#we should be supporting and amplifying those creators voices

[whynotzoidbergdotorg]

Hi, I was just wondering what are the other reasons you dislike Ali Nahdee. I personally thought she had good point in native rep but she sometimes gets into anti stuff. She acts like seeing abuse relationships on tv will cause people to get into them. I personally didn’t like her but I still thought she had something to say.

she was personally racist to me.

back when all of the marketing around the princesses being in wreck it ralph 2, she had gone to the disney store to “critique” the pocahontas merchandise (totally normal behavior for someone who’s not even powhatan….) and had made a comment that a pocahontas doll was “paler than she was” (and provided an image in poor lighting—I would grab the tweet in question but not only did she block me, but she also nuked the whole thread after blocking me)

now, I didn’t follow her, and I actually had found the tweet in question in early 2019 when I was searching for reference images of disney’s pocahontas (as I had been commissioned to draw all of the disney princesses for someone) and her tweet came up in the results, because i specifically had been looking for the version from that movie (commissioner wanted me to draw those versions of the princesses in specific)

anyways I pointed out that not only was pocahontas not actually that dark skinned in the movie (providing a direct screenshot from the film as proof), but that historically she wouldn’t have been that dark skinned either (because get this, I’m actually part powhatan—and while I am admittedly white passing due to being mixed race, my maternal grandfather, who is native american, isn’t that dark either. he does have copper colored skin, and does tan rather than burn, but he isn’t like. super dark like ali was complaining pocahontas wasn’t on that specific toy.) anywho i prefaced my tweet with my heritage (I’m actually related to the real pocahontas’s family, funfact. not a direct descendant, more like…a distant cousin??? though in the past I have remarked on how in the portraits of her that exist, I look fairly similar in certain facial features, mainly my nose, eyes, hairline, and overall head shape)

anyways, after i pointed this out, and made it clear I didn’t think she was saying this maliciously, I just think she might have had a warped view of how pocahontas is meant to look…she blocked me, and then started subtweeting me…

first, she accused me of using a “poorly photoshopped image” of pocahontas to prove my point (I didn’t, I screenshotted directly from the movie off a cartoon website, so likely the source was a DVD since there was no logo in the corner, and from what I could tell the colors of other characters and scenes looked correct)

THEN she accused me of lying about my heritage—and mind you this was AFTER she blocked me so I couldn’t reply to defend myself or further expand on my native heritage—which anyone who has EVER talked to me for an extended period of time knows I am HAPPY to infodump about. Because both I and my mother have done tons of research about our family tree—and that part of our family in particular (since its one of the few parts of my mothers family thats well documented and in a language we both natively know.) I mean I even know the specific name of a shawnee chief I am directly descended from! (Cornstalk—funfact, the mothman mythos is closely tied with Cornstalk’s curse, which is an alternate belief about the strange events associated with mothman sightings)

Now, again, anyone who knows me knows there are THREE things that really really tick me off in regards to my native heritage—and that is 1) calling me, or any other woman of native descent “pocahontas” (because first of all, her name was actually Matoaka, AND she’s not event the only significant native american woman in history), 2) being asked if I am related to Pocahontas/Matoaka (I actually punched a kid over this once when i was little. ironically I then later found out I actually am distantly related to her. what a small world!), and 3) being accused of lying about my heritage for “oppression points”. (well, there’s more than three, but that would just be getting into a whole other tangent, and I’ve already gone on like, four tangents in this post alone)

This last one makes me absolutely furious because I’ve had people (all white) say I can’t be native because “don’t look native” to them. when like. that’s not even fucking true??? other native american people (specifically other cherokee people—which is one of the tribes I am descended from) have recognized me as looking native american, and like other members of their tribe. I literally have the facial features, I just happen to have fair skin, and lighter hair. I mean hell, if you looked at my baby pictures (which I don’t have any on my device right this moment unfortunately) I did not look like a “white baby”. I didn’t start “looking white” (as in my hair lightening) until I was older. I’ve had white people try to gatekeep and erase my heritage from me because of their own perceptions of my appearance (based solely on my skin-tone).

So yeah, the bitch accused me of lying about a significant part of my heritage, a part that’s very VERY important to me, a part that I refuse to let others erase (especially since I’m SURE the colonists who murdered Cornstalk and his son—both my ancestors—would love to erase that misdeed and bury it).

I mean, imagine claiming to be all about the rights of indigenous women, and then smearing and making sweeping accusations about another queer, indigenous woman! Could never be me.

But I guess I could never understand the brainrot of someone who spends all day complaining about fictional representations made by white people, instead of raising up indigenous creators who worked hard to create their own, better representation instead.

[heavenbloom]

this isn’t meant to berate anyone, nor is it said in any type of rude way. i barely scroll through the tlou fic tags because i haven’t had the time to, but i’ve noticed less and less links for palestine or calling for the boycott of the franchise on fics lately. again, i’m not saying that people have done wrong, but i just wanted to point out that, in light of the new season of tlou coming out in the next year, there probably will be an influx of fans and fandom who might not know the reality of the creator and the franchise. i think it is our responsibility as current fic writers and content creators to condemn neil druckmann and the reason why tlou 2 was conceived and to call for people to boycott it whenever we can, but more importantly to uplift and amplify palestinian voices. the palestinian struggle is not something that fluctuates, so why should our showing of support do so? why should our support only be shown when something extra horrid happens instead of using our platforms steadily and frequently to help prevent even a fraction of those things from happening? putting donation and educational links on top of fics is really easy, probably the bare minimum of what we can do. i understand that people are busy and might not think about it but that in itself is a privilege so these are just things to consider!

[mitskistevens]

ATTENTION PEOPLE OF TUMBLR! If you support Palestine and want to help its people escape Gaza, read this post.

I've recently been trying to get more involved with Operation Olive Branch, an organization that amplifies the voices of Palestinian families trying to leave the country and gives people resources to go help them. I'm now going to start a series where every Saturday, I post information on a new family on the list, and I can give you all the resources you might need to help.

This is installment #2. Again, I went through a random number generator to see which family I could cover next, and I landed on line 254.

In this line, you are helping to evacuate 6 people. Mohamed Mahmoud, a 37 year old, and his children: Sana, who is 11; Eman, who is 10; Monir, who is 7; Jameel, who is 5; and Odai, who is 2.

When you click the link on the spreadsheet, you are taken to this page. I'll link it down at the end of the post. Here is the description of the GoFundMe:

For those confused, here's a brief summary of hemophilia, according to Google:

Hemophilia can be fatal or debilitating if not treated, so we need to get this family out of Gaza so that Mohamed and Sana can get properly treated. Their ultimate goal is €60,000, but they only have €12,078, which is about 20.13% of their goal. It seems like a huge amount has been donated, but it is still so far from hitting the goal!

To get the family to safety, we need to boost this post and make sure everyone hears their story. You should take on one of these three roles (or two or three, that's fine with me)

1. Amplify

Reblogs, likes, comments to spread the post around

Reads the full post to give the original poster and the family a moment of their time

Tries to get more people involved

Spreads the message everywhere

2. Post

Makes their own video/post on the subject

Makes sure the message spreads like wildfire

Gives resources so that people can help

Uses every technique they can so that people can see the post

3. Fund

Sends money to the family

Checks the spreadsheet and sends money to more families in need, not just the one posted

Also donates to other Palestinian charities, as well as those that benefit places like Congo and Sudan

Makes sure the family has enough funding to get out of their situation

While amplifying is the easiest job to take, if you are able to donate, please donate, even if it's $5. Everything matters. You can donate the bare minimum or the bare maximum. It will all go a long way.

While this fundraiser is being run by Mohamed's brother's colleague Serene Issa, more updates on the story can be found on the Twitter account of Diaa Mahmoud, a Palestinian creator who frequently updates his case and many others. https://x.com/DiaaMahmoud?s=20

Here's the link you can go to to view the family's story and donate:

And here's the link you can go to to view the entire Operation Olive Branch spreadsheet. If you can get yourself involved, please do.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vtMLLOzuc6GpkFySyVtKQOY2j-Vvg0UsChMCFst_WLA/htmlview

Thanks for helping, and see you next Sunday. Free Palestine!

[mahimariya10]

Save Gaza – A Voice for the Voiceless

The world watches in silence while Gaza bleeds. The cries of innocent children echo through shattered streets, yet the global response remains heartbreakingly quiet. It’s time to break that silence. It’s time to rise and say it out loud—Save Gaza.

With its rich past and tough people, Gaza has come to represent pain, grief, and unwavering bravery. For years, its people have endured the harshest of realities: war, displacement, and daily struggles for basic needs like food, water, and medical care. But beyond the headlines and numbers lie the faces of real people—families destroyed, futures stolen, dreams buried under rubble.

At the center of this suffering are the children. They are the most vulnerable and the most affected. These young souls have witnessed horrors no child should ever see. They play near ruins instead of playgrounds. They live in fear instead of freedom. We must come together to save the children, to give them the future they deserve—one filled with hope, education, and safety.

The world must remember that Gaza is not just a conflict zone—it is home to millions who have the right to live in peace. The call to Free Free Palestine is not a political slogan; it is a human cry for justice. It is about recognizing the rights of Palestinians to live freely in their own land, to thrive, to dream, and to heal.

When we say Save Gaza, we are calling for an end to the suffering. We are demanding immediate humanitarian aid, access to clean water, food, and medical supplies. We are urging world leaders, human rights organizations, and every individual to take action—donate, speak up, share, and support.

The international community must hold accountable those responsible for the ongoing devastation. We must take something; condemning violence is insufficient. We must amplify the voices of those in Gaza who are too often ignored. Their stories, their pain, and their strength deserve to be seen and heard.

From Bangladesh to every corner of the globe, our voices matter. As content creators, writers, and everyday people, we have the power to influence, to educate, and to inspire change. By using our platforms to say Save Gaza, we are helping to shine a light on a darkness that has gone unseen for too long.

Let us not wait until more lives are lost. Let us not be silent witnesses. Let us be the voice that speaks for peace, for justice, and for humanity.

Now is the time. Save Gaza. Free Free Palestine. Save the children. Save humanity.

[musicindustry1111]

Beyond Fame: A Journey Into the World of Underrated Artists Around the World

For every world-famous artist, there are countless others whose work is equally extraordinary yet remains hidden from the limelight. These underrated artists around the world often craft masterpieces that are raw, innovative, and deeply rooted in personal and cultural stories. However, their limited visibility in mainstream art and media leaves them struggling to gain the recognition they deserve.

This article is your gateway to discovering these hidden gems across the globe. By shedding light on their journeys, challenges, and creative brilliance, we hope to inspire you to seek out, support, and celebrate their contributions to the vibrant global art scene. Platforms like Deliver My Tune are instrumental in promoting and empowering such talents, helping their work find a voice in a competitive landscape.

Main Body:

1. Why Some Artists Stay Underrated

While talent should be the ultimate measure of success, a range of factors contributes to an artist’s underrated status:

Lack of Exposure: Many artists do not have access to platforms or networks that can showcase their work globally.

Financial Constraints: Without resources for marketing and outreach, their art remains local or niche.

Oversaturation of Content: The digital age has flooded markets with art and music, making it difficult for individual creators to stand out.

Cultural and Language Barriers: Many artists create in regional languages or focus on themes that may not resonate universally, limiting their audience.

2. Profiles of Inspirational Underrated Artists

Highlighting a few lesser-known talents from diverse fields:

Sudeep Sen (India): An Indian poet and translator whose evocative words bring modern relevance to ancient themes.

Ana Elisa Egreja (Brazil): A painter blending surrealism and everyday moments, her canvases invite viewers to question the mundane.

Asma Mohamed (Kenya): A spoken-word artist who addresses global issues like climate change and women’s rights, blending activism with performance art.

3. The Global Influence of Underrated Art

Even without widespread recognition, these artists shape culture:

Reviving Traditions: By blending the traditional with the modern, underrated artists preserve their cultural heritage while innovating for contemporary audiences.

Inspiring Local Movements: Many unknown creators influence grassroots movements, inspiring young artists to embrace their creativity.

