#and i don't feel like its cringe to think that should be more common knowledge

[asurrogateblog]

I genuinely need to shut the fuck up. yesterday my mom called me and midway through our conversation she tells me out of the blue "today I read an article about rock stars you didn't know were queer but none of the beatles were on it :( "

[kuri-no-tani]

JVC Post #30

Welcome to the NHK

This was one of the first anime I watched on my own, and at the time I loved it. I thought it was one of the best anime I had seen. Now, after watching it again after so many years, I still think it's pretty good, but not as good as I thought at one point. It's part of a slew of important anime that came out in 2006, which was a huge year in anime. Some other big names from that year are The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya(<3), The Familiar of Zero, Death Note, Aria, and Code Geass. There were also some cool OVAs like the Hellsing Ultimate OVA and Dai Mahou Touge. Though this anime is way too pervy. I think there's a lot this series could have done if it didn't have so much perv humor (even if I get why it was included).

Satou is a pretty well written character as well. He feels like a realistic portrayal of a shut-in NEET. This is a common point that a lot of people bring up when they watch this show.

That being said, Satou is also pretty clearly mentally ill (he doesn't have schizophrenia) which is part of the depiction of hikikomori. It's easy to tell someone that you just have to go out and talk to people or whatever, but it's never that easy for that person. For someone like Satou, something that simple is an insurmountable hurdle. Though, it's not just presenting Satou's issues. It also shows you (and Satou) that everyone struggles in their own way. This is harder to see in the 4 episodes we watched but I think the way this show presents mental illness and the complex situation someone Satou is in is something worth noting.

But all of this is really slapped around by the presentation sometimes. Particularly the way it jumps around after episode 11. The anime is a lot different than the manga or light novel, which are more focused. I feel like this anime would be better if it had stuck to what it was building up in the first half of the show instead of going off on a tangent in the later half. It would have been great as a 13-14 episode anime, even if they did change a lot of it from the light novel/manga. While I love MMORPGs, we didn't need 8 episodes about it in the show.

Its hard to get everything out of this anime with just a few episodes. Some of the episodes are just stuffed with great moments. Despite a lot of it being gross and weird, not a lot of shows have this sort of presentation of otaku culture to my knowledge so it's neat to see. It makes me cringe and look away but it's neat.

What I think the main point of this series is, is to tell people who identify with Satou that no one can go it alone, and to get them to realize that people like Misaki don't exist. You can't hope that someone is gonna knock on your door and rip you out of what you're going through. You have to put in work to make progress on your own; No one can do it for you. It also uses the NHK (Nihon Hikikomori Kyoukai) as a metaphor for blaming the world around you rather than looking inward. It's easy to imagine that you're part of some conspiracy or are in your situation because somehow everything is out to get you, but that's not (usually) the case.

However, I think the "message" of the show might be kind of murky and not well defined. Even with it's realistic depiction of an otaku shut-in NEET, it doesn't say enough about it or offer anything for Satou in the end other than a bittersweet, unhealthy relationship with Misaki. People who relate heavily to Satou aren't going to come out of NHK with anything but a lasting impression of that realistic depiction and will have nothing to go off of. It's a bit disappointing.

Lastly I wanna point out a cultural reference I noticed that I hadn't before. Though we didn't watch it, you can see in episode 3 when Yamazaki hands Satou his top 10 gal-games he hands him "Toki-doki Memorian" which is an obvious reference to Tokimeki Memorial (which is a great game you should play it). Pururin is also pretty clearly inspired by Di Gi Charat's Dejiko.

[spiralsta1rcase]

the internet makes me so depressed nowadays. it's such a non issue in the grand scheme of things but really it's not that small. i think i deserve to rant about this because it makes me so angry and so sad at the same time

I TALKED TOO MUCH AGAIN SO CLICK IF YOU CARE

the rise of ai and .. really, that's just it. just the rise of ai is destroying the internet man. today when i saw that news of the ai generated instagram and facebook users it just made me think man Damn. this isn't the same place it was when i was a kid. it's weird to be able to say that im part of the generation that grew up with internet access but at least i can see just how horrible the internets becoming - i worded that weird. at least i have the knowledge of how it was before. i still remember going on websites full of people so passionate about a particular subject, video games, art, music, technology... and they were all human. and that's all it needed to be.. its always interesting to think about the internet and computers social media in the technological and technical and whatever-y way, but there's something to be said about the human part of it too. communication was really at the core of all these inventions. communication between humans of course. and to see these modern tech innovators to be raving on about ai just feels like a mockery of the internets original purpose...is there a point to talking to a robot? is there a point in watching something made by a robot? in listening to something made by a robot? what do you gain from it?

