yeoniecore

[yeoniecore]

Follow up to the post about interacting with conservatives.

(Reminder that this is drawn mostly from my personal experiences as someone who grew up in a very conservative Christian environment and that it is not meant as a demand for marginalized people to spend all their energy and mess up their mental health arguing with people about issues that are very fraught for them, but rather, asking people to use their privilege when they can. This has been a clarification of my point of view here.)

When I say “the left needs to stop being hostile toward people who are ignorant about their ideas” i say that with the awareness that many conversations, especially conversations on the internet, aren’t going to change people’s minds. Some people, for instance, are just straight up white nationalists who know the implications of their ideas and just don’t care. Some people aren’t asking questions so they can learn more about your ideas, they just want to wear you down to where they can leave the conversation feeling like they “won.” The Internet is especially like this.

However. People assume that every person who comes to a discussion from a “conservative”/“right wing” point of view is that way because morally, they’re just Bad, or because they have made a choice not to value equality and compassion and human lives, rather than not having the resources to understand your ideas, not being able to understand the language you use to discuss your ideas, or not knowing what your ideas actually are or mean—and being treated with hostility or assumed to be acting in “bad faith” when they ask. I want to talk here about my personal experiences and talk about the specific groups of people I think are being excluded by the way the Left discusses/spreads their ideas.

The main group I have in mind is young people. Specifically young people raised in conservative environments who are still at least partly under the supervision of their parents. Saying that “gen z” is politically liberal doesn’t make sense, “gen z” is not a homogenous group, and it doesn’t help the young people who were raised in conservative families and are trying to become educated about social issues.

This was me as a young teenager. I was homeschooled and though I’m grateful for that experience because it allowed my parents to better accommodate my autism and ADHD, it also meant I’ve spent a lot of time in homeschooling communities in rural Kentucky, which are often very, very right-wing, conservative and fundamentalist Christian. And at the beginning of my teenage years my parents were pretty conservative (and they were and are Christian.) At this point in my life I’ve had little success finding anyone with a background anything like mine whose beliefs ended up anything like mine. It seems that most of the people I grew up around in that community have the same right wing fundamentalist beliefs they always did, and most people I interact with now on and offline cannot even begin to comprehend what my life experiences and beliefs were like.

So when I was like 14 or 15, I ended up being friends with one of the only left of center people that was in the homeschool group and we had a lot of discussion about social issues. To her the things I said might have been incredibly stupid and maybe very hurtful. But we were very close friends and we kept having them.

I don’t know what would have happened if I had tried to learn about social issues through the internet. I would have encountered incredible amounts of hostility toward people like me, most of which I wouldn’t know how to contextualize or understand. I would get cursed at and belittled when I asked questions. I was hearing from others around me and from the media I was exposed to that Leftists were violent, irrational, and hateful, and that they didn’t care about people, only about hurting those they saw as “privileged” (and they didn’t care what kind of problems you’d had in your life, being white or Christian meant you were “privileged” and that was all that mattered to them). I would hear about things like “privilege” and not know what was meant by them. I still cringe when I see posts on here that I know would have confused and horrified me as a 15 year old with no knowledge of Leftist ideas. Or when I read articles so clogged with Leftist jargon that as a young teenager they would have been incomprehensible.

I cringe when I see “google is free” because as someone who has tried to understand complex issues with nothing but google, it is terrible and confusing and it’s hard to get straight answers to even fairly straightforward questions using the internet. It still happens to me.

I know now that there are books out there that explain leftist terms and ideas with beginners in mind, but I didn’t know about them until pretty recently, because I wasn’t deeply involved in the communities that spread those ideas around. And most of the young people I knew probably wouldn’t have been able to easily buy or check out those books, if they did learn they existed. I’m not saying for certain that they’re inaccessible, all I can say is that I frankly didn’t know they existed.

I am also thinking of people of all ages in very conservative Christian communities. Both of my parents have a master’s level education. But it is very recently that they have broken away from the Republican Party and started to learn about social justice. My mom has been reading lots of books about the history of racism in America over the past couple months.

