#2014(derogatory)

[thatshitkrejci]

a celebrity-fan identity speculation dynamic I am wildly interested in is the celebrity denial, especially when it creeps towards homophobia

examples that come to mind are the "biggest load of bullshit" tweet and subsequent statements louis made about not being gay,

the shawn mendes I Am Not Gay press tour (rolling stone article with many mentions of all the women mendes interacts & flirts with during the writing of the profile),

and recently, taylor swift's frustration that her female friendships were sensationalized or sexualized (seeming to imply that she did not consider that someone might see romance or sexuality between women).

the "I couldn't be gay... not that there's anything wrong with that, of course" response fascinates me, especially when it comes in reaction to fans (assuming good-faith) who are compelled by the idea that they share an identity and experience with an artist they care about.

[thefictionshelf]

girl help! i want to write fan fiction for a niche web based interactive fiction with maybe a total playtime of 3 hours and 5 character focused scenes.

[bittermarching]

I started using the for you tab in an effort to make this app usable but now all I'm seeing are doctor who posts? I do not give a fuck about doctor who. I have never once given a single shit about that show why does this website think I'm obsessed with it

[sim0nril3y]

First Meeting

Pairing: Simon 'Ghost' Riley x Civilian!Reader

Scenario: Being dragged out for the night with friends Simon find himself desperately trying to be alone when a girl with a broken shoe stumble across him.

Note: Set in 2014

Warnings: No mask Simon (It's my personal headcanon in his regular life he probably wouldn't wear it), briefs mentions of abuse, mentions of smoking, mentions of alcohol, suggestive conversation, mentions of age gap, derogatory comments. Note: I made this an OC rather than a Reader because she has her own backstory and family and dreams that may not align with the whole Reader aspect of writing. If you guys do want something like that let me know and I'll see if I can work something out.

30-08-2020 Edit: I’ve updated this fanfic to be a reader rather than OC.

Returning from deployment never really changed for Simon. It wasn’t something he ever enjoyed. There was something about the regiment of the forces that grounded him, something about the strict timelines and regulations. None of that mattered back home. It wasn’t like he could speak to his "friends" about the trauma of being away in war-torn countries. It wasn’t like they even asked; they knew better.

Occasionally on nights out Simon would get asked the rude question of his death tally. He’d simply brush off the question. Honestly, he wasn’t sure if he had a reasonable answer to it anymore. No, instead he would pretend like he didn’t hear as other friends chastised for even asking that sick question. Why was it sick? Did they not think of him as a killer? Maybe that tainted their idyllic persona of the perfect solider. Simon knew that war was disgusting and bloody and each time he took another life a little bit of his own chipped away too.

Stand outside he brought a cigarette to his lips, inhaling slowly and just enjoying the cold winter air. “Bollocks…” A voice slipped from beside him, glancing over his shoulder to see the slight frame of a woman bent down trying to repair the band of her high-heel. As always, he stayed quiet, used to just observing and not interrupting the flow. “Need some help, sweetheart~” A drunk came stumbling in her direction.

In an instant she shot to her feet, stumbling in her broken heel as you turned to face the offending man. “Oh-” “Gonna catch y’death out here, sweetheart. Specially in that little dress…” He commented and Simon gave himself a moment to take in your outfit, it was particularly short from a night-out in January, not that any of the other birds were dressed any different. “Why don’t we get a taxi back to my flat.” He offered and Simon saw the way your shoulders seemed to tense at the suggestion. “Oi…” His voice began before his brain registered that this was a poor idea. “Fuck off and leave her alone.”

“The fuck you think you are?” Came a drunken drawl back in his direction. “Think I’m gonna be your problem if you don’t leave her alone.” He rose then, towering over the two of them you, double both your weight, double both your size. “Pshh… fuckin’ have the slag…” Drunkenly he turned and stumbled back into the club. “Thanks…” Your voice was small as you tilted your had up to make eye-contact. “S’nothing…” Then turning he moved back to where he was sitting.

“Mind if I join you?” Your voice was quiet, flasing a packet of cigarettes in his direction. “Not gonna stop you.” Simon answered with a short shrug. “Fuckin’ shoe…” You grumbled under your breath before joining him delicately, sitting close enough that it looked friendly but far enough away to give him plenty of space. It a light voice your informed him your name. It was pretty. It suited you. The way your voice cut through the cold air, warm personality shining even on this night.

Simon didn’t reply, simply continued to smoke his cigarette in the quiet whilst you lit up your own beside him. “Y’even old enough to be in there?” Suddenly you looked at him before snickering. “Turned 21 months ago.” You announced proudly. “Even got my ID to prove it.” Fuck, you was young. 9 years younger than him, in fact. Whilst he was being beaten and abused by his sick father you was just coming into this world. Fuck, don’t think about any of that. “So, do I get to know your name? Gonna have to tell the story of how a dashing smoker saved me from a weirdo.”

Dashing? Were you flirting with him? You… were way out of his league. Jesus, why was you even paying him any mind when you could go home with practically any lad in there. Why did that sentiment bother him so much? “Simon.” He ground out finally, putting a firm stop to his inner monologue. “Nice name.” “No, it’s not. Just a name.” He couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at his lips. “Don’t be stupid.” He watched the way your pretty face contorted into a smile and then fell into a fit of giggles. It was fucking bliss. The way that you laughed. It was almost fucking musical, or at least it was to Simon’s ears. “Nice fuckin’ name…” He repeated shaking his head. “Kid, you’ve got to work on technique a bit.” Then shaking his head as he took another long drag of his cigarette.

“Well, maybe you could help with that…” Your voice was suggestive and inquisitive, putting the question out there loosely enough that he could see it as a joke or an invitation. “M’sure there are plenty boys your age that could help with that.” There was finality to his tone that even you could sense. Jesus, you were 21 by your own confession. You was so fresh and new to the dating scene. He, on the other hand, was just beginning his 30s, though his years of service made him feel a lot older. There was no way he could just fuck around with a girl like you. It wouldn’t fair.

Sensing his apprehension you simply shrugged your shoulders, as carefree as ever and then muttered. “Maybe~” Nabbing a nearby empty cigarette packet and jotting down your details onto the card before sliding it in his direction. “Guess if you change your mind, you know where to find me.”

A flurry of girls stumbled from the club, surrounding her in a moment in a loud chatter of excitement. “We’ve been looking for you everywhere!” “C’mon, next club~” “Who is that?” “What happened to your shoe?” The questions buzzed around his mind and you kept his gaze until whisked away by her friends. “Fuckin’ hell…” Cursing under his breath as he inspected the packet between his fingers, taking the final drag of his cigarette and then flicking it aside.

