#you know what creators deserve?? respect and encouragement

[gothwineaunts]

I know a lot of you want to know what's going on with the Discord. The first time I addressed this situation, I was on my back foot and I did a very poor job of explaining what was going on. I used a lot of clumsy language that sounded uncomfortably familiar to people in ways I didn't anticipate, nor did I intend. For that I apologize. I hastily tried to handle a situation that needed a much more nuanced approach. In the interest of not doing that again, I'd like to ask you all to allow me to work on writing the explanation y'all deserved the first time. I promise you that this has all gotten incredibly out of hand. There's a lot of bad faith flying around. Some of it is very understandable given how bad my first attempt at explaining the crimson situation was, but there's also some that's really just cartoonishly overblown and untrue. Give me until tomorrow to get my thoughts together in a way that makes sense. I understand that a lot of trust goes into the relationship we share as author and reader. I've been on the end of supporting a creator I thought that I knew, only for it to turn out that they had some profoundly fucked up things hiding in their closet. But I promise you, that's not me. I made a mess of things this time, and all in writing. Which I'm supposed to be good at! I know it's a bad look. But please have a little more trust in me, just until tomorrow. And if when I'm at my best you still feel I've betrayed that trust, I of course respect your opinion and encourage you to do what you need to take care of yourself, even if it means distancing yourself from this community. But in the meantime, please accept my apology. I was not prepared to make a statement, and I really stupidly thought I'd be able to put something together off-the-cuff and that diminished the importance of the topic at hand in a way I will continue to regret. I apologize to those who were hurt, alarmed, or disappointed by anything they've seen flying around on the tag today. I promise it will make more sense tomorrow. - Kit Trace

[tvxqmylove]

Let's raise our glasses to Izzy and OFMD creators

I just have to get it off my chest, I understand Izzy's death came as a shock and very upsetting event for many, and a lot of people are going on and on about how he deserved a better fate and how he was not just some tool to serve someone else's story. Please try to calm down and see the bigger picture. 

It is now clear that he was always meant to die. It was foreshadowed in the first minute of the second season, a ridiculous, villain's death. Being the symbolic obstacle to Stede and Ed's happiness. 

Of course that was the wrong way for him to go. When he confessed to his crush Blackbeard he got shot by him, almost died, begged to be killed, and then he even tried to kill himself. Still didn't work. It wasn’t his time yet and that was the wrong way for him to go. When he learned that he was loved and cared for after all, just not in the way he expected, he changed. He became positive, he became forgiving. Then he stopped being miserable he started genuinely wishing for the happiness of others as well, instead of being bitter about it. His death might not have a point but his life did. He had the crew's and Ed's and even Stede's back, and they knew it. As David Jenkins stated, he played the role of a wise mentor that was passing along his life experiences to others. Then it was his time. Also, as foreshadowed, he symbolically took away Blackbeard, and opened a way for Stede and Ed as well.

A happy ending is not only walking off to sunset with a lover, taking up a new job or walking into a house of your family and petting your dog before you close the door. A good death, and a life well-lived is a happy ending. Leaving behind people that loved you is a happy ending. This was a happy ending for him. 

He lived the way he wanted, as a pirate, an infamous one that has received respect and recognition. Then he resolved the parts of his life that became problematic and toxic, he repaired the relationships

that was broken, he forgave the people he needed to forgive. After going through hell, he was basically a bubble of positivity, going around giving solid advices, encouraging people and partying. He was done. He gave the best damn speech of his life at a bar like giving his own eulogy and it was awesome. He died at the arms of the person he loved the most. 

Yes he could have had more, everyone that ever died could have had more. But he died gracefully and complete, surrounded by people he loved and cared about, knowing that they will be fine. That was his story. I am sad that he died, but he died beautifully, best you can hope for in a pirate life. And he will live on, in the hearts of the people he touched by his existence. 

Finally, never harass the creators. It is their hard work that gave us Izzy in the first place. Trust their creative process, and afterwards take it or leave it, do not harass them and try to put them in a box of your personal demands. If so, what kind of 3rd season can we even expect?

[wrenwinchester]

I keep seeing stuff about Dean, and how he deserved better, or blamed himself for everything. And I have to keep myself from defending Sam because Dean isn’t the only one. (If you can’t tell I’m a very Dean-coded Samgirl, and I have to remind myself that most of the time the creators of the edit, or post know this and they’re just highlighting Dean’s experience. And I can appreciate that.) so this is my Sam appreciation/defense post because I have feelings.

Sam deserved everything and more, he wasn’t always the best brother, but neither was Dean, and the ways both brothers struggle are with things they superimpose on themselves because they don’t know how to handle their grief, or how to live without the other. Dean tries to fix it by taking his brother’s autonomy, Sam tries to respect Dean’s autonomy when he dies, or something happens, it’s why he didn’t just go call an ambulance like he wanted to in the finale (I know I usually say non-existent finale, but I’m making a point.) it’s why he didn’t look for Dean while he was in purgatory, he figured Dean was probably in heaven, and he couldn’t imagine a world where taking that away from him was good. (Also he was traumatized, and tired of losing people.)

He went through so much crap, and it’s so overlooked by the writers, directors, and a majority of the fandom. And as someone who was overlooked growing up (even now frankly, I mean my parents were doing steak dinners for our birthdays now since we’re all adults, and they did for both my brother’s previous birthdays and my birthday we did burgers and hotdogs with the whole family which was fine, but also still left me out. Anyway), because they hid what they were feeling and going through and hid it well, it’s so obvious to me when someone else is hurting and it just bothers me so much to see it ignored in the fandom. Claiming to be a Dean Stan and hating Sam is outrageous to me because Sam is someone Dean loves so much. How you can hate someone he loves just confuses me.

I see so much of myself in Sam, a tired, burnt out gifted kid who gave everything his all until it was taken away. Who had his hopes and dreams and interests shunned and criticized by the people who were supposed to encourage him, and when he finally got out of that situation, he got dragged back in. (I know it’s more complicated, but I’m focusing on specific aspects.)

Now you don’t have to like Sam, or even some or most of his choices, but to hate Sam in Dean’s name is wrong. Dean loved Sam more than anyone else (yes this includes Cas, it may have been different, but he still loved Sam more.)

Dean himself said it best, “that’s my job right. Look out for my pain in the ass little brother.” And “I had to look out for you. Thats my job.” And “that’s my job right. Show my little brother the ropes.”

No one loves Sam more than Dean, and the fact that someone could love Dean and hate Sam just doesn’t compute in my brain. And again I know that’s not usually what’s going through these creators’ minds, but it still irks me 😂

[post defending/appreciating dean]

[will-you-pick-me]

So. I hate that this even has to be stated, because it should be a GIVEN, but.

This project and all people involved in the process of making it DO NOT, under any circumstances, tolerate:

- Racism

- Ableism

- Transphobia

- Homophobia

Or any other kind of bigotry, hate speech, harassment, or general shitty behavior. We are appalled at the things we are seeing being sent to other creators askboxes, even fans askboxes, and are severely disappointed in the community for behaving in this manner.

We know this is a small-but-loud minority of hateful members, but still. It's not acceptable. In no world should someone be called a "monkey" (HELLO??? DO YOU HEAR YOURSELF???) or sent transphobic messages in their askboxes.

