#i have a bias against live action stuff for several reasons | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

ificouldhelpyouforget · 3 years

Text

I have now had a lot of time getting to know Stray Kids as a group now and I think I'm ready to have and share my opinion on the topic most stays don't bring up and that is Woojin.

Disclaimer: I have every right to my opinion on this subject. If anyone is going to comment with hate because he is the subject of this post, your comments will be ignored and deleted. You are subject to your own opinions as well, but hate will not be tolerated. If you have no interest to read further, scroll on. I will put a read more option.

By the time I found Stray Kids, Woojin was several months absent from the group, so I honestly had no idea he existed until I got into watching their older MVs. I obviously became curious and looked up who he was, but didn't dive much deeper. But when I started noticing compilations where his face was blurred or blocked out, I did the research.

As someone who had no opinions before researching, I was able to take in everything without any real bias despite all of the rather harsh comments I had seen mingled around the stray kids tag on here.

Honestly, the amount of hate sent to him was (and still is) insane. A lot of people forget the "innocent until proven guilty" phrase and condemn anyone who does anything remotely wrong legally even when the evidence doesn't quite add up. Frankly, celebrity/idol allegations always leave me skeptical over the validity because people like to see others fail. I know. It's disgusting. So I'm always cautious until more evidence is released. I never try to invalidate victims, but I want the evidence before I take a side, you know? Anyway, based on the evidence I found (of course I didn't go through the period of never being sure of the validity), Woojin wasn't guilty. Isn't guilty. One account was found to be lying with a stolen photo from a photographer and the other suddenly disappeared. That to me is suspicious. I get talking about assaults is scary and uncomfortable, but I would want my name out there as a victim because I would know my story is true. I would hide only out of guilt for lying. Now that's me, but hiding behind anonymous accounts is generally how trolls work, so... I'm cautious around stuff like that. I just, after all the research I did, couldn't see Woojin as guilty. The evidence against him wasn't substantial enough (and I've heard multiple stories that it was a couple of people getting revenge because they were mad about him leaving SKZ).

As for him leaving Stray Kids, I'm still pondering that one. I've gotten a range of reasons why he left from other stays. With it happening the way it did and there being no real response to it by JYP or SKZ (that I have found), it allows people to create their own ideas. The people making videos of "proof" of him bullying the other guys bother me because it almost feels like those video-makers haven't spent time with a bunch of guys. Sure, some of his actions come off a bit more aggressive, but I've not seen anything that makes me concerned, I guess. I'm just surprised because Lee Know is a bit aggressive with them sometimes and no one seems to care at all. I think it's just something people conjured up because people want answers. If there isn't an answer, we make one. Now, I haven't watched a ton of evidence about the way Woojin treated the other members, but what I have seen doesn't give me the impression he bullied them. Again, I see current members tease and "bully" each other quite similarly... a lot like a bunch of guys who are friends and spend a lot of time together. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I honestly don't have much more to say about Woojin other than the comments on his looks are extremely rude. He's cute. His features aren't as soft as you'd expect, but they don't make him unattractive at all. When I first found Stray Kids, I didn't think Lee Know, Changbin, or I.N were cute. That's changed because of their personalities coming through making them adorable and cute, but just because I didn't find them cute didn't mean they weren't. The same goes for Woojin.

Also, I really think he was the strongest vocalist in SKZ. He held notes well in live performances and his voice is well-rounded. Seungmin and I.N are great vocalists for SKZ, I love their voices, and both are strong in their talent, but Woojin was by far the best vocalist. I am glad though that with him leaving, Seungmin has really stepped into the role of lead vocalist because he has so much talent. 💜

This all I really have on Woojin. I don't actively seek out news on him because I really don't have an attachment to him at all. I just know he was in SKZ and isn't now. But I don't agree with the hate given to him at all. It's inappropriate and wrong. No one deserves that kind of attack from anyone.

Thanks for letting me put out my two cents on this. I know not many will agree or care what I have to say about Woojin, but I really wanted to speak up about him. Again, if you are going to respond with hate, you will be ignored and your comment deleted.

Have a good day!

#woojin #kim woojin #stray kids #skz #she speaks #no hate please #it's not needed #discuss like civil humans

72 notes · View notes

felassan · 4 years

Note

So the Chantry is kinda all pervasive amongst humans in Thedas, but it's only been going for ~1000 years, what do we know of pre/non Andrastian religion amongst humans and other folk?

oohh, great question

Some of this stuff is more like philosophy or religion-adjacent, but it’s worth going into on the subject of the query.

(Note: terms like “shaman” and “animism” are coming from in-universe sources/quotes)

The dwarves don’t worship a god, but they venerate The Stone and have been doing so for over 2000 years. They believe themselves to be the Children of the Stone, which they refer to as “she”. She shelters them, supports them and offers them the most priceless gifts of the earth. Most non-surface dwarves really don’t want to lose their connection to the Stone, their innate Stone-sense. They also practise something akin to ancestor worship. Worthy dwarves are thought to return to the Stone’s embrace in death and become Ancestors. The Ancestors guide the dwarves and speak with the voice of the Provings. Genetivi writes that “for guidance in spiritual matters”, the dwarves turn to their Ancestors. Dwarves may ask the Ancestors to guard or protect them or their loved ones. They also seek to honor and follow in the footsteps of their Paragons. Paragons are believed to have joined with the Stone in life and are essentially elite role models. They’re elected by the Assembly after a great invention, act of valor or other notable action or trait, mostly posthumously. Paragons are set above the ancestors and even kings. If living a Paragon has ‘living Ancestor’ status. There’s some overlap in these concepts; dwarves are said to practise living ancestor worship by way of naming Paragons.

The dwarves of Kal-Sharok have lived for many years in isolation and consequently some of their religious and associated practises have somewhat diverged. They don’t recognize the Paragons of Orzammar, and their own Paragons are selected based on promised deeds, as opposed to ones already undertaken. The Sha-Brytol defend and revere the Titans. They later come to both love and fear Valta due to her restored Titan-connection. Meanwhile, some Surface dwarves still cleave to the Stone. Others are Andrastian or non-religious. Brother Burkel in DAO was an Andrastian Surface dwarf who wished to open a Chantry in Orzammar. I wonder if dwarven beliefs before their sundering from the Titans were centered around the Titans, as their beliefs now are around the Stone (which is like, the same thing, but also not).

The big-Q Qunari follow the Qun. “Qunari” means “People of the Qun”. The Qun is a school of thought and set of teachings based on the writings and philosophies of its founder, Ashkaari Koslun, in the Tome of Koslun. “The Qun” is the philosophical text Koslun wrote, and it’s noted to be “a philosophy” which “does not allow for the existence of religions”. Qunari society is essentially based on the Qun. Notably, it’s not an atheistic belief system (“not” isn’t a typo here, I think it’s something DG once said. not sure how this fits together). Humans, elves and dwarves can convert to and embrace the Qun, whereupon they become known as Viddathari - like Tallis, or Gatt. It’s possible for Viddathari to become Arishok, Arigena or Ariqun. The Ariqun is the leader of the Qunari priesthood and Tamassrans and the Ben-Hassrath are branches of it. Members of the horned race born outside of the Qun - who have never known it - are considered Vashoth (grey - Genetivi’s interview with a Vashoth goat herder is insightful here), and Qunari of any race who intentionally leave or abandon the Qun are Tal-Vashoth (true grey). To be Tal-Vashoth is to rebel against the Qun’s principles.

Many Rivaini people have converted to the Qun, especially in Kont-aar, which is a Qunari settlement on the mainland. Many native Seherons have also converted to the Qun. City Elves are notably likely to convert due to their unfair lot and mistreatment in human society. The original native inhabitants of Par Vollen, the Fex, have been assimilated into the Qun. Before that, the Fex were probably the “people of Par Vollen” who built the vast cities and great distinctive pyramids on the island which are now ruins. These pyramids don’t seem to be tombs, and due to their design may be scientific in purpose (observatories). They could instead potentially have been of religious significance. Those people used to have temples, upon which they made stylized painted carvings depicting tall horned figures in positions of authority and respect: “What were these horned figures to the ancients of Par Vollen? Priests, ritualistically crowned? Heroes? Gods, perhaps? We may never know the truth. But when the Qunari arrived from the sea, horned and carrying the word of the Qun, perhaps instead of conquerors, the people of Par Vollen saw an old legend returning to them.” This seems to be the reason why the Fex were assimilated so easily and without resistance.

Before the foundation of the Qun, the people who preceded the Qunari - “kossith” isn’t quite right as a term for them, for several reasons - prayed to animist gods. World of Thedas says “they were wild then, devoted to a chaos that kept them from greatness”. When “the Qun became law, the temples kossith built to honor their animist gods were destroyed, and their priests were reeducated or driven into exile”.

The main elven religion can probably be roughly split into three categories: the ancient religion, in which the Evanuris were worshipped as god-kings by ancient elves in Elvhenan and which probably still has some relevance for the few remaning ancient elves today (see Abelas and co); the modern Dalish faith, involving the Dalish elves’ conception of the pantheon as the Creators and how they relate that to their way of life; and those among the City Elves who still keep to the old ways or seem to adhere to both them and Andrastianism, and more broadly speaking, the City Elves’ practising of those cultural rituals that they do remember, and of their own unique traditions. The deities are Mythal, Elgar’nan, June, Andruil, Sylaise, Dirthamen, Falon’Din, Ghilan’nain and sometimes Fen’Harel. A lot has been said on elfy stuff of this kind, so I won’t get much into it.

Notably, Ameridan, an elf from the Dales (as in the historical Dalish kingdom), revered both the elven pantheon and the Maker. For him, was this syncretism? In the Dales historically, each elven ‘Creator’ god had a High Keeper and a temple. In the modern day most City Elves are Andrastian, although Andrastianism for several reasons is more distant as a concept to many City Elves compared to how it is for the average human. Some City Elves seem to believe in the Creators or in a combination of both the Creators and the Maker - the Widower in the Hinterlands and his spouse for example kept to the old ways as they could, and he can say to the Inquisitor “Falon’Din guide your steps - or the Maker, as you like”.

There is also still elven worship of the Forgotten Ones, the other half of the elven pantheon. Named Forgotten Ones are Daern’thal, Anaris, Geldauran and sometimes Fen’Harel, but there are others. In the time of the Dales, worship of these beings was persecuted, but secret worship of these gods did continue through til the modern day. “Some fear that these dark beings are less forgotten than most believe, and that a terrible few have strayed deeply into darkness in their quest for vengeance against the shemlen. If these are true and secretive cults do indeed hide among the elves, then such lost souls have torn out their hearts and forsaken all that it means to be Dalish in return for the keys to a twisted and terrible strength”. The elves in the Tirashan are implied to follow gods other than the traditional Dalish Creators, and to wear brilliant crimson vallaslin of these gods. In The Last Court they set upon Seraultine soldiers, and instead of calling out to the Creators for aid, they were calling out to no gods the soldiers had ever heard of before, “offering us up. Like pigs on a platter.” It’s probable that the gods these elves worship are the Forgotten Ones, and it could be that sacrifice is part of their belief system (though it should be noted the recounting of that event was told by a human they’d attacked [bias, fear?]).

The Scaled Ones (a reptilian underground race) seem to have/have had their own religion. Details are thin, but they’ve been observed practising at a golden altar fashioned in the shape of a fire. “On the tip of each flame hung the corpses of those we’d lost. [...] They’d been drained of blood, leaving only bone wrapped in grey skin. A robed Scaled One stood before the altar. Its voice was different from the others: softer, almost feminine. It chanted and raised a basin of blood towards the altar. The other Scaled Ones bowed low. The robed Scaled One produced fire from its palm and mouth and ignited the blood.”

Humanity is very varied. In Andrastianism, you have the main big split, which is the Imperial / ‘black’ Chantry in Tevinter vs the southern / ‘white’ Chantry. Some of the differences between the two variants are covered here. You also have various Andrastian... splinter groups, off-shoots, or cults. This isn’t surprising given that Andrastianism itself was originally a cult known as the Cult of the Maker. After what happened to Andraste, there were many cults, and the Cult of the Maker was oppressed. It just ended up happening to get lucky and became the one which subsumed or supplanted most of the others in the end, thanks to Kordillus. The mainstream Chantry today considers all such alternative practises and beliefs heretical. Many of these beliefs however pre-date the Chantry.

The Inquisitor can encounter the Blades of Hessarian cult. They believe that they serve Andraste and were chosen to bring her judgement upon the weak and corrupt, and that they originate from Trefir, who was a slave of the Archon that Andraste supposedly met.

My favorite offshoot: the Cult of [the] Masked Andraste, in Serault. They worship a huntress-aspect of Andraste unique to Serault, and their sigil is the bow. Their shrine to Masked Andraste stands in the Applewoods, where she’s depicted with a bow. This cult is neither entirely permitted nor entirely forbidden. Yayy, heterodoxy! They hold secret woodland rites linked to nature, so that “The Masked Andraste will quench its hunger”, and their leader is none other than the Elegant Abbess of the Abbey of the Bans.

The Order of Fiery Promise’s adherents are called Promisers. They believe that the end of the world is coming and also that it’s necessary. They once tried to destroy all Astrariums in order to fulfill their destiny, and they want Thedas to be cleansed with fire to that it can be reborn as a paradise. They’ve resurfaced several times throughout history, and originate in a time long ago when several cults dedicated to Andraste were each trying to become ‘The One’.

The Hero of Ferelden encounters the Disciples of Andraste, led by Father Kolgrim, father of the Haven Chantry. Originally pledged to keep the Temple of Sacred Ashes, by 9:30 they believed a High dragon to be Andraste reincarnated and cared for its eggs and dragonlings. This cult preceded the Chantry and kept itself well-hidden until the modern day. Its leader figures were men. They no longer revere the Maker and instead revere Andraste herself. In DAI, Tamar is a surviving member of this cult.

The Daughters of Song were wiped out by Emperor Drakon during his crusade. They were a hedonistic cult comprised of both women and men whose hedonism was their way of celebrating Andraste’s holy union with the Maker. Their stronghold was in an Orlesian village.

Related to this stuff, there was also the Empty Ones, who are fascinating but harder to classify. They were a small and short-lived cult based out of Nevarra which worshipped the Blight itself and by extension darkspawn. Their belief was that the Blight was the Maker’s tool by which he intended to end all creation, as the world was beyond redemption. They saw the darkspawn as his prophets and wanted to return to the Void. They were wiped out in the Second Blight.

Within the mainstream southern Chantry, mention can also be made of Nevarran practises and beliefs, which are like.. gothic Andrastianism with some distinctive features and bells on? They hold ancestral pageants and don’t burn their dead like other Andrastians. They have a unique relationship with magic and death, unique beliefs about what happens to dead souls and how that interacts with spirits and the Fade, and a unique preoccupation with mummification, necromancy and crypts. The Mortalitasi perform mysterious macabre rites and are often rumored to be a death cult.