Masterlist | Ask | 28-08-2023

[radioactive-earthshine]

Hi, I know you already addressed a lot of the mischaracterization of Kon and Clark's relationship, but I was under the impression that Kon actually means 'abomination' in Kryptonian, and that Clark giving him that name was a rejection in itself. I am not very well versed in comics, so I apologize if this is just a fanon concept.

Hello!

You're not alone in being misled, as this concept has stretched far and wide and it is a very common theme in fandom works like fanfic.

The concept of Kon-El meaning "abomination" is canon, not fanon, but its source is from the New 52 reboot.

Some fans have in an attempt to create more angst for Kon adopted the concept that Clark gave Kon this name knowing full well what it meant as a way of rejecting him - this is incorrect - and it is blending versions together to make something that just never actually happened with Clark.

There are two versions of Kon getting his name in a main continuity - one in the 1994 comics, and the other in the New 52 Superboy comics.

To best answer your question, I am going to talk about the New 52 version first where "Kon-El" means abomination.

Also, it is important to remember that this Kon-El, isn't even actually Conner Kent (that's another post for another day comics are weird).

Anyway, in the New 52 reboot Superboy is 'called' Kon-El not by Clark, but by Kara!

Superboy v.6 (2011-2014) #6

In this iteration, Kara has some extreme prejudiced bigotry towards "Kon" for being a clone due to the disastrous history Krypton had involving clones. It prompted her to attempt to kill "Kon" the moment she found out he was a clone after more or less calling him a slur.

Superboy v.6 (2011-2014) #6

You can blame Scott Lobdell for this particular evisceration of Kara's character and for the name Kon-El warping into 'abomination' henceforth.

This particular run and story is no longer relevant to main continuity and it is not attached to Conner Kent because this did not happen to Conner Kent, but it did in fact happen and Krypton's disastrous history involving clones is still canon as well. Kon is still facing varying degrees of discrimination from Kryptonian-based ideology (Eradicator) because he is a clone.

Now let's talk about Clark and Kon and where Kon-El first came from and put a stop to the slander.

Where the name "Kon-El" originally came from was from Conner's 1994 solo series where Clark offered it to him from a place of affection.

Superboy (1994) #59

The original moment of Kon obtaining his name from Clark was profound because up until this point he did not have a proper name. He was just "Superboy" or "Kid" or "Pup" (derogatory) so when Clark offers this Kon is so happy he starts crying.

Superboy (1994) #59

At this point in time in comic history Kon-El did not mean abomination, "Kon" was a real Kryptonian name, and in the original run Clark did not even have any resentment towards Kon or negative feelings about his existence at all. He trusted him, felt he was worthy of the S-shield as a representative of hope, and at this point he wanted him to be part of his family.

This is Clark adopting Kon into his family right here in this moment - because Superman is the tale of the immigrant, the refugee and of love in family where blood does not equal family. That is what he is saying right here in this issue.

It is also important to note that at this point Geoff Johns' making Kon a 'clone' of Lex AND Clark is not canon and Kon is not even supposed to be blood related to Clark.

In closing...

Clark's relationship to Kon/Conner Kent in the main comic continuity is not hostile or rejection-based.

In their comic origins they had a nebulous relationship which over time evolved to being firmly brothers with a huge age gap and now in current continuity they are again brothers but with a different perspective.

Action Comics #1028

Current continuity Clark who doesn't remember Kon at all knows him for less than a week and claims him and he is actually distraught he doesn't remember him.

Fandom is transformative and angst/hostility/rejection will always be a major theme people will love to create and consume - but it is also important to recognize that some details are simply not canon and should be regarded as transformative works to tell a story.

I hope this clears some things up from the comics side of DC.

[ssavaart]

Hey Scott!

Love you and your art tutorials. Really a big fan, you got me into painting again when I couldn't get out of bed due to depression. I love watercolor!

You being an idol of mine, I checked out your movie, Animal Crackers.... I don't know if you intended it to be that way... but I did feel uncomfortable over your representation of Roma people. As a Spanish partial Romani myself I was just surprised to see those stereotypes of mystic, over-sexualised fortune tellers. We have so much more in our culture! I'm pretty young myself but even at the time this movie came out I understood it wasn't the best take.

I'm not here to critique you. But I did use to see you as a role model. I try to separate that from the rest of the movie, and your past art from you as a person but its hard because otherwise, I know you are in favor of good representation. Could you please address this? Use it as an opportunity for growth? Acknowledge it used a slur?

I just want my rose tinted glasses back.

Love, Yair.

Hi Yair! Thank you so much for the lovely message. I'm so happy my videos helped you in any way. Regarding Animal Crackers. Thank you for asking. When I wrote the graphic novel for my 5 year olds back in 2008... the term "Gypsy" was commonly used for "wanderers with a hint of magic" in books, tv, and movies and it wasn't considered a derogatory term for Roma people. Not generally. I thought this to be true when I wrote the script in 2011. I thought this to be true when I made the film in 2014.

But when the film came out... I started to see comments on twitter and instagram and facebook with people calling the film "racist" for using the term Gypsy so much.

It was at this time in the fall of 2020 that I learned of the significance of this word and how it was used as a derogatory term for the Roma people. While it was not done intentionally, I take full responsibility for this. I wrote it. I had the actors use the words. I was the one who put it in the movie. The blame is completely on me and my ignorance. And I am truly sorry. Shortly after this, I reached out to the European Roma Rights Centre and got on a call with them and we discussed the history of the Roma people and how (if I get a chance to make a sequel) I can educate the world about the Roma people and how hurtful the term "Gypsy" is to them. I can't undo any harm I may have caused in my movie, but, hopefully, I can make some amends with a sequel, working with the European Roma Rights Centre to portray the Roma people in a positive light, and educating people on how harmful stereotypes can be.

Thanks again for asking

Sending Big Hugs from the Hobbit Hole. ♥♥♥

Scott

[benevolentbones]

Can I request something where an unsub is going after trans people, and you're very nervous and try to get out of that case since you're a trans man. But no one knows you're trans so you can't get out of it without outing yourself which you don't wanna do so you have to go.