Frankly, it's a bit terrifying. Where will the line be drawn for these harassers? How far is too far for them? What will they do next? Do I need to worry about my friends or fans in this community being sent death threats, next?

I'm appalled, but moreover I'm genuinely concerned about this community. We came here to share stories, be creative together, and have fun with a wider community who love the themes and tropes we love. Now, it feels almost as though the community is being turned against eachother from the inside out. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if maybe some TERFs/SWERFs or other bigoted people are capitalizing on the drama to stir shit and have a smokescreen under which to send their hate - it's unfortunately a tactic I've seen happen too often in too many communities.

While I have no proof that this is what's genuinely happening, I would like to encourage fans and creators alike to keep an eye out, block hateful anons where you see them, and if you feel safe and mentally well enough, check blogs that show up in your block lists to verify this suspicion.

I do not want anyone to retaliate to these blogs, as that would be lowering yourselves to their level and involving yourselves in drama that would be stressful on your mental, emotional, and possibly even physical health. I do, however, think it may be a POTENTIAL STRATEGY (note I say potential, here) to share these blog names PRIVATELY, and ONLY for the purpose of blocking and blacklisting - nothing else.

Again, do not retaliate to these blogs if you do happen to find out who they are. I strongly discourage that action and am not advising it in any way.

Retaliating against them would do several things:

- Give them an "excuse" to continue sending hate.

- Involve you in potentially dangerous drama.

- Expose you and your friends to hate campaigns and all associated hate messages.

- Continue a cycle of drama that nobody needs.

- Generally making the community even less safe.

So please, IF YOU DO find out who these people are, share PRIVATELY and SOLELY TO BLOCK/BLACKLIST.

In general, let's make this community safe, not only for races of all kinds, but also for every disability that we possibly can (we understand that some accommodations contradict eachother, which is a symptom of how varied the disability spectrum is, but that's deserving of a whole post of it's own), every sexuality under the sun, every gender expression and lack thereof.

We stand with the queer, disabled, and POC members of the yansim community, who quite frankly have made this community POSSIBLE. There's no denying they are a large percentage of this community and as such deserve respect for building the foundations of this place.

To my fellow creators, stay strong, turn off anons if you feel the need to, and don't let the hate drown out the work you're putting into this world.

To fans, please show eachother and creators your support, keep making fanart and blurbs and fanfics and headcanons, and in general keep putting good out into the community to keep it alive and drown out this hate and drama.

We CAN make it through this, we CAN keep going, and we CAN continue creating wonderful stories - together.

Stay safe, hydrate, eat, take meds/breaks from binders and gaffs/sleep if you need to, and we love you.

💗

[littleeyesofpallas]

Bleach’s Issue with Queer characters (2/3)

...

Dordonii might seem like a weird one to point out here, compared to some of the more overt examples, but I think he had a fairly evident queer codedness to him.  His more overwhelming quality was his kind of Spanish flair, what with the tap shoes and Flamenco-esque poses and gestures, the devil horns in his greased hair and on his mask shard, and his little Mephistopheles mustache and beard.  But the ear ring, and Flamenco adjacent sex appeal mixed with the way he kind of baby talks Ichigo strikes me as contributing to a certain daddy-ish gay character type.  Also, I’ve never been 100% sure that it’s not just crosshatching, but I’ve always read it as some chest hair peaking out from his low v-neck.  But I feel like that assessment needs some qualifying context...

Western sensibilities tend to read effeminate features on men as a chief indicator of homosexuality, Japan has never been quite as narrowly focused with its own gay stereotypes.  There is definitely a particular character type in anime and manga that pins the preening vanity of smooth faced and long haired effeminate men on homosexuality, but it’s not really the go-to.  Tracing back to media trends of the 1970s the long haired, smooth chested pretty boy (even the gay ones) very much became the domain of female audiences and creators, where as the prevailing trends of gay portrayals by and for men actually settled more firmly on the hairy and muscular image that bara is associated with now.  I'm not about to do a whole big breakdown of the japanese gay subculture behind the bara thing, because that deserves more time and attentio that i can give it here, but you've got a keyword to work with now, so I encourage you to do a little googling yourself.

Also he has his right ear is pierced?  I don't know if this was ever a thing in Japan, but in America it became kind of a wide spread myth(?)  Originally it actually was a functioning kind of code within the queer community in the 1960s and 70s, but after it became somewhat more generally well known the practice more or less stopped, for pretty obvious practical reasons... but weirdly enough by the sheer power of stupid homophobia, straight people continued to scrutinize and be paranoid of men with pierced ears for decades following.  Again, though, I have no idea if either the original intent or the misinformation of that trend was ever anything that had any kind of Japanese presence...

Anyway... What I’m getting at is Dordonii feels very queer coded to me, just not in ways that everyone picks up on.  But speaking of muscular hairy gays...  Let’s talk about an elephant in the room:

Charlotte Chuhlhourne:

Obviously, Kubo doesn’t quite have the tact to make use of queer identities in a totally respectful way, so it’s hard to tell how much is attributable to Kubo making a character exactly as they appear, and what could be argued to be a character’s theoretical self-identifying terms filtered through Kubo’s limited vernacular.  But the word to know here is Okama[オカマ], which has traditionally referred to gay, AMAB transvestites.  Obvious stumbling point here is that prior to more widely codified and accepted trans identities this term applied to both transwoman and drag queens.

Granted until fairly recently(by which I mean within the relatively short spand my own lifetime) even the queer community at large didn’t always differentiate the two very well; presentation was presentation, the circumstances for it and the specificities of achieving it were personal choices, not taxonomical crossroads; some moonlit as queens and that was it, others would’ve lived as women and never walked a show in their life if that had been a practical option, others still were happily gender fluid, but the scene had one look and one label.  We made due with what we had.

Anyway...  point being that Charlotte’s character is specifically a play into an Okama stereotype.  That is to say, the archetypal look of Okama in Japanese media for many years has been a middle aged, square jawed, often broad or even muscular, drag queen.  Although Charlotte doesn’t actually have one, they are also frequently shown with a muzzle of stubble growing in.  Despite what you might think about jabs at the beard as a masculine feature betraying their feminine presentation, it’s actually not (usually) the reason...

The image comes out of Japan’s gay bar scene --in Tokyo, Shinjuku-Nichoume in particular-- which has long been a cultural centerpiece of Japan’s gay culture.  The larger Shinjuku ward as as whole is itself a commercial district.  So, to the general public who didn’t have any interaction with gay culture itself, the small glimpse they had was from the crossing paths of salarymen commuting into work as straggler okama headed home from the bars the morning after, still in drag and makeup but with unshaven stubble growing in after a long night.

(Also, just a side note on this, but if you’ve ever seen an older (usually bigger) woman with a deep, brassy voice in kind of sultry night attire at a bar referred to as “Mama,” it’s because that’s the owner of a okama bar.  She’s not literally anyone’s mother, she’s the defacto den-mother of sorts for the patrons of her bar.)

