kzele

[kzele]

This is a new game I've conjured up, where you go into a mutual's inbox and tell them which Jedi Master/Knight would take the mutual as a Padawan.

So, Kzele, I think you would be Plo Koon's Padawan!

I would honestly be honored to have such a kind and wise guy as a Master. I'll have to think about yours. Have a couple ideas for you but I think the good choices vastly outnumber the bad. They are Jedi, after all.

[kzele]

I can't really prove/disprove the Korra points since I haven't really watched it, but I'll make some comparisons about Strongarm to other Transformers characters.

First, we got TFP Arcee, who I know you're also not a huge of fan of @blade-liger-4ever, but bear with me. Let's imagine all the times Optimus was incapacitated or left her in charge in the show. Not once did she think to use it as a chance for promotion. (Actually, one of her mistakes came from the fact she blew off being in charge but that's not the point here.) For all her issues, she would never think to take advantage of a leadership void because she does genuinely respect Optimus and Ultra Magnus. She didn't get snippy with the latter at all when he came to Earth and assumed command because she knew they needed the next best thing.

Second, we got our fave Smokescreen who gets flak for being "egotistical." For all his talk of "Destiny," he doesn't put anyone down intentionally or hold his Elite Guard status above anyone's head. He takes a loss that happened under his watch as all his own fault. Most importantly, he NEVER even thought about leadership and his musing about moving up in the ranks is because the knowledge he could be Prime stuck him in a weird spot where he's a rookie and also not at the same time. No one outside of him and Optimus knew about the Prime thing. He kept a pretty tight lid on the info, most likely because telling everyone would risk Megatron pulling that out of them with the Patch (which he pointed out to defend an earlier decision that Optimus made to not tell the team about something). If he acted eager to move up the ranks and/or replace Optimus in the show or said any of those lines you provided, fans would lambast him and rightfully so.

RID 2015 Strongarm: An Insult to Tomboy Brawler Girls

So, given my surprisingly popular post on how TFOne ruined my favorite female lead of all Transformers media mentioned the above character, I think it's safe to say lots of people know that I despise RID15's version of Strongarm. However, since all I see of the fandom is everybody singing this block of wood's praises and not once criticizing her, I feel it's up to me to take Breakdown's hammers to this poor attempt at a female protagonist.

If you like her (and I know and respect someone who does), this post isn't for you, so keep scrolling before you get an aneurysm or your feelings hurt.

Now, onto my points.

From the beginning, Strongarm is painted with an unlikable air. She does nothing but worship the ground Bumblebee walks on, and acts as if everything and everyone from Prime was a god that must be worshipped, and so help you if you don't worship them because she'll throw you in the slammer with extra roughing to boot. Because let's face it, Strongarm is a suckup who wants power.

Dont believe me? Just look at her. She's basically a brick wall come to life who is in the Elite Guard and actually covetous of rankings. This is shown in a frightfully plain manner when Bumblebee is mentally reduced to a five year old, and she even spends his procedure hoping to take command afterward so she can climb the ranks - to climb the ladder of power.

Yes yes, I hear you all screaming that she learned her lesson - only she didn't.

The same thing happens every other time she was given the chance to lead, like in the episode where they got their minds switched in season 3. Once more, Strongarm was gleeful over being in charge, and it came up again in the finale. The whole reason Sideswipe keeps challenging her throughout the series is because he knows exactly how much more of a pain in the tailpipe she'll be if she gets promoted, made more clear by the fact that he doesn't give Bumblebee half the suffering he gives Strongarm. It's because he doesn't mind authority that is limited that he lets Bumblebee lead him, but Strongarm is already mad with the power of the rulebook, and if that type of person gets the position of commander, then there's no more freedom in the one place Sideswipe's found freedom.

Moreover, she never grows from her holier than thou and superiority complex behaviors.

