#Community Discussion

[wulfbones]

This might be a hot take, but animal packers are not bad. Being trans-species is not bad. You may not understand it, but who are you to tell someone how they can and can't identify?

Do not correlate trans-species creatures and animal packer users with zoophiles. There is a BIG difference.

[hyakinthou-naos]

HelPol Discourse & Ableism

A more nuanced addition to this post - which I made on a low spoons day (if you're just interested in the ableism part then scroll to the bottom).

The Dunning-Kruger Effect

“The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which people with limited competence in a particular domain overestimate their abilities”

- Wikipedia

The Duning-Kruger Effect was first pointed out to me by another pagan practitioner - and in that context it was used to describe those who claim to know what is “right” or “wrong” for all practitioners within a given tradition.

This fellow practitioner (I can’t remember their name - this was at least 2 years ago) pointed out that those who are incredibly knowledgeable about a given tradition don’t tend to go around policing others practices.

Why?

Because being knowledgeable about any religious or spiritual tradition means recognizing how incredibly human made traditions are. They are loose - flexible - ever changing and ever evolving within both individual and community practice.

Now - that doesn’t mean “anything goes” within a tradition or religion, quite the opposite.

It instead means that the best way to create a cohesive tradition (or revive a cohesive tradition) is through working together as a community to discuss what is and isn’t valid praxis.

One individual (or a small group of individuals) speaking on behalf of an entire community is very rarely a good idea.

Bold “unpopular opinion” posts - telling others what is and isn’t valid praxis - is not only incredibly hubristic, but is also only going to lead to anger and infighting.

It is through conversation that we can get to the root of an issue and try to find consensus as a community.

As an example: I could make a post explaining my interpretation of, and feelings around, people worshipping Medusa. I could explain that I have negative feelings because this type of worship was not seen in antiquity. But then I could also make it clear that this is just my opinion - and that I’d be interested in hearing others points of view*

*some of those caught up in this controversy have done this, and have wrongly been demonized for it - while others have done the exact opposite, stating their opinion as law.

If someone makes a post similar to the example and you’re still going to be antagonistic or cruel - then just block that person. You’re going to save both them and yourself a lot of needless stress.

If someone makes a post that is actively inflammatory - you can do one of two things:

1. If you have the energy and bandwidth, you can engage with them in a discussion or civil debate.

2. If you don’t have the energy or bandwidth, or if OP is unwillingly to engage you in such talks, then just block them. Again - it will save you a lot of needless stress.

Lastly - we as Hellenic Polytheists need to be better about our ableism.

If there is something in our faith that is ableist (example: you must always stand with arms outstretched during ritual) then it shouldn’t be part of our faith.

Just because some people do not have any limitations on their physical mobility or mental energy - does not mean that the able-bodied way of doing things gets to be the default or “correct” way of practicing our faith.

I want to make a longer post on the ableism that is rampant in both the HelPol and wider Pagan communities - but for now I think that will suffice.

Askbox is open, as are DMs - The Temple is always open to community building, community discussion, and (civil) community debate.

Eirene - peace and farewell,

- Temple Hyacinthus

[studying-roxas]

I don't want to overstep but I genuinely have a question about when neurodevelopmental disorders creep into physical disability.

I have dyspraxia. I was diagnosed with it 3 years before I even got my autism diagnosis. For those who don't know, dyspraxia, also known as childhood coordination disorder, affects one's coordination, proprioception, and fine motor skills.

Dyspraxics can often have difficulties with other things that people with motor disorders struggle with - walking, writing, buttoning clothes, driving, using cutlery, etc. All of these are physical manifestations of a neurodevelopmental disorder - dyspraxia is not considered a neurological disorder (which are often considered physical disabilities,) but a neurodevelopmental disorder. My coordination was clinically under where it was supposed to be. I was delayed in crawling, sucking on a straw, walking, and a few more missed milestones that I forget (oops). Usually these missed milestones are attributed to my asd, but they all are also common for dyspraxics.

From my understanding, a lot of autistics also experience these things even without the added dyspraxia diagnosis, which is where my question comes into play.

