#The AI Con

[queen-mabs-revenge]

ok ok ok ok ok for book #3 of the ai critical extravaganza, it's 'the ai con' by emily m. bender and alex hanna and it's already shaping up to be the best of the bunch so far

'the new age of sexism' bought into the hype and over half the book was devoted to analysing misogyny in view of the generative ai-based futures posited by both ai doomers and boosters. it felt at odds with itself advocating, for example, for more moderation and oversight over future mass-adoption of the metaverse while also acknowledging that the safety of these technologies comes at the expense of natural resources and intense exploitation of human labour.

'empire of ai' instead really delved into the history and the systematic reasons why these corporations have developed in the way that they have, and why ai development and effects cannot be analysed separately from the vectors of oppression and exploitation that have already been carved out by historical empire building.

only two chapters into 'the ai con' so far and it's getting into the weeds of the racism, sexism, ableism, queerphobia, and other expressions of anti-human capitalist alienation at the root of every aspect of mechanising and quantifying human 'intelligence'. even the marketing term artificial intelligence carries with it definitions of 'intelligence' that are deeply entwined with eugenicists theories. the very concept that humanity can be mechanised is a devaluation of humans - capitalist alienation in hyperdrive. devalued humans - especially those most devalued by the systems of oppression capitalism thrives on - are even further justified as disposable.

of the three, i'd say 'the ai con' is the most approachable so far -- bender and hanna are both incredibly important researchers and early alarm-bell ringers about the linguistic and sociological implications of automation, and they are exceptional at demystifying how the technology actually works, the theories behind their criticism... and they've also got a really fun sense of humour about it all.

ok...lmao lemme get more than 2 chapters in tho 😅

[generatingfail]

Narayanan/Kapoor's book AI Snake Oil is on sale for half price at Princeton University Press.

They are more bullish on generative AI than I am (a lot more), but their takedown of predictive analytics is excellent, and they explain everything in layperson-friendly terms. Recommended.

It's also a good time to pre-order The AI Con, which is coming out on May 13. The online book launch is this Thursday, 8 May 2025! I've had the privilege of hearing both authors speak in-person, and they're absolutely brilliant, both of them.

[fenway03]

Resource List: Problems with AI/GenAI

The following list leads to a variety of reports and resources related to challenges and harms caused by the AI hype machine. It is by no means exhaustive and was originally just meant for myself to help me keep track of things, but maybe some of you will find it useful as well.

If you have people in your circles who have fallen for the hype, or if you just want to dive deeper into some aspects of this whole mess yourself, these articles, papers, books, and podcasts can serve as good starting points. Many of them include links to additional resources, and if you follow some of these researchers/authors on social media, your feeds will soon be filled with even more insightful stuff.