It’s still definitely not a flattering portrayal, but it’s one with a very specific history that doesn’t communicate to Western audiences at all.  But there is a certain strangeness to how the Japanese handle this, comparatively.  While Western rhetoric has its hangups with moralist preaching and bitching and moaning about “degeneracy” and “deviancy,” those judgments just aren’t baked into Japanese culture in quite the same way.  In fact, while most of these okama caricatures by and for cishetero creators/audiences are definitely not what anyone would call “good” representation, they do lack a certain expected malice.  Sure, flamboyant bafoonery is a constant in exploitation of gay culture on either side of the Pacific, but where as the West uses this as a means to disarm gay men --to make them non threatening, or to rationalize not taking them seriously-- anime manga and even videogames tend to fixate on the curiosity of it.

(although one enduring, generally positive case of this that actually seems to fly super under western audience’s radars are the great fairys in Zelda. which have maintained their extremely obvious dragqueen inspired look since OoT)

One of the first encounters with the okama charactertype that I only learned to identify looooong after the fact is the Magypsies (haha oh boy that localized choice of slur...) in Earthbound. On the one hand they were treated as a bizarre spectacle and literally not human, but they were magical and benevolent and a little comical but not in the way where they were relegated to being the punchline of a joke and nothing else. And I've found over the years that that tends to be the tone of these kinds of characters.

Another very similar case of this is Ivankov in One Piece, the Kamabakka kingdom Okama and Newkama, including Bonclay/Mr.2. (His "okama way" gimmick being a play on the hardboiled gritty actionhero cliche of a "man's way.")  Where on the one hand, it’s a disgusting, tacky use of the familiar okama cliches, but also their very existence as okama is painted as the basis of their unique form of super power?  Really, it’s just so wildly divorced from reality that it’s hard to even call it “representation,” harmful or otherwise...  Still, in impossibly poor taste based on optics alone, though.

This all is not to try and sweep under the rug that these are still ultimately problematic stereotypes and caricatures to have to debrief each new generation of viewer on just to avoid the slippery slope of total misinterpretation, but I've noticed that there is a distinct difference in how that tone is read. The overwhelming attitude I see from these creators is that these long standing cliches are how okama look and act, but that it makes them interesting or funny, and yes “other,” but rarely lesser.  Obviously that's still rooted deeply in ignorance on part of these non-queer creators, but you can see how it lacks the teeth that the western equivalent has, where such caricatures are explicitly there to defame and demonize, and I think that’s an important distinction to make.

(And let’s not even get into the issue of fake “woke” white people struggling to wrap their tiny brains around the idea of another culture by framing it as that culture’s unique idiosyncrasies as if they’re just failed attempts at conforming to white anglo-centric western values, because THAT is a whole other can of worms...)

To maybe put this into some better perspective here, Tier Harribel has blond hair and tan skin, and given what the Arrancar are and how they live she is presumably naturally dark skinned, and naturally blonde.  But her design is clearly based on gyaru/gal (or possibly ganguro) fashion, which makes use of fake tans and bleached hair.  She looks the way she does because she's made to look like that aesthetic, but looking the way she doesn't doesn't imply she bleaches and tans(presumably those colors are both natural on her in-world). 

That same relationship of image inspiring image while being divorced from meaning is just kind of how Kubo makes these kinds of aesthetic decisions, all across the board, problematic or not.  But of course no one really cares about it when it’s a weird recontextualization of the gal aesthetic because no one’s offended on their behalf.

And in general, I think a lot of these things are just so outside the Western perspective that even when they definitely are problematic, some people can’t even begin to grasp what about it is, and end up fabricating just nonsense arguments against it to rationalize a kneejerk kind of discomfort and confusion over the subject...

Anyway...  having said all that, the next one actually IS a huge problem...

[1][2][3]

[jiangwanyinscatmom]

hi i hope you are doing well! i would like to apologize for trolling and bugging you + your friends a long time ago.

i realized after a lot of self reflection that i was listening to those who i didn't even agree with fundamentally but felt pressured to accomodate their views esp when it came to how some ppl felt like wangxian and hualian were better separate with other characters + devaluing mxtx as an individual bc "the author is dead/mxtx critical". i should have curated my space and taken a stand to express my perspective but i didn't.

i apologize if i ever made you angry or down. it was more so a reflection of me and upon reflecting, relationship trauma that seeped into a space where it never should have. you don't have to accept this and maybe you don't remember. but regardless, im sorry!

Hi there.

I am glad you have been able to find a place for your own self to be comfortable with. If you feel forced or pressured to do something to be accepted by others, they are not your friends and do deserve better for yourself.

We all are allowed our own space for opinions as much as others are able to as long as it remains respectful. That's all I and my friends ask for. If you don't like me, fine, it hurts me none at all as those that have harassed me are strangers but to use my friends and to demean them has been what has hurt the most, and I do take offense on their behalf when they are attacked.

And this all applies to creators, they are the ones that have to work within the frame of a lot of hurdles to publish, create and make their content. People feel as if they are owed a part of their mind all while not having the kindness to remember they are only people as well.

Respect goes a very long way, and in the end that's all I can encourage amongst this space, but I also refuse to say it's okay to let others be forced to do things they're uncomfortable with just to fit in for having a "right" opinion. Morals are a matter of kindness first and foremost when that is used as a way to say you are better than someone, you no longer have the right to claim morals.

I hope you have been able to be comfortable in whatever hobbies you have found and able to let others know your own boundaries for your own peace of mind. I appreciate the apology and for any of my friends that you may have sent this to or will be and do take care of yourself. All the best.

[lizzybeth1986]

Tagging @choicesfandomappreciation for Spread Kindness Week! I unfortunately was on holiday while this was on, so I missed the week while it was happening. Still, I do want to put up some (belated and very well deserved) appreciation posts for folks whose writing, art, content or even just simple posts make me smile!

For Day 1, I want to shower some well-deserved praise for the fan community blogs that encourage content creators with their events, competitions and prompts, and who tirelessly work to present hundreds and thousands of creative works in their masterlists. As someone who runs a couple events of my own, I know how strenuous it is and it takes a massive amount of drive and patience to do it on a regular basis!

@choicesficwriterscreations - I know you've gone through a couple tough weeks this month, and I admire how sensitively and compassionately you tried to handle it. So much love to the hosts and I hope you guys go from strength to strength! @jerzwriter and @cfwcmod-lucy, love you!!

@choicesmonthlychallenge - LOVE all your monthly prompts even if I am so sluggish in getting them done! Kudos to every single individual who has run the separate blogs for each month...you're all amazing and I love how each day has three prompts to choose from. You all really spoil us for choice. Loads of love to all the individual hosts - @liaromancewriter, @lilyoffandoms, @lorirwritesfanfic, @lucy-268, @peonyblossom, @songsaboutgirls, @midnightmelodiz and of course the mod of this blog @lovealexhunt!! (Forgive me if I forgot anyone!!)

@choicespride - So much respect for all the events you hold, with such a variety of prompts 💜 Picture prompts, dialogue prompts, scene prompts...you name it, we'll find it. And all the weeks are so amazing!! Much love to @peonyblossom and @songsaboutgirls, once again!

@choicesflashfics - I can't help but be in awe of how you put out all these great dialogue prompts week after week! And all different and easy to incorporate into stories. I admire your drive and efficiency!

@choicesprompts - Love the variety of activities happening in this blog!! The rewrite challenges...the prompts...the round robins and collabs - I've never actually been confident enough to participate yet but I really love how you bring so many writers together!! Lots of love to @angelasscribbles and @dcbbw for this blog!

