#uninspired and cookie cutter

[yangscowlick]

I hope CaitVi do it nasty this weekend bc I feel we are in for a decade of milquetoast play-it-safe heteronorm in media.

[nutmeggery]

no way Solo Leveling pulled heavy inspiration from both The Neverending Story and Doctor Who in the same episode

look I can understand people who've never seen those think it's hype and original but it's a lot less enjoyable when you recognize ideas from other media that did it better

not hating but I do feel like the people who hyped this show up to me set me up for disappointment

[hot-take-tournament]

HOT TAKE TOURNAMENT!

PRELIMINARY #280

Submission 315

Squishmallows suck. Easily the second-worst plushie brand (second only to Beanie Boos but that's less controversial afaik)

1- They're the Funko Pops of plushies, all just slight variations on the same bland cookie-cutter outline: an oval/blob/egg-shape with a dead-eyed smiley face. They don't actually resemble the animals/creatures they're based on much, only slapping on one or two heavily simplified features like flat fabric triangles for ears, onto the otherwise identical shape. The designs are cheap, lazy, uninspired, and corporate. I prefer my stuffed animals to actually look like animals, and have limbs, and a variety of body shapes.

2- They're overpriced, and deliberately encourage over-consumption, with thousands of "collect them all" varieties and "rare" ones and hype/trend cycle and all. And the scalpers/flippers... There was one called Jack the Black Cat that was "limited edition" (artificially scarce) because only 500 were ever produced, and even by Squishmallow standards it's boring af (solid black cat with white facial embroidery) but there have been MULTIPLE cases of collectors paying over ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1000) on ebay for a single stuffed animal that you could probably DIY a knockoff version with like $20 worth of materials. Madness.

3- Rebuttals to common arguments:

a- "But they're so soft!" Yes, but Squishmallow doesn't have a patent over the type of fabric. You can find plenty of other stuffed animals with it, it's called "mochi minky".

b- "But you can use them as pillows!" Okay, but in that case we're no longer discussing their merits *as plushies* in the same realm as Jellycat, Douglas, Aurora, Build-a-Bear, etc so it doesn't negate my point that Squishmallows are bad *plushies* even if they're good pillows. And hell, this is just me as an adult autistic person, I imagine the fact they don't have limbs makes it hard for children to actually *play* with them as is the original intent of stuffed animals existing.

To be honest, I thought this was the cereal Gumball and Darwin used to eat.

Anyway, propaganda is always encouraged!

And remember to reblog your favourite polls for exposure!

[imeverywoman420]

N everybody wants to cosplay as a big city trendy adult that keeps a wardrobe full of “statement pieces”. Everybody wears the same teeny gold hoops and flared yoga pants and glossier makeup.

and i just wanna ask GENUINELY not meanly- how conscious are they of their choices. If it was the 1950s would they look like a sears catalog. Many of them seem to identify as fashion forward and Aware of themselves, but have such cookie cutter tastes. And you cant ask these questions bc theyre offensive. You cant ask someone “why do you have awful, uninspired taste? Are you scared?” Because thats RUDE. and how would you feel if someone asked you that. Youre not perfect.

[darkside-skyguy]

Okay so I saw Wish last night and I have some thoughts. Spoilers below!

The movie wasn’t bad. It wasn’t particularly good either though. It had all the elements that should have made a great Disney movie but it fell flat. And I think it all stems from the way the movie is so non-specific.

First, the world building. King Magnifico built a kingdom where everyone would be safe in exchange for giving him their wishes because…….. something bad happened to his family when he was young? And it prompted him to learn all the magic in the world and become the most powerful sorcerer so that he could…..NOT grant everyone’s wishes? We weren’t given enough background on the kingdom and the way it functions to have any kind of emotional impact in the end. Why does everyone agree to give up their wish? It seems like a raw deal. And also why does everyone only get ONE wish their whole life?? And if the wish is the best part of the person and they give it up, shouldn’t everyone over 18 be like Simon? Boring and sleepy and wish less? But this does not appear to be the case. It’s all too vague and muddled to make much sense.

(On a contrary note, I actually thought Chris Pine as Magnifico was the best part of the movie. You could tell he was having a lot of fun with it, even though the character was so shallow! I’m happy about a return to traditional Disney villains, even if this one wasn’t the best example of it.)

