#this is just a rant for legal reasons i didn't mean any of that

[sideblog-usernametaken]

Ok so Dandadan analysis time because I've been seeing some of the old conversations about it again. So two things about Dandadan (Not the only things but two important ones):

One of the over arcing themes is bodily autonomy

This series is a romcom

Rant below the cut.

A major reason people don't like Dandadan and/or are willing to dismiss it outright is because of the SA scenes. More specifically, a lot of people believe these scenes are fanservice and have no narrative reason to be there. They do have a narrative reason to be there though. These scenes aren't supposed to be fanservice either they're intentionally supposed to be upsetting/unnerving (I won't get into how here because other people have articulated this better than I can, and they will continue to do so as long as this misconception exists).

When people think of "violations of bodily autonomy" or "violations of consent" they usually think of rape or sexual assault. It is the beginner's example to the concept, largely because everyone with common sense agrees that rape and sexual assault are bad so it's easier to point out why they're bad. This also makes it easy place to start a narrative around bodily autonomy.

The very first scene of Dandadan is of a guy trying to coerce Momo into having sex with him even though she clearly doesn't want to. The same episode/chapter directly puts this kind of behavior on par with rape and sexual assault by paralleling the time Momo kicked him to the time she kicks the rapist aliens so hard she breaks their space ship. It's very clear that the narrative's stance is that not only are rapists bad, the people who aren't legally rapists because they technically got "consent" first (through coercion) should be treated with the same level of disdain. This isn't the kind of thing that you write into a series without legitimately thinking about the dynamics of consent and bodily autonomy.

Continuing on: The series also touches on the double standard between male and female victims of sexual assault. Okarun gets laughed at for having his genitals stolen, and Seiko just does not believe Momo got abducted by aliens. This very clearly parallels how in real life people will believe male victims got assaulted, but their assault is also brushed off as not that important or something they "should've enjoyed" or a sign of weakness. Especially if the assaulter was a woman. Meanwhile female victims are usually accused of lying regardless of any evidence they provide. These two things hold constant in Seiko's reactions throughout Dandadan. She literally rides in a space ship but doesn't believe aliens are real, and even when she's helping Okarun she's usually also doing a bit at his expense.

Going even further, Dandadan also branches out into other forms of violations of bodily autonomy that aren't thought about as often. For the sake of the analysis I'm going to do bullet points regarding each character. Fair warning: There will be major spoilers here so if you haven't read the manga keep scrolling until you stop seeing bullet points.

Acro Silky: It's very easy to point out that she was a sex worker, but what I don't see is people talking about the other ways she had to sell her body to keep her and her daughter afloat. She worked in janitorial services (A lot of manual labor) and as a store clerk (A lot of standing). Individually these two jobs are not necessarily coercive, they're not great but they aren't pulling you into something you didn't know about from the start. The thing is though, none of these jobs pay enough by themselves for Acro-Silky to make a living, meaning none of them are properly compensating her for her manual labor. This is an instance of manufactured consent, while she technically agreed to take these jobs, it's clear that she wouldn't be working all of them unless she had to. This is kind of an expansion of the coercion from the guy in the first scene but on a societal level where Acro-Silky wasn't in the position to be able to say "No" and move on. As a result, her freedom is restricted. She can't spend nearly as much time with her daughter as she wants to and she can't afford to get her nice things either. To top it off, any time she did spend with her daughter she spent physically exhausted because of her work.

Mr. Shrimp: Similarly to Acro-Silky, Mr. Shrimp is forced into work he does not want to do because of limited options and the need to support his child. What sets him apart though is that he's a migrant worker and his employers physically abuse him because they can get away with it. This is an exact parallel to how migrant workers are treated in real life. He even goes to work on a farm and it's potrayed as him making an honest living to support his family which is exactly what the majority of migrant workers are trying to do. Mr. Shrimp doesn't technically "have to" work on a dairy farm now, but he chooses to enthusiastically because it's his only option that doesn't require him tk disregard his morals.

Jiji: Jiji is an example of bodily autonomy violations of minors in regards to medicine. This one is a bit more complicated so stick with me here. When the Evil Eye starts possessing Jiji, the adults around him unanimously agree it needs to be exorcised and start preparing for the ritual. When Jiji decides "Hey, actually I want to try to co-exist with him" Seiko is his only adult advocate, and even she turns around on the idea when the Evil Eye has a close call with Momo. This parallels how in real life adults will make decisions for the children in their care regardless of their wishes, and how even the adults trying to be accommodating will still go against the kids' wishes sometimes. It also does a good job of accurately capturing the nature of these disagreements too, because yeah the Evil Eye is a problem so it's understandable why all the adults want to just get rid of it even if Jiji doesn't agree. But Jiji's stance of "Yeah this will be a pain but it's one I want to deal with" is also understandable. Like, imagine instead of an exorcism we're talking about getting an amputation that would be technically helpful but isn't strictly necessary.

Vamola: One of Vamola's initial goals when she's introduced is to find a strong man and have kids with him. This isn't something she actually wants to do but is something she has been obliged to do because she is one of the few survivors of a planetary genocide. She has been marked as her people's only chance at a continued survival because the rest of her people are too old to have children. Her mother and the rest of the surviving Sumerians gave everything they had to get her off planet safely as "the last thing left on Sumer to defend" so she has unfathomable amounts of pressure and survivor's guilt to go out and have kids. She doesn't get to figure out if she wants to have kids or not, that's just something that has already been made up to her and her only choice now is with who. Luckily, the story currently has her in a position where she can have peers, a (comparatively) normal life, and she doesn't have to think of her mother's request for a while. But even if it's not the primary focus in her life right now it's still there.

Rin: At a very young age Rin was forced into the role of caretaker. With a bedridden grandmother, a deceased father, and a mother who had to work long hours to make ends meet, Rin had to learn to be independent fast. She was basically forced to, otherwise her already unstable home life would break apart even further. To make things worse, Rin knows the predicament that she's in and her mother doesn't yet. Rin's mother thinks she "got lucky having such a good kid" and doesn't realize the pressure has gotten bad enough that Rin is already giving up on her passions to take care of her grandmother to give her mother a break. Mostly because Rin knows their family doesn't really have any other options and she doesn't want to place an even larger burden on her mother by adding more grief on top of it. It's essentially the "parent running themselves ragged to support their kid" story we've seen at least twice now but from the perspective of the child.

Zuma: Similar background to Rin where his father died and he took on a caretaker kind of role for his younger brother. Except his brother dies and this absolutely breaks his mother, to the point she commits suicide and tries to take him with her. Zuma is in the position where he has lost both his caretaker and the person he took care of, and he is fully aware of why that happened. This manifests as rebellion and him forming a gang that protects kids at his school from bullying and harrassment. He's becoming a caretaker again, but this time it is an active choice he has made. He doesn't technically have to start his gang or protect anyone, he has an adult taking care of him now and if he wanted to he could spend the rest of his highschool years stepping back and being a kid again. But he doesn't, and society labels him a delinquent for stepping in when the adults who should have didn't. This is another way that Dandadan shows how minors often have their opinions dismissed by adults who believe they know better.

Much shorter less spoilery rant:

Dandadan is a romcom. I have seen too many people complain about basic romcom shenanigans as if it's bad or generic writing instead of being genre conventions. "Ugh, there's a love triangle," Yes romcoms tend to have those. "Ugh, so many girls are into Okarun," Yes, and a lot of guys are into Momo, they both get romantic rivals because it's a romcom. "They keep going back to the romance and I don't like it," It's a romcom there's going to be heavy focus on the romance, you disliking that is a genre preference not a writing issue.

Like, do people not understand the concept of blended genres? Yeah this is a Shonen battle series but it's also one that has decided to be a largely character driven romcom. This is like someone walking into a horror comedy and walking out complaining that there were jokes and the horror would be better without them. The jokes are the point and the horror is a vehicle to get there. If you don't like jokes, go find a pure horror movie to watch.

[masakuterarr]

7DS : Mael & Saruman Refsheet - Masakuterarr

The boys are done, I am so happy 😭💚 Before I go into heavy detail about it, you're welcome to use this as a reference for Mael (and Saruman if you wanna make Fanart!) but I would be happy if you give some credits! I won't bite if you forget it, but do NOT steal it, claim it as your own, sell it or use it for AI. The same for Saruman; and don't steal/claim him as your own Character. (I know this should go without saying but for "legal" reasons I wanna say it again. Cuz I ain't gonna be nice to you if you break those rules 🙇 ) Also, heads up, if you're not interested in redesigns of Mael, then just don't interact 👍This is just MY version of him, how I prefer him. It's ofc okay to have different taste and opinions. AND this doesn't mean I don't like his canon design. I know i rant about it a lot but mostly bc it's funny. I fucking love Mael and I think he's such a great character that deserves hella more attention in the plot! His crocs are just silly LOL

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MAEL

[This redesign is based on my Mael HC version for my own Saruman Lore and Manga(soon). That's why the armor looks really similar to each other. It takes place after the end of 7DS and plays around the same time as 4KotA (status now. Might change depending on how I decide to write it.) So the armor is intended to match!]