@choicesholidays - Again, this blog keeps track of so many holidays and tries to include them all, and I really admire that! They've done great work 🤗🤗🤗 Again, much love to @angelasscribbles!!

@moodmusicmonday - Love the way you encourage us to share the music that inspires us to write!!

@wordwarriors - An amazing community - we try to meet up every month to discuss aspects of writing and how to improve on it, as well as how we can make our own writing more interesting. I love this little community!!

And of course all the character and book appreciation weeks! @drake-walker-appreciation @maxwell-beaumont-appreciation, @tobias-carrick-appreciation-week - these are the only ones I recall seeing rn but if there are others do let me know!! Loads of love to @angelasscribbles, @karahalloway, @harleybeaumont! SO MUCH LOVE to my amazing co-host for all my character weeks too, @sazanes!!

My lovely Discord Gang!! I have such amazing discussions with them 💜💜💜 @cassiopeiacorvus, @thecapturedafrique and @mand-delemonde - love you all!!

Also to the people who send me such nice inbox messages including @peonierose and @lovealexhunt - I'm very poor at responding to them, but do know I appreciate what you're doing so much ❤️🥰❤️

[voidchillz]

My thoughts on pro shippers (Important Post)

TW: mild swearing

I thought I’d make a post on this just to clarify my opinion so people can unfollow or block to their leisure, this is not a post inviting negative people into my comments or asks. This is also not a post advocating real world abuse, illegal activity, or inappropriate behaviour.

I won’t say I’ve had perfect opinions that everyone should listen to my entire life, because that’s blatantly not true, people change. And I obviously wish people on the internet were not as vindictive and cruel. For starters, during my first years in the undertale fandom, I of course had strong opinions encouraged by others to hate frans, and fontcest, and any denomination of pro ships. But that has clearly changed over time.

I’d like to make it clear there is a line as to which I enjoy problematic ships. I do not like non-consensual, I do not like underage, I do not like incest, I do not like abusive relationships, whether that is in fiction or reality. And I refuse to skirt lines and insist ‘oh I only like the design not the character’, or ‘oh I hate the creator I just enjoy the concept’, or make up some other bullshit excuse to fail to convince people that I deserve to be alive. Because ✨miraculously✨, what fictional characters and ships you enjoy DOES NOT REFLECT WHAT KIND OF PERSON YOU ARE.

It’s in the same vein as, if Person A likes the most depraved physical painful filthy fetishes, if at the same time they are a genuinely kind Human being that helps where they can and respects others without condition, it does not fucking matter✨💕 Person B is allowed to disagree and not have the same interests as Person A, but Person B does not then get to decide whether or not Person A deserves respect. Just the same way that Person A should not try to force Person B into liking what they like.

I’m not saying that people should be ashamed of what makes them uncomfortable because they’re insulting other people. This is not a post trying to coerce others into liking proships. You have complete freedom to disagree with others and avoid certain parts of your respective fandoms, just like I am by avoiding underage, non-con, or abuse. What I’m saying is that it is childish and ignorant to be outright threatening and disrespectful to people online for liking something you don’t.

There is no excuse for being a dick.

Now of course, if these people are actually harming others in real life, for example grooming or manipulating or any other form of abuse, by all means, tear their metaphorical testicles off and do whatever you can to ban their accounts and keep people safe from them. Because that is who they are as a person, harmful and dangerous to those around them.

Regarding children/minors/under 18s on the internet

Kids are being exposed to the internet way earlier than they probably should, likely because all the people that first started being exposed to it were already teenagers when it was invented. Keep in mind it was made public in the early 90s, meaning every adult using it now since the early days is in their thirties or twenties at the youngest, others currently growing into it.

There is not a single person on this planet who hasn’t experimented or tried to find communities to help them find safe places to learn about sexuality or adult concepts before they were 18. The reason 18+ accounts ask that minors do not interact is for a multitude of reasons, one being that if they are seen interacting with someone younger than them, even if it was an innocent interaction or someone in their late teens, they are liable to a heavy accusation of grooming. Another being they could likely be uncomfortable knowing minors see their content and feel like they have to censor themselves for this. Another is that it is very frustrating to try to block every single minor they see on their platform if they are an account with a high following. The point is, the internet has very easily accessible fucked up shit, and it is your own and your own responsibility only to avoid it.

Stop dehumanising kids. Stop dehumanising people you don’t know.

Thank you for coming to my ted talk.

[choicesfandomappreciation]

You are amazing and you matter. No matter how your day is going, I hope you never forget that you are enough just as you are (you always have been and always will be).

We all struggle from time to time, and it's okay. We're only human. Sometimes we feel comfortable reaching out, sometimes we just need a little encouragement. I hope you find something on this page to make you smile, bring you motivation, or just remind you that you will be okay.

Need more support? Find a help number in your country. [Here]

Got a word of encouragement, self-care ideas, helpful websites or resources you think should be added? Just send them my way and I'll get them up.

This page is currently under development and more will be added as soon as possible.

You can do it. Even when you doubt yourself. Even when things feel overwhelming. Pause and breathe. Remember how far you've come. You are so very capable. You will get through this.

It's okay to make mistakes. It's okay to feel overwhelmed. It's okay to struggle. It's okay not to know what comes next. It's okay to say no. It's okay to stand up for yourself and what you believe. It's okay to choose what is right for you even when others don't understand. It's okay. You will be okay.

Take a moment to focus on all that you are instead of all you aren't because you are amazing just as you are. You have nothing to prove to anyone.

A bad day doesn't mean it's a bad life. I know that can be hard to believe, especially when that bad day turns into a bad week, month, or even year. Please know how strong you are. I see you. I see your struggle. You are not alone. You've survived all those bad days. Your good days will come. Until then, have hope, reach out to a friend. You will get through this.

You don't have to do everything at once, baby steps still take you forward.

There's no need to apologize for making yourself a priority. You should always put yourself first. Do what you have to do for yourself

It's okay to be sad. It's okay to be confused. It's okay to not know your next step. Just keep going. You'll figure it out. (source)

By opening up bit by bit and around someone you trust, you can learn to show the world how amazing your true self is. (source)

You are still okay and loved if: you like to spend time with yourself, you don't have a lot of close friends, you have frequent panic or anxiety attacks, you cry at random times, you need to take naps, you feel sad or empty, you feel lonely, you have a mental illness. (source)

Don't push yourself too hard. It's okay if you can't do it. It's okay if you can't finish it. It's okay if you need help. It's okay if you need to take a break. It's okay if you need to just try again tomorrow. It's okay if you can't do it as well as someone else. It's okay if you do it more slowly than someone else. Everyone has their own limits. It's okay. (source)

Encouragement for Writers + Creators:

Your stories are valid, regardless of the notes, of how many people read it. The time you spent planning, writing and editing wasn't a waste if (re)reading makes you happy.

It's okay not be productive everyday. The low phases of your creative cycle don't mean your ability isn't real and won't go away. It's simply dormant. Be gentle with yourself and soon it'll flourish again.

"You might not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can't edit a blank page" ~Jodi Picoult

If you feel stuck, you're allowed to take a step back and do something else. There's no shame about taking a break.

