#( nor can we take public transit )

[pastadoughie]

many people were confused about some of my previous posts, so for the sake of clarity i am condensing everything! tumblr has extremely transphobic moderation practices, often flagging completely innocent posts as explicit, solely for containing trans women in them or mentioning transgenderism. while letting untagged porn in sfw tags (ive literally seen porn tagged as "sfw agere") and blatent hatespeech, especially twards trans people (just look at the "gender critical" tag) go completely unchecked recently the CEO of tumblr had a big public hissyfit about people (rightfully) calling him transmysogenistic, going into random trans womens dms to harrass them, and saying that predstrogen saying she "hopes he explodes with hammers and then explodes again and hammers fly everywhere" is a death threat and saying he is calling the FBI on her (repeatedly misgendering her and calling her "it") and many bloggers, apon speaking out about it or even making harmless jokes (one trans woman posted a picture of a car and a hammer with the caption "reblog to scare matt" and got nuked for it) and many are very very angry (rightfully) about this whole affair and tumblr in general. if you would like to look into it i reccomend scrolling the "predstrogen" tag as she is the case most people are talking about at the moment. So, what can we do? this is clearly an ongoing issue, and, dispite having lost a lawsuit about their transphobic moderation in the past (see : https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21274288-tumblr-nycchr-settlement) its clearly not gonna stop with just user complaints, as staff members are perfectly content to just go scorched earth on users who even so much as lightly poke fun at them well if you want to help you should contact the human rights commision (i will give clear details further down) ! you dont have to be in the US, nor be an adult to file, and it only takes a few minutes. this is the best and most effective method to fix this, because it hits tumblr where it hurts. human rights acencies have a lot of legal and financial power and tumblr CAN NOT just ignore them, and given that this will be the seccond time this is happening, the commisions shouldnt be playing nice anymore eaither. its really important that AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE FILE, and with different examples! while maybe your case might not be enough to prop up a lawsuit on its own, we need to prove a general trend. so every little bit counts! to respond to another question abt this ive gotten, as for what exactly to report, you should a) write about an act of discrimination youve recieved on tumblr that was eaither administered by a staff member OR that staff refused to give adequate moderation action in for example : a terf posted some blatent hatespeech targeted twards you, and you reported them, and staff looked at the issue and refused to persecute it. example 2 : you were unfairly flagged, deleted, or otherwise punished by a staff member and you are queer ( AND the post they banned you for has some kind of tie to your gender, ex : a sfw transition progress photo ) OR b) if you have not personally recieved something like that, please look for other peoples stories (THEY SHOULDNT BE HARD TO FIND, within the last couple of hours trans people have been being banned LEFT AND RIGHT for trying to speak on this. i would reccomend checking some of the tags related to what happened with predstrogen) and you should describe that incident as best as possible (be sure to disclose that you are speaking for someone else, ideally you should tell the story of someone you know, if possible.) you can also mention any reports you have made twards people posting blatent hatespeech that, opon reveiwing tumblr refused to prosecute dispite it being very obviously against terms of service. just so nobody gets confused about the filing process, im laying it out in more plain languadge!!

first you should email the SF HRC (san francisco human rights commision), at [email protected] and say something along these lines :

Hello, I am [full name] from [country or state] and I am filing a complaint against Tumblr, witch is owned by the parent company Automattic Inc. located at 60 29th St, San Francisco, CA 94110.

Tumblr has had previous issues with the NYC DHR for their moderation being unfairly biased against trans women (see : https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21274288-tumblr-nycchr-settlement).

Despite a legally binding agreement with the NYC DHR, staff members still regularly harrass users based on their gender or sexual orientations. For example : on [date of most recent infraction] [describe incident] (if you are describing an incident that did not happen to you specifically, say something like) This incident involves the user [username] who I am not affiliated with (or/) who I am filing on behalf of.

I can be reached for further inquiries about this incident at [email you want to talk over] or [phone number you want to talk over]. (if you would like to be anonymous) However, In the event of legal prosecution against Automattic I would refer to be kept anonymous, where possible, in court proceedings. alternatively, you can also call the SF HRC at : 415-252-2500, you can use the above text as a starting point for this as well, next you want to fill out the form for the NYC DHR (new york city department of human rights) here : https://www.nyc.gov/site/cchr/about/report-discrimination.page for company you wanna put : Automattic and/or Tumblr for address you wanna put : 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 for phone number you wanna put : [phone] and for category of discrimination you can put : Discriminatory harassment and basis of discrimination you can put : Gender; Gender identity you can then use a similar script on the written section of the form. when describing a specific incident, you should attach as many screenshots and links as possible! (for links, include both a live link and an archival link, so take a capture with the internet archive and have that as an alternative, incase a staff member gets petty.) this should only take a few minutes at most, and it helps alot! you can fill this out if you are a minor, and you dont have to be a us resident, please please take the time!!! and, just to clarify because there are many posts going around that are confused about this tumblr moved offices to san francisco recently, so their main HQ is at : 60 29th St, San Francisco, CA 94110 they DO still have an office in new york city, and thats where their PREVIOUS HQ was, the address is : 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

#art #my art #mspaint #rowens liddol guys #mspaint animations #the beast speaks #important shit #transgender #trans #predstrogen

[mostlysignssomeportents]

$100 billion later, autonomous vehicles are still a car-wreck

Autonomous vehicles were always a shell-game. The last time I wrote about them was a year ago, when Uber declared massive losses. Uber’s profitability story was always, “Sure, we’re losing money now, but once we create self-driving cars, we can fire our drivers and make a bundle.”

https://pluralistic.net/2020/09/30/death-to-all-monopoly/#pogo-stick-problem

But Uber never came close to building an AV. After blowing $2.5b, the company invented a car whose mean-distance-to-fatal-crash was half a mile. Uber had to pay another company — $400 million! — to take the self-driving unit off its hands.

It’s tempting to say that Uber just deluded itself into thinking that AVs were a viable, near-term technology. But $2.5b was a bargain, because it allowed the company’s original investors (notably the Saudi royals) to offload their Uber shares on credulous suckers when the company IPOed.

Likewise Tesla, a company that has promised fully self-driving autonomous vehicles “within two years” for more than a decade. The story that Teslas will someday drive themselves is key to attracting retail investors to the company.

Tesla’s overvaluation isn’t solely a product of the cult of personality around Musk, nor is it just that its investors can’t read a balance-sheet and so miss the fact that the company is reliant upon selling the carbon-credits that allow gas-guzzling SUVs to fill America’s streets.

Key to Tesla’s claims to eventual profitability was that AVs would overcome geometry itself, and end the Red Queen’s Race whereby adding more cars to the road means you need more roads, which means everything gets farther apart, which means you need more cars — lather, rinse, repeat.

Geometry hates cars, but Elon Musk hates public transit (he says you might end up seated next to “a serial killer”). So Musk spun this story where tightly orchestrated AVs would best geometry and create big cities served speedy, individualized private vehicles. You could even make passive income from your Tesla, turning it over to drive strangers (including, presumably, serial killers?) around as a taxicab.

But Teslas are no closer to full self-driving than Ubers. In fact, no one has come close to making an AV. In a characteristically brilliant and scorching article for Bloomberg, Max Chafkin takes stock of the failed AV project:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-10-06/even-after-100-billion-self-driving-cars-are-going-nowhere

Chafkin calculates that the global R&D budget for AVs has now exceeded $100 billion, and demonstrates that we have next to nothing to show for it, and that whatever you think you know about AV success is just spin, hype and bullshit.

Take the much-vaunted terribleness of human drivers, which the AV industry likes to tout. It’s true that the other dumdums on the road cutting you off and changing lanes without their turn-signals are pretty bad drivers, but actual, professional drivers are amazing. The average school-bus driver clocks up 500 million miles without a fatal crash (but of course, bus drivers are part of the public transit system).

Even dopes like you and me are better than you may think — while cars do kill the shit out of Americans, it’s because Americans drive so goddamned much. US traffic deaths are a mere one per 100 million miles driven, and most of those deaths are due to recklessness, not inability. Drunks, speeders, texters and sleepy drivers cause traffic fatalities — they may be skilled drivers, but they are also reckless.

But even the most reckless driver is safer than a driverless car, which “lasts a few seconds before crapping out.” The best robot drivers are Waymos, which mostly operate in the sunbelt, “because they still can’t handle weather patterns trickier than Partly Cloudy.”

Waymo claims to have driven 20m miles — that is, 4% of the distance we’d expect a human school-bus driver to go before having a fatal wreck. Tesla, meanwhile, has stopped even reporting how many miles its autopilot has mananged on public roads. The last time it disclosed, in 2019, the total was zero.

Using “deep learning” to solve the problems of self-driving cars is a dead-end. As NYU psych prof Gary Marcus told Chafkin, “deep learning is something similar to memorization…It only works if the situations are sufficiently akin.”

Which is why self-driving cars are so useless when they come up against something unexpected — human drivers weaving through traffic, cyclists, an eagle, a drone, a low-flying plane, a deer, even some pigeons on the road.

