#Societal Values

[semperardens-juli]

on the Iliad, the Trojan Wars

The Literature Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained, James Canton

a tale of two heroes

Achilles is the professional soldier, with few family ties, and Hector the reluctant but fierce fighter, defending home and family rather than honour.

Their characteristics and situations are metaphors for the contrasting values of society and those of the individual, and those of duty and responsibility compared with loyalty and love.

Neither side is wholly right or wrong, but in this war one must emerge victorious.

leave a little kindness

[seemabhatnagar]

"Judiciary Intervenes: Petitioner’s Trust Activities Deemed Harmful to Public Morality"

In a surprising legal twist, the Madras High Court recently dismissed petitions challenging police actions and charges against an individual. The court’s decision was based on compelling evidence that pointed to serious offenses, including the potential exploitation of a minor. Notably, the petitioner had sought protection to run a brothel, a request that raised eyebrows in legal circles.

The court’s reasoning emphasized the need to maintain the reputation of advocates in society. It urged the Bar Council to enroll only graduates from reputable law colleges, highlighting the importance of legal education and ethical conduct.

As part of its ruling, the court demanded that the petitioner provide proof of enrollment and educational qualifications. This case serves as a stark reminder that legal actions can have far-reaching consequences, and the judiciary remains vigilant in upholding justice.

Raja Murrugan v. The SP Nagercoil Kanyakumari District & 2 others

Crl. Pet. 9399/2024 & WP 13963/2024

Before Madras High Court

Heard by Hon'ble Mr. Justice B. Pugalendhi J

The petitioner, Raja Murrugan, filed two petitions: a criminal original petition for quashing the FIR lodged against him alleging false accusations and harassment by the police, and a writ petition seeking protection for his trust, "Friends For Ever Trust," which provides services including consensual sexual activities.

Facts:

The petitioner claims to be the founder of "Friends For Ever Trust," registered under Reg.No.147 of 2022, promoting adult recreation and related activities, including oil baths and consensual sex services.

On 17.02.2024, the police searched the trust premises, arrested the petitioner, and registered a case under various sections of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The petitioner was arrested and later released on bail. He alleges that the case was orchestrated by his ex-wife using a minor girl to frame him.

Legal Issue: Whether the activities conducted by the petitioner's trust constitute legal consensual services or illegal activities under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and POCSO Act.

Points of Arguments

Petitioner's arguments- The petitioner vigorously defended actions as consensual and well within the bounds of privacy. The petitioner submitted that the activities of the "Friends For Ever Trust" were lawful and did not constitute a criminal offense.

Consensual and Legal: The petitioner maintained that the activities involved consenting adults and were conducted within a framework of trust. He argued that these private interactions should not be subject to state interference or criminalization.

Privacy Rights: Citing the Indian Constitution’s recognition of the Right to Privacy, the petitioner contended that their personal liberty included the freedom to make choices—specifically, engaging in consensual activities with other adults. He argued that the state’s actions is an infringement on his fundamental right.

False Complaint Allegations: The petitioner further claimed that the police action stemmed from a false complaint orchestrated by his ex-wife. He challenged the legitimacy of the charges and emphasized the need for a fair investigation.

Consensual Nature of Activities: The petitioner asserted that the trust provided a platform for consenting adults to engage in relationships and activities of their choice. He argued that since all activities were consensual and among adults, they fell within the realm of personal freedom and should not be criminalized.

Absence of Illegal Actions: The petitioner maintained that there was no evidence of illegal actions, exploitation, or coercion in the trust's activities. He emphasized that the trust was not involved in any activities that could be classified as criminal under Indian law, such as trafficking, forced labor, or any other form of exploitation.

Argument of the State

Legitimate Investigation: The State justified initiating the investigation based on credible information pointing to potential illegal activities within the “Friends For Ever Trust.”

Concerns of Illegality: Despite the trust’s claims of operating within legal bounds, serious concerns arose. Allegations hinted at activities that might breach Indian laws, including immoral trafficking or exploitation.

