#translation quality assessment

[transcriptioncity]

Comparative Review in Translation Services and Language Services

Understanding Comparative Review in Translation Services Whether you’re a seasoned translator or simply curious about the translation process, this blog offers invaluable insights. Understanding how translations are evaluated is crucial for maintaining high standards and ensuring accuracy. One key method of evaluation is the comparative review, a process that compares multiple translations of the…

[canichangemyblogname]

Y’know, I really feel like I shouldn’t be surprised that 911 fans have begun to portray the show’s queer characters as “lizard-people,” a very well-known—and near exclusively—antisemitic conspiracy and caricature that has a long and storied history of dehumanizing Jews, given they’ve repeatedly shown their assess as racists, most recently when they started calling black and brown fans slurs and “race fakers” for supporting the show’s queer rep. (And I shouldn’t be surprised because of the long history of tying queerness to Jewish conspiracies, often blaming Jews for “deviances” in sexuality.) But I also shouldn’t be surprised because where did I think their “gay men are predators and monsters” rhetoric would lead if not the literal monstruization (monstruize, transitive verb: refers to the process of monster-making or the result of monster-making; to portray a person with monster-like qualities, often as a way to degrade them or strip them of human qualities; an aspect of dehumanization) of a good-faith portrayal of gay men on network TV? They’ve spent five months literally using dehumanizing rhetoric about gay men, I shouldn’t be surprised that translates to the depiction of us as lizard people. Especially given much of queer people’s monstruization; dehumanization, relies on arguments of deception, a key facet of the lizard-people conspiracy. Of course they’re gonna start leaning on right-wing lizard-people conspiracies!

And for people who seem to care *so* much about a gay man using the word “bitchiness” to refer to a woman’s “attitude” fifteen years ago, I find it incredibly hypocritical that they’d portray the employer who called that same woman a “diversity hire” (and suggested she’s an inherent failure) in a more positive light than that gay man, who she is now friends with.

[behindthesoul]

I’m Sorry

Masterlist

Summary - random moments where the characters say they’re sorry

Characters - Johnny Cage, General Shao, Kung Lao

Warnings - not proofread, injuries (Shao), food mentions (Kung Lao), not my highest quality work

——

Johnny Cage

You huffed as you heard your phone buzz for the third time in a minute. There’s no use in looking at the screen, it’s obvious what the message is and who it’s from. Johnny had royally pissed you off earlier in the day; all you wanted was a little space.

Your phone buzzes twice more and it annoyed you to no end. You grabbed your phone with the intention of silencing it, but you couldn’t help but read the most recent notifications.

> Babe im sorry

> Open the door please

As if on cue, you hear a few sharp knocks on the door. It catches you off guard. Part of you wants to ignore him, but you’d feel bad if you left him out there all night. Sighing, you stand up and walk to the front door.

You open it to see your boyfriend holding a comically large teddy bear with the words I LOVE YOU BEARY MUCH stitched into its chest. The bear’s large head almost blocks Johnny from your view and you try not to laugh at the sight.

He holds the bear out to you, a weight falling off his shoulders once he sees you grab it. Johnny looks at you relived, his face is slightly more worried than usual.

“I fucked up, and I’m sorry,” he states. He’s ready to say more, but you stop him.

“I know.”

General Shao

You wince as you try to stand; the ache in your ribs restricting movement. A crowd of soldiers surround you and ask if you are alright. Obviously not, you say to yourself, idiots.

Suddenly you hear loud footsteps coming in your direction. The soldiers turn their attention from you to the sound. Another attempt to stand is in vain, making you groan. The crowd makes way for your husband as he stares down at you. His face twists into a scowl and his eyes snap to the soldiers surrounding you.

“Which one of you fools did this? I will feed your rotting corpse to the worms!”

You wave your hand as to shoo away the negative thoughts in his mind. “No matter - just help me,” you choke out. Shao rushes over to take you in his arms, giving one last threatening glance to his soldiers before taking you to the infirmary.

The General prefers to take care of your wounds, and you prefer to take care of his. It’s not uncommon for him to sit in the infirmary for hours and not letting anyone touch him because no one tends to his wounds like you do. He sits you on a table and assesses your injury. Shao grumbles as his fingers dance across the purple and green splotches on your skin.

“It seems to be nothing more than an ugly bruise,” he states. “Still, I will have the head of the unruly man who thought it wise to lay a finger on you.”

“It was my mistake for not blocking the attack, Shao.”

“It was theirs for touching the General’s spouse.” His voice is firm and it signals he wants the conversation to end. Shao will never say the words, but you can tell his string of curses and threats directly translate to I’m sorry, I should’ve been there. He stands, battle axe in hand. “I will handle this. You stay and rest.”

And with that, he’s out the door.

Kung Lao

The rush of being one of Liu Kang’s champions was exhilarating, though the reality of the situation set in quickly. You spent hours training before spending hours more sitting through the monk’s lessons about the difference realms. At the end of the day you dragged your sore body to bed. You rarely spent time with your boyfriend.

Which is why you were so happy to finally to have a break. Kung Lao had asked you to eat lunch with him, and you quickly accepted. You spot him sitting under a tree and you make your way over to him. He gives you a small kiss when you sit down.

You zone out for a few moments before you hear Kung Lao eat, reminding you why you’re here. You grab a sandwich and start eating.

Normally, you and Lao fill the air with laughter. Today is different, the two of you are comfortable with sitting in silence. You missed this; the first bit of normality you’ve both had in weeks.

You eat slower than usual, too occupied in the random thoughts floating around in your mind. Kung Lao notices this and decides to take advantage. He grabs your sandwich and eats the last of it in one bite. You look at him, stunned.

“Why did you do that?!” You laugh. “It’s obvious I was still eating!”

Kung Lao shrugs, his lips curling into a smirk. “Sorry, you should’ve ate faster.”

You playfully hit his shoulder and he laughs before feigning pain. “You owe me another sandwich, y’know.”

“Great, I’ll eat that one too.”

[bakuhatsufallinlove]

since the general fanbase seems to find calebs translations questionable, is there any translators you'd recommend instead? (if you answered this before i couldnt find it, so sorry if its an FAQ)

The general fanbase does not speak Japanese, so first I would recommend you not take their opinion into account.

I am not trying to be combative, I’m serious. About 85% of the hatred for the official translator stems from things that have absolutely nothing to do with the quality of his work. 10% of the hatred claims to be about the quality of his work, but comes from people who do not actually speak Japanese and therefore have no place judging it. Only 5% of the negativity I've seen has any real merit as translation criticism.

For the record, I’m not going to address the source of that 85%, because the quality of a person’s character is objectively irrelevant to assessing whether their translations are accurate or effective. What you or I think about the official translator is of no importance. Shitty people can be good at their job. That’s just a fact.

The official translations are overall accurate, effective, and of high quality. Viz obviously has in-house standards for tone and aesthetic in translation; they have an existing “shonen” branding adapted for American audiences. It is about marketing. This is evident in all of their published works. Some people find the tone and aesthetic off-putting—this is totally understandable, I’m not particularly a fan myself.

Generally, the worst you tend to get with the official translations is somewhat weird or exaggerated characterizations and the occasional missed thematic callback. The worst you get with the fan translations that are popular is them being factually wrong at times—as in, their translator simply did not know the meaning of the words they tried to translate. It's not that mistakes never happen in the official, but the Viz translator is fluent in Japanese and translates as his full-time occupation. He works with Japanese fluidly and constantly. He knows what he’s doing. When fan translators falter, it is usually because they are clearly not fluent, and this is something they do out of passion or for fun in their free time.

