#and not an understanding of what the system is designed for and whether or not that suits the game

[transmutationisms]

what does therapy do, in your eyes? i know youve said that like, its a lot of self help platitudes and fairly shallow in a lot of ways (which i generally agree with, thrrapy for me was really only helpful in that i could talk about most things with a person mostly disconnected from my life, and thats about it). but i know there are others who at least feel like they have gotten a lot out of it. why do you think that is? is there a place in your idea of a better system for a person whos job it is to be the person people talk to, or is the fact that exists just kind of a relic of our shitty psychiatric system?

sorry for the long ask, but i assume youve thought more about this topic than me and am curious.

SAID NONJUDGMENTALLY i think people like talking about ourselves i think it feels good and is sometimes useful to boot and we all spend 24/7 locked inside our own heads and we can never truly understand even 5% of whatever is going on in someone else's head and so yeah it feels good to feel understood & cared for. if you are one of the very few people who is materially positioned to experience therapy as a room you voluntarily enter to talk about yourself and your problems, and you like doing this with a specific kind of worker-client professional etiquette, then yea i imagine therapy feels great sometimes.

however i don't really think it makes sense to talk about whether 'therapy' as such would exist in a better world because this ⬆️ is not actually what therapy exists for, this ⬆️ is an incidental output of a system that is designed to medically treat various forms of social non-compliance by interpreting them as evidence of brain diseases. that is not something i want to exist or think is necessary, and if we're not talking about that then we're not actually talking about therapy, despite this website's best efforts to wilfully disregard what it means to medicalise. i do think people will always enjoy talking to each other about their problems and i don't have any opinion on whether that's done with a stranger or not; that seems like mostly a matter of personal preference to me, once we've dispensed with the notion this is some kind of scientific medical treatment that can only be legitimately performed by a trained emotions technician.

[shadowsrook]

i think ttrpg adaptions of video games should embrace their source material's worldbuilding and mechanics, rather than just shove the worldbuilding and mechanics into an established system yk

[reasonsforhope]

It’s an open secret in fashion. Unsold inventory goes to the incinerator; excess handbags are slashed so they can’t be resold; perfectly usable products are sent to the landfill to avoid discounts and flash sales. The European Union wants to put an end to these unsustainable practices. On Monday, [December 4, 2023], it banned the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear.

“It is time to end the model of ‘take, make, dispose’ that is so harmful to our planet, our health and our economy,” MEP Alessandra Moretti said in a statement. “Banning the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear will contribute to a shift in the way fast fashion manufacturers produce their goods.”

This comes as part of a broader push to tighten sustainable fashion legislation, with new policies around ecodesign, greenwashing and textile waste phasing in over the next few years. The ban on destroying unsold goods will be among the longer lead times: large businesses have two years to comply, and SMEs have been granted up to six years. It’s not yet clear on whether the ban applies to companies headquartered in the EU, or any that operate there, as well as how this ban might impact regions outside of Europe.

For many, this is a welcome decision that indirectly tackles the controversial topics of overproduction and degrowth. Policymakers may not be directly telling brands to produce less, or placing limits on how many units they can make each year, but they are penalising those overproducing, which is a step in the right direction, says Eco-Age sustainability consultant Philippa Grogan. “This has been a dirty secret of the fashion industry for so long. The ban won’t end overproduction on its own, but hopefully it will compel brands to be better organised, more responsible and less greedy.”

Clarifications to come

There are some kinks to iron out, says Scott Lipinski, CEO of Fashion Council Germany and the European Fashion Alliance (EFA). The EFA is calling on the EU to clarify what it means by both “unsold goods” and “destruction”. Unsold goods, to the EFA, mean they are fit for consumption or sale (excluding counterfeits, samples or prototypes)...

The question of what happens to these unsold goods if they are not destroyed is yet to be answered. “Will they be shipped around the world? Will they be reused as deadstock or shredded and downcycled? Will outlet stores have an abundance of stock to sell?” asks Grogan.

Large companies will also have to disclose how many unsold consumer products they discard each year and why, a rule the EU is hoping will curb overproduction and destruction...

Could this shift supply chains?

For Dio Kurazawa, founder of sustainable fashion consultancy The Bear Scouts, this is an opportunity for brands to increase supply chain agility and wean themselves off the wholesale model so many rely on. “This is the time to get behind innovations like pre-order and on-demand manufacturing,” he says. “It’s a chance for brands to play with AI to understand the future of forecasting. Technology can help brands be more intentional with what they make, so they have less unsold goods in the first place.”

Grogan is equally optimistic about what this could mean for sustainable fashion in general. “It’s great to see that this is more ambitious than the EU’s original proposal and that it specifically calls out textiles. It demonstrates a willingness from policymakers to create a more robust system,” she says. “Banning the destruction of unsold goods might make brands rethink their production models and possibly better forecast their collections.”

One of the outstanding questions is over enforcement. Time and again, brands have used the lack of supply chain transparency in fashion as an excuse for bad behaviour. Part of the challenge with the EU’s new ban will be proving that brands are destroying unsold goods, not to mention how they’re doing it and to what extent, says Kurazawa. “Someone obviously knows what is happening and where, but will the EU?”"

-via British Vogue, December 7, 2023

[galactipunks]

I was recently exposed to the rabbit hole that is Minecraft horror mods and it honestly really disappointed me. So much so that I thought up my own horror mod in response with some key distinctions to make it feel actually scary:

Be as subtle as possible to the point that the player can't tell whether a mod or a weird glitch is causing the effects. Not only is it scarier to take advantage of the existing horror within vanilla but doing this would really mess with veteran players who know the game in-and-out.

Rely on ambient psychological horror. No jumpscares, no threats, no escalation, not even anything flatly disadvantageous. The mod would just weaponize the player's paranoia against themselves.

Be really nefarious as to take full advantage of the insane adjustability that Minecraft has with all its internal options, gamerules and mechanics as well as use the player's acquaintance of the game against them. It should be a horror idea that could only work within Minecraft.

So here's the idea I got from all of this (mind you, I have no idea if a mod like this already exists):

Every in-game day there's a 5% chance (3% if you slept with a bed) for an event to occur from this mod. This chance is fixed and never changes. When an event occurs, its chosen randomly from a very exhaustive list of different events and (depending on what type of event it is) will either occur once or persist until the next event. The likelihood of every event is identical. So this system for pulling them is entirely static and random. Additionally, the chance is rolled again whenever an event occurs. Meaning there's an incredibly low chance for you to experience two or more events in the same day.

So what do these events do? Well, they're designed to mess with the player in the most subtle ways possible. Often specifically targeting their memory, understanding of game mechanics and overall familiarity with Minecraft. The intended effect is to give the player a creeping sense of powerlessness in a sandbox game that they are otherwise completely in control over. Some possible events could be:

Hearing a sound effect in the distance from a source that isn't real.

Having an item currently in a chest/furnace change its amount or position.

Replacing a current painting sprite with another one of the same size.

Having a door/trapdoor be activated (i.e. opened if it was closed and closed if it was opened).

Skipping a full day from sleeping rather than just the night.

