#School of Education and Human Development

[feminist-space]

Excerpts:

"The convenience of instant answers that LLMs provide can encourage passive consumption of information, which may lead to superficial engagement, weakened critical thinking skills, less deep understanding of the materials, and less long-term memory formation [8]. The reduced level of cognitive engagement could also contribute to a decrease in decision-making skills and in turn, foster habits of procrastination and "laziness" in both students and educators [13].

Additionally, due to the instant availability of the response to almost any question, LLMs can possibly make a learning process feel effortless, and prevent users from attempting any independent problem solving. By simplifying the process of obtaining answers, LLMs could decrease student motivation to perform independent research and generate solutions [15]. Lack of mental stimulation could lead to a decrease in cognitive development and negatively impact memory [15]. The use of LLMs can lead to fewer opportunities for direct human-to-human interaction or social learning, which plays a pivotal role in learning and memory formation [16].

Collaborative learning as well as discussions with other peers, colleagues, teachers are critical for the comprehension and retention of learning materials. With the use of LLMs for learning also come privacy and security issues, as well as plagiarism concerns (7]. Yang et al. [17] conducted a study with high school students in a programming course. The experimental group used ChatGPT to assist with learning programming, while the control group was only exposed to traditional teaching methods. The results showed that the experimental group had lower flow experience, self-efficacy, and learning performance compared to the control group.

Academic self-efficacy, a student's belief in their "ability to effectively plan, organize, and execute academic tasks"

', also contributes to how LLMs are used for learning [18]. Students with

low self-efficacy are more inclined to rely on Al, especially when influenced by academic stress

[18]. This leads students to prioritize immediate Al solutions over the development of cognitive and creative skills. Similarly, students with lower confidence in their writing skills, lower

"self-efficacy for writing" (SEWS), tended to use ChatGPT more extensively, while higher-efficacy students were more selective in Al reliance [19]. We refer the reader to the meta-analysis [20] on the effect of ChatGPT on students' learning performance, learning perception, and higher-order thinking."

"Recent empirical studies reveal concerning patterns in how LLM-powered conversational search systems exacerbate selective exposure compared to conventional search methods. Participants engaged in more biased information querying with LLM-powered conversational search, and an opinionated LLM reinforcing their views exacerbated this bias [63]. This occurs because LLMS are in essence "next token predictors" that optimize for most probable outputs, and thus can potentially be more inclined to provide consonant information than traditional information system algorithms [63]. The conversational nature of LLM interactions compounds this effect, as users can engage in multi-turn conversations that progressively narrow their information exposure. In LLM systems, the synthesis of information from multiple sources may appear to provide diverse perspectives but can actually reinforce existing biases through algorithmic selection and presentation mechanisms.

The implications for educational environments are particularly significant, as echo chambers can fundamentally compromise the development of critical thinking skills that form the foundation of quality academic discourse. When students rely on search systems or language models that systematically filter information to align with their existing viewpoints, they might miss opportunities to engage with challenging perspectives that would strengthen their analytical capabilities and broaden their intellectual horizons. Furthermore, the sophisticated nature of these algorithmic biases means that a lot of users often remain unaware of the information gaps in their research, leading to overconfident conclusions based on incomplete evidence. This creates a cascade effect where poorly informed arguments become normalized in academic and other settings, ultimately degrading the standards of scholarly debate and undermining the educational mission of fostering independent, evidence-based reasoning."

"In summary, the Brain-only group's connectivity suggests a state of increased internal coordination, engaging memory and creative thinking (manifested as theta and delta coherence across cortical regions). The Engine group, while still cognitively active, showed a tendency toward more focal connectivity associated with handling external information (e.g. beta band links to visual-parietal areas) and comparatively less activation of the brain's long-range memory circuits. These findings are in line with literature: tasks requiring internal memory amplify low-frequency brain synchrony in frontoparietal networks [77], whereas outsourcing information (via internet search) can reduce the load on these networks and alter attentional dynamics. Notably, prior studies have found that practicing internet search can reduce activation in memory-related brain areas [831, which dovetails with our observation of weaker connectivity in those regions for Search Engine group. Conversely, the richer connectivity of Brain-only group may reflect a cognitive state akin to that of high performers in creative or memory tasks, for instance, high creativity has been associated with increased fronto-occipital theta connectivity and intra-hemispheric synchronization in frontal-temporal circuits [81], patterns we see echoed in the Brain-only condition."

"This correlation between neural connectivity and behavioral quoting failure in LLM group's participants offers evidence that:

1. Early Al reliance may result in shallow encoding.

LLM group's poor recall and incorrect quoting is a possible indicator that their earlier essays were not internally integrated, likely due to outsourced cognitive processing to the LLM.

2. Withholding LLM tools during early stages might support memory formation.

Brain-only group's stronger behavioral recall, supported by more robust EEG connectivity, suggests that initial unaided effort promoted durable memory traces, enabling more effective reactivation even when LLM tools were introduced later.

Metacognitive engagement is higher in the Brain-to-LLM group.

Brain-only group might have mentally compared their past unaided efforts with tool-generated suggestions (as supported by their comments during the interviews), engaging in self-reflection and elaborative rehearsal, a process linked to executive control and semantic integration, as seen in their EEG profile.

The significant gap in quoting accuracy between reassigned LLM and Brain-only groups was not merely a behavioral artifact; it is mirrored in the structure and strength of their neural connectivity. The LLM-to-Brain group's early dependence on LLM tools appeared to have impaired long-term semantic retention and contextual memory, limiting their ability to reconstruct content without assistance. In contrast, Brain-to-LLM participants could leverage tools more strategically, resulting in stronger performance and more cohesive neural signatures."

[kidspawn]

Since this used to be such a hot topic of discourse in the fandom, I’m keen to know your thoughts on Adam’s major

This is an ask I am delighted to have received, because this is a topic I have devoted far too much time picking apart. I wish that meant I had a succinct answer, but to be honest you knew what you were getting into sending me an ask. Especially an Adam-related ask. I have many, many thoughts. Not just because I'm writing college age Gangsey and I've devoted a lot of time to this concept, I genuinely just find this thread of thought fascinating and ripe for character analysis. Mild spoilers for Adam's arc in The Dreamer Trilogy, especially Greywaren.

Dissecting Adam's college major, I think, hinges entirely on what state of character development he's in, how many majors he's tried, how attached he stays to Ronan, his relationship with himself and his perception on success. More on that later, but it's crucial (I think) to know what major Adam chooses, what he'd enjoy, and what actually thematically works for him.