Allow yourself to be proud of and love your writing. There is nothing cool about self-deprecation. Being proud doesn't make you bad. It doesn't make you vain. It doesn't make you selfish. It doesn't make you self-centered. It doesn't make you think you're superior. It just means you recognize your own effort and appreciate the effort that you put in, just like you do with others. What makes you think that just because you made it, you don't deserve the same respect, love and appreciation you give to other writers? You don't have to search for that validation in others. You're allowed to give it to yourself. (source)

On particularly tough days, when you're sure you can't possibly endure, remember your track record for getting through bad days is 100% and that's pretty good!

The road to success is never straight.

Believe in unknown miracles already on their way to you.

When you meet resistance, you are growing in the right direction.

Find More Encouragement Quotes:

#SpreadJoy Quotes with Choices Characters

Take a step outside. Go to a forest, a park or to the beach. No goal in mind, just get some air and enjoy the moment. Maybe explore somewhere you haven't been yet.

Do something new. Maybe something you have wanted to try for a while. Be it crafts, different activities, baking/cooking, or even just watching a new show.

Spend 10 minutes writing down words that make you smile, make you dream or just make you feel good.

Organize your space

Create an "it's done" list to celebrate all you accomplish (nothing is too small)

Take a social media break (don't compare yourself to others and their "lives")

Daily Accomplishment Bingo Board (click to view)

988: Crisis Hotline (call or text or visit website to chat, 24/7)

A Soft Murmur : Mix and combine ambient sounds that fit you and your mood (rain, thunder, waves, wind, fire, birds)

Emergency Compliment: Need a compliment? Enjoy these hilariously random and entertaining compliments

Happify: Science based activities and games to reduce stress and build confidence

Pixel Thoughts: Write what's troubling you an a star and watch it shrink into the distance over a 60 second relaxation period

Pop Bubble Wrap: Pop one bubble and four more appear!

QuietKit: Guided Meditation for beginners

Rainy Mood: Listen to ambient rain sounds (then open a live feed of a cozy fire on Youtube) and relax.

Scream Into the Void : Type anything you want to say or get out of your head and then send it into the void. (actual screaming sound effect include)

The Oregon Trail: Head back in time with this vintage game

The Quiet Place Project: Take a few seconds out of your day to sit, relax, and breathe.

This is Sand : Create your own virtual sand art

Tone Matrix: Make your own music with these pleasant sounding bells

Weave Silk: An online tool for creating symmetrical art, including rotational symmetry.

Xhlr: guided breathing where you can adjust the length of each part of the process (inhale, hold, exhale, hold)

Atmosphere: relaxing sounds (free)

Finch: adopt a self-care pet and work on day-to-day goals, track your mood, journal, complete breathing activities, and more (Free and Paid versions available)

Get Color: liquid sort puzzle (free)

Pixel Art: paint by numbers (free)

Puzzle Art: jigsaw art puzzles (free)

Smiling Minds: guided meditation (free)

Zen Color: color by numbers (free)

Books

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook by Matthew McKay

Music

Walk On by U2

Blogs

@chibird

@positiveseed

Pinterest: Mental Mastery

@lovealexhunt , @lorirwritesfanfic , @princess-geek, @aallotarenunelma, @jerzwriter , @peonierose

Got a word of encouragement, self-care ideas, helpful websites or resources you think should be added? Just send them my way and I'll get them up.

(some are repeated in the two images, but some are unique so I included both)

Need support? Find a help number in your country. [Here]

[egg-emperor]

What do you think Sage and Metal would do for Eggy on Father's Day?

I accidentally fell asleep before I could finish this on time on the day and then the next I was drunk and then the next I was exhausted again because there's been so much going on whoops shsbfksnfksng ^^; Apologies, here it finally is at last!

Metal and Sage are the most loyal and dedicated and enthusiastic about the day as a result, all thanks to Eggman's reprogramming for Metal to be stricter and make him especially devoted, out of both making it a highest priority, as well as being given the desire to seek his fatherly approval- as well as taking advantage of Sage's natural existing love for him and buttering her up and to keep her loyal and effective. So they're very willing to try their best to make it a good day for their father and hope to impress him.

They try to think of ways to reward him for being their brilliant creator and please him to keep receiving that conditional affection and praise. Unlike the badniks in the IDW Eggman's Birthday special, they know they shouldn't do big surprises that are too drastic that he wouldn't approve of them doing without his authorization, to show that they value and respect his orders. So they play it safe with their approach, which they also hope will impress him in itself as they know how important it is for them to do so.

They start with a simple surprise of ordering his cooking robots to make him breakfast in bed, as it'd be hard to get wrong or mess up, so long as they didn't try to cook it instead of the robots he made for the job. They get them to make all of his various favorite options at once as a glorious feast of a breakfast for this special occasion. Surprising him with good food an easy way to win his praise. He wakes up to them wishing him a happy father's day and the glorious sight and smell of the glorious meal puts a big smile on his face.

It's a good start with that and he eats happily and is very pleased and content. They also encourage him sleep in a bit more too because he deserves it and he can feel a bit sleepy after a big delicious breakfast after all so he lets this be one of the days where he gives in to that urge hehe. In that time, they make sure that no other robots get into any trouble or do anything that will disturb and awaken him so they don't sour that good mood for him. He wakes up again still feeling good and enthusiastic to start the day.

He spends the first half of the day lounging and relaxing as he also decides to take it as the opportunity to treat himself too. He takes some time to think about and reward himself for how brilliant and genius he is for creating for billions of robots and his AI that are smart and life-like and useful, with some seeing him as their father. Only it's much more impressive than your average father as he created them in a superior genius scientific way with robotics, code and electrons. He's very proud of himself for this accomplishment!

Every time he wants to get a drink or snacks, his next meal, or any other task done, Metal and Sage offer to do it for him, including things they're far from designed for specializing in, if he'll authorize it. They're clearly trying to compete very hard for his affection at every chance they get to the point of clashing times and he says "You're tripping over yourselves to get to me first, calm down or you'll end up making a mess or breaking something and get the opposite effect of what you're hoping for with all this" XD

They later surprise him with gifts like a shirt and mug that they were able not to fight over by having one gift each to give him that have things along the lines of "world's best evil villain dad" written on them and he's always happy to claim the title of the best of anything as he says he should, so he says "that's right!" and accepts them with pride. They wear their own shirts that either he's made for them to hype him up like the big egotist be is, or they've made to impress him, something like their "go dad" shirts in Murder of Sonic.

They also gift drawings but not toddler level scribbles to put in his fridge or something, even if they look like that it wouldn't be the purpose. But Sage's are the better ones while Metal's are scribbles because his killer claws aren't made for it! And what they actually depict are ways they'd like to pitch in with his next scheme/plan/attack. They know just what he wants and are sure to appeal to that as Sage's show how she'll help blow up more enemy forces and Metal's depict violence he's willing to commit for him.