But the unsub captures you anyways and has you tied up naked when spencer kicks in the door and takes down the unsub and you're begging him bot to look but he's just really sweet and understanding and helps you explain to thw others why the unsub went after you?

please don’t tell | spencer reid x ftm!reader

warnings: !!!angst, graphic descriptions of murder, kidnapping, torture, derogatory remarks against transgender people, slurs, trans post top surgery reader. 16+

word count: 2k

a/n: thank you for your request, i hope you’re happy with it :) if you find these types of stories triggering please refrain from reading<3

“our unsub is targeting transgender males?” morgan quizzed, reading through the case file.

“yes. he is stalking them and kidnapping them, and then leaving their mutilated bodies in the forest around this area.” hotch pointed to a map that hung on the board beside him.

a cold sweat swept over you, your palms feeling clammy. you felt sick- like you might throw up any second. this case hit close to home, the unsub was kidnapping and murdering people like you.

“he has taken the lives of four trans men, their age range between twenty-one and thirty-four.” emily added, flipping another page.

jj strutted into the room, dropping a pile of pictures from the crime scenes. she spread them out across the mahogany table.

“our latest victim, was a twenty-six year old trans man, he was kidnapped outside of a gay bar just twenty miles from the dump site.” jj reported.

“the coroner states that the injuries here and here-“ jj pointed to large gashes along the chest area and stomach, “-were made prior to the death of our victim. the final injury that caused him to succumb was a gunshot wound.” she then pointed to another picture, a close up of the victims forehead.

“in 2014, the average life expectancy of transgender people ranged between thirty to thirty-five years of age, and in recent years the homicide rates have increased by 25%.” spencer added, listing off facts from his mind.

the taller man sat next to you, his posture slouched as he crossed one leg over another.

you felt yourself grow pale, your mind racking through all the facts you just heard spencer spill from his mouth. you could hear sounds from the team, more comments about the case, but you could not process what they were saying.

spencer noticed your distant state, you seemed off as you sat staring down at your hands placed on your lap. he leaned over to place a hand on your forearm, whispering over to you.

“you alright, y/n?” he questioned, you flinched at his touch, your eyes flickering up to his soft gaze. he could tell something was wrong, he just couldn’t quite place it. you nodded, flashing him a small smile.

none of the team were aware that you were trans, and you wanted to keep it that way. you knew they wouldn’t judge you, they were some of the most accepting people you’ve ever met. but you would rather stay incognito, it wasn’t their business.

“are there any connections between the victims aside from being trans?” emily questioned out loud.

penelope dropped a stack of paper onto the desk as she walked in, taking a seat opposite you.

“they all went to the same practice for their surgery and hormone referrals- the highland clinic.”

“it might be someone who has access to all of their files on hand- garcia?” hotch mumbled out.

“on it.” the blonde shot up, walking back to her office.

your stomach dropped, that’s the clinic you frequented. a wave of dizziness hit you, you lifted your hand to cup your forehead, using the other to steady yourself in your seat.

spencer’s eyebrows furrowed even more, studying your paling form. hotch picked up on spencer’s concern, turning his attention to you as the team continued to speak about the case.

“l/n. if you’re not feeling good i suggest you go home and rest.” hotch mumbled out towards you, spencer nodded in agreement.

"n-no i think i'm okay.."

hotch's stern gaze was all you needed to rethink your answer. "alright, i'll head home.."

you stood up, grounding your body by gripping the edge of the table. the room seemed to spin for a moment, and you took a deep breath, willing yourself to stay upright. the concern etched on spencer's face made your heart ache.

as you made your way to the door, spencer quickly stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. "i'll walk you to your car." he offered, his voice soft but firm.

you nodded, grateful for his support. the two of you moved down the hallway in silence, the sounds of the bustling office fading into the background. when you reached the parking lot, spencer gently touched your arm, his touch warm and reassuring.

"are you sure you're okay to drive?" he asked, his eyes searching yours for any sign of deception.

you managed a weak smile. "i'll be fine, spencer. just need to get home and rest."

he didn't look entirely convinced, but he didn't push further. "call me if you need anything, okay?"

"i will.” you promised, getting into your car. as you drove away, you couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled in your stomach. the clinic being mentioned in the case was too much of a coincidence.

~

cold. all you could feel was something cold and hard pressed against your face. you blinked your eyes open, your eyes adjusting to the harsh ceiling lights.

you looked around, panic rising in your chest. the room was bare except for the chair you had fallen from, and a small table in the corner. the walls were made of concrete, the air damp and musty. the faint sound of dripping water echoed somewhere nearby, a constant reminder of your isolation.

you tried to move, but the ropes binding your wrists and ankles were tight, cutting into your skin with every attempt. your heart raced as you struggled to recall how you had ended up here. fragments of memory surfaced: the walk from your car, a shadowy figure, a sudden pain in the back of your head.

a door creaked open, the sound sending a shiver down your spine. footsteps approached, deliberate and slow. a figure emerged from the shadows, his face obscured by a hood. he stopped a few feet away, his presence filling the room with a menacing aura.

"you're awake," the figure said, their voice low and chilling. "good."

you wriggle around again, trying to escape the binding but causing a sharp burning feeling around your wrists. that’s when you noticed you had been stripped of your clothes, leaving you in your underwear.

“what- what to do you want.” you managed to croak out, your voice hoarse, mouth dry.

the figure stepped closer, and you could finally make out the cold eyes staring back at you. "you," he spat, a sneer curling his lips. "you disgust me."

you recalled his features, dark blond hair, blue eyes- he was one of the nurses from the clinic.

your mind raced, trying to understand the source of his venom. "i don't even know you.” you said, frustration mixing with fear.

"don't play dumb," he snapped, his voice dripping with contempt. "people like you make me sick. thinking you can just change who you are. it's unnatural."

your blood ran cold as the realization hit you. you had faced prejudice before, but never like this. "please," you began, "i haven't done anything to you."

"haven't done anything?" he echoed, his laugh harsh and bitter. "you existing is enough. you're an affront to everything decent. it’s against gods will.”

he turned away for a moment, rummaging through something on the table, and returned with a small knife. the light glinted off its edge, making your stomach churn. "i’m going to fix this," he said, he voice eerily calm. "i'm going to fix you."

the blade hovered over your skin, and you flinched instinctively. "please, you don't have to do this," you pleaded, tears welling up in your eyes.

"shut up” he snapped, pressing the knife lightly against your skin, drawing a thin line of blood. the pain was sharp and immediate, but it was the hatred in their eyes that terrified you the most.