Okay, then there’s the music. It was bad. It was like a pop rip off of Lin Manuel Miranda but with terrible lyrics. (“When it comes to the universe we’re all shareholders”?? SHAREHOLDERS?) None of the music seemed to take inspiration from its vague Mediterranean setting and even the big I Want song was bland. In This Wish Asha sings “I wish for more for us than this.” Okay? So uninspiring! In all other Disney movies you know exactly what the mc wants and why they want it. Ariel wants to be humans because she feels trapped and misunderstood under the sea. Belle wants an adventure because she feels she does not fit in in her small village and she longs for her life to resemble the fantastical stories she reads. Mirabel wants magic so she can fix the cracks in her family. I could go on. Asha wants everyone to get their wishes granted because her grandpa is 100 and hasn’t gotten his wish granted. Very noble. But his wish kinda stinks—he wants to inspire people but we’re never told why or in what way. We never find out what Asha wishes for before she learns about Magnifico. She’s just a cookie cutter heroine with a mix of likeable qualities—loves her friends and family, adorkable, passionate—that all add up to a lot of nothing. She could be any one of us watching, I guess, but the thing that truly makes characters complex and relatable is specificity. And Asha is as vague as they come.

Then there are the other characters. None of them are developed enough. Her friends are the seven dwarves basically, but none of them grow past their one-word personalities (bashful, grumpy, sneezy, etc.) except maybe Simon, but even that isn’t really explored. There are too many of them and none of them are distinct. The goat is whatever. The star is adorable (though I’ve seen the concept art for the star boy storyline and I’m so upset we didn’t get that movie! But that’s a whole other post). The queen could have been interesting, but we never got any backstory on her. How and when did she fall in love with magnifico? What were her plans for their kingdom and do her hopes and wishes mirror what the kingdom has become? Asha’s mom and grandpa were just kind of there. And…. That’s it’s really. No one and nothing stands out.

The end was non specific as well. The people are inspired by the whole “we’re all stars” thing but they weren’t even there for the song the woodland creatures sing to Asha so how come all of a sudden they are so into this idea and it saves them when it never came up for them before? It should have been an emotional gut punch moment but it just felt rote and predictable. I didn’t feel any sense of triumph for any of the characters. There was no real magic behind it. Asha is given a magic wand and the king becomes a magic mirror and that’s it, the end. Overall it was very disappointing and I found myself bored in a lot of places.

I’ve read a lot of critic reviews and the one thing that I disagree with is the references to other movies. They didn’t bother me like they seem to be bothering others. Some of them were silly and over the top but like whatever. Even though they didn’t bother me they added absolutely nothing to the movie or my experience watching it 🤷🏻‍♀️

[realrogerhours]

There's something deeply boring about how that gooner game, Nikke, has no good robot girl designs

They're all just women

Human women

Human women in bland, uninspired clothes

And they expect me to believe these are war gynoids?

They expect me to believe these cookie-cutter anime bitches are weapons of war when they are clearly made to appeal to people who don't have fetishes?

Do these people know why people even LIKE robot girls?

[the-empress-7]

How can a woman with so much money (allegedly) get it so wrong with her fashion? Not a single look was flattering. Not a single look was memorable. Not a single look was inspiring. There are a thousand IG accounts out there who curate these types of cookie cutter looks, but better.

Taste is usually developed by what you see and reflect upon while you grow up. Elegant parents, well dressed peers, a well lighted house with elegant furniture, art, a city with well planned architecture, it all helps.

She didn't have elegant parents. But she had the rest, I think. She's just a narc, not interested in anything beyond herself, and not capable of noticing anything beyond envy of a brand name or an expensive item.

She had many opportunities to learn and absorb elegance and sophistication (even on Suits) and she let them pass by - it doesn't have to be a big effort, it can easily be an unconscious thing, letting yourself be inspired by people and beauty.

She's entirely self absorbed, and not too bright, and these boring uninspired looks are the result.

I grew up without elegant parents or two cents to rub together. Yet my taste is a 100 times more refined than hers.