Self-driving car huxters call this “the pogo-stick problem” — as in “you never can tell when someone will try to cross the road on a pogo-stick.” They propose coming up with strict rules for humans to make life easier for robots.

https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/3/17530232/self-driving-ai-winter-full-autonomy-waymo-tesla-uber

But as stupid as this is, it’s even stupider than it appears at first blush. It’s not that AVs are confused by pogo sticks — they’re confused by shadowsand clouds and squirrels. They’re confused by left turns that are a little different than the last left turn they tried.

If you’ve been thinking that AVs were right around the corner, don’t feel too foolish. The AV companies have certainly acted like they believed their own bullshit. Chafkin reminds us of the high-stakes litigation when AV engineer Anthony Levandowski left Google for Uber and was sued for stealing trade secrets.

The result was millions in fines (Levandowski declared bankruptcy) and even a prison sentence for Levandowski (Trump pardoned him, seemingly at the behest of Peter Thiel and other Trumpist tech cronies). Why would companies go to all that trouble if they weren’t serious about their own claims?

It’s possible that they are, but that doesn’t mean we have to take those claims at face-value ourselves. Companies often get high on their own supplies. The litigation over Levandowski can be thought of as a species of criti-hype, Lee Vinsel’s extraordinarily useful term for criticism that serves to bolster the claims of its target:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/02/02/euthanize-rentiers/#dont-believe-the-hype

Another example of criti-hype: the claims about the risks of ubiquitous drone delivery — which, like AVs, is half-bullshit, half self-delusion:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/05/comprehensive-sex-ed/#droned

Today, Levandowski has scaled back his plans to build autonomous vehicles. Instead, he’s built autonomous dump-trucks that never leave a literal sandbox, and trundle back and forth on the same road all day, moving rocks from a pit to a crusher.

$100 billion later, that’s what the AV market has produced.

Image:

Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

Gartner (modified): https://www.gartner.com/en/research/methodologies/gartner-hype-cycle

[Image ID: A chart illustrating the Gartner hype-cycle; racing down the slope from the 'peak of inflated expectations' to the 'trough of disillusionment' is the staring eye of HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey, chased by speed-lines.]

#pluralistic

[nayziiz]

No Way | LN4

Summary: Lando Norris, an F1 driver for McLaren Racing, faces persistent attention on his single status. In an attempt to appease fans and quell rumours, his management suggests a fake relationship with a popular Portuguese model. However, Lando's PR manager, Natalie, disagrees, believing fans would see through the ploy. As an alternative, Lando's management notices the genuine bond between him and Natalie and proposes they feign a relationship for authenticity. Initially hesitant, they agree, given their existing friendship and professional connection. The fake relationship takes an unexpected turn as Lando and Natalie grapple with burgeoning real feelings, attempting unsuccessfully to conceal their growing emotions.

Pairing: Lando Norris x Original Character (Natalie)

Warnings: Mentions of physical and emotional abuse

Masterlist

CHAPTER 3

“Hey, we have some gorgeous Aussie girls.” The Australian podcast host teases as they end the episode featuring Lando.

The teasing remark hangs in the air, a lighthearted attempt to inject humour into the conversation. Natalie, ever vigilant about maintaining a professional image for Lando, takes note of such comments. The challenges of managing public perception and steering clear of potential controversies in the world of Formula 1 become evident once again. As the podcast episode concludes, Natalie prepares to address any potential fallout or inquiries that may arise from such remarks, emphasising the delicate balance between humour and the need to maintain a respectful and inclusive public image for Lando.

In the quiet moments of transitioning from the podcast studio to the track inspections, Natalie remains attentive to the surroundings, always mindful of the public image they present. As the car manoeuvres through Melbourne traffic, the dynamic between Lando and Natalie shifts into a silent atmosphere, something quite unusual for the pair.

“You’re quiet.” Lando comments as he focuses on the cars ahead of him. Natalie turns the music louder to muffle the silence. “No. Tell me what’s on your mind.”

The gentle persistence in Lando’s voice prompts Natalie to consider opening up. The hum of the engine and the music becomes a backdrop to the unspoken connection between them.

“I’m sorry.” She mumbles as she looks out the window.

“For what? Did you take one of my hoodies again?” Lando responds as he turns to glance at her before reverting his eyes to the road ahead of him.

“No, nothing like that.” She quickly clarifies. “I’m sorry that you have to keep dealing with this silly stuff about being single and everyone trying to play matchmaker.”

“You don’t have to apologise for that. It’s not your fault.” He assures her.

After his phone call with Max, Lando found himself reflecting on the dynamics of his relationship with Natalie. The realisation dawned upon him that he cannot, and should not, expect her to continuously rearrange her life to accommodate the demands of the media or the public's curiosity. The weight of being under constant scrutiny and the pressure to conform to certain expectations has started to wear on him and he wanted to spare her that.

Lando understands that Natalie has her own life, aspirations, and personal journey, independent of their professional partnership, especially after the abrupt ending to her relationship. The awareness that she shouldn't be compelled to play the role of a pretend girlfriend, even for the sake of managing his public image, settles in. It becomes clear that expecting her to endure such a facade could strain their genuine friendship.

This realisation marks a maturation in Lando's perspective, emphasising the importance of respecting Natalie's autonomy and recognizing the boundaries between their personal and professional lives. While the external pressures persist, he understands that imposing additional burdens on Natalie for the sake of appearances is neither fair nor sustainable.

“But, there is a way I can help.” She continues causing him to turn back to her. “I could just pretend to be your girlfriend, after all.”

Natalie's unexpected proposal hangs in the air, creating a momentary pause in the car. Her suggestion, while delivered with a hint of jest, carries a weight of sincerity. Lando looks at her, registering the offer and contemplating the potential implications. The notion of Natalie stepping into the role of a fake girlfriend introduces a complex layer to their relationship, blurring the lines between the personal and the professional. Natalie's willingness to extend herself for Lando's benefit reveals a depth of trust and loyalty. Yet, the proposal also raises questions about the potential consequences for their dynamic, challenging the delicate balance they've maintained so far.

“Please don’t feel pressured to do that.” He quickly responds, shocked by her change of heart.

Lando's swift and sincere response reflects his concern for Natalie and an understanding of the potential challenges that could arise from such a proposal. The unexpected offer has caught him off guard, and he wants to ensure that Natalie doesn't feel compelled to take on a role that might compromise her comfort or well-being. The genuine care between them becomes palpable in this moment, emphasising the importance of preserving their authentic connection amidst the pressures and demands of their high-profile lives

“Let me help you, please.” She urges him. “I’ve given this enough thought and it does make the most sense for me to be your fake girlfriend.”

“Are you sure?” He queries.

“Yeah.” She agrees.

“I’d rather it be you than anyone else, honestly.” He breathes a sigh of relief, and deep down, Natalie is relieved to see him relax for the first time in weeks.

As they embark on this uncharted territory of a fake relationship, Natalie grapples with the myriad of potential complications that could arise. The boundaries between their professional and personal lives blur, introducing a layer of complexity that neither of them could have anticipated. Natalie's concern about the possible consequences of this arrangement lingers beneath the surface, overshadowed by the desire to alleviate the pressure on Lando.

The uncertainty looms large – what if genuine feelings begin to surface in the midst of this charade? The prospect of Lando or herself forming real connections outside of this orchestrated scenario adds another layer of intricacy. However, in the midst of these uncertainties, Lando and Natalie find a shared resolve to face the unknown together, hoping that their genuine connection will guide them through the complexities that lie ahead.

- LATER THAT DAY - “Alright, it’s happening.” Natalie announces as she hands Lando her phone open on Instagram with a picture of the two of them, his arm around her shoulders as he looks lovingly at her. The post is followed by a second photo, capturing a moment where Lando places a soft kiss on her temple.

The decision to go public with their faux relationship is made, and social media becomes their stage. The carefully crafted images convey a narrative of affection and closeness, tailored to fit the expectations of their audience. As Natalie hands Lando her phone, they take a collective breath, knowing that these carefully curated moments are now part of the public domain.

The comments and reactions begin to pour in, as fans and followers respond to this seemingly intimate portrayal of their relationship. The challenge lies in maintaining the delicate balance between authenticity and performance, ensuring that the staged moments are convincing enough to fulfil their purpose without becoming entangled in the complexities of their real emotions.

“That was quick.” Lando mumbles as he scrolls through the photos. “A fan took this?”

“Looks like someone who had a paddock pass. There’s a video from a different angle as well as we’re walking into the garage.” Natalie confirms. “A couple weeks like this then we can soft launch completely.”

The speed at which the images have circulated takes Lando by surprise, emphasising the intensity of the Formula 1 spotlight. As they assess the initial fan reactions and engagement, Natalie strategically plans the next steps. The decision to gradually transition into a more public display of their fake relationship reflects a careful approach to managing expectations and maintaining an air of authenticity.

The two sit on the couch in his hotel room, huddled close together, scrolling through Instagram. They read through all the comments on the posts, absorbing the range of reactions from fans and followers. The digital realm becomes a realm of both curiosity and scrutiny as they navigate the public's response to their newfound relationship status.

Some comments express excitement and support, while others scrutinise the authenticity of their connection. Lando and Natalie exchange glances, acknowledging the complexities of the game they've chosen to play.