From the beginning, Strongarm looked down on Sideswipe for "being a punk/perp" and made it clear every blasted episode that she thought he was lower than the crust of the Earth. She rarely genuinely praised him, and while you could argue it was to "keep his head from getting fat", there's a time when you should be nice and supportive of a teammate/friend when he does something good and right, which Sideswipe usually does. Heck, the times he's done something wrong are always painted in a bad light by the show, and Sideswipe goes the extra step to apologize by the end. Strongarm, however, never gives Sideswipe that same courtesy, because she must be right all the time, and while I feel the showrunners didn't believe that she was right any more than I did, they were forced to do so because the higher ups and freaks watching the show screamed for more Strongarm centric episodes.

Then there's her abominable treatment of Grimlock, the literal innocent of the show. Strongarm persistently harps on Grimlock's simple outlook as a flaw to rub in his face, and puts him beneath her boot when he makes a tiny mistake. Pits of Kaon, the minute she learns Grimlock increased his mental acuity out of a sense of insecurity, what does she say to him?

"Come on, Grim, we'd never say that. Out loud, at least."

And no one takes her to task for this! Not even Bumblebee, who should be having flashbacks to how Bulkhead almost lost himself/died because of the information he'd absorbed into his mind in TFP! Bumblebee should have figured this out and read her the riot act. Strongarm should have given Grimlock a paragraph of an apology, but she didn't because she's a physical powerhouse who breaks the rules of storytelling solely because the fandom wants a girl who looks and acts gender neutral.

And not even Fixit is safe from her, because remember I mentioned a procedure earlier? Fixit had to become a makeshift tool wielded by her to remove an object from Bumblebee, and he gives her a warning that they have to be careful and precise.

Strongarm's response is to tell him what boils down to, "No, YOU have to be careful, otherwise it's all your fault!"

Really, Stone Slab? You're the one whose hand is manipulating Fixit during this process, who has to be steady and slow lest YOU sneeze and ruin the whole operation.

But no, Strongarm CAN'T be wrong because she's the big, tough girl from Kaon who must be right in everything. She starts the show a Karen, and ends it a Karen. No development, no depths to explore, and nothing to recommend her.

And now, for the part where she's an insult to "tomboy brawler girls", take Book One Korra for a counterpoint.

She's shown to be the best bender in history, yet she constantly fails at airbending. No matter how hard she tries, she cannot bend air. However, Korra doesn't blame that on those around her. Yes, she finds fault in Tenzin continuing to confine her, but she doesn't fault him for her own inability to airbend.

What's more is that she actually apologizes for destroying the airbending course. She admits she was wrong, that she was angry with herself and took it out on the equipment. Korra doesn't shirk it away; she accepts it as her wrongdoing, and hers alone.

And while she verbally spars with Mako, she never actually puts him down. Korra doesn't pick on his lifestyle, doesn't make fun of his heritage or poor living conditions. Instead, she accepts it and helps lift him up when he's vulnerable. Likewise with the naive Bolin, she doesn't exploit his sweetness or innocence as a point of mockery. Rather, Korra joins him in being silly, keeping him company on his youthful inexperience, and acts like a genuine sister towards him (note that Korra didn't actually take advantage of him in the episode with the first Makorra kiss; she legitimately thought he was inviting her for a night on the town in simple fun, as proved by her mortified reaction to seeing him appear with a bouquet of flowers and realizing he had crushed on her.)

Throughout Book One, Korra grows and matures from the bright-eyed, gung-ho girl she was into a more controlled, yet still eager to fight woman who is confident in her strengths while acknowledging she has much to learn. Korra's problem solving method is indeed to punch an issue, but she realizes she has to switch up her fighting style as the situation demands it (and unlike Strongarm, you don't have to turn her sideways to figure out she's a girl.)

But Strongarm remains static, unchanging from her "the world moves for me" attitude, and it take Sideswipe to be in her body for her cop lights to be used to blind an opponent.

Well, that's all I have to say on the matter. If you enjoyed this, thank you. It feels nice to have someone who doesn't blindly praise Strongarm here.

Til then -

"Rev up and roll out!"

