#digital illiteracy

[gwmac]

Tech Pioneers: The Unseen Revolution of Emerging Technologies in Developing Countries

Introduction: Emerging Technologies in Developing Countries “Technology,” Bill Gates once said, “is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important.” While Gates’ perspective centers on education, the sentiment holds true across multiple domains. Nowhere is this more evident than in developing countries, where technology – a tool –…

[digitaliteracyandlibraries]

What is digital inequality?

Digital inequality is also referred to as the "digital divide." "The digital divide," Charlie Muller and João Paulo de Vasconcelos Aguiar explain, "is the gap between [individuals] with Internet access and [the individuals] without it."

Digital illiteracy is the "lack of ability and skills to create, evaluate, learn, and find information on online media and digital platforms through the usage of technology," as defined by IGI Global.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, society was incentivized to provide more digitized services to provide people with the convenience of accessing information, resources, or paying their bills from the comfort of their home and/or with minimal contact. While it has allowed some aspects of our lives to be easier, it also presents an ignored issue: people's limited accessibility to Internet services and devices outside of their mobile phones.

More people own cell phones than computers, however, they are often only familiar with the mobile versions of websites or programs and may not understand how to interact with the same software on a computer screen. This can affect people's ability to apply for jobs as most businesses are moving their applications online. Children in low-income families are also unable to participate in certain assignments as they require internet access and/or a computer to complete.

For a visual and audio presentation on the digital divide, watch the following video.

The Digital Divide, Explained

[lem0nademouth]

i genuinely will never understand boomer tech illiteracy. you have to make an effort to be as incapable of using modern technology as some boomers/early gen xers are. its kind of astonishing.

[aegonbeingfakeisracist]

I never liked the term “tech bro” to begin with for a whole host of reasons, but I now believe that the overwhelming majority of people have lost the right to use it at all because the way it is being used has resulted in it losing all meaning.

[monriatitans]

LITERACY QUOTE OF THE DAY

Thursday, January 18, 2024

“We are looking at a society increasingly dependent on machines, yet decreasingly capable of making or even using them effectively.” – Douglas Rushkoff, Program or Be Programmed: Ten Commands for a Digital Age

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Check out Kids Need to Read to help children discover the joy of reading and the power of a literate mind! Interested in the book the quote came from? If so, click here! Like what you see? Click here to subscribe for updates!

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[reachartwork]

just saw a post with five digit notes going around talking about how "anything that is given to AI it can use later to draw from, so don't feed it other people's fanfics", going just totally uncontested, and as someone who has trained my own LLMs let me tell you the AI illiteracy on this site makes me want to grab my head and pull upwards really really hard

[sheerfreesia007]

Data Breach

Pairing: Lee Felix x Reader

Word count: 5,834

Content warnings: Fluff, suggestive

Summary: Felix is the newly promoted head of your company’s I.T. department and you’re thankful for his expertise because are not your thing. What happens when he finds your computer illiteracy absolutely adorable as he tries to teach you about the digital side of things in your company?

Felix stares wide eyed at the red headed woman who’s sporting a pair of black cat eyed glasses perched on her pretty button nose. He can’t believe what she just said to him as he’s surrounded by his coworkers, you’ve been promoted to head of the I.T. Department Mr. Lee. Pride rushes through him as a beaming smile slowly forms on his face, he’d been working so hard to get to this spot and finally he was here he never thought he’d be here but he was so ecstatic to finally achieve his dream.

”Mr. Lee, Miss Whalton would like to meet with you if you have time before you start celebrating. She’d like to introduce herself since you’ll be reporting to her now.” The woman says kindly with a soft shy smile. Felix eagerly nods his head as some of his coworkers clap him on the back before he looks to the woman to lead the way.

The walk to the elevators is quiet as the two of them both wait for the elevator once she presses the button to call it down to them. And the elevator ride is even quieter as she stands right inside the doors after presenting her keycard to the scanner that allows her to press the button for the top floor. Felix can feel his excitement and anxiety coursing through him, this is huge for him and now he’s going to be meeting Miss Whalton who’s the owner of the company that he’s been working at for the past five years. He never imagined that he’d become the head of the I.T. Department let alone meet Miss Whalton.

”What’s she like?” He suddenly asks nervously and the woman turns to him with a curiously raised brow. “M-miss Whalton, what’s she like?” He asks again as his tongue stutters slightly making him blush. The woman’s face softens and she smiles brightly at him.

”She’s a fair yet stern woman. The hardest working woman I’ve ever met. She may come off as intimidating but she’s got a big heart and she wants the best for everyone.” The woman tells him fondly as she looks down at the floor shyly. “She helped me when I was in my darkest hour and I’m eternally grateful to her for that but she doesn’t hold it over my head or mention it ever. She just always checks in on me making sure that I’m alright.” She informs and he smiles widely at her as he nods his head at the information. “She’s very impressed with your work, when it came to her decision between you and Mr. Turner you were the far better choice and she easily saw that in you. So don’t let her intimidate you.” She told him conspiratorially and Felix flushed at her praise.

”Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind when I meet her.” He said softly. He turned his head to stare at his reflection in the mirrored wall of the elevator and blanched at his disheveled state of appearance. He quickly slipped his clear framed glasses from his face before he gathered half of his hair up into a ponytail and tied it back with the black hair tie that he always had on his wrist. He checked himself out in the mirror making sure that he looked presentable before slipping his glasses back onto his face, his nerves starting to grow again as his eyes darted to the climbing numbers.