User1: Now we know why she kept stopping him from talking about his relationship status, she was scared he would reveal she’s his girlfriend.

“God, they’re giving us all the prompts to make this the greatest fake relationship ever.” Natalie comments.

“And, you hesitated at first.” Lando teases her.

“The key thing now is to act like we’re keeping it a secret and address any questions.” Natalie continues.

The only people who knew about the arrangement were Zak, Charlotte, and Max. The more people who knew, the bigger the chances of the secret coming out. The trio of confidantes held the delicate balance of information, understanding the consequences of even a minor leak. With each additional person brought into the circle, the risk of the truth surfacing increased, adding an element of suspense to their carefully orchestrated narrative. The trio became the guardians of the fabricated reality, entrusted with preserving the illusion that Lando and Natalie were more than just colleagues in the public eye.

- THE NEXT DAY -

Natalie stands in front of the screens studying the statistics flashing in front of her, not really paying attention to anything specific. Lando joins her and they share a small smile as he presses his arm against her. The subtle yet intimate gestures between Lando and Natalie unfold in the midst of their professional environment. The shared smiles and physical closeness create an unspoken connection, hinting at the depths of their faux relationship. The mechanics, although observant, maintain their focus on the task at hand, acknowledging the unique dynamics between the two without letting it disrupt their work.Lando’s fingers tease Natalie’s before he interlocks his pinky with hers as they continue to watch the screens in front of them. He leans down next to her ear and pulls her headset off her head.

“We’ve got some eyes on us.” He whispers in her ear. A small smile grows on her face as she studies the area and finds a photographer close by snapping photos of the cars and of the crew around the car.

The realisation of being observed adds a layer of intrigue to their staged relationship. As they play their parts, the awareness of being scrutinised by a photographer fuels the need to maintain the illusion. The subtle chemistry between Lando and Natalie becomes a performance, a carefully crafted act that extends beyond their interactions into the public eye.

Natalie peers up at Lando who peers down at her. He plants a loving kiss on her cheek and throws in a cheeky wink before he heads to gear up for qualifying. After a few minutes, Natalie finds herself on Instagram. Her mentions are blowing up with tagged pictures of the two in the garage.

The staged affection between Lando and Natalie becomes fodder for social media as fans eagerly capture and share moments from the garage. The kiss on the cheek and the playful wink are amplified through the lens of social media, creating a buzz around their supposed relationship. Natalie, navigating through the influx of tagged pictures on Instagram, becomes acutely aware of the impact their carefully orchestrated gestures have on their online presence.

User1: Okay. The PDA in the garage is too sweet.

User2: They look so in love.

The newfound closeness between Lando and Natalie brings an unexpected comfort to the charade. Lando's genuine concern for Natalie's well-being, even within the confines of their fake relationship, adds a layer of authenticity to their interactions. As they navigate the complexities of this arrangement, the initial discomfort transforms into a shared understanding that extends beyond the public eye. The fading questions about Lando's relationship status indicate the effectiveness of their strategy in steering the media's attention away from his personal life.

“Hey, you good?” Lando asks as he reappears next to her in his race suit. Her head snaps in his direction.

“Yeah, just zoned out.” She responds.

“Must be your boyfriend getting you all distracted.” Lando jokes.

“Can only be him.” She jokingly adds as the two share a laugh.

The surprising ease with which Lando and Natalie slip into the physical aspects of their fake relationship leaves them both astounded. The seemingly natural fit of their bodies, the intertwining of fingers, and the subtle touches create a facade that, to the outside world, appears unquestionably genuine. Lando finds himself revelling in the comfort of her presence, savouring the moments when her fingers delicately trace his back or when she leans her head against his shoulder. Despite the charade, there's an unspoken connection that goes beyond the script they're following. It's a testament to the strength of their bond, even in the midst of a fabricated romance that, for now, feels remarkably real.

He grabs his phone lying on the desk in front of them and opens his Instagram and spots a picture of the two chatting in the garage.

“Isn’t this from Sakhir?” He asks Natalie and turns the phone to show her the photo.

“Yeah, it is.” She responds and takes the phone from him to study the picture. “They’re going back to find clues as to when our supposed relationship started.”

As Natalie hands Lando his phone, their fingers inadvertently graze each other, sending a subtle shiver down their spines. She purposely avoids making eye contact, choosing instead to focus on her tablet, where she diligently types notes and sends emails. Lando, captivated by the graceful movements of her fingers, remains by her side, stealing glances whenever he can. The softness of her hands and the gentle precision with which she works leave an impression on him.

His attention shifts from her hands to her tanned arms, appreciating the confidence with which she carries herself in the midst of a bustling crowd. Despite her poise, he recalls the endearing moments of her occasional clumsiness. Lando fondly remembers catching her when she tripped over her own feet, marvelling at the way she would blush and offer profuse apologies for her lack of coordination. These instances of vulnerability only deepen his admiration for her.

Feeling the weight of Lando's gaze, Natalie notices his unwavering attention on her hands. She finds it amusing and decides to playfully break his trance. Gently, she runs a finger over his cheek, eliciting a subtle smile as he snaps out of his daze.

“Where were you now?” Natalie, aware of Lando's tendency to dissociate, gently questions his momentary absence.

“Not here, that’s for sure.” He sighs as he gazes at her. Their eyes meet, and in the depths of her dark green eyes, he finds a connection, grounding him back to the reality they are navigating together.

Lando, grappling with unexpected thoughts and sensations, chooses not to disclose the peculiar image that flashed through his mind—a vivid imagination of Natalie's fingers running through his curly hair. Perplexed by this unanticipated mental image, he seeks refuge in the familiar presence of his best friend, hoping to redirect his focus and understand the sudden surge of emotions stirred by the charade they've embarked upon.

“I need to talk to you.” Lando breathes as he shuts the door behind him.

“What’s up? You look stressed.” Max wonders curiously.

“Does she look different to you? Like, has she changed her hair or done her make-up differently?” Lando quickly asks.

“Natalie?” Max queries. “No, mate. She looks like herself. Why?”

“I’m going mad.” Lando responds.

“What are you talking about?” Max counters.

“I was just with her, and then all of a sudden, I’m thinking of her grabbing my hair, man.” Lando admits. “And, like kissing me.”

“Do you want her to kiss you?” Max implores, fueling Lando’s hysterics.

“What?” Lando mutters. “No. Yes. I don’t know.”

“I think you fancy her.” Max concludes.

“I do not.” Lando argues.

“You always have and now that she’s single and pretending to be your fake girlfriend, it’s all adding up in your head.” Max explains. Lando remains silent for a moment, processing Max's words.

“Maybe there's a tiny part of me that finds her attractive. But that's not the point. We're just faking this relationship to get the media off my back. I can’t fancy her. That’s off the table, completely.” Lando he sighs and admits

“So, what are you going to do when you have to hold her hand on a fake date? Or when you actually have to kiss her for a photo?” Max adds. “You’ll still fancy her, regardless.”

Lando slumps into the chair in defeat. The realisation hits Lando that the fake relationship might bring unforeseen challenges, especially considering the growing feelings he's trying to suppress. As he contemplates the upcoming scenarios Max mentioned, he begins to understand the complexities of the situation and the potential for emotions to complicate the arrangement.

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

Taglist: @noneofyourfbusinessworld

#f1 fanfic #f1 fic #f1 imagine #formula 1 #lando norris #lando norris fanfic #lando norris fic #lando norris smut #mclaren #mclaren f1 #lando norris x oc

[sashimiyas]

for @miya-dynasty baby <3 kissing you all over your face i love you. oh this is angsty btw as expected for nhi

Atsumu doesn’t expect you to answer when he knocks on Osamu’s door. Off season gives him time to mooch off his brother, hang out on his couch, and live a little of their childhood again. This visit of his youth happens to include you. He side eyes his brother when you greet him, cheery at the call of his name, exactly like the way he’s always imagined. Osamu looks away in shame. He knows.

Atsumu’s never admitted his tiny, smidgen of a crush on you back in high school, but by that look of guilt, there must have been some part of Samu that knew. 

Something sick festers in Atsumu’s gut but the blow is softened at the press of your nape. He closes his eyes and inhales, the kinds you take right before it rains.

“We’re just friends with benefits,” Osamu says at dinner, an unusually quiet one where their utensils do more of the talking than their mouths. The athlete takes it as an olive branch, but he sees right through it. His brother neither admits nor denies his guilt.

Neither does he when he says, “as long as the both of ya are happy.”

He meant it, he really did, but it doesn’t take long for Atsumu to realize he’s playing a very fucked up version of house. It’s a house where he sleeps on the living room couch, where Osamu has the audacity to sneak you in but the sensibility to at least wait until he’s fallen asleep. It’s the kind of house where sometimes you look for him just to say goodbye, a nervous wave at your fingertips, and it’s the kind of home where he catches you and his twin fighting while he swishes mouthwash behind his teeth.

“Fine, it’s whatever,” you mumble, grabbing your things and making your way out.

Atsumu barely makes it to the sink to spit out his gargle so he can stop you.

“I don’t have to go, right?” Osamu half heartedly follows, pleading more than anything. “It’s not like we’re dating.”

