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hepworld-blog · 6 years

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2017: confusion, hopelessness, and silver linings

Remember on January 1st of 2017 when someone altered the Hollywood sign to say hollyweed? Well I guess we should’ve known the year would be all downhill from there.

Ok that’s not totally fair. On the world stage it was a year of highs and lows, disasters and improvements, and it’s difficult to separate the good from the bad. If I had to sum up my year, I’d label it as in confusion. World events seemed to be one disaster after another all through the year. From a rise in gun violence in the United States, to a humanitarian crisis against the Rohingya people, a catastrophe in Yemen that the rest of the world has ignored to numerous natural disasters across North America, 2017 was a year of suffering across the globe. Not to mention and an increase in oppressive and chaotic policies from world powers: pushback against free speech in China, efforts to curb internet freedom from every major world power in human civilization, Turkey’s embrace of elected dictatorship, the United States’ rollback of protection on transgender individuals, Spain’s takeover of Catalunya, Russia’s imprisonment of political opponents, a genocide against gay people in Chechnya and the United States’ pullback on climate protections. Some claimed 2016 showed a rebellion of the working class against elites, and heralded populist policies as restoring rule of the common person. 2017 showed how misguided these ideas really were.

But in the middle of all the suffering, 2017 showed us a slight glimmer of hope for us to build our futures on. As an observer of humanity, I was very enthusiastic to see the rise and popularity of the #MeToo movement—that a substantial group of people in western society are willing to listen to the claims of women against harassment, and take a stand against anyone who perpetuates this violence. And this new intolerance of sexual crimes even drifted to the most conservative parts of the united states: a (small) majority of Alabama voters were willing to put aside the politically-divisive atmosphere that they’ve cherished in the face of a candidate whose unapologetic bigotry was overshadowed by his alleged pedophilia. After a tense year in most western countries’ politics, this showed some kind of hope that people would stand together to put what is right before their own pride.

Any discussion of 2017’s silver linings would be incomplete if I didn’t mention the strides taken by Saudi Arabia’s crown prince to modernize the countries policies and eliminate corruption. From allowing women to drive, to a reopening of movie theaters, I am hopeful that the oppressive regime will continue its path towards acknowledging human rights to all people. These steps might be small, they may be small victories amidst a larger trend against human rights, but the most oppressed among us are slowly gaining their freedoms. Those people’s livelihoods are worth every struggle. Amidst a general feeling of hopelessness that has surrounded world events, we have a beautiful silver lining. That was a main theme of 2017: hope in the face of hopelessness.

I found it interesting how closely entertainment in 2017 reflected this. Memes became more ironic and cynical as the world seemed to lose its way forward. As life became more confusing and the truth seemed to drift farther away, surreal memes became popular showing the meaningless of the world. Even the newest movie in the Star Wars saga reflected our time, showing how small acts of kindness in the face of huge defeats for the resistance made the whole journey worth it, all while the film’s antihero urges us to put our losses behind us and embrace the uncertainty of the future.

Many of the reactions people had to all this trouble really bothered me, especially people who try to fight what they think is wrong, but aren’t sincere about it. I call it popular protesting, and I know I’ve played along with it sometimes. When there’s some outrage in the world, people speak out about it until its old news, and then they move on to something else. Meanwhile the people affected by the outrage are left to rot, just some pawns in a political game. It’s sick, and it has to stop. Meanwhile people totally ignore crises that are harder to take some fake moral high ground in (again why don’t more people care about the worst humanitarian crisis of the decade in Yemen?).

Of course for us, what makes a year good or bad is more about personal experience than that of world events that don’t affect us personally. And I know a lot of you had amazing years, spending time with friends and making memories. Ironically, I think my year directly mirrored the world’s. Some of the best memories of my life were formed this year, and some of the worst, I felt the general hopelessness and saw silver linings in my own life as in the world. Maybe we’re all just reflections of the world we live in, if we are willing to admit it to ourselves.