The symbols are the ones of Ludociel's original Grand Cross Outfit. The only one I added it the Cross over the sunrise at the ocean (I am aware this is the symbol used by the NAC (new apostolic church), but I didn't feel comfortable using other ones cuz at least I know they're not weirdos there (i grew up with it so..))

The rest about his design choices are explained in the sheet, I don't think I need to write all that here again! Tho, I tried to keep a lot of his original design (from Manga/Anime and Grand Cross), because there were really cool parts about it! (The first Mael HC version I posted still goes in hand with this!)

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SARUMAN

I will put most stuff on his artfight file, but to give you a bit of an overview of Saru:

Age: 6,000 ; Species : ?? (for lore reasons, I'm gonna keep this off for now. Spoiler: I know he looks like a demon and has demon powers, but that's the plot point,,). Saru can be very protective and empathetic (despite not wanting to acknowledge this himself). Besides, his observation skills and charisma are quite remarkable. He is a smart man who observes everything and everyone without being noticed, which is what makes him so dangerous. Tho he can be very emotionally detached and lazy. On top, he's hot-headed, which makes his snapping very unpleasant.

Saruman likes beer and food and hates rain, while loving snow.

・⋅⋯♱ ・ 𓆩♱𓆪 ・♱⋅⋯ ・

Abilities:

Mael:

Ark ( Counteracts darkness by disintegrating it with light particles. The target is enveloped in a dazzling sphere of light that breaks apart their body)

Tensei no Izanai (A technique that makes a deceased soul reincarnate in a new life, conserving the memories of their past life.)

Killing Saucer (Mael creates blades of light in his hand that rotate at high speed, which he uses to slice his enemies.)

Vessel (Mael is able to make human bodies as vessels, to wield his divine power. The possession process, requiring the host's consent, grants Mael access to his full abilities while also causing changes to the host's body.)

Grace : Sunshine

(for Mael just so you guys have a little overview bc I like it organized~)

Saruman:

General Demon Powers:

Power of Darkness (Saruman can create and manipulate a mysterious dark substance to enhance both his offensive and defense abilities. He has been using it to protect himself from attacks that would otherwise cause serious injury. He can also morph it into various shapes)

Enhanced Regeneration (Saruman can use his darkness to piece together an injured body and mend gave wounds, but is unable to regenerate destroyed hearts and any damage sustained accumulates)

Poison Resistance (As he is naturally accustomed to miasma-rich environments, Saruman can more easily survive poisons and toxins than Humans or Giants. However, Saruman can easily be poisoned by the miasma of Purgatory or the excretions of an Indura of Resentment)

Possession (Saruman is able to make human bodies as vessels, and use them as his own. However, the vessel may have difficulty hosting him, leading their bodies to undergo transformations or some abilities that are left behind. Unlike Goddesses who possess someone by consensus and use their own abilities through the vessel, Saruman possess by force, and usually is unable to use his authentic power but that of the vessel)

Unique Abilities:

Black Snow (An ability that creates and scatters countless flakes of black “snow”. Anyone that comes into contact with the snow will be enveloped in darkness and dies instantly)

Dead End (Saruman raises his hand and materializes the same numerous tiny, black spheres that form Dark Snow. By clenching his hand, the tiny spheres merge into a large black sphere, causing surrounding plants to wither and die. Saruman points his fingers and the sphere is fired in the direction of his opponent. Upon impact, the sphere causes a large explosion. The target’s body is then completely enveloped by the sphere, and they are instantly killed)

Dark Nebula (A dark void expands outwards from Saruman, completely destroying anything caught within range)

Blackout (Saruman engulfs a specific target with his darkness)

Duo Abilities:

Dark Sun (Saruman can envelop Mael's sun in his Dark Nebula without extinguishing it. This allows him to protect the sun and control it's movement with his own hand. However, Mael must activate the trigger “Greatest Sun” himself.)

Burning Snow (Saruman can split the sun of Mael, which he has enveloped in his Dark Nebula, into endless tiny flakes, like his own Dark Snow. Anyone who comes into contact with the flakes triggers a widespread explosion. However, Mael can also trigger “Greatest Sun” himself, causing countless explosions.)

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Height Difference: Saruman - 2,26m (7'4.89 ft) / 110kg (242 lbs) Mael - 1,97m (6'5.56 ft) / 94kg (207 lbs)

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THIS IS IT ABOUT THE BOYS! I HOPE YOU LIKE IT! 🙇💚

[p1oscar]

angst in the carhop AU ?

the pressure from race wins and WDC points gets to lando and oscar and they break up mid season , how does reader cope with this/ work around it esp with lando and oscar living in texas and her living with them ? is she responsible for them getting back tg or do their trainers and friends get in on it ? maybe lan is visiting one day and she misses calls from oscar and he shows up but lando is there and he gets jealous?

-🪼🪼🪼

omg breaking up with each other and not her... how do they do it? mclaren drivers fighting each other for the championship? multi 21 moment? where are they when they do it? how do they tell her? do they ask her to pick one or do they know they're just going to have to work out something so they can both keep seeing her? what does it mean for their future? so many thoughts...

lets talk living situation since you said they live together. they're rich enough to have multiple properties and it's good for investment reasons and shit. monaco is a tax shelter and because irl he lives there, i think lando would maintain residency there rather than legally move to america because of that. oscar would probably keep his place in the uk bc irl he hasn't moved anywhere that i know of. so post break-up, they'd both go back to their old places when the other is at the home in texas. they're not home very often anyways so it's not the biggest change. (does any of that make sense?) she does her best to spend equal time with each of them like switching who she talks to on the phone every night and who comes over on non race weekends.

i think at first, she wouldn't meddle. they're together constantly so they can talk and work things out on their own when they're ready. she believes they'll work it out on their own. she would want to, especially during nights where she's listening to one of them rant about the other. sometimes they're angry over a race result, that the other got an upgrade and they have to wait, etc. and she's pretty sure they're going to run each other off track the next time they race. other times, they're just sad and apologetic, and that's when she has hope they'll make up with each other.

she thinks about trying to trap them, make plans with both of them to come home so they have to sit and listen to her. but she's scared that'd piss one or both off, and that's the last thing she wants. there's just too much tension during the season for anything to be resolved. they'd interact when needed for work, interviews, and promo, but keep the interactions limited. they try to talk but they're both still angry about a lot of things, so they're just running in circles until they give up again.

then, winter break rolls around. lando has all these big plans to go skiing and mountaineering with his friends and invites reader but she can't suddenly take weeks off work without notice. she gets a couple of days off around the holidays and agrees to fly out then, but she's working on a big project and can't go jet-setting around the world with him. he understands and they'd make plans to talk every other night like usual and they're counting down the days until they see each other again. oscar's not that type though, got no plans other than to see her as much as possible. as soon as the last race is over and his media duties are done, he's flying back to her.

when lando calls her, oscar leaves the room to give them privacy and she doesn't tell lando he's there, a habit from the season when they always knew the other was there because they weren't. lando takes his absence from their calls as a sign that oscar isn't there and halfway through a ski trip decides to head back home, to her. his friends are understanding, wish him a safe flight and hours later he's unlocking the front door after getting dropped off. it truly doesn't occur to him that just because she didn't mention oscar, it doesn't mean he's not there. he hears them laughing as he kicks the door shut, he can tell they're in the den and it's close enough that they hear the door close and go quiet. he can hear murmured voices, did you hear that? was that a door? is someone here?

he wishes that he'd checked before flying all the way out. he’s not angry anymore, but he saw oscar leaving the track right after the race and heard he was flying home from someone in the garage and assumed that meant the uk, but now he knows it was here. he also assumed oscar didn’t want to talk to him and that’s why he rushed out, before lando even had the opportunity. he’d spent his break thus far fretting about texting him and seeing if they could meet up to talk, he hasn’t even had time to think about what he would say and now that he’s confronted with it, he doesn’t know what to do or say.

before he can figure out what to do, oscar's stepping into the hall with a baseball bat before freezing, "oh, you're not a burglar." he sounds more bored than relieved if anything, like he was excited to use it.

lando just laughs, "were you- did you plan to take down a burglar with a bat?"

reader comes scrambling from the other room as oscar is inspecting the bat, “lando’s here? did i hear him hating on my bat? i'll have him know my aunt gifted me that and she used it three times, so it definitely works."

the absurdity of it all sends oscar and lando reeling, the idea of an aunt of hers attacking three burglars with an old wooden bat. reader just standing there wondering what is so funny like, "i'm serious. there are dents in it, look!" they laugh even harder, oscar drops the bat to the ground in favor of clutching his stomach. reader picks it up with a huff and stashes it back in the closet. when they finish laughing, most of the tension is gone. it's a little awkward, but lando just says, "i didn't know you were here." and oscar replies, "i didn't know you were coming, we ate all the pizza already." the statement eases lando's worries a bit, like if he'd known he would have saved him some. he doesn't know what that means, but it means something to him.