Having a specific gamerule temporarily change from its default value until the player triggers it (with minor adjustments to make it less apparent. For example still having the player drop their inventory upon death when keepInventory is toggled on but having the items despawn near instantly unless another player was nearby).

Having a tamed/trusting mob despawn (but only if the player had not interacted with them or been near them for a while).

Surviving otherwise fatal damage or dying from otherwise near-fatal damage.

Randomly changing the difficulty or local difficulty (without it being visible in the options or the debug screen).

Randomly changing slime chunks.

Randomly changing the moon phase.

The list goes on.

These are not notable events but that's the point. The intended effect is to confuse the player and make them doubt themselves without ever thinking that a mod is responsible. To make things even more nefarious, you could have this mod be disguised as a typical QoL mod and sneak it into modpacks to really mess with people.

This is the kind of horror that I think suits Minecraft best. Not the loud, overt, in-your-face kind of horror. But the kind that has you slowly begin to doubt yourself and the world around you. No escalation, no climax, no resolution. Just you left alone to consume yourself out of your own paranoia.

[cyberclouddream]

Inheritances from Mother

This can also be hidden or suppressed aspects of your mother or key maternal figure.

Aries/Mars in the 12th House

sharp intense gaze with bright eyes; high energy levels or quick metabolism; strong or angular facial features, like prominent cheekbones

impulsiveness or eagerness to take action; competitive streak, or a natural drive to "win" or come first; very direct communication style, often blunt or straightforward

prone to headaches or stress-related tension; strong cardiovascular system; quick recovery from minor injuries or illness

Talents: strong athletic ability; natural leadership skills; starting projects enthusiastically; rallying people together

Mars: hidden injuries or tendencies to ignore signs or stress or fatigue; tend to have sudden bursts of energy followed by exhaustion, benefiting from alone time, repressed anger or competitive spirit

Taurus/Venus in the 12th House

sturdy or well-defined build with natural strength; smooth, often attractive skin; love for physical comforts, like blankets, plush toys, or scented candles

stubbornness and persistence in achieving goals; appreciation for luxury, beauty or sensory pleasure; tendency to take your time, like preferring a steady, relaxed pace

struggles with weight management; sensitive throat or neck, making you prone to colds or allergies; good stamina

Talents: eye for beauty and aesthetics, whether in art or design; culinary skills, particularly at making delicious meals; strong gardening or nurturing abilities

Venus: tendencies towards indulgence or escapism, particularly through food and comfort, which can lead to weight fluctuations or emotional eating

Gemini/Mercury in the 12th House

quick movements and expressive hands; youthful appearance, often look younger than their age; clear, communicative voice, often melodic/musical or chatty

curiosity or thirst for knowledge; "gift of gab", with a tendency to talk a lot, like carrying a conversation for ages without breaking a sweat; restless mind, always jumping from what idea to the next

energetic but may experience anxiety or insomnia; respiratory issues, like allergies or asthma; fast metabolism, tend to keep their weight in check without much effort

Talents: excellent communication skills, both written and verbal; quick adaptability to new situations or environments; talent for storytelling or entertaining others through humor

Mercury: mental restlessness and difficulty expressing feelings; anxiety and overthinking, benefiting from outlets for their thoughts like journaling or talking to friends

Cancer/Moon in the 12th House

round, gentle features or a soft face; sensitive stomach or digestive system; drawn to nostalgic objects, like family heirlooms or photos

deep emotional intuition and empathy; protective instincts, especially toward family or loved ones; moodiness, emotions shift easily

sensitive digestive system, affected by stress or emotions; tendency to hold onto water weight, making hydration important; strong immune system but may feel physically off when emotionally drained

Talents: great at understanding emotions; good intuitive abilities; nurturing skills, whether in caregiving or teaching; strong artistic talents, especially in visual arts or music

Moon: strong connection to your subconscious; strong emotional sensitivity; fluctuating moods or struggles with boundaries

Leo/Sun in the 12th House

thick, voluminous hair that draws attention; strong, upright posture with natural confidence; eye-catching personal style, with a tendency towards bold colors or statement pieces

need for recognition or acknowledgement; big-hearted and generous nature, often giving freely to those they care about; natural leadership qualities, with a tendency to step into authority or inspire others

tend to recover quickly from ailments; prone to heart-related issues, if they don’t manage stress well; high energy levels, benefiting from activities like dancing or sports

Talents: charismatic or performance skills, whether in acting or music; creative talents, particularly in theater or visual arts; strong leadership abilities that motivate and uplift others

Sun: struggles with self-identity and recognition, leading to feelings of insecurity; may experience burnout from needing constant validation, which impacts their mental health and energy levels

Virgo/Mercury in the 12th House

clear, glowing skin due to focus on health and cleanliness; precise, meticulous hand movements or gestures (type to fold a fitted sheet perfectly); good physical health, with a focus on taking care of themselves

always noticing small things or obsessed with details in some way (may ask questions often); analytical thinkers, love to solve problems and make sense of things; super organized, their space tends to be tidy and efficient

health conscious, often focusing on nutrition and wellness; prone to digestive issues due to stress levels or perfectionism; good overall health but may struggle with anxiety or overthinking

Talents: exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail; analytical abilities, particularly in problem-solving or research; talents in health and wellness, whether through fitness or nutrition

Mercury: perfectionism or overcritical thoughts, potentially resulting in anxiety or health issues; difficulty in recognizing own needs

Libra/Venus in the 12th House

symmetrical facial features or well-balanced appearance; graceful movements, often with a sense of poise; knack for fashion, good at stylish or coordinated outfits

diplomatic nature, tends to see all sides; people-pleasing tendencies; love for aesthetics, beauty, and creating balance

prone to stress-related issues, especially when dealing with conflict; strong skin and overall health but may need to watch their weight; social activities often promote your overall wellbeing

Talents: diplomatic skills and ability to meditate conflicts; aesthetic talents, particularly in design or fashion; creative writing skills, especially in poetry or romantic themes

Venus: people-pleasing behaviors that mask your own needs; tendencies to be stressed or anxious in relationships (romantic, platonic, domestic)

Scorpio/Mars/Pluto in the 12th House

intense, piercing eyes that seem to “see through” people; strong physical endurance or resilience; drawn to dark or mysterious objects, like amulets or crystals

super passionate, going all in on what they love; inquisitive nature, having a knack for uncovering hidden truths; natural air of mystery, keeping people guessing

strong stamina and resilience; prone to emotional stress, which can manifest as physical symptoms; strong immune system, tends to recover well from illness

Talents: ability to understand complex emotional dynamics; talents in investigation, whether in research or detective work; creative expression through deep, impactful storytelling or art

Pluto: struggles with deep-seated fears or hidden emotions, which can manifest as intense psychological experiences

Sagittarius/Jupiter in the 12th House

long legs or a tendency towards an athletic build; strong, healthy liver and digestive system; fondness for travel gear or souvenirs from different places

adventurous spirit, always seeking new experiences; optimistic outlook, with a natural sense of humor; restlessness, always seeking freedom or something new

often need regular physical activity to feel their best; prone to accidents or injuries from their adventurous spirit; good digestion but needs to monitor caffeine intake

