mild mannered Barry Allen is the brash hero the Flash, who has a particular soft spot for his childhood friend and reporter for the school newspaper, Iris West. Caitlin Snow, whose identity as Killer Frost was also a secret until the end of some of the routes where she's either arrested or killed, was the villain. A school bully towards Iris by day and pain in the ass for the Flash and Vibe and toxic friend for Alchemy by night. She features little in the Cobalt Blue path and is a love rival in the FIRESTORM path - though Caitlin only knows some of the details.

She also knows now that Caitlin Snow of the An Iris for Heroes world had an abusive home life until her powers manifested and accidentally killed her parents. She decided that must make her a horrible person, which was why Killer Frost chose to become a villain. Feeling like her parents deaths at her hands, no matter how they treated her, made her irredeemable. But now this new personality is in charge and she had a relatively stable, if somewhat neglected, home life and she doesn't think being a villainess is all she deserves. She wants to survive, become a doctor, and save lives in turn.

So obviously the first life she has to save is her own. She's living on her own, the previous version of her having already been emancipated from her Aunt over the summer. And so she would be starting as a new student at the same school as the rest of the main cast from the game in a week. Which gives her some time to write down all the events she remembers either from playing the game itself or from reading spoilers online.

She stops going out as Killer Frost, but learns that if she doesn't use her powers once a day, she suffers side effects. Once school starts, Caitlin figures that all she needs to do is not team up with Alchemy - Julian - and not bully Iris and she'll be golden. Unless this really is a game world and it might be harder.

She winds up paired as lab partners with Julian and does find she likes him but quickly notes that he, uh... likes her more than she likes him. Thankfully she also meets Cisco and they become fast friends and it's very definitely a platonic besties deal. Except Cisco is also besties with Barry and Caitlin is wary 'cause... the Flash. But also the closer she gets to Iris' circle the more she worries about some kind of fate shoving her into the villainess role no matter what she does.

Except Barry's kinda cool and fun and Caitlin winds up friends with him anyway. And then she meets Iris and Iris is every bit as cool as Caitlin remembers her being from the game. Truth was, Caitlin liked to imagine she was the one Iris was romancing every time she played the game and now... but of course, Iris is clearly straight. Having five male love interests and no flirtations with the ladies makes that pretty clear. The only real F/F ship in the fandom was Iris/Linda and, in universe, Iris sets her best friend Linda up with her younger brother Wally.

Except, one night, in her new 'definitely not Killer Frost' outfit, working out some of her ice power build up from the day, Caitlin kinda... rescues the Flash from Alchemy. He shouldn't need her help, but then in the game this fight was Flash vs Killer Frost and Alchemy and he managed to win by causing Killer Frost to accidentally freeze Alchemy and she had to run off to safely defrost him. Just Alchemy vs the Flash, however, allowed Alchemy to really let loose and the Flash is knocked out and almost unmasked. Caitlin manages to scare Alchemy off and then freaks out because she doesn't know where to take Barry for safety. In her panic, the only place Caitlin can think of is... Iris West's home.

I'm thinking this would be... Snowestallen + Cisco/Ronnie + Wallinda + Julian/Hartley (who was, of course, a minor antagonist in the game for Vibe's path) + some overarching villain that is probably Eobard since Barry's path is the 'true path' from the game

[electricprincess96]

I can't be the only one who finds it so childish whenever I see someone post something like:

"Gross I just found out I was following a *insert shipper of ship this person doesn't like* I can't believe it their art/stories/meta etc. Was so good but they are now *insert some random bad thing like misogynist or pedophile or abuser even though 9 times out of 10 whatever they accuse them of does not apply to the ship in question at all* thus I have unfollowed them and everyone else should also unfollow them and block them and basically cut them off from their online community for the crime of *checks notes* liking a ship I don't like *and in most cases it's not even liking that ship its not liking the rival ship that the poster ships instead*.

