#and then y’all actively seek out people who don’t like your favorite character or may like a character that you don’t just to bully them

[clovermunson]

honestly the discourse in the stranger things fandom always amazes me because it’s absolutely ridiculous and almost always some bullshit

(incoming rant in the tags)

[iskierka]

Body Image and Aziraphale, or, Violently Projecting My Issues Onto This Character The Way God Intended

In honor of my new URL, I wanted to get down some of my feelings around body image since I’ve been doing a lot of projecting onto Aziraphale recently. I want to talk about both why Aziraphale is one of my favorite (and one of the more positive examples of) fat characters, and why I still relate to him through the lens of my own issues.

First off, there are a few trigger warnings that could apply here, but mainly if you’ve struggled with an eating disorder or disordered eating or body image in general, even though this isn’t a graphic discussion or anything, this may not necessarily be something you want to read.

Having dealt with different eating disorders for ten or eleven years now, and body image issues for longer than that, fat characters are really important to me—but only when they’re treated well (by the production, not as necessarily the other characters). There’s obviously a big difference between how Aziraphale is portrayed and how, say, a character like Thor was portrayed in Endgame. Aziraphale is fat, but it isn’t in and of itself A Personality Trait. However, I don’t think it’s a purely physical trait either. In fact, him being fat reflects the good (if not Angelic Good) aspects of his character. Aziraphale enjoys the comforts and pleasures of earth, and his body is just a reflection of that. I see it as a reflection of his love for the world. And look: when Gabriel says “lose the gut” the implication is for Aziraphale to miracle himself into shape, right? What’s made clear here is that Aziraphale can change the way he looks at any time. I think this is to be expected, but it’s important in this context because it means Aziraphale likes that he’s soft. When he comes back with “I’m soft,” it’s a reflection of how he sees himself in a permanent sort of way. Physical softness is not an immutable trait for him, but of course Aziraphale is not talking only about his physical form. His whole being is soft. (Certainly, there are other aspects to his personality; Aziraphale is just enough of a bastard to be worth liking. But compared to the rest of the Host that we see: other angels are rigid in a way that he just isn’t.) Basically, what I see is this: one, part of what makes Aziraphale likable (his love for the world) goes hand in hand with his being fat, and two, Aziraphale has made a conscious choice to be fat.

So then, something else about me: I’ve always felt alienated from body positivity and fat activism. It doesn’t matter whether I’m a size 6 or 22, as someone who has spent—spends—quite a lot of their time genuinely hating their body, those spaces have always felt unwelcoming. My experiences with eating disorders have felt often unwelcome in the context of fat activism. (“Deal with your shit on your own time.”) I’m not able to muster enough Positivity to be a proper activist. So, it may seem odd that a character like this, one so at home and satisfied with being fat, has struck me so emotionally. There are a few reasons here that I see that make Aziraphale comforting rather than needling at these same insecurities. I believe that’s because how little attention the show pays to him being fat. It’s not something that’s really negative or positive in its portrayal. Sure, Gabriel makes that “lose the gut” comment, but it’s not something the audience is meant to side with him on. He’s the villain here, and it’s also meant to be a bit silly or absurd—maybe you could put it in with his disturbance at Aziraphale eating sushi, which shows how much closer to “being” human Aziraphale is than the other angels. And on the other hand, while I have kind of argued here that his fatness is put in a positive light, but I don’t think that’s an overt thing. (For most people watching casually, Aziraphale’s weight is irrelevant and nothing but a one-off joke.) And it isn’t only treated that way by the powers that be, Aziraphale himself, in calling himself soft, says that is integral to him in an absolutely natural way—it’s just part of who he is.

But here’s the thing: I’ve near read my way through the body image and eating disorder tags for Good Omens on AO3. One fic in particular where Aziraphale begins to develop an eating disorder, I’ve already read through four times.* Honestly, it is that normality of his fatness, the permanence of it and role in his own self-image, that make this whole genre (I suppose?) of fics hit so hard for me. For a lot of people including myself, EDs are a form of self-harm. So what makes stories where a character like Aziraphale struggles with issues like these so rending is that it would be a representation of a deeper unhappiness with the fundamental parts of who he is.

And maybe to a lot of people, it seems just a little bit this side of absurd still that he ever would.** But people with EDs often share certain personality traits. A few I recognize in Aziraphale’s character: a tendency towards (personal) harm avoidance, worry, and lack of emotional openness. I think there a few examples of each of these. First harm avoidance—besides just his general desire to avoid ending the world (this is much, much more tied to his love for it anyway), I think his reticence in his relationship with Crowley (“you go too fast for me”) shows this best. Their relationship is also likely the best example of his emotional barriers. (Sure, he isn’t cold like other angels, but nor is he open, and Aziraphale seems to desire that warmth and closeness from connection in a way that the rest of the Host do not.) There are many points where his tendency to over-worry comes across: thinking Crowley is asking for a suicide pill, after five centuries still worrying Heaven will care about the Arrangement—these come up over and over. Maybe it isn’t so unreasonable to think that some version of Aziraphale could fall into an ED. Look at it this way: you lose your only real anchor on earth, your trust in the goodness and rightness of Heaven is broken down, so you try some way to feel in control again, no matter how irrational. Another part of Aziraphale that I think speaks to this tendency to fall into this as a coping mechanism is his position as a protector, a guardian. He lives a role that is about serving and providing for others. When you have an identity constructed around providing comfort, security, and faith to others, it can feel very natural to turn to inwardly or personally destructive habits like EDs instead of reaching out or opening up to others. If you lose some fundamental outward belief, it often feels insurmountable to also reassess your perception of yourself (“lose faith in yourself”) and seek out support.***

I think part of the reason that Aziraphale is comfortable for me to project on here is that his body is established as something neutral-to-positive in canon, while being fat is something negative societally. His character doesn’t bring baggage, and so I think those of use who are fat or have struggled with body image see ourselves in him. For some people that means seeing a character able to be beyond societal pressures on the body, for others it means seeing a powerful character still able to fall into the same things we do and not be bad or weak because of it.