So, starting with canon knowledge, I'm fairly certain he's confirmed to be a psychology major as of Call Down the Hawk/Mister Impossible. This could be me making a logical leap, but he's “studying humanity” which points to Psychology or Sociology. I'm actually very fond of Psych major Adam, for numerous reasons I'll get into in a second. But yeah. And we know he's struggling quite a bit during this period of time, with identity and a loneliness he can't seem to break through. And after this, he transfers to multiple colleges in quick succession, before ultimately not graduating and entering into his ultra-mysterious government job. (I have mixed feelings on this.)

Here's how those years pan out, in my head: Adam transfers out of Harvard, to an equally prestigious college. He tries a new major, this time, knowing Psychology didn't work. Maybe the study was the problem, so he reapplies himself in an equally enticing discipline. I'd like to think, after all the occurs in Greywaren (especially with Ronan deviating and able to access things outside of the Barns, outside of Adam) he regresses a bit and tries for pre Law. Pre Law, to him, comes with the pressed suit and success he idealized as a child. It feels fitting, after a perceived failure, that he'd latch onto his adolescent definition of success. I think he'd do well, apply himself, perform admirably, but ultimately realize he fucking hates lawyers. And it doesn't click. Nothing passionate in him, just a resigned way of being. So, another transfer. Another Adam Parrish reinvention, another fresh start, a clean slate. What follows is a series of identity rewrites, different uniforms and backstreets and passions and sets of friends and parents to fabricate a new existence. And each one takes him further and further away from what he really wants. This culminates in the government email, from all his work along the ley line, all his whispers in the world of magic, and ends us at the Greywaren epilogue. (This is me weaving headcanon into the epilogue, not quite how I'd write Adam's story, but this is ending we've been given, and I find the serpentine nature of it immensely fascinating.)

Now, moving into majors I actively enjoy, say, reading or writing in. This is not a diss on any other assigned major - I can be persuaded to enjoy Adam in nearly any major or career, especially if it's written out well. That's part of the problem, is my opinion. I'm going to be kind of mean to Adam here, so let me start on a positive note: Adam is very academically inclined. Not even as a form of survival, he's just... a smart kid. He enjoys picking the world apart and analyzing what surrounds him. He's got the work ethic for traditional education, he's polite and listens to authority, he's inquisitive and skilled in academia. Whether he likes it, who's to say? There's little he indicates in regards to pleasure gained in academics. I'm actually of the mind he likes school because it is 1. A key to success and 2. He is good at it, and Adam likes being good at things. I fully believe he'd do well in nearly any academic path he picked, because Adam doesn't necessarily need joy to succeed academically. Just the drive to prevail and endure. So, taking this in mind, I think half the problem is Adam not really... enjoying any of these fields, just being good at it and seeing success at the end of the tunnel. The other half is his fucking identity crisis. What does he want? Who does he want to become? Those things directly conflict and make it truly difficult to find a major he'd want to pursue. He's being tugged in so many directions. Hence, while I think Adam would go to college as a means to an end, I've never actually seen Adam as someone who enjoys the actual act of school and academia. (I do think he enjoys perceiving and questioning and investigating the world, prying and analyzing. He enjoys problem solving. I digress. That wasn't the question.)

My Adam Parrish college major headcanons, my personal view, breaks down into: what I think he studied, what actually makes sense in the context of his character and his qualities, and my self-indulgent “omg i wish he studied it he'd love it.” I've already talked about what I think actually went down. I think he bounced through majors. Specifically, psych and sociology and law, maybe two or three more. But maybe more on my other opinions:

So, for an Adam Parrish major, I think there's some criteria that must be met:

1. Something in STEM. Adam is, at his core, very tactile and factual. He's not just the “science guy” for a joke. He's literally hardwired to perceive the world with the scientific method. I can't see him not studying a science pathway.

2. Monetary success. I don't even care if this seems reductive for character development, I actively think Adam would sit down, chart all career options, and choose the ones with the most profit. He'd balance passion and interest with a lucrative career. Whatever job he gets has to pay well.

3. Something that makes a good impression. I think Adam cares about what people think of him. I think he wants a diploma that brings a swell of pride in him. Something people find impressive, because it proves he is impressive. Rags to riches when it's done. For all his work after TRK, he still cares deeply what others see him as.

4. Something challenging. Adam canonically needs to be mentally occupied. It serves as a distraction. It keeps him sane. I don't think he's enjoy or want to pursue anything that isn't at least a LITTLE academically stimulating.

5. Something that lets him help people. This is largely a TRK headcanon, where he mentions as he leaves the trailer for the last time, that he wants to help all the Adams he knows are stuck there. I love this, actually. I genuinely adore this idea. Adam is good with kids. He cares about helping people, wants to become the person he needed the most when he was a kid. I adore this idea. I think this is a criteria that he keeps close to his chest, and it doesn't always have to be met for a great story. (I actually find the idea of Adam sacrificing this desire in favour of success wonderful ground for character study.) But at my very core, I love Adam pursuing a degree that opens doors to help people. However that looks.

Now, I can gush about majors I'd actually give Adam. In a lot of fic I write or miscellaneous commentary, I reference Adam being a psych major. I love love love Adam being a psych major. I have no clue what the fandom consensus is, but this is genuinely so fitting for his character. Not even narratively. Like, as a person, Adam being a psych major makes sense. Specifically, Adam being a psych dropout makes sense. (I do not think he gets a psych degree. I think he switches majors. Allow me to explain.)

I used to loath psych major Adam. I hated it. And then, I sat down and thought about the implications of psych major Adam. Adam, who picks the world and the people around him apart. Who operates as a fly on the wall, psychoanalyzes and makes assumptions based on human behavior, who's learned to read body language and intent. Who hones in on microscopic self expression, who builds assumptions and makes rash judgements based in behavior alone. Who sits and builds hypothesis on behavior based on empirical evidence. Introspective, analytical Adam Parrish who spends half the fucking series psychoanalyzing his friends and strangers in grocery stores and himself.

Adam spends so much time picking his own self apart, trying to understand who he is. And I find that, on a more sentimental level, pursuing psych gives him clinical distance to pick himself apart? There's a way to understand who he is and what that means about his role in humanity as a whole. The phrasing of that statement in the cut Adam chapter, set at Harvard, specifically speaks on studying humanity. I find that fascinating? I love that he seeks to comprehend human nature, and I think a part of him wants to apply that inward and figure out who he is. For a character who isn't entirely sure who he is or what he wants, a major pursuing that knowledge has to be crack. And it's why I think he'd drop it.

