#How to save text messages on iPhone

[alexanderwales]

Pitchposting: The Yearbook

I just finished the expanded section of The Roottrees are Dead, and it reminded me of an idea that I've had kicking around forever. This will not spoil either of those games, but it'll spoil some of what it feels like to play those games.

In Obra Dinn you're an insurance agent attempting to figure out what happened on the titular ship, filling in a logbook with names and fates based on what you see in the past. It's a lot of fun, I highly recommend it.

In The Roottrees are Dead, you're an inspector or a genealogist or something, filling in the Roottree family tree, using your 1990s internet connection to comb through periodicals and books from the library and half-finished websites. It's a lot of fun, I highly recommend it.

Anyway, the idea came after I'd first played Obra Dinn, and thought to myself "wow, they should make like a million more of these" and then started thinking about what the low-hanging fruit was.

Here, you're trying to fill out a yearbook.

There are a bunch of names and pictures, and yes, there's a full grid, but there are also pages with the various clubs, and other pictures of life at school, and it's your job to complete basically full dossiers on at least the most interesting of the kids, with some of the less interesting ones reduced to "easy" puzzles.

And the mechanism of doing this? Teenaged text messages, poorly composed cell phone shots, a handful of websites, all the digital ephemera. This absolutely works best in the early 2000s, when our social media was fractured and you would naturally get a lot of variety, but the idea is to have a lot of variety and texture to what the player gets to sift through, whether it's AOL Instant Messenger, the robotics team's amateurish website, or a bunch of text messages.

Who are these people, how do they relate to each other? All the answers are out there for you to find and record, and you get to know these people in the process of unraveling everything.

One of the things to consider, in this sort of detective game, is how you open up new information to the player, because at least some of the information is going to be just sitting there, waiting to be entering, with the journey to get to the data source the thing that was most interesting about it.

And I think in this case, maybe the thing that you're slowly gaining access to is phones.

Early 2000s is a transitional era, so maybe you have iPhone equivalents living alongside Blackberry equivalents and Nokia bricks and flip phones and all those sorts of things, and you gain access to them one by one, for those who have one, or maybe their computers. I'm a little on the fence about the best way to do this, but having a picture of a phone/computer would at least be funny way to do it, so you're combing through pictures not just for the people and information contained in them, but for someone whose phone you've never seen before, since that will magically/technologically allow you to read all their messages.

And if you're looking through someone's phone, there are mysteries to solve there, cryptic conversations to unravel. There are aliases. You get a conversation that you know must be important, but the name is saved as just "T-Dog", and that could be anyone! And you have to wander through solving all these little issues, trying to decrypt the local dialect of emoji use, figuring out the timeline for when this guy was dating three girls to see whether he cheated or not. You can realize that someone was being catfished!

The thing that I like most about these games is that you have such great opportunities for organic storytelling, having a guy who you get to know from having seen him in a few places, forming a picture of people from the scraps you can see. And here, there's a high school's worth of personalities to unfold, to get your stereotypes corrected, to have thundering revelation after revelation, and all the ambiguity that crops up where the digital realm doesn't allow you to see the full truth.

I'm picturing 50 or so students, a graduating class that's small, maybe a tiny college town in the Midwest where there's a mix of the students of professors and farmers and lots of variety in terms of class, a place with homecoming and prom and sports teams and all that kind of thing. And somewhere in the early 2000s seems good in terms of what it brings to the table. Am I exactly describing my own small Midwestern hometown and the time period when I was going to high school? I mean, yeah. But I do think that's the best for gameplay purposes.

This is one of those things that I really would like to just throw a few years of my life at making. It calls to me. But while I have the programming skills necessary to figure out that end of things, and I'm a good writer, it would also call for a lot of art and UI design that would be extremely unfun and detail-oriented in a way that does not suit me. Why must we have finite lifespans?

(I think the very first time I noodled this idea, it was with supernatural elements, a single giant party that you would spend your time unpacking, one with cultists and sadists and things from the deep, all kinds of calamities killing these teenagers off, with the player being a supernatural inspector coming in after the fact. And this would ape Obra Dinn more closely, but calls to me a bit less.)

[slyandthefamilybook]

The Nine Houses texting styles

(I haven't included any characters from Nona the Ninth bc I Haven't Read It Yet)

Harrow: Starts every text with "Dear [name]," and ends with "Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House" like a forum signature

Gideon: Lots of keysmashes. Lots of typos. Uses txtspk liberally. Harrow spends most of their conversations correcting Gideon's grammar

Ortus: Responds every time with a video message, no matter what he's replying to. Hasn't yet figured out where the microphone on his phone is so the audio is always muffled

Judith: Will call you

Marta: Will call you on Judith's phone

Coronabeth: So many emojis. Will sometimes reply in just emojis. Ends every text with a 🌹 or "xoxo". Thoughts are broken up into multiple texts (e.g. "Oh don't" "worry about it" "it's fine")

Ianthe: Forgets to text you back for at least 12 hours every time. Screenshots every convo for drama. Refuses to save anyone's number and so always starts a convo with "who is this"

Naberius: Doesn't own a phone

Isaac: Replies exclusively in reaction images. Will not text first

Jeannemary: Will spend 20 minutes agonizing over the proper response, before finally deciding on "Sounds good"

Magnus: Will laugh out loud rather than sending "lol". Doesn't understand slang terms (will follow up a butt dial with "sorry didn't mean to booty call you)

Abigail: Uses way too many gifs, all from her favorite show that went off the air 20 years ago. Texts are signed "Sent from my iPhone"

Palamades: One word replies with periods. Frequently sends random videos (like sewage treatment techniques) with "thought this would interest you"

Camilla: Somehow has a meme for every situation. If she doesn't have one she'll make it herself with a shockingly quick turnaround.

Dulcinea: Sends one-word texts with no clarification. Criminally misuses emojis (e.g. "Movie? 🍆"). Will not clarify when asked

Protesilaus: Is dead. Hasn't figured out how to get a ghost phone yet

Silas: Sends selfies from way too low an angle with text overlayed like a Snapchat. Will spam you if you're a minute late

Colum: So many ellipses... Ends every text with them...