4. Overcoming Challenges

While the odds are stacked against them, many artists leverage:

Social Media: Platforms like Instagram and TikTok allow for organic discovery.

Community Support: Local exhibitions, crowdfunding, and word-of-mouth help build initial traction.

Partnerships and Collaborations: Working with like-minded creators helps them expand their networks.

5. How You Can Support Underrated Artists Around the World

Engage with Their Work: Attend exhibitions, concerts, and events.

Share Their Stories: Social media is a powerful tool for spreading awareness.

Buy Their Creations: Whether it’s music, paintings, or crafts, directly supporting their work ensures sustainability.

Conclusion:

The contributions of underrated artists around the world are as invaluable as those of their mainstream counterparts. They reflect raw emotion, authentic experiences, and diverse cultures that make the global creative landscape truly vibrant. However, their talent often remains confined to small audiences due to a lack of resources, visibility, or opportunities. Platforms like Deliver My Tune play a critical role in amplifying their reach and giving their work the recognition it deserves.

As art lovers, our responsibility extends beyond enjoying these creations. It lies in celebrating and uplifting the artists themselves. Seek out one underrated creator today, share their work, and contribute to the recognition they deserve. Together, we can redefine success in the art world and ensure that no talent goes unnoticed.

[crazyfilterlady2024]

"Embracing Change: Navigating the Winds of Transformation with Courage and Compassion"

"Get ready to buckle up for a digital rollercoaster ride through the heart of the online jungle, where the battle for success is fierce, and the stakes couldn't be higher! Welcome, thrill-seekers and truth-seekers alike, to a no-holds-barred exploration of the wild world of internet growth and the shocking truths that lie beneath the surface. Strap in tight as we peel back the layers of this digital maze, uncovering the stories of triumph, tragedy, and everything in between. It's time to ignite your curiosity, fuel your passion, and dive headfirst into a whirlwind of insight, inspiration, and intrigue! Welcome to the ultimate journey towards online enlightenment – where the only limit is your imagination! It's a tale as old as the internet itself: the haves versus the have-nots, the successful versus the struggling. But what's truly enraging is when those who've made it to the top not only ignore the plight of the disadvantaged but actively hinder their progress".

Picture this: a budding YouTuber with dreams as big as the screen they're broadcasting on. They've got talent, they've got drive, but what they don't have is a level playing field. Instead of receiving support and encouragement from their more established peers, they're met with disdain and derision. And why? Simply because they're not able-bodied or don't fit into society's narrow definition of success.

It's a sickening reality that's all too common in the online world. While some bask in the glow of their subscriber counts and sponsorship deals, others are left to fend for themselves, scraping by on the crumbs of an unequal system. And what's worse, those who could make a difference, who could use their platform for good, choose instead to turn a blind eye, too wrapped up in their own success to lend a helping hand.

But enough is enough. It's time to call out this injustice for what it is: pure and simple discrimination. Whether you're a content creator, a consumer, or just someone who believes in fairness, it's time to take a stand against the bullies of the internet. After all, we're all in this together, and success should never come at the expense of others' well-being.

So, to all those who would rather tear others down than lift them up, I have a simple message for you: mind your own business. Focus on your own success and leave the rest of us to pursue our dreams in peace. And remember, you never know the battles others are fighting behind the scenes, so before you judge, take a long hard look in the mirror.

In the end, we all have a choice: to be part of the problem or part of the solution. I know which side I'm on, and I hope you'll join me in standing up for what's right. Because until we all have an equal chance to succeed, none of us can truly call ourselves winners.

In the vast landscape of the internet, where clicks and views reign supreme, it's easy to get lost in the pursuit of success. But amidst the frenzy of likes and shares, it's crucial to remember the human beings behind the screens. Each click represents a person with their own struggles, dreams, and aspirations.

As we navigate this digital world, let's not lose sight of our humanity. Let's treat each other with kindness, empathy, and respect. Let's uplift those who are marginalized, amplify their voices, and create a more inclusive online community.

To those who wield their influence like a blunt instrument, using it to crush the dreams of others, I say this: your power comes with responsibility. Use it wisely. Use it to build bridges, not walls. Use it to inspire, not intimidate. And above all, use it to make the world a better place for all.

So, let's band together, not in competition, but in collaboration. Let's celebrate each other's successes and support each other through the setbacks. Let's create a digital world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their circumstances.

Because at the end of the day, it's not about how many followers you have or how much money you make. It's about the impact you have on others, the connections you forge, and the positive change you bring to the world.

Prepare to delve into the depths of human selfishness and callousness, for we are about to confront a disturbing reality: the chilling indifference that pervades our society. It's a tale of those confined to the confines of their homes by fate, grappling with mental disabilities and other challenges, yet finding the courage to strive for something more. And yet, in the shadows lurks a breed of individuals whose sole concern is their own advancement, heedless of the dreams they trample in their wake.

Picture this: individuals confined to their homes; their aspirations stifled by circumstances beyond their control. They face daily battles against the demons of mental illness, physical disabilities, or other adversities. And yet, despite these monumental obstacles, they dare to defy fate, seeking solace and purpose in the pursuit of knowledge and skills that could pave the way to a brighter future.

But alas, their hopes are dashed against the callous indifference of their fellow human beings. Instead of extending a hand of support or encouragement, they are met with scorn and disdain. Those who should be their allies in the fight for progress become their most formidable adversaries, crushing their dreams beneath the weight of their own selfish ambitions.

And what's worse, these same individuals who callously disregard the struggles of others are quick to offer hollow condolences and empty gestures of sympathy when tragedy strikes. They parade their faux empathy on social media, basking in the fleeting spotlight of virtuous indignation, yet oblivious to the hypocrisy of their actions.

But let me make one thing abundantly clear: this cannot continue. We cannot allow the voices of the vulnerable to be drowned out by the cacophony of self-interest and indifference. We must stand firm against the tide of apathy, championing the cause of empathy and compassion in a world that sorely needs it.

To those who would trample on the dreams of others in pursuit of their own gain, I have a simple message: your actions have consequences. The wounds you inflict may not be visible, but they run deep, leaving scars that may never fully heal. It's time to take a long, hard look in the mirror and ask yourself: what kind of legacy do you wish to leave behind?

In the end, we are all interconnected, bound together by the threads of our shared humanity. It is only by lifting each other up, rather than tearing each other down, that we can truly thrive as a society. So let us pledge to do better, to be better, and to never lose sight of the profound impact that our actions can have on the lives of others.

In the vast expanse of our digital age, where connections are made with a click and empathy seems to be in short supply, it's time to shine a light on the darkness that lurks within our hearts. We live in a world where it's all too easy to turn a blind eye to the struggles of others, where self-absorption and indifference have become the norm.

But amidst this sea of apathy, there are those who refuse to be silenced. Those who, despite facing unimaginable challenges, dare to dream, dare to hope, and dare to strive for a better tomorrow. They are the unsung heroes of our society, the ones who refuse to let adversity define them.

And yet, even as they reach for the stars, they are met with scorn and derision from those who should know better. Instead of offering a helping hand, they are greeted with cold indifference, their dreams dismissed as fanciful fantasies. It's a heartbreaking reality that speaks volumes about the state of our humanity.

But we cannot afford to despair. We cannot allow the darkness to extinguish the light of hope that burns within each and every one of us. We must stand together, united in our determination to build a world where compassion reigns supreme, where empathy is the currency of the realm.

To those who would seek to crush the dreams of others, I say this: your actions have consequences. You may think that your indifference goes unnoticed, but make no mistake – the scars you leave behind are all too real. It's time to take a long, hard look in the mirror and ask yourself what kind of legacy you wish to leave behind.

In the end, it's not about fame or fortune, but about the impact we have on the lives of others. It's about lifting each other up, rather than tearing each other down. It's about building a world where kindness is not just a virtue, but a way of life.

So let us stand firm in the face of adversity, let us be beacons of hope in a world shrouded in darkness. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we can change the world.

Listen up, folks! It's time to address the elephant in the room: change. Yeah, you heard me right. Times have changed, and we're not living in our grandparents' era anymore. We've evolved, we've adapted, and guess what? We're doing things differently now.

Now, I get it. Change can be scary. It can be uncomfortable. But here's the thing: progress waits for no one. We can't keep clinging to the past, holding onto outdated ideals and expecting the world to stay the same. It just doesn't work like that.

Sure, our parents may have had it tough. They faced challenges we can't even imagine, and yeah, maybe they had to adjust to our era. But you know what? That's life. It's messy, it's unpredictable, and it's constantly in flux.

So why are we still holding onto the past like it's some kind of safety blanket? Why are we so quick to judge others for daring to forge their own path? It's time to wake up and smell the coffee, people. We're all just trying to survive in this crazy world, and we all deserve a chance to grow and thrive.

So, let's cut each other some slack, huh? Let's give people the space they need to spread their wings and fly. After all, who are we to stand in the way of someone else's journey? We're all in this together, whether we like it or not.

And hey, if you're still hung up on the past, I get it. But here's the thing: the future is waiting, and it's full of endless possibilities. So, let's embrace the unknown, let's embrace change, and let's embrace each other.

Because at the end of the day, we're all just trying to make it in this crazy world. So, let's do it together, with open hearts and open minds.

Alright, folks, it's time to wrap things up with a bang! We've dived deep into the heart of the matter, laid bare the truth, and let's face it, stirred up some emotions along the way. But before we part ways, there's one last thing I need to say.

Change isn't easy. It's messy, it's complicated, and yeah, it can be downright infuriating at times. But here's the thing: it's also necessary. Without change, we stagnate. We become stuck in the past, unable to move forward or grow.

So, let's embrace change with open arms, with a fierce determination to carve out a better future for ourselves and for generations to come. Let's channel that anger, that frustration, that passion into something positive. Let's be the catalysts for change that our world so desperately needs.

And hey, if you're feeling overwhelmed, if you're feeling like the weight of the world is crushing down on you, just remember this: you're not alone. We're all in this together, navigating the turbulent waters of life as best we can.

So, let's lift each other up, support each other, and never lose sight of the incredible potential that lies within each and every one of us. Together, we can overcome any obstacle, conquer any challenge, and build a brighter, more hopeful future for all.

So, until next time, keep fighting the good fight, keep pushing forward, and never, ever give up. The world is counting on us.

As we wrap up our journey through the twists and turns of change, let's not forget the valuable lessons we've learned along the way. Change isn't just about shaking things up for the sake of it; it's about growth, progress, and evolution.

Throughout history, we've seen countless examples of individuals and societies embracing change and reaping the rewards. From the invention of the wheel to the advent of the internet, humanity has continually pushed the boundaries of what is possible, driving innovation and transformation in every aspect of life.

But change isn't always met with open arms. There will always be resistance, fear, and uncertainty. And that's okay. It's natural to feel apprehensive about the unknown. But it's how we respond to that fear that truly matters.

Instead of succumbing to the paralysis of indecision or clinging desperately to the status quo, let's confront change head-on with courage and resilience. Let's harness the power of our collective ingenuity to shape a future that reflects our values, aspirations, and dreams.

And let's not forget the importance of empathy and compassion in times of change. As we navigate the complexities of transformation, let's extend a helping hand to those who may be struggling, offering support, understanding, and encouragement along the way.

Because ultimately, change is about more than just progress; it's about people. It's about creating a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, where diversity is celebrated, and where every voice is heard.

So, as we bid farewell to this chapter of our journey, let's carry forward the lessons we've learned and the insights we've gained. Let's embrace change as a force for good, a catalyst for growth, and a beacon of hope in an ever-changing world.

