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steveharrington · 1 year

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can you elaborate more on steve being abandoned by the narrative?

yes <3 so i think there are two very unfortunate circumstances surrounding steve's character that have led to the current state of his plotline: 1. after not killing him in s1 like they originally planned, the duffers have never really had a plan for steve and 2. they are extremely influenced by audiences. when they were conceptualizing steve to fit in among the ensemble cast, the duffers were picturing him as a douchey boyfriend who unceremoniously dies. lonnie was originally going to come back to the byers house to save jonathan and nancy. there was no need to picture where he'd be 4 seasons down the road, so they just didn't account for that. then joe keery charmed them so hard that they literally couldn't bear to kill him, so steve ends season one still somehow alive.

but we've already established the nancy/jonathan plotline, because jonathan was once the duffers' self-insert who must defeat the evil jock and win over the girl. they couldn't just backpedal on that right away, so they needed to give nancy and jonathan a plotline alone, away from steve. but steve only ever functioned as an extension of nancy until this point, so what do we do with steve now? in an accidental stroke of genius that the duffers have admitted was a last second decision, they pair him with the children and make him into a babysitter. it almost instantly boosts steve into being tied with hopper and el for most popular character from the show, potentially even beats them both out. in 2017 when s2 aired, you could not escape mom steve jokes. it was everywhere, steve was everywhere, joe was everywhere, it was arguably the second coming of #justice for barb, which, in netflix business-y terms, was the exact viral meme type situation that the show wanted and needed to sell merch and remain relevant and say "see we still got it!!!"

you know who has the 2nd most lines in the entirety of season three? directly behind hopper? ahead of winona ryder? steve. think for a second about how absolutely insane that is. the character who was written specifically to die in season one. joe keery's name wasn't even in the season one credits, because he wasn't considered a series regular. and now he has the 2nd most spoken lines in the big blockbuster season because he rocketed up in popularity so intensely. season three marketing features the mall so heavily, creates a literal physical shrine to 80s nostalgia, and when the very first promo is released an entire year before the season airs, who's the star of that teaser trailer? and who, pray tell, is featured in the main brand sponsorship ad that plays in movie theaters worldwide? thats right its america's little darling steve harrington.

but here is the issue. the duffers look at what made steve popular and they see: funny exasperated babysitter, heartthrob action hero. they're like oh okay so we should keep putting him directly in the center of the action, bang him up every season to give him his classic bloodied aesthetic, but. he still needs to be funny. we can almost kill him, but we can't actually kill him because he's profitable. we can let him get horrifically injured because it's badass, but we still gotta let him crack jokes. it creates this very weird tone to steve's role in the story starting in season 3 because he's both the action hero and the comedic relief and protected by plot armor, so we get scenes where he's being literally tortured until he's begging for his life and gasping for breath but the tone is still.......fun? comedic? light and goofy? i think the duffers also forgot he's supposed to be a teenager.

now this is partially me making educated guesses but i feel pretty confident about this: once again, like gollum, joe keery uses his big shiny eyes and manages to evade death again in season four by being so likable and charming and marketable that netflix execs or shawn levy or maybe even the duffers themselves were like oh fuck we just can't do it. they were obviously tossing around the idea of taking mom steve all the way by letting him die sacrificially for dustin, so in season four they make eddie, transfer steve's relationship with dustin directly onto him, ctrl f steve's name in the death scene and just type in eddie instead, and once again steve is alive but he's directionless.

so what does he have now, in season four? i think the duffers have a whiteboard somewhere with steve's name and around it are little circles that say "funny" "cool" "DO NOT KILL" and steve is now stuck in this endless cycle of getting beaten up, popping back up somehow unharmed like a looney tune, saying something cute and oblivious, rinse and repeat. because that's what worked, that's what made him popular all the way back in season two. that's what the duffers are obviously keeping in mind when they're writing steve: popularity. not realism, not depth, not growth, just literally how to continue making him popular. meanwhile, other characters get to be part of the actual story. other characters get to serve a purpose other than selling merch. when el is bitten by a monster, she gets to actually feel pain and need help because that's realistically what any human would need. when hopper is tortured, he gets to suffer and ponder his existence and reflect on the relationships in his life. steve never gets any of that, because the writers just don't see steve as the 19 year old boy on his 4th straight year of traumatic events that he actually is.

they literally just see him as a money maker, there for cool viral moments and witty lines and maybe the occasional emotion experienced but only if it's about his romantic prospects. and the narrative that other characters get to have and be apart of just kinda runs parallel to steve. he's there, technically, but he's not really in the story. and it's like actually crazy because you'd think after all the funko pops he sold, he'd have earned an actual storyline!!!

#sorry this is So long im just tb the history of steve......#know your stevestory #anon #answered

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kjhbsies · 3 months

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Love Strum

HELP PALESTINE • donation links • ways to help • why you should not buy/support TLOU2 remaster

PART I : PART III

Rockstar Ellie Williams x fem!reader

Synopsis: After a series of arguments and misunderstanding, Ellie finds herself on a mission to win you back. Determined to prove her sincerity, Ellie starts working on improving herself.

However, as you and Ellie gain trust and potential liking for each other, your charming schoolmate enters the scene, inciting jealousy inside her.

wordcount: 3, 808

It’s been a week since the incident happened.

And yes, the internet broke in hell as the videos of Ellie started circulating. However, it was not what Jesse thought it would be.

Rather, Ellie and the band became viral as her different fangirls and fans club became obsessed with how she protected the guy who molested you. And how they found Ellie getting angry and possessive over you, somewhat, hot.

Ellie and the guy he beat up settled everything, much to Jesse’s luck. But after that, the band is taking a two-week break just to make the incident die down. Tonight is its end, thus, they are going to play again tonight.

But what was Ellie doing right now? Laying on the couch in her fancy penthouse while taking a swig of alcohol. To be honest, she has a lot in her mind right now. She could be writing everything in her notebook so she can compose a song dedicated to you. But Ellie doesn’t have the energy to lift her body because of her guilt.

A part of her brain wanted to find and apologize to you. Ellie knows that you don't deserve it. No one does. But something inside her doesn’t want to accept that she likes you. That she’s head over heels for you.

Ellie knows she fears commitment and attachment, which is why she only wants to hook up with different girls, not wanting to have someone fall in love with her. I mean, she doesn’t really see herself being in a relationship with them, so why would she engage in it?

But you.

Oh, you make her really confused.

Jordan walked in. Both of her hands are tucked in the pockets of her oversized hoodie. She sat in front of Ellie before sliding a piece of paper on the coffee table.

Ellie’s brows are knitted. “What’s that?” She asked before taking a piece of cigarette and a lighter.

“Her name, address, personal information… whatever the hell you need.” Jordan shrugged before leaning at the couch.

That night, after leaving you and Ellie alone backstage, Jordan managed to find out your bestfriends in the middle of the crowd. They were talking to some bouncers, rambling and asking where you went and what happened to you. Jordan managed to pull the two in a quiet corner, answering their questions. In return, Jordan asked for your name and personal information as they badly wanted to apologize to you personally.

“Who?” Ellie asked, despite knowing who she was talking about. She picked up the piece of paper and stared at it. Her jaw tightened as she read your name. After all those years of her trying to unmask that mysterious fan girl, she now knows you. But at what cost?

“Stop fucking around. You know who I’m talking about.”

Ellie lit up her cigarette before putting the paper down the table once again. “What should I do about it?” She asked stubbornly.

Jordan stared at her, dumbfounded. “You’ve said some hurtful things to her, Ellie. You should fucking apologize, dude!”

Her eyes shut down before blowing a puff of smoke. “That’s the thing… I don’t fucking know how.”

“I know this is some ironic thing to say but dude… grow some fucking balls. I know you think that she’s just nothing but your fan girl, but that doesn’t give you the opportunity to be a fucking asshole to her. You might think that she’s gonna come back running to you just because you are her fucking idol but what happens if she didn’t?” Jordan breathed. “I saw her that night, dude. She’s fucking crying while running out the bar. I don’t know what happened, but it looked like you didn’t care at all-”

“I fucking care, dude! That’s the problem because I don’t want to.” Ellie said, angrily. “I just want to be able to live carelessly, bed different girls at night, have flings then and there but it’s like her existence forbids me from doing that. I don’t know what she’s done to me, but ever since I saw her at the shitty bar at our gig in April three years ago-”

Jordan’s eyes widened. “Three years ago?!”

Ellie nodded while taking another puff and drink. “This is all fucked up, right? I think I’m fucking losing my mind.”

“Why didn’t I notice that you’re in love ever since.”

“I never said anything about being in love.” Ellie shook her head.

“It is love, dude. What do you want me to call it? A fucking miracle?”

“M-maybe!” She shrugged.

Jordan stood up. “You’re insane. Come on, I’m taking you to her place.”

“Right now?” Ellie panics, her eyes turning wide. “Nah, dude, we have a gig.” She backs out.

“It’s only 2:00 PM, stop over-reacting.”

And with that, Jordan started to pull Ellie by her wrist with so much force just because she kept pulling back. And because Ellie is much stronger than her, this made it harder than it is. However, because of the liquor Ellie was drinking earlier, she lost the battle. She figured out that it’s better to apologize to you personally. Ellie is now mustering all of her courage to face you. She figured she could do it. She is Ellie Williams.

She could not do it.

Ellie feels like she’s going to puke, literally. Her feet and hands are getting cold with every step she is taking. She bought a bouquet of roses on the way to this cafe, which apparently, is right outside of your apartment. How did Jordan make you agree to meet up with them? Ellie did not know. She figured out that after your argument, you wouldn’t want to show up near her. And maybe it’s for the better because Ellie is an asshole. She deserved it.

Ellie spotted you sitting on the corner of the cafe, you were immersed in a novel you’re reading while wearing headphones in your head. The sunlight shone perfectly at your figure that Ellie couldn’t stop staring at you.

You looked up at the two figures standing in front of you and you gently removed the headphones in your head, stopping the music in your phone, and sighed. Now, if it was a normal day and the argument between you and Ellie happened, you would’ve been ecstatic. You would’ve been giddy in your seat and most probably, you’re jumping in pure happiness.