Mercymorn: Still has a flip-phone with a pre-paid plan. Gets mad when people send her multiple texts in a row because it costs her $0.15 to open each one

Gideon the First: Does not text. Will instead show up at your house asking you to explain yourself

Augustine: Over-relies on speech-to-text. Texts are full of "what no I said duck not duck you stupid machine no duck oh John damn it"

Cytherea: Waits for you to text first. Gets mad when you don't.

John: Long rambling voice notes where he frequently gets distracted, leaving minutes at a time of awkward silence

[homestuckreplay]

i bet the SORD….. deals negative damage to enemies

(page 1817-1828)

After a long four days without updates (it’s convention season), Homestuck is BACK and I am so excited to be back. We pick back up with this beautiful panel of Jade’s dreambot surrounded by clouds, stars, lilypads… and frogs. Frogs which have previously been referred to as ‘Cherished Idol[s]’ that ‘play a special role in [John’s] quest’ but are also ‘ILLEGAL CONTRABAND’ (p.1358), and are simultaneously ‘sacred/illicit’ (p.1359). So the fact that they’re just hanging out here on Jade’s very Skaia-influenced island, hours at most before her entry into the Medium, has to be relevant.

Jade has built Dave’s house up to the First Gate here, and we previously saw Dave so the same to Rose’s (p.1689) so everyone is ready to progress in the game except for Jade herself, who’s stuck until John finds that disc. Jade is also directly in the narrative text again, which isn’t even weird because she’s so used to engaging with cosmic forces far beyond her control, I just find it worth noting each time. Finally, Jade has an entourage of Prospit agents watching her build, which is very cute. Maybe this tweet from a day before this page was posted has something to do with it.

Jade then reveals that her ‘neighbor in the other tower is supposed to be waking up soon’ (p.1819) which simply does not feel right. John has such a full schedule – he’s in the veil, he needs to do some ectobiology that he put on the suit for, he needs to talk to carcinoGeneticist again, he needs to go back to LOWAS, find the server disc and get Jade into the Medium, he needs to tell his friends about this Reckoning that’s about to happen, he might still be trying to save his dad, and now he’s also got to take a nap?? Of course he should sleep if he’s tired but his to do list within the story is REALLY piling up while everyone else is just alchemizing and building. We gotta cut back to John soon because I’m worried about him.

Then, Dave wakes up and starts alchemizing, and gets a little weird with it. He has more base materials to work with than Rose as he has all of future Dave’s stuff and I think he’s also less interested in being economical with grist, so here’s what he’s made so far.

iShades (Sunglasses && iPhone) – I think there is no need to give Apple this free publicity but it is cute that the Daves now have matching sunglasses.

Turntop (Timetables && Computer) – oh it has time powers you say?? perhaps the power to send messages through time? That almost doesn’t seem right because I feel like future Dave would have sent messages to his friends in the past if he later developed that power. Still, it’s possible the trolls did get those powers through some smart alchemy combinations. Anyway the two half keyboards feel intrinsically wrong somehow even though I know in my heart that is how typing works.

Red Plush Puppet Tux (Suit || Red Smuppet) – Hey Dave, why exactly do you want to wear a puppet? Why do you wanna be wrapped in the thing that’s tormented you your whole life? Also much like Rose’s velvet/wool dress, this thing will get WAY too hot for adventuring. These kids have never heard of breathable fabrics and Dave is on a lava planet. Dave also speculates about how the original suit was made, ending with ‘That's how you would have made it anyway.’ (p.1823). I don’t think this will get answered but I’d personally like it if Dave was wrong about this, just like he was wrong when he told John Davesprite ‘wouldnt give a shit’ about being told he wasn’t the real Dave (p.1692). Honestly I think that past versions of me would also misunderstand and misinterpret my current self so seeing that played out with Dave, especially when he’s so confident he’s right, is super interesting to me.

Broken Scarlet Ribbitar (Broken Caledscratch && Ruby Frog) – This is the first time we’ve seen the name of Dave’s sword, ‘Caledscratch’. A quick search for ‘caled sword’ pulls up a 2008 Arthurian mythology article saying that Caledfwlch was the early Welsh name for Excalibur, and Caladbolg was a sword belonging to an Irish folk hero, both from the Welsh/Irish word for ‘hard’. So ‘Caledscratch’ = ‘hard scratch’ which, yeah, that’s exactly what a sword does I guess. ‘Scratch’ could also refer to a record scratch, appropriate for the record on its hilt. Sometimes the names of things in this comic annoy me because in all my years of DMing I’ve never come up with anything this good.

Scarlet Ribbitar (Unbroken Caledscratch && Ruby Frog) – This is confirmation on how the sword actually works – Dave ‘dial[s] back CALEDSCRATCH'S little turntable, rewinding the sword to a point in its history before it was broken’ (p.1826). This was sort of implied by seeing it in action during ‘[S] Dave: Accelerate’ (p.1641) but it stated outright here. Anyway, neither this or the broken version get made because they cost millions of a mystery grist, perhaps a frog themed grist given the importance of frogs. Either way, I think combining anything with a frog will be an expensive item. Also I’d love to see what the reverse combination (Caledscratch || Ruby Frog) would look like – a frog with a sword for a tongue that can rewind/fast forward between tadpole and frog??

SORD….. – (Prop Sword && Hella Jeff) – This costs 0 grist and is completely unusable as a weapon. Sburb is like I don’t care just have this and get it away from my fancy technology. The fact that it turns not only the sword but also Dave himself and the panel he’s in to a SBAHJ quality level - and turns the alchemiter display font to Comic Sans - is potentially very disturbing, and could maybe be weaponized (for example, prototyping a sprite with a SORD….. might depower enemies a whole lot). I actually really badly want to make a SORD….. in real life and to cosplay this version of Dave at Comic Con this fall or something even though I super don’t have the time/money. Its design is as compelling as it is ridiculous.

Snoop Dogg Snow Cone Machete (Snoop && Air Conditioner || Caledscratch) – Okay I was confused about the Peanuts characters but having researched this, Snoop Dogg was a big fan of Peanuts and took his name from Snoopy, so it does make sense, even though I think Dave would find Peanuts way too earnest. I guess it makes sense for Dave to make an ice themed weapon given the heat of his planet, but this honestly reminds me of John’s Wrinklefucker (p.1068) – it’s a cool idea and looks useful, but doesn’t perfectly fit the character’s vibe.