You spin right in front of his door. Venom evident on your tongue, “I fucking get it, Osamu. We’re nothing.”

You cross your hands in the air, shaking your head at the same time and Atsumu just knows from his stance in the kitchen that you’re crying. “Nothing! You don’t have to keep fucking reminding me!”

“Tha–”

“Shut the fuck up.” You glare at him, lips pursed in a line to stop them from quivering. “Shut the fuck up right now and let me fucking leave in peace.”

The twins watch you walk away. Osamu’s front door swings in your rage. When the sting in his heart burns more than the mint on his tongue, Atsumu runs out. He looks back at his brother, still confined in a stupor.

“Aren’t ya going to chase after her?” Atsumu’s incredulous. He looks both ways for any hint to where you’ve gone and when Osamu looks down once more, Atsumu cannot help but snarl. His brother’s guilt sickens him and he makes an internal vow to never be like him.

Atsumu runs and he realizes maybe he never meant his words at all because when it comes to happiness, all he cares about is yours.

He finds you near the bus stop in an angry hunch over the bench and debates. Then he sees the bus slowly creep in front of the stop. Atsumu’s an athlete. Analyzing the distance, he knows he could reach you if he ran, but for some reason his feet stays planted. For some reason, it already feels like it’s too late, that the reason why you hesitate to take the first step into the transit is for some other reason that’s not him. So he turns around and walks back to Osamu’s home. 

He thinks his brother is a coward for not wanting to commit to you.

But you’re somewhere off probably crying in public and glaring at anyone who has the audacity to look at you. Osamu’s angry chopping in the kitchen, onions most likely to give his eyes an actual reason to burn. And he’s outside his door, hands in his pockets and leaning against the wall.

You’re out there.

And they’re still here.

“Damn,” Atsumu says to no one but himself, “we really are twins.”

#reina.writeshaikyuu!! #haikyuu angst #sorry babes it's not my best work #i have excuses but im not gonna give one because at the end of the day i made this because i love you #reina.lovesatsumu #reina.lovesosamu

[hymnsofheresy]

drop it... i'm struggling to understand so pls drop it. how do you understand the essentiality of sex in female oppression (i do not mean this in like an anti-trans way) but also the essentiality of gender dysphoria and it's connection to gender identity and transphobia. And ultimately how do those thing relate to christianity... especially from a non-protestant christian approach?? I'm sorry i know i just asked a lot.. but i need help understanding. i promise i'm not trying to be mean /g

Firstly, it needs to be known that every single person functions under a variety of paradigms. There is no such thing as an pure unfiltered Christian perspective. There is no monolithic understanding of gender identity amongst trans or cis people. People do not exist in a vacuum, but exist within an intersections of different cultures and worldviews. You and I are likely never going to be able to fully understand anyone's perspective outside of our own. And even our own perspective is hard to grasp sometimes. I will tell you where I am coming from, but I do not expect you to fully understand me.

The Bible verse that I often meditate on a lot is Galatians 3:28. It sets up a variety of dualistic social constructs, and upheavals them. Gender is one of these constructs: "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This tells us that our intrinsic nature as humans is oneness with God, and everything else are constructs of our humanity, for better or worse.

I am not the only Christian out there who does not see gender roles as God-ordained. There are a lot of saints and Christians in history that don't exactly perform their assigned gender at birth, such as St. Thecla, St. Wilgefortis, Brother Marina, and the Public Universal Friend. And in general the numerous existence of Eunichs (both involuntary and voluntary) in Christian history already disrupted the notions of a strict gender binary.

Fundamentally, I see gender as a construct, a means in which people navigate society. Like all constructions, they tend to be founded on some understanding of material reality. The capacity to reproduce and breastfeed distinguished what makes someone a "woman" in the majority of cultures. Visibly this takes the form of breasts and a vagina/uterus, but in reality, what matters is what breasts and uteri do (or are "supposed" to do). For this reason, I often find it helpful to understand traditional gender as labor categories. The category of "women" historically describes the the workforce of "reproductive labor." As with all labor, within the structures of capitalism (and any other hierarchical societies) reproductive labor is exploited. This is why sex-based oppression is "real."

I see the disruption of our notions of gender as a good thing. It helps us understand that our oppression is not intrinsic, that we don't have to comply with the labor expectations assigned to us through our gender.

I do not really know nor do I really fucking care if gender dysphoria is "essential" or not. What I do know is that dysphoria causes profound suffering for many trans people. I know for certain transitioning, physically and/or socially, can be a euphoric experience for many trans people. To deny trans people a sense of belonging in their own bodies because it makes others uncomfortable is cruel and unnecessary. I think the mere existence of the trans liberation movement helps liberate all people from being coerced or forced into gendered labor.

As for my personal identity, I am a woman because I find solidarity through the label of womanhood, not because I "feel" like a woman. There is nothing "essential" about me that makes me a woman because there is no male or female in Christ Jesus.

Many people do not see me as a woman because I refuse to participate in many aspects of femininity and am not heterosexual. Some people do not see me as a woman because I have "masculine" features due to my higher testosterone levels. And truth be told, I do not give two shits if people do not see me as a woman. I am not a woman for them, I am a woman because I find it to be an effective label to struggle against the patriarchy with. I do not need people to understand my own identity.

#personal #lgbt

[nnmarudkar]

Why I don’t like Ranveer Singh

This is the most impulsive blog that I am writing of my entire writing journey. 😂

A teaser dropped in of Karan Johar's 'Rocky aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani'. And I liked the teaser. So when discussing with a Friend I highlighted that I do not like Alia and Ranveer but I liked the teaser due to the Karan Johar touch. And then we almost fought over why I do not like Ranveer because I was not given a good typing time in the so-called ‘debate’😁. My argument is a deal.

Why I don’t like him.

Ranveer Singh as an actor is too loud who overpowers the character.

In the times of multiple entertainment formats (Movie, web series etc) Ranveer Singh is the same everywhere. You watch Simmba, Bajirao Mastani and Ramleela or Padmavat, nothing changes apart from looks. 

He may play versatile roles but that ‘Ranveer’ energy never offloads.

He is neither the boy next door nor a goor or bad cop personality. Then what is his own?

So Ranveer Singh is a good actor. No doubt. But as a fan you fall for the personality of an actor equally. It is an era of social media. Actors want to be seen on screen and at events, airports, reality shows, weddings and funerals as well. I mean why do you think Ranveer wears flashy clothes and roams around with huge speakers at airports. To be seen. Isn't it? I do not want to see a weird man like this. I am from an era of SRK, Akshay, Ajay, Amir, Salman, Jackie and even Govinda for that matter. I accepted yellow and red pants and even ripped jeans with bare chest Salman. Our generation has accepted it all. But Salman never roamed around in public with a t-shirt off or Govinda in Yellow pants I suppose. Of course we did not have instagram then. But humans remain humans. You absorb the advisable and avoid the ignorable. 😁 Ranveer did exactly the opposite. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I some how do not fit into that transition unless its only limited to screens. These actors are still on camera but then there is a big space in between the paparazzi cams and film cameras. Ranveer just mixes it all.

Jokes apart. An actor is an actor on screen but an individual outside. Shouldn't there be a difference when you see this man in both the places? "His 'traits' are such" as my friend points. But then do you mean he is acting on the outside too? Or is he not able to get into the character because of how he is on the outside? I am really confused. Where does he take real efforts? On or off screen? So much coincidence in every role and script that his traits are so magnetic for all the makers to want him to be him everywhere? Isn't he bored of jumping and bouncing everywhere? He was hopping as Kapil Dev also. Seriously? Thank God he did not play Dhoni. 😓Didn’t we see Sushant Singh Rajput as Dhoni and Sushant both?

I remember Sushant in Shudh Desi Romance, I remember Shahid in Kabir Singh as well as Jab we met, I even remember Sonakshi in Holiday and Tapasee in Thappad as well as Naam Shabana. Do you remember Ranveer in Ladies Vs Ricky Behl? If No, I will tell you why. Because he has overdone Band Baaja Baraat all the time. Once he realized it works he decided to eat, drink and sleep on it. He enjoys the fun those young fans have when they see this over enthusiastic man. He enjoys the following for his madness.

But when the same actor sheds tears on screen it does not reach the heart because you saw him last jumping when he promoted the film repeatedly. That emotion does not register. Because the man is very shallow. He does not show different shades of human personality. I suppose he doesn’t want to. I distinctly remember Ranveer in Ladies Vs Ricky Behl, Lootera, Dil Dhadakne Do, Gully Boy and 83. Movies where we could forget him as Ranveer and only watch Kabir, Murad or Ricky. In Fact he has done really amazing as all of them. As an actor he himself does not want to showcase various strokes as an artist. He can carry some roles naturally with ease like ‘Kabir’ in Dil Dhadakne Do. I loved him in that film. But you see him purely acting there because you have seen that of him very less. I am sure people will say 'film hai acting nahi karega toh kya karega'. But when that acting shows on the face of an actor in 2015 who debuted in 2010, you know it's a long way to go. Pagalpanti wala formula hit hai.