When the elevator finally came to its stop at the top floor he was escorted out and down a tiled hallway that had pretty framed artworks spaced strategically along the walls. He tried not to get distracted by the artwork as he felt his palms begin to sweat, he surreptitiously wiped them along his pant legs as the assistant began to slow as she came to the only office on the floor.

They both walked past a desk that sat in an open area before a pair of frosted double doors that were shut. Felix assumed that the desk was for the assistant and he was right as she moved around it to grab the ringing desk phone while holding up a single finger to him. He nodded awkwardly before turning and moving to one of the paintings hung on the wall opposite her desk to give her privacy on her phone call. 

“Sorry about that Mr. Felix, please, right this way.” She said softly and he turned and nodded at her. She then walked to the frosted doors and knocked loudly on them waiting for a moment before they both heard an acknowledgement. 

Felix was ushered into the office of Miss Whalton and nearly gasped loudly as his eyes were immediately drawn to the wall of floor to ceiling windows that showed a beautiful image of the cityscape outside. It was stunning and nearly stole his breath from him as his eyes darted around the skyline of the city.

”Miss Whalton, I’d like to introduce you to Mr. Lee, the new head of the I.T. Department.” Came the assistant’s voice and Felix quickly turned from the windows and nearly swallowed his tongue at the sight of you. You were a vision to him dressed in a pair of form fitting deep navy business pants with a cream colored button up blouse. Your sleeves were rolled up to your elbows and your wrists were adorned with delicate gold bracelets as you stood from your desk and walked over to him smiling widely while holding your hand out to him in greeting.

“Mr. Lee, congratulations on your promotion.” you greeted him warmly and Felix blushed hotly at your attention. He quickly reached forward and gripped your hand in a sturdy handshake, surprised at how firm and confident your hand felt in his.

“Thank you Miss Whalton, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” he greeted you with a soft shy smile and your answering smile made his breath stutter in his chest.

“Rachel would you hold any calls for the next two hours, I’d like to get to know Mr. Lee better and what he has planned for the I.T. department.” you said looking at your assistant who beamed at you and nodded her head eagerly. “Oh, that is if you’re free Mr. Lee. I know you just found out about your promotion, I don’t want to take your time away if you’re busy celebrating.” you said quickly as your head turned back to him.

“No!” he rushed out and grimaced slightly at how eager he must sound to you. “No, I’d love to talk and tell you my plans.” he said warmly and you nodded your head before turning back to Rachel.

“Of course Miss Whalton.” she said, nodding her head before walking out of your office.

“Please have a seat.” you said kindly as you gestured to the small area near the windows where there was a plush armchair and a sofa. Felix quickly moved to the armchair and sat down nearly groaning at how the cushions encased him and cradled him comfortably. “I had the same reaction to the armchair when I first sat in it.” you said with a soft chuckle and Felix flushed brightly at you being able to catch his reaction to the armchair. “Sofa feels the same way, I loved them so much that I bought the whole set for my apartment too.” you said cheekily and Felix grinned at your admission.

“You’re very observant.” he says and you grin at him softly before nodding your head.

“For people, yes, but I hate to admit that I’m utterly clueless when it comes to electronics or computers. I’m a little old fashioned that way.” you admit as you grimace slightly as your eyes dart over to your windows watching the cityscape beyond. Felix is surprised by your admission and he leans forward wanting to know more about you, it seemed so easy to fall into a camaraderie with you already and he was a little thrown off by how friendly you were being. You seemed nothing like what Rachel had told him and he was waiting anxiously for the other shoe to drop.

“Well we’re opposites in that sense then.” Felix admitted with a bashful smile and your eyes darted back over to him and surveyed him quietly. “I’m more comfortable with computers than people.”

“Really? Well that’s not surprising to be honest.” you said as you tilted your head to the side. “Your resume was very impressive for someone as young as yourself. It speaks for you and makes total sense when you say that you’re more comfortable with computers.” Felix blushed hotly at your praise of his work experience as he ducked his head. “So I won’t know much of what you talk about when it comes to the computers but tell me what you have planned for the department.” you said with a cheeky smile as you gesture a hand out in front of you allowing him to speak freely. Felix beams with eagerness as he begins to explain to you all the plans that he’d like to accomplish as the head of the department, he notices as he tries to keep things in layman terms for you that your eyes only glaze over towards the end of the talk and he has to hide his giggle when you shake your head trying to clear it.

*-*-*-*

It’s been two weeks since Felix has been promoted and so far he feels as if he’s slipped into the role very well. He’s started implementing weekly meetings with his supervisory staff to keep a finger on the pulse of his department and make sure that he’s on top of any concerns or worries that they come across. That’s how he finds himself closing his latest meeting with them that morning frowning softly, the previous head of the department while was really competent with running the department they weren’t as well equipped on the logistics of cyber security like Felix is. After this meeting it’s become quite clear to him how loose your company’s security is. He knows it’ll only become a greater problem if he doesn’t get ahead of it now. That’s why he doesn’t even think as he rushes around his desk after shutting his office door to make a phone call to Rachel. 

Just as he sits down at his desk and reaches for his desk phone it begins to ring and he frowns softly wondering who would be calling him at work. He quickly picks up the phone and answers it easily.

”I.T. Department, Felix speaking.” He says in a professional tone and hears a soft sigh on the other end.

