#this is now applicable to that tag :/ this is oppression :/

[systematic-breakdown]

endogenics, get your shit together and get your stories straight.

first you say being endogenic means that you didnt come from trauma. disregarding the fact that its literally a trauma-based disorder, you then say that no, some endos ARE traumagenic and just have endogenic alters (not a real thing btw. i wont get into stress threshold right now though)

first you say you arent systems, youre plural. its a different thing. then you turn around and tag your posts with system/CDD tags, call yourselves systems, share resources for people with OSDDID amongst yourselves, and some of you parade your dissociative/PTSD symptoms all the while still claiming youre not one of us. even when you are. when you arent, its clear that you so desperately want to be a part of the in-group that you dont even realize when youre being hypocritical.

first you say you arent trying to invade system spaces. then you use the same language we do, want to use the same resources we do (most of the time, the resources arent even applicable to plurality. theyre meant specifically for those with CDDs/dissociative disorders), steal posts from traumagenics, and a lot of you target traumagenic systems for not agreeing with you, asking you to not interact, and “spreading misinformation”. 9 times out of 10, the “misinformation” in question is either a direct quote from one of you or a research paper that doesnt fit your narrative. and when some of you get called out for targeting traumagenic systems, you cry and whine about how oppressed you are and how “so-and-so started it!” as if thats an excuse to send “kys”, “cut yourself”, and general hate to a traumagenic system. i know some of us are guilty of it too and it all needs to stop. its so fucking immature to tell someone to kill themselves over a disagreement as minor as this. yall need to relax.

and before anyone comes in my replies/reblogs with “well not all of us are like this!” this post isnt about you and it isnt about that. its about the ones who ARE like this and who ARE doing this. if this isnt about you, you shouldnt feel the need to say anything

[knightofdeer]

This is roughly inspired by one quote from a video I saw 2 years ago, but here is my crackpot theory as to why all movements for equality suddenly started succeeding in the last 200 years

I additionally tag @meowmeowmatthiola because you are actually well read in Marxist theory so you may say why is it bullshit.

Oppression exists to maximize profits and ensure survival of class society, specifically its kings and queens. 200 years ago the Industrial Revolution started that made it so that less and less people were actually crucial for survival of hierarchical society and its leaders.

Normally, these "surplus" people occupy new niches to generate even more profit. But there is another sphere of application for them.

It's warfare. War allows kings and queens to further their interests, and losing a war means losing everything. This is why everyone who is not absolutely crucial to economy and state is a potential soldier. And mistreating your soldiers is how you lose your head, so now you actually have to listen to them (well, us).

It started with giving full civil rights to already pretty priveleged people because when they are at war more marginalized people were forced to take on their duties as well. But since we are moving to system where absolute majority of people don't have to work in agriculture or production of industrial goods, all of us are potential soldiers. Kings and queens of industrial age can't draft us and continue to mistreat us because in this scenario their power depends on us completely. They can't not draft either, because if you don't use all of your resources your enemy will.

When advances in agriculture and manufacturing happened in 17th century, more and more people became involved in wars, to the point when it was no longer field of aristocrats and already dispossessed people. At the end of 18th century we got French Revolution. Universal education started in Prussia to raise quality of soldiers. Desegregation in USA started because with military. The list goes on.

If this analysis is correct, then in near future there will be a world where most production is done by machines, and all people regardless of all possible traits will have equal rights and opportunities because of military necessity. What a twist.

[twothirdsgenius]

tagged by @blackcvrds !!!

last song: little dark age by MGMT

favourite colour: blue!

currently watching: i'm rewatching jjk again with a friend (fork found in kitchen) but i'm also rewatching cowboy bebop!

last movie: sonic 3 (peak)

sweet/spicy/savoury: if i had to pick one? sweet babeyyy

tattoos/piercings: i have my ears pierced and no tattoos Yet but i have a bunch planned for when i'm able to move out! one of them Will be a destiny tattoo, probably the warlock symbol and i'm also eyeing the key art from the unveiling lore book!

relationship status: accepting applicants now

current obsession: look listen. it's jujutsu kaisen. it was never going to be any other answer. BUT on the other side of the same coin (adhd) i have really gotten deep into reading about children's suffrage movements and how it relates to marxism! basically about how children are an oppressed class through a marxist lens. it's so fucking interesting and i think i want to pursue that further in graduate school

tea or coffee: coffee but Only iced coffee. hot choccy is the superior hot drink

what youre wearing: my philadelphia flyers pjs god bless

dream job: i do not dream of labor but i would love to teach at a collegiate level someday! publish my own work or smth. i do enjoy the job i have right now tho!

last thing you googled: ms paint reaction memes because joyce sent me on a very important quest

tagging @deadandphilgames and @c4rr10n and anyone else who wants to do it!

[bellofthemeadow]

Summer of '03 | Joel Miller x Female Reader

Chapter 2 - The Garden Party

Series Masterlist | Previous Chapter

Rating: M for Mature (18 + no minors allowed)

Word Count: 6K

Warning: All warnings on the Series Masterlists, will update if necessary (Re-iterating, no minors allowed! Thank you)

Chapter Summary: The annual neighbourhood garden party is the last place you want to attend as the new gal in town. But you spot Joel Miller in the corner who gives you a rather charming smile. Maybe things are finally looking up!

Notes: Hey everyone, its been a minute! I am really sorry for the delay for the chapter, but life has been insanely busy! Between work, preparing grad applications and the upcoming semester, I have not had a minute for me. Also, this chapter was really hard to write, I've been trying to make my interactions more natural and its SO HARD!

I hope you all enjoy the chapter and like always thank you to everyone who liked and commented previously, I live for all your feedbacks! If you wanted to be tagged, let me know and I'll be really happy to add you to my taglist :D Take care everybody!!!

Taglist: @brittmb115 , @bitchwitch1981, @kittenlittle24 , @casa-boiardi

As the morning sun crept through the curtains, you woke up completely groggy. The oppressive feeling was eerily reminiscent of your late teens when you'd sneakily raid your dad's liquor cabinet for a swig of that fancy cognac. You groaned and snuggled your head further on the pillow. Note to self: "Never again mix wine with emotions” The fight with Joel last night had left you emotionally drained, and the contradictory desire/hate combo that was swirling inside you further accentuated that hangover feeling you were experiencing. And on retrospect, mixing wine into the already boiling pot of emotional turmoil had not been a great idea.

Getting up slowly, you shuffled your way into the bathroom, urgently seeking relief from that awful pasty feeling in your mouth. With your teeth brushed and the unpleasantness washed away, you returned to your room. Feeling a bit daring, you cracked open the bedroom window. And what do you know? A wonderful gust of fresh air greeted you, like the universe had just dropped a perfect little slice of heaven right at your doorstep.

Your hangover momentarily forgotten, you dashed to put on your cutest co-ord yoga outfit – a playful pink ensemble sprinkled with little white dots that made you feel like your best Barbie self. You unfurled your yoga mat, eagerly anticipating the next 45 minutes of respite from thinking about one Joel Miller. As you were bending down in some stretches, your peaceful bubble was abruptly shattered by a relentless assault of knocks on the front door. Seriously, universe? Can't a person downward dog in peace?

Letting out an annoyed huff, you marched towards the front door and yanked it open, fully prepared to tear into any doorstep salesman audacious enough to disturb someone at 8:45 on a Saturday morning.

Your annoyance faded as soon as it appeared because right in front of you stood a very sheepish-looking Sarah Miller, dressed in cute white shorts and a purple cap-sleeve shirt. A broad smile lit up her face as you opened the door. You arched an eyebrow, crossing your arms playfully before teasingly asking, "I thought you weren't supposed to come around here from now on?" Sarah's response was an Olympic-worthy eye roll; the sass was strong with this one.

"I don't know what's up with my dad, he was so out of line last night! Uncle Tommy says that he's got a stick up his ass, and honestly, truth!" You burst out laughing before herding her inside.

