#you cannot base your understanding of the world and demands for changing it on the fuzzy feeling you get inside when kids share their food

[metamatar]

i have a question and sorry if it sounds incoherent. why is it so important to marxists to distinguish that marxism is not “moral” or “ideological”? i understand that marxism is grounded in historical materialism and that it aims to understand how existing structures and institutions function with the specific goal of abolishing them in favour of a marxist state, but when it comes to understanding how to move forward past capitalism, how can MLs claim that it’s entirely objective and scientific? isnt the fundamental purpose of marxism (abolishing the oppressor class and putting the proletariat in power) a subjective one, given that it to support that you need to believe that abolishing the oppressor class is desirable in the first place? how would ML “scientifically” help people decide where the line is drawn on subjects like the death penalty and incarceration if its committed by a communist party (given that the decision that the cost of killing/imprisoning people is worth the boon it would give in establishing a communist state is still based on subjective goals?)

i don't think modern marxists should claim they're not ideological. im sure some do, but imo the correct claim is marxism is not idealist. i think some of this confusion comes from a popperian view of science as "neutral" or "objective" outside of time. how the political economy affects the propagation of ideology and the process of science as practiced in reality is very standard marxist analysis now. some of the claim to objectivity is something that most people claim belongs to their favourite philosophical project see the rawlsian veil of ignorance in liberalism. marx is also writing in a world where theological and religious reasoning have a lot of primacy in philosophy and he is drawing a clean break from that by hewing to scientific characterisation of his methods.

idealism, in the kantian sense is a philosophy that argues that our ideals (about say, fairness, justice etc) inform how we organise society. marxism, as philosophical project develops in response to kant and hegel to argue that the political economic base, ie the productive relations of society actually inform superstructure of ideals. to quote marx in the preface to critique of political economy: "it is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but their social existence that determines their consciousness."

for clarity's sake the idea that changes in the mode of production (mostly due to technology) transform the relations of production which is the main driving force of history is historical materialism. the analysis of why existing structures and institutions must be abolished therefore has to be grounded in analysis where such structures are considered variously – unstable, internally contradictory etc. if you view historical materialism as true, your theory of change cannot be that you'll change the world because it is unfair (an idea.) you can view the world as unfair as a marxist and talk about it to propagate the necessity of your project but that doesn't actually give you a blueprint on how to change it.

capitalists are oppressors, but marxism doesn't view the problem in their oppressive or evil natures. capitalist economies demand even the most moral capitalist to exploit the proletariat. but! it is desirable to abolish there class relations not merely because they are unfair and exploitative but because these class relationships cause workers to develop class consciousness, recognise their power and abolish capitalism.

on your specific example, i don't think marxism can or should claim their are no moral dilemmas. historical materialism doesn't assert that there are no conflicting understandings of history. walter benjamin's theses on the philosophy of history is imo good reading here.

so i dont think your concern about why it's important for marxists to believe this makes sense, because this is what marxism is. if you don't find this convincing, you're not a marxist. you could be an anarchist, or a social democrat or a radical liberal.

[ficretus]

RWBY teams get reorganized.

CRWBY: Hello RWBY characters.

Ruby: Who are you? Are you Gods?

Salem: Please tell me you are destroying the world.

Cinder: What do you mean RWBY characters? Does that mean that brat is the protagonist?

CRWBY: No, no, yes. Higher ups in Viz demanded we make some changes to the show. So we are gonna reorganize the teams based on the origin of their fairy tale allusion.

Yang: I didn't understand a single word you just said.

CRWBY: Andddd... reshuffle!

*magic poof*

TEAM GERMANY:

Ruby: Why do I no longer like strawberries and cookies?

Weiss: Take this pretzel and shut up.

Ruby: Weiss? We are still partners?

Weiss: Of course we are, nothing can separate us.

Ruby: That's great. Where are the others?

Weiss: It appears they are not German enough for our team.

Ruby: Look! There is another one of our teammates! *turns into rose petals*

Weiss: Ruby, don't jump a complete stranger like that.

Ruby: *tackles them down* Hello, I am Ruby Ro... oh.

Salem: Somehow this curse keeps getting worse.

Weiss: Scheisse!

TEAM FRANCE:

Oscar: I hope ze Ruby is my partner, hon hon hon. Ugh, what the hell happened to my voice.

Ozpin: Oscar, you are taking a dangerous route I cannot follow.

Oscar: Oz, what ze happening?

Ozpin: You are turning French. *soul gets ejected from Oscar's body*

Oscar: Nooooooo. It feels like part of me is missing now. I have a sudden urge to fill it with cheese and wi... Sacrebleu, I am really turning into ze Frenchman. I need to talk to someone, where are my teammates. *hears loud noises* There they are.

*walks up*

Oscar: Bonj... Hello, I am Oscar.

Cinder: We know who you are Farm Boy. Now, as the leader of this team...

Jaune: Who the hell put you in charge of this team?! Why are you even on this team, Cinderella story has many origins!

Cinder: Because I am Cinderella with glass slippers nimrod! Only French one has glass slippers!

Jaune: Great, I'm on the team with Pyrrha's murderer.

Cinder: Oh give me a break, they revived her. She is over there tossing Mercury. You are just salty because now there is no excuse for you not getting laid.

Oscar: Wait, why am I the only one with ze French accent?

Blake: Because you are an impressionable kid.

Oscar: Blake! You are ze here too!

Blake: *chuckles* Yes I am.

Jaune: Oh shut up!

Cinder: Make me!

Blake: How long will it take before they start making out?

TEAM ENGLAND:

Yang: Of course it's raining. Can this place get any worse?

Jax: Hello peasant.

Yang: I am gonna pretend I didn't hear that.

Jax: Me and my sister need someone to observe our polo game. Now move your arse.

Gilian: Polo? I am not playing polo with you Jax. You always rile up my horse with your Semblance!

Jax: So what? Are we suppose to just sit here and drink tea?

Gilian: I wouldn't mind that. Peasant, bring us some tea! And make sure it is Darjeeling, otherwise I might throw up.

*Yang knocks out both*

Yang: Can't pretend twice in the row.

Blake: Yang, is that you?

Yang: Blake! Where are you?

Blake: I am on the other side of the Channel!

Yang: What's going on on the other side?

Blake: Jaune and Cinder fighting... scratch that... making out. Oscar is losing himself to his French side. Toss me some fish and chips before his Frenchness fully overtakes him. You know what, throw some for me as well.

Yang: Are we suppose to be enemies now that you are French and I'm English?

Blake: Yes we are, but that's so hot.

Yang: Oh yeah. Wait, someone else is here.

Robyn: *pickpocketing Asturias siblings* No time to explain, I'm repurposing their funds.

TEAM NORDIC:

Winter: This is something new. I... I've never had a partner or team. I just hope it's not...

Qrow: Hello Ice Queen!

Winter: Branwen...

Qrow: It turns out Ice Queen is based on Snow Queen, how original.

Winter: What are you even doing here? Don't you have some other places to be, other people to bother?

Qrow: Nope, I am as Nordic as it gets. It turns out I am based on one of the Odin's messengers. Other one being... oh crap.

Raven: Hello brother!

Qrow: Raven... Don't you have some other places to be, family members to abandon?

Raven: And miss out on this? No way.

Winter: Wait a minute... You kidnapped Weiss!

Raven: Oh please, she ran into me. Can hardly count it as kidnapping.

Winter: Oh don't worry, this will hardly count as a beatdown. *draws swords*

Raven: Pfff, another Maiden to beat.

Nora: Heya Qrow, what did I miss.

Qrow: Not much kid, just some of the reasons I started drinking.

TEAM USA:

Ozpin: Come on James, don't be a buzzkill, we are doing the Wizard of Oz walk.

Ironwood: I am starting to believe that it wasn't a coincidence I tried to kill you.

Ozpin: Ha ha ha, good old James and his deadpan humor.

*walks down the road holding hands with Glynda, Theodore and Lionheart*

Adam: So, drinking alone on the sideline.

Ironwood: What are you doing here Taurus? Aren't you suppose to be on Team France?

Adam: Well, I tried. But they argued I don't count since most of my allusion comes from Disney's Beauty and the Beast. And Blake filed a restraining order... typical.

Ironwood: You know I can have you arrested.

Adam: Arrest a teammate? Who does that?

Ironwood: I do.

Adam: Fair enough. You know, I stabbed a teammate before.

Ironwood: Cheers.

Adam: Cheers.

TEAM ITALY:

Penny: *sad lonely robot noises* Wait, who is there?

Neo: *signs* It's me, Neo. *sits next to Penny*

Penny: Aren't you based on an ice cream?

Neo: *signs* It's an Italian ice cream. Do you want to be alone?

Penny: No. *shifts closer*

[yuuhta]

glimpse of us

pairing: inumaki toge/reader/okkotsu yuuta

warnings: based on joji's glimpse of us, inumaki and y/n cannot move on from each other, too many unspoken words!!!!!!!! they are a pain in my arse

words: 2305

note: y/n is a special grade sorcerer and has a technique that they use to negate cursed speech so cursed speech does not work on y/n :D and they all just graduated! i feel horrible abt this tbh, i need a part 2, some sort of comfort or something.... i badly need comedic relief,, bcs the plot in here is too heavy LOL i'm not used to angst when it's the jjk students.... if it's gojou, nanami, getou, toji???? HAND IT OVER QUICK

it had been a few months since you and inumaki broke up, but some things never really fade. you could feel the weight of the past pressing against your chest, suffocating in the quiet moments when you were alone. the laughter, the warmth of his hand in yours, the gentle way he'd look at you... they were all still there, lodged deep within your heart like stubborn memories you couldn’t erase, no matter how hard you tried.

your relationship with toge had always been the type that made your feelings go wild. it was easy going, but at the same time, intense, unpredictable, and, above all, unforgettable. it was like a wildfire that burned bright and fast, leaving nothing but ashes and smoke in its wake. at first, you thought you were both just simply passionate, deeply connected. and you were both young, full of dreams and promises.

but somewhere in the turbulence of life after graduation, things began to unravel.

it wasn’t just the physical distance that separated you both after school--it was the emotional distance, too. both of you were swept up in the weight of responsibilities, the expectations from being a jujutsu sorcerer, the tasks that come with it--especially when he's a grade 1 and you're a special grade, the pressures of a rapidly changing jujutsu world was really just immense. what started as an easy going relationship built on mutual care and understanding began to twist into something toxic. misunderstandings piled on top of each other. words were said in anger, apologies left unspoken, and resentment grew in the space where love used to be. heated arguments, shouting matches, and too many nights spent crying alone. inumaki, usually unserious and funny, became like a damn ghost--silent, distant, unable or unwilling to communicate, leaving you in the storm without a lifeline. and then, the silence. that suffocating, heartbreaking silence.

yuuta is the one you are seeing now. not officially yet, but he was the one who held you when you cried, the one who made you laugh when you forgot how to. he was everything you had wanted in someone--kind, patient, and ever so understanding. he never pushed you, never demanded anything more than you could give.

but yuuta just wasn’t him.

every now and then, the sound of inumaki’s voice would echo through your mind, sharp and clear as though he were right there with you, speaking in his usual quiet, controlled manner.

yuuta had never made you feel the way inumaki did--the way the latter made you feel alive in a way you couldn’t explain, as if your entire world spun on the axis of his touch, his voice, his presence. the problem was, with that kind of intensity, everything else felt small, insignificant. like there was only one person who mattered. and you knew damn well that it was bad to be attached to someone like this.

you had no idea which was better or worse, the fervent, intense feelings you have for inumaki, or the mild, controlled feelings you have for yuuta.

you didn’t want to feel this way. you didn’t want to keep holding onto something that was gone, especially when you had someone else who cared for you so deeply.

but the truth was, you hadn’t moved on.

and you weren’t sure if you could.

the café was a familiar place, one you often visited with a certain someone after class. it was a quiet, cozy corner spot, the kind where the baristas knew your order by heart, and where the noise of the world outside somehow felt far away.

yuuta was sitting across from you, his usual warm smile lighting up the table, but something felt different today. he was talking, his voice a soft hum in the background, but you weren’t really listening. your mind kept drifting, wandering back to that person, how you've been in this exact spot of this café with him as well.

inumaki.

it had been months since you'd last seen him face to face, but that didn't stop you from thinking about him, unfortunately. even in the arms of someone who loved you in ways that felt real, tangible.

it was horrible, you caught a glimpse of the past every single time, every single action.