they just avoid the topic for a bit. oscar and reader tell him there's leftover take out in the fridge and go back to the living room and cozy back up on the couch like they had been. lando eats left overs from the fridge from the arm chair and they catch him up on the show they just started before playing the next episode. lando tells them about the ski trip he was on and the mountain he summitted. eventually, reader falls asleep on oscar and when the episode finishes he gets up to carry her to bed. oscar asks if he's coming to bed before he leaves the room and lando knows things will be okay after they talk.

they're both up before she is the next morning, neither could sleep well with the impending conversation on their minds. lando gets up first when he can’t fall back asleep and deems it early enough to go for a run to clear his head. oscar wakes up sometime after that and sees lando's gone, but before he can worry that lando's left, he notices the open dresser and clothes tossed around and knows he's still around somewhere.

he's cooking breakfast when lando comes home, a full spread of bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, french toast. mostly to give himself something to occupy the time, and something to focus on while he waits for lando to return from wherever. lando wants to talk as soon as he gets home, still sweaty and panting from his run. oscar offers him a glass of water when he sees the state of him and lando gulps it down. before oscar can ask if he wants a refill, lando starts apologizing for everything on his part. every time oscar tries to interrupt, lando cuts him off with a, “wait, i’m almost done!” even though all oscar wants to do is say everything is forgiven and he’s sorry too, and also that he doesn’t need an itemized list of all the things lando is sorry for.

reader wakes up to them joking around while finishing up breakfast and she’s a little anxious going into the kitchen, unsure if they’re avoiding the topic and playing nice for her safe or if they talked finally. oscar sees her walk in and makes his way over to greet her, she gives him a good morning kiss and tries not to wonder if lando’s upset or jealous watching them. before she can think too hard about it, lando’s whining that he didn’t get a kiss. reader thinks he’s whining about her, so does oscar, so they pull apart and she makes grabby hands at lando and coos, “come give me a kiss then” and he mumbles, “meant oscar, but i’ll take what i can get.”

[pagesfromthevoid]

Alright therapy rant now that I’m buzzed enough and not sobbing. You can ignore under the cut

So I got a new therapist like three weeks ago because my old one was just...not it. And I really like my new therapist, like she's great. Holds me accountable, makes me book my next session during my current one instead of leaving it up to me (which was a big problem before).

Well so today she gave me the PCL-5, which is the PTSD Checklist. Having PTSD is not a surprising concept to me. I've had some SHIT happen to me that would make sense, but she thinks it's Complex PTSD (so developmental trauma).

The score that indicates possible presence of PTSD is 31-33, according to research.

My score was...51.

Which is...alarming.

So we talked about that and she's like yeah, the reason your anti-depressants aren't really working is because you're not depressed (she goes on to say that I do have depression, but it's more manic depression which falls under bipolar disorder which...also scares me but we're testing for that next week), you're literally fighting something else that those meds aren't equipped to help with. She also said that explains why I was almost immediately impacted by weed, because it's calming me down.

Listen to me. I took 2.5 mg of a gummy. I didn't take 5. or 10. I took TWO AND HALF mg and felt calm for the first time in years.

So now I'm not taking an antidepressant (which is fine I'll be real they literally stopped having any effect on me back in like March after they upped my dose from 100 mg to 150 mg).

Downside is that while medical marijuana is legal in Florida, it is not legal federally which means I can still get fired if I use it so 10/10

[vixstarria]

✨Prepare for an unsolicited info dump✨

I was tagged by @herdarkestnightelegance - thanks!

Do you make your bed? Yes, always - I might leave other things lying around, but the bed is the no. 1 thing that always gets done - otherwise the bedroom looks too messy and irks me

Favorite number? I don't have a favourite number.

What’s your job? So... I work in a small law firm as the person who does everything but provide legal advice. Accounts, IT, HR, admin, random paralegal stuff - I'm your guy (gn). No one at work really knows exactly what it is I do, but they generally assume I'm always busy, which provides ample opportunity to shitpost on tumblr during work hours. E.g. right now. I love my job.

If you could go back to school would you? Absolutely not, I still have PTSD and recurring nightmares about school. I mean, I don't mind learning, per se, but I would strongly prefer it to be on my own terms, remote, and outside of a formal academic environment. And definitely not in the country I grew up and went to school in.

Can you parallel park? Strangely enough, yes. I do note that I do not have a license, however.

Do you think aliens are real? There has to be alien life of some kind out there, but it won't be little green men in blinking flying saucers. ...Although then again, hey, within the infinity of the universe, maybe there ARE little green men in saucers as well, somewhere, who knows?

Can you drive a manual car? Strictly within the confines of an empty parking lot - sure

What’s your guilty pleasure? Oh gosh, of what kind? Food - spicy ramen noodles with a bunch of stuff (mushrooms, egg, etc) thrown in. I love it, but I swear I immediately gain a kg any time I have a bowl. Music - early 2000's R&B, pop and nu metal. It's nostalgia, okay? Media - reality fashion shows that involve competitions, e.g. Project Runway, or ANTM. And cooking shows, but I don't feel guilty about those lol.

Tattoos? No, nothing's ever struck me as significant enough for me to want to have it on my skin permanently. If I had a weird scar I would cover it up with a tattoo, though.

Favorite color? Purple, especially lilac and lavender shades.

Favorite types of music? It fluctuates, but I've mostly been on an electronic / industrial binge lately.

Do you like puzzles? Puzzles often make me feel like an idiot, but if there is no timer, pressure or audience - sure. ...Or like, jigsaw puzzles? I fkn LOVE jigsaw puzzles.

Any phobias? Nope.

Favorite childhood sport? Bold of you to assume I participated in ANY sport as a child, much less had a favourite. Uh. Ice skating and rollerblading was fun, I guess. I sometimes contemplate getting rollerblades again, but then I also rather enjoy all my bones being intact. 🤔

Do you talk to yourself? All the time, although mostly in the form of muttered swears and various exclamations.

What movies do you adore? I'm going to pass on this one, or it might turn into a very long rant. To summarise: I like weird movies, horror and comedy horror. Some examples: Mulholland Drive, Eraserhead, Army of Darkness.

Coffee or tea? Both. Start the day with coffee, then drink tea for the remainder. I'm very particular with my coffee though - every morning begins with a little ritual of grinding whole beans and preparing it with a french press.

First thing you wanted to be growing up? One of my earliest memories is me wondering what I wanted to be when I grew up, and my little 4 or 5 year old brain thinking that my only options were teacher, doctor and cashier, for some reason, and being sad because I didn't want to be any of those. I don't think I ever wanted to be anything, as a child - I just wanted to read my books and play with my toys. In fact, I still feel that way. 😠

No pressure tagging (and sorry for any repeats): @spacebarbarianweird @thechaoticdruid @snowfolly @brabblesblog @confused-butter-toast @tragedybunny

[darkstarofchaos]

For the character ask game, I'm not sure how many numbers you're willing to do for a single ask, so you can just do as much as you want from this. For Prowl - 2, 3, 7, 8, 12, 15, 16, 23, 25

I don't mind a bunch of numbers! Gives me an excuse to ramble, lol. And to rant, because Prowl deserves better.

2: Favorite canon thing about this character?

His willingness to look Optimus in the face and tell him he's being stupid, and to do his own thing to mitigate the stupidity if he has to. Mostly applicable to IDW, but Optimus needs a foil so badly in G1 that I've pretty much transplanted it into G1 Prowl when I write him. Not in its entirety, because G1 Prowl isn't IDW Prowl, but I like that he has his own opinions on tactics and morality and doesn't just go with the Autobot collective. His job is not to be a yes-mech; it's to keep people alive and win battles. If his commander is making stupid decisions, what benefit is there in standing back and letting it happen?

3. Least favorite canon thing about this character?

Making the police car an actual cop was the most boring decision anyone could have made. In stories where the Cybertronians choose their alts, especially, there are so many more interesting things you could say about his character by giving him a pre-war job that's completely unrelated to his Earth alt. For example, I like to think he chose it for tactical reasons: it's a common black and white vehicle, thus perfect as a disguise, and the sirens let him "legally" break Earth traffic laws in an emergency. It's far more interesting if his alt is a result of strategy and reasoning instead of, "I guess I'll take the one that matches my old job description."

7. What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you like?

I like that people took the little tidbit about Prowl having trouble with the unexpected that has exclusively appeared in two bios (that I'm aware of) and made it reasonably common. Would be really nice if they treated it seriously instead of making it comic relief, but maybe it does get treated more seriously these days. I don't read a lot of Prowl fic.

Let's talk about why.