"Ah well, men are from a completely different planet. I stopped trying to decode their language a long time ago" you giggled with her.

Sarah suddenly had a very vulnerable look etching itself on her face. "I was afraid you wouldn't want to hang out with me after yesterday. I would totally understand if you didn't want to; my dad can be a lot sometimes. Like I love him and everything, but he really needs to chill." You smiled and reassuringly bumped your shoulder with hers.

"Hey, don't sweat it, alright? I loved hanging out with you yesterday, and your dad's grouchy grandpa routine isn't going to change that. Now that school is over, maybe you could come around more, we could hang out and stuff. If you aren’t busy of course, I cant imagine that youd want to spend all of your time with your boring old neighbour!"

Sarah's smile could light up the whole of Austin with how bright it got. "I'd love that! I have a babysitting gig for most of the summer, but I'll be free every day after 3 pm, and Dad works late, so we can hang out then..." Sarah kept rambling about how excited she was, and you couldn't help but smile fondly.

"Still, now we'll make sure that Joel knows when you come over; don't want to give him another excuse to hate me, you know. He’s got a big enough list already" Sarah acquiesced quickly, "Don't worry, my dad's gonna come 'round. He likes playing the overprotective Texas man, but inside he's like a big mush of jello."

 You couldn't help but snort at her words; many words came to mind when you think of Joel Miller, but "mushy," "soft," and "jello" would definitely not be contenders. Words like "intimidating," "broad," and "grumpy" would more accurately describe the man. And the sneakier voice in the back of your head would go even further and kept traitorously adding explicit descriptives that you couldn’t take out of your mind; “sexy” “arousing” and “daddy” were just a few. But you would deny ever having those thoughts until your grave. It didn’t matter how hot and steamy Joel Miller was, he was first and foremost a Grade-A asshole.

But when you looked at Sarah, who was so sweet and lively, you found it hard to believe that Joel Miller could truly be as terrible as he appeared. After all, he was the one who had raised her, wasn't he? Just the previous day, Sarah had disclosed to you that Joel was a single dad, which might account for his long hours and the fatigued yet determined countenance he wore. Observing him leaving his house in the morning, you were reminded of an old drawing you had come about in your grandma’s library when you were a child. You remember spending hours overlooking the printed carving depicting Atlas shouldering the world's weight as if an immense burden rested on his shoulders. The roles of provider, nurturer, and protector seemed etched into his demeanor – qualities, you imagined, he sought to embody for his daughter. It couldn't be easy, day in and day out.  If only he was less of a dick, you would bequeath those qualities to the man: dedicated, protective, nurturer. A shame he had the personality of a constipated rottweiler.

You smiled at Sarah and gestured toward the living room. "I was about to do some yoga, you want in?"

"I don't have a mat," Sarah replied.

"Lucky for you, I have two," you winked at her. When you decided to move to Austin, you’d never be able to guess that your new best friend would be a 14-year-old girl.

"Come on, you can't miss it! It's going to be so much fun, and literally everyone will be there!" Sarah exclaimed, her excitement only adding to the throbbing headache you were developing.

You hesitated, trying to find the right words to decline politely. "Well, you know, big meetups really aren't my scene…" In truth, the idea of spending your entire Sunday afternoon at the annual neighbourhood cookout in Didi Roberts' backyard didn't appeal to you at all. The Robertsons' legendary BBQ supposedly marked the beginning of every summer and was the talk of the neighbourhood, but for you, it was more like an anxiety-inducing spectacle to avoid at all cost. As the new face on the block, you could already hear a million questions coming your way - something you'd much rather steer clear of. The prospect of being surrounded by a sea of unfamiliar faces, engaging in small talk, and participating in group activities made you feel slightly uneasy. After all, you had come to cherish the quiet Sundays you've enjoyed since moving to Austin, spending them with a good book, relaxing in the backyard pool with Sarah, or strolling through the nearby park.

“I don’t think I want to have a bunch of people asking me a bunch of questions, Sarah, you know what I mean?” Sarah clucked her tongue, putting a stray curl behind her ear as she turned toward you. Both of you were lounging in the backyard, savouring the last rays of the sun before Joel would be due home. “Nah, people won’t care. Didi’s husband left her like 2 months ago, and no one knows why!!! People are gonna be way more interested in that drama than you moving in, trust me!”

You chewed your lips as you considered Didi's new divorce proceedings being in full swing. You couldn't help but wonder why she would be so adamant to host regardless. Perhaps it was out of habit, an attempt to maintain a sense of normalcy in the midst of what you heard to be a complete shit show of a divorce. Or maybe it was an act of defiance, showing everyone that she was doing just fine despite her husband leaving her for his secretary. The jury was still out on that.

Despite your best efforts to stand your ground, Sarah's contagious enthusiasm was proving to be a formidable opponent, gradually wearing down your resistance. For every argument you put forth, she effortlessly offered a counter, until finally, your resolve began to crumble, and you found yourself giving in.

"Well, okay, I guess I could drop by for a little while," you finally conceded, a soft smile escaping as Sarah's triumphant expression lit up her face.

"Awesome! You won't regret it, I promise!" Sarah assured you, wrapping you in a tight hug.

This was how you ended up in a large backyard, full to the brim with the entire neighbourhood on a blisteringly hot Sunday afternoon. The sun beat down relentlessly, casting a golden hue on the lively scene before you. Laughter and chatter filled the air, accompanied by the tantalizing aroma of grilled meats and sizzling vegetables.

As you stepped into the midst of the gathering, you couldn't help but feel like a fish out of water. An outsider among the familiar faces, you took a moment to observe the different groups scattered throughout the yard. Kids were running around with playful abandon, their laughter like tiny bells chiming in the summer breeze. Their parents were scattered over the expanse of meticulously trimmed green hedges and professionally cut grass. The dads had for the most part congregated around the large bbq, while the moms were drinking rose and chattering on the patio chairs. And you were… there. Sarah had said that she and unfortunately Joel, would be there at 1h30 pm, well now it was 1h55 pm and they were nowhere to be found.

Suppressing a groan, you reached for your glass of sangria, lifting it to your lips and taking a hearty sip. You had arrived at the cookout armed with the special concoction, hoping it would somehow win over the crowd. Your culinary prowess might not shine as brilliantly as Gordon Ramsay's, but who needed Michelin stars when you had the “Boozy Book” written by your very own Granny Mabel? She had always sworn by the magic of adding 3 extra shots of triple sec and 2 shots of Jameson to a full bottle of white wine, claiming it made the whole thing pop. You could still vividly recall the sight of your relatives at family summer cookouts, gleefully imbibing Mabel's potent sangria, only to end up toppling over and snoozing on the meticulously manicured lawn. In your younger years, the adults' antics might have seemed far from impressive, yet your grandma's smug wink and her declaration, "Someone's got to add a little spice to these dull gatherings, my darling!" had stuck with you. Now, as an adult, you embraced the tradition with open arms. After all, people didn't have the luxury of being judging assholes when they were too intoxicated to even form coherent thoughts.

And apparently, your master plan to win over the neighbourhood ladies had worked like a charm. Initially met with unsure and haughty looks, their opinions quickly changed after just one sip of your sangria. Suddenly, you became their new best friend, and even the hostess, Didi, declared that you would be invited to every future cookout. Hip hip hurray, you thought, though a tinge of gloominess lingered.

As you sipped your drink, you found yourself trapped in a conversation with Bonny and Portia, neighbours who lived down the street. They were busy talking your ear off about their husbands and their brood of children. They were practically living novellas of family life, expressing their eagerness for the resumption of school to catch a break from their children's ever-present demands. A wry smile danced on your lips as you listened to their musings, "so much for motherly instinct," you couldn't help but snort into your glass.

As you tuned them out and Portia's voice began to fade into the background, your eyes wandered away from the endless chatter and scanned the gathering.

And there he stood, Joel Miller, the man who made your heart skip a beat. Time seemed to slow as your gaze locked onto his, and the air around you crackled with electricity.