I typically avoid criticizing the fan translations for this reason, despite their issues. I myself translate out of love and enjoyment; I don't want to harsh on anyone's good time or discourage fan activity. I bring this up only because many people put the fan translations on a pedestal while promoting scorn and distrust of the officials.

But you asked me for recommendations.

So, I will tell you what I would do if I were in your shoes: if I loved a series that was written in Spanish, I would read the official English translation. If someone told me some important things are glossed over in the official release, I would surely look into those—but only take the perspectives of Spanish speakers into account, because how are English speakers supposed to know what’s what? I would compare those perspectives (because there is no way everyone will have the same opinion) and see if there are any other translations, while looking to understand what the rationale is for the differences therein.

And then I would come to my own conclusions about the characters and the story, because in the end our relationship to media is personal. What the story means to me and what I think the creator was trying to do is fundamentally up to me to decide.

I grew up in the era of bootleg anime and manga with nigh-incomprehensible translations and official releases with butchered, thoughtless dubbing, released seven years after the series already ended. By comparison, what we have today—cheap or even free releases available simultaneously or within two weeks of the Japanese release—is fucking magnificent. It is the result of many people working incredibly hard all the time. I don't think we should take that for granted.

No translation will ever be perfect. Human beings are not perfect, we all have biases and our own interpretations and reactions to media. Our relationships to stories are personal. This includes translators.

I disagree with the official translator on a few things, particularly in regards to characterization. But I don’t think that ruins the official release, and I don’t think anyone should shun or scorn it on the whole. We should engage curiously and thoughtfully about why it is the way it is, and what else can be gleaned from the original text.

Having said all that, you actually inspired me to do a little series examining the wins and losses of the official release, so please look forward to that.

[13lunarstar]

Chitra

The fourteenth nakshatra

Degrees: from 23°20' in Virgo zodiac to 6°40' in Libra zodiac.

The ruler of nakshatra: Mars (sanks. Mangal)

Nakshatra's guna: rajas(human)

Chitra keywords: creativity, artistry, attention to detail, independence, passion, desire for beauty, refinement, dynamism, and a desire for innovation

Chitra translates as "the bright one" or "the beautiful one".

Symbol: a shining jewel or a bright, sparkling gem / pearl

Chitra as Lagna (the Rising Sign): this nakshatra is ruled by Mars, which imparts a dynamic and energetic quality to individuals with Chitra rising, however, it is important to assess the strength and the harmony of Mars in the birth chart (Rasi). They are often driven by a desire for growth, progress, and achievement, and may be willing to put in the effort to realize their goals. Individuals with Chitra Lagna are often blessed with a creative and artistic temperament. They have a keen eye for aesthetics, design, and beauty, and may excel in fields that require precision and craftsmanship: fashion, interior decoration, photography, or any form of visual arts. People with Chitra rising value their independence and individuality. They prefer to follow their own path rather than conform to societal norms. They have a strong sense of self and may strive to express their uniqueness in their personal and professional endeavours.

Sun in Chitra: with this placement, individuals may channel their creative energies into their pursuits, whether it be in the arts, business, or any other field. They have ambitious goals and are willing to put in the effort to achieve them. Chitra Nakshatra is known for its meticulous attention to detail. Individuals with the Sun in Chitra may have a perfectionist streak and a desire to excel in their endeavours. They pay close attention to the finer points and may have a talent for bringing beauty and refinement to their work. Individuals with the Sun in Chitra Nakshatra may have a strong desire to be recognized for their talents and achievements. They seek validation and acknowledgement for their creative endeavours and may work hard to establish their reputation in their chosen field. Chitra Nakshatra spans both Virgo and Libra, representing the balance between individuality and collaboration. Individuals with the Sun in Chitra may navigate between these energies, finding ways to express their unique creativity while also working harmoniously with others.

Moon in Chitra: In Chitra, the Moon can make individuals sensitive, reflective, and imaginative. They may have a deep inner world and be attuned to the subtleties of their emotions. Chitra Nakshatra spans the signs of Virgo and Libra, representing the balance between individuality and collaboration. Individuals with the Moon in Chitra may seek harmony in their relationships and environments. They value peace, balance, and fairness in their interactions with others. People with the Moon in Chitra may have a perfectionist streak and strive for excellence in everything they do. They may be highly critical of themselves and others, but they also have a keen eye for detail and quality. Chitra Nakshatra is symbolized by a shining jewel, representing the search for meaning and significance. Individuals with the Moon in Chitra may be on a quest for spiritual or emotional fulfilment. They may seek deeper meaning in their experiences and relationships, striving to find beauty and purpose in life.

Mars in Chitra: amplifies its energy since it is the natural ruler of this nakshatra. Individuals with Mars in Chitra are dynamic, energetic, and assertive. They have a strong drive to achieve their goals and may pursue them with passion and determination. Individuals may channel their energy into creative pursuits and innovative projects. They are not afraid to take risks and may push the boundaries to achieve their creative vision. Chitra is known for its meticulous attention to detail, and Mars here adds a sense of precision and craftsmanship to the individual's actions. They are thorough in their task approach and strive for perfection in everything they do. People with Mars in Chitra can balance their creative impulses with a sense of pragmatism, allowing them to turn their ideas into tangible results.

Mercury in Chitra: brings to individuals a meticulous and detail-oriented approach. They have a sharp mind and pay close attention to the finer points of any situation or task. Chitra is known for its perfectionist tendencies. With Mercury here, individuals may have a strong desire for perfection in their work and communication. They may be highly critical of themselves and others but also possess a keen eye for detail and quality. People with Mercury may have innovative thinking and problem-solving skills. They are open to new ideas and approaches and may excel in fields that require thinking outside the box. Chitra is associated with refinement and sophistication. Natives with Mercury in Chitra may have a love for beauty and aesthetics in their communication style. They may appreciate eloquence, elegance, and subtlety in language and expression.

Jupiter in Chitra: encourages individuals to think big and dream boldly. They may have a broad vision for their creative projects, seeking to make a significant impact or inspire others with their work. They may be drawn to projects that have a larger purpose or serve a higher ideal. With Jupiter in Chitra, individuals may be driven by a desire to create meaning and purpose through their creative endeavours. They may use their artistic talents to explore spiritual themes, philosophical concepts, or social issues, seeking to uplift and inspire others through their work. While this placement encourages individuals to dream big, it also reminds them to ground their visions in reality. They may need to balance their idealism with practical considerations, ensuring that their creative projects are both inspired and achievable.

Venus in Chitra: brings individuals a deep appreciation for beauty in all its forms. They are drawn to art, design, fashion, and architecture, and may have a talent for creating aesthetically pleasing environments. Chitra is known for its meticulous attention to detail. With Venus here, these people may have a refined aesthetic sense and a talent for bringing beauty and elegance to their surroundings. They pay close attention to the finer points and may have a knack for creating aesthetically pleasing arrangements or compositions. A good placement for any type of craftsmanship, painting, sculpture, music, or any form of artistic expression. In relationships Venus in Chitra individuals seek harmony and balance. They value love, companionship, and mutual respect, and may go to great lengths to maintain harmonious connections with others.

