#Countering manipulation for societal well-being

[sunshine-jesse]

The Incest End is Not The Bad End, Part 3: The Only End I Know For Real

Alt title: We're roleplaying the endings, not choosing them.

I've focused a lot before on how sickly sweet the chemistry between Ashley and Andrew is and how unproblematic their relationship would actually be under different circumstances, mostly societal ones. I mostly did so to counter the idea that the incest end was primarily a bad end and bring up the assertion that it was the one with the most hope. In doing so, I basically interpreted all of the text within the game in a very positive light, giving off the impression that I think it'll be all sunshine and roses. The reality couldn't be further from the truth? While I think it's the end with the most hope, I ALSO think it'll be incredibly difficult for everyone involved.

As a matter of fact, I think the Questionable end will be the most difficult one to navigate through for Ashley herself.

"But wait," you say, alarm bells ringing in your head, "doesn't she literally fucking die in the Decay ending?"

And I don't think it's that obvious.

First off, why do I think the Questionable end will be difficult to navigate through? After all, Andrew is calm, collected, and Ashley is just a little bit nervous about how he's changing. She also has that ultimate leverage over him, knowing that he's sexually attracted to her and she can use it to keep him by her side. There's little for anyone to worry about, right? Well, no. Not really. As another analyst has pointed out, in the Questionable ending, Ashley has no OTHER leverage over Andrew.

The trinket? Shown to be only situationally useful to them. The future visions don't always show danger, sometimes the demon can just troll them. Sleep? No, he no longer needs Ashley for that. A scapegoat? Not even that. In the Burial ending, he starts to take responsibility for the violence he inflicts on others and has no need to pin the blame on Ashley.

Outside of sex, Ashley is more or less useless to him now, at least in her own mind. Truthfully, Ashley is still the most important person in the world to Andrew and doesn't seem to need a reason to keep her around anymore, but Ashley doesn't realize that; it's part of why she's so confused and uncertain. Their dynamic is changing, and she doesn't like it. But in the Questionable ending, all Andrew has to do is not have sex with Ashley (easier said than done if the fanbase [myself] is any indication) and she'll have nothing left. She'll likely have no other choice but to look inward at this point, especially if Andrew doesn't give off any of the usual red flags that make her think he'd leave her.

There's a good chance at this point that their dynamic will flip entirely. Ashley will be the one who needs comfort, and Andrew shows every indication of being emotionally stable enough to provide it. We'll see some Real Mental Illness instead of Possible To Infer But Maybe Problematic To Do So Mental Illness. Whether or not she changes for the better or worse will likely determine the ending we'll get.

…

Except probably not.

Sane vs Questionable can't be THAT different, or we'd be getting 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D instead of 3A and 3B. And, y'know what? Now I'm gonna start reaching really hard into theory territory rather than just analysis. So, hear me out here.

Both dreams are canon no matter the ending. The only difference is whether or not Andrew sleeps or not; if he does, the vision he gets is for HIM, and Ashley only incidentally sees it. It's much more important to him than to Ashley, because Ashley doesn't get a clear vision like she did in the motel. If them fucking was actually relevant to Ashley, she likely would've seen it no matter the ending. Her reactions reflect this; at first, she appears weirded out, maybe uncomfortable. Then she finds it hilarious. She considers it as a means of manipulation, sure, but the writing is on the wall: She won't NEED to do so no matter what.

Unfortunately, due to her not being able to open both doors, she won't be able to realize this. Oops!

At this point in time it's basically impossible to ascertain what her own personal vision means. I've given my interpretation before, but I ultimately have my doubts that the specific sequence of events is all to relevant. Most weird dream metaphors are clear parallels to past events, but the dream seems to be a metaphor for what the future will hold. The most relevant part is not the ghosts, but instead how Ashley reacts to what is clearly Andrew's soul. She jokes about trapping it in the bottle, but it being as a joke more than anything is a far cry from how desperate her attempts to keep him normally seem. So what gives? What does this mean?

I think, funnily enough, the Decay ending holds the answer.

My most-distanced-from-a-literal-or-metaphorical-reading-of-the-text-but-is-relatively-easy-to-accept theory is that the choices we are given in the game aren't asking us what we want to see from them, but rather, how we see the characters and their relationship. People are distracted by the idea of choice, but the reality is that we're being asked to roleplay (this is an RPG after all) as the siblings and do what we expect them to do. This isn't about choice. This is about BEING them and DOING WHAT WE THINK THEY'D DO.

Here's what I mean.

If we interpret Ashley as having trust in Andrew and his judgment, then it makes perfect sense she'd trust him with her parents. She might be a little worried, but it's pretty clear that her overwhelming desire to keep Andrew by her side is underscored by genuine love and trust. From there, if we interpret Andrew as having genuine love for his sister and a desire to take care of her, then it becomes everyone else's problem that they can't be together; not his. In killing their parents, he comes to terms with this and self-actualizes. He's willing to take responsibility for the violence he inflicts on others and has no discomfort with dismembering them.

But if you interpret Andrew as viewing Ashley as a burden and a problem, he can't bring himself to save their parents and have a better life because he views himself as too far gone. He hates himself as much as Ashley hates herself for being unable to break free from her influence. He still feels like she's his responsibility, but the love that exists there is greatly muted and overshadowed by his sense of responsibility and a carnal, physical desire for her. Knowing this is likely part of the reason he hates himself; part of the reason he can't let go.

He, crucially, also squanders Ashley's genuine display of trust. It's HIS fault that things break apart, which is why the skull appears over his head when you accept the mom's offer. Ashley genuinely, seriously loves Andrew and wants what's best for him. She's posessive, but her care is a lot less selfish than Andrew thinks, and he can't see that because he's too blinded by his hatred and (partially sexual) frustration to see who she really is.

On the other side of things, if you view Ashley as being a primarily toxic influence that views Andrew as more of an object than anything, she doesn't trust Andrew to deal with their parents and it's HER fault that things break apart, as the skull appears over her head. She sees him as an object, as a child or toy. She sees him as Andy, not Andrew, and can't process the fact that he can change. It's very overbearingly maternalistic, and I believe this specific choice is the only one where Ashley is actually more like their mother than Andrew, eye colors be damned.

In Burial, she wants to share the vision with Andrew, and he wants to share it with her, because their feelings are genuine and mutual and they want to share the experience (because they might get two visions from it, sure, but the principle isn't that much different) But in Decay, she keeps it to herself. She doesn't trust him or his input, either because she doesn't view his feelings as important or because he either almost squandered her trust (if she was listening in), or because he was generally hostile and disincentivized her from wanting to share.

There are other examples too, like when we're allowed to control Andrew to kill the hitman. If we view him as unprepared or unwilling to kill, we empty the whole clip because he's nervous and doesn't want to do this. If we view him as prepared, calm, and in control, he kills in one clean shot without much of an issue. Washing the [REDACTED] out of the shower drain? We basically get to see if Ashley is actually all that competent at housework or not, and if we don't know the right order, neither does she.

This comes to a head in both of the endings.

In the Questionable ending, we're shown that Andrew slept through the dream. We see what he really wants and the depths of his true feelings. He has very obvious romantic feelings for Ashley, and it's not just physical desire. Ashley's very obviously obsessed with Andrew still, but the fact that he can be present in every painting shows that she ACTUALLY views him that way. She's not just seeking validation; her feelings are real, and she knows it.

Remember, this dream is SHARED. We are seeing how BOTH of them feel.

In the Sane ending, Andrew isn't present, and Ashley is never given a chance to view their relationship as anything other than platonic. We don't know how Andrew feels, and we're arguably never given a view into Ashley's true feelings either, because that would-be revelation is cut off by a vision (indicated by eyes). We're just shown what she should do, needs to do, or will do.

Because we don't view their relationship as romantic, light is never shone on the reality of their dynamic. We never see how obsessed Ashley really is (if anything, we're being misdirected by being shown the opposite), and we never see that Andrew has romantic- if buried- feelings for Ashley that can't just be passed off as carnal physical desire. But since it's still the Burial ending, the dynamic still clearly exists; the endings would be too different otherwise. We CHOSE how we see their dynamic in the basement scene.

In other words…

Without love, the truth cannot be seen.

Reader who is in the know: "…hey wait a fuckin' minute" Me: "MOVING ON"

At some point- probably early on- the Sane and Questionable endings have to converge. Andrew and Ashley will have to have the nature of their dynamic laid out for them in a way they can't deny, and the likely only difference between Sane and Questionable will be whether or not Andrew is surprised/embarrassed, or just goes "I guess that dickhead demon wasn't just tricking us after all" and then the route will proceed as normal. Whether or not they have sex will likely be determined by your choices in Chapter 3 itself rather than Chapter 2 with this in mind. Either way, I think Ashley will go through most of the chapter confused and uncertain and will be forced to develop as a person, for better or worse.

In the Decay ending, as said, we're shown that Ashley doesn't even attempt to share a vision with Andrew, so we get to see a vision where Ashley's frame of mind isn't one driven by mutual affection. In this route, we see Ashley constantly running from -something,- and given dreams are metaphors, I think it's reasonable to assume that it's showing us that Ashley is primarily motivated by a fear of Andrew. Fear of what, exactly, isn't really clear; we know for a fact that she's afraid of losing him, but she's also afraid of the violence he can inflict upon her. Either way, she runs away, we can see the demon say "hmmm how interesting," and then we get a vision of the future.

But it's important to note, that vision is a metaphor, not a literal vision of the future. It takes place in the dream world- unlike any other vision, which takes place in the real world- and there are no out-of-frame eyes in the CGs like there are in the Questionable route. Also, (albeit less convincingly), all the eyes are in the background rather than on the map themselves, like they are when we see the hitman vision. The eyes only exist in the background in the Sane vision too, further adding to the idea that they're a metaphor.

So. If it's not a literal depiction of what will happen, then what exactly is it a metaphor for? Okay. Hear me out. This is my wildest fucking theory yet.

It's a metaphor for the Burial route. Or rather, the kind of event that happened in the Burial route.

What we are being shown in the metaphor is a reconciliation of their relationship, where their true feelings are laid bare. We are put in a situation where they are forced to decide how they feel for each other once and for all. If Andrew holds all the power in the relationship but has no control or awareness of his feelings- represented by whether he was composed enough or not to unload his entire clip-, he unceremoniously kills Ashley. Without that awareness, Ashley cannot even defend herself. She has no control because she isn't dealing with someone who has any either.

(Whether he actually kills Ashley or just some abstract representation of Leyley isn't clear, but it doesn't matter much for the purpose of analysis.)

But if Andrew does have that awareness of his feelings- represented by only shooting one bullet- they can negotiate. Because Andrew is in control, Ashley is also in control, and she can make one of two choices:

She can choose to save herself (and either maintain the status quo or just fucking kill Andrew depending on how literal the vision is). With this choice, she lets her fear overtake her and discards Andrew- the cause of her fear- like trash. He is an object that only exists for her sake, after all, and she can discard him just as easily as he seemed like her could discard her during the strangulation scene.

She can choose to trust and accept Andrew. And given a heart appears over her head, she can choose to love him, and overcome her fear, even at the cost of either her life or their prior dynamic (once more, depending on how literal it is).

Decay is asking us if we think Ashley is primarily motivated by selfish fear or genuine selfless love. But both exist either way, and their relationship must be understood and reconciled at some point; this route might honestly be their only hope for a platonic good ending, but it's going to be dismal and painful either way.

So with that in mind, why is the gun not relevant to the Burial route (yet) if it's such a strong metaphor?

Because the reconciling event WAS the basement scene.

We had to make that same choice there. Was Ashley too afraid of Andrew's interaction with her parents to let him handle it? Or did she love and trust him enough to make that choice? In choosing yes, the ball in Andrew's court. If he chooses to care for her needs, their relationship evolves. If he or Ashley refuse make that choice, that can is kicked down the road, and their relationship continues to deteriorate.

Or decay, as it may.

But in Burial, with that reconciling event having happened, the ball is in Ashley's court. With Andrew having come to terms with many of his feelings (minus his sexual desire), most of his arc is finished. There's probably still a lot of him to unpack on the Burial route, but in the Decay ending, as long as Ashley shows love for him, the final choice always falls on his shoulders. And with his final choice having been made in Burial, all that's left is Ashley's.

And what final choice will she have to make?

I don't know, I'm not a prophet.

But either way, she'll still have to make the choice of whether or not to be ruled by her fear of losing him, and desperately try to grasp for control she no longer needs, or cast aside that fear and allow for genuine, mutual love to flourish. Think about it this way: When you see a corpse, how do you react? If you don't care for the corpse or fear it, you stay away and let it decay. If the corpse belongs to someone you love, you tend to it and bury it.

And what do I think the best case scenario is? Well, I've made my opinion obvious, but I think there's one final thing I need to emphasize:

You don't claw at someone's back like a wild fucking animal if you're not really into it.

[yoonavii]

𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒

Regency Era! Law x F! reader

Description: Lady Y/N defies societal norms with her down-to-earth nature, setting her apart from other noble ladies. During her debut, she captures the attention of numerous suitors, but her heart is unexpectedly drawn to Lord Trafalgar Law, a brooding and mysterious Duke known for his coldness towards women. As their relationship develops, they face the challenges of unraveling Lord Trafalgar’s enigmatic nature and navigating their contrasting personalities amidst societal expectations. Will their connection withstand the obstacles they encounter? or will it crumble?

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑

As the viscount walks down the main hallway, his steps echo with a sense of purpose and authority. He positions himself in front of the grand entrance, prepared to greet the families who have arrived for the gala. Beside him stands his wife, the viscountess, a complicated mix of emotions churning within him. He casts a sidelong glance at his wife, his expression a mask of controlled anger. The knowledge of her betrayal weighs heavily on his heart, but he understands the need to set his personal grievances aside for the sake of the gathering.

In a tense silence, the viscountess breaks the stillness, her voice carrying a mixture of defiance and determination. She mentions the importance of finding a suitable match for y/n during the gala, her words laced with a misguided sense of authority. The viscount’s gaze hardens, his eyes narrowing as he locks eyes with his wife. He speaks, his voice a low growl that carries a subtle warning. “You would do well to stay out of matters concerning our daughter,” he asserts, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I will not allow history to repeat itself.”