"i'm doing the world a favor," he said, a twisted smile forming on his lips. you realized with a sinking feeling that there would be no reasoning with them.

you shut your eyes tight, mentally preparing yourself for this to be your final moments.

a loud crash interrupted the kidnapper's twisted monologue. your eyes flew open to see the door bursting inward, splintering under the force of the impact. spencer reid stormed in, his expression a mix of determination and concern.

"fbi! drop the weapon!" he shouted, his voice authoritative and unwavering.

the kidnapper's smile faltered, but he didn't drop the weapon. instead, he turned it towards spencer. you could see the tension in spencer's stance, ready to react at any moment.

"i said, drop it!" spencer repeated, taking a cautious step forward.

the kidnapper hesitated, and in a swift, practiced move, spencer disarmed the man, knocking the weapon to the ground and subduing him with a quick, forceful maneuver. within seconds, the kidnapper was on the floor, restrained.

spencer glanced at you, his eyes softening with concern. "are you okay?" he asked gently, but you couldn't bring yourself to meet his gaze.

"don't look at me," you whispered, your voice trembling. "please, don't look at me."

spencer nodded, respecting your wish. "it's okay," he said softly, turning his attention back to securing the kidnapper. "you're safe now. i promise."

spencer quickly shed his jacket, draping it around your shoulders. the fabric felt heavy and warm, a stark contrast to the cold fear that had settled deep in your bones.

"i need to unbind you," he mumbled gently. "i'm going to be careful. just hold still."

you nodded, squeezing your eyes shut as spencer's hands worked quickly to free you from the restraints. his touch was light, deliberate, and you could feel the care in every movement. your wrists stinging as the rope slips from the raw skin.

once the ropes fell away, spencer helped you to your feet, his arm steadying you. "we're going to get you out of here," he assured you, his voice calm and soothing. he turned towards the door, raising his voice slightly. "hotch, hold on a minute. don't come in yet."

you could hear the muffled response from the hallway, but couldn't make out the words. spencer kept his gaze averted, respecting your request. "can you walk?" he asked, his tone filled with concern.

"i think so," you whispered, your legs shaky but functional. you slipped the jacket over your arms, clutching the fabric over your torso to hide your scars. you didn’t want the team to know.

"okay," spencer said, supporting you as you took tentative steps towards the door. "we're almost there. just a little bit more."

he guided you carefully, making sure to keep his body between you and the door as they moved. once outside the room, you saw hotch and the rest of the team waiting, their expressions a mix of relief and readiness.

"i've got him," spencer called out. "give us a moment."

hotch nodded, signaling the others to hold back. spencer stayed close, his presence a steady anchor as you moved further away from the nightmare you had just endured.

once you were a safe distance from the room, spencer finally looked at you, his eyes full of relief and care. he crouched slightly to meet your gaze, his voice barely above a whisper. "i won't tell the team, unless you want me to." he promised. "i’ll tell them the kidnapper took the wrong victim. that this wasn't supposed to happen to you."

tears welled up in your eyes, a mix of fear, relief, and gratitude. spencer's words were a balm, a small comfort in the aftermath of the terror. "thank you." you whispered, your voice cracking.

spencer gently squeezed your shoulder, his touch reassuring. “i’m going to take care of you," he said softly. "you're safe now. let's get you out of here."

as he led you towards the waiting paramedics, you felt a fragile sense of hope begin to take root. spencer stayed by your side, guiding you through the chaos, ensuring you were never alone.

you fidgeted with your hands as the paramedics examined you, having now removed the jacket. spencer kept his gaze averted, but kept a calloused hand placed on your leg.

“i don’t think of you any different…i hope you know that.” he mumbled out, you felt a wave of relief wash over you.

“i still care about you the same. this changes nothing.”

taglist!! @0108s22m @rainoftearss @potatovoyager @rac00ns-are-c00l4 @luvmia222 @shardsofmarxx @silver138 @lover-of-books-and-tea @thedancingnerdmermaid @khxna @cynbx

[tricoufamily]

List 5 facts about a favorite sim of yours, and send this to 10 simblrs whose sims you adore ♥♥♥

<3<3<3 HI

i can never keep track of who i've done this for throws dart at dartboard MALCOLM ‼💣💥🫵🫵🫵

if his life wasn't basically planned for him and he could choose what job he wanted to do, he'd want to do something in politics. has floated the idea of double majoring in business and political science but nancy said no he needs to just focus on one. i think he'd be good at it actually (derogatory)

his favorite song as of right now in 2014 is bad religion by frank ocean

has never played a video game

has been friends with sofia and siobhan since kindergarten. sofia actually liked him at one point wow. they started a super casual thing and were actually having a ton of fun together. until clara found out and started pushing her so hard to tie the rest of her life to him so she could have proximity to billionaires and that's when sofia started resenting him

nancy's favorite :') she's always babied him it's why he's so immature. she's never hidden this fact but ok to be fair johnny was geoffrey's, grandpa chester's, AND geoffrey's parents' favorite so

[kaiowut99]

A Special Announcement~ | Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V Tag Force Special Re-Translation Project!

I've been itching to get around to posting about this for a few months now, but wanted to wait until I'd worked on enough for it, but also had the idea to create an announcement trailer to go with it for added good measure--after recording and editing clips for a couple weeks and leveling the audio last night, heremst we are! (For some clips, I forgot to turn off the PPSSPP emulator's DevMenu option so that shows up in the top-left, buuut I didn't feel like re-recording those, lmao.)

Details worth reading below the cut here, but tl;dr work has been in progress for over a year in between things, work will continue to be in progress for a while, and the release will happen when everything's ready, but stay tuned, fun's getting started etc etc~

So, I'm sure most of us are familiar with the as-yet-unlocalized-by-Konami TFSP, the seventh and last entry in the Tag Force series on the PSP that came out early in ARC-V's run (featuring the first five series which was a cool first), as well as the current translations out there originally worked on by the guys at XenoTranslations (omarrrio and ScrewTheRules/ClickClaxer01 at GBATemp handling the card and story/etc translations, respectively) and how there are... some issues with what's out there. Everything from the DM story mode being loaded with YGOTAS references (no shade to YGOTAS and much respect to LK/Martin for his ongoing work on it still making me laugh sometimes, ofc) to the off-the-cuff edginess of 2014-2015-era internet culture and the problematic (in some cases, derogatory) language that permeated it--though to its credit, some parts do have some level of translation attempted, but taken as a whole, it can definitely turn people off from giving the game a try and seeing what it brings to the table (which is still a good amount despite the corners Konami cut here/there compared to prior TF games).