A lot of people will say that autistics do not have a physical disability, but if the majority of autistics meet the criteria of dyspraxia... does that mean the physical manifestations of dyspraxia are also not a physical disability? My dyspraxia affects my movement way more than my mild hypermobility does. It affects my movement way more than my knocked knees and duckfoot do. It affects my movement more than my scoliosis does. I always considered my dyspraxia to be my "main" physical disability.

Then I got into the disability community and had people telling me that my migraines and asthma counted as physical disabilities, but that my coordination disorder which affects my fine motor skills doesn't... despite it having a much greater affect on my physical ability to do things than my chronic migraines. I guess I'm just very confused as to how this is split.

My knocked knees + duckfoot is a physical disability because it's a malformation of my hips and legs that affects my gait, but my dyspraxia affects my gait just as much if not more than my knocked knees + duckfoot. It seems odd that one should be considered a valid physical disability and the other not just because it's how my brain developed as opposed to how my skeleton did.

I used to work with high support needs autistic people and knew some who used a wheelchair with no other diagnoses - just asd. I have met with other dyspraxics who need mobility aids due to severe coordination deficiencies (the person I'm thinking of specifically went back and forth between a cane and a walker). I used to work with many autistics who could not feed themselves due to motor control issues, or who would regularly aspirate on food and drink due to dysphagia.

I know this argument is tired, and I'm not asking to use the C slur or anything, I am just genuinely confused how we as a community are deciding what is a physical disability versus a neurodevelopmental disability that manifests with physical symptoms. If the accommodations i need for my fine motor difficulties are the same as any physical disability which causes fine motor difficulties, then what is the difference that makes discussing dyspraxia an intrusion on physical disability posts /gen

Edited to fix incomplete sentence. Sorry, sometimes my brain moves too fast for my hands

Edit 2: okay, I actually have more to add about how confusing this separation actually is. Catatonia is present in about 10% of psychiatric patients, including depression (with up to 20% of depression sufferers having catatonic depression). Recent studies into ADHD have shown that ADHD causes fine motor difficulties, on top of ADHD being one of the most common Dyspraxia comorbidities. Tic disorders don't count unless your tics affect your movement... even though all non-vocal and non-mental tics are physical tics. 80% of autistics have gait and movement differences. Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are particularly known for including catatonia. ALL of these are physical symptoms - more than that, they are symptoms that affect the ability to walk or access adequate fine motor control skills. These are also the disorders I see most commonly called out for claiming physical symptoms when "they don't have them." I am so confused on how you guys are classifying physical symptoms because these??? all of these symptoms??? very clearly physical and interrupt daily functioning.

I am just. Confused.

[vanilla-cigarillos]

Mini Rant About Witchtok

I deleted TikTok a while ago because I kept coming across videos that legitimately upset me (and I'm not talking about petty drama, I mean videos on animal harm, etc). So I'm not an active participant in the witchtok community anymore, however I saw a lot during my time on the app that made me take a second glance and I'm wondering if anyone else had similar experiences?

There seems to be a lot of drama in the witchtok space that (at least from what I've seen) doesn't translate into other media spaces in the same way. Witchy content creators on YouTube and Tumblr have pretty niche and lovely spaces where, apart from the spare asshole, maintain quite wonderful interactions. On TikTok I noticed that there seemed to be a ton of in-fighting between witchy creators, particularly those that practice baneful work. Granted, I myself am a baneful practitioner, so that may have skewed my algorithm a bit, but it was still enough to give me a bit of a ?

There were lots of petty arguments and insults thrown at each other, promises to curse them and their family members/friends, sending followers after one another. These people all seemed to be fairly well involved in a community of one another until things would suddenly explode, and allegations of all kinds of bigotry would be thrown at each other with shoddy evidence (if there was any evidence whatsoever). I also want to point out that most of the individuals involved in these online wars were white, or at the very least white passing, and it was rare for any BIPOC to be heard throughout the mess of it all.

It made me really frustrated and, to put it bluntly, exhausted. The community of witches I've seen on Tumblr have either been extremely educated and mature or, at the very least, willing to listen and do better if called out. I don't want to blame TikTok itself, because as we've all seen at this point there are problematic people on every platform. It's just the amount of toxicity in the spiritual/witchcraft community on TikTok is astonishing to me, and I'm hoping to hear other opinions on this.