He recalls the painful lessons learned from the ill-fated marriage of his eldest daughter, a tragedy that had scarred the family deeply. He resolutely reminds his wife of the consequences that befell their family, the loss and heartbreak they endured. He refuses to subject y/n to a similar fate. The viscount’s words hang in the air, his unwavering resolve painting a picture of a father fiercely protective of his daughter’s well-being. In that moment, he asserts his authority, vowing to shield y/n from any potential harm or manipulation. As the viscountess listens to the viscount’s stern words, a flicker of defiance dances in her eyes. She meets his gaze, her own filled with a mix of resentment and frustration. Her voice carries a touch of arrogance as she responds to his warning. “And what would you know about finding a suitable match for our daughter?” she retorts, her tone laced with condescension. “You’ve always been blinded by your own pride and stubbornness.”

The viscount’s jaw tightens, a flicker of anger passing through his eyes. He inhales deeply, his resolve evident as he maintains his composure. “I may not always have made the right decisions, but I will not allow you to jeopardize y/n’s happiness” he asserts, his voice firm and unwavering. The viscountess scoffs, a derisive smile playing on her lips. “Your concern for y/n’s happiness is nothing more than an illusion,” she retorts, her words dripping with disdain. “You care only for your reputation and your precious family name.”

The viscount’s nostrils flare, a mixture of frustration and hurt crossing his face. He clenches his fists, battling to maintain his composure in the face of his wife’s cutting remarks. “You know nothing of my intentions and the lengths I would go to protect our daughter.” he counters, his voice laced with quiet determination. A tense silence fills the air between them, the weight of their words hanging heavy in the space. The viscountess, realizing the depth of her husband’s conviction, looks away, her defiance momentarily subdued. As the first guests begin to arrive, the viscount and the viscountess stand side by side, their expressions guarded and their emotions simmering beneath the surface. The air is charged with an unspoken tension, a silent battle of wills that will shape the course of the evening. Despite the lingering animosity, a shared understanding emerges. They both desire what they believe is best for you, even if their paths to achieving it diverge. For now, they must set aside their differences, don their social masks, and navigate the intricate dance of high society.

With a deep breath, the viscount takes his wife’s arm and leads her forward, their steps synchronized yet their hearts still in conflict. As they greet the arriving families, their gestures and smiles belie the underlying tensions, a delicate facade of unity maintained for the sake of their esteemed guests. As the carriages line up outside the Claydall estate, a sense of anticipation fills the air. Nobles adorned in their finest attire step out, their garments exuding elegance and opulence. The viscount and viscountess stand at the entrance, their smiles carefully crafted, as they welcome the arriving guests with gracious hospitality.

Amongst the distinguished crowd, the viscount’s gaze falls upon a familiar face – Edward Newgate, his close friend and trusted confidant. Their friendship has weathered the tests of time, providing solace and support in moments of both triumph and despair. With a warm smile, the viscount extends his hand to Edward, embracing him in a heartfelt welcome. “It is good to see you, Edward,” the viscount says, his voice filled with genuine warmth. “We truly have much to catch up on.”

Edward’s eyes twinkle with delight as he returns the gesture, gripping the viscount’s arm in a friendly manner. “Indeed, my friend,” he replies, his voice rich with familiarity. “It has been far too long since we last shared stories and laughter.” The viscount nods, a glimmer of nostalgia crossing his eyes. He leads Edward away from the bustling crowd, seeking a moment of privacy to reconnect and reminisce. As they make their way towards a quiet corner, the viscountess is left standing alone, her eyes following their departure.

Slightly isolated from the conversations and festivities, the viscountess observes the interactions around her, her expression a mix of curiosity and discontent. Her eyes meet those of other noblewomen, some filled with intrigue, others with veiled judgment. The weight of societal expectations rests heavily upon her, threatening to suffocate her spirit.

Resigned to her current position, the viscountess maintains a composed facade, masking the turmoil within. She straightens her posture, ensuring her smile remains poised and her words carry the expected grace and charm. In the depths of the Claydall estate, the viscount and Edward find refuge in the solitude of the bathroom, away from prying eyes and the cacophony of the gala. Behind closed doors, their conversation drifts between lighter anecdotes and deeper reflections, their shared camaraderie serving as a reminder of the unbreakable bond between friends.

In the seclusion of the bathroom, the viscount opens up to his trusted friend, Edward, about the troubles that have plagued his marriage. With a heavy sigh, he confides in Edward, his voice filled with regret and weariness.“I find myself in a difficult position with my wife,” the viscount admits, his words laced with a tinge of sadness. “I regret marrying her, as our union has become a source of constant strife and discord.” Edward listens attentively, his eyes reflecting empathy and understanding. He places a reassuring hand on the viscount’s shoulder, offering a silent gesture of support.

“It pains me to see you burdened by such a situation,” Edward replies, his voice calm and soothing. “You know I have always valued our friendship, and I am here for you Laken.” The viscount’s eyes meet Edward’s, gratitude shining through his wearied gaze. “Your friendship has been a constant source of solace for me,” Laken admits, his voice tinged with gratitude. “I appreciate your willingness to lend an ear and extend a helping hand.”

Edward offers a comforting smile, his gaze filled with unwavering loyalty. “Whatever assistance you may require, know that I am ready to aid you in any way I can,” he assures the viscount, his words carrying a sense of genuine commitment. The viscount’s tense shoulders relax slightly, the weight of his troubles momentarily eased by Edward’s presence. In the intimate confines of the bathroom, the viscount finds solace in the words and unwavering support of his steadfast friend.

Their conversation continues, delving deeper into the complexities of the viscount’s marriage, as well as potential solutions and avenues for change. The viscount takes comfort in the understanding and guidance offered by Edward, knowing that he is not alone in navigating the challenges of love, loyalty, and family. Outside the confines of the bathroom, the gala unfolds, a whirlwind of dazzling conversations and shimmering gowns. The viscount and Edward rejoin the festivities, their faces a mask of composure and camaraderie, their shared secrets kept safely hidden from prying eyes.

As the duke and Lord Ace make their grand entrance into the gala, a hushed silence falls over the crowd. Whispers ripple through the room, carrying tales of the duke’s enigmatic past and his notorious aloofness. The nobles, intrigued by his unexpected presence, steal furtive glances in his direction, their curiosity piqued. Law, maintaining his signature air of indifference, scans the room with a critical eye. His gaze lands on Lord Ace, his childhood friend and partner in mischief. A wry smile tugs at the corners of the Duke’s lips as he comments on Ace’s well-known reputation as a playboy.

“Ah, Ace,” the Duke remarks, his voice laced with subtle amusement. “Always the charmer, aren’t you?” Ace grins mischievously, leaning in closer to Law. “What can I say Law? It’s hard to resist when the ladies adore me,” he teases, his voice filled with playful bravado. The Duke rolls his eyes, his expression a blend of fond exasperation and camaraderie. “You never cease to amaze me with your antics,” he retorts, his voice tinged with a hint of admiration.

Their banter fills the air, momentarily overshadowing the whispers that surround them. The nobles, captivated by the presence of these two enigmatic figures, find themselves drawn to the energy and intrigue that emanates from their interaction. Unbeknownst to them, the dynamics of the evening are subtly shifting, their actions and choices intertwining with the lives of those around them. In the midst of the grand gala, where secrets lie beneath the veneer of elegance, the paths of the duke and Lord Ace will cross with unexpected consequences, setting in motion a chain of events that will shape the course of their destinies.

———-

The sounds of the live orchestra fill the air, its melodic strains weaving through the elegant dance hall. Guests, adorned in exquisite gowns and tailored suits, enter the grand space, their presence lending an air of sophistication and excitement to the atmosphere. The viscount, determined and focused, engages in animated conversations with high-ranking gentlemen and influential officials. His vision of expanding his gentlemen club captures their attention, igniting their curiosity and sparking discussions about potential collaborations and partnerships. The viscount eloquently articulates his plans, exuding a confidence that captivates those around him. Meanwhile, the viscountess revels in the attention and adulation of her lady circle. She regales them with tales of her accomplishments, skillfully crafting her words to accentuate her own triumphs. Her voice carries with it an air of superiority, drawing eager listeners who hang on to her every word, captivated by her social standing and ostentatious stories.

As the dance hall fills with lively conversations and the clinking of glasses, the aura of anticipation grows. The nobles and social elites navigate the intricate web of social dynamics, seeking connections and alliances that will bolster their own standing in society. Amidst the glittering backdrop of the gala, the ambitions, desires, and insecurities of each guest intertwine, creating a tapestry of intricate relationships and clandestine agendas. The dance floor beckons, enticing couples to twirl in graceful harmony, their movements a reflection of the delicate balance between tradition and passion. Outside the grand ballroom, secret meetings take place in secluded corners, hidden from prying eyes. Whispers of intrigue and whispered promises of alliances fill the air, further fueling the undercurrents of power and influence that permeate the event.

As you descend the steps, your hand held by a loyal maid, you feel a mixture of nervous anticipation and excitement. This is a rare moment for you, breaking free from the confines of strict rules and the sheltered life you have led. The grand ballroom awaits, filled with the elite of society, eager to catch a glimpse of a Lady such as yourself. As you enter the ballroom, all eyes turn to you, their gazes lingering in awe and admiration. The room seems to hush momentarily, as if the air itself recognizes your entrance. The whispers of anticipation ripple through the crowd, each individual eager to experience the presence of the highly acclaimed Lady Y/n. Gentlemen, dressed in their finest attire, approach you with a mixture of confidence and nervousness. They vie for your attention, introducing themselves with charm and charisma. Their flattering words echo in your ears as they strive to make an impression, hoping to capture your interest and perhaps even your heart. Mothers, ever watchful for advantageous connections, bring their daughters forward, their eyes gleaming with hope. They introduce their offspring, their voices carrying a mix of excitement and expectation. Each mother aims to secure a place for their daughter in your esteemed circle, hoping that a friendship with you will elevate their social standing.

Overwhelmed by the flurry of attention, you take a moment to gather yourself. With a deep breath, you remind yourself of the importance of staying patient and gracious. You navigate the sea of introductions with poise, engaging in polite conversation, and offering genuine smiles. Amidst the symphony of conversations and the graceful movements on the dance floor, you find solace in the genuine connections you form. Engaging in meaningful dialogue, you discover common interests, shared values, and the potential for lasting friendships. Each encounter is an opportunity to understand the hearts and minds of those around you, to glimpse the multifaceted world beyond your own sheltered existence.

———

As the Duke’s gaze sweeps across the ballroom, he notices a gathering of gentlemen surrounding Lady Y/n. He listens with an air of detachment as their flirty remarks and attempts at charm drift towards his ears. Though he tries to ignore their advances, a faint annoyance tugs at the corner of his mind.

His antisocial nature often shields him from the frivolous conversations and superficial interactions that dominate social gatherings. While others revel in the dance of courtship and display their charms, he remains aloof, seeking solace in the quiet corners of the room.

Yet, there is something about Lady Y/n that captures his attention. A curiosity stirs within him, compelling him to observe her interactions with a subtle intrigue. He watches as she handles the attention with grace and poise, deflecting advances with a blend of politeness and discernment. The Duke’s gaze lingers on Lady Y/n, drawn to her presence amidst the swirling sea of social connections. He finds himself silently acknowledging the allure that surrounds her, even as he guards his own heart from such distractions.

Unbeknownst to Lady Y/N, her mere presence has evoked a flicker of interest in the Duke, an emotion that seldom stirs within him. Though he may resist the pull, there is an undeniable fascination that lingers in the depths of his stoic demeanor. As the night progresses and the festivities unfold, the Duke continues to observe from a distance, his thoughts and emotions shrouded in a veil of mystery. The dance of courtship and the pursuit of romantic connections may seem trivial to him, but the enigma of Lady Y/n lingers in his mind, sparking a curiosity that refuses to be extinguished.

————-

As you approach the Duke, a smile graces your lips, your heart pounding with excitement. The room seems to hold its breath as all eyes turn toward you, anticipation palpable in the air. With graceful confidence, you extend your dance card to the Duke, your voice carrying a playful tone. “Good evening, Your Grace. Would you be so kind as to grace my dance card with your esteemed presence?” The Duke’s piercing gaze meets yours, his expression guarded. A moment of silence hangs between you, the tension crackling like electricity. “Lady Y/n, I must admit, your audacity surprises me.” He says coldly “What makes you think I would be interested in a dance with you?”

In a playful tone, you brush off the Duke’s initial coldness, refusing to be discouraged. With a twinkle in your eye, you manage to charm him into signing your dance card. “Well, Your Grace, I have heard whispers of your unparalleled skills on the dance floor. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to experience it firsthand.” The Duke’s icy exterior cracks ever so slightly as he looks down, processing your response. The Duke’s gaze then meets yours again, his intense golden eyes assessing you with a hint of intrigue. His lips curve into a subtle smile, a rare sight that sends a shiver of excitement down your spine. “You are quite the persuasive one, Lady Y/n. Very well, I shall grant your request.” He takes the pen from your hand, his fingers brushing against yours, sending a jolt of electricity through your veins. With practiced elegance, he signs his name on your dance card. As the ink dries, a murmur ripples through the crowd, whispers of astonishment and admiration. The other gentlemen, eager to secure a dance with you, rush forward, their voices blending into a cacophony of requests.

“Gentlemen, please. Let us maintain order and courtesy.” You announced gracefully “There will be plenty of dances to go around.” Your words have a calming effect, and the crowd slowly settles, each gentleman eagerly adding his name to your dance card. With the Duke’s name already signed, you feel a mixture of exhilaration and nervous anticipation. The ballroom is abuzz with excitement, a symphony of laughter and music filling the air.

You exchange a final glance with the Duke, a silent understanding passing between you. It’s a fleeting moment, charged with unspoken possibilities. The room seems to fade away as you imagine the dance that awaits, a dance that could change everything.

