#cult awareness network

[whatisonthemoon]

Ten Years After Jonestown, the Battle Intensifies Over the Influence of ‘Alternative’ Religions (1988)

by Bob Sipchen - November 17, 1988 - Los Angeles Times

Eldridge Broussard Jr.’s face screwed into a grimace of such anger and pain that the unflappable Oprah Winfrey seemed unnerved. It hurts to be branded “the new Jimmy Jones” by a society eager to condemn what it doesn’t understand, the founder of the Ecclesia Athletic Assn. lamented on TV just a few days after his 8-year-old daughter had been beaten to death, apparently by Ecclesia members.

At issue were complex questions of whether the group he had formed to instill discipline in ghetto youth, and led from Watts to Oregon, had evolved into a dangerous cult. But Broussard couldn’t have found a less sympathetic audience than the group gathered around the TV in the bar of the Portland Holiday Inn.

There last month for the annual conference of the Chicago-based Cult Awareness Network were people whose kin had crumpled onto the body heaps at Jonestown, Guyana, 10 years ago, and people who believed they or family members had lost not their lives, but good chunks of them, to gurus and avatars less infamous but no less evil than Jim Jones.

One group’s cult is another’s “new religious movement,” though, and in the 10 years since Jonestown, a heated holy war of sorts has been mounting over the issues of how to define and contend with so-called cults.

The battle lines aren’t always well defined. Ongoing guerrilla actions between those who see themselves as crusaders against potential Jonestowns and those who see themselves as the persecuted members of outcast religious groups comprise the shifting legal and political fronts. On the outskirts of the ideological battleground is another loosely knit force that sees itself as the defender of a First Amendment besieged by vigilantes all too eager to kiss off the Constitution as they quash beliefs that don’t fit their narrow-minded criteria of what’s good and real. As one often-quoted definition has it: “A cult is a religion someone I don’t like belongs to.”

“It’s spiritual McCarthyism,” Lowell D. Streiker, a Northern California counselor, said of the cult awareness cause. To him, “the anti-cult network” is itself as a “cult of persecution,” cut from the same cloth as Colonial witch hunters and the Ku Klux Klan.

The key anti-cult groups, by most accounts, are CAN, a secular nondenominational group of 30 local affiliates; the Massachusetts-based American Family Foundation; the Interfaith Coalition of Concern About Cults and the Jewish Federation Council’s Commission on Cults and Missionaries.

Although they contend that their ranks continue to fill with the victims of cults or angry family members, they concede that the most significant rallying point came in the fall of 1978 when the leader of one alleged cult put a rattlesnake in an enemy’s mailbox and another led 912 people to their deaths.

Even though nothing so dramatic has happened since, cults have quietly been making inroads into the fabric of mainstream American life, and the effects are potentially as serious as the deaths at Jonestown, cult critics say.

With increased wealth and public relations acumen--with members clothed by Brooks Brothers rather than in saffron sheets--the 1,000 or more new cults that some estimate have sprung up in America since the ‘60s have become “a growth industry which is diversifying,” said Dr. Louis Jolyon West, director of UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute. “They have made steady progress on all fronts.”

Uglier Connotations

In the broadest sense, Webster defines a cult as simply “a system of religious worship or ritual.” Even before Jonestown, though, the word had taken on broader and uglier connotations.

To make a distinction, critics use the term destructive cult, or totalist cult. The issue, they say, pivots on the methods groups use to recruit and hold together followers.

CAN describes a destructive cult as one that “uses systematic, manipulative techniques of thought reform or mind control to obtain followers and constrict their thoughts and actions. These techniques are imposed without the person’s knowledge and produce observable changes in the individual’s autonomy, thoughts and actions. . . .”

A 1985 conference on cults co-sponsored by the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute and the American Family Federation came up with this definition:

“A group or movement exhibiting a great or excessive devotion or dedication to some person, idea, or thing and employing unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control . . . designed to advance the goals of the group’s leaders, to the actual or possible detriment of members, their families, or the community.”

The “manipulative techniques” in question are what cult critics call mind control or brainwashing.

To critics of the critics, on the other hand, brainwashing amounts to hooey.

And both sides say the weight of evidence is on their side.

New Beliefs, Personalities

Cult critics often point to classic surveys on brainwashing, which catalogue methods which they say are routinely used by cults of every color, religious and secular, to manipulate unsuspecting people into adopting new beliefs, and often, in effect, new personalities.

Among the techniques are constant repetition of doctrine; application of intense peer pressure; manipulation of diet so that critical faculties are adversely affected; deprivation of sleep; lack of privacy and time for reflection; cutting ties with the recruits’ past life; reduction of outside stimulation and influences; skillful use of ritual to heighten mystical experience; and invention of a new vocabulary which narrows the range of experience and constructs a new reality for cult members.

Margaret Singer, a former professor of psychology at UC Berkeley, describes psychological problems that have been attributed to cultic experiences, ranging from the despair that comes from having suddenly abandoned ones previous values, norms and ideals to types of “induced psychopathy.” Other psychologists and lay observers list similar mental and emotional problems linked to the indoctrination and rituals of cults.

Sociologist Dick Anthony, author of the book “Spiritual Choices,” and former director of the UC Berkeley-affiliated Center for the Study of New Religions, argues the exact opposite position.

“There’s a large research literature published in mainstream journals on the mental health effects of new religions,” he said. “For the most part the effects seem to be positive in any way that’s measurable.”

He and other defenders of new religions discount so-called mind control techniques, or believe the term has been misappropriated by anti-cult activists.

“Coercive Persuasion is a bombastic redescription of familiar forms of influence which occur everyday and everywhere,” said Streiker. “Someone being converted to a demanding religious movement is no more or less brainwashed than children being exposed to commercials during kiddy programs which encourage them to eat empty calories or buy expensive toys.”

“An attempt to persuade someone of something is a process protected by our country’s First Amendment right of free speech and communication,” said attorney Jeremiah Gutman head of the New York City branch of the American Civil Liberties Union and an outspoken critic of the anti-cult groups. “What one person believes to be an irrefutable and obvious truth is someone else’s errant nonsense.”

‘Fraud and Manipulation’

But anti-cult spokespeople say they have no interest in a group’s beliefs. Their concern is when destructive cults use “fraud and manipulation,” to get people to arrive at those beliefs, whatever they may be. Because people are unaware of the issues, though, cults have insinuated themselves into areas of American life where they are influencing people who may not even know where the influence is coming from, they contend.

The political arena is the obvious example, anti-cult activists say.

Followers of the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh had a major impact on the small town government of Antelope, Ore., and Jim Jones had managed to thrust himself and his church into the most respectable Democratic party circles in San Francisco before the exodus to Guyana, for instance.

But recently the process has expanded, with the Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church the leading example of a cult that is quietly gaining political clout, they say.

“What Jim Jones did to Democrats in San Francisco, Sun Myung Moon is doing to Republicans all across country now,” Kisser said.

Moon’s most obvious stab at mainstream legitimacy, critics say, was his purchase in 1982 of the Washington Times, a D.C. daily newspaper, and his financial nurturing of the paper’s magazine Insight--both of which have an official policy of complete editorial independence from the church.