At the end of 2016, I asked a friend on Instagram what he thought the key to ethical behavior was. His response was “to accept that you are not any more special than anybody else and act accordingly.” I thought that was a pretty crappy answer at first, but I think he’s right: it takes realizing that you are no superior to anyone else to act in a way that isn’t selfish and act fairly. Everyone is just as confused and scared as you, nobody belongs anywhere, and everyone’s going to die, so you have the same consideration towards all people as you do yourself. So I went into 2017 with that attitude, spent a lot of time thinking about life, and after melding it with my previously-held beliefs, I thought I’d been enlightened or found some sort of key to life. I realize now how arrogant that was to think I had everything in my understanding. I guess if life was easy to figure out, someone else would’ve done it by now.

Here’s the thing. In Atlantis’s culture there’s something called the Jakanta, an ancient practice which refers to a way of living, where you constantly pursue a greater truth, discovering some sort of pattern to the universe. I’m not sure if there’s an allegory in human society but it’s something engrained in our history and I try to live to pursue it. For a long time I felt like I was getting closer to being firmly “enlightened” and gained understanding of reality, and then I came across information that started forcing me to dismantle what I thought were my hard-formed values. The thing is, it was my philosophy of Jakanta that was forcing me out of the ideas I’ve believed my whole life. Realizing that you’ve been wrong and letting go of your so-called sacred cows is probably the scariest thing a person can do. And it didn’t make me happier or feel liberated or anything, it only made my life more chaotic and confusing. Because I loved being that old Hep. That Hep was so passionate and driven, felt wise and validated, like I was going somewhere. I bet if that Hep met me now he would never guess I was once him. Maybe that Hep would rather die than become me, see me as some empty and purposeless shell. But the ironic part is that I came directly from that Hep’s way of thinking.

Anyone who has talked to me at any length knows I’m a more than a little obsessive about the concept of identity (If y’all want, maybe I’ll write a long paper about all I’ve learned about it someday). That’s one of the main reasons I’ve kept my account all these years lol, because constantly being asked who I am by all of you forces me to think about identity and I still don’t have it completely figured out. But this is what 2017 taught me: what defines you isn’t your beliefs or knowledge, because that is constantly changing (either that or you die stupid, like your politicians). Rather I think that what forms a person’s identity is how they think and allow themselves to grow. What are they willing to question? Do they have faith in something? I guess the beliefs that define your identity are the ones about how to grow, not conceptions of the world. So if any of us want to improve, we need to start by adopting a better way of thinking.

So this begs the question, is my way of thinking even good? Obviously questioning and overanalyzing everything like I do didn’t do me any favors, basically destroying whatever walls I’d built up to keep me sane! I feel like after the past year I’ve lost touch with a lot of reality, just drifting through some abstract space I don’t understand. Maybe I’ve gone insane, probably, even. But at least I am authentic to myself. Because it’s so easy to delude yourself, and I’m constantly worried that I’m pushing reality away in exchange for what I’d rather be true to feel secure and accepted. You can convince yourself of anything you want, if it makes you feel good. Maybe if “ignorance is bliss” I should just forget the whole thing and delude myself into whatever is comfortable. For several months I’ve been wrestling with a simple question: if knowing some truth makes me unhappy and sets my life askew, is it worth knowing? I’ve asked a ton of friends about this (thanks y’all). One of them told me what I’d feared: my good friend told me that nobody can never escape ignorance, so learning isn’t relevant. She told me that it’s best to live entirely in faith and not question things that may lead me down questionable paths. My gut reaction was to reject that, but I didn’t understand why. Because she’s right, I will never achieve complete understanding, I know it as did the monks who established the Jakanta in Atlantis 3000 years ago. Was it time to topple that final pillar of my identity and exchange pursuing knowledge for a blissful life?

It took me a while to come up with a good answer: knowledge builds wisdom, and that helps others. A happy life lived only for itself is no meaningful life. However, I can use my understanding of the world to help others who are struggling with similar situations, and not often, but maybe, I can change someone’s life for the better. If I can help just someone, all the unhappiness in the world is worth suffering. How selfish is willful ignorance! Only those who suffer can sympathize with others. That’s why every religion claims their central figure “suffered in every way.” I’m no more special than anyone else, so if I can help someone through real physical struggles, my mental confusion is worth every second of it. So then knowledge doesn’t always make you happy, but it always makes you better.