Its childish. If I decide I don't like what someone I follow is posting I unfollow them and I don't bother to announce it to the world. I have NOTPs, I don't assume everyone who ships them are bad people and before anyone tries to pull up some shit I've said in the past I've been on this website since I was a teenager and I am now 26 years old you will not get a "haha gotcha" from dredging up some dumb shit I said when I was younger, people change and mature.

Like I don't particularly care for Claude x Hilda for example but I'm in a Discord Server where sometimes art of it gets posted. And I don't care. I don't like Leon x Ada in RE but again I just try to ignore it.

I really am not a fan of Kazuma x Ryuonosuke in TGAA because of various reasons but I acknowledge its fucking popular and its fans can have their fun so long as they leave me alone in my corner with Kazuma x Barok and Phoenix x Edgeworth.

I won't even bother the fans in the DMC fandom who ship Spardacest cause again so long as they are leaving me alone I won't judge them its fiction after all, not like they're actually away pulling a Jaime and Cersei in real life.

[yuexias]

who's gonna give me that plot of two people being long time well-known rivals in the same game they play, they dont know what the other looks like and stuff until somehow they meet in real life and they have a crush on the other and u know, all the cheesy cute love shit, and it's not until way later on that they realize while they're busy making googly eyes at the other during the day, they're busy fighting each other online when they go back that night </3

[jeebaxblog]

HOW TO ORGANICALLY GROW YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING FOR BUSINESSES

following is purchasing followers. While this methodology can get you great many new followers, these "followers" are simply phony records that swell vanity measurements in a manner that is clear to the prepared eye. Counterfeit individuals can't draw in with your substance or become clients.

How to Organically Grow Your Social Media Following 8 Techniques

The following are a few reliable procedures for dominating how to naturally develop your online entertainment following.

1. Partner With Other Business to Arrive at New Followers

Collaborate with another complementary business on a social media campaign. Create  posts together and share them during the campaign period.

In order for this partnership to be a success, both businesses  need to tag each other in these posts. This helps every business with contacting new, audiences. Preferably, the business you collaborate with has an audience that is similar to yours.  

2.  Follow Your Competitors’ Followers to Grow Your Audience

Want to learn how to organically grow your social media following? Following the followers  of your competitors is one  of the best tricks in the growth  hacking playbook. This technique works best on Instagram and Twitter.

This is the way to really make it happen:

  1. Identify your competitors. 

  2. Go to their Instagram or Twitter accounts.

  3. Click Followers to see a list of their followers.

  4. Follow the records that seem to be genuine individuals (a photograph of an individual as opposed          to a logo or default picture is glaringly obvious!).

These people  will be told that they have a new follower. They might be captivated to look at your profile and follow your business on the grounds that your profile shows that your business is like something that they're as of now keen on.

Suppose you're the  social media manager for another inexpensive food establishment idea. In spite of the fact that you ought to surely zero in on contenders that address a wide range of business sizes, you could begin your rival research with one of the top players in the space — McDonald's

3. Contact New people by Requesting Followers to Tag Their Friend

Encourage your followers to tag their friends in your post comments. Chances are that your followers are friends with people who share their interests. Consequently, your followers' friends  will be almost certain than totally arbitrary people to be  interested in following your brand.

Offering a motivation is an effective method for encourage your followers to engage their friends in your social media posts. Have a giveaway, make a challenge, or proposition a coupon code to people who  tag friends in your posts.

4. Encourage Customers to Follow You Offline

One of the most amazing stunts for how to organically grow your social media following is contemplating how to get  to get offline customers to engage with your business online. Encourage people to follow your  brand on social media when they interact with your business in real life.

In the event that you have a physical business, put joins around your store to tell customers about your social media presence. 

 

In the event that you have a direct-to-purchaser business, remember cards for every shipment that advise clients to follow you via online social media. You might in fact incorporate a source of inspiration to urge customers to share a picture of their purchase on social media, tag your company, and use your hashtag.