To be continued, probably. We haven’t yet seen a panel of Dave surrounded by all his sweet loot so I’m sure he has more up his sleeve.

[fanaticalthings]

hii!!!

i love your social media aus and i've been thinking of making one of my own. are there any apps you would recommend?

Hi! I'm glad to hear you enjoy my posts 🥹 ❤️ In terms of actually making them, I use a variety of apps/websites!

Originally, I used to use Tweetgen for my older posts along with another site that unfortunately doesn't exist anymore, but it lacks small details from real Twitter (plus it can be tedious if you keep making mistakes)

Recently, I've started using the TwiNote app, which is literally just a fake Twitter app where you can make profiles and tweet like you're on Twitter, and the layout looks just like Twitter, too lol

For the text messages, honestly, I switch through a lot, and all of them have their issues :')

I mostly use iFake. You can make contacts, change the layout, and what kind of messaging app you want your texts to look like. But there's a limit to how many chats you can make, and you'd have to keep watching ads to increase that amount.

I sometimes also use MeMi, I just feel like this one looks slightly more like the iPhone messages. But unfortunately it can be very buggy, and sometimes chats don't save and disappear :')

This next one is ChatsMock and isn't one I've used yet for a post, but it seems pretty good to me, I just prefer the previous ones since their layouts are more universally recognized when it comes to messaging

Hope this all helps! I love seeing ppl make social media aus so hopefully, this will help others in starting :) Happy tweet-making y'all!

[inbalanceofpower]

what phone do they have? do they use specific ringtones depending on who calls them, or do they use just one for everyone? how often do they check their phone? what's their background and lock-screen?

mundane headcanons.

what phone do they have?

she's an iphone girly. she doesn't update the model that often because she has no real reason to. at most points, she has the one that was released two years before and she always opts for black. surprising, actually! but she adds colour with her choice of phone case.

do they use specific ringtones depending on who calls them, or do they use just one for everyone?

the same for everyone, and it's the annoying apple default.

how often do they check their phone?

rarely. unless she's expecting a message or call, her phone is on silent. she keeps the vibrate on permanently though, in case of emergencies. if she's back-and-forth texting, she doesn't lock her phone. she IS the weirdo who sits and watches the typing bubble. otherwise, she saves her scrolling for later at night.

what's their background and lock-screen?

tay's background/lockscreen are the same. hybridverse— it's a picture of her and dillan. other verses and aus depend on points in the timeline. nathan era? it's a picture of dan. she doesn't change it until she has a picture of dan, klaus and kat. aus where they don't have kids (yet)? her and klaus. teanverse? she'll eventually be persuaded, and yeah, it's the same pic.

[aizenat]

The gall of my brother blowing up my phone rn lol.

I texted him weeks ago about watching Arcane (I told him to watch it the last time I saw it but the convo changed before I could add that him and his financee would make for a good ekko and jinx/powder cosplay), and sent him some stuff and never got a response. The man acts like my mother and me are dead until he needs someone or there’s a holiday he can score food at. Aside from that, we don’t hear from him. And if we text, we both get left on read. My mom will usually get a response eventually, but I rarely do.

So when I texted him, I basically expected not to hear a response because the old man never responds to me. Then yesterday, he suddenly replied to me and I was surprised. I was thinking about resounding but I was working and after I got off the toilet, went back into my workflow and he was forgotten (I’m a bad texter too; but I’m that way to EVERYONE, no matter who you are. I’ve watched him get texts and respond quickly if it’s his fiancée or one of his friends/his friends’ group chat, so it’s a targeted “I don’t care to respond to yall” thing).

Either way, he doesn’t rush to respond to us (specifically me, lol), so I sure as hell wasn’t rushing to respond to him.

So tell me how this little nigga sat there and followed up a few hours later (when I never responded) asking me if I was still into writing. So now I’m seeing what’s going on. He wants me to do something for him writing related, and when he decided to reach out to me, he saw he never responded to my last texts, and so had to address it. 😑

But wait, it doesn’t stop there. About an hour later when I still didn’t respond (lol), he texted me the same question again, only he didn’t copy and paste it (I could tell it was a new text because there was a few words off from the previous; so no lie about his phone acting up and sending it twice like he tried by claiming he didn’t get my lasts texts until yesterday. Like, bruh, we both have iPhones; I could see apple’s delivered message, smh), and I was like “okay what is he up to that he wants a response that badly?”

Anyway he got left on read again (idk I was watching yt videos or something lol), and so I get ANOTHER text from him a few minutes ago talking about “oh, my bad, I didn’t see the first one sent so I sent the other one, but now I see the first one did send haha.”

LIKE WTF ARE YOU UP TO??????

Ion trust this nigga. I’m telling you, he wants something from me. I was gonna keep him on read but I just had a thought that maybe it’s wedding related. Like vows or invitation writing (can you believe the wedding is in a year and they still haven’t sent invitations or even save the dates? Smh). I GUESS I’ll respond. 🙄

…aaaaaafter work tho lol.

[mcsacaria-blog]

Sorrow P2

Uh same warnings as first part..

When I next arise I open my eyes realizing everything wasn’t just a horrific night terror, unbeknownst to me my eyes start to water and my facets being to overflow with tears as I hold myself tightly and heave in my own crisp cold hotel bed. My mind starts to catch up with me and my emotions transfer from sorrow to despair to loathsome rage. I call mine and Bakugou’s joint agency and tell them I quit and I won’t be coming in today. Jessica the receptionist sounds confused and worried, “Sapphire what do you mean you’re the co-owner? I-I’m not sure this is how it works an-.. Before she has a chance to finish I hang up. All of these emotions I’ve been harboring fester into an ugly demonic presence over my head, I decide I need new.. new everything. I get up from the bed and encourage myself to at least brush my teeth, I head to the nearest drug store for supplies. I walk for at least a mile before spotting a CVS. I walk in and grab 2x bottles of blue hair dye, hair bleach and a new eyeshadow palette along with falsies and lip gloss. I realize this might not be enough to satiate my void so I decide to look up the nearest tattoo and piercing shop since I’m out. The first time I’ve look at my phone since last night, Bakugou has tried to call me 87 times, left 38 voicemails and 45 text messages. My eyes begin to water again and I feel how immensely empty and rigid the void in my chest truly feels. I block his number and decide it’s also time to get a new phone. I realize I have a lot of work to do today, once I’ve scrolled through my searches I go to pick up a new phone, IPhone 14 instead of a 11 I made sure to change my number and I don’t save any of my photos.. my new phone reads 12:34pm. I finished the rest of my “errands” as I make my way back to the hotel with a freshly tattooed forearm and silver running through my tongue and left eyebrow. I get ready to dye my hair. My phone now reads 5:56pm as I go to rinse out the dye. I look at myself in the mirror and my face brightens up slightly at the difference in my appearance.. I love it though.