————-

As the last group dance comes to an end, the next one, the elegant Cotillion, begins. You gracefully navigate the ballroom, scanning the crowd for the one person you’ve been hoping to dance with—the Duke. Catching his eye, a faint smile plays on your lips as he approaches you, extending his hand for the dance. The music envelops you both as you glide across the polished floor, your steps synchronized with the intricate choreography of the Cotillion. Amidst the graceful twirls and precise footwork, you find a moment to express your gratitude to the Duke for his earlier warning about the treacherous creek during your horse ride. “I want to thank you sincerely, Your Grace, for your timely warning about the creek. Your concern was most appreciated.” He glances at you, his demeanor composed and aloof. “As a gentleman, it is my duty to offer assistance when necessary. Your reckless riding called for caution.” Your brows furrow slightly in surprise and offense at his curt remark. However, you refuse to be undermined and swiftly gather your thoughts, ready to defend yourself. “Reckless? I assure you, Your Grace, my riding skills are impeccable. I might have taken a risk, but I was in complete control of the situation. I value your concern, but please do not underestimate my abilities.” The Duke’s now piercing gaze meets yours, his features betraying a flicker of astonishment at your boldness. The dance continues, the air tinged with an unexpected tension. Driven by a mix of pride and frustration, you decide to deliver a sharp retort to the Duke’s aloofness. Without another word, you gracefully break away from his hold and stride away, leaving him momentarily stunned.

Unbeknownst to you, your mother, the Viscountess, observes the exchange from a distance. Her gaze flickers with concern and intrigue as she witnesses your heated interaction with the Duke. Determined to understand the cause of your sudden clash, she excuses herself from her circle of acquaintances and discreetly makes her way towards you. As the Cotillion unfolds, whispers ripple through the crowd, spreading the tale of your spirited encounter with the enigmatic Duke. The guests exchange curious glances, their intrigue piqued by the unexpected clash between you and one of the most influential figures in the room.

———

You hastily make your way outside the grand ballroom, the heavy doors closing behind you with a thud. The cool night air embraces you, offering a respite from the intensity of the gala. Finding solace in the family garden, you settle on a weathered bench, seeking refuge in the symphony of nature’s nocturnal creatures. The soothing sounds of chirping crickets and distant owls fill the air, providing a calming backdrop to your racing thoughts. As you try to regain your composure and process the events that unfolded with the Duke, you reflect on your uncharacteristic outburst and its potential consequences. “I can’t believe I acted that way.” You thought to yourself “It’s not like me to engage in such confrontations. I must have let my emotions get the better of me.” Lost in contemplation, you find a semblance of tranquility amidst the natural serenity of the garden. However, your moment of introspection is abruptly interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. Your mother emerges from the ballroom, her countenance a mix of concern and disapproval. She rushes over to you, her voice tinged with annoyance.

“Y/n, what on earth were you thinking? Leaving your dance with the Duke like that? You have just ruined any chance you had with him. I can’t believe you could be so impulsive!” Her scolding words pierce through the calm ambiance, shattering the fragile peace that enveloped you. Your glare intensifies as your mother continues her scolding, the weight of your earlier confrontation in the tea room still fresh in your mind. The strained relationship between you fuels the fire of defiance within you, sparking a flame of independence “You know nothing of what truly happened, stepmother. I suggest we leave it that way. It’s best for both of us.”

Your words strike a nerve, causing the viscountess to bristle with anger. She raises her hand, ready to strike, but before she can follow through, a gentleman intervenes, his voice carrying authority and a hint of warning. “I advise you to halt this confrontation, Viscountess.” The man said “We are in the presence of many watchful eyes.” His words hang in the air, a reminder of the delicate balance between decorum and scandal that permeates high society. You look up, your eyes adjusting to the dimly lit surroundings, revealing the gentleman’s presence. Moonlight casts a soft glow upon his chiseled face and hints at the hue of his hair, which appears to be a shade of green.

The viscountess, caught off guard by the sudden interruption, gazes at the gentleman with a mix of surprise and recognition. It dawns on her that she stands before none other than Prince Geno Tesoro, the next heir to the kingdom of Gran Tesoria, and his presence demands respect. “Apologies for the disturbance, Your Highness.” Your stepmother blurted out, Courtesy as well. “It was a momentary lapse of judgment.” As the viscountess quickly retreats, leaving the scene with a humbled demeanor, Prince Geno turns his attention to you. He gently takes hold of your hands, his concern evident in his expression. “Are you alright?” The prince asked softly “That was quite an intense exchange. I hope it hasn’t dampened your spirits for the evening.”

You compose yourself and respond to Prince Geno, thanking him for his timely intervention. The Prince’s charming demeanor and flattering words slightly fluster you, making your heart race. “Thank you, Your Highness, for stepping in. I really appreciate your help.” Prince Geno, his charm on full display, smiles warmly at you, his sea blue eyes sparkling.

“It was my pleasure, my lady. I couldn’t bear to see such a spirited young woman caught in such a predicament. Your resilience is truly admirable.” As Prince Geno continues to engage you in conversation, his words flow effortlessly and his gestures captivating. You find yourself drawn to his presence, his compliments and attentiveness igniting a sense of excitement and curiosity within you.

Unbeknownst to you and Prince Geno, your exchange doesn’t go unnoticed. From a secluded spot nearby, the Duke watches with a mix of intrigue and jealousy. His gaze lingers on you, a tinge of regret swirling within him. The Duke’s thoughts drift, and he finds himself questioning his own reserved nature and its consequences. He observes the connection between you and Prince Geno, a hint of jealousy flickering in his eyes. Perhaps, for the first time, he begins to question the path he has chosen and the potential he may have overlooked.

As the evening unfolds, the Duke remains conflicted, caught between the emotions stirring within him and the duty he has always upheld. The presence of Prince Geno and the unexpected turn of events leave him contemplating the possibilities and what they may mean for his own heart.

—————

As the staff meticulously arrange the dining table, ensuring every detail is perfect, the atmosphere in the room grows more vibrant. The aroma of the sumptuous dishes fills the air, mingling with the soft glow of candlelight. The table becomes a masterpiece of culinary art, a feast fit for nobility. Chef Crosby takes utmost care in plating each dish, skillfully arranging them to showcase their flavors and textures. The fresh seafood glistens enticingly, the succulent pork releases a tantalizing aroma, and the specialty dishes stand out as culinary gems.

Meanwhile, the diligent staff members light the room with flickering candles, casting a warm glow on the exquisite setting. They meticulously place the delicate plates and gleaming silverware, ensuring everything is in its rightful place. Among the staff members, Emily, with her innocent smile, slyly switches a few name tags on the table. Her mischievous act goes unnoticed, but it holds a secret intention—to bring you and the Duke together at the dining table. She believes that fate may have a hand in uniting two souls, even amidst the grandeur of the gala.

©𝐘𝐀𝐘𝐎𝐎𝐍𝐀— Any sign/evidence of plagiarism made from outside this name will be dealt with by whatever means necessary. Legal action may occur if non fanfiction works are plagiarized.

[treasure-me]

An Amateurish Text on Censorship, Sex and how nice pretending a perfect World is

Censorship is derived from fear, conservatism and the human need for things to stay the same. Any man seeking to censor an artwork, speech, symbol or practice is morally wrong. However, the manipulation, personally or societally, the lack of education and the purposeful lack of distinguished ideas in politics, and the lack of honesty in society at large, counters that statement. You cannot be free if your place of education is corrupt to a certain ideal, and you cannot be free if your system is not free. Freedom is impossible without certain aspects of moral cleanliness, and a correct moral compass, one that is wholly absolute, requires a lack of censorship. However, many people advocating for complete freedom of speech clearly are biased. A republican man in his thirties, who wishes to be able to personally insult a member of the transgender community by calling them by their birth name, for example, and then complains about "freedom of speech" when there is backlash against his actions, is an idiot. If you advocate for freedom of speech in an aim to further your ability to target a minority, the same logic applies for that minority; they should have the freedom to call you whatever they want as well. It should be noted I do not condone either side of that argument; it's simply unnecessary. The lack of respect required to insult a person purely due to your own desire to see yourself as better is shocking. It's simply just disrespectful, immature, and a clear window into a person's mindset, where their goal of protecting their own fragile ego is prevalent. However, insulting a person back is not going to make your situation any better, it will instead bring you down to your opponent's level. I digress.

For a man to be fully "free", he must not only be educated to function in a world where he must able to decide his own opinions, organize his morals, and have a fair position where he is able to choose these opinions and morals where he will not be swayed unequally, he must also be able to do, to an extent, anything. A man who is well educated, and lives in a system that is free from misogyny and toxic masculinity, and has a fair and kind environment has no reason to "do" a thing that is morally corrupt (e.g. rape, murder) for he is free to chose, and well educated enough to function, and input himself into a group of people (who are all persons are also subject to the same fair utopist environment) he is most comfortable with. If you are educated on topics that are currently prevalent in our current society, such as race theory, the concepts of fallacy, theories around sexism, ideas around freedom of choice, and ideas around bodily and mental freedom, you are not going to be in a position where you would, for example, recreate hate symbology or participate in an environment where groups and ideologies such as Nazism. However, who should get to decide what is inside or outside the realm of what is "good" or not? Much of the world of hate speech, violent crimes and more and built on fallacy, corruption and a some higher power in control, but what is considered good? Things that people experience an attraction to, such as degradation, humiliation or pain may be considered acceptable, but what if these things are purely the result of negative environments? Would these acts continue?

My answer to that, "that" being the question "if, in the conceptual and utopistic society that was described, assuming the society is transformed from what we see today as the present, modern day western (western purely because of a higher level of prevalence in S&M acceptance, and for my own ease of mind, being a person living in a western society, who also doesn't like having to stretch scenarios to the point where a computer simulation or a dose of psychedelic drugs is required to imagine a make believe world) society, would we still continue to experience, in a world where all forms of expression is free, and where peoples are well educated, sadism and masochism? would sexual deviancy be relevant?" is quite simple in my mind. Yes. A world where the youngest generation suddenly gains the traits of education, thought, freedom and intellectualism would still be affected by the older generation. Although this perfect generation would not have any trauma, negative experiences or unfair amounts of bias inflicted onto it, the very nature of fair inflictions of bias and opinion means that these people must be introduced, at least partially, to the concept of S&M. These persons would also be able to view texts, films, and documents of S&M material. These persons would also be aware of the nature of emotional impacts of degrading culture, such as rape, but there is proof that well educated and intellectual persons can still affiliate themselves with sexual cultures such as communities who enjoy consensual acts of non consensual sex. Not to mention the ideas that some fetishistic ideas are instilled either by chance, genetically or through introduction to these ideas.

This text will be updated when I remember what I was talking about. I would like to point out that my use of examples of a man, and his function in society, is because of my discussion on manipulation, misogyny, etc.. primarily purported by a male group.

"For a man to be fully "free", he must not only be educated to function in a world where he must able to decide his own opinions, organize his morals, and have a fair position where he is able to choose these opinions and morals where he will not be swayed unequally, he must also be able to do, to an extent, anything."

"Any man seeking to censor an artwork, speech, symbol or practice is morally..."

examples of my use of masculine terms. This is, again, because censorship, lack of education towards morality and corruption is largely a male issue. I will, when the topic strays from a discussion on masculinity, alter the correct terms to ambiguous and feminine, respectively.

Many thanks to @evidence-based-activism for being inspiration on writing this. Your texts are a great example of how this platform can be used, and you speak very well. Professional diction aside, you seem like a very cool person, and I agree with much, if not all of your views. I have yet to find something I do not agree with you, and that heartens me significantly.

[capitalism-is-a-psychopathy]

The Psychopathy of Capitalism: A Modern Apocrypha

In the shadows of economic discourse lies an uncomfortable truth: capitalism, in its purest form, mirrors the traits of psychopathy. This analogy, often dismissed as hyperbole, demands rigorous scrutiny, particularly through the lens of apocryphal narratives that expose hidden societal truths.

Capitalism thrives on relentless competition and an insatiable hunger for profit. It rewards those who can manipulate, outmaneuver, and dominate others. Like a psychopath, capitalism lacks empathy. It views human suffering as collateral damage in the quest for economic gain. This dehumanizing perspective is evident in how markets often disregard the well-being of individuals, prioritizing efficiency and profit over humane considerations.

Apocryphal tales, stories not officially recognized but widely circulated for their underlying truths, serve as a powerful metaphor for the unspoken realities of capitalism. These narratives, though not found in official economic texts, resonate with the lived experiences of many. They reveal a system that, much like a psychopath, operates with a detached and calculated rationality, unburdened by moral qualms.

The infamous sweatshops, the relentless exploitation of labor, and the environmental degradation are not anomalies but integral features of a system designed to maximize profit. These are the modern apocrypha—stories that lay bare the psychopathy at the heart of capitalism. They highlight a stark reality: capitalism, in its unrestrained form, perpetuates a cycle of exploitation and inequity, mirroring the manipulative and remorseless behavior of a psychopath.

In this context, apocryphal stories become crucial. They offer a counter-narrative to the sanitized versions of economic success propagated by mainstream discourse. They remind us that beneath the veneer of progress and prosperity lies a system that, if left unchecked, operates with a psychopathic disregard for human and environmental costs.

Understanding capitalism through this lens urges a reevaluation of its ethical implications. It calls for a system that balances the drive for economic growth with a commitment to social justice and environmental stewardship. Only then can we hope to mitigate the psychopathic tendencies that currently underpin our economic structures.

[othernaut]

Heck, I often like to start with the stupid bullshit lore, as it makes the rest of it much weirder and more interesting.

Like, let's start with, "We're using the potion miscibility table because most common potion solvents are sentient and like to get into fights." Full stop, table gets into an argument, but why though?

Let's dig back. Common potion solvents: Oil, alcohol, water. All right, water being sentient is a fun one, we can kind of tie that into the God of Water being both an abstract entity as well as physically manifested through all extant forms of water, but the previous statement means this is also true of oil and alcohol. Having a God of Alcohol: so far, so Dionysian, but a God of Oil? That's kinda fun. I want to worship the Oil God. This is also leaning our world towards being pretty strongly animist, with every thing that is a thing having an abstract embodiment of divinity, which makes complex things - like people - a bit more involved to envision.

So let's dig back further. The water in your body, the fat of you, the iron in your blood, all of it is alive and at least part of something that has opinions, which means that you aren't just some dude - you're a living agreement, a legal document that walks around and eats apples because the Sugar God is cool with it. Everything lively and complex exists because of the gods, which are many, and didn't so much make them as engineer them, argue them into being. Which means that magic, an alteration of literal Natural Law, is pretty danged similar to non-magical legal practice. Wizards are attorneys, people who study the agreements and find ways to interpret them to their benefits. Sorcerers are a privileged class, someone the law doesn't apply to the same as it does others. Warlocks have attached themselves to a legal entity that either manifests that privilege, exists outside it, or can manipulate the law to their own ends (which means that your warlock patron can be a cosmic class action lawsuit that has been going on for millennia).