5. Work With Influencers to Grow Your Audience

Influencers have large social media followers and are often happy to tell their followers about brands in exchange for free items. How can you collaborate with influencers? 

Distinguish influencers who might be keen on your items. Connect and inquire as to whether they might want to work with you. Make sense of what you'd give them as a trade off for advancement.

Perceive the number of new followers  to decide if you ought to work with that influencer again. 

6. Use Relevant Hashtags to Expand Your Reach

Hashtags assist you with developing your crowd by connecting your posts to trending topics. Most social media networks highlight trending hashtags and let you see different posts that utilization those hashtags. At the point when you utilize a hashtag that is trending, people who are not yet your followers, but rather who are keen on the moving subject that you are posting about, will find your posts.

A 2017 examination by agorapulse found that Instagram posts that used hashtags had 70% a larger number of like and 392% a larger number of comments than posts that didn't utilize hashtags.

Stay true to your brand when using hashtags. Try not to post about something that is trending on the off chance that you wouldn't regularly discuss that topic.

7. Cross-Promote Your Social Channels to Gain Followers

Somebody who follows you on Instagram may not have a clue about that you're likewise dynamic on Facebook. Let followers know about your other social media channels. 

Share data about your other social media accounts in the "About" part of your Facebook page, in your Twitter bio, and in your Instagram bio.

Remember suggestions to ask followers to connect with you on other platforms. 

 

8. Develop a Timely Posting Schedule

Amassing a social media following is essential to maintaining a successful business since it opens more individuals to your product and service. Growing an online audience doesn't need to be expensive. There are  many tactics that you can use to boost your audience without spending money on advertising or fake followers.

[miaclemeverett]

I posted 11,766 times in 2022

9,467 posts created (80%)

2,299 posts reblogged (20%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@wilbursoot-updates

@geoguessbur

@firesnap

@lovejoypilled

@girlfictions

I tagged 1,261 of my posts in 2022

#youtube - 143 posts

#wilbur soot - 92 posts

#shubble - 57 posts

#lovejoy - 29 posts

#discourse - 21 posts

#tapl - 19 posts

#ash kabosu - 17 posts

#joe goldsmith - 15 posts

#tommyinnit - 14 posts

#jack manifold - 13 posts

Longest Tag: 122 characters

#ycgma is such a comfort album for me and “’i’ll keep making little distractions for you. be comfy :)’ makes me want to cry

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Summary of Dream's livestream with Techno's father if people can't or are unable watch:

Most importantly, please support Techno's family and the Sarcoma Foundation by buying merch here: (You can also donate directly to the Sarcoma Foundation here)

Dream is streaming with Techno's father & staying with the family

Techno's father met Skeppy, for the Sarcoma Foundation Gala he asked for Skeppy's favorite video with Techno and Skeppy said it was the "skeppy tries to troll me but i troll him first" video

Techno's father has been intentionally pulling up memories and stories of Techno's whole life which was "a speedrun" and full of joy and happiness, rather than just focusing on the last week

When Techno and his younger sister were diaper age, she fell down the final 2 steps of the staircase (completely fine) and while their father was trying to explain to their mother what happened, Techno walked in and said "baby fall down CRASH"

The first message that Dream sent to Techno was trying to Trojan horse his way into Minecraft Monday by playing with Techno. Techno's reply was "maybe next time" and Techno kicked his ass in Dream's first MCM. Sapnap thought Techno was overhyped but then Sapnap watched the next Techno MCM and changed his mind

Techno's father didn't really watch or understand Minecraft, he watched Techno 1v1 tons of people without losing any hearts and asked him "Do the other players even know you're there?"

Techno vs. Dream $100k duel: Techno's father never saw him stress about anything in his career except for the duel. Techno's father was competitive on Techno's behalf like "who is this green smiling man gaining subscribers faster than my boy?!" Techno texted his dad as soon as he knew it was at least a tie and he couldn't lose.