For a collection of news items on “AI being shitty”, also see this “Questioning AI Resource List” compiled by Michelle Note.

~~~

General Primers

“What is AI? Everyone thinks they know, but no one can agree. And that’s a problem.” (Will Douglas Heaven, MIT Technology Review, 2024-07-10) Deep dive into the history of AI, the origins of the terminology, the rich techbro fanatics behind the cult-like hype, the researchers/scientists calling for a saner approach, and the implications for politics and society that should concern us all. (Link to original MIT TR page with paywall | Archived version)

“The WIRED Guide to Artificial Intelligence” (Tom Simonite, WIRED, 2023-02-08) General overview and timeline of the beginnings of AI as well as a summary of the current state of AI, the controversies surrounding GenAI, and the challenges for society due to all the hype. (WIRED.com link)

“The debate over understanding in AI’s large language models” (Melanie Mitchell & David C. Krakauer, PNAS, 2022-10-12) Detailed account of the major sides currently debating whether LLMs are capable of understanding language in any humanlike sense. Includes extensive list of references with links to related papers and research. (PNAS.org link)

“AI History Timeline” (interactive chart) (AI Watch / European Commission) Visual overview of the history of AI with selected important AI breakthroughs from 1950 to the present. (AI Watch link)

Focus: Environmental Impact

“The real cost of AI is being paid in deserts far from Silicon Valley” (book extract) (Karen Hao, Rest of World, 2025-05-26) Extract from Hao’s book, Empire of AI, focusing on the devastating impact that OpenAI’s reckless ventures have on Chile's mineral reserves, its water resources, and its indigenous communities. (Rest of World link)

“AI is draining water from areas that need it most” (Leonardo Nicoletti, Michelle Ma and Dina Bass, Bloomberg Technology, 2025-05-08) Facts and figures related to the immense water consumption of data centers, roughly two thirds of which are now in places with high to extremely high levels of water stress. (Link to original Bloomberg page with paywall | Archived version | LinkedIn post by author)

“We Went to the Town Elon Musk Is Poisoning” (video) (More Perfect Union, 2025-05-30) Short documentary about how Musk’s massive xAI data center is poisoning Memphis and its predominantly Black neighborhoods by burning enough gas to power a small city, with no permits and no pollution controls. (YouTube video link)

“The Unpaid Toll: Quantifying the Public Health Impact of AI” (Yuelin Han, Zhifeng Wu et al., UC Riverside, 2024-12-09) Research paper about the potential public health burden, specifically due to the degradation of air quality caused by AI’s lifecycle operations, which are valued at up to more than $20 billion per year for US data centers in 2030 and unevenly impact economically disadvantaged communities. (Arxiv.org link)

“Power Hungry: AI and our energy future” (Mat Honan (ed.), MIT Technology Review, 2025-05) Deep dive into AI’s energy requirements and its carbon debt, with detailed math on energy usage down to the prompt level. (Link to original MIT TR page with paywall | Archived version | LinkedIn post by editor)

Focus: Exploitation of Workers and the General Public

“The Exploited Labor Behind Artificial Intelligence” (Adrienne Williams, Milagros Miceli and Timnit Gebru, Noema Magazine, 2022-10-13) Detailed account (including various references to related pieces) of how AI systems are fueled by millions of underpaid gig workers, data labelers, content moderators etc., especially in the Global South, who are performing repetitive tasks under precarious labor conditions while the tech companies that have branded themselves “AI first” are making millions on the backs of those exploited workers. (Noema Magazine link)

“How AI companies exploit data workers in Kenya” (video) (Janosch Delcker & Mariel Müller, DW, 2024-12-11) Video report about the invisible workers behind the “AI revolution” who painstakingly tag the data needed to power the artificial intelligence systems many of us use. (DW.com link)

“Where Cloud Meets Cement – A Case Study Analysis of Data Center Development” (Hanna Barakat, Chris Cameron, Alix Dunn, Prathm Juneja and Emma Prest, The Maybe, 2025-04) Investigative reporting on five planned data centers around the world that are often framed as “economic opportunities” but in reality cause much harm to local communities through strain on the electrical grid, toxic emissions, and high water/energy consumption. (The Maybe link | LinkedIn post by author)

“Artificial Power: 2025 Landscape Report” (AI Now Institute, 2025-06-03) Detailed report on the state of play in the AI market and the stakes for the public, with the primary diagnosis being that the push to integrate AI everywhere grants AI companies and tech oligarchs power that goes far beyond their deep pockets, so we need to ask not how AI is being used by us but how it is being used on us. (AI Now Institute link | LinkedIn post by authors)

Focus: Criminal Justice

“AI + criminal legal system = bad” (Josie Duffy Rice & Hannah Riley, The Jump Line, 2025-06-11) Newsletter issue that zooms in on the increasing use of AI in policing and incarceration; includes various links to further reports as well as an interview with Matthew Guariglia of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. (The Jump Line on Substack link)

“Artificial Intelligence Is Putting Innocent People at Risk of Being Incarcerated” (Alyxaundria Sanford, Innocence Project, 2024-02-14) Report about how the increased use of AI by law enforcement is yet another example for the misapplication of forensic science that disproportionately affects marginalized/Black communities and has already led to several confirmed cases of misidentification due to facial recognition software. (Innocence Project link)

“AI Generated Police Reports Raise Concerns Around Transparency, Bias” (Jay Stanley, ACLU, 2024-12-10) Quick primer on why AI-generated police reports threaten to exacerbate existing problems and create new ones in law enforcement. (ACLU.org link)

Focus: Society/Education

“Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing Task” (Nataliya Kosmyna et al., MIT Media Lab, 2025-06-10) Study focusing on neural and behavioral consequences for people relying on LLM assistance for essay writing tasks, with the results showing that users had lower cognitive activity, struggled to accurately quote their own work, and consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels compared to the other study participants who did not rely on LLMs – thus raising concerns about the long-term educational implications of LLM reliance. (Arxiv.org link)