I’m stopping here for now and I know this is all pretty jumbled, but I’ve just been feeling like I need to get this down. It’s been nice to see some positivity about Aziraphale being fat, but sometimes it can be hard to see only positivity because I can’t relate to that. I’m really happy to be in a fandom again where there are characters who aren’t fit/skinny & I love reading all y’all’s fic and seeing fanart—it’s meant a lot. Also: if you too have fat Aziraphale feelings, pls pls come talk to me!!!

* link to that fic

** I know there are reasons why this seems weird re: story mechanics, but I don’t think it’s that hard to understand this plausibly within canon. I’ve got lots of ideas anyway :^)

*** I’m trying not to stray into headcanon territory here but I think it is important that any fic that deals with EDs doesn’t fall into a gets together with/receives affirmation from skinny partner and ED suddenly disappears trope. The reality is that EDs usually stick around after whatever crisis that might’ve triggered their development has passed.

[diveronarpg]

Congratulations, MINNIE! You’ve been accepted for the role of PERDITA. Admin Rosey: This was the most difficult decision to make. Forty-five minutes were spent going back and forth between the applications. FORTY FIVE. It canntot be amphasized enough how difficult this was. The voices were captured perfectly in both applications, but what it ultimately came down to were the plots. Both of them were amazing, but there was a certain darkness underlying your plots, Minnie, that couldn’t be said no to. The passion that you have for Poala and the shadows in her life were so very palpable and real in the application. But all of it had the sweetness of Perdita’s voice. We can’t wait to see you on the dash!  Please read over the checklist and send in your blog within 24 hours.

WELCOME TO THE MOB.

Out of Character

Alias | Minnie

Age | 23

Preferred Pronouns | She/Her

Activity Level | I will probably be around a 5. My goal is to write one reply a day, and when that isn’t possible, aim to write at least every other day. I know that DiVerona is pretty damn active, and will adjust as I see fit with the pacing of the plot.

Timezone | EST

Current/Past RP Accounts | Y’all have seen me play so many characters at DV hehe I’ll save you the trouble.

In Character

Character | Paella Paola Damasco.

What drew you to this character? | It’s been interesting to see how I’ve grown as a writer and, I think, as a human being with the characters I am drawn to at DiVerona. I don’t know the name of the thread that strings together all the characters I have written at DiVerona, but the one I feel strongest is a need to finish their story. Paola stands at the precipice of what may be her beginning and end, both — and with arms wide open, she jumps. Jumps into the heart of Verona, jumps straight into mine.

She is a girl who is used to nothing. She is a girl who the world has tried to claim before; it’s called to her at night: fall into me, let me consume you. There are a million corners in Rome all desperate for a girl like Paola: as clever as she is intelligent, beautiful and kind and dangerous in a way they haven’t seen before. Because she survives. Because deceit, betrayal, abandonment and more have looked Paola straight in the eye — and she stared right back.

She is a girl who does not look for kindness or sparkle; she looks only for what is. And for that, for her clear-eyed vision, for all of her light and for all of her shadows still, I love Paola. She is truth-turned-girl, and therein lies her beauty.

What is a future plot idea you have in mind for the character? |

Paola has knocked on Verona’s door with a mission. Gently, in a voice so clear and kind that it aches to deny her, she asks for the truth. And Verona, with its all-seeing eye so used to cruelty and deception, asks right back: But which truth? For it may be death that sparked the flame but it was her own birth that kindled the flame, long ago. She is searching for the answer of her lover’s death but also her own beginning — but it may break her heart. Verona delivered the final blow to the beginnings of two separate futures: a mother and father who want her, who will never leave her behind; a lover who does the same, who is exactly who they appear to be. She moves forward with one question in mind, but there are far more lingering close behind. Who is she? Where does she come from? And, above all, who will she become?

I’d like to explore Paola’s relationship with her past. Verona demands that she face it: the truth of where she and her lover both came from, and what ultimately may destroy them both. She may not find the truth of who her parents are or why they gave her away, but regardless, she’ll have to accept the truth of what happened to the loves she might have had, the peace she might have enjoyed. She is a girl who has already found herself, but parts of her are still lost, forever unknowable. I’d love to explore the kind of insecurity that is birthed from that kind of beginning in Paola.

As a neutral character, Paola has both the opportunity to manipulate and to be manipulated; to look past the madness or to be lost in it. She’s uninterested in their petty game of pointed fingers and misplaced blame; they have all had their own finger in the pot, have all sacrificed their own souls to be a part of the war. None of them are innocent — and isn’t she? Doesn’t she deserve to rise above it? Before she dared to take her first breath, Verona spit her out; punished her before she had the chance to become a worthy villain. Paola thinks she is above the war, but the truth that she has yet to understand is that their war is her war; that their cause is the same as her cause. Who killed my love? Damiano and Paola cry out, hands clutched to their chest, tearing at their clothes as they cry. Who saw my love last, who heard their last words, who will return my love to me?

I’d like for Paola to see that there is part of her in the war, too. Especially with Cyrus egging her on and Lillian being her employer, Paola has a few different threads pulling her into its bloodthirsty center. Though she is indifferent now, even actively against becoming involved in the war, Paola is without a home. Her future in Verona is built on ashes and will crumble to dust as soon as she finds the answer she seeks - and what then? She is a girl who has short-term direction, and Montagues and Capulets alike might find it useful to become her long-term goal. I’m not sure how the war will influence Paola, and I’m not sure how Paola will influence the war. But that’s the fun of exploring in writing, and I think that as Paola becomes invested in the people within the city, the people will consume her right back. I’m excited to see it unfold!