He looked delectable in that tight blue t-shirt, his charm and charisma radiating effortlessly. Joel stood in the corner, sipping on a beer, the condensation forming delicate droplets on the bottle. The way he casually leaned against the fence showcasing his confident ease as if he owned the place. The world around you seemed to blur, and all that remained was him and the palpable connection between you.

A mixture of excitement and nervousness flooded through your veins, momentarily halting your breath. The fleeting eye contact said more than words ever could. He knew, and you knew, and it was intoxicating.

A mischievous glint danced in Joel's eyes, and a knowing smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. He raised his beer in a subtle salute towards you without breaking the locked gaze, revealing the underlying connection between you two. However, before the moment could fully unfold, he shifted his attention to a smaller man in round glasses who was chatting animatedly at him.

Joel responded with polite nods and occasional hums, but it was evident that he was merely going through the motions. His eyes, though looking at the man, seemed distant, as if his mind was elsewhere. And your eyes stayed glued to him, observing the mesmerizing bobbing of his Adam's apple with each sip he took from his beer, entranced by the subtle movements.

You felt yourself grow warmer and a throbbing ache slowly started to build deep within you. You rubbed your thighs together as subtly as you could, but the sight of Joel Miller, who, for once, didn't look like he wanted to rip your head off, was too much for you. So you indulged, taking your time to watch him – how good, strong, and wholly masculine he looked compared to everyone else. Your eyes roamed over his strong shoulders, stretching against the fabric of his checkered shirt. His sleeves were rolled up, leaving his powerful and hairy forearms on full display. With his arms crossed, his stern stance gave you the perfect view to appreciate the thickness of them. You couldn't stop looking at him. You close your eyes, feeling the pressure of the man from the other side of the backyard. Fuck what you wouldn’t give to have him bend you over the table in front of everyone at that party. To have those big strong hands hold you down, hold your hair. Maybe you’d see something other than resentment in those warm brown eyes for once.

A teasing smirk played upon your lips as you continued to indulge in shamelessly ogling the man who had been causing headaches for the past couple of weeks. Your eyes settled on his strong thighs, outlined perfectly by the well-worn fabric of his ever-present jeans. It was as if he had a personal commitment to denim, regardless of the occasion or the weather. But you weren't complaining; in fact, you were quite appreciative of this consistency. Those jeans offered you an unobstructed view of his muscular legs, each contour and sinew highlighted in exquisite detail.

The play of sunlight on his skin only intensified the appeal. The way his muscles shifted beneath the surface as he moved, the way his stride exuded confidence – it was all captivating. You marvelled at how he could maintain such an effortless air of strength and masculinity, even amidst this admittingly boring BBQ.

Your lips met the cool rim of the glass in front of you, and you took a tentative sip. The liquid provided a fleeting reprieve, its flavor momentarily drowning out the persistent tug of the dilemma that wrestled your thoughts. Should you muster the courage to wander over and initiate a conversation with him? The notion lingered, a prominent question mark dancing in the recesses of your mind, illuminated much like those incessant billboards on the highway. It was as if a colossal, bright yellow arrow was pointing directly at Joel Miller and his infuriatingly irresistible face!

But the memory of his all too recent antagonistic behaviour gave you pause. The last time you crossed Joel Miller’s path, his words had been laced with a sharpness that grated your soul raw, leaving you exposed and feeling like a misbehaving little girl all over again. Your palms felt sweaty when you were with him, and you were pretty damn sure that about 60% of that wasn’t due to arousal. Ok maybe more like 40%, but still!

When his piercing brown gaze fixed on you, warm and inviting for everyone else, it seemed to hold a different essence entirely, summoning a sense of learned powerlessness that you had vowed never to let anyone inflict upon you again. It settled deep within your stomach, a leaden weight that felt unshakable. Like an anchor, it connected you to the darkest corners of your self-destructive tendencies. It was astonishing how a devilishly handsome, middle-aged contractor from Texas had managed to raze the fragile castle of self-esteem you had painstakingly erected after you had left your parents' home at just 19-year-old.

But at the same time, shouldn't two adults be able to talk without making a big scene in public? You were twenty-six for God’s sake, not a toddler! And he was… well you didn’t know how old Joel Miller was, but he should be old enough to not throw a temper tantrum. At any rate, that smile he threw your way could have been a peace offering, maybe he realized he had been nothing short of a complete douchebag since the day you two met. And there was Sarah too. You loved the girl, and it would be really nice if you and her dad weren’t always going for the jugular like a pair of wildcats!

Just as you were lost in thought, Portia's loud voice snapped you back to reality:

“And then, Marie said that the lifeguard down at Millbrow public pool wanted to show her how he used his stick and… Hey you even listening?”

You turn your head sharply toward the woman who exchanged an annoyed look with Bonny who rolled her eyes at your blatant display of inattention. You smiled nervously before downing the rest of your full glass in one go to the look of horror of the two PTA moms. You tapped the edge of your glass for emphasis, “Empty, gonna grab a refill of the punch I saw coming in. See you two later.” Before either could utter a word, you quickly make your escape toward the large table on the patio where a large bowl of punch had been placed.

As you were making your way, you tempted a quick look towards where Joel was standing a minute ago to find… Nothing. You let out a sigh, probably better that he went somewhere else, gives you an excuse to not talk to him. As you reach the table you grab the oversized ladle and poured yourself a generous amount of the unknown concoction into your glass.

“I’d be careful with that if I were ya. Didi’s famous ‘round here for having a pretty generous pour.”  You dropped the ladle with a large splash from the shock of hearing the voice of the man that had been living rent-free in your mind right in your left ear. He was close… way too close for your heart to handle. Joel let out a sharp laugh as you felt yourself grow hot.

“Glad one of us is having fun.” You grumble, “Could you give me some space, I gotta…” you point in the general direction of the punch bowl and extend your hand to start a game of go fish with the ladle. But as your hand reaches for the bowl, Joel’s own larger, browner, and calloused hand reaches for your wrist and softly squeezes. “’tis my fault, I’ll grab it. If Didi saw you contaminating her punch, she’ll throw a damn fit.” You shiver as you slowly retract your hand, “Euhh, thank yo-” You inhaled sharply as you felt his other hand grabbing your lower back, gently nudging you to the side.

You turn your head and were met with the devastatingly beautiful side profile of your infuriating neighbour. You were so close, that if you leaned in you could probably kiss the apple of his cheek. “Won’t Didi be angry with you if she sees you though?”  Joel only smiles as he fishes out the ladle and puts it on the napkin next to the bowl before wiping his hand down. He turns his head in your direction and all of a sudden, your two noses are inches apart. You drew in a sharp breath as Joel Miller smiles his devil smile “Better me than you, trouble.”

You raised an inquisitive eyebrow at his taunting and dare you say, flirty word, “Trouble? Is that supposed to be me?”  Joel gave a shy smile at the playful tone behind your words, and slowly brought his face inches closer to yours, your nose almost touching. You could feel his warm breath on your face. His sharp woodsy aftershave invaded your senses, leaving you a bit dizzy. “Yeah, I mean you’ve been nothin’ but trouble since I met ya…” And just like that the spell was broken.

“Excuse me?” You drew your head back sharply and took a couple of steps back, clearly, Joel wasn’t expecting you to react that way because he levelled you with a lost and slightly panicked look.

“I don’t be meanin’ anythin’ by that. I just, ya know.” He was clearly scrambling for words, but you just stared him down putting your hands on your hips to make you look as unimpressed as possible. He squirmed under your hard stare. Good, you thought. Let him feel as small as he made you feel these past 2 weeks. After 30 seconds of this suburban recreation of a western showdown, Joel seems to remember who he was and who you were because his eyes narrowed, and his lips formed a thin line.

“Sorry to burst whatever little rich girl bubble ya been living in, sweetheart. But you’ve been a troublemaker since you set foot in this damn neighbourhood!” You refused to be intimidated, not this time. Not when you had been mere inches away from kissing those plush lips that now were disdainfully scorning you.