But right now, looking at them, especially the girl that you thought you’ve been in love with the whole time, isn’t just the same.

“You two should talk, okay? I’ll be right there.” Jordan pointed at the seat near the two of you.

You nodded and put on a tight-lipped smile. Ellie slowly sat in front of you.

“She said you wanted to talk.” You started.

Ellie scrunched up her nose, as nervousness started to make its way onto her nerves. She couldn’t stop fidgeting and playing with her rings and the flowers. You sounded so sweet and gentle, contrasting her dark and cold voice.

You are so pure and Ellie is just not…

“Yeah. I wanted to apologize.” Ellie said, placing the bouquet of flowers at the table which you just blankly stared at. “I didn’t know w-what flowers you wanted so…” She stammered. Shit, shit, shit. “It’s fine.” Despite everything, your heart still jumped at her small effort.

Ellie looked at you. “I’m sorry.” She finally said, making you stare at her back. “It’s been two weeks and I can’t stop thinking about what I said.”

“Good.” You nodded.

Ellie sighed. “I didn’t mean everything. Saying those mean things about you was such a low move. A-and if you won’t forgive me, I’ll understand.”

“I forgive you.”

She looked at you. “Really?”

“Yeah…” You shrugged. “I just… got disappointed that night.”

Ellie’s heart dropped.

“You know, for three years, I embarrassingly liked you. At first, I did want your attention. I mean- who doesn’t, right? You were my… everything.” You gulped, a lump started forming in your throat. “But as I grew older, I am content to just stare and like you from afar. I always dreamt of what it would be like to be near you but that night, when I finally talked to you, it didn’t go as I expected. So, yeah, guess you can say that I was disappointed.”

“I’m sorry.” Ellie’s gaze dropped.

“It’s fine. Really. I accept your apology.”

“Do you still like me?” Ellie blurted out without thinking.

Both of your brows rose up as you were taken aback by her question. But after a few seconds, you smiled at her sadly. “I don’t know.”

I don’t know.

I don’t know…

I… don’t… know…

Those three words never left Ellie’s mind ever since they left the cafe. It’s been two days, and she’s still thinking about it since, and she didn’t know what impact you have on her until you’ve said those words.

She really couldn’t believe that she’s getting all worked up over this.

“Tough crowd?” Alex asked before throwing a cold can of sparkling water at Ellie.

“Nah, they’re great.” She shook her head before opening it.

Alex looked at her skeptically. “Then why’d you look like you’re spacing out the whole time?”

Ellie’s brows are now knitted. “Am I?”

“Yeah, dude, what happened? Jordan told me about y/n. What did you two talk about? Spill.” She said before sitting on one of the stools backstage.

“Nothing, man. I just apologized. “

“And…?” Her brows rose up.

Ellie looked her dead in the eye, not wanting to give in and talk. But a small part of her wanted to ask for help. Besides, it’s what Alex is good at. Who would Ellie want to talk to and ask for a piece of advice? Then with someone who is in a healthy relationship of three years.

Ellie sighed before sitting on the stool beside her. She clicked her tongue before talking. Still somewhat unsure, but… “She was this girl I’ve always seen in our gigs or concerts for three years.”

“Yeah, I know, you always ask for her name.”

“And I never got it.” Ellie rolled her eyes. Alex nodded. “I don’t know, man, I just got overprotective of her that night, and then got drunk, and said some shitty things to her.”

“You know, I never understood that part.”

“Fair enough. I just reacted so badly when I saw her in front of me. But mainly, I was pissed because she has this… magnetic energy that I just couldn’t forget. And I never understood why because she’s… she’s just…” Ellie sighed, not wanting to finish it.

Alex nodded repeatedly, understanding the whole situation.

“So you can’t accept the fact that you fell in love with your fan-girl and not the other way around? And so your pride couldn’t take it all in because you’re you?” Ellie nodded.

“So you’re afraid of feeling like a fucking loser. Maybe you should ask her what she felt. Pretty sure you two could talk it all out.”

“I did.”

“And what did she say?” Alex stared at Ellie.

“She said ‘I don’t know.’”

“Oh.”

Ellie nodded again.

“And what did you feel?”

“Like a fucking loser.”

“Oh…”

The two of them sat in silence for five minutes before Alex clapped her hands and went in front of Ellie.

“So here’s what you’re gonna do.”

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

Three days after you and Ellie talked and you were still thinking about how unreal everything was for the past few weeks.

In that short amount of time, you got into a huge mess in a bar, unexpectedly argued with your long-time idol and crush, and now she actually went to see you in a cafe? I mean, what the hell? And now, you just got a text from her which you are debating what to say as she’s asking if you are free to go into a private bar.

Ellie: Don’t worry about the transpo, I will send someone to get you.

Ellie: Consider this as compensation for my shitty behavior. Will you go?

Ellie: Please?

“God, how can you say no?!” Your friend, Dina, exclaimed before dramatically falling down the bed. “At first, I don’t really get why you’re so obsessed with her for years but fuck, I saw her face to face and she’s so hot. I just thought I would combust while looking at her.”

“Jesus.” Cat said, side-eyeing her. “I think you should stand your ground and make her pay. For a girl with such a popular status and huge wealth, she probably has a huge amount of ego and you should not give in to her.”

“But she’s hot.” Dina pointed once again.

“Yeah, she is.” You and Cat said in unison.

You shut your eyes and flopped down the bed next to Dina. “This is so fucking hard.”

“Just say yes!” Dina said and Cat immediately protested. She sat in the bed. “But! But! Just hear me out! You should still act cold and make her pay!”

“And how do I do that? I almost cried when I said that I don’t know if I liked her now.”

“We’ll get you dressed.” Cat pulled you up. “And remember that you should stand your ground. You’re a pretty girl and if given the chance, I will fuck y-”

“Yup, we’re done.” You said, dismissing her.

Cat put her hands on both of your shoulders. “So, here’s what you’re going to do.”

You: Okay.

Ellie pumped her fist in the air and immediately stopped in embarrassment.

“The fuck was that?” She asked herself before typing.

Ellie: See ya.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

Wearing your burgundy satin dress that Dina thought would perfectly hug your curves and compliment your skin, sleek makeup, and your hair is done perfectly, you never think you’d look this good.

The lamborghini Ellie was talking about picked you up in front of your apartment and every one stopped and stared in pure amusement. The private bar is a 30 minute drive and it is a fancy one. A jazz song is playing, making this place very romantic. Right now, you were sitting in front of Ellie, trying so hard not to stare but you just couldn’t help but look at her.

She’s wearing her formal suit and the first three buttons on her dress shirt are opened as the red tie on her neck is loose. Ellie sipped onto the wine, looking at you shamelessly.

“You look pretty.” She muttered, causing your heart to jump. Your eyes flicked at her before you smiled and Ellie can almost feel her grip on the glass becoming shaky.

“You too.” You said honestly. “Aren’t you afraid of getting caught with me?”

“Why would I?” Ellie poured wine at your glass. “Don’t worry. No one’s going to ruin this for us.”

True enough, you two had been talking for the past hour. You never really thought Ellie would redeem herself like this but you were glad that she’s taking accountability for what she’d done. Both of you learned some things from each other, and it was Ellie’s first time opening up with her personal life to a girl.

Ellie found out that you’re in your second year of college and is taking a psychology course. Ellie was so amazed and was frequently asking you about different things in human behavior and you answered it with such intelligence. You were so immersed in talking passionately about what you love that it warmed Ellie’s heart.

On the other hand, Ellie said that it was her dream to study science. She wanted to be an astronomer when she was young but it shifted when she became popular. Though, she would still like to study about it.

When it was time to go home, Ellie personally offered to drive you in front of your apartment, while using a different car – not the one that she uses every time because of paparazzis.

And it all went like this for weeks. Ellie never stopped talking to you in text. And, whenever you’re free, you’d go to their gigs or concerts with your friends. Jesse, their manager, would get you backstage as per Ellie’s requests, and, sometimes, the whole band and your friends would go to different restaurants to hang out.

You were supposed to meet with Ellie tonight, in a small, secluded town where no one could potentially see the both of you together. It was Friday night, and you thought it would be the best time to go out and have fun after a long week full of tests, projects, and school work. Besides, you did great for all of them,and Ellie’s going to treat you for an ice cream date.

It’s been 10 minutes, and she’s still not here. You’re in a park filled with colorful lights and fun decorations, and you amuse yourself by taking pictures and updating Dina and Cat. And then, after quite some time, you stood up and went to sit in a swing, pushing it ever so lightly.

To be honest, it’s getting quite late. And Ellie still isn’t here. There were no texts or calls from her, and you were not going to ask where she is for the third time.

Sighing, you kicked a rock, but it hit someone. A familiar tall figure looked at you with a fake shocked and hurt expression. And your eyes immediately widened.

“Oh! I’m so sorry!” You stood up.

The said person laughed. “It’s fine.” She answered. “Are you okay? You seem annoyed and spacing out.”

You hesitated in answering. Part of you wanted to talk to someone, but something inside you just wanted to not say anything about it. It’s humiliating because you got stood up. And the one who’s in front of you right now is none other than Abby Anderson.

To say that she is quite famous in your university is an understatement because she is more than that. Her father is a surgeon, thus making her one of the richest girls in school. She’s a top student ever since, and she’s actually the Biology Society’s president. Many people knew her, even from different universities as she’s always competing in research.

You two are just acquaintances, only sharing a few words when you always see each other at different organization’s meetings, or events where their college and yours are going together, and when you see each other in hallways. But seeing Abby in her comfy clothes at night, just casually walking in a park, is something you'd never think you’d see as she’s always so formal.

“This is so embarrassing, so I wouldn’t say why I’m here, moping all alone.” You sighed, putting up a thin lipped smile.

Abby nodded, putting her hands on her pockets. “Okay. I won’t ask further.”

“Thank you.” “Do you want me to accompany you? Or are you going to leave now?” Abby sat in a swing beside you.

“I might hang out here for a bit. I just want to take a breather since it’s been a hell week.”

“Right.” Abby rolled her eyes while smiling. “I think I haven't got a good sleep since Monday started.”

“I can’t even remember the last time I had a decent meal.”