8. What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you despise?

The image compilations of Prowl getting punched. The prick jokes that litter every TF Wiki page for every G1-based Prowl. The fanfics where Prowl is an uncompromising jerk or straight-up hate sink because the author needed a mean Autobot. The conversations and hypotheticals that make Prowl the source of any amoral action the Autobots take. The people who distill him down into Essence of Asshole and strip out every positive or sympathetic quality he has.

"Prowl gets villainized for being sensible" is one of my most hated fanfic tropes. Grab just about any fic where a Decepticon defects or earns the Autobots' sympathy in some way, and Prowl will be the only one who's unhappy with the situation. Which is perfectly reasonable because that is an enemy and he has no reason to trust them, let alone like them. But because we're supposed to sympathize with the Decepticon, that makes Prowl the villain. The other Autobots aren't naive and unreasonably forgiving, Prowl is just a bad person.

And it's not just IDW fics. G1 Prowl didn't get a whole lot of screen time, and thus no chance to develop his own personality, so he gets slapped with the same portrayal. Never mind the fact that when he does show up, he's one of the nicest characters - sure, he gets in on trash talking the Decepticons (though far less than some of the Autobots), but he's always helping out around base, shows concern for others, and pretty much stays out of interpersonal conflict. And yet, in stories based on a cartoon that has Powerglide, Gears, Cliffjumper, and Optimus Prime himself, I am expected to believe Prowl is the Autobots' resident jerk. Not gonna happen.

12. What's a headcanon you have for this character?

As I mentioned earlier, it's kind of quasi-canon that Prowl has trouble dealing with the unexpected. It's never appeared in any actual media, but it does come from official sources, so I wouldn't call it a headcanon. But I do headcanon that he has some pretty severe anxiety in dealing with people because of it. Things like math and physics are reliable; if something doesn't do what you expect it to, it's because you lacked information, and you can remedy that. You can update your calculations based on the results you actually got, or try to find out what you were missing the first time. Given enough data, you can predict just about anything as long as the results are consistent.

People are not consistent. You can make some sweeping generalizations about them based on categories - social groups, behaviors, readily obvious personality traits - but you can never say with certainty that someone will react in a specific way to something. Once you've known them for a while, you start to understand them and can anticipate them with a reasonable degree of accuracy, but that's assuming their behavior is genuine and consistent. If they're messing with you or pretending to be something they aren't, your data is inaccurate, and you can't correct it unless you know it's inaccurate.

People are the only things in the natural world that can deliberately give you false data about what to expect from them. So yes, I think Prowl has social anxiety. And probably some form of people-centric agoraphobia or anthropophobia.

(I also headcanon him as biromantic asexual. It has nothing to do with the above, and actually predates the anxiety headcanon).

15. What's your favorite ship for this character? (Doesn't matter if it's canon or not.)

If I had to pick just one pairing, I guess I would say Jazz/Prowl. Which is ironic, because for a long time, it was one of my least favorite Prowl pairings. Not because it was particularly objectionable; it was just everywhere, and I couldn't see it working. I think of Prowl as the kind of person who needs a steady, reliable partner who will let him have his routines and respect his desire to plan things before doing them, and Jazz's thing is more spontaneity and flexibility. He seemed like one of the worst partners for Prowl, especially with how I developed Prowl's disorders over the years.

In the end, though, that spontaneity is what brought them full circle to a pairing I can support. Because I do think Jazz would be willing to compromise and accommodate for Prowl's needs, and that Prowl could eventually trust that he's not going to suddenly change how he acts around him. It's a rather tenuous case of opposites attract, and requires patience from both parties, but I can see it working now.

16. What's your least favorite ship for this character?

First, an honorable mention goes to my immediate impulse, which was Constructicons/Prowl. I get why people want IDW Prowl to have someone on his side, and I don't think the Constructicons meant any harm. But Prowl was forced into the team through a series of traumatic events, the Constructicons like him for things he hates about himself, and being a part of Devastator seems to have contributed to his psychological decline. It wasn't a good or healthy situation for him, and I feel like the Constructicons having romantic feelings for him actually makes it more uncomfortable for me.

That being said, I'm going to have to go with Optimus/Prowl as my absolute least favorite ship. Optimus is very strongly motivated by morality and will generally take what he perceives to be the most moral action in a given situation. Pair that with someone like Prowl, who is willing to cross lines when he feels he has to, and you already have a relationship on rough ground. The only way things can work between them is either for Optimus to accept Prowl's "moral failings", or for Prowl to change a fundamental part of himself. There is literally no option that doesn't require one of them to compromise their principles or change who they are. And since Optimus isn't the kind of person who will do that, the only hope for a relationship is to "fix" Prowl. And that gets into abusive territory, because Optimus has power over Prowl in both the physical sense and in their professional relationship. He also has social power, because because Prowl is unpopular and Optimus is exactly the kind of person you wouldn't expect to be capable of abuse.

And yes. For the sake of argument, it could be toxic from Prowl's side too. He could try to hurt Optimus by throwing his mistakes in his face, or by blaming him for everything that goes wrong. But Optimus has a great deal of confidence in himself and the support of pretty much everyone, while Prowl is isolated and already isn't proud of things he's done. He is far more vulnerable to abuse than Optimus is, socially and psychologically, and he just doesn't deserve that.

23. Favorite picture of this character?

Mmm. I guess I would have to say this one, since it inspired an entire story that I'm still working on. There's actually another one that I like better (which also spawned an in-progress story), but I'd have to do more digging to find the link for that one. Might do it later.

25. What was your first impression of this character? How about now?

When I started watching G1, the Autobots were just a conglomerate of near-identical personalities to me. Prowl was just one of the generic background bots who got a few minutes of screentime in one episode and was otherwise relegated to a support role. I was mildly interested by some of the fanfic portrayals I saw, but I definitely preferred the Decepticons, so I didn't read much where he was a main character unless there were Decepticon MCs too. And most of those fics were written by a couple authors whose endings were consistently disappointing, so after I stopped reading their stuff, Prowl just dropped off my radar.

Nowadays, Prowl is my favorite Autobot (well, second favorite after Skyfire). Thanks to IDW, I kind of see him as the Autobot version of Starscream (narratively if not in personality), but he's also a fascinating character in his own right. I love that he doesn't conform to the Autobots as a whole, he's fun to write and analyze, and he was the one good thing I got out of the IDW comics. 10/10 character, deserves better.

[sobeksewerrat]

Mastermind live watch thoughts part 1 (spoilers ahead)

Okay so they're really going all out on Andrealaphus's whole winter shtick. Wonder how it'll take for it to get old ngl

Oh so we're FINALLY figuring out the consequences of using the grimoire illegally? I feel like it's a little late and there was almost no set up at all this season?? At least we're learning more about Hell's laws and judicial system. I really wanted to know more about that, even if it feels out of nowhere. I am a little concerned considering the run time is only 22 minutes, and as an ace attorney fan I do not think that is enough for a compelling legal procedure, there's a reason the courtroom scenes were the least compelling part of the Ace Attorney anime (despite my love for it, and to be fair they were still great they just lacked a lot of the details and mystery)

Andy (yes I'm calling him andy) and Stella have such chaotic sibling energy I love it (I am so gonna regret this later, aren't I?)

Andy is so elsa coded/j

.….did he just…call her hot??? Huh??? Viv what the fuck is your obsession with incest I need to know

MORE POTENTIAL I.M.P EMPLOYEES?? OOOOOOO

…okay if Hell's got law enforcement like THAT how the FUCK were I.M.P not arrested a long time ago?? Also…grim reaper demons?? Huh???

Gee viv way to undercut the conflict with humourIs that…a police brutality joke?? Why do they keep babying Moxxie and treating him like a joke??

The tension is literally nonexistent there is no threat what the fuck way to kill the mood dude and I was so fucking hyped too

OH NO THE INTERNS NO I LIKED THEM

Oh the muzzle on Loona is so cruel I wish the show explored the cruelty against Hellhounds more like wow they are genuinely treated like rabid animals instead of people and that could've been such a cool way to explore Hell's classism and racism amongst hellborn

OMG SATAN BBG YOUR VOICE IS SO HOT I CAN TELL HELL BE MY NEWEST BLORBO BY THE END OF THE EPISODE

Back to the ranting! Ohhhhh boy, okay why are the Sins here again? I can understand Satan, since imps are his rings’ native citizens, but the others? I can understand them being here if this was some major crime in Hell, but I.M.P has been running for A WHILE, and Asmodeus is aware of it and they're literally under his jurisdiction ACCORDING TO STOLAS! So, by all accounts, he might be the only other Sin relevant to this case. Moreover, we know the Sins hold somewhat equal power (save for Lucifer, maybe), and we know Succubi and Incubi work under Asmodeus and are legally allowed to traverse the human realm, correct? Therefore the I.M.P crew technically count as Ozz's employees, no? And due to his influence and the fact that his rings’ natives are allowed to travel wherever, this case should've been thrown out as Blitzø technically isn't breaking demon law, from my understanding. You could argue that this for when he was using the Grimoire, which is fair, however calling I.M.P an illegal business is a stretch. Besides, Asmodeus was aware of the Grimoire thing  and didn't do JACKSHIT! He didn't even have a reaction! That immediately undercuts any conflict regarding it as it implies that this is not that big of a deal, so the Sins being here genuinely just feels like conflict for the sake of conflict and to hype the episode as being the first appearance of all of them (minus Lucifer) together and showing off Leviathan and Belphegor.