I actually did attempt a translation of my own back in 2015 (if you've been following me for a long time, you might remember it lol), tackling the GX story text starting with Judai's heart events, but eventually put it on the backburner as I focused more on my GX subbing work and beginning to finalize everything (which I'm still doing). Sometime in 2022, a friend over on NeoArkCradle (the "anonymous YGO fan" in the opening screen) was poring over the story text and patching it up the best he could to remove the references and inaccuracies with more coherent work, and after a while of seeing what he was working with in the Discord, I was a bit blown away by just how inaccurate much of it was--so alongside him, and using the better tools available since then (including some really awesome work from both nzxth2 [who did a proper re-translation of 5D's TF6 not too long ago and was kind enough to release his tools for it] and our coding helper Xan1242 who we eventually reached out to for some help), I decided to *cracks knuckles* get involved and help give everything a more accurate and professional translation, much like I do with my GX subs, working directly off the Japanese text and files. I've been taking cracks at everything in between the GX episodes I've been finalizing going back to at least last January (and I'd used my little hiatus after finalizing GX Season 2's subs to really get at some other stuff throughout the game), starting with re-translating DM's story text but also properly translating other aspects of the game, from the character names (using the original Japanese names, including those of the TF-exclusive characters, partly since Konami made a whole mess of them in English TF1-5), in-duel dialogue, pack descriptions, and more to images with Japanese text (such as localizing the in-duel cut-in onomatopoeia as you see in the video above, or other little images throughout) using some Photoshop skills I've picked up. And it's been a joint effort, as said NAC friend and I have been bouncing off how we'd like to see this go between us to stay on the same page and all, while also checking with other translators there for second/third opinions as needed.

Our plan is to release two versions of a translation--one which uses the OCG [translated] card names in Story Mode, in-duel, and other text but not in the game's card system (mainly to deal with story-relevant notes like Osiris vs Slifer with the Gods or things like not-Utopia Hope being symbolic between Yuma and Astral, akin to how I do my GX subs), and one which uses the TCG card names in everything (like how the official subs go about it). While we're mostly working with the Japanese game files due to how the Xeno team went about decoding everything, we'll be using the card-system-related files from the fixed ISO provided by FLSGaming which fixed some issues that had been present there. And Xan has helped us with a plugin that will be used to apply our translations to the system files that were hard to edit otherwise (things like the character and recipe names, as well as the pack names pulled from for the Card Description screen), but more on how that'll work once this is ready for release, lol. At some point, I'd like to also look at HDifying textures and things, but that's definitely a bonus-level thing for after the main work here is done.

SO.

Currently, Story-Mode-wise, I've gone through everything up to Yusei's events--so Dark Yugi/Kaiba/Jounouchi/Ishizu/Mai in DM, Judai/Manjoume/Asuka/Misawa/Ryou in GX, and Yusei in 5D's have been fully retranslated, though I took initial cracks at Yuma and Yuya's events to get content for this video lol (I've also been intentionally holding off on as much ZEXAL as I can until I've properly watched the whole show so I have context). I haven't tackled overworld text yet, though (like pre-duel or the tournament-related text, which is all in the same file as all the story text). I've also been handling the in-duel dialogue as I go through the character stories, so also just up to Yusei, though I did take initial cracks at Aki's, Yuma and Shark's, and Yuya and Yuzu's for the video.

Other things tackled that were sprinkled into the video, along with some other notes:

Pack names and descriptions have been retranslated, though the descriptions may see minor edits closer to release for a little variety between worlds given the different characters at the shop. Character recipe names were also retranslated, with Yugipedia's translations for them used as an occasional second opinion, though ones based on pack names had to be abbreviated in spots.

Menu text, from the Options to Help screens and stuff in between, has been retranslated, as have in-duel text strings (so, you'll see a full "Activate Effect" instead of "Activate" or "Switch to Attack/Defense Position" instead of "Switch to ATK/DEF Position", etc--also fixed the "BATTELE PHASE" graphic typo, and NAC friend created a new translation for the "Turn Change" graphic for accuracy since ENG TF1-5 made that into "Next Player's Turn").

Database stuff, such as the Sound Test, Tutorials, Duel Missions, etc., have been retranslated closer to the Japanese text; originally I retranslated the Tutorial text via hex editor, with compromises done on quite a bit of it due to the space limits, but as Xan recently updated a text extractor tool of theirs to more cleanly pull out and reinsert that text, I've been going through and fleshing out those translations more (on my commutes to/from work mostly, to be productive lol).

As mentioned, I've been localizing/translating Japanese-text images throughout the game as I come across them, like with the in-duel onomatopoeia that come up during cut-ins or images in the shop/duel/etc screens using Japanese text, to make sure the game is fully translated.

The series logos, used during the title sequence and in the Series Select screens, were updated with translated fan edits shared on Deviantart (which we'll credit in the final release) for DM and GX, while the 5D's-ARC-V logos were edited to enlarge the "Yu-Gi-Oh!" text on them that was pretty hard to see originally.

The game's original opening sequence starts on an anti-piracy message before going into the Konami logo and then a "From Yu-Gi-Oh!..." screen before the opening animation for each series logo--the original team decided to use the first image to vent their frustration at Konami for not localizing this game, and while that's valid (to some extent), we thought we'd use the opportunity to dedicate this project to Kazuki Takahashi for inspiring our love for YGO and the place it's had in our hearts for all these years.

We'll be updating the names of cards that had TCG releases after the original patch was worked on/updated by FLSG to those corresponding names.

Xan has been working on many UI fixes for us to apply with this, among them 3-line dialogue box text as is used in the ENG TF1-5 games--once implemented for TFSP, I'll be going over everything to make full use of that extra space where needed, so things might not look as they do in the video by then.

Character bios will be worked on after I've done the story stuff, though I've taken initial cracks at it for Yuma and Yuya's bios for the video, along with translating the location/affiliation names ("Domino High School," "Satellite," etc).

Currently no release date is planned, as I'm working on this between my GX-finalizing work and actual IRL work, though we'll see how later this year looks as more work gets done--but as noted in the video, all things being equal, it will be released when everything is ready. I'll try to post regular updates or rambles now that this announcement's been made, lol, but do try not to constantly check in on a release date. 🙏🏽

All that said, I think that covers just about everything I wanted to put out there with this, lol. It's been fun to work on this so far and getting to see what I've re-translated in-game is definitely neat; looking forward to us being able to release everything when ready.

Stay tuned for more; the fun's just getting started!