"y/n?"

you blinked, returning to reality just in time to see yuuta's concerned eyes locked onto you.

"you’re doing it again."

you gave him a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach your eyes. "oop, sorry, i... i was just thinking."

"about him?" yuuta asked, his voice tinged with the quiet worry he always wore when he thought something was wrong.

you hesitated, but there was no point lying, not when it was so painfully obvious. "yeah."

yuuta’s face softened, his hand reaching across the table to gently cover yours. his touch was warm, grounding, but it didn’t erase the ache inside you. "i understand. but you know... you don’t have to keep doing this to yourself."

you gently pulled your hand away and placed it on your half-empty cup, spinning it slightly so as to be subtle with the fact that you wanted to remove your hand from his. "i don’t want to hurt you, yuuta."

"you’re not," he said quietly, his voice steady. "i'm with you because i want to. but i need you to be honest with me. you’re still holding onto something, and i don’t want to be the one who’s in the way of you finding peace."

your chest tightened at his words. he was right, of course. you had to make a choice. but it wasn’t as simple as that. you couldn't just stop feeling what you felt, not when it had been a part of you for so long.

"i don't know how to let go," you said, barely audible, embarrassed about the truth that is slipping past your guard.

this was very unusual for you, they have always known you as someone who didn't talk about her feelings in this way that much, but of course, people change. inumaki was also your first boyfriend, after all. it was with him that you learned and experienced communicating your raw feelings for someone for the very first time.

yuuta’s gaze softened. he didn’t say anything more, but there was an unspoken understanding between you. you were both aware of the distance between you two, though it wasn’t something either of you could put into words.

later that day, you found yourself walking back to your place without yuuta (as per your request, of course), trying to clear your mind, but all roads seemed to lead back to him. you were walking mindlessly, when your phone buzzed in your pocket.

you pulled it out and your heart felt like it stopped when you saw who sent the message.

it was from inumaki.

“can we talk?”

"please."

your heart pounded against your chest. there was no reason to hesitate, was there? you hadn’t seen him in so long. and yet, the thought of meeting him again, of seeing him, knowing that he might still have the same hold on your heart….. it terrified the shit out of you. and of course, you also felt like a horrible person. at this point, you were definitely stringing yuuta along, even if he says it's on his own accord.

but you couldn’t ignore toge. not now. not when it felt like you were standing at the edge of something, and you didn’t know whether to step forward or pull away.

you found yourself heading to the usually isolated part of the park near jujutsu high, the place where you and inumaki used to go when you needed to talk, when words felt too hard to say. you didn't need anyone hearing toge speak too, as they might suffer from his cursed speech technique.

and alas, he was already there when you arrived, standing in the middle of the pathway, hands in his pockets, his eyes sparkling its usual shine as he looked at you. there was no need for words to be exchanged on where to meet up, now how the hell are you supposed to move on from this, right?

for a moment, neither of you spoke. you stood there, just staring at each other, as if trying to read the other’s mind.

finally, he broke the silence, his voice soft but unmistakably serious. "i needed to see you."

you swallowed hard. "what's up? i didn’t think i'd hear from you again."

"i didn’t think i needed to," he replied, his words deliberate. "but i was wrong. i wanted to see you to confirm my feelings. and i was definitely wrong."

his eyes met yours, and there it was--the same pull, the same magnetic force that had always been there between the two of you.

shit.

"i never stopped thinking about you," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "even after everything, even after all this time, i still--"

but he didn’t finish. he didn’t need to.

seeing you again, in person, months after everything had ended, made him realize just how much the past still had a grip on him. it felt like a hundred different emotions all rushing through him at once.

and of course, it was the same for you. everything with inumaki had unfortunately left its mark on you. heck, you don't think you will ever not see inumaki in everything that you did with yuuta.

the tension between you two thickened, palpable and heavy, and for a moment, you didn’t know whether to run or step forward.

you swallowed hard, again, you were feeling a lump in your throat tighten. “what’s this about, toge?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper. “i didn’t think you’d actually reach out. after everything..…” you laughed, but it sounded dry.

he nodded, his lips tight as he exhaled slowly. “i’ve been thinking about you, about us. about how i handled everything.” he glanced away for a moment, like he was gathering his thoughts. “i was wrong. i hurt you. and for that… i’m sorry.”

the apology felt like a punch to the gut. you’d waited for it, for the closure that never came when you needed it most. but even now, standing in front of him, hearing those words, you didn’t know how to respond. the silence between you was filled with too much-- too many memories, too many feelings, too much regret, too much pain.

“i don’t know if we can still fix this.” you said quietly, the words slipping out before you could stop them. you could feel your chest tightening, the sting of emotions welling up in your eyes.

inumaki’s hand reached up, almost hesitantly, to touch your cheek, his fingers brushing against your skin in a way that felt both foreign and familiar. his touch sent a shock of warmth through you, and you had to fight the urge to close your eyes and lean into it.

"i’m sorry," he murmured, his voice barely audible, yet filled with a kind of sorrow that seemed to echo through you. "i don’t think i can ever let you go."

you didn’t speak. you couldn’t. the words were trapped in your throat, fighting for air. your body wanted to move on its own now, drawn to him in ways that made no sense but felt so right.

however, you remembered the late nights spent arguing--heated words, voices raised in frustration, things said in the heat of the moment that neither of you couldn’t take back. you remembered how inumaki, normally such a breath of fresh air, a comedian, even, had become so distant, every after fight, shutting himself off from you entirely. how you had tried to reach him, tried to understand. but it wasn’t just silence that tore you apart; it was the coldness, the way it felt like he stopped trying. you felt like a stranger next to him, like you were invisible in the relationship you once thought was built on trust.

but fuck, no matter how much time had passed, no matter how much you wanted to move on for the sake of yuuta and your present life, inumaki still had a hold on you.

there was a long silence between you then, a tension that neither of you knew how to relieve. you could feel the pull between you, the same intensity that had defined your relationship. and yet, you knew that this wasn’t the same as before. the walls were too high, the wounds a bit too deep.

you thought of yuuta--his kindness, his patience, the way he had been there for you without asking for anything in return. his love felt real, soft, comforting, and yet…... standing here with inumaki, it was like you were still that same person who had once been consumed by him, caught up in the intensity, the fire of your past relationship.

you couldn’t just deny it. you still loved him, in some way, but that didn’t mean you could just fall back into your old rhythm after everything that happened between you two, and without considering what you have with yuuta now.

you unknowingly clenched your fists at your sides, trying to steady yourself. you’re with yuuta now. the thought of his name grounded you, made you stand a little straighter. the memories with inumaki were heavy, but yuuta was the one who had been there, who had helped you pick up the pieces of your broken self. he was patient with your silences, never pushing you to forget but always giving you the space to heal. and though you couldn’t yet call what you have with him "official", it felt like something real, something worth holding onto.

“i’m with yuuta now,” you said quietly, the words tasting bitter on your tongue as you said them out loud.

inumaki's eyes faltered with sadness, and for a second, you saw the vulnerability in him that had always been there, buried beneath the surface. his lips pressed into a thin line. he didn’t say anything for a long moment, but you could see the conflict in his eyes. he wanted to say something more, to change your mind, but he didn’t. he didn't think he have the right to do so.

“i know and i understand,” he finally murmured, his voice heavy with unspoken emotions. “i just… i wanted you to know that i never stopped caring about you. it's quite selfish, i'm sorry, i know. but that’s all, i don't want anymore regrets.”

your heart raced, a mix of guilt and longing pooling in your chest. what did this mean for you? for yuuta?

you took a shaky breath, "i need time to think about this. i'll get going first."

your thoughts were in a fucking whirlwind. you could already feel the weight of making a decision pressing down on you. no matter how much you tried to push inumaki out of your mind, no matter how much you wanted to stay true with yuuta, a part of you knew that your past with inumaki wasn’t something you could just leave behind.

and so, as you turned to leave, the question lingered in the air, unanswered and uncertain.

[prose-among-the-trees]

Something I really struggle with in did spaces is just how sensationalized introjects are.

Introjects are parts that take on identity traits or qualities of someone either fictional or factual. The most common type of introject is an abuser. I at one point was aware of one, I don’t know if that’s still the case. Fictional introjects come about when a child undergoes extreme trauma and the lines between the media they’re consuming and the real world abuse get blurred.

Why do syscord and sysblr treat introjects like characters? You all will yell about how introjects aren’t their sources while demanding borderline roleplay out of anyone you come across, whether you’re the introject or whether you’re interacting as a “fan.”

I haven’t opened up about introjects because they’re either based off of abusers or very indicative of my trauma, and I don’t intend to do much here, but I’ll say this.

It’s not painful to be an introject because you miss source or your friends or family.

It’s painful to be an introject because you attribute traits that were in the media onto abusers of yours and feel crazy when that’s the only way you know how to associate them.

I wasn’t literally in the situations that I’m based off of in my source (it’s a novel), but now I can only associate my abuser with systematic and intentional abuse, and not the accident that it actually was. I have such a hard time believing that what I experienced just happened to occur, and that it wasn’t some insidious attempt to ruin me the second my abuser had the chance to.

Introjection is such a complex process that changes your outlook on absolutely everything. I cannot understand the desire to survive such an ordeal as trauma and abuse and to want something like an introject as a result.

These are not fictional character besties that live in your brain, or YouTubers who want wacky situations with you, these are traumatized parts that have embodied traits of characters you were so immersed in you couldn’t tell the difference, or abusers who emulate the same traits that harmed you in the first place.

Do better system community

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

You are aware that religion is a major part of people’s cultures and history right?