In September, 1987, the conservative American Spectator magazine published an article titled “Can Buy Me Love: The Mooning of Conservative America,” in which managing editor Andrew Ferguson questioned the way the political right is lapping up Moon money, citing, among many examples, the $500,000 or more the late Terry Dolan’s National Conservative Alliance accepted in 1984. When the church got wind of the article, the Spectator received a call from the executive director of the Unification Church’s World Media Assn. warning that if it ran, the Times “would strike back and strike back severely,” Ferguson wrote in an addendum to the piece.

‘Everyone Speaks Korean’

Therapist Steven Hassan, a former “Moonie” and the author of the just-released book “Combatting Cult Mind Control,” estimates that the church now sponsors 200 businesses and “front organizations.”

Moon “has said he wants an automatic theocracy to rule the world,” explained Hassan, who, on Moon’s orders, engaged in a public fast for Nixon during Watergate and another fast at the U.N. to protest the withdrawal of troops from Korea. “He visualizes a world where everyone speaks Korean only, where all religion but his is abolished, where his organization chooses who will mate, and he and family and descendants rule in a heroic monarchy.”

Moon “is very much in support of the democratic system,” counters John Biermans , director of public affairs for the church. “His desire is for people to become God-centered people. Then democracy can fulfill its potential”

Besides, he said, “this is a pluralistic society, people of all faiths inject their beliefs into the system on every level . . . Using terms like ‘front groups’ and ‘insinuating,’ is just a way to attack something. It’s not even honest.”

Some observers dismiss concern about alleged Unificationist infiltration as self-serving hysteria whipped up by the anti-cultists.

“How much actual influence (the Unification Church) has seems questionable,” said David Bromley, a professor of sociology at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, and the author of the 1981 book “Strange Gods, the Great American Cult Scare.”

Bromley estimates, for instance, that the church brings $200 million a year into the U.S. from abroad. But he sees no evidence that the money, much of it spent on all-expense-paid fact-finding tours and conferences for journalists, politicians and clergypeople, is money well-invested as far as political impact goes.

The church, he estimates, is losing about $50 million a year on its Washington Times newspaper and the ranks of Unificationists, and most other new religions, in America are thinning as well.

Veterans of the anti-cult front, however, say that the appearance that cults are fading is an illusion. “Like viruses, many of them mutate into new forms,” when under attack, West of UCLA said. And new types of cults are arising to fill the void, they say.

Cult critics point, for instance, to the rise of such groups as the est offshoot called Forum, and to Lifespring and Insight--all of which CAN characterizes as “human potential cults” and all of which are utilized in mainstream American business to promote productivity and motivation.

Observers such as Gordon Melton of the Institute for the Study of Religious Institutions in Santa Barbara explain that many of these New Age-type trainings have their roots in the old fashioned motivational pep talks and sales technique seminars that have been the staples of American business for decades.

But critics see the so-called “psychotechnologies” utilized by some of these groups as insidious. For one thing, they say, the meditation, confessional sharing, and guided imagery methods some of them use are more likely to make employees muzzy-headed than competitive.

Other critics say the trainings violate employee’s rights. Richard Watring, a personnel director for Budget Rent-a-Car, who has been charting the incorporation of “New Age” philosophies into business trainings, is concerned that employees are often compelled to take the courses and then required to adapt a new belief system which may be incompatible with their own religious convictions. As a Christian he finds such mental meddling inappropriate for corporations.

He and other cult critics are heartened by recent cases, still pending, in which employees, or former employees, have sued their employer for compelling them to take trainings they felt conflicted with their own religious beliefs.

Most observers scoring the action on the broader legal battlefield, however, call it a toss-up, and perceived victories for either side have often proved Pyrrhic.

Threats of Litigation

Richard Ofshe, a sociologist at UC Berkeley, fought three separate legal battles with the drug and alcohol rehabilitation organization Synanon over research he published on the group. Although he ultimately won the suits, he said the battle wound up costing the university $600,000. And evidence obtained in other lawsuits showed that Synanon had skillfully wielded threats of litigation to keep several other critical stories from being published or broadcast, he said.

Similarly, a recently released book “Cults and Consequences,” went unpublished for several years because insurers were wary of the litigious nature of some of the groups mentioned, said Rachel Andres, director of the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles’ Commission on Cults and Missionaries and the book’s co-editor.

But the most interesting litigation of late involves either a former member who is suing the organization to which he or she belonged, or a current member of a new religious group who is suing a deprogrammer who attempted unsuccessfully to persuade the person to leave the group.

The most significant case, everyone agrees, is last month’s Molko decision by the California Supreme Court, which anti-cult groups have cheered as a major victory.

In that reversal of lower court decisions, the justices agreed that David Molko and another former member of the Unification Church could bring before a jury the claim that they were defrauded by recruiters who denied they had a church affiliation and then subjected the two to church mind control techniques, eventually converting them.

Mainstream religious organizations including the National Council on Churches, the American Baptist Churches in the USA and the California Ecumenical Council had filed briefs in support of the Unification Church, claiming that allowing lawsuits over proselytizing techniques could paralyze all religions.

“What they’re attacking is prayer, fasting and lectures,” said Biermans of the Unification Church. “The whole idea of brainwashing is unbelievably absurd. . . . If someone had really figured out a method of brainwashing, they could control the world.” The church plans to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary. Paul Morantz, the attorney who was struck by the rattlesnake placed in his mailbox by the “Imperial Marines” of Synanon, gave pro-bono assistance to the plaintiffs in the Molko case.

“For me, it was a great decision for freedom of religion and to protect against the . . . use of coercive persuasion,” he said.

Morantz currently is defending Bent Corydon, author of the book “L. Ron Hubbard, Madman or Messiah” against a lawsuit by the Church of Scientology. He said he’s confident of how that case will turn out.

But he shares the belief of others on several sides of the multifaceted cult battle, in concluding that education rather than litigation should be the first defense of religious and intellectual liberty.

He’s not, however, optimistic.

“If anyone thinks they’re ever going to win this war, they’re wrong,” he said. “As long as we have human behavior, there will be sociopaths who will stand up and say ‘follow me.’ And there will always be searchers who will follow.”

Source: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-17-vw-257-story.html

#can #cult awareness network #anti-cult #jonestown #jim jones #unification church #brainwashing #mind control #paul morantz #synanon #religion #cults #high demand groups #politics #right-wing politics #moonies #ffwpu #family federation for world peace and unification #conversion #coercive persuasian

[femmefatalevibe]

How to looked cold and calm

Tips to appear calm & collected:

Straightened posture

Deliberate, slow movements (no fidgeting)

Wear clothes that fit and don't need to be regularly adjusted

Sustained, direct eye contact (don't stare though)

No forced smiling or nervous laughter

Speak in an even-keeled, medium-pitched voice

Take time with your words. Slow down your speech. Allow for a bit of silence and pauses between thoughts and ideas

Practice active listening while holding back your facial reactions

Always think before you speak. Be deliberate with your word choice and delivery

#cult of personality #social skills #networking #self awareness #emotional regulation #femmefatalevibe #q/a

[leavingthepcg]

Lifton's Eight Criteria helps to identify high control groups, or cults. The eight criteria include:

Milieu Control Perhaps the most important aspect of what makes a "high-demand group" is information and communication control. Members are often isolated from "outsiders", including outside sources not approved by leaders within the group, and family or friends that are not part of the group. Members are often made to "cut off" family and friends that are considered hostile toward the group.

Mystical Manipulation High-demand groups, particularly religious ones, will often use or manipulate events in order to further their message and bolster their doctrine. Examples of this are making prophecies or predictions that get repeatedly altered or forgotten about, or pointing to past predictions as being confirmed by a current event.

