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I'M BACK....

TUMBLR DELETED MY ACCOUNT FOR SOME REASON EARLIER THIS MONTH AND ALL I HAD TO DO WAS BE REALLY ANNOYING BUT I FINALLY GOT IT BACK....

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What Is Layered Self Defence

So, what is layered self defence? A simple walk to your car can shift in a heartbeat. Maybe someone lingers a bit too close, their stance stiff and their gaze locked. These moments matter. Early detection isn't just about noticing danger, it's the difference between managing a threat and being cornered.

Taking a layered approach in self defence means stacking your options. You spot body language and actions, keep safe space and use your instincts to break free or get help before things turn violent. Each layer gives you more time, more choices and a stronger grip on your own safety. Spotting pre-attack indicators isn't a secret skill—it's learning to trust what you see and feel, and turning that awareness into action when it counts most.

Building Defensive Layers: The Foundation of Self-Protection

A layered approach to self defence isn’t just about training your body. It begins well before anyone makes a move. Each layer—awareness, space and readiness—gives you more warning and more control. Like an onion, these layers force a would-be attacker to get through more protection before they can reach you. The more layers, the safer you are, because each one slows threats and buys you time to react.

Environmental Awareness: The First Line of Defence

Photo by Serkan Gönültaş

The most basic, yet essential, layer is environmental awareness. If you don’t know what’s around you, you can’t spot trouble coming. You don’t need to act overly suspicious —just pay attention in a relaxed, steady way. Scan your surroundings as you walk, especially in parking lots, alleys, or crowded places.

Train your eye for:

Odd movements: Is someone pacing, shifting from foot to foot, or hiding their hands?

Crowd dynamics: Are people standing still, suddenly shifting, or forming clumps that block exits?

Unusual behaviour: Does anyone seem too focused on you, linger too long, or move against the general flow?

Trust what feels “off.” Many experts stress that nothing beats strong situational awareness. For more detail on why it matters, see this article on situational awareness in self-defense.

Managing Personal Space and Boundaries

Personal space isn’t just about comfort, it’s an early warning system. You notice when someone steps too close, sidles up behind you, or mirrors your movements to herd you against a wall or into a corner. Criminals often test these boundaries before acting.

Key warning signs:

Encroachment: A stranger moves inside your “personal bubble” without a clear reason.

Unnatural proximity: Someone stands too close, even though space is available.

Manipulated paths: You find your route blocked or you’re being funnelled, by one or more people toward a certain spot.

Setting and defending your boundaries can sound simple, but it takes practice. Stand tall, make eye contact and if needed, use a calm but firm voice. These tactics show confidence and can cause would be threats to back off. Respecting and protecting space is also covered in this guide to managing personal boundaries for safety.

Physical and Mental Readiness

Your posture and mindset are your shield and sword. Standing upright with your shoulders back, head up, and eyes forward makes you look strong and alert. Attackers tend to avoid those who seem ready and aware. Practicing a solid stance and calm breathing cues your mind to stay present and focused, instead of freezing or panicking.

Build readiness by:

Doing quick posture drills in the mirror—shoulders back, chin up, steady eyes.

Rehearsing assertive responses (“Back up!” or “Stop!”) so your voice doesn’t crack in the moment.

Practicing simple movements that help you step back, angle away, or disengage quickly.

Mental rehearsal matters, too. Imagine possible scenarios—you sense someone behind you, or someone starts a heated argument nearby. Picture yourself reacting smoothly, using one protective habit at a time. Consistent practice turns readiness into a reflex, making each layer part of your everyday confidence.

Recognising Pre-Attack Indicators: What to Look For

In high-stress moments, intuition is your first line of defence. But instincts get sharper when you know what to look for. Pre-attack indicators appear before most violent confrontations. They aren’t always obvious at first—often presenting themselves as clusters of subtle cues in body language, movement, environment, or speech. Learning these signals means you won’t just hope for the best; you’ll actually see trouble coming and have time to act.