Talents: natural teaching abilities, especially in philosophical or cultural subjects; gifted storytelling or public speaking skills that inspire others; athletic talents, particularly in outdoor sports or activities

Jupiter: tendency to seek escapism through travel or adventure; struggles with excessive optimism, leading to disappointment when reality doesn’t match their expectations

Capricorn/Saturn in the 12th House

strong bone structure, often with prominent features; natural resilient, especially to illness; inclination towards classic or timeless objects, like leather wallets or old watches

strong sense of responsibility and duty; practicality and grounded approach to life; discipline and perseverance, often willing to work hard

strong bones; prone to stress-related issues, especially from work; tend to have good long-term health habits, benefiting from routine and discipline

Talents: strong work ethic and determination to achieve goals; natural leadership skills, especially in structured environments; talents in business or finance; particularly in strategic planning

Saturn: feelings of isolation or self-doubt, often related to stress-related health issues; challenges with letting go of control

Aquarius/Saturn/Uranus in the 12th House

unique facial features or unconventional beauty; slim or wiry build, with a tendency towards quick movements; love for tech or quirky objects that showcase their individuality

independent spirit, needing their freedom and space to be themselves; unconventional thinking, often challenging norms; friendly yet somewhat detached in social situations, hard to read sometimes

generally good health, but may experience sudden illnesses due to their busy lifestyle; prone to circulatory issues or cold extremities due to their “unique” physiology

Talents: innovative think and problem-solving abilities; talents in technology, science, or humanitarian efforts; creative expression through unique art forms or performances

Uranus: unconventional thought patterns and a sense of detachment; struggles with feeling misunderstood, which can affect emotional health and relationships

Pisces/Jupiter/Neptune in the 12th House

dreamy, often soft or gentle eyes; sensitive feet or appreciation for comfortable shoes (like therapeutic socks or shoes); drawn to water-related objects or environments, like the beach, rivers, or fountains

highly intuitive and in tune with emotions; imaginative, with a natural artistic or creative flair; empathetic and compassionate, often feeling others’ emotions deeply

sensitive immune system, often catch colds or infections more easily; prone to stress-related issues, especially if they don’t take care of their mental health; tend to escape through food or habits that aren’t always the healthiest

Talents: creative abilities in music, art, or writing that resonates with others; strong intuition and empathetic skills; tend to be good listeners; talents in healing or counseling, particularly in spiritual or holistic practices

Neptune: deep connection to collective unconscious, leading to heightened sensitivity and empathy; struggles with escapism; need to be mindful of their emotional boundaries

[timmydraker]

Thinking about a Tim Drake with the best pain tolerance in the Batfam

Tim Drake, who at 13 years old dealt with Batman's training - training designed to discourage him from taking up the mantle of Robin

Tim Drake, who at that same age trained with Lady Shiva, one the deadliest assassins in the world

Tim Drake, who at 16 years old dragged himself and another person's dead weight out of a cave in the desert and drove them back to a hotel room, all while having a fatal stab wound through his side

And then the Batfam, who have no idea that most of this - or any of this - happened, and don't understand why Tim's able to fight through too many injuries

(Love your posts!! <3)

- 🎃

As much as I love this, I actually kind of prefer if the other way around and he’s got some of the worst pain tolerance but when it comes to being sick or having things like fever, nausea or fatigue he deals with it better than most of them.

Like, aside from skate boarding and maybe a fall or two when stalking the bats, he was raised pretty safe and probably wasn’t allowed to indulge in risk play when growing up.

So I like to think he had to work really hard to stop himself from reacting to pain and he’s probably the best at ignoring it straight out aside from those raised to do so like Damian or Cass, but when he’s safe?

This man probably whines like a sad puppy and he’s it as an opening to guilt people into giving him what he wants because he’s a spoilt kid at heart, selfless as he may be. He probably plays it up too because he’s so scared of it, and I think that Bruce’s (I’m pretty sure canonical) choice to alter his suit as much as possible so he wouldn’t end up like Jason probably made him even more scared to get hurt.

Naturally training was harsh like you said, but I think that Tim can only deal with pain for as long as he has adrenaline and then he crumbles.

He’d have to be safe, like in the cave or nest or with his team, but he would.

But he’s got a cold or sepsis?

Tim will act like literally nothing had happened. I’m picturing him in a meeting and going, ‘hold on one second’ and people can hear him vomiting into a bin in his office before he comes back out with minty breath and it’s like ‘sorry about that, where were we?’

Once you’ve had the Clench things don’t really ever feel as bad, so he’ll just boulder on. He could literally be dying from Flu, his immune system shot and him full up on drugs to help and he will still go to team meetings, whether work or hero, and it will take knocking him out to get him to sleep and will genuinely feel pretty okay.

He probs passes out on patrol because he didn’t realise the stomach bug he had is actually draining all his energy.

It means that when he does complain or express concern for his sickness that something is definitely wrong.

But heaven forbid Timothy Jackson Drake get a paper cut.

[prokopetz]

In recent posts I've complained that a lot of tabletop RPGs which toss around the term "fiction first" don't actually understand what it means, and I've been asked to expand on that complaint. So:

In my experience, there are two ways that game texts which want to position themselves as "fiction first" trip themselves up, one obvious and one subtle.

The first and more obvious pitfall is treating "fiction first" as an abstract ideology. They're using "fiction first" as a synonym for "story over rules" in a way that calls back to the role-playing-versus-roll-playing discourse of the early 2000s. The trouble is, now as then, nobody can usefully explain what "story over rules" actually entails. At best, they land on a definition of "fiction first" that talks about the GM's right to ignore the rules to better serve the story, which is no kind of definition at all – it's just putting a funny hat on the Rule Zero fallacy and trying to pass it off as some sort of totalising ideology of play.

A more useful way of defining "fiction first" play is to think of it not in terms of whether you engage with the rules at all, but in terms of when they're invoked: specifically, as a question of order of operations.

Suppose, for example, that you're playing Dungeons & Dragons, and you pick up the dice and say "I attack the dragon". Some critics would claim that no actual narrative has been established – that this is simply a bare invocation of game mechanics – but in fact we can infer a great deal: your character is going to approach the dragon, navigating any inclement terrain which lies between them, and attempt to kill the dragon using the weapon they're holding in their hand. The rules are so tightly bound to a particular set of narrative circumstances that simply invoking those rules lets us work backwards to determine what the context and stakes must be for that invocation of the rules to be sensical; this, broadly speaking, is what "rules first" looks like.

Conversely, let's say that your game of Dungeons & Dragons has confronted you with a pit blocking your path, and you want to make an Athletics check to cross it. At this point the GM is probably going to stop you and say, hold up, tell us what that looks like. Are you trying to jump across it? Are you trying to climb down one wall of the pit and up the other? Are you trying to tie a rope to the halfling and toss them to the other side? In other words, before you can pick up the dice, you need to have a little sidebar with the GM to hash out what the narrative context is, and to negotiate what can be achieved and what's at stake if you mess it up; this, broadly, is what "fiction first" looks like.