[lgbtransgirl]

Ice cold takes from a Transgender Woman:

Men are not inherently Evil

Everyone has the capacity for evil

Transgender Men are men

Transgender Women are women

Excluding Cisgender Men from your spaces requires Transgender Men to out themselves if they want to engage (Same for Women)

Anyone can be Non-Binary, there is no "look" or requirement

Non-binary masculine presenting people should be welcome in queer spaces, many are just treated as men and predators

Non-binary feminine presenting people should be welcome in queer spaces without being seen as "Woman-Lite"

Edited the wording on the first point because too many terfs keep thinking I'm their friend.

[allthingswhumpyandangsty]

fanfic writing culture isn’t “oh dang! I wanted to write about this prompt with this character but someone else already wrote it, so now I can’t”.

fanfic writing culture is always “two cakes is better than one. the more the merrier. there can ever be enough fics of this character with this prompt!”

[001x456]

“ships should at least make sense.” no. ships can make sense, sure. but they’re just fictional characters we play with for fun. they’re fantasies, not a fucking thesis paper. so no, they don’t always have to make sense. they just have to make you happy (or horny).

let people enjoy (fictional) things however they want to enjoy.

[mehmet77yui]

Affordable Glasses for Kids: A Smart Choice!

Hello everyone! I'm excited to share my thoughts on finding affordable glasses for kids, especially with the fantastic options from Lensmart. As a parent, I know how crucial it is to provide our little ones with quality eyewear without breaking the bank.

Lensmart offers a variety of stylish and durable frames that are perfect for kids. The best part? They are budget-friendly! It's wonderful to see a brand that prioritizes both affordability and quality. My children love their new glasses, and I appreciate how easy it was to find the right fit for them.

If you're looking for affordable glasses for kids, I highly recommend checking out Lensmart. They have a wide selection that caters to different styles and preferences, making it easy for kids to express themselves while ensuring their vision is clear.

I'm thrilled to have found a community where I can discuss these topics, and I look forward to hearing your experiences with kids' eyewear. Thank you for reading, and happy shopping!

[kingdanie562]

Exploring the Smart Home Revolution: A Focus on Dreame Robot Vacuums

In today's fast-paced world, smart home technology is becoming increasingly popular, and one of the standout brands in this industry is Dreame. With their innovative robot vacuums, Dreame is making home cleaning not just efficient but also enjoyable.

If you're considering investing in a robot vacuum, it can be helpful to look at various comparison charts to understand the features and benefits of different models. Dreame offers a range of options that cater to various cleaning needs and budgets.

I invite everyone to share their experiences with Dreame robot vacuums! If you own one, please post a picture and tell us what you love about it. Additionally, feel free to share a link to your model so others can explore its features. Your insights will be invaluable for those new to the smart home technology scene. Thank you for contributing to this exciting discussion!

[bunnisreality]

"Uhm actually [character] would never do that!☝️🤓"

my tongue has been in his mouth I know him better than the author does.

[hyakinthou-naos]

This post is such a good example of how individual interpretations (largely influenced by culture and country of origin) can sometimes limit our understandings of and relationships with The Theoi.

I’m a white American who was raised Catholic in a top 5% household* - my interpretations and biases are going to be heavily influenced by that upbringing whether I like it or not (and whether I agree with it or not).

This is why it’s so important to try to intake information from other cultures and perspectives - and that doesn’t just have to be reading academic literature! It can be movies, TV shows, YouTube videos, fiction books, podcasts - expand your horizons!

*something I want to make clear is that while my bio family is rich - I cut ties with them in 2021 and became financially independent. I am very much middle class - and currently work full time to support myself, my partner, and our two pets.

How come Hera is a goddess of motherhood but we don't get to see much of this motherly side of her as tender in equivalent of Isis,Mary or even Rhea and Leto?

I mean, I get that that her role is a protector of legitimate family, motherhood and so, in myths she is more "cold" towards her children at some point (ofc we get to see in the iliad that she had a soft spot for Hephaestus and Thetis since she raised her) but she is often perceived as a cruel one.

The idea that mothers are inherently warm, nurturing figures is, IMHO, a modern idiosyncrasy that we project onto the ancient past. There are, in fact, motherly dimensions to her "cold" portrayal—namely in the Iliad, where she beats Artemis with her own arrows for trying to get Apollo to fight Poseidon. I mean, c'mon. What is that if not a (step)mother's punishment?