When I compared him to Govinda. My friend just rubbished the comparison saying ‘how can they be the same. Are Shahid and Ranveer the same?’ Now, let's answer that argument. Shahid comes from a horribly dysfunctional family background. Yet you see a calm and composed man when you see Shahid in real life. Nobody knows what happens in their personal lives. But when you see the man, you identify with his ‘traits'. Imagine Shahid hopping around and smiling unnecessarily to hide the misery. How do we judge this man called Ranveer? Shouldn't you be able to point out a difference between Simmba and Ranveer?😁 He is a next level mad man. Even the bad man is good in real life. 😂

People like me are in the minority. But we enjoyed all types of actors. When we saw the same people outside the films they were different people. So we knew Jackie Shroff as a good actor and Jackie Shroff as a rugged man with filthy Hindi. It never bothered me because when I heard him speaking Hindi in movies he was the most ideal man anybody could wish for. As a fan I see a lot of them everywhere today. So I can expect a lot from them on screen too. Govinda gets an upperhand there because apart from films I only saw him in awards or some red carpet. But today the way actors are 'available' for paps I will judge you over every small act. 😜

For example ‘83’. Great job here but when promoting Ranveer failed to imbibe even 20% of Kapil Dev’s calmness. Too loud. So what you see is Ranveer Singh again. I believe if the actor is playing a role he/she should be able to carry it for some time to make people believe in your work. You are not the same in office as home and vice a versa. Some dignity is required. Just because you belong to the entertainment industry you do not get the liberty to act like a retard everywhere and yet be loved for ‘he is so energetic’ nuisance. Otherwise you may swim in insanity. I am very sure it’s just pretending. He is not the way he shows us to be. Even Deepika tried this madness but then immediately bounced back. You cannot keep on pretending. This man is a constant nautanki. 😯

You can’t blame Ranveer completely. Because we have not seen the real Peshwa Bajirao we believed Ranveer did a fine job. After all it was Sanjay Leela Bhansali who made us believe. Ranveer was not even close to a Marathi common man yet people went gaga over him. Personally I feel he sounded just like Ram from Ramleela. Let's not go to the dance for even a second. But Rohit Shetty just proved me right because he could not remove a Singh out of Ranveer to play a Bhalerao. Do not worry, I googled Simmba. ☺️

You are not just a fan of one movie but collectively an actor's work and how he behaves in reality. Ranveer Singh confuses me. And confusion cannot entertain. Hence he fails to be liked by me. 🙂

Now we plan Alia Bhatt war! ⚠️

#ranveersingh #rocky aur rani ki prem kahani #deepikapadukone #karan johar #rocky aur rani #dharma productions #anushka sharma #dil dhadakne do #bajirao mastani #padmavat #simmba #ramleela #alia bhatt #ranbir #ranbir kapoor #bollywood #hindi #films #movies #hindi films

[argumate]

I mean, I'm sympathetic that you're tired, but also them's the breaks when you engage in the way you do. With genderism, specifically, the fundamental fact remains that it involves metaphysical claims that are an adornment of plain physical reality and it's adherents demand public adherence to those claims by non-believers, which makes it a religion. "Trans women are women" is literally the same fucking format as "God is God".

okay if we're really doing Baby's First Interpreting Speech Acts then let's do this.

one of the slogans that got kicked around during the same sex marriage fight was "love is love" and obviously this is a deeply idiotic thing to say: it's a trivially true tautology! it conveys zero information! it might as well be "fish is fish" or "x = x"! if you're a baby who thinks that political slogans are literal statements of predicate calculus.

if you're an adult human being and you've been around the block a few times and had literally any exposure to human language and culture at all then you will immediately grasp that a slogan is a highly compact soundbite that acts as a symbol for a much more complex ideological statement, and this one is no exception.

"love is love" in the context of this debate expands to an assertion that marriage in the modern world is a relationship founded on love, and that love can be found between two people of the same sex, and this love is equally legitimate and valuable and deserving of the social and legal recognition that marriage is seen to confer.

more generally the same sex marriage fight was one battle in a much broader contest of worldviews as to whether being gay is something that society can accept, defend, even celebrate, or something that society must reject as a perversion of sick freaks, and "love is love" displays a very clear stand on that question.

(for a while people tried to hedge their bets with "what if we neither attacked it nor defended it" or "what if we just silently tolerated it" but that's an unstable equilibrium that has to fall one way or the other).

"trans women are women" is just as easy to unpack: it's an assertion that the social gender of women is not just occupied by cis women, whose social gender matches their biological sex at birth, but also by trans women, who have transitioned their social gender such that it differs from their biological sex at birth.

it's a claim that social transition is possible, and something that society should accept, defend, or even celebrate, and this is a mundane claim in the sense that it applies to social relations and doesn't have any metaphysical or supernatural implications.

(unless you want it to! and the catholics obviously take exception to gender transition and gay marriage on the same religious grounds).

if you're not willing to take a religious stance in opposition to these viewpoints then it puts you in a tough spot: to oppose gay marriage you have to insist that love really isn't love, that no gay relationship is worth defending or celebrating, or you have to admit that some gay marriages are "real" but their happiness must be sacrificed for the greater good, a tough sell but some people try.

similarly to oppose gender transition you have to insist that every trans man is a deluded straight woman or a sadly misled butch lesbian and every trans woman is an oppressed gay man or a perverted straight sex pest, or concede that maybe one or two are "really" trans but they too must suffer for the greater good.

this is pretty basic stuff! and it's good to get to grips with the actual issue instead of pretending that words don't make sense.

[plethoraworldatlas]

This March, Argentina’s school year began with empty classrooms. The price of learning materials rose by 502 percent over the past year, leaving many children unprepared for the year to come. And the teachers? On strike after President Javier Milei announced deep cuts to their salaries.

There’s something much larger happening here: Workers rights are under attack in an already vastly unequal society. Labor income inequality has been on the decline in many Latin American countries like Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. In Argentina, it’s been on the rise.

Since the 1960s, Argentina has been in an unprecedented period of macroeconomic instability. Stagnating in the lead-up to, and during, the dictatorship years (1976-1983), the country’s economy has reeled from crisis upon crisis — punctuated with the occasional period of recovery and growth. As the decades wore on, public distrust and discontent produced a deep social divide. Argentines call this phenomenon la grieta (“the rift”).

During his successful presidential bid last year, Milei seized upon these conditions. TV personality and self-proclaimed anarcho-capitalist, the eccentric economist promised to correct Argentina’s path and make what he called the “political caste” pay for their mismanagement of the country. Wielding a chainsaw while he campaigned, Milei vowed to eliminate state ministries, abolish the central bank, roll back abortion rights, and dollarize the economy.

Now that he’s had a chance to implement his platform, working families — not an elite “political caste” — are footing the bill for his far-right economic project.

In the two months before Milei took office in December, inflation was running between 143 and 161 percent. In February, inflation soared to more than 254 percent and the poverty rate reached 57 percent — the highest in decades.

Argentina’s labor movement has quickly mobilized widespread and effective opposition to his policies. While strikes and protests continue, we can already begin to draw lessons on resisting the far-right’s rise worldwide.

Milei takes a chainsaw to workers rights

After taking office on December 10, 2023, Milei acted swiftly. Declaring “There is no alternative to shock,” the president immediately devalued the peso by 50 percent, lifted price controls, and dissolved half of the country’s ministries.

Milei’s government then launched an offensive on workers rights. On December 14, the newly appointed Minister of Security announced a new protest protocol. Consolidating control of Argentina’s security forces and creating a registry for organizations suspected of “instigating” the protocol allowed federal forces to use increased surveillance and violence.

Days later, Milei signed the “Decree of Necessity and Urgency 70/2023.” Dubbed the megadecreto (“mega-decree”) for its sweeping scope — cutting severance pay, weakening collective bargaining rights, deregulating the rental market, and otherwise undermining existing protections — the 366-article document is an unconstitutional abuse of executive powers.

Making matters worse, Milei cut public subsidies on utilities and transportation. Hypocrisy shone through his already vague definition of the “political caste.” As one Argentine told a journalist, “The caste doesn’t take the train nor any form of public transit. We workers and students do.”

Milei’s aggressive measures roused a prompt response from Argentine labor. In late December, the country’s largest unions announced plans for a January 24 general strike — the quickest to be organized under any president since Argentina’s return to democracy in 1983.

Millions join the general strike

Forty-five days after Milei took office, 1.5 million Argentines took to the streets. Workers from all sectors joined the strike: transit, aviation, government, banking, and sanitation, just to name a few.

“Not one step back,” one associated union declared on the day of the strike, “for the unity of the workers movement is essential in protecting the rights we’ve achieved.”

The protesters’ outrage centered on Milei’s Omnibus Bill. The proposed legislation contained sweeping changes to Argentina’s economic and political structure, including the privatization of state-owned companies and an unprecedented expansion of executive powers. 

The bill would also codify Milei’s unpopular “mega-decree.”

“[Milei’s ‘mega-decree’] destroys individual rights of workers, collective rights and seeks to eliminate the possibility of union action at a time in which we have great inequality in society” said Héctor Daer, the Secretary General of the General Confederation of Labor. One of the world’s largest unions, the CGT represents roughly two-thirds of Argentina’s unionized workforce.