”Oh thank goodness. Mr. Lee, do you have time to come to Miss Whalton’s office? She’s managed to lose a file on her computer that she needs for an afternoon meeting and she’s starting to panic.” Rachel’s voice chimes over the phone line and Felix smiles softly at the mention of you.

”Of course, do you know if Miss Whalton has free time right now? I’d like to speak with her about my concerns about the company’s cybersecurity.” He said hopefully.

”She’s free for the next thirty minutes before she has to go to a lunch meeting.” Rachel informs and he grins before he’s quickly picking up his notebook.

”Okay, I’ll be right up.” He says relieved before hanging up the phone. The ride up in the elevator is quiet but Felix is filled eagerness and a giddy joy that bubbles within him. His proxy card has been upgraded to give him access to the top floor ever since he was promoted and he can’t help but grin widely as the elevator display beeps and blinks green before he presses the button for the top floor.

He can’t wait to see you again, he can’t deny ever since meeting you his mind has been filled with thoughts of you. Your easy conversation that you had shared together left him wanting more time with you, he wanted to learn more about you. It was almost as if he was having withdrawals of you, like he had been hooked on you with just that one meeting and conversation. 

And it wasn’t just your appearance that had kept his mind on you, no that was the thing that caught his attention but what kept his attention turning back to you was the easy laid back attitude that had an undercurrent of confidence. Your conversation had lasted only two hours but within the time frame you had shared parts of yourself with him that had felt like only a taste and he wanted more. He wanted so much more.

Soon the elevator doors were opening with a soft ding and he was striding down the hallway smiling softly at a relieved looking Rachel as she stood from her desk in a rush. She looked a little stressed as she beckoned him quickly to her side.

”Thank you so much for getting here so quickly. She’s a little stressed with everything that’s going on this week and with losing this file that she needs for her afternoon meeting she’s a little frazzled.” Rachel explained quickly to him as she escorted him to the frosted glass doors. Felix nodded his head at her words knowing that he’d do whatever he needed to restore your file just to make your day run a little smoother.

”Okay, no worries I’ll be able to find it.” He reassured her and she sighed softly nodding her head before knocking on the glass doors.

”Come in Rachel.” Your voice rang out with a tiredness that Felix could actually feel and he frowned softly wondering if you had taken the time to rest this week yet or things had been keeping you too busy to do that. Rachel easily ushered him into your office and you looked up from your computer with an aggravated sigh. “Oh, Mr. Lee.” You said surprised and Felix grinned at you as his eyes caught onto your wide eyes. “I wasn’t expecting you this quickly.” You admitted and his grin widened on his face happily.

”Rachel said you needed my help of course I’d drop everything to help you.” He said easily with a shrug of his shoulders feeling pride rush through him as your cheeks flushed prettily at his words.

”I’ll leave you to it.” Rachel said softly before nodding her head at the two of you before she scurried out of the office.

”Thank you Rachel!” You called out after her before standing from your desk. “Please take my seat.” You said easily gesturing to your chair before you moved a step away from it. Felix nodded as he pushed his glasses further up onto his nose with his index finger before walking over to your chair and easily taking a seat in it. You moved to the side of your desk and rested your hip on the edge of it as you crossed your arms over your chest before watching as he began to work.

”What type of file are we looking for?” He asked as he quickly began moving your mouse around your screen before he pulled up a command screen by typing on your keyboard.

”It’s a PowerPoint file. I was working on it earlier this morning trying to finish it before my meeting this afternoon and I got distracted by a phone call with Legal and when I turned back to my computer the file was gone.” You said helplessly as your thumb came up to your mouth and began to worry the skin of it with your teeth. Felix looked up at you in awe for a moment as his eyes followed your mouth’s movement against your thumb, he felt a pit form in his lower stomach as he watched your pretty pink lips slip around your thumb.

Shaking his head he quickly turned back to your computer before he nodded his head and began typing away at your keyboard looking for the file that you needed so desperately. He chuckled softly when it took him literally no time to find the file in an unnamed folder on your desktop and you tilted your head at him curiously.

”Don’t tell me you’ve already found it.” You bemoaned and Felix laughed delightedly at your frustration.

”Is this it?” He asked as he opened the file and you groaned loudly as you hung your head causing him to laugh loudly at your movements.

”Yes. That’s it.” You confessed and he grinned over at you with glee reflected fully in his face. “Thank you.” You said softly before grimacing. “Told you I was computer illiterate.” 

“Didn’t think it was this bad though.” Felix said amazed and you groaned once again causing him to grin up at you cheekily. You stomped your foot softly and Felix felt his eyes widened as he watched your tiny tantrum. “Oh that was cute.” He said teasingly and you shot him a feeble glare that had him laughing once again.

”Yeah, yeah. Don’t get used to it Mr. Lee.” You griped out and he flushed softly at you addressing him so formally.

”Please call me Felix.” He said kindly and you smirked softly at him as you straightened your posture next to him.

”That’s awfully informal don’t you think?” You asked softly and Felix felt his eyes widened with the panic that suddenly seized him, had he stepped over the line with you? Your pretty chuckle caught his attention and he focused on you once more. “Relax Felix, I was teasing.” You reassured him. “I owe you for your quick help.” You said to him goodnaturedly and he smiled softly before nodding his head.

”Actually I wanted to bring up something that I found concerning about the company.” He explained and watched as your eyes narrowed at him slightly before you slowly nodded your head. He stood from your chair and moved behind you allowing you to take your seat once again, he then moved to your side where he had placed his notebook and flipped it open to his report that he had typed up and handed it to you. You looked down at the report and Felix smiled as he watched your head tilt to the side trying to understand what it all meant. 