At this point I know some people are thinking "wait, hold on – both of those examples were from Dungeons & Dragons; are you saying that Dungeons & Dragons is both a rules-first game and a fiction-first game?" And yeah, I am. That's the second, more subtle place where game texts that talk about "fiction first" go astray: they talk about it as though being "fiction first" or "rules first" is something which is inherent to game systems as a whole.

This is not in fact true: being "fiction first" or "rules first" is something which describes particular invocations of the rules. In practice, only very simple games spend all of their time in one mode or the other; most will switch back and forth at need. Generally, most "traditional" RPGs (i.e., the direct descendants of Dungeons & Dragons and its various imitators) tend to operate in rules-first mode in combat and fiction-first mode out of it, though this is a simplification – when and how such mode-switching occurs can be quite complex.

Like any other design pattern, "fiction first" mechanics are a tool that's well suited for some jobs, and ill suited for others. Sometimes your rules are fine-grained enough that having an explicit negotiation and stakes-setting phase would just be adding extra steps. Sometimes you're using the outputs of the rules a narrative prompt, and having to pin the context down ahead of time would defeat the purpose. Fortunately, you don't have to commit yourself to one approach or the other; as long as your text is clear about how you're assuming a given set of rules toys will be used, you can switch modes as need dictates. However, you're not going to be capable of that kind of transparency if you're thinking in terms of "this a Fiction First™ game".

(Incidentally, this is why it can be hard to talk about "fiction first" with OSR fans if you're being dogmatic about fiction-first framing being an immutable feature of particular games. Since traditional RPGs tend to observe the above-described rules-first-in-combat, fiction-first-out-of-combat division, and OSR games tend to treat actually getting into a fight as a strategic failure state, a lot of OSR games spend most of their time in fiction-first mode. If you go up to an OSR fan and insist that D&D-style games can never be fiction-first, then attempt to define "fiction first" for them and proceed to describe how they usually play, they'll quite justifiably conclude that you have your head up your ass!)

[a-sky-full-of-ideas]

Why do you even ship them?

In the past couple of months I’ve seen a lot of people genuinely confused about one or the other ship existing, so I wanted to explain some common reasons characters might get shipped.

This is part 1 of my fandom netiquette posts here is part 2

But before we get into it: The point is usually just good, plain old fun! The entertainment of them being together !

And for entertainment and fun, it doesn’t matter whether they’ve even been in the same room or not! Hell, it doesn’t even matter if they’ve been in the same universe or not! Basically: It’s all not that serious and the ppl harassing creators/actors/fans about said ships are usually the minority and frowned upon!

First of all, there are different ways in which people enjoy that ship:

In canon, aka it either is canon or they want it to be canon

Half canon, this means either post canon or if a very specific thing would have happened differently within canon

Canon divergent, aka it’s only enjoyable in theory or alternative universes and they don’t actually want it to happen within canon

In other words, there are different ways in which people support this type of relationship

It is the perfect relationship and everyone should strive to find and be this kind of love

While they have their flaws, this is a realistic way a healthy(ish) relationship can come out on the other end of all the horrors tm

This is (somewhat) toxic but in the universe/story line it makes sense and is the best possible outcome for them

This is the truly worst thing that could come out of it for the both of them but that’s why it is so interesting

Usually it boils down to these emotions:

It would be funny if they go together.

It would shift the impact of all that angst and trauma

It would be super cute. Plain old romcom vibes. Specially if the of story is not that at all and you just want something good for them.

Some basic reasons, that are more about the concept of them than actually them: :

They are fan favourites

They are both hot

Everyone else in the group is coupled up

They fit a certain stereotype/common trope

They resemble another popular ship juuuuust enough

The actors have played a couple/ship in another show

Spite! To annoy the author/other fans

Some personal reasons of the individual fan:

Reminds fan of their own crush

Fan relates to some aspects of their story

Fan relates to some aspects of the characteristics

Character looks like them/ like their crush

Based on the characters/stories design

They claim to hate/dislike/annoy each other but are somehow always found in each others business (willingly or not)

Opposites attract: They have opposing color schemes, personalities and/or views. The more differences the better.

Parallels: They have the same color schemes, personalities and/or views. The more similarities the better.

Based on their relations

You just want something good for this character and they (other character(s)) ARE that something good.

You just want something annoying for this character and they (other character(s)) ARE that something annoying.

Them being together would annoy this other character to noooo end

Even tho they don’t interact on screen (often), there is evidence that they did so off screen: they keep up a certain level of relationship (good or bad) despite everything else going on

Purely about the characters

They don’t pay attention to anything or anyone else nearly as much as they do about each other, especially ppl they should objectively care more about.

They’re the only ones who survived/left to deal with the aftermath. Even if they didn’t talk much prior to this, this is something to bond over. To keep the memory alive.

The expectations set on them are/were the same. And despite the different support systems and coping mechanisms… the other is truly the only one who could even find a glimpse of understanding of what they’re going through.

Yin and yang: a perfect mixture of parallels and opposites: They’ve gone through the same thing but deal with it widely differently. OR They come from widely different backgrounds and reasoning but end up at the same conclusion.

BECAUSE they’re so codependent they just wouldn’t make sense with anyone else, regardless of wether they themselves make sense

BECAUSE it is unhealthy and toxic and it’s interesting to explore such a relationship

BECAUSE if they’d be in literally any other genre/time they’d be fine. Nothing this bad would’ve ever happened if they’d just lived in another universe.

Why not ? It’s fiction.

These are all the reasons I can come up with at the top of my head but feel free to add!

Alas I want to encourage everyone to be open minded! Either to genuinely try to understand why a ship exists or, if you don’t want to waste your time on sth. you’re sure you don’t like, just filter and block the ship and their fans!

None of us can afford to waste our very limited free time on arguing with and harassing others about something FICTIONAL …that we don’t even like. Instead, please focus on making and/or supporting art about YOUR ship! This is not only much nicer to the fans you don’t support but also to yourself! Positive interactions will result in more positive interactions after all! Mostly.

[grey-sorcery]

New to witchcraft? Awesome! Here's some things you should pursue.

An understanding of sympathetic magic: Correspondences, their metaphysical and theoretical framework, and their derivation.

Magical systems that incorporate the entire gender spectrum.

Energy work that isn't based on visualization.

The means of manifestation: How, where, and when spells affect physical change. The physical mechanisms through which witchcraft manifests beyond just willpower/intent/wishes/etc.

The history and subsequent influences of, and on, popular contemporary practices like Hermeticism, "Ceremonial Magick"/Golden Dawn, Wicca, and New Age/New Thought/LOA/Reiki.

How to approach and practice magic with critical thinking skills.

Influence of consumerism on contemporary practices.

Divination as systems: all methods of divination beyond tarot, their statistical applications, and their different methods of use.

The anthropology of medieval Arabia, Europe, Near East, and Asia relative to the magical or occult publications of the era. What is purely religious, parareligious, or syncretist and what does that mean for the interpretation of the text?

The genuine limits of our knowledge of the ancient world, what's possible for us to know and what can't we know?