Let's put this to the practical level. If every thing is a god, you can get a bit of that folksy hedge worship involved - seasonal festivals to the Makers of Meat (which are a conclave of otherwise small Acid Gods whose joined voice is greater than theirs individually), mulch and water offerings to the Sugar God, pennies paid to worship at the Salt God's sea-cave shrines. But on a national level, this means that legal entities - like said nations - are also cosmic entities. The king of the Silverkynd Meadows has to be a sorcerer, it's part of the code - even during that whole violent deposition thing, the resulting warlord wound up a sorcerer by legal right. To own that mine, the Gold God has to be cool with you specifically. The contracts that those contract-making devils use are so perfidious and awful because they are legal within the framework of reality but made with something outside that reality - Evil is not an thing with a divinity, but those devils absolutely are made of Evil. And angels, conversely, are elemental, real in a way few other things could ever be.

This also means that the counter to magic is lawlessness. Anarchy counters agreements, breaks down the bonds between things. Even completely chaotic beings must recognize some sort of authority - a warlord, a pack leader, the rule of fang and talon - because to do otherwise sets them apart from the world. And people do recognize that. Ethical, stateless anarchy is practiced, but it's terrifying to extant powers because it negates them - all magic is as possible as it is counteractable. You can argue your own void, wherein you will never eat, nor age, nor bleed. Some monasteries do this, which puts them on a societal ill level the same as those really bad necromancers that make windmills out of peoples' arm bones and stuff.

So. Our group's got a cleric (Trickery domain, worshiping Alcohol, of course), a rogue (Mastermind, stole so much they're effectively geased to the Gods of Silver, Gold, and Sapphire, and boy are they working on Diamond), and a barbarian (Wild Magic, the agreement that caused them to exist devolved into a wild drunken argument and they came out kind of half-baked). They're currently halfway into exploring the Forest of Not, where the trees float and the rain spins itself into being from speckled stars hanging in air, tracking down a coded message that is in the process of being tortured to reveal its own cipher. Who're you going to be?

We're still using the potion miscibility table.

So, the way I see it, there are 5 types of lore in your game.

There's what you might call basic lore, which is just normal information players need to know about the world - elves exist, we're on a terraformed Mars, people get powers thanks to aliens. This tends to not be that interesting, it's just basic stuff. No-one hugely cares about them.

Then there's pragmatic lore, which is lore that's mostly there to determine what people can or can't do. "The lich's phylactery is the kings crown" or "the state has spies everywhere". This is also usually fairly boring. Related is narrative lore, which is things like "we have high tensions with the klingon empire" or "the vampires are massing under one ruler" - lore that is intended to set up a plot. This is only interesting dependent on the plot its setting up happens, otherwise its just pointless.

Then there's awesome lore, which is thing like "this land was founded by eternal dragons!" or "magic is drawn from Lucifer's chains!". Lore for the sake of lore, big setpeices and cool reveals and such like. And they can be interesting, but they can also be really annoying if the players don't find them as cool as the GM does.

Which is why I advocate the fifth kind.

Shitty bullshit lore.

Shitty bullshit lore is things like "Elven woman love children's toys. They're Lego Lasses" or "Oh, gold pieces detonate if you have more then ten in your pocket at once, did no-one mention that?". It's lore whose function is designed to grind the story to a halt while your players beat you to death with hammers. It's lore as an active weapon to use against the rest of your game group.

You should put as much as it in your game as possible.

[avandelay20]

So timely given the recent interest in the show 'Adolescence' that depicted much of this behavior thru the show's narrative.

Growing inequality and reduced access to psychological safety leads to increased stress and violence across every corner of society.

Let's talk about how social media platforms (manipulation platforms) are fanning the flames of this inequality and what to do about it.

Social media (aka Manipulation Platforms) have become a pervasive, habit-forming product that saturates our modern life.

These platforms are engineered to maximize engagement at the expense of mental health, family cohesion, societal harmony, and even functioning democratic institutions.

Social Media companies (Big Tech) have employed the same tactics that Big Tobacco (RJ Reynolds) and Big Pharma (Purdue) use to downplay product harms while maintaining profits.

Unlike the pharmaceuticals industry however, where products undergo stringent testing before release, Social Media companies release their products out into the wild with NO CONCERN for how that product shapes society. These companies have been allowed to grow unchecked, wreaking havoc on family dynamics and societal structures. Moreover, these companies exert immense influence over governments and regulatory bodies, making it challenging to hold them accountable.

We need action on multiple fronts:

1) Countries around the world should work to temporarily suspend access to social media services until regulatory frameworks are established. This would compel companies like Meta, Snap, etc to adapt their platforms to meet safety and ethical standards specific to each nation, akin to how pharmaceuticals are regulated differently worldwide. Such frameworks could include rigorous scientific testing and review of product changes, transparency in algorithms, limits on data exploitation, and accountability for societal harms.

2) Just like we had anti-drug, anti-smoking campaigns thru the late 20th century up thru today - we need STRONG public awareness campaigns led by governments and NGOs, aiming to educate citizens about the dangers of social media to counter the narratives promoted by tech companies. Let's draw from our experience on the anti-smoking campaigns and laws which successfully shifted societal perceptions and curbed harmful behaviors.

Why Action is Critical:

We continue to observe the scale of harm caused by social media yet do damn little about it. We need urgent action.

Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have fundamentally altered how children's brains work, how people interact, and this is shaping societal norms and even political outcomes.

The recklessness embodied by the industry’s "move fast and break things" ethos has led to profound damage - from fractured family relationships to widespread misinformation, increased misogyny, bigotry and even genocide.

Implementing bold regulatory measures and fostering a cultural shift away from dependency on social media are necessary steps to safeguard future generations.

The message is clear: allowing these platforms to operate unregulated is no longer a viable option. Society must demand accountability, prioritize well-being, and reclaim control over the digital landscape.

[quang1234]

WEEK 8:Digital Citizenship and Instagram Filters: Navigating Identity in a Filtered World

In an era dominated by visual social media, Instagram filters—a form of virtual body modification—prompt critical discussions about digital citizenship and the responsibilities of users and platforms alike. These filters, which enhance photos by altering skin tone, removing blemishes, or exaggerating facial features, play a significant role in how individuals curate and present themselves online. Examining this practice through the lens of digital citizenship and software literacy highlights its impact on societal beauty standards, mental health, and authenticity.

The Social and Psychological Effects of Filters

Research illustrates the complex relationship between filters and self-perception. Studies by Tiggemann and Slater (2014) suggest that the frequent use of filters contributes to increased body dissatisfaction and distorted self-image, especially among young individuals. Filters often set unattainable standards of beauty, perpetuated by social media algorithms that promote heavily curated content. The pressure to conform to these ideals not only distorts reality but also affects mental health, leading to feelings of inadequacy and a loss of authenticity.

Filters are more than just playful tools—they reflect societal values and norms about beauty and identity. This duality poses significant questions for digital citizenship: Are users critically engaging with how filters shape their perceptions? Are platforms considering the ethical ramifications of endorsing filtered content that reinforces unrealistic standards?

Linking to Software Literacy and Health Education

The concept of software literacy—understanding and critically engaging with digital tools—is integral to navigating the filter phenomenon. By improving software literacy, users can recognize how filters and algorithms manipulate their online experience, empowering them to make more informed choices. Similarly, integrating health education principles fosters a healthier relationship with social media. Efforts to educate users about the psychological effects of filters can encourage critical consumption and promote authenticity in digital spaces.

Health promotion initiatives that combine digital citizenship education and body positivity campaigns can further empower users. For instance, community-driven movements can create environments where individuals feel supported to challenge conventional beauty ideals and celebrate diversity.

Examples of Counter-Movements and Influences

The #NoFilter movement has emerged as a powerful response to the dominance of filtered images. Advocating for unaltered, authentic representations, this movement inspires individuals to embrace their natural selves and reject societal pressures. Research by Harrison and Hefner (2014) confirms that such campaigns can positively impact self-image and foster healthier digital interactions.

Conversely, the influence of beauty-focused content creators often reinforces the allure of filters and editing tools. Prominent figures, such as NikkieTutorials, showcase the creative possibilities of filters but also highlight the tension between artistic expression and the responsibility to promote realistic ideals. This contrast emphasizes the need for users and creators to engage thoughtfully with the content they produce and consume.

Conclusion

The widespread use of Instagram filters illustrates the intersection of personal identity, technology, and societal values. By encouraging critical engagement with these tools, fostering software literacy, and promoting health education, users can cultivate a more balanced and authentic digital presence. This approach not only enhances individual well-being but also contributes to a digital culture that values diversity and self-acceptance over curated perfection.

REFERENCES: Tiggemann, M., & Slater, A. (2013). NetGirls: The Internet, Facebook, and Body Image Concern in Adolescent Girls. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 46(6), 630–633. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22141 Harrison, K., & Hefner, V. (2006). Media Exposure, Current and Future Body Ideals, and Disordered Eating Among Preadolescent Girls: A Longitudinal Panel Study. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 35(2), 146–156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-005-9008-3 Zuckerman, E. (2019). The case for digital public infrastructure. Journal of Communication, 69(5), 361–378 https://www.journalismliberty.org/s/zuckerman-digital-infrastructure-cjl-nov2020.pdf McLeroy, K. R., Bibeau, D., Steckler, A., & Glanz, K. (1988). An Ecological Perspective on Health Promotion Programs. Health Education Quarterly, 15(4), 351–377. https://doi.org/10.1177/109019818801500401

[aliyasthoughts]

Past: "Fuck Your Healthy. Fuck Your Wellness"

This section discusses the emergence of the word wellness, replacing healthy in combatting the capitalist, systemic, and individualist connotations of the latter industry. In pairing with other societal systems, the medical-industrial complex enforces a singular version and image of health that is simultaneously pushed as the goal and ideal for all humans. This however is “inherently ableist, not survivor led, nor does it try to understand how generational, individual/collective trauma impacts our collective bodies and lives” (Hassan, 116). In opposition to healing justice and harm reduction, healthism controls bodies and minds for profit and power. Healthism also stigmatizes certain forms of coping, further stigmatizing and isolating survivors.

Analyzing something under the label of health allows both individuals and institutions to acceptably shame others and enforce a norm without judgment or guilt. Because health is constructed to be something unequivocally necessary for a successful and productive life, there is little room semantically to counter its socially embedded meaning. It has ableist, sexist, and racist implications, but since health is so far removed today from its formation, people merely recognize it for its manufactured merit without recognizing it is human manufactured. The health and medical industries don’t exist in the US apart from capitalism, and they manipulate people into an obsession and a cycle with money at the center. Frequently, I hear that certain brands of products designed for self improvement under the “health” category are actually ineffective, one example being EOS lip balm. Chapstick and lip balm are supposed to hydrate your lips, where chapped lips are a sign of “bad health.” However, it makes sense for these companies to create products that make your lips dryer so that as you obsess with the need to be healthy, you buy more and more of the product that you think will fix your problem. There was a class action lawsuit against EOS in 2016 because its products caused harmful reactions to consumers. This example also shows how something that is perceived as healthy (ex. non chapped lips) may more so have to do with beauty and aesthetics, and how the two get intertwined for the sake of capitalist exploitation of human egos. 

Link to Glamour article about the EOS lawsuit 

[lilflowerpot]

I've been loving your worldbuilding/culture/science stuff— and I haven't even watched VLD. I just found your stuff incredibly neat. I think you mentioned that someone can rise to being Emperor from any of the Three Pillars of Galran society— except for the Archivist. Is the Archivist barred from being the Imperial Consort as well, or is the path available for them? Has there ever been Emperors/Empresses that rose to the position from the Druids side of things?

imperial societal structure | duties of the imperial consort | kral zera eligibility

I'm pleased to know that you're enjoying my worldbuilding(!!!) despite not having watched the show lmao

Though there have been monarchs from all three pillars of imperial society since the Empire's formation under Brodar, of the 33 to have triumphed at the Kral Zera and ascended the Imperial throne, the overwhelming majority have done so via the military sphere, with only 7 successful candidates ascending via the State, and a mere 4 via the Church.

((and I do think it's worth mentioning that though the Druidic Church's primary doctrine is an amalgamation of Druae & D’iijac—the two most prevalent belief systems from Daibazaal's desertous phenotypes, Kyx & Byal respectively—the Church as a whole practices complete religious freedom so long as to do so does not violate imperial law, meaning eligibility for the Kral Zera is not restricted only to High Priests/Priestesses of the galra's most prevalent faith, but anyone holding an equal rank in any alternative religious sect))

Interestingly, though the Church has produced the lowest numbers of monarchs, it’s also produced the least unsuccessful candidates! Some believe this to be due to Sa favouring her blessed few, and so ensuring their triumph, whereas others argue for a somewhat less romantic notion: that druidic quintessence-manipulation is exceedingly difficult to counter, especially when participating in a battle-royale, and so the victory of a skilled druidic combatant is a foregone conclusion.

As for the Archivist becoming the Imperial Consort, though it’s never before occurred, there's no explicit rule barring them from serving both roles; it would, however, be discouraged by,,, pretty much everyone? Both positions are a HUGE commitment, and between serving as the Conduit of Sa, and the secondary Head of State, the Archivist/Consort would end up so thinly spread that they’d rarely see their Emperor/lover in an unofficial capacity. As you can imagine, the kind of pressure that would come with maintaining both roles would take an incredible toll on not only them as an individual, but their relationship too... and unhappy/lonely galra are seldom the strong leaders a demanding institution such as the Empire requires.

[ddarker-dreams]

Yandere Behavior: Rohan Kishibe

i’ve had some difficulty characterizing rohan in my head, but i think i finally feel confident enough to write him more... this is a lil gift for @vani-ya​ who is the queen of rohan thirst. single-handedly making me fall in love with rohan... her power...

⋆ ˚｡ Yan MBTI: CAML ⋆｡˚ ⋆

Rohan runs into a variety of different people. Most are indistinct, unremarkable. This especially holds true in the town of Morioh, where the general population can easily mesh together, with some notable exceptions. You should be one of those blurred faces, a voice that goes in one ear and out the other. He tells himself this, still incapable of rationalizing why you refuse to leave his mind. It’s frustrating. 