Speaking of Levi and Belphie (look I used ro be an obey me fan alright? Lemme call them Belphie), I have…issues with their designs. I admit, they are a bit better than I initially judge them as but GOD what the fuck

Stealing??? STOLA GAVE IT TO HIM

Oh my god STOP WITH THE COMEDY AND THE INCEST FOR FUCKS SAKE WASNT ANDY A FUCKING GAY MAN ANYWAY??

No wait because the “forcing himself” allegation could hold some water (IN A COURTROOM I MEAN). Stolas is of much higher power, and in the eyes of a classist society like Hell's it wouldn't make sense for a Goetia to stoop down to such a level unless they were forced to or coerced in any way (this is using the logic the series presents us with! Remember that newspaper from Oops?). This could've been such a cool way to explore false allegations such as these and delve into the topic of Hell's classism and racism once more. Moreover, Blitzø is a somewhat typically masculine man, and he's known to be hypersexual, so it could highlight the bias when accusing him of such a thing. But, alas, this is Helluva Boss we're talking about here. 

EXACTLY. WHERE THE FUCK IS STALE ASS. THANK YOU VASAGO

Also, not to bring up Ace Attorney again, but this is the shittiest fictional court proceeding ever, and I played Turnabout Big Top. 

VASAGO BBG ILY

Also. Andy's point of not facing his aggressor could hold some water…IF HE WAS FILING THE CASE PRIVATELY. THIS IS A HIGHLY IMPORTANT AND PUBLIC COURT PROCEEDING. Even if you didn't want to traumatise poor baby Stalebitch by letting him face Blitzø, disclosing details of his assault, if it was real that is, without his consent is such a vile thing to do and would tank Andy's credibility within seconds. 

Why are they not allowing Blitzø to testify in a fucking court case. Like. Bro. I get imps are oppressed but this is a bit much don't you think.

STRIKER!!! Wait why isn't Striker arrested he tried to kill a royal, no? Why is he conspiring with blue bloods?? Didn't he hate the upper class??? Huh???? Oh wait immunity that answers the first question BUT STILL 

Wait aren't Bee and Ozz biased in this situation?? Shouldn't the jury or whatever be impartial?? WHY IS MAMMON HERE AS WELL HE SHOULD BE BIASED AGAINST BLITZØ TOO! I get that they're Sins, the highest authority in Hell, but WHAT THE FUCK.

Okay but saying an ace character is jealous no one is fucking them is weird, right?

…look Satan bestie I love you but FUCKKKKK WHYYYY. Why is viv so insistent on undercutting the most interesting plot line so far?? If ya hated court proceedings this much viv maybe you shouldn't have written this plot!

Don't get me wrong I love how stupid the Sins are and how they're just people, but I think the show forgets that they're thousands of years old and extremely fucking powerful sometimes.

Also I get that Lucifer isn't here for legal reasons, but couldn't ya have thrown in a line about his absence? Like I think if this was such an important case, and all of Hell's monarchs were involved, the King of Hell should AT LEAST have a reason for not being there (maybe I'm biased cos i hate Lucifer but still)

God I love Levi and Mammon's interaction. Ik it's prolly meant to be flirting, but my Greedyguitar and whatever Adam/Mammon/Eve is called loving ass cannot take it as anything but platonic. Wish Levi spoke tho

“Our power”?? But…you're a Sin? Not a Goetia? Maybe he means royalty in general but tbh this just feels like Viv trying and failing to tie in Hell politics 

No seriously why don't the Sins get a say in this?? Why is it only Satan? ASMODEUS HES UNDER YOUR JURISDICTION DO SOMETHING 

I am so confused about the world building in this show. The Sins have the ability to create life??

“Oh my Lucifer! What are they doing?” SO NOW TOU WANNA SHOW YOU YOU STINGY OWL BITCH?!?

Oh Vivziepop…how I hate your handling of oppression of the lower class and racism please learn a thing or two next time.

NO I GOT EXCITED WHY ISNT STOLAS DEAD

…okay fuck I'm not continuing this I'm finishing it later fuck you Stolas love ya Vasago 

Imma try to put my thoughts into words more coherently later 

[jeweled-blue-eyes]

hello! Sorry for barging in like this! (also sorry for my poor english too)

First I’d like to thank you for the recents posts bringing some very welcomed nuance to the character of Iklies I’m VADD. After the release of the new season cover, I felt like there was a significant wave of hate directed to the character - and, well, kinda for the wrong reasons? I mean, it’s absolutely understandable to not like him and call out the toxicity, but there were some readers who actively spread misinformation to get the character in a very bad light? And using some colonising rhetoric?? Guys??? This is not the take you might think this is???

I think I might’ve wanted to vent a bit with someone more open to a nuanced discussion, since I think the whole work is too well crafted to be reduced to a ‘black and white’ interpretation.

First what really caught my attention was using the description seen in the novel about how “Delman’s are savages” like?? 1. the poster themselves recognises that it’s a description used by Derrick (if I’m not mistaken), who is anything BUT a trustworthy source; 2. I bet the colonising, slaving country won’t have nice things to say about the people they just conquered? Not to mention is a description frequently used to even justify such actions, as it was in our own world (colonising nations having the “duty” to bring reason, advancement and enlightenment to such poor, barbaric people, who couldn’t know any better); 3. even if all of that was true, who is to say that every single countryman is like that? Are they not allowed to have their own individuality? Should we judge every Eorka citizen using Derrick as the standard then? Would that be fair?

Then what most caught my attention was the description that “He had a nice childhood, despite being a bastard (???), therefore he had it easy and by being such a violent man it only shows how much of a monster he’s always been”. I don’t even? Aside from the argument itself not making the slightest sense, from my reading of the novel the whole “bastard-lost prince” (a very beloved common trope for MLs in any other case, mind you) seemed pretty vague, and I thought it might’ve even been the result of Leila’s manipulation/mindcontrolling - since this way, with Iklies having some sort of “pedigree”, he would seem himself as “worthy” of Penelope, like Callisto (the Crown Prince) is. Was that part of his backstory truly confirmed? It could just be a wrong interpretation of mine, since it’s been some months since I’ve read it (thought, quite sincerely, I don’t think it being truth or not would change anything - the story starts with him being already a slave, being sold in an auction after fighting hungry dogs that would devour him to show his prowess for potential buyers, no amount of happy childhood will make this less f up).

Sorry for ranting so much! I was just really happy to see your posts and analysis!

Hope you have a nice day!

I remember that post! The pro slavery and colonising rhetoric was very uncomfortable to read and I think I blocked them after they tried to "educate" me in the comments of my posts and eventually used insults to force me to change my opinion.

I'm interested to see the passage that says Iklies allegiently had a good childhood when he was an illegitimate child of the King, because manhwas traditionally show the struggles and trauma of being a bastard. Princes often didn't have a good relationship with their half brothers. See the Ottoman Empire where they eventually legalized systematic fratricide. Furthermore if Delman is a warrior nation as implied and Iklies was really treated as a prince then wouldn't he have been expected to fight in the Livius war and gain combat experience? If he was then he's a child soldier and still didn't have a good childhood. If he was not then it's likely that he was just treated as a nobody. And no matter how good his childhood was it's not going to become an armor that can protect him against the trauma of having his rights stripped off him and treated like human garbage. What kind of logic is that anyway. Penelope didn't have a good childhood but Iklies had one that's why he deserves to suffer in the future, because he never had to suffer before?

"such a violent man it only shows how much of a monster he’s always been" I have huge issues when they call Iklies a psychopath or claim he was born evil. Together with them claiming that the people of Delman are thieving, murdering savages consumed by greed and violence. It doesn't only sound like stereotyping but also as if the root of the evil is in their genes. Which we know was historically used to justify ethnic clensing. They echo the words of Derrick who believes in the superiority of the Eorkan military power and the intrinsic evil of the Delman's that is defined by colonialism ideology. Why should we trust the words of someone who treated his own stepsister as a subhuman because she was of commoner blood? His family owns a diamond mine, he directly benefits from slavery. Of course he would defend it with every breath.