“You’re going to have to explain this to me so that I can understand. Is there something wrong with our security?” You asked him before you looked up from his report. He smiled softly as he nodded his head.

”Not the building’s physical security but the cyber security of the company. The digital files for the company have little to no security of being hacked or stolen from our network. I’d like to implement counter measures for the possibilities of attacks, not to mention secure all of the company’s files so that there’s more protection.” He explained gently and you frowned softly at his words before slowly nodding your head.

”How easy would it be to have our files hacked or stolen?” You asked, trying to understand and Felix smiled warmly at your attempt.

”A high schooler could probably hack into the email system.” He told you honestly and you frowned softly at his words.

”Okay, and you want to make it much harder for that to happen?” You asked as Felix nodded. “How do you plan to do that?” You asked curiously.

”I’d like to set up firewalls and tighter points of security within the network. It means that there’s barriers of code that hackers wouldn’t be able to get through.” He said as easily as he possibly could.

”Okay, draw up a plan with prices and hours of work to get this done and we’ll get it taken care of. I want you in charge of the project, make sure you’re aware of every aspect of this. Whatever you need to get this done you’ll get it.” You said easily and Felix snapped his head to stare at you with wide eyes.

”Really?” He asked, sounding breathless. You looked at him incredulously for a moment before smiling softly at him.

”Of course. There’s a problem with our security and we need to fix it. You know better about this stuff than I do and were able to find the issue with it already. I’ll make sure you have everything to fix it. You’ll be working closely with purchasing for whatever your needs are for this project.” You informed him and Felix felt his chest swell with accomplishment, he thought you would delay the project but you seemed very trusting of him and it touched him in a way that he wanted to do his best to make sure your company was protected.

”Thank you.” He said reverently and you nodded your head at him easily before you waved a hand dismissively.

”Just don’t let it get out that I’m so computer illiterate.” You griped and he grinned widely at you before winking at you.

”My lips are sealed.” He teased and that pretty flush grew on your cheeks once more enchanting him again. He felt himself falling into your charm so easily as his body leaned closer to you as you stared up at him blinking owlishly.

Just then there was a loud commotion coming from outside your office doors and you frowned softly before turning your head to glare at the doors. They flew open and nearly crashed back against the walls and you stood slowly from your chair. Felix felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand at attention as you slowly stalked around him and your desk to stand between him and whatever was coming through your office doors.

”Miss Whalton! I need to speak to you about this contract with Yang Incorporated. It’s too much in favor of the other company! You can’t be that daft to just squander this type of money all on a consultation!” Shouted a tall slender man with slicked back black hair dressed in an expensive pressed suit. Felix frowned darkly at the man who just came barging into your office without any care for your space. Rachel rushed in after him trying to usher him out and when the man turned and sneered at her causing her to step back quickly in haste to get away from him Felix felt the air grow cold in the room.

”Mr. Reeves!” You snapped angrily and the man turned back to you leaving Rachel alone and allowing her to exit the office when you nodded at her. 

“Miss Whalton! This contract is horrible for the company!” He insisted once again and Felix watched quietly as you crossed your arms over your chest and widened your stance as you stared the tall man down. “You are going to run your company into the ground if you just throw your money away like this!”

”Mr. Reeves, last time I checked you were a paralegal for my company and not an actual shareholder. You don’t make the decisions, I do.” You stated in a dangerously even tone that made Felix shiver as he bit his lip trying to curb his urge to laugh at your scathing remark. He stood next to your desk watching breathlessly as you faced off with the loud paralegal and felt the knot in his lower stomach start to form once again. “Stay in your lane, or there will be consequences.” You snipped out angrily and Felix felt the knot tighten with desire and fear laced together.

”Miss Whalton!” Insisted Mr. Reeves loudly as his top lip curled at you angrily.

”I didn’t stutter, did I?” You asked and Felix gasped softly at how that one question gripped in him a chokehold of lust.

”You are going to burn this company to the ground and I will not be a part of it.” Mr. Reeves foolishly snapped at you and Felix gaped at the man silently.

”Good, I’ll call security. They’ll escort you out.” You said in a dismissive tone before turning on your heel and stalking back to your desk to grab your desk phone. Felix made sure to stay as still as possible as you walked around him with a dark scowl on your face not wanting to feel your wrath directed at him.

”Wait! No Miss Whalton!” Scrambled Mr. Reeves as he walked towards your desk with his hands raised.

”You’re dismissed.” You said while leveling the man with a stoic look that had Felix shifting on his feet as his pants grew tight in a certain area. Felix watched with wide eyes as Mr. Reeves looked at you with a defeated look on his face as you spoke with security on the phone before he huffed and stormed out of your office in a rush.

”Holy shit.” Felix said quietly as you hung up the phone and turned to him with a soft grimace on your face.

”Sorry, you had to see that.” You said to him in apology but he quickly shook his head.

”Rachel warned me that you could be intimidating but I didn’t believe her after meeting you.” He said in a slight daze as you chuckled softly at his explanation before you shook your head. You carded a hand through your hair and shook it out before sighing softly, Felix could see the tiredness suddenly settling in your body and he stood there amazed at the many different sides of you that he was learning about already.

”Am I really that intimidating?” You asked curiously and Felix balked at your question.