So they go out and cause trouble together! They go on a rampage, attacking enemy bases and forces. Sage hacks into their systems to fuck with it, shut down defenses and blow it all up alongside Eggman, who has his missiles in his Egg Mobile and other robots forces. Metal grabs and tears apart soldiers that try to escape and Eggman also joins him to have fun bringing out his various guns in hand and blasting them. Crime, violence, explosions, and bloodshed are Eggman's desired form of family bonding lol 💜

That's the most enthusiasm, praise, and affection that they'll get from him in any situation as they're created to serve but nothing makes him happier than his diabolical schemes and he gets really excited to carry them out. It's the most joy they've ever seen from him and they're very happy to play a part in that by joining him. Metal even gets an "attaboy!" from Eggman when he watches him brutally rip apart his enemies and Sage gets a "that's my girl!" when she blows up their enemies like she did in Frontiers.

It's a great way for Sage and Metal to discover they have their own roles and parts to play in joining their father in his work and don't need to fight over it, though there's still some playful competition (that is still too serious on Metal's side because he's desperate to keep his place and purpose and need to their master in hopes that he doesn't toss him out for her lol) They enjoy seeing how happy he is and how much fun he has doing crazy evil shit with them and he likes seeing them work so hard for him like they always should.

And after they get back home he gets another celebratory meal and a cake that also says he's the best villain dad on it. It has cake toppers of the three of them but Eggman's is on a podium higher up as they acknowledge that he is above them and he's very pleased that they know their place and hopefully won't have to reprogram them to any time soon hehe. Something else he likes is how because neither of them can eat, Eggman gets the cake all to himself. One of the many perks of having robot/AI kids instead! >:) 😋🎂

Orbot and Cubot are not so enthusiastic about this day with their long history of being severely mistreated by him and not being reprogrammed to be more loyal and loving towards him, unlike how Metal was. Well, Orbot isn't because of how they're treated while Cubot isn't because he's jealous of Eggman giving them attention over him too lol. But they know how to put it on to keep Eggman pleased and fake smiles for photos Sage urges them to be a part of as they get an evil family photo of sorts taken together.

But with how successful Metal and Sage are in making him happy throughout the day, they start to worry he won't see any use in them anymore, throw them away and have them replace their spots. So they play it up even more by making him tea or getting him more cake and even though Eggman says he's already had enough, he of course accepts it as he never says no to cake, albeit confused about what's gotten into them. Much like the Sonic Channel comic when they try to avoid getting on his bad side XD

Eggman can tell what they're doing and says that they're trying so hard to please him now but this is what they should be doing for him all the time as if they're not always working their asses off for him lol. But he's very happy that it pushes all four of them to work especially hard for him and hopes that they'll keep it up if he shows his approval so they'll long for more of it. And he likes being appreciated and spoiled on this day as yet another chance to make another holiday all about him like he says all of them should be!

One thing that works the most on him from them is when they also give him some gifts but instead of them saying he's the "world's best villain dad" on them, they say he's "the world's worst dad." But he takes it as a compliment and embraces it with pride because he enjoys being labeled the worst too in this case as it's impressive that he both gets to be the best as a villain and the worst as the most evil! He's cheeky and smug about it to Orbot and Cubot, sticking his tongue out when Sage and Metal aren't looking ;P

[primordialsoundmeditation]

DAILY ANGEL MESSAGE!

Take a deep breath, let it out slowly, say this prayer and then keep reading: “Thank you angels for revealing to me what I need to know!”

You are blessed to receive this card today, for it shows you are being surrounded by loving energy and the cup of your heart will be filled until it overflows with goodness. The angels who are with you now know that at times you can feel unloved and unappreciated and this can block your experience of love and appreciation. The divine energy that is surrounding you at this time is there to help you melt away any blockages so that you can be open and receptive to the love and appreciation that you deserve. Your angel guide is encouraging you to view yourself in a loving way and to give yourself permission to be loved. If you have been holding back for a while but are now ready to share the love you have within, this card brings the message that it is safe for you to do so.

Extended Message

Angels of love are gathering around you in awe and celebration, for you are finally willing to remember how loving and lovable you are, and heaven is guiding you to see that you deserve loving relationships, loving experiences, and loving acceptance from the world around you. This card marks a milestone in your own self‐awareness. It acknowledges the steps that you have taken to claim your worth and to recognize that you deserve to be loved and respected and to feel good. It also acknowledges a new level of spiritual openness, which draws even more divine love from your angels and the Creator. You are loved beyond your wildest dreams by the power and the presence that created you, and through receiving and acknowledging that love, you will create even more loving experiences in your life.

DECK: Angel Guide Oracle

ARTIST: Jennifer Hawkyard

Thank you for sharing this card if it relates to you!

Kyle Gray

[beastdrive]

Beast Drive is a Bloody Roar fanspace for creative contributors and casual appreciators of the series alike, welcoming discussion of existing characters and story as well as sharing various fanworks. Engagement with the series on this blog can include general appreciation and celebration of BR canon, lore analysis (meta), character headcanons, and other methods of creative expression. Everyone is encouraged to not only share already existing fanworks but to also create new original works of your own!

Blog Navigation | Meet the Mod | What is Bloody Roar?

Since this is a new blog for a relatively quiet fandom which surrounds a niche fighting game that's old enough to drink, Beast Drive will rely heavily on assistance from followers to gain traction.

If you would like something showcased on this blog, then please read under the cut for Beast Drive's submission and askbox policies.

Recent Updates

[07/20/2023] - Pinned Post is our 100th post yaaay!

Disclaimer

Beast Drive is an inclusive space made for fans from all walks of life with respect to unique personal identities. To be explicitly clear, this blog is run in support of and makes room for marginalized people who are frequently pushed out of fandom and gaming spaces.

Content ratings must be consistent with the series:

PG-13 / ESRB rated T / PEGI 12 / CERO-B / etc

Check the "What is Bloody Roar?" page for content warnings.

There may be depictions of blood and violence, with special consideration paid toward any flashing gifs. Feel free to request certain warning tags be used for content or safety concerns.

Askbox

Since there is only one mod right now, this feature is mainly a way to reach out to me but you may also posit questions to Beast Drive's followers and other Bloody Roar fans!

Questions directed to the mod, rather than the community, might be answered privately unless requested otherwise.

Anonymous Asks are currently enabled!

Submissions

This helps showcase various fanart, fanfic, and other fanworks by fellow creators who love Bloody Roar! You can help fill the queue by sharing links to BR tumblr posts that you think deserve a reblog, provide information for promotional posts on fics and artwork, or host your work right on this blog. I'd also love to see any commissions you've received and give a shoutout to the artist!

Submissions are currently enabled!

Image Sourcing

Beast Drive only accepts images that you have made yourself or that you have express permission from the creator to let me host. This is to ensure there is no accidental theft or misattributed credit. If there are any images posted in error, please let me know and I will remove them immediately!

Please also be respectful of non-English speaking artists. Many of them do not want their artwork hosted externally, even when given proper credit. Let's respect their wishes.

Community Activities

I'd really like to use this space as a sort of community hub to spotlight other Bloody Roar creatives! Some things I've considered implementing are art and writing challenges through weekly or monthly prompts to inspire thought about the series.

Check this page to learn more about community activities!

Credits

Bloody Roar is the intellectual property of Eighting and Hudson, now owned by Konami. Banner and icon are from BR2 & BR3.

CARAMEL MAMA Naochika Morishita is the lead artist for Bloody Roars 1, 2, and 3.

BLOODY ROAR WIKI The fandom wiki still maintains its own active community.