“AI Tools in Society: Impacts on Cognitive Offloading and the Future of Critical Thinking” (Michael Gerlich) Study investigating the relationship and significant negative correlation between frequent AI usage and critical thinking skills, with a focus on cognitive offloading as a mediating factor and highlighting the potential cognitive costs of AI tool reliance. (MDPI.com link | LinkedIn post by author)

“Don’t believe the hype. AI myths and the need for a critical approach in higher education.” (Jürgen Rudolph, Fadhil Ismail, Shannon Tan and Pauline Seah, JALT, 2025-02-18) Editorial focusing on the pervasive AI/GenAI hype in higher education and eight myths that shape current discourse, making it clear that AI is not an autonomous, intelligent entity but a mere product that depends on often exploitative labour and data extraction practices and tends to exacerbate existing inequalities. (JALT link | LinkedIn post by author)

“Teachers Are Not OK” (Jason Koebler, 404 Media, 2025-06-02) Collection of quotes and first-hand accounts of teachers related to how schools are not prepared for ChatGPT and describing the negative impact GenAI is having on teaching and the educational sector. (404 Media link)

“Time for a Pause: Without Effective Public Oversight, AI in Schools Will Do More Harm Than Good.” (Ben Williamson, Alex Molnar and Faith Boninger, NEPC, 2024-03-05) Report on the need for stronger regulation and why AI in education is a public problem because it reinforces issues like bureaucratic opacity, threatens student privacy, furthers school commercialization, worsens inequalities, erodes teacher autonomy, and drives dangerous faith in magical technosolutions. (NEPC link | LinkedIn post by author)

“Against the Commodification of Education—if harms then not AI” (Dagmar Monett & Gilbert Paquet, JODDE, 2025-05-11) Paper calling for a change in direction with regard to the unbridled integration of AI/GenAI in educational systems so we can first deal with key concerns such as preserving academic integrity, ensuring the quality of information provided by GenAI systems, respecting IP rights, and limiting the influence of tech corporations, as well as answer critical questions about the future of education, the tools’ impact on students, and the implications for the teaching profession. (JODDE link)

“They Asked an A.I. Chatbot Questions. The Answers Sent Them Spiraling.” (Kashmir Hill, The New York Times, 2025-06-13) Disturbing report on how GenAI chatbots can lead vulnerable people down conspiratorial rabbit holes and encourage distorted perceptions of reality and worse. (Link to original NYT article | Gift Article | Archived version)

“What AI thinks a beautiful woman looks like” (Nitasha Tiku & Szu Yu Chen, Washington Post, 2024-05-31) Illustrated report on the biases and stereotypes of GenAI systems that they inherited from the flawed data they were fed during their training. (Washington Post link without paywall)

Books

“The AI Con” (Emily M. Bender & Alex Hanna, 2025) Blurb: A smart, incisive look at the technologies sold as artificial intelligence, the drawbacks and pitfalls of technology sold under this banner, and why it’s crucial to recognize the many ways in which AI hype covers for a small set of power-hungry actors at work and in the world. https://thecon.ai/

“Empire of AI” (Karen Hao, 2025) Blurb: From a brilliant longtime AI insider with intimate access to the world of Sam Altman’s OpenAI from the beginning, an eye-opening account of arguably the most fateful tech arms race in history, reshaping the planet in real time, from the cockpit of the company that is driving the frenzy. https://karendhao.com/

“Data Grab: The New Colonialism of Big Tech and How to Fight Back” (Ulises A. Mejias & Nick Couldry, 2024) Blurb: A compelling argument that the extractive practices of today’s tech giants are the continuation of colonialism—and a crucial guide to collective resistance. https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/D/bo216184200.html

“Feeding the Machine: The Hidden Human Labour Powering AI” (James Muldoon, Mark Graham and Callum Cant, 2024) Blurb: A myth-dissolving exposé of how artificial intelligence exploits human labor, and a resounding argument for a more equitable digital future. https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/feeding-the-machine-9781639734979/

Newsletters/Podcasts

“Tech Won’t Save Us” About: Weekly conversations with experts to dissect the tech industry and the powerful people at its helm with the goal to provide insights that will shine a different light on the industry, make us reconsider our relationship to technology, and question the narratives we’ve been fed about it for decades. https://techwontsave.us/about

“Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000: The Newsletter” About: AI has too much hype. In this companion newsletter, linguist Prof. Emily M. Bender and sociologist Dr. Alex Hanna break down the AI hype, separate fact from fiction, and science from bloviation. They talk about everything "AI", from machine consciousness to science fiction, to political economy to art made by machines. https://buttondown.com/maiht3k/archive/

“Charting Gen AI” About: Key developments in GenAI and the impacts these are having on human-made media, as well as the ethics and behaviour of the AIs and calls for regulatory intervention to protect the rights of artists, performers, and creators. https://grahamlovelace.substack.com

“Where's Your Ed At” / “Better Offline” Newsletter and podcast by Ed Zitron, focusing on current developments related to AI/GenAI, the rot economy built by Big Tech, and the worrisome future that tech’s elite wants to build. https://www.wheresyoured.at / https://linktr.ee/betteroffline

Last update: 2025-06-20

[theeleventhsignofthezodiac]

The AI Con, Alex Hanna and Emily M. Bender, Harper, 2025

[ponder-us]

Fake It Till You Make It...They Stake It, or You Break It.

JB: Hi. I read an interesting article in the International Business Times by Vinay Patel titled, “Builder.ai Collapses: $1.5bn ‘AI’ Startup Exposed as ‘Actually Indians’ Pretending to Be Bots.” Apparently, the AI goldrush involves quite a bit of “Fool’s Gold.” The article made me buy, “The AI Con” a book by Emily M. Bender & Alex Hanna. While I’m just a few chapters in, and appreciate their…

[mlobsters]

jared padalecki and jensen ackles boston con 2025 - gold panel

cheerleading and (allegedly non-existent) short shorts

[badguyswin]

Happy birthday to my bro @transform4u