I’ve had some conversations with my parents that I think any of you on here would find very strange. One time my dad became incredibly convinced that it was wrong/offensive to say “Mexican” (yes, like the nationality). My mom asked me recently if it’s offensive to say “African-American.” They’re genuine questions from people who are just now coming to the discussion without any knowledge of what it’s built on and are trying to navigate rules that to them seem completely arbitrary.

I keep thinking about how confusing most of the discussion I see online would be to her, and what people would think about the beliefs and assumptions she started out with. A conversation I had with her a year or two ago involved “Native American” Halloween costumes. Online everyone assumes that “everyone knows” it’s offensive and that the people who do it have decided to not care. But she said that she’d never seen it as mocking or disrespectful, more as an act of appreciation. White people from rural areas aren’t born knowing this stuff. Nor do they easily find it out. Even well educated ones. But the groups and communities I was branching out into seemed like they couldn’t even comprehend the idea that someone could just Not Know something so obvious to them. Am I saying it’s...defensible to “Not Know?” No, and yet...it’s not clear to me the means by which people are supposed to learn. And no one else seems to be unclear on that. It’s just...obvious. Listen. Learn. But how? Where?

Here’s what I’m noticing: left wing ideas about social issues are not just spread about and disseminated, they are restricted to (what I experience as) little puddles of people that can be VERY hard to get into from the outside. Recently my mom sent me an article about intersectionality and as she was talking to me about it it seemed like it was the first time what “leftists” meant by “privilege” had ever made any sense to her. When I’d had conversations like this a year or so ago with my parents they’d say things like “Being white doesn’t make you privileged. Black people can have privileges, too.” And now my mom was telling me all about this article that discussed how race, sexual orientation, class, and many other factors can intersect and affect people’s lives. Before, she’d probably only ever heard the term “white privilege” thrown around and taken it to mean what right-wing media said it meant—that “leftists” think being white means you don’t have any problems and that you didn’t work for anything you have.

I don’t know. Some people’s social circle or community just doesn’t give them a chance to even encounter these ideas that we all take for granted.

I mention religious communities because there is an idea peculiar to the Christian Right that makes it especially difficult to research new ideas or Just Read a Book. Fundamentalist Christians tend to see literally everything in the world as attempting to convert them, and literally every viewpoint as either clearly opposing Christianity or not. Growing up in that environment you’re taught to be very suspicious of the worldviews of people you consume media from, because there are so many messages out there trying to get you to renounce your faith. I remember discussions on a forum about how Christians shouldn’t watch Star Wars because it had Taoist influences, and reading an article from some right wing website about how the Lion King promotes pantheism. I remember especially reading articles about how “the world” is trying to convince Christians to accept gay people because they have no sense of morality. Or something. Christian fundamentalists see the world and everything in it as having a “conversion” agenda. Just like they wish to convert other people to their religion, pop songs that talk about hooking up at a club are trying to convince their listeners to be sexually promiscuous.

(I managed to mess up my sexuality pretty badly because I got a bunch of answers to my questions about sex from Christian websites. So much psychological damage. But from the points of view I’d been exposed to, this was the only “safe” avenue to get sex education, because other sources would have anti-Christian agendas about sexuality.)

All that to say that the reason a lot of people aren’t going to just “go and read X book” is that people from the background of the Christian Right are unlikely to see such books as informative and instead see them as heavily biased, having an agenda, and potentially completely propaganda. They’re taught to be leery of stuff from a “leftist” point of view. They see a lot more intent and malice in it than just education. This probably isn’t even conscious, it’s closer to an instinct. So it’s just not going to work.

I don’t know. Interpersonal conversations are important. Being willing to answer “dumb” questions is important. The way we discuss things is hard to access and understand, and it’s not people’s laziness that they can’t access and understand it sometimes. My experience is not universal and I do not want to center it in the conversation. I do however feel that my experience is something almost everyone I’m talking to in this post has next to no knowledge of, so I’m sharing it in the hope that some good will come of it.