Conversations with practitioners of closed or semi-closed practices and perspectives of POC when it comes to what the western world would label as "witchcraft".

The differences and similarities between superstition and the practice of witchcraft.

An understanding of the influence of colonialism on modern witchcraft and the language used to discuss magic.

Critical Race Theory (CRT), Queer Theory, and systems of oppression.

Botany and herbology: An understanding of the physical and medical properties of plants.

Building a personal lexicon for modern and/or colloquial terms used in and by the witchcraft community to describe and discuss practices.

Spell design: What makes a spell a spell? What is the smallest or slightest action that can be considered a spell and why? What are the most important and influential elements of the design and application of a spell?

Altars: Their use, design, and potential; whether or not an altar would benefit your practice or goals for practice.

A critical approach to spirit work and astral projection, being able to discern between personal narratives and probable experiences.

A safe and solid community to become a part of. One that does not allow the influence of personal narratives (Without addressing them as such), doesn't allow for the mixing of adults and minors, and with established and enforced logical and reasonable rules.

Collect and cross-reference correspondences from as many sources as possible, then start to create your own.

Try to find a STEM subject that interests you and study it through any non-dogmatic avenues available to you.

The items highlighted in blue are things I highly recommend!

Here is a list of things to avoid.

This is, of course, not an end-all-be-all list of possible responsible and healthy pursuits.

You can learn more about me, find my master-post, check out my Patreon, and suggest content here.

[ayeforscotland]

What is Dataflow?

This post is inspired by another post about the Crowd Strike IT disaster and a bunch of people being interested in what I mean by Dataflow. Dataflow is my absolute jam and I'm happy to answer as many questions as you like on it. I even put referential pictures in like I'm writing an article, what fun!

I'll probably split this into multiple parts because it'll be a huge post otherwise but here we go!

A Brief History

Our world is dependent on the flow of data. It exists in almost every aspect of our lives and has done so arguably for hundreds if not thousands of years.

At the end of the day, the flow of data is the flow of knowledge and information. Normally most of us refer to data in the context of computing technology (our phones, PCs, tablets etc) but, if we want to get historical about it, the invention of writing and the invention of the Printing Press were great leaps forward in how we increased the flow of information.

Modern Day IT exists for one reason - To support the flow of data.

Whether it's buying something at a shop, sitting staring at an excel sheet at work, or watching Netflix - All of the technology you interact with is to support the flow of data.

Understanding and managing the flow of data is as important to getting us to where we are right now as when we first learned to control and manage water to provide irrigation for early farming and settlement.

Engineering Rigor

When the majority of us turn on the tap to have a drink or take a shower, we expect water to come out. We trust that the water is clean, and we trust that our homes can receive a steady supply of water.

Most of us trust our central heating (insert boiler joke here) and the plugs/sockets in our homes to provide gas and electricity. The reason we trust all of these flows is because there's been rigorous engineering standards built up over decades and centuries.

For example, Scottish Water will understand every component part that makes up their water pipelines. Those pipes, valves, fitting etc will comply with a national, or in some cases international, standard. These companies have diagrams that clearly map all of this out, mostly because they have to legally but also because it also vital for disaster recovery and other compliance issues.

Modern IT

And this is where modern day IT has problems. I'm not saying that modern day tech is a pile of shit. We all have great phones, our PCs can play good games, but it's one thing to craft well-designed products and another thing entirely to think about they all work together.

Because that is what's happened over the past few decades of IT. Organisations have piled on the latest plug-and-play technology (Software or Hardware) and they've built up complex legacy systems that no one really knows how they all work together. They've lost track of how data flows across their organisation which makes the work of cybersecurity, disaster recovery, compliance and general business transformation teams a nightmare.

Some of these systems are entirely dependent on other systems to operate. But that dependency isn't documented. The vast majority of digital transformation projects fail because they get halfway through and realise they hadn't factored in a system that they thought was nothing but was vital to the organisation running.

And this isn't just for-profit organisations, this is the health services, this is national infrastructure, it's everyone.

There's not yet a single standard that says "This is how organisations should control, manage and govern their flows of data."

Why is that relevant to the companies that were affected by Crowd Strike? Would it have stopped it?

Maybe, maybe not. But considering the global impact, it doesn't look like many organisations were prepared for the possibility of a huge chunk of their IT infrastructure going down.

Understanding dataflows help with the preparation for events like this, so organisations can move to mitigate them, and also the recovery side when they do happen. Organisations need to understand which systems are a priority to get back operational and which can be left.

The problem I'm seeing from a lot of organisations at the moment is that they don't know which systems to recover first, and are losing money and reputation while they fight to get things back online. A lot of them are just winging it.

Conclusion of Part 1

Next time I can totally go into diagramming if any of you are interested in that.

How can any organisation actually map their dataflow and what things need to be considered to do so. It'll come across like common sense, but that's why an actual standard is so desperately needed!

[thydungeongal]

So okay, my harping on about D&D 5e actually being relatively complex isn't to say "and that's why D&D 5e is bad," it's to address the idea that D&D 5e is easy to learn (it's clearly not: despite its market dominance a lot of people actively resist learning it and also a lot of people are also teaching it wrong). But there is more to it than that: D&D 5e has implemented design decisions that make it harder to learn than some of its predecessors.

Part of this is down to the insistence on using natural language for what is, ultimately, still a heavily keyworded system, meaning to ambiguity arising from when it's unclear whether a given phrasing refers to a keyword.

Part of it is down to absolutely bizarre moon logic that has actually made the game harder to understand. During an early playtest the game had a relatively simple action economy: a character could move and do a single action. This was done to address the "difficulty" of the action economy of D&D 4e. Now, 4e actually has a pretty dang simple action economy of a standard, move, and minor action; the reason it tends to slow people down is because it leads to analysis paralysis, with players trying to optimize those three actions to the best of their ability. So the slowing down effect of the action economy of 4e was actually misidentified as it being too difficult.

Now the simplification of the action economy into action and move is actually something I can get behind. But once the designers realized that dang 4e was actually kind of cooking when it introduced an extra action characters could do in addition to a movement and an attack and they were forced to deviate from their action and move model. And they introduced the bonus action.

The bonus action is, in many ways, similar to D&D 4e's minor action, but worse in every possible way. Bonus actions come with a bunch of limitations, exceptions, special edge cases governing when they can take place during a round, some of them have special triggers that need to happen first before you can use them. And then there's the entirely artificial limitation on number of spells a character can cast per round which adds unnecessary complexity.

All of which is to say: arguably more complex games can be easier to teach than D&D 5e because they are actually better written and make use of design techniques that actually improve learning, such as templating and keywording, and don't have bizarro universe action economies that make Rolemaster 2e's action economy seem relatively straightforward.

[bloomzone]

2025 : #14 take care of your energy

✒️..Energy is at the core of everything we do. It shapes how we feel, how we act, and even what we attract into our lives. If you’ve been feeling drained, stuck, or disconnected from yourself, it may be time to take a closer look at your energy care routine. Ask urself: do you have practices in place to reset and refresh your energy?