Robin Morningstar unlocked the door to the Enigma Emporium on the morning of his thirty-fifth birthday, the faint jingle of the bell overhead a familiar sound in the quiet shop. Another year older, he thought to himself somewhat miserably. His twenties seemed so long ago now!

For months, he had run this peculiar business—a place where the shelves were lined with items that promised more than mere decoration. Each trinket, accessory, and piece of clothing held a transformative power, turning its purchaser into something new, something extreme. Robin had seen it all: men stepping out of the shop changed forever, their sexuality flipping from gay to straight, their intelligence draining away like water through a sieve, their bodies swelling with muscle, and their minds adopting a brash, toxic alpha masculinity that left them unrecognizable. It was a dark fascination for him, watching these shifts unfold, but he had always kept himself at a safe distance, never daring to take an item for himself. He knew the risks too well.

Yet, as he stepped inside that morning, a pang of concern hit him. The shelves, once brimming with cursed curiosities, stood nearly bare. The Emporium had been thriving—too thriving, perhaps—and now it was time to restock. With a sigh, Robin adjusted his glasses and made his way to the back room, the creak of the floorboards echoing in the empty space. The storage area was a cluttered maze of dusty boxes and forgotten oddities, each one whispering its potential. He began sorting through them, pulling out items he thought might draw a crowd: a silver ring with a skull, a leather wristband, a pair of combat boots. But as he worked, his gaze kept drifting to a small, unmarked box tucked into a shadowy corner.

There was something about it—an almost magnetic pull that made his fingers itch. He hesitated, his rational mind screaming warnings, but the allure was undeniable. It was his birthday, after all. Why shouldn’t he indulge just this once? With a shaky breath, he lifted the lid. Inside lay four items: a pair of sunglasses with reflective lenses, a gold chain necklace with a cross pendant, a pair of black gym shorts, and a white tank top. They were simple, almost ordinary, yet they radiated an energy that made his pulse quicken. Against his better judgment, Robin gathered them up and headed to the dressing room at the back of the store, a small, dimly lit space with a full-length mirror that rarely saw use.

Standing before the mirror, Robin took a long, introspective look at himself. At thirty-five, he was a man who had lived a life of quiet intensity, his body reflecting the years of running his peculiar shop. He was still fit enough, but his frame had softened with age. A slight paunch had settled around his midsection, and his arms now lacked definition, their contours blurred by a thin layer of fat. His dark hair, once thick and vibrant, was now peppered with gray at the temples, the strands thinning slightly at the crown. His skin, once smooth, had a slightly weathered texture, and his posture, though not slouched, carried a subtle weariness, as if the weight of his responsibilities had settled into his bones.

But all of that was about to change. With a mix of excitement and apprehension, Robin reached for the items he’d selected from the unmarked box, his fingers trembling slightly as he picked up the sunglasses first. They were sleek, with reflective lenses that shimmered even in the dim light, and their cool metal frames felt almost electric against his skin as he slid them onto his face. The world blurred for a heartbeat, a dizzying swirl of colors and shapes. When his vision cleared, he blinked in disbelief, his breath catching in his throat.

The man staring back at him was not thirty-five. He was twenty-three again, a version of himself he hadn’t seen in over a decade. The gray in his hair had vanished entirely, replaced by a rich, light brown hue that seemed to glow with vitality. The thinning strands at his crown had thickened, now styled in a messy, upward sweep that gave him a carefree, youthful edge. His scalp tingled as the follicles rejuvenated, each strand growing fuller and shinier, as if infused with new life. The lines on his forehead smoothed out and the crow’s feet around his eyes disappeared leaving his skin as smooth as polished marble. His complexion brightened, the weathered texture replaced by a flawless, sun-kissed glow that radiated health and vigor. His eyes, previously dulled by years of late nights, once again sparkled with a youthful intensity, their deep brown hue flecked with golden specks that caught the light. His cheeks filled out with a taut firmness, and his jawline sharpened into a chiseled edge, the soft jowls that had begun to form melting away to reveal a strong, angular structure. Even his lips seemed fuller, his teeth whiter, as if every part of his face had been reset to the peak of his youth. Robin touched his face, marveling at the softness of his skin, the absence of stubble—he hadn’t even shaved, yet his face was perfectly smooth, as if the sunglasses had erased every sign of aging down to the smallest detail.

The transformation wasn’t just facial, though. His neck, once showing the first signs of sagging, tightened, the skin pulling taut over newly defined muscles. His Adam’s apple became more prominent, his voice deepening slightly as his vocal cords adjusted to his younger self. His posture straightened instinctively, the weariness in his shoulders lifting as a surge of energy coursed through him. He felt lighter, more agile, as if his body had shed not just years but the physical toll of those years. He flexed his fingers, noting the newfound strength in them, a precursor to the more dramatic changes to come.

Next, he reached for the gold chain necklace, its cross pendant gleaming faintly in the dim light. As he fastened it around his neck, the cold metal brushed against his collarbone, sending a shiver down his spine. Instantly, a warmth surged through his chest, a fiery heat that spread like wildfire to his arms, torso, and legs. He gasped, his body trembling as the transformation intensified. His muscles began to swell, the change so rapid it was almost painful, yet exhilarating. His biceps, once modest and softened by age, ballooned beneath his shirt, the sleeves stretching as the muscles doubled, then tripled in size. The fabric strained, threads popping audibly as his arms grew into massive, sculpted pillars of power. Veins popped beneath his skin, a network of blue lines snaking across his forearms and biceps, pulsing with the newfound strength coursing through him. He flexed, watching in awe as the muscles rippled, each movement highlighting the striations and definition that had never existed before.