Demand for Purity Humans are flawed, and high demand groups exploit this fact by demanding perfection of their members. Sometimes, groups will even acknowledge that perfection is unachievable, but that individuals are perpetually at fault for being the only reason they cannot achieve it. This enhances feelings of guilt and shame, leading the member to feel as if the only way to improve themselves is to seek help from the group.

Confession High control groups exploit their members emotionally by having them "confess" supposed wrongdoings to another member or members. This makes the member vulnerable and constantly alert to their own and others' "sins". It is the promotion of hyper-policing of self and peers.

Sacred Science The group's ideology is held as the ultimate, capital-T "Truth"; it is the one standard by which all aspects of life must be measured. This often leads to science-denial, conspiracy-minded thinking, and isolating oneself based on the belief that others are unenlightened.

Loaded Language Members of cults will often reveal that they are a member of an in-group in the use of language. The group creates unique vocabulary, or changes/enhances the use of a term in order to create a doctrine of thought. This tactic helps to reform the member's thought process by embedding concepts into their minds that can be easily repeated and recognized through the repeated use of a simple phrase or word.

Doctrine Over Person Group belief is held as the ultimate "truth", trumping personal experience, beliefs, values, or reasoning. If the member feels or believes that something about the group is "off" or "untrue", they are taught to dismiss those thoughts and to internalize guilt about having "doubts".

Dispensing of Existence This describes the portion of thought control that creates an "us vs. them" attitude in the member. The member may be convinced that those outside the group are "sinful", "damned", "unenlightened", "ignorant", etc.

#cult awareness #cult survivor #excult #armstrongism #high demand groups #deprogramming #lifton's eight criteria #support network #support group

[mantisgodsdomain]

We go offline for a few days to figure out knitting and awaken to find there's a genocide going on. Cool. We love the state of world events in the year 2023.

#we speak #this is a vague complaint post #the preamble to this may have started earlier but we do not follow social justice blogs on purpose #and the tumblr posts we DO see are largely whatever turns up from sifting through the handful of People We Followed Back #goddammit. we are going to have to look through news networks to get Actual News now #we do not trust tumblr dot com to be a primary source of information in any way #especially not when the social justice scene on this website is overly prone to turning to cult tactics #if you are reading this post then you desperately need to research the BITE model btw #judging by the timeframe things started Going Wrong we are 50% sure this is a monkey's paw wish or something #you will gain enough autonomy to not constantly be trapped within the Family Cheese Grater #BUT the state of affairs will rapidly tumble downhill the moment you have the means to be aware of it #not a big fan of this state of affairs #we would really prefer it if we could hunt down people talking about day to day life in the specific climate we're looking for #WITHOUT learning about new atrocities #unfortunately it appears that the atrocities are happening regardless

[tateglog]

This is an updated post on the AU account by Welcome home I decided to update the post every week on Fridays!

Here are all the social networks of the author and their ay!

(Tik Tok):

Rainbow Factory Wally: @dodozoi17

Lovesick Wally: @halohelene

Opposite Wally: @livelaughloveandersen

Creyscale Wally: @sweetestrosiebee

Red wally: @licoricecookie1

Mirror wally: @horrortheory01

Coroline Wally: @kylee_dottavioartist

Priest wally: @littlesweets34

Butcher Wally: @littlesweets34

Actor Wally: @frillsand

Homesick Wally: @nameko_nick

Ss!wally: @aku_sunshin3

Royalty Wally: @neonross_

Fallen Wally: @kimuarts

So below wally: @sobelowwallydarling

Space Wally: @mits_the_simp1

Flower bed: @majorkro

Assumption Wally: @bud_lor

60-x Wally: @tonyr3ed_tt

Wally Wonka: @deaddeerdarling

Zombie apocalypse Wally: @rrosebud333

Watcher Wally: @deadlyeyez

Skater Wally: @pickledplumzz

Siren Wally: @zoomie_zoomloll

Highschool Wally: @muffinturner

Beach town Wally: @pinksugarberry

Music universe: @erica.vikcy

Phantom Wally: @asterine_bean

Final!act Wally: @daylightgenesis

Observer Wally: @neonross_

Warley Wally: @blueymagicalkawaii

Reverse Wally: @cookiedoughcd

Ghost Wally: @m0th_gh0st

Daycare! Wally: @darkfluffydragon

Reaper Wally: @h0llyn0vaberry

Sweet n Jam Wally: @problepatic_blue

Lurk Wally: @donttouchdachild_

Apple blossom Wally: @astarlightsend

Metal Wally: @by_baby60

Punk Wally: @cartoon_loonatic

Photographer: @era_artx

Cafe Wally: @mocha_fern

sundowner syndrome Wally: @gutturalcarnivore

Mafia Wally: @brightkillerx3_prztx

Celestial Wally: @bubblegumbaby11_

Grimoire Wally: @starberries13

Psycho murder Wally: @kittysxrlmw

Parallel Wally: @parallel_au

Stargazer Wally: @ender_kinggs

Aviary Wally: @seiless_

Geno Wally: @sabrandomdraws

Hyper Wally: @kii_the_artist

Steampunk Wally: @rqgreyy

Schizophrenic Wally: @gyn3th

Apple Wally: @itskorrychang

Sweet Dreams: @wildspirit456

Escape the studio Wally: @thelazyangel456

Colloid Wally: @anonyjakashi

Eternal Dream Wally: @theextraidioz

Rockstar Wally: @tv_gvy

Glamrock Wally: @silly13r

God Wally: @sweetcoffee_

Silent Home Wally: @just_call_me_em_

Singer Wally: @ityart

WH Stage On Wally: @imjade381

Nightmare Dolls Wally: @yamicat144

The Dark Wally: @luigisbf

Apple Blood Wally: @javadoodle404

Omori Wally: @bm0ooo0

Ajolote Wally: @cossette_b

Ending Cycle: @manda.aarts

Pop star Wally: @sophia_lefeld_art

Skater Wally: @centiphantomhive08

Rui Wally; @im_suddenly_edgy

Police Wally: @localarsonist07

(Tumblr):

Pokémon Wally: @partycoffin

Mod Wally: @Clownsuu

Emo Wally: @Clownsuu

Ena Wally: @Eechytooru

Toymaker Wally: @wifumakervl

Playfellow Workshop Wally: @chez-cinnamon

Animated Puppetry Wally: @mandasarts

Finfolk Wally: @aerkame

Demon Wally: @infohazardouz

Overboard Wally: @echoentities

Muppets Wally: @somethingsomething-bear

Killer Wally: @itskorrychang

Big Apple Wally: @flippantfoe

Cupid Wally: @fetusmeme

Candy Land Wally: @shishimintyarts

Self-Aware Swap Wally: @anonymous-paperbag

Midnight Mass Wally: @vamlentvair

Sky Wally: @kyletheodred

Heart of glass: @starryofthy

McDonald's Wally: @yunjinerd

Tailor Wally: @shroomycattiktok

Circus Wally: @nonomives

Animatronic Wally: @kyletheodred

Creator Wally: @bloodrediscream

Doodle Wally: @bloodrediscream

Haunted house Wally: @kamigui

Jazzercise Wally: @itskorrychang

Jousick Wally: @professorjake

(Twitter):

DBD! Wally: @j_demi_creates

Fresh Wally: @GRIMMUSSYPAKITA

Observer Wally: @neonross

Plugue! Wally: @vividg4l4ctica

Faceless Wally: @Angeladrewlol

Infected Wally: @Suketchi

Swan wally: @deadlyeyez_

SCP Wally: @dottavioartist

Fading memories Wally: @BlueTokomon

Cult of love: @NummyPumpkin

Homesnax: @KnifeRat

Faceless Wally:@Angeladrewlol

#wally darling #welcome home #welcome home wally #welcome home wally darling #welcome home arg #добропожаловатьдомоикукольноешоу #welcome home au

[spookyscaryskidnpump]

my thoughts on spooky month 6

copy pasted from a page and a half of google doc. crying. spoilers inbound.putting it under the cut cuz its super long. also swear warning.