[onlyjaeyun]

Hi! I was wondering how you make your texts/group chats? I can’t seem to figure it out 😔

hey! So basically what I do is, I go to contacts and copy my own phone number and then save it as a new contact, changing the name depending on whoch character i wanna text.

you'll see that you receive the messages twice since its your own numbers but when you hold onto the message yoj can see the edit part and then i usually start choosing which messages to keep on which side and then i delete them. (i hope this makes sense)

for the groupchat i go to settings, then imessages, the a little further down there's the "subject field" obtion which i then turn on. i write the "contact name" of the character in question into said field which will then turn it bold once sent.

also, suggestion of mine: make the contact names as short and easy as possible bc you'll have to re-type them with each text!

i hope this makes sense and is easy to follow baby! i have an iphone 12 and haven't updated the software since ios 15 lol so it should work either way 🫡

[janetlogs]

The Accidental Text

College life is full of stress, deadlines, exams, and of course, the occasional social disaster. Mine came in the form of one of technology’s greatest betrayals, texting the wrong person. It all started on a Thursday night. I was sitting in my dorm, texting my situationship. He was a cute but incredibly clueless guy I had been seeing for a few months. We had been stuck in this awkward gray area between casual and serious, and honestly, I was getting tired of waiting for him to figure it out. I have always been sure of what I wanted and it was stressing me out that it seemed like he didn’t know if he wanted me or not. Out of frustration of the situation I texted my best friend. I can’t remember exactly what I sent her, but it went along the lines of "Ugh, I swear, if he doesn’t make up his mind soon, I might as well just end whatever we have going on. I’m not about to waste my time on another emotionally unavailable man-child." I hit send. However, when I took a closer look at the contact, I realized something horrific. I hadn’t sent the text to my best friend. I had sent it to my situationship. Pure. Instant. Panic. My stomach dropped and my soul left my body. I stared at my phone, willing the message to unsend itself through some higher power. At the time it was when we weren't able to unsend or edit texts through iphones. I still went and googled “how to delete a text before someone reads it,” but it was no use. Those cursed three dots appeared. He was typing. A million thoughts raced through my head. Do I own up to it? Do I pretend I was hacked? Do I fake my own death and move to another country? Before I could even come up with something, his reply came through. It was something along the lines of "Oh. I didn’t know you felt that way. Can we meet in person to talk?" Well, there was unfortunately no way out of this one. Long story short, we did talk. Awkwardly, painfully, and surprisingly, productively. Turns out, he had been unsure about how I felt too, and my accidental honesty forced a conversation we probably should have had weeks ago. In the end, we officially started dating. So, I guess you could say technology kind of saved the day? But still, lesson learned, because next time, I might not be so lucky. I now always find myself double-checking who I'm sending messages to.

[shit-people-probably-didnt-say]

Okay but how are you going after the teachers? I need details 😈

They were fired for having inappropriate relations with a student (above 16)

The school has referred me on to local safeguarding and has advised police engagement if any illegal incidents occured

Thankfully in my case nothing illegal happened, only extensive bullying and harassment.

Ive been advised this person is barred from working in education so Im not seeking further intervention at this time

But for anyone unsure if a teacher or other person in a position of trusts conduct is okay:

1 - Tell a trusted adult. They cant promise not to forward this information on, but the report can be anonymous. Your best interest is the priority.

2 - Log any and everything said (word for word as much as possible). Save texts, messages, pics

3 - Keep yourself safe, leave iffy situations as soon as you safely can. If you have an iPhone you can set up an SOS signal by clicking the power button 5 times

4 - If the person is in a position of power, go above them. Teacher? Tell the head of year. Head of year? Tell the Principle. Principle? Google your local safeguarding team (every borough has one) and contact them directly. If none respond correctly go to the police

5 - If anything physical/sexual happens take photos of injuries and get a rape kit taken if needed. You dont have to act right away but that evidence will be there for years if you do ever decide to peruse it

6 - If this is happening within the home/family. Your points of action are the same. But remember, you are not to blame, you are not responsible for any fall out. They are, and the shame is theres

💕

[hournites]

Phone Call

Thanks to everyone that was encouraging to me in the last few days about my writing. It means a lot and I managed to use my day off to get out of my writing slump. Here’s an excerpt chapter from my fic 97 Months, 9 Days, 1 Hour, 49 Minutes (and 43 seconds but that's getting too long)

~.~ 

Right as the muscles in her legs complained for a break, Yolanda jogged to her front steps after a long run with Artemis. She steadied a breath before entering, flicking her hair from her face. She took out her earphones and wrapped the cord carefully around her iPhone. Since working at the diner now directly contributed to keeping her family afloat, her savings fund for the AirPods she wanted doesn’t look like it’ll be growing anytime soon. In the back of her mind, Artemis’ voice barked out that she needed to be stretching to not pull a hamstring, but Yolanda was too tired to follow any more gym rat rules. She sighed, pulling the door open.

“I’m back from JSA training!” she called out, shaking her limbs out instead, overheating in her purple hoodie. It was still weird to be so transparent with her parents. Even saying the word ‘JSA’ out loud felt taboo. But as confused and—let’s be honest—concerned her parents were about her superhero stint, they’ve been getting better at trying to accept her as the Yolanda Montez she is. Not the Yolanda who they once expected her to be.