His pectorals pushed outward, transforming from a flat, slightly sagging chest into a broad, chiseled expanse that strained the front of his shirt to its limits. The fabric tore slightly at the seams as his chest expanded, each pec becoming a slab of muscle, perfectly rounded and firm, the kind of chest that could stop a punch—or a woman’s gaze. His nipples, now more pronounced against the taut skin, pressed against the fabric, adding to the raw masculinity of his new form. His shoulders widened dramatically, the deltoids swelling into boulder-like structures that gave him a commanding presence. The bones themselves seemed to shift, broadening his frame to accommodate the muscle mass, his collarbone lengthening slightly to support the new width. His back thickened, the lats flaring out like wings, creating a V-shape that tapered down to his waist. The muscles along his spine tightened, each vertebra supported by a lattice of new muscle that made him feel unbreakable.

His abs tightened next, the slight paunch at his midsection melting away as if burned off by the heat of the transformation. His core contracted, the skin pulling taut over a chiseled six-pack that emerged like a sculptor’s masterpiece. Each abdominal muscle was defined, the obliques carving sharp lines along his sides, giving him a midsection that looked like it had been carved from stone. The warmth spread lower, his hips narrowing slightly to enhance the V-shape of his torso, while his glutes tightened and grew, becoming firm and powerful, the kind of backside that filled out any pair of shorts perfectly.

The black gym shorts came next, and as he stepped into them, the drawstring brushing against his fingers, a jolt of energy coursed through his lower body, igniting another wave of transformation. His thighs thickened, the quadriceps swelling with muscle, becoming distinct and massive. The skin stretched to accommodate the growth, the veins on his thighs becoming as prominent as those on his arms, a roadmap of power that pulsed with every heartbeat. His hamstrings tightened, adding to the bulk of his legs, while his calves hardened into sculpted curves, the muscles bulging with each flex, as if designed for explosive power. His knees, once slightly knobby, were now surrounded by muscle, giving his legs a seamless, statuesque quality. His feet even changed, growing slightly larger to support his new frame. The shorts fit perfectly, hugging his muscular thighs, the small embroidered “QUAD” near his left thigh a subtle nod to the power now residing there. A small tattoo appeared on his upper left thigh—bold, black letters spelling “BRO”—as if the transformation itself was branding him with his new identity.

Finally, he pulled on the white tank top, the fabric stretching tight across his broad chest, clinging to every ridge and contour of his enhanced physique. His shoulders, already wide, seemed to double in visual impact under the tank, the straps emphasizing the sheer size of his deltoids. His arms, now massive and defined, hung at his sides like weapons, the triceps forming a horseshoe shape that flexed with every movement. His torso, a perfect V-shape tapering to his hips, was accentuated by the tight fit of the tank, the fabric outlining his six-pack and obliques in stark relief. His posture shifted into one of unshakable confidence, his chest puffed out, his spine straight, as if the very act of standing was a declaration of dominance. He stood taller, his height increasing slightly to a commanding six-foot-two, his legs lengthening just enough to match his new proportions.

In the mirror, he saw a man who could have stepped out of a fitness magazine—muscular, youthful, and undeniably striking. His body was a masterpiece of power and symmetry, every muscle group perfectly proportioned, every line and curve a testament to his transformation. His skin, now a flawless, sun-kissed tan, glowed with health, the tattoos that had appeared during the process—on his thigh, his arms—adding to his rugged, alpha aesthetic. He flexed one last time, watching as his reflection moved with a grace and power he’d never known, a body built for dominance and display. But the changes weren’t just skin deep—his mind was next, and the transformation there would be just as dramatic.

As Robin admired his reflection, a shift began in his mind, subtle at first but growing stronger with each passing second. The sunglasses seemed to sharpen his perception—not just of the world, but of himself. A wave of arrogance washed over him, drowning out the quiet humility he’d once carried. Why had he spent so long cooped up in this dusty shop when he could have been out there, dominating the world? He smirked at his reflection, a cocky tilt to his lips. “Looking good, Ryder,” he said aloud, the name slipping out effortlessly. Ryder? He frowned for a moment, trying to grasp at his old identity—Robin—but it slipped away like sand through his fingers.

The necklace pulsed against his chest, and with it came a flood of new beliefs. His once-centrist politics swung hard to the right, a fierce pride swelling in him for conservative values. Trump and the MAGA movement filled his thoughts—strong leaders, real men, the kind he now aspired to emulate. He sneered at his old self, so weak and wishy-washy, unable to pick a side. Now, he knew where he stood: on top, where he belonged.

The gym shorts and tank top awakened something primal. His sexuality, once a steady attraction to men, flipped entirely. A burning lust for women ignited in his core, his mind racing with images of them—soft curves, admiring glances, conquests waiting to be claimed. Commitment? Respect? Those were for losers. Women were there to be won, to fawn over him, and he’d make damn sure they did. His intelligence, once sharp and analytical, dulled to a blunt edge, replaced by a focus on physicality and bravado. Who needed books when you had biceps like these?

His sense of humor twisted too. A loud BURRRRRRRP bubbled up, and he let it rip, laughing at the sheer audacity of it. Farting in public? Even better. It was crude, sure, but it was power—a way to say he didn’t give a damn what anyone thought. He was the alpha now, and the world would bend to him.

By the time the transformation was complete, Robin Morningstar was gone. Ryder Manning stood in his place, a twenty-three-year-old Adonis with a body built for dominance and a mind wired for arrogance. He couldn’t remember owning the Enigma Emporium, couldn’t recall the countless customers he’d watched change. All he knew was that he was Ryder—personal trainer, womanizer, king of his own world.