Ok to start off LILA. LILA MY GAL NO UR DOING UR BEST AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. Im crying im actually fucginf crying. She's trying. So hard. Skid is trying so hard. THEY'RE DOING THEIR BEST PLEASEEEEE. Father Gregor can go EAT SHIT. THEY'RE TRYING AND THAT'S WHAT COUNTS GODDAMNIT.

Susie… Susie no… please… she deserves better istgggggg. What happened to their parents? Are they actually just busy? Are they DEAD? Holy shit what if they're dead. Poor Pump, poor Susie, god please just let these kiddos be ok. PLEASE. ABUELO WONDER IS TYING SO HARD BUT SUSIE KNOWS IT ISN'T REALLY FROM HER PARENTS IM CRYING. SUSIE NOOOOOO

FATHER GREGOR I HATE YOU. ok well he obvs did some good but STILL. GREGOR. STFU GREGOR. I get that hes trying but U CANT JUST SAY ALL THAT SHIT ABOUT JUDGEMENT AND THEN JUDGE HER HER FUCKING HOUSE GOT BROKEN INTO!! YOU DONT HAVE THE FUCKING CONTEXT!!!! ARGHFDGHJSGHJKAGHSD. Also DAMN IS HE A CULTIST NOW?? IS HE DEAD?? WHAT?!?!?!

ROYYYYYY ROY MY BOI NOOOOOO poor guy :( i understand why he hates the kids they DID kinda ruin him so. At least he knows theyre trying now :( and ross n rob just ASSUME he did something bad isnt helping here!!!! I get that theyre also trying to help him and its nice to see him opening up to them about stuff (even if we dont get to know what specifically PELO WHY) but PLEASE get this kid an anger management class or smthn PLEASE. He needs SO MUCH THERAPY. I dont think hes gonna get therapy because im pretty sure his parents are Part Of The Problem but STILL.  Also FUCKER LITERALLY GOT POSSESED BY A DEMON?????? THATS GOTTA BE TRAUMATIC TF

Side note i love ross and robert dearly and i appreciate them doing their best to help on both sides i love them smmmmmm AUGH

KEVIN AND RADFORD FRIENDSHIP REALLLLLLLLLL i am SO fucking happy about that!!!! Also Kevin having conflicted feelings on the kids FAIR. Similar thing to Roy except hes an adult with a semi-functional support network and is able to understand that theyre just dumb kids and they dont actually mean any harm. He’s harsher on the hatzgang cuz theyre teens and old enough to know stealing is wrong but Skid n Pump are little kiddos they dont know better. Also him disapproving of father gregor REAL THO. also HE GOT POSSESSED TOO?? TRAUMA CENTRAL HOLY SHIT

PATTY DESERVES TO HAVE A GUN ACTUALLY. Also JOHN ANGST JOHN ANGST JOHN ANGST! IS HIS KID DEAD? IS HIS DAUGHTER OK HOLY SHIT. ALSO THEM HELPING THE KIDS PROPERLY IM CRYIG AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

WHAT WAS EVERMORE DOING WITH THE HOBOMEN???? HELLO??????

I SAW THAT CULT NECKLACE UNDER IGNACIOS SHIRT. I FUCKING SAW IT. CALLED IT BITCH!!!!!!

Rick just has the WORST luck lmao

STREBER IS ALIVE LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOOOOO

DEXTER NO PLEASE AUGH…… HIS MOM TOO……

JAUNE AND ROSS’S DAD… HE'S REAL HE EXISTS!! I get ur trying jaune but that is NOT the best way to comfort poor lila… AT LEAST SHES TRYING THO I APPRECIATE HER

THE ENTIRE NEWGROUNDS ENDING?? THE THIEVES AND THE CANDY DEALER IN CAHOOTS WITH THE CULT???? HELLO??????

MOLOCH IS GONE. he deserved it but also THE KIDS ARE SO SAD ABOUT IT? Like they don't really get it but they just watched someone they thought was their friend DIE. HOLY SHIT.

finally. SKID AND PUMP. KIDDOS NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Ok for real tho theyre so much more self aware than the fandom and bulk of the show give them credit for?? Like Skid is VERY aware of his dad being dead/possibly missing and legit just doesn’t wanna talk about it. He knows what death is and he finds fun in it to cope. My poor sweet boyo… and PUMP. PUMP ANSWERING THE CALL AUGHHHHHH HE WANTS HIS PARENTS BACK IM CRYING. SUSIE AND ABUELO ARE DOING THEIR BEST AND HE'S TRYING SO HARD AND AAAAAAAAAAUGH. Also him getting possessed by Moloch while having Star-Eyes basically debunks the theory of the Star-Eyes being a form of possession which is FASCINATING. Anyway that scene with Susie and Pump got me misty eyed and then during the ending with Skid and Lila i actually genuinely started crying. I just want them to be happy. Please let them be happy. Please. PLEASE.

#spookymisc.txt #spooky month #spooky month 6 #spooky month 6 spoilers #sm6 #sm spoilers #not tagging all the characters cuz theres too many mentioned #anyway CRYING.

[loving-n0t-heyting]

re: the steven hassan hypnosis/sex panic thing, this isnt the first prominent case of "anti-cult" activists turning the tools and framing of "deprogramming" and "deradicalisation" to homophobic ends. in 1981, ted patrick (father of "deprogramming" and founder of the cult awareness network, from which hassan received his education) was involved in the kidnapping of a young woman at the behest of her parents, who believed her to have been forced by a female companion into a homosexual relationship. (its pretty striking just how much deprogramming and deconversion seem to be performed with the aid and at the request of the targets family members.) the victim also alleged she was raped as part of this "deprogramming" effort

patrick and his accomplices were brought to trial for abduction, assault, and sexual battery only for him to be acquitted on all charges and his accomplices acquitted on all but the abduction charges, where the jury was unable to reach a verdict. one of patricks fellow kidnappers said after the verdict, "I know I didn't do anything wrong. It was just the law that bothered me."

patrick was paid 8000$ (~27k$ adjusting for inflation) for the kidnapping and attempted deconversion

[zarvasace]

1931 Vampire AU!

For those unaware, I wrote a bit of a neat Linked Universe setting AU last year that I haven't done much with, but I really like it and want to share a bit more about it! Links to the existing fics where relevant.

The series on AO3 is here!

(It would also be fun to develop this AU a little more, and I'd like to draw some stuff for it, so if you send in an ask about it, I might answer with a doodle. ;) )

AU basics: a hidden magic world in America, the year 1931 after WWI. None of the boys are human (except Twilight, at least at first), but they all think they're hiding magic from everyone else, at least for a time. :) There are a lot of magical peoples in this world, organized in their own ways, e.g. merfolk kingdoms, fae courts, the vampire councils, entire hidden cults, and hunter organizations. Ganon exists, but he's a hidden threat that they've all faced in one way or another.