[petr1kov]

the predominance of cishet characters and relationships on the older trek shows bother me not just for the usual reasons of simply wanting to see more representation on screen, but because they always come across as so forced and limited that they end up taking me out of the story completely sometimes.

like you mean to tell me that they are exploring 'strange new worlds' and meeting new civilization but basically every alien they meet comes from this cookie cutter male x female predominantly heterosexual society with near identical dynamics to our own? and those that do canonically differ from it usually do so offscreen, with their in-episode appearances being more conventional. even the founders are presented this way, and they are literally sentient goo.

watching these shows, it's impossible not to get the feeling that they are censoring what we see and presenting a truly uninspired and unchallenging view of what a plural universe would really look like

[zaeedsflipflops]

i gotta say that although bg3 is mostly well made, ive been pretty unimpressed with its villains. i feel like they are very uninspired. which is unfortunate because the companions are all pretty great so it's not like the writers can't do interesting characters.

but like the villains are just so cookie cutter. they feel straight of the box, yknow? Gortash, Orin, Mizora, Ethel, the goblins as a whole 🙄... they feel like such cliches that you'd think a work of fiction might use them as a starting point and then subvert or add to them to make it interesting or unique. but no that's just how they are. like imo Erimond and Corypheus in da: inquisition failed as villains for the same reasons. first draft "think of a villain" types.

Ketheric is a bit better if still pretty paint by numbers. which again isn't inherently bad necessarily (although depending on context and the tropes being used, i think it can be) but when you don't do anything new with the archetypes you're using, it's just boring.

[thedarling]

Amorphous.

6:26 a.m. Waking up and streaming Peach PRC to get me through today...

9:37 a.m. Still thinking about the Naoki Yoshida interview where he mentioned the discomfort and derogatory nature of Westeners calling video games from Japan 'JRPGs'. I watched Jim Stephanie Sterling's video on resigning the term and I don't see why not. The panel interviews Jim Stephanie included from the 2010's was such a shocking reminder of how petty powerful players in the video game industry received JP offerings back then (and maybe still do). What was said in those panels was offensive and absolutely discriminatory. People shouldn't pigeonhole products based on where they were made. Calling games like Tales, Y's, or FF 'trash', 'uninspired', or 'uncreative' because they came from JP BUT THEN calling products made by FromSoftware or Pokemon 'fine' and an exception to their rule because those games 'are not inherently JP' is baffling, like wow, what does that even mean??? Not to shade those powerful players but seriously, they should go fuck themselves. Not all gamers are 'professional players' nor are we all looking for a cookie-cutter aesthetic that reminds us of the West or a fucking warzone. Some of us genuinely like living a story or narrative that's far removed from where we came from - an escape if you will. Like maybe we want to plant some flowers or go visit some silly NPCs. Maybe we like a certain art style that has nothing to do with being 'quirky' or 'weird' and has zero to do with 'oh my god, another anime girl, uwu'. People harping on others for what they like or their tastes need to stop. The bully mentality is fucking tired, uninspired, and uncreative and should be a reminder to everyone that when people say something is uncomfortable and/or offensive, they should be believed.

[anarkittyuwuuniverse]

I feel like one of the big problems is like assuming that any kind of media (even something based on a game that has no story) has to adhere to this Hollywood model of narrative (unsurprising as these kinds of movies are made because of a profit motive and all), like one of the big appeals of Minecraft is the game's visual style and its vibe, the quietness and serenity. Make it some kind of silent iyashikei movie with minimal story in it, maybe just some fun little episodic things but with the emphasis on the beauty and peacefulness of the animated environment, with music in the same soothing style that the game music has. This is the perfect cultural moment to make such a thing with the popularity of this kind of thing in anime and with all these core aesthetic things going on but no we have to make something uninspired and cookie cutter with live action actors and bad Marvel-esque jokes.

I just… Don’t even understand HOW you can fuck up a Minecraft movie, like, it seems so simple, make it ANIMATED, make Steve just appear there one day and he learns to survive in fun and creative ways… like I’m so confused

[silentanomaly]

I love blocking bad fan art blogs. I am free from those cringe eye sores. The way some people draw just attacks your eyes. You could have shaped that image any way you wanted with the right amount of skill and patience, and you decided to draw it annoying and low effort/overly simple. You could have drawn anything. But, you drew a gross ship between two characters that would never be together being intimate in the most unsanitary/unconventional setting in a cutesy Disney-Pixar inspired style. Like that uninspired, overdone, cookie cutter quality they put out. What the fuck is wrong with you? These artists are total write offs.