See I don’t know when I’ll die. I’m just lucky to have survived for as long as I have. I think I don’t value that enough: I need to make a difference while I still can, in the name of those who didn’t make it through the past year. And most importantly, when my time comes I want to die where I stood, following what I believed in. I don’t want to die complacent, like a former hero who has become irrelevant while his work is undone. That’s why I try so hard to keep improving myself, so that I can pursue what I believe till the very end. Life is too short to check out and stop helping people.

I’m realize I’m rambling, and maybe you’re trying to think up some platitude to respond to me, but I assure you that’s the last way I want you to react. This is not at all a plea for sympathy or some way to evangelize my ideas to you, I’m just putting out there what I’m thinking because maybe it will help someone think. And because everyone always asks me what my “true identity” is: well, this is it. I’m Hep, because that’s how I choose to grow.

Is happiness a lost cause for those of us who question everything like I think is right? I thought so at first. But my good friend Taylor made a point that gave me hope: she says that whatever contentment I lost because of what I’ve learned this year will surely pass. Everyone knows that people resist change, that much has been obvious over the last two years. Missing my old state of mind and feeling less happy about life becoming chaotic and confusing is just that same fear of change. If I embrace the chaos, I’ll eventually find that contentment again. I expect this cycle of understanding and confusion will continue throughout my life. Thinking I know myself, losing it, and moving on. Maybe it will bring with it waves of depression or confusion, but all is worth it because with each cycle I will be better equipped to help others. And so out of this cycle of hopelessness and chaos, I have my silver lining.

You know, seems poetic to me that America, in a year full of politically-charged anger, would experience a full solar eclipse. As some of you know, I made the trek out from Atlantis to middle America to see the full eclipse, and maybe those of you who didn’t do the same will not understand this at all. When the full eclipse began, and the sky had darkened, a cold wind rolled over the plains relieving from a hot summer afternoon and the sun became a beautiful iridescent ring, circling a brilliant silver sphere of the moon. It hovered there in the sky, and for a minute it seemed to give peace to everything beneath it. I was reminded of the words of a certain future empress of Atlantis, 19 years old at the time, nearly 2500 years ago. “When nature reveals to us its full glory, it challenges us to imprint its beauty upon our souls.” She said this while leading a rebellion against a violent and oppressive government that ruled Atlantis, a movement which would result in the restructure of our government and issue in an era of prosperity, peace and stability. To me, the eclipse was a reminder that life and society are improved not by opposing anger with anger, but by individuals each harboring a determined peace and understanding as the foundation of their souls.

This thought is by no means original in the current climate, but while these ideas are often used as tropes to make the user feel righteous they are blatantly ignored in practice. Maybe many of them try to live by it. I know I’ve failed at applying this idea many times, because anger is such an easier response to fear and confusion than temperance and self-examination. It is my challenge to keep improving myself to approach this, and I expect I will continue pursuing this goal for the rest of my life.

I’m not a believer in new years resolutions. You can keep your “new year new me” crap, because one week in, you’ll realize you have no means to achieve your goals, give up and be twice the slob you were beforehand. Heck I bet a handful of you already gave up. Because you can’t just change your habits and beliefs on a whim, all you can hope to do is make an effort to grow. So in that spirit I’m giving myself a challenge to give myself a direction to improve. I probably will fail to follow it many times, but that’s okay as long as I keep trying.

Here’s my challenge, to start the year. For one, I’m not going to fall into the trap of popular protesting. If something bad is going on, I’ll either keep spreading awareness and don’t stop until it’s fixed—no letting go when the public stops caring—or I’ll let someone else carry the fight. There’s nothing worse than an insincere activist. And if someone is being unethical it does me no good to hate on them. The best reaction is to behave in the way opposite of them, acting positively instead of negatively. As my man Ghandi once said, you gotta be the change you wish to see in the world. I think I’m going to try to cut judgement out of my life altogether: whenever something happens or someone says an idea, my first reaction is often to identify it as good or bad. Just like I’m not a fan of names, I’m not a fan of those labels, and I’ll work to stop that response in myself. Every time you label something, you keep it from being properly questioned, and that’s unhealthy for me. And finally, as always, I will try to be a decent person, try to make an impact on those around me and work to acquire knowledge and improve my thinking.