Doing research on you can easily be justified. So what, you might have caught his interest. Not a big deal, plenty of people have; under the guise of research for Dark Pink Boy. Studying you starts to grow deeper, more sinister. Your address, your schedule, what restaurants you frequent and who you talk to on a daily basis. None of these things have to do with his manga, only to sate his growing interest.

His tongue is sharp as knives, relentlessly attacking every element that makes you who you are. He doesn’t hold himself to the same societal expectations when interacting with others, calling it as it is. They’re not insults, he’ll say, they’re observations. You’re less than inclined to agree. With his antagonistic he acts towards you, he seems oddly willing to spend time with you.

Only a keen eye could pick up on the subtleties Rohan displays when speaking to you, how it’s different than when he talks to anyone else. On a surface level, it appears that Rohan has a strong disgust for your existence, viewing you as a pest. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Every word that leaves your lips is revered, he never interrupts you like he would others he finds unworthy of his time. No, he wants to bask in everything you say and do. 

Rohan knows himself, and he knows that what he’s doing is morally grey at best. All the times he’s argued with himself -- that at least he hasn’t acted on these urges of his  -- is countered by how unethical it all ultimately is. He comes to the conclusion that he no longer will worry over these insignificant details, the world’s judgement relative. 

He starts showing up in your life with increasing consistency. Morioh is a small town, it’s a small world. This is what you tell yourself, to erase the underlying sensation that something is terribly wrong. Whether it be at a cafe, the grocery store, or strolling down the park. Rohan is almost always there, sketchbook in hand, inviting himself to join you. His time is invaluable, he’s a busy man. He’s not afraid of telling you this either, that you should be honored that he’s decided to spend time with you.

Rohan isn’t lenient in the traditional sense. It’s more that he has a Stand that could render you at his complete mercy, but opts out of using it. Instead relying on tried and trued methods of manipulation, making you doubt yourself and worship him. Heaven’s Door functions more as a safety lock, preventing you from leaving Morioh all together. Everything else is accomplished by his own doing, independent of his Stand.

When put up to a challenge, Rohan won’t back down. Charming you shouldn’t be too arduous a task, even with his prickly personality. Once you get a taste for the finer aspects of life, you’ll be coming back for more. This is his logic. Date nights at luxurious restaurants, traveling to different cities of the world and staying in penthouses... he can pull it all off. While not the best companion at times, the effort on this front is present. It’s more than he’s bothered with anyone else.

He doesn’t see the point in respecting your boundaries. You invaded his life, throwing him into an emotional state he never asked for; someone needs to pay the price for it. That someone is, unfortunately, you. There’s no getting away from him. You don’t know why, but he’s just... always there. It started small enough to justify at first. Now it’s getting ridiculous, borderline stalking. 

Confronting him on his unbecoming behavior won’t end well. He’ll twist each of your words to his advantage, painting you as paranoid. It’s like trying to convince a brick wall, Rohan defending his position as if it’s the undeniable truth. You’ll feel like the unreasonable one, and that you’ve been acting rude to him all this time. 

He really just don’t know what to make of this. His entire life has been centered around relying on himself. Other people are infallible, anything they can do, Rohan can learn to do better. You throw a wrench into this line of thinking, drawing him into the unknown like a black hole. He can’t resist the pull any longer, wanting you in close proximity to him at all times. 

Rohan Kishibe is selfish. He knows this, and he doesn’t care. Being alone is bearable for a time, but not anymore. Not when he knows how it feels when you’re around. So he’ll set out on chasing that feeling, indifferent of the devastation it may cause you and others. 

Quotes.

“Consider yourself lucky that I even give you the time of day. Do you know how many people would be tripping over themselves to be in your position?” 

“I just happened to be here, looking at references for the next chapter. Oh? You’re going out to eat? Perfect timing, I need a break. Let’s get going already.” 

“That expression on your face... is it meant for me? You’re on the verge of tears over something as insignificant as that? God, you need to get over yourself.” 

[scarlettaagni]

Kandore (Lancer)

Kandore is the current clan leader of the Half-Heart Clan. He was named for his proficiency with the combistick as his signature weapon, as well as general skill with pole-like weapons.

As a child in the Agoge, he failed many times at stealing under his teachers’ watch and thus was given lashes as punishments for his failures. However, he never cried, no matter how hard the teachers tried to get a plea for mercy out of him. He was rarely given special treatment despite being a son of the clan leader, rather, because he must prepare for a higher position in life, he must work to fulfill the higher expectations. Kandore was only spoiled with the privilege of affording Elites to be his personal tutors and teachers.

His father Kachare had many children before and after Kandore, but noticing the boy’s pragmatism, charisma, confidence, and ability to take command of situations, named Kandore his heir.

In his youth, a local Hunter dominated the local arena through multiple victorious deathmatches in a row. Up to task, Kandore challenged him after observing him from afar. Right before their match, he and Kandore had a traditional good-natured exchange. The undefeated champion put his fist against Kandore’s chest, a common pre-fight goodwill gesture, but proceeded to expand the combistick hidden in his hand, intending on skewering Kandore’s head at the very start of the match. Though this is how he had managed to become the undefeated champion, Kandore had enough foresight to dodge the blow, receiving only a gash up the left side of his head. Half-blinded from the blood gushing out of his wound, Kandore killed the champion, and decided to take the move for himself.

Though named heir, meaning he will inherit the position once Kachare dies, Kandore took it upon himself to speed up the process and challenged his aging father for it instead. He believed he was ready for the job as he was, that Kachare had already grown old and unfit for it, and he did not want to “waste time”. Engaging in a public deathmatch, Kandore fairly slew his own father with a stab through the chest and a cut across the belly, decapitating Kachare as is tradition and received the leadership at an unconventionally young age.

Kandore’s taking of the position was controversial among the Half-Heart Clan, due to the fight being completely fair, honorable, and with legal precedent, but also seen as wholly unnecessary because he was already publicly declared the heir. While it’s happened before, an heir wishing to claim the leadership from their parent is often seen as a sign of impulsivity or impatience, qualities not looked upon favorably. Aware it may not be a popular move or start to his command over the clan, he worked on relations and built a reputation on being a personable and forgiving, but strict when he must be, leader.

Most of the clan have never met him personally, or held more than five conversations with him. As a result, they don’t know that while polite, his niceties are for show, and his forgiveness comes with strings attached. Kandore shows mercy and gives privileges in order to both endear himself to people, but also to hold these favors hostage and threaten taking them away should the other party not play along, or do something he doesn’t like. Though, sometimes, on a whim, he’ll do a nice thing for someone without expecting anything back, usually when it’s at no cost to himself or the clan at large. This is rare as he considers wasting his time and resources as a cost to himself/the clan, but he occasionally thinks better on it.

Kandore is a skilled manipulator, and excellent at reading people. During interactions, Kandore is constantly multitasking by carrying the conversation, observing the other person’s reactions to what he says, and recalling previous knowledge about them. By experimenting with topics during conversation, he easily gleans their berserk buttons and soft spots to take advantage of and use should he feel the need to. He even conducts personal or ordered research on Half-Heart clan members to learn more about them, and even on Yautja from other clans should they be relevant. In all situations, Kandore continually formulates plans to find a way he will benefit from the outcome in some form, no matter what.

He traps his subjects within societal conventions, where he will code his polite words with underlying messages and implications. While he continues to either deliberately passive-aggressively dig at them, or simply say things with a tone that implies something, he will not make an obvious attack or insult. The other person is allowed to make dirty looks all they like, or respond with a tone of hatred, but the instant they voice their disdain for him aloud, no subtext, he will instantly counter with a scathing retort. Kandore has reduced grown men to tears with his sharp tongue in this way.

No one knows what makes Kandore tick, and no one has ever managed to hurt his feelings the way he hurts others’, or scrape his ego in a way he could not recover instantly from. He is seemingly untouchable and almost seems devoid of emotion in a way, only capable of smug amusement. Many conclude you can’t hurt his feelings because he doesn’t have any. In truth, he is just very in control of his emotions.

Often challenged for his position by strangers, as he had challenged Kachare, he uses that hidden combistick move to end the matches quickly. This too, is a controversial action among the clan. Kandore insists it is a valid strategy, as he considers the start of a fight to be when the challenge is issued, not when the first blow is dealt. Even if his opponents know of the infamous move and dodge it, Kandore’s skill and strength as his bite is enough to substantiate his bark, and he is consequently undefeated. Basically, he talks a lot of shit, thinks he’s hot shit, but he fights like it, too.

He inherited his father’s Ancient advisor, Zazin, who he came to understand as a bleeding heart. Respecting his wisdom, Kandore takes his advice seriously, though dismisses his more “soft” suggestions. Though they can both sense hostility or unspoken disagreement between themselves, they do work as a team to govern the Half-Heart Clan, and often stick by one another when questioned.

Kandore keeps his father’s skull in his quarters, to “keep himself humble”, but jokes that it doesn’t work. He talks to the skull, but no one knows what he says to it, or if he’s expecting anything to be said back. When criticized for killing his father, Kandore will coldly state Kachare died because he was already unworthy of the title, thus he had to give it up right then, a sentiment shared by most Yautja. But otherwise, people such as Zazin or Lo’bane note he seems subdued, crestfallen, unusually quiet and lacking a sharp tongue when his father or his father’s death is brought up. Despite this, any attempts to weaponize his father’s death against him fails.

When in situations he cannot control, Kandore tends to spiral via uncontrollable humor as a coping mechanism. Humor normally keeps him in charge by keeping others enraged or distracted, making them easier to manipulate and shows his ease and confidence. It shows that he has so much control of the situation/conversation, he can mess around and still stay on top of things.

When in a pleasant mood, he fidgets with his quills, rubbing a single lock between his fingers or twirling it around his pointer finger.

He does not hate the Odd Crests, only appearing so because he can be much more transparent with them. As a social pariah, the Odd Crests are openly treated with ridicule, contempt, and scrutiny, and as such, he can tease them how he likes. The Odd Crests have glaring sore points and insecurities, thus theoretically malleable, though wise to Kandore’s true nature, they often resist. However, he has shown them more mercy than any other clan leader would. Any other leader would have exiled them, or declared the entire family Bad Blood, but Kandore allows them to stay as they are and does not go out of his way to mess with them. As such, while they are privy to his true nature, they cannot afford to call him out or openly voice their disdain for him. He just likes to get a rise out of them whenever he talks to them.

When Halkrath’s sons died, Kandore and Zazin delivered the news to the Odd Crest household, as well as transporting him back home, and ordering further excavation to recover the sons’ bodies and belongings. The incident landed the Half-Hearts in trouble with some of the other clans, as the Half-Heart’s mistake could have cost the lives of Yautja from other clans that were nearby. Kandore and Zazin defended Halkrath, stating that while he will be named legally responsible for the Xenomorph infestation, it was acknowledged as a freak accident and was quickly dealt with by Half-Heart enforcers. Kandore allowed a personal several-decade embargo on using the incident to his advantage, though did not hide his disdain for/disappointment with Halkrath’s recklessness, besmirching his own family and embarrassing the clan once again.

Kandore is off-put by Luar-ke and Lo’bane, specifically Lo’bane, so he asked that whenever the Odd Crests see him, that only M’hsi or Vosandi attend, with Halkrath’s presence a must. It’s just a preference, and a soft suggestion, not an order. The only one better than Kandore at figuring out people’s deals is Lo’bane, who figures it out via observation and eavesdropping, not conversation. Lo’bane has Kandore’s number, and he deliberately avoids him. When once left alone with the 50 year old, Kandore ran out of the room in tears.

When M’hsi approached him and demanded an opportunity to restore her family’s honor, Kandore thought she intended on just restoring her father’s name on his behalf and planned on allowing her to do so. When she corrected him and stated she wanted to absolve the dishonor of every dishonored member of her family, and not just her father, Kandore was taken aback and found the idea completely ridiculous. Jokingly, he suggested, in a bad faith interpretation of her request, that she go on a Hunt for each disgraced member, do better than they had, complete her Blooding ritual, and then her family’s honor debt will be forgiven.

Shocked she actually accepted this challenge, he examined the outcomes of the situation and decided that if she died, then it’s one less Odd Crest to further disgrace the family (and thus his clan) and one less unworthy Hunter. If she was to succeed, then he can welcome back a courageous Hunter he is responsible for creating.

Despite her parents and Zazin’s pleas to reconsider, Kandore refused as M’hsi had already accepted, and she similarly refused to back down. Kandore went to work arranging the trip, hiring craftsmen to fashion M’hsi her custom armor and approving weapons for her to choose from. As is tradition, only those related to M’hsi were allowed to attend, thus Lo’bane was able to attend but kept home as per Kandore’s request (and as his parents decided it might be too upsetting to see her off). A guard was issued to supervise them as they normally do, but specifically to keep an eye on Halkrath.

Acting as if nothing was off, or upsetting, Kandore escorted M’hsi through rooms where he and Zazin assisted in suiting her up in her commissioned armor, watching her try out the preapproved weapons (to which Kandore expressed amusement at her choice), and bringing her before the scout ship. He managed to fit one more jab in by wishing her luck before she boarded the ship.

As clan leader, Kandore stayed on Yautja Prime to govern the clan and remotely observe M’hsi’s Hunts, while Zazin monitors M’hsi in the scout ship on Earth.

[deep-sea-skiving]

A reflection on Daria.

Like many people I wasn’t born in the 90s however, the impact and influence from this era was so incredibly prominent I feel that many individuals of my own generation share the same attitudes, values and also concerns that many young adults in the 1990s also must have felt. For many young adults growing up in the 90s was a time of economic uncertainty, employment uncertainty, alienation and repression. It was a time of heighten consumerism and materialism, where morals and principles took a back seat. As a consequence, many young people developed a cynical, misanthropic counterculture against the societal norms which appeared to them as defunct and unrepresentative. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? A show which perfectly portrays this feeling of despair, anomie and sense of disorientation that many in society held in the 90s and has continued to even today is Daria. Daria was an MTV show which ran from the 3rd of March 1997 to the 21st of January 2002 and has cemented itself as a cult classic. In my own opinion the show is built upon the foundations of Marxist and Feminist theory, this almost definitely seen the clearest through the personality and attitudes of the main character, Daria. Daria as a character stands for realism, determinism and fatalism, a kind of what will be will be attitude. This perpetuates a world view where according to Daria free will and autonomy is severely limited or in the extreme sense never even existed. She sees clearly the structural deficiencies and issues that are inherently part of society and deeply effect societal life of many individuals. In this sense you could say that Daria has come to realise false consciousness society creates among its members. False consciousness is a concept developed by Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx which describes how the ruling class who control the means of production can manipulate ideology to benefit their own activities. A term later developed by Antonio Gramsci into hegemony.