“I don’t see how I’ve been trouble at all actually.” You replied, fixing him with an angry glar.

 “What you want an itemized list or somethin’?” You felt your eyes narrowing further at his words, “I’ve been nothing but nice and friendly since the day we met! You are the one that’s been acting like a grade-A asshole!”

 “Come on kid, ya bein’ serious right now?”

“Do I look like I am joking?” you retort angrily. Joel deflated at your tone and looked sheepish for a split second. You could see the gears working in his mind as he was trying to stringed together an excuse that would get him out of this.

"I didn’t mean to be rude, but ya know you ain’t the most considerate…" You let out a loud gasp, looks like Joel decided to double down.

"Is it about me arriving a ‘day later’?” You made sure to emphasize the words with air quotes, “I told you that day, no one told ME I had a schedule to abide by. If I had gotten in late at night, I would have found a hotel to crash in, no biggie. Rich girl pockets, you know." Joel looked a bit reddish at your sarcastic words and a little frown settled between his bushy eyebrows.

"Well, then you should’ve used that big New York, fancy educated brain to know not to disturb people when they don’t want to be bothered!" God this man knew how to push your button! What was wrong with him and why did he love throwing you your life back in your face like a well-placed jab!

"May I remind you that it was 1 pm by the time I got to Austin? How was I supposed to know you'd be asleep at 1 pm? I am many things, Mr. Miller, but a mind reader is not one of them."

Joel was getting quieter with each answer you were giving him, but he was not a man with the habit of letting go. He had dug himself a grave and he was in too deep to reach the top, so the only way to go now was deeper.

"Well, you did have my daughter at your place without tellin' me! That was irresponsible and downright negligen…"

"And I already apologized for that. I apologized, but that wasn't enough, was it? Why exactly? I didn't do anything to Sarah! I would NEVER do anything to that girl, and I would NEVER let anything happen to her! For Heaven’s sake, you act as if I was taking her into a cult! And you treat me like a… Like a fucking nuisance! Like I’m a fungus under your foot. And for what? Because I’m inconsiderate based on your minimal assessment of me? Based on the fact that I didn’t abide by a schedule I didn’t know about? Because I woke you up in the afternoon when I should have known that Joel Miller would be sleeping? Or because I love spending time with your daughter? From the way I see it, one of us is acting like a kid and it sure as hell isn’t me. You need to grow the hell up, Joel!"

You catch your breath as you start to notice that you two have been attracting a crowd, and most people in your general vicinity have gone completely silent. Hypnotized by the free melodrama happening in front of them, no doubt.

Joel was not letting go, and although his voice was much more subdued than what you’d heard before, he kept going his accent getting thicker with each angry word he was uttering. But you were too angry for his charming southern drawl to have any effect on you “I told ya I didn’t want ya hanging out wit’ Sarah no more! She’s my daughter and I decide who she should hang out with!”

You rolled your eyes at his last-ditch effort to apparently stick it to you. What was it with men and their refusal to admit fault? You were so tired, and the day was so fucking hot. Fuck, things had gone sideways so quickly. You really didn’t want to fight with Joel, all you wanted now was to go home, crawl into bed and sleep for 12 hours, hopefully away from all the nosy neighbours. You cringed, you and Joel would without a doubt be the number one topic of gossip in the weeks to come.

You gave him a tired smile, “I don’t even know why I am arguing with you right now, since everything I say, you’ll just twist to fit whatever weird narrative you’ve got going on. Look, I like hanging out with Sarah, she’s just a lovely girl. She is funny and kind and just completely smart as a whip. She is the first person that’s shown me some kindness since I moved here. If you really don’t want her spending time with me, I won't push it all right. I just want you to please leave me alone now.”

Your words seem to placate Joel as his stance became softer as he finally seemed to realize that you two had amassed quite the crowd with your little display. “Look, I didn’t mea..” “It’s fine.” You cut him off, “I’ll get out of your hair, and I’ll stop causing so much trouble since that’s apparently all I am good for to you.”

“Now wait a min…” His plea went ignored.

“I said it's fine Joel! And now, I am going home.” You turn sharply and swiftly make your way out of the backyard, your blood ringing loudly in your ears and tears welling up in your eyes. From hurt or humiliation, you didn’t know. Now you could see things pretty clearly though, Joel Miller was a fucking asshole.

Joel's gaze tracked your hasty retreat from the garden party, his eyes fixed on your form as you disappeared from sight. The soft murmur of his neighbors' conversations reached his ears his. Your public spat was probably the highlight of their fucking month. Vultures the lot of them!

He shot them a withering glare, his frustration palpable, his words of sharp retaliation poised at the tip of his tongue. However, before the acerbic retort could find its voice, a broad hand landed with a hearty thud on his back, interrupting his thoughts.

“Alright folk, Show’s over! How ‘bout ya’ll go find something else to entertain ya lot?” Tommy’s voice was friendly enough, but the authority underlying his words was sufficient for people to start scattering like a bunch of barn mice.

Tommy's grip on Joel's arm tightened as he led him away from the chattering crowd, angling towards the neglected corner of the backyard. The hushed echoes of whispered conversations seemed to follow them, an audible shadow that gnawed at Tommy's nerves.

Something was definitely off, but he wasn’t able to put his finger on what was going on with his brother. As they reached the secluded spot, Joel's brows were furrowed, his features a mix of bewilderment and frustration. Tommy could sense the tension in the air, a palpable unease that crackled between them.

"What the hell is going on with you?" Tommy's voice mirrored the frantic thoughts racing through his mind. "I might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but even I can tell that whatever the hell just went down was a complete disaster, Joel! Seriously, for the love of God, ya made the poor girl cry!"

"I sure as hell didn't plan for that, Tommy, you gotta trust me on that! I was just messing around with her, and she took it way too seriously. Not my fault she got all bent out of shape. Those city kids, they can't handle a little ribbing..." Tommy shot Joel a stare that oozed complete and utter disbelief.

"Yeah, you and I both know that's a load of crap. Whatever went down, it sure as hell wasn't because of some harmless teasing. You were just dishing out your typical Joel jerk-face. I've seen that expression before, but it’s usually reserved for when the cement guys are running late, not for the cute girl next door!"

Joel's shoulders slumped as he let out a frustrated grumble in response to Tommy's words. He shut his eyes and agitatedly tousled his hair, as if trying to shake off his thoughts. "She's like under my damn skin, Tommy!" Tommy's mouth dropped open comically, momentarily resembling a fish caught on a hook. "It's like... I can't even explain it. I don't have the right words. But ever since I laid eyes on her, it's like an itch I can't scratch, and it just doesn't make any damn sense. We've had maybe three conversations since she moved here, and each one ended up in a fight. But damn it, Tommy, it's like she knows exactly how to push my buttons! Every time she walks outside in those shorts, it just gets under my skin 'cause I know every creep on the street is staring. And God, when she's with Sarah, she's incredible. Sarah adores her. I'm just... lost." Joel's words tumbled out in a jumble, an attempt to give voice to the chaotic swirl of emotions inside him.

Tommy fixed his brother with a blank stare, his voice tinged with incredulity, "So, if I'm getting this straight, you're attracted to her, and your grand strategy was to become the biggest jerk possible? Is this your mid-life equivalent of pulling the pretty girl’s pigtails in 8th grade?"

“Fucker! Ya don’t have to be such an ass about it!”

“I wouldn’t have to be if you’d get your head out of yours!”

"DAD!" Joel's eyes clamped shut as a loud groan erupted from his lips. "For crying out loud?" he muttered under his breath, the frustration evident in his tone. He pivoted on his heel, only to find himself locking eyes with Sarah, whose expression conveyed equal parts anger and disappointment over the scene that had just unfolded. She levelled a stern gaze at him, her hands planted firmly on her hips, a mirror of the very pose you had struck during your argument.