Saturn in Chitra: represents discipline and hard work. In Chitra individuals with Saturn approach their creative endeavors with high discipline and perseverance. They are willing to put in the effort and time necessary to achieve mastery in their craft. These people carefully plan, organize and execute their work, paying meticulous attention to detail along the way. They may prefer to follow established methods and traditions in their creative process. Saturn in Chitra individuals are patient and methodical in their approach, ensuring that every aspect of their work meets their high standards. They may take on leadership roles in artistic or creative organizations, guiding others with wisdom and experience. Even though these individuals may face challenges and obstacles in their creative endeavours, they are resilient and determined to overcome them. They learn valuable lessons from setbacks and use them as opportunities for growth and self-improvement. Overall, Saturn in Chitra brings the need to balance creativity and practicality.

Rahu in Chitra: may bring these people a unique and avant-garde approach to their creative endeavors. Rahu in Chitra individuals approach their creative projects with intensity and passion. They are driven by a deep inner desire to express themselves creatively and may become completely immersed in their artistic pursuits. Rahu in Chitra individuals may have a tendency to push boundaries and explore new frontiers in their creative pursuits. They are not bound by traditional norms or conventions and may be drawn to experimental or cutting-edge forms of art. Chitra Nakshatra is known for its meticulous attention to detail, and Rahu here adds a sense of obsession to the individual's creative output. They may become fixated on perfecting every aspect of their work, striving for excellence in their craft. This placement speaks about the need to balance creativity and personal ambition.

Ketu in Chitra: here individuals may have a deep inner wisdom and spiritual insight. They are naturally more introspective and may seek answers to life's deeper questions through their creative pursuits. They may use art as a means of self-discovery and self-healing, delving deep into their subconscious to uncover hidden truths and insights. Also, this placement highlights a sense of detachment in people's approach to their creative endeavours. They are not attached to the outcome of their work and may create art for the sake of self-expression rather than external validation or recognition ( as with Rahu in Chitra for example). Ketu in Chitra individuals may prefer simplicity and minimalism in their lives, especially in their creative expression. They are drawn to clean lines, subtle textures, and understated elegance in their artwork. They may find beauty in the simplicity of form and the purity of expression. Overall, Ketu in Chitra speaks about the need to balance creativity and detachment.

[comikadraws]

how often is hashirama demonized or made out to be a villain while having his positive qualities ignored or even omitted compared to tobirama? it seems to be that tobirama is more disliked and even demonized.

Definitely. Though I can also see why and, to a degree, agree with them.

Of course, there will always be exceptions (for example, I have a mutual who harbors a burning hatred for Hashirama), but generally speaking, Hashirama often gets treated like an angel compared to Tobirama.

Hashirama is the one who founded the village and fans usually associate him with that perfect image Hashirama made up in his mind. Peace, stability, friendship.

But Tobirama is the one who actually structured the village and fans associate him with his failings. The brutality of the shinobi system, the wars waged by Konoha, the corruption in the village's government.

Both, I find, are actually fair assessments of their characters, though very one-sided. The nuances are missing.

What I believe people like to forget is that most of the village and its political relationships were built and structured by Tobirama during Hashirama's time in office. That means Hashirama oversaw the process and agreed to Tobirama's ideas.

As I explained in a different post, and as paradoxical as it may sound, Hashirama's initial goal to protect the lives of children became second to the wellbeing of the village. The village that was established for the purpose of protecting children. As Hashirama lost sight of his original goal, children were sacrificed and ended up protecting the village and not the other way around.

Madara says that Hashirama mistook the cause for the end or put the cart before the horse, depending on the translation. Hashirama, looking back at his village's history, openly admits that these were circumstances he had considered acceptable in the grand scheme of things. A mistake, as we all know.

To make matters worse, Tobirama also gets the bigot treatment from the fandom. Or rather, the fandom has identified him as what they perceive to be a racist. I have further talked about the whole issue in this post, but long story short, Tobirama makes a good training dummy for that sort of discussion but within a fandom context - even if it distorts Kishimoto's initial vision, as I have explained in this post.

What is strangely interesting is that Hashirama seemingly agrees with Tobirama's theories (about the nature of the Uchiha Clan) yet doesn't get the same amount of hate that Tobirama does for this prejudice. I have previously explained this detail in this post. The fandom's perception seems to be influenced a lot by Tobirama's and Hashirama's respective personalities and their resulting actions rather than beliefs.

And Hashirama genuinely does have more (or at least more striking) positive traits than Tobirama. He is more likable. Meanwhile Tobirama's personality, in the databooks, is described as "bold, zealous, rational, principled", whereas Hashirama's traits are listed as "warm, considerate, carefree and easy-going". Particularly Tobirama's brutal honesty and rationality are unpopular character traits.

I also somewhat implied this above, but I also believe the fandom tends to simplify and reduce the Hokage a lot to their most striking character traits or their most striking accomplishments/failings (which are not even necessarily connected to their time as Hokage).

You can see that reflected in polls. This one was made by @/narutopolls.

Hiruzen "wins" by a ridiculous percentage because he is the Hokage whose failings we have been confronted the most with during the series. His leniency on Danzo and Orochimaru, the Third Great Shinobi War that was waged during his reign, Naruto's neglect and ostracization, the mishandled Hyuga Affair, the Uchiha Genocide, and so on and so forth.

The problem is just that we don't really know that much about the other Hokage and their respective legacies aside from Tsunade maybe. Most of the decisions we see from her are in relation to Naruto, but even then she does do things for the village like founding medical law or strengthening relations with Suna. But also, her reign was not as morally complex as other Hokages' and she had the power of hindsight on her side, thanks to Danzo already having proven his untrustworthiness during Hiruzen's reign. The decisions she made are not exactly decisions other Hokage wouldn't have made in that specific scenario (Hiruzen also tried to prevent wars if we look at the Hyuga Affair and wasn't opposed to medical law, even if he didn't act on it). But we honestly don't know what Tsunade would've done in their shoes. Still, she just so happens to be a very positive, likable character with no obvious political disasters. She had less screw-ups, sure, but also she reigned during a less morally challenging time. Is she a positive figure? Yes! Would she still be if the circumstances were harder? No idea!

In regards to Minato and Kakashi, we barely even know what they did in office. Could be anything, really, but they have likable personalities and cool fights, so they are better regarded than the others and we assume that they must have excelled as much as political leaders as they have excelled in our hearts.

Naruto we also barely know anything about. You could give him shit for not abolishing the use of child soldiers, but neither did any Hokage before him. Or you might dislike him for stopping Sasuke's revolution, but he did that before his time as Hokage. So why did Naruto get voted third worst Hokage? I'd daresay it's because people were able to watch his failings on screen and that soured his character for them.

All of this is just to prove that (with the exception of Hiruzen) people seem to base their perception of a character's competence on their affinity toward that character.

And now, apply all this to Tobirama and Hashirama. We barely have any particular failings to directly connect to Hashirama. We just know about his founding of the village, his mercy and empathy for the Uchiha, and his positive personality. But that's because we never saw him actually fulfilling his Hokage duties to begin with. Additionally, while in office, he had the support of his more rational and cunning brother to prevent political disaster. He was never given the opportunity to disappoint us.

In the case of Tobirama, he gets credited specifically for the village's (poor) planning, he openly expresses prejudice toward the Uchiha (who are fan favorites), and has an unlikable personality. In the case of Tobirama too, we never got to see him in the position of Hokage and only ever witnessed the aftermath. Unlike Hashirama, for all we know, Tobirama did not receive any particular assistance to balance out his negative personality traits. He was never given the opportunity to win us over.