I don't know if this is common sentiment, but I've always heard two jokes about psych majors: they trauma dump like no one's business, and they'll always always change majors. I think Adam, first of all, fucking hates other psych majors. Specifically because I think Adam, who I adore (really need to stress this), kind of struggles to comprehend other people could suffer too? It's a point of contention in the base series that Adam sort of builds this monopoly on suffering, that he alone is the sole bearer of burden. It makes him clash with Ronan, with Blue, with Gansey. No one has suffered as much as Adam has. And that is said with love and understanding that Adam's childhood fucking sucked. That he has every right to acknowledge how difficult his life has been. But oftentimes, his self esteem and his mental health make him incredibly self absorbed and prone to dismissing other suffering as lesser or insignificant. No one is worse than Adam Parrish, no one has suffered more. (And if that sounds harsh, please reread the cut chapter. His perspective on Ronan in TRB. On Gansey. His actual textual arguments with Blue and Ronan when they call him out on this. I adore him, I do this too, that belief that I alone have suffered and no one else had. It took years of therapy to deprogram. It's not a moral statement on my end, it is something I find unfortunately relatable about Adam and something I appreciate has been stressed in his characterization.) This is to say I think he'd be fucking annoyed with psych majors psychoanalyzing each other. There's going to be an element of, "you don't know what it is to suffer." and rolling his eyes at other kids. I reiterate: Adam would hate other psych majors. (Which has great comedic potential, btw.)

I also believe, for all that pursuing psych might help him achieve some theoretical enlightenment, it'd also make him immensely uncomfortable. Strip him bare and force him to confront his demons. I don't see Adam “emotional repression” Parrish being willing to sit in his own human complexity. I think he likes the idea of knowing himself, but there’s a vulnerability in self analysis that Adam does not sit well in. Love him, tho. You go king.

My other reason revolves around him canonically enjoying debate on the human perception and experience. His conversation with Aurora, the way he experiences with love, revolves around discussing if two people perceive colour the same way. Which leads me to believe if Adam actually sat with psychology past the first two semesters, he'd love the theology and concepts of psychological study. Diving into the human brain, with a scalpel and vigour, appeals to Adam as a way to understand the world. The more I discuss it, the more I convince myself I adore psych student Adam who realizes he maybe hates other psych students and can't handle the reflection staring from his textbook. Adam, love, go to therapy. He would hate therapy.

But in my heart of hearts, he doesn't stick with it. For aforementioned reasons. I just think it feels too real. But god, in some universe Adam Parrish went into juvenile psychology.

My more self indulgent Adam major is another one I kind of fucking hated at first, before I came around. I love engineer major Adam. I do. I really really do. Specifically, mechanical, civil, environmental, or architectural engineering. First of all, applies for the same reasons I like him in a psych major - solving the world by picking it apart. But it takes a step back, sticks with those laws of nature upon which Adam so desperately clings. Math, science, physics. Tangible, real, results. Results you can calculate. Minimal human variability. Factors you can always account for. There's a way to change the world and comprehend it in a way that doesn't demolish his reality (he struggles with things that break his perception of the world, specifically magic). And this ties into another element of Adam I like: the joining of two impossibilities. I adore Adam restructuring cities, buildings, landscapes to accommodate ley lines. It's why I pick those specific engineering disciplines. It combines this scientific side of Adam Parrish, his comprehension of the world, with the magic that has informed his existence. He can pursue his goals, protect the ley lines, and make some good fucking money doing it. I will always always always adore engineering Adam. This is my actual answer. Engineer major Adam. Who started as a psych major and realized there is nothing wrong with the title of engineer, that not being a lawyer or a doctor or some revolutionary public figure does not mean failure - it is uniquely his. He didn't take engineering from anyone. It's a pursuit all his own, that weaves together the numerous contradictions of Adam Parrish.

(Architectural Engineer Adam is one I adore because it is 1. super self indulgent and I know this and own up to it, and 2. Every fucking architect I know is some weird ass cryptid control freak who goes on and on about making a lasting imprint on the world because of fucking course. Detail oriented freaks who never drink water and stay hunched over our damn fucking computer that keeps crashing while we enable our CAD software fuck you computer i have arthritis-) But tbh, I veer into Environmental or Civil engineering with a special soft spot for Architectural Engineer Adam I don't think is canon but I will never let that idea go and I will push that agenda. However, realistically, Environmental or Civil Engineering.

(I do enjoy all other Adam variants. The thematic power of Law student Adam, I think premed Adam is hot, I love love me a forensics or criminal justice Adam. I am so pro Adam being written into any major. This is just my approach to writing Adam in college.)

Thank you for attending my TED talk. As you can see, I think about this a LOT. Like, way way too much. I think about the Gangsey in college so fucking much. And Adam's journey through college is, really, a way to navigate his character arc. Imo. Hope you enjoy this.

[reasonsforhope]

The global number of children not attending school has declined by nearly 40% since 2000

Note: Some definitions, though this varies by country and there does not appear to be a universally agreed-upon definition. Primary school = roughly 5 to 10 years old = elementary school Lower-secondary = roughly 11 to 14 years old = middle school Upper-secondary = roughly 14 to 18 years old = high school

"The chart shows the global number of children and adolescents who are not in school across primary and secondary education.

According to the most recent UNESCO data, this number has fallen from 390 million in 2000 to 244 million in 2023. That’s nearly a 40% reduction. The global population of children has grown during this time, making the decrease in out-of-school children even more significant.

Many more children are getting an opportunity to learn now than 20 years ago, but progress has stagnated in the last five years. [Note: A significant amount of that no doubt due to the pandemic.]

Historically, more girls than boys were out of school, but this gap has nearly closed. Unfortunately, the global aggregate data split by gender has not been updated by UNESCO since 2019. This makes it hard to track recent progress between boys and girls."

-via Our World in Data, July 29, 2024

[songmingisthighs]

it's so funny fighting with delulu hardcore idol worshippers on yt comment section like i literally had to breakdown the concept of "if it's not yours, don't mess with it, don't draw on it, don't even fucking touch it without the owner's consent" bc of the whole eunchae's audacity situation

[mostafij12]

[hosen9]

Accountig softwere for hajj by HRsoft BD https://hrsoftbd.com/service-details/account-software-for-hajj

[rosysugarr]

Y'know, I started to type out a massive post about how sad and frustrating it is that every USAmerican southern character in anything is presented as ignorant and uneducated and "dumb" and even hateful, how there are people here with degrees and careers and incredibly complex skills that took years to develop and learn, and then I realized, fuck that-- yeah, there are a lot of people with no or little education down here. We're fucking poor. A lot of us just can't afford college. A lot of us have to get jobs instead to support our families. Some people dropped out of high school to do that. And you know what? They're still human beings who deserve to be represented as whole, real, functional people and not flat archetypes.

Like yeah, I could talk about all the talented and smart people who came from down here, but the "simple," the disabled, the uneducated down here don't deserve the way the media depicts them, either! Because the bulk of them are good people who just got dealt a bad hand because we are so pathetically poor down here. And yeah, that includes the addicts. We have a lot of addicts down here. And that isn't our fault, either. when you're dealt the worst possible hand and no one wants to help you, everyone regards you as being trash, you're gonna cope however you can.