An orphan raised by two cities, Rome is her indifferent father — and Verona is her cruel mother. There is a deep ache in Paola, a loss that can’t be escaped no matter how resilient Paola becomes, no matter how much she survives. With grace, she bears it all, but we all have our breaking points. For darkness has a way of hearing your call before you know it’s listening, and darkness makes a point of watching those in the light in wait of the first misstep. And Paola, make no doubt, will misstep. She will fall, and she may not rise with grace as she usually does; after all, she has brought so many heavy things with her to this city. A longing for answers, grief for the lives she never had, loneliness in a city that does not forget nor forgive. She marches the streets of Verona and calls for the truth, but there is a darker drum that matches the cadence of every step, a subtle call for her dreams returned to her - by force if necessary.

I think that, under the right circumstances, Paola could become an incredibly vengeful creature. Verona has stolen so much from her already; and though she is neutral in the war and thinks that she’s a neutral person overall, Paola definitely has not forgiven the city. It stole her lover, it stole her family, and though Paola has no intention or plan to burn the city to the ground, I can see her becoming so adamantly against the evil Verona breeds. And it could make for a deliciously destructive and destroyed character!

Are you comfortable with killing off your character? | It depends on how much Paola has been developed! I would like to see her go through several arcs of development, if you will.

In Depth

Please choose between the interview or the para sample (or both, if you like!)

In-Character Interview: The following questions must be answered in-character, and in para form (quotations, actions written out if applicable, etc). There is no minimum or maximum limit for your response - simply answer as you would if you were playing the character.

What is your favorite place in Verona? |

“To be honest with you, it’s only my first week in Verona,” Paola says with a laugh. But she looks like she belongs here in Phoenix and the Turtle Cafe: hair thrown together in a bun, a turtleneck hiding her slim neck and pretty heart, long fingers cradling the cup emptied of coffee long before the job interview. “But I already have an answer.”

She pauses, almost imperceptibly. Which is better: to offer one’s heart at the altar in hopes of receiving the same, or to hold back and stand outside the veil that separates the holy from the human for security, for caution?

Paola’s fingers tighten around the porcelain in her hands, choosing some gray area in the middle. “I grew up in an orphanage run by the church, which demands a certain unforgiving honesty. I have seen the beauty of God’s grace, and I’ve also seen the cruelty of God’s distance. Despite that, I’ve always loved the church. The cathedral is where I was raised, and so it’s become my home. I’m lucky, in a way; there’s a cathedral in every city, so there is a place for me in every city. Or at least, somewhere to start.”

What does your typical day look like?

“Right now, I am desperately looking for a job. After this interview,” Paola adds with a wink in her smile, “perhaps I’ll have a clearer idea of the days ahead.”

It’s with a laugh and a firm shake of the hand that Paola is offered the job. It’s an easy choice, for both of them. The cafe could use someone like Paola: fresh, beautiful, well-read and easy to speak with. And there is no better place for Paola to learn information than a coffee shop in the center of Capulet territory, where eavesdropping becomes part of the job and the list of regulars include several key players in her game.

One down, Paola thinks as she exits the cafe, another to go.

What has been your biggest mistake thus far?

The interview for The Two Gentlemen is noticeably more difficult than Phoenix and the Turtle Cafe. What resources does she have, to dress the part of a sophisticated waitress or an experienced bartender? The most she has is a black dress, “borrowed” from the Roman Catholic Church. Her face is free of makeup and her hair has adopted a strange curl from her bun earlier that day. She doesn’t belong here.

But - and her interviewer is unsure why exactly - she’s doing well. Her smile comes easily and her quick wit is turning the interview away from her skills (or lack thereof) to her potential. Her magic.

Paola sips on her glass of wine and pretends it doesn’t bite at her throat as it goes down; she never was one for alcohol. “Ignoring my gut instinct.” She washes down the regret with another sip of wine, so thick on her tongue and rotten in her belly. She knew that sending her lover to Verona with a kiss would end in ruins, and she did it anyways. Second-guessing the voices screaming at her to deny them, praying that it was only a superstitious paranoia towards the city that first abandoned her, Paola had pressed a kiss to their lips and said goodbye.

“But I can assure you that I’ve learned from my mistakes.”

What has been the most difficult task asked of you?

With the face of her dead lover in mind, the answer comes at once: To love them. To love them wholeheartedly and blindly, with complete faith and devastation.

It is the only thing anyone has ever truly asked of Paola; no one has ever cared enough about the orphan wandering the streets of Rome to ask her for anything besides her dead lover. Everything she has, she has asked of herself. She is one of many hungry mouths and abandoned souls in a crowded city; no one cares to see her unless she asks to be seen. And Paola rarely asks to be seen.

“To venture into the unknown, and come to Verona,” Paola says, thinking, Because Verona wants to ruin me. Because I want to ruin it back.

Her interviewer, mildly bewildered but utterly charmed, stands and extends his hand. “Welcome to The Two Gentlemen, Paola.”

She grins as she mirrors the fluid motion and squeezes his hand once. “Thank you. I won’t let you down.”

What are your thoughts on the war between the Capulets and the Montagues?

It’s a strange question, and it shows on Paola’s expression as confusion breaks through the smile on her lips. “Does the war concern this job?”

“Paola” - and the way Lillian says her name makes Paola’s heart skip, makes her lean forward and listen more carefully - “the war concerns everything and everyone in Verona. It keeps the city alive, so the city returns the favor.”

She grows quiet, searching her heart for an answer that will win her the job. Lillian Wen holds in her hand the connections Paola wants, needs, to unravel the truth and close this wretched, tragic book, the story of a love birthed and murdered and, through her relentless pursuit of its ending, revived.