And what gives you the right to insult billions of people for their beliefs?

You are aware that sacrificing virgins to make the weather amenable to growing crops was a major part of people's cultures and history, right? You are aware that enslaving your neighbors was a major part of people's culture and history, right?

Aside from, what the fuck does this have to do with anything or justify belief in imaginary wizards, it's both an Appeal to Popularity, or Bandwagon, fallacy, and an Appeal to Tradition fallacy.

We stopped sacrificing virgins to the weather, we - well, the west - stopped enslaving people, and we're gradually surrendering belief in supernatural deities. If you're not willing to defend the resumption of slavery and virgin sacrifice on the basis of "cultures and history," you have no basis defending belief in mystical space creatures on the basis of "cultures and history."

May I also introduce you to evolution? Cultures evolve. And history documents those changes. Cultures that do not change go stagnant and die. And history is not a dogma on which to base freezing a culture in one point in time. You really want to see what that looks like? Afghanistan. North Korea.

And I guarantee you that whatever religion is dominant in any given culture overthrew a previous belief system, replaced an earlier culture. So, unless you're willing to unwind Xianity and Islam and reinstate the ancient Sumerian religions or Zoroastrianism, for example, neither you nor I believe a word you're saying. I'm calling full-on bullshit. Islam is notorious for having wiped out every trace of every culture it invaded and replacing it with Islamic supremacy.

Meanwhile, every culture disagrees on the nature of their gods. How many there are, where they came from, how they behave, what they want of humans. There are thousands of gods you don't believe in, without any guilt. All of you disbelieve each other's gods. I just agree with all of you.

So, if you want to play this numbers game, let's be scrupulously honest: there isn't a single religion anywhere in the world where there's more people who believe it than disbelieve it. Not one. Every single religion is a minority in all of humanity.

Religion comes from humanity's ignorance. We didn't have better explanations for the world and we resorted to magic because that was the best we could come up with at the time. But you don't rely on the Humoral Theory of the Ancient Greeks for your medical needs, so why would you rely on equally ignorant beliefs about magical space beings for your understanding of the world and the way it works? Isn't the nature of everything worth a better explanation than fables of magic written before people knew to wash their hands?

You're a hypocrite. Everybody in the world once believed that the Earth was flat, yet you wouldn't worry about a Flat Earther being "insulted." Millions of people believed in Zeus and the Greek pantheon, and many still do, yet you would never feel guilty while laughing at the jokes in Disney's Hercules. Why do you demand I meet a standard that you refuse to?

Not to mention, you come to me like this never worrying whether I might feel insulted. Why do you have different rules for others than for yourself? Why do I have to worry about the feelings of others, when you never have to worry about mine?

What gives me the right? The fact that being insulted is not an argument that defends unsubstantiated nonsense. Anyone can claim to feel insulted about anything simply by asserting it. That doesn't mean anything. All you're admitting is that you think feelings are more important than truth. I reject that.

Your beliefs are for you, not for me. Which means managing your fee-feez is entirely your responsibility, not mine. I will not manage your feelings for you just because you will not or cannot. And if you can't, that suggests a whole lot about the nature of your beliefs and how true they must be. Nobody feels "insulted" when someone disbelieves in gravity. Because gravity is real and doesn't need to be "believed" when it can be demonstrated.

I also have the right because religions are just ideas and people are allowed to criticize ideas. It's how we got better ones, like quantum physics and, you know, the Earth not being the center of the universe. Again, your religion is for you, not for me. Its rules are for you, not for me. I do not need to comply with the rules of your religion. What you're asserting is authoritarianism, which is something people use when their ideas are flimsy and unconvincing. When they can't make a compelling case, they simply threaten.

And I unequivocally reject it.

[catchingdaydreams]

Some more lore for Reaper Wally

All the neighbors are Reapers and there are different classes of Reapers. These are with how they collect souls.The most common are the ones that collect Good and Bad souls. Frank, Sally and Howdy collect Bad souls and Julie and Eddie collect Good souls. The sub class reapers, Barnaby collects animal souls & Poppy and Wally collect children's souls.Wally is a newer Reaper that learned what he knows from Poppy. Though he has his own way to handle souls pass through to the afterlife. Often at times he can turn himself into a plush crow to make himself more friendly towards young children. He likes to comfort the child rightuntil they properly pass. This doesn't mean he's a pacifist. He's not very good with older children, often being ignored or looked down upon. If this happens he will be more demanding towards the soul to move on.

🦴 Reaper Waly (Reaps) Facts

-Bones glow in the dark.

- Has a scythe badge that can magically grow to size.

-Feather earring is his source of power to turn into a crow plush (cannot fly).

- Speaks in a calming voice

- Doesn't really use alot of emotions

- Literally can kill you if you touch him. He keeps his sleaves long so he dosnt accidentally makes that mistake (will never forgive himself if it happened)

- Tries to help "lost souls" whenever he can. Being a new reaper he dosnt have the experience to deal something as bad as this. So he'll keep them in company. Poppy caught him trying to collect the lost souls when he first found out what happens go souls when they dont pass on. He doesn't like leaving them behind and doesn't understand why no other reaper would help these souls.

- Hands a ptich black, looking like rot. But his plams have little hearts that if you press them the squeak like a squeaker toy.

- Uses glitter in his hair.

🦴 SOULS

So souls natural pass onto the afterlife. In some cause their death is sudden or their life is hanging on by a thread, this is where a Reaper will help. They are not just seen as takers of life but guide souls to ensure they are achieving a rightfully afterlife. The "afterlife" is a lose term, it has very different meaning based on ones belief. But mainly there a good and bad place for souls.

Souls look like an outline our your body, filled with distinctive colours (yeah like Undertale souls but more colour variety)

LOST SOULS

If a soul died sudden or holds some form of grudge they will not pass. Being stuck in purgatory for so long can make one lose their self but physically and mentally. Their soul will lose their form and become a wisp. They may lose all their memories or their whole personality will change based on the grudge they have. There isn't really anything one can do to fix them, maybe rare cases can occur but its very, very rare.

PLARKS

Not much is know how a Lost soul becomes a Plark. Not all lost souls turn into plarks. There is 0 chance of plarks passing on. They are able to breach the material world and feed on the living. Basically are characterized as demons. They have no particular shape, often goopy with a forever changing form. They cannot speak, but shrill and growl. Plarks will often form groups and merge with one another to feed more efficiently. A group of plarks is called an eye. The reason why is that group feeding occurrs by surrounding an individual, looking like an eye from a 'birds eye view.'

Repaers are secondary tasked with controlling Plarks infestation. This is where their scythers are used for. A reaper cannot get rid off plarks, just control their size and feeding behavior. Hunger will not kill plarks.

Wally one meet a Plark once. He tried to help them. The plark tired to drain Wallys life force. His black rot hands is his lession that not everyone can be saved.

[sweaterkittensahoy]

cleganmarge prompt but its outsider pov to their dynamics post buck/marge wedding?

I cannot get this into story words, so here's a sketch of an idea:

Marge is one of the first to get married after the war, but she is certainly not the last. And at every bridal shower she goes to, someone will bring up "that friend of Gale's who's always around."

"John," Marge will always say with a polite smile. She knows where this is going. It always goes here.

"Well, I just don't understand it, Marge. A newlywed like you are, and he's at your house nearly every weekend."

"Oh, well, Nancy, they flew together. There's a bond."

"My husband served with men he considers friends, and they're not over nearly as much."

"You know, Nancy, that may just be down to how you and David like your time alone. And I think that's wonderful. And Gale and I like our time alone, too, but we're also just so...used to John. I mean, he knew Gale before I did, so really, I'm the one mucking things up."

And this always gets a little laugh, then the subject changes. And it's all fine again.

But then another bridal shower, another question about John.

"We're hoping we can find someone for him to settle down with," is Marge's other go to, "but all you lovely ladies are just getting snatched up by the most wonderful men!"

"Oh, he's just down the road at the base with Gale, so it's really surprising he's not around more."

"You know we bought the house planning to fix it up, and John's handy with any sort of tool."

Finally, after a couple of years of it coming up over and over again, Marge finally gives herself a little treat. She takes a slow sip of her coffee and smiles at whichever lady is questioning her this time, and she says, "Well, if you must know Carol, he and I are having a torrid affair right under Gale's nose."

Absolute dead silence for five seconds, then Marge throws her head back and laughs. "I'm sorry. I know that was tasteless, but I couldn't help it. You all are always so curious, and I've got no fun answers. He's just a darling friend is all."

When she tells Gale and John that night, Gale goes bright pink and John laughs so hard he slips off the couch.

Marge holds Gale's hot face in her hands and kisses his nose. "I'm sorry, honey, was that too far?"

He shakes his head and grabs her waist, tumbles them to the floor next to John. "I'm just disappointed you acted like I'm not in on it."

"Well, that would have raised many more questions that were none of their business," Marge replies, and she laughs when Gale presses his face to her neck and giggles.

"No better girl in the world than you, Marge," John says, rolling onto his side so he nuzzle her temple. "We're both lucky as hell."

"Me, too," she says, and she's pleased to report after the next bridal shower, that no one tried to demand an explanation of the three of them again.

[foodfactfitness]

Global Food Consumption-what the world is actually consuming!

Global food trends are undergoing significant changes influenced by health awareness, sustainability concerns , and cultural shifts. Still there is undeniable popularity of ‘Packaged Food’ , let’s dive deep and understand ‘what the world is actually consuming’.

In today’s fast-paced society, the food landscape is marked by the ‘dual popularity of Healthy and Packaged Food’ The growing awareness of health issues linked to diet, such as obesity and chronic diseases, is leading to an increase in healthy food consumption. However we cannot deny that processed foods still dominate global diets

Studies indicate that globally, around 30% to 40% of people are actively trying to consume healthier foods. This includes a focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.However these stats also indicate regional differences there is- higher percentage of people consuming healthy foods in developed countries compared to developing countries ,

Processed foods are becoming more common in developing countries, can you guess why?

Here is your answer: Changing Lifestyles, Urbanisation, Limited accessibility, because of these reasons there is increased consumption of sugary snacks and fast food in Developing nations.

The Dual Popularity of Healthy and Processed Foods in Today's World-

Reason behind this duality:

1) Health Consciousness- An increasing number of consumers are prioritising health, because they desire to stay healthy, combat diseases and improve overall well-being. As a result, there’s increase in the demand for fresh produce, Many people are turning to organic foods and supplements, eager to invest in their health. However, this consciousness often coexists with the convenience of processed foods.

2)Easy Accessibility-Processed food are easily accessible, plus they are easy to make and Pre-packaged meals, snacks, and instant options save time and effort in meal preparation. While these foods are often criticised for their nutritional value, many brands are responding to consumer demand by creating healthier versions.

3)Urbanisation and Lifestyle changes-In todays fact pacing society its kind of tough to keep up with traditional cooking, so processed food serves the purpose, Yet, many urban consumers are also seeking out healthier options .