So how energy plays a key role in manifesting your dream life and how you can harness it to transform your day-to-day experience. !

Step 1: Energy Awareness

The first step in working with your energy is being aware of it. To effectively care for your energy, you need to know what you're working with. Awareness helps you identify areas that need healing or shifts, so you can address them before they become bigger issues.

How to Become Aware of Your Energy ?

Meditation: Try a body scan meditation to connect with how your body is feeling. Close your eyes, relax, and mentally check in with each part of your body—your head, chest, shoulders, legs. Notice any tension, discomfort, or emotional weight. Pay attention to what your body is trying to communicate, even if it’s a subtle feeling or thought.

Journaling: Take time to write down what’s on your mind. Brain dumping your worries, emotions, or stresses helps you understand your emotional state and energy. Are you holding onto negative thoughts? Is there an unresolved emotion lingering in your mind? Journaling allows you to externalize your feelings, giving you clarity and insight.

By practicing these techniques you’ll become more attuned to ur energy and better equipped to take care of it.

Step 2: Energy Cleansing

Once you’re aware of your energy, it's time to cleanse and reset it. Energy cleansing allows you to release built-up tension, negative emotions, and stagnant energy that may be weighing you down.

Methods for Energy Cleansing:

Breathing Techniques: Use your breath to reset your energy. Breathing exercises like the 4-7-8 technique (inhale for 4 counts, hold for 7 counts, exhale for 8 counts) can help calm your nervous system. Another method is box breathing, where u inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts, and hold for 4 counts again. These slow, intentional breaths help clear out negative energy and bring balance !

Showering: A simple but effective way to cleanse your energy is by taking a shower. As the water washes away the dirt from your body, envision it also cleansing your mind and soul.

Walking in Nature: Stepping outside for a walk can instantly reset ur energy AND YOUR MOOD TOO .Nature has a natural ability to purify and refresh. Whether it’s a stroll in the park or a hike through the woods, walking outside shifts your environment and revitalizes your energy.

Decluttering Your Space: Your environment has a powerful impact on your energy. A cluttered space can make you feel overwhelmed, while a clean, organized environment promotes clarity and calmness. Make it a habit to periodically declutter and freshen up your space.

Step 3: Energy Redesign

Once you’ve cleansed your energy, it’s time to redesign it. This step allows u to actively shape how you want to feel and how you want your energy to flow. u can design your energy to match the kind of person you want to be and the life you want to lead.

How to Redesign Your Energy ?

Set ur Intentions: Start by asking yourself how you want your energy to be. How do you want to feel in the mornings, during the day, and at night? How do you want to show up for others? Visualize yourself embodying that energy, whether it’s confidence, calm, joy, or empowerment. Setting an intention gives u a clear direction for how to direct your energy throughout the day.

Use Visualization: After setting your intention, visualize yourself living it out. Imagine yourself walking through your day with the energy you want to embody. How does it feel? What does it look like? Visualizing this regularly allows you to rehearse this energy, making it easier to show up that way in real life.

Harness the Power of Sound: Sound can be an incredibly powerful tool in redesigning your energy. Whether it’s listening to motivating music, audio affirmations, or sound healing frequencies, sound helps shift the vibration of your energy. Curate playlists that align with the feelings you want to cultivate, and use them to enhance ur mood and energy.

Affirmations and Positive Self-Talk: Incorporate affirmations into your daily routine. Positive affirmations help reprogram your mind and align your energy with the goals you want to achieve. Speak to yourself kindly and empower your energy with affirming words.

By taking control of your energy, you take control of your life. With awareness, cleansing, and redesigning, you can manifest the life you desire and create a more vibrant, purposeful existence.

@bloomzone 📇

[oldguardleatherdog]

Today's Wall O'Text: We've got just under two months to get the first things done.

Timothy Snyder is an American historian whose book On Tyranny made him a household name in 2017, followed this year by On Freedom. His take on what we need to do this time around to mount an effective resistance to Trump's insane agenda is urgent and essential:

Start now. We can get a lot done between now and the Inauguration on January 20th.

Here are excerpts from Snyder's interview in the Rolling Stone article linked above where he describes ways ordinary people can take meaningful steps right now to lay the groundwork for stopping Trump's agenda in its tracks:

~~~~~

[From the article, emphasis added:]

“You can’t despair,” he tells Rolling Stone. “Because that’s what they want. They want you to think that it’s hopeless. It’s never hopeless.”

Snyder’s first rule in On Tyranny is “don’t obey in advance.” He emphasizes that Americans opposed to Trump’s designs should take stock, and action, now. “The period of November, December, January, becomes very important,” he says.

For normal people, Snyder insists the key is “to get out in protest” — now and through the inauguration. The understandable impulse of “keeping your head in,” Snyder says will only embolden Trump’s reactionary team.

“You’re giving them even more confidence that they’re gonna be able to do what they want in January.” What’s demanded of activists in this moment is to “deflate that confidence,” Snyder says, and you do that by “showing that you’re not afraid, by cooperating with your neighbors, and by organizing.”

Snyder emphasizes a lesson of the “Wall of Moms” in Portland, Oregon, in late summer 2020, who helped drive up the political cost and terrible optics for Trump’s most heavy-handed crackdown on public dissent. Launching tear gas at Black Lives Matter protesters looked different on TV when the feds were brutalizing a wall of white mothers in gold shirts, locking arms at the front of the crowd. “It’s about corporeal politics,” Snyder says. “Getting your body out where there are other bodies — with people who are maybe not like you or maybe less privileged than you.”

Here, Snyder insists, is where the American public has its most important, and perhaps most challenging role to play. “The Trump-Vance initiatives can only work by getting the population involved — and basically corrupting us,” he says. Snyder argues that even Americans who might share anger with Trump about immigration may yet be recruited to block the border camps promised by Stephen Miller. 

“That’s the kind of active thinking that folks have to do — am I going to become the kind of person who takes part in this sort of thing? Am I going to become the kind of person who denounces my neighbors because they are not documented?”

“If Their Rights Are on the Line, My Rights Are on the Line”

A key to resisting authoritarianism, Snyder says, is standing up for the rights of the least powerful first. “If protest comes down to the people who are protesting only because they have to, then you always lose,” he says. “It has to be people who are one, two, three, four, even five steps away from being directly affected who show solidarity — and who also show pragmatism and wisdom by getting out early. 

“If you’re more privileged, you should be thinking, ‘What can I do for the least privileged people?’” he says. “If their rights are on the line, my rights are on the line. That’s not just a moral position. It’s actually, politically, 100 percent correct.” 

In the meantime, Snyder advises, America’s system of federalism offers hope for democracy at the state and local level. “Many things are going to be terrible. But controlling the federal government doesn’t mean you’re controlling everything,” he says. He exhorts Americans to support the institutions closest to them that uphold democratic norms — “whether that means some civil society organization, or state government, or a local mayor” — and collectively try to strengthen those bodies.

[End article text.]

~~~~~

[earthsparked]

Sparking Flames

Part One | one two three four intermission five (AO3 link)

You really didn’t expect that when you went to work this morning, before your second cup of coffee you’d be pinned against the remnants of a broken brick wall, sheltering under the unnaturally shiny armor of some giant fucking PacRim jaeger as explosions whump and boom around you.