HYPERBEAST TV Catch recent online matches from loyal players around the world.

[theharrowing]

you writers need to deflate your egos when it comes to interactions. getting mad about likes ain't it. some of us can't read immediately, and we like things to save them. this isn't us being lazy or inconsiderate, either, it's just how it is, sometimes.

hello, anon!

i see you are coming from a place of frustration, and i feel for you. i really do. but i might be the wrong person to be your punching bag over this, and i am honestly a little bummed out that you chose me to yell at anonymously over the validity of likes.

i have been pro likes since the beginning and remain pro likes. see exhibit a where i discussed this very topic, months ago.

here is the meat of that post, in case you don't feel like clicking thru:

as someone who values feedback and conversation, comments and reblogs will always be extremely meaningful and appreciated. it helps me know how you - my readers - feel, it helps spread the content to other potential readers, and it makes this feel like a community. on this site, reblogs are really the best way to spread content. that being said, i value the likes, as well. each and every like puts a smile on my face. if all you have to offer, as a reader, is a like, i will cherish it. i really don't want to see anyone feeling guilty because they are unsure that what they are doing is enough. yes, please talk to me if you are comfortable. yes, please share the content if you are comfortable. but if you only give a story a like, i will still be happy. i don't take any single interaction on this site for granted. likes may be less helpful in the long run, but they are still likes. and this is not to undermine any of the feelings and opinions of other writers that may be different than mine. we all want to be validated and cherished and we are not all going to feel the exact same way about things. i think that as writers, we also need to do more to support our writer friends, and that is something i am going to try to be better at, even when i do not have the time to read.

i know that not all of my readers have time to drop everything and read. i also acknowledge that not all of them are comfortable with leaving comments, and i respect that. it's not my business why, but i know that there are myriad reasons as to why. of course, i want and value comments and reblogs, but i don't take likes for granted. the end. please, let this be the end.

see the above post for a more nuanced explanation if you are still not clear on my feelings on the matter.

are likes useless in terms of exposure? yes. do i still love each one? yes. i'm not someone who gets exposure in the first place; i would have hardly any notes if not for likes. and while i recognize that the solution to this problem is to encourage reblogs, i still can't bring myself to treat any of this as if it is transactional. and i apologize to other creators if this mindset is frustrating.

and all of this being said, other writers do not feel the same way i do, and that is their business. going around and yelling at people like this also ain't it, tho. we still work hard and deserve love for what we do. i'm sorry if writers haven't acknowledged and understood that you're liking to bookmark, or whatever the case may be. we are literally all out here just trying to live our lives the best we can, ok?

edit: if you do want to leave comments but are unsure what to say, or where to start, this is a very cool tool that may help you!

[goldensunbalotiyaposts]

KalaLoka : Publish Your Passion

KalaLoka: Publish Your Passion in the World of Creativity

In today’s digital era, creativity knows no bounds, and individuals from all walks of life seek platforms to showcase their unique talents. KalaLoka is a dedicated platform that encourages writers, artists, performers, and creative thinkers to bring their imagination to life. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a budding artist, KalaLoka provides a space to publish and share your work with the world, enabling you to connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion.

What is KalaLoka?

KalaLoka is a versatile multimedia platform that empowers creative individuals to share their work. It offers a space for artists to publish, promote, and even monetize their content. From poetry, short stories, and blogs to digital artwork, photography, and videos, KalaLoka allows you to publish your creations effortlessly. The platform is designed to nurture your passion and help you reach an audience that values creative expression.

At KalaLoka, it’s not just about publishing; it’s about creating a community of creators. It brings together diverse forms of art and media, fostering collaboration and inspiration. Whether you're a painter looking for an audience for your latest masterpiece or a writer eager to share your narrative, KalaLoka : Publish Your Passionis the ultimate space for your creativity to thrive.

Why Choose KalaLoka to Publish Your Passion?

KalaLoka stands out from other platforms for several reasons. First and foremost, it is a space specifically designed for creators who wish to express their passion. Here are a few reasons why you should consider KalaLoka: Publish Your Passion:

Diverse Audience: KalaLoka allows you to reach a global audience, ensuring that your work receives the visibility it deserves. Whether you're creating digital art, literature, or performances, there's always a community of enthusiasts waiting to engage with your content.

Ease of Publishing: Publishing your work on KalaLoka is as easy as a few clicks. The user-friendly interface ensures that you spend more time creating and less time navigating complex publishing procedures.

Monetization Opportunities: KalaLoka offers various monetization options for creators, allowing you to turn your passion into a profession. Through the platform, you can showcase your work while generating income from your creative endeavors.

How KalaLoka Helps You Publish Your Passion

KalaLoka: Publish Your Passion is more than just a tagline—it’s a promise. This platform actively supports artists and creators in building their portfolios and creating a name for themselves in their respective industries. Here’s how KalaLoka helps you publish and promote your passion:

Portfolio Building: KalaLoka allows you to create a profile and showcase your complete body of work. Whether you're an author or an illustrator, your profile will serve as your online portfolio, highlighting your skills and achievements.

Community Engagement: On KalaLoka, engagement with your audience is key. You can interact with readers, viewers, and fellow creators, receive valuable feedback, and establish a fanbase that follows your journey.

Content Variety: One of the most significant advantages of KalaLoka is that it accepts a wide range of content forms. Whether you're into writing, visual arts, photography, or performance arts, the platform caters to all artistic expressions, making it a go-to space for creators across genres.

Collaborative Projects: KalaLoka also opens up opportunities for collaboration. Creators can team up for joint projects, whether it’s combining music with visual art or blending poetry with illustrations. These collaborations can open new creative doors and push your work to greater heights.

Why KalaLoka is the Perfect Platform for Creative Minds

KalaLoka is the embodiment of creative freedom. It offers a nurturing environment where your artistic expressions can flourish without constraints. The platform is open to all, whether you're just starting out or have already built a reputation in your field. With KalaLoka, the focus is always on empowering creators and giving them the tools they need to succeed.

If you’ve ever felt like your creativity deserved more attention, KalaLoka : Publish Your Passion is the platform to help you get there. By leveraging its user-friendly features, you can reach an audience that values creativity, collaboration, and innovation. So why wait? Join KalaLoka today and let the world see your creative genius.

Conclusion

Whether you’re an artist, writer, or performer, KalaLoka offers the perfect platform to share your passion with the world. With its diverse community, easy-to-use interface, and numerous monetization opportunities, KalaLoka: Publish Your Passion is the key to unlocking your creative potential. Embrace the future of creativity by joining KalaLoka and begin sharing your passion today!

Visit here - https://www.youtube.com/@Kala-Loka

[slimedryer]

I checked through the tags and comments on this post to see if anyone had brought up what I'd like to add to this sentiment.

Paraphrasing: a few people mentioned the attention economy and the pace of content consumption; a few mentioned that the readers/fans who were young in the pre-streaming generation of fandom interaction have simply grown to busy adults with less time and inclination to participate in online communities; others pointed out the discouragement new creators experience when their work is seemingly ignored in favor of Established Accounts.