Everyone wants to write us off and present us in media as pretty much just. nothing people, but there are many, many people here of all walks of life who deserve respect and who need help that they aren't getting BECAUSE nobody shows us any fucking respect, and the way the media depicts us consistently does constant, DEEP damage to the way the rest of the country views us. It isn't fucking fair and it isn't fucking okay.

[canary-prince]

Indigenous Aid Organizations To Give To In This Shitty, Shitty Time

First Nations Development Institute: From addressing economic inequality, to preserving and uplifting native languages and arts, to fighting for land stewardship, to directly supporting COVID relief in California native tribes, they really do it all.

Native American Rights Fund: A law and advocacy network dedicated to fighting for tribal recognition, sovereignty, resource control, and human rights. In addition to court battles (local, state, and federal) they consult on issues of tribal law.

Lakota Peoples Law Project: Founders of the Lakota Child Rescue Project, they are another law and advocacy collective that fight to enforce the Indian Child Welfare Act, secure Native voting rights, and restore the sovereignty of indigenous peoples over their sacred lands such as the Black Hills and lands stolen by the Catholic Church.

Indigenous Women Rising: This grassroots mutual aid fund is open to all Indigenous peoples seeking abortion care, prenatal care, or delivery care. In addition to the direct donations, they have a bonfire store.

Quileute Move To Higher Ground: The Tribal School has been completed!!! The children of the Quileute community have a new, safe school to attend, but, tribal housing is still located within the tsunami zone. Donations now go towards construction of safe housing. I repeat: the school is BUILT. The school!!! Is!!! BUILT!!! This is objectively WONDERFUL.

American Indian Resource Center: A nonprofit focused on providing cultural events/resources and educational experiences to native children. Among other programs, they operate Camp Sevenstar, a project aimed at immersing Cherokee youth in the traditions of their culture, and the Cherokee Little Seeds Program, which aims to produce a new generation of Cherokee speakers.

[psychotrenny]

I think one of Imperialism's most evil strategies is the national scale torture you'll see inflicted on countries that dare to dream of freedom. Like it's not just about overthrowing the anti-imperialist regime itself, but utterly breaking the very social, economic and in turn psychological foundations it's built upon. Prolonged periods of destruction that are as systematic as they are sadistic with the aim of making life unlivable until the government either collapses or gives in, accepting whatever concessions are forced upon them as the nation is remoulded into an dependent and obedient little neocolony.

Sometimes an imperialist power will act directly to achieve this (just take the gratuitous and deliberate destruction of civil infrastructure during the bombings of Yugoslavia and Iraq), but the preferred strategy is to employ local proxies. Groups like RENAMO in Mozambique or the Contras of Nicaragua. Bands of reactionaries, traitors and general desperadoes are gathered up, trained, armed and transported over the border at the expense of the Imperialists and their local collaborators. These armed groups have no interest in build mass support, of representing an alternative way of life. Their only purpose is destruction; killing, torturing, looting, burning whatever they can in order to bring their country to its knees. Frequently targeting important nodes in the networks that sustain the nation and the people's faith in it (bridges, rail depots, factories, hospitals and schools) but ultimately happy to attack whatever they can; every house burned or person tortured contributes to the climate of terror and corrosion of government credibility. Because when they kill these groups don't like to do it cleanly; their attacks generate countless reports immolation, disembowelment, victims hacked to pieces and left to bleed. But when possible they prefer to leave their victims alive and capable of further spreading their terror, inflicting the most vicious sorts of rape and mutilation on a mass scale

It's not just just evil for the sake of evil mind you. The cruelty has a point; human destruction to accompany the physical. Every person killed is someone who can no longer contribute to the development of the nation, while even living yet physically and psychologically broken victim places further strain on their country's increasingly fragile support systems. Meanwhile the terror of these actions spreads the impact beyond their immediate victims. The murder and torture of peasants makes the survivors too scared to go back into their fields, slowly starving the nation as the rural economy grind to a halt. The gruesome deaths of traders and travelers leaves the survivors too terrified to continue their business, shutting down the distributive networks that make national development and often life itself possible. The terror unleashed on foreign professionals can prompt the survivors to flee and discourage newcomers from arriving, depriving the underdeveloped economic and education systems of the skilled workers they need to improve or even function. And every broken body, ever broken mind, is proof of the government's weakness and ineptitude; a humiliating failure to protect their own people that demoralises supporters and empowers dissenters. The motivated sadism of these terrorist attacks is a microcosm of the motivated sadism displayed by their Imperialist backers

But why go to all this trouble? Why not just send in the paratroopers or organise a coup to end those troublesome regimes quickly? Sometimes it's a matter of possibility. As great as they are, the powers of Imperialist nations are not unlimited. All manner of constraints (domestic unrest, international condemnation which advantages dangerous rivals, the simple financial and human costs of such operations) limit what actions are viable or desirable. This is especially significant when the targets are motivated and disciplined anti-imperialists with a base of deep-rooted popular support, the sort of regime that won't go down to a simple commando raid or bribe to the right general. But sometimes, it's not enough to merely cut down a dissenting government; you have to salt the earth and make sure nothing similar ever grows back. I'll finish with the words of an anonymous Jesuit priest, talking about Nicaragua yet in terms widely relevant enough to be published in John Saul's conclusion to A Difficult Road: The Transition to Socialism in Mozambique (1985):

In Chile the Americans made a mistake. They cut off the revolution too abruptly. They killed the revolution but, as we can see from recent developments there, they didn't kill the dream. In Nicaragua, they're trying to kill the dream

[galactic-magick]

The Handsome Assistant: Viktor x Reader

Summary: You keep running into the handsome Dean's assistant, whom you find you have a lot in common with. You develop quite the crush, and things get a little messy when your friends find out about him.

Words: 3.2k

Warnings: some implied suggestive stuff, alcohol use

Author's Notes: Set before Season 1 Act 1. Just a warning, this is probably the most heavily self-indulgent of my Viktor fics so far. I’ve had ideas bouncing around my head for a long time about who I’d be if I lived in the Arcane universe, and I eventually just ended up taking inspiration from what I do in real life. So basically Reader works in human services and is similar to a social worker. I tried my best to write it in a way that makes sense even if you’re not familiar with that field.

Also, the roommate/friend characters are based on my besties irl, one of which is also my beloved tumblr mutual @ohboi , who has been dealing with my nonstop Viktor obsession for a long ass time now so shout-out to them lol. I wrote you living your dream in this fic as a way to apologize <3

-

It’s exhausting dealing with the powers of topside. There’s no sense of urgency here, no drive for real progress. You’ve attended meeting after meeting, maintaining composure every time they tell you your mission isn’t a priority, or that it will take decades to implement.