Character summaries!

Wind: the focus of this AU. (The original fic was an excuse to make him very cool.) He was born 1696 in Florida ish, at the height of the golden age of piracy. He was turned into a vampire by Tetra in about 1710 and is eternally physically 14. He sailed with her crew (all pirates) for a few decades. She was invited to the western vampire council in Spain in 1750 as the vampire pirate queen, but... stuff went down. (fic: Body and Soul Marooned) She and her whole crew died, along with a lot of vampires. Wind survived, getting a nice angsty scene in there where they said wedding vows as she died, and went on to try and warn other councils about the upcoming massacres. Because most vampires died during that time, Wind is one of the oldest vampires still alive, and most who survived that time owe their lives to him.

Warriors: the secondary focus of this AU. He was a legitimate soldier during WWI, proper age and everything. When Wind enlisted, Wars took it upon himself to guide this seemingly young kid, and got killed doing so. Wind turned him into a vampire, not wanting him to die. (fic: In the Chill of Battle) He has a fun relationship with Wind, both of them taking the big-brother role in turns. Wars is a younger vampire, but his brain and body was able to mature more, so. Before Wars knew Wind, he was also captain of a division with Time, not that Time remembers that right off. Wars acts the responsible adult, so he gets them both hired as part of Time's team.

Time: he's Twilight and Wild's uncle. When he was a kid, he was whisked away to Faerie and replaced by a changeling for a few years. He fought his way back to find that time had passed differently for him, so he's mentally older than he appears. He didn't get out without being touched by the fae, and is beholden to some of their rules. He's the only one old enough to have enlisted in the military at a legal age, and used his status as a veteran to get a job at a local police station as a sort of detective. That's how he collects all the boys. :)

Wild: half-vampire. He's aging slowly, but still aging. He's close to Twilight, but always felt like he didn't exactly belong. Vampires as an organization don't believe there are many dhampirs out there, and don't like them, but a few underground cells have been organizing. Wild had a few run-ins with them. He's aware of a lot more magic than people think he is, having networked out to several kinds of magical peoples. The Yiga are a cult of shapeshifters that are out for his blood. (fic: Caged) He joined the team when the existing members came to save him and Twilight from them, later in the "story." Wild is one of those in the group willing to do Mad Science. :)

Twilight: is human. He dealt with Wild his whole life, so he's aware of vampires, but not much else. Over the course of the "story," he gets turned into a werewolf, so all of the boys get to deal with that.

Sky: he's a lynchpin of the team! Without Sky, not everyone would be there. He's an air elemental by birth, fairly important in those familial circles but mostly separated from them these days. His natural form is not exactly... physical. He knows Time from the war (he enlisted at too young an age near the end, and didn't see much combat, but made connections), Legend from some of what Legend did (aka everything, but specifically some merchant connections in this case), and found Four on his own. Sky doesn't count as fae at all, but he's in-tune with the environment and flow of magic around him. (He's not happy about the dust bowl.) He is pretty oblivious to the others being magical, though.

Four: he's rather disconnected from the others, in terms of backstory. To understand him, you have to know that there are six courts of the fae: one for each season in the wheel, with a light and a dark in the center and outside. Four grew up in the Light Court, full fae. One of the princess's Minish advisors betrayed the Light Court and gave power to the Dark (hi Vaati), and Four helped to restore balance. In the process, he had to change. The courts didnt generally trust each other, so Four split into four fae with the help of magic, one for each seasonal court. More magic and betrayal happened, and Four is semi-stuck as a Dark fae now. He can become a shadow and hide in other shadows, but he's vulnerable to light in general. When he left Faerie for the mortal world, he found Sky, who pretty much adopted him as a little brother. He's very protective of Sky.

Legend: is a prince of one of the merfolk kingdoms. He saved each of the underwater kingdoms at least once, then ventured to the surface to find more wrongs that needed righting. He isn't obvious about it, but he has a good heart. He's kind of sort of employed as a spy and informant, but he focuses on supernatural issues. He's more of a special ops agent than anything, though he does like to find people who'll pay him for doing what he wants to do anyway. He's been practically everywhere and done practically everything. He definitely heard of Wind, but didn't connect the dots right off. Merfolk aren't considered fae, but his particular family line made contracts with fae long ago, and he has some of their geases in a lightened form. He figured out pretty quickly that everyone was magic and trying to hide it.

Hyrule: is full fae, like Four, but of the Spring Court. He lived in the human world his whole life, a street kid who had to keep his fae nature tightly under wraps, which could get difficult around the promises and names and iron of daily life. He moved around a lot. He was captured for a year or two by unscrupulous scientists and rescued by Legend, who took him to Sky and Time. (fic: EPISODE SEVEN: Lost and Found) He's the resident healer and mad scientist.

Other Fics

More Than You Can Chew: the beginning of the "story." Starts with Wars confessing he's a vampire, and then they go rescue Wind, who's been captured by wannabe hunters.

Council: sort-of ongoing fic about Wind taking the rest of the Chain to the latest vampire council meeting. >:)

#1931 vampire au #linked universe #my writing #uh should i.... yeah ill tag the boyos #lu time #lu twilight #lu wild #lu warriors #lu wind #lu four #lu hyrule #lu legend #lu sky #why not

[dcartcorner]

Commission for @chrisis-averted! Along with a an excerpt from an upcoming chapter of 'Rewind. Reset. Rewrite.'

The order of business had been already thrown out of the window by the wildly unprofessional attitude of the Institute's benefactors so he guessed there would be no damage in introducing his Archivist to them. Donatella in particular was brimming with excitement to meet him. Simon was very unprofessionally sitting on Peter's lap. Peter's participation in these meetings obviously took a lot out of him, so he decided not to scold him, but it was annoying to see Simon had decided to latch onto him like he had once with Mordechai. In the corner, seeping fear that kept the four of them entertained, was Guy Fareman, the rich inheritor of a large fortune who'd find himself roped into funding the Institute. Elias had an eye on his son and only living relative for a possible future body to inhabit, but the man was currently there as both a practical joke and a light snack for their patrons, as he fully believed the Institute to be the front of a cult - not entirely false - and that he would get killed if he decided to withdraw his funding - not entirely true. Donatella was an unusual Avatar of Beholding who'd made the most of the new era, dealing in Big Data and the invasion of privacy her social network company allowed her to. Elias was vaguely aware she owned a budding digital Archive somewhere in the Iberian Peninsula, despite not being an Archivist herself. They'd met a few years prior and she'd been elated to join his little project.

#commission #tma #the Magnus archives #fanart #Peter lukas #simon fairchild #oc #donatella #guy fareman

[drbased]

This argument is fascinating to me. This whole thing is one big ad hominem, and the question is still left on the table: do you agree with the 'swerfs', then, that selling sex is bad?

Look. When it comes to 'sex work', I'm still not personally fully convinced that criminalisation is the way forward. I've seen articles and stats say that the nordic model is the best way to go about this, and I've seen articles and stats say that attempts to legalise 'sex work' have resulted in more human trafficking. I've also seen sex workers themselves arguing that things like the nordic model don't really do anything other than take their clientele away, putting them in further financial trouble, and they're not given support in terms of a real exit strategy. I don't know enough about the details of this topic to have a full opinion on it either way; being truly fully informed would mean critically combing through all sorts of statistics and spending time getting information from two incredibly opposing sides with strong agendas.