4)Innovations in Food Technology- Advancements in food technology have made it possible to create processed foods that are both tasty and nutritious.

Innovations like - plant-based meats, cater to health-conscious consumers while providing the convenience they seek. This blending of health and processing meets diverse dietary needs.

Conclusion :

• The parallel popularity of Healthy and Processed food shows how with increasing health consciousness still there is huge and popular market for Packaged Food because of – Accessibility, Urbanisation and Cultural Fusion, people specially in ‘Developing countries’ are opting more of packaged food , while there is a huge market and popularity for healthy food in ‘Developed Countries’

However this does not mean that people in developing countries don’t consume healthy foods but percentage is less compared to developing nations.This evolution suggests a future where healthy and processed options can coexist harmoniously, meeting the diverse needs of a global population.

‘We can stay healthy and happy all we need is just balance’

[alixanderdisaster]

Religion

I don know exactly how but me and the kid I am training at work got onto topic of religion, specifically Christianity. So I’m just going to ramble here.

Neither of us are religious. Both of us grew up in Christian households.

My introduction to God was going to church with my grand parent and my mother telling me ‘God doesn’t like ugly’ and ‘lying is a sin, liars go to hell’ as a small child. And I believed… for a while. Until bad things happened, and kept happening or kept getting worse no matter how hard or how much I prayed.

I’m fairly certain I stopped believing in god at about the same time I realized that Santa wasn’t real. Which I would say was probably between 6-7years old. No one told me Santa wasn’t real and as far as I remember there was no big upset about it. I don’t think I even mentioned it, just kept playing along.

My childhood was not great, but no where near the worst. There are countless other people who have had much worse circumstances. But there’s only so much a child can pray for to stop happening, for something to change, before first wondering what they could have done wrong to be punished as such, and next wondering if there’s even a god at all.

Because surely an all loving god wouldn’t put a child through such things as I have experienced, let alone the worse horrors happening for even less reasons.

Granted as a child I did not have the ability to express or even understand the feelings and emotions as I can explain as an adult. I felt anger and betrayal toward a god who had obviously decided that my devote worship and prayer wasn’t good enough. That anger shifter targets when my belief stopped, aimed instead at those that continued to try to shove the Bible down my throat or tell me ‘it’s gods will’ and ‘god always has a reason’ and whatever other bullshit people spout in an attempt to make meaningless atrocities hurt less.

IT DOES NOT WORK.

I have slightly less anger towards religious folks now. As an adult I can see individuals separate from the religion. That is, while the organization may condemn something, the individual may not. While the church may say one thing, the individual may differ.

A big example would be same sex relationships/marriage.

Christianity as a whole condemns it. However some sects/individuals differ on it. Some say it’s a sin. Some say it’s a sin but to each their own. Others say it’s not a sin at all.

This does not change that the institution says it’s a sin and that the sin will be punished. Therefore, even if you tell me that you think everyone who says it’s a sin is wrong and not a ‘real Christian’ it doesn’t matter.

If this ‘all-loving’ God punishes me, despite me doing everything I can to be a honest, caring, good person, and doing my best to never hurt anyone. If the only black mark on my soul is that I loved the wrong gender and that I refused to worship something I couldn’t believe in then your god is not worthy of worship.

“Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones.”

Marcus Aurelius

There is nothing in this world, short of Jesus himself giving divine proof, that could cause me to believe. And even then, with no doubt of belief, I could not worship a God that demands worship or punishment. That gives free will, freedom of choice, and punishes those who use it.

I wish I had faith in something bigger than humanity. But I cannot reconcile what a petulant and cruel being god would have to be while his followers sing his praises and children die en masse.

Good night.

[notthesacrifice]

A YouTube Comment I left on the Old Wound music video. I doubt anyone's gonna see it there so I thought I'd share it here. If anyone has anything to correct me on pls lmk.

To the fans: It’s understandable that this upsets most of you, a fan-base of artists, or contrarians, or supporters -- not only are you not the demographic for this video, but you see the harm it causes. My concerns, then, are not to you. Nor are they to the A.I. advocates (this is a debate I considered dead and buried). My concerns are with the minority of loud opportunists: the same people who might continue to harass Bob Bryar on Twitter. I considered this behaviour dead and buried also. But it’s back, disgusting as it is, and doing nothing of use. The small minority must know that to rip and tear as they do only harms the points they wish to defend, but especially the band. (In particular, so I’ve seen, Frank. If there’s one demand I’d make: give Frank some fucking room. Your beloved anti-fascist lyricist of Leathermouth and anti-corporate singer of Death Spells is NOT transforming into an antisemitic, conservative libertarian. Goddam!) The arguments that are common sense to you (in defence of or attacking A.I.) are absolutely not so to others. You must talk to the others as though they are children. Not patronisingly, but as though they are naive. Disregard and do not respond to anything bad faith. All the “comment section grammar correction bile” hurts the band. So if not for each other, be civil for the band.

To the band: The video is out now. It doesn’t matter. From the moment the teaser was posted it didn’t matter if the full video was released or not — it existed, it was paid for, the fuse was lit. The upset and anger are not at the form or the content, it’s at the thought (or thoughtlessness) that preceded it. Its status as art is contentious, yes, but ultimately irrelevant to the core issue. We do not live in a world where safety nets exist for artists in any form, let alone when their existence (i.e. their careers and livelihoods) are threatened by automation. This is good technology. Undoubtedly the beginning of another technological revolution. But our objective conditions do not make it safe to use when it’s application necessitates a team of artists goes unpaid in favour of one individual.

Most importantly I would say: We don’t need to consider this moralistically. If A.I. art is truly art or not, if it’s stolen or not, if it’s tied to the NFT and crypto demographic or not, is all secondary. It doesn’t matter. Materially, this application is poor now. In a decade? Maybe not. But now, there is no protection or assurance for human artists. The tale of this field’s automation is the same as any other — it will be rejected en masse and held as immoral for as long as the material conditions leave the Replaced unprotected. Art is especially tricky in this sense, as for other occupations workers may only need to be financially compensated and assigned a new line of work, but artists do what they do out of love. It is not just work, it is a pastime. So not only do the artists need the financial compensation, but they CANNOT be relocated, and they need assurance they will never be made redundant in a world that demands money be made.

I don’t like this video. If it were a decade later, or another time when artists are protected, when A.I. is assuredly a tool and not a threat or talking point, I might enjoy it more. But for now, A.I. is unfortunately objectively bad for art. And that’s something we can only change by listening to the artists

[parchmentportals]

Navigating the Digital Pen: My Journey in Writing for New Media

Having embarked on writing for new media, I have found the experience cathartic and enlightening. As I enrolled in this course, I expected that it would not do anything significantly helpful in the path I am to take in the future, and I was proven otherwise. I have discovered a shift in my understanding of what it means to communicate in the modern, digital age. 

From the outset, the course promised an enticing dive into digital content creation. As a writer who has dedicated works to the traditional format of writing; keeping my works to myself, away from the eyes of others, transitioning to new media was quite daunting. Compared to traditional writing, where you have to spend a great deal of time and energy getting feedback and interactions from your audience, new media makes it much easier to interact with your work in just a few simple clicks. Module after module, one cannot help but be fascinated by the complexities of each digital platform– using such platforms is one thing, but learning about it is another– combining both theoretical and practical applications is something I found exciting. 

Adaptability. Adaptability is an important skill to master because new media requires a more dynamic approach; simply creating content will not persist, adapting based on interaction and feedback from the audience, however, is an entirely different story that may help one’s ideas and works persevere. Mastering adaptability, I must say, is the foundation of excellent new media writing. 

Learning that new media is fundamentally interactive has allowed me to have a deeper understanding of how anticipating the audience’s needs is not all there is in new media writing, one must continuously keep the audience involved by hearing out their opinions and ideas with their feedback to improve the content you offer. Adaptability, once again, plays a big role in this– being committed to learning new things makes it easier to be able to embrace new tools and platforms as they emerge, allowing one to keep honing their skills to continuously meet the ever-changing demands of new media writing. 

It is said that change is the only constant thing in the world, the same can be said for new media writing. As time passes we are introduced to new tools and platforms, mastering adaptability will allow us to be more flexible concerning things that will help improve our work and cater to our audiences based on their feedback, allowing us to have a good interactive relationship with the audience. Embracing what I have learned in this course, I look forward to creating content that will resonate with the audience's needs.

[seventeenlovesthree]

Yeah so your dynamic shipping game? I know I say Takeru and Hikari a lot because I always want to know others perception of them.

Another one I am very curious about is Koushirou and Mimi. Because Tri just worked for them.

But if you mean non common ships I have been curious about Yamato and Mimi. I get the whole they look good together vibe especially in illustrations, but personality wise they don’t really mesh up well in my opinion. Maybe you’ll find something good out of it?

Anyways thank you for reading this. Even if you do one review I would appreciate it. Thank you!

Hello there! Thank you for sending me this, I still have all the other rarepairs in my queue and want to work on them, since I always enjoy to have some thought experiments here and there.

Since my stance on Takari hasn't really changed ever since writing my first analysis post, I hope it's okay if I'm not gonna repeat this one.

However, the other two (namely Koumi and Mimato) are definitely more interesting to write about, for very different reasons each:

Digimon Shipping Dynamic Game:

Send me two names among the following 12 and I’ll write a short analysis post about them:

Taichi Yagami | Yamato Ishida | Sora Takenouchi | Koushirou Izumi | Mimi Tachikawa | Jyou Kidou | Takeru Takaishi | Hikari Yagami | Daisuke Motomiya | Miyako Inoue | Iori Hida | Ken Ichijouji

Whether canon provides input on them or not:

Since I've already written a huge tumblr breaking analysis on what does and does not work about them, you can bet that canon provides a whole lot of input about them. I will try to keep this section as brief as possible regardless:

You have their initial set-up, which appears to be your typical "opposites/beauty and the nerd" tropes at first glance - and while they do fulfill their stereotypes to at least some degree at various parts of the series, they also frequently defy them. They're the same age and also classmates, making them one of the few characters who have known each other (very superficially) even before the events of Adventure - and they start off rather roughly. While both of them are portrayed as oddballs in their own ways (enjoying questionable food combinations, being very focused on the things they're interested in, etc.), they have very different priority systems. Basically, whenever these two are the focus in an episode (namely the infamous episode 10 of Adventure), a scene (namely their interactions in "Diablomon Strikes Back) or a plot-point (namely their interactions throughout the first four Tri movies), it's usually about them having to come to terms with their different approach systems:

Koushirou is the rational type, who focuses on solving a problem by going through the entire PDCA cycle, trying to figure out each and every puzzle piece and gather all information to come to a conclusion. Mimi's judgement is based more on emotions, feelings and instinct, she likes to skip the first three steps of the PDCA cycle and does what she thinks is best for everyone - and that's where these two tend to clash. While Koushirou absolutely can be a hands-on person who jumps into action when necessary, he has a hard time understanding Mimi's reasoning sometimes, especially when she demands him to take her/other people's feelings into account. They do have very different energy levels in that regard - which, on the other hand, is also what makes their DSB interactions so entertaining to watch, as she is just very happy to be back in Japan, wanting his attention (extroverted dominance), while he's absolutely done trying to save the world once again (introverted exhaustion).