All you want is to help the struggling children in the Undercity. It’s what you’ve dedicated your life to, studying human services and psychology at the Academy and building your own grassroots group with a few others from your graduating class. You primarily advocate for better education, as the schools down there barely get any funding. The council doesn’t want to hear it, though, as it’s much easier to forget about the citizens below their feet.

It frustrates you beyond belief, especially since the first chunk of your life was spent in the Undercity. You lived the stark contrast between the two cities yourself, being granted countless more opportunities once your family moved to Piltover. It was sickening, and you felt so guilty with your new privileges when your friends back home still had none. But without those privileges, you wouldn’t have been able to attend the Academy and give back.

You resist the strong urge to scream after another failed proposal with the council. You prepared all of your points for weeks, fact-checking everything and making sure your ideas were plausible. The budget and statistics you wrote out projected exponential progress for both cities, as focusing on the new generation of Zaunites would encourage the next great minds and likely lead to collaboration on mutual issues. But of course, the council is not ready to contemplate such a future.

There was one factor that wasn’t usually there, though, a handsome young man sitting beside Professor Heimerdinger. He was furiously taking notes the entire meeting, looking back down at his journal anytime you made eye contact with him. Out of all the councilors, Heimerdinger seemed the most open to your ideas, but without a majority agreeing to cast a vote to actually change policy, nothing would happen.

You walk back down the long hallway, noticing someone in your peripheral vision.

“I’m sorry the council remains so stuck in their ways,” he says. “Trust me, I understand how hard it is to hold back your anger towards them.”

You turn your head, seeing the young man from earlier, “Who are you?”

“Viktor. I’m assistant to the Dean of the Academy,” he replies, leaning on a cane. “I quite liked your ideas. I think they could work.”

“I know they would work.”

You sigh, quickly realizing you’re projecting your feelings onto this stranger.

“Sorry,” you correct yourself. “I just don’t understand how they can just not care about the suffering down there. I’m from the Undercity, I’ve seen what’s happening there firsthand, and it’s only getting worse.”

Viktor’s eyes widen a bit, “I’m from the Undercity, too.”

“You’re from the Undercity and you’re the personal assistant to Heimerdinger?” you question, a bit shocked at the prospect.

“It’s really not that big of a deal, but yes.”

“What do you mean, not a big deal? I’ve never even met anyone else from the Undercity who got into the Academy.”

“I suppose we are a rare breed,” he says. “I imagine I never saw you there due to our differences in studies.”

“Most likely,” you shrug. “None of my classes were in the science halls, assuming that’s where you were.”

He smirks, “What makes you assume I studied science?”

“You just have that look about you.”

He laughs, “Well, you’re right. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised someone well-versed in analyzing humanity read me so quickly.”

“Don’t worry, you’re still mostly a mystery to me. I can’t read minds or anything,” you flash him a genuine smile.

There’s a beat of silence before he speaks again.

“I need to get back to my lab, but I do hope we cross paths again. I’ll certainly discuss your proposals more with Heimerdinger as well.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

He leaves in the opposite direction, his cane tapping the floor.

What an interesting twist of fate, meeting someone like you.

-

The second time you run into Viktor is at an Academy party a couple months later, something you both likely would’ve skipped if you could. It’s somewhat a recruiting event for new students, and several alumni were asked to represent their fields of study. It’s not that you mind talking with prospective students, but you know you’ll have to hold back a lot of your true opinions when doing so. If you go off about how the curriculum doesn’t cover enough about the issues in the Undercity, you’ll surely get a reprimand from your former professors. You could lose several connections and investors in your organization as well, something you’re not willing to risk. Instead, you keep a smile on your face, engaging in conversation politely and answering questions.

You notice Viktor sitting at one of the far tables, his eyes darting around the room. He has several contraptions set up, and occasionally people come up to ask him about them. He lights up when he speaks, his face making the cutest expressions.

You notice yourself staring, quickly turning your head towards something else.

That sconce on the wall looks nice, doesn’t it?

As the event slows down and the crowd shuffles out, you pack up your things and head to the door, glancing back at Viktor’s table for a moment. He’s looking right back at you, and your heels swivel promptly to go see him.

“Hey,” you say, shooting him a smile. “Nice to see you again.”

Shit, was he this handsome the first time you met him?

“You as well,” he nods, gathering up his own things scattered in front of him. “Did you find anyone to join your program?”

“A few, yeah. You?”

“Several. More than I expected.”

He huffs, soon realizing all of his tech and science displays were not going to fit in the one cart that was left.

“I can help you carry your stuff, the science wing isn’t that far from here, right?” you offer, shifting your things under one arm and grabbing some of his things with the other.

“You don’t have to do that,” he protests, but you’re already propping open the door and gesturing him to come along with a head tilt.

“I really don’t mind. Come on.”

You help him put things away in the different classrooms and offices, careful not to break anything. You’ve never been in this side of the school before, and it’s set up quite differently than the usual classrooms you were in. There’s much more going on than a usual lecture hall, tools and chemicals you don’t dare touch lining the perimeter. Viktor thanks you for your assistance as you finish getting everything in place, and you once again prepare to go your separate ways.

“Wait—” he says before you leave, pulling out his journal and flipping through it. “I wrote down a lot more notes that might be helpful for your project, I’ve been thinking about it a lot.”

He hands over the open page for you to read, and your jaw drops. It’s so detailed, every proposal you had broken down to its smallest pieces. He even laid out the budget and resource use and everything it would take to not only build and fund better schools in the Undercity, but also work on housing and overall infrastructure. He even has some theories scribbled on how to keep the air cleaner and fix problems with the fissures.

You can’t believe he’s been thinking about you and everything you said for all this time since you last met.

“Viktor, this is amazing.”

“I know it still may not convince the entire council, but I found your ideas quite inspiring. I hope my calculations can be informative.”

“They certainly are,” your fingers hover over the written words and numbers. “Thank you, Viktor.”

“Of course,” he grins. “I look forward to seeing what you accomplish.”

-

You find yourself running into him a lot more often after that, “accidentally” walking by each other’s offices at least once a week and talking long beyond what you probably should while working. Your soul feels so in tune with his, a phenomenon that surely shouldn’t be happening with someone you haven’t known very long.

Your conversations quickly progress to topics non-work related, his curiosity blooming with every little thing you share with him. Most days after work you simply can’t stop talking to each other, causing you to get home later and later until your roommates start to get nosy.

“I really have to go, Viktor,” you laugh, glancing at the clock that reads three whole hours past the end of your shift. You’ve been chatting about embarrassing Academy stories, reminiscing on both the stark similarities and differences between your experiences.

His eyebrows raise. “Shit, is it really that late?”

“Yeah,” you grab your bag with a sigh. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Of course.”