This creates a sharp contrast between the two. It elevates one brother's failings and facilitates choosing a "worse" brother to turn into a scapegoat for the other. And while, yes, certain things apply to both Hashirama and Tobirama (their willingness to train and use child soldiers, or their shared belief in the Uchiha's innate predisposition to strong love and hatred), we can also say that one of them actively caused those circumstances while the other mostly just condoned or supported them. They are both responsible, just to different degrees.

The only thing I really disagree with is that many fans completely absolve Hashirama of all blame or fail to even notice his faults to begin with.

[gigai-translations]

Mahoutsukai no Hako ft. Mahoyo Characters ENG Translation

Illustrated by CHANxCO, this is a gag script from the Mahoutsukai no Hako TYPE-MOON official mobile site. I liked this segment particularly because it features Mahoyo characters and I love Mahoyo.

Images and transcript under the cut.

PAGE 1

Aoko: Hmm, this cafe ain't bad, huh? 

Alice: Right. When you said you'd be entering, I was concerned about what we'd get ourselves into.  

Aoko: With a place like this, wouldn't you look forward to the tea here? 

Alice: Hm, how so? It's not like you can assess the quality of tea based on the interior of the place. 

Aoko: You just don't trust my intuition. Anyways, excuse me, waitress! 

Chikage: uuu… Decided on an order? What's it gonna be? 

Alice: That doesn't sound hospitable.

Aoko: Ugh–

Chikage: Huh? I didn't say anything rude. 

Keitai: No matter how you look at it, you were being rude!!! At this point, the foliage would be more reliable for taking orders! 

Aoko: Eh??

Chikage: Waa—!? Don't just come out willy-nilly!! 

Alice: …….

PAGE 2

*Alice steps on Keitai* 

Keitai: bururbuur *makes pain noises* 

Aoko: Hey, hey!! Alice, what are you doing?! 

Alice: Nothing, just felt a strong sense of *familiarity* with this one. 

Hibiki: Chika-chan! Chika-chan! It sounds kinda loud here, did something happen? I wanna join in! 

Chikage: Don't worry about it. Just the usual business. 

Hibiki: Oh, Keitai's being stepped on. 

Aoko: Is this y'all's toy? Here, sorry about the violent assault we've inflicted on it. 

Hibiki: Ahahaha! Thanks! 

Keitai: Oi!! Why would you call me a toy?! You see a smartphone, call it a smartphone–burhusnunw 

Chikage: All your chatter is pointless. Just shut up. 

Alice: It sounded like that small, blue object spoke. 

Hibiki: There's nothing odd about it! After all, it's just a regular smartphone! See see, it can take photos! 

Keitai: *Ching!!*

Aoko: A smart….phone? 

Hibiki: Yup yup! A smartphone!! 

Aoko: No way, this is different from anything I know. Also, photos?! Where does the film go?!? On top of that, why would you need to use a phone to take photos?!

Alice: To begin with, isn't the notion of a portable phone pure nonsense? 

Chikage: wha- what's with those reactions? Did you two just come out of the mountains today? 

Aoko: Guh—!

Aoko: Alice, I can't believe it. Was I just stooped to Soujurou's level right now?

Alice: Stay strong, Aoko. I, too, just felt the same way. 

Hibiki: Huh? They seem to be really shocked. 

Keitai: uhyo!! Uhyohyohyo!! Miss Blue is from an era virtually similar to prehistoric times, ei? Are you realizing now how great it must be to witness the signs of the 21st century's height of technology?!

Aoko: I don't get it but are you trying to pick a fight?! You're picking a fight with me aren't you?! I got nothing on you now but cuz of that, I'm gonna go to the 30th century and swipe the latest K-TAI!! 

Chikage: Don't you start a fight!! And you! Stop getting so heated about it!! 

Soujurou: That's right. Fighting isn't good, Aozaki.

Aoko: …wha–

Hibiki: Oh, Soujurou-san! 

PAGE 3 

Chikage: Eh? You guys know each other? 

Alice: Shizuku-kun, what are you doing here? 

Soujurou: You ask but it's what it looks like, this is my part-time job. 

Aoko: You've increased your number of jobs again. Why you–! 

Soujurou: I was told my way of brewing black tea was poor and that really struck me. And so, I was allowed to work here to study more about tea brewing. 

Alice: This tea… it's Darjeeling. Is this Shizuki's brew? 

Soujurou: Drinking this is meant to relax you. You're coming into a cafe with a nice atmosphere so it's fruitless to be on edge all the time. 

**

Keitai: Ah, this young monk! What will he come up with afte—burbdjbd

Chikage: That's enough. You should shut up. 

**

Aoko: Well, if you say so, then I'll leave it at that. Alice seems to like it. How is it? 

Alice: I'm not partial to it but I don't feel anything terrible from the tea either. 

Aoko: Hehe, sounds great! In that case, I'll dig in! 

Alice: …

Aoko: Soujurou…

Soujurou: Yes, what is it? I'd like to hear any impressions you have. 

*Aoko slaps Soujurou* 

Aoko: It's like you haven't improved at all!! 

Soujurou: Guaaa!! 

Aoko: It's tepid!! It's bitter!! On top of that, it  fucking smells!! Drop that shit-eating self-satisfied smile off your face!! 

Alice: So, what does he do in this cafe? 

Hibiki: He washes the dishes! 

Soujurou: Yeah! That's the errand boy from the front gate! 

Aoko: Apologize!! Apologize to the kid! Until you can be a top-notch tea-server, you're training your ass off here 'til the very end!! I'll even rent out the cafe's kitchen!! 

Hibiki: eeehhh… we might have a bit of trouble with that… 

Alice: May I order the high class wagyu beef stew? He'll pay for it. 

Hibiki: You're just gonna heartlessly take advantage of him while he's getting beaten??

Keitai: Haa, I just knew when those people came, it was gonna be nothing but chaos, ei!

Chikage: This is mainly your fault!! 

----END----

If you'd like to view the transcript along with my TL notes, you can do so here:

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Inside Climate News:

Most people are “very” or “extremely” concerned about the state of the natural world, a new global public opinion survey shows. 

Roughly 70 percent of 22,000 people polled online earlier this year agreed that human activities were pushing the Earth past “tipping points,” thresholds beyond which nature cannot recover, like loss of the Amazon rainforest or collapse of the Atlantic Ocean’s currents. The same number of respondents said the world needs to reduce carbon emissions within the next decade. 

Just under 40 percent of respondents said technological advances can solve environmental challenges. 

The Global Commons survey, conducted for two collectives of “economic thinkers” and scientists known as Earth4All and the Global Commons Alliance, polled people across 22 countries, including low-, middle- and high-income nations. The survey’s stated aim was to assess public opinion about “societal transformations” and “planetary stewardship.”

The results, released Thursday, highlight that people living under diverse circumstances seem to share worries about the health of ecosystems and the environmental problems future generations will inherit. 

But there were some regional differences. People living in emerging economies, including Kenya and India, perceived themselves to be more exposed to environmental and climate shocks, like drought, flooding and extreme weather. That group expressed higher levels of concern about the environment, though 59 percent of all respondents said they are “very” or “extremely” worried about “the state of nature today,” and another 29 percent are at least somewhat concerned.  

Americans are included in the global majority, but a more complex picture emerged in the details of the survey, conducted by Ipsos.