“What the hell was that?!” she shrieked.

“Don’t start with me Sarah, your uncle is already ripping into me so ya gonna have to take a ticket!” Joel grumbled unhappily.

“Yeah well, you were a complete dick..”

“Oy, language! I don’t care how angry you are, ya know better than not mindin’ your manners!” Sarah took on a sullen look and angrily exhaled a puff of air through her nose, “What like you minded yours with her? I invited her you know, the least you could have done was to be cordial!”

Joel took a step toward Sarah and grabbed her into his warm embrace, he could feel her tears wetting his shirt, “I really like her dad, she listens to what I have to say and she doesn’t just pretend to like other adults do. She took me shopping last week, and we looked at makeup for hours, because we couldn’t decide on the right shade. I’ve always wanted to have that.”

A pang shot through Joel's heart as he absorbed his daughter's words. He knew that Sarah had borne the weight of her mother's absence in silence, and now, with stark clarity, he understood the nature of the bond that you shared with her. Regret surged within him as he recognized the depths of his own blindness, the emotional whirlwind he'd been trapped in that had blinded him to the very essence of Sarah's needs. The realization hit him square in the chest: he had been a jerk, a self-absorbed fool, but now, he was determined to make things right.

“I know babygirl. I am so sorry for how I acted; I’ll make things right ok. Daddy will make everything right.” he murmured, his voice tender as he continued to hold her close. Sarah had reached an age where grand displays of fatherly affection were met with a facade of maturity. She had declared herself "too grown up" for such things, yet beneath it all, her heart seemed to welcome his words of comfort.

After a moment, they released each other from their embrace. Sarah wiped away her tears, her determination shining through. "You promise?" she questioned, a mix of vulnerability and longing in her voice. Joel reached out, his touch gentle as he brushed away a stray tear from Sarah's cheek. Offering her a warm, reassuring smile, he answered, "I promise, sweetie. How about tomorrow, you head over there and invite her for dinner next Friday?"

Sarah's face lit up like a child on Christmas morning. "Really? You mean it? I can invite her for Miller Friday?!"

Joel nodded, his own smile matching her excitement. "Yeah, it'll be a good time."

Sarah's enthusiasm didn't stop there. "And Uncle Tommy can still come? So, it’ll be like all of us?"

Joel chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "Of course. For better or worse, we're stuck with him."

Amidst the playful protestations coming from Tommy, who had been observing from the sidelines, Sarah managed a chuckle of her own.

Her gaze turned serious once more. "And you'll apologize?"

Joel's expression softened. "Yes, babygirl, I'll apologize."

"Promise?" Sarah pressed, her eyes searching for his assurance.

Joel's smile broadened, before spitting loudly in his hand and extending it toward Sarah. "Promise!"

"EWWW, DAD, GROSS!"

Next Chapter

[goodbysunball]

Fresh trimmings

Alienator, World of Hate 7" (Convulse)

New recording from Portland, OR's Alienator following a 2021 demo. The band plays a sort of mid-tempo hardcore, burly almost-metal riffs and gruff vocals filling out the space afforded by the lower speeds. Passes surface level inspection, especially "I'm Nothing" or the stomping outro of "Social Disease," but all of the parts here don't really coalesce into the total package as advertised. Lyrics are clunky and hackneyed, even by hardcore's low standards, and I'm annoyed on each subsequent listen at how chugging death metal riffs are teased at the beginning of "Senseless Violence" and the title track but not fleshed out. It's all competent and fashionable, from the artwork to the execution, but doesn't really distinguish itself and, at worst, inflicts some secondhand embarrassment.

Delco MF's, March of the M.F.'s 7" EP (MF Records)

Seems recently any hardcore that catches my ear has to be verging on grindcore tempos, and Delco MF's do it better than most. The first 7" was great, and March of the M.F.'s continues the winning streak. There are some strong riffs on here, most potent on the title track, but this is a band primarily carried by the vocals and the drumming. "Future World" is a prime example, the vocals and violent tom fills racing and tripping over each other, until "Death of Me" pleases the crowd waiting to mosh. Six songs in six minutes, no room for filler (or, perhaps thankfully, a lyric sheet) - almost makes me agree with the "Hardcore Rules / Fuck Off" banner pictured on the back of the sleeve.

Mark Van Fleet, Vordenal CS (Refulgent Sepulchre)

I saw Mark perform as Face Place a few years ago, and it was cool, but felt very restrained and almost academic in its approach to noise. I was hoping for something a little closer to the heaving noisescapes he created as 1/2 of Sword Heaven, and now Vordenal comes close to fulfilling that wish: syrupy thick loops are urged to disintegrate, harsh sounds reflect off thin metal walls and a general unease presides. There are tracks, but this works as two side-long pieces. Side A's a little roomier, sounding like a high rise construction site on a windy day, creaking metal-on-metal and eerie whistling, until bolts shear and welds fracture during the swirling fever pitch of "Vordenal Slurp." Side B is just two tracks, and here's where the anxiety begins to burrow under your skin. The chomping and pounding of "Volume Fog" is particularly effective, and its guts are poured into the atonal drone of "Dungeon Summer," a drone that begins to pile on itself and buckle. When I listened to Vordenal on an airplane recently, it felt as if the plane were being ripped apart until the abrupt end of "Dungeon Summer" allowed the oppressive hum of steady cruising back in. What Mark's doing is in the league of Tom Darksmith and Aaron Dilloway, albeit a bit less polished than their recent works, but the stitches showing works in Vordenal's favor.

Life Expectancy, Decline CS (Iron Lung)

One of maybe three hardcore releases to leave a mark this year, Life Expectancy's Decline is a cavernous, feedback-ridden bullet train ride, except you're strapped on the outside like Mad Max in Fury Road. Plenty of noise here, including intro/outro on/off ramps, but the middle section is a pretty potent slurry of metal and punk, a combo that just doesn't add up for most bands. Vocals are a vicious black metal caterwaul, becoming more and more prominent as the tape plays, fully emerging on "Liquidated Flesh" and "S.M.R.A." where the tempo slows just enough for things to get really grimy. Blinding, blown-out, bleak: all applicable here, even if they curiously titled a track "Eggz." Completely unassuming packaging and quietly released, Decline sets a new bar for the skulls-and-chains crowd to gawk at.

Romance, Seven Inches of... 7" EP (self-released)

Hastily assembled sorta-supergroup from Sydney mows down the corny "murder punk" genre tag and reclaims the violent moniker for themselves. The band plays well - bass and drums thump and wallop, guitar slashes with abandon - but the draw here is the feral vocals of Jane, who must've had blisters on her vocal cords after the performance here. "Romance," "Fast Car" and "Surprise" are almost uncomfortable, blurring the line between performance and actual malice, and it's chilling in the best way. Nothing polished here, and all the better for it; you can definitely see why the band chose to self-release these tracks even after a couple of years. There is a palpable ferocity and recklessness across Seven Inches of..., and whoever says "fuckin' nailed it" at the end of "Sex Pact" ain't wrong.

Tàrrega 91', Fill de la Merda 7" EP (La Vida Es Un Mus)

The punk LVEUM mines from Spain almost always hits home with me, and Tàrrega 91' aren't about to break that streak. Fill de la Merda sports a bass-heavy recording, Discharge-style ripping guitars, but makes plenty of room for a prominent Rudimentary Peni influence to show its head, too. Not sure that there's anything groundbreaking to be heard across Fill de la Merda, but it's all performed as if they were the first band to stumble onto this confluence of sounds; that genuine excitement pushes a track like "Autoproclama De L'esclavitut Total" into a burner. Nice quick-hit 7" that checks a lot of boxes for me, especially that little guitar solo on the title track. Yeah, it's comfort food in a sense, but who better to serve it than one of the preeminent labels in punk and hardcore worldwide?

[ahordeofwasps]

WIP Themes Tag

I've been tagged by the stellar @amewinterswriting! Thanks for the tag!