”Absolutely terrifying in a sexy way.” Felix blurted out causing you to burst out in shocked laughter before his eyes widened and he looked at you with embarrassment coloring his face bright red. Your laughter morphed from the shocked sound to a happy cackle that made his embarrassment ease as delight filled him.

”Thank you for that. I needed that.” You said once you were finally able to get your laughter under control as you wiped tears from the corners of your eyes. Your eyes sparkled up at him with humor dancing within their depths and he found himself falling into them so easily.

”Miss Whalton, you have that lunch meeting to get to.” Rachel called out from the office door and Felix jerked back from his slight lean over you as you turned to face Rachel with a bright smile.

”Thank you Rachel. Apparently I’m absolutely terrifying.” You said proudly and Felix groaned softly as Rachel and yourself laughed delighted at his torture.

”You certainly are.” Rachel agreed and Felix shot her a glare that made her smirk at him.

”Get the plans drafted and submit them to purchasing so that we can get the security issued fixed.” You directed Felix and he nodded his head quickly. You smirked softly up at him as your eyes sparkled once again with delight and humor. “Thank you Felix.” You said fondly with that delicious smirk still gracing your lips and he nodded dazedly before walking out of your office. Rachel raised her eyebrow at him as he passed her with a knowing look on her face while he tried to avoid her eyes.

*-*-*-*

The next two months are busy for Felix as he works diligently on the cyber security project, he doesn’t get much one-on-one time with you besides your short project meetings to go over what’s going on. But you’re still heavily involved in the project and your steady presence throughout it gives Felix the confidence boost that he needs to complete it to his satisfaction.

And even when he’s not able to have much alone time with you like he’d want to, the time you both do share together is still special and meaningful to him. Your personality shines through no matter what situation you’re in and he’s drawn to you like a moth to a flame. He’s been privy to so many sides of you that he feels like he’s got a well rounded picture of who you are as a person now and he likes what he sees. He likes it so much that he realizes that the two of you have grown from workplace acquaintances into friends without him even noticing until it’s already happened. There’s a comfortability between the two of you and he loves it.

You’re a hard worker who tries to be as fair as possible with all of your employees but you don’t shy away from hard situations and are able to step in swiftly. You also care a great deal for your employees as you would splurge on them for work lunches and approving overtime during the project. He did notice when the meetings would turn more towards the technical side of things you took a back seat and grew quiet while trying to follow along with what everyone else was saying. He would often find you writing down notes during these times and after everyone had left and it was just you and him cleaning up after everyone you would ask him your questions that you hadn’t understood. It found it utterly endearing that you tried to understand it all but just couldn’t seem to wrap your mind around the digital side of things.

In fact he offers one night to teach you more about the digital side of things and you eagerly take him up on his offer. The two of you soon fall into a pattern of spending some time after work hours holed up in your office going over aspects that were brought up during the meetings. Felix loved the extra time with you and grew to look forward to it every evening after he was done working, you were always so different when you weren’t working, more open and less stoic. 

But tonight as he makes his way out of his office locking it up behind him he sees your text come through letting him know that you’ve still got some things that you have to work on and won’t fault him if he doesn’t come see you. He smiles down at his phone before huffing softly at your text, you were always so considerate of his time and it made him fall harder for you. You were always so enchanting to him that it didn’t surprise him that he had fallen in love with you over such a short period of time.

Walking into the elevator and presenting his proxy card to the display he sighed softly as he leaned back against the back wall of the elevator. He had realized that he was in love with you halfway through the security project and it had only grown from there. You never gave off any indication of how you felt about him and he was worried that he was in too deep and would get his heart broken. He knew you’d do it as gently as possible if that was the case but he was still worried, which is why he never acted on his feelings for you since realizing them.

The elevator soon came to a stop on the top floor and Felix was walking out quietly as he ran a hand through his hair making it a mess to hang around his tired face. His eyes darted over to see Rachel’s desk abandoned and he smiled softly knowing that there would be no distractions tonight other than your work, but he was pretty positive that he could convince you to stop working. Smirking softly he gently pushed your office door open before peeking his head inside, your head snapped up from its hanging position as you poured over paperwork littering your desk. 

“Evening” Felix greeted you kindly and you smiled tiredly at him.

“Hi Felix.” you said tiredly and he walked towards you before his eyes darted down your body and nearly halted in his steps. His eyes widened slightly before narrowing in on your button up blouse, it was form fitting and hugged your body like a second skin but what made all the blood rush from his head to his stiffening cock was the fact that the top three buttons were unbuttoned and he could see your maroon colored lacy bra underneath. You tilted your head to the side confused at his change in manner before your eyes darted down to your blouse and you blushed brightly before gripping the shirt together.

“No don’t!” Felix called out suddenly as he rushed to your side. “Fuck sweetheart, you look gorgeous.” he husked out and you gaped up at him while blinking your eyes rapidly. He trails his fingers along your arm and you shiver at his touch as your hand loosens its grip on your shirt as you stare up at him in awe. He crowds you against your desk feeling your body flush with his and he groans softly as one hand grips your hip while his thigh slots between yours. His eyes dart over your exposed chest and his tongue darts out to swipe against his bottom lip. “Why I wouldn’t give to see the whole set.” he says softly and you gasp heatedly at his words.

“You’re lying.” you insist and he shakes his head as his eyes focus on your own confused ones.

“Absolutely not.” he retorts adamantly and you blink again at him. “I’ve been falling in love with you for months now.” he confesses quietly and your mouth drops open slightly as your eyes sparkle with delight while your hands grip his polo shirt and pull him closer to you.