But what I do know, is that under a leftist framework, 'sex work' is categorically rape. All work under capitalism is coercive, coerced sex is rape, ergo 'sex work' is rape.

Now, in regards to defining rape, I've seen this person say that 'if that's rape, I've been raped thousands of times, and it cheapens the times when I've actually been assaulted'. To this, I say:

How many times do we hear women say 'if that's assault, then I've been assaulted?' as some sort of 'gotcha'? It has taken a great feminist effort to expand the definitions of things like rape, abuse and sexual assault from a female- and victim-centric point of view. At what point is something 'cheapening a definition'? Where do we draw the line, and why?

If trauma is the line, and real rape has to cause some categorical, measurable trauma for it to 'count', then is it even possible to draw that line? Many people who are experiencing repeated abuse (probably most, tbh) are not aware that they are traumatised. A lot of the time, people don't realise how bad something is until after the fact, when they have something to compare it to. I know we should 'listen to victims', but many victims - let's just think about victims of domestic violence, here - will swear that they're not being abused. Listening to victims, a lot of the time, means reading between the lines rather than taking them at face value. This is not duplicitous; we do this all the time with DV sufferers, cult members, etc. etc. I see no reason why rape should be treated differently.

You do realise that saying 'the majority of people sell sex because of financial desperation' is a 'swerf' argument, right? You realise how that sounds from a leftist perspective, from a feminist perspective? And if you believe that 'swerfs' are inflating the numbers of sex trafficking, then you'd better have data to back that up, because that's a monumentally evil hill to die on otherwise. But back to my main point:

If you think it was a good thing that your support network helped you to stop selling sex, if you think that financial desperation forcing you to sell sex is a bad thing, then do you agree with the 'swerfs'?

#my writing

[whatisonthemoon]

Two Very Different Religious Freedoms: International Forum for Religious Freedom and International Coalition for Religious Freedom

▲ Pictured: A picture of Dan Fefferman in the 70s as a young Moonie

Isn’t it interesting how there were members of the International Forum for Religious Freedom supporting a resolution proposed to the Ohio state legislature, and other state legislatures, to have Moon and the Unification Church investigated in 1977/1978, prior to the Jonestown massacre later in 1978?

Especially when considering that just a few years later, in 1984, an organization named International Coalition for Religious Freedom popped up, headed by Dan Fefferman, funded by the UC. This organization lobbied and organized for the legitimization of the Moonies, Scientologists, and other so-called “new religious movements” (a term popularized by cult apologists). 

Fefferman felt recognized at a 2000 anti-cult conference when his organization was recognized for legitimizing cults to academics and governments:

Not to brag, but several speakers made reference to ICRF. They mentioned our four conferences and the cities in which they were held—Washington, Tokyo, Berlin, and Sao Paulo. They grudgingly praised our web site (www.religiousfreedom.com), and the "impressive array" of speakers whose papers we have posted there. A featured luncheon speaker, Prof. Stephen Kent of the University of Calgary, used the ICRF as a primary example of the way in which American new religious movements (NRM’s) are able to influence the American government and academic community. He admitted that ICRF has become an influential participant in the international human rights debate. Another speaker bemoaned the fact that ICRF had been able to get current and former congressmen, government officials, leading academics, and prestigious human rights leaders to join with us.

Related 

Dan Fefferman attends an anti-cult conference (2000) Introvigne’s silence on the most important “religious freedom” case in Italy The Real Issue in the Case of Rev. Moon (1984)

One Step Ahead for WACL (1974) 

#International Coalition for Religious Freedom #international forum for religious freedom #religious freedom #dan fefferman #unification church in the united states of america #unification church in the united states #unification church in usa #american church #members #church members #unification church members #moonies #anti-cult #cult awareness network

[femmefatalevibe]

Hi! Tips on how to not say much? I’m a huge chatter box and find myself over explaining with no remorse. I can’t stand the quiet due to the environment I grew up in, the person was a narcissist that forced me to continuously speak around them because they’re extroverted and hate the quiet. So now I’m stuck with this habit as an adult.

Hi love! It's great to hear that you're so self-aware and understand the source of your oversharing tendencies. Acceptance is an important first step for sustainable behavior change.

I would say some general rules to follow include:

Ask questions before adding new information: Make use of follow-up questions to enrich a conversation before sharing your personal opinions or anecdotes. This practice allows you to remain engaged, appear interested in the other person's thoughts and experiences, and provides you some more time to decide what information you feel comfortable/appropriate to expose.

Consider the nature and depth of your relationship: Contextualize every conversation as social, professional, introductory, familial, friendly, or intimate (with friends, partners, or trusted family members). Decide on what topics or levels of self-disclosure you think (or know) are appropriate for each type of relationship. Unless it's an intimate – or at least friendly – relationship, never say anything you would be displeased with other connections hearing about. Act as though your sentiments could be displayed on social media for others to see. If you wouldn't text it, don't disclose it. Consider making a "do's" and "don'ts" list of potential conversation topics before heading to an outing, event, or conversational setting if it helps to ease your anxiety.

Find ways to transmute this communication, but make it self-referential: Journal your thoughts as a stream-of-consciousness exercise or as though you’re speaking to a close friend. Draft a document that reads like a short dissertation on a topic that you would love to talk endlessly about but know would be a disservice to your reputation or mysterious allure if you shared it with someone else (an embarrassing story, details of a work fiasco, sex stories, a fight with a family member/romantic partner, a hot take or controversial opinion on a polarizing topic, etc.). Write anything that comes to mind. You can even create a voice memo as a mini-podcast to yourself to get your feelings out.

For more tips, I've linked by guide on how to stop oversharing and remain a bit more "mysterious" in conversations.

Hope this helps xx

#social skills #socializing #friend advice #networking #interpersonal relationships #communication skills #life advice #femmefatale #dark feminine energy #dark femininity #it girl #dream girl #queen energy #higher self #self improvement #self awareness #self reflection #self help #cult of personality #personal growth #high value mindset #high value woman #girl blogging #girl advice #life lessons #the feminine urge #female excellence #female power #successhabits #loa success

[leavingthepcg]

Hello, I am creating a support network for those who have left Armstrongism, particularly the PCG. Please spread awareness of fringe religious groups and their effects of millions of people across the globe. Awareness and support is lifesaving.

#armstrongism #cult awareness #deprogramming #support network

[femsolid]

the more I learn about feminism, the way society favors men, male violence, porn and so on, the more hopeless I feel. I read one news article talking about how the UK police uncovered several forums distributing AI generated illegal content involving children and it was my breaking point. it was too much for me to handle.

so here’s my question, how do you keep yourself from falling into despair when you learn about horrible things (towards women and children) happening? I’m considering taking a break from the internet at this point.

Consciousness raising is about learning how men function as a class but it's also about learning that you're part of a class too. You realize that you are part of something bigger than you, a very old battle for freedom. This should make you feel strong, not weak. Upon realizing what men have done, what they still do, the magnitude of systemic misogyny, you should feel angry and embolden, not hopeless. And most importantly you should feel a deep sense of solidarity with other women and relief because you're taking control of your life, you are starting to live for yourself and not for men. You should feel vindicated and free, like you're leaving a cult, the patriarchal brainwashing, behind.