One episode which I feel represents capitalist exploitation of the youth for  economic and material benefit is ‘Malled’ (https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6pfi3j). One scene in this episode in particular which highlights Daria’s ability to see through the illusion created by capitalist society is when the group has a meeting with some mall executives about the operation of the mall. Daria is suspicious of this meeting and decides to flip a switch revealing a two-way mirror. On the other side of this mirror there are researchers recording every detail discussed in the meeting. Of course, this is a serve violation of privacy however, the mall executives just pay for the groups silence with vouchers for the mall and group just take them with no quarries. This portrays as mentioned previously, that the values which are meant to be important in western societies such as privacy and freedom are just a myth and that capitalism will not stop at any means to make profit (Daria’s explanation of the manufacturing of youth culture is also a good representative of this).

Daria at first rejects the vouchers highlighting another key characteristic of the character, her emphasis on principles and morals even when this puts her at odds with the rest of her friends and family. ‘I’m not miserable. I’m just not like them’. Due to this Daria as well as many young people she represents feel alienated from both society and their peers. Where the values and ethics you are taught to upheld don’t exist in reality. Therefore, she counters this feeling like many do with cynical, sarcastic and so-called edgy comments against the structure of society and societal practices.  

However, it is also important to remember that Daria is not infallible her emphasis on following her own set of principles leads her to also be misguided, narcissistic and insensitive towards other people’s feelings and emotions. We can see this in episodes like ‘Run Jane Run’ and ‘The misery chick’. Daria is also sometimes completely hypocritical in her actions such as making money from grief. Although Daria can see the wrongs in society, she does little and most of the time, nothing to change the situation for herself or for others. Instead she prefers to just complain, for the sake of complaining. Daria no matter how she possesses herself as against the system, she will always be some-what part of that very system she hates.

So, if you haven’t watched Daria (I’m guessing most have) go give it a watch, it’s definitely worth your time. The issues the show discusses are still applicable to young people of this society such as gender roles, body confidence issues (see the too cute episode, where Quinn desires to get plastic surgery), to the serious matter of racism and tokenism (portrayed through characters like Jodie). It gives an insight into a time where many young people in western societies in particular felt alienated and disconnected from the society established by the generations that came before them, a time of uncertainty and confusion. Which has progressed to the generations of today. A society which pressures individuals to be something, to know what you desire in life and how to achieve this. I sure everyone can relate to being asked by adults the question ‘What do you want to do after this?’ Is this a viable question to ask in today’s society where opportunities are limited and constrain many young people in jobs which are simply unfulfilling? I feel the show Daria asks these questions and responds with a narrative which is often ignored.

[spilling-the-digital-communi-tea]

Week 4 Blog Post

Hi, having enjoyed hosting the week 4 tutorial around this topic I hope I have something extra to add to the discussion!

To me, one of the biggest points of contention from this topic is how positive the societal impact of reality TV truly is. As mentioned in the lecture, reality TV’s popularity is counter-intuitively met with a general distaste, starkly contrasted against well-liked genres such as comedy. The hatred for reality TV is something that is not hard to fathom, with Wills (2013) calling it “not real” and “a scam being perpetrated right in front of me, and the victims are both the participants and the viewers”. In addition, the contestants are competing for attention and continue to sell out long after their fifteen minutes of fame. This environment is not helped by “a never-ending sea of gullible people” (Wills 2013), meaning that existing stars get worse contracts and the competition is ever increasing. Ironically, this competition means that most of the action is not happening on our televisions and instead takes place on social media and beyond, leading people to believe that the discussion spaces for such programs are simply littered with irrelevant gossip.

However, I believe this view diminishes the social function of reality television, undermining their importance in fostering powerful digital communities, which are reminiscent of intertwining public spheres. Reality television is particularly good in creating such communities as it has lower barriers to entry, in terms of available programming, summaries within the show, etc. These mean that anyone can tune in and feel like they have something to contribute to a particular issue, with comparatively less background knowledge required. In the case of the show RuPaul’s Drag Race, on screen it “regularly confronts homophobia and other forms of bigotry and oppression” as well as featuring a “gender transition during an episode, while others have publicly acknowledged their HIV-positive status (Brennan & David 2017, p. 2). This progressiveness empowers fans of the show to go onto social media and share their own experiences, creating a safe space of equal contribution, signalling the potential for reality TV to do good by society and its citizens.

References

Brennan, N & David, G 2017, Drag Culture, Global Participation and RuPaul’s Drag Race, University of Tampa, Palgrave Macmillan.

Milne, E 2021, ‘Lecture 4: Reality TV Case Study Lecture’, MDA20009, Digital Communities, Learning Material via Canvas, Swinburne University of Technology, 22 March, viewed 1 April 2021.

Wills, A 2013, ‘Why I Hate Reality TV (And a Brief History of Manipulation), The Verve Life, 30 May, viewed 1 April 2021, <https://www.thevervelife.com/why-i-hate-reality-tv-and-a-brief-history-of-manipulation/>.

[things2mustdo]

In order for a nation to survive, two critical emotions must be controlled. Contrary to popular belief, these emotions are not fear and greed—although these are very important to control, as well. Rather, it’s masculine aggression and feminine vanity that must be controlled…and we are doing a terrible job at this.

Unfortunately, over the past 70 years, we’ve seen sex roles and gender dynamics completely turned on their heads. Rather than men and women working together to create better relationships, more functional families, and more powerful countries, we’ve been pit against one another by toxic ideologies and ruthless demagogues.

It is not enough to simply know what is happening, however—we must know precisely how it’s happening, step by step, and more importantly, WHY it’s happening. In this article, I will explore why our society has gone so downhill so fast, and potential solutions we can integrate to remedy it (if we can save it, at all).

The Two Forces

As I said previously, there are two very delicate forces which must constantly be counter-balancing one another, and anytime they grow unbalanced, there will be chaos. These two forces are, of course, masculine aggression and feminine vanity. Too much masculine aggression, and a country becomes war-torn, unable to run itself or stay stable long enough to produce any sort of civilization (think the Middle East).

Too much feminine vanity, however, and the opposite occurs. Men become reclusive, because women become far too difficult to deal with. This is why we’ve seen the rise of the sigma male over the past 20 years—men who refuse to attach themselves to any sort of social hierarchy. They’re not alpha, beta, or omega. They just do as they do, without adhering to any sort of social group or workplace hierarchy.

As feminine vanity grows excessive, female hypergamy is given reign to run loose. Rather than men and women developing healthy relationships with one another, women become so conceited that they refuse to “settle” for anyone less than an alpha male Chad Thundercock, and thus we have a surplus of angry, bitter women who hit the wall at 30 and end up childless and alone.

It’s so obvious that it should go without saying, that we are currently in a serious imbalance. For far too long, masculine aggression has been hampered and stomped down by our effeminate school system, our brainwashing devices (aka TV’s), and our mass media control system. All the while, these things have encouraged women to do as they please, without any consequences or thought of their actions on a larger, societal scale.

Restoring the Balance

Balance will be restored, one way or another. There are only two ways for this imbalance to possibly be restored, and most men here will acknowledge, at least implicitly, that this is the case:

Men in OTHER COUNTRIES restore the balance (by coming here en masse)

Men in THIS COUNTRY restore the balance (by not being pussies)

Those are the only two options. There is no third option, where women somehow magically stop giving men 500,000 shit tests a day and step down to become good, faithful girlfriends, wives, and mothers. This will not happen. When a society reaches this critical imbalance, only one of two things can happen.

Of course, we all know what the elites (oy vey!) are pushing for. They want to bring millions of aggressive, young, fighting-age men to this country, to supposedly help combat “population decline.” We all know that this is complete horse shit, and that their true motive is to destroy America.

Even so, with the full force of the elites raining down upon us, there is hope. Over the past two years, we’ve seen more masculine energy emerge and come to the front of our socio-political battlegrounds than arguably any other time in history. For the first time in the past 70 years, men are reclaiming their manhood.

Let me reiterate that this is the only option. There is no magical world where everything just works out great, where we have millions of violent, aggressive 20-something-year-old men come into this country, and we retain our values as an Anglo-Saxon country. No. This will not happen. We either get our acts together, collectively, as men, or we watch our nation burn.

The Path Forward (2018-2020)

The next two years are of critical importance. We have collectively, successfully memed the most brutally alpha and pro-American president into office arguably since Ronald Reagan. This is not an opportunity that we can afford to squander—we must all begin proactively restoring the balance of masculinity in this country, from the top down, otherwise our nation will perish to globalists and their dumb, but useful allies.

There will be resistance, as there is whenever masculinity tries to assert itself. Pay no attention to this resistance. Simply follow the advice which the manosphere advocates for:

Create an income independent of a massive, bureaucratic, globalist corporation

Increase your testosterone levels (start by avoiding foods that kill testosterone)

Lift weights, and become physically able to stand up for yourself

Proactively participate in the upcoming midterms, and the Presidential Election of 2020

Do everything you can to red pill those who are ready (emphasis on them being ready)

If we, collectively, as a group of thousands of like-minded men all across the nation can successfully pull this off, we will see a resurgence of economic, political, and social growth which will have been unprecedented.

If we do not pull it off however, and our nation succumbs to the manipulations of the elite, a far more grim and sinister future will play out.

The Alternative

If we do not successfully reclaim the balance of masculine aggression and feminine vanity in this country, all will be lost, and we will be forced to either live through hell, or leave our homelands. Here’s what to expect over the next decade or so, if a social justice warrior is elected President in 2020, and we lose the culture wars:

Increasing surveillance over the internet

More thought crime policies instituted into law

The figurative castration of men all across the country

Eventual race wars, or religious wars, spurred on primarily by Islamic migrants

This is non-negotiable. If we lose the culture wars to SJW’s over the next several years, we will begin to see lobbying to shut down any and all manosphere websites dedicated to spreading the truth. We have already seen PayPal, YouTube, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, and Google begin to censor people like Roosh, Alex Jones, Donald Trump, and other conservative/red pilled speakers. We cannot afford to stand this any longer.

If we lose these mediums to the globalists, they will easily gain the support of the public to institute thought crime policies into our legal system. You have a book by Bronze Age Pervert, that Amazon can track from your order history? NAZI SCUM! You’re going to prison. It doesn’t matter that you didn’t actually hurt anyone in any way shape or form, because you had an opinion that the globalists dislike.

As this begins to happen, men will self-imprison all over the nation. Some will fight, of course, and maybe win (if we’re lucky). Others will leave and attempt to gain citizenship in more male-friendly countries such as Denmark, Austria, and Poland. The rest will be forced to hang their heads in perpetual shame.

Eventually, as the population of third world migrants explodes, and tribalism is exacerbated by the polarizing media, we will begin to see rampant terrorist attacks, which are already happening in Germany, The UK, and other nations around the cucked European Union. Inevitably, this will end in a civil war.

It’s Our Choice

I have presented to you the only two choices that we have, and to me, the decision is quite simple. We can either sit around passively, and squabble amongst ourselves over stupid theories and philosophies, or we can take action to better ourselves and improve the stance of our nation.

The choice is clear to me. We either succumb to globalist propaganda, see the death of masculinity in the West, and see freedom of speech die as it is destined to do, or we fight back and create a better future. Some may say this is melodramatic. I would say that a mere cursory glance at history will prove otherwise.

Read Next: Cultural Collapse Theory: The 7 Steps That Lead To A Complete Culture Decline

It was Joe’s first date with Mary. He asked her what she wanted in life and she replied, “I want to establish my career. That’s the most important thing to me right now.” Undeterred that she had no need for a man in her life, Joe entertained her with enough funny stories and cocky statements that she soon allowed him to lightly pet her forearm.

At the end of the date, he locked arms with her on the walk to the subway station, when two Middle Eastern men on scooter patrol accosted them and said they were forbidden to touch. “This is Sharia zone,” they said in heavily accented English, in front of a Halal butcher shop. Joe and Mary felt bad that they offended the two men, because they were trained in school to respect all religions but that of their ancestors. One of the first things they learned was that their white skin gave them extra privilege in life which must be consciously restrained at all times. Even if they happened to disagree with the two men, they could not verbally object because of anti-hate laws that would put them in jail for religious discrimination. They unlocked arms and maintained a distance of three feet from each other.

Unfortunately for Joe, Mary did not want to go out with him again, but seven years later he did receive a message from her on Facebook saying hello. She became vice president of a company, but could not find a man equal to her station since women now made 25% more than men on average. Joe had long left the country and moved to Thailand, where he married a young Thai girl and had three children. He had no plans on returning to his country, America.

If cultural collapse occurs in the way I will now describe, the above scenario will be the rule within a few decades. The Western world is being colonized in reverse, not by weapons or hard power, but through a combination of progressivism and low reproductive rates. These two factors will lead to a complete cultural collapse of many Western nations within the next 200 years. This theory will show the most likely mechanism that it will proceed in America, Canada, UK, Scandinavia, and Western Europe.

What Is A Cultural Collapse?

Cultural collapse is the decline, decay, or disappearance of a native population’s rituals, habits, interpersonal communication, relationships, art, and language. It coincides with a relative decline of population compared to outside groups. National identity and group identification will be lost while revisionist history will be applied to demonize or find fault with the native population. Cultural collapse is not to be confused with economic or state collapse. A nation that suffers from a cultural collapse can still be economically productive and have a working government.

First I will share a brief summary of the cultural collapse progression before explaining them in more detail. Then I will discuss where I see many countries along its path.

The Cultural Collapse Progression

1. Removal of religious narrative from people’s lives, replaced by a treadmill of scientific and technological “progress.”

2. Elimination of traditional sex roles through feminism, gender equality, political correctness, cultural Marxism, and socialism.

3. Delay or abstainment of family formation by women to pursue careerist lifestyles while men wait in confused limbo.

4. Decreasing birth rate among native population.

5. Government enactment of open immigration policies to prevent economic collapse.

6. Immigrant refusal to fully acclimate, forcing host culture to adopt external rituals and beliefs while being out-reproduced.