Nobody answered. Yolanda frowned, wandering around the house. Her whole family was eating breakfast when Artemis rang the doorbell this morning. She rounded the corner and smiled when she spotted her brother.

“Mom and Dad aren’t home, they went to the grocery store. Abuelita is at her eye appointment, they’re going to pick her up later. Your friend Rick called,” Alex told her, digging out a green apple from the fruit bowl in the kitchen. Yolanda finished unbraiding her hair, catching the extra fruit her brother tossed over.

“Thanks.” She rubbed the apple against her hoodie. “Did he say why?”

Alex shrugged, already halfway out of the room.

Big help that was. She frowned, peering down at their landline. Why would Rick call her here instead of reaching out on her cell phone? She bit into the apple, thumbing at her phone again all wrapped up in the white cord. No messages.

Flopping onto her bed to make her sore muscles happy, she dialled his number.

“Hi,” she said without waiting for a reply, starting straight away with her burning question. “Hasn’t anyone told you that calling home phones is an obsolete practice and we’re not an early 2000s CW show?”

She heard his scoff over the line and grinned into her phone. “Seriously, you’re lucky my parents weren’t home. They’d start asking questions. Su novio la llama por teléfono? Yolanda, why didn’t you tell us? Blah blah blah. Embarrassing.”

Rick’s scoff cut off, his breath hitching with concern. “They don’t actually think…?”

Yolanda closed her eyes, dragging her hand over her face to physically prevent a gag. “No. No. We’re good. And if you text me like a normal person it shouldn’t be an issue. Anyway, what’s up?”

“It’s nothing,” Rick said. “How was your day with Artemis?”

“Intense,” Yolanda groaned out, sniffing her shirt. She was going to need a shower and at least another five apples to satisfy her hunger after all the calories they burned. “But at least I didn’t pass out.”

“I was recovering from the hourglass, I was sick!”

Yolanda laughed and rolled over to Starfish correctly. “Whatever Hourboy. No, seriously. You call my landline, but don’t call or text me where you know I’d see it. That is sus.”

“It is not…sus…” Rick replied with large disdain for the word.

“It is sus, it’s the most sus and you know it!” Yolanda exclaimed. “What’s going on?”

“Fine,” he sighed, and Yolanda could just perfectly imagine the way he must be blowing hot air out of his nose, prepping himself to drop whatever bomb he was going to share. She’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt and not brace herself for topsy-turvy news, but, well, Rick had a track record for keeping insane secrets. “I’m going to ask you a question that might make you mad and hang up on me.”

“Okay…”

“Were you in love with Henry?”

If not for the fact she was already on her bed, the swift turn of their conversation would’ve knocked her down flat. “Oh. Wow.”

She blinked fast, eyes trained on an old water damage spot up on the ceiling. Her stomach churned, resurfacing many conflicted tangled-up feelings that always arose whenever anyone mentioned her ex’s name. She turned to her right side, gazing at the framed picture she had of them that she’d put up and taken down more times than she could count. A part of herself wished everyone would divorce her from their last memories of Henry, another part of her was happy he hadn’t been forgotten. “Um,” she said eloquently, unable to offer up anything else.

“I know that’s personal,” Rick said in that touchingly gentle tone of his he pulled out once in a blue moon. “I was just… wondering. I was wondering.”

There was an uncomfortable silence over the line. Now, she understood why Rick didn’t text her. This would be prime screenshotting fodder if it had come through iMessages. If Courtney grew wind of their semi-regular evening chats, all of their posts would wind up on TikTok to be made fun of by millions of teenagers. Yolanda deserved her privacy.

“No,” she said after another pregnant pause. “I don’t think I was.”

“How do you know that?” Rick pressed, almost disappointed that she responded that way.

“Why?” Yolanda frowned into her phone. “Did you want me to be in love with him?”

“No!” Rick was quick to shout. “No, no! I mean…” Rick did not elaborate. He sighed and said, “Yes? Kinda?”

“And you’re sure you don’t secretly want to be dating me?” she half-teased, starting to second guess herself.

“Yolanda I will hang up on you.”

“Okay. Okay,” she muttered. “Just checking. You’re being weird tonight.”

“Too weird?”

“Not yet.”

She heard some shuffling on the other end, then a door slam. Yolanda wondered where he was and what he was up to. “Fine, so you weren’t in love. What makes you say that?”

“Because I hated him far longer than I could have ever loved him, and that hatred was so much stronger than anything I felt when we were dating.”

“You don’t hate Henry anymore though. I don’t understand that. Especially since…” Rick trailed off, but Yolanda knew where he was going.

“What, because I still think Cindy Burman is a bitch?”

“Your parents really aren’t home.”

She lifted her head up to glance out the window, those dark curtains stiff as ever. The driveway was empty with no car in its spot. “I’ve got another half hour, but yeah. Hating someone the way I hated Henry is exhausting. I think you understand that.”

“Yeah,” Rick replied with a sigh with so much weight behind it he sounded like an old man.

“Since I was in elementary school, Henry had always been someone in my life. A kid in my class. The football jock. The popular guy I had a crush on. My date buddy. My boyfriend. My ex-boyfriend. Now he isn’t any of those things. He’s just gone. I can’t stay stuck in the past over something that can’t ever change. He’s dead. It’s gone. I’m still angry about the photos and everything that happened but I can’t let it consume my life anymore. Not the way it consumed my mom and dad. I have to let myself believe that if Henry survived and he did apologize, we still would’ve gone our separate ways. But Cindy is still an active person causing havoc in our lives and refuses to apologize for the mistakes she makes. It’s different.”

“Do you need me to say something to Burman?”

“The last time you physically threatened somebody, an old man almost died.”

“Beth brought him back.” Yolanda could visualize Rick’s shrug perfectly.

“I don’t need you to do anything. Besides, it wouldn’t be genuine if she suddenly apologized to me after a visit from Hourman, it would upset Court and no offence but I don’t think she is scared of you.”

“What are you talking about? We can take her down and we know it. When has Cindy Burman ever won a fight?”

Yolanda rolled over to the other side at a knock on the door. Alex hovered outside her bedroom. She shooed him away with her hand but he didn’t budge, typing something out on his phone to show her.