Roughly one in two Americans said they are not very or not at all exposed to environmental and climate change risks. Those perceptions contrast sharply with empirical evidence showing that climate change is having an impact in nearly every corner of the United States. A warming planet has intensified hurricanes battering coasts, droughts striking middle American farms and wildfires threatening homes and air quality across the country. And climate shocks are driving up prices of some food, like chocolate and olive oil, and consumer goods. 

Americans also largely believe they do not bear responsibility for global environmental problems. Only about 15 percent of U.S. respondents said that high- and middle-income Americans share responsibility for climate change and natural destruction. Instead, they attribute the most blame to businesses and governments of wealthy countries. 

Those survey responses suggest that at least half of Americans may not feel they have any skin in the game when it comes to addressing global environmental problems, according to Geoff Dabelko, a professor at Ohio University and expert in environmental policy and security. 

Translating concern about the environment to actual change requires people to believe they have something at stake, Dabelko said. “It’s troubling that Americans aren’t making that connection.”

[covid-safer-hotties]

Face masks and protection against COVID-19 and other viral respiratory infections: Assessment of benefits and harms in children - Published Sept 6, 2024 (Paywalled, of course)

New additon to our "The Ugly" board (alongside, "The Good" and "The Bad"). These fools don't even see illness as a potential harm that induces *checks notes* literally everything bad they say masks do to kids. Who here can run and play when they're bedridden from preventable illness? Who here goes to school when they're bedridden from a preventable illness? Since when is getting covid or the flu not harmful to children's potential for learning, but wearing a strip of cloth over their mouth an nose is? What world are these people living in? "Recommendations for masking children fail basic harm-benefit analyses." Well, how did this study pass a basic harm-benefit analysis?

Mask mandates for children were implemented at schools and childcare centers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the US continues to recommend masking down to the age of two in certain settings. Medical interventions should be informed by high-quality evidence and consider the possibility of harm (i.e., include harm-benefit analyses). In this review, we weigh the existing evidence for the effectiveness of mask mandates to protect against COVID-19 and other viral respiratory infections and the harms associated with face mask wearing in children. There is a lack of robust evidence of benefit from masking children to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2 or other respiratory viruses. The highest quality evidence available for masking children for COVID-19 or other viral respiratory infections has failed to find a beneficial impact against transmission. Mechanistic studies showing reduced viral transmission from use of face masks and respirators have not translated to real world effectiveness. Identified harms of masking include negative effects on communication and components of speech and language, ability to learn and comprehend, emotional and trust development, physical discomfort, and reduction in time and intensity of exercise. Effectiveness of child masking has not been demonstrated, while documented harms of masking in children are diverse and non-negligible and should prompt careful reflection. Recommendations for masking children fail basic harm-benefit analyses.

[absolutebl]

This week in BL - I am all over the place, But Laws of Attraction is Phenomenal af

July 2023 Wk 2

Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs. Organized by which ones (in each category) I’m enjoying most.

Ongoing Series - Thai

Laws of Attraction (Thai Sat iQIYI) 1 of 8 - Icky picked it up but it’s not airing for me until Sundays so I held this post specifically to watch and talk about this show. Stars the pair from To Sir With Love with the same production team. IT’S SO GOOD Y’ALL. A morally corrupted trickster lawyer with a tragic past, sad eyes, and a beautiful smile that he uses like a weapon. Meets paladin martial arts instructor from other side of the tracks (who is out, at least to his baby sister). Corrupt police. Spoiled rich kid evil. Ambitious politician. Tragic death. Terrible subs.* This show is very like Manner of Death but so far it is a much better/tighter story. It’s NOT BL but it is fucking phenomenal. And you shoudl watch it. Not wait to binge it. WATCH IT. On a global scale this might be the best thing currently airing featuring gay romantic leads. Its really fucking good. It’s Lawless Lawyer but more complex character motivation and gay af. Fuck yes please and thank you. FINALLY. Triggers for violence, beatings, death & torture depicted on screen. Like MoD they are not holding back.  (* A lot of the familial names they are using are not gendered in Thai but translated as such, like “nephew”. This one is gonna go down a lot easier if you know some Thai.)

Step By Step (Tues WeTV & Gaga) ep 12fin - 2 years pass and no one’s hairstyle changes? Srs. Them meeting again = hella AWKWARD. Both still pining & hurt. NO SINGING. The reconciliation scene was great. I enjoyed that on the “do over relationship” they went with phi/pom (instead of the super formal khuns). So cute and so much more relaxed. Also lots of neck kisses! Charming final ep. It’s only flaw being they dropped the side couple, but I wasn’t really into them anyway. Ultimately? This is what Boss & Babe should have been and could we please have Up lead out another BL? I miss him and he only gets prettier. Full review below.

La Pluie (Sat iQIYI) ep 12fin - I adore the tiny little baby GL thread that we almost got. And I wish we had had more of it throughout the show. The side couple turned out to be good too. Emotional crying kisses are my favorite. Sunshine netted himself an earnest serious romantic boy, we likey. As for the main couple? Well... Tai’s search story arc was dull and dragging in a final ep and it felt bloated and slow as a result. It was a good confession reunion with Tai figuring all of his shit out, not surprising but fine. Kind of a a weak final ep. Full review below. 

Hidden Agenda (Thai Sun GMMTV YouTube) ep 1 of 12 - JoonDunk are back and we have all seen this a million times before, but Thailand never executed a successful formula it didn’t want to repeat a million times over, drunk bathroom and everything. Welcome (back) to Thai BL (and back and back and back). Basically they just added glasses, a new 1-shared-brain-cell friendship group, and different uni departments. Ah GMMTV, forever trying to recreate the magic of 2gether. But also I’m enjoying it. I’m a simple person. (Hi Jamie! Still in college since 2018 I see.) Anyone else notice that Chinese phrase that they did not translate for us? Mmm hum. Cute. Still... NO SINGING. 

Low Frequency (Sat iQIYI) ep 2 of 8 - Thames is in coma and getting slagged off on the socials. It’s moving a bit slowly but the premise is interesting despite the poor quality of the execution. 

Dinosaur Love (Sun iQIYI) ep 3 of 8 eps - Major trigger for self harm depicted on screen in part 2/4. I skipped it. Then there is assault and verbal abuse. I told you Ultimate Troop is NOT to be trusted. 

Be Mine Super Star (Mon Viki) ep 2 of 12 - Look, I don’t really mind this show but I also don’t like second hand embarrassment and I sense a metric butt ton incoming.

Be My Favorite (Fri YouTube) ep 8 of 12 - I was not best pleased with this episode. Ya’ll round the tumblr-sphere seem to be enjoying it but I have officially hit the wall on Kawi. There is not enough booze for me to cope with his shizz. I may be alone in this. But gotta say how I feel... Unlike him. Trash watch here.

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Tokyo in April is... AKA Shigatsu no Tokyo wa (Japan Thurs Gaga) ep 5 of 8 - Poor Ren, he feels compelled to take on the burden of protecting everyone from sexual assault because he blames himself. And he can’t even talk to his boyfriend about it. Oh fuck me the pair of shoes at the door. And neck kisses? TOO MUCH. Argh. Japan. Why must you hurt so good? 

Stay By My Side (Taiwan Fri Gaga) 3 of 10 eps - It’s a very cute show. All the tropes and archetypes with no fuss or attempts to be clever, just executing them (sometimes over and over again). Even hiccoughs as a result of flirting! I haven’t seen that one in ages. The show feels old fashioned as a result. Nostalgic. I’m good with that. 