Behavioural Cues: Body Language and Movement

Photo by Mikhail Nilov

A person’s body often betrays their intentions before words do. Certain physical behaviours are classic harbingers of violence:

Clenched fists or tightly balled hands—even behind their back.

Shifting weight from foot to foot, as if ready to spring.

Intent stares: eyes locked on you, “sizing up” distance or studying your movements.

Grooming gestures: such as rubbing the neck, wiping the mouth, or readjusting clothing. Stress or adrenaline often triggers these fidgety moves.

Deliberate flanking: the person veers to your side or tries to trap you between themselves and a wall or obstacle.

Clusters of these signals, multiple behaviours at once—increase the danger. While one sign alone may mean nothing, several stacked together often signal violence is near. Behavioural science and security instructors agree: trusting your uneasy feelings isn’t enough. Back your gut up with visible, researched pre-attack indicators so you can act with accuracy and speed.

For a more detailed analysis of these cues, you can review this expert body language and pre-assault guide.

Situational Signals: Environmental and Verbal Warnings

Sometimes the space around you speaks just as loudly as a hostile stranger. Early danger often shows in small environmental changes or verbal outbursts:

Restricted movement: You suddenly can’t move freely, find yourself boxed in by furniture, cars, or even a huddle of strangers.

Crowd shifts: Groups part or re-focus in ways that create privacy for an attack, or block your exit path.

Raised voices and threats: Arguments escalate, voices carry sharpness or direct threats arise.

Odd silence: In some cases, everything goes quiet as tension builds. Others in the area sense the danger too.

Body language and environment interact tightly. For example, someone moving in close as a group forms a “wall” behind you is rarely an accident. Being mindful of your surroundings combining sight, sound, and feeling—lets you pick up on layered threats faster. For training tips that sharpen these senses, see this advice on situational awareness as a self-defense tool and practical situational awareness tips.

Manipulation Tactics and Psychological Schemes

Not every threat arrives loud or angry. Many attackers use subtle “social engineering” to lower your guard. Understanding these common psychological tricks helps you stay one step ahead:

False friendliness: Overly friendly strangers or those who insist on helping you when you don’t need it.

Typecasting: Using negative labels (“You aren’t very friendly, are you?”) to make you defend yourself and engage, even if it feels off.

Forced teaming: Creating a fake sense of partnership (“Looks like we’re stuck here together!”) to make you feel responsible for their safety or company.

Guilt or obligation tactics: Making you feel rude for saying no, or using guilt (“I just need a minute, is that too much to ask?”) to manipulate your boundaries.

If you “go along to get along,” you’re more likely to be isolated or moved into a vulnerable spot. Recognise these moves for what they are—red flags, not just quirks. Set limits and walk away. Learn more about how to spot and counter manipulation tactics and how to defend yourself against manipulation from professionals who study these behaviours.

Cultivating a sense for pre-attack clues isn’t paranoia. It’s skillful self-preservation. Every indicator you catch adds another layer of protection between you and potential harm.

Turning Insight Into Action: Responding Effectively

Spotting signs is only half the equation. Taking action at the right time makes all the difference. Each layer of awareness builds a strong foundation, but turning that knowledge into movement, words, or escape is what truly keeps you safe. Whether you sense the hair on your neck standing up, or you notice someone closing in, trust yourself to move from observation to action. Reacting early and decisively stacks the odds in your favour.

Trusting Instincts and Recognising Clusters

Gut feelings don’t demand explanation—they pulse through the body, alerting us when something's off. Often, your body knows trouble before your mind catches up. Maybe you feel uneasy taking a shortcut, or suddenly sense that someone’s attention feels predatory. These alarms shouldn’t be brushed off.

Clusters of warning signs are even more urgent:

Someone invades your space while clenching fists and scanning exits.

You catch aggressive staring combined with manoeuvring to block your path.