Shortly after the strike ended, the National Congress of Argentina rejected Milei’s Omnibus Bill. Initially approved by the Chamber of Deputies in a 144 to 109 vote, majority support faltered when it came time for an article-by-article review.

The first Omnibus Bill consisted of 664 articles. Now, two months later, they are struggling to push an amended 269-article version — with hefty concessions for the left.

Milei’s uncompromising approach played no small role in killing his first Omnibus Bill. But the general strike served a critical blow to his already weak coalition. 

Aftermath in Argentina, implications abroad

Beyond their victories in the streets, Argentine labor has also made notable gains in the courts. Successfully challenging the legality of Milei’s “mega-decree,” the General Confederation of Labor blocked the roll-out of several critical anti-worker measures.

Following January’s general strike, February and March witnessed a patchwork of smaller strikes, placing continued pressure on the government. The most recent have come in the aviation, healthcare, and education sectors. The Argentine Workers’ Central Union (a federation with 1.2 million members) held a “national day of struggle” on March 12 — and united with other groups to block 500 roads throughout the country on March 18. More strikes are planned for March 28.

On March 14, the Senate voted down the Decree of Necessity and Urgency. Though the “mega-decree” remains in force unless the lower house also opts to reject, the upper house vote represents another massive blow to Milei’s government.

Instrumental in defeating Milei’s first Omnibus Bill — and otherwise slowing the pace of his anti-worker disaster project — Argentine labor’s recent victories offer an important reminder: Working-class people are a potent political force.

These victories also offer lessons in resisting the far-right’s rise worldwide: Organized labor can serve as an infrastructure for mobilization and a counterbalance to democratic backsliding. At their best, unions provide checks on abuses of executive power and ensure that working people always have political representation — no matter who occupies the presidential palace.

With nearly 30 percent of the workforce unionized, the labor movement is strong in Argentina. The United States hasn’t seen that degree of union density since the 1950s, though now the tide might be turning.

With 64 countries holding national elections in 2024, this year will be a watershed moment in world history. And with the far right on the rise, there’s never been a more critical time to mobilize in defense of dignity and democracy.

Here in the United States, there are over 85 million poor or low-income eligible voters. As Inequality.org’s co-editor Sarah Anderson writes, “If this bloc voted at the same rate as higher-income voters, they could sway elections in every state.”

#argentina #javier milei #Fascism #authoritarianism #capitalism #far right #workers rights #general strike

[this-daydream-is-dangerous-13]

Is the song happiness Taylor telling him to move on? How do you interpret it?

Thank you for this ask. I am working on a whole evermore analysis post but am swamped these days so it is on pause right now. I will take this instead.

So based on the songs on Fine Line, there was clearly still something there for him. And on folklore in songs like The 1— “persist and resist the temptation to ask you ‘if one thing had been different, would everything be different today?’” — and the teenage love triangle exploration and exile, she also had some unexplored, unfinished feelings.

So I think these fictional worlds allowed her to work through all the stuff she couldn’t do in diaristic writing *because H has been so hidden from her actual, public-facing narrative.*

I initially thought is might have been exactly what you suggested, but now I think it is more *her working through her feelings to see how she would react if he actually DID move on.*

Because besties? She has not historically been great with him and women who are not her.

In Hits Different she tells us:

And when he is actually pictured with other women?

Jan 17, 2014, at and Eagles concert.

Which is followed almost immediately by some throw-down and rapprochement about which…

Ryan Tedder tells us. And look at the song they wrote. Look at the dates!

And we have all heard Question…? She certainly gave in to the temptation she described in The 1. During my first listen to that song, my jaw hit the floor. She’s been in a different relationship for at least 5 years and she is asking him “do you wish you had made different choices and NOT lost me? Is everything 2nd best compared to me, including your ‘suitable girlfriend’? Do you still dream of touching me?” The chutzpah! And she already knew the answer!

It’s linked to verse 2 of happiness, I think:

She does not seem to excited about the prospect of being replaced, huh?

Which, to his credit, he tells her will likely never happen entirely in As it Was:

He is NOT “a boy who wouldn’t stay” Blondie; stop calling him that!

But back to happiness, where Blondie drops her biggest truth bombs in the bridge (as is her habit):

He is a good man. She is a good woman. They hurt each other. And she doesn’t know how deal with that, nor how to transition to friendship with this person with whom she once shared absolutely everything. She loathes the fake niceties, most significantly because she? Spent years getting so much more that that from him. Love and devotion and care, in physical and emotional form. After screaming colour, who wants to go back to black and white?

And so - the final verse. She is steeling herself for the moving in, convincing them both that:

And she concludes that “the new her” can offer forgiveness and a new, fresh friendship start because despite everything:

What a lovely sentiment. And fleeting!

Because she totally walks it back with Question….? and her admissions in parts of Maroon, but that is a story for another day.

[logically-asexual]

Personal opinion only.. But.. I don't think people who are super wealthy should be promoting their Friends/Family's GoFundMe's. Thomas makes around 300k (Rounding down for benefit of the doubt) a year from his main channel alone and he gets 220k from his Patreon yearly. Half a Million dollars a year and he promotes a friend's Top Surgery fund?

Markiplier did a similar thing when his niece passed away a few years ago and his brothers family wanted help to pay for funeral cost's and to help them have money while they grieved without having to worry about going to work. Mark set a 10k goal and the GoFundMe is still accepting donations to this day and has around 75k donated to it.

Now I know comparing Mark to Thomas isn't quite fair as Mark makes 36 Million a year. But the fact that they both have the means to comfortably afford to help someone yet they ask their communities to do it just rubs me the wrong way. I'm in no way saying this person doesn't deserve to get their Surgery. A lot of people in the Trans community are desperate for this and thousands will never get to have it done because they can't get the money for it.

I'm not speaking from a place of jealousy mind you as I am not Trans myself. I just think promoting one person's Fundraiser over everyone else's is kinda douchy of him. It's going to hit it's goal quite quickly and will go well past the asked for amount and I have a feeling the person it's for will raise the Donation amount even higher for "Other" reasons.

If it was a Fander who caught Thomas's attention and he shared more than one person's Fundraiser I would have 0 issues with this. But he isn't being fair.

God this turned into a nonsense rant. I apologize for that. I just get so much Anxiety when Influencers do shit like this.. 🐸

i am not trans so i can’t speak much when it comes to uncomfortable feelings due to this. however, i do think this situation is way more complicated than just Thomas having some responsibility to share either every gofundme he is sent or none, and to pay for his friend’s surgery himself.

my entire thoughts under the cut:

like. first of all. what Thomas does with his money is entirely up to him. we don’t know how much of what he earns from youtube and patreon and other sources actually goes to his pocket after paying for the crew, the writers, the office rent, the props, the equipment, etc. and after he has paid for those things destined to the youtube channel, whatever he has left for himself is his own money and he decides what to do with it.

also we don’t know Thomas nor Aleks personally, and we don’t know what their relationship is like. how can you be sure that Thomas didn’t offer to pay for the surgery and then Aleks rejected it? not everyone is willing to accept such big sums of money from a single person. or how can you be sure that Thomas isn’t paying already for something another person in his life needs, without being public about it? and therefore doesn’t have the money right now for this, too? how can you be sure what Thomas and Aleks have or haven’t discussed about this topic?

also it was Aleks who set up that gofundme. i would find it weird if Thomas was like “hey. i want to donate 10k to this thing, so i made this donation fund for you to help me.” then i would raise an eyebrow and think why don’t you just make the donation yourself. but this is a very different situation.

this is something very personal and exclusively between those two people and no one else. because the people donating are just donating, not paying in exchange for details about Aleks’ transition or any other personal information. and we can’t assume what is going on further than what they let us know. i think it’s unfair to assume the worst of someone we don’t know.

same goes for assuming Aleks is going to take advantage of the situation in some selfish way and pocket donation money that surpassed what he needed for his surgery. we don’t know why he chose the 10k goal, if he moves the goal up we won’t know his reasons, and we can’t assume they’re greedy or selfish. i can see how we can have a parasocial relationship with Thomas and pretend that we know he’s capable of donating a certain amount of money, but if that’s not a right thing to do, then it’s even less okay to make worse assumptions about Aleks, of whom we barely know the name and have seen his appearance in a couple pictures and videos. we know absolutely nothing about his personal life and financial decisions and it should stay that way.

also, Thomas signed up to be a comedian and artist on youtube, sharing every fund he comes across is not his responsibility. i personally think it’s perfectly understandable that he only shares donation funds when they’re for a friend of his. he knows where the money is going and it’s for a person close to him that he wants to support. being a public figure doesn’t mean you have to help everyone and it’s not immoral to have different standards for your friends and family than for your fans.

i understand that it’s hard to see someone else will probably get the money they need easily just because they happen to be friends with someone popular, specially when you are also in a situation where you could use that money. but that doesn’t mean the whole thing is wrong, or that the people involved are evil for having this advantage in a bad system. (i think the real issue here is the fact that anyone needs to set up a donation fund to pay for gender affirming surgery)

Thomas has a big privilege when it comes to money, among other things, he is aware of it and. i am not an authority on this because i’m clueless about many things, but. i personally think he’s doing a good job at being aware of his privilege and using it to uplift voices of others. he has chosen to use his position to uplift voices of diverse queer people, which is good. one can’t be an activist for every single problem ever. he has found his niche and that is creating art about being queer with queer people for other queer people. and i think that’s a good enough use of his money and time.