Of course, being an artist, it's best to do what *you* want to do, *for you*. It should be self-expression. Which is what makes the bad fan art even worse. Like damn, that's what you manifested as your art style..that's your little signature..that is what you expressing yourself looks like..a replica of a soulless dead-end art style leaving little room for growth..are you dead inside? Your efforts amount to the quality of used TP. Get FLUSHED!

[courseforjob]

Matt Jumper – Web Design Masterclass

Matt Jumper – Web Design Masterclass Conquer the Blank Canvas, Master Web Design Break free from templates and cookie-cutter designs. Learn to craft stunning and high-impact websites that wow clients. Is this you? Are you… Staring at a blank canvas, feeling stuck or uninspired with your web design projects? Struggling to create unique, attention-grabbing layouts that set your designs…

[904sadmonthly]

At this point, the scheme isn't the problem. Where are Doug Pederson's communication skills?

September 19 2024

Earlier this week, I shared a Facebook post of Mike Tomlin telling reporters he can't tell them how the hot dog is made because they might not like it. Knowing EXACTLY what he meant, I wrote a caption saying I would trade the entire farm to get that man in a Jaguars hoodie.

As many hardcore NFL fans know, the Steelers are driven by their coaching tradition. They've only had 3 since the late 1960s. While patience has been the critical soft skill used by Pittsburgh's ownership to accomplish this feat, the communication skills possessed by Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin helped the coaches keep their part of the deal as well.

Each of these three coaches were or are amazing communicators who could get the most out of the players given to them by their general managers (although, it should be mentioned that Noll controlled everything football related during his run). For evidence, Cowher is working for CBS as an in-studio commentator and Tomlin is widely praised for his realness and ability to keep players with "character issues" in check while other head coaches around the NFL cannot.

Last season, Tomlin's messaging should have fallen through the cracks completely. His team had no quarterback, a struggling run game, and wide receivers who were going into business for themselves every week. Along with that, the defense was aging and starting to get banged up. Unfortunately, the gradual wear and tear culminated with TJ Watt getting injured in the last game of the season when Pittsburgh beat the Ravens to earn a playoff spot.

Despite these challenges, Tomlin and the Steelers won 10 games. DOUBLE DIGITS. In contrast, Shad Khan publicly stated that he believed the 2024 Jaguars were the best team ever assembled by the franchise. After 2 weeks, it feels like their season is about to fall off the rails going into a Monday Night Football game against the Buffalo Bills.

When Trevor Lawrence took the podium after the Jaguars' Week 2 loss against the Browns, he flat out said the team sucks right now. He's right, but it's troubling that the franchise QB who just got the big deal is the one who has to light a fire under his teammates two weeks into the season.

I am NOT a fan of coach speak and cookie cutter public relations statements, but I also feel like certain things and sentiments should stay in house when there are still 15 games left to play. Ultimately, the players are going to mirror the personality of their head coach, and this is why I'm very concerned about Doug Pederson's performance as a communicator right now.

Lately, Doug Pederson's press conferences have been flat and uninspiring. It seems like he's leaning more on the players' execution instead of evaluating the collective elements of a successful football team. Good clock management. The ability to bounce back from huge mistakes. Outplaying bad play calls because your man can beat the other man. These are things any football team can do regardless of the personnel; and Mike Tomlin's Steelers seem to do it every year.

The Jaguars' performance in the 4th quarter this season reeks of a squad that can't get punched in the mouth and swing back. The entire 2nd half of the Miami game also showed that the team doesn't know how to be a front runner for all 60 minutes either. While we love to bash Press Taylor and Trent Baalke, Doug Pederson's tendency to put everything on the players' mistakes instead of what he can do to keep them focused during games is a significant problem.

In his September 19th press conference, Doug highlighted the players' lack of execution again and said the game plans are player driven. If that's the case, who's the one allowing the players to underperform? And what sense does it make to keep putting things in the players' hands if they've shown they aren't ready for the responsibility yet?