-

“You already work too much overtime as it is! What’s so important that you have to stay late every single day?” one of your roommates, Eli, probes, clearly unsatisfied with the half-truth answers you’ve given so far. You don’t really want to tell the full truth just yet, that you’ve been talking with the most gorgeous man you’ve ever seen, and you don’t experience the passage of time whatsoever when you’re around him. That would sound ridiculous, especially since absolutely nothing will ever come of it. He’s a wonderful colleague, but you’d be foolish to ever expect anything more.

“There’s just a lot to do,” you finally say.

“You need a break, that’s what you need to do,” they emphasize. “How about we go down to The Last Drop tomorrow night? It’s been a while since we’ve seen our friends down there.”

You nod, “Alright, I’ll try not to stay late tomorrow.”

“You better not.”

They glare at you jokingly, and you let out a laugh and exhale of relief.

-

You finish up your notes for the day, whipping your head back and forth to check if the coast is clear. You know yourself and your own weakness—you certainly won’t get out of here on time if you run into Viktor for even a second.

But of course, like clockwork, his familiar tap on your leg with his cane greets you moments later, your heart fluttering to a discomposing degree. Him coming to see you is a routine now, and despite your promise to your friends you are aching to talk to him. You haven’t had a proper night out in months, why is it so hard to just leave?

If any of your racing thoughts are visible on your features, Viktor certainly picked up on them.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, just...long day,” you reply. “But my roommates are taking me out tonight, maybe that will wake me back up.”

“I won’t keep you long, then—”

He’s cut off by Eli calling your name, jaw dropped as they come towards you down the hallway.

“I knew there was something you weren’t telling me!” they chuckle in disbelief. “Working late my ass.”

“I was literally on my way home!”

“I just wanted to come check!”

Your face grows hot. It isn’t abnormal for your roommates to visit you at your job every so often, bringing you important documents you forgot at home or bringing you a treat on your birthday, but under the current circumstances you’re a bit mortified.

They reach out their hand, “I’m Eli, Y/N’s roommate. Who do you think you are?”

“Viktor.” he shakes it, surprisingly not appearing phased by their directness.

“Interesting,” they look him up and down, then turn to you. “So, he’s coming with us, right?”

“Oh, um...I didn’t ask—“

Viktor can’t help but smile at your flustered face.

“If I’m invited, I wouldn’t mind joining.”

-

“I can’t believe you.”

Mumbling under your breath, you enter The Last Drop. Viktor told you he’d meet you there in about an hour, which thankfully gives you some time for some drinks to numb your nerves.

“Look, I honestly don’t know why you didn’t just tell us about him. He seems like a good one.”

“It’s not like that,” you correct them. “He’s not into me like that. We just work on some projects together, that’s all.”

You order a drink from Vander at the bar, gulping it down a little too quickly.

“That kinda night, eh?” he laughs, pouring you another one before you have to ask.

“Yeah.”

You have a few more drinks and shots with your roommates and old Undercity friends, your mind and body entering such a daze that you almost forget Viktor is meeting you there later. You play games together and get teased about some of your adopted topside ways, and you even get back at Eli by pushing them to talk to Sevika, who they ogle at quite literally every time you come to this bar with them. It’s the kind of night where you can be free and careless, temporarily leaving your problems behind in favor of bad decisions.

You have to do a double take when you finally see Viktor arrive. He’s changed out of his Academy uniform, now dressed much more casually and much more like a Zaunite.

“It seems I’m a little late to the fun,” he observes.

“We’re just starting!” you beam, the drunk giggles taking over you.

“How many have you had?”

“I don’t know, like 7 or 8 maybe,” you shrug.

He lifts his cane against you and steers you away from the bar, shaking his head, “I think you’re done for tonight.”

“Fine,” you roll your eyes. “But not because you told me to, because I don’t want to throw up.”

He stays close to you while you stumble back to your friends’ table, chuckling at the slurred introductions you give him. They all accept him into their games and conversations instantly, and you quickly find out Viktor can handle his liquor a lot better than you. He puts all of them to shame, and they love finally having decent competition.

Your friends all whisper their approval to you throughout the night, even though you’ve repeatedly reminded them that nothing is going on. Although, you’re not really helping your case by zoning out every few minutes on his face.

“You have pretty eyes,” you say, staring until you realize what you just said out loud.

“That’s very kind,” he responds hesitantly. “But I’m sure your vision is a bit...tainted.”

“Alcohol doesn’t change color perception, dumbass.” you retort. “Besides, I’m sobering up a little.”

“Well then,” he smiles. “Thank you.”

You sigh, taking a sip of some water and glancing around the room. The bar is close to closing, and most of your friends have left.

“Have you seen Eli recently? I haven’t seen them in a while.”

He snickers, “You didn’t see them go in the back with Sevika?”

“They what?” you jump out of your seat. “Oh they’d better tell me everything.”

“I’m sure they will,” he laughs. “Do you need someone to walk you home, then?”

“Probably. Who knows how long they’ll be.”

-

The buzz has worn off quite a bit now, so thankfully you’re not tripping all over nothing and further embarrassing yourself. Viktor’s beautiful glow in the moonlight is more than enough to accomplish that, your gazes prolonging far longer than they should.

“Thank you for coming tonight, it was fun,” you say, fumbling for your apartment key in your pocket. “I’m sorry you had to see me like that, though.”

“Don’t apologize. It was very amusing.”

“Good.” you exhale. “Just ignore anything weird I said, okay?”

“I’m not sure that’s possible,” he smirks. “Now get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

-

Sleep is certainly what you get, and the next morning before work is full of a head-pounding hangover and chaotic conversation. Your roommates Eli and Chanthou can’t stop laughing about everything that happened, and naturally you’re very nosy about the Sevika situation. Eli tells you every little detail of course, giddy and in disbelief that they managed to make-out with her all night.

“So? Are you guys going to get together again?” you ask on the edge of your seat.

“I hope so.”

“Looks like you both got what you wanted last night,” Chanthou adds.

“Guys, he just walked me home. That’s all.” You’re getting a little annoyed with the constant reminders that your little crush is not, in fact, reciprocated.

“You...don’t remember?” she looks at Eli, then cocks her head at you. “About halfway through the night you were all over him. We just assumed you guys finally confessed.”

You didn’t think you drank enough to blackout, but you definitely don’t remember whatever they’re talking about. Besides, if you really were doing that, why didn’t Viktor say something once you were sobered up?

And what, now you have to see him in the office today, having no idea what you said to him?

“Oh, fuck, guys. What exactly did I do?”

“I don’t know what happened after I went back with Sevika, but before I left you were sitting on his lap on the couch and playing with his hair—”

“WHAT?”

“Wow, you really don’t remember, do you?”

You groan, wishing you didn’t have to go in today. You have a couple important meetings though, so you’ll have to power through. You take some painkillers and grab your things, praying for the first time that you can get through the day without seeing Viktor.