Tie The Not (Pinoy YouTube) ep 6 of 8 - Sad boys still sad now drunk. (Noooooo shoes on bed! Argh.) Finally kisses! Also good ones for a large portion of this ep. Plus hair pulling. And verse rep! And after sex convo. Then side dishes have a whole proper gay ax covo about top/bottom. Everyone say thank you Philippines! get down with your queer selves! 

Stupid Genius (Vietnam Fri YouTube) ep 6fin - I believe this was the final episode. It was cute. This is a standard sort of semi-crappy VBL high school drama. Enjoyable in its floppy friendliness, weirdly like a queer after school special promoting education. Dead fish kisses but fine for what it is. 7/10 

Minato's Laundromat Season 2 AKA Minato Shouji Coin Laundry Season 2 (Japan Thu Gaga) 2 of 12 eps - Activate cohabitation trope. They okay bfs. Minato not as frustrating this week, but still frustrating for me and Shin. Next week = cute outfits and dumb miscommunication yay!

Vian the series (Vietnam YouTube ) ep 11 of 12 - again it didn’t show up on my dash in time for this. I’ll pop it into next week. 

It’s airing but ...

House of Stars (Thai Mon iQIYI) 12 eps - I bounced at ep 3. Will binge if told it is worth it at end.

Stay (Pinoy YouTube) 7 eps - It’s mostly English & set in LA (shudder) so I’m not bothering.

Stay With Me ... NO I WILL NOT! And you can’t make me.

Ended This Week

Step By Step Series Review  

This was Thailand’s answer to The New Employee, and everything I loved about that show I loved about this one. This was an office romance between stern boss and sweet subordinate that felt more authentic to an office environment than previous Thai BLs of this ilk. And that authenticity added tension to the narrative and character development (how novel). Now that might be because it has western source material, or it might be because it is actually kind of old-fashioned (it’s been years since I worked as an office grunt). I also really enjoyed the brothers’ relationship, and kinda wished they hadn’t attempted (and failed) to give said brother his own side BL. That one flaw made it a 9/10 for me. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

La Pluie Series Review

This BL takes to task the fated mates trope and what it means to have love chained intimately to predestination. It’s about how faith in destiny before choice diminishes the authenticity of emotion, relationships, and connection. This is a high concept to examine through the lens of a BL. By activating + examining the soulmates trope this show is challenging a foundation of romance: the idea that there is one person meant to be your one romantic partner all your life. This means that we, as viewers, spend much of the show worried about it having a happy ending, and that’s the source of both its brilliance and tension: would the narrative have the strength to truly challenge its own romantic core? But, ultimately, all this elevated complexity was executed in a somewhat shaky manner with the narrative derailing into some serious pacing issues and characters manipulated by miscommunication. However, with good chemistry and decent acting all around, plus some excellent high heat and representation of consent and a few other rare tropes, this one has to (like it’s sibling show My Ride) earn a 9/10. I enjoyed it even as it made me think, so despite its flaws: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Next Week Looks Like This:

Starting:  

7/19 Wedding Plan (Thai Wed YouTube & iQIYI)  - It's Mame and she's coming for our GL. She's such a misogynist IMAGINE what we will get with a GL side dish? It's going to be absolute carnage. To crane your neck as you drive by the car wreck or not? That is the question. Me? I'm wallowing in the guts. Trying to decide to trash watch or not... 

7/20 Jun & Jun (Korea Thu Viki) - From 2022 I CAN’T FUCKING WAIT! So excited for this one. 

2023 forthcoming BL master post (see comments, some are inaccurate, NOT KEPT UPDATED)

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

FYI roselle juice is made from hibiscus (a flower) so technically neither a tea nor a juice. (Hidden Agenda)

Tie the Not = all the verse rep this ep. I love this for them. 

The giggling was SO DAMN CUTE (Step by Step, na?) 

We all guessed it but it was still fun. (Stupid Genius) Also miracles of miracles, two actors who actually look like they could be brothers play brothers. 

First time I’ve seen faen translated as significant other. (Laws of Attraction)

THE PAIN! (Tokyo) 

(Last week.)

[charles-leclerc-official]

https://x.com/formulapassion/status/1784969708153745791?s=46

on the episode of we can’t find anything wrong with his talent and skill so we will use any stupid extracurricular quality as an excuse to criticize him👍

This is a link to a tweet with an article with the caption "Robert Doornbos believes that Charles Leclerc's personality will be an obstacle for him in the fight with Lewis Hamilton" (google translated from Italian)

Now I appreciate where you are coming from, because yes I think critique of a driver should first and foremost be focused on their driving and overall performance on track. But I do think that personality is a fair thing to consider as it does play a role in how someone works with a team/teammates. Team principals say all the time that this is a consideration.

Now I do think that they are wrong in this assessment. First that there will be a big fight with Lewis is a weird assumption that people are making, yes there will be competition between teammates that is expected but I don't know where this expectation of them being really bad as far as competition between them goes.

Additionally this article says that the main issue with Charles is that he's too nice/sweet to become WDC. HAVE THEY SEEN CHARLES?! You mean track terror Charles? The one who has Helmut Marko having weekly nightmares? The one who was so scary in Austria 2019 that MAX VERSTAPPEN apologized to him in Vegas?

Charles greatest con is successfully making the world believe that he is all smiles and dimples when he is actually just insane and somehow comes out on top in political situations. You think he is number 1 at Ferrari because he's sweet? Really?!??

I think critiquing a driver's attitude and overall mental game approach as well as how they get on with teammates is fair because that is actually part of F1 and does play a role in success as a driver. But they just have it completely wrong here.

Remember that Charles goes from this to this in a matter of 1/100ths of a second

"Who's afraid of little old me? . . . You should be."

[tarotfairy0919]

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･Major Arcana - 20. Judgment

©tarotfairy0919 - all rights reserved. do not copy, translate, alter or repost my work.

Please REBLOG if you find this information useful! ༄˖°🪐.ೃ࿔*

Judgement can come in the form of your own personal judgment and in that case the card is telling you to be careful how you proceed

Astrological sign or planet - Pluto

Element - Fire

Key meaning - assessment and letting go of the past

YES card

🔮 Qualities of the card - decision, calling, resurrection 🔮 Associated object and location - an unexpected call or visit, a party invitation

🌠Upright meaning

time to come to a decision about the past

you will feel you have acted with integrity and did the best you could

your confidence and wisdom will grow

home - you may be drawn to an old property; consider returning to a place with happy memories

relationships - love shifts into a new phase; the need for reconciliation; single - revisit an old relationship and decide if it is worth trying again; this card comes up after a relationship is already over or about to end

career and money - acknowledgment for your success is coming; thinking about the future and that you need to make some important decisions

🌠Reversed meaning

refuse to learn the lesson that is there in front of you

being in old patterns and not being able to break free

feeling trapped and unable to progress without really understanding why

doubting yourself

cannot make a decision

Reflections

+ 6 of Cups = nostalgia and reunions

+ 9 of Cups = contentment in achievement

The above dividers don't belong to me, credits to their respective owners.