“Kiss me, please.” you gasp out at him and Felix grins widely at your request before his other hand is coming up to cup your check and tilt your head up to his as his lips slant against yours in a heated wet kiss. The two of you stand there leaning against your desk as your mouths move together in a delicious dance that makes his head swim.

“No more working please, sweetheart.” he pleads with you after pulling away from your delectable mouth. “Let me take you home.” he whispers to you and you nod your head as your eyes glaze over causing him to smile widely at his affect on you. “Never thought I could make your eyes glaze over with more than just computer talk.” he teases and you suddenly narrow your eyes at him as one of your hands travels down his chest and cups him in his pants making him groan low in his throat.

“You’re lucky I love you too Felix. Lesser men wouldn’t get the chance to tease me this much.” you tell him sultrily and he beams down at you with happiness coursing through him. “Now take me home.” you instruct him and he nods his head hurriedly before he’s guiding you away from the desk and gathering both of your things.

SKZ Taglist: @intartaruginha

[damnesdelamer]

‘Socialism has never worked’?

What do you call Russia, China, and Cuba functionally eradicating homelessness and illiteracy in their respective spheres within a few years of the massive upheaval of revolution, and radically improving the living conditions of millions after generations of poverty? What do you call the Soviet Union bearing the brunt of the greatest military conflict the world has ever seen and emerging victorious? What do you call the Soviet Union holding out for four decades of sustained military and economic warfare against the greatest military and economic superpower the world has ever known? What do you call Vietnam defeating the greatest military empire the world has ever known in its anti-imperialist resistance campaign? What do you call China emerging from the 20th Century as the most populous country on earth with the highest GDP? What do you call China reducing daily covid numbers to double digits in a population of 1.4 billion? What do you call Cuba thriving after six decades of brutal embargoes? What do you call Cuba passing the most progressive and practically protective legislation for family and LGBT rights in a world historical moment marked by increased LGBTphobia among the Western powers? What do you call the people of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe shrugging off the muck of ages to usher in an era of progress, all while Western powers conspire to sabotage them at every turn while growing fat off the earth they’ve scorched?

I’d ask what history books you’re reading, but I know that you’re not reading any, and the only information you have on the subject is spoon-fed into your colonised mind by the people’s enemies, whose vested interest in fabricating events is readily apparent to any who bother to look into these things.

‘Socialism has never worked’? It has been one of the dominant political-economic models of the past century, and has made drastic strides on every front despite its relative infancy and constant opposition from Western superpowers. If you fear socialism, what do you really fear? Socialism is the people. Socialism is me; socialism is you; socialism is all of us, together.

‘Socialism has never worked’? Socialism has always worked. Socialism is working right now. We will see socialism work again, always.

[fallout-lou-begas]

the new discord username changes coming feel so weird to me because their big line of reasoning is that something like half of all friend requests on discord fail to connect because people can't get the username exactly right (accounting for both case sensitivity, special characters, and the four-digit discriminator) but this has literally never been a problem for me because every time i have either shared my discord or had a discord shared with me, we're just copy-and-pasting our discord usernames exactly to each other. who are these animals out there trying to freeball this info. no wonder they're failing at it and now it feels like their problem is everyone's. has gen z tech illiteracy gotten so bad that they don't even know how to ctrl-v

[cheetour]

The Void Within's dialogue is sloppy to the point of not being fully literate*.

It's been noticed that the rough sketches and the final artwork don't match up in quality, and seem to be declining as the plot goes on. The same is happening to the writing.

This is, I am sorry, a post about the latest major Neopets update. Not only that, it's about the GRAMMAR in the dialogue for that update. Riveting.

I SWEAR I AM NOT JUST A PEDANTIC ASSHOLE, I GENUINELY WANT USERS TO KNOW THERE'S AN ISSUE!

Most people who complain about "incorrect" grammar in games and comics are wrong. Homestuck, Night in the Woods, We Know the Devil, and Captain Underpants all have fine grammar, just stylized.

I really, really, really like The Void Within. I think it's a fantastic idea, and I am determined to enjoy it as much as possible.

I am a professional editor. Noticing this stuff is my job.

Now, PLEASE bear that in mind when I say:

tl;dr: Neopets is asking you to pay money to a product that does not meet the quality standards of a primary school English test for ages 10+.

*I don't mean to use "not literate" as a stand-in for "stupid and bad at writing." Literacy is very complicated, illiteracy is more common than you think, and there is no shame in being illiterate - you can be very intelligent and also have no written or digital literacy. I mean the literal "not able to use written language to its fullest extent".

It's clear whoever wrote the dialogue didn't have a perfect grasp of English punctuation. AND THAT'S FINE. Good writers don't always have good grammar, and you DON'T need fluent English to write good stories in English.

That's why writing, proofreading, and editing are all separate professions, and why a well-run creative project delegates those roles to separate people. They still matter.

People are more likely to notice grammar mistakes the more they read books. Correctly formatted English is how older, less online, and disabled people with visual or linguistic processing difficulties read. Text-to-speech doesn't work correctly on writing without correct punctuation. These are serious professional standards, and they exist for a reason. They're not worthless just because you don't understand them.

A good-quality publisher of books, comics, or video games wouldn't release dialogue like this to a paying audience. They would consider this standard unacceptable. They'd either use correct grammar, or stylized grammar. (Inconsistent grammar, with no logical or narrative rules, isn't a style. They're not choices if you don't know you're making them. They're mistakes.)