Dream saw Techno release "death merch" and thought that was the coolest, most Technoblade thing he had ever seen

Techno's entire family loved the "no one took the news harder than my health provider. they're the real victim" joke

Dream did an elbow reveal in honor of Techno

Techno's father made a joke to Dream about getting ready to do his (Techno's father's) own face reveal

Techno's father made this joke: "This video today is sponsored by cancer, without which this video would not have happened" and Dream called him an idiot

Techno's father thinks Techno would have done a proper face reveal. There were a couple of months where doctors were saying the next step would be to amputate his entire arm and shoulder. Techno joked that it was going to be the most epic elbow reveal ever and that they'd "traumatize millions." Techno's father was as positive as he could be without being fake and he got Techno a present ahead of the surgery (which never ended up happening), a 1st edition printing of Hemingway's "A Farewell To Arms."

Dream and Techno teaming in MCC: This is when they really started becoming friends, before that they had been more rivals/frenemies. Techno also never said or joked about giving Dream his first MCC win.

Techno was whitelisted for way longer before he actually joined the server, back when it was just a few people (Tommy might have asked him to whitelist Techno).

Techno had a Minecraft account called "Whitelisted" when he didn't want to be recognized, just to make the joke "You can't do this if you're not whitelisted"

Techno's dad has GOTTA tell dad jokes

When Techno was young, he would always talk to his dad about being a gaming Youtuber and Techno's father would tell him "no one would want to watch someone else play a video game" lmao

When Techno was young and he'd be building for hours in Roblox and they'd have a power failure, Techno would complain to his dad about all of his work being wasted and Techno's dad would say "all of that PLAY wasted"

Techno talked to his dad about what circumstances would lead to him face revealing, he would have wanted it to be funny and memorable but he never had a clear plan for it

Techno had a front bedroom with a TERRIBLE desk. Techno's dad told Techno to come to the studio to pick out any chair he wanted, Techno went into his dad's office and picked his dad's chair LMAO. Techno's dad offered for him to work on a soundstage because their house had horrible acoustics but Techno said "eh." At 2am when the family was trying to sleep they'd hear him screaming and yelling, it was so annoying when it happened but so painful when it stopped

Techno's dad would text him a meme and Techno would call him a loser, he'd ask him to watch Hunter x Hunter together. Techno couldn't eat without watching TV at the same time

Techno's dad sometimes sees posts on Reddit and his instinct is to send them to Techno. Techno's dad has come close to making a reddit account, he said hello and thanks to Techno's subreddit and he reads their posts a lot when he can take it.

Techno's dad knew Techno had a big audience, but he didn't and still kind of doesn't understand how he meant a lot to people in ways that have nothing to do with PvP or funny jokes. He's proud of Techno and grateful to everyone. The executive director of the Sarcoma Foundation told Techno's family they haven't seen anything like this before with regards to fundraising, she told them that a little kid ran a lemonade stand and raised $150 for the Sarcoma Foundation in honor of Techno.

Techno's dad: "If we do the call-to-action (to donate to Sarcoma Foundation) 10 times, I should get 6 of them" (referencing Techno beating Dream in the duel 6-5). Dream: "I see where he got his humor from"

There has been a refresh today of the merch store so GO BUY THE MERCH!!!! Techno didn't like when there were delays in people receiving merch, so you can only order when it's in stock so GO BUY NOW

Dream will be signing some unreleased merch concepts to include as an extra in some orders

Techno's father thanked Dream and he appreciates everything Dream did for them, he also loves Skeppy

See the full post

4,257 notes - Posted October 18, 2022

#4

wilbur calling the crowd “chat” - “you can take a boy out of twitch but you can’t take the twitch out of the boy”

6,699 notes - Posted October 30, 2022

#3

See the full post

7,800 notes - Posted May 19, 2022

#2

NO SHOT MOTHER INNIT IS BROTHER TRUTHING ON MAIN LIKE THIS

8,710 notes - Posted October 7, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

how do the people walk around their house

barefoot

socks

sandals / chanclas / flip flops

shoes (wtf is wrong with you)

64,986 notes - Posted February 19, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[honestlymurderforacokezero]

🎃Halloween Rom-Com Plots🎃

Inspired by the tweet about there not being enough Halloween Rom-Coms. So I made some little plots based on popular romantic movies, with a creepy twist!