@the-weeping-tree-sings said "It’s the ridicule that came from expressing our interests outright. As a kid, shame is what drove me from a lot of my interests." And that's the closest to my thoughts. I think the other points do contribute to the current era of fandom, and they should be further examined, no question. But what I want to bring up here is: since the Platforms of Social Media have come to global prominence, the choice to be visible online has been paired with constant interpersonal surveillance and a high risk of (online) public ridicule or harassment.

I don't think I'm saying anything groundbreaking, tbh - and I'm not free from sin. But I think in online fandom especially, the consequences of expressing an unpopular opinion or sincere enjoyment of something ostensibly harmless might be that your comment is screencapped and posted to a popular Twitter account called something like "Proshippers Should Die" or "Gen Z posting Ls", or shared on a private Discord whose members then find your account and bombard you with disgust and hate messages. And this does! create a more unified subsection of fandom because nothing brings an online group together like establishing an out-group does you know?

(Added to that, over the years I've seen creators ridicule fellow fans who have engaged with their creation in a manner they deemed to be "too" enthusiastic, to a degree that deserves shame. That shit fucking baffles me btw? like, you're gonna post fanart and then tell an excited commenter 'It's not that serious'? You're literally both at the devil's sacrament.)

I don't have a great conclusion to end this other than: I love that people are trying to kill the cringe inside their head, but I don't think that cringe has died, and I don't think that apathy replaced it. I think purity culture and irony performed for in-group acceptance have seeped in and metastisised. There's a massive amount of shame, self-censorship, and self-policing ingrained in fandom spaces that has been encouraged and enforced by people who consider themselves to have the high ground.

idk I could go on. This isn't new, and I don't know how to fix it lmao like, I'm posting this to a sideblog which is limited to fandom content bc I don't want people who respect my political posts on the main blog to see what I'm doing over here - because I've seen instances of fandom content being used to present users as intellectually/morally inferior. I've been doing fannish things online since 2004 but it hasn't inured me to shame, and when I walk around on the internet with the constant awareness of how very likely it is that anything I say will be misunderstood, or taken out of context, or just laughed at, I'm often scared into not posting or commenting or engaging in anything sincerely.

I miss being able to make art and post it. And I miss when doing those things brought you interactions and friends

Idk, someone recently liked an old piece of mine from a bygone era where even sharing an OC of all things had people react. It brought me back to those days where you'd make a whole community and happily include newcomers and draw for each other and send asks etc, all for simply existing on this platform

Now it feels like you post in an empty room and the best you can hope for is a vague echo in return. People will see your art and move on without barely touching it at all

Why have we gotten so stingy with our comments and interactivity?..

[theyayadiamond]

Learn how to submit unsolicited content to One Family Media Group through our platform at https://duyou.co. Join CEO Kimberly Thomas in recruiting new talent.

About One Family Media Group

Welcome to the world of One Family Media Group, where diverse storytelling is not just a focus but a passion. Founded by the visionary CEO Thomas Ford, this media company is a beacon of creativity, inclusivity, and innovation. Let’s delve deeper into what sets One Family Media Group apart from the rest.

Media Company Focused on Diverse Storytelling

At the core of One Family Media Group’s mission is the commitment to diverse storytelling. We believe that every voice deserves to be heard, every narrative deserves to be shared, and every perspective deserves to be explored. Through our various platforms and projects, we strive to amplify stories that reflect the rich tapestry of human experiences.

From films that challenge societal norms to podcasts that spark meaningful conversations, One Family Media Group is dedicated to pushing boundaries, breaking stereotypes, and celebrating diversity in all its forms. Our team of talented creatives, writers, producers, and directors work tirelessly to bring these stories to life and make a positive impact on the world.

Founded by CEO Kimberly Thomas

Behind the success of One Family Media Group stands the inspiring figure of CEO Kimberly Thomas. A true trailblazer in the industry, Kimberly’s vision and leadership have been instrumental in shaping the company’s identity and trajectory. With a background in storytelling and a passion for championing underrepresented voices, Kimberly has steered One Family Media Group towards becoming a powerhouse of creativity and inclusivity.

Kimberly’s relentless dedication to fostering a culture of authenticity, respect, and collaboration sets the tone for the entire organization. Her hands-on approach, strategic insights, and unwavering commitment to excellence have earned her not just the respect of her colleagues but also the admiration of those in the media industry.

The platform for Submitting Unsolicited Content

One Family Media Group is not just a media company — it’s a platform for aspiring creators to showcase their talents and share their stories. Through our unique opportunity for submitting unsolicited content, we welcome voices from all backgrounds, genres, and perspectives. Whether you’re a budding filmmaker, a novice writer, or an experienced artist, we believe that your voice matters, and we want to help you amplify it.

Our submission process is designed to be transparent, fair, and inclusive. We provide clear guidelines, feedback mechanisms, and support to ensure that every creator feels empowered to share their work with us. At One Family Media Group, we view unsolicited content not as a burden but as a treasure trove of untapped potential waiting to be discovered.

So, if you have a story to tell, a message to share, or a vision to unveil, we encourage you to take the leap and submit your content to One Family Media Group. Who knows, your story could be the next big breakthrough that captivates audiences around the world and leaves a lasting impact on hearts and minds.

Submission Process

Welcome to the submission process for DuYou, where your creative content has the opportunity to shine! By following a few simple steps, you can showcase your work to our team for potential recruitment and even collaborate with industry professionals. Let’s walk through the process together:

1. Visit https://duyou.co

To kickstart the submission process, the first step is to visit our website at https://duyou.co. Here, you will find all the necessary information on how to submit your content and take the first exciting step towards sharing your talent with the world.

2. Content Review by Team

Once your content is submitted through our platform, our dedicated team will carefully review it for potential recruitment opportunities. Rest assured that each submission is given the time and attention it deserves as we search for creative individuals to join our growing community.

3. Opportunity to Collaborate

One of the exciting aspects of the submission process is the chance to work with industry professionals. If your content catches the eye of our team, you may have the opportunity to collaborate with experienced individuals who can provide valuable insights and guidance to further enhance your work.

In conclusion, the submission process at DuYou is designed to empower individuals like you to share their creativity and potentially embark on exciting new opportunities in the industry. By following these steps and submitting your content, you are taking a proactive step towards achieving your goals and making your mark in the world of content creation.

Benefits of Submitting

Submitting your work to One Family Media Group offers a multitude of benefits that can significantly boost your career and expose your talent to a wider audience. Let’s delve into the advantages of submitting your content:

Exposure to a Wider Audience

One of the key benefits of submitting your work is the exposure it can provide. By sharing your content with One Family Media Group, your work can reach a larger audience than you may have access to on your own. This increased visibility can lead to new opportunities and collaborations.

Possibility of Collaboration with One Family Media Group

Submitting your work to One Family Media Group opens up the possibility of collaboration with a respected media group. This partnership can offer you the chance to work on exciting projects, gain valuable experience, and expand your network within the industry.

Chance to Showcase Your Talent

Submitting your content allows you to showcase your talent and creativity to a wider audience. Whether you are a writer, artist, filmmaker, or musician, submitting your work gives you the opportunity to share your skills and passion with others who appreciate and value your unique perspective.

TL;DR

Submitting your work to One Family Media Group provides exposure to a wider audience, the possibility of collaboration, and the chance to showcase your talent to a diverse group of viewers, opening up new opportunities for your career.