Rules: Highlight the themes your WIP contains and then tag people to do the same.

I'll do this for To Not Falling Off Cliffs! I'll bold the applicable themes! The themes I have been provided are...

addiction | beauty | betrayal | change vs. tradition | chaos vs. order | circle of life | coming of age | communication | convention vs. rebellion | corruption | courage | crime and law (tentatively bolding this as it very much depends on how you define crime and law. A character is put on trial for "commiting a crime" so it is very much a thing, just not exactly in a traditional way) | dangers of ignorance | darkness and light | death | desire to escape | dreams | displacement | empowerment | facing darkness | facing reality | faith vs. doubt | fall from grace | fame and fortune | family | fate | fear | fear of failure | free will | friendship | fulfillment | good vs bad | government | greed | guilt and forgiveness | hard work | heroism | hierarchy | honesty | hope | identity crisis | immortality | independence | individual vs. society | inner vs. outer strength | innocence | injustice | isolation | knowledge vs. ignorance | life | loneliness | lost love | love | man vs. nature | manipulation | materialism | motherparenthood (not bolding this, just wondering where the other types of 'hoods are) | nature | nature vs. nurture | oppression | optimism | peer pressure | poverty | power | power of words | prejudice | pride | progress | quest | racism | rebirth | relationships | religion | responsibility | revenge | sacrifice | secrets | self-awareness | self-preservation | self-reliance | sexuality | social class structure | survival | technology | temptation and destruction | time | totalitarianism | weakness | vanity | war | wealth | wisdom of experience | youth

And now the no pressure tags! I'll tag @mary-is-writing, @emelkae, @loopyhoopywrites, @chauceryfairytales, and open tag! There's an unbolded/unhighlighted/uncommented/de-rambled list of the provided themes under the cut!

addiction | beauty | betrayal | change vs. tradition | chaos vs. order | circle of life | coming of age | communication | convention vs. rebellion | corruption | courage | crime and law | dangers of ignorance | darkness and light | death | desire to escape | dreams | displacement | empowerment | facing darkness | facing reality | faith vs. doubt | fall from grace | fame and fortune | family | fate | fear | fear of failure | free will | friendship | fulfillment | good vs bad | government | greed | guilt and forgiveness | hard work | heroism | hierarchy | honesty | hope | identity crisis | immortality | independence | individual vs. society | inner vs. outer strength | innocence | injustice | isolation | knowledge vs. ignorance | life | loneliness | lost love | love | man vs. nature | manipulation | materialism | motherhood | nature | nature vs. nurture | oppression | optimism | peer pressure | poverty | power | power of words | prejudice | pride | progress | quest | racism | rebirth | relationships | religion | responsibility | revenge | sacrifice | secrets | self-awareness | self-preservation | self-reliance | sexuality | social class structure | survival | technology | temptation and destruction | time | totalitarianism | weakness | vanity | war | wealth | wisdom of experience | youth

[dayjmz19]

Blog post #3 due 02/13

How has technology changed oppression towards people of color?

Oppression towards people of color has been around for many years. As technology progresses new forms of oppression have developed like algorithmic oppression. It has been revealed that women in minority groups have been heavily associated with sexual content on the web. A simple search for a minority group would result in pornographic content. Google also claimed to have glitches where it would relate people of colors with animals.“The first problem for Google was that its photo application had automatically tagged African  Americans as"apes " and"animals " (S.Noble, 2018). In Noble’s article it explained that these cases were due to bias that the algorithm carries from the past, meaning past events of oppression that may have occurred before technology but are now registered in the system as “history” leading to carry that bias over to today. Today I can say that algorithmic oppression still exists especially through social media content like, reels, memes, tik tok but are overlooked by most since they consider it a simple meme or skit. 

How has Intersectionality affected social media and the film industry? 

Intersectionality has taken away opportunities from minority groups, making it difficult to get jobs, promotions, healthcare, and assistance. I have personally noticed that today, on social media, there are hardly any social media creators of color who are offered the same opportunities as white content creators. Most big corporate brands don't seek to work with these groups as they are often seen as problematic due to cultural bias. Another factor that may lead to creators of colors being overlooked is due to their appearance, as they might not be considered up to standard due to their cultural features. For example, in most movies, the protagonist is a pretty petite blonde girl. Hardly any big movie features a person of color as their protagonist. This also applies to films not being promoted or denied to be released as they feature a minority group; we often see this with queer shows where they get discontinued after the first season and minimal advertisement. 

How does your name make you prone to bias and racism? 

Oftentimes people are aware of someone's cultural background due to their name and last name. This happens mainly due to the biased idea of what each culture usually names their children. This leads to people socially constructing what a “normal” name and last name is.“ Usually, many of my white students assume that the name exercise is not about them” (R. Benjamin, 2019) due to the bias from generational ideas carried on to children creating a cycle reflecting that “White people” are simple/ normal people .This often leads to oppression or racism simply by having a different name from what is considered “normal”. This also leads to people going by nicknames, aliases, or their names pronounced the “American way” to not be victims of bias in the workplace or school.

Is there a bias to who we bring awareness to? And how does the algorithm affect it? 

I definitely believe there is a bias on who and what we bring awareness to as a society, Kimbrele Crenshaw did an exercise in her ted talk where it resulted in the crowd being aware of African american males that were killed by police but very little people knew about African American women who were also killed by the police. There have been many documentaries created telling the story of white victims and their offenders but we hardly ever see any about minorities being victims of white people. This is because there isn't a bias against white people compared to how there is to people of color. A classmate had brought up a point in wednesday’s class about how Luigi Mangione was seen as a hero for his actions all over the social media but if it were a minority who would have done what Luigi did it would have not gotten the same reaction. I do agree with this and this is also an example of how the algorithm pushes videos to the mainstream media of how he's such a hero, handsome, innocent, etc. But if it were about a minority victim the algorithm would most likely not push the posts to the mainstream media. 

[sparkedblaze]

Hi friends

I’m doing this for science, so please bear with me.

Full context below the cut, rb for sample size, etc etc.

So, the conversation itself stemmed from the ‘man vs bear’ question.

When I tell you I have been obsessed with it, I mean it without hyperbole.

For anyone who hasn’t seen it, the prompt was essentially this:

You’re alone in the woods. On your way, would you rather encounter a random man or a random bear?

There is no further context, and it hasn’t surprised me how many AFAB (assigned female at birth) people chose the bear. However, what has absolutely astounded me is the amount of men that are upset by it.

From what I’ve seen, if someone says ‘I would choose the bear over a man for xyz reasons’, most men seem to take that as ‘I am choosing a bear over you specifically.’ Which, of course, isn’t exactly the case, as that isn’t the question. They then go on to rant about statistics, and how often women interact with men on a daily basis (not acknowledging the fact that most of these are in public spaces, in crowds, or around cameras, but for the sake of this post I digress).

All that to say, I’ve become enraptured with what people have to say on the matter.

I asked my coworkers the other day about it, and one of them made some offhand comment about how men had become so oppressed since the debate started.

I asked him what he meant, and he said something along the lines of

“If I want to talk to a girl in a bar, I can’t look at her body, buy her a drink, or compliment her without having some charge thrown at me.”

I didn’t say anything more about it because I was at work, and can’t risk losing my job right now, but the statement baffled me.

Having to respect a person’s boundaries equates to being oppressed? I think the fuck not??

This coworker is (unless something has changed in the last eight hours) a cishet, white, Christian man living in the Deep South. Which wouldn’t usually be important, except for the fact that he is in the least oppressed group of people in… probably the entire world?

I dunno y’all

Thoughts?