Outside of Andrastianism, in Tevinter, worship of the Old Gods occurred thousands of years ago and still persists in secret parts of Tevinter society today. The Old Gods are Dumat, Lusacan, Razikale, Toth, Urthemiel, Andoral and Zazikel. It’s speculated that there may have been an eigthth Old God who was struck from the records. In the days of the ancient Imperium, most citizens worshipped them, and there were associated temples and holidays, and a High Priest and priesthood of each. The true nature of the Old Gods is unknown - demons, spirits, Great dragons, something else? - but they’re the sleeping dragon-shaped beings that become Archdemons if the darkspawn find and Taint them. They used to communicate directly with their worshippers and the influence of Old God worship on Tevinter society is still evident today with how their culture views dragons as the ultimate symbol of power and how dragons are featured heavily in much of their art, architecture, etc. There are still some Old God cults in more modern times:

the Blood Band is an Old God cult led by Fallstick. They hate templars and don’t view blood magic as being inherently evil.

the Last Moon are/were a cult dedicated to Lusacan. Early in the Dragon Age, they abducted and ritualistically murdered several people. Their goal at that time was to cause the start of a terrible battle, in order to cover Thedas in “a night that will never end” (Lusacan being the Dragon of Night).

Magister Aurelian Titus also led a cult. Titus wanted to return all of the Imperium to the worship of the Old Gods. He tried to use the Dreamer abilities of himself and his cult, bolstered by the Magrallen artifact, in order to brainwash Thedosians. He had a vision of a restored Tevinter where slaves knew their place and the Chant of Light and the Qun were both purged from peoples’ minds. He said “The old gods. The dragon gods. We shall become them”.

there’s also a tale of a group of Old God cultists who departed mainland Thedas on a trio of ships in the late Storm Age to try and reach the mysterious uninhabited land of Amaranth, across the eastern ocean. Their expedition was supposedly never heard from again

The Venatori are also arguably a cult, although not precisely of the Old Gods exactly but of one of the original High Priests of the Old Gods, the Conductor, who we know as Corypheus. They’re the nationalist supremacists that we all.. know and don’t love. They see/saw Corypheus as the Elder One and a deity, essentially, and want to restore the glory of Tevinter. They revered him and believed he’d turn them into god-kings when he became a proper god. Although routed by the Inquisitor in DAI, they’re not gone. Venatori remnant loyalists crop up in Tevinter Nights. One prominent loyalist tries to release a demon sealed under Minrathous in a ritual attempt to bring about “Minrathous’ return”. It was thought that the demon is so powerful that only a god (like Corypheus) could summon it. There’s more on what they’ve recently been up to here (TN spoilers for lots of things, not just the Venatori, at link).

In the universe there have also been several dragon cults throughout history. This isn’t surprising given the prevalence of dragons in the setting and the Imperium’s Old God worship. After the First Blight, many desperate Imperial citizens turned to the worship of real dragons to replace the Old Gods (who had failed them). “A dragon, after all, was a god-figure that they could see: It was there, as real as the Archdemon itself.” Old God worship was as widespread as the Imperium, and so this sort of belief could have easily spread. There are however also reports of dragon cults in places which never worshipped the Old Gods or heard of them. Members of a dragon cult live in the same lair as a High dragon, defending its young. In exchange the dragon lets them kill some of them and drink their blood, which confers benefits on them like increased strength (sounds like Reaver abilities, basically). Scholars aren’t sure how these mutually beneficial relationships begin. Nevarran dragon hunters reported mad rants and tales of godhood from such cultists. Kolgrim’s Disciples of Andraste Andrastian-offshoot cult (see above) is one such dragon cult. Interestingly, it’s a cool example of intersection and socio-religious crossover/spectrum-type stuff (? don’t know how to explain what I mean here in words) like we see in our world. It’s like a Venn diagram or something that goes: Old God worship -> dragon cults -> Kolgrim’s Andrastian dragon cult -> Andrastianism.

Now, Andrastianism and Old God worship aside, in Rivain, the people are pantheists who believe in something called the Natural Order. Rivaini royalty is officially Andrastian, but the Chantry doesn’t have much authority in the country outside of the capital. In the Natural Order, it’s held that the universe and their god are the same. Rivaini people also traditionally place great value on their seers. These wise women are elders and hedge mages that communicate with spirits and allow themselves to be possessed, which reminds me of a similar practise seen in the Avvar. These traditions date back millennia.

The Avvar still worship the old gods of the Alamarri. Their pantheon includes Sigfrost, Uvolla, Imhar the Clever, the Lady of the Skies, Korth the Mountain Father, Hakkon Wintersbreath, Rilla of the Fireside, Bjorn Reed-beard and dozens of animal gods never revealed to outsiders. Codex entries refer to worship of the Lady of the Skies as “the Avvar Sky Cult” and “the Cult of the Sky”. The Avvarian pantheon is complex, including both legendary mortals who ‘ascended’ to the heavens and spirits. It varies somewhat between groups, as each group has its own legendary heroes, but they all follow the main three (Korth, the Lady, Hakkon). They believe in an afterlife and that some people are destined to be reborn. Avvar shamans are mages called augurs. Augurs are believed to interface between their clan and the spirits, receive counsel from the spirits, conduct rites so that spirits can speak through them, appease some and deal with other troublesome ones. They also interpret omens. Like Rivaini seers they at times allow themselves to be possessed.

The Jaws of Hakkon were a cult of Avvar who had eschewed all the other gods in the Avvar pantheon in favor solely of Hakkon. Adherents are called Hakkonites. They first formed during the Second Blight, when they summoned their spirit-god Hakkon and bound him in the form of a dragon, wanting him to cause destruction in the lowlands for not helping during the Blight. They resurfaced in the Dragon Age when Gurd Harofsen forswore the other gods, having been enraged at the other gods for allowing the Blight to affect his hold and at lowlanders for refusing to aid the Avvar. The Inquisitor routes this second attempt to set the dragon on the lowlands.

Said category of “Alamarri” refers to the following human tribes: Avvar, Clayne (the precursors of modern Fereldans), and the Chasind. When the Alamarri tribes crossed the Frostback Mountains and settled in the lands that would eventually become known as Ferelden, they were fleeing something. Alamarri tribal legend says they were running from a “shadow goddess” (a demon?), but modern scholars believe they were fleeing some kind of natural disaster.

The Chasind Wilders today, like the Avvar, are also not Andrastian. They worship animist gods that an Andrastian refers to as “brutal” (likely biased). Their communities are led by shamans. The Chasind celebrate and respect the Witches of the Wilds, in particular Flemeth. They fashion some of their weapons in the shapes of animals in order to confuse their gods; if they happen to kill someone beloved by their gods, they might blame these ‘animals’ instead. They also traditionally personify the seasons as female warriors, bearing the typical attributes of renewal and death, and having animal heads. “Winter is of note for its brutality, as it is tied to their rumored custom of killing those who flee battle.” The gods the Chasind worship may or may not be the same ones as the Avvarian gods. Or maybe there’s overlap.

The Agadi live far to the south beyond the Chasind. The Chasind word for them, Agadi, means “exile”. Genetivi was harshly corrected by the Chasind when he asked if these people were Chasind. He concludes that they were expelled from the forests by the Chasind and have since splintered off into their own culture in the sunless lands. Bad blood lingers between them and the Chasind. Since they seem to have split off from the Chasind, it’s possible that these people worship the same gods as the Chasind, perhaps with some differing customs, or else their culture has diverged far enough that they have their own completely distinct belief system and deities.

The indigenous Seherons who haven’t converted to the Qun appear to have their own beliefs. Their legends speak of their heroes who “learned at the feet of elves”. The Fog Warriors, who are native Seherons, have Fog Dancers who recite their legends of old and keep the songs of their people alive. They talk of an ancient calamity known as the “Curse of Nahar”. It’s not a stretch to say they likely have their own religion.

Elsewhere in modern known Thedas, we have no real idea about the religious beliefs of the following groups:

The Orth people: they practise facial scarification, perhaps this practise is partially religious in basis (like Dalish vallaslin)

Historically, the pre-Chantry religion of the Clayne would have either been the Avvarian faith or something similar to it. The Planasene were a farming tribe that formed the basis of most of humanity in Nevarra and the Free Marches. They had a strong culture of animist worship. The Neromenian tribes originally worshipped fallen heroes reborn as dragons. When the Old Gods taught the Dreamers of these tribes magic, these Dreamers became the priests and kings of their people. Through those Dreamers as their leaders, they began to worship the Dreamers’ gods, also as dragons. This seems to be the origin of Old God Worship (Tevinter being an offshoot of the Neromenians which eventually absorbed them and Qarinus to form the Imperium). Also, early peoples such as the Neromenians had a fascination with all objects in the sky, the Sun and Moon especially. The people of Barindur perished after their High King turned away an envoy from the High Priest of the Old God Dumat; legends say that the priest called upon his god to punish the King, and after some months Barindur was lost (after being encased following volcanic eruption is the mundane explanation). From this we could possibly infer either that the Barindur people worshipped the Old Gods and then rejected them or that they rejected them from the outset, and in either scenario were punished by them for this (or believed to be).

We have no real idea about the religious beliefs of the following historical groups:

The Daefads

The Inghirsh

The Yothandi

The Ciriane

Outside of modern Thedas, today, there’s very little to no cause to believe that the Chant of Light has reached the following groups (due to the fact that serious attempts at exploration beyond the known world has usually been thwarted by Blights, Qunari dreadnoughts, pirates etc), and in turn very little to nothing is known about their religious beliefs:

The Parladians: their witches cast powerful spells like cloaking magic. The Rivaini peoples’ origins are the island chains in the Boeric ocean, and the Parladian witches are reminiscent of Rivaini seers. Going by this and the fact that Rivaini people have been practising their beliefs involving the seers for millennia, it’s not a stretch to wonder if the Parladian religion is similar to Rivaini beliefs (pantheism, the Natural Order etc)

The Voshai: we know that they’re reverent somehow towards dwarves and that dwarves hold a place of profound power of some kind in their society

The Executors: we know they’re concerned about one god-like figure at least, the Dread Wolf

That’s everything I can think of rn ◕‿◕

(didn’t get too much into the specific details of each belief system because especially in the major cases you could easily write whole other posts on each one)

#dragon age #bioware #mj replies #underthehedge #video games #tevinter nights #tevinter nights spoilers #tevinter nights spoiler #spoiler #spoilers #solas #long post #longpost #mj meta

261 notes · View notes

beacon-lamp · 3 years

Note

Thoughts on dreams response?

so i read the 19 page paper and then watched dream’s response video. don’t really know what the discourse surrounding his response is bc ✨i don’t care enough to go purposefully looking for it ✨

my overall thoughts on the Entire Situation under the cut because i talk A Lot:

first and foremost, the math in the paper is Incredibly Thorough. dream gave the Abridged Version in his video bc i doubt most people read the entire thing. but if you read the paper, you’ll see the author point out what calculations the mods did wrong and, more importantly, why they were wrong and how they fixed it. you’ll also notice that they mentioned several times that the results the author calculated did match some of that of the mods’ calculations. we love reproducibility.

questioning the credibility of the author is a waste of time and energy. they’re Anonymous for a reason. imagine getting a fucking doctorate in statistics (an additional 4-8 years of study after college in the US) and your biggest paycheck of the year comes from some dude in florida who plays minecraft for a living. jokes aside, you can argue in circles about “oh dream bribed the expert” but the intentions of the author and purpose of the paper are clearly stated in the first couple pages. before all the math stuff. people were so quick to believe the stuff in the paper the volunteer mods put out. why not believe the expert too?

there is a greater lesson here to be learned about bias. both for and against dream. it was Incredibly Concerning to see So Many People immediately jump to “dream cheated 100%” or “dream would never cheat he’s the best” before understanding all of the facts. i’ll admit, even i fell into this trap before i took a step back from the situation to look at the big picture. we all have biases, many of which we aren’t even aware of. but it’s always important to recognize those biases and account for them as much as possible before drawing conclusions, especially those that have real world implications. it’s also important to listen to Experts and those who Know More Than You. sometimes you just have to shut up and listen. you’re not going to know everything and that is Fine as long as you are open to Learning from those with credibility and knowledge. you’re going to make mistakes and have opinions you’ll later look back on and *cringe* and all of that is fine because we are all Growing and Learning.

aight let’s talk about the mods. i’ve already like vented in the tags of a post from like 2 week ago and my point still stands. statistics is Very Difficult to Do and unfortunately is an Incredibly Powerful Tool. there is No Right Way to do stats. the data is unbiased but the analysis and interpretation of that data can be. once again, that’s why it’s important to account for your biases. the mods tried. i’ll give them credit, i really do believe they Tried. but unfortunately trying sometimes just isn’t Good Enough. statistics can be weaponized to push forward an agenda, whether or not the author intended it. i know that this is “just minecraft” and it only affects “one person” but inaccurate publications or misrepresentations of data have Real Life Consequences. one Disproven and publicly denounced paper had people Believing that vaccines cause autism, contributing to the antivax movement that is Once Again having an impact during coronatime. the point is, the mods should’ve consulted a professional. someone with credentials about their math. there is no doubt in my mind that they knew the fallout that was to come. the drama this would stir up. there was Obvious, Documented bias against dream from the beginning. i’m sure there were people who wanted to take him down at least a peg or two. but once again, that’s no excuse to publish this without consulting a Credible Expert. i’m going in circles now you get the point, academic integrity is Very Important. also News Outlets have reported on this, overall shedding a pretty negative light on the minecraft speedrunning community as a whole, which also harms the mods too in my opinion.

finally, let’s talk about dream. if you don’t like him, that’s fine. it’s Okay to Not Like Someone. to Stop Watching their content. to Stop Supporting Them. dream responded incredibly immaturely to this entire situation, as we have seen him do Multiple Times before. personally, i don’t believe the excuse “i acted without thinking and i’m sorry” cuts it anymore, given his 14M subscriber count and 1M+ twitter followers. he is a grown adult and should learn to conduct himself better publicly. i have friends his age and this behavior in a professional setting, which for him twitter is because social media/ content creator is quite literally his job, would be Completely Unacceptable. it’s perfectly valid to be angry and yell about it to his friends, hell i’d be Furious. but he should know better than to tweet impulsively. feel free to draw your own conclusions on him as a CC and public figure. please do. i know “cancel culture” has deviated from it’s Original Meaning (much like the term “stan” has too) but hold content creators accountable for their actions. do not blindly defend him. at the same time, acknowledge that he is a young adult who is still growing and learning. these two ideas can and should coexist. however, ***do not accept apologies that are not yours to accept***. shut up and listen to others who know more than you about a particular thing. think for yourselves. draw your own conclusions but always be willing to Grow if/when you Learn New Information.

the world is Complicated. i’m sorry. i wish it were easier too.

in conclusion, i can’t believe *this* is the first time i’ve used statistics knowledge outside of an academic setting and in the Real World. 2020 is fucking wack. if you’ve made it this far, thank you for coming to my incoherent ted talk. no one is going to read this whole thing and i’ve accepted that.