Love Always:

Maria D.C Santiago

aka Crazy Filter Lady

#OnlineEquality #StandUpForOthers #FairPlayOnline #NoMoreDiscrimination #EmpowerEveryVoice #InternetJustice #EqualOpportunityOnline #SupportTheUnderdogs #EndOnlineBullying #TogetherWeRise #HumanityOnline #KindnessMatters #DigitalEmpathy #InclusiveInternet #EmpowermentThroughConnection #SupportAndUplift #OnlineCommunityBuilding #InspireNotIntimidate #TogetherWeThrive #DigitalPositivity #EmpathyMatters #SupportNotScorn #HumanityFirst #DreamCrushersBeware #CompassionOverConvenience #StandUpForOthers #NoMoreHypocrisy #TogetherWeRise #KindnessIsStrength #BeTheChange #IlluminateKindness #DareToDream #EmpathyRevolution #BeTheLight #HopeInDarkness #TogetherWeThrive #HumanityUnleashed #CompassionConquersAll #StandStrongStandTogether #DreamersUnited  #EmbraceChange #ProgressIsKey #LetPeopleGrow #SurvivalOfTheFittest #NewEraNewRules #ForwardTogether #BreakTheMold #UnleashPotential #EvolveOrBeLeftBehind #ChangeIsInevitable

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[nightswithkookmin]

Okay I'm finally ready to move on from this.

I have been blogging about almost every concept Jimin drops but I have been reluctant to share it because it's just missing a vital piece of myself. Usually when I write, I enjoy what I write and every feeling and emotion I express is real and authentic. So imagine me trying to write something fun and positive while feeling like crap within?

I'm grateful for every single one of you. My instinct was to disengage and disconnect but talking to yall and seeing your attempts to cheer me up- cheered me up. Lol. I don't know why I thought avoiding people and dealing with things on my own was the only way to cope. yalls way equally works too. Works better I'd say.

Thanks for not pushing though and having the grace to let me be when I needed to be alone and not punishing me when I returned to talk to yall.

This is new to me. Well not new new, I do that for others it's just people don't do that for me very often so I don't bother to make friends at all. I'll give and not bother to take nothing. I love you guys for this

I won't feed into the negative. As I said OP isn't the first or last person to pull a stunt like this. I'm aware of others. I don't say anything about those because I can tell from the manner in which they engage with my content they simply just want to amplify my voice and my words.

To such people it's not about me or them, it's about Jimin. Jimin is at the center of their thoughts and actions. Some even say in their posts, I wish Jimin could see this message. And while they fail to credit me for whatever reason, I still feel my work is honored and respected because it is being used the way I intended it to be used.

I don't write these word for no body but Park Jimin. He is the one I adore, he is the one I extol. And if you are going to borrow my words to extol him and honor him then I don't think it matters of you credit me or not. We are all just fans of the same man. We can lend our voices to each other.

Taehyung sees Army's posts and art about Jimin and he saves them and shows them to Jimin. He wants jimin to know people love you, people support you and I think that is truly encouraging for JM himself. There is a while trail of moons on JM's back because Tae chose to amplify someone's fanart.

Jimin does the same thing with Jungkook when people mention him in his lives. He wants Jungkook to know he is being loved on and that I feel motivates and encourages Jungkook.

But for you to take words that are not yours and present them as yours implies you want to be centered and credited for those words. Which invariably means it's not about Jimin or the writer behind those words, it's about you and your need for attention and I find that dishonorable.

It's even more bizarre and disconcerting when you feel you have to go out of your way to deplatform the original creator in order to center yourself.

This is the problem I grapple with in this community. People are constantly trying to deplatform me and claim authorship of my work at the same damn time. And they do this by deliberately concocting lies, stories, misconstruing my thoughts and my words, taking things out of context and massacring my reputation.

It's always, look she said this about Jimin. She hates Jimin. She shades jikook. She is an anti. I hate her guts because she is not an actual fan of the boys. Yall should hate her too. She's creepy. She's the end of days.

So when such people see something they know go against their rhetorics and narratives about me they try to either suppress by discouraging people from engaging with it while they turn around and steal those words as their own to make themselves look good.

And they are not vilifying me because they genuinely believe I'm bad or that I hate these boys. No. They only do it to elevate themselves. Someone has to be bad so they can be good.

It's always, she's bad don't follow her, but look I'm good and nonproblematic and you should follow me not her.

Jealousy is a disease and I won't call anyone jealous.

But also,

I remember, I used to be friends with some people before Tumblr and they are quite "big jikook" accounts. Well some have left the Fandom but still. We would talk about Jikook nonstop and we'd discuss moments and scenes i loved and I'd always tell them, this happened here that happened there and they would download the video and make edits based on my suggestions and share them.

I knew nothing about video editing- still don't, and frankly I don't care to learn. I love writing more.

But when they learned I was doing Tumblr, they turned on me quick. Suddenly they were the ones trying debunk my theories, and when they couldn't they would create their own versions of the videos I had already made or actively try to suppress my content by disparaging me and making up stories.

Suddenly it was, she's trying to compete, she's trying to take z away from us. It was an unending cycle till eventually I stopped making my own videos- well I still make them I just don't share them🥴

There's a popular jikook account who even told me blog analysis are unneeded and that what they did was better than mine because they were providing "actual evidence" and not just opinions and assumptions etc.

And yes they said it to my face as friendly advice😆

Same advice I heard from people who thought I shouldn't be pointing out Jikooks "ground breaking scenes" because it makes me come off creepy🙂

They would rather I told them so they made the edits on their accounts cos they "love me and hate to see me get hated on" out here ☹

Okay besties, and while you're at it why don't you fuck my girlfriend for me cos rubbing vaginas together is really breaking my back👉🏾👈🏾

The elitism in this community is real and they don't like to hear it but gag me and I'll shout it out of my ass

Creators in this space can be very competitive and often envious of others and they try to weaponize their platforms to take out anyone they deem a threat to their delusional high ranks in the-- who-gives-a-fuck-Karen- it's-not-that-deep-sit-down

When you hear them talk about "young impressionable minds" that's when you know they've gone and filled their bellies full of themselves.

Anywho, my reaction was not just because some random person stole my whole blog and made it theirs. It was more a trauma response to the constant vitriol, vilification, malicious attempts at deplatforming me, the constant micro and macro aggressions and the vicious gruesome mental attacks I endure out here.

But I'm good. ✌

[recappers-delight]

I AM INFURIATED!!!!

But not for the reasons you think.

How many of you watched the She-Ra panel tonight? ACTUALLY WATCHED IT?! Because I did and here's what I saw:

1. "_____ called someone the D slur"

He DID NOT call anyone that word. He used it in the context of announcing a panelist to the show. The word is IN THE TITLE of her podcast. He was literally just stating the title. That's it.

2. "Noelle said Double Trouble would be creepy around kids."

What Noelle said was that to get the inspiration for Flutterina, Double Trouble would have gone to a coffee shop, found a girl to imitate, and stare at her until they got her mannerisms down. Because of the implications here irt trans people and the stereotypes of "creeping on children", this could have been worded better. BUT this whole headcanon was in response to Noelle DEFENDING Double Trouble against the rest of the crew thinking they straight up murdered the real Flutterina. And again, problematic because of larger implications, but on the show Double Trouble IS A VILLAIN. Just because we think they're awesome doesn't mean they're not capable of shady shit. I saw very few people having a problem with this before. Other things they said about DT?

They specifically searched for a non-binary trans activist to voice the role.

Double Trouble was the whole cast's favorite character.

Everyone had a crush on them.

They support DT x Peekablue headcanon and think they should date.

3. "Noelle said Entrapta and Hordak are great representation."

Literally just did not say this. This comment was made by a fan writing in. A fan who, by the way, IS DISABLED THEMSELVES, and was writing in to thank the crew for the rep THEY saw in these characters. Noelle didn't agree or disagree at all. She goes on to give a character analysis about them both, and that's it.

4. "They made Bow's brothers slaves."

No. They didn't. It's a crew inside joke that all of Bow's brother's have pun names that rhyme with "Bow". The brother in question came from one of the other male creators making the joke "which one of Bow's brothers tills the field? Sow." Here's a pic from Noelle about the rest of the brothers.

Because of the complicated history between black people and "farm work" it's best to not make any joke at all like this. It was tasteless and misguided, but hardly a reason to grab pitchforks. Black people have the phrase "whites gonna white" for a REASON. We know there's no such thing as an unproblematic person. Creator or otherwise. Is it still wrong? Yes. Should people strive to do and be better? Absolutely. Should allies listen when POC talk about things that make us uncomfortable, and support us when WE call it out? Please, for the love of God!!! But I do not think the level of backlash the crew-ra is getting is at all warranted.

I understand I do not speak for all black people or lesbians, and I don't speak for ANY of those other groups mentioned and possibly offended, because I am not one of them. However, I felt the need to speak for myself. I am SO SICK of everyone knee-jerk reacting to every little thing that could possibly offend someone. Noelle is not perfect, but she has done a SHIT TON of work for representation and the progression of normalizing queer, inclusive stories to younger audiences. She also went to bat for a diverse cast of characters to be voiced by a diverse cast of VA.

The truly fucked up thing? There was a question someone wrote in about how a cis, straight, white person can respectfully tell the stories of underrepresented and marginalized communities. Noelle then goes on for 5 minutes about how it's difficult, and how it's more important to hold doors open for creators who actually come from those communities to be able to have their own voices heard. And this is the woman you throw flames at? Ridiculous. Our true enemies are able to so easily conquer us, because we so easily divide ourselves.

No one owes allegiance to any one fandom or creator. But we have got to start picking our battles more carefully. If we don't, people will become desensitized to our cries when REAL threats and offenses happen. And white people? PLEASE stop being so outraged at every little "off-color" remark someone makes YOU think might offend ME. I appreciate you wanting to be an ally, but you are drowning out our voices over things that really matter. That's why we get shit like musicians and sports teams changing their "racially insensitive" names, while police are STILL killing unarmed black peple in the streets without repercussions. It shouldn't be an either/or thing, but it often is, so please focus your attention on "canceling" THAT.

TL;DR: Don't just retweet and reblog everything you see without doing your own research and forming your own opinion. Speak out against bigotry, but understand when it's time attack, and when it's time to educate. Stop holding people on so high a pedestal they have no room to grow, and can only fall. Do not speak for, or louder, than the people you say you are standing up for. We can speak for ourselves. Help amplify our voices; DO NOT BECOME OUR VOICES. And finally, because we really do just have so much bigger fish to fry:

[x0401x]

Jeweler Richard Fanbook Short Story #13

Feel free to message me about possible corrections, and please consider supporting the creators by purchasing digital copies of the official releases: Novel || Manga || Fanbook. In case anyone is feeling generous: Ko-fi | PayPal. ( ╹◡╹)っ’･*

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Ramen Story

The voice of the owner as he said “welcome” turned into a mutter at the end, fading away. I could understand how he felt. With a light, cut-and-sew jacket draped over him, a blond, blue-eyed man had come inside, standing behind another man who quite literally had the air of a student. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to wonder if he was an actor. But we were just a party of two.

“Two people,” I indicated with a peace sign. We were guided to a table seat. There were no other people around. While we were at it, we gave them the meal tickets that we had bought from the vending machine outside. A couple of negi ramen.

“What a surprise. There’s always a long queue for this shop. So that’s how shops are like right after they open in a student district?”

In this shop, currently reserved to our exclusive use, I talked without restraint about all sorts of things – about the layout of the classroom building in my campus, about the hideout-like garden in the university’s premises, about my friends and even about my teachers. The shop’s atmosphere did that to me. The man who could well be the best listener in the world let me talk as much as I wanted, occasionally making an exasperated face.

“Here, sorry for the wait. It’s hot, so be careful.”

“Thank you, thank you.”

“You too, Mr. Foreigner. This is ‘hot’.”

As Richard replied with a “thank you, madam”, the old lady laughed fickly.

Now for the ramen.

Its soup was salt-based, warm steam wafting from it. That being said, it wasn’t as if there was anything special about it. We hadn’t added any ingredients, so it was a simple one. Fermented bamboo shoots, dried seaweed, fish cake and a large helping of green onions.

We silently put our hands together to thank for the meal, taking the chopsticks and parting them with a snap. I took the dwindled noodles, then opened my mouth wide and filled it with them. I tried to make as little noise as possible.

Delicious.

This shop’s ramen was simple, but it was a strong ally for a student’s cold pockets and quick-to-get-hungry stomach. It stayed steadily in your belly, resolutely reminding you for about three hours that you had eaten ramen today. And above all else, the animalistic joy of eating without thinking was more irreplaceable than anything else. Tasty food was great.