That’s where I’m going in the next year. I’m not asking you to agree with it or adopt the same challenge, but I hope you ask yourself where you want to grow. Every day is another step in the journey to make yourself authentic, and I hope you all live to be the best versions of yourselves. Don’t be afraid to leave your pasts behind and look to the future, always find ways to be kind, and never stop questioning your thoughts.

Hep out.

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karthick0587 · 7 years

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"Hollyweed": Artist Says He's Responsible for Sign Alteration But It Wasn't Vandalism

"I did it out of love and a certain peace from within."

from Entertainment News http://ift.tt/2jmQPMf via IFTTT

#Hollyweed #IFTTT #Entertainment News : Artist Says He's Responsible for Sign Alteration But It Wasn'

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iworkfornickfury · 7 years

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Zachary Cole Fernandez, 30, is the man responsible for scaling the Hollywood sign to make an iconic change. He surrendered to the police and will receive 6 months in prison. Make it worth it! #hollyweed

#hollyweed #New year #2017

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dr-khalii · 7 years

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Could you write a meta on her family?

OH BOY CAN I

Elsie comes from a typical nuclear family- mother, father, and a brother. Her brother, Amir, is two years older than her, and the two are very close despite the massive distance between them. Amir currently lives in Hollywood and is an aspiring screenwriter, jazz composer, and a small-time actor. He and Elsie have been looking out for each other since they were little kids, and while they occasionally tease and embarrass each other (that’s what siblings are for, after all) they’d die for the other. Amir is much more laid-back than Elsie, and a bit of a prankster (he and his friends are the ones responsible for the “Hollyweed” sign.) He’s experiencing a bit of writer’s block at the moment, and so is relying on his day job as a pianist at a local restaurant and the occasional minor role in locally filmed movies to sustain himself. He may be coming to visit in Gotham soon, though.

Sanaa Khalii is a patient woman, but can be very harsh if angered. Originally from Saudi Arabia, she fled with Elsie’s father after the two fell in love but were forbidden to marry because of their conflicting religious beliefs and scorn from their families. Elsie’s mother is a Muslim, and Elsie follows in her footsteps. Their relationship has been shaky for the past few years, however, as Sanaa struggles with coming to terms with her daughter’s sexuality (I will officially state here that Elsie is a lesbian, just to clear things up.) While they still talk and are generally on good terms, Sanaa steers around any talk of Elsie’s romantic life, which oftentimes frustrates Elsie. She and her husband currently live in New York City.

Mohammed Khalii is a soft spoken, kind man, born and raised as a Christian in Saudi Arabia. He is and always has been very supportive of Elsie, and made a point of battling down his internalized homophobia after Elsie came out to him and his wife. Elsie talks to him weekly at least, and the two are on good terms.

The Khaliis have an interesting household, being of two different religions. Elsie’s parents encouraged her and Amir to explore both religions and find the path to God in their own way, and still celebrate holidays from both religions (which is why Elsie still celebrates Christian holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas despite being Muslim.)

#(about the muse)

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mc-dude · 7 years

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IS HAL RESPONSIBLE FOR HOLLYWEED TH PUBLIC WOULD LIKE 2 KNOW

yes he is

#im cryin #ophiukin

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takenews-blog1 · 6 years

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Dota 2 on the Dinner Desk: How do you clarify Dota to your family members?

New Post has been published on https://takenews.net/dota-2-on-the-dinner-desk-how-do-you-clarify-dota-to-your-family-members/

Dota 2 on the Dinner Desk: How do you clarify Dota to your family members?

It’s a reality of life, just like the passing of time. If in case you have a pal that you simply see a number of occasions every week, for a minimum of an hour per day, and you retain in touch with them for a lot of the day, then someone goes to note. If in case you have a job that requires a lot of your time and a focus, somebody goes to ask about your job.

Likewise, possibly you’ve dumped a minimum of a number of hundred hours into Dota 2. You most likely go on a minimum of one web site, if no more, the place folks convene to debate it. You’re studying this text, on an whole web site devoted to Dota 2, by somebody whose job it’s to jot down about it. (Howdy!) There’s a nonzero likelihood you personal overpriced, late-to-arrive merchandise.

However there’s no motive to be scared about this encounter. In truth, I’d argue that you have to be excited. It is a new frontier in your interpersonal relationships along with your family members!