He stepped out of the dressing room, the sunglasses perched on his nose, the gold chain glinting against his tanned skin, the tank top and shorts showcasing his physique. The shop felt small now, insignificant. He had better places to be—the gym, the streets, anywhere he could flex his muscles and his attitude. As he pushed open the door and stepped into the sunlight, he let out a loud BURRRRRRRP, grinning at the sheer freedom of it. The Enigma Emporium faded into the background, a forgotten relic of a life he no longer knew.

Ryder Manning strode into his new existence, a douchey personal trainer ready to flirt with every woman in sight and bodyshame any man who dared step into his orbit. The world was his, and he’d take it one arrogant stride at a time.

The gym, Iron Paradise, was Ryder’s domain, a sanctuary of clanging weights and mirrored walls where his authority went unchallenged—or so he believed. He was mid-set on the bench press, his tank top soaked with sweat, showcasing every ripple of his muscular frame. The bar groaned under the weight as he pumped out reps, grunting loudly with each lift. As he racked the bar, he caught a glimpse of a guy—mid-thirties, wiry, with a towel slung over his shoulder—watching him from the cardio section.

Ryder sat up, wiping his brow with the back of his hand, and locked eyes with the man. The guy quickly averted his gaze, but it was too late—Ryder’s radar for perceived slights was razor-sharp. He stood, his six-foot-two frame towering, and marched over, his sneakers squeaking on the polished floor.

“Yo, dude,” Ryder barked, his voice cutting through the gym’s hum. “What’s your deal? You eyein’ me like some kinda queer?”

The man flinched, his face reddening. “I wasn’t—I was just watching your form. It’s impressive.”

Ryder sneered, stepping closer, his chest puffed out like a gorilla asserting dominance. “Bullshit. I know that look. You think I’m some fag you can drool over? I don’t swing that way, bro.” He punctuated his words with a loud BURRRRRRRP, the sour stench of his protein shake wafting into the air. A woman on a nearby treadmill shot him a disgusted glance, but Ryder didn’t notice—or care.

“I didn’t mean anything by it,” the man stammered, backing up. “I’m just here to work out.”

“Yeah, well, keep your fuckin’ eyes to yourself, or I’ll make sure you’re workin’ out with a busted face,” Ryder snapped, flexing his biceps for emphasis. “Real men don’t stare at other dudes. Get that through your thick skull.”

The man retreated to the locker room, head down, while Ryder turned back to the weights, letting out a loud fart that echoed off the walls. “Fuckin’ pansies,” he muttered, grinning as a couple of guys nearby chuckled nervously. His homophobia wasn’t just a reaction—it was a performance, a way to cement his status as the alpha in a space he ruled.

Moments later, two women approached—clients he’d been training for weeks. One, a petite brunette named Jen, wrinkled her nose at the lingering smell, while the other, a curvy redhead named Tara, smirked faintly, her eyes tracing his sweat-slicked arms.

“Ryder, can we go over squats again?” Jen asked, her tone clipped.

“Sure thing, babe,” Ryder replied, winking at Tara. “Gotta get that ass tight, right? Nothin’ sexier than a chick who can squat heavy.” He let out another BURRRRRRRP, laughing as Jen recoiled. “What? It’s natural. Real men don’t hold that shit in.”

Jen rolled her eyes, but Tara giggled, her cheeks flushing. “You’re so gross,” she said, though her tone was playful, her gaze lingering on his chest.

“Gross? Nah, I’m just real,” Ryder shot back, flexing his pecs. “You love it, don’t lie.” Tara blushed deeper, while Jen muttered something under her breath and started setting up the squat rack. Ryder’s crude charm was a double-edged sword—repulsive to some, magnetic to others.

Later in the day, Ryder was spotting a new client, a burly guy named Mike who’d signed up for his “no bullshit” training program. As they worked through deadlifts, Mike brought up a news story he’d seen about immigration reform. “Man, I don’t know,” he said, grunting as he lifted. “Maybe we should be helping some of these people out. They’re just looking for a better life.”

Ryder snorted, a sound that morphed into a loud fart as he bent to adjust the weights. “Better life? Fuck that. They’re invaders, bro. Comin’ here to take our jobs and live off our taxes. Trump had it right—build the wall, keep ’em out. Real Americans don’t owe nobody nothin’.” He flexed his shoulders, his muscles bulging under his tank top. “This country’s for winners, not whiners.”

Mike frowned but didn’t push back. “I guess you’ve got a point,” he mumbled, though his tone suggested doubt.

“Damn right I do,” Ryder said, clapping him on the back hard enough to make him stumble. “MAGA, bro. That’s the only way to keep this place great. Weak-ass liberals wanna turn us into a fuckin’ daycare.” He punctuated his rant with a BURRRRRRRP, grinning as Mike forced a laugh. Ryder’s political preaching wasn’t rooted in deep thought—it was a parroted script, a badge of his new identity, delivered with the same bravado he used to lift weights.

Across the gym, a woman overheard his tirade and shook her head, muttering to her friend about “meatheads with no brains.” But a guy nearby, decked out in a Trump 2024 cap, gave Ryder a nod of approval. His toxic ideology found its audience, however small.

Ryder Manning had fully settled into his new life, the remnants of Robin Morningstar and the Enigma Emporium nothing but a distant, forgotten whisper in a mind now consumed by bravado and excess. It was his twenty-third birthday, a milestone he intended to celebrate in the most over-the-top, unapologetic way possible. The venue was The Iron Horse, the same bar where he’d become a local legend among the gym rats and party crowd. The night was set to be a testament to his transformation—a gathering of his new tribe, a crew of jock bros as obnoxious and conservative as he was, alongside a gaggle of bleached blonde bimbos who couldn’t resist his alpha charm.

The bar was packed by 9pm, the air thick with the smell of cheap beer, cologne, and the faint tang of sweat. Neon lights cast a red and blue glow over the crowd, and the jukebox blared a playlist of bro country anthems—Ryder’s kind of music. He stood at the center of it all, his massive frame dominating the space. His white tank top clung to his chiseled torso, the gold chain necklace with its cross pendant glinting under the lights, and his black gym shorts showed off his thick, tattooed thighs. He’d added a new accessory for the night—a MAGA 2024 cap, tilted just so, a bold statement of his hardcore conservative stance.