7. Natives becoming marginalized in their own country.

1. Removal of religious narrative

Religion has been a powerful restraint for millennia in preventing humans from pursuing their base desires and narcissistic tendencies so that they satisfy a god. Family formation is the central unit of most religions, possibly because children increase membership at zero marginal cost to the church (i.e. they don’t need to be recruited).

Religion may promote scientific ignorance, but it facilitates reproduction by giving people a narrative that places family near the center of their existence.[1] [2] [3] After the Enlightenment, the rapid advance of science and its logical but nihilistic explanations into the universe have removed the religious narrative and replaced it with an empty narrative of scientific progress, knowledge, and technology, which act as a restraint and hindrance to family formation, allowing people to pursue individual goals of wealth accumulation or hedonistic pleasure seeking.[4] As of now, there has not been a single non-religious population that has been able to reproduce above the death rate.[5]

Even though many people today claim to believe in god, they may not step inside a church but once or twice a year for special holidays. Religion went from being a lifestyle, a manual for living, to something that is thought about in passing.

2. Elimination of traditional sex roles

Once religion no longer plays a role in people’s lives, the stage is set to fracture male-female bonding. It is collectively attacked by several ideologies stemming from the beliefs of Cultural Marxist theory, which serve to accomplish one common end: destruction of the family unit so that citizens are dependent on the state. They achieve this goal through the marginalization of men and their role in society under the banner of “equality.”[6] With feminism pushed to the forefront of this umbrella movement, the drive for equality ends up being a power grab by women.[7] This attack is performed on a range of fronts:

medicating boys from a young age with ADHD drugs to eradicate displays of masculinity[8]

shaming of men for having direct sexual interest in attractive and fertile women

criminalization of normal male behavior by redefining some instances of consensual sex as rape[9]

imprisonment of unemployed fathers for non-payment of child support, rendering them destitute and unable to be a part of their children’s lives[10]

taxation of men at higher rates for redistribution to women[11] [12]

promotion of single mother and homosexual lifestyles over that of the nuclear family[13] [14]

The end result is that men, confused about their identify and averse to state punishment from sexual harassment, “date rape,” and divorce proceedings, make a rational decision to wait on the sidelines.[15] Women, still not happy with the increased power given to them, continue their assault on men by instructing them to “man up” into what has become an unfair deal—marriage. The elevation of women above men is allowed by corporations, which adopt “girl power” marketing to expand their consumer base and increase profits.[16] [17] Governments also allow it because it increases their tax revenue. Because there is money to be made with women working and becoming consumers, there is no effort by the elite to halt this development.

3. Women begin to place career above family

At the same time men are emasculated as mere “sperm donors,” women are encouraged to adopt the career goals, mannerisms, and competitive lifestyles of men, inevitably causing them to delay marriage, often into an age where they can no longer find suitable husbands who have more resources than themselves. [18] [19] [20] [21] The average woman will find it exceedingly difficult to balance career and family, and since she has no concern of getting “fired” from her family, who she may see as a hindrance to her career goals, she will devote an increasing proportion of time into her job.

Female income, in aggregate, will soon match or exceed that of men.[22] [23] [24] A key reason that women historically got married was to be economically provided for, but this reason will no longer persist and women will feel less pressure or motivation to marry. The burgeoning spinster population will simply be a money-making opportunity for corporations to market to an increasing population of lonely women. Cat and small dog sales will rise.

Women succumb to their primal sexual and materialistic urges to live the “Sex and the City” lifestyle full of fine dining, casual sex, technological bliss, and general gluttony without learning traditional household skills or feminine qualities that would make them attractive wives.[25] [26] Men adapt to careerist women in a rational way by doing the following:

to sate their natural sexual desires, men allow their income to lower since economic stability no longer provides a draw to women in their prime[27]

they mimic “alpha male” social behavior to get laid with women who, without having an urgent need for a man’s monetary resources to survive, can choose men based on confidence, aesthetics, and general entertainment value[28]

they withdraw into a world of video games and the internet, satisfying their own base desires for play and simulated hunting[29] [30]

Careerist women who decide to marry will do so in a hurried rush around 30 because they fear growing old alone, but since they are well past their fertility peak[31], they may find it difficult to reproduce. In the event of successful reproduction at such a later age, fewer children can be born before biological infertility, limiting family size compared to the historical past.

4. Birth rates decrease among native population

The stage is now set for the death rate to outstrip the birth rate. This creates a demographic cliff where there is a growing population of non-working elderly relative to able-bodied younger workers. Two problems result:

Not enough tax revenue is supplied by the working population in order to provide for the elderly’s medical and social retirement needs.[32] Borrowing can only temporarily maintain these entitlements.

Decrease of economic activity since more people are dying than buying.[33]

No modern nation has figured out how to substantially raise birth rates among native populations. The most successful effort has been done in France, but that has still kept the birth rate among French-born women just under the replacement rate (2.08 vs 2.1).[34] The easiest and fastest way to solve this double-edged problem is to promote mass immigration of non-elderly individuals who will work, spend, and procreate at rates greater than natives.[35]

A replenishing supply of births are necessary to create taxpayers, workers, entrepreneurs, and consumers in order to maintain the nation’s economic development.[36] While many claim that the planet is suffering from “overpopulation,” an economic collapse is inevitable for those countries who do not increase their population at steady rates.

5. Large influx of immigration

An aging population without youthful refilling will cause a scarcity of labor, increasing that labor’s price. Corporate elites will now lobby governments for immigration reform to relieve this upward pressure on wages.[37] [38] At the same time, the modern mantra of sustained GDP growth puts pressure on politicians for dissemination of favorable economic growth data to aid in their re-elections. The simplest way to increase GDP without innovation or development of industry is to expand the population. Both corporate and political elites now have their goals in alignment where the easiest solution becomes immigration.[39] [40]

While politicians hem and haw about designing permanent immigration policies, immigrants continue to settle within the nation.[41] The national birth rate problem is essentially solved overnight, as it’s much easier to drain third-world nations of its starry-eyed population with enticements of living in the first-world than it is to encourage the native women to reproduce. (Lateral immigration from one first-world nation to another is so relatively insignificant that the niche term ‘expatriation’ has been developed to describe it). Native women will show a stubborn resistance at any suggestion they should create families, much preferring a relatively responsibility-free lifestyle of sexual variety, casual internet dating via mobile apps, consumer excess, and comfortable high-paying jobs in air conditioned offices.[42] [43]

Immigrants will almost always come from societies that are more religious and, in the case of Islam with regard to European immigration, far more scientifically primitive and rigid in its customs.[44]

6. Sanitization of host culture coincides with increase in immigrant power

While many adult immigrants will feel gracious at the opportunity to live in a more prosperous nation, others will soon feel resentment that they are forced to work menial jobs in a country that is far more expensive than their own.[45] [46] [47] [48] [49] The majority of them remain in lower economic classes, living in poor “immigrant communities” where they can speak their own language, find their own homeland foods, and follow their own customs or religion.

Instead of breaking out of their foreigner communities, immigrants seek to expand it by organizing. They form local groups and civic organizations to teach natives better ways to understand and serve immigrant populations. They will be eager to publicize cases where immigrants have been insulted by insensitive natives or treated unfairly by police authorities in the case of petty crime.[50] [51] [52] [53] [54] [55] School curriculums may be changed to promote diversity or multiculturalism, at great expense to the native culture.[56] Concessions will be made not to offend immigrants.[57] A continual stream of outrages will be found and this will feed the power of the organizations and create a state within a state where native elites become fearful of applying laws to immigrants.[58]

7. Destruction of native culture

This step has not yet happened in any first-world nation, so I will predict it based on logically extending known events I have already described.

Local elites will give lip service to immigrant groups for votes but will be slow to give them real state or economic power. Citizenship rules may even be tightened to prevent immigrants from being elected. The elites will be mostly insulated from the cultural crises in their isolated communities, private schools, and social clubs, where they can continue to incubate their own sub-culture without outside influence. At the same time, they will make speeches and enact polices to force native citizens to accept multiculturalism and blind immigration. Anti-hate and anti-discrimination laws will be more vigorously enforced than other more serious crimes. Police will monitor social networking to identify those who make statements against protected classes.

Cultural decline begins in earnest when the natives feel shame or guilt for who they are, their history, their way of life, and where their ancestors came from. They will let immigrant groups criticize their customs without protest, or they simply embrace immigrant customs instead with religious conversion and interethnic marriages. Nationalistic pride will be condemned as a “far-right” phenomenon and popular nationalistic politicians will be compared to Hitler. Natives learn the art of self-censorship, limiting the range of their speech and expressions, and soon only the elderly can speak the truths of the cultural decline while a younger multiculturalist within earshot attributes such frankness to senility or racist nostalgia.

With the already entrenched environment of political correctness (see stage 2), the local culture becomes a sort of “world” culture that can be declared tolerant and progressive as long as there is a lack of criticism against immigrants, multiculturalism, and their combined influence. All cultural identity will eventually be lost, and to be “American” or “British,” for example, will no longer have modern meaning from a sociological perspective. Native traditions will be eradicated and a cultural mixing will take place where citizens from one world nation will be nearly identical in behavior, thought, and consumer tastes to citizens of another. Once a collapse occurs, it cannot be reversed. The nation’s cultural heritage will be forever lost.

I want to now take a brief look at six different countries and see where they are along the cultural collapse progression…

Russia

This is an interesting case because, up to recently, we saw very low birth rates not due to progressive ideals but from a rough transition to capitalism in the 1990’s and a high male mortality from alcoholism.[59] [60] To help sustain its population, Russia is readily accepting immigrants from Central Asian regions, treating them like second-class citizens and refusing to make any accommodations away from the ethnic Russian way of life. Even police authorities turn a blind eye when local skinhead groups attack immigrants.[61] In addition, Russia has also shown no tolerance to homosexual or progressive groups,[62] stunting their negative effects upon the culture. The birth rate has risen in recent years to levels seen in Western Europe but it’s still not above the death rate. Russia will see a population collapse before a cultural one.

Likelihood of 50-year cultural collapse: Very low

Brazil

We’re seeing rapid movement through stages 2 and 3, where progressive ideology based on the American model is becoming adopted and a large poor population ensure progressive politicians will continue to remain in power with promises of economic redistribution.[63] [64] [65] Within 15 years we should see a sharp drop in birth rates and a relaxation of immigration laws.

Likelihood of 50-year cultural collapse: Moderate

America

Some could argue that America is currently experiencing a cultural collapse. It always had a fragile culture because of its immigrant foundings, but immigrants of the past (including my own parents) rapidly acclimated into the host culture to create a sense of national pride around an ethic of hard work and shared democratic values. This is being eroded as a fem-centric culture rises in its place, with its focus on trends, celebrities, homosexuality, multiculturalism, and male-bashing. Natives have become pleasure seekers with little inclination to reproduction during their years of peak fertility.[66]

Likelihood of 50-year cultural collapse: Very high

England

While America always had high amounts of immigration, and therefore a system of integration, England is newer to the game. In the past 20 years, they have massively ramped up their immigration efforts.[67] A visit to London will confirm that the native British are slowly becoming minorities, with their iconic red telephone booths left undisturbed purely for tourist photo opportunities. Approximately 5% of the English population is now Muslim.[68] Instead of acclimatizing, they are achieving early success in creating zones with Sharia law.[69] The English elite, in response, is jailing natives under stringent anti-race laws.[70] England had a highly successful immigration story with Polish immigrants who eagerly acclimated to English culture, but have opened the doors to other peoples who don’t want to integrate.[71]

Likelihood of 50-year cultural collapse: Very high

Sweden

Sweden is experiencing a similar immigration situation to England, but they possess a higher amount of self-shame and white guilt. Instead of allowing immigrants who could work in the Swedish economy, they are encouraging migration of asylum seekers who have been made destitute by war. These immigrants enter Sweden and immediately receive social benefits. In effect, Sweden is welcoming the least economically productive people in the world.[72] The immigrants will produce little or no economic benefit, and may even worsen Sweden’s economy. Immigrants are turning some parts of Sweden, such as the Rosengard area of Malmo, into a ghetto.[73]

Likelihood of 50-year cultural collapse: Very high

Poland

From my one and half years of living in Poland, I have seen a moderate level of progressive ideological creep, careerism among women, hedonism, and idolation of Western values, particularly out of England, where a large percentage of the Polish population have emigrated for work. Younger Poles may not act much different from their Western counterparts in their party lifestyle behavior, but there nonetheless remains a tenuous maintenance of traditional sex roles. Women of fertile age are pursuing relationships over one-night stands, but careerism is causing them to stall family formation. This puts a downward pressure on birth rates, which stems from significant numbers of fertile young women emigrating to countries like the UK and USA, along with continued economic uncertainties faced from transitioning to capitalism[74]. As Europe’s “least multicultural” nation, Poland has long been hesitant to accept immigrants, but this has recently changed and they are encouraging migrants.[75]  To its credit, it is seeking first-world entrepreneurs instead of low skilled laborers or asylum seekers. Its cultural fate will be an interesting development in the years to come, but the prognosis will be more negative as long as its young people are eager to leave the homeland.

Likelihood of 50-year cultural collapse: Possible

Poland and Russia show the limitations of Cultural Collapse Theory in that it best applies to first-world nations with highly developed economies. They have low birth rates but not through the mechanism I described, though if they adopt a more Western ideological track like Brazil, I expect to see the same outcome that is befalling England or Sweden.

There can be many paths to cultural destruction, and those nations with the most similarities will gravitate towards the same path, just like how Eastern European nations are suffering low birth rates because of mass emigration due to being introduced into the European Union.

How To Stop Cultural Collapse

Maintaining native birth rates while preventing the elite from allowing immigrant labor is the most effective means at preventing cultural collapse. Since multiculturalism is an experiment with no proven efficacy, a culture can only be maintained by a relatively homogenous group who identify with each other. When that homogeneity breaks down and one citizen looks to the next and does not see a person with the same values as himself, the culture falls in dis-repair as native citizens begin to lose a shared means of communication and identity. Once the percentage of the immigrant population crosses a certain threshold (perhaps 15%), the decline will pick up in pace and cultural breakdown will be readily apparent to all observers.