i can't have the privilege of saying i miss the early days of the internet cuz that to me just means foggy memories of video game forums. but from what i've seen. yeah. i miss it too. i don't want to ignore the graphic and hateful content just easily available for everyone in the early days of the internet of course. we can't look at things like that. oh it was just so great back in the 1990s and 2000s! there was just nothing bad back then. thats just not true. but somehow it feels the same today. or worse. homophobia and racism and ableism and sexism and fatphobia and just a general lack of empathy is just So. so so so common on the internet again. it's so disheartening. and, this is a topic i love to ramble about, but now that there's no more safe spaces for children on the internet anymore, the kids of the 2020s are just exposed to most of this stuff if their parents aren't super careful.

i feel like there was a wave from 2018-2021 of nicer people, more accepting people. body positivity and diversity and all that nice stuff... so why is everyone just such a dick again? what happened to all that activism? seriously man?? have you guys seen those tiktok comments of people talking about their "trans phases" and how they're all just sooo cringe now that they look back on it? what's that all about? and god. GOD the weird weird body stuff going on on tiktok. seriously man it's not cool. i've seen so so so many beautiful young boys and girls miserable about how they look because it doesn't align with the super strict standard they've all set for themselves. it's so depressing to see. and i find myself going down those rabbit holes myself. it's so easy to fall into. i'll find myself watching a video about cute hairstyles, then in the search i'll look, and ill find a video about th best and worst hair types to have. then i scroll down. and i keep scrolling. how to sharpen your jawline. diet ideas to lose weight fast. best eyes and worst eyes. can everyone just shut up? and the boys and girls in my class fall for this stuff too. and so do i. i can't act like im perfect. i watch these videos too and wonder if i should start dressing for the boys around me instead of for myself

i forgot what i was talking about so i had to go back up... The Internet Id Getting Worse Man!!!!! filming people in public. the weird beauty standards. the oddly racist internet memes. the misogyny. the homophia. the transphobia. what is going on??!!Im too tired to type anything more so I'll leave it at that.

[bypeau]

PERHAPS HEATH BEAUMONT didn't know himself as well as he thought he did. he would have thought himself too cool to ever find common ground with someone like zachary auburn, yet there they were— finding unlikely friendship in one another. months ago, when his friends made jokes at zachary's expense, heath hadn't said a word— now, the boy cringed at ever crude remark made by his parents. it wasn't until they were side-by-side at the church bake sale, where heath got to experience zachary's warmth and kindness firsthand, that heath realized that— though they couldn't have been more different— he needed to take the blonde boy under his wing. "i don't know... i mean, you stare at me a lot when you think i'm not looking, but you've barely said two words to me," heath shrugged. "not to mention, you're totally blushing right now— but i'm not mad, just flattered." a little smirk had worked its way onto his lips. he didn't know why, but he really was flattered by zachary's little crush. if anyone else asked, he certainly would have denied it— but he could, and likely had, do worse than zachary auburn. "dude, i wouldn't be paying you compliments if they weren't genuine," he pointed out, a small grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "oh, um... sure. i mean, yeah, that— that sounds fun." heath wasn't sure why he became so nervous at the thought of it, but being alone with zachary in a far more intimate setting sent a chill up his spine. perhaps it was the looming knowledge that zachary liked him a little more than he would like to admit— but, more likely, it was that heath was starting to realize that he was in a similar boat, though with far more baggage aboard. "still, i feel bad. i should do a lot more than enjoy your cookies to make up for it," heath said, finger tapping against his chin. "how about this? if anyone ever says anything, or does anything, that makes you feel sad, or even slightly discourages you, you come to me. i'll take care of it— even if it's my family."

HEATH COULD HAVE swore he was losing his mind. he had only ever dated girls, had never allowed himself to think of boys in any similar way— that wasn't, however, to say that he hadn't felt anything. but heath wasn't stupid. he knew the family that he came from, knew that a gay son would never be accepted by his parents, or even his brother, so he kept those feelings deep down where no one could find them. he never would have thought that zachary would pull it out of him, or that he would be struggling to keep his hands to himself while selling christmas cookies to church goers. "zachary, stop apologizing— seriously. you are the last person that needs to be saying sorry to me," heath said softly, resting his hand upon zachary's. he couldn't possibly understand what he was feeling— he didn't have the emotional maturity, didn't have the ability to put his brain to rest and let his heart lead the charge. but, before he knew it, heath was pulling zachary into his lap and planting one right on his soft, pale pink lips. kissing zachary felt like the most natural thing he had ever done, hands all over his dainty frame without a care in the world. it wasn't until he reached the boy's waist that he realized what he was doing, that he even realized where he was— he recoiled, a look of shock on his chiseled face, only for a knot of guilt to twist in the pit of his stomach as he realized what he had done. "because— i mean, i— i don't do stuff like this," heath stammered, running a hand through his short brown hair. "oh god, i was your first kiss? i'm going to hell, fuck!" heath couldn't believe that he'd practically stolen zachary's vey first kiss— something that should have been special and cherished, not taken from him by some brainless jock with grabby hands. "what? no, zachary... you weren't bad, it's just— i'm not gay, i shouldn't have... i shouldn't have been your first kiss," he sighed. "or at least, i didn't think i was— i mean, i don't even know if i'm— what are you doing to me, zachary?"