By the moment I was done with my very-IQ-lacking monologue of “thank you, o ramen; o ramen, thank you”, there was only a little bit left of the contents of my bowl. Still eating the green onion ramen without a sound, Richard looked at me with upturned eyes from his bended posture. Those blue eyes made me seriously wonder if there weren’t gemstones inserted in them.

“Hey, you got a moment?”

“As you wish. Whatever you please.”

When I prefaced it with, “This is serious talk – super, super serious talk”, he made a face that screamed, “You’re being too long-winded”, so I went straight to the point.

“I didn’t think you’d actually come eat ramen with me.”

I hadn’t imagined that the day would come when I could eat a bowl of ramen for 450 yen at a historical, cozy ramen shop in the student town with this beautiful man who usually only wore suits. I hadn’t at all. Even now, another side of me was still tilting his neck somewhere within my mind, wondering about “how things came to this”.

Ever since around the time I had started working part-time in Ginza, I had no sense of reality. Not even about the fact that I would later be going to Sri Lanka. No, of course, I was fully ready and had a Visa, so I was in a phase where all I had left to do was get on the plane and I was making the oh-so-busy Richard help me out with that, but...

Richard took a sip of the salt-based soup with the china spoon, then glanced at me. “So you were not expecting anything from me, is that it?”

“No way. On the contrary.”

When I said that I just didn’t think he would give me the OK, Richard’s lips curved in the shape of an arc, and after looking for napkins on the table, he realized that there weren’t any, so he took a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his mouth.

“I value the accuracy of your palate. It is obvious that, if you have a shop you like, I would want to try eating there.”

“Thank you. And for remembering about it too.”

Soon after I had started working part-time, I was introduced to a stone called chrysoprase. I once laughed my butt off when I learned that the etymology of the fresh green-colored stone included the meaning of “leek” or “green onion”. The topic then changed into ramen, and we, the shopkeeper and part-timer who subtly had not yet thrown off reserve with each other, talked about liking green onion ramen, what kinds of toppings we preferred, and other such things. I had kind of thought that “it’d be nice to go have ramen with this guy someday”. Back then, to me, Richard was someone as far-off as the moon and stars that shone in outer space. Of course, he was still as resplendent as the moon and stars even now, but he didn’t feel as distant.

Once I was done drinking the soup up to it’s last drop, I heaved a small sigh. “That was delicious. Last time eating Japanese ramen and this one for a while, huh.”

“How about putting instant ramen in your suitcase?”

“I ain’t used to making those. I’m the type that goes out to eat ramen rather than making instant ones. But there’s curry roux inside. Weird story, isn’t it? I’m going to a curry culture zone, yet I’m taking curry with me.”

“Analyzing Indian and Sri Lankan curry by Japanese curry standards can cause serious stomach problems. Beware.”

I puffed out my chest, saying that I had properly prepared myself for this because he had already told me about it before, to which the beautiful man gave a little sigh.

“May I also talk about a truly serious topic?”

When I told him that didn’t mind it at all and that I wanted to hear it, Richard looked at my face directly. It made me nervous. What was he going to tell me, I wondered.

“I did not think that you would actually invite me out for ramen.”

“Me?”

“Yes. I honestly did not.”

“Why?”

As I kept on tilting my neck at that sentence, which you wouldn’t think would come from someone like him – who looked like just breathing was enough for him to get invited to eat out –, Richard spoke to me reticently. He told me that people were quick to come towards him, but there were also those who surrounded him from a distance, watching him without trying to shorten the distance between him and themselves. So this kind of thing also happened?

Looking back, I was also from the keep-a-distance group at first. But I sucked at giving up, and whenever something that made me happy happened, I would be overjoyed no matter how many times I remembered about it, so every time I recalled the chrysoprase talk, I would find myself thinking that I should invite him out for ramen. It just so happened that the desire for this “someday” had amplified as the number of times that I thought about it increased, and I had finally voiced it this spring.

The shop was tiny and had a bit of a mysterious scent, but it was truly delicious. It would be closing this spring. I was concerned about what to do if he declined it with an awkward face, but the response I got after speaking up was a “When will it be?” without a moment’s delay.

“Was it okay to have invited you?”

“What do you think?”

“Well, I was just thinking I was glad that I invited you, but...”

The reply was a short-range smile. That slightly tired face with no sense of uneasiness to it was bad for the heart. But I was gonna get used to it. I had to.

“Still, was it really all right? That I was the one you had a meal with for the last time at a shop that you have fond memories of, I mean. Would it not have been better to do so with the friends that you always ate with?” Richard asked.

Hmm. So he was gonna bring that up, huh?

“Well, well, thank you very much for your superb consideration. But I’m glad it was with you.”

“Is that so?”

“I’m glad it was with you. Not anyone else; with you.”

I had learned many lessons even in just four years of university, such as that things were shifting, everything kept changing over and over, the green onion ramen shop would be gone, I would be leaving for Sri Lanka in the near future and there was no telling how my life was going to be from now on. But this jeweler was a man who knew very well how to cherish a memory.

Only to people like that did I entrust the things I didn’t want to forget.

Bidding a courteous farewell to the elderly shopkeeper and old lady employee, we exited the shop. Cars rushed on the Yasukuni Avenue. Kasaba during holidays was so quiet that it felt like a different world. As the wind softly blew, the cherry trees planted along the street shook and their pale pink petals scattered about.

“That was delicious, huh~. You got any plans for later?”

“I am going to help Saul with chores. We are not boorish enough to engage in business talk after just eating ramen.”

I stole a peek at his profile as he started chewing on a mint gum. The beautiful man brushed cherry blossom petals off his golden hair. He offered me one of the white gums, asking if I wanted to eat it.

I probably wouldn’t forget this sight. Even if that ramen shop was gone, even if my address was no longer in Tokyo.

Richard tilted his head a little, as I was still staring at his face even after accepting the gum. “Anything the matter?”

“Aah, sorry. Your beauty was like you’ve come from another world, so I spaced out.”

I then changed the topic, saying I was going to think about what to have for dinner or something. There were still lots of shops that I wanted to visit while I was still in Japan, though they were all set-meal and chain ones. I didn’t think I was able to hide my melancholy, but he’d probably act like he didn’t see anything. I was grateful for that.

In the middle of our walk to the train station, I looked back at the cityscape one last time and wordlessly offered a moment of silence to it.

Thank you for everything; I’m off!

[waywardrose]

On Babbushka

There is a group of well-known writers in the fandom who have been discouraged and put down by one of their own, Zannah - @babbushka​. It happens behind the scenes in DMs. It happens in posts and tags.

In DMs, she has started conversations with seemingly innocent questions. When she doesn't receive the response she was aiming for, she diverts the conversation to criticizing and humiliating the person. She has attacked writers for tagging—or not tagging—a post in a way she deems appropriate. She has gotten into arguments over how characters were portrayed and then tried to claim victimization when the other person wouldn't knuckle under.

She will appeal to her following to attack any fan or creator who has an opinion that differs from her own. She will encourage friends to send rude anons. Those same friends will also DM the target with rude remarks.

Several creators have stopped writing altogether because of their interactions with her.

We are tired of being discouraged. We are tired of being talked down to. We are tired of being bullied. Enough is enough. Under the cut we share our stories, let the chips fall where they may. It's up to you, the reader, to decide whether to support her.

We can only warn up-and-coming writers, artists, fans, and supporters of her behavior.

-

Hope - @callmehopeless

The Australian bushfires of the 2019-2020 season were nightmarish—for those living through it and those witnessing. As the season went on, cries for help increased. Joaquin Phoenix used the time during his Best-Actor acceptance speech at the Golden Globes to call for unity, action, and accountability. Regardless of what we may think of him, it was a thoughtful speech.

Hope, who is an Australian, found Mr. Phoenix's message encouraging and reblogged a gifset of his speech.

That morning, Zannah made a post about Mr. Phoenix's shady past and his association with a known sexual predator. The main reason wasn't because his speech was inappropriate or not timely, but because she didn't think he should be the one to get the attention over other actors who had spoken of the bushfires during the Golden Globes.

While Hope confessed she was scared of the bushfires, scared for her loved ones, Zannah was more concerned with purity. To Zannah it was about the face of the message, not the message itself. It didn't matter that Mr. Phoenix was amplifying support for Australia, what did matter was that he had done bad things.

It was virtue signaling on Zannah's part.

Still, this remains a complicated argument. Can a person who has done bad things actually have something positive to add to a cause? Should we listen to a problematic person if they share an insight? Does it reflect poorly on us to agree with their isolated statement? Will we be canceled, too? What about the bigger picture?

In this case, the bigger picture was hundreds of homes were destroyed in the bushfires and families were displaced. People died, thousands of animals died. And it was because of climate change. Mr. Phoenix called for his rich peers to examine their respective lifestyles and to give back.

Yes, Mr. Phoenix has done bad things. Yes, he has associated with people who have done bad things. His words resonated with people on Tumblr, and they reblogged part of his speech. He said something that gave Hope hope.

Hope was asked by a third party how they could help. She came back with a resource guide for those who wanted to send aid to Australians.

When it became obvious Zannah wouldn't silence Hope, Zannah decided to sub-post about the interaction. There, she accused Hope of being a rape apologist for reblogging a gifset and finding a little comfort in it. Zannah placed her ego before someone who was facing a very real danger.

Side-eying an actor is one thing, shaming a person you know for finding solace during a scary time is another. Hope isn't responsible for which voice got picked up. The only "colors" being shown here are Zannah's. She put her own concerns about being perceived as morally pure above actually supporting a friend.

I'll keep this brief - I knew Zannah for many years. And on one of the lowest weeks of my life, when my suburb was burning down and I feared for my family: she convinced me I was a rape apologist for sharing Joaquin Phoenix's speech asking for action on bushfires. In all my life, I never felt more alone. To add insult to injury, she then posted memes mocking me - something that has stuck with me to this day.

I've had dear friends quit the fandom because of her kinkshaming. I've had people I love message me distraught over what she's said.

Enough is enough.

— @callmehopeless

-

Rose - @the-wayward-rose​

This PM exchange started after I tagged my reblog of Zannah's fic Feast (Cameron Bistle x Reader) with cw: white reader. I had been on her taglist, and I wanted to show support because I liked the fic overall. For context, the reason for my tag is because of this sentence:

"But then you're blushing so pretty and squeezing his hand affectionately and reaching for the handle to the passenger side of his car, and then you're laughing when he swats your hand away to open it for you, and then you're beckoning him down as if to ask a question – only to place a chaste kiss to his lips instead."

This is from Cameron's point of view.

She asked the reason for the tag, and I explained it was because of the use of "blush" to describe Reader's appearance.

She misunderstood my premise. I did not mean only white people blush.

According to Merriam-Webster, blush means "a reddening of the face especially from shame, modesty, or confusion" or "a red or rosy tint."

It is an autonomic response, though. It happens in all humans for body cooling and nonverbal communication. The main problem with using it universally is that melanin obscures the appearance of said autonomic response.

Here's an example of three runners:

The two pale women, left and center, are pink in the face. They are blushing. The woman of color on the right is likely blushing, too. However, the melanin in her skin obscures the blood in her cheeks. She is not pink.

That's the pitfall of the word "blush." The observer can't always see it. We know what it feels like. We all do it. The face and/or neck gets hot. The use of "blush" is shorthand in narrative, and I understand that. Nevertheless, when writing to cater to a reader-insert audience of unknown heritage, writers need to consider describing with universal terms.

Again, she misunderstood my premise. I clarified by asking how Cameron sees the Reader blush under an abundance of melanin:

She sidestepped the physiological explanation to go straight for justification. She tried to legitimize "blush" as "perhaps [this]" or "perhaps [that]" when I stated earlier that blush by definition is pink or is to redden. That's the logic. A noncommittal, covering-all-the-bases, complicated defense diluted the conversation.

With her earlier "I have friends of color, hence I can't be exclusionary" statement, I wasn't sure she would get my point. I take full responsibility for not explaining, too. I should've asked for some time to gather my thoughts, but I didn't. Truthfully, I was unprepared, because I didn't think my insignificant tag would be an issue.

Also, I was confused why she was trying to police my blog.