Your ears feel strange and dull, like they’ve been stuffed with cotton. You’re half blinded by the clouds of dust swirling in the air that keep catching in your throat, choking you and making it impossible to catch more than glimpses of the battle going on around you. Flashes of hot summer sunlight glinting on metal monsters. You can vaguely hear gravel growls and shouts from mechanical throats as giant robots try to kill each other for god knows what reason. With you and the other humans in your tiny, rural town caught in the middle.

And you are indeed caught. You’d been staring at the giants, confused as to how you’d ended up lying in the street with sirens going off all around you. Then a voice like a mountain rumbled something you were too rattled to catch. Hard, metallic hands padded with something like thick rubber - bigger than your entire body - swooped on you, and scooped you up like a wayward kitten. You gasped more than screamed, black spots peppering your vision as you fumbled for something to hold onto. The metal under your hands was warm and had an inexplicably shiny finish, like the giant alien robot had a thing for detailing. A thought so inane that the one that follows it is, oh. I’m in shock.

It had pressed you into the lee of what used to be the back wall of the old bank. Then it had parked itself over you, towering and terrifying, kneeling so you were squeezed into the space between it and the wall. It wasn’t looking at you now, its giant gun - fuck, that thing’s practically a cannon - balanced on the edge of the broken wall. It fired irregularly, its electric blue eyes shining pale as it tracked the movements around you. Hopefully with better accuracy than you can manage.

You’re so close to it you can feel hot air rushing from vents, mechanical systems whirring in a strange symphony of what feels nearly organic. Alive. It’s like being too close to a skyscraper to see the top, but feeling its enormity all the same in every nerve ending. You can’t stop flinching at every move it makes, certain it’s going to crush you by accident or by design, any second now. The sense of imminent danger is inescapable. Some part of you has already given yourself up for dead. There are other people out there, lying still, tangled in rubble. You are going to join them any second.

You’re shaking uncontrollably. There’s blood on your shirt, and you don’t remember how it got there, much less whether it’s yours or not. Adrenaline numbs you too much to feel any pain, for now. Later, you’re not going to remember a lot about these terrifying moments at all - shock mercifully shielding you from some of the trauma while you recover. You fumble in your pockets for your phone, feel a surge of hope as your fingers close around it. Hope that’s immediately dashed when you realize the screen has been smashed to oblivion, dark and useless.

The one thing that somehow cuts through the chaos is that rumbling voice, the vocalization moving through you as much as through the air. It takes your jumbled mind and senses a beat to grasp that this giant robot is speaking words you can understand.

That was incredibly stupid, it says, electric gaze peering down at you with an eerily human curiosity. It’s strangely disarming; typically, skyscrapers don’t come with curiosity. Or the mild frustration that you could swear you hear from it. Why were you just lying there in the street, waiting to get stepped on? Are you damaged?

You definitely are, but you don’t know how to explain. You can’t get your words to work. Every bit of your nervous system is in a full-on meltdown trying to keep you alive. You settle for nodding, in hopes that translates to a “yes.”

The robot’s face, makes a face. You read it as alarm.

Slag, don’t tell me you’re going to crash. The Prime was very clear we’re not to let any of you get hurt. It exhales ferociously and makes a noise not unlike a laugh. That energon’s already out of the cube, I see. But don’t offline, all right? It’s my first cycle on your planet, and The Hatchet said he’d turn me into a …actually, maybe you can tell me. What in the Pit is a lawnmower?

You are having a conversation with a giant robot who is holding a gun that looks like it could put a hole through the moon. Who doesn’t know what a lawnmower is, and yet has been threatened by someone named The Hatchet with being turned into one.

You begin to entertain the possibility you are hallucinating.

It pauses to fire off two shots at something big that wanders too close in the smoke of the battle. You grab your head, duck-and-covering like you were taught in tornado drills all those years ago in school. Something makes a terrible mechanical groaning, and the ground shakes as something huge crashes onto it, making the dust swirl. You’re pretty sure now some of it is smoke, but you’re not sure what’s on fire.

Oho, he’s gonna be feeling that in the morning, the robot crows. Fragging ‘cons. They gotta be getting desperate to go after an energon deposit in an inhabited area. Or maybe that’s not what they’re after. Don’t suppose you know of any secrets this town of yours is hiding, huh?

S-secrets? I, I don’t know. The water tastes weird sometimes? That poultry company didn’t clean out the chicken houses on route six all winter, and then in spring there were rats everywhere…

Each word is breathless like you’ve been running a marathon. You can just about feel the weight of its attention shift back to you where you’re hyperventilating. There’s a change in it suddenly, as the hand that had been squeezing the trigger on that cannon reaches down. You flinch as it brushes tentatively along your spine, but the metal creature does it again, more firmly, when you don’t try and move away. It’s very nearly comforting, the contact and pressure, and you can’t help but lean into the touch.

Its voice gentles. First time almost dying, sparklet? Don’t worry, you’re gonna be -

You don’t find out what you were gonna be, because in a roar of unearthly engines and a flash of sun on metal, something huge lunges out of the smoke and dust. Your cry of alarm is drowned out in the apocalyptic clang of an even bigger, scarier-looking robot launching itself onto the one that had been sheltering you.

The one standing over you makes some harsh buzzing noises that you can almost understand as foul cursing, and then the two robots are tumbling away into the next building over. No skyscrapers in your little town - just a two-story insurance company that goes down like a toddler stomping through a play-block castle. You hear human screams that you’re pretty sure aren’t yours.

They’re fighting hand-to-hand, and as you make yourself as small as possible against the brick wall, you feel something hot soaking through your clothes. You pry a trembling hand away from your head and swipe at it, staring in incomprehension when it’s not blood, but something bright pink and smelling of ozone and something far, far stranger. It tingles in a weird way. On your skin, and under it. You try and wipe it off, but there’s nowhere on your clothes that isn’t already wet with fluids or covered in dust.

The ground shakes. More explosions. You contemplate making a run for it, but - where? In what direction? You can hardly see, you could get stepped on in a heartbeat, or be crushed under rubble.

You look up and in a brief burst of inspiration, see a glimpse of the town’s water tower in the distance. The pale blue-painted structure is tall enough that it rises above the chaos of battle, still standing. For now. A landmark to aim for? It’s on the edge of town, and from there you could hit the woods and hide deep in the trees. Even a giant robot would have trouble getting to you through the underbrush on the nature conservation land, with its barely-there footpaths accessible only by bicycle, foot, or horseback.

You glance in the direction the friendly robot had gone, feeling a sudden twinge of guilt for even thinking of leaving it behind. Of leaving the other humans behind.

But what could you do? No, you could - you could get to the fire tower. It’s occupied this time of year, and there’s a radio system there. It connects to the forest service, who surely can get in touch with people who can do more good here than you.

But the robot…you shake your head. What could you possibly do for it? Distract it more from the fight so it gets -

You’re not sure how to finish that thought because “killed” means that thing has registered to you as alive in the first place, and that’s several magnitudes of comprehension above what you’re capable of right now. Gahdammit, you hear in your beloved grandfather’s voice. you hadn’t even finished your fucking coffee.