[mathsbian]

You are so opressed

Thank you for acknowledging the oppression I face as a physically disabled, genderqueer, arospec asexual lesbian. Did you go back and read that post where I talked about getting outed to my mom, not once, but twice? Or maybe you read my posts about being unable to work or drive, lost friends over it, and how I’m stuck in a vicious cycle of loneliness causing me to avoid socializing causing more loneliness? Or perhaps you read about my struggles to get approved for SSDI for the last three years? Or maybe you managed to find one of the posts where I vented in the tags about being an SA survivor? Or even how my partner is getting screwed looking for jobs because they keep getting laid off within a few months of being hired and then struggling to get work because they’ve had so many different jobs recently, alongside several gaps in employment while they were desperately sending out applications, and now the state is holding their driver’s license hostage for six months for $700+ in court fees? Or I’ve literally been slowly starving the last 4 years because I don’t have enough money for food, nor the ability to cook myself 3 square meals a day? Or how my partner and I can barely afford our half of our 3bd apartment’s rent even when they do have a job? Maybe how my POS alcoholic abusive father got in a car accident and lost his license last summer which meant he had to get transferred to a different position at his job and his pay got majorly cut and thus my parents couldn’t send me even the tiny amount they were sending me? Or how I live in a red state when… well. It doesn’t matter I guess. Something must have convinced you!

[citizen-grantaire]

the only thing the tags are right about is that Enjolras and les amis de l'ABC, as a group, were republicans in the 1830s, almost 200 years ago.. the addition is slightly better.

This wasn’t meant to be a serious post, but I do think that in a modern au, Enjolras should be a communist to remain comparatively thematically and ideologically consistent with canon Enjolras and his stance toward society and the times he lived in, in today's world. + I stress that I’m specifically referring to Enjolras here, not all characters. (e.g. this blog is named after grantaire, whom I love so much as a character, but no way in hell he's a communist)

Communism is the doctrine of the conditions of the liberation of the proletariat [link to principles of communism by Engles] It is not just an economic system but also a sociopolitical framework that seeks, through the application of dialectical materialism and revolutionary action, to eventually achieve the abolition of private property, liberate people from all forms of oppression and exploitation, and establish a classless, moneyless stateless society after and through the implementation of a transitional period of socialism, during which the proletariat (or working class, for simplification) takes political power and works toward equity through what we call a dictatorship of the proletariat where the workers collectively seize and own the means of production and the socialist state works to serve their interests instead of that of the bourgeoise etc.. welcome to communism 101 (broad, simplified)

Authoritarianism/totalitarianism are just silly words really, you can define them however you like.. they just serve to make the current power structure seem "normal" instead of requiring constant enforcement, it's only called authoritarian when usamerica feel threatened. (surprise. it feels threatened by the mere existence of communists and does anything to literally kill them around the world.) anyway, I love communist authoritarianism yay

"the ability to pick your leaders" in a liberal democracy isn't real, I don't even think that we should have to explain this after the trump vs harris circus, they all serve the empire and are not different in any meaningful way. This type of democracy is an illusion, and not a well-made one.

Reform/public services within capitalism (the examples you mentioned), while good, is not enough and limited at best, especially in countries in the global north, and need to be implemented within a socialist system, otherwise you're treating some of the symptoms but not the disease.

Okay, back to Enjolras because this is getting long.. in the book, he was a radical republican in the 1830s and wanted to overthrow the monarchy, he had knowledge about the first republic like he witnessed it and ideologically followed the montagnard (robespierre, saint just.. the men of 1793), he symbolizes the revolution, believes in necessary political violence and his beliefs centers about workers and poor people despite being born rich.. etc which are all great positions from someone from 200 years ago, overthrowing monarchy and reestablishing the republic is revolutionary in france then.. so let's ask ourselves what is comparatively true to his revolutionary stances in today's world if he was born in the 21st century instead of the 19th? Sure some things have changed in the world. Of course, canon Enjolras is an idealist which is a fatal flaw but that's not the point right now (just like I'm ignoring dear Hugo's mess of politics)

If a modern au Enjolras isn't a communist then it's not a believable adaptation of the character to the modern world. You can argue for anarchism with him I guess but it'd be a strong argument..

What other 'form of government' is revolutionary and pursues the end of exploitation and oppression from the roots you're arguing for? Thinking of Enjolras as a liberal is laughable. Reactionary!Enjolras

But once again he's just a fictional character and it doesn't matter how you write him if you do, but happy to introduce you to the immortal science of Marxism-Leninism, I guess <3

A modern au Enjolras should be a communist btw. Non-negotiable.

[farklelucas]

i think ive lost all my friends because i keep talking about cats (2019) :(

[chroniclyst]

hi guys. back at it again at the krispy kreme (ebegging)

don't tag with dnation tags or w/e & please reblog

heres the quick version: i still don't have a job despite my valiant efforts to obtain one. i'm going to be making contact with a staffing agency this week because indeed applications aren't working out. we are running on my partner's (barely above minimum wage) income and what my mom can afford to send our way (which isn't much- she's retired). there was snow packed in our tire treads when i was turning onto our road and now our car is missing part of the front (still driveable i think? might not need to get her repaired? hopefully? but there is a chance i am wrong). there is almost no food in our house and we live in a neighborhood that's a bit of a food desert.

in the meantime, our rent is covered but we still have bills to pay. we have cats (and ourselves) to feed. it's the holiday season. if you can afford to send a few dollars our way that would slap. i'll draw something or needle felt you an amogus (and mail it) or give you a kiss or something.

vnmo is fagdykes, dm for pypl if you prefer that. starting goal is $300 (enough to get groceries and pay a couple of the big upcoming bills)

$0/$300

heres the cats you'll be helping if that makes you more likely to reblog. also if you care about our oppression points, we are both trans & autistic & physically disabled. i'm also jewish. i can send pics to prove anything you want about expenses

[weiszklee]

Very interesting read, thanks! I can't really comment on Federici's historical accuracy or lack thereof, but I will say that while reading Caliban, I got the impression she was pretty much just collecting the established knowledge on the topics and stringing it into a coherent story. If the history she presents is actually that controversial and not really a collection of established facts, then at the very least she is being misleading.

I still think a weaker but more defensible variant of her main point remains worthy of consideration though. To her, "primitive accumulation" or "enclosure" (she uses these almost synonymously, which is indeed annoying) is pretty much any process of exploitation that doesn't bother with the conceit of exchange of equivalents. Conquest and slavery are the obvious examples which build the treasure troves which can then be subjected to the process of capitalist accumulation in order to grow it further.

She says this primitive accumulation never stopped, it is instead the principal reaction to the crises that capitalism inevitably produces. Capitalist accumulation hits a deadend (or even just a lull), so it falls back on primitive accumulation. And she says that the relatively stronger oppression of women is the result of one (or rather, of a collection of several) of these bouts of primitive accumulation during early modern times.

I agree that for this argument, it doesn't matter much whether or not women's reproductive labour is remunerated, since to Federici, 21st century imperialist practices are also examples of primitive accumulation, and these typically involve paying the workers at least a little bit. What matters more is women's relatively greater unfreedom, since it allows for greater exploitation. Less effort goes into making women's lives enjoyable, and more effort is squeezed out of women, so that on the whole, there is more effort to go around which can be expended to enrich the capitalists (especially but not exclusively through the indirect route of women labouring in order to enable their husbands to labour more fiercely for the capitalists directly).

This seems to me like a solid basis on which to build feminist theory, but also a great basis for enkindling solidarity (between men and women, between workers in the global north and the global south, ...) against a shared enemy.

it's communists grasping at straws to read something new out of shit from the 1800s.

Yeah I never really understood the appeal of this approach either. At this point, these theories are more inspired by Marx than they are applications of Marx. And this is a good thing, Marx said a lot of wrong stuff! But why still use this outdated jargon which by now has accumulated (hah!) a dozen different meanings depending on context?

Just gonna tag @notallmensheviks as well in case they are interested in this discussion, no pressure though.

Atp I've come around to butler and serano just on the principle that we can't be mad at transfeminists for being insufficiently Marxist in a world where marxfems haven't come up with much outside of like 1st wave revivalism

[dennyvong]

Blog Post #4 Due 9/16

Q1: Why do names have an impact on our lives?