It’s additionally doubtless a welcome subject of debate on the desk. Frankly, the yr 2017 was outlined by many unusual issues: that “Hollyweed” signal, Kermit The Frog’s actor’s departure, Ryan Reynolds introduced as taking part in a Detective Pikachu, and the Academy Awards’ Greatest Image mishap. A TON of celebrities died final yr. Politics.

Dota 2 pales compared to a lot of this. Even within the gaming world, whereas Dota 2 is nuts, it’s nothing in comparison with that EA loot field drama. Take solace in figuring out that you’ve one thing comparatively constant grounding your life and existence, and that you’ve an opportunity in grounding the dialogue. Once more, comparatively talking.

So it’s time stroll by some quite common and doable dialog eventualities which will come up when the topic comes up at a gathering. No have to worry!

This one at all times feels loads trickier than it really is, since you’re very doubtless to enter full defensive mode over it. Possibly you’re being judged, however that shouldn’t have an effect on your strategy!

Lay it out in naked phrases; go over the fundamentals. It’s like an extended sport just like king of the hill. Everybody picks a personality that has totally different magic powers, or is stronger, or can hit tougher. (And there are 115 of them.) You must develop extra highly effective, then struggle your method to the opponents’ staff base and destroy it.

If they’ve easy questions, reply them! Folks actually do need to perceive, no matter how they need to really feel about it. (By that I imply, sure, possibly your aunt/uncle does need to hate it, however that opinion received’t change regardless, so what’s the hurt?) On the very least, they discovered one thing new.

And you’ll speak about folks dedicate a LOT of money and time on it, as a result of it’s simply such an intensive sport. But when somebody finds that odd:

Okay, effectively, someone has to level it out. Not that you simply don’t comprehend it already.

Right here’s the factor: Dota 2, like many different issues, is a passion, very like how “gaming,” as a complete, is handled as such. And it’s not a meaningless one both, I promise. (Or a minimum of, that’s what we maintain telling ourselves.) For one, it simply takes so rattling lengthy to study, that you’ve to spend so much of time on it as a way to get deeper enjoyment out of it.

That’s positive, as a result of different persons are grinding too, and also you all study collectively! Actually, 13 million distinctive customers (most likely extra like 12 million after smurfs) can’t all be improper. Past the sport, there are occasions and meetups, little chat rooms and complete dialogue websites. Different folks make it price your time.

Hey, you realize what? It makes you cheerful. Simply so long as you rise up and do your work from time to time, and deal with others round you with respect and the correct quantity of consideration, and most significantly, deal with your self—what’s improper? Somebody’s gonna decide you one way or the other for nearly something you do that you simply get pleasure from. Simply don’t get too defensive if somebody does get essential. Shrug it off. It’s most likely a generational factor.

One of many previous’ems goes to say Pong or one thing. It’s price noting, like many issues, Pong’s authentic iteration runs on a large brick of a pc with much less processing energy. However, um, PLEASE don’t level that out until they bring about it up as an element of fascination.

In truth, it’s one factor to be condescending about your kin’ previous experiences with gaming. Don’t provoke a roast in your kin for being behind on the occasions; go along with the tone of the dialog.

It’s one other, significantly better factor to speak about how goddamn cool video video games are these days. It’s like going to Disney World within the 1970’s versus now. It’s not higher or worse (although most likely higher), simply totally different. Extra high-tech, extra fascinating, extra issues to do.

So clarify it that method! Dota 2 is free! The brand new graphics are fairly cool! You’ve 115 characters, which suggests 18-freaking-billion (upwards of 19 billion) character/staff mixtures are doable. You may play ONLINE with STRANGERS, and are anticipated to, and for those who’re good you might be ranked and well-known! (Although not mutually inclusive.) Folks receives a commission to educate and assist different gamers get good at it!

Think about taking part in no matter sport they’re speaking about, on the Web, and you’ll even signal as much as win cash and fame since you’re so good at it. It’s a ability, like swinging a golf membership, bluffing in poker or no matter you need to level out and examine this to. It’s one thing to be hyped for and happy with.

…and the child spins his head round to take a look at you…

HOLD UP. KEEP THAT ELITISM IN CHECK. RELAX. DEEP BREATHS. BE NICE.