[journeytothewestresearch]

More on the Origins of Sun Wukong's Golden Headband

I've previously suggested that the Monkey King's golden headband (jingu, 金箍; a.k.a. jingu, 緊箍, lit: “tight fillet”) can be traced to a ritual circlet mentioned in the Hevajra Tantra (Ch: Dabei kongzhi jingang dajiao wang yigui jing, 大悲空智金剛大教王儀軌經, 8th-century). This is one of the "Five Symbolic Ornaments" or "Five Seals" (Sk: Pancamudra, पञ्चमुद्रा; Ch: Wuyin, 五印; a.k.a. "Five Buddha Seals," Wufo yin, 五佛印), each of which is associated with a particular Wisdom Buddha:

Aksobhya is symbolised by the circlet, Amitabha by the ear-rings, Ratnesa by the necklace, Vairocana by the hand ornaments, [and] Amogha by the girdle (Farrow, 1992, p. 65). [1] 輪者，表阿閦如來；鐶者，無量壽如來；頸上鬘者，寶生如來；手寶釧者，大毘盧遮那如來；腰寶帶者，不空成就如來。

Akshobya is known to have attained Buddhahood through moralistic practices (Buswell & Lopez, 2014, p. 27). Therefore, this explains why a headband would be used to rein in the unruly nature of a murderous monkey god.

The original Sanskrit Hevajra Tantra calls the circlet a cakri (चक्रि) or a cakrika (चक्रिका) (Farrow, 1992, pp. 61-62 and 263-264, for example), both of which refer to a "wheel" or "disc." The Chinese version uses the terms baolun/zhe (寶輪/者, "treasure wheel or ring") and just lunzhe (輪者, "wheel" or "ring").

One of the more interesting things I've learned is that these ornaments were made from human bone. One source even refers to them as "bone ornaments" (Sk: asthimudra, अस्थिमुद्रा) (Jamgon Kontrul Lodro Taye, 2005, p. 493, n. 13). [1]

Can you imagine Sun Wukong wearing a headband made from human bone?! How metal would that be? Finger bones would probably do the trick.

Note:

1) Another section of the Hevajra Tantra provides additional associations:

The Circlet worn on the head symbolises the salutation to one's guru, master and chosen deity; the ear-rings symbolise the yogi turning a deaf ear to derogatory words spoken about the guru and Vajradhara; the necklace symbolises the recitation of mantra; the bracelets symbolises the renunciation of killing living beings and the girdle symbolises the enjoyment of the consort (Farrow, 1992, p. 263-264). 謂頂相寶輪者，唯常敬禮教授阿闍梨及自師尊；耳寶鐶者，不樂聞說持金剛者及自師尊一切過失、麁惡語故；頸寶鬘者，唯常誦持大明呪故；手寶釧者，乃至不殺蠕動諸眾生故；腰寶帶者，遠離一切欲邪行故。

2) For more info on the association between Hindo-Buddhist practices and human remains, see "charnel grounds".

Sources:

Farrow, G. W. (1992). The Concealed Essence of the Hevajra Tantra: With the Commentary Yogaratnamālā. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.

Jamgon Kontrul Lodro Taye (2005). The Treasury of Knowledge, Book Six, Part Four: Systems of Buddhist Tantra (The Kalu Rinpoche Translation Group, Trans.). Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion.

[betterwithbooksthanwithpeople]

watching series 8 of doctor who as it premiered in 2014: wow these characters are horrible (derogatory)

rewatching series 8 of doctor who all at once in 2024: wow these characters ARE horrible (affectionate)

[shiftythrifting]

my favorite hobby is looking through the mens t-shirts because they are 10 times funnier than the womens. (most of the time) heres some of my faves (in a derogatory way)

1 - a terrifying remnant of 2014

2 - i would’ve bought this but it was too big :(

3 - horrible. gives me flashbacks.

4 - this is something my brother would’ve worn when he was a teenager

5 - i’m thinking this person found out about jowling kowling rowling’s past time (being a TERF), but also this reminds me of those millennials that get all pissy when someone younger than them likes something that ‘belongs to their generation’.

all from the same goodwill but from two separate trips

[dear-ao3]

Re your RB cursed second seat post, just wanted to add a few things and make a couple of corrections because this stuff really does add to the uh... flavour

First, while I know it's not entirely relevant, the whole Racing Point driver swap was SO MUCH more dramatic because Lance Stroll and Esteban Ocon are like. Besties. Like BFF friends forever since childhood. Poor son of mechanic and rolling in cash son of billionaire true friendship story. Esteban was fired in favour of his best friend, by his BEST FRIEND'S DAD. PEAK drama. They're still besties, bee tee dubs, because Esteban only makes enemies with his teammates.

F1 Invisible Moustache Twirling Supervillain Christian Horner also has a history of 'we're fully supportive [x driver] to be the best they can be and have no intention of changing our driver line up' and then oops, sorry. We lied. Like... five minutes later. Happened to Gasly, happened to Albon, and the former is currently where we're at with Checo. Christian has admitted that they were too hasty with Albon but oh dear how sad too bad boy's thriving now oopsie doopsie.

Also not forgetting that while Daniel was twiddling his thumbs waiting for his metacarpal to heal, Liam Lawson, the AT and RB reserve, got the highest placing position for the Alpha Tauri team this season (up until Mexico, anyway) while driving in Daniel's seat, and also threw himself into the RB second driver conversation.

And a couple of minor corrections:

DR didn't just leave RB because of the unreliability, it was more about being pushed aside for Golden Child Max Verstappen (affectionate, maybe slightly derogatory), which of course he knows all about because DR did the same thing to Vettel back in 2014. Who also had experience in that field because you could argue the cursed seat actually started with Mark Webber vs Seb Vettel back in like... 2010

Honda has been in F1 before. They sold to Brawn GP for the princely sum of one euro symbolic cash when they were going under, because Ross Brawn knew they'd built a MEGA car and couldn't bear to see them not run it for the 2009 season. Brawn GP won that year, it was Jenson Button's one and only championship win.

F1 drivers can't really go back to F2. If you've won it before, you can't compete again, but it's a feeder series so there's no way some ex-f1 driver is ever gonna be in F2 (or any of the lower formulas) because it's specifically for young talent. IDK maybe you meant Formula E? They also often go to WEC or IndyCar. Even rallying.