Current policies to solve low birth rates through immigration is a short-term fix with dire long-term consequences. In effect, it’s a Trojan-horse prescription of irreversible cultural destruction. A state must prevent itself from entering the position where mass immigration is considered a solution by blocking progressive ideologies from taking hold. One way this can be done is through the promotion of a state-sponsored religion which encourages the nuclear family instead of single motherhood and homosexuality. However, introducing religion as a mainstay of citizen life in the post-enlightenment era may be impossible.

We must consider that the scientific era is an evolutionary maladaptive feature of humanity that natural selection will accordingly punish (i.e. those who are anti-religious and pro-science will simply breed less). It must also be considered that with religion in permanent decline, cultural collapse may be a certainty that eventually occurs in all developed nations. Religion, it may turn out, was evolutionary beneficial to the human race.

Another possible solution is to foster a patriarchal society where men serve as strong providers. If you encourage the development of successful men who possess indispensable skills and therefore resources that are lacked by females, there will be women below their station who want to marry and procreate with them, but if strong women are produced instead, marriage and procreation is unlikely to take place at levels above the death rate.

A gap between the sexes should always exist in the favor of men if procreation is to occur at high rates, or else you’ll have something similar to the situation in America where urban professional women cannot find “good men” to begin a family with (i.e., men who are significantly more financially successful than them). They instead remain single and barren, only used occasionally by cads for exciting casual sex.

One issue that I purposefully ignored is the effect of technology and consumerism on lowering birth rates. How much influence does video games, internet, and smartphones contribute to a birth decline? How much of an effect does Western-style consumerism have in delaying marriage? I suspect they have more of an amplification effect than being an outright cause. If a country is proceeding through the cultural collapse model, technology will simply hurry the collapse, but giving internet access to a traditionally religious group of people may not cause them to flip overnight. Research will have to be done in these areas to say for sure.

Conclusion

The first iteration of any theory is sure to create as many questions as answers, but I hope that by proposing this model, it becomes more clear why some cultures seem so quick to degrade while others display a sort of immunity. Some countries may be too far down the wrong path to be saved, but I hope the information presented gives concerned readers ideas on protecting their own culture by allowing them to connect how progressive ideologies that may seem innocent or benign on the surface can eventually lead to an outright collapse of their nation’s culture.

[all-things-are-nothing-to-me]

Smashing the Petri Dish: Abbreviated Inquiry Into Abandoning the Concept of Culture

The following are questions I have recently asked myself:

Why abandon culture? There are countless reasons to begin to challenge, seriously realign our relationship with, and perhaps abandon the concept of culture — the historic, contemporary, and projected assemblage of social dynamics and features by which we define ourselves and which collectively frame us as social groupings. Culture contains the all-tofamiliar civilized notions of expectations, projections, customs, taboos, values, morality, and rituals, as well as being anthropocentric in nature, and in general, limited as it defines the human condition of a place, time, and context only in terms of human relationships or how we use other things. The human-animal, unrestrained by such an understanding of reality, and in tune with applicable concerns of connected subsistence and curious play, needs not for culture as something to belong to or to be guided by. Instead, they are what they are, a composition of all they are connected to, yet unique unto themselves. And if relationships are fluid, unbounded by artificial concepts, and based on mutual desire, than what use or need is there for culture, except to define and confine these relationships. It might be proposed then, that our search for liberation may fall outside the parameters of the concept of culture, and in fact, may be in contradiction with its very existence. Culture, whether ethnic, religious, national, tribal, pop, alternative, or counter, acts as a definer rather than minimalizer of the borders within and between ourselves, each other, and the rest of life.

Can we challenge the current basis of our relationships to each other? For many, to abandon culture seems a project too daunting, shocking, and counter to what we may have always believed. But when we talk of undoing the entirety of civilization, are there questions too colossal to ask and material too compact to cut through? To dispute culture itself, and the physicality of its politicized manifestation, society, is to question civilization’s very premise, that we are controlled and manipulated by external forces that have an agenda ultimately incompatible with that of the individual, regardless of their desires (although there may be illusory moments of adaptability). Whether there are direct lines drawn to individuals or groups in power, or the rigid formation of patterns and textures over time, culture controls. It must, or it ceases to exist. Culture can be viewed as the summation of who we are as social beings, or the parameters we live within. Both are unsatisfactory for one attempting an uncivilized and unrestrained existence. If we are to live entirely different, than what seems foundational and what binds all of this (civilization) must be unglued. The imprint must be erased. The structures must be shattered, so as to open up the space for our unimpeded wild selves to roam.

Is there an intrinsic element of cultivation that leads to the formation of rigid socialization? The cultivation of crops and tillage of the earth created a different context in which we dwell then that of the human-animal in a pre-civilized context. With the domination of the land, stratification of society, accumulation of power, creation of economy, and religious mystification of the world, culture takes root as an all-encompassing means of control. To put it simply, when there are things to keep in order, an orderly society is preferable. With this comes the standardization of society, the suggestion of values, the implementation of codes, and the enforcement of regulations, be they physical, intellectual, or spiritual. Overt force is always adjacent (at least the allegation of it), but to convince people they are a part of an abstract grouping, and that it is superior to any other, cultural identity is a much more effective means of control. And, to convince them of their need to view contrary or deviant inclinations of the belief system as an Other, also sets the ground for the defending of culture. The abstraction of unmediated relationships might be where we start to see concepts of culture as necessary. Before (or outside this perspective) what purpose would it serve?

What about the process of domestication is inevitable in culture? Development of humans as individuals and societies in general through education, discipline, and training, seems to require obedience to societal norms, recognized largely as cultural. The goal, as with any other form of domestication, is to obtain a uniform and productive crop or yield in as efficient means as possible. Individuality and fluidity are seen as hazards to be reigned in or plowed under. Possibly, depending on how bumper a crop that season, or how much power the domesticator has accumulated, some unruly weeds are allowed to exist on the periphery, but even they are still largely controlled, if only due to the proximity to the disciplined ones.

Are socialization and control implicit in the perpetuation and acceptance of culture? Culture attempts to express and prescribe meaning to our world. This meaning is typically, and I would argue inevitably, used to obtain and maintain power and control. Culture regularly has both a conservative and progressive character to it. Both securing society and pushing it forward stability and innovation. Traditional cultural values which sustain the contemporary aims of a society’s influence and momentum are often supported while the proposed future for that society is often portrayed as intrinsic trajectories for that culture. The tension between them keeps things moving. At any particular stage of advancement in a civilization, the characteristic features of such a stage are described as its culture. So that what is described as permanent, is never so, and that which is promoted as temporary is often an illusion of change. The bottom line is, the path of a society, and the cultural aspects of it, are quite arbitrary, yet presented as predetermined. To not be acquiescent in this set-up places one, for all practical purposes, outside of cultural reality. But the rejection of culture is certainly not a rejection of social interaction. The isolated human, rarely a healthy, connected, and successfully functioning being (by any standards), is typically the product of extreme alienation and trauma. Anti-social behavior, as a specific description, is relative to the context of the society, but it describes more of a disconnect from the ability to interact then a rejection of that society’s values. One can be positively a social being (and possibly they must be) and still attempt to dismantle that society and its social characteristics, especially if their processes of social interaction are from outside that society. As interaction and relations removed from the alienated and mediated civilized methods tend to be more direct, fluid, and intuitive, without the clunky dominating, and often insincere methods we are instilled with, it seems key to any sort of positive alternative.

Ever notice the “cult” in culture? Socially, there is great pressure, from authoritarianism to tension between “civilians”, to create a mindless following that is pervasive throughout society. There develops an affiliation of accomplices who adopt complete and societal belief systems or faiths. Those who move too close to the margins are regarded and handled as outsiders, which strictly maintains the definitions applied to a culture. In addition, the progressive linearity of cultural enlightenment and refinement through intellectual and aesthetic training occurs at all levels, from fashion to philosophy. Details and motivations of our actions that are obtained, recorded, and remembered through vastly different perceptions and bias perspectives, acquired through a cultural context and individual views, are filtered, averaged, and distilled to create a prevalent, repeated response system.

But what about primitive people and useful traditions? There is probably more from the past that we have carelessly discarded than we have critically shed, especially concerning earth-based peoples from gatherer hunters to horticulturists to pre-technological agriculturists and homesteaders (in my opinion, there is less to appreciate as we move onward in domestication, but from where we are located in history, there is still some value in critically assessing small-scale cultivators for some useful aspects). Examining the dynamics and methods of these various types of groupings for everything from food procurement to social organization (not that they aren’t inevitably linked) will reveal a great diversity between peoples and the strategies and patterns that have developed, and typically, unfortunately, formed into a culture. This investigation can also reveal common threads in how situations, needs, and problems are dealt with, which we can filter through our own unique and communal desires and contexts to apply to our lives, without adopting cultural parameters and definitions. Techniques are valuable, cultural explanations are useless, unless they reveal a relationship between things that can be utilized without socializing.

Life contains some underlying stability of circumstance, yet within it is an infinite and intricate shifting, fracturing, and supporting over time. A never-ending improvisation of reinforcing and interfering, but never repeating. Even the seemingly firmly structured parts are composed of limitless variables. We might be inspired by the way the Kaluli tribe of the Papuan Plateau perceive and interact with the world. For instance, they do not hear singular sounds in the rainforest, but instead an interlocking soundscape they call dulugu ganalan, or “lifting- up-over sounding”; millions of simultaneous sound cycles, starting and ending at different points. People’s voices layer and play off of this reality, as drums, axes, and singing blend together in rhythms and patterns creating an instinctual vocabulary understood by the group.

So what might living outside of culture look like? To start with, it would be free from moral and social frameworks that limit our freedom to explore, experience, and connect. We would still be “bound” by certain biological and geographical limitations, but not those determined by any experts or leaders. Instead we would experience directly these limitations, and along with shared experiences with others, develop our own unique understandings. Collective experience would not fit into any prearranged formation or contain any unified meaning. It would be the infinite intersections of support and divergence that make up the rest of what we call life. Rather than thinking in cultural terms, perhaps we can look at other social animals for inspiration. Flocks, herds, and packs can be contemplated for their manifestations and dynamics of living patterns. Instinctual rather than intellectual in motivation and stable yet flexible in an organic manner, rather than enforced or altered through mechanistic and projected means. Is this not closer to how humans live(d) outside of civilization?

Can we smash the petri dish and abandon the stifling concept of culture for an unobstructed reality? If we are content with the role of microorganisms in a prepared nutrient media or the product of such cultivation, then life as part of a culture is acceptable, even desirable and beneficial. If we are not satisfied as bacteria, segments of tissues, or fungi in a scientist’s test tube or observation dish, then we need to begin to seriously review how we relate to, coordinate, and view ourselves, each other, and the world around us. We can trade the abstraction, symbolic, efficiency, control, and completeness of superimposed culture for the connected, direct, dynamic, openness of unalienated existence.

The choice really is ours.

[the-new-digital-era]

Digital Activism, a political tool for mass distribution? Or a feeding ground for government intervention?

Since the emergence of ‘digital comms’ in political engagement and activism, the widespread distribution of campaigning and issues for change has grown exponentially. No longer do those who feel submissive about the governments actions, have not a say but are now at the front line of making a stand. The use of mobile devices and social media has lead to the rapid distribution of awareness and an increased number of participation in the act towards change.

Assistant professor Brooke Foucault Welles argues the introduction of ‘counter publics’ within ‘digital activism’, which resemble groups of people from subordinate social groups that don’t fit within the ‘public sphere’. Importantly, these digital citizens “advance alternate narratives” (Foucault Welles, 2019) that contribute to a larger discussion around the stories that matter. We see this sense of community online through the use of ‘hashtag publics’ which correlate information and make it easily accessible for action to be taken.

There’s no doubt you would have come across these familiar hashtags during your research online, #BlackLivesMatter and the #Metoo movement. It’s important to understand that a large proportion of these digital campaigns have been as a result of the network behind these ‘counter publics’. These online platforms have provided an environment where stories can be told with shared values of trust and a sense of normality. It helps promote empathy with the discussions that are being held and acts as a pivot for action.

A more recent example of this rise in ‘counter publics’ is the unfortunate event of death of George Floyd, who was murdered at the hands of an inconsiderate and sinister force, the police. Too often then not we hear about the tragic deaths caused by police brutality, and their over use of power. The #icantbreathe hashtag has been circulating the internet in the last 24 hours as people from all walks of life attempt to raise awareness and demand action. In times of crisis like this, digital comms also becomes a playground for influencers and public figures to reach a wider spread audience about the issue.

LeBron James is just one of the large names that has taken part in challenging the conventions of the government and asking for people to participate in ‘digital activism’. 

LeBron James Instagram:

As you can see in the image above, James presents a split photo with the police officer that murdered George Floyd on the left and NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick who famously kneeled during the American anthem to protest against racial indifference on the right. This particular act of digital campaigning resonates with those who are suffering injustice and helps build a shared voice.

Furthermore, James follows up with an included caption that says “Do you understand NOW!!??!!??” and the hashtag #StayWoke. Both of these statements reinforce the message of continuing to stay aware and act in times of issues around discrimination.

This brings me to the question of whether this form of ‘digital activism’ can be used as government intervention o or even manipulation. Expanding on Kaepernick’s influence in the black lives matter campaign, the large sporting company Nike was at front end of controversy surrounding this matter. 

After releasing the “Dream Crazy” advertisement which featured Kaepernick and the slogan “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything. Just do it.” the protests began to follow. It even got the attention of the U.S. president Donald Trump who responded to the social activism as “I think it’s a terrible message and a message that shouldn’t be sent. There’s no reason for it.”. This highlights the government’s ignorance and authoritarian approach to dismissing real claims about societal injustice. However, as we have seen with other online movements, ‘digital activism’ is able to go “beyond the event horizon of immediate political inter-ventions” (Alvarez, Lauzon, Zaiontz, 2019) and help take effect the issue to a larger scale. 

References:

Alvarez N., Lauzon C., Zaiontz K. (2019) 'On Sustainable Tools for Precarious Times: An Introduction'. In: Alvarez N., Lauzon C., Zaiontz K. (eds) Sustainable Tools for Precarious Times. Contemporary Performance InterActions. 

Foucault Welles PhD, B. (Academic). (2019).  Researching online activism using social network analysis [Streaming video]. Retrieved from SAGE Research Methods.

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