There’s odd silence, subtle gestures, and your gut won’t quiet.

One flag may be a fluke. Two is a pattern. Three or more? It’s time to act.

Your intuition is the final, crucial layer. It gathers every bit of data—body language, environment, context and draws a conclusion faster than conscious thought. If you feel that cold rush or prickly sensation, treat it as valid. Give yourself permission to exit, speak up, or call for help.

For further insight into the science and impact of intuition, see this thorough guide on trusting your instincts in self-defense. You’ll find practical stories and methods for building this internal alarm into part of your everyday toolkit.

De-Escalation, Deterrence, and Disengagement

Photo by lil artsy

Every response layer should give you ways to handle a threat before it explodes. Crisp, practiced responses are the difference between freezing up and regaining control.

Key ways to disrupt a brewing attack:

Verbal boundaries: Use a strong, clear voice. Simple commands like “Back up!” or “Stop!” set hard limits and can stop or slow a bad situation. Avoid apologising or sounding timid—confidence is powerful.

Physical space: Don’t be afraid to step back, raise your hands in a “stop” gesture, or put an obstacle (parked car, chair, grocery cart) between you and the threat.

Draw attention: Shout for help instead of suffering in silence. Eye contact and assertive words can rattle an attacker who wants privacy.

Plan your exit: If you see a window, open path, or door—use it. Don’t hesitate. Quick, purposeful movement can catch a would-be attacker off-guard and give you the upper hand.

The best self defence is avoiding violence altogether. Practicing these strategies builds habits you can rely on under stress.

For practical ways to build de-escalation skills, review this guide on de-escalation techniques in self-defense. If you want more actionable verbal tactics, here’s a detailed verbal de-escalation breakdown.

Practicing your responses out loud and with trusted partners—makes them second nature. The goal: have a plan, act early and trust your body’s warning bells every step of the way.

Training for Real-World Readiness

Self defence skills are only as strong as your willingness to train and practice. Reading or watching videos about pre-attack indicators is a start. But it’s repeated rehearsal and hands-on training that make your responses automatic under stress. Sharpening these layers isn’t a solo mission either. The more you involve friends and family, the more your whole circle benefits. Real readiness feels natural because it’s woven into your routine, with everyone sharing the responsibility for safety.

Commit to Practice: Drills for Mind and Body

Photo by RDNE Stock project

Training the body to react is just one side of readiness. The mind needs to develop the ability to spot cues, assess risk, and decide quickly. Effective training means blending physical and mental drills together, using practice to make each defensive layer second nature.

Try this approach to make practice stick:

Scenario Drills: Practice “what if” situations—someone approaches your car, an argument starts nearby, or you’re confronted while carrying groceries. Play out your first, second, and third reaction.

Visualisation: Close your eyes and picture a threat unfolding, step by step. Imagine seeing pre-attack signals, setting boundaries, and escaping. This mental run-through builds habits as real as physical practice.

Behavioural Cue Training: Have a friend or instructor play out subtle pre-attack signals such as hiding hands, encroaching, or trying to flank you. Respond in real time, your job is to catch the cluster of behaviours, not just one.

Involving Family and Community

Defensive skills multiply when shared. Empowering loved ones with the same knowledge strengthens every layer you build. It only takes a short discussion or a quick drill after dinner for readiness to ripple outward in your family or friend group.

Ways to expand readiness together:

Family Discussions: Talk through pre-attack indicators at the dinner table. Share stories—real or imagined about times you felt uneasy and how you handled it.

Scheduled Practices: Try monthly self defence nights. Rotate roles so everyone gets to spot warning signs, practice exit strategies, and set boundaries.

Practice in Different Environments: Move from your living room to the garage, yard, or a local park. Changing locations helps everyone adapt skills on the fly.

Many martial arts schools now offer classes that encourage family members to train side by side. It’s about confidence, trust, and teamwork not just personal safety. Families that practice together often report stronger bonds and more trust. For more inspiration on practicing as a group, see insights from this post about martial arts as a family bond.