Certain Callisto stans/Iklies antis say the Delman people had it better in slavery than in freedom. How can the country of Delman be poor and uncivilized when the Eorkan military suffered huge losses due to Delman's archery skills? For Delman to last for years in a war against an Empire, the country would had to have an organized and well trained army, a food supply and a functioning infrastructure. The farmers would have lived comfortably enough that they could work hard and keep sending their army supplies throughout the years. The war would have been won in a week if Delman was really just a bunch of unwashed savages who didn't know left from right. Moreover if Delman wasn't a wealthy country and rich in natural resources the Eorkan Empire never would have invaded it. I even question the claim that Delman had been plundering from smaller countries, because if they had an army that could damage the Eorkan Empire that much why did they never annex the smaller countries? The plundering at the borders might have been done by thieves that had nothing to do with the army of Delman. Or it might have been just invented and used as an excuse to conquer them. Either way even if it was true, as you said, does that justify what happened to the cripples, the wives and children at home? "Your father was killed, your mother raped by soldiers, your younger sibling tortured to death and you were sold into slavery but you should be thankful because now you get to live in a civilized society serving your family's murders until they decide to do the same to you."

[my-castles-crumbling]

hey cas! i just kinda wanna rant ig?

so I'm in the 9th grade right now and when I was in middle school, when I tell you I had MULTIPLE LIFE CRISES about what I wanna be when I grow up, i mean it. see in primary school I wanted to do psychology. then in middle school i thought it'd be too boring for some reason and went through so many different career options ranging from something in ai?? to medicine??. the ai thing would've never worked out because in not TERRIBLE but I don't really enjoy computer studies and anyway I took economic applications as an elective. medicine no because firstly in my country we need to do a SUPER HARD competitive exam called NEET and if I take up science i literally will not survive 11th and 12th and i won't be able to participate in any school related things that I want to. it's not that people DONT, our headgirl and dep head took science but I just don't feel like *i* could handle it

so now I'm back to psychology, and it's not like i chose it because I've wanted to do it in primary, i do GENUINELY want to do it. actually, criminology probably. due to my love for psychological thriller novels which definitely isn't the best thing to base my decision on but that's a whole seperate issue.

it's like I can turn off my emotions whenever I feel like and it's probably not healthy but I don't remember the last time I genuinely cried? like I'm extremely emotional, I could watch a film and SOB. i watched Moana 2 recently and i was almost sobbing so I'm like extremely emotional whenever something touches my heart but I don't remember the last time I cried because I was sad?

but anyway.

so being the girl who could NEVER decide her career, it's kind of strange that im completely decided now? like most people my age go through their life crisis NOW. my friends who were all decided in middle school, suddenly don't know anymore? and *i* do? we can do this academic essay from school, we choose a topic and basically write a sort of research paper on it and my bsf asked me what I'd do it on and I said "psychology" and she was like "ofcourse i knew it" and it's like at this point psychology probably DOES suit me and everyone probably does expect me to do psychology but I have no idea if I'll change my mind in 11th or 12th? idk.

for now I guess in 11th and 12th I'll take legal studies, psychology, sociology and economics.

so we can choose a third elective in 9th and 10th and i took eco app because I genuinely didn't know what else to take. in 8th we KIND OF had eco in geography and i absolutely hated it then but honestly eco app has grown on me and it's literally my favourite and i get pretty decent marks in it. so I'm glad I like the subject i chose and I guess I'll like the subjects I choose in 11th too but it's just like, what if I don't. what IF.

and it still feels weird that *i* am so decided about my future

Hi!

It sounds awesome that you know what you want! Listen, I wouldn't question it. It's a good thing! If things change later on, deal with it then, but for now, focus on the track you've chosen, it sounds like a great choice!

[hamptersadness]

Okay so I get the "treat all kids them same"

But special needs kids have SPECIAL needs for a reason.

You should treat all kids like a human.

But anyways I found out a student that I taught has an IEP( a legal document about what special needs the child has and how to help them). No one told me he has an IEP or that he was on the spectrum.

I saw behaviors that kinda indicated that he was on the spectrum (not reacting when name is called, lots of spacing out, gets overwhelmed easily, needs extra direction etc). But it's not my place to say hey this kid has this. But I brought it up to my boss and she's like yeah he's on the spectrum.

I am furious they didn't tell me. I don't care if you don't want me to see his personal information I just want to know if he has things I should be doing. He would've had a better time if I KNEW why certain behaviors were happening.

I get the "treat everyone the same" for people with disabilities but it's bullshit. They are DISABLED which means they live DIFFERENTLY. They shouldn't have to conform to society, we should conform to them.

That's why I'm a SPED teacher, to help kids COPE and find ways that help them. I am not there to teach them HOW to be "normal"

Also please tell me if any of this is problematic POLITELY, I just want to know. This turned into a rant.

[ilovescaredysquirrel2]

Disney's going downhill again (kinda happy ngl)

Should I really be happy about this? I mean, people are going to start turning to the underrated non-Disney media now that the world's most overrated company is going downhill again after Inside Out 2 brought them back up with a few months of hype.

First, let's talk about the live action Snow White remake. As someone who hates the "original" movie from 1937 (I say original in quotation marks because there's so many Snow white adaptations throughout the years). I just don't like the old animated Disney version, no matter how much someone will argue with me. Yes, I seen it but I have not grown up with it. I understand it's hard for someone to hate it if they grew up enjoying it, which I don't understand how they could because there's so many things in it that would scare the kids, and also... Snow white is a teen and the prince is a grown man! You can clearly tell just by looking at the designs. Nothing wrong with Snow white as a character but I heard they were originally going to make her look different but changed it to her current design because they didn't want her looking "too mature" which is freaking gross. I mean, it's from 1937 and it was legal and apparently normal for grown men to be attracted to underage girls and marry them... but doesn't that make you want to watch the movie less? Like, it's not the Victorian era anymore so why are we watching movies from back then? I don't mind that they remade Snow White and the seven dwarves, it doesn't look that good anyway. However I'm still not hating on the live action remake as much as I hate on the original. Who needs the problematic Disney versions when we have Red Shoes & the seven dwarves, and Mirror Mirror? Heck, I'd even watch the Super Why version over the 90 year old cartoon Disney one.

Now my rant on Disney's Snow white is done, let's get Decendants (or is it Decendents? whatever) out of the way. The Decendants franchise is basically an Ever After High knock off, just as the first Toy Story is a Knock off of Raggedy Ann & Andy Musical Adventure. Regardless if you like Decendants or Toy Story, we can still acknowledge that originals existed before the Disney versions. Disney DOES make knock offs, you know. The Wild is an obvious knock off of the first Madagascar movie. Everybody's saying how bad the "Jaladdin" song is in the new Decendants movie but I saw a video by The Artistic Aloubell on YouTube and she explained how another song in the movie had a very bad message (I'm not sure if I should post a link to her video in post, but I'll post it in the comments if someone asks for it). The song was basically about how being evil is justified if you have a good reason to? I don't know honestly, I'm an adult and I had trouble figuring it out, imagine the children who the movie is meant for, trying to figure out the message. The kids watching Decendants probably think like "Oh the outfits are cool! I like her outfit and her blue hair!" not about the message, but still! At first glance the song seems cute but when that YouTube artist broke down the lyrics and explained it, it wasn't so cute. Everybody was hating on the "Jaladdin" song, though. The Jaladdin song actually made me laugh a little, when I saw the clip. Also, I haven't actually seen any of the Decendants movies so I don't know every single detail, I just know it's basically like Ever After High, they're the sons and daughters of Fairytale characters, that's why they had a goofy song with Aladdin. Also, I thought the "Rise of Red" was going to be Little Red Riding hood's daughter or something, but it's the Queen of Hearts? Wow, what a missed opportunity! (btw I like how they had a tribute to Cameron Boyce, may he rest in peace).

Now let's get to the sequels, after you probably read enough already. Disney doesn't need to make live actions of every movie, but I'm fine with the Snow white one, as i said before (I just wish they didn't cast Rachel Zegler). I think the fact that they're making sequels of everything is worse than live action remakes (however I don't think that Lilo & Stitch or Tangle need live action remakes, since they're not as outdated as Snow White or Cinderella). The Moana sequel doesn't look bad, but it doesn't beat the original movie (even though I think Maui's "You're Welcome" song is so annoying). I can tell that some of the animation doesn't look as detailed and well-rendered as the original did, plus they got the culture down to the T in the original. The sequel doesn't really display that, plus it looks like there's more action and less heart warming story than the original. Something about the trailer felt a bit off, but it doesn't look bad. Zootopia, sequel is where I get really pissed off though. Disney's like "Oh no! we're losing all our gay furry audience now that Zootopia is old news! Let's bring it back so they can fall back in love with their dream crush, Nick Wilde!" and yes, this is coming from someone who hates the original Zootopia for a multitude of reasons. In fact, Zootopia is the only modern Disney movie that I truly despise! Also, why are they making a Toy Story 5? We don't need a 5th Raggedy Ann & Andy knock off!

Anyway, if you came this far, thank you! If you don't agree with me on everything I said, that's fine but I hope I gave valid points. If not, feel free to argue with me in the comments! You don't have to always agree with me, let me know if you do or don't. PLEASE CHAT WITH ME IN THE COMMENTS!