You two laughed.

“God, I look like an idiot right now. I’m sorry you had to see me like this.” You look at her, and you find out that she’s already staring at you.

“Stop saying that.” She said, “Whoever ditched you tonight is an idiot. I’ll never make a pretty girl like you wait for nothing.”

You didn’t ask how she knew what happened. And instead, you smiled. “Really?”

“Really.”

Your gaze fell on your lap. “Yeah, she’s kind of an idiot.”

“Well, let’s go find something to eat. I’m starving.” Abby held out her hands in front of you, and you immediately held it.

You and Abby decided to eat ramen first. She insisted that it’ll be great, since the weather is cold tonight.

“It’s my favorite ramen shop. I always go here when I’m feeling stressed.” She said while mixing the noodles carefully.

“You always go here?” You asked before taking a bite. True enough, the ramen is good, aside from this, it also came with a lot of side dishes.

She nodded. “My apartment is near here. How about you? Where do you currently live?”

“Oh, my apartment’s in the next town. It’s 30 minutes away from here but if I’m going to take a bus, which is what I’ll be doing tonight, then it'll take me an hour.” You checked your watch. “I’ll accompany you. My car is parked in here.”

You immediately shook your head. “No, I can manage, really.”

Abby hummed. “Nah, I can’t let you go on your own. Besides, it’s already 11 in the evening.”

“But-”

“No buts. Eat your ramen and then we can go get some sundaes before I take you home, okay?” She asked you and you immediately complied.

“Wait, you lived with Cat?” Abby asked when she saw the familiar street.

“Yeah, you knew her?” You asked, surprised.

“Well, yeah, she’s a cartoon editor in the uni’s publication. Back when I was still a feature writer, we were very close. We still are but not as close as before. I got really busy with being the BioSoc’s president so I kinda dropped the position there. It was a really fun experience, though.”

“You’re very smart.”

Abby smiled, stopping in front of your apartment. She looked at you, “I try not to disappoint my father so it’s kind of my job to be smart.”

“Oh.” Your gaze dropped down your lap. Your phone buzzed but you ignored who’s messaging you right now.

You and Abby got out of the car.

“I had so much fun tonight, y/n.” Abby said and you nodded.

You were about to answer when you noticed a figure behind her. Abby sensed that your gaze fell somewhere, which is why she looked back.

Your phone buzzed and you looked at it. It was text messages from Dina…

…and Ellie.

Ellie: I’m sorry, I had an emergency. You still there?

Ellie: Hellooo?

Ellie: Your friends told me that you’re probably on the way back. I’ll just meet you in your apartment.

Dina: DUDE WHERE ARE YOU?

Dina: WHO IS THAT FINE GIRL WITH YOU? THAT’S NOT ELLIE.

Dina: OHMYGOSH IS THAT ABBY?!???

Dina: I FEEL LIKE I’M WATCHING A LOVE TRIANGLE MOVIE. I’M SO TAKING A PICTURE OF THIS RN.

Ellie’s brows are knitted while looking at the unfamiliar girl who’s with you right now. Abby stared back at her with an unamused gaze, making Ellie slowly getting annoyed. She’s holding a bouquet and a box of donuts and a tub of ice cream on the other hand.

“Who’s this?” She asked coldly.

divider from: @saradika-graphics

#ellie williams fanfic #ellie williams x female reader #ellie williams x reader angst #ellie williams #ellie williams x reader

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mariacallous · 4 months

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If anyone can rally up a base, it’s Taylor Swift.

When sexually explicit, likely AI-generated, fake images of Swift circulated on social media this week, it galvanized her fans. Swifties found phrases and hashtags related to the images and flooded them with videos and photos of Swift performing. “Protect Taylor Swift” went viral, trending as Swifties spoke out against not just the Swift deepfakes, but all nonconsensual, explicit images made of women.

Swift, arguably the most famous woman in the world right now, has become the high-profile victim of an all-too-frequent form of harassment. She has yet to comment on the photos publicly, but her status gives her power to wield in a situation where so many women have been left with little recourse. Deepfake porn is becoming more common as generative artificial intelligence gets better: 113,000 deepfake videos were uploaded to the most popular porn websites in the first nine months of 2023, a significant increase to the 73,000 videos uploaded throughout 2022. In 2019, research from a startup found that 96 percent of deepfakes on the internet were pornographic.

The content is easy to find on search engines and social media, and has affected other female celebrities and teenagers. Yet, many people don’t understand the full extent of the problem or its impact. Swift, and the media mania around her, has the potential to change that.

“It does feel like this could be one of those trigger events” that could lead to legal and societal changes around nonconsensual deepfakes, says Sam Gregory, executive director of Witness, a nonprofit organization focused on using images and videos for protecting human rights. But Gregory says people still don’t understand how common deepfake porn is, and how harmful and violating it can be to victims.

If anything, this deepfake disaster is reminiscent of the 2014 iCloud leak that led to nude photos of celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton spreading online, prompting calls for greater protections on people's digital identities. Apple ultimately ramped up security features.

A handful of states have laws around nonconsensual deepfakes, and there are moves to ban it on the federal level, too. Rep. Joseph Morelle (D-New York) has introduced a bill in Congress that would make it illegal to create and share deepfake porn without a person’s consent. Another House bill from Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-New York) seeks to give legal recourse to victims of deepfake porn. Rep. Tom Kean, Jr. (R-New Jersey), who in November introduced a bill that would require the labeling of AI content, used the viral Swift moment to draw attention to his efforts: “Whether the victim is Taylor Swift or any young person across our country—we need to establish safeguards to combat this alarming trend,” Kean said in a statement.

This isn’t the first time that Swift or Swifties have tried to hold platforms and people accountable. In 2017, Swift won a lawsuit she brought against a radio DJ who she claimed groped her during a meet-and-greet. She was awarded $1—the amount she sued for, and what her attorney Douglas Baldridge called a symbolic sum “the value of which is immeasurable to all women in this situation.”

Last fall, tens of thousands of people registered to vote after the superstar posted a link to Vote.org on Instagram. And in 2022, her fan base, so enraged after waiting hours to buy tickets to the Eras Tour only to be beaten out by bots, reignited conversation around antitrust issues with Ticketmaster and Live Nation’s mega-merger. A cringy Senate hearing followed, and an investigation into Live Nation’s agreements with venues and artists is ongoing.

Swift and her fans could advocate for legal changes at the federal level to pass. But their outrage could do something else: lead platforms to take notice. “When you have a really massive group of users saying this content is unacceptable in this very high-profile way, the power there is about what it says to the platform about what users will and won’t tolerate,” says Cailin O’Connor, a professor of philosophy at University of California, Irvine and coauthor of The Misinformation Age: How False Beliefs Spread. X did not respond to a request for comment on the images and its moderation efforts regarding deepfake porn. Elon Musk bought the site in 2022 and quickly gutted its moderation teams. Advertisers have also dropped off recently after Musk’s apparent endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory.

It’s not clear whether Swift will take on this issue. A representative for Swift did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Harassment of female celebrities is frequent and often brushed aside, but deepfakes are harming them and others without the same power. This could be a moment for Swift to use her powerful platform—or at least for her fans to push the issue before the public.

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probablyasocialecologist · 6 months

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People of conscience around the world are rightfully shattered, enraged, and sometimes feeling powerless. Many feel compelled to boycott any and all products and services of companies tied in any way to Israel. The proliferation of extensive “boycott lists” on social media is an example of this. The question is how to make boycotts effective and actually have an impact in holding corporations accountable for their complicity in the suffering of Palestinians? The BDS movement uses the historically successful method of targeted boycotts inspired by the South African anti-apartheid movement, the US Civil Rights movement, the Indian anti-colonial struggle, among others worldwide. We must strategically focus on a relatively smaller number of carefully selected companies and products for maximum impact. Companies that play a clear and direct role in Israel’s crimes and where there is real potential for winning, as was the case with, among others, G4S, Veolia, Orange, Ben & Jerry’s and Pillsbury. Compelling such huge, complicit companies, through strategic and context-sensitive boycott and divestment campaigns, to end their complicity in Israeli apartheid and war crimes against Palestinians sends a very powerful message to hundreds of other complicit companies that “your time will come, so get out before it’s too late!” Many of the prohibitively long lists going viral on social media do the exact opposite of this strategic and impactful approach. They include hundreds of companies, many without credible evidence of their connection to Israel’s regime of oppression against Palestinians, making them ineffective. That being said, all peaceful popular efforts, including boycott and divestment, to hold all genuinely complicit corporations (and institutions) accountable for supporting Israel’s grave violations of Palestinian rights are justified and called for. It is perfectly legitimate, for instance, to boycott companies whose Israeli branch or franchise has supported Israel’s unfolding genocide in Gaza, some of which we mention below in the grassroots organic boycott targets section. Also, a company or product may make perfect sense as a boycott target in one context or city but not another. This context-sensitivity is a key principle of our movement. Regardless, we all have limited human capacity, so we’d better use it in the most effective way to achieve meaningful, sustainable results that can truly contribute to Palestinian liberation. We therefore call on our supporters to strengthen our targeted campaigns and boycott the complicit companies named on our website to maximize our collective impact. The following are the current top priority boycott targets of the global BDS movement.

#bds #boycott israel #boycott divest sanction #israel #palestine

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cleolinda · 11 months

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Tumblr cannot replace Twitter, or Reddit, or Instagram, or Pinterest, or vice versa. I’m not saying it can. All these sites have their own functionalities and subcultures and mores. I miss Twitter. I’ve been missing Twitter since 2015, when the tone of the whole site started going to shit.

If you are moving to any platform, it is very appreciated to just hang out for a while and observe how people do things. You can go against the culture, but you’ll be consciously choosing to do things differently.

I’ve never watched one single second of Supernatural in my entire life. It doesn’t matter if you don’t like Supernatural. We get our news from the Destiel meme. That’s just how it is.

Yeah, when I posted about welcoming people from Reddit and Twitter, I was thinking in very naive and (help me, I can’t think of the word. Not provincial. “Relating to only that which is right in front of your face”) ways about redditors I had seen arrive from Tumblr-friendly subreddits, and Twitter users I personally interact with (because who else would see me tweeting about it). Dear God, no, I don’t want most of Reddit or Twitter coming over here. My apologies for saying otherwise.