#anon #so apparently i had a lot to say #in classic Beacon Lamp Fashion it's rambly and kinda coherent but also probably repetitive bc im not good at writing #also no one is going to read this and thats ok #discourse #discourse tw #Anonymous #also didn't proofread it before publishing so

59 notes · View notes

loominggaia · 3 years

Text

Anonymous asked:

Why are Dworfs and Humans treated so negatively in Looming Gaia. It’s not their faults that they literally can’t use magic at all and are some of the weakest people, forcing them to use tech or beast taming to defend themselves and not be oppressed/enslaved/eaten by the other peoples/Nymphs, and it isn’t their fault that their ruling kingdoms are so awful. *part one*

*Part 2* meanwhile, nobody talks back against the nymphs for being racist, murderous pricks perfectly willing to kill children for not being able to sing good, as well as forcing people to let animals eat them or die from the common cold! (I’m really sorry for this rant, I just needed to get this off my chest, I just feel as though the Humans and Dworfs in general are treated too negatively in the stories, meanwhile most of the nymphs get away with the stuff I just typed (I like looming Gaia).

I totally get what you’re saying, and this is actually the same argument that Zareen Empire basis all of their actions off of. I’ll get back to that in a moment

So, humans and dworfs...they are commoners. Commoners are resistant to iron, they can lie, and they can’t use magic. To compete with the strong gaians and the magical fae, commoners have adapted in a few different ways:

1) Assimilated with gaians and fae (Matuzu Kingdom, several others)

2) Rejected/enslaved/committed genocide against gaians and fae (Evangeline Kingdom)

3) Use dirty industrial technology to defend themselves against gaians and fae (Zareen Empire)

Nymphs scrutinize commoners harder than other peoples because of #3. Because they are resistant to iron and a lot of toxic chemicals moreso than other species, using dirty industrial technology is the path of least resistance for commoners. They COULD develop greener technologies or use their innovative brains to come up with alternative solutions, but that’s not the path Zareen took. Because of its large size, Zareen Empire has become one of the “faces” of commoner kind. Evangeline Kingdom is another face.

Nymphs universally hate Zareen Empire, but most of them have no problem with Evangeline Kingdom, which is another commoner-dominant civilization. Evangeline culture, for all its faults, is quite eco-friendly. It’s also a rich and powerful nation, which proves that commoners don’t HAVE to take the dirty industrial path to survive like Zareen Empire wants everyone to think.

Because that’s Zareen’s whole justification for their pollutive, exploitive ways: “But we commoners NEED all this dirty technology! We HAVE to exploit the environment! We don’t have a choice, sorry! UwU” But Evangeline has already proven that this isn’t true. So has Matuzu, which also has a very significant commoner population. Commoners are creative, innovative, and adaptable enough to be better than that. Alternative green tech, diplomacy, and creativity can replace dirty industry--and god knows Zareen is advanced enough to shift into cleaner technology if it wanted to...but it doesn’t want to because that’s expensive, and Zareen culture is all about money. It’s more profitable to keep dumping filth into the ocean than to process it into clean water.

“meanwhile, nobody talks back against the nymphs...“

Oh, not true at all! Zareen Empire’s entire culture is centered around anti-nymph rhetoric, painting them as violent psychopaths who just want to destroy commonerkind for no reason. Damijana spews the same propaganda at its citizens too. There is TONS of pushback against the nymphs all over Looming Gaia, it’s one of the main conflicts of the series and the cause of many wars.

Burmek Commonwealth started a massive war with the local nymphs over their restrictions. The nymphs just happened to win that war and Burmek collapsed. Zareen Empire and Damijana are constantly fighting off nymph attacks every day. Small-scale battles between peoples and nymphs happen regularly, like in Yerim-Mor Kingdom for example. People aren’t just laying down and taking shit from the nymphs, they are defending themselves the best they can.

I say this all the time, but I’ll say it again: nymphs are not a hivemind. Each one is an individual. There are violent radicalist nymph factions and peaceful friendly ones. Some even go out of their way to defend peoples from their sisters, to their own detriment. The story “Nymph’s Hollow” explores this concept; basically the local nymphs decide that they don’t want peoples in their forest anymore, but Flora stands up to them and with her help, the refugees are allowed back in Drifter’s Hollow.

All nymphs love their Mother Gaia and want to defend her. They’re just stuck in a shitty situation where they must make a choice: defend their mother or defend the people destroying her. Some nymphs choose violence to deal with this, others try to solve things peacefully with diplomacy and compromise.

I also should point out that commoners aren’t the only ones getting scrutinized and attacked by nymphs. Damijana, for example, is 95% elven and they’re at the very top of the nymphs’ shit-list. Just because a society uses magic doesn’t mean it isn’t pollutive or destructive. The Seelie and Unseelie Courts are a good example of this. They almost completely ruined their local ecosystem by slinging magic around irresponsibly, and if it weren’t for Green Witch defending the western forest, the entire continent of Umory-Ond would probably be barren by now. Magic can be just as harmful to Mother Gaia as dirty industry when used incorrectly. Nymphs hate this too and will attack any nation--no matter their species--for causing too much destruction of any kind, magic or otherwise.

I hope that makes sense! If I’m doing a bad job at portraying this in the series, then I��d like to examine and correct that ASAP because “commoners bad” is definitely not the vibe I’m going for.

I think there are some things that are just objectively evil, like greedy Zareenite CEOs poisoning sirenes to save money on waste processing. Or nymphs murdering random young men because they blame all commonerkind for the actions of that CEO. Just like in the real world, there are some behaviors that can’t--and shouldn’t--be excused.

But there are also gray areas where most of Looming Gaia’s population lies, where they don’t mean any harm and they’re just trying to live their lives the best way they know how. Those are the stories I want to tell. I want to present a story about a characters’ life without passing judgement on it and let the reader come to their own conclusion about what’s going on.

If I’ve presented a bias in my narrative, then I did something wrong. I don’t want to impose my own opinions on the reader. I’ve been accused of writing Captain Planet-esque “nature good, people bad” narratives in the past, but it’s NOT what I’m going for, I promise. I’ve tried to correct that by showing the other side of the coin too, that nature is not good or bad, it is just IS, and it is equal parts beautiful and absolutely brutal.

#ask #askliterature #asknymph

1 note · View note

kob131 · 4 years

Text

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVDx8WQGS4o

‘Oh how these pretigeous voice actors are scared of a little youtube channel.-’

So by your logic, anyone you’ve ever blocked you were just afraid of.

Because your judging what Neath did on the very basic action rather than the the context of said actions.

‘I have a lot of respect for Monty and did a lot research into his work ethic-’

And yet not enough to respect what he would have wanted AKA not insulting his friends which is a DOCUMENTED issue Monty had with people. Apparently your research couldn’t bring that up...a whole argious ONE TWITTER SEARCH (’from:montyoum my friends’

https://twitter.com/montyoum/status/365439142722666496 ).

(Mind you, the thing he was linking to was someone saying Barbara is terrible at voice acting and that Arryn and Lindsay were better. What do you think his response would be to the shit being flung around NOW?)

‘*Mockingly replaces Neath’s use of ‘homophobic’ with ‘Buzzword’*

Glass houses motherfucker-

‘Buzzword (RWBY) Buzzword (Voice Actor) is very mad at Buzzword (us)’

Almost 50% of your own fucking video title, not to mention your thumbnail, is meant not to inform your audience or be representative of your content but is to elicited an emotional reaction out of your audience. You can tell that because you referred to Neath in your thumbnail as a voice actor, given how your videos often portray voice actors, rightfully or not, in a negative light.

‘‘After reviewing their Twitter Feeds-’ Lol how pathetic of Neath!’

Glass houses AGAIN-

You’re likely to take a tweet with three retweets and five likes and portray it as something representative of a group numbering beyond the teens.

You look just as pathetic without your audience bias to shield you...Except Neath is talking about the subject of people being toxic about his brother (His ORIGINAL Tweet) and you’re, by your own standards, just afraid. (See how stupid your fucking standards are?)

‘Hey look, this person whose been complaining about my videos for two years now-’

Glass houses thrice- You’ve been doing the same shit about RWBY for the same theoretical period of time

And I do mean ‘theoretical’ because I managed to track this ‘stalker’ down. It’s Pendantic Romantic. Her earliest mention of Hero Hei dates to Jan 21...2020. (https://twitter.com/PedanticRomantc/status/1219776744640503808)

Nice try dumbass.

‘That person made a smear campaign against me and Neath retweeted it!’

Said Smear campaign just pointed out that you said the AnimeLog thing was done by Japanese studios when it was done by an American company Next10Ventures (your own little ‘correction’ where you’re being pendantic about it being an american captialist FIRM when PR was focusing on the American aspect shows the founder’s name: Benjaimin Grubbs. Fun Fact, he is NOT Japanese. He’s not even Asian.)

If that’s a smear campaign then your video is a next level smear campaign.

‘Neath retweeted from someone trying to destroy what I built up!’

With one thread and a couple miscellaneous tweets....over nine months.

What would you call someone making constant clickbait videos misrepresenting situations about people? Mass Murder?

‘Lol, I’m living rent free in Neath’s head!’

And Pendantic Romatic apparently has you in submissive contract. Also nice job proving your malice dumbass.

‘How dare Neath Oum lie about me in frong of his audience and mischaracterize my community!’

While you do the same to Neath AND Pedantic Romantic with an audience SEVERAL MAGNITUDES GREATER than theirs COMBINED? (12.8k Neath + 11.8k PR = 24.6k. Hero Hei- 192k Subscribers. 192/24.6 = 7.80487805). At this point, you’re throwing sonic grenades from within your glass city.

‘He won’t show you how I’m lying!’

And you lied to represent this stuff by making PR look like a stalker and ignore Neath’s reasons for his response while acting like him giving a reason is calling you directly a liar. (No really, how can Neath give his explanation without saying what he thinks of you?)

‘This is startlingly authoritarian and pathetic.’

Hey I think Hero Hei found a mirror.

‘You targeted an entire person in your community with hate!’

So did you...twice...in one video. Among HUNDREDS where you showcase their tweets.

‘How many times have I used the word pathetic in this video?’

About as many times as you proved yourself to be.

‘These grown adults act like middle schoolers man.’

And you’re acting like an elementary school bully, getting pissy when things don’t go your way.

I have no reason to pity or even not think of you as deserving this indirect shit flinging when as I look into your video(s)- you do the SAME SHIT, WORSE at some points and with a GREATER REACH. All things you condemn apparently.

All I see is hypocrisy, projection and proof you’re a parasite.

#hero hei

12 notes · View notes

kalluralove · 6 years

Note

How about a fic where the whole team goes to Lance's home town in Cuba, playing on the beach?

Thanks for the fun ask @aquaburst07 ! My apologies for taking so long this cold did a number on me.

**This follows the action of Season 6 so SPOILERS AHEAD!!!**

This is going to be the third part of the series after “Reforging the Bond” and “Through Your Eyes” There will be one more for a request, but it’s a side quest (a.k.a. 18+!)

Sink or Swim

Keith dug his toes into the dry sand, possibly in the hope he’d take root in his spot on the beach. Even though he grew up surrounded by the stuff, it just wasn’t the same as being here on the shores of Varadero, where the Atlantic joined the Gulf of Mexico. No barrier divided the two, and it would take a massive undertaking to do so. He mused at how two bodies of water flowed into each other and yet were separate.

Kind of like how things were with Allura. Or had been, at least. He thought they were two bodies flowing into the other as well. The current he had long imagined could not be altered was suddenly cut off by a cursed kiss and harsh words. The dam may have been designed by Lotor but Keith had built it himself.

He was happy they were at least on speaking terms again. Weeks passed and the discomfort had begun to subside, but the ease they’d long shared failed to resurface. Keith suspected Allura had begun to confide in Krolia, possibly because of her short history with the team. For that he was thankful, though, because his mother could advise her without bias. He’d never told his mom about his feelings for the Princess, after all.

And for her part Allura seemed happier. She had jumped at the chance to meet Lance’s family and relax with friends after spending so long working on Earth’s new defense system. In fact, the sound of her laughing and splashing in the water with Romelle, Lance, and Matt, made him think she was sounding a lot more like her old self. That made him incredibly happy, even if it did sting a little.

He chanced a glance their direction and was flustered when he immediately met her gaze. At first he expected her to look away but instead she smiled and waved for him to join them. Nervously he waved back, almost tempted to check over his shoulder to see if Pidge or Hunk were standing behind him.

Nope, he could see them in the distance looking for seashells. And Coran was sunning himself dangerously close to the water’s edge. If that was the case he was the only one left she could be waving to, right?

Just as he was getting his nerve up to join them he felt a gritty foot shove playfully at his back. Confused he let his head loll backwards to see Lance’s sister, Veronica, smiling down at him. She was holding two drinks and had a beach towel tucked under her arm.

“Mind if I join you?” she asked, briefly setting down the drinks to unfurl her blanket before he could even respond.

They’d only been in Cuba for a day and Keith had barely spoken with any of Lance’s siblings, so he wasn’t sure what his sister could possibly want with him. Maybe she’d heard about their contentious relationship, or how her brother viewed them as rivals. She didn’t seem angry though so– despite being annoyed that he was blocked from having fun with Allura– he decided to take the friendly approach.

“Sure, go ahead.”

He wasn’t sure why he’d bothered responding but figured it was still polite to do so. She flashed a bright smile of gratitude, handing one of the slushy drinks to Keith before planting herself next to him. After thanking her for the treat he sat for a while slowly slurping the mix of tropical fruits, wondering to himself why he’d never learned to identify poisons by their taste. Veronica was all of five-foot-two so not a danger physically, at least. He could take her in a knife fight.

“So Keith, how do you like it here?” Her question brought him back to reality, making him feel a bit guilty for making such wild assumptions about her.

“It’s nice. You must like living so close to the beach, huh?” he asked, hoping to keep the conversation to a minimum.

Veronica gave him a quick once-over before responding. “The scenery has gotten a lot nicer, for sure,” she answered with a wink.

Despite his social ineptitude Keith was beginning to suspect she might just be flirting with him. The flushed feeling in his cheeks seemed to confirm this. Granted she was certainly cute; her curly hair and bright eyes and sunny disposition were attractive features for certain. But they were more attractive on Allura, that he couldn’t deny.