CAN YOU FIX THE WIFI?

Yolanda glanced at her phone. Sure enough, she was now on her data plan instead of their wifi network. She groaned. “One moment, Rick.” She dropped the phone onto her bed and hauled herself up, the aches in her muscles on fire because she didn’t stretch as Artemis told her to. Alex followed right at her heels. Every time the wifi cut out, Alex would ask her to go to the basement to fix the modem. He was perfectly capable of doing it himself but he swore they had ghosts in the basement.

Yolanda never used to believe in ghosts but given her run-ins with the last year’s worth of impossible creatures, she’d been more willing to entertain his fears.

When she returned to the call, she was quick with the quip she was about to give. “When she slit Courtney’s hands and she ended up in the hospital?!?”

Rick was quiet for a long while.

“You still there?”

“Yeah.”

“This isn’t about Henry, is it?” Yolanda closed her eyes, listening to her friend’s even breathing. His breath hitched and she waited and waited for the words to come, worrying they never would. Maybe picking up the phone was half of the battle. She could help him get the rest of the way there.

“Rick, it’s okay to have feelings for her. You don’t have to fight it.”  

“It’s like I can’t breathe,” he admitted into the phone. “I don’t know what to do.”

“You have two options. You tell her or you don’t.”

“Yolanda.”

She rolled over on her bed. “Richard. I’m serious. Those are your choices.” Or, he could wait until Beth explodes and tells him she’s got feelings for him too, which seemed the most likely scenario with each passing day, but Yolanda wasn’t about to take that blow to his ego so soon.

She thought for another moment. “You could ask Barbara.”

“Yeah. Sure.”

“No, for real. She’s been in a relationship with someone who has hurt her, but she also fell for Pat.”

“Yeah, repeat that sentence. She fell for Pat .”

Yolanda laughed. “We like Pat.”

“Whatever.”

“How did she know it was the right choice? There’s got to be a secret.”

“I don’t think there is a secret. I constantly want to impress Beth and be with Beth and do things for Beth. And even when I am focusing on something else entirely, somehow my brain always finds a way back to her. It’s horrible.”

She sat up on her bed, cradling the phone to her ear as her brows crinkled with concern. “Is it really that bad?”

He did another one of those Old Man Rick sighs and she cracked a grin.

“No,” he admitted.

“It’s exciting, isn’t it? Having a crush.”

“It’s…it’s weird, Yolanda,” he complained. “I’m not recognizing myself anymore.”

“I think that means you’re happy.” A chuckle left her, just imagining Rick moving on from his grouchy, touchy self. She paused. It was actually really nice to think about. “And you know what I think?”

“What?”

“I think it’s more than a little crush. You two are really good for each other. She’s patient and she’s sweet with you, and she listens to you.”

“You’re listening to me right now.”

“Well, I bet Beth doesn’t roll her eyes.”

He doesn’t grumble at her and that’s all the proof she needed. “And I don’t see why she ever would when you talk to her like she’s the best thing God ever created.”

“I think you’re exaggerating just a bit.”

“Mmm…I think I’m not.” Yolanda looked out the window, checking once again for any sign of her parents. “So is this pep talk helping? I still think Barbara is better than this than me.”

“It’s helping,” Rick promised. The car pulled into the driveway and her brother yelled out they were home. “Rick, I have to go help bring in the groceries.”

“Sure. See you later.”

Yolanda sat up. “And Rick? About moving on and being happy?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m glad one of us is able to.”

[smilocity]

Hello! I’ve been wanting to do text posts for a bit! I was wondering if you could share how you make yours! Thank you 🖤🍒

Of course!! (I’ll be showing you a few pictures so you can properly understand!)

So I basically use my phone for text stories. It’s all free so no worries!

First off, you are going to have to download an app called "Chat Tales". (I have an iPhone so I don’t know if it’d available on Google Play Store…)

Second, you don’t need to use your money for a membership/premium,etc. It’ll only give you more access to how many chats you want and stuff.

Third, there is a LIMIT of at least 4 chats you can create. (Usually I take screenshots—from my phone or use the app to take screenshots to save time.)

There are different fonts! You even have the option to chat like you do on Snapchat.

(I usually add the cover of the person that you’re texting so everyone can know who is who.)

Fourth, it’ll be something like this! Well, it depends on your story. (BEWARE of the watermark at the start if you take screenshots with the app! The white arrow in a blue circle)

The " + " Is where you add characters in the chat! I usually hide the person speaking (blue bubble) with the character so the person can think it’s them actually texting them. (There are PLENTY options.)

Lastly, the blue and white arrow is where you basically "export" your story. (I HIGHLY recommend to either screenshot with the app or do it with your phone. The videos aren’t that good…)

You can change any style of the chat, wallpaper, the profiles and more! (Like erase all chats so you can create a new one without having to go through all that trouble of doing the characters, etc!)

The “ is the give quotes in between the messages! Like by example — "Today 3:55 PM"

And that’s basically it! Thank you for asking me about this! I was going to do a tutorial but I completely forgot! I hope this has helped you with your journey of writing in text style!

[sugiwa]

Can you please do a Tutorial for the fake texts and twitter account. I want to try it but I’m not sure how to do it.

I used this app on my iPhone designed for it. I deleted it by now (text-message stories were popular when I first started writing WHD--idk if they still are, but I hope cause they're fun to read), but I will try to look through the "Not on Your Phone" thing and find it and update this ask if I do. I think I just searched like fake texts or fake social media in the search thing and there's a ton of options. The rest is just a matter of making sure you've got like the photos you want saved and stuff to add into the chats once you make them!

EDIT: Social Dummy is the name of the app! You can use it for fake instagrams and stuff too!

