geometricfractal

[geometricfractal]

Hot take but I really do think that some of y’all need to consider how/why/when/how often you’re making fun of straight people for being straight

I do it too, I’m not going to pretend I don’t make jokes about the hets, or the down with cis bus, or whatever

But I recently befriended a cis, straight dude and I have watched him be dismissed, degraded, and unambiguously insulted for the perceived “crime” of being straight — all in queer environments where he is allegedly “completely welcome” and surrounded by “friends”

This guy is not a toxic person! But I have seen him be made to feel so small and like his comfort and safety in those spaces are conditional on his silence and acceptance of being treated like a human dunk zone, and I think that some of y’all have had so much shit from straight/cis people that the second you feel like you’ve got an inch, you want to luxuriate in the perceived catharsis of bullying someone who— actually —doesn’t deserve it

And until he very, very carefully mentioned to me in private that it makes him feel bad, I didn’t even clock that I was involved in doing that, that it had become so instinctive for me to make casual jokes like that, and that— well meaning or otherwise —I had been contributing to an environment that made someone I really really like feel like shit

So, I dunno, I think maybe some of y’all should think about that too

[geometricfractal]

I am, like, a long running proponent of the "eat something and you'll feel better" crowd and am often one of the first people to suggest "maybe it's time for a snack before I get whipped into a frenzy" but I really do resent how instantaneous it is. like it'll feel like I'm having my worst day in months and then I'll start eating and literally before I even finish I'm like oh yeah the world is beautiful

[geometricfractal]

daily affirmations:

i am kind

i am in control of my emotions

it does not bother me when someone is in the kitchen while i was planning to be in there alone

everyone in the house has the right to be in the kitchen

i am kind and in control of my emotions even when someone is in the kitchen while i was planning to be in there alone

[geometricfractal]

Yes there's a typo in the first option but I am not redoing the whole thing

[geometricfractal]

I just think everyone should take a moment to consider the question "what is your visual shorthand for cruelty?" and then follow it up with a critical "and who taught you that?"

specific examples include but are not limited to

why is an evil timeline character design disabled? (why do the heroes go through equally punishing battles and never lose an arm, a leg, an eye?)

why are the futuristic scifi terrorists uniformly darker skinned? (why are the heroes so much lighter?)

why is the greedy boss fat? (why are the heroes skinny?)

why is the criminal mastermind heavily scarred? (why is the brooding, traumatized hero unscathed?)

why is the predatory creep a bearded person in a dress and makeup? (why are none of the heroes trans women?)

who taught you that this is how things are?

how long do you plan on repeating it?

[geometricfractal]

Okay, so we've all been seeing the news about the many, many bad things happening in the US. The terrible budget bill. The deployment of military to US cities. The wholesale demolition of programs built to help people. Bad thing after bad thing. It’s upsetting, it’s scary, and there are things we can do about it. This is one of them.

This one is for my US citizens out there. Call your representatives. Choose a problem, dial their number, and call them. Don't know how? Scared? I will help you. Here’s my offer.

- I don’t know the number for my senator/representative’s office Cool! I can fix that. If you’re comfortable with it, tell me your state of residence and I can get you phone numbers. If not, I’ll get you links to databases where you can easily look up who your reps are and how to contact them.

- I don’t know what to say Totally fair! I can fix that. If you give me the topic, the problem, the issue that you want to call about, I will find or write you a script. All you’ll have to do is read it. You can even tell me how forceful or gentle you’d like to be and I’ll do my best to match that. I want to make something you’re comfortable saying!

- I don’t even know what to call them about Also fair! There is so much going on, deciding what’s worth your time is something I struggle with every day. But I can fix that too. I’m happy to give you some options, maybe based on what I’ve called about so far this week, or just on the biggest issues of the week. You can pick out of those to make it feel less overwhelming.

- I hate talking on the phone and I don’t think I can do this at all The most understandable concern of all. It’s hard, I’ll admit that, and I can't fix this one. Pressing the button is the worst part of the whole thing. But if you’re scared, if you’re worried, if you’re upset by what’s been going on, I can tell you that this is the single most effective antidote I have found thus far. After I call my representatives, I get this feeling of peace. I have done my part. I don’t have to obsess over the news or anxiously debate what can be done about it anymore. I made my move, and I can rest. But even if you're absolutely certain you can't make yourself call, contact me anyway! I can get you emails and email scripts the same way as phones. You can also call outside their office hours and leave a voicemail, with no risk of direct contact!

So I am open for business! If you need phone numbers, scripts, more insight, or even just ongoing encouragement as you try out the scary business of phone calls, get in touch! I’ve been doing this for four months now, and while I’m no expert, I’ve made over 150 calls and figured out a few best practices. Also feel free to share this around! My point with this post is that we don’t have to do actions like this alone. It’s a club you can join, make a difference, and hopefully make yourself feel a little better about the world as well.

[geometricfractal]

[geometricfractal]

if a number divided by itself is always equal to 1, surely this holds true for 0/0 as well

[geometricfractal]

These circles are stationary

[geometricfractal]

i'm losing my fucking mind. a damn near perfect file in simcity 3000 was chugging along just fine and suddenly everything broke. tax income dropped by like 90%. i was getting warnings about low land value despite them being at their highest nearly across the entire city. baffled, i made a backup save and then let it continue for a bit and. i literally got fucking fired. i lost. i didn't even know you could lose simcity. and again, everything was still just as meticulously perfect as autism/adhd hyperfocus could make it (very).

the culprit, uncovered after significant investigation?

overflow error.

that's right. my land values were so high they looped back to zero. i got fucking nuclear gandhi'd. i was so good at simcity i literally broke it, i'm laughing so much. i think this means i won simcity, actually

[geometricfractal]

Theory Time

The reason endermen don’t like it when you look at them is because they communicate telepathically with one another by locking eyes! Humans are absolutely not designed to do this so when we look at them we are accidentally projecting all of our thoughts into them at the same time and it hurts :(

[geometricfractal]

My Argentinean housemate just got a book on proper American accents and I’ve never felt more attacked

like why’s it gotta be so accurate

[geometricfractal]

[geometricfractal]

but mom how will other people know that you, a white Texan, are a Christian

[geometricfractal]

An old and homely grandmother accidentally summons a demon. She mistakes him for her gothic-phase teenage grandson and takes care of him. The demon decides to stay at his new home.

[geometricfractal]

“Aziraphale stepped closer. His arms slipped around Crowley, pulling them closer still, hands pressing against Crowley’s back. Aziraphale was hugging him. With no warning, no lead-up, nothing. As if this is a thing they did, ever. Crowley was very certain it was not. He would remember.”

— Hold On For A Minute (or more) by fractalgeometry

[geometricfractal]

Aziraphale had long known that he was much more obvious about his feelings that he should be, but it still twinged a bit to hear it stated. All he said was, “He’s wonderful.” Then, as though the words wouldn’t stay in a moment longer, “I love him so much.”

Eric smiled, big and genuine and happy. “I can tell. It’s mutual. I know he adores you.”

“Does he?” Aziraphale asked before he could stop himself.

Pinings for Comfort and Joy by fractalgeometry