Her replies came rapidly—before I could mention my confusion—and felt aggressive in the moment. Maybe that wasn't her intention, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

That doesn't take away from the fact that words have meaning. It's why we use specific words. It's not understood in the narrative that her use of "blush" could mean a bunch of things. If I had known, I wouldn't have tagged as I did. How is a reader of color supposed to know that? How does Cameron see Reader's blush if she has darker skin?

As writers, we don't know who is reading. Someone could be very pale or very dark. A person with medium-toned skin can turn a shade of pink or red. A person with darker-toned skin will not. We can't assume all readers are medium to pale. We need to develop better writing skills. We have to include everyone.

Readers of color > White-writer feelings

When I stood my ground, she doubled down, stating I made no sense in my tagging and that I lacked the ability to learn from her. She then diverted the argument, attacking a ficlet I wrote a few days beforehand—which had nothing to do with this argument. The Christian imagery in that ficlet was upsetting to her and "in such poor taste" because she headcanons Flip Zimmerman (BlacKkKlansman) is 100% culturally and ethnically Jewish.

Flip stated in the movie:

"I'm Jewish, but I wasn't raised to be. It wasn't part of my life. I never thought much about being Jewish. Nobody around me was Jewish. I wasn't going to a bunch of Bar Mitzvahs. I didn't have a Bar Mitzvah. I was just another white kid. And now I'm in some basement denying it out loud[...] I never thought much about it. Now I'm thinking about it all the time. About rituals and heritage. Is that passing? Well then, I have been passing."

By his own admission, Flip is ethnically Jewish, but not culturally. These are two separate things, and that should be recognized. While Judaism is ethnically and culturally entwined in ways that other religions are not, one does not equate the other. You can be one and not the other.

At the time, I didn't want her to sic her 3000+ followers on me. I wasn't going to argue further. I asked myself if the ficlet was important and worth anon-hate and realized, no, it wasn't. It was a throw-away.

And since I'm not culturally Jewish, maybe I had misstepped. And since Zannah is both culturally and ethnically Jewish, I asked for her guidance.

She flatly refused my request. I don't know how I was supposed to learn from her if she wouldn't teach me.

It sounded as if she wanted me to delete the whole fic. Like none of it was worth saving because it hadn't been Zannah-approved. I had gone against her headcanon, and the fic was too offensive to fix.

The last sentence was supposed to cover her back from criticism, and it placed all the responsibility on me. Obviously, she was above such petty concerns as someone else's blog or writing. Never mind that she had just attempted to get me to change my tagging system and rewrite my ficlet. On my blog.

Later, I figured out she was only criticizing and not offering a constructive critique. Her argument was not in good faith. It was retaliation for not giving her the obedience she thought she was owed.

This is the passage that offended her:

"It’s because of the way he fucks you. Like it’s confession—though he’s never been much of a church-going man. Every touch, every thrust, is a truth between you. Even when it’s rough and greedy. It feels like flagellation when you claw his back. He wears the sin proudly."

This is what I edited it to:

"It’s because of the way he fucks you. Every touch, every thrust, is a truth between you. Even when it’s rough and greedy. It feels like flagellation when you claw his back. He wears your marks proudly."

Yeah, I'm not pleased with the revised passage. It's lost its teeth, but I keep it.

The anonymous message(s) she mentioned weren't very anonymous, either. Unfortunately, I've since deleted the two messages. I had apologized to Anon for disappointing them. I said that if the fic was too much, they should unfollow and block me. I meant that in a self-care way. At the same time, I did not—and do not—owe anyone discourse. I don't have to explain my art when it doesn't hurt anyone. And no one was hurt by some purportedly misplaced religious imagery.

I have been silent about this since late January/early February. I was embarrassed. I had been bullied into changing my blog and my fic by someone who proclaims to never do anything of the sort. I had been a fool. Since this conversation with her, I have been blocked/blacklisted by third-parties, most likely at her behest, when none of this exchange had been necessary.

-

Kassanovella - @kylorengarbagedump​​

Zannah's followers have asked her about Kassanovella’s Fix Your Attitude. For context, it's currently one of the most kudo-ed fics for Kylo Ren x Reader on AO3. It had a bit of a renaissance earlier in 2020 because a TikToker wrote a song for it.

There is nothing wrong with not wanting to read a fic. If the subject matter doesn't work for a reader, they don't have to partake. Easy as that. So, these tags aren't a problem.

However, it led to this...

She lashed out, calling Kassanovella's fic a joke. A joke.

She implied her fics should be as popular as Kassanovella's because she works really hard on them. She admitted she's tied to the metrics. She implied she wouldn't be writing fic if not for the external validation.

Here's the thing about fanfic: readers like what they like. They don't care about a writer's effort. They only know what works for them. They comment and give kudos, reblog and like what they connect with. That is not under the writer's control. All a writer can do is try their best and concentrate on what they're passionate about.

To bash another writer's fic because it's popular is disrespectful. This whole bitter rant drips of entitlement and is an affront to Kassanovella.

Some time later, an incident happened in a chatroom during a streaming event for veterans by Arts In the Armed Forces (Adam Driver's organization). At least one fan brought up Fix Your Attitude while waiting for Mr. Driver to make an appearance. They were also disrespectful towards the other presenters by demanding to see Mr. Driver. It caused a big stink within the fandom, and Zannah had some choice words.

While mentioning the fic during the livestream was inappropriate, it was also inappropriate to throw all fans of the fic under the bus as she did in her tag. Sweeping generalizations and incriminations of a subset of fans certainly reads as if she resents those fans for a perceived slight.

Next, Zannah made an earlier disparaging comment about Kassanovella's fic, Little Bird. Unfortunately, that comment is lost. However, the messages supporting the comment remain. (For context, Little Bird is a Kylo Ren x Reader The Handmaid's Tale AU. It has been well received in the fandom, earning thousands of kudos on AO3.)

What an author wants to write about and sexualize is their business. Fantasizing about being dominated by Kylo Ren isn't cringe. It's a sexual fantasy. Some sexual fantasies can be disturbing to those who do not share the same kink.

Sexual fantasies are like ice cream. There's a reason why there are different flavors.

Also, "I will never ever be a person that tells an author what to do or not do" is an absolute lie. As evident in this post, Zannah most definitely tells authors what to do or not do.

Again, she bashes Kassanovella, claiming her writing isn't good. Her motivation for bashing Kassanovella can only be speculation. With Zannah's previously stated opinion of Fix Your Attitude, though, it indicates a certain level of negative emotions.

-

Anonymous

An anonymous person came forward with a case of Zannah policing their blog. Anon has a sideblog for their personal AU with Flip Zimmerman. They reblog gifsets and post headcanons. They were an enthusiastic fan of Zannah's and reblogged a few of the gifset she made. Anon tagged their reactions, and Zannah blocked them for it.

Anon went to Zannah and asked why they were blocked, because all they wanted to do was have fun and support fellow Flip lovers.

Anon was under the impression that because they were shipping themselves, and not Zannah, with Flip, she blocked them. Their personal AU doesn't align with Zannah's headcanon that she alone is married to this character and has his children.

While Zannah's reply may sound innocent, and perhaps it is, it also speaks to someone who has set herself up as the owner of Flip Zimmerman. (Wait until Spike Lee or the real Ron Stallworth hears about that...) It appears that if a fan does not comply with the Zannah-approved headcanon, where only she is married to Flip, that fan shall be blocked. If a fan uses tags on their blog that she does not approve of, that fan will be blocked.

Zannah's policing is disturbing. Going into a blog to look for something as a reason to block is disturbing. Any fan is allowed to use any tag on their blog how they wish. If the OP has said their post can be reblogged, how a reblogger tags is beyond the OP's control. To punish that reblogger for not behaving in a way she finds acceptable is uncalled for and unjust.

-

Anonymous

Backstory: Zannah does not view Ben Solo's arc in the Star Wars sequel trilogy as acceptable canon. However, she does view the story she created for Flip Zimmerman in BlacKkKlansman as completely canon.

This is not the first time she has been asked to clarify her position. Nor is it the first time she has avoided giving an on-topic response. A question asked in good faith should be responded to in kind.

If a creator doesn't want to address the issue, they can state that they don't. Deflecting from the question only muddies the waters. Fans feel dismissed. The creator feels hounded, and comes across as irritated and unapproachable. No one has a positive fandom experience.

There is nothing wrong with having a headcanon. What is wrong is Zannah mandating her headcanon for Flip on the whole fandom. As evident in this post, if a fan does not comply with her headcanon, they will be summarily blocked.

Also, there is nothing wrong with rejecting canon. Writers of transformative works have always done this. The problem is shaming fans who have accepted canon while not offering justification for that shaming. A creator saying they "can't help them" is the creator washing their hands of responsibility from articulating their thoughts when they themselves began criticizing the canon in the first place.

Again, this is a bad-faith argument. Creators can't ask for discussion and attention and then get mad when their viewpoints are challenged. Just because a discussion isn't going a creator's way doesn't mean it's an attack, either. It means people want clarification, and if one criticizes, they should be able to back up their criticisms.

-

While sharing our stories has been freeing, it's not our aim as fellow fans to cancel Zannah. We would hope she would take the opportunity to reflect on the damage she has done to the fandom. We hope we all can move forward with a more approachable and supportive scene.

No one person speaks for our fandom. The actions of one fan do not represent the entire fandom. Whether creator or consumer, you are welcome here.

[posted July 25, 2020]

[aion-rsa]

Every Cyberpunk 2077 Controversy So Far

https://ift.tt/2L1A5cF

Cyberpunk 2077 may be the most anticipated game of 2020 but its long road to release can be measured by numerous controversies that have often attracted the wrong kind of attention.

From delays to questionable tweets, Cyberpunk 2077 can easily be considered one of the most controversial games in recent memory, and it hasn’t even been released yet. While time will tell if Cyberpunk 2077 can “usurp” The Last of Us Part 2 and become 2020’s most divisive game, the project is already at the center of several heated debates that are causing fans to take sides.

If you’re wondering where you stand on the game’s most contested topics, here’s a rundown of every notable Cyberpunk 2077 controversy (so far):

The Numerous Delays and Long Development Time

Believe it or not, there have only been three official Cyberpunk 2077 delays so far and all of them have happened in 2020.

Cyberpunk 2077‘s first official release date was April 16, 2020. While developer CD Projekt Red noted early in the year that the game was “complete and playable,” the studio delayed the game to September 17 as part of an effort to better optimize its performance.

On June 18, the Cyberpunk 2077 team announced via Twitter that the game’s release had been delayed again and was now (at least at that time) scheduled to be released on November 19. Again, CD Projekt Red cited a “huge number of things to iron out” as the reason for the delay.

Finally, on October 27, CD Projekt Red announced that Cyberpunk 2077‘s final release date had been rescheduled for December 10. This time, the team cited not just bug fixes and optimization as the reason for the delay but the challenges presented by their desire to release the game across so many platforms.

Before we dive into some of the other delay related controversies, we should point out that much of the fan frustration regarding Cyberpunk 2077‘s delays are closely related to the fact the game was revealed via a teaser trailer released in 2013. While we don’t know what the status of the game was at that time, the popular perception is that Cyberpunk 2077 has been in development for seven years. That means that each one of the game’s 2020 delays has stung some fans harder than they otherwise may have.

The Crunch Schedule

You can’t talk about Cyberpunk 2077‘s delays without talking about the game’s controversial crunch development schedule.

We’ve covered this topic before in greater detail (you can read our full report on this subject here), but the gist of the situation is that developer CD Projekt Red had previously stated that they would not force the Cyberpunk 2077 team to work through a crunch schedule. In September, though, CD Projekt Red boss Adam Badowski confirmed reports that the studio asked employees to begin working additional hours. In exchange for the extra work, they would be compensated with overtime pay and additional funds offered by the company’s profit-sharing program.

That information triggered two additional debates. The first saw those who opposed the company’s crunch schedule battle those who claimed the company’s employees were being fairly compensated for their extra work. While it was generally agreed the company was compensating its employees for overtime more than other game developers have done in the past (and that some employees anonymously stated they were fine with the schedule), many argued that crunch development is an industry problem which needs to be addressed whenever it appears.