To an extent this is nitpicking, and most people wouldn't notice this stuff.

But Neopets is MAKING MONEY. They are SELLING PRODUCTS for this. They have MULTIPLE PHASES of NC Market sales for this plot.

As an educator, there is no way I could show this (perfectly kid-friendly) comic to a classroom of children - it would have no educational value. It's not written correctly or with any obvious care. If they paid attention to it too much, they'd get the wrong idea about the English language!

I think it's fair to say that if you're publishing an official Neopets story, and you want Neopets to be a kid-friendly, fan-driven, story-based brand with a target audience wider than "people who don't really care about whether stories are professionally written", the script should've been proofread.

To give you an idea of how many typos Chapter 3 has, here's one of the dialogue pages with the missing punctuation added; I also took 5 minutes to rewrite each line for coherency.

And THIS is a website showing you at what points in primary eduation we teach children to use commas correcty:

Art is hard. Programming is hard. Hell, good writing is hard. It's HARD coming up with dialogue and a plot that people actually want to experience.

Grammar is boring and sometimes pointless. It's not difficult. It requires only basic literacy. Children learn how to use commas at ages seven and up.

If you don't care about the story you're telling enough to check that it would get a good grade on a child's school test, how can you possibly expect anyone to pay for it? You need specialist skills to code a website or create a high-quality digital graphic, but the only thing you need to get this right is... one literate adult who cares enough to try.

So where are they?

**There is no shame in being illiterate, but there is CERTAINLY shame in selling illiterate writing.

tl;dr: Neopets is asking you to pay money to a product that does not meet the quality standards of a primary school English test for ages 10+.

Finally, here are some browser petsites/RPGs who have never prompted me to write an 800 word critique:

Fallen London

Pixel Cat's End

Lioden

[why-am-i-not-fictional]

Things to script - nature or status of realities

This is something I recently started inputting into my DRs to make them better and safe. I got much help from ChatGPT too to categorize all these things. I wanted to share it with you guys too :) feel free to use anything for your scripts. Happy Shifting!!!

All of the below discriminations does not exist in any of my DRs

Misogyny

Racism

Homophobia

Transphobia

Classism

Ableism

Ageism

Xenophobia

Islamophobia

Anti-Semitism

Colorism

Nationalism

Casteism

Environmental injustice

Sexism

Sizeism

Religious discrimination

Ethnic discrimination

Discrimination based on immigration status

Discrimination based on language

Discrimination based on nationality

Discrimination based on indigenous status

Discrimination based on political beliefs

Discrimination based on marital status

Discrimination based on parental status

Discrimination based on veteran status

Discrimination based on HIV/AIDS status

Discrimination based on neurodiversity

Discrimination based on mental health status

Discrimination based on physical appearance

Discrimination based on cultural practices

Discrimination based on regional or geographical origin

Discrimination based on caste or social status

Discrimination based on educational background

Discrimination based on housing status

Discrimination based on criminal record

Discrimination based on economic status

Discrimination based on access to healthcare

Discrimination based on access to education

Discrimination based on access to employment opportunities

All of the below issues have been solved many years ago and they do not exist in the times of any of my DRs

Poverty

Economic inequality

Environmental degradation

Climate change

Pollution

Deforestation

Political instability

Armed conflicts

Civil wars

Humanitarian crises

Global health challenges

Infectious diseases

Pandemics

Inadequate healthcare systems

Lack of access to essential medicines

Educational disparities

Limited access to quality education

Illiteracy

Child labor

Child marriage

Gender inequality

Women's rights violations

Child labor

Human trafficking

Forced labor

Modern slavery

Corruption

Lack of transparency

Ineffective governance

Authoritarian regimes

Suppression of free speech

Violations of human rights

Arbitrary detention

Torture

Persecution

Indigenous rights violations

Land grabs

Cultural appropriation

Technological and digital divides

Ethical dilemmas in technology

Privacy concerns

Data breaches

Cybersecurity threats

Food insecurity

Malnutrition

Water scarcity

Access to clean water

Sanitation issues

Homelessness

Housing affordability

Urbanization challenges

Aging population

Elder abuse

Mental health stigma

Lack of access to mental health services

Substance abuse

Addiction

Disability rights violations

Accessibility barriers

Stigmatization of disabilities

LGBTQ+ rights violations

Discrimination based on sexual orientation

Discrimination based on gender identity

Family rejection

Reproductive rights violations

Access to reproductive healthcare

Maternal mortality

Child mortality

Access to clean energy

Energy poverty

Fossil fuel dependence

Renewable energy transition challenges

Wildlife conservation

Endangered species protection

Animal rights violations

All the DRs I shift to are abundant of the following things 

Compassion

Empathy

Cooperation

Collaboration

Sustainability

Environmental stewardship

Peacebuilding

Conflict resolution

Dialogue

Reconciliation

Education

Knowledge-sharing

Critical thinking

Cultural diversity

Cultural respect

Inclusivity

Equality

Justice

Ethical leadership

Integrity

Accountability

Service to others

Health promotion

Well-being

Healthcare access

Mental health support

Social support systems

Innovation

Creativity

Social justice

Fairness

Equity

Human rights

Freedom of expression

Freedom of assembly

Democratic governance

Rule of law

Transparency

Accountability mechanisms

Community empowerment

Grassroots activism

Civic engagement

Volunteerism

Philanthropy

Sustainable development

Responsible consumption

Renewable energy adoption

Conservation

Biodiversity protection

Animal welfare

Gender equality

Women's empowerment

LGBTQ+ rights

Disability rights

Indigenous rights

Racial equity

Anti-discrimination policies

Social welfare programs

Poverty alleviation

Economic empowerment

Access to education

Access to clean water

Sanitation infrastructure

Housing rights

Food security

Global cooperation

International aid and development

Humanitarian assistance

Conflict prevention

Diplomacy

Multilateralism

Solidarity

Tolerance

Forgiveness

Resilience

All of the DRs I shift into are currently successfully overcoming the following challenges as they rise

Sustaining Progress: Maintaining the momentum of positive change and preventing regression into previous discriminatory attitudes and practices.