Public Interest and Protection: The State underscored its duty to safeguard the public interest and prevent harm to societal morals. The investigation aimed to shield vulnerable individuals and maintain order.

Criminal Proceedings Justified: Filing the FIR and pursuing criminal proceedings were grounded in prima facie evidence gathered during the investigation. Authorities acted to uphold the law.

No Fundamental Rights Violation: The State refuted any infringement on the petitioner’s fundamental rights. Privacy and personal liberty, they argued, don’t shield illegal activities or actions contrary to public welfare.

Court's Observation

The court expressed shock at the petitioner's claim of running a brothel under the guise of a trust and his purported status as an advocate. The allegations involved immoral trafficking and potential exploitation of women under the guise of running a charitable trust, which is a serious offense. The nature of the allegations, if proven true, could indicate severe misconduct and abuse of trust, as well as violations of legal and moral standards.

The court noted the discrepancies in the petitioner's statements and the seriousness of the allegations involving a minor.

The court emphasized the need for maintaining moral sanctity and preventing exploitation under the guise of consensual activities.

The court was concerned about the actual activities carried out by the "Friends For Ever Trust." Although the trust was purported to be involved in charitable activities, there were serious allegations suggesting that the trust's operations may have included illegal activities. The court likely found it disturbing that such activities could be taking place under the cover of a charitable organization, which generally enjoys a certain level of public trust and immunity.

The court was shocked by the implications of the case for public morality and the enforcement of laws protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation. The potential involvement of a trust in illegal activities, especially one that may exploit vulnerable women, raises significant concerns about the protection of societal values and the effectiveness of law enforcement.

[kesarijournal]

The Great Indian Paradox: When Sixes Outscore Sacrifices

**Introduction:**In the grand Indian theater, where cricket bats swing mightier than the swords of justice, and the glitz of Bollywood overshadows the grit of the border, we find ourselves in a saga of ironic contrasts. Welcome to the land where celluloid heroes are worshipped, and real heroes often forgotten, where a sixer can fetch millions, but a soldier’s sacrifice struggles for a headline.…

[lets-blogoff]

The Power Of Sustainable Design In Commercial Furniture Manufacturing

The Power Of Sustainable Design In Commercial Furniture Manufacturing - #letsblogoff #Entertainment, #FurnitureManufacturing, #HomeImprovement, #LetsBlogOff, #ModularOfficeFurniture, #Tips - https://www.letsblogoff.com/the-power-of-sustainable-design-in-commercial-furniture-manufacturing/

[cinnamonsikwate]

"why couldn't shuro have just been honest about what he felt with laios and falin it's not that hard" are you. are you White

[public-trans-it-deactivated20240]

i was a trans man until after a lot of build up of doubting myself, i finally realized that we are putting ourselves further into boxes by not accepting that we are the biological sex that we are and we can do WHATEVER we want at the same time.

clothes and makeup and certain interests do not equal gender.

and not liking being a woman is an unfortunately natural symptom of puberty and/or experiencing society’s deeply ingrained misogyny. and everyone deserves support for those problems.

but we can all fight together against gender social constructs in a healthy way without prescribing people hormones and invasive cosmetic surgery to make them more like the sex they “should” be according to… social constructs…. and help them be comfortable in who they are

Alright. Its been like 9 fucking months that I have been staring down this ask. What better time than to give TERFs some nuance than right in the middle of a fucking hate campaign going on where people (well... singular person probably) are calling me a TERF. This wont backfire.

This post arrived in my inbox shortly after I made another post about gender, and just how fucking weird it can be, and how I genuinely believed every single person on this planet has a fascinating relationship with gender, and so much nuance and personal identity in theirs. Even cis people. Even TERFs. In the tags, I even begrudgingly encouraged TERFs to talk about their gender on that post if they wanted. I genuinely think that TERFs do have really cool relationships with gender. As I mentioned in those tags, the quickest way to explode a group of TERFs is to get them to start talking about their own relationships with gender, and see how vastly different it is, and watching them stab each other in the back over it. So I told them to ramble away about how they view gender, as long as they stayed the fuck away from the rest of the blog WHICH THIS ANON CLEARLY FUCKING IGNORED.