[kzele]

@blade-liger-4ever, @somereaderinblue

Knockout VS Smokescreen

I wanted to draw a scene like Fast & Furious X3 TOKYO DRIFT🏙️

It seems that there was a car audition at TOKYO DRIFT, but both knockouts and smoke screens want to stand out, so I want you to go to audition for a car movie and meet.

About the Smokescreen, Bumblebee will pick him up, but it would be interesting if Bumblebee was selected as the main character. 🐝G1 also had such a story.

[kzele]

Why not put the Autobots in Alaska?

I mean we've gotten them in the Midwest, Southwest, and big cities. Why not the Last Frontier, too? Besides, could you just imagine the chaos of Ironhide finding a polar bear -!

Ironhide, holding a polar bear: Hey Prime, don't them humans like teddy bears?

Optimus, staring at the wide-eyed and immobile ursine animal: Ironhide, that is an Earth polar bear.

Ironhide, unfazed: So what, is that like a special edition? I mean come on, the kids want more excitement 'round here.

Polar bear: *moans uncomfortably*

Ironhide, pointing at it: See, it even squeaks like the young'uns' toys! Why not?

Optimus, feeling the Matrix hum a little faster: Old friend...the polar bear is a predatory species among the human population.

Ironhide, eyes glowing faintly: So yer saying it's lethal?

Optimus, his Inner Alarm System activating: Ironhide, no!

(As a matter of fact, Ironhide did not abide by no. And Miko found herself in the care of the base's new mascot....)

[kzele]

How to avoid White Room Syndrome

by Writerthreads on Instagram

A common problem writers face is "white room syndrome"—when scenes feel like they’re happening in an empty white room. To avoid this, it's important to describe settings in a way that makes them feel real and alive, without overloading readers with too much detail. Here are a few tips below to help!

Focus on a few key details

You don’t need to describe everything in the scene—just pick a couple of specific, memorable details to bring the setting to life. Maybe it’s the creaky floorboards in an old house, the musty smell of a forgotten attic, or the soft hum of a refrigerator in a small kitchen. These little details help anchor the scene and give readers something to picture, without dragging the action with heaps of descriptions.

Engage the senses

Instead of just focusing on what characters can see, try to incorporate all five senses—what do they hear, smell, feel, or even taste? Describe the smell of fresh bread from a nearby bakery, or the damp chill of a foggy morning. This adds a lot of depth and make the location feel more real and imaginable.

Mix descriptions with actions

Have characters interact with the environment. How do your characters move through the space? Are they brushing their hands over a dusty bookshelf, shuffling through fallen leaves, or squeezing through a crowded subway car? Instead of dumping a paragraph of description, mix it in with the action or dialogue.

Use the setting to reflect a mood or theme

Sometimes, the setting can do more than just provide a backdrop—it can reinforce the mood of a scene or even reflect a theme in the story. A stormy night might enhance tension, while a warm, sunny day might highlight a moment of peace. The environment can add an extra layer to what’s happening symbolically.

Here's an example of writing a description that hopefully feels alive and realistic, without dragging the action:

The bookstore was tucked between two brick buildings, its faded sign creaking with every gust of wind. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of worn paper and dust, mingling with the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee from a corner café down the street. The wooden floorboards groaned as Ella wandered between the shelves, her fingertips brushing the spines of forgotten novels. Somewhere in the back, the soft sound of jazz crackled from an ancient radio.

Hope these tips help in your writing!

[kzele]

[kzele]

I am such a happy ending girly give me love conquering all give me struggling together and coming out victorious give me facing our demons together and making each other stronger give me beating the odds give me we are stronger together give me there is always hope.

[kzele]

[kzele]

Smokescreen everytime he used the phase shifter:

[kzele]

Reblog if you believe that women should face charges for false rape and abuse accusations against men.

Seriously… false accusations can ruin a person’s life.

[kzele]

my neighbour said "you know your cat climbs up there and stares at me?" and I said "yeah, I know, I'm sorry."