[bookreviewcoffee]

Ariel

Sylvia Plath

It is difficult to write about Sylvia Plath's work. On the one hand she is one of the founders of the genre of "confessional poetry" and for her poetic works she was awarded the "Pulitzer Prize" in 1982 (posthumously).... On the other hand, the very public activity of Sylvia and her tragic death (suicide). However, the official version (suicide) was initially questioned by Sylvia Plath's relatives, who considered it a murder, arguing that similar mysterious deaths of Asya Vevil and her daughter Shura, which suggested the existence of a "series", and its "protagonist" was Sylvia Plath's husband Ted Hughes and at the same time Asya Vevil's lover. However, the matter did not go further than the assumptions. However, the poetry of Sylvia Plath perfectly characterises the environment in which she had to exist. This is particularly clear in the poems: "Sheep in the Fog", "Elm". "Death and Company", "On the Way There", "The Hanged Man", "The Edge" .... In the circumstances of the death of Sylvia Plath remains much unclear. It has been suggested that this suicide was actually a kind of thwarted staging: if the neighbour downstairs read the note addressed to him, the tragedy would probably have been prevented. The neighbour himself, Trevor Thomas, who had been unconscious for several hours - under the influence of the same gas that had leaked onto his floor - believed that Plath had switched on the cooker as a "distress call" for him to come to her rescue. That it was indeed a suicide is indicated by the testimony of the same neighbour, Trevor Thomas, that he had seen Sylvia the night before. "She had gone round to his house to get a stamp she was going to use to send a letter to America. She seemed unwell and nervous to Trevor. Plath insisted on reimbursing him for the value of the stamp. When he suggested that she not worry about it, Sylvia said that "otherwise her conscience before God would not be clear." The case of Sylvia Plath weaves together incompatible things - faith in God and suicide, which in Christianity is treated as one of the deadly sins. As for the poetry of Sylvia Plath and her first posthumous collection "Ariel", in my opinion an edition of such quality lacks the parallel text of the original. Without the latter at hand, it is difficult to assess the quality of the translation and the author's thought. Often one mistranslated or inaccurately translated word changes the whole idea of the work. But the fact that Sylvia Plath's poetry is really sincere and penetrates into the very soul allows her to classify it as confessional poetry.....

[horoscope1078]

Gavi 😊

With the Sun in Leo, Gavi shines naturally and has a confident, charismatic presence. Leos are known for their leadership qualities, and he’s likely someone who thrives in the spotlight, feeling at home when taking centre stage. This placement suggests he’s passionate, proud, and loves to express himself, which translates to a bold and dynamic playing style on the field. His enthusiasm and natural leadership qualities could make him a key figure in any team.

The Moon in Aries makes Gavi emotionally driven, energetic, and impulsive. He likely feels things intensely and reacts quickly, especially under pressure. Aries Moon people are competitive and courageous, always ready to take on challenges head-on. This placement gives him a fiery emotional drive, making him passionate and aggressive in pursuit of his goals, both on and off the pitch.

Mercury in Virgo gives Gavi a sharp, analytical mind. He’s likely very detail-oriented and precise in his thinking and communication. This placement suggests that he’s practical and methodical in his approach, able to assess situations logically. In football, this could mean he has a great sense of strategy and tactics, always thinking several steps ahead to make the right decisions on the field.

Venus in Gemini makes Gavi sociable, curious, and playful in relationships. He likely enjoys engaging in conversations and connecting with people through intellect and wit. This placement suggests he’s adaptable and enjoys variety, which could mean he has a dynamic and versatile approach to both personal relationships and teamwork. In football, this gives him a flexible style, able to adjust and adapt to different game situations easily.

Mars in Leo adds to Gavi’s bold and confident energy. He’s driven by passion and a desire to stand out. This placement suggests he’s a natural competitor, with a strong will to succeed and a flair for dramatic, decisive actions. On the field, this would make him a player who thrives under pressure, loves to take charge, and doesn’t shy away from big moments or tough challenges.

Jupiter in Virgo emphasises growth through hard work and attention to detail. Gavi is likely to find success through discipline and honing his skills. He’s probably someone who takes his training and preparation very seriously, focusing on perfecting the small details that can make a big difference in his performance. This placement suggests that his path to success is through steady, consistent effort.

Saturn in Cancer indicates that Gavi might experience challenges around emotions and security. He could feel a sense of responsibility toward his family or team, often putting others’ needs before his own. This placement suggests that he might need to work on emotional boundaries and learn how to care for himself while also being supportive of others. In football, this could translate to a strong sense of loyalty and dedication to his team, but he may need to guard against taking on too much responsibility.

Uranus in Pisces brings a creative, intuitive, and somewhat unpredictable energy to Gavi’s personality. He might have flashes of insight or inspiration that seem to come out of nowhere, making him an innovative player. This placement suggests he’s open to unconventional ideas and approaches, which could make him a unique and inventive presence on the field, unafraid to try new tactics or take risks.

Neptune in Aquarius enhances Gavi’s vision and idealism. He’s likely to be drawn to causes that promote equality and teamwork, valuing the collective over individual glory. This placement suggests that he has a futuristic, forward-thinking mindset, always looking ahead and dreaming big. In football, this could mean he has a strong sense of vision and understands the bigger picture of how the team operates.

Pluto in Sagittarius gives Gavi a deep drive for growth, adventure, and transformation. He likely craves new experiences and challenges, always seeking to expand his horizons. This placement suggests he’s passionate about learning and pushing himself to explore new territories, both in life and in football. His intensity and desire for growth could make him a player who constantly seeks to improve and evolve.

The North Node in Taurus indicates that Gavi’s life path involves learning to embrace stability, patience, and material security. He’s here to develop a strong foundation and learn how to build things that last. In football, this could mean finding balance and learning to pace himself, focusing on long-term success rather than short-term wins.

Lilith in Cancer suggests that Gavi might have deep emotional sensitivities or fears around vulnerability. He may be protective of his emotions or have hidden insecurities related to family or personal life. This placement indicates that embracing his emotional side and learning to express vulnerability could be key to his personal growth.

Chiron in Capricorn suggests that Gavi may have wounds related to authority, responsibility, or feelings of inadequacy in achieving success. He might feel pressure to meet high standards or to prove his worth through his accomplishments. However, through overcoming these challenges, he can learn valuable lessons about perseverance and self-worth, ultimately turning his struggles into strengths.

Pablo Gavi has a strong, balanced personality with a deep emotional side, making him both determined and empathetic. He can be a bit secretive and stubborn, especially when it comes to his goals, and tends to keep his feelings hidden. He’s driven and confident, often using his inner strength to get what he wants, but sometimes he struggles with emotional expression and can feel weighed down by his responsibilities. He’s naturally creative, though his views can be extreme, and he’s not afraid to stand out. He has a strong sense of independence, but can sometimes clash with others over his ideas. His approach to life is a mix of hard work and wanting to break boundaries, but he also needs a stable, supportive environment to thrive.

Pablo has a friendly, charming side, but he can be a bit awkward socially at times. At work, he's well-liked, though he sometimes struggles with dissatisfaction and jealousy. He’s got a lot of energy and determination, which helps him succeed, but his life path can feel unclear and chaotic, with inner conflicts about what he wants. On the positive side, he’s smart, open to feedback, and good at thinking through challenges logically. He also has a strong desire to find new, creative ways to solve problems, which aligns with his personal growth and goals.

Pablo has a deeply empathetic nature, sometimes to his own detriment, as he may sacrifice too much for others or be taken advantage of. He’s highly intellectual and has a thirst for knowledge, often drawn to philosophy and big ideas. His determination is a key strength, but it can also make him stubborn and quick to judge, sometimes leading to intense changes in his life. His fighting spirit and passion for what he believes in can drive him to achieve great things, but it can also cause inner frustration if he’s not careful about staying focused on what truly matters. At times, he may feel torn between powerful forces that push him in different directions, leading to feelings of tension or obsession.