Allura, the goddess playing in the surf. Her white hair pulled into a ponytail that bounced adorably as she chased the others with a bucket of water. Her dark skin and gentle curves perfectly complemented by a fiery red bikini. A bikini a top that tied around her neck and back.

Ties that looked dangerously loose and why wasn’t someone telling her to double knot them?

“Hellooooo! Earth to Keith!”

Keith’s eyes blinked instinctively as a manicured hand snapped fingers in his face. He hadn’t even realized that the woman sitting next to him had been trying to get his attention for several seconds. Despite managing to stutter out an apology he knew she wasn’t in a forgiving mood. Her eyes could have pierced a hole in his head as intently as she was glaring at him.

She didn’t break her focus until she noticed his focus had shifted to the distance once again. Glancing over her shoulder she let out a dejected sigh, her head dropping as the realization apparently set in. Then she turned her attention back to Keith, angrily snatching the half-finished drink from his hands.

“Look, I don’t know what your story is,” she started, “but you’re going to walk your ass over there and be honest with that girl.”

“I wha? Wh- who?” he stuttered. If he was hoping to play this off he was failing miserably.

Veronica stood grabbed her towel, shaking it off in his direction. Keith jumped up to protect his face from the blast of sand.

“What the hell?”

“Guess you have to go in the water now, don’t you?” she smirked. “Better hurry, you might miss your chance to come clean.”

Swiftly she turned to walk away, whipping her hair as she sauntered off to the spot where her brothers were hanging out with their families. Pausing for just a moment she looked back in Keith’s direction, winking at him but this time in a way that wasn’t in the least bit suggestive. This time is was like she’d given him the secret to a code he hadn’t yet deciphered.

After a foolhardy attempt to brush himself off he resigned himself to take her advice and jump in the ocean, figuring it would be way more effective than the showers posted near the dunes. He ducked into the waves a few times with the hope the current had done most of the work for him. As he emerged the last time he just happened to catch a glimpse of red in the corner of his eye. Instinctively his eyes rolled in that direction as red had become an important color to him.

Allura was looking at him, concern coloring her features.

Had she seen everything?

Allura had seen everything.

Well, most of it. She tried to pretend she didn’t see Lance’s super-hot sister approach Keith as the she herself was trying to get his attention. The others didn’t seem to notice her distraction at the sight of the seductress wooing the handsome paladin as he sat alone, far out of earshot.

And she was definitely proud of the fact that she didn’t outwardly cheer when Veronica stormed away, obviously after Keith had rebuffed her advances.

She did feel a bit badly for him having sand rained over his head. On the bright side, she thought, he’s in the water now. Despite the coolness of the day she felt a sudden spike in temperature as she watched the ocean bead around his chiseled form, his muscles accented by the outlines it traced.

“Head’s up!”

Matt’s alert came half-a-tick before the beach ball struck the side of her face. It didn’t really even hurt but for whatever reason she yelped as her hand rushed to cradle her right cheek. Embarrassed she hoped to simply play it off, waving her hand and playfully kicking water in Matt’s direction before chasing after the ball that had been pulled further out to sea.

By the time she reached it the water was much deeper, nearly covering her shoulders. She grabbed the ball, holding it high over her head triumphantly as Lance cheered her on. Or at least that’s what she thought he was doing. It was an obvious misunderstanding.

The wave that crashed over her head was far more powerful than the ones closer to shore. It swept her off her feet as she felt her body being sucked further out. Frantically she tried to gain a foothold as she struggled to keep her head above the surf. A second wave pushed her back down, sending her into a panic.

Suddenly a pair of arms came from behind and wrapped around her waist, pulling her to the surface. She sputtered as her rescuer swam parallel to the shoreline to an area where the waters were much calmer.

Right, Lance had told her about riptides. She’d completely forgotten.

As they came to a stop the grip on her loosened but didn’t let go completely. She could still feel the warmth of his chest against her back, his breathing labored. Something told her that if she turned around she’d be met with a very familiar face. And yet she hesitated to do so for fear her instinct was wrong.

“Allura, are you okay?”

Despite the fact that she’d almost just drowned she couldn’t imagine being more okay. Of all the voices in the universe it was the one she hoped to hear most. Maybe that was because it belonged to the man she’d loved for so long, who as always was the one to save her when she felt she could no longer breathe.

“I’m fine, thank you.”

No, that’s not what she wanted to say. What did she want to say? Words had always flowed so easily between them before, but now they were stuck in her throat and threatened to choke her.

Instead she turned to face him, throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him tightly to her. To her dismay his body went rigid, his arms floating languidly at her sides. Her heart sank as she realized he may not have forgiven her yet. Perhaps he never would.

“Um, Allura,” Keith finally spoke, his voice cracking slightly. “I think you lost something.”

Lost something? Surely he wasn’t concerned about the stupid beach ball. No,he wasn’t looking out, he was looking up. So Allura looked up too, then to her left. Her right. Then over his shoulder.

Oh.

The something was the item that Pidge was trying to flag her down with. The red triangular flags that had been plucked from the ocean. The familiar top that should have been a barrier between their skin. She cursed the red strings that cruelly taunted her as they danced in the breeze.

“Keith?”

“Hmm?”

“Could you please fetch that for me?”

This time it was Keith’s turn to sputter. “Um, sure, I guess.” Finally he lowered his gaze to hers and she could see the pink that was spreading over his cheeks. “Let’s get you a bit closer to shore first, though.”

Allura swam obediently behind him, stopping once she had to crouch significantly to maintain her dignity. She watched Keith drag himself through the foamy waves towards Pidge, awkwardly accepting the offering of Allura’s immodesty with the grace of a child holding a smelly sock. For a moment she thought to be offended, until he made his next move which was towards the beach.

Rage began to boil her blood, the cool water surrounding her hissing steam as it lapped her skin. She watched as he raced for his towel, snatching it up quickly. Forcefully he shook the sand loose and threw it over his shoulder. If he planned to leave her stranded there while he ran off with the–

Ah.

Anger turned to embarrassment as the Princess realized he was headed back to her. Of all people to trust, Keith should always be the first. Well, maybe Coran. But Keith would certainly be next. He’d always been there for her when she needed him, even when she wasn’t willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. That’s the kind of man he’d been since the day they met.

Once he reached her he held out the bikini top rather unceremoniously, waiting for her to grab it. Then Keith unfurled the towel, holding it end to end between his fingers. She realized he was offering her some privacy so she could stand to redress. He even had his eyes shut so tightly his entire face was scrunched up. Even though he looked much older than before he still had a boyish charm to him, she thought.

It took a few minutes of stretching and fumbling and barely getting a bow tied around her neck before Allura resigned herself to ask for assistance. Romelle had helped her put the top on that morning because it was rather difficult to tie a knot behind her own back. Add the difficulty of not getting her hair caught in said tie, the mission became nearly impossible.

So, she stood musing. For Keith to help her he would need to drop the towel. If he did that, she’d have no privacy. However, his shoulders were now much broader, and his chest, well….she was sure it was enough to block the view from the shore. Grabbing the remaining straps and holding them behind her she called Keith’s name to get his attention.

Three times.

The last time she raised her voice as she shot a glance over her shoulder. He looked like he wanted to be anywhere else besides there. The third time she called he jumped and nearly dropped the makeshift privacy curtain.

“Yes, Princess,” he responded stiffly.

“Can you tie this for me, please?”

He cocked his head slightly and blinked back his surprise. “Sure, I guess. I mean, if it’s okay.”

“Of course it’s okay,” she laughed in response. Did he think she would ask if it wasn’t?

“I’ll try not to touch you then,” he promised as he swept her ponytail over her shoulder.

“Don’t try too hard.”

Allura shocked herself with such a response, but Keith? He was even more unsteady than before. She worried that he might fail to tie it properly his hands were shaking so much. Still, she relished the feel of his fingertips as they brushed her skin. Once he finished she asked him to retie the one around her neck and thankfully he complied. Certainly he noticed the raised bumpy flesh on the back of her neck as his hands ghosted across it.

“All set.”

“Oh,” she responded, sounding somewhat disappointed. “Well, I hope you tied them properly. Can’t have that happen again.”

Keith laughed humorlessly at the statement, then cleared his throat. “Those knots will never come undone. You’re safe, Princess.”

Allura spun around wide-eyed upon hearing that. “Never? As in ever?”

“It would take my blade to get you out of that,” he teased, apparently amused at her panicked state.

Two could play at this game, mister.

“Then I suppose I’ll come see you it’s time to get undressed,” she retorted, poking him with her finger to emphasize her point.

To her surprise he simply narrowed his eyes and smiled suggestively.

“Room 111. I’ll be waiting.”

#fic request #ask #part 3 #kallura #juniblade #rosegold

38 notes · View notes

scarleteenconfidential · 6 years

Text

Scarleteen Confidential: Supporting, and Understanding, Youth Activism

To say we're living in tumultuous times is putting it mildly. If you live in the U.S., waking up in the morning brings the question of what new, disastrous, and cruel actions your government will attempt today. Globally, countries are seeing an increase in conservative extremism that's concerning to anyone with a good grasp of history and a desire to see their fellow humans treated with dignity and compassion.

There are, however, innumerable bright spots slicing through the bleakness. Protests and activism of all kinds are sprouting up to face what's happening and what's coming. Some, such as Black Lives Matter, are continuing a fight for justice that began years ago. And as we saw in last fall's elections in which multiple trans individuals and people of color won political positions (often by beating out vocally bigoted opponents), activism can have concrete consequences.

Young people are a core part of this resistance and often the driving force behind it. They're organizing, marching, protesting, petitioning, and writing to fight for what they believe in. Their bodies and faces are present at capital buildings, campuses, airports, and in the streets, raising their voices to reject fascism and fear and call instead for justice and love.

As these examples from throughout history demonstrate, adults have always had opinions about what young people are doing. Lots of opinions. For the sake of this article, we'll divide those opinions into three categories.

First are the adults who are active activists themselves and are darn proud to see young people carrying on the tradition of resistance.

Next are the adults who want to support the activism of the young people in their lives, but aren't sure how to do so and/or have some concerns about the well-being and safety of those young people. These adults may not quite grasp where the drive towards activism is coming from, but are willing to learn.

Finally, there are adults who think young people might be complaining a bit too much and that the current political and social situations are "just the way things are."

I want to address the "young people are overreacting" group first. I understand it may feel as though young people are constantly protesting one thing or another. That much, if not all, of what they're protesting seems silly, overstated, or made-up to you. Maybe you can't figure out why they care about trans people being able to use a certain bathroom. Or why they're angry about how there are so few people of color represented in the media. Or why they're demanding that people resign over sexual harassment that seems mild to you.

Here's the truth: the reason young people appear to be protesting everything is there is a lot of messed up stuff in the world. Climate change, LGBTQ victimization, an uptick in global fascism, and a host of other terrible, gut-wrenchingly awful events. Messed up situations are never changed by the oppressed waiting quietly for oppressors give them more freedom. There's a reason we remember the Freedom Riders, the Stonewall Riots, the Suffragettes. Why in twenty years we'll remember Black Lives Matter. They were, and are, movements of protest that sparked greater social change by demanding it, rather than waiting for it.

Most people's teenage and young adult years are when their social consciousness kicks into overdrive. They're maturing, becoming more independent, and starting to explore the world outside of their homes and schools. As that happens, they view or experience moments of discrimination or oppression and may feel as though they are finally old enough to do something about those moments. The injustices of the world start coming into focus for them, and their ability to articulate how messed up those injustices are is increasing. They're noticing all the ways that oppression and bias harm them and the people they care about. Speaking out against injustice gives young people the ability to make their voices heard on issues that affect them. That is something to be celebrated!

How to Move from Unsure to Supportive

What if you're just a little nervous about youth protest, and you're worried about the safety of young people on the front lines? Take some time to reflect on where your feelings are coming from. Maybe you don't feel informed enough on an issue to know if you agree with those who are protesting. Maybe you don't believe a given form of protest is effective. If that's the case, read up on the issue in question and on the history of different activist movements. The suggestions below are a great place to get started, and reading them can give you context for why young people are resisting and why they've chosen the methods that they have for that resistance. While you still may not agree with them, you'll at least be able to understand where they're coming from.

More Like This

Rebel Well: A Starter Survival Guide to a Trumped America

Rebel Well No Matter Where You Are

Popaganda: A Guide to Trump Resistance

Want to Organize a Protest?

Reframing Faculty Critiques of Student Activism

Amnesty International Explains Youth Rights for Protesting in High School

Youth Activists Explain How they Lowered the Voting Age in Their City to 16

- Sam

This is part of our series for parents or guardians. To find out more about the series, click here. For our top five guiding principles for parents or guardians, click here; for a list of resources, click here. To see all posts in the series, click the Scarleteen Confidential tag at Scarleteen, or follow the series here on Tumblr at scarleteenconfidential.tumblr.com.

#scarleteen confidential #scarleteen #activism #youth #protest #politics #resist #safety #violence

40 notes · View notes

yasbxxgie · 4 years

Link

Black athletes are often portrayed as gods—though not always saints. They’re gravity defying (Air Jordan), invincible (Iron Mike), supercharged (if Usain Bolt’s last name didn’t exist, we would have had to invent it), or all-around supernatural (Magic Johnson). These monikers help sell magazines and sneakers, but there may be a deeper bias at play. New research suggests that whites think of blacks in general as superhuman, or at least more so than whites. And this bias may have implications far outside the wide world of sports.

Adam Waytz of Northwestern University and Kelly Marie Hoffman and Sophie Trawalter of the University of Virginia report the results of several studies on this subject in an upcoming issue of Social Psychological and Personality Science. In one experiment, white Internet users were shown a white face and a black face and asked to decide:

1) Which person “is more likely to have superhuman skin that is thick enough that it can withstand the pain of burning hot coals?”

2) Which person “is more capable of using their supernatural powers to suppress hunger and thirst?”

3) Which person “is more capable of using supernatural powers to read a person’s mind by touching the person’s head?”

4) Which person “is more capable of surviving a fall from an airplane without breaking a bone through the use of supernatural powers?”

5) Which person “has supernatural quickness that makes them capable of running faster than a fighter jet?”

6) Which person “has supernatural strength that makes them capable of lifting up a tank?”

Blacks were selected 63.5 percent of the time, significantly more than whites. The only two items that did not differ significantly were the ones about reading minds (52 percent blacks) and falling from a plane (54 percent).