While their fights can turn out to be rather exhausting whenever they're not able to communicate well and also whenever they cannot admit that the other may have had a point (especially in Tri), they do work best once they actually reconcile and combine their strengths; whether it's when he is leaving his laptop behind (once) to tear down a wall to save her, admitting that acting is better than thinking sometimes (episode 10), when she praises his skills and achievements up to the point of them even working on her online shop together (Tri + Kizuna/To Sora), or when he leaves his laptop at home once again after being told to do so by her, just to come to the conclusion that this helped him to actually think about what he wants to do in the future (Stageplay).

There is a reason why they're among the most popular ships in the Digimon fandom world-wide due to their interesting dynamics (see here and here). So much so that there was even an audio drama explicitly functioning as fanservice, making Koushirou write a love letter to someone and having Mimi be rather infuriated by the idea that it was for Hikari instead of herself. While instances like this (and DSB) formed the preferred fandom headcanon of Mimi having a crush on Koushirou, Tri canonized him having developed a crush on her instead - even though said crush was rather treated in a comic relief manner without serving a development trigger in either of their arcs, as the main focus had been, once again, them having very different view-points instead.

Long story short - there is A LOT to work with. Even though I have to say that, in my opinion, Tri did not really work for them. The recycled conflict between them (rational vs. emotional) could have been great if it had been intertwined in their respective arcs (self-isolation vs. selfishness), but was NEVER properly resolved. The crush never led to anything but fanservice (while also reducing Koushirou's character to that in a "they had to dumb him down so he couldn't figure out the plot immediately" way). I actually prefer their portrayal in the stageplay (as well as in Kizuna/To Sora), which is why I chose the screenshot above - but let me elaborate on that...

Whether I think why and how they’d work:

The "opposites attract trope", if done right, can be a very appealing one - and, as mentioned, it explains why these two are as popular as a romantic ship as they are. As mentioned above, I do prefer their portrayal in the stageplay as opposed to Tri; while their personalities were still very much on opposing ends, there was a lot more familiarity and closeness between them, which could have been the natural development after they had started to come to terms with their "differences" after episode 10 of Adventure, throughout 02 and up to this point. Mimi scolding Koushirou for relying on his laptop too much is met with him seeming rather helpless, exhausted by her attitude at first - however, instead of just acting obediently and leaving his laptop at home to please her, he uses that twice: Once by teasing her, pretending to have withdrawal symptoms and scaring her in the process, ACTUALLY joking around intentionally and playfully for once! Secondly, he actually talks about his own dreams, feeling inspired by her and indirectly thanking her for that (the crush does not seem to exist at this point btw). And that is a mutual point for them, as Mimi also confesses to Sora that, while she's currently not crushing on anyone, she also feels inspired by Koushirou to maybe do "something with computers" in the future (which, as we know, will actually happen by the time of Kizuna).

And that is what, as mentioned above, could be their greatest strength as a romantic couple. They're AWARE of their different energy levels and, after all these years, they've started to gain an understanding of the other's needs in terms of emotional and mental affection. At least they SHOULD BE. Instead, Tri implied that Koushirou suddenly started to get interested in fashion JUST for the sake of impressing Mimi - which is not what his character is about at all and misunderstood his entire arc of accepting himself the way he is. Having him bend over backwards to impress the person he fell in love with, hiding behind an app to tell him how to dress, would always result in him never opening up - sure, he's been able to stand his ground against her, but that only resulted in them shouting at each other in Tri, unable to really understand each other. And Tri COULD have used that to make Mimi comment on how it didn't matter what he wore as long as he felt comfortable with it. Because - again, they're both weird in their own ways and wouldn't be themselves if they changed for the sake of someone else. But that conclusion was never reached.

In an ideal world, I feel like they could just have naturally progressed from 02 to the Stageplay to Kizuna/To Sora; with Koushirou becoming more aware and considerate towards Mimi needing attention and affection and Mimi learning that there are times when Koushirou needs to be left to solve his riddles, with words of encouragement in between. The Kizuna promo art of her looking absolutely amazed at whatever he had managed to make out of her online shop while he beams at her with fondness and pride is how I could see them working out just fine. Sure, there would be moments of them clashing again - but they'd be able to deal with that without him turning into an obedient puppy or her turning into an enraged harpy. There can be a sense of protectiveness and gentleness between them, learning from and complementing each other without actively trying to CHANGE the other, enjoying each other's company as well as spending time apart, as long as they have something to gush over together (whether that's online shops, food, their friends - or, like in the reboot, the actual fact that Mimi's grandfather is the manufacturer of Koushirou's tablet. The potential of them actually having business-related rambles is just too good to pass on).

Whether I’d prefer them as platonic or romantic ship:

Alright, enough rambles - throughout all this time spent analyzing their romantic potential, I have actually grown more fond of them as a couple. Despite that, I still prefer them as platonic business friends, since I primarily ship each of them with other characters. Still, I love the idea of them growing more and more close and familiar through the years (which is basically canon at this point anyway), teasing and praising each other, making jokes, gossiping over their friends, etc. (Though I would actually like to see them in an OT3 with Taichi - because in my opinion, both Mimi and Taichi care deeply about Koushirou and he'd be such a wonderful bisexual disaster around them. Plus, I thoroughly despise certain fandom depictions of Michi cheating on Koushirou with each other, because that couldn't be further from their actual personalities.)

ALRIGHT, NEXT.

Digimon Shipping Dynamic Game:

Send me two names among the following 12 and I’ll write a short analysis post about them:

Taichi Yagami | Yamato Ishida | Sora Takenouchi | Koushirou Izumi | Mimi Tachikawa | Jyou Kidou | Takeru Takaishi | Hikari Yagami | Daisuke Motomiya | Miyako Inoue | Iori Hida | Ken Ichijouji

Whether canon provides input on them or not:

Depending on what you want to look at: There isn't much. While you referred to them as "non common ship", I do believe there is quite a fanbase for them out there. However, I'm inclined to agree that it is mainly based on two factors: Both of them being highly attractive characters and the potential they could have due to their personalities (and the tropes they represent).

Throughout Adventure 01 and 02, I actually cannot remember any significant interactions these two had with each other; Yamato starts off having a hard time approaching the others, he's not exactly closed off or aloof, but is mainly focused on taking care of Takeru. Him ACTIVELY bonding with others happens very rarely, so when he's not contemplating things (sometimes together with Jyou), or argues or fights with and alongside Taichi, he doesn't really have any capacities to interact with Mimi - who, in turn, is more likely to play around with Takeru or spend time with Sora or Jyou. At first glance, Yamato is the classic introvert to Mimi being an extrovert, which is not only displayed by their colour palettes being VERY different (warm shades of red and pink vs. cold shades of green and blue), but also by their energy levels. While they're both very outspoken and opinionated - they never talk to each other in either 01 and 02. In the novel, there are even several instances of their energy levels and approaches being that different that they actually clash with each other, actively fighting.

Thus, figuring out their dynamics is rather difficult - there are just minor instances (and characteristics) that COULD make them rather interesting; one of the most famous moments in 01 is the way Yamato tells Taichi off, demanding him to give them - and Mimi in particular - time and space to mourn the loss of the Digimon that have already died, implying that he's sympathizing with her. Yamato has definitely experienced loss in his life already after the divorce of his parents and still struggles with feeling inadequate as a brother to Takeru - while Mimi comes from one of the happiest, most peaceful families in the series. Her purity, her sense of wanting to achieve peace without sacrifices almost appears as a stark contrast to Yamato's "corruption" later on; when he demands Taichi to fight him, trying to solve things in a rather violent way, it's almost a shame that someone like Mimi is not able to stop him there and then (since deep down inside, he doesn't want to fight either). And that's where I assume fandom likes to step in using their personalities to form headcanons:

Mimi being a positive influence, a genuine force of sincerity to (literally) pull Yamato out of his (more negative) tendencies, helping him to be more honest with himself as well - almost in an actual "Beauty and the Beast" kind of way. Neither Tri or Kizuna really elaborated on their dynamics - but the former did like to imply that they are indeed opposing forces, twice; the situation depicted above shows the group coming together after Mimi had another fight with Koushirou. Meiko feels like a burden, since she was the reason Mimi and Koushirou clashed in the first place, as he tried to interrogate her in a moment of emotional vulnerability, while Mimi called him out for being insensitive. Yamato voices his concern towards Meiko, telling her to stop worrying them - and both Taichi and Sora step in, saying that Yamato was just genuinely worried about her, to which Mimi tries to call him a "Tsundere". He just deflects by telling her that she cannot speak proper Japanese and that she's just making things more complicated (because she refuses to take a step towards Koushirou at this point). The other instance is within the stageplay - where Yamato tells Mimi to stay away from his cooking, fearing that her extravagant tastes (bananas and fish) may ruin the dish...

Long story short - they don't appear to be very compatible as friends canonically. So, again, that's where headcanons have to step in.

Whether I think why and how they’d work:

As mentioned above, due to their contrasting set-ups, family backgrounds and way of attraction, there is an appeal that may make them quite popular in singular online spaces. Mimi is a natural people-magnet due to her openness and tendency to become the center of attention very quickly, she easily befriends everyone around her (even if some may find her controversial, as depicted in Tri) and tries to spread a positive spirit. Whereas Yamato, despite being a band leader (that is also very popular), is indeed more closed-off, with a very selective group of friends he is very committed to and protective of (maybe even possessive to some degree, as you can imagine he is not good at dealing with losses). From an outside view, they almost have that "idol-like vibe" that makes them very attractive - so it's no surprise fandom sees them as an intriguing and compelling combination to end up together. Due to them being as opinionated as they are, they may clash a lot - but similarly to Koumi, that COULD be also a strength, as it is important for characters like Yamato to ACTUALLY speak their mind without hiding behind a mask. Plus, Yamato needs someone he can truly be vulnerable around with, because he's a lot softer (and awkward) than his facade would make you believe at first glance. The question is - would he be able to let loose around Mimi like that? It's very hard to tell, because unlike with Koumi, we don't really know if she understands how he rolls. Sure, she can see that he has VERY Tsundere-like tendencies, tough shell, soft and caring on the inside - but up to this point, they're not close (or even comfortable) enough for him to not deny that rather aggressively (especially because Taichi and Sora were actually a lot quicker to pick that up - which is no surprise either, because they're canonically closer to him). So it feels more like they'd be prone to fight for dominance than being able to take a step towards each other (even more strongly than Koumi, because Mimato may take disagreement as a personal attack and can't even seem to bond over their passion for cooking together at this point in time).

Mimi, on the other hand, also needs someone who can keep up with her - people like Jyou and Koushirou, as we've seen, should be used to her habits already, but it is very difficult to tell whether Yamato would have the energy and patience to deal with her, giving her the assurance and attention she needs.