Then something in front of you explodes, flames licking hot over your shelter, which suddenly doesn’t seem very sheltering at all. Get to the landmark to escape the fighting. Get to the forest. Get to the fire tower. Call for help. A plan, in theory.

You stagger to your feet, and with an eye to the water tower - you run for your fucking life.

[csuitebitches]

book review: Stolen focus by Johann Hari

Major learnings from this book. It basically talks about focus, why and how we’re losing it. Why can’t we pay attention anymore? Are we individuals to blame or our systems? 

There will be a time when the upper class will be extremely aware of the risks to their attention (caused by tech, social media, our current generation) and the masses, with fewer resources to resist the temptation of technology, will be manipulated more and more by their computers. 

Multitasking is a myth. What actually happens when we multitask is that we “juggle” between tasks. This results in incomplete tasks, higher error rates, less focus, less creativity and memory decreases. 

Sleep is extremely important, especially sleeping according to nature - when the sun sets and sun rises. If the whole world slept the way we are naturally programmed, we would have an economic earthquake. Our economic systems run on sleep deprived people. 

Reading online and reading print has a huge difference. Reading online creates tendencies of skimming and scanning text. This prevents our brain from focusing intently on one story at a time, which print allows you to do. You also remember and understand things from printed texts better. 

Empathy. Certain research suggests that reading fiction and novels improves empathy, because you are immersing yourself in another character’s life for a while. Empathy has played a huge role in human advancements. If a group of white people did not realise that colonisation was wrong, if men did not realise that women deserve equal rights, we would not have independent nations nor be close to gender equality today. 

There are multiple types of paying attention. Focused attention is one thing. But day dreaming and letting your mind wander with no distraction (that is, being alone with your thoughts) is equally important. Some of the most important breakthroughs in human history were because the inventors were not actively focusing on solving the problem. 

Being on social media = giving a free pass to be manipulated. No thoughts, opinions, desires that you have are original. They have all been fed into you by social media and the online world. It is by their design that we cannot focus. 

Leaked internal records of Facebook show that they are aware that their algorithms exploit the human brain’s attraction to divisiveness. 64% of people, for instance, who join extremist groups join because FB’s algorithm directly recommends too. “Our recommendation systems grow the problem.” Zuckerberg eventually terminated the unit that was studying this. 

Diet and attention. The diet we consumed today is a diet that causes regular energy spikes and energy crashes. Our food does not have the nutrients we need for our brains to function well. Our current diets actively contain chemicals that seem to act on our brains almost like drugs.  

Be careful about reading research, especially when it’s funded by the industry itself. For 40 years, the lead industry funded all the scientific research into whether it was safe, and assured the world that it was. Lead later turned out to severely stunt your ability to focus and pay attention and that you are more likely to get ADHD. 

We define success broadly as economic growth. Economies should get bigger, companies should get bigger. Growth can happen in two ways - either the companies find new markets or they persuade the existing consumers to consume more. If you can get people to eat more or to sleep less, you’ve found the source of economic growth. It results in people working overtime, not having enough time with family, friends and themselves, stress and anxiety prone, lack of sleep and bad health, etc. 

Conclusion: use precommitment to stop switching tasks, try to focus more on intrinsic motivation than extrinsic, go off social media periodically (say 1 month at a time) and then extend those breaks; everyday spend 1 hour in walking in silence (no music, conversations or people- and if this is in nature, even better) to connect with yourself, 8 hours of sleep every night, build on slow practices like yoga, cut out processed food, take your PTO!!

[chalkrevelations]

So, if you characterize Langdon as ridiculous in The Pitt's Ep 15 confrontation with Robby by framing his response as, "Sure, I repeatedly stole drugs from the hospital and from patients, but you had a panic attack, so we are equally bad, so there!" - is it not clear how this trivializes what's going on with Robby?

Minimizing what happened to Robby as a silly little panic attack, tra-la, in an attempt to weaponize that scene against Langdon misses the point of a show focused on the PTSD, the ongoing trauma, and the continual demand to perform miracles in untenable conditions that healthcare workers face in the U.S. healthcare system. Robby is a hot fucking mess, and we watch the cracks get wider and wider through the course of a shift that starts with him going to get a co-worker off the roof while they crack jokes about suicidal ideation and ends with a co-worker coming to get him off the roof, coaxing him back from the literal and figurative edge. Everything he busts Langdon's ass for re: the way Langdon interacts with Santos is behavior that Robby, himself, displays toward co-workers (including Langdon) through the course of the shift. And it's Robby's perspective that we get to step into and out of as we watch him increasingly dissociate from reality as the shift goes on.

Langdon's comment about drugs vs. breakdown isn't about them being equally bad. It's commentary - on both narrative and meta levels - about them being equally fucked up by the job. This discussion - this discussion - centers Langdon and Robby as individuals who have suffered harm from their workplace environment. There's another conversation that could and should be had about the risk of harm to patients that each of them pose, but that is not what is happening right here. (Not even Robby is doing this here. In fact, Robby continues to see this through the lens of personal betrayal, making it about himself, and is only at this point taking the first baby steps to center Langdon in discussion about Langdon's own addiction.)

This conversation about the toll on healthcare workers as individuals, as people, is a vital conversation, in and of itself, even aside from getting into risk to patients. We should care about both Robby and Langdon - and by extension about the healthcare workers they represent - for themselves, not just as a risk-benefit analysis. They're people, not automatons who spit out treatment when you put your quarter in the hospital machine, and they deserve care and compassion and treatment for their problems just as much as any patient does. I feel like it's crucial that people understand - the conversation they're having, the kind of treatment regimen that Robby is laying out, it isn't about punishing Langdon for illegal, unethical behavior. It's not designed as a punitive program. It's about getting Langdon help for his addiction and getting him back on track, professionally as well as personally.

And here's the thing: Robby needs help for his PTSD just as much as Langdon needs help for his addiction, he is being harmed just as badly by his PTSD as Langdon is being harmed by his addiction, and Robby is just as resistant to admitting that he has a problem and getting help for it. Langdon isn't saying "Don't act like you're morally better than me," he's saying "Don't act like you're functional, either, because you're not." And like many, many of the things Langdon says through the course of the shift, the way he says it may be shitty - whether that's because he's naturally kind of an asshole or because it's part of his addict behavior - but that doesn't mean he's wrong. Robby isn't functional. We watch him be literally non-functional at various points during the shift. By some metrics - terrible, fucked-up metrics - Langdon is more functional than Robby, and it may be how he's gotten away with self-medicating for so long, because he keeps doing what needs to be done, pushing people through the system, through the ED, getting them treated and out, continuing to push the rock uphill, even at points when Robby is demonstrably paralyzed by his trauma, unable to keep moving, to keep doing, to keep treating patients and moving them on the conveyer belt toward admission or discharge, getting flattened under the rock rolling back over him, over and over.

I'm just. So tired of seeing people minimize his trauma as a way to score points off Langdon.