Just before Reddit imploded, I had seen people here worrying that Tumblr really was dying and was so much quieter than it used to be, so an influx of the kind of people who would want to come to Tumblr seemed like a good thing.

When I said Tumblr has been less stressful for me, I completely forgot about the time I ended up with thousands of people yelling “kill yourself” about movie theater trash on a poll I made on a whim, for a solid week. Y’all, why do you keep doing that to each other, come on.

Still less stressful than Twitter, where potentially the whole planet (hyperbole) (maybe) could see anything you fucked up about if your fuckup went viral. Also, [gestures at everything]

I feel bad that I left Tumblr (as in, I made only a few reblogs a year) for a long while, but in my defense, it wasn’t because of the porn ban, and I wasn’t on Twitter much either. I had spinal surgery and covid and just Could Not for a few years. But I did, I admit, see that Muskrat was officially taking control of Twitter last year, and I jumped back on both sites in a panic to make sure I stayed in touch with people. So I did kind of leave and come back. I’d kept up with most of the memes, at least.

I feel like I earn my keep by reblogging a lot. Reblogging stuff, especially artists who post here, goes a long way.

#odds and ends #the happenings #long post

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midnight-pluto · 5 months

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COFFEE: PG.14 — alleyway therapy sessions

COFFEE: tim drake x gn!reader

SYNOPSIS: Tim meets a barista that gives him what he needed most — a large coffee with way to many shots of espresso. Though what happens when just a single action changes the other's life, forever?

coffee master list || prev. || next

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 2023 — 10:59 PM

IT HAD BEEN quite a bit of time since you started dating Tim. In all honesty, it was great — you’re dates were consistent, you got to spend time with his family, and hang outs outside of dates were enjoyable.

However, recently there has been a shift in your peaceful relationship. Tim had cancelled on you, again.

You understood the first time, he had rich kid socialite duties to attend to. The second time you were skeptical since it was back-to-back but he had given you a bouquet of your favorite flowers, so who were you to refuse? But this was the third time.

You both had planned on having a cute date at the park since it was a particularly good day to Gotham’s standards but as it turned out, he canceled on you.

Staring at Tim’s apology message, tears threatened to slip out of the corners of your eyes but you wouldn’t allow them. Taking a sharp inhale through your nose, you take your phone and leave.

Walking along the grim sidewalk of Gotham, you make a sharp turn through the alleyway for a shortcut to your apartment. Though doing that in Gotham wasn’t the best idea but you could handle a few thugs.

No one leave their house without a weapon in Gotham of course.

Halfway through the alleyway, a larger vine carrying two women emerge from the shadows in front of you — Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn.

“Ivy, I love you and all but are you sure this is a good idea? I mean like, I’m sure a lot of people out there deserve a good beating but not them! They look like they’ve had a rough night,” Harley told her girlfriend to which you sigh at.

“Of course the world isn’t done with torturing me,” you mumble.

“See!”

“Huh, I thought there would be a lot more shitty people that come down this route,” Ivy mutters.

“Are you alright sweetie? You look like you’ve had a bad day?”

“Wait Harles, you can’t be seriously starting a therapy session right now are you?”

“C’mon Ivy! This is the least we can do for them! I mean we inconvenienced them, potentially ruined their day by showing up — I mean like I would also be upset if a pair of heroes showed up for no reason — and! They look depressed! Look at their face!”

Wow. You didn’t know whether to be glad that someone noticed your sadness or offended at the fact that someone thought you looked depressed.

Probably a mixture of both.

Ivy raised a brow at her girlfriends notions and looked you over as you stared blankly into the abyss. Her eyes widen in realization of who you were, “Hey wait, aren’t you that viral employee of Café Remedies? Y/N, right?”

“That’s me,” you huff out, shoving your hands in your pockets.

“Holy shit I love that place! They make hella good macarons,” Harley interjects, “See! We gotta have a therapy session now.”

“Ugh, fine,” the redhead rolls her eyes, using her vines to create makeshift chairs for the three of you to sit on.

You stare at the sudden creation in shock but swiftly get over it once you see the couple sit down on them nonchalantly.

“So tell me, what’s going on currently?” the ex-psychiatrist begins, taking out a pen and notepad.

“Harles where on Earth did you get that?”

“It’s honestly nothing but like— he just keeps on canceling on me and I don’t know what to do, like is it me? Am I the problem—?”

“Slow down,” the blond interrupts with a calm voice, “Who are we talking about here?”

“My boyfriend.”

“Who’s the boyfriend?”

“Tim Drake.”

“Oh you gotta be shitting me! Him?” Ivy abruptly says, “He’s actually dating somebody?” She turns to look at her girlfriend to which she looks at her with the same expression.

“Apparently, I thought they were just rumors and speculation,” she shrugged her shoulders.

“We literally posted pictures of our first date— anyways,” you shake your head trying to get back on track, “He keeps on canceling our dates last minute and I’m starting to have doubts because what if he’s not into me anymore? Did he even like me in the first place — I was the one who suggested our first date so what if he just said yes out of obligation since I’m friends with Duke?”

“Wait Duke as in Duke Thomas?” the plant enthusiast questioned once more, to which you nod your head in response. “Holy shit you have connections.”

“But Duke isn’t even legally adopted by the Wayne’s,” Harley points out turning towards you, “Is he?”

“Well it doesn’t even matter since he literally attends the same events they do,” Ivy reminds.

“True I guess, but back on track. Tim keeps on canceling your guys’ dates?” the blond flips her notepad to a new page and clicks her pen once more.

“Yeah the first time he blamed it on his ‘rich kid duties,’” you quote.

“Why have money if you can’t even use it to bail out of something to spend time with you’re partner?” the redhead deadpans.

“And the second time?”

“He did the same thing but got me flowers as an apology and promised to show up the next time but uh,” you click your tongue, “He obviously didn’t show up.”

“Does he text or call you whenever he cancels on you?” Harley asked, putting black framed glasses on. Where she was pulling all of these things from alluded you but you didn’t question it.

“He texts me.”

She furrows her brows at that statement, “Can I see the text messages?”

Unlocking your phone, you press the messages app and show her your past conversations with your beloved. “We’ve called a few times during this time but that’s it.”

“Alright did you leave him on read?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Good he deserves it after answering your texts with the max of five words.”

SPECIAL NOTE: y’all might not hear from me next week since I got midterms but I will finish this smau before 2024 I swear!! also, I’m imagining Harley and Ivy are like they are in the Harley Quinn animated series — just an fyi

TAGLIST: @grandstrangerphantom @marsbars09 @fabitheraven @lovelypitasworld @dyjcksn @mae77eris @sugarrush-blush @djchik @soundsfunbutno @apizzacalledmel @strangetrashblog @cipheress-to-k-pop @harleycao @unhingedtimdrake @a-homosexual-homosapien @aquarii-doodles @love-stay @criminallycan @hecate-frenchfries @job-ross-the-second [ if your name isn't highlighted then I wasn't able to tag you. if you would like to join, feel free to send me an ask or to comment! ]

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earth616variant · 2 years

Text

the send-off | s.r; 1

summary | Being his best friend and assistant, Howard Stark asked you to be the first one to be tested on his time machine project. After some unexpected errors, you ended up stuck in the modern times of the 21st century. Where you meet the man you thought died years ago: Steve Rogers.

pairing/s | steve rogers x reader, avengers x reader

word count | 4.6k+

genres | angst, fluff, crack, time travel au, unrequited love au

warnings | mentions of death, maybe a little self deprecation

note | The first chapter is here! This is my first time writing here so I already apologize for any errors. I hope you enjoy reading it! Feedback and reblogs are very much appreciated. Thank you! :)

series masterlist | next chapter

"You cannot sacrifice a stray cat but you are willing to sacrifice me to your brainchild?"

For the last two days, Howard has been following you around like a tail. You tried to focus on your other projects. But your best friend has been pretty consistent with getting on your nerves and asking you to help with his new invention. This is nothing new as you are his assistant and you always lend a hand with his every creation. But this one is no easy task.

"I'm not sacrificing you–"

"Stark, you are asking me to be the first living being to try your time machine,” you told him, crossing your arms. “Do you even know how risky that is?"

Howard sighed and you can see how another idea got into his head, "I'll pay you higher clams. Higher than every man in this lab–"

"Wow, Howard. Money can surely make up for my possible death," you spoke deadpanned.

"You are not going to die! I am not going to screw up. I assure you...” He paused, making you finally look at him. “Y/N, you are the smartest person I know other than myself.”

You rolled your eyes as you tried not to smile at his slightly arrogant statement. Meanwhile, Howard smirked when he saw you biting your lower lip, an indication of you almost smiling. He continued,

“And you are the only one I trust in doing this project. You’re my best friend! I know that you know how important this project is for me. I am sure that you know the reason why I began working for this time machine.”

Setting your papers aside, you paused and stared at him. You can easily read through his eyes and so he is. You two can even communicate through silent stares and nods. So even though he will not specify his top reason for constructing this time machine, you knew damn well why. He wanted to make some things right.

It took you a minute to speak once again, “Let me think about it more.”

Fortunately, Howard granted you your request to have more time to think. He said that you can leave the laboratory earlier than usual, even adding that you can have a few days off to fully think about it. Typically, you stay with him late since you really enjoy what you do and you don’t have any more things to do back at your spacious apartment. But here you are now, walking your way home, all alone as always.

It’s not like you were never alone before. Growing up, you were an only child. Your father died in the war when you were barely one while you lost your mom to some viral, infectious disease when you reached twelve. Your rich uncle, who was your only left family member, took you under his care until he died six years later. He left all of his inheritance to you and you only. You finished your studies with that, determined to find a career in the future instead of confining yourself to gender norms.

So, you did. You accepted an offer you received from Howard, whom you met and became friends with during college. He asked you to work with him as his assistant for every work he is planning to make in his new Stark Industries. He believed in your potential, unlike other geezers who underestimated you just because of your gender. Because of that, people often mistake the two of you as lovers but you two would always just laugh it off. Howard never seemed to commit while you never found yourself attracted to anyone.