Long story short, the potential is there due to their personalities, but we never learn if and how they'd be able to interact on a closer level.

Whether I’d prefer them as platonic or romantic ship:

Admittedly, they're a relationship I have pretty much no attachment to, simply due to the fact that canon never gave me a reason to believe that they'd think of each other as "close friends", let alone "romantic partners". As they're both Chosen Children, they would surely protect and fight for each other, no question - but everything beyond that never gave me positive vibes. Which is actually a shame, because they're both (potentially) good with Jyou and Takeru, Team Hope exists for a reason after all (and I even ship both Mimi and Yamato with Jyou, yet I couldn't imagine them being an actual OT3). Heck, they're also both (supposedly) very close to Sora, yet they never had a group moment together. Even in the reboot, they were mainly just arguing and never had a positively reaffirming moment together. So I must say, I rather think of them as acquaintances than anything else.

[caffeineandsociety]

The thing is, to a transphobe, you're whatever gender is convenient to mistreat you at the moment, and a huge part of the reason it looks different based on gender is because so much of their disgust is based on false ideas about the human body - bioessentialism.

On the surface level, this means misgendering, both overtly and otherwise. The most visible stereotype of a trans woman is a big, hairy, musky, muscular, big-browed MAN in the tackiest dress you've ever seen, and the most visible stereotype of a trans man is a dainty, weak, sheltered GIRL with a blue pixie cut begging doctors to MUTILATE HER just to BE TRENDY. Because, to a transphobe, you cannot escape your ~true biological nature~; your sex CANNOT be changed, it can only be disguised.

Or can it? This starts to flip around when someone goes on hormones. Estrogen makes you weak and stupid, and testosterone makes you violent and predatory - again, more bioessentialism. Not that they're not going to continue to invoke the previous stereotypes when it's more convenient, of course.

And, there's one other brand of abuse where transphobes will actually...sort of gender a trans person correctly - I like to call them "Lucy's football standards". What do they look like?

"Well, if you're REALLY a woman, sit down and be quiet, no one will EVER take you seriously if you keep throwing your MASSIVE weight around and demanding so AGGRESSIVELY to be treated like a HUMAN, sit down and be quiet and take whatever abuse comes your way like a good girl should! You dont have a 12-step skincare routine!? Are you even TRYING!? Why don't you order the salad, sweetie, that's what girls SHOULD do, you don't want to look like a glutton let alone get fat! Car trouble? Are you suuuure you know what you're talking about? Girls shouldn't know that! Why do you do physical labor? Wouldn't you rather have a nice, soft job suited for the weak, dainty little flower you claim you are on the inside?"

"Well, if you're going to be a man, then it's your responsibility to be a protector! No complaining! Come on, get out there, get in the line of fire, that's your job! Remember, look fashionable while you do it, but not TOO fashionable, Real Men don't wear nail polish or bright colors or skinny jeans! Remember to have realistic expectations of how your transition will go, but also if you like the idea of being small and twinkish you're obviously just a trender - hit the gym if you're a Real Man! Now remember, man up, no complaining, you don't get the protection of 'don't hit girls' anymore - no we're not going to talk about how fucked up it is that 'don't use physical violence as a tool of control' is gendered, not at YOUR request, you're OBVIOUSLY just trying to have your cake and eat it too! Now go forth, my human shield, and don't forget to acknowledge the wonderful world of privilege you're entering~!"

It's a demand for an IMPOSSIBLY strict level of gender conformity...because the transphobe knows it's an impossible standard, especially since it's always paired with moving goalposts. It's saying "well, sure, I'll play along with your little game, but I absolutely see it as just some childish LARP thing and I just might stop playing along at any time if you don't play it well enough or I just get bored," or "sure, I'll be happy to grant you basic human rights - here, Charlie Brown, just kick the football, you can do it, I promise I'll really truly hold it for you this time~!"

But these are all broad categories. In practice, they overlap, especially when nonbinary and intersex people are brought into the mix, and/or when someone's birth designated sex is unknown. Is it contradictory? Yes! All the time! Because it's not a worldview created by logic and trying to understand others to make the world better; it's a reactionary position born of pasting together mismatched scraps of old bigotries, outdated science and pseudoscience, and logical fallacies to justify that someone's visceral disgust at the concept of transness has NOTHING to do with internalizing some fucked up stereotypes about how gender works in a "post-bigotry, equality-valuing" society let alone just being a giant controlling asshole, and EVERYTHING to do with how BEING TRANS WILL RUIN THE WORLD DEFINITELY FOR REAL WE SWEAR!!1!1

So it becomes a problem when people either fail to acknowledge the nature of these conflicting stereotypes and standards...or when they think they can figure out hard and fast rules for when a transphobe will apply any of them. The reason there are so many, and they're so contradictory, is to keep the worldview artificially airtight. Trans men will be held to transmisogynistic standards, sometimes because they're GNC and being presumed to be AMAB, but sometimes because it's just more convenient to use the bathroom predator line against him. Trans women will be held to transandrophobic standards, again sometimes because they've been mistaken for transitioning the other direction, but also sometimes because calling her a tragic baby who doesn't know what's good for her suits the transphobe's agenda better in the moment. A major aspect of exorsexism and transmultiphobia is rage at not knowing which of these standards to apply, so the transphobe just flies into a berserk state and starts spitting out all of them, glued together with repackaged biphobic "pick a side" garbage. There are no sharp lines in the sand, only complex and messy probability functions.

But, when given the information and opportunity to do so, transphobes will very often want to fall back on bioessentialism, because that's where they feel they can use (deliberately oversimplified 4th grade) "science" to back them up - even when it comes to grifters who outright know better and are using it just to make them sound smart. Arguably, especially then.

The purpose of recognizing this is to fight transphobes, NOT random other trans people seeking to define their own experiences, btw.

[kiaaraagarwal]

How Are Audio Video System Integrators in Mumbai Transforming Communication?

Today’s world is all about technology and it becomes important for organizations and businesses to enjoy efficient communication. The integrators of Audio Video systems based in Mumbai play a central part in providing the latest solutions for different sector types. In vernacular, these integrators guarantee seamless connection and participation from the boardroom to massive functions. Sigma AVIT, the industrial giant in audio-visual applications, is totally remodelling the way businesses going to approach their important audio visuals.

What Makes Audio Video System Integrators So Important?

It has therefore never been more necessary to have more advanced AV systems. These systems are the core working systems in current communication technologies and includes applications such as video conference, digital displays and interactive collaboration systems. But the process of designing and installation of such systems need professional expertise and this is where Mumbai Audio Video system integrators come into operation.

Sigma AVIT has great expertise in providing standalone AV solutions for business applications that are unique. Organization can be able to achieve its goals of high performance, minimal downtime, and therefore improved user satisfaction with the help of experts.

How Are Audio Visual Meeting Solutions Transforming Meeting Thereby Enhancing Collaboration?

This area has undergone significant changes in the last years, particularly due to the popularity of hybrid and remote work. Audio visual meeting solutions are now an indispensable tool for organizations to communicate successfully across locations. These solutions make it possible to communicate in a real-time basis and with high picture and sound quality thus making meeting and decision making productive.

Why Sigma AVIT Mumbai?

Mumbai is largely a business city and as such requires state of the art Audio Video solutions in order to meet its dynamism. Currently, Sigma AVIT is among the best Audio Video system integrators in Mumbai that provides cutting edge yet durable solutions.

They claim that their team can sit with clients to understand their needs and then install tailored systems that make working more efficient. Sigma AVIT excels in AV Technology provide reliability and after sales solutions, allowing business and more convenient access to continually advancing AV capabilities.

How Management Consultants are Transforming the Future of Business?

The evolution of business across organizations instills that communication and connection are the keys to success with smart AV. Technology solutions including AI interventions in the conferences, engaging virtual meeting solutions, and integrated cloud access to AV amenities are setting newer standards. In this process, Sigma AVIT has emerged as innovative and is likely to sustain itself in this constantly changing environment.

The products being offered by their Audio visual meeting solutions of streamlining their structures to meet current demands while preparing the company for future growth. This is particularly important when installing boardroom, training facility or a large lecture hall – Sigma AVIT insisted that, you get the most appropriate tools you need.

Conclusion

The knowledge of Audio Video system integrators in Mumbai cannot be overlooked especially for business willing to survive the cut throat competition. With Sigma AVIT solution at your service, you have a full service turn-key solution, ready for any event or venue on the horizon! From high-quality audio visual meeting systems to overall system integration, they don’t take shortcuts to anything less than extraordinary.

That’s why you should invest in Sigma AVIT’s solutions right now and change how your company works.

[billconrad]

My 30+1 Writing Resources

    A friend recently discovered I was an author, and I had fun telling them about my writing adventure. Their response was, “Wow, that sounds tough.” I answered, “It was, but I had help.” I thought it would be interesting to explore all the people and technology that helped me to become an author.

Amazon

    My father was one of the first people to sell books to Amazon. Back then, they were one of many online bookstores, and he sold them ceramics textbooks that he printed. Side story: He billed them with a “net 30,” meaning the company must pay you in 30 days or interest is applied. Amazon stretched this 30 days for months and refused to pay the interest. That was a big key to their success.

    Amazon has since branched into many areas, including downloadable books and print-on-demand. Without this service, I would not have been able to begin publishing because they have a broad reach into many homes. The problem is that everybody is getting into the self-publishing game.

    What about traditional publishing? Authors used to type up a book and send it to publishers. That is no longer possible. Authors must go through a book representative with an inside track with the publishers. Because of readership changes, big publishers rarely take on new authors. In addition, book representatives want $$ up front. In my humble opinion, like phone books, newspapers, and travel agencies, traditional publishing is in a significant decline that will never recover.

Generators

    A generator is a simple random-number-based computer program that extracts information from a pre-developed database.

    To use a name generator, I first think about a character’s attributes and then generate ten names. As I read them, I try to fit the name to my mental description. The process has no logic, and I keep generating until a name fits. I prefer the rare generated names for the main characters and common names for supporting characters.

Online dictionary

    Writers need to 100% understand their words, so it is necessary to have an up-to-date dictionary. There are hundreds to choose from, but I have found this online dictionary to be the best:

Online thesaurus

    It is also essential for an author to have multiple word options. Using this resource prevents repetitiveness and allows a sentence to convey the exact meaning. A good example is when a character is angry. Anger is a broad term that can be refined to annoyed, bitter, enraged, exasperated, furious, heated… I have found this online thesaurus to be the best:

    Besides having more options than most online resources, I appreciate the list of weak matches. I often look for a particular word I cannot remember and go to this site to jog my memory. The weak matches have proven valuable, beneficial, helpful, important, prized, and relevant.

Grammarly/ProWritingAid

    A writer must have good grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and flow. Yeah… I am still working on that. Grammarly and ProWritingAid have proven to be incredible time-savers and tools for improving my writing. They both have Black Friday deals.