Finally, there’s the matter of the game’s delays. The latest Cyberpunk 2077 delay was confirmed after the report of the company’s crunch schedule had broke. If the insinuation was that the crunch schedule was implemented as a desperate measure intended to ensure the game was released on time, then could CD Projekt Red have skipped the crunch schedule and just delayed the game a little longer?

The PS4/Xbox One Controversy

When news broke that the most recent Cyberpunk 2077 delay was partially attributed to the struggles of launching the game across so many platforms, it didn’t take long for some fans to worry about the PS4 and Xbox One editions of the game.

Why? Well, some people expressed their concern that the previous-gen versions of Cyberpunk 2077 may hinder the day one quality of the next-gen editions. CD Projekt Red has stated that the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of Cyberpunk 2077 will benefit from day one upgrades, but the “full” next-gen versions of each title will not be available until a later date.

Others had the opposite concern and worried that the next-gen editions of Cyberpunk 2077 would be the “real” versions of the game and that the PS4 and Xbox One versions would suffer from serious performance downgrades. There’s currently no evidence which strongly supports that claim, but it does ring loud at a time when it’s nearly impossible to find a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S.

The Gender Tweet

One of the earlier Cyberpunk 2077 controversies involved this now-deleted tweet from the Cyberpunk 2077 Twitter account:

The tweet itself was sent in the midst of a greater debate over the use of that term and whether or not it had become a way to mock transgender people or those who sympathize with the struggles of transgender people. Basically, there was some concern that the Cyberpunk 2077 team’s use of that term was meant as an insult

CD Projekt Red deleted the tweet and issued the following statement regarding it:

“Sorry to all those offended by one of the responses sent out from our account earlier. Harming anyone was never our intention.”

As some noted at the time, this controversy was amplified by another incident in which GOG (a digital store owned by CD Projekt Red) tweeted a GIF of a Postal character urinating on a tombstone that read “Games Journalism” and “August 28th, 2014.” That date is believed to be a reference to GamerGate.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

The Transgender Poster

Arguably the most infamous Cyberpunk 2077 controversy involved this in-game poster:

The poster showcases a transgender model advertising a soda with slogans could be interpreted as references to transgender people. Given that this poster was circulated shortly after the aforementioned tweets, some felt that this was another example of CD Projekt Red using transgender people as a punchline.

In an interview with Polygon, the CD Projekt Red artist who designed this poster, Kasia Redesiuk, explained her thought process behind it.

“Personally, for me, this person is sexy,” Redesiuk said. “I like how this person looks. However, this model is used — their beautiful body is used — for corporate reasons. They are displayed there just as a thing, and that’s the terrible part of it.”

Redesiuk also stated that she had no intentions of directly offending people but did note that she was aware the image was inherently provocative.

“I would say it was never the intention to offend anyone,” Redesiuk said. “However, with this image of an oversexualized person, we did want to show how over-sexualization of people is bad. And that’s it.

The Gender Choice Character Creator

Cyberpunk 2077 would once again find itself at the center of a gender-related controversy, but this one was a bit different than the others.

In an interview with Metro, Cyberpunk 2077 artist Marthe Jonkers explained that the game would not offer simple male and female gender options during the character creation process.

“You don’t choose, ‘I want to be a female or male character’ you now choose a body type,” Jonkers explained. “So you choose your body type and we have two voices, one that’s male sounding, one is female sounding. You can mix and match. You can just connect them any way you want. And then we have a lot of extra skin tones and tattoos and hairstyles. So we really want to give people the freedom to make their own character and play the way they want to play.”

While some felt that this was the company’s attempt to cover up for their previous actions, much of the blowback in this instance came from fans who saw this as an example of the Cyberpunk 2077 team “pandering” to critics. There is currently no information available that suggests the game’s character creation process was drastically altered in response to any such criticisms.

Read more

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The Animals and Voodoo Boys

The reveal of Cyberpunk 2077‘s gangs caused some to question whether or not the game was relying on racial stereotypes.

This debate focused on two gangs: The Animals and Voodoo Boys. Some fans felt that the “Animals” name was intended as an insult directed towards a gang that appeared to largely be comprised of people of color. As for the Voodoo Boys, there were concerns that the gang’s name, design, and background were designed to exploit racial and cultural stereotypes.

CD Projekt Red later stated that The Animals is actually a multi-racial gang and that that the initial portrayal of them as a gang that consisted entirely of people of color was based on the specific scenario of the gameplay demo they were showcased in. Cyberpunk 2020‘s creator also offered this response in regards to these controversies:

“As for the Animals–the WHOLE FREAKING POINT is that they think of themselves as POWERFUL, DANGEROUS, WILD ANIMALS. You’d have thought the Lady named ‘Sasquatch’ would have given them a clue…The original Voodoo Boys were a scathing commentary on cultural appropriation. I LOVE the idea that real practitioners of Voudon moved in and took back their turf. And they even got the Creole right…Who the (bleep) do YOU think you are to tell ME whether or not MY creation was done right or not?”

The Microtransactions

Earlier this year, CD Projekt Red’s Adam Kicinski caused a stir by implying that Cyberpunk 2077 would have microtransactions despite previous implications that the game would not.

“We’re never aggressive towards our fans!” Kicinski said during an earnings call. “We treat them fairly and we’re friendly. So of course not – we won’t be aggressive – but you can expect great things to be bought. The goal is to design monetization in a way that makes people happy to spend money. I’m not trying to be cynical or hide something; it’s about creating a feeling of value.”

The Cyberpunk team later clarified that statement somewhat with the following tweet:

Nothing changed. Cyberpunk 2077 is a single player game with zero microtransactions. One single purchase. No tricks. Don't believe the clickbait. https://t.co/qX0iZwsAf2

— Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) September 7, 2020

The issue of microtransactions is typically controversial in and of itself, but the debate was amplified in this instance by CD Project Red’s apparent “anti-microtransaction” culture and outward consumer-friendly image. Furthermore, Cyberpunk 2077‘s multiplayer has been its own source of controversy due to the mysterious nature of the concept and concerns its development has further delayed the release of the Cyberpunk 2077 campaign.

The First-Person Controversy

It feels so quaint now, but one of the earlier Cyberpunk 2077 controversies involved the game’s first-person perspective.

In 2019, the Cyberpunk 2077 team confirmed the game would largely take place in first-person with third-person angles being used for certain cutscenes and driving sequences. This upset some fans who were not only led to believe the game would be third-person based on early footage (and The Witcher 3) but were concerned by the implications of a first-person game. Namely, they worried that the game would end up being a first-person shooter and that first-person cutscenes would not be nearly as “immersive” as the third-person storytelling featured in The Witcher 3.

Some fans also felt that a first-person perspective would limit the impact of the game’s character customization options, but CD Projekt Red later clarified that you’ll be able to see your character in mirrors and on the inventory screen.

The post Every Cyberpunk 2077 Controversy So Far appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3oeT0ia

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Boing Boing Charitable Giving Guide 2019

Here's a guide to the charities the Boingers support in our own annual giving. Please add the causes and charities you give to in the forums!

Friends of the Merril Collection I'm on the board of the charity that fundraises for Toronto's Merril Collection, a part of the Toronto Public Library system that is also the world's largest public collection of science fiction, fantasy and related works (they archive my papers). Since its founding by Judith Merril, the Merril Collection has been a hub for creators, fans, and scholars. I wouldn't be a writer today if not for the guidance of its Writer in Residence when I was a kid. —CD

The Tor Project The Tor anonymity and privacy tools are vital to resistance struggles around the world, a cooperative network that provides a high degree of security from scrutiny for people who have reasons to fear the powers that be. From our early hominid ancestors until about ten years ago, humans didn't leave behind an exhaust-trail of personally identifying information as they navigated the world -- Tor restores that balance. —CD

Planned Parenthood Because we deserve health care, including reproductive, gender, and sexual health care. Because access to birth control and safe abortion is a human right. Because Trump's regime wants to destroy all of this. —XJ

Software Freedom Conservancy Software Freedom Conservancy does the important, boring, esoteric work of keeping the internet from tearing itself to pieces, playing host organization to free software projects like Git, Selenium and Samba (to name just three). The Conservancy keeps these projects legally sound and gives them a scaffold to hang their institutional structures on them. Without the Conservancy, the software you love and depend on would be in dire peril.

Electronic Frontier Foundation I have been proudly associated with EFF for a decade an a half now and have watched, half-awed, as it grew from a scrappy, brilliant little organization to a powerhouse of enormous scale and power. Every cause, every fight enumerated on this page and in your life and mine will be lost or won on the internet. EFF is the best hope we have of keeping that internet free, fair and open. —CD, MF

Creative Commons Creative Commons is best known as a tool for sharing-friendly artists, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Since the beginning, and all over the world, CC has provided governments, agencies, research and scholarly institutions and NGOs with the tools to easily share across borders and the bewildering array of copyright laws. We can't beat trumpism without collaboration tools, and that includes legal tools. —CD

Wikimedia Foundation (Wikipedia) For 16 years, Wikipedia has been figuring out how to negotiate truth among diverse and even warring points of view. It's not always pretty and it's not always nice, but no one's yet found a better way to let ideas bash against each other until something everyone agrees upon emerges. It's not pretty, but compared to our democracy, it's a beauty queen. —CD, KS

Human Rights Data Analysis Group For more than twenty-five years, the Human Rights Data Analysis Group (HRDAG) has used data and statistical analysis to hold accountable the perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. HRDAG is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that provides rigorous quantitative evidence for trials, truth commissions, UN Missions, and human rights monitors around the world. In 2019, HRDAG estimated the number of women held as sexual slaves by Japanese authorities in World War Two; the number of people disappeared in the final three days of the Sri Lankan civil war; and the number of people killed in drug-related violence by the police and other perpetrators in the Philippines. In the US, HRDAG critiqued the growing use of machine learning in the US criminal justice system, especially those used in place of bail to determine who should be released while awaiting trial. HRDAG's analysis has shown that machine learning can amplify biases in criminal justice data, for example by worsening racial disparities in policing. Other ongoing HRDAG projects include research on mass violence in the Philippines, Mexico, Sri Lanka, and several confidential projects in the US and abroad . —CD

Institute for the Future There are no facts about the future, only fictions. As we've learned in this crazy political season, nothing is certain about tomorrow. But even as our attention is captured by the present, we can begin to write the story to come. A place to start is the Institute for the Future's Future for Good fellowship. Institute for the Future, where Mark and David are researchers, is a 50-year-old nonprofit that helps the public think about the future to make better decisions in the present. The Fellowship directly supports inspiring social innovators who are working to make tomorrow a better place. You can help too. Make a donation of $100 and you’ll receive IFTF Distinguished Fellow Bob Johansen's new book "The New Leadership Literacies: Thriving in a Future of Extreme Disruption and Distributed Everything." —DP, MF

The National Wildlife Federation National Wildlife Federation is a voice for wildlife, dedicated to protecting wildlife and habitat and inspiring the future generation of conservationists. Now's the time: for the people currently in charge of U.S. policy, the cruelty is the point. —RB

The Marine Mammal Center When seals, sea lion, or many other sea going pals need help, if they get lucky, they may be taken to The Marine Mammal Center, a veterinary hospital just for them. Thousands of heartbreakingly cute, but very wild, animals are rescued, rehabilitated and released on an annual basis. I'm a volunteer. In addition to the hundreds of highly trained volunteers that make the hospital run, the center always needs cash for fish and medicine. —JW

Winn Feline Foundation The Winn Feline Foundation advances feline health by supporting research and education. Winn has funded over $6.4 million in health research for cats at more than 30 partner institutions worldwide. Current campaigns include funding for research on Chronic Kidney Disease, a condition estimated to affect more than 50% of senior cats. —KS

The Southern Poverty Law Center & the Anti-Defamation League The Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defemation League fight hate, teach tolerance, and help secure justice, and fair treatment for all. "There is no 'them' and 'us.' There is only us." --Greg Boyle —JW