[kzele]

We hear a great deal about the rudeness of the rising generation. I am an oldster myself and might be expected to take the oldsters' side, but in fact I have been far more impressed by the bad manners of parents to children than by those of children to parents. Who has not been the embarrassed guest at family meals where the father or mother treated their grown-up offspring with an incivility which, offered to any other young people, would simply have terminated the acquaintance? Dogmatic assertions on matters which the children understand and their elders don't, ruthless interruptions, flat contradictions, ridicule of things the young take seriously - sometimes of their religion - insulting references to their friends, all provide an easy answer to the question "Why are they always out? Why do they like every house better than their home?" Who does not prefer civility to barbarism?

-CS Lewis, The Four Loves

[kzele]

@blade-liger-4ever, @hermesserpent-stuff

[kzele]

My most hated gender dichotomy trope in fiction

The man goes through something hard, grueling and faced loss- "I'm sad and I don't like this, but I'll make it better and I won't let this break me. I'm going to be happy again and I STILL want to find myself a special someone to grow old with and have a family with. This is just the hard part of life. Not life entirely."

The woman goes through something hard, grueling and faced loss- "I'm sad and don't like this, so now I hate everything as this has now broken me. I'm just pressing on now because shooting things and beating up my enemy numbs my pain. I now see how meaningless life is and I don't believe in nothing no more. I hereby give up on marriage, kids, all simple things that used to give me joy and even being happy. When this is over, I've gonna get drunk until I pass out and just wait to die."

.... Am I the crazy one here, or is this style of writing a strong male character vs. writing a strong female character in fact... sexist? I get that everyone faces trauma differently and I respect PTSD, but to me, isn't more sexist to write every strong woman as a broken, nihilistic, grouchy grump? What kind of message does that give to girls? I would think that this in fact is a negative to young girls because it tells them that females can't handle tough times, challenges or adversary because when they do, they come out of it shattered.

Women can be resilient and unbreakable too you know. And they can still find joy in life in spite undergoing trauma. You hear stories like that all the time. I am so sick of Hollywood's sexist double standard of always painting action heroines as broken masculine birds while only action heroes are allowed to be happily ever after. It is not unfeminist for a woman to overcome her trauma and be happy again. That includes still being girly, finding love and having a family. This is why I loved the Wonder Woman film so much because even though she went through so much, it didn't break her. At all.

It's one thing to always have scars, but it's another to spend your life defined by them. Let's stop writing action heroines like this.

PS: Before you tell me "it's more realistic", let me tell you that I don't care and most viewers don't, and just the fact that only women get hit with the realism hammer is still sexist. My point stands that Hollywood seems to think that challenges, action and adversary will always break women. People don't turn to fiction to see realism. They want to be inspired and to escape. Plus, it is not feminist to make every single strong female character a grumpy tomboyish lone she-wolf. It is no better than portraying every single happy feminine character as a damsel in distress. A character's role should not be determined by their personality.

@lonelydreams-world @blade-liger-4ever @cyberverse1998 @sassycandypoetry

[kzele]

This scientist crafts stunning visual art through chemistry.

[kzele]

I hope the mutuals I never talk to are doing well.

[kzele]

Overrated experience. I had them chronically for years to the point that we were considering surgery that'd be cauterizing the veins in my nose to get it to stop. They were basically like having another period coming out of my face. I had a nosebleed so bad I ruined a white shirt during the school day and had to wear a loan. I got one in the middle of the school's halloween dance and I had to sit in the bathroom waiting for it to stop instead of eating sweets or dancing. Weirdly enough, I found that having huge gobs of congealed blood exit my face while I sat in a school office or bathroom not very pleasant.

when I was a kid I wished I had nosebleeds. I had some friends who had them and I was like. that looks so fucking cool. you're just sitting there and suddenly you're covered in blood. it looks so dramatic. it looks so... and here my language failed me. at such a humble age I did not have the vocabulary to describe the sublime. I just sat in incomprehensible jealousy. I turned out totally normal by the way