[hermit-pride]

Day: 11. I got a notice in my mailbox today saying that my package could not be delivered because nobody was there to sign for it. USPS. The PS stands for Piece of Shite. Yes, we were home as evidenced by both vehicles being parked in the driveway. No, you didn't attempt to deliver. So tomorrow I get to drive ten miles to the post office to pick it up. No, we're not remote. Walmart, Petco, Office Depot and many other signs of civilization are all exactly five miles away. Ok rant enough.

So I was in the kitchen putting stuff away from our trip to Lake City and thought I better check on my wife who had been asleep in bed 10 minutes ago. I found her half in bed half out. Try as we might, we couldn't get her back into bed so she sat on the floor until she recovered her blood pressure enough for strength to stand up and get into bed; an hour after she took her meditation. Her blood pressure at first was 87/43. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was 60. In the ER a blood pressure that low is likely to be placed on a continuous drip medication and sent to the ICU unless the blood pressure can be normalized some other way, like with loading her up with fluids. (All those things need to be done in an ER or ICU.

She then admitted that this happens occasionally and she doesn't consider it a fall because she eases herself to the floor.

Last year a similar situation happened while I was home asleep. She was getting off the toilet (apparently) and blacked out. She woke up in a pool of water. She had broken the toilet tank when she fell and the water was everywhere. She has Addison's disease and blood pressure regulation is often affected. There is no cure and she has to be on steroids the rest of her life. She has diabetes now because of the steroids and she has had fibromyalgia for at least 30 years. Last week she showed me her brush that was absolutely full of hair. Today she told me that she has lost about a third of it. And still losing. And with my effing schizoid personality I never know what to say when she needs to hear words of encouragement. She said I can go to Sweden or Switzerland because suicide is legal there. Stupid me should have thought it through. Wanna know what I said, "I think it is Switzerland". What a loser I am!

But by now she has learned that the stupid shite that comes out of my mouth isn't what's in my heart ...I hope.

I have been trying to list my schizoid traits that have a positive side. I can't think of a single thing good to say about my inability to think of comforting words in real time. If I could pick just one thing to "fix" it would be that. Of course, my ADHD doesn't help matters either.

Mood tonight is just a little below status quo. One more little step and I'd say I'm feeling blue. But thankfully it doesn't last.

Any amount of up or down is usually very temporary. Probably the only reason I can be certain that it's not depression🤍💛.

[thoughtaddictand]

Rant: Pinkwashing is a lie

Everytime the Israel-Palestine conflict is in the news, there's the same story: Gay people are asked whom they support in the conflict, and most (around 80%) answer they support Israel. The reason: "Israel is supportive of gay rights, so it seems natural we support them!"

The pro-Palestine side, not being able to accept anyone supporting Israel, drop the pinkwashing arguement. "You guys are so easily deceived. Israel doesn't give two sh*ts about LGBT rights. It's just trying to distract from its human rights abuses by pretending it's gay friendly". Apparently all said in an attempt to have us switch sides

But as a gay man, who has actually been to Israel, I'd like to seize the oppertunity and disagree: Anyone argueing "pinkwashing" is being deceiptive, and today I'm going to explain why.

First of all, it doesn't matter how much Israel advertises itself as gay friendly. You can't deny the fact that it simply is the most gay friendly country in the middle east. By a long shot. Most Palestinians want to destroy Israel, whether through military action, or by enforcing a right of return to Israel (which would make the country cede in its current form). This would mean the literally only country in the Middle East that grants us any form of rights would disappear. How do you expect anyone with just a bit of solidarity to support this?

Second: However it choses to advertise itself, the LGBT rights are still there. All activity has been legal since 1988, long before it was mainstream and they could have used it to "distract" from anything.

And I can pin point the exact reason why this is the case: Israel respects LGBT rights, simply because it respects human rights as a whole. Women, ethnic minorities, and more all see their rights respected. And although I don't want to downplay the struggles they face, even the Israeli Arab fare way better than anywhere else in the Middle East.

But of course, an Israel that respects human rights doesn't fit its enemies agenda. Because if they didn't have a human rights abuser as an enemy, they'd have to admit that there might be legit reasons that Gaza must be blocked (rocket attacks), that there must be walls and check-points accross the West Bank (suicide attacks), and that the occupation must continue (many Palestinians are violent).

So that's how we end up with lies like "pinkwashing". To downplay the fact that Palestinians aren't as harmless as they are made out to be, and their enemy is a human right respecting state. That way, things will fit their narrative. And imho, this is the true propaganda. Not what Israel is doing.

And hey, I'm not even denying the fact that Israel does advertise itself as gay friendly. But this is more like: "We respects human rights, and abuses is not what we're about, even if we have adopt a hard stance with our enemies (who are literally trying to destroy us)". In no way is this to wash away the Palestinian struggle.

But imho, the worst part are the half-facts people use as "proof" that Israel isn't as gay friendly as it appears, namely that A) discrimination still exists, and B) same-sex marriage isn't legal (spoiler alert: it is). Both extremely dishonest arguements.

The first one because you could extend this to any country. In big cities, you'll find acceptance, while on the country side, you'll find less of that. Also, religious people are less accepting, while secular people are more so, etc. Israel is no different, where Tel Aviv, Haifa and maybe (turning five blind eyes) Jerusalem are accepting, while the more rural places aren't so much so.

The second one because it simplifies a complex issue down to a simple conclusion, namely that "Straight marriage is performed, gay marriage is not". Note that i use the word "performed". That's because civil marriage as a whole is not "performed", only "recongized" in the country. You can have it recognized, either when it was performed by a religious authority, or performed abroad. And guess what? In the latter case any marriage is recognized, even same-sex marriages. So technically, marriage is already equal in the country. A fact that is commonly ommited in discussions.

Sure, you could still argue it's an LGBT issue of sorts, because straight couples at least have a chance of being married in the country (when they share a religion), and have less distance to cover than gay couples (who'd have to fly to central Europe to get married, not to Cyprus as straight couples). But realistically, that's a problem with a lack of seperation of church and state. not an LGBT issue. I can guarantee you, once civil marriage will be performed, gay marriage will become legal along with it.

--------------

So yeah, long story short: I don't buy into the queer washing allegations. It seems like just another misinformation campaign launched by the Palestinian side to win the "PR war" against Israel. In particular an attempt to sway gay supporters. But first and foremost, to paint is as a human rights abuser.

[beardedmrbean]

https://x.com/fuckkoroks/status/1780650702894989334?s=46

Canadian government: *Treated their native population so inhuman Andrew Jackson would blush*

Leftist: Pushing for MAID on the homeless is the result of capitalism

Okay does leftists talk to any mentally ill person who don’t romanticize mental disorders often tell them it usually the GOVERNMENT that cause issues for us

Let me use my autism as example, as you already know the idea of autism=low functioning muted white kid

Also non white and female autistic people, when you are usually part of communities that barely understand mental illness as it is. You usually are undiagnosed for a while

Of course it got better…but the autistic “community” on tumblr shows the bitterness

Ugh another rate, I hate how modern kids media tell autistic kids (it’s fucking insufferable with black kids characters) that it a SUPERPOWER

But as you know the government been trying to kill people like me for generations as we are “burdens” to the system

Yes yes this in Canada, but I don’t understand how leftists are shocked by it?

What easier for an out of touch government, spending millions of dolllars in mental rehabilitation…I think lefties presume mentally recovery is like a kid cartoon character arc. Just because a lot of us don’t act like Hollywood ideas of a damage person. Doesn’t mean it don’t take a few years to recover (I’m still am)

Or old yeller such a burden?

Sorry for ranting

I feel like everything with that tweet is being misrepresented by everyone, leftist on purpose other person because they didn't read the article, a mistake I will not make. Let's see if I'm right

Article link

If a Canadian’s only affliction was “poverty,” 27 per cent said they would be fine with legalizing that person’s access to MAID. Another 28 per cent pegged “homelessness” as an appropriate bar to qualify for MAID. And 20 per cent of respondents were fine with MAID being handed out to anybody for any reason. In other words, one fifth of respondents agreed with the sentiment “medical assistance in dying should always be allowed, regardless of who requests it.” Notably, these most absolutist supporters of assisted suicide were pretty evenly distributed among age groups, regions and even political demographics: 20 per cent Conservatives, 20 per cent of NDPers and 22 per cent of Liberals were in the “always be allowed” camp.

Disturbing so far, but nothing to do with capitalism, there's poor people in every socioeconomic system and statistically lower number in capitalist/mixed economies.

One of the more controversial aspects of MAID has been a number of high-profile cases in which Canadians with serious illnesses opted for death only after years of failing to obtain proper medical care. The Research Co. poll found a slim majority of respondents who were fine with this, too; 51 per cent endorsed “inability to receive medical treatment” as sufficient reason for an assisted death.