“Yo, bros!” Ryder bellowed, climbing onto a table with a beer in hand, his voice cutting through the noise. “It’s my fuckin’ birthday, and we’re gonna party like real Americans!” He let out a loud burp, who erupted in laughter and raised their drinks in salute. “That’s how we roll, baby!”

His jock bros—six of them, all muscle-bound and sporting similar attire—crowded around, their own Trump hats and tank tops a uniform of their shared ideology. They were as crude as Ryder, burping and farting without shame, their laughter a constant roar as they swapped stories of gym conquests and political rants.

“Bro, I was tellin’ this libtard at the gym today,” one of them said, slamming his beer down, “if you ain’t votin’ Trump, you ain’t American. Dude got so triggered, I thought he was gonna cry!” He let out a fart, grinning as the others howled.

“Fuckin’ right,” Ryder said, clapping Chad on the back. “We don’t got time for snowflakes. Real men run this country—always will.” He chugged his beer, crushing the can against his forehead and tossing it into the crowd, where it narrowly missed a group of women.

Those women—five bleached blonde bimbos who’d been orbiting Ryder all night—giggled and squealed at his antics, their high-pitched voices a constant backdrop. One of them, a girl named Brittani with glossy pink lips and a fake tan, draped herself over Ryder’s arm, pressing her chest against him.

“Ryder, you’re, like, so hot when you talk politics,” she purred, batting her lashes. “I totally voted for Trump ‘cause of you.”

Ryder grinned, his ego swelling as he flexed his bicep for her to admire. “Damn straight, babe. Stick with me, and you’ll be ridin’ with a winner.” He let out another burp, the smell of beer and nachos hitting her face, but she only giggled harder, her friends joining in with their own flirty laughter. They were grossed out by his crudeness—Brittani wrinkled her nose at the stench—but his confidence, his sheer alpha energy, kept them hooked. They threw themselves at him, each vying for his attention, their hands brushing his arms, their compliments as loud as the music.

Another of the girls, Kelli, handed him a shot of tequila. “To the hottest guy in the room!” she squealed, her friends echoing the toast. Ryder downed the shot, slamming the glass on the table and letting out a loud “Hell yeah!” followed by a fart that made the bros cheer even louder. The girls giggled, torn between disgust and attraction, their eyes glued to his muscular frame.

The night rolled on in a haze of excess. At one point, Ryder led the group in a chant of “USA! USA!” that drowned out the jukebox, his voice the loudest of all. He flexed his arms, showing off the tattoos that marked his transformation—the BRO on his thigh, the lightning bolts and floral designs on his arms—each one a badge of his new identity. The bimbos swooned, Brittani planting a sloppy kiss on his cheek while Kelli snapped a selfie with him, her lips pouted for the camera.

As the clock struck midnight, officially marking the end of his birthday, Ryder stood on the table again, a fresh beer in hand. “This is my fuckin’ life now!” he roared, his voice raw with triumph. “No rules, no regrets—just me and my crew, livin’ like kings!” He let out a final, massive BURRRRRRRP, followed by a fart that made the bros double over with laughter and the bimbos squeal in a mix of horror and delight.

Ryder Manning had fully embraced his new life as a toxic alpha male. The memory of Robin Morningstar, the Enigma Emporium, and the quiet, introspective man he’d once been were gone, erased by the relentless swagger of his new persona. Surrounded by his jock bros and the adoring bimbos, he was exactly where he wanted to be—on top, unapologetic, and utterly oblivious to the man he’d left behind. This was his world now, and he’d rule it with every crude, arrogant step.

[okaydiscount]

after months of wet 35°F weather it finally snowed!!!!!!!!! so have a quick benry doodle to celebrate :]

[spnsmile]

angel meets AI(x) (x)

[sunderwight]

I think it's overall not such a bad thing that people are now equating "it's AI" with "it's fake", but one funny consequence that keeps cropping up is people claiming things that are fake as AI, when they're actually just like, regular old photoshop, or misleading before & after pics, or the more mundane sort of plagiarism/art theft, or someone just lying.

AI is fake but fake is not always AI. Someone proving that a thing isn't AI should not be equated with proving that it's real, either. There are plenty of ways to lie on the internet!

[dragongirlcock]

So, this is pretty funny.

But, "not because they made a mistake" um, who, the company? Cuz they very clearly made a BIG fucking mistake. Feel like this post has an overall tone that just doesn't sit right

Anyway, wishing people that use GenAI for bait and switch fraud a very merry GET FUCKED HAHA

[queen-mabs-revenge]

pls read the ai con

[roguewallenthusiast]

If her object class is Keter, how come she's so containable? 🤔🤔🤔

Reference image:

[lynn-tged-posting]

tged webtoon ep 174 spoilers and thoughts that i'm actually kinda happy about but there's just a little bit more that i wish we got to see this ep but possibly maybe itll show up later,,, maybe,,, i hope,,, and more below the cut

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BEFORE WE BEGIN. WOW. HI ALICIA. WOW!!! WOW!!! SIRENS!!! HOLY BINGLE! GOOD MORNING YUOR HIGHNESS UR GORGEOUS. HELLO!!! WOW. YES. ANYTHING YOU SAY MA'AM. YES MY QUEEN OF COURSE ANYTHING YOU SAY

SHE'S GOT ABS AND MUSCLE SHE'S TONED AND HER LEGS R STRONG AND WOW. WOW GOOD MORNING HI. YES. THANK YOU KHS THANK YOU IM,,, WOW,,, I LOVE STRONG WOMEN,,, BEAUTIFUL!!!

ok back to the ep LMFAOO

it seems i kiiinda misunderstood what was happening last ep, everyone relevant to the railroad construction is in the time bubble it's just that javier isn't going up to the mountains with lloyd,,, i see!!!

"i wanna go to him and make sure he's safe" ooogh,,, oh javier,,, u love him sm,,,, ooohhhh

tbh at first i was like, a lil confused that javier didn't go up to check on lloyd esp since javier is so willing to do anything to protect lloyd. its clear too that he knows abt lloyd's heart freezing,,, though i suppose at the same time, javier trusts lloyd's word so much that when the noble says he'll be fine, javier accepts it as he always has,,, either way his desire to run to protect lloyd and his willingness to trust that lloyd will be okay are both very sweet,,, the mutual trust always makes me so happy,,,,,,, ohhh javier ilysm,,,,,,