[theconstitutionisgayculture]

Why do you care so much about AO3? The fanfics in that place, most of them, are just as bad written and cringe as the ones in Tumblr or Wattpad. Most fanfic writers aren good writers, they can't write anything of their own so they climb to IPs that aren't theirs, mischaraterize the characters and plot to the point of acting completely different.

And when they get a job as writers or directors in the intertaiment industry (like Nia DaCosta in Marvel), they do a terrible job.

Because I disagree completely with your assessment of fanfiction and fanfiction writers and I don't think art should be censored. I also lived through the FFnet days of having your favorite stories disappear overnight because of the obtuse, unevenly enforced, and constantly changing content restrictions on that site. A place like AO3, that was founded to be a place where all content is welcome and protected, is rare and important. Increasingly so as time goes on and the "art is literally harming me" crowd gets more and more influence.

Most fanfic writers aren good writers, they can't write anything of their own so they climb to IPs that aren't theirs, mischaraterize the characters and plot to the point of acting completely different.

So, they're so uncreative that they need to latch onto established IPs because they can't think up their own ideas, but then they change those characters and plots to be something completely different than what they read? Interesting. Anyway, all art is derivative in some way. Depending on which analyses you want to believe, there are only 6-9 story types. Every single story falls within one of these types. You can sprinkle in genre tropes, anti-tropes, subversion, modern inventions, etc to make your own story more unique, but nothing is wholly original. So I don't consider that a valid criticism at all.

And when they get a job as writers or directors in the intertaiment industry (like Nia DaCosta in Marvel), they do a terrible job.

Now this I do agree with, but I don't blame fanfiction, I blame producers and studio executives and DEI policies. If the best person who applied was hired for the job, it wouldn't matter how many fanfic writers and Booktokers tried to get mainstream writing jobs, none of them would be chosen because objectively better writers would be hired. But when the studio policy says "you must hire a woman for this" and all the talented women are unavailable, and the applicants you get are a bunch of no name, no resume, women, but one of them has a built in following from their fanfic days, an executive who only cares about filling in a name on a hire sheet so the project can move on is going to probably pick the one with a following and hope that translates to ticket sales in the future. The entertainment industry as a whole is going through a massive depression right now, and exactly none of that can be blamed on fanfiction or fanfiction writers.

Fanfiction is a blessing. It's thousand of novel length stories written by people who like the same things you like, delivered for free on an easily accessible and searchable site. It lets you experience new interpretations of your favorite characters and stories, or lets you continue those stories as they might have been continued by the original writers. The quality varies, wildly sometimes, but you can pretty much always find something you like unless you just hate the entire concept of fanfic as a whole. Which is, of course, perfectly fine. But let's not pretend that we need to find objective reasons to subjectively dislike something. We can all just dislike the things we dislike, and we don't need a reason other than "I don't like this thing".

[ladyhindsight]

So recently I fell back down the rabbit hole that is the Shadowhunters series about five years after I finished all the available books with City of Heavenly Fire. While The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices haven’t really stuck significantly in my mind until I stumbled across your critiques of City of Lost Souls, it is a different story with The Dark Artifices. In a very bad way. Trite writing, a weird focus on features considered “exotic” (Emma’s blonde hair, Julian’s blue-green eyes, etc), generally poor character writing, the standard faire of issues that come from CC’s writing. But in particular I remember having issues with Ty Blackthorn and how his autism was portrayed, as someone who was professionally diagnosed. From what I recall from his arcs (specifically in QoAaD) a lot of his actions felt steeped in vainglory, him being confused about Kit leaving with Tessa without saying goodbye after heavily hurting Kit emotionally during the attempt to resurrect Livvy is the foremost example I can think of. It honestly really fucked with me when I first read it and made my internalized ableism a lot worse, something I am still trying to get over even now, as it made me afraid that is how other people saw me due to being on the spectrum. All that aside though, I wanted to ask you, since you generally are more familiar than CC’s work than I due to reading it at a more recent time, if people do consider Ty to be good autistic representation, and why or why not that may be. I want to know if my malice for Ty and what felt like an extremely offensive and, dare I say, borderline stereotypical portrayal of autism is just me being a bitch or if it is a common complaint amongst those willing to criticize Clare’s work.

Sorry if that was a massive fucking word salad I’ve been meaning to ask someone this question for almost half a decade after reading QoAaD😭😭

THE BLACKTHORN EYES. You shan’t forget. It’s been five years since I read Queen of Air and Darkness and I haven’t.

I find it difficult to assess to some degree how good a specific representation is. As to Ty, I’ve seen readers being incredibly happy with him and then vice versa like you. The difficulty lies in the way I think it’s misleading to look for general assertions in characters like Ty. How could you possibly represent a whole group of people that exists on a spectrum with varying degrees of symptoms that manifest in wide variety of ways with just one character? Another facet to the difficulty in assessing the quality of representation (Ty’s or in general) is that I hardly, if at all, identify with or like characters based on some traits they possess rather than how the character is in general, how the character works within the story, and what their dynamic is like with the other characters. The impression of a character is created in interaction with all the other elements of the book.

Ty is just one individual, and I’ve never looked at him as anything other than him being a representation of who he is, not what other people with autism generally are. Ty was based on a son of Clare’s friend, so I’d feel weird completely denouncing Ty's character, especially as someone not on the spectrum. Then again we all know how badly Clare translates real life stuff into her works and her writing, so… That being said, there are certain characteristics—I mean there has to be for a diagnosis even to exist or to be made—that need to be present. And those present with Ty, as you said, seem borderline if not exactly stereotypical.

What I am trying to say is that in and of itself and completely separate from the other elements, I don’t think Ty is the worst written character. My issue with Ty’s representation lies in its utilization in the story. For years now, Clare’s inclusion of different issues (social, societal, psychological, medical, neuropsychiatric etc.) has seemed more performative than genuine, which is relayed by the fact that the stories do not really focus on these issues, but mostly sidesteps them in favor of some boring aspect to the main romantic relationship. What truly then infuriates me, is treating what is supposed to be that representation almost as the sole aspect to that character, completely over-saturating their existence with this one (in this case) disorder, and then use it as a tool to elevate other characters.

The problem is glaring when Ty doesn’t live outside of that fact that he has autism but rather becomes the embodiment of it (especially considering there are no other characters with autism included in the series). People are more than their disorders, and though they are massive parts of everyday lives and sources of serious struggles to some people, reducing someone’s existence to just that is not it. Ty was there for the purpose of elevating Julian’s devotion and care for his family, to emphasize the love he has and the lengths he would go to in order to protect them. Clare wrote in one of her answers that she was glad people picked up on Ty’s autism, but how could they not? It was pushed into almost every scene he was in just so the readers would take notice. Clare does not know subtlety or subtext or have any sense of proportionality for which the writing was excessive.

You’re not a bitch lol, and what you said here is a common criticism from what I’ve ever seen. I don’t think you really need my take on whether to hold onto your malice (just offering my winding perspective here, bon appétit), since here you have justified and reasoned your opinion and feelings about Ty completely appropriately. Though it’s been years since I’ve interacted with anything to do with Clare’s fans or their opinions other than book reviews, I’ve found that the readers who tend to praise her writing rarely have such distinguished reasons for why so.  

Word salads are always welcome. I feel like I’m offering you one in return. :’)