When Paola does not find the right answer, she gives the second-best option: an honest one. “I don’t have any thoughts on the war. It exists, and though it may be sinful of me to say it, I will let it.”

A smile burns on Lillian’s lips, and Paola feels a small tingle at the tips of her fingers. When Lillian offers her job, Paola feels lucky for the first time since she’s set foot in Verona.

In-Character Para Sample: Again, write as much or as little as you need to get your interpretation across.

Extras: N/A

[shenanigans-academia]

Sports Festival Arc

Okay so I’ve just decided to talk about each episode individually since so much happens in them and I have a lot of things to say that nobody cares about ANYWAY MOVING ON here you go!

Episode 14: That’s The Idea, Ochaco

•Can we talk about how Todoroki had the prettiest animation in the intro please???

•Aizawa shows up like I LIVED BITCH we love one grumpy crippled old man (reminds me of this English teacher I had who showed up to class after breaking 3 ribs and couldn’t laugh or move and was in visible pain while teaching, Professor Saunders if you ever see this please just take a day off my dude)

•Mido: “Mineta don’t you know how important the Sports Festival is?”

Mineta: “yes but I just don’t want to get MURDERED”

...you know what he has a point

•Jirou to Kami: “most people miss their chance and end up just staying sidekicks. You know what that’s probably what’ll happen to you. You’re kinda dumb” BRUH SHE DIDNT HAVE TO MURDER DENKI LIKE THAT

•Kirishima being so excited for the Sports Festival is so cute I’m gonna cry

•Ojirou and Hagakure are so fucking ADORABLE

•Uraraka getting all pumped up/ ragey and Mineta being ✖️Mineta✖️ and Tsuyu just straight up SMACKING HIM IMMEDIATELY I LOVE HER COLD BLOODED ASS

•“YOUNG MIDORIYA!!!...do you want to eat with me?” I LOVE DADMIGHT

•Todoroki eavesdropping on Uraraka and Iida talking about Mido/All Might: Secret Child Theories activated

Episode 15: Roaring Sports Festival

•SHINSOU SNARKY PURPLE BABY BOY

•TESTUTESTU!!! loving the other classes showing up like fuck y’all 1A bitchass nerds right now honestly

•Kiri stop thirsting for Bakugou when he’s being an ass we get it, you’re gay and love an angry Pomeranian also WHY ARE YOU JUST STRAIGHT UP JUMPING OFF A BUILDING BOI WHAT IS YOU DOIIINNNNGGGGG ROCKS CAN STILL B R E A K

•Todoroki you dramatic hoe I love you but just. Take a nap. “We’Re nOt hEre To MakE FriEnDs” bitch you soft, shut up

•I’m genuinely curious what exactly is Midnight’s quirk? She’s the “R rated Pro Hero” but like...what is it? Is she just Super Sexy? Is it the pheromone thing that makes people think she’s sexy/ feeling aroused? Like what is her power exactly?

•”I just wanna say...I’m gonna win” KACCHAN HONEY WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS

•Todoroki freezing EVERYTHING and being unimpressed by the giant robots sweetie you’re so extra

•Birth of Icy Hot Bastard nickname

•Mineta got fuckin MURKED MAN lmao at least he tried

•Mama Midoriya is Best Mom she worries so much

Episode 16: In Their Own Quirky Ways

•KIRI BREAKING THROUGH THE FUCKING ROBOT SCREAMING IM ALIVE HOLY FUCK (Also Testu bursting through too. Intro to the Hard Boi Twins)

•Lets go Sero and Tokoyami!!

•All Might’s little YES watching Mido using the robot part as a launcher for the explosion warms my heart he’s so proud of his boy

•MIDO vs. TODO vs. BAKU YES BITCH ITS THE BOYS

•”THIS JUST IN ERASURE HEAD IS A TERRIBLE TEACHER” “wait wHAT” I love 2 chaotic teachers

•Shiggy you’re gross please invest in some cortisone skin cream it majorly helps my eczema it can help you too sweetie

•”the 1st place winner is worth...10 MILLION” Everybody around Mido: Activate Instant Kill

Midoriya my boy rUN

Episode 17: Strategy, Strategy, Strategy

•”Wait, remind me of your quirks again. And your names” Bakugou I’m gonna kick your entitled ass square up babe

•Kiri we get it you want Bakugou to top you. Also I love how Bakugou’s just like let’s fucKIN GOOO SHITTY HAIR

•Iida I love your dramatic over-energetic ass so much

•”TEAM UP WITH ME PERSON IN FIRST PLACE”

“YOURE SO CLOSE TO ME WHO ARE YOU???” Hatsume please. Take a dozen chill pills

•Ah. There he is. Monoma. Rat Boi 3000. Let’s go babey

•MY FAVORITE BIRD BOYS YAMI AND DARK SHADOW COMIN IN CLUTCH

•Ah. Cue the Daddy Drama

•This game is just Kill Midoriya, huh

•Monoma is a pro monologuer and honestly? I respect that. But then again it doesn’t take much to get Bakugou riled up

Episode 18: Cavalry Battle Finale

•Shouji is a SCARY BADASS and deserves more acknowledgement

•no matter your opinion on him, Monoma is an interesting character and has a REALLY COOL QUIRK

•Endeavor? Just. Shut up

•Bakugou- I am powered by rage and nothing else

•”Has anyone seen Deku?”

Todoroki: tragic backstory time

Episode 19: The Boy Born With Everything

•Yo FUCK Endeavor lives, man

•Mido ”so why did you bring me here”

Todo ”...soooo THIS IS THE STORY ALL ABOUT WHY I’m depressed/ also are you All Might’s secret love child or something?”

•Okay but All Might asking Endeavor on how to raise a powerful child I’m cackling. But the more Enji talks, the more All Might’s just like “what the fuck are you doing to your kid??”