#that is not to say thomas doesn’t have flaws or doesn’t do bad things because of his privileged position #but i just don’t think this is one of them #thomas sanders #do i tag this as criticism #im defending him for once so idk #tstwitterasks

[rainbowcafelgbtqcenter]

RE: Tennessee Bills and Ways to Support

As Southern Illinoisans, we at Rainbow Cafe are very aware of and alarmed by the politics happening in Tennessee right now - we live significantly closer to Tennesee than our own state capitol, and we often overlap in culture, region, and community.

This past week, Tennessee passed TWO anti-LGBTQIA+ bills. Many of you are likely aware of HB 9, which is on its way to be signed by Governor Bill Lee and will make Tennessee the first US state to ban drag shows. Others may be aware of HB 1, which will ban trans-affirming and life-saving treatments like HRT, puberty blockers, as well as social transition for all Tennessee minors, forcibly detransition all Tennessee youth by March 2024, and prosecute trans-affirming parents for child abuse.

It's not, nor has it ever been, a coincidence - anti-drag bills are anti-trans bills and they go hand-in-hand. HB 9 is intentionally worded vaguely to ban "male or female impersonators" in public and intentionally makes no distinction between drag performers and transgender people and would charge felonies for just existing. It's also a direct attack on Pride - once signed, it will go into effect just before most Pride celebrations begin and will outlaw public performances.

There really isn't any other way to see it - anti-trans legislation is becoming so bold and mainstream that it's no longer a matter of reading between the lines. They want to erase us. They want to kill us.

So what ways can YOU help today?

Donate and uplift LGBTQIA+ nonprofits in Tennessee like OUTMemphis and the Oasis Center - together, they support over 1.3 million queer people in their cities and beyond.

Keep an eye on CHOICES - their Carbondale location will begin providing trans-affirming HRT services and puberty blockers beginning February 28th. CHOICES already has a volunteer network for those wanting to assist those traveling to Southern Illinois for services like trans-affirming care and abortion access like ARC Southeast and the Midwest Access Coalition - get in contact with them today and see how you can help.

Support the Tennessee ACLU, which is the best line of defense against this violation of both human rights and free speech. They've already promised to take these new laws to court, but your support could make the difference in saving lives.

#lgbt #lgbtqia #lgbtq #queer #gay #lesbian #trans #transgender #nonbinary #mtf #ftm #gay rights #gay news #midwest #southern illinois #carbondale #tennessee #drag #drag performance #hrt #trans youth #gender affirming care #trans healthcare #trans healthcare saves lives #news

[voidandcold]

You're young, so I'm going to say this as nicely and clearly as I can: "radical feminism" is just white supremacist patriachy in a pink hat.

There is no "war on women", there is just white cis men in positions of power that have managed to convince white cis women in positions of (slightly less) power that all their problems come from trans people, not the cis men, and that the solution is to make it so that no trans people are visibly existing anywhere in public.

But, spoiler alert, there have always been trans people, and there always will be. The Nazis tried to erase all traces of our existence in the Thirties (that's what the infamous book burning was about), but we are still here. And it should give you pause to realise that you are literally aligned with the literal goddamn Nazis of Nazi Germany in "the trans question". And also with the current fascist dictatorship in Russia. Is this really where you want to be? If not, why would you think they're right about this but not anything else?

You're never going to live in a world without men or masc-aligned people, so to think that every single one of them is a predator just waiting for a chance to pounce is going to cause you a massive amount of self inflicted mental harm. Likewise, to think that no woman or fem-aligned person is capable of causing you harm is going to leave you super vulnerable to the ones that do.

I'm not expecting you to answer this, I'm just hoping that you think about it.

If radical feminism is just white supremacy in disguise, how come most radfems seem to be POC? A considerable portion of them not even living in white countries?

If it's "white cis men" causing all the problems for women, how come women are oppressed globally? You think women killed by morality police have white men to blame? Honey, no. It's all men. It's a male problem.

I do not think that trans people are responsible for the patriarchy. I just think it's a super regressive way of thinking, and I post about it a lot because here on Tumblr, trans activism is the norm. It makes me feel that much more like I need to speak my mind.

For example- I think of trans activists like I think of tradwives. Sure, they aren't responsible for sexism, but they aren't exactly helpful in women as a whole breaking those chains. Woman is not a feeling, and someone born and raised as a male can't know how it feels to be a woman. When a male identifies as a woman, what he's identifying with is whatever caricature of womanhood he has in his head. We don't need transition. What we need is to normalize gender nonconformity.

On top of that, many trans activists are holding the acceptance of homosexuals back. Insisting that it's a "genital preference" and that gay men can never attracted to females, or that a lesbian is a "woman loving woman" and lesbians who don't try penis are "fetishists" it's the same homophobia conservatives have been throwing at us for years under a new coat of "progressive" paint. Before -if you were a woman who didn't like cock- you were a dirty sinner. Now you're a bigoted genital fetishist. It's all the same.

Trans activists are aligned with Nazis in that regard, isn't that right? The reasoning and the execution are different among all three groups. Surely you can see that? No radfem want trans people dead. We just want all these gender roles to stop. We want the repackaged homophobia to end.

It really isn't cool to call everyone who disagrees with you a nazi, by the way. It really downplays what a nazi is.

I'm not going to dignify the "not all men" portion of this with a response. Look at some violent crime statistics or something.

And no, of course I don't think women won't hurt me. Nor do I think all women are good people. I don't think I've ever said anything to make you think that?

I'm sorry for taking so long to reply to this, and I'm sorry for keeping it so short. But I don't want to repeat myself over and over and over again to everyone who says these things to me. I HAVE thought about it. That's why I'm here.

#ask

[boundinparchment]

Spillways - VI

Karina Alexandre, formerly of Fontaine, serves the Fatui after a series of events forces her hand and her Vision no longer glows bright. Unluckily for her, such circumstances are all too fascinating to the Second Harbinger. Prequel to ‘Tell Me Who You Wanna Be’. Hints at Il Dottore x Original Female Character. ArchiveOfOurOwn || FF.net

Subject KA1123 - Impressions

Segment’s previous observations have been noted and considered.

Recording of the event from two years prior is attached.  After reviewing the footage, it is a shame to see that her control over elemental energy is non-existent.  It takes far more precision to disarm and negate a threat than it does to simply kill a target.  Her abilities centered on crowd control, rather than outright strikes.  Such skill can be honed elsewhere but Subject would have been perfect for a transition over to a Delusion.

Subject is, however, too principled for her own good, too singular in her view.  A delusion would solve her problems quite easily.

An experiment for another time.  

Subject was quick to accept responsibilities for the disasters left behind; with the other test subjects all but gone, the facilities locked off, and Evreux’s antics casting too bright of a spotlight on everyone, the Puppeteer and I were forced to withdraw and focus on other plans.  Between Focalors’ nonsense and the public’s behavior, it’s only a matter of time before Celestia casts its cursed gaze on its next target and Fontaine is proving to be quite the perfect storm.  Research shows that the decision is entirely automated, that the Gnoses are not chess pieces but keys for a protocol and all of them are required on Teyvat for the functionality to continue…

I digress.

Doubtful Subject is aware of how deep the issue runs.  Highly unlikely she would consider what we did any kind of mitigation.  Few would ever consider that perspective to begin with.

A true soldier takes orders and obeys them.  According to reports, Subject was warned several times to keep her nose where it belonged; the last one was from Neuvillette himself, far above Evreux’s station.  She denied conscription the first time but readily accepts the terms of the bargain now when she has nothing left to lose.  All reports indicate that the agents in charge left the premise and chose to return to Snezhnaya, which begs the question of those responsible for the murders…still a working theory at this time but only one individual has the motivation to want Subject out of the picture.

Subject is not a loose cannon, despite all of this, and shows more critical thinking skills and a desire to right situations that, upon first consideration, would be more along the lines of justice or a strict internal moral code.  Eternity…legacy…wanting something better than you left it…the interpretations of the Heavenly Principles never did make sense from a singular point of view…

With all of that said, Subject’s Vision is neither ownerless nor devoid of ambition but seems to have been disabled.  Sealed, perhaps?  Most individuals who experience loss of any kind do not lose their Visions in such a manner; Subject has not outwardly displayed any lack of ambition other than a passivity that many display when faced with loss, trauma, and a sudden change of situation…

Upon first meeting her, it was clear that the cycle of grief still grips her.  Her nightmares are beginning to taper off (or at least the outbursts are less frequent throughout the night) but it was evident that, at some point between meeting with Her Most Noble Majesty and my arrival, that her emotions are still pathetically fragile.  A neutral expression cannot hide red, swollen eyes and the Tsaritsa warned the Subject may prove difficult to transition into service.

It matters little.  I have no time for babysitting and the sooner Subject is on a regimented schedule, given some kind of purpose, the quicker the situation will remedy itself.