[yeoniecore]

[yeoniecore]

Twice minecraft icons

like or reblog

credit @/dahyunbyul tt

[yeoniecore]

Levi: Why does every girl in a doujinshi have to nut like, “uuuuwww! Noooo! Your hot stuff is inside me! It’s pouring inside me! Oh no!! Your hot stuff is inside me now! I’ll get pregnant with your hot stuff! Ohhh! Not inside me!!”

Beel: me when I eat soup lol.

Satan: The fuck kinda soup you eating?

Asmo: Some really good fucking soup, obviously.

[yeoniecore]

Dear Inevitable Future School Shooters (Reconsider)

Our society, primarily America, seems to reward and outright encourage future shootings by giving constant speculation of past and present shooters. Infamy is repeatedly the result with a contagious craving. Not to mention that guns are pretty accessible and mental health is practically ignored…

Maybe it’s safe to assume the motives revolve around wanting somebody to listen, and to release your internal pain to everyone around you, like spores infecting its environment. Nobody listens, so all you want to do is go out with a bang, to command some fucking attention for once.

You most likely relate to Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold to some extent: feeling internal pain, angry, desperate, alienated, hopeless, obsessed with Dr. Pepper and weird music, etc. The thing is, tons of people relate to them. It’s pretty fucking evident when you look in the fucking Columbine tag…

What I’m trying to say is that you’re definitely not the only person who feels like shit all the time, and there are tons of people you can talk to and share your feelings with. Whether in person or online. I mean, it’s easier said than done. But what I mean is that just because everyone around you is smiling and laughing, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not struggling with their own internal battle. We’re all struggling, and some of us need more help than others. I mean hell, I’ve been in therapy for about a decade now.

Look, gunning a bunch of people down and bombing the hell out of everything is not gonna make you a revolutionary. If anything, you’ll just be another school shooter. Most rational people are not going to side with you if you go shoot up your school, ya know? Whether you commit suicide or get arrested, you’ll essentially have thrown your life away, and for what?–not to mention all the other lives you’ll be throwing away.

Things don’t get better, and life doesn’t get any easier. But YOU will get better at dealing with all that life throws at you, with more life experience and hopefully with some support along the way. Most of us don’t know what the hell we’re doing, but maybe if we stick together, things won’t be so hard.

[yeoniecore]

not to mention that one tacos euphemism jfsufhd 

The lesbian & bi rep in this season of dead to me felt so authentic, it was obvious to me how different it feels when a lesbian is actually the creator of the show. I found myself laughing at all of the subtle inside jokes which felt like a nod to the lesbian viewers (the references to astrology, the way that michelle still lived with her ex, the fact that they’re all tangled up because yup every lesbian knows each other, how quickly judy fell for her, etc) and it just made me so incredibly HAPPY!! I can’t believe there are people who are genuinely angry just because it wasn’t jen that judy was kissing like come on.....we’re older and more mature than that lmao

[yeoniecore]

how to live life like a ghibli film

1. go out in nature more. every studio ghibli film has some aspect of nature intertwined with the storyline. sometimes its hard to get the energy to go outside, but just going out on your deck or opening the window in your room or taking a walk around the block is enough. if you feel like it, go for a hike! go into the woods and look at every flower, and every tree. look at the mushrooms and streams and notice the beauty of them. look at nature like you’ve never seen it before. wake up at 4 and watch the sunset. put plants around your room. realize how beautiful the world is around you. appreciate it. 

2. get a hobby! this step is certainly easier said than done, but its so worth it. struggling with mental illness makes it especially hard to get a hobby, but its very important that you don’t spend the majority of your time on social media. Start small. If you want to start drawing get a coloring book and fill in a picture with beautiful markers! If you want to write find a random prompt online, give yourself 30 minutes and see what you can come up with. Want to try baking? Start with an easy recipe, like chocolate chip cookies, and share them with your family or friends, or just yourself! Try out a bunch of hobbies, and see what you like best. Maybe you like making jewelry or writing poems or creating digital collages or making video edits or decorating your room or riding a bike or sewing or reading. The possibilities are endless, and getting a hobby you enjoy is very important, and fun.