•Todoroki’s whole monologue is literally just him over sharing and rambling about his trauma I love it

•Bakugou why you being such a creep boo

•”He’s like a comic book character” BITCH YOU ARE TOO YOU’RE ALL LITERALLY SUPERHERO TEENAGERS JFC

•Midoriya telling his friends/rivals “I’m gonna beat you” is basically just his equivalent of “I have a crush on you” change my mind

•Kaminari. I’m disappointed in you. I expected the uniforms from Mineta but come on dude

•Ojirou is so PURE long live Tail Boi he is also too under appreciated and he is just. So good

•KIRISHIMA CRYING OVER MANLY MEN I LOVE HIM

•Kendo is best girl Class 1B

•”Uraraka? Who the hells that?” Bakugou don’t be fuKING RUDE

•SHINSOUSHINSOUSHINSOUSHINSOUUUUU

•Midoriya what did Ojirou fucking TELL YOU

EPISODE 20: Victory or Defeat

•Dadzawa activated, time to adopt a Sleepy Boy into the Hero Course

•Complete BAMF Midoriya has been UNLOCKED PEOPLE

•Poor Shinsou when he goes “im used to people thinking I’m a bad guy” I just couldn’t NOT think of Billie Eilish IM SORRY now I have Bad Guy stuck in my head YOU DID SO GOOD BABY IM PROUD OF YOU

•”Spooky IM A GHOST???” God I love All Might

•”Stop rebelling Shouto”

“It’s NoT a PhaSe DaD”

•Todoroki did you have to go so HARD BRUH WHAT THE FUCK YOU DEPRESSED SHOW OFF

Episode 21: Battle On, Challengers!

•Lmao get wrecked Denki

•Mama Kendo to the rescue come get yo kids

•Everyone at Mido, Please. Shut the fuck up and stop being CREEPY

•Midnight. Please stop lusting over your students it’s gross

•Hatsume played Iida like a fiddle and I’m crying baby boy tried so hard

•WE RESPECT OUR ALIEN QUEEN MINA ASHIDO

•Poor Momo

•KIRI vs. TESTU I LOVE HARD BOI TWINS

•Bakubabe you’re so UGLY I can’t why is your face like that

Episode 22: Bakugou VS. Uraraka

•”Pink Cheeks” Bakugou just learn your classmates names it’s not that hard

•Ochaco is so fucking STRONG

•”like I always suspected. Bakugou’s a total sadist” sometimes Mineta is just. Accurate.

•Can we please talk about how Aizawa was just like “The FUCK are y’all talking about Bakugou is doing what he’s supposed to do in these games it doesn’t matter if his opponents a girl or not y’all are DUMB” like THANK YOU AIZAWA

•Mic has no chill I miss him real talk we don’t get enough Present Mic

•”You’re wrong Kacchan” YOU TELL HIM MIDO

•Bakubitch may be a little much sometimes and I get why a lot of people don’t like him but he does understand his classmates ARE also strong and powerful and you know he respects them in his own weird way even though he’ll never admit it

•KIRI WINS THE ARM WRESTLING MATCH THATS MY FAVORITE BOY

•We love supportive parents (Ochaco’s parents. Fuck Endeavor. Just leave these kids aloonnneeeee you asshat)

•MIDO vs. TODO LETS GO BOYYSSS

•”I’m not worried about a couple of kids” you’re clearly not worried about your crusty skin either Shiggy learn some priorities

Episode 23: Shoto Todoroki: Origin

•IT’S SHOUTO TIME YALL

•All that power in one little fucking finger what the FUCK Mido also PLEASE STOP BREAKING YOUR BONES “I’ve only got 6 more chances” well there go your fucking hands my dude

•Aaaaand there goes your arm

•”You haven’t been able to put a single scratch on me yet, Todoroki” you’re doing a pretty good job of that by yourself Midoriya

•Baby Shouto kills me every time IM GONNA FIGHT ENDEAVOR

•IT’S YOURS. YOUR QUIRK NOT HIS. ITS YOUR POWER T O D O R O K I

•SHOUTOOOOOO

•Shouji grabbing Mineta by the leg so that he doesn’t fly away oh my god

•Endeavor and All Might come get y’all kids

•Midoriya’s fuckin dead rest in fucking pieces you masochist

Episode 24: Fight On, Iida

•Okay but why is Endeavor such a fucking Brick House holy fuck absolute unit of pure shit

•”In his first match he looked so sad. I was trying to figure out why...” it’s because you have a crush Mido

•And the first of many scars appears

•Recovery Girl is right and she should say it

•All Might said Quirkless Rights send tweet

•AHH TENSEI NOOOOO

•Highkey completely forgot about Stain OH WAIT THAT MEANS THE INTERNSHIPS ARE NEXT I really forgot the whole timeline wow

•Explosion Boy vs. Shitty Hair I love competitive boyfriends but Jesus Bakugou

•Testu cheering for his new friend tho? That’s the content I love to see

•Legacy Children Battle (Iida vs. Todoroki)

•”I didn’t know he couldn’t kick like that” he is ALL LEGS that’s literally his quirk Denki what do you mean

•Anybody fighting Todoroki: time to drag a Sad Bitch

•TENSEEIIIIIIII

•Bruh why did Iida tense up like that was your phone up your ass dude???

•Yo Stain is ugly as fuck

Episode 25: Todoroki VS. Bakugou

•Lmao Midoriya literally triggered Todoroki into using his Left Side

•And Todoroki triggered Bakugou by asking about his past friendship with Midoriya these boys are a MESS

•oh look it’s a Fucking Fire Gremlin

•BOOM BOOM BITCH THOUGHT YOU’D SEEN THE LAST OF ME HALF AND HALF BASTARD

•oh my GOD Endeavor shut UUPPPP

•Everyone listening to Bakugou go off at Todoroki: ...please seek some therapy

•SUPPORTIVE BOYFRIEND MIDO TO THE RESCUE

•The first time I saw this I highkey thought Bakugou actually killed Todoroki.