If whites see blacks as excelling at superhuman physical tasks, do whites think they’re better at everyday stuff too? In another experiment, white subjects saw pictures of a black man and a white man and judged who was more capable when it came to everyday activities like walking a dog, picking a ripe avocado, and sitting through a baseball game, as well as superhuman ones like running as fast as light, lifting up a building, and suppressing bodily needs. They also judged who would require more pain medication for various incidents such as touching a hot dish or dislocating a shoulder.

For superhuman abilities, blacks were chosen 65 percent of the time, but for everyday abilities they were chosen only 46 percent of the time, so whatever leads whites to see blacks as superhuman doesn’t apply to commonplace tasks. Meanwhile, blacks were chosen as more sensitive to pain 31 percent of the time, confirming work by the same authors: In a paper in PLOS ONE, they showed that whites, blacks, and nurses of any race see blacks as less sensitive to pain than whites, and that black NFL players are put back in the lineup sooner after injuries.

Waytz says the superhuman bias may result in part from “long-held stereotypes about toughness, aggression, physicality, and sexuality.” Whites see blacks as athletic and aggressive, and so it’s easier to picture them running as fast as a jet or picking up a tank.

Matthew Hughey, a sociologist at the University of Connecticut, notes that at the turn of the 20th century blacks began succeeding at popular sports, and “commentators began to emphasize white cognitive superiority in contrast to the supposedly savage and unbridled physical superiority of blacks. Accordingly, a popular culture narrative of ‘black brawn’ versus ‘white brains’ emerged.”

Pain tolerance would go along with that narrative, based on what Kurt Gray and Daniel Wegner called moral typecasting. In any instance of intentional helping and hurting, we perceive an agent and a patient, a doer and a doee. They found that the more you cast someone as an active doer, the less you see the person as susceptible to things being done. Villains and heroes such as Hitler and the Dalai Lama, for instance, were considered relatively impervious to pain. Fitting this explanation, Waytz and colleagues found that the more people “superhumanized” blacks, the less pain sensitivity they attributed to them.

There’s another black superhuman stereotype, one less reliant on strength. In a recent sketch by the comedy duo Key and Peele, an old black man enters a white man’s office to empty the trash. He offers a bit of cryptic wisdom regarding the white man’s troubles—“I find, the more garbage in the can, the better it feels to dump it all out”—and makes a sparkly burst of light appear with the snap of his fingers. Another elderly black man enters to fix the copier. “Sometimes things ain’t really broken; it’s the way we treat ’em that needs to be fixed,” he says, before turning on the copier with a burst of energy from his hand. A duel of supernatural powers ensues between the two older men. They exclaim in unison: “There can be only one Magical Negro.”

youtube

Key and Peele were, of course, referring to a common trope. The Magical Negro has appeared regularly in film and fiction, particularly since the early 1990s. Examples can be found in Bruce Almighty, The Green Mile, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Ghost, The Family Man, and The Matrix (both the Oracle and to some degree Morpheus). These supporting black characters often come from a poor background and use magical powers or sage advice to help struggling white protagonists find themselves and achieve success. Unfortunately, their inner lives are rarely explored and they prioritize white people’s problems over their own. “How is it that black people have these powers but they use them for the benefit of white people?” Spike Lee asked an audience at Yale in 2001. “They’re still doing the same old thing … recycling the noble savage and the happy slave.” In August, Jamil Ellis, a storyteller and writer, staged a one-man show in New York City called Magical Negro Speaks. He told me he created the show in part to protect his new daughter from “that nagging feeling that people sometimes think of you as a sidekick or as magical, and not as a fully fledged person.”

Might a superhumanizing bias help explain this persistent trope? In another experiment in the new paper, white undergrads were asked to press computer keys to place words quickly into one of two categories: superhuman or human. (The superhuman words were ghost, paranormal, spirit, wizard, supernatural, magic, and mystical; the human words were person, individual, humanity, people, civilian, mankind, and citizen.) Before each word appeared, a black or a white face appeared on the screen for 35 milliseconds, not long enough for someone to recognize it consciously, but just long enough to subconsciously prime thoughts about race. After black faces, subjects processed superhuman words faster than human words, while no difference existed after white faces.

So it appears that whites see blacks as having not just the strength and quickness of a superhero but also the mystical powers of a Magical Negro.

Well, not so fast. Waytz showed only an implicit association between blacks and mystical concepts, not explicit judgments of blacks as having occult capacities. And recall that on the explicit face-comparing task, blacks were chosen as better mind readers only 52 percent of the time. I was curious about other mystical powers, so I conducted a bit of my own research into these biases, using GuidedTrack and Amazon Mechanical Turk. Replicating Waytz’s comparing-faces procedure, using different questions and two new samples (of 85 and 74 white American adults), I found that subjects actually rated blacks as less likely than whites to have the kinds of mystical powers of the Magical Negro—telepathy, precognition, clairvoyance, psychokinesis, and spell-casting. Overall, blacks were chosen 43 percent of the time. So it’s possible that this movie trope does not result from a stereotype of blacks as magical. The reason for the implicit association with magic reported in the paper demands further research. Might it have resulted from whites seeing blacks as believing in magic, rather than having magical powers? Maybe not: I found that whites judged blacks to be more superstitious only 53 percent of the time and to believe more strongly in ghosts only 45 percent of the time.

Where might the fictional trope come from, then? Some scholars suggest Magical Negroes exist in order to depict interracial cooperation in a nonthreatening way, or to reconnect cerebral white boys with their inner “swing.” (Thanks, Bagger!) Consistent with the idea that they offer a folksy soulfulness, I found that blacks were perceived as more likely than whites to rely on intuition in everyday life (62 percent) and to trust their guts making big decisions (70 percent). They’re also seen as giving better relationship advice (73 percent). As for the hocus pocus, I suspect it’s a form of cinematic affirmative action, a way to couch minorities’ differences as something “more than” rather than “less than.” The race-consciousness of 1990s America may have spurred filmmakers to theatrically ennoble certain stereotypes. Thus blacks gain their intuitive wisdom not through lack of sophistication but through supernatural gifts. They become gods, not animals.

Whatever the causes of the superhuman stereotypes and magical tropes, they appear to have real-world effects. The authors of the PLOS ONE paper write that their findings on pain attribution could explain the fact that black hospital patients receive less pain medication than whites do. The assumption of less pain and greater strength could also lead to support for police brutality against blacks. Waytz points to depictions of Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, and other black teenagers killed while unarmed. “You hear these stories of virtually superhuman black males charging toward the police officer or posing a larger than life physical threat,” he says. Police say they have no choice but to shoot. In the new paper they suggest that the superhuman bias could explain why black juveniles are judged more culpable for crimes than whites. They’re seen as more capable, more adult, and more responsible for their actions. For an articulation of this view, refer to what Ron Paul wrote in a 1992 newsletter: “We don’t think a child of thirteen should be held responsible as a man of twenty-three. That’s true for most people, but black males age thirteen who have been raised on the streets and who have joined criminal gangs are as big, strong, tough, scary and culpable as any adult and should be treated as such.”

So the superhuman bias potentially leads to greater abuse, reduced compassion, greater blame—and an overall estrangement. “Exoticism is linked to social marginality,” says Michael Jeffries, a sociologist at Wellesley College. “It inhibits empathy and the ability to develop a sense of linked fate across racial divides.” Waytz concurs. “Although superhumanization depictions of African Americans seem ostensibly positive in nature—in a sense it’s a great honor to depict someone as godlike or spirit-like,” he says, “ultimately we believe that superhumanization is just another way of ‘othering’ African Americans.” Superhumanization, in the end, is just dehumanization in a cape.

#superhumanized #superhuman bias #the magical negro #plos one #black brawn #white brains #tropes #jamil ellis #magical negro speaks #key and peele #adam waytz #social psychological and personality science #social psychological #psychological #blackness in america #blackness #racism #amerikkka #white supremacy

0 notes

snarktheater · 7 years

Text

Movie review — Assassin’s Creed

See, the good thing about this movie is, I knew it was going to suck. There was literally not a single announcement about this movie that gave me even an ounce of trust in it. Maybe that means this review is confirmation bias at work, but…nah, I don't think that's likely. This movie was fucking terrible, both as an adaptation and as a standalone. We are not breaking the almighty curse of the video game movie with this one.

Assassin's Creed features very little of the original games' story. I'm not even sure it's really set in the same universe, or…like, a parallel timeline of it of some kind. I kind of hope it does. I mean, I have a complicated relationship with the games already, but if they try to integrate this shit into the rest, it's gonna get even worse.

And apparently, this meant the movie makers decided they could just cram everything that is taken from the game in an opening text dump about the Assassin versus Templar war and the First Civilization's artefacts they're fighting over! Because nothing says "we are a very serious movie that is putting in genuine effort" like an opening text dump, right?

…No, really, are there good movies that feature that kind of opening? Because I can't think of any.

Ha. Let's not get started on that one.

Anyway, I don't want to make this a full comparative review with the games, because…it'd be kind of unfair in so many ways. But I do have to talk about the game for a moment because of that opening. See, the movie tries to recreate the magic of the first Assassin's Creed game so very hard, and that opening text is what makes it fall apart.

So. Assassin's Creed the game makes us play as Desmond, who has been kidnapped by the company Abstergo and placed against his will in a machine called the Animus, which lets him relive the memories of his ancestors through the magic of pseudo-science so that Abstergo can track down the artefact known as the Apple of Eden, which they know one (well, several when we factor in the sequels) of Desmond's ancestors was in contact with. It opens with Desmond in the Animus so we get a tutorial of the gameplay, and when Desmond awakens, he's being given very little information as to what's going on. It's not until the very final DNA sequence of the game that supernatural elements (in the form of the Apple) even show up at all; before that, he (and thus, the players) have no idea what Abstergo wants or that there even is a supernatural elements, unless you look for hints and easter eggs.

The movie follows the same basic structure. We follow Cal, who's…not kidnapped, but spirited away by Astergo after faking his execution, and still against his will. And he's also put in the Animus against his will. But the fact that we already know everything that's going on makes…well, everything that happens for the next hour(-ish) completely irrelevant. For two reasons.

On one hand, Assassin's Creed works better as a game because you actually get to control the ancestor character. The very premise of the game says that this person lived on and had a baby who had a baby et cetera until our present-day character. The genetic memories that the Animus lets you access are, after all, genetic, and thus only contain memories up to the next generation's conception (this is actually canon, just to be clear). The tension in the Animus sequences (which makes up most or all of the gameplay depending on the game) comes from the fact that you have control over them, and thus, you can fail (and "desynchronize" the Animus). There's no story tension, at least not coming from the ancestor's death. So guess what they use as a driver of tension in this movie? Yes, Aguilar's death. They really were this stupid.

On the other hand, the present day narrative has no mystery since we (and pretty soon, Cal) know what's going on. They try to inject more of it by having other subjects be there, and they've all been through their own genetic memories and are fully converted to the Assassin cause because they effectively lived through Assassin training and indoctrination, and that sort of turns into our climax (more on that in a moment), but that subplot goes nowhere until Cal decides to rebel as well, because Cal is our special snowflake of a protagonist and so nothing can happen until he says so. Hence the hour of just…nothing but action scenes.

Past that point, Cal and the other sort-of Assassins rebel and escape, because Assassins are just that badass. Which leads to a few more problems, so let's take them on one by one.

First: why the fuck does Abstergo let these people walk around and talk to each other? They know of the bleeding effect (the thing that allows these people to become skilled just from using the Animus, and to internalize some of their ancestors' ideologies), I know it because Marion Cotillard's character Sofia (the head of the Abstergo facility) is the one who explains it to Cal. So what were they expecting?

Second: the Assassins are complete Mary Sues in this. Okay, I'm exaggerating a little bit, but barely. I realize that the series' title should give you a hint as to who are "the good guys", but the games have at least acknowledged that we're dealing with shades of gray with diverging ideals. While the movie does at least give us Sofia as a Templar who's a full-on idealist, it completely fails to show that Assassins are…you know, assassins, with a lowercase "a". Yeah, they fight for free will, but they do so in very violent ways, and they do fuck up a lot of lives in the process. In the movie, this is barely evoked and immediately dismissed as propaganda. The Assassins are portrayed as always right and righteous. And…you know, their abilities are somehow even less believable than they were in the games. And just to be clear: my strategy while playing the games tends to be "rush in the group of guards and kill them all in hand-to-hand combat" because I suck at stealth. Don't judge me.

Third: this is somehow not our climax. I mean, there isn't really a climax. The movie kind of continues past that point, into…more stuff. Dan Olson of Folding Ideas describes it as another whole sequence that should be the start of a new story, and…yeah, that sounds about right. (Side-note, go watch that vlog, it reviews the movie way better than I could) Another storyteller would probably have made an entire movie out of this plot, but this movie just crams it in…like, half an hour.

So Sofia randomly becomes our protagonist after this non-climax, and we get to follow her rising disillusionment as all the credit for her achievements is given to her dad, and she realizes what they'll do with the Apple, and it's wrong, you guys. Because she didn't figure out that "curing violence" would somehow impact free will. Yeah, that's our genius scientist right there.

This arc was not introduced until that point beyond generic tensions with her dad, so it comes right out of nowhere, feeling like a separate short story added to the movie to pad it out. The Assassins do show up again, and Sofia lets them be instead of sounding the alarm because of that disillusionment, even though she knows they're going in for the kill and she hates violence, plus it's her dad, and she didn't show signs of wanting him then until now even if she was resentful towards him, but…yeah, this whole thing makes no sense on top of being completely extraneous.

Which brings us to another issue with this movie: characters. I already mentioned the issue with stakes in this movie and Assassin's Creed in general, and characters have a similar issue. First, you have the decision to doublecast Michael Fassbender as both Cal and Aguilar, which…does take inspiration from the games (they even changed present day protagonist Desmond Miles's facial features between games to match the ancestor du jour), but works way less with an actual human being. It makes the two of them feel very indistinct, which isn't helped by the fact that they barely have any personality.

I mean, seriously. Aguilar is faithful to the Assassins, and wants the Apple. That's about everything we know about who he is. Cal does have a backstory (his dad killed his mom, albeit at her request, which Cal didn't know), but it mostly goes into a plot cul-de-sac when it turns out his dad is locked up in the same Abstergo facility, which goes absolutely nowhere. Outside of that, all we see of him is that he's confused and angry.

I'm going to paraphrase another reviewer: Patrick Willems explains that good characters are defined by the choices they make and their growth over the story. Well, Cal doesn't really do much of either. His "decision" to fight Abstergo is influenced by the bleeding effect, to the point where it's not even sure it's fully consensual or just a side-effect of using the Animus and absorbing Aguilar's personality. All he has is the choice not to kill his dad when he has the opportunity to do so, but even that is flimsy at best, since his dad just explained why he'd killed his wife. That stayed his hand, but there needed to be later payoff where Cal either does or doesn't forgive him, which…never came.