i am glad then that alicia went up to go check on him and that javier is reassured by this!!! look at his smile ooohhh hehehee

i think choosing to have javier trust his queen instead of sowing conflict btwn the two is rlly nice, tho mostly bc i am biased bc i tend to prefer sweet reliability over infighting,,, he trusts her to take care of lloyd the way javier would take care of lloyd,,, (is this alillovier propaganda? perchance,,, /lh)

it makes so much sense that they'd be on the same wavelength n get along,,, two peas in a pod,,, powerful and clever and oh so loyal to the person that they've come to admire, respect, and love,,, the person that's saved them time and time again,,, heehee,,, truly the besties of all time!!! red and blue!!! i love it a lot!!!

and now for lloyd,,, hehe

i need it to be known that the moment i saw this panel, lloyd wearing alicia's sweater, i yelled and kicked and nearly cried. very loudly. what the hell. THATS SO?? THATS SO. IDEK

still forever thinking abt how javier is always the first one to his mind they truly r the duo ever,,, regardless of whether theyre platonic or romantic they're literally each other's number ones and the first ones they turn to im so. thats so. ghhh my heart,,, (ALSO HI ALICIA)

his stupid face,,, HIS PANELS THIS EP WERE SO SO FUNNY AND SO SO CUTE,,, i love u,,, HE JUST LOOKS SO SHOCKED AAAAHHH SO CUTE,,, wide-eyed and dumbfounded . lloyd i love u

the gags this ep were fucking amazing too HAHA i didnt add it above but the bit where alicia was like "lol next ur gonna tell me he's the demon king" and then just turns and oh hi theres demons LMFAOOO THAT WAS GOOD

AND THESE TOO SO SO SILLY i love when they're silly like this,,, goofy ass inchworm,,, its not helping u beat the bug allegations buddy,,, ily

LIKE THIS FUCKING GRABBING BIT I CACKLED SO FUCKING LOUD HAHAHAHAHAA AND LLOYD ROLLING AWAY GOD THEYRE SO FUNNY I LOVE THEM

and then she shared her mana w him,,, the little smile she gives and LLOYD BLUSHING BACK IM SO. THATS SO CUTE. HE LOOKS SO CUTE. THIS IS SO SWEET,,, AHHH,,, AAAHHHH CUTE CUTE CUTE CUTE CUTE

though smth to note here, i am quite confused as to why javier's mana is suddenly rejected when he tries to absorb it? but alicia's works just fine? and javier has shared mana with lloyd before, my mutual reminded me of the namaran wall arc where siluria and javier both help lloyd with absorbing the hell knight,,, however the fact that javier's mana components have yet to break the law of causality during this arc, aka he wasnt a grandmaster yet. maybe bc of his status as a grandmaster now, where he has the same otherworldy mana lloyd does, that makes it not possible to properly absorb the mana?

alternatively, javier technically is never fated to die/be transformed in the original story, whereas lloyd should be dead and alicia should be tainted with dark magic, so bc the two of them have warped their fates at the moment, it works? and javier's doesnt bc he's technically not? idk if that makes any sense,,, i was told by my mutual that javier has shared mana with lloyd a lot in the novel before, so i'm not sure why they made this change! i hope they expand on it a lil in the future,,,

also, while i'm yapping here, i like that alicia is straightforward abt what she likes abt lloyd, but i wish they got to have a longer conversation than this,,, like this is a good start but it didn't really go anywhere (besides some really wonderful panels of lloyd but i mean like, narrative-wise lol)

as i mentioned in my last liveblog, alicia and suho share a lot more common experiences than they probably realize! and i think if they got a chance to talk about that, talking about their past circumstances, how they became who they are now, and just more in general on what led alicia to fall for lloyd besides what he's capable of,,, this ship would actually sail pretty well, yknow?

unfortunately though with the pacing of the manhwa and i guess just their episode length requirements in general, it makes sense that they couldn't get to that,,, i just wish it happened,,, maybe in snippets in future episodes? but seeing as we're getting pretty close to the end afaik, the chances are slim

i mainly love llovier but i also really love alilloyd, and i think alilloyd as a whole would have a much better leg to stand on if they actually talked about their experiences and had more instances of saving each other, of supporting each other, the way javier does with lloyd. it's too few and too far between for alicia and lloyd, so it feels like it's flatter than what it could be, y'know?

a part of me hopes that they did get to do that in the novel, but from what i recall hearing, alilloyd didn't have a strong leg in the novel either,,, i distantly recall someone telling me that the manhwa is actually doing alilloyd stronger justice than the novel did (i may be misremembering tho so don't quote me on that lol), and seeing as the manhwa's interpretation of alilloyd is so few and far between as is,,,, it makes me worried that the novel never actually got to touch upon how their relationship evolves (if im wrong, please correct me!!!)

i just want them to do well,,, they're super cute,,, please,,, ueueueue

anyway,,, this leads us to probably my FAVORITE panel of this week,,, this one of lloyd completely flushed EEE EHEHEHHEHEHEHHEE

SO SO SO SO CUTE. I YELPED WHEN I SAW THIS,,, I LOVE THAT ALICIA FALLS FIRST AND THEN LLOYD FALLS SO MUCH HARDER THAT'S FUCKING ADORABLE. methinks it's like that with javier too. lloyd falling and tripping up over realizing someone has romantic affection for him is probably one of my favorite things EVER. that's adorable. I LOVE HIM AAAHHH CUTE CUTE CUTE

one last thing to mention is just that,,, it seems like theres a mage messing w the weather conditions up in the mountains and i aaaam a lil worried that itll kickstart fate for alicia,,,, esp considering we,,, havent seen worthroad in a while. whatever that guys name was,,, what if its him and he's gonna fuck everything up!?? im really worried for them,,, please be okay,,,

and that's all for this week! i really REALLY enjoyed this episode,,, the panels and art were so so good, and while there were some things i wished would happen i think it was still really good overall, it gave me a lot to talk about! the gags were balanced and their interactions were so fun,,, yay!

i'll see yall next time,,, im so excited to see whats next,,,!!!!!

[pink-yuri]

♡ The Villainess is Changing Her Role to a Bro-Con ♡

[neverthere123]

Vera and Vicky in their Monster Con cosplay