Practice together, and your readiness becomes a shared strength. It’s one more layer that protects not just you, but everyone you care about.

Conclusion

Safety is rarely built on a single choice or skill—it comes from layers. Every detail you pick up, every personal limit you mark out and each second you gain by reading the signals adds up. These layers slow danger and buy you room to act.

Start simple. Add one new habit today, whether it’s scanning your surroundings or practicing a strong verbal command. Each layer you build strengthens your edge and protects the circle of people you care about.

Your awareness and action won’t just keep you from harm, they can inspire calm and readiness in those around you. Take the first step now and make your world safer, one habit at a time. Thanks for reading—share your best tip or story below and help others add another layer to their self defence.

 

Source: What Is Layered Self Defence

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I keep seeing the take that authors on AO3 need to stop deleting their fics and instead to orphan them without any explanation of the consequences of orphaning a fic and as an author I really need to say something to this.

Stop telling people to just orphan their fics.

Orphaning a fic means giving up any and all ownership over it. No way to claim it back, edit it or delete it. Yes it's an archive but an author should still have the right to delete their work if they feel like they don't want it to be up anymore.

Readers always scream for authors to orphan their fics instead of deleting because they feel like they have a right to the fanworks that is shared with them for free. If it's so important to you to not lose a fic, download it. Also comment and encourage the authors, instead of telling them to give up all ownership to their work.

To authors, if you think about deleting your fics, there are other options you should employ first. If you don't want it connected to your name, put it into an anonymous collection. As long as it's in there, noone can see you wrote it, you still can edit ot or delete it and moderate comments on it. You can even move it to anther account, just create another one, add it as co author and then take your main account off. Then you can still edit it from your second account but it's no longer connected to your account.

If you don't want it to show anymore put it in a unrevealed collection, that way, the fic won't show up but it's still there, you can still see it, read comments and make it public again.

If you feel the urge to delete your fic, try one of these options first and see how you feel about it after a while, you can still delete or orphan afterwards, but this hopefully makes your decision easier.

Only orphan a fic if you're 100% sure. This is permanent, there is no way back from that, AO3 support will NOT help you if you did it on accident or change your mind. Don't listen to people telling you to just orphan it, make very sure, this is what you want.

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This is a bit embarrassing but here goes. I’ve always been on the larger side of average, but with some new medication I’ve gained quite a bit of weight and am definitely now in fat territory. My question is, I’ve been having a harder time wiping my ass, to be totally honest. Do you have any tips or tricks I can use as I adjust to my new size?

nah it’s important to talk about fat hygiene without shame! this is a change I’ve dealt with as well. I can’t reach behind myself anymore so I have to lean forward & go underneath. you might have to get off of the toilet completely so that you can squat low enough with your legs open sumo style. if that’s not doing the trick, get a bidet! I think everyone should give bidets a chance. I got one for $15 online and installed it at home with my partner. they also make portable ones! handles that grip wipes/tp also exist for this reason.

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Skincare is Like Cooking—Here’s the Perfect Recipe for Healthy, Balanced Skin 👩‍🍳💆‍♀️

If you wouldn’t randomly throw ten different spices into a dish and hope for a five-star meal, then why are you doing that with your skincare routine? 🤯

Too many actives? Disaster.

Skipping the essentials? Ruined.

Not giving it time to work? Ineffective.

Skincare is like cooking—you need the right ingredients, the right method, and a little patience. Let’s break it down so you can stop overloading your skin and start cooking up a glow. 👩‍🍳✨

Step 1: The Base – Cleansing 🥄

Like every great meal starts with a solid base, your skincare routine starts with cleansing.

❌ The Mistake:

Using a harsh, stripping cleanser that leaves your skin dry and tight. That’s like burning your onions before you even start cooking—the whole dish is ruined!