I don't have an issue with the Jaguars being a coach driven franchise. We can put Doug Pederson on every billboard in Orange Park and give him a used car dealership in Atlantic Beach as a signing bonus. However, Coach Pederson has to embrace the uglier elements of being The Man if he's going to take Jacksonville into the upper stratosphere of NFL football.

Coach, these losses are on you. Coach, any culture that allows losing is a bad culture. Coach, constant collapses in the 4th quarter are a sign that your in-game communication needs work. Coach,

What is your actual mission statement?

You want to win a Super Bowl. Great, every team wants to do that. But HOW are you going to do it, Coach Pederson? What will be the competitive advantage that separates the Jaguars from everybody else? What or who are you building around? How will you communicate this to the players? How did you communicate this to Shad Khan during your job interview?

These questions need answers, Coach - YOUR answers. Believe it or not, a lot of fans are willing to accept whatever those answers are. However, the good faith has to be rewarded with a tangible and transparent message that we can understand. Scratch that, that the PLAYERS can understand.

Communication is a soft skill that has prevented wars, taken companies to the New York Stock Exchange, made kings, and, yes, won Super Bowls. The greatest coach in Jaguars history, Tom Coughlin, didn't win his championships in Duval, but every player he worked with says the same things about him. Coughlin time. Discipline. Professionalism. It wore a lot of dudes down (and probably wasn't the best approach to managing a bunch of millionaires), but it also gave a wild card Giants team the confidence needed to beat the 2007 Patriots in a game nobody thought they would win.

In life, business, and football, the ability to properly communicate the message of the day is a high value skill. Hopefully, Coach Pederson recognizes this before it's too late.

Did you like what you read? If so, great! If not, dang. Either way, you can support the blog or cleanse your palate by buying a New York Times Best Seller from AudiobooksNow! Just use our affiliate link to make sure we can get a slice of the pie. Just so you know, our relationship with AudiobooksNow will NEVER influence how we decide to cover the Jacksonville Jaguars

[coye]

People are so damn boring nowadays, you know? All the women have the exact same cookie-cutter social media personality, and all the men have that same played out, nonchalant vibe going on. Nobody wants to actually show their real, authentic selves anymore. Everybody is conforming to one generic personality type so they can look cool. It's just so uninteresting and uninspired. Where are all the weird, quirky, fun people at? Why does everyone feel the need to be the same bland, vanilla version of themselves? Don't you get tired of seeing the same recycled content and the same tired personas over and over again? 🥱

I miss the old days when people weren't afraid to be a little different, to really put their unique stamp on things. Now it's just an endless sea of sameness. Everyone dressing the same, talking the same, behaving the same. Where's the originality? Where's the individuality? Everyone is just trying to fit into this narrow mold of what's acceptable or popular. I just wish people would have the courage to be a little more authentic, a little more unapologetic about who they are. Quit trying so hard to conform and just let your freak flag fly, you know? The world would be a lot more interesting if everyone wasn't so hellbent on blending in. Take some risks, be a little weird - that's where the real fun and excitement is at.

[venuefindernz]

The Unforgettable Wedding Failures: Planners to Avoid!

Weddings are one of the most memorable events in our lives, and choosing the right wedding planner is crucial to making that day perfect. Unfortunately, not all wedding planners deliver on their promises. Let’s explore some of the most notorious wedding planners you definitely shouldn’t hire. This guide will help you navigate through the pitfalls of wedding planning, ensuring your big day remains a blissful memory.

The "Budget Busters" – When Costs Spiral Out of Control

Planning a wedding can be costly, but with a competent planner, you can stay within your budget. However, some planners seem to have an aversion to financial constraints.

Hidden Costs Everywhere

One of the first red flags is when a planner starts adding costs that weren't discussed initially. From surprise venue fees to overpriced vendor services, these planners make sure your budget is nothing more than a suggestion.

Expensive Taste, Not Yours

Another common trait of the Budget Buster is their preference for high-end services that may not align with your vision. Whether it’s insisting on a luxury wedding ceremony venue in Christchurch or choosing the most expensive caterers, they prioritize their own tastes over yours.

Poor Financial Management

Lastly, Budget Busters often fail at managing finances effectively. They might overlook discounts or fail to negotiate better deals, resulting in your wedding expenses skyrocketing unnecessarily.