RB didn't give Checo another car at Suzuka he went out in the same car after they fixed it up enough for it to drive around one lap. Worth noting he was like 32 laps behind by this point (IDR the exact number but it was LORGE). spare cars haven't been a thing in F1 since 2008

Finally, the Fernando and Charles rumours are so fucking funny ain't no way either of them are gonna go to RB only to be a second to Max. I can see Carlos doing it though, trying for the grand return a-la DR. He's just Like ThatTM (affectionate, again also slightly derogatory). They've also been hardcore courting Lando Norris, who's way too smart and aware of his mental health to put himself into that depression spiral.

ANYWAY this isn't intended to be a big GOTCHA i just wanted to, as I said, add some extra flavour because F1 is so much more insane than anyone who doesn't follow it can POSSIBLY comprehend. Thanks for the post, I love seeing people explain the bonkers bullshittery.

yes yes thank you for pointing out all my mistakes and all that i j ew i was going to be getting Peer Reviewed (again, tumblr deleted my damn post so the first version was more accurate but i was pissed and i was also 1am so…) but yes. i am also new here in terms of the f1 drama. but yes it’s totally positively bonkers do you guys See now why fandom people are attracted to it???

[s0ull3ss-p3rs0n]

Tumblr: The Summary

-Sex jokes

-Yuri

-The most elaborate joke you've ever seen

-Unhinged fandom content

-Autism

-More autism

-ADHD???

-Neil Gaiman

-Incoherent rambles that proceed to be the most spiritually understandable thing to you

-Maia Arson Crimew

-Gimmick blogs

-That one mutual in your askbox

-The anons in your askbox (positive)

-The anons in your askbox (derogatory)

-Pornbots

-The deactivated blogs whose posts from 2014 still rotate in your dash from time to time

-Cryptid ass blogs that like your posts and disappear

-Bots

-"Where did this guy come from"

-BadJokesByJeff (change your name already)

-Brainrot™️

-You. Literally just you.

[sim0nril3y]

Workplace Distractions

Pairing: Simon 'Ghost' Riley x Civilian!Reader Scenario: Simon spends the night keeping you company at work. Note: Set in 2014 Warnings: No mask Simon (It's my personal headcanon in his regular life he probably wouldn't wear it), mentions of smoking, mentions of alcohol, mentions of violence, tiny bit of angst, derogatory comments.

“Oh, that is sweet of you to ask, but I’m actually working tonight…” Well fuck, didn’t he feel like a plank for putting himself out there and asking you out for another drink. Simon kicked himself for not remembering you mentioning your work hours. It had certainly been something that you had mentioned to him. Bloody hell, there wasn’t much that you hadn’t mentioned to him now that he thought about it. With most things you were an open book and that was refreshing. “Maybe you could pop into the pub I work in…” You announced then breaking the silence. “If you keep me company for a little while I can promise you cheap drinks.”

A deep chuckle rumbled in Simon’s throat. It wasn’t like he had anything planned for tonight anyway. “Where’d you work again?”  “The Golden Lion.” Oh, right. Yeah, he remembered that too. It was actually a place he used to visit often when he first moved down South. Back then the owner was a little more hands-on with working behind the bar, there certainly weren’t any pretty girls like you working there. “I’ll be there…” He agreed knowing that he could almost hear the smile that pulled across your face. “You better keep your word about those cheap drinks, love.”

The pub was just as rundown as Simon remembered, the carpeted floors were marked with deep stains of something Simon didn’t want to dwell on too much, the windows were frosted and filthy, all the drink bottles of the top shelves were caked in dust and the bar itself was chipped and broken in several different places. This place was just lacking a bit of TLC. Across the room there was a rowdy group of lads watching the live MMA fight on the TV, a couple regulars sat nearby quietly drinking, a few others were occupying the batter pool table.

It was nice to see you during your shift. The moment that you had seen him perched at the bar you face brightened and instantly you were by his side checking if he needed anything or wanted a refill. You were far more attentive to him than anyone else that approached the bar. God, that made him feel fucking fantastic. He really loved that you would get so engrossed telling him a story that people would have to ask twice to get your attention and each time your attention was drawn away from him you seemed frustrated.

A sharp set of fingers snapped rudely in their direction. “Honey, ‘nother drink…” The drunk rudely tapped his empty glass against the bar. Simon didn’t miss the way that you rolled those precious eyes before sweeping away to prepare his order. “S’bout fuckin’ time…” A dangerous set of eyes began to observe him from afar. A bit of respect wouldn’t go amiss. A little less attitude wouldn’t be too much to ask. Simon watched as the man swayed, stilling himself on the bar itself whilst those glazed eyed cast down your exciting frame. It made his blood boil. Fuck. It wasn’t like they were even a couple but Simon couldn’t stand another set of eyes drinking you in.

Once you had taken payment, stashing the money into the till and then wandered back to stand opposite Simon again. “Alright?” For a moment longer his eyes lingered on the retreating drunk, sliding into the background seamlessly. “Si?” His attention snapped back to you in a second. Nobody called him Si, or well at least not since his mum was alive. Fuck, his head was a mixture of emotions. Was it something he liked? Was it too personal? Was that nickname reserved for her? Could it be shared? “Try not to pay them any notice. They’re all just a bunch of larger louts.” Then shrugging your shoulders as if you dealt with this regularly – well, working in this place you probably did.

A few times that night Simon found himself outside for a smoke. Each time it gave him a moment to think with a clear mind. Could he really keep doing this? Was it really fair to you? Could he even give you what you wanted emotionally? Did you even want anything emotionally? It put his mind at ease to at least know that weren’t expecting anything physically from him you had made that very clear.

“Pwah, mate. I’d give it to her.” A rowdy voice snapped from behind him as a group of lads exited the pub, lighters and cigarettes in hand. “Which one?” “Which one do you think? The barmaid…” They were talking about you. Fuck, he could feel his temper rising at just the mention of your description on their tongues. “Mate, I just know that she’s gaggin’ for a bit of cock. Been givin’ me the eye all night.” They all laughed between them and Simon threw down his cigarette in the next second.

“Oi…” Christ, why was he even picking this fight? It wasn’t like you were even a couple… but fuck, hearing them talk about you like that was fucking soul destroying. It wasn’t going to happen. Not whilst he was around to solve the problem. “That’s enough now. You might wanna show a little respect.” It could have ended there. It really could have, but these lads seemed not to take Simon’s warning all that well. No, instead they picked a fight. 3 against 1. It really wasn’t fair… for them.

Last call came and went and in groups people seemed to leave. You wandered over to him as your colleague got to work cleaning tables and collecting errant glasses. “Thanks for coming tonight, Simon. You being here actually made work bearable.” Fuckin’ hell. He could see that look in your eye. It was dangerous, he knew that, but no part of him was able to walk away or explain to you that this was difficult for him. “I’m working again tomorrow, if you want to… pop by…” Then shrugging your shoulders.