✅ The Fix:

Choose a gentle, non-stripping cleanser suited for your skin type. Your skin should feel fresh, not overcooked.

💡 Best Cleansers for Your Skin Type:

✔️ Oily Skin? Foaming gel cleansers with salicylic acid.

✔️ Dry Skin? Hydrating cream cleansers with ceramides.

✔️ Sensitive Skin? Fragrance-free, pH-balanced cleansers.

Step 2: The Seasoning – Actives 🌶️

Actives like Vitamin C, Retinol, and AHAs are the seasonings of skincare—they enhance the results, but too much? Disaster.

❌ The Mistake:

Mixing multiple actives without a plan. It’s like adding too much chili powder and salt—you end up ruining the dish (aka your skin barrier).

✅ The Fix:

✔️ Introduce one active at a time to see how your skin reacts.

✔️ Alternate between days—don’t mix Retinol and strong exfoliants in one go.

✔️ Start with low concentrations before going full MasterChef mode.

💡 Pro Tip: If your skin is red, irritated, or flaky—you’ve over-seasoned. Cut back and let your skin recover.

Step 3: The Butter – Moisturizer 🧈

Would you make pasta without sauce? No? Then don’t skip moisturizer—it’s what holds everything together!

❌ The Mistake:

Thinking you don’t need moisturizer because you have oily skin. That’s like serving dry toast—unappetizing and unpleasant!

✅ The Fix:

Every skin type needs hydration. Find a moisturizer that works for you:

✔️ Oily Skin? Lightweight gel-based moisturizer.

✔️ Dry Skin? Rich, ceramide-packed cream.

✔️ Combo Skin? A water-based moisturizer that hydrates without heaviness.

Step 4: The Final Touch – Sunscreen 🔥

This is the most important step. If you skip it, everything else is wasted—just like forgetting to plate your food after all that effort.

❌ The Mistake:

Not wearing sunscreen because it’s cloudy or you’re indoors. That’s like leaving food out and wondering why it spoils.

✅ The Fix:

Apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ daily, no excuses! Your future self will thank you.

Quick Recap: The Perfect Skincare Recipe

Here’s your foolproof skincare formula for glowing, healthy skin:

🥄 Step 1: Cleanser = The Base → Use a gentle cleanser that preps your skin.

🌶️ Step 2: Actives = The Seasoning → Introduce ingredients slowly and wisely.

🧈 Step 3: Moisturizer = The Butter → Locks in hydration and balances the skin.

🔥 Step 4: Sunscreen = The Final Touch → Protects everything you’ve worked for!

Final Thoughts: Are You a Skincare Chef or a Skincare Disaster? 🍳🔥

I used to dump actives into my routine like I was seasoning fries—and let’s just say my skin fried too. 😭 Don’t make my mistake.

Skincare is all about balance, patience, and the right combination of ingredients. Follow this “recipe,” and your skin will reward you with a healthy, glowing complexion.

👇 Tell me in the comments: Are you a Skincare Chef 👩‍🍳 or a Skincare Disaster 🔥? Let’s fix your routine together!

[tippsfueralle]

Had an argument with a colleague that people (at least used to) keep their online and offline lives very separate from each other, and want to keep these separate. While I realize we're all gremlins here, I was curious to see what people here treat 'living online'.

Please reblog for a larger sample size.

(Yes, I do realize snowball sampling is piss poor researching, but I am curious.)

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Block the writing-prompt-s blog. I don't care if you like them I don't care if they're important to your ability to practice your creativity. They chased a genocide survivor off of tumblr with harassment and baseless accusations. This is a serious fucking problem and it's more important than 1 writing prompt blog.