Facing History and Ourselves Facing History and Ourselves is an international educational group that helps young people study issues around racism, antisemitism, and prejudice in history, from the Holocaust to today's immigrant experiences to the killing fields of Cambodia. Their aim is to teach young people "to think critically, to empathize, to recognize moral choices, to make their voices heard, we put in their hands the possibility--and the responsibility--to do the serious work demanded of us all as citizens." —DP

Free Software Foundation/Defective By Design The Free Software Foundation's principled litigation, license creation and campaigning is fierce, uncompromising and has changed the world. You interact with code that they made possible a million times a day, and they never stop working to make sure that the code stays free. —CD

Free Software Foundation Europe Software has eaten the world, and software freedom is increasingly synonymous with human freedom. In Europe, far-right parties and authoritarians are inheriting a constellation of gadgets and devices that are "defective by design," built to allow corporations spy on and control their owners -- and those thugs are contemplating how they can use those companies' extraordinary powers to put whole populations under their thumbs. Free software in Europe, free software everywhere! —CD

The Internet Archive: In an era where the control of information has been weaponized, the Internet Archive's mission -- universal access to all human knowledge -- is a revolutionary manifesto. The Archive has taken on a new mission: to re-decentralize the internet and restore it to its indie, distributed glory. —CD

Open Rights Group The UK's answer to Electronic Frontier Foundation, and never more badly needed than now, with authoritarianism on the rise and the constant battering of the electorate with political misadventures and grandstanding. Brexit could allow the UK to escape the oversight of the European courts, paving the way for even-more-extreme measures. —CD

Amnesty International I just looked up Amnesty's founding principles and found tears rolling down my cheeks: "Only when the last prisoner of conscience has been freed, when the last torture chamber has been closed, when the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a reality for the world’s people, will our work be done." These values need our support more than ever. —CD

ACLU On November 9, 2016 ACLU changed its homepage to a picture of Trump superimposed with the words SEE YOU IN COURT. ACLU's deep bench of kick-ass lawyers has been lately augmented by a much-needed group of freedom-fighting technologists, welded into the fighting force we'll need until the next election and beyond: from voter suppression to free speech, the ACLU is key to the fight. —CD, MF

Liberty With the UK plunging into surveillance dystopia where human rights are an afterthought and racial profiling is becoming official doctrine, it needs Liberty, an organisation with 80+ years' track record fighting for human rights in many incarnations of the British project. The Tories ran on a platform of repealing the Human Rights Act: when the government is officially anti "human rights," you need someone like Liberty to take the "pro" side. —CD

826 National Born in San Francisco’s Mission District in the back room of a pirate supply store, 826 National teaches young people the art and magic of creative writing through classes, DIY publishing projects, in-school programs, and drop-in tutoring at seven centers around the US. And it’s all free for the kids. Help open more 826 locations around the country! —DP

Fight for the Future Some of the Internet's savviest, hard-working-est activists. Fight for the Future has kept hope alive for Net Neutrality, leading the charge to use the Congressional Review Act to overturn the FCC's Neutrality-killing sneak attack. —CD

Demand Progress Aaron Swartz co-founded Demand Progress, and as you'd expect from that history, they're relentless in reinventing the activist playbook for the 21st century. —CD

MySociety Software in the public interest -- it's a damned good idea. MySociety produces software like Pledgebank ("I will risk arrest by refusing to register for a UK ID card if 100,000 other Britons will also do it") and TheyWorkForYou (every word and deed by every Member of Parliament). It's plumbing for activists and community organizers. —CD

https://boingboing.net/2019/12/03/charitablegivingguide2019.html

[vantablade]

I don’t know who this will be helpful for, but in the interest of amplifying some black voices re: the content I consume, and anybody who might be interested in that sort of thing. Specifically I’m very interested in astrology, spirituality, tarot, as well as commentary, and I did some research into some black commentary YouTube channels if that’s your thing. Also I’m a sucker for Twitter so there’s some of my favourite Twitter personalities to spice up your feed not only with some educational content but also just... good content. 

There’s also a dash of other subjects like writers (three Tumblr writeblrs/writers, a Black-owned publishing house to keep an eye on with some new independent releases, and my current favourite author whose trilogy made me fall in love with fantasy all over again). 

Obviously it is severely reflective of my character that I did have to research certain creators because of my lack of exposure, and that does come from a white perspective in that I’ve never felt the pressure to engage with Black content the way I should haveーbut the only way to move forward from that is to actively seek them out, make adaptions, and introduce new content creators into my life. And hopefully, to my white mutuals (since I’m in no place to preach to anyone else), introduce some stuff to you guys too.

Because Black lives do not only matter when we’re mourning the lives lost, but Black lives matter when they are actively creating content we can support, across all platforms and genres. Whether it’s Black film, Black writing, Black art, Black YouTubers, etceteraー and while we should absolutely introduce more critical reading into our lives in order to develop a much more intelligent, nuanced perspective on the subject of race, we shouldn’t only view Black people as politics suppliers, but people who create content all across the board, especially when we consider that Black culture and Black creators are often the biggest influence on social media and modern culture. This is just a small, very niche list of what I have foundー and I would love recommendations! Your favourite designers, your favourite artists to follow, your favourite gaming channels (especially those who focus on thorough lets plays!), your favourite Black creator in any sort of environment. Under a read more just because this post is already long. 

Black Spiritualists/Astrologers/Tarot Readers who I really love:

Shonnetta’s Divine Tarot ~ A YouTube channel which does really long, in depth tarot readings for the signs and pick a cards if that’s your thing, she’s super bubbly and energetic and has great energy

 Itsbabyj1 ~ She does really fun but also well-researched videos, she’s super playful and knowledgeable about the subject. She has some really fun, laid back videos like how to tell if your crush likes you based on your sign, which if anything is just fun to indulge

Similarly, astrokit does really fun but also educational videos! Some based on crushes, or pet peeves, etc, but likeー she can even help you figure out your own chart bit by bit like her latest video on Moon in the houses. She’s sooo cute and has such an airy energy, I’ve spent many an hour relistening to her crush or pet peeve etc videos in the background because she has a really nice voice

If you want to learn some more advanced techniques, this interview with Darren King is really educational! He hasn’t made a lot of content yet but he’s a great speaker and his vid is so good, and you can even book a reading with him through the website

Sunshine Tarot ~ all of her readings are super accurate imo, she has such a homely vibe, she’s so charismatic that her videos feel like she’s really there with you. 

Gaialect ~ does occasional Tarot readings for the signs, she’s super kind and direct, originally quite a presence on Twitter and I feel like she really has a great camera presence and a good friendliness.

AstroDeeStars ~ again, just super good charisma & really informative videos. Not super active but you can watch her old content and be informed on the subjects!

ijaadee ~ A very advanced yet really personable astrologer who specialises in offering horary charts, and works with really detailed methodsーshe’s really interesting if you’re into that sort of thing!

Jalen Astrology ~ a black, nonbinary (and potentially gay) astrologer whose personality is stunning, and they’ve done some great threads iirc!

RetroJ ~ similar to ijaadee in subject matter and advanced subjects, but he does have some great introductory threads that you can look through. Also does a wide array of consultations if you vibe with that!

BlackWomenCry ~ A sex astrologer! They do really fun yet in depth analyses of signs and qualities, especially regarding sex and unpacking trauma. Worth a follow for sure

Misc (ASMR, Book Youtube, Publishing Houses/Writeblrs, Influencers):

LatreceASMR ~ A black woman ASMRtist for if you’re trying to relax, her stuff is super chill & she has a really comforting voice! I really like her earlier low fi stuff

Sung Mook ~ another ASMRtist! I love her character work and her roleplays so much, she has the gentlest voice you will ever here. Big sleepy I really recommend

Mina Reads ~ A booktuber! I’m still getting into the booktube scene so I’d also love recs if you’re into it as well, they’re really funny! (I believe their pronouns might be she/her but I can’t remember completely so I’d rather stay on the safe side). Also, they often review or read books focused on and/or written by Black people, which can be a great introduction to fiction by Black authors!

Yah Yah Scholfield ~ Horror writing, fantastic short stories, also publishing a lesbian horror novel this year 

Sandra T. ~ Yah Yah’s publisher/editor and a writer herself, that’s her main blog but she also posts her work here and she runs her own publishing company which currently has a poetry book, a compilation of short surrealist short stories, and Yah Yah’s novel): Oni House Press

Lydia ~ Another black writer! She posts excerpts of her writing work and I’m a huge fan of her stuff. Her writing is so... emotive, rich and inspiring.

My favourite book trilogy that I reference often is N. K. Jemisin’s The Broken Earth trilogy which is an incredible fantasy series, and I really recommend it as an introduction to fantasy, right now I’m also starting her other series. TBE is notable not only for its incredible world-building and character work (I cried... several times lol) but also for its subtle, natural integration of LGBT peopleーand I mean LGBT people, not just a token gay character but also trans characters, with even minor reference to nonbinary people. She has some other series that I can’t advocate for yet, because I haven’t read them, but of course when one series is so good, of course I have faith in her other work. 

Warsan Shire’s poetry is also groundbreakingー you’ve probably already seen it everywhere, whether in snippets or in huge excerpts, and she even contributed the poetry to Beyonce’s Lemonade. I read Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth which is a super short but very rich poetry book, which is also a great entry into it. 

Rashida Renee ~ you’ve probably used one of her scans in a moodboard, or seen someone use it. A Black trans woman with a huge knowledge on fashion and fashion culture, and highly influentialー I love having her on the TL. Also was a huge Tumblr presence, I’m not sure if that’s still a thing, but I believe she was scorpioenergies and she was fuckrashida.

Silver Summer ~ also known on Tumblr as trapcard I believe (also used to be blastortoise, a huge “comedy” Tumblr acc), another Black trans woman who is just ... naturally funny, very quick-witted and livens up the TL. Also a fan of KPOP if you’re into that thing.

jaboukie ~ you’ve definitely seen his tweets screenshotted. Funny as hell but not afraid to use his account to amplify things, lost his blue tick (rip) for the cause of mocking fools. 

D4Darious ~ a film YouTuber! but not just film, the act of making film, for any aspiring filmmakers out there.

The commentary channels I found through research but have not fully immersed myself in their content yetー Kat Blaque, For Harriet, Angie Speaks, T1J, D’Angelo Wallace, Joulzey. This is obviously not a comprehensive list whatsoever so I’m always taking more recommendations <3

[danganronpa-21]

These Last Few Days...

I imagine these last few days have been something that encourages thinking for a lot of people. I know it certainly has been like that for me. In spite of my “talent” generally being the use of words, being able to properly iterate everything has been difficult. I reposted and reblogged where I couldn’t find the words to say, but I did want to give my own statements about how things changed. How things will continue to change. 

Basically, in these past few days, I opted not to reblog or post any of the content you’d typically see on my page. If I wrote during that time, I posted none of it. It didn’t feel like the time was right to be nonchalantly posting fanfiction or answers to asks. It would be a distraction from what everyone needed to know and to hear -- that our system is unjust. That the murder of George Floyd, among many other crimes such as the murders of Eric Garner, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, Ahmaud Arbery, Tamir Rice... were unjust. Beyond unjust. Straight up vile. A series of situations that the word ‘inhumane’ scarcely begins to describe. The demand for justice was needed, and it needed to be loud. The last thing it needed was me, talking all over it, with my voice and stories that just weren’t necessary for the time. Amplifying the voices of others was necessary. Turning to people with the wisdom needed to guide through this time was necessary. So that’s why I’ve been quiet these past few days. It wasn’t my turn to speak, it was my time to encourage and support others and make noise with their experiences and their recommendations on how to help.

And in all honesty, I still don’t feel it is my time to speak. Not in the way that I so easily could, going back to acting like nothing happened. I feel I have more responsibility to attend to, which quite frankly is how I should feel. There’s more work that needs to be done, and I’m willing to do what I can. I don’t intend to stop just because the four officers who murdered George Floyd were arrested. There’s more justice that needs to be served. More change that needs to happen. I intend to keep talking. 