“Wouldn’t miss it…” Fuck, eventually he was going to have to put an end to this. It was going to hurt, maybe it would actually hurt him more than it would hurt you, but… but he couldn’t be selfish about you. He couldn’t keep just stringing you along thinking that he might be able to give you a normal relationship or life. No, deep down Simon knew that the only right thing to do was end this, but… but that couldn’t happen tonight and… and you were counting on him being there tomorrow. No, he would find a good time to do it, but right now you needed him.

Masterlist | Ask | 01-09-2023

[mariacallous]

Two years ago, if I had been able to peer into the not-too-distant future, I wouldn’t have understood half of what Ukrainians are talking about. The events we describe—Russia’s full-scale invasion, horrific war crimes—would have seemed surreal, as well as the words we use. Expletives are suddenly more acceptable for use by news anchors and even government officials. Abstract terms have specific connotations, such as tryvoha (“anxiety” or “a sense of foreboding”), now shorthand for povitryana tryvoha, or “air raid alert.” “Tired of tryvoha? Why not go for a run?” a billboard ad for a gym reads, seemingly referring to both meanings.

As the Ukrainian language reflects the transformation of a society amid war, the old-fashioned adjective svidomy has changed too, becoming a marker of reinvigorated national identity. Svidomy, which means “aware” or “conscious of something,” traditionally conveys political self-awareness and an acceptance of responsibilities to the homeland. In the recent past it described more fervent patriots, implying an obsession with Ukraine’s past and its struggle against Russian imperialism. When Russia invaded Crimea in 2014, the model citizens fundraising for supplies for Ukraine’s army were called svidomy. Other Ukrainians treated the war as a misunderstanding with Russia. “I’m probably not svidomy enough,” they might admit. “But I’m just tired of politics.”

The word svidomy is of Old East Slavic origin. One of its first recorded usages is in the medieval epic The Tale of Igor’s Campaign, which gives an account of the raid Prince Igor Svyatoslavych attempted against neighboring nomads—and of his defeat and demise. The text describes Igor’s soldiers as “svidomy warriors,” which many modern translations interpret as meaning they were either very loyal to their leader’s cause or generally very motivated to win. For much of its history, svidomy carried a certain drama that made it sound more natural in eulogies or history books than everyday speech.

Since Feb. 24, 2022, Ukrainians across the political spectrum have embraced svidomy, imbuing it with meaning that is both sacred and colloquial. Calling someone a svidomy hromadianyn (“aware citizen”) is high praise, describing volunteers and activists tragically killed on the front lines. People use the term to self-identify on social media; it graces T-shirts worn as a show of defiance in the face of war. In today’s Ukraine, being svidomy still signals caring about the past, but history’s lessons are now self-evident: Ukrainians have long fought for survival and succeeded, despite the odds. Being svidomy is no longer just a character trait—it’s a requisite of the times.

Svidomy’s meaning has evolved over the decades. During the Soviet era, it referred to political dissidents or to those who identified as Ukrainian rather than Soviet. (Curiously, a bastardized version of the word exists in Russian: The derogatory term svidomity describes Ukrainians deemed aggressively patriotic.) In the early years of Ukrainian independence, the activists fighting the systemic corruption left in the wake of the turbulent 1990s were called svidomy. At that time, the descriptor was usually a compliment, if one that suggested someone was overly idealistic or radical. It might also be used sarcastically—say, if someone stubbornly insisted on speaking Ukrainian when surrounded by people who preferred Russian.

The word became more commonplace during the 2014 Revolution of Dignity. What started as a peaceful protest against then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych ditching a trade deal with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia turned into a nationwide movement, culminating in Yanukovych’s ouster. The words svidomy and svidomist (the state of being svidomy) appeared on protest placards and in slogans in Maidan Square and throughout Ukraine. The Revolution of Dignity started to blur the distinctions between activists across the political spectrum. It showed that in Ukraine, anarchists and radical leftists could find common ground with their right-wing counterparts if the situation called for it.

Yet in 2019, when down-to-earth, Russian-speaking comedian Volodymyr Zelensky defeated conservative Petro Poroshenko to take the Ukrainian presidency in a landslide, Poroshenko’s supporters began describing themselves as svidomy—in contrast to Zelensky voters, who they characterized as apolitical and not invested enough in Ukraine’s future. Poroshenko’s supporters questioned whether Zelensky and his team could stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin if Putin escalated the conflict in eastern Ukraine. When asked about the issue at the time, Zelensky said he and Putin would “find a common ground” to reach peace.

To Zelensky’s critics, such compromise not only would have been unpatriotic, but also would have proven that the new president hadn’t learned necessary lessons from Ukrainian history: that Russia’s attacks reflected its imperialist ambitions, and that it would see attempts at making peace as a sign of weakness.

Of course, last year, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine that was supposed to last three days and end with Russian tanks leading a victory parade through Kyiv. Zelensky—along with Ukrainians from all backgrounds—turned out to be svidomy enough to stand up Putin’s army, even when much of the world thought they didn’t stand a fighting chance.

If the meaning of svidomy was up for discussion before, those arguments ceased on Feb. 24, 2022. Anyone who considered themselves Ukrainian enough to help their country amid peril—no matter whom they voted for—was svidomy. Even those with little emotional attachment to their homeland became defiantly Ukrainian when foreign soldiers were willing to shoot them in the back. It didn’t matter if someone called themself ethnically Russian, was the world’s biggest Dostoyevsky fan, or didn’t agree with the concept of nation-states.

People from across the political spectrum suddenly shared a higher goal and a set of values they were willing to work together to protect. Anarchists signed up for territorial defense units and volunteered for the Ukrainian army. Ardent Poroshenko supporters declared their support for Zelensky’s government. Political figures who had argued for decades seemed to put that behind them. Not all disagreements were resolved overnight, but full-scale war certainly fostered a feeling of mutual trust, of shared awareness.

Used in the past to mock those considered too radical, or to differentiate oneself from those deemed too careless, the word svidomy now signifies a specific Ukrainian unity. It shows what Ukrainians mean when we say that our homeland is a political state: If one considers themself part of the Ukrainian community, they cannot be insufficiently Ukrainian. Since the war began, any irony about being svidomy has vanished. After all, why would we joke about being aware of our identity when it puts us in the line of fire?