ChatGPT

    ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence writing aid, but an author must understand its limitations. ChatGPT’s writing quality ranges from excellent to dreadful. A big problem with ChatGPT is that the basic logic can have significant flaws leading to a confusing result. The raw output should never be used for a published document without expressly stating that “ChatGPT generated the following text.” However, other authors disagree, and I have read books that were 100% written with this tool. To them, I say, readers are catching onto ChatGPT because of its distinctive writing style. People who use this tool in their jobs or writing will eventually be caught.

    I have found ChatGPT to be a great assistant in three areas. The first is more of a business application. When I have a huge block of wordy text, I ask ChatGPT to condense, summarize, or bullet point the document.

    ChatGPT is excellent at creating character traits, an area I fall short on. “Describe a tall male character with a Western theme.” I do not copy the generated result into my book; instead, I use it as inspiration to write a solid description. It is also helpful in describing scenes and other inanimate objects.

    My best use for ChatGPT is as an idea springboard during the outline stage. I feed it part of my outline and ask it to generate a story. I have also asked it to change what I have fed it or asked it to create basic plot ideas. This tool allows me to flush out the basic plot and modify the outline to enhance my story. I also ask it to list plot issues. “What problems would a car mechanic face?” “List the criteria a vampire would use to select a victim.”

The Chicago Manual of Style

    This book is the gold standard for how to write. A modern author needs to have a copy and follow its advice. It is also essential for an editor or copy editor to follow the standard. A good one, will cite The Chicago Manual of Style in their edits.

The Emotion Thesaurus

    This excellent book takes a deep dive into creating a detailed emotional scene that readers will enjoy. “Show them the emotion; do not tell them.” The other books in the series are excellent resources.

Word, Excel, Outlook, Acrobat, Visio, Project, PowerPoint, Photoshop

    Writers must have the proper tools to support their craft. Microsoft Word is not the gold standard; it is the only standard. Why? Their programmers have spent thousands of hours tweaking every function to allow users to get their ideas onto the page rapidly. Secondly, it is what editors, formatters, publishers, and other writers use/expect.

    What about Open Office, Google Docs…? They are all fine until they are not. The point is that a writer’s output is the best possible properly formatted document to convert into a book. These other word processors fall short in many areas, especially formatting. Here is an example: A document will print fine on one printer and not another. Microsoft has spent thousands of programming hours making their program work on all printers. Those other companies have not been around long enough to invest that time.

    All professional book formatters, publishing sites, or printers expect a Word document. I have been forced kicking and screaming to work with Open Office and Google Docs for work or my daughter’s school projects. Their interface, output, and controls are miserable.

    For example, the last editor I used did their work in Google Docs. (I did not know this in advance and will not be using them in the future.) I immediately found that the conversion process had messed up the spacing, tabs, and page breaks. I spent over four hours trying to delete the comments and eventually gave up. I had to copy the entire document, do a special paste into a new document, and then manually update the formatting. I am still finding issues.

    And there is no excuse. You can eBay older versions of these programs for $10. Sites offer a legitimate copy bound to your Microsoft account for $45. This is a peanuts price for all the heartache it will save.

    Be aware of what programs like Microsoft Excel are capable of. For example, put the dates into Excel if your book has a timeline. Microsoft Project can organize a super advanced timeline. How about a list? Excel is perfect for recording all the aspects, and the math functions are excellent. For example, if a plot occurs every thirteen days, put the first date in Excel and add thirteen:

Wednesday, October 8, 1975

Tuesday, October 21, 1975

Monday, November 3, 1975

Sunday, November 16, 1975

    If your book needs graphics or a photo, go with the professional tools, Acrobat, Visio, and Photoshop. Readers now have very high expectations for how their books appear. I recently came across a book with an out-of-focus cover photo. No excuses!

    I use Visio in my outline process because it gives me a big picture of how the plot unfolds. And I have had many occasions where I needed a PDF of a document or my entire book. Only Acrobat Professional has been able to generate this file free from formatting errors.

    Finally, Microsoft Outlook. Writers do a lot of communicating, and their communications need to be precise, secure, and backed up. But you are probably using an online site like Yahoo Mail. Easy, quick, and convenient. Right?

    Do you own the Yahoo Mail, AOL Mail, or MSN hard drive? Of course not. And if that email gets deleted? I have four backup copies of my critical emails, and all my current emails are on my computer. No internet? No problem. I can read my old emails and compose new ones. Granted, I cannot send or receive without a connection. The point is I am in complete control of my communications. In addition, I have complete control over the email quality, including the font, formatting, spell-checking, signature, and contact list.

Temp File

    This may seem an odd thing to include, but I have a Word document named temp. It has many uses, and the first is a scratchpad. I copy and paste text and graphics there. It is like a big cut-and-paste clipboard. It is super helpful when I am working with many documents. The most important use is with Grammarly/ProWritingAid and a large document. It takes forever for these two programs to analyze a large file. So, I copy and paste the section I am working on (like one chapter) into the temp file, do the analysis, and then copy it back into the main file. Word has a cute feature: if you do not touch the main file while editing, you can paste (replace) the text exactly because it remembered where you cut the cut.

Hotkeys

Hotkeys are shortcuts in Word and other programs. They are a huge time saver, but I did not know all of them. So, I found a list and posted it next to my computer. In addition, I have mapped the paste function to my center mouse button.

Track Changes Hotkey

When editing with tracked changes turned on, switching back and forth between the results and the red edits is helpful. But… There is no key for this. So, I found this article that shows how to create a hotkey. This has saved lots of time and mistakes. Surprisingly, despite its incredible usefulness, most editors are unaware of this function.

My “Things to Check For” list

I have a list of my writing quirks. I check each item when I am ready to submit a document to my beta reader, editor, or formatter. It takes me about an hour per big document, but using it has been invaluable. 

Upper Ribbon

In Microsoft products, it is possible to map often-used commands into the upper ribbon. I have save, redo, draft format, print format, paste text only, and thesaurus. Another feature is to see if I am in draft or print format because the icons show the document status.

Wikipedia

    Wikipedia is my primary research tool. It is loaded with facts, statistics, pictures, and clear explanations, but an author must understand the limitations. Amateurs maintain Wikipedia, and the articles are famous for containing errors, especially on sensitive topics.

    For example, many articles have highlighted the massive bias in the Wikipedia global warming article. When researching, be sure to check critical facts with other sites. Helpful tip: Do not directly copy Wikipedia entries into your book. Readers also read Wikipedia, and its style is distinctive.

 The Internet

    The internet is the greatest invention ever and a giant leap forward for authors. It allows me to do endless research without leaving my desk, keeps my computer updated, lets me communicate with anybody, and allows my books to be sold. I would not have published without this invention.

My computer

    This incredible device allows my thoughts to come alive. It is a powerhouse of modern technology and a universal writing tool. I spent big bucks on my machine, including large monitors to clearly see my words, a tactile keyboard to input them, and an ergonomic mouse to navigate. It is not loaded up with junk, and I go to great lengths to keep it healthy, backed up, and updated.

Virus protection

    It is no secret that people are out to get us, and a personal computer needs to have virus protection. For the past ten years, I have settled for Panda Free. It is not the best, but it does a reasonable job. I have found many issues with Norton, Symantec, and McAfee. They add bloatware, miss critical stuff, have been hacked, have had ethical issues, and apply high-pressure sales for their other products/services.

My Test Machine

    I have only had two virus-related issues on my main PC in the last ten years. Panda was able to clear the issues, but it was still scary. To further prevent viruses, I have an older computer called Test Machine. I use it for nonstandard programs, one-time applications, risky programs, web surfing on risky sites, and questionable applications.

    There have been many issues with that machine, and I wiped the entire operating system three times. Because it is my test machine, I do not store files or passwords. You can get an old machine on eBay, or at the thrift store, or swap meet cheaply. There are no excuses for causing a failure on your main computer.

    Alright, truth. Over the last twenty years, I had to wipe my main machine twice. The first was due to a bad graphics card driver, and the second was an “update preview” from Microsoft.

Backup drive

    A backup drive is critical. You can buy a low-capacity USB stick for a dollar and a used fireproof lockbox for $10 on eBay. I go to the extreme of having a dedicated drive on my PC for daily backups. Every month, I fully back up all critical files on two drives I have in my safe. Every six months, I do a full backup on another drive that I keep in a small fireproof box hidden in the attic.

    Since my writing adventure began, I have retrieved old files many times, including yesterday. The files I am looking for include prior versions and accidentally deleted ones or files I moved to a new location and forgot. But what about that copy in the attic? On two occasions, I recovered files from that drive because I did not save the files on the drive in the safe.

    I have had one major incident that I could not recover from. I spent three months editing my fourth book after a beta read. One day, I returned to the first chapter and saw the beta edits were missing. I believe what happened is that I was not editing the current file. I could not find my edits despite backing up the entire directory of all my writing files. I lost two months of work.

    What about Microsoft OneDrive, iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox? I have the same argument as with email. Do you own the drive? What happens when the internet is down? If they decide to delete your files or get hacked, what happens? No excuses!

Identity Scam Protection

    This may seem odd to include, but identity scam protection is now essential for an author. Authors are in the public eye and, therefore, valuable. Hey, everybody reading this. Famous author Bill here. Visit naughtysite.com. In 2024, our credit card was nefariously used twice, a person took over my eBay account and purchased soap (Really? Soap?), somebody posted on Reddit claiming to be me, and Amazon removed many book reviews because of a scammer.

    We use Experian to help with identity theft, but not for the reason you think. It was free with AAA but has proven itself valuable on several occasions. Most importantly, they have an experienced team to clamp down on the scammers.

Outline

    I cannot stress enough how important it is to begin every book project with an outline. This tool allows the author to see the story unfold, ask big questions, and make massive changes. At the beginning of my writing adventure, the motivation was completely missing, and an outline would have revealed this glaring flaw.

    The outline goal is to sort out the plot flow, prevent mistakes, and identify something that is not working. It takes me three months to develop a solid outline and six to work it to the point where I am ready to write. Side note: I find writing based on a solid outline less stressful. This is because there is less pressure to invent and I can concentrate on the fun of creating something.

Character Biography

    A character biography is a basic description of the main character’s traits, relationships, and personalities. It is essential to have the basics established before the writing begins.

    They are very easy to create. I use a name generator and then invent basic physical and behavioral details. As I write, I refer to this sheet and add to it. I estimate that it takes less than ten minutes per character but saves many hours during writing and editing, plus the story is better.

Beta Reader

    A beta reader has two crucial functions. The first is to vet an outline. The main question is: Does this make sense? And the secondary question is: Is this something you find interesting? Treat their comments like gold.

    Next, your beta reader should review an early draft vetted by Grammarly and ProWritingAid. At this stage, you are looking to get basic questions answered, not grammar issues. Does this make sense? Is it interesting? Is something missing? Are you confused? You want comments like, “Delete this.” “I do not understand this part.” “Where did he get the car?” “More description.” “Women will not like this.” 

    This last comment type is critical. A writer gets close to the words and can miss obvious issues like something offensive. A second perspective can see the bold issues.