It's the same with Sofia. She's just…there, she manipulates Cal into doing what she needs. She does voice complaints against what the Templars are doing, especially when they jeopardize Cal's safety by forcing him into the Animus too frequently, but she doesn't do anything more, so her sudden "oh, okay, you can kill them now" at the end flies in the face of that.

And the worst part is, I can see with both characters what they wanted to accomplish. They are, after all, both fairly cliché characters: the antihero who finds a cause worth fighting for, and the redeemed villain who realizes the error of her ways as she discovers the people she works for are more unethical than she was aware of. It just…needed more time. Time that was wasted on pointless action scenes with Aguilar which, as I already explained, don't add any tension.

They don't provide very good action, either. I don't comment a lot on film style or film language very often, but by God the editing of this film is amateurish, especially during those fight scenes. The best comparison I can make is if they drew inspiration from action games with the worst glitchy cameras: we get a series of angles that don't let you see the full scene, barely let you see who is even in the frame at any given time, and make for a horrible unreadable mush of a scene. Every. Time.

Basically this movie fails at pretty much everything, and I wish I could act surprised, but…no, this is pretty much exactly what I expected. It's hard to even find a conclusion to this, so I'll do like the movie and just…end here.

#assassin's creed #assassin's creed movie #assassin's creed 2016 #movie #movies #review #reviews #movie review #movie reviews #st: movie reviews

11 notes · View notes

themikithornburg · 7 years

Text

Football and Politics

Now that the news and commentary on Yellowstone Public Radio and my Facebook newsfeed are full to bursting with one subject – the Trump administration – I'm hearing and seeing almost nothing about the Super Bowl. Thank heaven!

I should explain. Football, American or otherwise, is right down at the bottom of my list of favorite things. Given the choice, I'd far rather sit through ten hours of Senate debate on C-Span than watch a football game. In fact, watching paint dry might entertain me as much. Watching grass grow would actually be preferable. This isn't an argument against football; it's just me.

But what I have heard recently about the big game has led me to a troubling conclusion. Americans who talk about football know a lot more about their subject than do Americans who talk about politics.

Why is this? Well, for one thing, as complicated as football might be, it's nowhere near as complicated as politics. And there's another reason, maybe even a more important one. If you don't care about football, it doesn't affect you (unless your spouse watches it all weekend, so you either have to find something else to do or learn to enjoy it yourself, which means you have to learn about it). But, although politics, the art and science of government, does affect you greatly, you've never had to watch it. You could let it fly right over your head and it wouldn't make any discernable difference – or at least the difference wouldn't be discernable to you.

Things all began to change, though, with the recent U.S. presidential campaign, and they're changing even more rapidly now, in the early days of Donald Trump's administration. People who never before saw their civic duty as going any further than showing up to vote a straight ticket every two years (or every four years, or never) suddenly fell in love with politics, went to rallies, waved signs of delight or outrage, wore t-shirts emblazoned with "their" candidate's name, and got into heated arguments, singing the candidate's praises or insulting the opposing camp, at every opportunity. You'd think they were talking about a football team.

This could be a good thing. Many Americans of the last several generations have paid so little attention to their government and how it works that people from other countries are shocked at our apathy and, yes, our ignorance. More importantly, our version of participatory democracy requires not only that we participate but that we understand what we're doing. People who don't vote, or who simply vote without knowing why they're making the choices they're making, have no business complaining that their elected government is yanking them around. They're leaving themselves wide open to being yanked around. So it's nice to see that some of us are waking up at last to the realization that it all does concern us.

The trouble is, most of us have a lot of catching up to do. This has never struck me with so much force as it did during a lengthy discussion about the President's immigration ban, via Facebook, with a friend whom I haven't seen in person for almost twenty years. Our opinions on the issue are almost diametrically opposed, but we struggled on, trying to express them accurately and in some detail. Nevertheless, while we argued with logic and zeal, it soon became apparent that we were both out of our depth. I had a few more specific facts at my disposal, so it looked for a while as if I were ahead on points. But my facts – and my knowledge of dependable sources, along with the terms I'd need to search for those sources – ran out all too quickly. Fortunately we let each other off the hook and didn't wind up calling each other ignorant jackasses. But a lot of other folks, reaching that point, might have done exactly that and worse. Families have broken up over political arguments when, if the truth were known, none of the participants had a real clue what they were talking about. Fistfights have started. Murders have been contemplated.

If you know me, you know I have a strong liberal bias. But I'm talking about civic ignorance here, and I'm definitely not saying that Trump's supporters have a corner on that market. I've seen too many comments and rants and memes – especially memes – posted by my fellow liberals that are misleading, wrong-headed, or simply untrue. The fake news, the cherry-picking of data, and the snarling or patronizing emotional bias are equally distributed, right and left. Sometimes the people who spread this stuff are aware of what they're doing; sometimes they're simply ignorant.

In fact, and I hereby freely admit it, we are all too ignorant. Like the guy in the old song, we don't know much about history. We think it's old stuff, sort of fun in costume movies but basically trash we can toss out and ignore otherwise. We don't realize that historical events shape our present and can shake it to the bone. It's the past, so how can it make any difference now?

We don't know much about other parts of the world. We think of their people as "them" – odd ducks that gabble in strange accents, cartoon characters that look almost human (especially when they're babies) but are impossible to understand. And who cares, anyway? They either hate us or they want to be us, but they're not real enough to hurt us so they don't matter. Or, on the other hand, we think they're just like us, really. We're all humans, so deep down in their hearts they believe the same things we believe; we're really just one big family, aren't we, so why don't we all just get along?

We don't know much about how the planet we live on works. That's all too complicated to be bothered with, as long as everything is going well on our little patches of it this morning. That's for other people – scientists, the professionals – to worry about, and if something goes wrong somewhere they can somehow wave their hands and fix it. Or it could be they're lying to us anyway, pretending for some reason that things are going wrong. Why would they pretend that? Who knows. They're scientists, so they have strange minds, way beyond our understanding!

Really, we don't know much about our own laws or about how our government works. It's a well-oiled machine, checks and balances and yadda yadda yadda. It's worked since 1776 or whenever, so it won't stop working now. When we don't like what it does we complain loudly; when we like what it does we're happy, so why rock the boat?

When you come right down to it, we don't know much about anything but our own little specialties, the work we do every day, how to get there and back, how to operate the machines we own. Football, maybe. Our favorite celebrities. We don't have time to know much more, and we certainly don't have time enough to go to the library and check out a couple of books, let alone time enough to read them. Anyway, reading is hard, unless it's a real page-turner, fun and relaxing. Reading history calls for thought and focus. Reading about science is like reading in a foreign language. Reading dry explanations and commentary on constitutional questions makes our eyes glaze over. Reading and understanding thoughtful opinions we don't immediately agree with is difficult and unpleasant.

But we're not going to get what we need – an understanding of how things have worked in the past and how they work now – in any other way. Especially, we won't get an understanding of how our country and our democratic system is supposed to work, and how its workings depend on our knowledgeable participation – in any other way. We need to make the time, and somehow to summon the determination, to do it.

In the meantime, we can at least stop posting mindless memes and spreading false information, information contrary to fact, on social media, taking up each other's time with worthless blather and passing it on. If we don't know something and can't find out, we don't have to agree and comment on it just to be saying something. We can tell the truth, not just the part of it we happen to like. We can be polite to each other. We can stop attacking people on the basis of their looks. And we can behave like adults. I don't enjoy seeing Donald Trump's head photoshopped onto the body of a pig any more than I enjoyed seeing Hillary Clinton's head on the same pig, and I find it difficult to respect the person who thinks that's clever or amusing. If we've never learned the value of knowing something is true before repeating it, of putting our brains in gear before we start running our mouths, it's time to learn it now. If we have real respect for our country, we can remember that we are each part of our country and must have respect for each other and ourselves. We're not stupid; we can learn. And the more we know, the less likely we are to be frightened and confused and angry. We can stop lashing out at each other and turn our attention toward positive action.

We've been ignorant for a long time. It may even be too late to repair the damage our ignorance has done to our democracy, but if we're going to minimize that damage we'd better begin now to repair our ignorance. And we'd better be quick about it. We can't start all over again next year.

This is not a football game.

1 note · View note

smokeybrand · 4 years

Text

Casting Call

I wanted to address this casting of Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano. Personally, i think it’s inspired casting. Seriously she’d be my first choice, acting wise. Dawson has grown leaps and bounds in her craft plus, she has a real passion for the lore. We all know Dawson is a total nerd but she adores Ahsoka as a character. That much passion for the role, coupled with the inspired direction and vision of Favreau, give me confidence that she’d be great in the part. The only actress i’d say would be a better fit would be Laura Harrier. She looks like Tano even before the makeup but her build might be slightly too large, i think. That, and the only thing i have to judge her acting ability on is Homecoming where her role was mitigated to a glorified cameo. Still, i can see why cats would want her over Dawson based on aesthetics. The other reason? Not so much.

Rosario Dawson is a transphobe? Really? Come, on man. I actually looked into that case a little bit and it kind of sounds like it’s a cashgrab by the complainant. I mean, the bulk of their case is discrimination but, after reading over the complaint, it skews more toward “hostile work environment” because they was misgendered on site or whatever. Being called your old gender is not the same as being called a faggot or freak but fine. I get that. Cats feel some kind of way about stuff. The thing is, though, f*cking quit. If it’s that bad, quit and leave. Why stay someplace where you feel uncomfortable or perceive yourself to be hated for being you? I mean, this person openly admits that the Dawson family has known them for twenty years as whatever they were before. You show up at their door post-transition, sight unseen for years, and expect them not to have something to say about it? That’s jarring and takes time to accept. People have to adjust to such a drastic change. They have to learn how to live around your choice. Popping up and just expecting everyone to okey-doke such a drastic alteration to their perception of you is a little ridiculous to me. That acceptance sh*t goes both ways, you know? But, okay, they’re calling you your old name and referring to you as your old gender. Sh*t hurts your feelings, i get it. What i don’t get is how the f*ck you’re suing Rosario over that sh*t, even though she wasn’t doing it. How is she responsible for the actions of other people in her family? How are you mad she told you to suck it up and act like an adult? You’re fifty-years-old, man!

The other parto f her case is even more dubious to me. Apparently, Dawson and a relative went to the apartment they provided this person for free, because this transgender individual refused to leave. I assume it’s been several months of complaints and derision at this point so a clean break between parties would be best for everyone. This transgender person swore they had no place to go and that they couldn’t get back to New York, even though they freely admitted to having a support system out there and half a year’s worth of wages, plus a stipend from Dawson, herself. They were living rent-free in an apartment provided by Dawson and were only responsible for personal bills like food yet, didn’t have enough for a return ticket home? How? Full time wages for a carpenter in California, they moved out here to help with some of Rosario’s home renovations, is about $57,000 a year. Half that is $28,500 dollars. You made 28 grand, before taxes, and couldn’t get home? Really? You had no choice but to squat in a residence that was not yours, for what i imagine is several months, with damn near 30 racks in the bank? Seriously? You want to scream “hate-crime” when they physically drag your disgruntled ass out of their house after months of futile back and forth? Really?

I don’t think Rosario Dawson is a transphobe. I think she doesn’t suffer assholes and this cat sounds like an asshole. They’re not suing Dawson for hostile work environment, they’re suing for discrimination. You’re fifty-year-old, transgender, lesbian, who has known this family for decades. Dawson flew you out, hired you full-time at a comparable rate to others in your field, and gave you a rent-free place to stay. That alone gives you thousands of dollars a month in savings. I imagine all of this misgendering and sh*t was either them ribbing you or legitimate mistake because of the decades long relationship they had with you, as another f*cking person. As far as that assault? You were squatting in their property. I don’t agree with them getting physical with you, if they actually did, but, at the same time, you were effectively stealing from them by not leaving. It wasn’t like you couldn’t afford to go, you had at least three months worth of wages, probably closer to six. Bare minimum, you have 10 bands, fluid! You really saying you can’t make it back home with a minimum of $10,000 in your pocket and this expansive support system waiting on you? You have no choice but to slander Rosario in Out magazine, the most bias press available? This smells of bullsh*t to me.

I’m not a member of the LBGTQ community. I don’t consider myself an ally. I consider myself a reasonable, intelligent, person. I find it stupid to hate a someone for something that doesn’t have anything to do with me. If you’re gay, that’s your business. If you’re trans, that’s your business. If you’re Batman, that’s you’re business, Bruce. I don’t care nor do i need to. That’ a personal journey, a personal truth. If you want to share it with me, cool. If not, that’s cool too. That’s why, when i read this complaint, it looks suspect. Rosario Dawson doesn’t even come up until the end where the assault occurred and, even then, she was described as “holding her down” while Dawson’s aunt or somebody, fought with this transgender person. That sounds like there was an altercation and Dawson was trying to get between the two, probably so this exact situation wouldn’t occur, and that’s if she even physically intervened at all. I mean, Rosario Dawson is not only famous, rich, dating a Senator who is a staunch supporter of trans rights, but she, herself, identifies as bisexual - a part of the very community this person claims she’s discriminating against! For real? Why the f*ck would Rosario jeopardize all of that, over a squatter? No, i think that little part was tacked on so this person could go after Dawson directly because, literally, up to this point, it was everyone else AROUND Rosario committing the transgressions. Everyone around Rosario ain’t famous, though.

This whole situation sounds like an employee was unhappy with the terms of employment and decided to take advantage of their employer’s status as a celebrity for a quick cashgrab. The leaking of this case to the press was meant to damage Rosario’s image in a means to force a “go away” settlement. Do i think there was discrimination? Not any more than this person would have had to deal with as a fifty-year-old lesbian. There might have been ill-intent but never from Dawson, herself. I imagine she snapped and said what she said to this person, after weeks of complaints or a stressful shoot somewhere. Do i think there was an assault? Sure, maybe, but not in the way this person is describing. It doesn’t make sense to me that Rosario, herself, would put her entire career at risk over something so pedestrian. Dawson is well aware of the current political climate and cancel culture. She was right in the thick of the MeToo movement. Ma ain’t stupid. Rosario has wanted to lay Ahsoka for years. You think DIsney would let her if this suit had any teeth? Do i think there’s a semblance of responsibility that must be taken by the Dawson family? Of course. They were dicks to this person and owe them an apology. Do i think Rosario Dawson has to cash-out because her family were assholes? F*ck no. Sue them, they’re the ones who hurt your feelings and that’s the crux of this argument; Rosario is the famous one. Rosario is the rich one. Rosario has to be the target or no one gets paid.