So why is hopelessness taking over? Well you mentionned taking a break from the internet and not from feminism which is more telling than you think. Is feminist consciousness the problem or is it the fact that you're being bombarded with negativity, male violence and misogyny on the internet? Once you are aware of what men do, do you need to be reminded of it everyday? Do you need to know in gruesome details what men do to us and what the latest act of male violence and perversion is? If it makes you feel hopeless then the answer is no. Because of course it's going to affect you. "True crimes" doesn't need to be your hobby, you can unfollow those who only post upsetting and traumatizing content and step away from any platform that dwells on negativity. Yes it's fine to take a break, regroup, recharge your battery. And it's fine to leave an Internet community altogether. Do what you need to do.

The despair you feel also typically comes with passivity or the feeling that whatever you're doing is not working. You can't expect to feel energetic and joyful if you sit passively observing what men do to us or if you try to reform the patriarchy. Either way the patriarchy remains in place, so of course it's gonna feel hopeless. The minute you start to take steps towards radically changing your own life or helping women and girls (or both) you'll start to feel better. You need to use what you've learned. The despair comes from not feeling useful.

Also look at what women and girls are doing. The separatist communities, lifestyles and events, the successful boycotting, mocking and ruining of misogynists, the support networks, the increased awareness of women and their subsequent lowered tolerance for abuse and day to day misogyny, the way women speak up everyday in ways they never did nor could before. We are in the middle of an anti-feminist backlash, that's why men are pushing for porn, bdsm, extreme objectification, karen, bitch, terf, femoid. For them to be so vehement about feminists, on every side of the political spectrum no less, they have to feel threatened. That's because women have progressed a lot. It's women's independence, women's sense of unity, women's sexual autonomy, women's speaking up and women's confidence that they feel the need to attack. So that gives you an idea of what we're doing right and what we should focus on. It's far from hopeless.

#ask

[voiceofsword]

hiii can i ask you about cannibal niki?? what ya think bout him?? (in theory, where Niki's parents were the ones who 'ate fish' in the cult of Shinkai!!) and if ya open to request can i see a lil rinniki kiss?? on cheeks or something like dat just a smol doodle🤲 (AND SORRY ABOUT MY ENG IDK HOW TO WRITE😭)

hello anon! putting this behind a readmore again bc it might be a little long (it is) but i assure you the doodle is at the end of the post! sorry if i sound at all hostile during any parts of this post i tried to look back and change the wording for a lot of things, but like that other long ass rinne post i made it's smth i feel very strongly about! 🙇

i’m gonna keep it real with you, i’m not particularly fond of that headcanon! i feel like i’ve mentioned it before, and i respect anyone who likes it, but i see it as sort of edginess with no concrete basis besides gags and a crucial main story scene (that i think disproves it), therefore i don’t rly like talking about it or discussing it. i’ll go on to explain where i think the origin for this headcanon lies, bc while i do think it’s something that can be extrapolated from the story, it’s not necessarily the “truth” behind niki’s parents, or him being a cannibal, or anything like that.

in the main story chapters 136-140 eichi goes on to explain crazy:b’s weak points: if worse comes to worst, alkaloid can use these points against them to take them down. in 139 specifically, eichi says that niki himself is hard to exploit — but they can use his father’s infamy to their favor. niki’s father was a famous chef known for his cooking tv programs. he had a period of popularity which was quickly ended when rumors were spread about him using human meat during one of his shows, and thus he was sworn to never be on tv again. 

you see, it’d be perfectly reasonable to assume niki’s father is a cannibal if eichi said this in all seriousness. however, taking context into account and how during this and the previous chapters eichi is going out of his way to make crazyb sound as bad as he feasibly can, it shows that this is their last resort and that the smear campaign needs to WORK. ES needs to make crazy:b look as bad as possible to make them give up. also eichi is kind of known for making his speech grandiose and generally making things sound more severe than they actually are, this is enstars 101. and even so, eichi himself softens the claim immediately afterwards, saying that these accusations were made at a time when tv stations were trying to get the idol industry back on its feet — they made that up, because they wanted to make sure there was no competition on the same network! and he follows that up with saying “yeah lol that’s pretty normal in this industry”. 

i won’t make any mention of the shinkai cult here because there rly is no ties except for…the cannibalism, i think? i also feel like what kanata talks about in meteor impact addresses something that may or may not have happened a long, long time ago, and at a very dire time rather than something reoccurring — and i doubt niki’s parents were even alive. i havent seen this spoken about anywhere else so im not sure where you’re coming from, sorry anon :( 

that aside, niki also seems to be at least somewhat aware of what happened, and the ramifications it had on his own life. you have to understand, niki’s parents left the country when these allegations started popping up, and niki’s been on his own since then — niki’s not stupid. if his parents didn’t tell him, he pieced it together himself. he knows what happened, and generally makes light of the situation and having to live on his own because that’s just how he is; these events have helped shape how niki is, on a fundamental level. but all of that aside, he more than anyone knows that his father would never do something like that, that all of it is baseless lies made to hurt him:

when i say these things shaped him, i mean that the incident has made him feel like, regardless of whether the allegations are true or not, his father caused a lot of trouble to many people. niki idolized his father — and seeing this happen to him, niki is left to think that he, too, is bound to cause people problems, both bc of this, and his constitution. he makes it a point to be like i don’t want to be like my father, again, not because of the cannibalism, but because the whole ordeal had very lasting repercussions on niki, on their family, perhaps even for any chef that might’ve pursued a similar career path to his father. i find it hard to believe that it was a one and done type thing; tabloid news and everything. he probably had his name run through the mud. 

niki consciously tries to not make trouble, he laughs off his insecurities, he tries not to take up too much space, even now. gotta keep his image clean but it's also like. obviously hes not really going out of his way to expose himself and be in the culinary world more than he needs to. he carries the weight of knowing his family name is taboo so that just kind of bleeds onto how he perceives himself and what he does — that coupled with his condition makes him feel like he deserves the bare minimum. bc of these things happening, i can also imagine his parents drilled the idea into his head before they left — to not cause trouble for others if it’s the last thing he does. kind of on the nose, niki does mention during one of the flashbacks that his father told him human meat is the one thing he must absolutely never do. which is like. well, yeah

also (tapping mic) part of the reason rinne causes so much trouble for him is because he wants niki to see that it’s ok to cause trouble for him back — that if niki goes out of his way to do stuff for him, even if begrudgingly, rinne can pay him back in kind. one of rinne’s main drives is that he wants to be able to dismantle this idea niki has in his head that he’s less deserving of good things because of his past, and his body. i’d even go as far to say that it’s an integral part of their relationship and both of their characters. um anyways

people are allowed to think or portray him however they want, of course, but i think saying that his father is a cannibal and thus niki is a cannibal too feels like completely dismissing parts of his character for the sake of making this otherwise “wholesome” person be more 'edgy' and perhaps aligning more to their tastes. i can’t police how people perceive him but i think a lot of where this stems from is wanting to have a character to project specific aesthetics onto, latching onto small bits of his story and lines without really looking at the full picture. 

niki tries so hard to be someone who can move past these allegations and still struggles with thinking that he can do what he likes lest he be like his father, so, idk. i personally don’t like to engage w/ or see these interpretations. to each their own!

also as to why niki makes jokes about eating people and it’s somewhat a recurring gag with him: well personally i think he’s just a little weird. it’s done in a cutesy playful way like "omg u smell so good i could eat you right up!" and its more like... a compliment. (esp coming from him w his rly good sense of smell and taste) yeah its joking abt eating ppl but not joking abt cannibalism itself its all theoretical eating. (have u never joked about wanting to eat someone up…or wanting to bite ppl.. i think it’s kind of like that. it’s just that they juice him for the bit)

also to thank you for your patience. here’s the doodle ♡

#niki shiina #mimthinks #if you read til the end and are like damn why did i read all of this? tbf i Did Warn You #also anon ur english is totally fine!! do not fret

[coolseabird]

DS9 Characters as their DnD Equivalents

Sisko: Sisko imo would be a human Abberant Mind Sorcerer.