    I was lucky to have a mother willing to help, and remember, a beta reader is just that. You are looking for a basic perspective. Anybody can look at a document and say, “I do not understand this.” But how do you find one? My advice is to beg a friend who likes to read. They do not have to be a book expert. This makes them better beta readers. Alternatively, you can search the Editorial Freelancers Association. Their main website is confusing, and here is their member directory page:

    Important tip: Do not treat your beta editor, editor, copy editor, or formatter like a garbage collector. Give them the absolute best possible document. That way, they are not wasting time on something you could have fixed and instead focus on issues you are unaware of.

Editor

    A good editor is necessary because today’s readers do not tolerate poor English. Editors locate logic, grammar, spelling, plot, scene, character, and flow errors. Plus, they often have publishing contacts and provide writing tips. To find one, go to the Editorial Freelancers Association. Pick one from the directory and ask them to send you a document they edited. Look at the before and after. Are you still spotting errors? Did the edit indeed make the document better? Or did the editor introduce errors? What is the comment tone? “This character is stupid.” Are they supportive and helpful to the writer? Do they offer tips?

    If an editor does not provide a sample edited document, move on to the next person in the Editorial Freelancers Association directory. I learned this the very hard way. If they offer to edit a chapter for free, I have learned (again, the hard way) to pass. Why? They will try hard for the sample and then coast on the rest. This is a psychology thing. They feel like you should have gone with them in the first place and not made them give you a sample chapter.

    I have one more word of advice for picking an editor. Writing is supposed to be fun. Look for an editor with passion. They should be fun, friendly, and encouraging when you interact with them. Again, I have learned the hard way that if they are all business, pass.

    Side note: I have used six editors. One was fantastic, but she passed away. The rest were subpar. The overall problem was they were burned out. In ~6 weeks, I plan to start over with the Editorial Freelancers Association directory to try another one.

Copy Editor

    Today’s readers expect perfection. To be taken seriously, modern authors must take the extra step of hiring a copy editor. They find the tiny mistakes and catch things the editor missed or author corrections suggested by the editor. How do you find one? Editorial Freelancers Association. Ask them to provide a copy-edited document.

    Note: The initial sample document the copy editor worked on should be nearly flawless. The changes they make should be minor but on point. Ideally, 0-4 per page. Something is wrong if you go with them, and you are getting more/less than 0-4 per page. This issue might mean your editor was off, you are off, or the copy editor is off. Either way, it is critical to identify the root cause.

Cover Designer

    The cover is the first thing a reader will see; it is 90% of the advertisement. The people who create covers are ultra-specialized and have an eye for what makes a good cover. This attention to detail includes fonts, colors, placement, graphics, photo manipulation, marketing, and understanding what printers/formatters/publishers/Amazon require. Modern readers can spot a bad cover from a mile away.

    Important tip: Do not design your cover or have your “artistic friend” do the job. As I said, this is an ultra-specialized discipline. And I will say it again. Modern readers can spot a bad cover from a mile away.

    How do you find one? I got lucky, and a friend recommended a great cover designer. They gave me homework. I studied many covers to look for good and bad elements. The next step was identifying what elements I wanted on the cover, and I found several example covers of what I wanted mine to look like.

    Here is how I recommend you locate one. Studying many covers to get an idea of what you are looking for. Learn what you are not looking for. This process should take over a week of one-hour study sessions.

    Then, do an internet search for cover designers and evaluate their creations. Are their book covers on best-seller books? Have they been doing it for a while? Would you buy one of the books they did the cover for?

    If you have done enough studying, you should recognize some of the patterns and be able to choose a potential designer. A good cover is expensive but worth it. Also, be prepared to pay for images on a site like Imgur:

    Top tip: Be aware that certain buildings (and other objects), like The Eiffel Tower, are copyrighted even if you took the picture. If you use your own photo, make sure it is the absolute best quality or, even better, have a professional take it. I will say it for a third time. Modern readers can spot a bad cover from a mile away. And finally, do not include anything copyrighted in your book or on the cover. Companies like Amazon have no sense of humor and will ban you for life if you pull a fast one. A fellow author learned this the hard way.

Formatter

    The formatter converts your document into an eBook and print on demand. It is essential to get an expert to do this. I have read so many poorly formatted books and seen many reviews commenting on the bad formatting. “Pages not aligned.” “Table of contents did not work.”

    This next pill will be hard to swallow. Request that the formatter use Adobe InDesign, which is sort of the default standard (many people would disagree) for eBook/print-on-demand formatting. This is a super professional program; not all formatters know how to use it. And they are going to complain. “Oh, I use Vellum, Scrivener, Calibre (Side note: I love this program, but would never use it to create an eBook), or Atticus.” Some have even developed their own script, “know this free program like the back of their hand,” have a Microsoft Word plugin, or generate the .mobi file directly.

This is all great until you must revise your book. Poof! Start over. If your book is in Adobe InDesign and you have the source file, updating an eBook or print-on-demand book is trivial. The point is that you are in control. Granted, I can tell you firsthand that you will get pushback. Why? As I said, it is a super professional program.

    I have some fantastic news. Formatters are easy to find! Go to the Editorial Freelancers Association and pick one. Any formatter will do if they agree to use Adobe InDesign. When you get your eBook back, look at the result on the free program Calibre.

    Do the chapter links work? If you have a hyperlink to your website, does that work? Are the tabs and chapters aligned? Are the fonts the same? Do things line up? Then, put your book on a Nook and a Kindle and do the same check. $10 each used on eBay. Do an online search for “eBook validator” and upload your .epub and .mobi files to multiple sites. For unknown reasons, formatters always seem to skip this step and get surprised when there is an issue.

    Also, check in Calibre to make sure the metadata is correct. (The text is listed on the right side when you load your eBook on Caliber. It has the book description and author’s name.) Formatters always have an issue with this step.

    The point is that you can check 100% of the formatting with your eyes and do not pay until you are satisfied. If a formatter cannot make the chapter links work, they do not deserve to be paid.

    It is the same with a print-on-demand book. Get a sample printed copy, read it, and submit formatting corrections. Pay them when it is done.

    Helpful tip: Ask the formatter to help submit your eBook/print-on-demand for the first time to Amazon. There are some confusing settings.

Writing space

    This is the place where I write. My space is comfortable, practical, functional, and free from distraction.

Publishing assistant

    When I began my journey, I was fortunate to locate a publishing assistant, Bethany, who helped me get my first three books on Amazon. Her service included great advice, tips, finding an editor, formatter, and cover designer. She was encouraging, knowledgeable, and helpful.

    I learned the process for my fourth book and have since assumed her role, but my experience with Bethany was invaluable. You can find a “publishing helper” on the Editorial Freelancers Association, or you can contact Bethany:

Marketer?

    This is a person or service that assists with book marketing. I do not have one because I have not found one. The services I located were glorified spam generators, hucksters, or scammers. Not one “marketer” could prove their services were ever successful. Do I need one? I do, but I am weary of hiring one.

    I hope you found this list useful. Let me know if I missed one.

    You’re the best -Bill

    January 01, 2025

    Hey, book lovers, I published four. Please check them out:

   Interviewing Immortality. A dramatic first-person psychological thriller that weaves a tale of intrigue, suspense, and self-confrontation.

    Pushed to the Edge of Survival. A drama, romance, and science fiction story about two unlikely people surviving a shipwreck and living with the consequences.

    Cable Ties. A slow-burn political thriller that reflects the realities of modern intelligence, law enforcement, department cooperation, and international politics.

    Saving Immortality. Continuing in the first-person psychological thriller genre, James Kimble searches for his former captor to answer his life’s questions.

    These books are available in softcover on Amazon and in eBook format everywhere.

[lifenconcepts]

ultimately a human cannot fully Understand many truths, especially those of the spiritual/divine variety. but do you think it makes a difference to try? to reach for those truths regardless?

Is there really anything else left if you are to live in the nothingness of your circumstances and their consequences? Well, yes and no. An attempt will always be met with something - wether or not preferable. While silence can be a stationary comfort yet ever more deafening, a peace that can choke you out as you demand to stay still with it. Still, I can’t blame anyone for simply doing what is more comfortable or preferable. For even if many find it truly life changing, it’s just not meant to be for some. Do not force something to affect you that never was meant to be. listen, there are dozens of questions within every moment of waking and unconscious life, and the answers always seem evasive and vague, but if there’s a curiosity burning to be satiated - will you silence it? Ofcourse it’s logical to do what you feel is necessary and should be good, but sometimes it’s necessary to step out of your zone of comfort. Then again, there are so many variables, who, when, where, how.. why? Not one answer will satisfy all and not one solution or goal will be met by all because nobody really knows anything if you consider it. We’re only left to our own devices to try theorise and understand. As all science is based off pattern recognition and definition, something of which rarely hold much value in the realm of invisibility and existence of a real unreality.

I understand those who yearn, I am one myself, for I would give up my current life for the ability to get the taste of something beyond my form - to drown in the ocean, suffocate on a mountain, or burn in a forest.. it all is so charming and yet depending on circumstances. Others, though, no matter my own preferences, would rather sit in a hobbit hole and gladly spend time cultivating hobbies of which they find themselves engulfed in. Who am I to judge if there is no harm done? listen.. the divine has many of gifts to share, and yet I understand it may not be kind to everyone. You can’t blankly follow the path of another if your soul had simply not planned out such a journey, and where one may write a book or two about, another would fall into hysteria and despair through losing their sanity to their knowledge. I’m not speaking as if I consider myself better but rather in acknowledging my privilege, through awareness and acceptance.. I am granted immunity from effects of paranoia for the most part. Englightment and illogical and incomprehensible thoughts of delusion and fear often go hand in hand, and it’s hard to pin point one without diving into the other. A mad man has some genius, and a genius has some insanity. It’s just the way of balance. And yet, I’ve just been perfecting such a craft of where my knowledge seems to recover the statements already made and written. And yet where some may read it, I’m discovering it by my own hand to seek the proof. so many variables exist and so many inconsistencies and imperfections that I struggle to believe that infinity or 100% exists in any given situation or statement, and yet I try my best to make sense of the world around me and also hopefully help others, yet I’m just too fresh at this to give out the advice I hope to one day give.. through a millennia I’m merely 80 years, no less no more, but a burning itch has grown on my formless limps that make me reach out for the rest of what is hidden in attempts to find satisfaction in what I will be given, but even I have a nagging feeling that danger lay close beside it, like a sleeping guard dog.

ah- sorry. Did I go off track? Yes, make an effort if you must. Do not force it. Some are simply more inclined to do different tasks and have specific mindsets for themselves, a set of principles that are beyond their control or capabilities of reasoning. It’s like a cat playing with a mouse, oh the irony and fragility only to be devoured at a whim. Beg to not be, pray for the cat to be muzzled, yet you’ll come to realise that there’s beauty within the paws that cradle you and softness in the purrs, even as you may be tempted to feel threatened, use both logic and reasonless judgment,, spirituality is beyond what I am able to describe, yet I home you’ve been willing to learn something from this, I am unsure if it was of help.