There’s fault on both sides here, i freely admit that, but i don’t think Rosario is involved the way this person says she was. I think this person knows what side the bread is buttered on and is looking to capitalize on this whole SJW/PC, cancel culture, bullsh*t, for a quick payout. Believe all of the gender minorities before actual evidence because they’re so oppressed. Cancel everyone who doesn’t share our politics or, heaven forbid, waits for facts and uses logical assumptions to deduce bullsh*t. For all intents and purposes, this person sounds like an asshole to me. Look at it objectively; Rosario flew this person out from New York, put them up in a rent-free apartment, and paid them a full-time wage while also giving them a stipend to get on their feet out here. This person did nothing but complain and refuse to leave the apartment when both parties agreed for a separation. Instead, this person squatted for weeks to months, freeloading on Dawson, while pocketing thousands of dollars. Seriously, how do you think they’re paying for this Hollywood ass lawyer? They can’t get home but they got money to hire a lawyer, though. Okay. Like, you don't get to be magically absolved from the repercussions of being an asshole just because you decided to transition. No one committed a hate crime against you because they threw you out of their house, yo. You were being a dick and got dealt with as such. ll this “Believe everyone, all of the time” sentient is getting out of hand.

Or, i could be wrong and Rosario Dawson is ball of trans hate who spends her time keelhauling those people in between campaign stumps and acting roles, i don’t know. Pretty sure she’s not, tho. Also, Brie Larson as Mara Jade is a mistake. That’s bad casting, man. Alexandra Daddario, Emily VanCamp, or Alexandra Breckenridge fit that role much better.

0 notes

joyofcrime-elinorhigh · 5 years

Text

Powerpuff Girls 2016 REVIEW: Part 3

Part Six: Dank Memes, Bra! So here we are, we're finally talking about the elephant in the room. It is time to talk about one of the biggest complaints about the 2016 Powerpuff Girl reboot, as a whole, the use of memes and internet references as a source of humor. If you are reading this and are somehow unaware, the new reboot has had several jokes referencing memes and internet slang in the show. For example in the episode "Painbow" we get Bubbles saying "OMG, Yaass!" and "I can't even!" as well as a scene Blossom and Buttercup twerking after they where mind controlled to party with a talking panda bear that lived in the clouds above Townsville. (Okay, now that I say that out loud that episode was really weird...) Also in the episode "Tiara Trouble" we have Bubbles getting mad at her sisters and yelling "No me Gusta!" at the end of her rant. There has also been a clip of an upcoming episode featuring Bubbles creating a "Mojo Meme Generator." So, how has the internet reacted to the reboots use of memes and internet related humors? Not well, as you could of probably guessed. Almost every online review uses either the "No Me Gusta" or the twerking as part of there thumbnail, with people acting like this show is nothing more than an endless barrage of internet slang that is trying to be "hip with da kids, bra". Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that there complaints aren't at least somewhat warranted, as these memes are definitely used more frequently than in most other shows, but I personally feel that people might be exaggerating the extent of these jokes. If you look through all the episodes and combine all the instances of meme-ery, it honestly isn't that much, like combined all the memes probably take up less that forty seconds from the entire series thus far. Now I get why people would be against memes in a show like this, as it does seem pandering and will age the show, but what I don't get is why THIS show gets the shaft for using internet and meme jokes when other cartoons get off scot-free free. Gumball had an entire episode devoted to Gumball and Darwin watching Youtube clips, where they parody Rickrolling and the Ice Bucket Challenge. Nobody talks about how Uncle Grandpa had an entire episode dedicated to "Duck Lips." We Bare Bears uses internet jokes in almost every episode, and made a "I like turtles." joke, IN 2016! Now I honestly don't really have a problem with meme references in cartoons (I think the "I like turtles" joke was actually really, really funny.) But it seems unfair to target Powerpuff Girls for this when all these other Cartoon Network shows do the same thing. Now you could argue that part of the problem is that when PPG 2016 uses memes, it's just not funny. You could also argue that Gumball and We Bare Bears reference internet trends while Powerpuff Girls does specific memes, and thus isn't as timeless. I would agree with this, as I feel like Powerpuff Girls is nowhere near as clever with it's internet jokes as something like We Bare Bear's is. The only reason I like the Powerpuff Girls meme jokes is because I like how cringe it is, and if where looking at the jokes in an unironic sense there not really that good, I mean Bubbles just randomly shouts "No Me Gusta." I won't argue that at all. You could also make the argument that the old Powerpuff Girls was a timeless show, and thus this show should try to be timeless too. I do agree with that too..For the most part. The show was timeless, but...do You remember "Powerpuff Girls Rule?" It was the 10th anniversary special made by Craig McCracken himself had a reference to "Surprised Chipmunk" in it. Heck Craig McCracken even referenced the He-Man "Fabulous Secret Powers" meme in the Wander Over Yonder episode "The Cartoon." Now if the memes are still a problem for you, I get it. I can see how it could appear desperate or running the timeless quality, or just plain unfunny. I just personally don't mind it that much, because other cartoons do the same thing, and all together the memes don't even account for a minute of the actual show. I just feel it's a little unfair to take a few clips and say that that's what the entire show is, when really it's a pretty small percent. But if you still have a problem with the memes that's fine, I don't think your opinions are wrong or anything stupid like that, it's just my personal perspective. Point Seven: Teen Titans Go! Crossover So it's been recently announcing this July there is going to be a Teen Titans Go! Crossover with the 2016 Powerpuff Girls. This has sparked outrage among the internet (which is pretty much the internet default opinion of the reboot at this point, all things considered.) Now what is my take on this? Well...I Depends on if it's really a "crossover?" Now that may sound really weird to some people, but please here me out. Teen Titans Go! Has done stuff like this before, They had a crossover with the Young Justice team in the episode "Let's Get Serious" and a crossover with the TMNT in the episode "Truth, Justice, and What" Oh wait...I'm Sorry, it wasn't the TMNT, it was the Super Cool Youngish Kung-Fu Turtle Dudes, how could I mess that up. Anyway, neither of those crossover featured anybody who worked on those other series, except for the voices actors. Not only that, but those crossovers didn't really even have the guest stars in important roles, they where really just cameos, with only the character that was voiced by a TTG cast member actually talking, and only getting a couple lines at that. I suspect that the Teen Titans Go! Crossover will be something like that. I.E. It will be created by the Teen Titans Go! Crew, without any involvement or possibly permission from any of the Powerpuff Girls writers or crew member, and have the Powerpuff Girls show up for like, a minute and a half at most, only have Bubbles say any of the lines (because Tara Strong also voiced Raven) and then the rest of the episode being about the Teen Titans characters doing something unrelated. The plot will most likely be about people hating reboots, and the show claiming that people only hate TTG and PPG because there reboots and not for any legitimate complaints because, well that's kinda what Teen Titans Go! Does. Now I don't know this for sure, but I'm calling this now! If this isn't the case, if the crossover has writers from BOTH series, and is a real super hero team up type thing, than yeah, people can complain about this episode all they want, but If I know TTG (and trust me, I could probably talk about that show for even longer than I've talked about this show) that would be my guess on how this crossover will most likely go down. If it does go down the way I described that I really don't think it's fair to blame the Powerpuff Girl Reboot for an episode made by other writers at another studio just because they used their characters. But we will have to wait until July to find out for sure, so let us move on. Point Eight: Final Thoughts Now I'm most likely bias when it comes to the Powerpuff Girl reboot. When it was first announced I was hesitant, but as time went on I became excited. Then when I saw everyone online hate the show prior to it coming out I wanted to like it even more, out of spite. I felt like nobody was giving the show a chance, and so I wanted to be that person to give it a chance. I wanted the show to be great, partially to prove all those people wrong but also because I love the original Powerpuff Girls! I grew up with that show, and I loved it! The idea of Powerpuff Girls becoming a franchise, in the same vein as Batman and the Ninja Turtles got me really excited. If this show took off there could be a new Powerpuff Girl cartoon ever decade, constantly evolving, and adding elements onto each other. Becoming a part of the American pop culture landscape, and I'm still hoping that that can happen, we've just gotten a rocky start. (But still, I mean the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV show after the 80's one was the live action one, and that franchise recovered.) I don't want to come off as a blind fanboy, as I do have problems with this new series. I think the writing is okay, but not great, I don't like the removal of Ms. Bellum, I wish they change the majority of the cast and not just the girls, the show being less action driven and more character based could of worked, but not the way they decided to do it, and the animation errors really need to be fixed. But the show isn't God awful either. The backgrounds and coloring are beautiful, I like how they added new villains and side characters to the Powerpuff Girl roster (even though the villains and side characters can be kinda hit or miss.) the show is still at least fairly funny, and I love what they've done with Bubbles. A lot of people say that reboots are just easy ways for big studios to make money without doing anything original, a while this may be true in some respects, a reboot might be easy money for an executive but for the cast and crew working on it it's pretty dang hard. I mean sure you'll have a built in audience and the reboot will most likely make a lot of money, but you also have to fill the shoes of the original creators. You have to deal with all the premature hatred that comes with that built in audience, and you have to juggling meeting there expectation, being your own thing, and making the show you want to create. It's frickin' hard! And you could say that's just the trade off but remember it's the networks who decided to reboot the property, not the showrunner or executive behind the show itself. It's easy enough to write a character you've made, but when it's a character you haven't made it presents it's own set of challenges that must be a nightmare for some creators and directors, and I'm not just talking about Powerpuff Girls. I think the show is good. Not great, but good. It's far from the worse thing ever. I would probably say I enjoy the reboot about as much if not more than most of the episodes in the last two seasons of the old series, and I do hope that the people behind the shows will improve as time goes on. After all, it is just the first season, and the old show had some dumb things in there first season too (remember that episode where three criminals disguised themselves as the girls with costumes that where just conveniently inside there prison cell...yeah.) I hope you liked my massive review on the Powerpuff Girls Reboot, I've never done a project like this before and the feedback has been fantastic. If you have any other ideas for reviews or topics for me to cover in my other series, "Cartoon Thoughts" let me know. Also if you want, feel free to check out my webcomics, "Joy of Crime" or "Elinor High." If you like this review please fav, follow and comment and I will be most appreciative. And so once again, the day is saved, thanks to...over analyzation! (...I'm pushing it, aren't I?)

https://www.deviantart.com/joyofcrimeart/journal/Powerpuff-Girls-2016-REVIEW-Part-3-610024966 DA Link