[godtier]

had to add to this:

younger users are so very focused on everything they do having distinct "morality," as if life was a mass effect dialogue exchange where there's an obvious "paragon" (good) and "renegade" (bad) choice clearly outlined at all times.

here's what I think contributes to that:

having no concept of blocking accounts on platforms that don't focus on algorithm-driven content (such as tumblr). don't like smth? no problem, just click "I don't like this" or "show me less content like this" and your feed will be saved! if they can't do that, their first instinct isn't to just block the person or account. it's to preach to them as to why their content is "harmful, actually." they don't like it, they're used to the apps tailoring content for them, why are they seeing this thing they don't like? clearly someone is gaming the algorithm to spam porn or something. therefore, they must be a degen. this is not to say they don't block ppl at all, it just seems more common to block as a result of a bad encounter or by being told by a third party that the other user deserves to be blocked rather than incidental discovery of content.

related to that, a lot of ppl (not just younger users) take random comments on the internet as law. "oh that person is a [bad thing]." they don't fact check. fact checking can be twisted into "I don't believe this person" or "I'm invalidating this person's own experience" or "I'm defending the accused and condoning it by asking for evidence." it's a big issue anymore. no one asks for the sauce, they just take shit at face value, even up to very serious accusations.

mob mentality. wanting to be part of a movement. not wanting to rock the boat. when someone gets accused of shit, or even if they like a ship that's "problematic," it's easier to go along with the group than be the dissenter. humans crave "togetherness" or like... "caveman tribes" where they can band together around a common enemy. peer pressure, basically.

one of the biggest ones imo: the enshittening of the internet. most major platforms have bans on NSFW content so it's far less likely to accidentally stumble upon it. especially if there's an algorithm in place; don't search for it, you won't get served it. ergo, no accidental porn discoveries, no desensitization to it. in addition, most major art platforms don't allow porn at all, so searching for fanart is usually uneventful. Google and other search engines default to safe search. most people don't tailor their settings for platforms/devices they use anymore (default iPhone ringtone/text message sounds anyone?), so it's not something they experience.

a bonus theory: fandom becoming mainstream. with "normies" actively participating in fandom more than ever, the concepts of smut fic or fanart coexisting with the gen fanworks isn't as understood as the default by younger people. rather than being part of a normal fandom experience, it's seen as "degenerate" or "weird."

there's probably other things that contribute to it, but I feel like those are the major factors. it is definitely very unnerving behavior to see unfold. rather than the old guard gatekeeping shit (which is bad regardless ofc), the new blood is creating a mass shift in how stuff is perceived and labeling people as degens for having a sex drive lmao.

i make a lot of posts to the tune of "you're allowed to be horny btw" because it's becoming increasingly clear that adults being sexual in (clearly marked and blockable!) spaces is being stamped out and made out to be evil both legislatively and in the moral zeitgeist, especially among younger folks. not even in the "wait to be a horny adult online when you're An Adult" way, just an ingrained puritanical outrage response to *anything* that isn't chaste wholesome perfect all-ages allowed. it's unnerving and scary.

[alfredcastello]

How to Unblock a Phone Number on iPhone in 2025

Unlocking communication with someone you’ve previously blocked is easy—whether you did it by mistake or have a change of heart. In just a few taps, you can restore calls, messages, and FaceTime access. This article guides you through how to unblock a phone number on iPhone, ensuring you can reconnect smoothly and confidently.

Why You Might Want to Unblock a Number

There are plenty of valid reasons to remove a number from your blocked list:

By mistake: Maybe you swiped too aggressively or tapped the wrong contact.

Repaired relationships: Perhaps things have cooled down with a friend or colleague.

Professional needs: You may have blocked someone temporarily in a business dispute.

Returning a call: An expectant call coming through from someone you blocked before.

Organizational choices: You want to declutter your blocked list as part of privacy upkeep.

No matter the reason, it’s refreshing to know you can reverse blocking easily. Let’s see how.

Preparation: What You’ll Need

To unblock a number, all you require is:

An iPhone running a reasonably current iOS version (iOS 14 or later, ideally).

Access to Settings or Contacts.

Basic familiarity with navigating your device.

That’s it—no third-party apps, no subscriptions. Everything you need is already built into iOS.

Method 1: Unblock via Settings (the Quickest Way)

One of the simplest methods is through the iPhone’s Settings app. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Settings

Launch the Settings icon on your Home screen.

Step 2: Go to Phone Settings

Scroll down and tap Phone—this section manages your calling preferences.

Step 3: View Blocked Contacts

Tap Blocked Contacts (or Call Blocking & Identification on older iOS versions). You’ll see a list of all numbers and contacts you’ve blocked.

Step 4: Remove the Block

Find the number or name you want to unblock. Swipe left on the entry to reveal the red Unblock button, then tap it. Alternatively, tap Edit, tap the red minus sign next to the contact, then confirm unblocking.

Step 5: Confirm

Your action is instantly saved. There’s no “Save” button needed—you’re done.

Once you’ve unblocked the number, calls, texts, and FaceTime calls from that person will reach you normally. It’s that straightforward.

Method 2: Unblock Directly from Contacts

If the number is saved in your Contacts, unblocking can be even quicker:

Step 1: Launch Contacts or Phone App

Open your Contacts app—or go to the Phone app and switch to the Contacts tab.

Step 2: Search the Contact

Type the name of the person in the search bar at the top. Tap their contact.

Step 3: Scroll and Unblock

Within their contact info, scroll toward the bottom. You should see a button that says Unblock this Caller. Tap it.

Step 4: Verify the Change

The button will disappear, indicating the person is no longer blocked.

This is perfect when you know exactly whose number you want to reinstate.

Method 3: Check in Messages App (iOS 13 or Later)

For messages-era block management, you may want to unblock someone directly in the Messages app:

Open Messages.

Find the conversation thread with the blocked person (it might be labeled “Blocked.”).

Tap the person’s name or number at the top.

Tap the Info (ℹ) icon.

Scroll down and tap Unblock this Caller.

This also restores texting and optionally calling functionality, depending on the thread.

What Happens After You Unblock?

Once unblocked, the following returns to normal:

 Calls: Their phone calls will ring through to you again.

Messages: iMessages and SMS texts arrive.

 FaceTime: They can start video or audio FaceTime calls.

Voicemails: Voicemails from them may appear, depending on your carrier + OS version.

One thing to note: if they tried calling or messaging you during the blocked period, those attempts won't retroactively reach you. That missed communication is lost—but future ones will land normally.

Tip: Review Your Blocked List Periodically

Over time, the list of blocked numbers may grow. To keep things tidy:

Open Settings → Phone → Blocked Contacts.