🕸️Runaway Bride Black Widow Bride- Muse A is known in town as a Black Widow. Of her many marriages, all have died under mysterious circumstances. When Muse B moves to town, Muse A has their sights set on them, but finds that, for the first time, they might actually want a real happily ever after.

🔮You’ve Got Mail You've Got Cursed- Muse A and Muse B have been chatting online for a while and both are comfortable in their relationship. After Muse A realizes that Muse B belongs to a rival coven, they come up with a plan to win them over in real life while simultaneously trying to subtly sabotage their online relationship.

🪦How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days How to Exorcise A Guy in 10 Days - Muse A is a demon who possesses the body of a human, but when they fall in love with Muse B, an actual human, they have to decide if they can keep on living this way or reveal themselves and take their chances.

🐺Sweet Home Alabama Sweet Home Alpha - After running away from home and living alone for years, Muse A returns to their pack after their partner proposes to them. Muse A’s partner has no idea they’re a werewolf, or that they are bound to their mate that they left behind, Muse B. Muse A tries to secretly find a way to break the bond and escape the wolf curse and their pack before their wedding, but after some time at home realize that may not actually be what they want anymore.

🫀Pretty Woman Pretty Monster - Muse A is a mad scientist and Muse B is the creature they bring to life. When romance blossoms they both struggle to figure out if it’s real or created.

🦇Serendipity - Two vampires who keep meeting by chance throughout history and fall in love across the centuries.

🕯️Legally Blonde Wickedly Blonde - After Muse A is dumped, they sell their soul to receive the powers of a witch. Once they become everything their ex claimed they wanted and it still isn't enough, they realize their mistake in making such a sacrifice for someone else. Luckily, Muse B, another witch, is there to help them realize their full potential, and get revenge on their unworthy ex.

🗡️13 Going on 30 13 Going On Dead - After a birthday wish comes true, Muse A wakes up as an older version of themselves, only to find out that they've become cruel and self-centered. They're faced with the consequences of their actions, that they don't remember doing, when they become the target of a slasher's revenge. They contact their estranged best friend, Muse B, to try and find a way to stop the killer and get Muse A back to their original time so they can undo the damage and hopefully save the future.

⚰️While You Were Sleeping While You Were Buried- A misunderstanding leads a family to believe that Muse A is the secret fiancé of their recently deceased son, Muse C. Unable to bring themselves to correct them, Muse A feels like their becoming a part of this strange, but kind family. Overtime, Muse C's brother, Muse B, begins to develop feelings for Muse A, but when Muse C comes back from the dead, it throws the budding romance into chaos and threatens to reveal the truth about Muse A to the whole family. (Think along the lines of the Addams Family in terms of weirdness lol).

🐈‍⬛The Wedding Planner The Funeral Planner - Muse A works in their family's funeral home and is currently planning their wedding. When the mysterious Muse B wakes up in the funeral home where they're being prepared for burial, it scares them both. Muse A agrees to help Muse B solve the mystery behind their death and resurrection, even as their wedding date nears.

[nemurii-the-sleeper]

Week 10: Do Toxic Fans in Some Online Spaces Make It Difficult to Become or Identify as a Fan?

Sure, online fan communities may be a great way for people to bond over shared interests, whether it's anime, TV shows, K-Drama, or music (maybe the weird stuff like the furry communities). But not all these spaces are friendly. Some fans can be pretty toxic, creating an unwelcoming environment that puts off newbies and even makes existing members hesitant to call themselves fans. This blog dives into how toxic fan behaviour affects online communities, drawing on academic research and real-life examples.