But... this anon does bring up another topic I want to talk about.

Detransition.

Read More

I am a huge supporter of detransitioning. This is... surprisingly... not a very common stance in the trans community, and it breaks my fucking heart. Like, I get it. I understand why. A LOT of detransitioners, like the person in this ask, end up weaponizing their feelings of gender against other trans people.

My support of transition comes from the intersection of two very central beliefs of mine:

Everyone should explore their gender without feeling a need to commit! This is a pretty common belief in the trans community! Damn near universal in fact! We even have a fun little term we use for people who decide to play around with gender, only to end up a bit closer to where they started and being perfectly happy with that: Cis+. Someone who is cis, but at least put in the work to understand the trans experience, and actually CHOOSE to remain Cis instead of just defaulting to it with societal pressure. Many trans people are much more comfortable around 'Cis+' people, because they know these are people who have taken the time and put in the work of being an ally. Self examination isn't easy, especially not publicly, and doing so is genuinely one of the strongest ways a Cis person could ever show their support.

It is never too late to transition. This is also a pretty common belief in the trans community! It is... sadly not quite as universal though. But it is something very important that needs to be said. You could be 80 years old, sitting in a retirement home, and go "You know what? I think I'd rather wear a dress and be treated like a lady. I don't want to be buried as a man." And I think every single trans person should have that freedom!

I was discussing this with @thydungeongal the other day, far more paraphrased than this post, and she said something incredible that has been knocking around in my head ever since.

"Gender is an ongoing process"

Those five words they said to me sum up my feelings far more than this entire post could. Gender IS an ongoing process. My gender has changed SO MUCH over the past three decades. From the straightjacket of assigned gender that I was once forced into; to the very stylish and still lovable finely tailored suit of femininity that grew a little too stuffy to wear constantly, even though I do still enjoy it and try it on from time to time; to the wonderful and freeing losely fitting clothing of being aegogender, finally feeling free to be myself and just act naturally and feel natural without having to keep up an appearance!

And I think, there is no length of time you can try out being trans, and trying out new genders, before eventually coming to the realization you were cis all along. Even if you started HRT. Even if you got SRS. Heck, I don't even think you should have to call yourself trans to do either of those things in the first place, why would I be upset that someone did them and then realized they weren't trans? No single moment in your life should EVER lock your gender in place into some unchanging, set in stone thing.

So I support detransitioners completely, with my entire heart. They deserve just as much support as every other 'Cis+' person out there.

So anon, while many people may hate you and lash out at you for detransitioning, I want you to know, that I am not one of them. It sounds like your detransition might have been forced by peer pressure, which is heart breaking to hear. No one should ever force their own gender expectations on another. I hope that wasn't the case. I hope you came to the decision yourself, after realizing whats right for you. I will never give you hate for your detransition.

I WILL ABSOLUTELY GIVE YOU HATE FOR BEING A FUCKING TERF THOUGH. YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE WITH GENDER DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO POLICE THE GENDER OF OTHERS, FUCK OFF. GET THE FUCK OFF MY BLOG, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!

[musical-chick-13]

Regarding the whole "Fandom Is An Escape, so why should I have to care this much about misogyny/racism/ableism/transphobia/etc." thing. Idk about the rest of you, but it gets kind of hard for me to "escape" when I keep seeing people say the same vile things about characters who share aspects of my identity that I hear all the time in real life.

[scribefindegil]

My personal take on Teru’s parents is that they got sucked up into the same “awareness of The Narrative but it’s the wrong narrative” problem that their son did. They believe that Teru’s powers make him special. They make him a different class of being. And his parents are just normal humans, so there’s nothing they could have done to help him. They’re just normal humans, so it was too dangerous for them to stay. They’re just normal humans, and he’s The Protagonist, so obviously he’ll be fine by himself!