In cult, Hera is a goddess of motherhood specifically because she's a goddess of childbirth! She is, after all, the mother of Eileithyia (birth pangs personified), and she is depicted in myth as influencing the outcome of divine and mortal births (think Leto and Alkmene).

[justicesocietyzine]

Anyone have any predictions for the new JSA book?

-Mac

[bebx]

[maigetheplatypus57]

Do you think Evbo learned how to do those jumps and thought "oh this is so sick what's the best way I can show off my parkour skills"

[tahbhie]

Creating Emotionally Devastating Scenes.

Crafting a scene that earns the total sympathy of your readers can be challenging, but it's not impossible. Most emotionally devastating scenes fail at two things, but when these are done right, the results can be powerful.

⚪ The Important Concepts for Writing an Emotionally Devastating Scene

1. The Build-Up,

2. Breaking the Dam.

Before I explain these concepts, let me share a case study.

⚫ Case Study

I wrote a story about a young orphan named Jackie and her younger brother. Their village was burned down, leaving them as the only survivors.

For the next few chapters, readers followed their painful journey and their struggle to survive. The younger brother had a heart problem, and Jackie vowed to become a cardiologist to save him.

She was very ambitious about it, but at the time, it was very ironic. Later in the story, when they encountered a tragic living condition with a family, the brother died while telling his sister how much he missed their parents.

When her brother was fighting for his life, she was sent out of the room, only to be let in again to see his cold, lifeless body.

⚪ Explanation of Concepts

1. The Build-Up

The build-up is extremely important when you aim to convey strong emotions. Here's a secret: if you plan for a scene with strong emotions, start leaving breadcrumbs from the very beginning of the story.

Take the previous case study. I carefully built up their journey so people could easily relate and feel the pain of the older sister during her brother's sudden death.

You need to give the situation enough reason to feel utterly hopeless and devastating. Gradually cultivate the tension until it's ready to let loose.

⚫ Understanding the Use of Breadcrumbs.

Breadcrumbs in stories ensure you utilize the time you have to build up certain emotions around your characters.

At the beginning of my story, Jackie’s fate was already pitiable, but she survived every hurdle. This gave the readers enough to feel for her while still leaning away from the outcome. When I built enough, I introduced her brother's sudden death.

Hence, leave your breadcrumbs while leaning away from the outcome.

⚪ How to Properly Leave Breadcrumbs

When building up your story, consider these elements:

☞⁠ Character Relatability: The characters need to be realistic to draw readers into the story. This helps readers invest themselves in your story.

☞⁠ Realistic Emotional Pain: Just as characters need to be relatable, their emotions need to be realistic and not appear forced.

☞⁠ Create a Strong Emotional Attachment: Give them something they care about or that has the power to ruin their lives in any way. It could be something that makes them happy or something their happiness relies on. When it's time, snatch it away without remorse.

☞⁠ Have a Backstage Struggle: This struggle keeps readers occupied, so they won't see the outcome coming. For example, Jackie’s constant struggle to find food and shelter keeps readers engaged while the impending tragedy looms in the background.

☞⁠ Attach Believable Elements: For a realistic character, emotion, and struggle, attach believable elements. It could be death, ailments, sickness, disorder, disappointment, failure, etc.

Now that we've covered the build-up, let's move on to the next crucial part.

2. Breaking the Dam

This is when you make your readers feel the strong emotions alongside your characters. All the tension you’ve been building up is released, making all emotions come into play.

☞⁠ Break Your Strong Attachment: Cut off your strong attachment from your character when they least expect it or at a point when they couldn't use more struggles (i.e when they are helpless).

This will not only evoke readers’ emotions but also pique their curiosity as they wonder how the character will survive the situation.

☞⁠ Description of Sensory Details to Invoke Emotions: The advice of "show, don't tell" will be really helpful here. It's crucial to ensure that the final execution matches the build-up.

A well-crafted build-up can fall flat if the emotional release isn't handled effectively. To avoid this, blend the climax seamlessly into the narrative, making it feel natural and impactful.

Reblog to save for reference! 💜