I do know you don’t need to hear this child rant about Minecraft as you’re making an attempt to observe soccer. However be the higher individual right here: Gaming is definitely SUPER cool. You already know it. The adults comprehend it. The world is aware of it. You get to be the cool individual right here, and it’ll make the dad and mom completely happy.

And have a look at the truth of the state of affairs, as a result of truthfully, for those who attempt to again out of this one, you’re solely making your choices worse. As a result of choice one is, you may speak about this child’s customized server, or how he’s high 50% on this planet in Name of Responsibility, or his favourite Freddy Fazbear fan animation. A minimum of you’ll be studying about what video video games the youngsters are taking part in nowadays.

Whereas coping with somebody with parallel however not the identical hobbies might be obnoxious, the opposite choice is: You retain the door open to your kin asking in regards to the actuality of your life. Even when your life isn’t unhappy, your job is nice and you’ve got a terrific relationship, I don’t suppose anybody likes the conversational intrusion. You simply know somebody will likely be judging you.

If the child does ask what the heck Dota 2 is, simply inform them there’s an enormous competitors for it yearly. 5 gamers, like king of the hill, and everybody performs totally different characters. Like an enormous battle.

But when they’re like, 13 or youthful, inform them to keep away from it as a result of it’s an enormous child sport that takes a whole lot of studying to study, and they should give attention to their schoolwork. That’s not removed from the reality, anyway. (That’s to say, don’t break this child’s life, please. We’re all begging you.)

Improbable! Somebody may very well keep in mind it! There’s an opportunity this finally ends up being the head of your night. You get a shot at legitimizing one thing you get pleasure from as a result of it’s simply so goddamn large!

There’s a really small likelihood they might be mixing it up with one other esport occasion, however that’s okay! It is a fantastic alternative to speak in regards to the deserves of esports. Whereas Dota 2 has the most important occasion, esports occasions nonetheless have tens of millions of at stake. League of Legends and Overwatch gamers are salaried, and plenty of have advantages. They attract tens of millions of viewers at finest, and 1000’s, if not a whole bunch of 1000’s, on a gradual day. It’s gotten the designation as an business that actually sports activities staff homeowners are attempting to take a position into. (The Patriots! The 76’ers! Golden State Warriors! The homeowners of the Bruins and Celtics!)

Whether or not or not they acknowledged the sport correct, it’s additionally a terrific likelihood to clarify why there’s a event. Dota has 14 years with constant gamers who’ve performed almost so long as it’s existed. It takes a whole bunch of hours—we’ll say numerous hours equal to every week—to know the sport effectively sufficient to know it at a primary stage. There are the technical points of the sport: the reflexes, decision-making and consciousness. Given the characters, gadgets and map mechanics, it might have a ability requirement corresponding to few different hobbies on the market. Plus, once you’re within the thick of it, you want 4 teammates of comparable information and ability, and you should beat 5 gamers of comparable ability.

It goes past gameplay, although; Dota 2 is a global phenomenon. You may inform them how the final match of the most important event of the yr was a European staff versus a Chinese language one, and the way it stuffed and shook the stadium. Folks come from everywhere in the world to fulfill others and watch these video games for six days. You may inform them to think about a World Cup for an exhaustively troublesome online game, and the analogy will most likely stick effectively.

The lengthy and in need of that is, get them as excited for the aggressive side as you doubtless are, as a result of severely, when it boils down, a $24 million worldwide gaming event is fairly freaking cool.

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meanwhileinoz · 6 years

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Elon Musk Just Destroyed Flat Earth Society On Twitter And Their Response Is Really Stupid

In this crazy timeline of ours, Elon Musk went toe to toe with Flat Earth Society on Twitter.

It feels surreal. The entirety of 2017 was a very weird acid trip. Started with Hollyweed, ended with everyone you know and love in Hollywood being accused of sexual misconduct, and you’re just hoping that the guy or gal you idolised for so long isn’t one of the bad eggs.

While that’s happening, there’s also the strange case of Flat Earth going up against SpaceX genius, Elon Musk.

He asked a simple question.

Twitter | Elon Musk

And their reply was equally simple, if not confusing.

Twitter | Elon Musk

The comment thread was the real head scratcher.

Twitter | Elon Musk

In fact, even Notch showed up. What timeline is this?

Twitter | Elon Musk