Understanding Toxic Fandom

Toxic fandom refers to the negative behaviours displayed by certain fans, like harassment, gatekeeping, and aggressively defending what they love. This behaviour usually crops up in online spaces such as social media, forums, and comment sections, where people can hide behind anonymity and avoid taking responsibility for their actions.

Harassment and Bullying

One of the worst things about toxic fandom is the harassment. Fans with unpopular opinions or newbies trying to join the community often become targets. 

For instance, Kelly Marie Tran, an actress in the "Star Wars" franchise, faced serious online harassment from a group of fans who weren't happy with her character. The hate she received on social media was so intense, especially with the sexist and racist comments that she ended up deleting her Instagram account. This kind of behaviour not only affects the people being targeted but also sends a message to potential new fans that they might face similar treatment. Which is not cool dude.

Gatekeeping

Gatekeeping happens when established fans block others from joining the fandom, often by questioning the authenticity or knowledge of newer or more casual fans. This behaviour can create an exclusive environment where only certain fans feel welcome. According to Jenkins (2006), they talk about how fan communities sometimes develop hierarchies that favour certain types of knowledge or commitment, which can make others feel left out.

A well-known example of gatekeeping can be seen in gaming communities. Female gamers often face doubt and hostility, with their gaming skills or knowledge constantly being questioned. This gatekeeping not only discourages women from participating but also keeps the exclusion and toxicity going.

Aggressive Defense

Another common behaviour in toxic fandoms is aggressively defending what they're fans of. This can mean attacking critics, rival fan groups, or even the creators themselves if they feel their expectations aren't being met. This aggression can create an environment of fear and negativity, making it hard for fans to express their honest opinions.

The "Rick and Morty" fandom is a clear example of this behavior. The backlash against the creators and writers, especially when episodes or storylines didn't meet certain fans' expectations, led to harassment campaigns that tarnished the reputation of the fandom as a whole.

Academic Perspectives

Social identity theory, as discussed by Tajfel and Turner (2000), can help explain why toxic behaviors emerge in fandoms. Fans often derive a significant part of their identity from their association with a particular fandom. When this identity is perceived to be threatened—whether by criticism, new interpretations, or new members—some fans react aggressively to protect their sense of self.

Online Disinhibition Effect

Suler (2004) introduced the concept of the online disinhibition effect, which describes how people behave more aggressively online than they would in face-to-face interactions. The anonymity of the internet reduces accountability, leading some individuals to express hostility without fear of real-world consequences. This effect contributes significantly to the toxicity seen in many online fan communities. Does it affect the creators?

Toxic fan behaviour doesn't just affect the fans themselves; it also has a big impact on the creators. When creators face harassment and aggressive criticism, it can really wear them down, make them less motivated, and even push them to avoid interacting with their audience. This not only messes with their mental health but also affects the quality and quantity of content they put out.

How do we solve this?

Dealing with toxic fandom requires effort from both the platform admins and the community members. Encouraging positive behaviour, setting clear guidelines against harassment, and creating inclusive environments can help tackle toxicity. Research shows that promoting empathy and understanding within communities can really cut down on the negative stuff (AIContentfy Team, 2023).

Basically in summary?

Toxic fans can definitely make it hard for people to join or feel part of a fan community in certain online spaces. Harassment, gatekeeping, and aggressive defence create unfriendly environments that push away both new and existing fans. But by getting to the root of the problem and putting in place strategies to promote inclusivity and respect, online communities can bring back the good side of being a fan and make sure everyone feels welcome. References

AIContentfy Team 2023, “The power of community building through blogging: engaging your audience and building relationships,” AIContentfy, viewed <https://aicontentfy.com/en/blog/power-of-community-building-through-blogging-engaging-audience-and-building-relationships>.

Jenkins, H 2006, “Fans, bloggers, and gamers: exploring participatory culture,” Choice/Choice reviews, New York University Press, pp. 44–4296, viewed <https://doi.org/10.5860/choice.44-4296>.