I find this a lot more compelling, because while their actions are obviously still awful, it’s the sort of thing that would make sense in a different story. In a story that did see espers as different and special and better (like most stories with superpowers!), a protagonist wanting to keep his non-powered family safe and far away would be the right decision. A protagonist taking on adult responsibilities and adult levels of independence at a young age is just a slightly tragic but inevitable consequence of his Special, Unique status. It would be consistent with the themes of the show: the Hanazawas can abandon their son and still whole-heartedly believe that they’re doing the right thing because they see Teru as a Protagonist, not as a person.

But this is Mob Psycho, and it knows just how stupid that is.

And this is why they need Reigen Arataka, Normal Man, Avatar Of Mundane Reality, to smack their heads together and point out that this is a child and they have a responsibility and him having psychic powers doesn’t change any of that!

[flyinglowdown]

i have a dream. and that dream is cressida/eloise/lord debling

[pebblegalaxy]

The Influence of Modernization on Painting: Global Movements, Technology, and New Techniques

The modernization process has revolutionized the field of painting, ushering in a new era of creativity and innovation. Artists worldwide have embraced and adapted to the transformative influences of global artistic movements, technology, and new techniques. This article delves into the profound impact of modernization on painting, exploring how it has opened up exciting avenues for artistic…

[queen-esther]

It’s still just so funny how badly leftists want to manifest JK Rowling’s downfall into existence. They keep trying to convince themselves and each other that this lady not supporting men in dresses being granted access to women’s abuse shelters has made her and her work irrelevant in the eyes of the general public, as if Hogwarts Legacy didn’t make tons of money, people aren’t visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in droves, kids aren’t still checking out the Harry Potter books from the library en masse in every school I’ve worked at, there hasn’t been an HBO adaptation announced, etc. It’s almost like most people in the real world still like JK Rowling and her stuff and don’t actually care about the trans crap, lol.

[cyberpunkboytoy]

My DID-having ass is experiencing so much world-envy for the fictional country of Vaugarde I'm going to throw up

[siriwesen]

Dub thoughts

I have thoughts on Hazbin Hotel, but for now I will focus on the Dub situation. I hate my friend for pointing out that Angel Dust shares a German VA with Timmy Turner (from Fairly Odd Parents). Because it is so cursed.

In addition: The usage of German "formal you" will always kick specifically, especially when Alastor adresses Lucifer with a "formal you" meant for strangers, but he does not use the formalities (or the formal you) reserved for royalty/rulers/monarchs/rulers.

On the one side it implies a lack of respect, but at the same time it shows he is actively distancing and technically still respectful, and putting Lucifer down at the same time which is hilarious.

Also the profanities, swearing and insults hit better for me in German dialog, especially some of the terrible sex jokes. Also just... the passive aggressiveness is fantastically delivered. I think German Dub is very solid, songs are probably gonna be hit and miss for many folks, but I am happy they got dubbed

[modify-and-sever]

that post telling people we need to get more normal about dicks. yeah. thinking about how a penis can absolutely never be a neutral body part in the way that boobs or even a vagina can be. while you'll get some weirdos telling you that your shirt is immodest or quietly whispered suggestions that you perhaps try a new style of pants if you have a visible cameltoe, there is truly no stranger a reaction than the visceral disgust and fear of even the mere implication of a penis. seeing an outline in someone's pants - even briefly - is akin to an assault. being made visually aware in any way that someone has a penis is this unique horror and indecency to a degree that simply doesn't exist to the same degree for a vagina. because we put so much weight on it, because penetration is given so much social meaning that is not inherent to it, the penis itself becomes a tool of violence, in the eyes of society. even the fact that we have different words dictating whether a sexual assault involved penetration or not - while useful in particular contexts - feels like an extension of this unique fear and weight put upon the act of penetrating someone. this even extends to people who willingly partake in penetrative sex - women with vaginas and gay male bottoms are stereotyped as "feminine" or "submissive" by nature because to be penetrated is to submit to the inherently oppressive and dominating nature of the penis.