#powerpuff girls #powerpuf girls 2016 #reboot #cartoon network #review

0 notes

ghcstbuster-blog · 6 years

Text

A Better World Is Possible

PunkerslutA Better creation Is PossiblePolitics Articles | June 29, 2005It respects reality as the remaining enemy and as the source of all suffering, with which it is impossible to live, so that one must gap off all relations with it if one is to be in several way happy. The ascetic turns his back on the star and will have no truck with it. But one can do other than that; one can try to recreate the world, to build up in its stead something else world in which individual most unbearable features are eliminated and replaced by others that are in conformity with one's mine wishes.-- pigment Freud "Civilization and owned Discontents," by Sigmund Freud, chapter 2If a procreation that harbor love and affectionately admire honesty were to create two gods, they would be gloom and optimism. The first gave them the vision and vision to recognize what is wrong, beyond holding faithful to bias and bigotry. The twin gave them the vigor and ability to discover a better world, smooth if it started and ended with one restored soul. dramaturgic bible of this generation, the religious text and scripture which they would refer to in their daily lives, would repose of conference between these two gods. Pessimism regularly seemed to represent apathy, a sensitivity of apathy accompanied by lost dreams. But, later again, it was the agitator, the creator, the mover. Optimism would consistently seem to represent exercise and growth, a feel of activity and a desire to do thing about it, as great as egestas and pleasure. This propagation of admirer and thinkers would adoration these divinity through thing of kindness, mercy, and love. breathtaking names they would grant their children would have hidden meanings, like "romantic poet," or "moment of orgasm."If a good customer were to try to live raise to the expectation of change and growth with the daring honesty to look forward, he mould be a cynic as much as an optimist. His sacred scripture would simply be: "A superior World Is Possible."When we look consequent to our owned society, probe its process and endemic manners, we discover a great accord that we wish to change. individually see crime, we recognize poverty, we see remedy addictions, murder, war, calm abuse, adolescent abuse, rape, theft, brutality, and exploitation of every power. the particular of the humane process have regularly believed that it was the friendliness of guy that brought them in sync for consensus and strength. Today, we stand on the remains of present-day life. appeal may have been the social knack which acquire brought U.S. together and has set up our families, our towns, our cities, and our nations, but there is so enough more to it thaw that. downtown have become the swarm of indecency and misery, the perfect strangers to loneliness. Our modern poets and romantics stand back this marvel of life, and are speechless.When we think of pain and suffering, what do you think it is that is the most prophetic source of suffering? There is no doubt that it is from a bit relationship within society, or at least within human civilization. as it may be it is the partisan social exchange between guy and women, resulting in sexism and domestic abuse? Perhaps it is the unjust accord that live between nations, resulting in economic embargos and wars? Maybe it is the relationship in citizens, engage crime and theft, or the accord between management and employee, resulting in poverty and misery? whatsoever it is that is the terrible cause of suffering in the world, there are some stuff that must be considered. First, we are analyzing the marriage that exist between all other to discover the roots of this suffering. It is an constitutional problem. It is not a inquiry of natural disasters and the frenzy that quality has worked on mankind. No, it is a question of the form that we act amid ourselves, the customs we forge anad the statute we make. Second, as Freethinkers and those fairly concerned with justice, meanwhile we evaluate these communication in society, we do so with the decided of set up a more free and more just system.The needed difference instant between an Anarchist and a Liberal is this: the Liberal wants to repair the damage ended by the system, the Anarchist requirement to overhaul the system. The antecedent looks to poverty and creates welfare, completely take off the material system untouched. The last wants to completely abolish any monetary system that will top to homelessness, poverty, or misery.It was not uncommon or occasional in our past for these communal relationships to change, convert altered, or become ultimately abolished. enthrallment was formerly tradition that men goody women comparable property, that wars amid nations were glorious events, that lack was od's naturally reward condition for a convinced class of people, that crime was simply double nature to each human, and so indefeatable. complete of this was conclude by the people, they took it in as unquestionable truths. Well, it was the liberating experience of either honest individual, to comprehend that whole conscious structure simply wish to be free. against such a humble start, the advance of benevolent thought receive come a long way. Citizens have collectively allocated women's rights, worker's rights, children's rights, citizen's rights, etc., etc., protecting the freedom, security, and contentment of the particular who have been exploited for so long.Do you think the happiness of the ordinary person, from these primordial times to our prevailing situation, include increased? I imagine that few would disagree with me. appeal was by altering and changing these relationships amid the disparate groups that a better, more quiet terms of living came about. So, when we decide to examine the social morals and accord of our own era, and unearth such huge amounts of suffering, the only reasonable response to these situations is this: we must reorganize society, change the relationships, improvement fmovies revolutionize) the rule itself, back we will stop perceiving the hardship that it causes. What we would be action would be a radical activity, in that we would be altering our own earth to earn our owned ends, in the maximum radical form possible. It would also be the tradition of spirited autonomy to oust oppressors and cast absent any continuity or servitude they have given to the innocent.Our questions requisite be twofold. 1) What are the relationships that are create so much stress, misery, pain, and suffering on others? 2) What jar we complete to shift them?Crime. What causes it? Any skilled person will give the same answer: the hunger or commitment of appreciable objects. granted that the salary offered by employers execute not placate the use of the workers, that is to say, the people who have no property, formerly criminal exercise becomes the result. Psychologists and psychiatrists might essay to segregate criminal behavior, trying to put frontier and boundary through it so that they vessel understand it. The one thing that they end not explain about unlawful behavior is that it is not unique, that it is not special, that it is perhaps the better natural part of bodily life. granted that a mother bear is interested in obtaining meat for endemic young, accomplish it constantly consider the fact that it is violating intrusion laws in doing so, or end it constantly consider the opinion of other bears? Maybe isolated insomuch as it involvement her and her cub's welfare, but beyond that, not at all. The creature is simply committing an performance that is required for life. So, too, is the individual who execute crime to survive, although no legitimate means of income will suffice.The shrink might be right that the sage changes somewhat with illegitimate behavior. New instincts, behaviors, reflexes, and understandings are required in group behavior. All of the shoplifters that I know, including myself, have developed crowd senses -- we flourish a subconscious that analyzes and understands where anybody in the room is and position they are looking. aforementioned allows us the facility of perceiving if we are life watched, an invaluable dexterity for Land of Liberty lifters.Without poverty, there is no crime. Crime is caused individual by the poor setting in which human subsistence live, and their drastic attempts to escape those conditions. through least, this can be considered normal with all those conditions in which property felony is involved. We requirement to flourish a system, an regulation of society, in which crime is completely eliminated. That is our objective. What fashion would we mend or forge the current arrangement so as to exhaustive our objective? Well, although we stare at these who have been exact with the miserable career of criminal, what fly in specific are we examining? comic working class. Their marriage that brings them to poverty and eventually felony is the their marriage with the Capitalist class, or the employer class.The only form to heal this relationship, between the haves and the have nots, is to produce it so the consequence of it is also wealth in the pockets of the have nots. This put up be down with a policy so limited and conservative as minimum wage, minimum running hours, safe working conditions, lowering the work freedom per week, etc., etc.. All of these laws, if they were be implemented into a government's laws, should be stationed on the collective's perceptive that the working son must be protected -- not from other engaged men, but from these whom they work for. With the above-mentioned limited policies, the management class would be notice much alike the government: a unavoidable evil, after which we would have tranquility and peace, at least for a limited while.In a more uneasy effort, we might oust the firm class entirely, dissolve it into the working body of citizens. It get been spoken that to establish Democracy, every resident must be treated cognate a king. If we apply the same analysis to economics, in an effort to eliminate the poverty that comes from Free Trade, then whole citizen prerequisite be treated like a Capitalist. Using this system, the entire conflict that would arrise in a Capitalist rule -- with workers fighting for contemporary wages and the employer class boxing for worsened sweat market conditions -- this sound conflict would be removed, and article called totalitarianism or Leninism would revenue effect. The relationship that causes poverty, misery, and so scads abuse of the humor is the relationship that exists halfway those outwardly property, who must move their labor to survive, and the particular with property, who handle the commonalty to production for them. To dispose of this relationship, thus knock out the conflict, we are establishing a better world. Among the most influential revolutions, Maoism and socialism are of the best degree for any revolutionary.When we try to assume of the relationships in society that allow for a tremendous deal of unnecessary torture and misery, we influence to feel about the relationships that exist amid us and those that we tenderness and encumbrance about. In literature of every science and each one era, we find that adultery enjoy been at the cause of heartache for so many lovers. It has been the inspiration to a volumes of sad poetry. attractiveness has move the origin of so much conflict, so great fighting, so much fighting and violence. I introduce that a bit cultures were intelligent and thoughtful suitable to sidestep such stupid brutality and misery. However, as we see it in our modern world, it is quite straightforward to watch that the relationship that exists among lovers is one of great shame and pain. We are attracted to it by the logic of happiness, pleasure, a feeling of connection and mutual understanding. The influence of affectionate relationships are the duplicate in any culture: they come from the better natural fascination to mood love, as though the universe put up end and all a lover could do would be to welcome it.Yet, we look so abundant abuse hit from this relationship that exists halfway lovers. climactic time for a modern moral code is necessary. The generation has consistently been ripe. I offer that sweetheart learn to love other openly, that their communication are not confined to one somebody only -- what in fact has been the cause of all the particular problems. granted that sexual activity with new partners was accepted in our present-day society, later the question of the lonely and disheartened girlfriend disappears. although we learn to take that partition sexuality with others is a conclusive aspect of life, in that it creates affection, something beautiful, and a connection -- when we learn to accept this, then so much misery, pain, and depression would be clean out. But, the question of the matter is in growing ourselves, in learning to accept that you cannot tell one what to do with their bodies, even in a relationship. I'm not evading a double standard. Men should be as promiscuous as they like, as should any woman. It be permitted be troublesome and lengthy for woman to buried these group prejudices. our own selves wince whole time the thought of a obliterated lover materialize to mind, and we are reminded of the pain that comes from a deceased passion. our own selves do not forget the misery that we have suffered, that others have, that surplus still will, and it is our intention as revolutionaries to uphold our scripture: a better universe is possible.There are so many origins of sickness and so many other great standardize and alterations that could happen in our state-of-the-art society to abolish the sources of misery. affecting animals of the universe are murder for the taste of their molder carcasses. premier and oppressor switch community constantly as I bonanza more and more crowd confused at the political situation. Books are illegal at the same time courts decree guilt by association is "reason to convict." father and mate are launched in dungeon when they make the personal decision to make drunk themselves, and gain a gentle enjoyment via unreal means. slave slave aside at work, hours of their growth taken aside with imagination crumbling and sinking.I wish to detonate when I see the walls of chain facility stores and rip afar the humdrum of a "brick back brick" architecture. In my dreams, I am expansive enormous pot of paint to compose child-like paintings of fog on the side of every Walmart. I requirement to community a paper-mache rose on the tread of whole girl who feels alone, give a confident discussion to every boy who feels alone. I hankering to yelp for each one rape. I want to die for every resurfaced memory. I want people to pain less about death, and think also about their life as a unique and cute experience. I want people to accent less about life, and concentrate on the share of brisk that grant a pain of ease. Everywhere that I turn, every cry of the strangers I talk to, they are based on so copious petty things. I hankering swing my arms and lose perceptive of my consciousness, and... let go... I hankering to license go... moreover maybe bargain a insufficient peace, a little understanding, a little "the beautiful part of life is that community can be called the collective practice of without exception living and breathing creature," maybe in the bossom of intoxication.www.punkerslut.comFor Life,Punkerslut substance Tags: exceptional World, Relationship Between, Exists Between, vicious Behavior, Employer Class Punkerslut (or undy Carloff) get been hand essays and poetry on social affair which have caught his attention for several years. His website www.punkerslut.com contribute a entire list of all of these writings. His activity experience add homelessness, squating in modern Orleans and LA, leak out of high school, getting ejaculate from organization for "subversive activities," and a infinite of auxiliary revolutionary actions.

0 notes

destimonde · 7 years

Text

A [maybe not so] quick word on 13 Reasons Why

Okay. *takes deep breath, cracks knuckles* I generally don’t like drafting entire discourses about anything for the internet, particularly in this reigning era of online misinformation. However, I’ve been seeing a lot of strange backlash against the Netflix adaptation of Thirteen Reasons Why, and it’s struck a nerve, so here I am. (Also, saying this stuff on tumblr feels safer somehow than replying directly to comments on Facebook. I’m not necessarily asking you to agree with me, I’m just asking you to hear me out.)

Before I get to the nitty-gritty, a disclaimer: I first read Jay Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why my freshman year of high school and loved it. I thought it described the ethos and pathos of teenagers pretty accurately, and the idea was so original and thought-provoking to me at the time. I’ll admit I might view this story with rose-tinted glasses, but even so, I think the criticism against the show has been exceptionally harsh.

From what I’ve seen, 13 Reasons Why audiences have strong issues with Hannah - the girl who commits suicide before the start of the story, for those who don’t know. They argue that she is petty (for a myriad of reasons ranging from flirting too much/not telling protagonist Clay that she likes him, to making these tapes at all since they “blame” seemingly innocent kids), that she didn’t stand up for herself or take responsibility for her actions, and that she is utterly selfish in taking her own life without thinking about how that would affect her peers (I’ll let you chew on the irony of that for a moment). I’ve seen arguments that rail against Hannah for putting herself into difficult situations, for disobeying her parents, for never openly talking to anyone about how she was feeling... you get the idea. Of course, some of these accusations are true. There are many moments Hannah narrates in which she does not take responsibility when it would have been important for her to do so. She does break curfew rules and makes some questionable decisions. The issue here isn’t whether or not Hannah has done these things; it’s the rhetoric of “she did a bad thing/she flirted too much/she made a selfish decision, so she’s an inherently bad person and deserves what she gets” that terrifies me. Instead of opening dialogue about the issues raised in the episodes, instead of discussing what Hannah could or should have done as a learning opportunity, naysayers are focusing on minor character flaws and difficult situations as proof of the show’s ineptitude. In doing so, the criticism is proving, at least to me, that (just like nearly every other social issue) there is still so much bias and misinformation about mental health, particularly in young adults.

I may be alone in this, but watching the show put me right back in the head-space of my teenage self. There are plenty of things the Netflix series gets wrong: heightened drama, intense focus on the supporting characters rather than their tapes or Hannah’s story, and some unnecessary parental conflict, to name a few. But one thing I think the show succeeds at is relaying the emotional experience of being a teenager in high school, and particularly what it feels like to think that you are utterly, completely ostracized in an environment which forces you to face the same people day in and day out for several years.

At least, that was my experience in high school. Like Hannah, I felt inexplicably alone and unable to reach out to anyone. By my junior year, I had probably as many rumors and unwanted sexual attention circulating around me, even though I went straight home after school or rehearsals. (I never got invited to any parties, nor did I ever sneak out of my house, so I hope that at least shows you can be a “good kid” and still have these kinds of things happen to you). The heckling and whispers and rumors wore me down. I was already a melancholic kid, so it was all too easy for me to sink into a deep depression. Also like Hannah, I had a few close friends, but no one who was really willing to stick up for me - one of my best friends at the time openly chose to believe a rumor over what I was telling her. In fact, I tried in vain to tell as many people the truth as I could, and it didn’t help in the slightest. You can imagine that made it even harder for me to reach out. Before long, I genuinely believed that I didn’t matter, that if I suddenly disappeared from the face of the earth, no one would bat an eyelash. That made it easier for me to sink even deeper into myself, to avoid sharing how I truly felt. And for those who have not experienced this kind of intense depression during your teen years, you may not know that this way of thinking opens your psyche up to making all kinds of stupid decisions. What does it matter if you start to sneak away with boys in their cars, when you’re not worth anything anyway? How can math be that important when it pales in comparison to the sheer concentration it takes to ignore the people sneering behind your back?

Hannah’s story is definitely much harsher than mine, but the feelings still feel very similar. Luckily, I understood the consequences of suicide, and could never imagine myself actually going through with something like that. It has taken me several years and a lot of mental effort just to dig myself out from that trench, and still I’m haunted by that time of my life when I think back on it. I think I have Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why to thank, actually. The book ultimately demonstrates that even the little things can affect great change in a person’s life. Empathy is a skill most teenagers don’t have just yet, but the novel begins to open that dialogue. I also think that it opened discussion generally about mental health and suicide for young adults in a direct, creative way, ultimately showing adolescent readers the tragedy up-close by having Hannah co-narrate with Clay. If I had not read Hannah’s story and seen myself in her, and if I had not had Clay’s reactions to it (clearly she was not just a blip in people’s lives) immediately following it, it would have been hard for me to grapple with such a daunting topic at that age.

As for the show, I think it’s important to remember that it’s attempting to do the same work. It makes sense for the show, technically, to focus more on the cast of characters; but perhaps this is why I’ve seen so many arguments against Hannah and for the people on her tapes. The tapes, remember, are simply an engaging way to describe all of the “harmless” backstory leading up to Hannah’s final decision. This is where it’s important to recognize that the tapes are a device, not a “revenge fantasy”. And, by the way, Hannah never outwardly blames anyone on her tapes for her death. Her suicide is her decision. But she tells her side of the story in the only way she feels she can, and her story is just as valid as any of the other students’. What they do with that information, what decisions they make after receiving the tapes, are ultimately up to them. The guilt that they do or don’t feel doesn’t come from Hannah’s “petty” suicide note - it comes from the characters’ conscience. It serves as an example for viewers of how not to treat others, even if they think what they’re doing is harmless. In the case of the school counselor, it’s an example of how those in authoritative positions can sometimes also make mistakes, and proves that institutions need to change outdated or comfortable policies for people, particularly young girls, looking to them for help.

Am I saying that Hannah is completely free of blame for her misdeeds? Of course not. Is it out of the realm of possibility that she witness something like sexual assault or a car accident and yet do nothing about it? Of course not. That’s the point, I think, of these moments in the plot. In reality, most people make these kinds of mistakes every day. It’s a dangerous mindset to say that Hannah deserved to die young because she was a fallible teenage girl with a lot left to learn about the world and herself. To the argument that the show (and book) promotes and glorifies suicide, I disagree; the book focused on Hannah’s story leading up to her death, shining a light on how teenagers treat each other. The show instead chooses to depict some of the scenes in an incredibly visceral way. But it’s all in order to ultimately point to the incredibly tragic and terrifying realities of suicide. I won’t even get into the backlash against her flirting or putting herself into “dangerous positions” - there is so much anti-feminist rhetoric and rape culture that need to be sifted through on that one.

What I’m getting at is that although Hannah is a flawed character, that in no way makes her an evil person deserving of death. Criticizing her for keeping silent about her struggle and yet typing #goodriddance at the end of your rant has a real-life consequence. How can you expect people suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts to open up when the prevailing rhetoric tells them they are villains for feeling how they do, or because they are making mistakes, or because they can’t connect to the people around them? 13 Reasons Why is a highly dramatic form of visual storytelling for a real-life problem. If you can’t empathize with your adolescent self, at least recognize that your anger towards a fictional character won’t solve anything; it might actually hurt someone in a very real way, and perpetuate false stereotypes and ideologies of mental health.

#13 reasons why #Thirteen Reasons Why

0 notes