Tap Edit in the top‑right corner.

Remove old or irrelevant blocks using the minus buttons.

Tap Done to save.

This helps you stay on top of your privacy and communication control.

Troubleshooting: Can’t Find the Option?

Here’s what to check if something isn’t working:

Verify iOS Version: Some older iOS (pre‑13) uses different menu titles, like “Call Blocking & Identification.”

Device Restart: Occasionally, a quick restart refresher helps settings refresh.

Apple ID Sync: If your contacts are tied to iCloud, ensure sync is enabled under Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Contacts.

Phone Number vs. Contact: If a number isn’t in your Contacts, you'll only see it in Settings → Phone → Blocked Contacts. Then unblock it from there.

Key Takeaway

Managing blocked numbers on your iPhone is easy and secure. To recap:

How to unblock a phone number on iPhone? Just go to Settings → Phone → Blocked Contacts, swipe and tap Unblock.

Prefer another route? Use the Contacts app or the Messages thread to unblock from there.

Once done, calls, texts, and FaceTime come through like normal.

Knowing how to unblock a phone number on iPhone means you’re in control—whether you blocked someone by mistake or now want to reconnect. No stress, no hassle, and no need for extra apps.

Final Thoughts

Digital communication today demands flexible tools. Blocking is useful, but the ability to quickly reverse that decision is just as important. By following this guide, you’ll always know exactly how to unblock a phone number on iPhone—whenever the time is right. So if you ever accidentally blocked someone important, or need to re‑open a line of contact, rest assured it’s just a few taps away.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will the person know I unblocked them on my iPhone?

No, the person will not be notified if you unblock them. Blocking and unblocking are private actions, and Apple does not send any alerts or messages to the other party.

2. Can I receive missed calls or messages from someone I blocked after unblocking them?

No, you won't receive any messages, calls, or voicemails that were sent while the number was blocked. Unblocking only allows new communication from that point forward.

3. How can I see which numbers I’ve blocked on my iPhone?

Go to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts. You’ll see a list of all phone numbers and contacts you've blocked. From here, you can also manage (add or remove) blocked numbers.

4. Is there a difference between blocking a number and silencing unknown callers?

Yes. Blocking a number stops all forms of contact from that person (calls, texts, FaceTime), while Silence Unknown Callers simply sends calls from numbers not in your contacts to voicemail without blocking them entirely.

5. Can I unblock a number if I don’t remember the contact name or it’s not saved?

Yes. Even if the number isn’t saved in your contacts, it will still appear in your Blocked Contacts list under Settings. You can find and unblock it manually from there.

[travanzi]

Top Benefits of Using an eSIM for Your Next Trip Abroad

If you're planning your next international adventure, one of the smartest travel hacks is switching to an eSIM for international travel. Traditional SIM cards are being replaced by a faster, easier, and more reliable alternative: the eSIM. At Travanzi, we help globetrotters stay connected in over 200+ destinations with instant eSIM activation, massive discounts on popular destinations, and 10% OFF worldwide. In this blog, we’ll explore the top benefits of using an eSIM and why it’s the best choice for your global travels. What is an eSIM? An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card that allows you to activate a cellular plan without needing a physical card. It works just like a regular SIM, but is embedded directly into your device. This allows travelers to switch carriers or data plans on the go—without visiting a store or swapping plastic cards. 1. Instant Activation—No Waiting, No Hassle With Travanzi’s eSIM, you can activate your data plan the moment you land at your destination. No more long queues at airport kiosks or language barriers at local mobile shops. Just scan the QR code, and you're connected. 2. Global Coverage in 200+ Destinations Whether you're heading to Paris, Tokyo, New York, or Bali, Travanzi has you covered. Our eSIMs work across a wide range of countries and regions, making it a reliable companion for frequent flyers. 3. Massive Discounts on Popular Destinations Why pay extra for roaming charges when you can save big? Travanzi offers massive discounts on data plans in some of the world’s most visited destinations—Europe, USA, UAE, Thailand, and more. Plus, get an additional 10% OFF worldwide when you purchase directly from our site. 4. Keep Your Primary SIM for Calls & OTPs One of the most convenient benefits of eSIMs is that you don’t have to remove your existing SIM. You can keep your home number active for calls, messages, and OTPs, while the eSIM handles all your data needs.

5. Eco-Friendly and Travel-Light Say goodbye to plastic SIM cards, packaging, and paperwork. An eSIM is 100% digital, making it a greener alternative. Plus, without the need to carry multiple SIM cards or worry about losing them, you can travel lighter and smarter. 6. Multiple Plans on One Device With an eSIM, you can store multiple plans and switch between them as needed. This is perfect for multi-country trips or business travelers who frequently cross borders. 7. Safe & Secure Connection Public Wi-Fi can be risky when handling sensitive data like banking or work emails. With a secure eSIM data plan from Travanzi, you can access the internet with peace of mind—no need to rely on unsafe networks. Why Choose Travanzi?

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Travanzi makes eSIM for international travel simple, affordable, and accessible for everyone—from backpackers to business professionals. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Q1. What devices support eSIM? A: Most modern smartphones like iPhone (XS and later), Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy (S20 and up) support eSIM functionality. Always check your device settings to confirm. Q2. Can I use an eSIM and physical SIM together? A: Yes, many phones support dual SIM mode. You can use your eSIM for data abroad and keep your home SIM active for calls and texts. Q3. How do I install Travanzi’s eSIM? A: Purchase a plan, scan the QR code sent to your email, and activate the profile from your phone’s settings—no apps or physical SIMs needed. Q4. What if I visit multiple countries? A: Travanzi offers regional and global eSIM plans. Choose one that covers all your destinations and enjoy seamless switching. Q5. Is customer support available during travel? A: Yes! Travanzi provides 24/7 customer support to assist you anytime, anywhere in the world. Conclusion An eSIM for international travel is the smartest, most convenient way to stay connected across borders. With Travanzi, you get unbeatable coverage, instant setup, and affordable plans tailored to global explorers. Ditch the SIM-swapping stress and embrace the future of travel connectivity. Go borderless. Travel smart. Choose Travanzi.