this is. hopefully unnecessarily said - fucking weird.

it's hard not to notice how weird everyone is about dicks. anti-kink people love to post about how seeing a man in a speedo or other article of clothing that more strongly outlines a penis is some form of sexual assault. anti-trans people love to post about how you can "always clock" a trans woman by looking for her penis in her pants. it's something alien - something domineering and suspicious, a warning of danger.

I'm not sure how we go about fixing this issue, societally. but I just think that the way we perceive and talk about penises has got to be more normal.

[halfyearsqueen]

WHAT DOES YOUR HEART LOOK LIKE ?

a tangled ball of red strings—who are you without the company of others? you aren’t sure, but you know that you aren’t fond of whoever it is. you are an actor, a pretty face and a pleasant song. many idolize you, or love you, but you can never be sure of how sincere it is. your heart is buried under the letters they leave you, sealed with a kiss. It can’t be untangled from the red strings they’ve attached to you. you deserve to find something, someone, true and faithful to hold your heart in place. you don’t have to be everything to everyone.

tagged by: @morningflew

tagging: @lcerys , @perzyr , @doloridis , @wolfkiler , @sanctamater , @divinehr , @daekarys , @daringthe

[trans-axolotl2]

In my last residential treatment stay, I did have one psychiatrist who I trusted and had a positive relationship with. Her name was Dr. R, and when I came in on the first day of treatment and told her that I would not take any psych meds and that I had a lot of past psych trauma, she validated me and told me that she would not bring up meds unless I did. Throughout my stay there, she was empathetic, listened to my concerns, helped advocate for me, and generally made me feel heard. At the same time, when management took away our doors-she did nothing. When I needed to get a feeding tube--she lied to me about how long it would be in, and what I needed to do to get it out. She enforced policies about restricting outside breaks, restrictions on items, and contributed to treatment plans that my friends felt were unfair and damaging.

She was a good person and I liked her, but she was choosing to work within a system where she could not control the dozens of things happening there that harmed us every single day. This is what I mean when I say there is no such thing as a good psychiatrist in inpatient units--she was a progressive, validating, nice person --but her very job description made it impossible for a “good provider” to exist. To be a provider who wasn’t a part of the harm that was occurring on that unit, she would have had to quit, because the very requirements of her job required committing ethical violations, restricting peoples autonomy, and perpetrating iatrogenic harm. If she had stopped enforcing harmful policies and challenged her coworkers publically, she probably would have gotten fired. And that really is the problem--causing iatrogenic harm has essentially become a job requirement on inpatient units, and being a “good provider” by the metrics of the system require you to participate in that harm. 

I think Dr. R did a better job than most inpatient psychs in mitigating the harms she participated in, and finding ways to resist shitty systems when possible. I was glad she was there and I think she made my treatment better, but the two of us had a lot of conversations together where she acknowledged the fucked up things happening in the treatment center, acknowledged her role in them, and also stated that she did not have any power to change them. She could not fix the system by working within the system. 

I get a lot of questions by people who are interested in careers in the mental health system, and asking me on whether I think it’s okay for them to work there. My first response is usually if you’re asking because you’re feeling guilty after seeing what psych survivors say, I’m not someone who’s going to give you permission to ignore that guilt. The second thing I usually say is this: you need to go into this job aware with the fact that you will cause people harm, you will get into ethical dilemmas, and there will be times where you will either have to betray your personal values or quit. There isn’t one right answer on how to engage with mental healthcare as a provider, with the reality that until we build up alternative systems of care, the current structures still exist and have people who need support inside of them.  If that’s something that you think you can navigate in a way that lets you create the least harm possible, then that’s something you need to decide for yourself, and to think really deeply about if the reality of the psych system matches up with your goals.