But with that being said, I do worry about everyone’s mental health at a time like this. If possible, there’s a part of me that does want to provide people with the comfort they need, and maybe that is in the form of my silly stories. Maybe it’s in the form of other friendly blog posts. I don’t know what it entails at the moment. All I know is, I want it to work in unison with any activism I post. Giving everyone an opportunity to take a breath or two as we go about this fight for rights is how I want to proceed. Even if it’s not strong, even if it’s not a true breath, I still want to try. So yes, in the coming days, I will probably post a little more of the stuff as I usually would. And yeah, some of it will differ even for the purpose of being more universal and even lighter. I want to keep morale up, and help the overwhelmed. Nevertheless, I refuse to stop talking and amplifying the important voices out there. 

And in saying that, I want to make better use of my own, so long as I have it. I thought about this for awhile, and I think the best way that I can go forward with everything is by making a promise to set up goals. Ones that will help me overcome the prejudices and privileges I might not even realize that I have. I fully encourage anyone out there who feels the same as me to do the same. To create a series of promises as you move forward. When it comes to me, personally...

I promise to challenge more. I cannot be silent. That’s how you comply, and I never want to comply with those who want to hurt the people around me.

I promise to read. Read things that will enrich my understanding, that will support black and other PoC authors who have put their voices out there. I know that there is much I have to learn from them, and there is no better time to start than now.

I promise to support black people within my community more than ever. I want to do everything I can to support local businesses with black owners, to keep them thriving.

I promise to support black content creators with everything I have. To boost their works and their voices so that they earn all of the attention and respect that they so deeply deserve. 

I promise to use my voice for good. To work alongside black people, to listen to their experiences, and represent them with all that they can teach me. To present them as the wonderful, diverse people that they are in fiction and in life. 

I promise to check my blind spots. To think again when I’m certain that I’m doing everything I can to help. I know that I cannot possibly be doing everything. There’s always more to do. 

I promise to expand my list, and to think of new things to do so that my list of overcoming never ends. So that I am constantly learning and bettering myself for the benefit of the people and the world around me. Black Lives Matter. These past few days have been hard, but they have brought us much that we needed to see and hear. And now, we have to keep moving forward, to make the world better than it was yesterday. 

As always, I hope you are having a great day/month/year/life. I wish you all the best and all of my love goes to you. Things will get better. Change is possible. Work together to make it happen. 

[sarriane]

it's interesting to see so much meta about 'the timeless children,' still, and considering all of the reviews, kneejerk reactions, criticism, love, hate, anger... it just makes me come back to the idea of how it's an attempt to restructure and recenter the show. whether it's a bad or good attempt is one fandom is never going to agree on (fandom never agrees on anything). but every little piece i see about it, every reaction kind of brings to light how it both suceeded and failed.

there's so much in the racial + gender dynamics to pull apart, places where they failed, places where they did well. i think it's the problem with a show that is still so white and so dominated by men, that while they're making an effort towards diversity, there's so many fatal missteps. things in the script that seemed innoculous in another circumstance are entirely changed when you add in identity factors.

(why would you cast a south asian actor and then put him in a nazi uniform? while it's great they cast an actor of color in a classic role, one who was clearly the perfect choice, it's also an unfortunate consequence that we now see the familiar racist image of a man of color "menacing" a white woman. thanks.)

it's not a problem limited to dr who, either -- i remember when kelly sue deconnick finished her run on her first volume of captain marvel, the villain was a genius scientist, and a woman of color. one fan commented (paraphrased): 'hey, i finally saw myself in your comic book - and i was the bad guy.' i remember KSD said something like "i thought all representation was good representation?" and she noted it, and i did too. again and again, we see this: creators in positions of privilege trying to provide representation, but falling short because of the racism, and misogyny, and bigotry they haven't unlearned.

and it's not easy. i certainly don't know how to write a story about a villain of color and a white woman and avoid any pitfalls -- perhaps the solution is to leave those stories to people who are actually from those racial backgrounds, or have those identities. but how to do that when the people in power making casting + writing decisions are white men? obviously, dr who needs more people of color working in it. it needs more women's voices, more queer voices. but even that's not a solution. RTD and JNT definitely didn't have eras free of homophibia and transphobia.

(we get this shit with queer-coding, too, which is why i've never advocated for doctor/master to become canon. i will happily read a million fics exploring the relationship, but i don't want to see the master portrayed as a predatory gay, thanks. and i don't want to see the doctor portrayed as a man caught in an abusive relationship, eventually ending with him literally keeping his romantic interest locked up and isolated while he tries to reform/brainwash her. i'm not into warden/prisoner porn, thx.)

i'm still working on my ideas about how/why doctor who has been irrevocably changed by 'the timeless children,' because the reviews aren't all bad. there are very much people who feel seen. in my opinion, it's very very difficult to take a show that's centered around england and turn it into a post-colonial narrative. dr who has hosted a variety of political opinions over the years, and so has the doctor (don't fucking @ me about kill the moon). in 2020, it's hard to continue to write the story of the doctor as a voice for the repressed when he's an old white man from a planet of "lords," that are a bunch of other old white men. at some point, it's another goddamn white savior narrative with a mansplainer at the center. (note that whittaker's casting does not solve this, but at least it's a start, i suppose? ugh, give us more jo martin!!)

so, the doctor is a woman now, and she has a history where she has been victimized, but she's overcome that. the knowledge of that does not victimize or martyr her, it allows the doctor to recenter herself in the narrative as a voice for the oppressed because she's been there.

i wish i could say that the show treated the jo martin incarnation with the respect she deserved, but even then, she's once again the Wise Old Black Woman trope. she goes from her character in 'fugitive of the judoon,' a doctor in her own adventure who refuses to let another co-opt her story, to a literal support character, the good angel on the doctor's shoulder reminding her who she is. and while it's nice to see a black woman doctor affirm who the doctor is -- she's affirming it to a white doctor. she's a prop. it's such a devastating waste of the character.

'the timeless children' reminds me a lot of captain marvel, and i think some of its failures are in that thirteen is not a Big Damn Hero. it's difficult to suddenly turn the privileged renegade into the timeless child, but also push the classic idea of: "should we trust the doctor?" because we shouldn't! she isn't a superhero. she isn't carol danvers, she has never had a history of fighting for everything she has - everything was handed to the doctor, including when he took the TARDIS and ran away. there's a note in an essay someone wrote in the 70's about 'the deadly assassin,' that showing us gallifrey takes the "who" out of "doctor who." for as much as the 'timeless children' tried to reclaim that, some of the questions it leaves us about the doctor are not pretty. especially when she lets an old, kind man die in her place (and grandpa joe from derry girls, for shame).

(on a wider note, in 50 yrs, will media criticism talk about the period of third/arguably fourth wave feminism in scifi? where white blonde women were treated like science experiments so empires could be built on their backs? but they refused victimhood and became heroines, standing up for those who canmt protect theirselves? which is great, except for the "white, blonde" element and the fact that this narrative, if it becomes a trend, is literally coopting parts of african american history.)

i hate that i have to settle for what we have, because i think media can always be better, and we deserve better, and they should try better. i've seen it said before that doctor who can't break down barriers, since it's a kids' show that airs before 8pm and has to be centrist enough to appeal to a wide audience. i think that sentiment is a little naive of what science fiction actually is and does. whatever the case, it seems clear to me that the next season of doctor who needs to involve more people of color in the cast + crew, and more women, and more queer folks. and it makes me aware of something much more in my control - that i've seen very few responses to the episode from fans of color. and i'm really not sure how to find these voices and amplify them, other than to follow and reblog, and listen.

i hope one day to reform these thoughts into something resembling proper media criticism, but i think it will take time, and revisiting old and new who, and probably seeing how the next special treats the reveals from 'the timeless children.' i've got so many thoughts about s12 and gender and race and the writing's almost "colorblind" approach to it all, and i never expected this to get longer than a paragraph long rant. there's just too much to talk about.

[thefederalistfreestyle]

Just over four years ago, a friend messaged me asking if I was free the next day. I hedged. They then clarified that due to a travel scheduling mix-up, they had a spare ticket to Hamilton at the Public. I was then free as of an hour previous.

I'd been excited about the show since I'd first heard about it, since Lin-Manuel Miranda was clearly an extremely talented creator and I'd grown up being interested in revolutionary history (both American and French) and also Alexander Hamilton in particular. On top of being drawn to the themes of both that period of time and Hamilton's life, it was just part of being a New Yorker and having it be local history – hell, during my teen years, I spent one summer in an interactive murder mystery afternoon tea theatre (we couldn't afford dinner) play performed in Schuyler Mansion.

(I was an Anti-Federalist. Sorry, Alex.)

(For what it's worth, I was also the murder victim.)

The Hamilton run at the Public had sold out far too far in advance for me to know what my schedule would be in order to purchase tickets, so I'd resigned myself to not seeing it. But then all of a sudden, there I was, halfway into previews. It turned out that Javi was on that night – his very first night performing the role for an audience. Lin was, by deductive reasoning, somewhere in the house with us. There were no reviews. There were no recordings. It was all completely new.

Two days after walking out of the theater, I created a new tumblr because I feared that the commercial theatre scene might not understand this weird, whip-smart, heart-full show about things that I loved and I wanted to hype it the fuck up as much as I could. I'd been using tumblr for a whole three months (and it would take me about another year to figure out how to use the ask box), but I went full-on white man and acted based on what I wanted to be rather than what I had proof of already having accomplished, all so that I could shout this show to the rooftops and do my small part in getting ground support going.

I honestly also didn't want fans of the show to end up with some whack-ass cutesy fandom name and, well, to the founders go the spoils.

It was clear within a matter of months that this weird musical didn't need my help. But I wanted to keep shouting.

Subject matter aside, it's rare that I've seen a more tightly crafted piece of theatre, with every single note and word and tiny movement and detail of design telling a story with power and clarity, often on multiple levels. It spoiled me for a number of shows that I saw in the following months, with entire bars' worth of wasted lyric space and messy dramaturgy and unrealized potential. The brilliance of all of the artists involved was inspiring to me as a professional.

But as for the story itself: it was a legitimate turning point in my personal journey, accelerating my way around a curve toward my eventual first return to my birth country and the fullness of my own experience as someone from somewhere else. I entered the theater hoping for a good show, and I exited it with something reverberating inside of me in a new and powerful way, some shared frequency discovered.

Hamilton isn't the entirety of musical theatre or of "diverse theatre" (whatever the fuck that means), and nor should it be. I hope to hell that people keep pushing for the Hamilton effect to increase the size of the pie for everyone rather than for it to be a swirling vortex that attracts new resources but sucks them all into itself. I hope that space is held for those whom the show causes pain, whether by reason of inclusion or omission, and that a wider chorus of voices is amplified to sing out.

For me, however, the energy of creation and questions of legacy resonated. And my mind was blown by how simultaneously traditionally inspirationally and yet slyly subversive the show was. The United States of America has none of the creation myths of older peoples or nations. What we have instead is relatively recent politically history that has been mythologized and enshrined as our national civic religion. Hamilton declared that the manifestations of these nationally worshipped figures, whom our streets and schools and cities are named after, are to be found in the faces of people of color and immigrants. Hamilton made it so that you can't worship the flag, as so many like to do, without worshipping these people.

Of course, people's powers of compartmentalization are pretty strong, so there are those whose walls inside are so strong that a popular musical will never be enough to topple them. Or who put themselves in rageful opposition to the show for all of these very reasons. Hamilton isn't going to save a country or the world. But the show has still turned out to be an amazing force, and I do believe that that force pushes for good.

All of which is to say: it's been a joy and privilege to be able to experience this phenomenon with so many of you. While I stay largely hands-off in my larger internet life for the sake of my sanity, it's been amazing to have even just this glancing connection with more people than I ever would have imagined. If I had the time and energy to keep up this unpaid second job that I haven't been able to spin onto my resume yet, I would. But as time has passed, I've been having less and less space for this, and I wanted to bring this leg of this wild ride to an end in a satisfying way.

I'll be working on cleaning up tags and otherwise making this a place that you can come back to get your fix of the first four years of this show's history, through Lin's returning as Hamilton in Puerto Rico. There will be a couple of summary posts as the waves of updates are completed. But the regular postings from MC Publius have reached the end of their run.

So thank you for the past four years. And maybe see you on the other side.