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via Fundamentally Feline

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idk if this is a contreversial take or not but i think that the ideal internet experience is being able to remove specific things (triggers, nsfw, gore) if you truly dont want to see them but overall being also shown things you aren’t interested in. i think one of my fave things about tumblr is seeing like 50% of my dash be about fandoms im not in, bands i dont like and quotes from books i dont want to read rather than this endless feedback loop of tiktok showing me ‘exactly what i want to see’ in a trap to keep me online as long as possible and blind to communities outside of my own. i want a mix of curating my own experience and a healthy dose of content i don’t already know i want to see, yknow?

[tippsfueralle]

Rare images of a leafcutter bee sharing its nest with a wolfspider:

These photographs were taken in Queensland, Australia, by an amateur photographer named Laurence Sanders.

The leafcutter bee (Megachile macularis) can be seen fetching freshly-cut leaves, which she uses to line the inner walls of her nest. The wolfspider moves aside, allowing the bee to enter the nest, and then simply watches as the leaf is positioned along the inner wall.

After inspecting the nest together, they return to their resting positions -- sitting side-by-side in the entryway to the nest.

The bee seems completely at ease in the presence of the wolfspider, which is normally a voracious predator, and the spider seems equally unfazed by the fact that it shares its burrow with an enormous bee.

This arrangement is completely unheard of, and the images are a fascinating sight to behold.

Sources & More Info:

Brisbane Times: The Odd Couple: keen eye spies bee and spider bedfellows in 'world-first'

iNaturalist: Megachile macularis

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Three years back, I created 13 alternate accounts on Discord and inserted them into my friend group over the course of a few months, pretending each of them was a new person. They have their own personality and typing / grammar distinctions, and their own fake life events and stories that I've had to keep meticulous track of. Some of them even engaged romantically with real people, though none in the present day. Nowadays the original friend group is split up, with some fake people being present in about each server that still has some kind of connection to the former group. One active group chat even has six alts and one real person. I literally have to keep this up like a puppetmaster because these pretend people have real, important connections to people I still care about. It's hard but I literally don't know how to resolve or change the situation without causing a wave of dispair and destruction in one way or another.

.

[tippsfueralle]

the thing about CC is that she did plagiarize. she was found guilty of plagiarism and banned from fanfiction dot net! she plagiarized pamela dean, among others, and lied about it repeatedly! it happened! and regardless of whatever else she writes, regardless of whether the publishing industry and her fans trust her not to do it again, regardless of how many times her wikipedia page gets scrubbed clean, that will always have happened! so it is not in fact cruel gossip, but a factually true statement, to say that she plagiarized and i'm not interested in supporting her or giving her the benefit of the doubt because she plagiarized and lied about it repeatedly! fuck!

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I don't normally make "political" art like this, but after recent events I felt I had to say something

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📍Capadoccia, Turkey 🇹🇷

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do you guys think jesus, the son of a carpenter, smelt the wood of the cross & temporarily thought of home

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Friday June 16th, 2023

🌟 New

We've renamed the menu option “This particular post isn’t for me” to “Dismiss”. This option allows you to dismiss a post that you don’t like. You can see this option in the meatballs menu of a recommended post (Based on your likes, Liked by a blog you follow, Based on a tag you follow, posts on the “For you” feed).

On web, we’ve added post permalinks to the timestamps in the post headers and reblog headers, to make it easier to get to the posts directly. You’ll need to enable “Show timestamps” in your dashboard settings to see these timestamps.

Also on web, you can now Command+Click (Mac) or Control+Click (Windows) on the empty space of a post header or a reblog header to open that post in a new tab or window.

🛠 Fixed

On web, the styling of the Delete blog button on the blog settings page has been updated to make it less easy to accidentally click.

On web, the meatball menu in the blog view header will show the “Get notifications” option after you’ve followed the blog.

🚧 Ongoing

We’re aware that there is currently a bug with re-arranging photosets on Android. We have a fix for that in the next release!

🌱 Upcoming

Nothing to report here today.

Experiencing an issue? File a Support Request and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!

Want to share your feedback about something? Check out our Work in Progress blog and start a discussion with the community.