Not until years ago. But that did not work out good too. Especially when you never really had a chance to express your feelings to that person. You think that it was too dramatic to say that the causes of having zero chances are timings and his death two years ago. But that was the truth.

“Good evening, Ms. Y/N!”

You were just opening your apartment with your keys when you heard that familiar, little voice behind you. You looked back and smiled as you spotted Donny with his mom, Susan.

“Oh, good evening, Donny!” you greeted with the same enthusiasm as him. You also smiled at his mother, “Hi, Susan.”

“Papa rode the train today.” Donny randomly shared.

The six-year-old boy often tells a lot of stories whenever you see each other so you thought it was just one of those. You just responded, “Oh, really? Is he going somewhere?”

“Yeah, he said he’ll be back before I knew it.” he slowly frowned.

That’s when you noticed his tear-stained chubby cheeks and little puffed brown eyes. But Susan chuckled before explaining more, “Robert just got sent out of the city for the subject he’s writing for. This little cookie right here did not take it well.”

“Oh, that’s why…” you nodded your head.

“May I ask? Have you had your dinner already?” Susan asked.

You shook your head, “Ah, no. I just came from work. I don’t really plan on–”

“Mama is going to make Jell-O!” Donny interrupted with a smile back on his face.

“Yes. I’m actually making some meatloaf for tonight. I figured you would like to join us since you got home early and Robert is not coming home.”

It did not take you long to answer as you easily accept her offer, “Oh, that sounds good.”

“Yay!” The little boy squealed, even clapping his small hands.

“Great. Dinner will be prepared at six thirty. Please, don’t hesitate to knock.” she quipped before entering their apartment.

You went straight to your kitchen as soon as you got in your unit. Not wanting to go emptyhanded to Susan and Donny’s, you dug in your refrigerator to see what you can bring. Luckily, your eyes landed on the Tupperware of cookie dough you just made two days ago. You were bored then and decided to bake cookies. But just when you were done making the dough, Howard called for you in the lab. Now, you will finally have the chance to bake it. So you set it on the sheet pan in the oven for a good ten minutes. You were excited as it was your uncle’s recipe you decided to follow. Just before the clock strikes six thirty, you were already knocking at your neighbors with a glass container of chocolate chip cookies in your hands.

Susan welcomed you into their household. This is your first time going for dinner in their place even though you have known their small family ever since they moved in a year and a half ago. You are friends with the couple but you never had the time to accept their dinner invite before. She thanked you for the cookies and called her son as you two sat at the prepared dinner table. For the first time in years, you enjoyed dinner in a family-like setting. Donny filled the whole time with his wonderful stories, leaving no silence on the table as he munched on his meatloaf.

“Ms. Y/N, when I grow up, I’m going to be a teacher like you.” he babbles.

You chuckled, “But Donny, I’m not a teacher.”

“What? But you are smart!” he frowned, shoulders slumped. “Papa said you work with one of the smartest men. What’s his name again– Oh, Howie Stank!”

He grinned like he was proud that he recalled the man’s name. While you and Susan laughed at his innocence.

“Baby, it’s Howard Stark.” his mom corrected him and Donny repeated it slower. Susan continued, “By the way, Ms. Y/N brought us something tonight.”

“What is it? What is it?” Donny asked while shifting excitedly on his chair.

You watched as Susan stood up and reached for the jar of cookies from the kitchen counter. Donny’s eyes were filled with delight as he saw it. He jumps from his seat.

“Cookies!”

But before she hands him a piece of your baked dessert, she uttered, “Now, what are we going to say to Ms. Y/N?”

The kid ran to you and gave you the most adorable hug you’ve ever received, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Donny.” you smiled.

The night went on. Donny enjoyed the cookies while both you and Susan cleaned up. You insisted on washing the dishes but Susan told you that you can just help her with drying them off with a towel.

“You know, Donny is a real sunshine,” you told her.

Susan smiled at the compliment, “He is everyone’s sunshine. But I guess, you are his favorite. He cannot stop talking when you are around.”

“Oh, please!” you giggled. “Kids are always chatty.”

“And you are the only one who has the patience to sit through Donny’s tales. There was a time his dad even fell asleep while listening to him.” You two laughed.

“Where’s Robert off to anyway?” you asked as you wiped another plate.

“Oh, there’s this event in Manhattan that he was asked to write for. He told me it was an opening of a new business by a socialite there. I forgot the name. But I recalled he told me, it was one of Howard’s old flings.”

You chortled with that, “Oh, I won’t be able to name that socialite. Howard’s list of flings is already above my paygrade.”

“Well, maybe you can change–”

“Please, Susan. If this is another attempt to push my friendship with him further, I am taking back the cookies!” you joked. “We’re just friends and I am his assistant. I do like working with him but that’s it.”

“Okay, okay. I’m sorry. It’s just that you two really work closely with each other. It’s hard not to make news about it. My apologies again.”

After finishing the chore, she offered you coffee before she prepare Donny to sleep. After that, you two continued chatting in their living room.

“But don’t you want to do more?” you asked her out of curiosity since you two went to topics about careers.

“I’m a fuddy-duddy, Y/N. Before I even married Robert, I knew what I wanted. I wanted to be a wife at home: cooking different foods, cleaning every corner of the house, and being with my baby for every hour of the day. I am happy I get to do it.” she shared, sipping on her cup. “But we wanted different things, right? I also feel happy seeing women who are in the workplace. Especially seeing career women who are also single.”

Your eyebrow raised, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Don’t get me wrong.” She giggled. “I love everything I have and where I am now. But sometimes, I felt like I did it too early.”

You and Susan are both of the same age: twenty-nine, just one step forward to your thirties. Obviously, you two are on different life paths and goals. But you understand what she means.

“This may sound crazy. But if there’s this machine that would take me back to my younger days, I would definitely have to go dancing more in every place I was invited to, Maybe I would fool around more. I was too conscious before to enjoy everything that has been happening. It was my only regret.”

…if there’s this machine that would take me back to my younger days…

That one stuck in you, remembering Howard’s time machine and its purpose. You laid on your bed that night thinking of everything. You asked your best friend for free days to be really alone and have some peace as you went through the pros and cons of this project and you being the first person to try it. You fear what may happen as you will be the test trial. But at the same time, you cannot help but think that you don’t really have much to lose. Yeah, you have money and enough material things. But you are alone in life and you don’t have people to leave anymore unlike Susan with Donny and Robert.

After giving yourself exactly a week, you arrived at work with a clearer mind and decision. Howard was obviously jumpy when you walked into the laboratory mouth shut, wearing your usual work clothes. He tried to be patient as he waited for you to say a word or just a simple greeting. Instead, you turned around and directly locked eyes with him.

“You’re such a pain in the neck, Howard. You know that, right?”

His eyes slowly widened after a few seconds. “Is that your way of saying yes, Y/N?”

You sarcastically let out an exasperated sigh, “Yes. Let’s do this.”

Howard embraced you tightly while whispering endless gratitude. The machine was ninety-five percent done at that point. And instead of asking you to help him, he even gifted you more time on your own. But since it’s you, you still worked with him throughout the remaining process. The only change is you tried to bond more with the only people you bond with other than Howard. For a week, you had dinner with the Smiths, including Robert this time. You also had a picnic with Susan and Donny, where you shared with Susan what you had been planning to do. At first, she told you how equally scary and amazing that is. But in the end, she expressed her support. With Howard’s authorization, you invited the family to the day of the event. You even asked Robert to document everything.

“Okay, what do I need to do again?”

You stood on the platform of the device. You and Howard already went through the plan countless times. But It was unbearable to show unsureness with everything but there is still a big part of you who is confident with this test.

“Just take a shot. But don’t interact with anyone.” Howard handed you the latest model of the polaroid camera.

“Even to one person?”

“Even to one person.” He repeated as an answer.

“How long am I going to stay there?”

“Approximately ten seconds. So, just capture anything you see in front of you.”

“Where am I going again?”

“Same place as now. But seven days ago,” he replied. “Small steps. If that works, we’ll try going on further times and dates.”

You gulped, “Okay.”

Unconsciously, your response sounded like a stressed exhale. You have this weird feeling in your stomach and suddenly, your heart beats louder than anything else. Your hands were both sweaty and a little shaky as you try to compose yourself on the platform. Too distracted with your thoughts, you did not notice Howard walking up to you.

“Y/N, sweetheart…”

His warm hands moved up and down on the side of your arms in an attempt to calm your nerves. He can see that you are nervous even though you won’t say it.

“I’m fine, I’m fine, I’m fine…” you stuttered, shaking your head. “Let’s just do this. It will do great. It will. It will, right?”

You asked your best friend, looking straight into his eyes. You were hoping for confirmation, an assurance rather. You are aware of how dangerous this is. There is no guarantee on what would be the result of this brand new time machine. You just want to help Howard with this by being the first living being to try this prototype. You are giving your full trust to him but hearing a positive answer from the main inventor himself might help you feel a little more relieved in doing this. Even though that answer can be a mix of lies.

“Of course. This one will be a big success, Y/N.”

“Okay.” you sighed again. You and Howard shared a long, tight hug and you whispered something in his ear, “You better take me back. I have plans on Sunday.”

“For real?” he chuckled, whispering back.

“Some anchor clacker invited to a dance before he leaves on Monday.” you quipped since you tow both know that you don’t really go out on dates with anyone.

“Well, This fella must be an eager beaver. He managed to make you say yes to him.”

“Shut up.”

You pushed him away as you laughed. Seeing you crack up even a little somehow gave assurance to both of you two. Before going back to the controls, you shared a simple smile and you nods at him. Looking around, you see Robert nodding at you. Susan and Donny waved at you from the viewing glass.

“Okay, on the count of three, you’ll go to another time. I will give you ten seconds to look around. Then, I will get you back. Understood?”

You nodded.

“Good luck, Y/N. 1… 2… 3…”

“Come on, people. Get up.” Tony clapped his hands as he stood up from the table. “Peter can do the dishes later.”

“But Mr. Stark, it’s not my schedule today–” Peter tried to save himself from the said chore but the older man shushed him off.