Suler, J 2004, “The online disinhibition effect,” Cyberpsychology & Behavior/CyberPsychology and Behavior, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 321–326, viewed <https://doi.org/10.1089/1094931041291295>.

Tajfel, H & Turner, J 2000, “An integrative theory of intergroup conflict,” Oxford University Press eBooks, pp. 56–65, viewed <https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199269464.003.0005>.

[refurbzoo23]

Why Millennials Are Obsessed with Buying Refurbished Phones Online: A Trend Explainer

In today's fast-paced world, staying connected is more important than ever, but so is being smart about how we spend our hard-earned money. Enter the trend of buying refurbished phones online, a trend that has seen particularly strong adoption among the millennial generation. But why this sudden shift towards refurbished tech? Let's dive into the nitty-gritty of this phenomenon and uncover the reasons behind the craze.

The Allure of Affordability

The undeniable allure of affordability tops the list of reasons. Millennials, many of whom are now navigating the complexities of adult life with its financial responsibilities, have quickly realized the benefits of opting for refurbished phones. These gadgets offer the same high-tech features as their brand-new counterparts but at a fraction of the cost.

Quality Assurance and Warranties

Refurbished phones are not just about saving a few bucks; they also come with assurances of quality. Many reputable online platforms selling refurbished phones provide warranties and return policies that rival those of new phones, making the option nearly risk-free. This peace of mind is a significant draw for purchasers.

Sustainability Is Key

Another aspect close to the hearts of many millennials is sustainability. The environmental impact of producing new smartphones is considerable, and by choosing refurbished, buyers are playing a part in reducing e-waste and conserving resources — a small but meaningful step towards a more sustainable future.

The Online Convenience Factor

Shopping for phones online comes with the sweet perks of convenience and accessibility. With just a few clicks, consumers can compare models, read reviews, and make informed decisions without leaving their home. This ease of access is a game-changer for many, particularly for those with hectic schedules.

A Wide Range of Options

Online shopping for refurbished phones means access to a broader range of models, including older versions that may no longer be available through traditional retailers. For many millennials who may not always crave the latest and greatest, this provides the perfect opportunity to find a phone that fits their needs and budget without compromising on functionality.

User Reviews and Testimonials

In an era where peer opinions hold significant weight, the abundance of user reviews and testimonials available online plays a crucial role in decision-making. Millennials appreciate the transparency and honesty of real user experiences, which helps to guide them towards making purchases they’re confident about.

Why Not the Latest Model?

There’s a growing realization among millennials that having the latest phone model is not a necessity. The differences between new models and their predecessors are often minimal, and many refurbished phones come equipped with features that are more than adequate for the average user's needs.

Financial Prudence

Embracing refurbished phones is part of a larger trend towards financial prudence among millennials. In an age of hyper-awareness around personal finance and economic uncertainty, choosing a refurbished phone is seen as a smart, value-driven decision.

Changing Perceptions

The stigma once associated with buying used or refurbished products is quickly fading. Refurbished phones, with their combination of reduced cost, reliability, and performance, are challenging the notion that only new is worthy, and many are proudly making the switch.

A Call to Thoughtful Consumption

As we wrap up our exploration into the millennial enthusiasm for refurbished phones, it’s clear this trend is more than a mere fad. It's a conscious choice towards more thoughtful consumption. By embracing refurbished phones, millennials are not just saving money; they're also making decisions that are kinder to the planet and reflective of a practical approach to technology.

In embracing the refurbished, the message is loud and clear: it's possible to stay connected and tech-savvy without breaking the bank or compromising on values. This shift towards refurbished phones is a movement that's not only about making smart financial choices but about challenging the status quo and making a statement about what really matters.

If you're considering joining the ranks of savvy consumers leaning towards refurbished phones, take it as a step towards embracing smarter, more conscious consumption. It's a choice that speaks volumes about your priorities, and in this case, it seems the millennials are onto something good.