•Bakugou going feral for winning I can’t he literally looks like a trapped wolf

•We respect Tokoyami in this house

•About Bakugou ”Look at that face” I’d really rather not

•I’m sorry but Mineta sitting on Shouji’s shoulders is actually adorable

•Iida running through the hospital to his brother: It’s Loss

•I love the Iida Brothers so. Fucking. MUCH

•Shouto I’m so proud of you sweetheart

•Honestly I need more family stuff they’re all so interesting in their own ways and it’s a nice reminder that yes these are just kids and they have lives outside of hero school

SO that wraps up the Sports Festival Arc! I’m going to do the second half of Season 2/ The Internship Arc/ Final Exams all in one post so get ready for another long one ✌🏽

[thishasbeencary]

Rules:

1. Always post the rules. 2. Answer the questions given by the person who tagged you. 3. Write 11 questions of your own. 4. Tag 11 people.

Tagged by: @queenofaburiedkingdom, @n3rdlif343va and @kasumi-chou

Lily’s questions:

What is your favorite part of the day? (This can be a time, like the morning, or an action, like seeing your pet)

That moment when I’m about to fall asleep, and I’m just lying in bed with absolutely no thoughts.

What is something you’ve always wanted someone to do for you, but never told them?

I don’t know ?? I like when people create, but I don’t necessarily want them to create for me, you know?

If you could do something for the rest of your life without fear of going broke/getting hurt, what would it be?

I was about to say “swim with the manatees”, but then I noticed it said “for the rest of your life” not just “something you want to do”. Maybe just… explore.

Can you describe the color blue without using the word? (I’m so ready to hear these responses aye)

No.

(Imagine for a second that you’re not afraid of a fish trying to eat your foot, and step deeper into the water. At first, it’s murky, and all you can see is the mud you’ve brought up by dragging your feet along the rocky bottom. Careful! The rocks are sharp, and you need to know better, you need to make sure that your feet don’t start to bleed, so you don’t bring out the sharks. Go further, and start to pretend like you can float. Watch the water in front of you, take in a deep breath, and go under. Hold your breath until –

Now keep going, letting the scales wrap around your legs and letting yourself go deeper and deeper. Explore, see the fish, the coral, but then come up. You’re in the wide open see, and as you float on your back, you see the same echoed above you in color – the sky, with the sun still shining bright, though setting more and more by the second. The clouds are a soft floating cotton against the color, and it brings peace.

You go upright in the water, simple strokes of tail and arms keeping you afloat. All around you is a vast expanse of softly ripping waves, and as you stop for a moment, just floating there, you look, and you see.

And then you dive back under, met with the darker shade of the same color. It’s home, and even as you swim back to the shore the next day, you know to seek it. You can’t avoid the sea, and you see it everywhere. In the sky, in your friend’s eyes, in the too-revealing bikini of the teenager who arrived on the sand, diving into the waves.

You may blend in with the rest, but the color of the sea surrounds, inescapable.)

Best compliment you ever received? 

I’m gonna go with when @thebookofsands drew me as a manatee mermaid. Like I don’t know if that’s necessarily a compliment in the strictest sense, but I still smile when I see it.

What is your favorite au trope?

Mistaken identity/wrong number aus. I love them.

What is your favorite memory?

One of them is my last time in orchestra for a musical in high school, we had professionals play with us every year because enough people never signed up. And one of the professionals, who played saxophone, and so sat next to me every year, told me that he’d really appreciated that I did orchestra and that he’d miss me next year and I was just… very thankful, because orchestra was a struggle sometimes since I was often alone and forgotten.

What is something you’ve always secretly wanted people to compliment you on?

I’d usually say my writing, but people do compliment that a lot. I feel like… people genuinely compliment me a lot, and that’s not even me bragging, I’m just ?? people are very sweet to me, and I appreciate it so much.

Hogwarts house?

Ravenclaw.

What is your favorite song at the moment? (Or your #1 played song on your phone if you don’t have one)

Honestly, idk. I don’t listen to that much music that isn’t the Jurassic Park soundtrack rn so if that counts, the Jurassic Park theme. Like, the main theme. The one that makes you feel really pumped up to get eaten by some dinosaurs.

Do you cry during movies/tv shows/while reading books/fanfics?

Not usually.

 n3rdlif343va’s questions:

What super power would you most like to have and why?

Telepathy. It’s a risk, because there are good thoughts and there are bad thoughts that you’d pick up on, but it’d be very interesting to be able to pick up on what people are actually thinking. How often have you been in a situation where you just wanted to know, for better or for worse. Plus, I mean, I’ve already got the wheelchair. What else do I need to become Charles Xavier?

If you could cuddle with any fandom character, who would you pick?

Oh god. That’s a hard one. I’m gonna say Viktor Nikiforov right now.

Which Ninja Turtle are you?

Tbh I know very little about the Ninja Turtles but I googled and Donatello is the purple one, so that’s me. I like purple.

How much wood could a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood?

At least 1.

Which one horrible fashion trend would you rock (in public) for a full 24 hours?

Bro, I have picked them all up already. I wore some mad hair feathers. What even is fashion right now? I dislike croptops, and that’s all I can think of.

What is your least favorite trope?

A/B/O. I just dislike mpreg, so that’s why. I have read a couple to support friends, though.

What is your favorite movie soundtrack?

JURASSIC PARK or star wars. But. Jurassic Park.

Who is your favorite ship of all time?

Oooh that’s a hard one, oh man. Han/Leia, probably.

What color are your socks?

I am not wearing socks today. My shoes were black!

Plane, train or automobile?

Train. I’ve never been on one before and I’d love to. :)

Do you like you like Green Eggs and Ham?