“Shh! Everyone in the hangar.”

Other avengers left the room like they were ordered to. Sam and Bucky were teasing the hell out of their youngest member, Peter. Wanda and Vision were having their own little world as they walked side by side. Bruce is already in the hangar as he also helped Tony with his new project. Leaving Clint, Natasha, and Steve at the dining table.

“What’s happening?” Steve asked. He was busy for the last four weeks due to solo missions that he did not get ahold of what others were doing.

Natasha answered, “Remember the blueprints he found months ago?”

Steve nods, picturing the time he saw Tony around the compound with a cardboard box, which has Howard’s name on it, in his hands. He remembered smiling to himself that time because Tony looked like a little kid who found new toys to play with. It was probably four months ago.

“He figured he will try to recreate one of his father’s works,” Clint replied this time. “I think he chose to remake his dad’s time machine this time.”

“The time machine?”

Steve’s eyebrows scrunched together as he repeated that. One of the biggest news he heard of ever since he went back from ice was Howard’s attempt at building a time machine back in 1947. Only a few people knew about it as it was kept almost a secret because of its unfortunate result. Although a little number of people only knew it, there are still rumors or theories about what happened.

Natasha stood up, picked up her plate, and went straight to the sink. She continued talking, “Yeah, Bruce helped on improving some parts of it to avoid what happened a long time ago.”

“You know, to avoid what happened to…” Clint paused.

Steve cannot tell if Barton forgot the name of the last victim of the time machine or if he just doesn’t want to mention it around him. So, Steve decided to end his sentence.

“Y/N.”

He said it at the same second that Natasha just turned off the faucet, making the silence so loud between them three. What made Steve a little mad and confused about this whole time machine thing is how everyone who knows the result agreed to act like it didn’t happen. Like someone like you didn’t go missing. No one knows where you went and no one wants to talk about it.

Steve tried to make a search by himself in his first few years back from the ice, hoping that one of the rumors was right. A rumor where it was said that you simply changed your name, not wanting to do anything with SSR or Howard Stark anymore, and moved somewhere else to live a simpler life. But that one failed too. He tried and tried. But it always ends up to one thing: nothing. You simply became the world’s biggest hidden mystery.

“Why don’t we go see what happens there?” Natasha broke the silence.

Clint nods and moved from his chair, “Yeah.”

But Steve remained seated in his seat, he was staring at the table. This was not the first time Natasha saw him like this after your name was mentioned. He often turned into a silent, staring-into-nothingness thinking machine when someone tagged your name into the conversation. It happened only a couple of times. Natasha tried to make him open up about it one time but God knows how long Steve takes before trusting someone with his thoughts.

“Steve?”

Steve finally blinked and meet their gaze, “You should go. I’ll just head straight to bed.”

He didn’t wait for their replies and simply left the kitchen shortly after washing his plate. Natasha followed him with her eyes as Steve walked to his room. Clint, on the other hand, shrugged it off and pulled her to the compound’s ample hangar.

Tony, being the most extra person that he is, even prepared decorations and chairs with safe feet away from the time machine he newly built. There’s even a handmade banner– probably made by Peter– that hung behind the machine.

“Where’s the capsicle?” Tony asked them as they sat on the remaining vacant seats next to Pepper.

“Went to bed early,” Clint answered.

“What? Gosh, that old man–”

Natasha cuts him off before he starts his unnecessary rant, “Just show us your new project.”

“Okay, okay.” Tony rolled his eyes as he walks in front of his own version of a time machine based on his dad’s blueprint. “I’m going to skip any more introductions because I am so excited to show you guys this time machine. Sure, it had issues before. But Dr. Banner right here helped me to modify it. Hopefully, it will work well and this can be the first-ever working time machine ever!”

His enthusiasm was evident on his face. He continued, “So, here's how it will work. The time machine will be powered on and to avoid any living being disappearances like before, I’m going to place this camera on the platform. I’ll set it into timer mode. Bruce will quickly click the controls to send it out. When it gets to another timeline, it will just take a snap of whatever it sees. Then, we will immediately bring it back here.”

“How long will it stay to another time?” Sam asked in the background.

“Roughly five seconds only.” Bruce, who stood near the machine’s controls, replied. “This is literally our first test trial.”

“Any more questions?” Tony asked and everyone in the room just shook their heads. He smiled and stood next to the lever for power on. “By the way, there might be bright flashing light– Please accept the glasses that are being handed out by Ms. Potts.”

Pepper distributed dark shades from the prepared box to everyone. She later sat back down, wearing the same eyewear. The two scientists also wore them. Tony placed both his hands on the big lever next to the controls.

“Okay, let’s start. Switching on the time machine in 3… 2… 1…”

After pulling the heavy lever, a blinding, white light engulfed the whole room.

It was just a blink of an eye.

As you felt a different, cool blow of wind on your face, you slowly opened your eyes, immediately seeing a group of foreign people sitting in front of you. It worked. It worked! Your eyes widened as you realized it. But before you can even click the button on your camera. You realized another thing: everyone is looking at you. You are in a distant timeline and you can tell just based on their fashion.

Dang nabbit, Y/N. You only have a few seconds. Just take a polaroid.

You clicked the shutter. Its small sound made everything more awkward against the quiet and seemingly shocked crowd. Then, you mentally count down to ten as you wanted to get back to Howard to show him the image.

Five.

“Hello?”

You cocked your head to the man who spoke on the side. He was in the controls with another guy who strangely looks like Howard. Were you in another universe? Was multiverse real? Although shocked, you didn’t react since your best friend advised you to don’t interact with anyone.

Four.

“Miss, can you hear us? Where were you from?”

This time, the Howard-looking guy with the weird goatee asked you the question. You remained quiet.

Three.

“I don’t think she can understand us.”

Two.

But then, someone stood up from the seated group of people. A bearded man with shoulder-length brown hair from the back. He removed his sunglasses and you squinted your eyes to identify him. His piercing steel blue eyes as wide as he spoke,

“Dr. Y/N?”

No. No. No! This cannot be real!

One.

“Sergeant Barnes?!”

You immediately covered your mouth as you unintentionally called his name at loud. Gasps and inaudible whispers followed. You held the polaroid camera in your chest tighter when you see some of them standing.

Why is he here? He fell from a train during a mission with the Howling Commandos a couple of years ago. Steve saw it himself.

“Wait, you are Dr. Y/N, Howard Stark’s assistant?!” A teenage boy asked and everyone turned to you, waiting for you to say something again.

You didn’t say anything. Instead, you took a step back when you noticed the time on your gold wristwatch. Suddenly, there is a drop in your stomach. You watch as the smaller hand ticks, indicating that a minute had passed.

Damn it.

As if on cue, your camera spews a polaroid picture you took not long ago. Your heartbeats went faster and it was like you were drowning underwater. Sweats formed on your forehead. Your fingers shake. What is happening?

“I’m calling Cap.” you heard someone say and ran out of the room.

“C-Cap?” you stuttered, voice shaking. You prayed that they were talking about someone else as the only person you called Cap was already dead too. Out of desperation and fear, you looked at the two guys standing near what seems to be the controls. “Bring me back!”

You see them panicking as they click on the various buttons. The other one pulled down the large lever and everyone screamed as there were booming sounds and sparks everywhere. Your knees were on the ground as you smelled the smoke. You were starting to feel lightheaded. Your vision was slightly blurry but you can still see people leave the room.

“Oh my god. Let’s go.” A woman with long auburn hair walked to you.

“But I–” you were pointing at the smoking time machine before another spark happened.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. They’ll fix it. For now, we should go.” she replied and you accepted her hand.

Your knees were weak as you stood up, almost falling again. But another woman stood next to you holding you up by the waist. They assist you, walking you out.

“A-Am I dead?”

Your feeble voice whispered. But they didn’t seem to hear you. Incoming heavy footsteps were heard.

“Where is she?”

That voice was like a snap in your brain. Like memories played in your head the moment you heard that deep voice. You know that voice. God, you missed that voice. You felt like crying with all the overwhelming emotions mixing in your system. But instead, you gulped and collected all the remaining sanity in you to look up to the guy coming.

“S-Steve?!”

You called his name so frail but it didn’t hide the fact that you were surprised to see him. You see his lips move but you cannot hear anything anymore as everything turned dark.

THE SEND-OFF TAGLIST [open. please make sure your account can be mentioned :)]

@supraveng @yourallihave @et-homephone @sunflower-golden-vol6 @curi0usc4t @caitlyn-who @bitchy-bi-trash @therealwritersblog @stilltoomuchafangirl @emievns @sshina555 @blinkszamsstuff @tokaixi @saviorcomplexrry @matisse556 @ragingsammie @gitasor

#steve rogers #steve rogers fic #steve rogers angst #steve rogers fluff #steve rogers au #steve rogers series #steve rogers enemies to lovers au #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers fanfic #steve rogers fanfiction #steve rogers time travel au #avengers x reader #avengers fanfiction #chris evans #chris evans x reader #chris evans fic #chris evans angst #chris evans fluff #the send off steve rogers

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annabelle--cane · 8 months

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at the risk of sounding Really Bad and with the caveat that I mean this in the most pro vaccine pro taking Covid extremely seriously way possible. I think conflating mental health/personal hobbies and habits with physical health and wellness in the time of a literal plague is actually part of why we are where we are. The example of opting out of treating a broken bone that you used is the perfect metaphor because that’s something that mostly effects the person with the broken bone. But if you’re treating every goddamn thing a person can do like it’s potentially viral it makes it easy to sound reasonable to advocate for a lot of vigilance against individual choice. Is this totally off base? do I sound like a reactionary dipshit conspiracy theorist right now? Just… there’s something here right??

even if that isn't the total root cause, I definitely think you're onto something. covid is literally a deadly and disabling viral disease, so the logic of "your actions regarding this impact others" makes total sense, but I think a lot of people took that language and framework and just ran with it, hoping that alluding to a deadly and disabling viral disease would lend credence to their arguments about mental health and personal decisions.

for example, I am constantly thinking about this take I saw on a post about drug decrim in december 2021. it's so special and dear to my heart, it makes no fucking sense at all. the only copy of the screenshot I still have saved is just the tail end of it and it has my annotations, so bear with me.