The state's medical system not being able to treat people is not the fault of capitalism, not after they offered maid to the woman who just wanted a lift put in so she go upstairs in her home more easily.

The practice of referring or recommending assisted suicide has also spread well beyond the traditional boundaries of the health-care system. Notably, MAID is routinely practised within the Canadian prison system, despite similar measures proving deeply controversial in Belgium, a pioneer in assisted suicide legalization.

Ya this is government cost cutting measures at this point, not a capitalist issue given the people that seem to be being offered it, that and all the reports I've seen were there actually seems to be some pressure being offered to get the procedure.

They should go back to being honest and calling it assisted suicide.

Bunch of related stuff But as you know the government been trying to kill people like me for generations as we are “burdens” to the system Yes yes this in Canada, but I don’t understand how leftists are shocked by it?

Wait they're shocked? They've been some of the one's leading the charge

I don't know what snopes says but the mixture for me is that they can't actually eliminate down syndrome, it's not something their eugenics program can accomplish.

Cystic fibrosis they could do by sterilizing anyone that has the gene, granted if one parent does and one doesn't the odds of a CF child drop to zero, so genetic screening and tell parents where both have the gene they can't have kids maybe, see how that goes over.

What easier for an out of touch government, spending millions of dolllars in mental rehabilitation…I think lefties presume mentally recovery is like a kid cartoon character arc. Just because a lot of us don’t act like Hollywood ideas of a damage person. Doesn’t mean it don’t take a few years to recover (I’m still am)

Time to spruce up the sanatoriums they closed down decades ago so we can jail people who have committed no crime, or committed a crime that doesn't generally carry a prison sentence under the guise of 'it's for their own good'

But ya it's easier to live in a fantasy land where forcing people into treatment might actually work than it is to work with people and try and get them to decide that it might be a good idea.

Or old yeller such a burden?

To be fair Old Yeller had rabies, that was a mercy killing, fatal 100% of the time and a nasty way to go.

I do get your point though.

Sorry for ranting

No apologies needed, not sure when I'm gonna be able to have the time to get through whatever your next one is though, 98% chance going to get me pa from the hospital tomorrow and if so everything is gonna be delayed a bit.

[shiorimakibawrites]

Battlin' Jack Murdock Rant

Possible unpopular opinion here but something I think people need to cut Jack some slack on is the Matt doing his stitches thing.

Now I'm not saying that it is a good thing that Matt was sewing up his dad's face. But I am saying that Jack might not many other options.

But What about the hospital? Or Urgent Care? Or a clinic? I hear you ask.

Well, do you know what those things require? Money. You know what Jack didn't have a lot of? That's right. Money.

You know what else he probably didn't have? Health insurance.

So yes, he could have got to the ER, waited for hours since his injuries are not life-threatening, gotten professional medical attention, and a bill that he cannot pay. Yes, eventually the hospital will write it off. But in the meantime, it's sitting on his credit report, dragging it down even further.

Assuming the hospital doesn't turn him away for not being able to pay them. Which, since his injuries aren't life-threatening, they can do. Law only says they have to treat you if you are dying. Which is why people without insurance or money don't go the hospital or even the doctor until it gets that bad.

Yes, there might have low-cost clinics with a slide scale that maybe he could afford. But they might not have stuff for stitches because that's not where people go for that stuff. Or aren't open when his bouts get done so waiting until morning. Or even the adjusted payment is still out of his budget.

Yes, maybe he and Matt qualified for Medicaid. But maybe Jack couldn't figure out how navigate all of the red tape. Or maybe he tried and they were rejected. Maybe they were in that uncomfortable zone where you don't make enough to cover everything but you make too money to qualify for food stamps and other social welfare programs.

I've been in that zone. It's not fun. It usually means you end up putting things like paying your rent and getting enough food above going to the doctor for any reason.

The only legal short-term loans he might have been able to get to cover an extra expense like that are payday loan places. Assuming they considered boxing (and whatever else he might done to make ends met) regular employment. Which they probably didn't.

Even if they did, the interest rates on those loans are truly outrageous. And a lot of those companies (especially prior to 2008) could some things to make your situation worse. Like keep hitting re-sent on the check after they got an insufficient funds bounce from the bank so you get a bunch of overdraft fees. (Currently, they can only do this twice before they have to stop. But they have also been fighting this and similar regulations since they were put in place).

Just saying that sometimes you don't have good options. You only have bad ones. So you pick the least bad one or the one you can live with.

Just saying that Jack Murdock was doing his best in a bad situation. He was trying to be a good dad to Matt. Maybe cut him a little slack.

[starlsssankt]

RE: this gifset

Where do I even begin?

I mean, I'll preface this all with "yes, yes, atrocities committed and countless lives lost and he's a murderous immortal" blah blah blah. I know what the story is trying to say with this character, but bear with me, okay?

One of the things I love about villains/morally grey characters is the reasons behind why they do what they do. I need the nuances, I need the explanations, the whole "why why why" answered. I need to be able to get in their head and reasonably explain the thoughts behind what led to certain actions.

Which is why I cannot STAND it when some shows/books/etc. diminish those complex characters down to one-dimensional "Disney villains". But that's a rant for another day.

When it comes to the Darkling, I think this set shows really well (and it was one of the better scenes done in s2 of the show, let's be honest) how many times he's gone through the same old path, the same old fight, lost more people than anyone can remotely imagine...

I've always head-canoned, of course, that he tried to work "within" the system at first. He tried the peaceful approach, the "let's get more rights for Grisha, let's get them a safe place in society" by whispering in different ears of the nobility/royalty, by trying to orchestrate it as, I don't know, "legally" as he could.

Every single time, it didn't work. It either wasn't enough, or he didn't have the power to truly affect the change he wanted, or whatever the reason, he came to the conclusion that the only language those in current power would understand was VIOLENCE.

(To reference different real life things, you have it with every sort of marginalized group in history, every sort of revolution/rebellion/etc. There are those who work in the "peaceful" way and then those who are more "radical" about it. I firmly believe Aleksander started as the former and after so many (life)times, became the latter.)

The only other being that he knows that is enough like him that he doesn't really fear losing them, is his mother. Until such a point that Alina comes along and ...

Yeah. Another topic for another day.

But even then, ultimately, he does lose Baghra. And in that moment, he feels that overwhelming pressure of being utterly, truly alone. No one else bears what he does, no one else has seen what he has, has endured what he has--so how could they possibly understand?

Of course, after all those lifetimes, of seeing the same thing happening again and again and again-- He cracked, for lack of better words.

I mean, we see in Demon in the Wood how he was as a child, how Grisha lives in general were. Think of any marginalized group in history, and imagine being not only a part of that group, but marginalized even within that group.

That is what he and Baghra endured. Not only were they marginalized because they were Grisha (which dealt with enough prejudice on that fact alone), but they were shadow summoners, which marginalized them even from other Grisha. (Tack on the whole "he's an amplifier" and you get even more distance.)

So of course, after (who knows how many) lifetimes and decades and centuries, after losing friends and lovers and every single person he meets and knows (outside of Baghra) to (and I quote) "sickness, desperation, hate, and time", he's closed himself off from letting anyone in.

What's the point, when he'd just lose them? Why let himself feel anything for anyone else when they'd fall in one way or another, and he'd continue trudging onward...?

And there's the whole "reinvent yourself" aspect he names here, too. Because yes, think about it: He can't just continue in the same line. He has to become an entirely new person. Lies and half-truths that make up one identity after another... To never quite be known by the truth of who you are, to the point even your true name isn't what you're called?

What sort of mess does that do to a person's sense of self? Their identity? He clings to his name tattooed on his heart because he doesn't want to lose who he is-- and I don't even want to think of the mess his head ultimately is in, after doing all of this for literal centuries. (Dude needs major therapy but yeah...)

I mean, has he ever known a moment's peace? Because let's remember:

Grisha (marginalized)

Shadow Summoner (further marginalization within that)

Amplifier (secrets b/c lack of touch, assassination attempts, etc.)

Immortal (literally outlives every single other being save one and then ultimately even does that when Baghra dies)

All those facets of who he is, not a single one of them let him know peace. Prejudiced with some of them by others, literally hunted and killing attempts by others (amplifier)...

I mean, this guy was totally messed up from the get-go. (Again, dude needs major therapy.)

But yeah... ultimately, his intentions were right. And can we really blame him (completely) for shattering after all this? After a past like this? For finally saying "you know what, fuck it. they want a monster, i'll give them a monster to get the result" or whatever.

And I will now end (sort of) this rambling post with the fact that I don't think anyone could have acted the hell out of this character like Ben did. To put forth those nuances and give him depth that even the pages themselves sometimes lacked.

I've said it before and I'll say it one more time here: I love the Grishaverse for a lot of the potential it had. The avenues to really dig in and explore, the nuances and the motifs of light and dark and yin and yang...

I'd kill for some more of that... yeah...

Okay. I'll stop now.

(Sorry this got so long... Oops.)