-

Your headache refuses to lessen its throbbing for your entire shift, making the work you usually enjoy completely miserable. You snap at one too many co-workers and find yourself staring at the clock desperately. Why did you agree to drinking on a weeknight again?

Just as you dreaded, you run into Viktor outside, too obviously waiting for you to pretend to ignore him.

“Hey…” you avoid looking into his eyes. “How come you didn’t say anything about what really happened last night?”

“I...wasn’t sure you’d remember,” he confesses. “I suspected you blacked out when you said you didn’t remember seeing Eli leave. And I wasn’t sure you meant what you said anyway.”

“Please, Viktor. Just tell me what I said. All my roommates told me was I couldn’t stop touching you, which I am so sorry about—“

“N-No, don’t be. Everything was consensual, I assure you.” his face flushes. “You just told me you have feelings for me, that’s all. I was going to tell you last night too if you hadn’t said it first.”

Your eyes widen at his words, your heart threatening to leave your chest.

“But it seems you don’t remember, so I can still count this as making the first move, hmm?”

Shivers race down your spine as Viktor leans in, his fingertips grazing your cheek. His lips meet yours softly, your eyes fluttering shut as he presses deeper. His hand remains holding your face when he pulls away, scanning your expression for your reaction.

“I guess the feeling is mutual,” you chuckle, still a bit breathless.

“Quite so, darling.”

-

More Author's Notes: I have a bad habit of getting drunk around guys I like irl bc I literally can’t handle being around hot people sober so that's the inspiration for that situation lol. Also, a part 2 to this is already in the works, it'll be set during Act 1 and probably parts between 1 and 2.

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

I've recently been subjected to the first two X-Men movies and I literally cannot stop thinking about what a shitshow professor x's academy for mutant babies is as an actual school.

there's no way they're accredited, right? there are four teachers (three post-X2, RIP) and three of them were raised by the fourth. you clearly don't need any actual teaching credentials to work there other than a mutation and nepotism. I don't believe any of these people have a degree in the subjects they're teaching, let alone in education or human development. there appears to be a total lack of counseling services available, despite the fact that most of the student body are apparently runaways who all face heavy society discrimination. did Rogue get any support after she was kidnapped and almost killed by Magneto in the first movie or did Xavier just give her brain zappies until she was functional again.

there's no way in hell a "diploma" from the charles xavier institute for genetically anomalous youth is worth anything on a college application. do all of these kids end up having to get a GED if they want to have a prayer of accessing higher education? do they receive any support for that?

also did I mention there are four adults in this entire school. in X2 they all take off on the same night and leave the kids in the care of Logan, a famously unstable man who freaked out and stabbed a student last time he visited. it would have been lethal if it was anyone but Rogue. also in X2 half the student body has to flee in the night in their pajamas with no one to take care of them but a teenage Colossus and the adults just. do not feel the need to follow up on that. because they're busy dealing with the stupid plot du jour.

the entire setup seems like a massive lawsuit waiting to happen; while we the audience obviously know that there's nothing malicious happening to the kids (except for mutant terrorists and trained mercenaries alike regularly infiltrating the school) you have to admit that an unlicensed group home for children, some of whom are very young, masquerading as a school and staffed entirely by people with no real credentials to speak of is a pretty bad look. I think genuinely any parent would have a pretty strong case for a lawsuit here and it wouldn't even necessarily be mutantphobic of them to do it, although of course anyone with an anti-mutant agenda could have a field day here. genuinely I have to assume that the only way they've avoided it this long is Xavier lobotomizing anyone who tries it, which is so cool and normal.

[fairfieldthinkspace]

Unpacking the Loneliness Epidemic

In this first podcast episode of the Dean’s Dialogue Series, Fairfield University School of Education and Human Development Dean Evelyn Bilias Lolis, PhD, sits down to discuss the impact of the loneliness epidemic on mental health, physical health, and public wellbeing with public health professional and Director of the Egan School Master of Public Health Program, Anthony Santella, PhD, and psychologist and Assistant Dean of Students Clinesha Johnson, Psy.D.

[reasonsforhope]

"Indonesia’s new government started an ambitious project on Monday [January 6, 2025] to fight malnutrition by feeding nearly 90 million children and pregnant women that is expected to cost $28 billion through 2029, although critics question whether the program is affordable.

The Free Nutritious Meal program delivers on a campaign promise by President Prabowo Subianto, who was elected last year to lead the nation, which has more than 282 million people and Southeast Asia’s largest economy. He said the program aims to fight the stunting of growth that afflicts 21.5% of Indonesian children younger than 5 and would raise the income of farmers.

Subianto has pledged to accelerate GDP growth to 8% from 5% now.

In his inauguration speech in October, Subianto said many children are malnourished. His promise to provide free school lunches and milk to 83 million students at more than 400,000 schools is part of a longer-term strategy to develop the nation’s human resources to achieve a “Golden Indonesia” generation by 2045.

“Too many of our brothers and sisters are below the poverty line, too many of our children go to school without breakfast and do not have clothes for school,” Subianto said.

Subianto’s signature program could cost upward of 450 trillion rupiah ($28 billion) by the end of his term in 2029. He said his team has made the calculations to run such a program, and “We are capable.”

The government’s target is to reach an initial 19.5 million schoolchildren and pregnant women in 2025 with a budget of 71 trillion rupiah ($4.3 billion) so as to keep the annual deficit under a legislated ceiling of 3% of GDP, said Dadan Hindayana, the head of the newly formed National Nutrition Agency...

Nearly 2,000 cooperatives will be involved in the free meals program by providing eggs, vegetables, rice, fish, meat, milk and other food, Cooperative Minister Budi Arie Setiadi said.

On Monday, a truck carrying food arrived at SD Cilangkap 08, a primary school in the Jakarta satellite city of Depok. The 740 students were provided rice, stir-fried vegetables, tempeh, stir-fried chicken and oranges.

“We will send a team to each school to facilitate the meal distribution to students every day,” Hindayana said, adding that the program will provide one meal per day for each student from early childhood education to senior high school, covering a third of the daily caloric needs for children, with the government providing the meals at no cost to recipients...

According to the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey, the national stunting prevalence was 21.5%, down around 0.8% from the previous year. The United Nations Children’s Fund estimated that one in 12 Indonesian children younger than 5 suffers from low weight while one in five is shorter than normal. Both conditions are caused by malnourishment.

“That’s so bad and must be solved,” Suwarso said. “Child malnourishment has severe consequences, threatening the health and long-term development of infants and young children throughout this nation.”"

-via Time, January 6, 2025

[robin-evry]

What about twst Yuu is like The Herta from hsr?

