halberdex

[halberdex]

*through gritted teeth* the world is GOOD. people are kind. Humans are NOT inheritly selfish. you will make it through this year. recovery is possible. people you don't know yet will love you. You are going to do things you can't even imagine right now. You are going to read a rlly good book. You are going to eat some rlly good food. You are going to experience joy again. Things can get better. Situations can change. You can choose to be kinder. The world can change for the better.

[halberdex]

ID: A graphic with text reading:

"ANTI-CENSORSHIP CHEAT SHEET

WHY? On July 2025, Steam, a popular storefront to purchase games on PC, and itch.io, a storefront that sells games, comics, tools, resources and much more, have recently delisted several NSFW games, after the group Collective Shout published an open letter to payment processors such as Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, and more.

As a result of this letter, payment processors have strongarmed Valve and itch.io into enforcing restrictive new TOS policies on what kind of content their platforms can host and sell.

Visa, Mastercard, Stripe and Paypal have been censoring free speech and legal business on the internet for TOO LONG. Their most recent targets are Steam and Itch.io, but they have also been pressuring websites like Pixiv, Patreon, Fansly, Onlyfans and MORE for years, applying draconian standards for what kind of adult/pornographic content platforms and their users can host and sell.

If we as consumers and creators want to regain ground on this issue, we have to make our voice heard.

HOW? BOMBARD THEM WITH PHONE CALLS Collective Shout, the organization that lobbied to have Steam and Itch.io change their TOS, did so with only around 1000 phone calls. Visa and MC have backed down from pressuring Onlyians to remove adult content entirely due to public backlash. Clogging their phone lines for an extended period, over a month at the absolute least, will almost guarantee that these companies will at least have to pay attention to the backlash. this list is not exhaustive. but some contact points for the 4 targets are:

VISA: (US + Can): +1 [8001-847-2911 US option selection for operator: 1-1-2 or 1-1-3

MASTERCARD: (US): +1 (8001-307-7309 US option selection for operator: 1-1-2-2-2-1 Phone (outside US): 1-636-722-7111

STRIPE: (Headquarters): +118881 963-8955 (France): +33 805-11-19-67 Stripe: complaints@stripe.com

PAYPAL: (US): +1 (888)-221-1161 (outside US): 1-402-935-2050 Customer Service: +1 (877)-569-1116

Talking Points To Hit

-Steam and itch.io were forced by payment processors to remove several games unfairly

- This was done after a small, far-right wing group that doesn't represent the wider population made a few phone calls

- Their action is harming legitimate, legal businesses, is unfairly targeting games made by LGBTQ+ and minority groups, and overall limits artistic freedom

- It is not the payment processor's role to dictate what adults can or cannot buy with their money

- You are willing to support any politician or legislation that will put restrictions on what the company and other payment processors are able to do

Tips - It's okay if you stumble over words and ask the operator to repeat themselves - Your goal is to TAKE UP TIME (and therefore, $) moreso than change minds - You will be told to direct your complaint to an email. Don't do this, escalate the call to a supervisor - Be polite. Do not raise your voice, sweat at, or threaten any phone operators.

Try To Hit All 4 Targets Per Day

This is only going to have an effect if as many people possible call EVERY DAY for as long as possible.

THIS IS A MARATHON, NOT A RACE. If you can, it is also a good idea to try to spread the word to organizations and groups that can either actively combat these huge companies legally, or can spread news, in a manner supportive of this movement, more effectively than your average person.

examples of organizations: ACLU, Canadian Civil Liberties Association, local legislators/govt representatives

examples of spreading the news: local newspapers, special interest publications, videogame streamers"

[halberdex]

[halberdex]

man the public defender discourse pisses me off so bad. yeah. yeah I do think that every single person deserves representation. yeah that includes people who *have* committed rape and murder and abuse. when I say every single person I mean every single person. if your idea of justice excludes one person it excludes everyone. next question

[halberdex]

Anti public defender sentiment NOW of all times has GOT to be a psyop and I’m not being hyperbolic

[halberdex]

robot discrimination allegories are kind of tired and hard to do right but i do think theres smth interesting in exploring the themes of humanization and dehumanizion with androids. like customer service robots built to be humanoid while the worker drones aren't. how certain people may be more willing to empathise with a robot that looks like a white person over a real human being. would companies want to create androids that act as humanlike as possible in order to exploit customers empathy? or would they do the opposite in order to avoid questions about ethics and sentience? much to think about. much to think about.

[halberdex]

Just finished the first mistborn book and found this on my Pinterest twenty minutes later

[halberdex]

My boyfriend @aborigonalguppyrabits and I were discussing cosmere reading order and decided that it was best expressed as a flow chart. The project got a little out of hand. Obviously there’s no right way to read the books, but we thought we’d offer our solution.

[halberdex]

[halberdex]

I am by NO MEANS a professional artist, nor am I good at replicating styles, but it was such a fun idea. Luthadel is such a cool aesthetic.

[halberdex]

Elect more women.

[halberdex]

[halberdex]

hey man do you need something

[halberdex]

some of y’all bout to be real mad at me. but it must be said. some of the shit u call corny/cringy is actually just genuine/cute/sweet and y’all r just afraid of expressing any type of positive emotion

[halberdex]

The way tumblr users talk about racism makes it really obvious they learned about it from Harry Potter's muggle born wizards plotlind

[halberdex]

not to sound like a christian facebook mom but some of yall need to have grace in your hearts for the people in your lives or the people you pass once on the road and never see again like you literally need to stop assuming the worst of everyone and their intentions it is poisoning your brain. you can be careful and responsible without being a miserable person. it is possible i promise

[halberdex]