Well, I like eggs, and I like ham, so how bad can they be?

(I may just like them, Sam I am.)

 Kasumi’s questions:

First letter of your real name

C!

Age/birthday

I just nearly said 18, I am a mess. I’m twenty, and my birthday is January 26th.

Favourite season (weather if you don’t get it)

Fall

Favourite fruit

Raspberries!!!

Do you have short, medium or long hair?

Long. It’s basically down to my butt.

Hanahaki or soulmate?

Soulmate <3

Angst or Fluff?

Ahhh there’s a hard one. I’m gonna go with angst even though all I’ve written lately is fluff.

Soundboard (help the writer with ideas) or beta (help the writer with wording/grammar)?

You know the answer to this one ;) But soundboard. I don’t pick up on grammar while I’m reading.

Do you still have an active ff.net? If yes, link

Oh god no. But here’s my old one if yu want to cringe at my Vampirates fic: https://www.fanfiction.net/u/2275402/manateesandmishacollins

Would you trade one of Phichit’s hamsters to bring Vicchan back to life?

I’m allergic to dogs, so my gut instinct says no, but I also want my son to be happy, so I’ll say yes. But also, Phichit.

Should Victor and Yuuri both wear white at their wedding?

Wear whatever they want! White, pink, blue, orange, black, yellow? Do whatever! Wear a dress! Wear a suit! Just get married, and do it quick.

--

As you can tell, I was tagged by too many people, and they tagged like everyone else I’d attack, and I don’t want to come up with my own question, so here you go. If I did have questions, I’d tag @somehcpe @thetiniestkotorfan and @maximumhetalia at least but questions are effort so I’m letting y’all off easy.

[travisandersondatingblog]

Are STDs Stigmatized on TV?

“You are what you eat.” You know the phrase. If you consume massive amounts of donuts, you will become a literal donut. Just kidding, you know what we mean though. If you eat well, you will live well. The same can be said for what you’re feeding your brain, i.e. your media consumption. Propaganda is a real thing Y’all, and we’re here to talk about it.

We’re here to talk about the way media intake affects our brains. Captain Planet taught us to care for the environment, Full House taught us to always do the right thing, and modern television has taught us that STDs do not exist outside of a punchline.

We first must ask the question:

Do STDs Even Exist in the Television World?

In some shows, yes. STDs are an actual topic of conversation, but it is oh so rare. We see TV characters get it on pretty regularly. A lot of times, this can be the climax (pun intended) of the show. Some may say that television has gotten a bit too steamy. We, on the other hand, are all for normalizing and destigmatizing sexual health. So… we don’t really care what you’re doing per se, we just want you to be doing it safely and in an open/informed way.

In 2017, fans pointed out that the popular HBO show Insecure did not do the best job at showing its characters’ decisions when it came to safe sex. There was no pause for any kind of discussion about sexual status or protection before engaging in casual sex.

Prentice Penny, showrunner of Insecure, responded to the criticism on Twitter saying, “I really hope people can watch #InsecureHBO without asking if they use condoms. In the writer’s room, we always assume they do.” He goes on to say, “I guess because we are a TV show and it’s fictional. And there’s a lot of things we don’t show but people assume it anyway. We are not a PSA, documentary, non-profit organization. I’m done discussing this.”

It doesn’t necessarily fall on one show’s shoulders to spread public awareness on any issue that their fans seem to be interested in. Equally, even though no show portrays every single time that someone burps or flushes the toilet, it’s not like we assume that they literally never do these things. However, it is concerning how few storylines, in general, include anything to do with safe sex at all.

Does Television Talk About Safe Sex?

The best example of a show that loves sex but hates talking about safe sex, may be Game of Thrones.

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Westeros obviously isn’t a real place, but there certainly seems to be lots of sexy time, and there don’t seem to be any repercussions outside of the occasional pregnancy and penis removal. This is especially weird because aren’t the GoT writers trying to kill off characters at every chance possible anyways? Apparently there have been subtle implications of condoms being used, however, condoms don’t protect from all STDs, and there weren’t exactly convenience stores on every corner of those long journeys, so our bet is they either had to pack them and lug them around across the countryside, or simply do without.

So anyway, yeah, in 2017, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did a study which analyzed a sample of popular television programs and found that 0.02 percent of sex scenes feature any kind of conversation around contraception. That’s kind of crazy right?

But don’t All Sexually Active Adults Use Condoms?

A national health report released by the CDC in 2017 revealed that only about one-third of those who are sexually active in the U.S. use condoms. While that may seem like a dismal statistic, it’s actually pretty high compared to the .02 percent of times that condoms were featured on screen surrounding sexual activity. But just imagine how many more people would be encouraged to wear condoms if they witnessed their favorite characters doing the same! Now, this is not to say that television should be a moral compass for your personal life, but we do subconsciously pick up what we digitally consume. We want to be like our TV idols. I think we’ve all gone to our hair salon at one point or the other, stating that we want to look like Rachel from Friends. In the words of my ever-so-wise hairdresser, “We can cut your hair like that, but your face will still look the same.”

What’s the Big Deal?

So I know what you’re probably thinking at this point, “Well STDcheck.com, STDs aren’t really that common, so what is even the point of showing them on tv?” We’re glad you asked.

The CDC estimates at least 20 million new cases of STIs occur per year, and ASHA (American Sexual Health Association) measures that one in two sexually active individuals will contract an STI by the age of 25. The estimated total direct cost of STIs to the U.S. is about $16 billion. That’s right: It costs us money to have STIs!

And how much does it cost to show our favorite TV characters talking about safe sex? Nada. Zilch. Nothing. Taking this route could easily reduce the growing rates of STDs and could save the U.S. literally billions of dollars.

Are TV characters immune to STDs?