zachary auburn, at his heart, was a hopeless romantic. he looked at the world through rose-colored glasses and was totally in love with thought of being in love . . . only he'd never quite gotten there. he'd never had a boyfriend or so much as been kissed! he was a pathetic excuse for a gay guy, but no one would've ever known from the teasing he'd gotten in high school. zachary would have thought spending an afternoon with heath would've surely been a disaster waiting to happen., but even in the freezing cold, zachary had found he'd completely misjudged heath. even his arrogance was somehow alluring. he was beside himself, and he didn’t quite know what to do about it. "how'd you know i think you're attractive? b-but thanks, y'know, for not being a total . . . butt hole," the smaller male questioned, his cheeks rosy. heath clearly had worked him up, but zachary would’ve blamed it on the chilling pennsylvania winter if he'd been called out for it. "oh . . . well, it's not my area of expertise," he giggled nervously. he hadn't realized it was possible to totally be at ease with someone and completely nervous at the same time before! why did heath have to make his blood rush and his heart beat a million miles a minute?! it was completely unfair what the beaumont boy was doing to him! "really? you like 'em that much?" zachary questioned with a lifted brow. "i mean, yeah, i could . . . how about this? you can come over and keep me company while i make them. there's nothing worse than a lonely kitchen, everybody knows that! plus, i'll need someone to lick the spoon clean," he offered up with a gleaming smile. it faded soon enough though. hearing about the beaumont christmases just made his little heart ache. it seemed like heath hadn't a had true, bonafide christmas in years, and that simply was not okay in zachary's book! "we're gonna do somethin' about it. mark my words, heath beaumont. you're about to have the best christmas ever — even if i have to drag santa out from the north pole myself!" zachary promised. he never would've guessed he'd end up trying to pull off some christmas magic for a beaumont . . . but stranger things had happened. after all, they had been paired up for the bake sale; it must've been fate! he sighed, nodding his head. what was in the past was in the past, and truth be told, zachary didn't want to visit it at all — lest it ruin their good moment. any grudge or resentment he'd harbored had vanished into the chilly winter air. "well . . . that doesn't matter now. to think, all it took was some christmas cookies to get you to like me. 'd've never guessed it'd be so easy!" the blonde boy teased, scrunching up his nose playfully.

zachary found himself warming up to heath with ease, and zachary might've even felt the small — okay, gigantic — inklings of a crush forming . . . but he swore any hope of being in heath's presence again was about to be over before it even began. only for heath to surprise him yet again. "well, i still am sorry," he said softly, his dainty hand resting on heath's broad shoulder. his heart skipped a beat just being so close to him. he was becoming a walking cliché — a sweet, naïve gay boy falling in love with the first straight guy who showed him attention — but he couldn't have cared less. "well, then i'm happy to take your mind off i—" zachary was quickly shut up by the taller boy pulling him in. his heart skipped a beat, and his head went all hazy. he didn't even realize heath was kissing him for the whole town to see until his eyelids fluttered shut and his lips started to move against heath's. it was over too quick for zachary's liking, and heath was retracting like he'd just made out with a wad of seaweed . . . which would've given zachary pause for concern if he wasn't freaking out over the fact that — oh my god! — he'd just had his first kiss! his hands went to his lips, where he could still feel heath's lingering on his. electricity was buzzing throughout his whole body, and zachary felt alive — and more than he did on christmas morning! "why are you sorry?" zachary questioned, eyes wide with concern. "was i, like, bad or something? oh god . . . did i mess up my own first kiss?! should i go?"

[arcadesmuseum]

The Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth

Written by Anton LaVey in 1967 it was progressive for its time. When considering the different rules separately from LaVey's other works, you could even think this was written in modern day times.

Essentially these rules tell you not to be a dick, don't harm others and that you should stand up for yourself. I see most of these rules as relevant to modern day life.

I still do not feel like they resonate with me deeply as they almost feel like they should be common knowledge.

Number 4 has always made me laugh, as telling someone to leave would be a much more efficient way of dealing with annoying house guests. Being cruel to them seems like a lot of effort for very little gain. However, like everything LaVey has written, it should be taken with a grain of salt and seen as theatrical rather than literal, in my opinion.

Number 5 is written in a strange way, and the words "mating signal" seem both cringe worthy and like they were written by a teenage boy.

Number 7 is also confusing for many, as the Church of Satan do not believe in literal "magic". There has but much debate other whether LaVey actually believed in, and worshipped, a literal Satan. Spoiler alert, he did not, if you're to believe the majority of claims. This again should be taken as theatrical.

Overall, I wouldn't hang these on my wall. However this list is an important look into the history of Satanism, and it's alternatives to the likes of other religions "commandments".