The "Uncommunicative Ghosts" – Vanishing Acts of Wedding Planners

Effective communication is the cornerstone of successful wedding planning. Yet, some planners have a knack for disappearing right when you need them the most.

Ignored Messages

These planners have a habit of ignoring calls, emails, and messages. When crucial decisions need to be made, their absence can lead to unnecessary stress and delays.

Last-Minute Cancellations

Even worse, some uncommunicative planners may cancel important meetings or site visits at the last minute, leaving you scrambling to rearrange your schedule.

Poor Coordination

Their lack of communication often extends to vendors and venues. Misunderstandings and miscommunications can result in vendors not showing up or delivering incorrect services, turning your wedding day into chaos.

The "Detail Disasters" – Ignoring the Little Things That Matter

Weddings are all about the details. From the color of the napkins to the timing of the vows, every small element contributes to the overall experience. Unfortunately, not all planners are detail-oriented.

Overlooking Small Requests

Detail Disasters often forget or overlook minor but significant requests. Whether it’s the specific flowers you wanted for the bouquet or the exact wording for the invitations, their inattention can diminish the personal touch of your wedding.

Poor Time Management

Another common issue is their inability to manage time effectively. This can lead to delays on the big day, with events starting late and guests feeling restless.

Ignoring Venue Guidelines

Some wedding ceremony venues in Christchurch have specific rules and guidelines. Detail Disasters often ignore these, resulting in conflicts with the venue management and potential penalties.

The "Vision Vandals" – Turning Dreams into Nightmares

Every couple has a unique vision for their wedding. Vision Vandals, however, have a talent for turning those dreams into nightmares.

Ignoring Your Preferences

Vision Vandals tend to impose their own ideas, completely disregarding your preferences. Instead of listening to your wishes, they push for what they think is best, often resulting in a wedding that doesn’t reflect your personality.

Lack of Creativity

On the other hand, some Vision Vandals lack the creativity needed to bring your vision to life. They stick to generic templates and uninspired designs, making your wedding feel like a cookie-cutter event.

Misinterpreting Your Ideas

Even when they do listen, these planners often misinterpret your ideas. What you envisioned as a rustic chic wedding might turn into a shabby event with no coherence, leaving you disappointed.

The "Vendor Villains" – Unreliable and Unprofessional Collaborations

Choosing the right vendors is essential for a successful wedding. Unfortunately, Vendor Villains fail miserably in this aspect.

Poor Vendor Selection

Vendor Villains often select vendors based on personal relationships rather than professional merit. This can lead to subpar services that don’t meet your expectations.

Lack of Vetting

They may also fail to properly vet vendors, leading to issues like poor-quality food, unprofessional photographers, or unreliable transport services.

Last-Minute Changes

Worse still, Vendor Villains might change vendors at the last minute without consulting you, leaving you with no say in crucial aspects of your wedding.

The "Stress Spreaders" – Amplifying Anxiety Instead of Easing It

A good wedding planner should alleviate stress, not add to it. Stress Spreaders, however, do just the opposite.

Constant Panic

These planners often create a sense of panic by focusing on worst-case scenarios. Their constant worrying and negative outlook can infect you, making the planning process more stressful than it needs to be.

Overcomplicating Simple Tasks

Stress Spreaders have a knack for overcomplicating even the simplest tasks. What should be a straightforward decision turns into a drawn-out process with unnecessary complications.

Inflexibility

Lastly, their inflexibility can be a significant source of stress. Refusing to adapt to changes or new ideas can make the planning process rigid and frustrating, leaving you feeling helpless.

Conclusion

Choosing the right wedding planner is crucial for ensuring your big day is everything you dreamed of. By avoiding the Budget Busters, Uncommunicative Ghosts, Detail Disasters, Vision Vandals, Vendor Villains, and Stress Spreaders, you can ensure a smooth and joyful wedding planning experience. Remember, the perfect wedding planner will listen to your needs, communicate effectively, manage details meticulously, respect your vision, choose reliable vendors, and most importantly, help you remain stress-free throughout the process. As you explore the best wedding ceremony venues in Christchurch, keep these tips in mind to avoid the pitfalls of hiring the wrong wedding planner. Your dream wedding deserves nothing less than perfection!