All TV characters must be immune to sexually transmitted diseases, as we’ve established that they don’t use protection (unless you’re really sticking to your guns that we should all just assume they use protection).

But yes, back to the question, everyone in the TV world is immune. Let’s go through three examples.

Barney Stinson from How I Met Your Mother was said to have dated a total of 200 women by the fourth season of the show, with five seasons after that, it’s reasonable to believe that number went up drastically. While it should be noted that he actually does use a lot of condoms, these do not always protect against STDs. Being as experienced as he is, you’d really think he’d have some sort of conversation with his numerous lovers about his status.

Jerry Seinfeld from Seinfeld was said to have dated 73 women throughout the course of the show. There is an episode with a condom mishap for George, but their main concern is pregnancy! You would think that Jerry would be a little more knowledgeable, and warn his friends of the other dangers of not having safe sex.

Don Freaking Draper from Mad Men. Obviously, he had lots of sex, right? He (officially) slept with a total of 17 women throughout the course of the show, but we feel that there may have been more. A lot of this sex was super spontaneous, like, he had just met them. In the 50’s/60’s there definitely wasn’t as much awareness surrounding safe sex, so the show could technically have just been being historically accurate. Side note, Betty Draper does get lung cancer from smoking all the time, so there are some health consequences in the Mad Men world. Just nothing in the nether regions.

Notice anything missing in this list? Oh yeah, women! We had a hard time finding a super sexually active female TV character to add to this list. Maybe because women aren’t usually written as players? Or sexually active? Never to fear, we have a few femme fatales to discuss, but we’re saving them for last.

TV Shows That Do Talk About STDs, Get it Wrong

Yes, now we’re getting to the brass tacks of the matter. When TV does discuss STDs, it is incredibly misinformed! Again we’ve got three stellar examples of misinformation being spread when it comes to STDs.

Girls is a TV show that’s all about destigmatizing all kinds of things when it comes to women’s reproductive health. They even talk about peeing after sex to avoid UTIs! The “protagonist” of the show, Hannah, is tested for HPV. This is strange, as most women under 30 are encouraged to screen for cervical cancer using a Pap test instead of testing for HPV.  She tests positive for HPV and is extremely distraught. She exclaims that she will now need her cervix “scraped out,” though this is not a medical treatment for HPV at all, in fact, there is no treatment for HPV. Hannah accuses her boyfriend of giving it to her, and he informs her that he was tested the week before and that he’s clean. Funny enough, there is no form of HPV testing for men.

Michael Scott of The Office is well known for blowing things wildly out of proportion. Upon the development of a cold sore in The Office episode, “Sex Ed,” Michael calls all of his former lovers to inform them that he has herpes and to find who gave it to him. Dwight Schrute encourages Michael to seek revenge from whoever transferred the disease. The entire episode is written with the viewpoint that Michael is acting ridiculously. One of his ex-girlfriends even states, “you don’t have herpes, it’s just a cold sore.” Obviously, Michael should have been tested to be sure that he even had herpes or HSV. Herpes can lie dormant for years, and it can be contracted by even receiving a kiss from a relative as a child. To assume that one of Michael’s ex-girlfriends must have given it to him was just silly, and let’s not even talk about seeking revenge (We’ll save that for another blog post). “Just a cold sore” is herpes. Herpes is very common and really not that big of a deal. Doctors often discourage getting tested unless you show symptoms because the emotional trauma is said to often be of higher impact than physical.

Dr. Gregory House of the TV show, House, is a pretty quirky dude. He deals with an assortment of abnormal medical conditions throughout the show. In one particular episode called “Clueless,” he diagnoses a man with herpes and informs the man that his wife is cheating on him with their son’s karate teacher. House has never met the wife or the karate teacher. So, the couple comes back to House and demands to know which one cheated, the wife stating that she has never slept with the karate teacher. House explains that herpes can also be transferred through the use of infected toilet seats. The husband accepts this as a resolution, but the wife says that it’s not possible, and is still in disbelief. House proclaims the husband the cheater, as only a cheater would believe such a thing, and view it as an easy out.

So we’re clear herpes can not be spread by a toilet seat, but it’s also most certainly NOT only spread by cheaters! This is one of the biggest lies that television has spread regarding STDs. When a TV character contracts an STD, it is often because they did something wrong. Anyone can contract an STD, and it does not necessarily make you a cheater if you are in a long-term monogamous relationship. Many STDs can be transmitted outside of sex.

Does TV Ever Get it Right?

We all know the age-old phrase, “when in doubt, look to the Golden Girls.” Just kidding, we just made that up, but it’s actually pretty true.

Betty White’s character, Rose, receives a letter in the episode “72-hours” where she is informed that she may have contracted HIV from a blood transfusion six years prior during gallbladder surgery. It takes 72 hours for her to receive results, and during those 72 hours, she gets a glimpse at what life with HIV may be like. Sophia, the oldest of the Golden Girls begins to avoid using Rose’s bathroom, or even any of the dishes that she’s ever used. Blanche consoles Rose, stating, “ AIDS is not a bad person’s disease, Rose. It is not God punishing people for their sins.” Sophia conceded, “I know intellectually there’s no way I can catch it, but now that it’s so close to home, it’s scary.”

In the end, all four of the golden girls visit the hospital together for support. Rose is given the clear and ultimately does not have HIV, but the episode reinforces the idea that HIV is not just a “gay disease” and that it can truly happen to anyone.

This episode aired in 1990, when there was still a great deal of stigma surrounding people with HIV and Aids. So, who’s really more woke, a show made in 1990 or modern television? Either way, just remember that TV is not real life. Just because your favorite character doesn’t get tested, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t! It’s important to be aware of your status. If you aren’t, get tested today!

The post Are STDs Stigmatized on TV? appeared first on STD Exposed - Sexual Health Blog.

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