first, just for a moment, I love the complete breakdown of internal logic. we need to end the stigma around drug abuse but I think using heroin is exactly like being anti-vaxx. we should decriminalize all drugs but you'd have to be craaaazay to think that legalizing them is okay. wait until this person learns that some addiction treatment programs include prescribing opioids as a harm reduction measure.

second, using heroin is in no way like being anti-vaxx oh my god, and this person just can't tell. they are explicitly applying viral disease logic to mental illness* and choices about individual bodily autonomy. I don't want to minimize the pain and distress that can come from having a loved one with a substance use disorder, but in no world is it the same thing as refusing to go to cvs a few times to get a free vaccine against, once again, a deadly and disabling viral disease. groundbreaking leftist take: drug use makes you a hazard and drain on society and honestlyyyy you should think about the consequences of your actions before choosing to become an addict :/

I don't have screenshot for this next example, but I've also seen this language and mindset particularly come up a lot in discussions about "bimboism," makeup, and cosmetic surgery. I've seen several discussion threads where a woman finally just says "look, I'm adult, I've thought about this, I've interrogated myself, and ultimately I still want to do it and I can do what I want with my body" and the comeback to usually is "are you stupid? this isn't just about you, you're a member of a society who inherently expresses your ideology through your choices. the personal is political, stop being so individualistic. what will young girls think when they see you in a miniskirt calling yourself a slut?"

again, the final point that's meant to win the argument is that your choices about your body aren't fundamentally your own but Society's, because other people can look at your body and have feelings about it, they may even want to emulate it. for an added bonus, this one doesn't just use viral disease logic, but also borrows heavily and directly from the really basic conservative idea that women are less people and more living mannequins that you can dress up and use to show off the ideals of your social group. you can't wear that, men might see you and think you're a hussy and then it'll be your fault when they harass other women, little girls might see you and copy you like mindless drones.

*obligatory asides that plenty of people can recreationally use substances without being addicted and they're also fine + I know that classifying addiction as a mental illness is a hotly debated topic, especially in antipsych contexts, but that's a whole different can of worms to the topic at hand.

#answered #anons #id in alt text

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beardedmrbean · 6 months

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Among images of the bombed out homes and ravaged streets of Gaza, some stood out for the utter horror: Bloodied, abandoned infants.

Viewed millions of times online since the war began, these images are deepfakes created using artificial intelligence. If you look closely you can see clues: fingers that curl oddly, or eyes that shimmer with an unnatural light — all telltale signs of digital deception.

The outrage the images were created to provoke, however, is all too real.

Pictures from the Israel-Hamas war have vividly and painfully illustrated AI's potential as a propaganda tool, used to create lifelike images of carnage. Since the war began last month, digitally altered ones spread on social media have been used to make false claims about responsibility for casualties or to deceive people about atrocities that never happened. While most of the false claims circulating online about the war didn’t require AI to create and came from more conventional sources, technological advances are coming with increasing frequency and little oversight. That’s made the potential of AI to become another form of weapon starkly apparent, and offered a glimpse of what’s to come during future conflicts, elections and other big events.

“It’s going to get worse — a lot worse — before it gets better,” said Jean-Claude Goldenstein, CEO of CREOpoint, a tech company based in San Francisco and Paris that uses AI to assess the validity of online claims. The company has created a database of the most viral deepfakes to emerge from Gaza. “Pictures, video and audio: with generative AI it’s going to be an escalation you haven’t seen.”

In some cases, photos from other conflicts or disasters have been repurposed and passed off as new. In others, generative AI programs have been used to create images from scratch, such as one of a baby crying amidst bombing wreckage that went viral in the conflict’s earliest days.

Other examples of AI-generated images include videos showing supposed Israeli missile strikes, or tanks rolling through ruined neighborhoods, or families combing through rubble for survivors.

In many cases, the fakes seem designed to evoke a strong emotional reaction by including the bodies of babies, children or families. In the bloody first days of the war, supporters of both Israel and Hamas alleged the other side had victimized children and babies; deepfake images of wailing infants offered photographic ‘evidence’ that was quickly held up as proof.

The propagandists who create such images are skilled at targeting people's deepest impulses and anxieties, said Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a nonprofit that has tracked disinformation from the war. Whether it's a deepfake baby, or an actual image of an infant from another conflict, the emotional impact on the viewer is the same.

The more abhorrent the image, the more likely a user is to remember it and to share it, unwittingly spreading the disinformation further.

“People are being told right now: Look at this picture of a baby,” Ahmed said. “The disinformation is designed to make you engage with it.”

#nunyas news

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raininyourblackeyes · 1 month

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What happened at world's??? I'm not up to date 😭

LMAOOO WHAT DIDN'T????

Ok brief summary of every disciplinne which will end up long so

MEN:

Boyang messed up so much in the SP he didn't even get to the free. To quote his coach Brian "I don't even know what that was." My boy obviously thinks that the men need to flop in every city starting with M... Milano 2018, Montreal 2024.... let's hope he keeps that mindset for worlds and olympics because they are also in Milano

Junhwan also flopped in the SP, but not as much thank skating gods! He did better in the fs but I really didn't get anything from his programs this season anyways so I wasn't as devastated as I would be let's say with any prev season's fuck up

Kao also flopped SP missing the combo because of the 4T attempt. Absolutely magnificent opening 4S, best of the SP event! He attacked some titans in the FS but got eaten immediately by 4Lo and 4S

Shoma finally listened to me telepathically and flopped the free

Jason was overscored as fuck, he should not have been above Deniss in any segment but he has the american money. However, he did serve.

Have to mention Nikolaj Memola having a very solid senior worlds debut!!!

Ilia uuuh got the world record in the FS, 227 something and now he's going viral and how I feel about it is 😐 The 4A was magnificent, and yeah yeah he can jump and yeah it's a Succession program but PLEASE WATCH SOMEONE WHO'S ACTUALLY DOING FIGURE SKATING! One can only wonder what's next? A quint? A quad-quad combo? Because he did everything else and I doubt he'll decide to get some skating skills

Donovan was absolutely stellar! And the audience loved him!

The epic highs (Romsky SP) and epic lows (Romsky FS) - as usual

Deniss went clean (if we don't count popping the opening quad in the FS) in both SP and FS. His SP is a religious experience, and he's skating to Hallelujah exactly how Leonard Cohen would have wanted. 100% worth watching (costume deduction for showing tits is soooo funny). He also did a mad thing and debuted a new free st worlds. I was sad to see Blues Deluxe go and very sceptic about Lion King, that's junior music to me but IT WAS STUNNING and I hope he keeps it for the next season so I can see it live in Zagreb

Yuma... GOD!!!!!! He is right now THE best skater we have in this disciplinne. Carolina Costner is doing wonders for his skating skills. And somehow this was meant to be a recovery season. Meanwhile he blew everyone else out of the water. Yuma is definitely worth getting into figure skating. Two stunning programs, some textbook jumps, mind-blowing performance ability and just lovely skating skills

Adam was probably the definition of men singles skating event. 19th in the sp, everyone despaired about him... because you know, there's no hope for Boyang but there is some for Adam? And boy was there hope!!! He goes clean in the FS, does a fucking banned backflip which I am not a fan of, probably thinking "fuck it I did an amazing program but from 19th I have no chance to medal anyways so I'll just do this instead" so he takes 2 deductions. And medals. Biggest jump placement wise in history of the sport. Sooo then fucking Benoit who is already delusional about his choreo skills goes and says how he wants to create choreo so revolutionary that could potentially get him banned. My dude, you should have been banned a long time ago for Kaori's I love being a woman free at least...

WOMEN:

Tbh they were in the middle of the night for me and since men singles is my fave disciplinne it's also the only one I'd stay awake for so... not much to say here. Sorry. But there wasn't any insane drama I think, the results did take me out in the SP, but it ended up pretty nice in the end

I did see Kaori and while her programs are far from my favourites this season I am 100% convinced that girl could sell me anything. The highlight of both her performances, apart from how insanely well she did to come back from 4th to win overall in the FS, was her reaction to a botched Lutz landing in the SP. Her SP is also dedicated to her niece and nephew and it's so soft. Also imagine in a few years a teacher asks kids to say a fun fact about themselves in the first class and this kid gets up and says uuuh my aunt won her 3rd consecutive world title with one of the programs being about me being born. THE FLEX!

I only got to see Hana's FS in real time and I have made an entire post about Shakuhachi so please go watch that if you haven't, it's a masterpiece. Koo Koo Fun is also a masterpiece in some other aspects! Also go watch that! I think she did an amazing job for a kid at her first worlds in her first senior season.

Mone WHAT A COME BACK IN THE FREE!!! Which rip... I like her SP more, but definitely also chek out the Sendai baby Mone if you haven't

I've seen Amber's FS, the only clean 3A of the evening. I really hope she can one day pull off a completely clean free one day

Young had an epic performance in the SP, that StSq is just cheff's kiss. I didn't catch her FS but uhhh I also don't really want to hurt myself so I won't even try to look for it

Chaeyeon sadly has a Benoit abomination for her FS, her SP is also by Benoit but she sells it so well. I say this about her FS because quite frankly it's the FS that got her the medal.

PAIRS:

Deanna and Maxime. That's it that's what you need to know about pairs. She is a superstar, they did an Interview With the Vampire free with stunning costumes. Their SP was a firecracker! Deanna is the oldest woman ever to win the gold in figure skating, and she should be THE inspiration to all little girls trying out the sport thinking that it's just a few years of fame. You can be 40 and winning gold in your home city!

Riku and Ryuichi did so well considering they are coming back from an injury and they brought back Woman (2020-21 and 2021-22 FS). Silver was very much very well deserved

I think the only other team I remember leaving an insane impression on me were Hocke/Kunkel in the SP, absolutely fucking robbed.

Pairs was overall the best disciplinne and you should watch it, I didn't have time to see any free skates except for SD/D and M/K so that's about what I can say about the event

ICE DANCE:

Head in hands, this used to be a disciplinne where you go to therapy (skating skills) after the horrors (jump fests)

Chock/Bates won which is a fucking joke because the only thing they have going for them is the fact that Madison is hot and that can be a distraction once or twice, but not at every fucking competition and not at worlds. When will they retire?