When we are brought into this world, we are given names by our parents. These name have meaning to them within families such as being named after your great grandfather Charles who fought in WW2. In society these names also play a role in our lives and depending on what name your were given. For example Benjamin states “ “Alice Tang” comes from a family that values education and is expected to do well in math and science. “Tyrone Jackson” hails from a neighborhood where survival trumps scholastics; and he is expected to excel in sports.” The names given to us already give you a set role once you are born. Certain name can have social status affiliated with it giving them privileges while some can have have no meaning at all. it is almost as animals are labeled in a farm, One cow may provide more than the others and thus that cow is more valuable and place in high regard. These are what Benjamin refers to as “the new Jim Crow Codes” in “Race after Technology”. Even in names we are objectified and racially stereotyped. This type of misunderstanding leads to many not getting hired or placed on a watch list because their name is affiliated with racial stereotype.   

Q2: How do the online algorithms affect the way we view POCs?

Today’s society is still facing issues such as racial algorithms online, however it gotten a much more better than it was in the past. The way people get their information is still the same as the past, however we are being more and more reliant on getting our information from technology. With that in mind, children, teens or anybody who is most vulnerable to believing what they are told get all their information from the web and with racial algorithms still lurking around this can really affect the way they view POCs. For example, Noble explains “In just a few minutes while searching on the web, I experienced the perfect storm of insult and injury that I could not turn away from. While Googling things on the Internet that might be interesting to my stepdaughter and nieces, I was overtaken by the results. My search on the keywords “black girls” yielded HotBlackPussy.com as the first hit.” If Noble was not the one to pull this up but it was her daughters, interested in “what black girls do” or whatever it maybe, this would not only be blinding as a child but it can make them believe that their role in the future is to be a “pornstar”. This is just one example of many, another example maybe when you search up Asians and it may say “sweatshop workers” or Mexicans saying “beaners”, anybody could believe what the online algorithm tells them and will address Asians and Mexican as what they found on the web. 

Q3: How has google “fixed” it prior issues in the past with its online algorithms?

Google, the web browser that many today use to browse for anything, had issues in the past. Some of these issues were it’s absurd online algorithms, this is not to say the algorithms now are great either but in the past they racially discriminated against POCs as Noble states “The first problem for Google was that its photo application had automatically tagged African Americans as "apes” and "animals.” The second major issue reported by the Post was that Google Maps searches on the word "N*gger” led to a map of the White House during Obama’s presideney, a story that went viral on the Internet after the social media personality Deray McKesson tweeted it.” In the article Noble further explains that Google took down an image labeling Michelle Obama as an “ape” and also took down the slurred White House search. 

Q4: What are some ways we can spread the awareness of Intersectionality?

Before answering that question, we need to understand just what is “Intersectionality”? Well, Intersectionality is the combined discrimination involving race and gender as explained by Kimberlé Crenshaw. For example, a case involving intersectionality as it problem would go like a African American women trying to get a job at a restaurant but is denied the job while an African American male and white woman are hired one after the other. It almost seems like there is nothing wrong with the situation and everything looks quite normal until you pay attention closely. This is a issue regarding intersectionality where there is a colored male hired so surely it is not discrimination by race and a white woman is hired so the employer is not being sexist so what is wrong? Well the problem is that there are little to almost no colored women being hire at this restaurant and that is what intersectionality is all about. Now as for how we can spread awareness to intersectionality, is that we can use our voices to support and spread the word to families, friends, and people you may know. Another way could be, being supportive of people whom, are of different communities, just being there, lending an ear or speaking out for them if they are facing public discrimination based on their race and gender. Other ways may include being respectful whenever you have a casual conversation with anybody, being aware that their background may be different or just have an open mind when socializing with them so you do not overstep any bounds or come off as offensive. Always remember actions speak louder than words. 

Benjamin, R. (n.d.). Race After Technology.

Noble, S. (n.d.). Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism.

TED. (2016, December 7). The Urgency of Intersectionality | Kimberlé Crenshaw [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akOe5-UsQ2o&t=3s

[allthecanadianpolitics]

In response to the incessant police brutality and anti-blackness, right now more than ever the Black community is in need of mental health support. Every day the Black community is witnessing their people being brutalized to death, filmed, publicly degraded, debated about; our safety being dehumanized in real-time, on the news, online, and in social circumstances. These daily recurrences which are supposed to be our daily life are extremely re-traumatizing and triggering. The toll that this race war is having on the mental health and emotional well being of Black folks is denigrating our stability and sense of safety. The goal is to address the lack of Black therapy resources, advocacy, and mental health support in the Vancouver Lower Mainland  — land of the Coast Salish peoples–Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. There needs to be serious focus redirected towards creating safety networks for Black folks struggling with mental health. Racial trauma is one of the biggest threats to the Black community; physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I am starting a crowdfunding campaign to support mental health initiatives for Black folks in Vancouver through advocacy + Black-led healing. Vancouver Black Therapy & Advocacy Fund is a not-for-profit initiative that aims to raise funds to make mental health support more accessible to Black community members in the Lower Mainland. This fundraiser was created with the understanding of the disparity of access for Black mental health resources; our goal is to connect members with accredited and recommended local Black counselors and therapists. With the help of paid advocates, members would be linked directly to these resources. It is important to address the potential barriers that may exist within our communities in order to make sustainable change. Since there are mostly Hegemonic non-Black therapists in Vancouver without anti-oppression training, it can be alienating and unhealthy for Black communities to be seeking solace and support with non-Black therapists. This is an open call for donations and advocacy for Black therapists to connect with Black folks in need of therapy. ❋ What we're looking to do: Advocates will be hired to work with recipients and will be paid an hourly wage to organize communication between the recipient and therapists. ❋ The Goal: Aiming to raise $20,000+ in order to offer therapy funds to 10 +  Black folks, priority to Disabled & LGBTQIA+ folks, with 12-15 hours of therapy sessions for FREE, funded by the donations. Advocacy services will also be available for the recipients. ❋ Black Therapy Recipients: Barrier-free mental health access, Although, priority will be given to Black Disabled & LGBTQIA+ folks., all Black folks are encouraged to apply. Recipients will be non-disclosed. Applicants will be matched with an advocate to link them directly to a suitable therapist that we are working with. At this time, this fund is exclusive to the Lower Mainland of Vancouver since there is a lack of therapy services for Black folks specifically. However, we will make exceptions for requests outside of this area if you are lacking resources in your area. ❋ This fundraiser is created by Betty Mulat , Vancouver based artist, producer, co-founder of NuZi Collective , and community organizer ❋

Donate here!

Tagging: @politicsofcanada @abpoli

[mischiefhq]

hello there! we just had a message for our american applicants, followers, tag lurkers, etc. in light of recent events ( namely the firing and upcoming eviction of the fascist, anthropomorphic yam in the oval office ) the admins at mischiefhq want to make something perfectly clear; we will not accept bigotry on our server or in the space we cultivate on this blog. we stand with the rights and safety of people of color, particularly BIPOC; of women, particularly women of color; of those who have faced religious discrimination, particularly the muslims that have been targeted because of trump’s violent islamophobia; of the queer community, particularly those who are trans; of the disabled community; of those particularly oppressed by capitalism; and of everyone who has been discriminated against or endangered under this administration. we want to provide an escape for people and the best way we can see to do that is to cultivate a safe, inclusive space for our players. that being said, if you don’t join us in standing against this hatred, that’s fine. but please know that this space is not for you and we will not allow ourselves and our potential players to be placed in harm’s way.

these are dark times, we know, but as noted feminist appropriating radical transphobe jkr said "happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." now, jkr is a horrible human being, but her works have inspired a community that we love to and will continue to be apart of, while we can reclaim her text together. and that's what we need right now; community and also jkr bashing but i digress. we hope that we can provide that sense of community to our players, but, more importantly than all of that, we hope that everyone reading this stays safe and knows that we will always have the capability to turn on the light — together.

admins helga, rowena, & salazar