#OC: Karina Alexandre #verse: the heretic and the forsaken #il dottore x original female character #dottore x original female character #il dottore x oc #dottore x oc #il dottore #dottore

[starter-library]

DROPOUT’S DIRTY LAUNDRY SENTENCE STARTERS

FEEL FREE TO CHANGE PRONOUNS/NAMES/PHRASING AS YOU SEE FIT

“There are some secrets we take to the grave, and others we plaster online for laughs.”

“We have different priorities”

“We're about to have a four-way kiss, five-way kiss even”

“This is a sexy show, guys.”

“I love getting prescribed the Anaconda.”

“What is a nosebleed, like what is bleeding? Your brain?”

“I've never had a nosebleed, and that was not a lie.”

“I get nosebleeds a lot, 'cause I'm really cool.”

“Of course it was me, I'm evil.”

“Which one of you shot a softcore porn?”

“He showed us, he's the secret cool guy!”

“What I'm hearing is you guys think that I'm a star fucker.”

“I puke literally constantly. I have an issue that is unresolved with my doctors.”

“See if I give a little cow shit”

“No, I broke out of the hospital, actually”

“I started testosterone, and when you do that, you have to buy crypto.”

“When Angelina Jolie was announced to play Lara Croft, it really felt like a prank on me 'cause I was still in the closet.”

“You could have sexually-related concussions as well”

“One point for [name] for thinking outside of the box”

“I do have an affinity for Charles Entertainment Cheese”

“The sexual tension is palpable”

“This is the most endearing and adorable story I’ve ever heard”

“I am all the way married. I ain't gonna go confessing shit on TV.”

“And the winner is me. I'm so hot and irresistible.”

“Who amongst you has watched "Cats" three times in theaters?”

“Okay, look at you in your bow tie saying you've never watched "Cats!””

“I got fingered during "Shape of Water." I just remembered”

“I'm aggressively sex positive, so if you didn't have sex on public transportation, I would lose respect for you.”

“I've never been trusted to officiate a wedding, but I have slept with the best man twice.”

“Are we digging up old traumas? Is that what we're doing today?”

“Yeah, rendezvous is French for threesome”

“We've all had odd jobs before entertainment. Which of us was a hitman?”

“If I ordered a hamburger and a Guinea pig arrived, I would eat it Clean Plate Club and say "thank you" to the server”

“We're all a bunch of spineless assholes.”

“I would die before I set a single boundary.”

“I think you were created as a result of sex, weren't you?”

“Yeah, I sure showed them by gettin' 'em horny.”

“How do you get impeached from high school band?”

“No, I was never, ever put in a position of power because who would do that?”

“I would absolutely run naked anywhere for a good enough cause.”

“Thank you for thinking I'm that cool.”

“Who believes in ghosts? Raise your hand.”

“I was about to say that I had a crush on you and this has ruined it.”

“Matter can neither be created nor destroyed so it has to transition into what else? Ghosts!”

“I'll poison anything.”

“Brits hate an orgy. Famously! Famously, "Downton Abbey?” No orgies.”

“I can go into a room and pick out who has orgy energy.”

“We need to have an arm wrestle.”

#sentence meme #sentence starters #sentence starter meme #roleplay meme #roleplay starter #roleplay starters #roleplay prompts #rp starter #rp prompt #rp memes #rp starters #dropout #dirty laundry #dropout dirty laundry

[cryptidshadows]

Hey. Just recently saw ur post abt being able to be aksed abt questions on being trans.

I realised I might be trans (ftm) a few years ago but i don’t really experience gender disphoria so much, especially bottom disphoria. I’m really scared that i might be faking being trans or that what if i really am trans and i come out to my family and everybody i know would leave me. It’s really scary.

I just wanna ask how was your whole disphoria thing? How did you deal with coming out to your family (if its not too personal)?? And do you ever feel like you didn’t want to be who you are???

Sorry if i’m bothering you.

You're no bother at all, anon! It's okay to take your time with figuring yourself out, and at the end of the day, only you know yourself well enough to decide if transition's the path that's right for you.

I described some of my dysphoria experience in this post, but I can say that while my bottom dysphoria was extremely intense since early childhood, that's not the case for a lot of trans guys. Many trans men are happy with HRT and top surgery and they're comfortable with the rest of their equipment. I started HRT like a decade ago and I've not had top nor bottom surgery, and I don't plan to at this point. Your transition doesn't have to tick off all the typical boxes and it's important to take things at your own pace.

Can you do a few things for yourself that are discreet, that might help you figure out if it's something that's right for you? Like getting clothes that feel right, a binder, a packer (or make one)? Do you have a close friend you can trust, who would be okay with using a different name or pronouns for you when you're not in a public space?

I have a distant but strained relationship with my parents and I am not in touch with the majority of the rest of my family post-transition. That's not to say that it will always end that way, many people have accepting families! Coming out was very hard but regardless of how family reacts, there will be other people in your life who will love you for who you are. Just be sure that if you are uncertain about reactions, have a plan in place so you know you have a safety net and have stability!

When I first realized I was trans, I did have a breakdown. I didn't want to be trans. It's hard being trans, it's scary at times, it's a royal pain in the ass to be honest. But I also knew it was a necessary thing in order for me to live my life as who I am.

Take your time to figure yourself out! It's okay to take small steps, and it's okay to backtrack if you find it's not what suits you. We all change and shift throughout our lives, it's no rush to make a big decision like this - but you gotta make that choice based on your own needs and wants, and not family, nor friends, nor anybody else's! Wishing you all the best!

#asks #ask me anything #ftm #transgender #ftm transgender

[evergardenwall]

21 and 29 for the non-Americans asks! (hi Sam <3)

hi rynna<33

21. if you could send two things from your country into space, what would they be?

a baguette, obviously -- cannot escape that one! --, and uhhhh ...watercress ? it's a local specialty from where i live (in france, this plant is mainly cultivated in my home department and the neighboring one)

29. does your region/city have a beef with another place in your country?

i don't know if it quite counts as 'beef', but inhabitants of the 'grande couronne' departments of paris' region often tend to be seen as parisians and teased for it by french people from other regions... while parisians don't see us as parisians at all, and more like 'country/provincial people'... but none of these two stereotypes are completely true, imo

i mean... on one hand, because paris is the economic center of both the region and the country, we are inevitably intertwined with it : three of our departments, including my beloved essonne, were created in the 1960s by the loi n° 64-707 du 10 juillet 1964 portant réorganisation de la région parisienne (law no. 64-707 of july 10, 1964 relating to the reorganization of the paris region) in order to respond to a demographic boom due to rural exodus of people from other regions + immigrants, all searching for jobs in the capital or its close suburbs but unable to afford housing there (i'm kind of simplifying, but you get the gist of it!). we share a public transit network and the same transport card (the pass navigo), a common slang/accent, cultural references, etc... but, on the other hand, i would still argue we are different, and ultimately don't face the same problems nor are the same kind of territory, socially and economically.

i could use many examples, but the topic i know best is the way we are connected to the rest of the region : we are even further from paris than people living in the close suburbs, and that means can get really isolated when there are renovation works on the rer/transilien (which. happens often. like really.). it's a whole issue, how we genuinely cannot get to paris or the suburbs (because the network is so paris-centred -- it's star-shaped --, most of the time, when you want to go from a suburb to another, you have to take a connection in paris) when the lines are closed in the evenings (and by that i mean the evenings on weekdays, sometimes starting from 8:30pm) and weekends, the infrastructure on many lines (c and d especially) is old, and unlike with the subway, you don't get a train every five minutes (it's a train all 30 minutes or every hour, and that's when they're not cancelling them lmao) :'D and as someone who lives in a more rural corner and has been going to uni, working, and seeing friends in paris... i have been experiencing it daily. people commute for hours every day to get to work because they don't have the choice... and the regional council (presided by valérie pécresse </3), which is in charge of the public transport, doesn't do anything to improve the situation...in fact, the quality of our public transport has been degrading since her coalition won the regional elections back in 2015 and has been reelected since because there is a very low turnout so. yeah. (also tbh whilst we have an extra struggle due to distances in the 'grande couronne', this obviously applies to the closer suburbs as well, especially the poorer ones like seine-saint-denis.)

honestly, while not ignoring the fact that this city also has inequalities within it, just living in paris itself is a privilege that most ordinary parisians (not just the upper-class ones!) don't realise. it immediately gives you a wider array of opportunities and access to a lot more services and institutions! like, a parliamentary investigation has once showed that even the least reputed schools in paris' working-class districts receive more funds than the best-ranked schools in the neighboring department of seine-saint-denis, which is one of france's poorest departments ; there are almost no food or medical deserts (even though the public hospitals there are also being fucked over by the government's policies like in the rest of the country, ofc), and wherever you are in the capital, you will have a subway/bus/tram, and a plan b if your line is closed, etc. anyway yeah tl;dr: there is no universal experience of living in the paris region, especially if you live in a poorer department with shitty infrastructure and public services that are even more underfunded by the state / in a rural area, but we are still linked to paris whether we want it or not. schrödinger's parisians or something, idk👍(also, i'd say the shared trait in the whole paris region is that people are rude. our fellow countrymen from other regions are right about that one.)

“hi, I’m not from the US” ask set

#replies #rynna #ask game: hi i'm not from the us