Piper and Paul were stunning, their programs are always either a hit or a miss no inbetween and this season they are a HIT! Especially the Wuthering Heights FD you should see it! They won the free, but Skate Canada forgot to homecook in the RD so they got silver overall

Charlene and Marco have the campiest RD this season but it works!!! The only superheros I am willing to watch on my screen, marvel wishes it's characters had what these two do. Their FD is also really nice. LOVED Barb's interview where she said Madison and Evan are slow af lol, but rip she was so confident about G/F placing above G/P and then bam bronze

LALA THE TRUE WORLD CHAMPIONS! Absolutely stunning and fun RD to Thriller with Zachary actually being the main character. It's also my mom's favourite ice dance program of the season overall! And then you have a complete change of emotion and tone in their Roses FD which is just soft and elegant and she is literally dressed in flower petals. They showed so much variety and growth this season. It's a program made to be adored, and their skating offers so much quality. RD is passionate and mindblowing, FD is enchanting seamless. If ice dance was a real sport they would be the world champions!

Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko in strong contention for my fave RD this season. I am probably a bit biased becasue it's Stevie Nicks. They had an amazing glo up this season imo. Their FD offers a lot of intense character projections: obsession, possessiveness. Choreo is intricate, it's a very tasteful program. Someone on here said we should have more programs about murder after their performance and I couldn't agree more. ALSO Scott and Madison in the K&C!!!!!!

You can barely guess that Lim/Quan are a first season senior couple. They managed to make me watch Let's Go Crazy without sighing about how much I miss Yuzuru. Insanely hot in that program. Their Umbrellas are also in my top 3 free dances this season. Amazing performances at their first senior worlds

Ok I'm only gonna mention absolute delight and theatrics that Pirihara bring on the ice. Such a unique Chicago presentation! I can't wait to see what they plan to do next season.

#lmao i have more ice dancers to comment on but this is too long #also i started answering this and then forgot about it rip #figure skating #worlds 2024

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osc-article1 · 8 months

Text

M.M’s

OSC JOKE NEWS

September 18 2023

What is going on with this specific Twitter user? Is bad luck on the rise for one person?

User information

Vengeance/ Ven @flyingbuddiies on Twitter.com (It/He) is 16 years old and infamous for it’s bad luck on Twitter right now. It’s known for being part of the Inanimate Insanity fandom, being a big fan of the ship Tacomic and being in the warriors fandom respectively.

The luck

Ven is going viral after an incident of him putting a blanket in a dryer(?) and it disintegrating. (see image below)

However this is only one of many incidents Ven has had from having power go out to having 8 severe weather alerts, Ven was known earlier this year for having a Lightbulb Plush with only one leg.

Several incidents are and not limited to:

Home potentially broken into.

A glass breaking as soon as it touched it.

Air conditioning breaking.

Biting his tongue open.

And more because I can’t possibly keep typing forever.

It’s gotten so bad that there are 3 accounts dedicated to documenting the misfortunes of Vengeance.

Other/credits

Big thanks to that thread by rottewange

https://twitter.com/rottewange/status/1703222797391008013

Good night! (If asked I will take down)

#oscjokenews

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coolchevistianofficialsite · 1 year

Text

Owlphibia Vs Disney Television Animation Next Era - When I Learned That Serialization Can Be Bad In Excess....

The night i posted this, i didn’t bothered with it beacuse i was ready to hop on an airport to Acapulco for the weekend, returning on Tuesday evening, i was surprised by the many QRTs, Replys and Reblogs as the tweet went viral over-night to the point of cringy Tik Toks and YT Shorts where putting made up bs.

Since the announcement that Disney Branded Television will stop the serialized era at Disney Channel for the 2020s and from now on will focus on musical episodic comedies specially many of them created by Big City Greens with exception of Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur who was confirmed to be serialized later on, there has been some bias againts the current and future Disney TVA lineup for Disney Channel from the Owlphibia fandom (Owl House and Amphibia) this has been prominent since Q3 2021.

These past years i haven’t been bothered by that beacuse right now im 24 years old and im more focused on finding my first animation job after finishing college by next year and starting to save money for equipment of my art, to bother if people i don’t know cry if their favorite storytelling on the medium of animation for a multimedia company will go away

However recently the Owlphibia community has been on a very toxic situation with future Disney TVA shows by simply existing that finally decided to speak up, specially with some things that have been bothering me with the community that i have been carrying since 2021 to a point where someone attemped to “cancel me” and decided to finally writte this over the following bs that happen during the Annies weekend where OPs pic scares away potential fans of both TOH and DTVA shows

1) TREATING BIG CITY GREENS LIKE THE SECOND COMING OF SATAN

Big City Greens is a curious case where a fandom hate goes so much, beacuse im tired of going to the BCG tag on Twitter and evey 5 or 3 tweets i see a Owlphibia fan hating the show beacuse the bitter truth “JEALOUSY” recently these people treat this show as a soulless project that only exists just to cancel serialized shows to give it more attention, BCG dosn’t have any fault of that, Dana has explained that the show was axed due Gary Marsh leadership at DBTV on 2020 or on 2021 where TC was delayed and the Owlphibia fandom was pissed that a BCG marathon was replaced instead.

Im tired of repeating myself with this point but the show is very popular with it’s target demographic aka children who support the show legally as opposed to Twitter & Tumbrl who searches the latest MEGA as soon at is posted AND barely supports it’s official release on legal platforms,Bob Chapek’s LGTBQ+ scandal was a fair boycott and i respect it if that case made you NOT want to support any official release of TOH & Amphibia to give Disney money, if that was the case i completly understand.

However Big City Greens, the show and it’s crew dosn’t have the fault of being the cancelation of TOH or delaying True Colors as that’s illogical and dosn’t make any sense and if you have following me you know that im glad that their Alumnis like Natasha Kline,Cheyenne Curtis,Monica Ray,Amy Hudkins and Raj Brueggemann as well The Houghton Brothers mentor C.H Greenblatt will do their own Disney shows and being succesful with their own franchises as Disney has faith in them to make big hits and becoming next storytellers and honestly that’s fine, im sure you will love them and speaking of future Disney TVA shows...

2) APATHY TO ANY OTHER NEW DISNEY TVA SHOWS ON THE WAY.

This where real tweets when these shows where announced and got me a laugh out of me, the first one beacuse on the same day Disney literally announced two serialized series for Disney+ under the Disney Europe Animation (The Doomies & Dragion Striker) while ignoring The Witchverse and Rhona Who Lives By The River and the second one was beacuse we literally confirmed that InterCats will be a more mature comedy for kids and teenagers ala Regular Show which explains it’s Disney+ greenlight.

Or recent attacks to The Witchverse for being a show about witches and being the major blamed for Owlphibia for TOH cancelation or Owlphibia fans crying when Phineas And Ferb announced a revival, being angry at Hamster and Gretel making a dark blood joke or throwing a tantrum over Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur aka a Marvel IP getting merchandise right off the bat and bothering Disney TVA excs on Twitter to ask them to break NDA to know if there’s a new serialized show on development.

I understand being afraid however things change as well and it’s very obvious that the era of Gravity Falls alumni-leading projects at Disney is over as S.H Cotugno and Emmy Circiega and others have left Disney for good now that TOH is over or that their development deal is now over however this dosn’t excuse to look with apathy to this new era as this new shows might even surprise you and is interesting that other animation communities of other countries are open to this new era than American cartoontwt and cartoontumbrl recently one Facebook page from Latin America posted the first photo and the community commented on this with positive reactions with the new episodic era, here are some of the highlights

1 - In my opinion, it's good that they let this type of series rest with deep serious plots and deep character developments. The truth is, I was already fed up with those fandoms that fought with everyone and among themselves, defending tooth and nail every idea or theory that It arose throughout the series and that when it ends, the fans want answers about what happened next or they want a continuation of it, and they don't understand that if it's over, it's over, period.

2 - Well, I think it was time to put this kind of series to rest, over time they began to fall into the Adventure Time and Gravity Falls formula, it worked well, but perhaps that genre of storytelling in the medium needs a reinvention.

3 - I feel sad that they are stopping these type of animated series with that format. Rebecca Rose said it months ago that this is the new approach because it is easier for the target demographic to get into the series and get hooked on a random episode that happens, but it doesn't mean anything bad ,there is Molly Mcgee and other projects that don’t look bad

4- Serialized shows are good, but once in a while, you need a break, something simple, to watch over a meal and for that, the return of Phineas & Ferb is appreciated

5- I'm not saying that the GF-type "formula" should disappear, but that Disney itself stagnated with it... Pretty much like the anime, the tropes started to be repetitive a lot like "a normal person arrives in a magical world and blah blah blah..." I think they can be more creative than that

6- Im fine with it, at the end of the day Disney knows how to reinvent itself, this will not be the end of the company or Disney's animation units.

7- People prefer to watch shows without following a plot so much, it's normal that they want to put that aside for a while.

As for me im pretty excited that finally Harvey Beaks/Big City Greens alumnis are getting their time to shine besides More Than Us from Disney Wish, Encanto’s song What Else Can I Do? is what represents what i feel with this new era:

youtube

Before finishing an aclaration with this editorial im not forcing you to like every new Disney TVA series for Disney Channel, im just asking nicely to the Owlphibia community to level down their hatred with other Disney shows for simply existing and direct your anger to older dumb excecutives instead of other shows who don’t have any fault of a cancelation.

And be positive that at least that someone still greenlights original animated series in this sea of cancelations based on the betrayal of Netflix Animation and the mess that is WBD, Cartoon Network Studios WISHES right now to have someone as passionate on animation as Ayo Davis and Meredith Robers.

Finally im my opinion overall on this is pretty much “Change can be difficult, but it's how we grow. It can be the hardest thing to realize you can't hold on to something forever. Sometimes, you have to let it go” and with this new era of episodic musical comedies by BCG alumnis well “But, of the things you let go, you'd be surprised what makes its way back to you.” -- Anne Boonchuy.

Take care and support animation - Seb

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