Abberant Mind Sorcerer: An alien influence has wrapped its tendrils around your mind, giving you psionic power. You can now touch other minds with that power and alter the world around you by using it to control the magical energy of the multiverse. Will this power shine from you as a hopeful beacon to others? Or will you be a source of terror to those who feel the stab of your mind and witness the strange manifestations of your might?

Kira: I think Kira would be a Tiefling or Deep Gnome Oath of the Watcher Paladin (Cardassians are technically alien invaders on her planet), maybe multiclassed with a Light Cleric. (Not the most optimal but this is just for fun)

Oath of the Watcher: The Oath of the Watchers binds paladins to protect mortal realms from the predations of extraplanar creatures, many of which can lay waste to mortal soldiers. Thus, the Watchers hone their minds, spirits, and bodies to be the ultimate weapons against such threats. Paladins who follow the Watchers' oath are ever vigilant in spotting the influence of extraplanar forces, often establishing a network of spies and informants to gather information on suspected cults. To a Watcher, keeping a healthy suspicion and awareness about one's surroundings is as natural as wearing armor in battle.

Light Domain Cleric: Gods of light – including Helm, Lathander, Pholtus, Branchala, the Silver Flame, Belenus, Apollo, and Re-Horakhty – promote the ideals of rebirth and renewal, truth, vigilance, and beauty, often using the symbol of the sun. Some of these gods are portrayed as the sun itself or as a charioteer who guides the sun across the sky. Others are tireless sentinels whose eyes pierce every shadow and see through every deception. Some are deities of beauty and artistry, who teach that art is a vehicle for the soul's improvement. Clerics of a god of light are enlightened souls infused with radiance and the power of their gods' discerning vision, charged with chasing away lies and burning away darkness.

Jadzia Dax: I think she would be a Fey Wanderer Ranger or a Hexblade Warlock. (If the weapon fully possessed her lol) I think her being a Githzerai could be cool (Mostly because spots XD) but Aasimar or any type of elf would make sense too!

Fey Wanderer Ranger: A fey mystique surrounds you, thanks to the boon of an archfey, the shining fruit you ate from a talking tree, the magic spring you swam in, or some other auspicious event. However you acquired your fey magic, you are now a Fey Wanderer, a ranger who represents both the mortal and the fey realms. As you wander the multiverse, your joyful laughter brightens the hearts of the downtrodden, and your martial prowess strikes terror in your foes, for great is the mirth of the fey and dreadful is their fury.

Hexblade Warlock:

You have made your pact with a mysterious entity from the Shadowfell – a force that manifests in sentient magic weapons carved from the stuff of shadow. The mighty sword Blackrazor is the most notable of these weapons, which have been spread across the multiverse over the ages. The shadowy force behind these weapons can offer power to warlocks who form pacts with it. Many hexblade warlocks create weapons that emulate those formed in the Shadowfell. Others forgo such arms, content to weave the dark magic of that plane into their spellcasting.

O'Brien: O'Brien would be a human artificer, Artillerist subclass.

An Artillerist specializes in using magic to hurl energy, projectiles, and explosions on a battlefield. This destructive power is valued by armies in the wars on many different worlds. And when war passes, some members of this specialization seek to build a more peaceful world by using their powers to fight the resurgence of strife. The world-hopping gnome artificer Vi has been especially vocal about making things right: "It's about time we fixed things instead of blowing them all to hell."

Bashir: I think Bashir would be a human Celestial Warlock. It's healing focused and his power not being original to him (but from a pact) kind of echoes his genetic modification in my opinion. (If this were a real campaign, his patron could be something he doesn't like telling people about)

Your patron is a powerful being of the Upper Planes. You have bound yourself to an ancient empyrean, solar, ki-rin, unicorn, or other entity that resides in the planes of everlasting bliss. Your pact with that being allows you to experience the barest touch of the holy light that illuminates the multiverse.

Worf: I think he screams paladin. I would make him either a Githyanki (for obvious reasons) or a Half Orc (I think it'd be similar to his being torn between the human and Klingon worlds due to his uprbinging) His devotion to honor and idealistic Klingon values is very important to him, even when compared to other Klingons. I think Oath of Glory would make a lot of sense. I don't think he'd be a perfect paladin by any means but I think he'd strive to be. (Also possibly a multiclass with war cleric?)

Oath of Glory: Paladins who take the Oath of Glory believe they and their companions are destined to achieve glory through deeds of heroism. They train diligently and encourage their companions so they're all ready when destiny calls. The tenets of the Oath of Glory drive a paladin to attempt heroics that might one day shine in legend. Actions over Words. Strive to be known by glorious deeds, not words. Challenges Are but Tests. Face hardships with courage, and encourage your allies to face them with you. Hone the Body. Like raw stone, your body must be worked so its potential can be realized. Discipline the Soul. You must marshal the discipline to overcome failings within yourself that threaten to dim the glory of you and your friends.

Odo: 100% a changeling also 100% an Order Domain Cleric

The Order Domain represents discipline, as well as devotion to the laws that govern a society, an institution, or a philosophy. Clerics of Order meditate on logic and justice as they serve their gods, examples of which appear in the Order Deities table. Clerics of Order believe that well-crafted laws establish legitimate hierarchies, and those selected by law to lead must be obeyed. Those who obey must do so to the best of their ability, and if those who lead fail to protect the law, they must be replaced. In this manner, law weaves a web of obligations that create order and security in a chaotic multiverse.

Quark: Kobold I think would make a ton of sense (loving shiny things XD) I also think he'd be a Rogue Inquisitive/ Lore Bard multiclass.

Rogue Inquisitive: As an archetypal Inquisitive, you excel at rooting out secrets and unraveling mysteries. You rely on your sharp eye for detail, but also on your finely honed ability to read the words and deeds of other creatures to determine their true intent. You excel at defeating creatures that hide among and prey upon ordinary folk, and your mastery of lore and your sharp eye make you well equipped to expose and end hidden evils.

Lore Bard: Bards of the College of Lore know something about most things, collecting bits of knowledge from sources as diverse as scholarly tomes and peasant tales. Whether singing folk ballads in taverns or elaborate compositions in royal courts, these bards use their gifts to hold audiences spellbound. When the applause dies down, the audience members might find themselves questioning everything they held to be true, from their faith in the priesthood of the local temple to their loyalty to the king.

Garak: I think Garak would be a Drow 100%, I also think he'd be a Mastermind Rogue.

Mastermind Rogue: Your focus is on people and on the influence and secrets they have. Many spies, courtiers, and schemers follow this archetype, leading lives of intrigue. Words are your weapons as often as knives or poison, and secrets and favors are some of your favorite treasures.

Inspired by this post by @bijoumikhawal

Go read it!

I'm new to DnD so if you have any other ideas please comment/ reblog with them! I'd love to hear it :)

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