𝐓𝐖𝐒𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐀 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐀!𝐘𝐔𝐔 🪄🪞🔮

Esteemed Genius Society #83, human, female, young, beautiful, attractive. It's said that she lives in the far edge of the Cosmos, almost never leaving. Sounds like her appearance this time... must be for some issue that requires a personal touch, right?

Credits towards the artist

Is highly interested in twst, imagine herta!yuu studying in their lab and suddenly a black carriage appears in their vision and teleports them towards another universe.

How amusing, when they walk out of the coffin and realize the area they're in isn't the same universe they immediately burst out laughing finding this situation amusing, which means there are other universes proving herald hunch theory over the imaginary tree is correct meaning there are other worlds outside of their universe. A way to expend their knowledge.

another universe where there's no nous meaning they have grasp over knowledge that nous doesn't have even excess due to being in another universe, feeling them with excitement.

Herta!yuu has no interest in going back home, they have more knowledge to discover in this world and plus if they want to they can go home at anytime.

When the mirror declared them as magicless, herta!yuu would be a little offended but still understand they are in another universe with a different set of rules and structure.

And Crowley brought them towards ramshackle, herta!yuu give Crowley the most disgusted look ever towards him that even manages to scar him mentally, HOW DARE HE PUT A GENIUS LIKE THEM INTO SOMEWHERE SO INHATEBLE.

Overnight the ramshackle was turn into a castle perfect for a genius like them as well instead of resting, herta!yuu immediately went straight into the Library studying the world and its magic. They manage to understand and excel in the magical system as well as understanding highly complicated magical structures to the point manage to reverse engineering spells.

They by far manage to learn the entire NRC education just within overnights even the ones that most developed mages in the world lack to understand, so during at class they realize, they already learn about this and so they don't need to learn about this again. So herta!yuu after one class literally skip school for the entire day to focus on much more complicated topics.

They visited Sam shop and asked whether or not he got some scraps laying around that he wishes to get rid off and good thing he has some willing to give away in return herta!yuu gave him a manuscript that could sell over a million thaumarks.

Similar towards back in their universe their manuscript would carry millions towards billions worth due to it carrying highly advance research that no one has ever managed to enter it or solve it. It's wanted by many kingdoms and students, Crowley would try to negotiate with them to give him some of their manuscript but was usually met with rejection and ruggie would try to steal one but since herta!yuu rarely go to school it's hard so he tried to get close with the first years so if they ever went to visit herta!yuu he would manage to snatch one. As well as having a large collection of ancient magical artifacts they use for studies and if they find them boring will put them on displays or use them in the ridiculous ways, the first years was gagged when finding one of those artifacts being used as mixer some of this artifacts could also be auction as well destroy the school if use it wrong.

Alright back towards the scraps from Sam, herta!yuu use those leftovers to create their signature puppets to help them manage their studies as well attend school in their place. This could lead to moments where others are unsure if they're speaking to the real herta!yuu or just another puppet.

they rarely exert effort unless something truly interests them. They often sigh and say, "Ugh, do I really have to do this?" before eventually solving a problem in record time.

The ramshackle has an army of puppets that have different duties, some fill in herta!yuu attendance at school meanwhile helps them manage their research, some function as servants and babysitter for grim. Idia are by far curious about their puppets and want to study them but don't know how to approach herta!yuu.

Many students seen herta!yuu as an enigma, rarely appearing or never even once appear towards school only using puppets believing that they have better things to do. The smartest student in nrc that never ever once made an appearance physically because they have better things to do.

And even when herta!yuu make an appearance they will always be accompanied by puppets making sure their needs are taken care of, food, water and more and when kalim ask them why would they use puppets, herta!yuu response with saying that puppets are more efficient as well not carrying the burden of humans. As well finding themselves more capable than others.

The teachers have a love and hate relationship with them, trein and Vargas wish them to physically attend classes without using puppets as well as manage to find ways to outsmart them for crewel sees herta!yuu as a genius no doubt but finds them mostly focus on themselves than other other people

Herta!yuu prefer not to socialise with people they prefer over themselves rather than people who would socialize when the person isn't even the same level of intelligence as you causing them to have complications towards interaction.

They are also very blunt and if they find things uninterested they just usually drop it not giving effort, they lack understanding over emotions due to them always choosing logic, they have never once panicked. Not during Overblots, not when lost, not when Grim sets something on fire. "Screaming won’t solve the problem. Calculations will."

During kverblot Situations herta!yuu slowly claps and says, "Oh wow, another dramatic transformation. So original." before actually stepping in to help.

Vil absolutely hates to despise their behavior of laziness or valuing other things, as well as very bitter due to their natural beauty and when he asks why would they not thrive for betterment herta!yuu response with "I'm already perfect what else do I need to improve ".

[mostafij12]

[starsm0king]

I feel like often what younger therians mean when they say ‘therians still identify as human’ is actually ‘therians understand we live in a human society and must function within our human body, despite our being not human.

Despite who we are, we still live in a society of humans. Unless you have (with all hope and luck) moved of the grid and into nature and live amongst the animals, we will have to preform human tasks in order to survive. That is just simply a given for any person within a human body, human or not.

We understand we must pay taxes. We understand we must go to work and school. We understand we must care for our human bodies despite how incorrect they may be. We understand that we will interact with humans, and doing so typically requires us to preform human.

What they have yet to understand is the point is to be as animalistic as possible. If I get stabbed, I’m not just going to lick my wounds and bleed out. I’m going to get in my human car and take my human bleeding to the human hospital so they can fix me as they would a human. We can still preform human and we understand we must. However that does not mean we cannot act as animalistic as possible. Everything I have just listed above can probably be altered a little bit to most accommodate for us. We can wear a tail and go outside in nature with our laptop when we do our taxes. Those who can work can find jobs that are closely related to their kins. At school you can find likeminded people, develop a safe group for everyone to express their animal nature when not doing work. We can draw paws on our feet. We can bark. We can go on rollercoaster and try so hard to pretend we are flying. We can do human things in animalistic nature, and that is ok, and that is the goal.

We are not human, we are whatever creature we say we are. It was not our choice to live in this human world. If we could pick I know most of us would choose differently. But we do live in this world. And we will respect that, but we will also live as truly to ourselves while doing so. And that cannot be stopped.

‘Therians don’t identify as animals’ I feel is young therians trying to say what I just said. In their attempt to do, make antis understand this, they said something extremely incorrect and extremely bad for furthering our normalization in society.

Side note: this, both my claim and what the younger therians think, also leaves people who DONT understand all these things in the dark, with no representation, or love and acceptance towards them and their lived experience. I need to understand their perspectives a bit more before I can make any conclusions on where they fit in this conversation. All I knows is this leaves them out, and they should not be left out.

Plz add on with any additional thoughts/comments or any points I was incorrect on and need to be re-educated. But also plz be nice I’m very sensitive to criticism.