3. start appreciating small things and noticing details. I don’t know how to explain this step, but in studio Ghibli films, small things always stick out. There are beautiful tiny details that make the story so much more magnificent. small details make the studio Ghibli films what they are. maybe on your way to school/work the sky was a really pretty color. Or the tea you made in the morning was perfectly steeped. appreciate small details of life that you don’t normally notice.

4. appreciate food. Pay attention to your food. If you can, try and make/bake your own food! But if you can’t, just be mindful of your food. Try not to eat while you’re on your phone. Dedicate times to just eating. Appreciating the food in front of you. Make yourself the ponyo drink with milk and honey, or ponyo ramen! Make yourself your own blend of tea like the Baron!

5. be kind and help others. Being kind doesn’t have to be a grand gesture, it can be smiling and waving at a baby in a café, or helping your mom finish the dishes, or paying for a friend’s coffee. Small gestures not only put good out into the world, but they also make you feel better. When you can, help others. Try volunteering at an animal shelter, or babysit for your aunt without charging her, or just listen to your friend when they’re going through something and be there for them. In every Ghibli film, the main character is always helping others, and being kind. Try to be like kiki, when she returned the pacifier to the mother who forgot it, or like chizuru from the cat returns, who risks her life to save a cat. Kindness comes in all shapes and forms, so just try your best to do what you can!

6. be your most authentic self. Stay true to who you are. dress how you’d like. Cut your hair like you’ve always wanted to. Stay confident and true to yourself. We all feel insecure sometimes, but we need to remind ourselves that we are great. Don’t try and force yourself to be someone you aren’t. Kiki felt insecure in her abilities as a witch, but she stayed true to herself, and believed in herself, and it paid off. Love and appreciate yourself, just the way you are.

7. (not really a tip but a fun suggestion) start collecting something! This is just an extra step that I wanted to include because I think its nice. But start a collection of things that interest you. It could be anything! Candles, stamps, teacups, antique figurines, 19th century photos, lip balms, books, key chains, flowers, hats. The choices are endless.

[yeoniecore]

can we like

stop making fun of people for liking pop music in 2020

like you can have ur bts and billie eilish and i can have my happy days and lifelover

[yeoniecore]

emo miku n scene rin ;w;

[yeoniecore]

reblog this to spread the scene kid disease like some kind of random rainbow plague! x33

no seriously if you reblog this the scene community might actually grow!

this is a few playlists i made! they’re sorted by genre, and each one is a collection of albums from that genre! if you shuffle through them its not only a lot of jammin fun but its also a good way to get to know scene music! so if someone’s not sure what scene people listen to, these are a good place to start!

so let’s get right to it and have a look at these links!! they lead right to the spotify playlists!

GENRE: METAL (POST HARDCORE & METALCORE)

GENRE: ELECTRONIC (TECHNO & DANCE)

GENRE: POP PUNK (SIMILAR TO METAL ONE BUT NO SCREAMING)

[yeoniecore]

i fuckeinf squeeked i love rhis crossover omg

Min-seo x Wannabe! Yeji WIP…even tho i knew min would NEVER wear this except the fur coat bc it’s cool af

[yeoniecore]

[yeoniecore]

Reblog this if you want to go on a field trip with Zuko

[yeoniecore]

i can’t believe you didn’t include the best part

We’re not even two days into 2020 what the fuck

[yeoniecore]

changed user from luv-foolish to yeoniecore ^_^

[yeoniecore]

just some TWICE x tamagotchi icon things i made

i think the dubchaeng ones are my personal favs

like or reblog if you save! (^з^)-☆

[yeoniecore]

Like to charge reblog to cast!