Ensuring Equity: Addressing lingering disparities and ensuring that the benefits of progress are equitably distributed across all communities.

Adapting to Changing Circumstances: Remaining flexible and responsive to evolving societal needs, dynamics, and challenges over time.

Balancing Interests: Navigating competing interests, values, and priorities among diverse stakeholders in society.

Preventing Backlash: Mitigating potential backlash from individuals or groups who may resist or oppose efforts to eliminate discrimination and promote positive change.

Addressing Unforeseen Consequences: Anticipating and addressing unintended consequences or side effects of interventions aimed at addressing societal issues.

Managing Complexity: Dealing with the complexity of interconnected social, economic, political, and environmental systems, which may require interdisciplinary approaches and collaboration.

Maintaining Engagement: Sustaining public engagement, participation, and support for ongoing efforts to promote equality, justice, and well-being.

Ensuring Accountability: Holding individuals, institutions, and governments accountable for upholding principles of fairness, transparency, and ethical conduct.

Resisting Entrenched Power Structures: Challenging and dismantling entrenched power structures, systems of privilege, and institutionalized forms of discrimination.

Addressing Global Challenges: Collaborating internationally to address global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and conflict, which require coordinated action across borders.

Cultural Sensitivity: Respecting and accommodating diverse cultural norms, values, and perspectives while promoting universal principles of human rights and equality.

Managing Resources: Efficiently allocating resources and managing competing demands to sustain progress and address ongoing needs in society.

Promoting Inclusivity: Ensuring that marginalized or vulnerable groups are included in decision-making processes and benefit from positive changes in society.

Building Trust: Fostering trust, cooperation, and solidarity among individuals, communities, and institutions to sustain positive social transformation.

Addressing New Challenges: Remaining vigilant and adaptive to emerging challenges and threats to equality, justice, and well-being in an ever-changing world.

[trashiis]

Ok this is a bit of a wordy post but bear with me. I've been reading up on the tech literacy discourse and I thought I'd add my two cents, and how it connects to piracy. LONG post under the cut!

I was born in the year 2000, which puts me on the border of being a digital native. I was brought up on tech, but only in my later childhood and teens. I've always considered myself "tech literate," but no more than the usual kid my age.

The first time I ever truly experienced tech illiteracy with my peers was when I was 23, when in one of my college classes a MacOS update rendered the software we used for said class unusable. After a few days a temporary patch was released, which by that point an assignment that utilized the software was due the next day. I followed the patch instructions, which involved navigating to the software files and substituting a designated file with the provided patch. A bit more complicated than a simple update, but the instructions were clear and intuitive enough to easily understand where the file went. The next day, during a class study session, I overheard multiple people come up to the professor complaining that the software wasn't working. After the second person complained with the professor being clueless, I asked the student what MacOS version they were on. Sure enough they were on the latest version, which as we already know is incompatible with the software. I then walked the student through the patching process step-by-step, with them needing to essentially be hand held through the entire process (almost to the point of me doing everything for them). After the patch was implemented, the student thanked me and said "Wow! How did you figure all of this out?" and to me that question was stupid- I just googled "[software] [version] MacOS [version] fix", went to the first result (which was the company website), downloaded the patch zip file, and followed the instructions on the README.txt file. It was so easy, and I couldn't comprehend that this was somehow complicated for other people, especially those my age. I mean we literally grew up using computers. It wasn't until I started learning about tech literacy and learned helplessness that I finally started connecting the dots.

Tech in general is becoming extremely user friendly, almost to a fault. UI and UX simplicity is taking away any critical thinking needed to use any sort of tech. My peers are so used to one-click and/or automatic updates, so the fact that this required slightly more effort than a simple update triggered their learned helplessness. The professor was no help in this case either, since he just extended the due date for those affected with no penalty. I actually ended up making a very detailed (and I mean idiot proof detailed) step by step picture guide with screenshots on how to install the patch for the software for the class. Anyways, back to the main point- How can I blame my peers for not knowing how to install a "complicated" update when they're so used to being spoon-fed simplicity?

But hang on- how was I the exception? I'm just as used to tech simplicity as anyone else, it's not like I'm using anything differently or making things harder for myself on purpose (I'm looking at you, linux users). So why was I the only one who knew how to install this update? It wasn't until I had a discussion many months later with my mom about this tech illiteracy epidemic that I finally thought it through. I acquired problem solving skills through piracy. To start off: not piracy but adjacent- learning to install mods in Minecraft when I was 11 taught me file navigation and what a README.txt file was, as well as the importance of version specificity/compatibility. Figuring out how to play Pokemon roms on the family computer and my iPod touch when I was 12? That's piracy, and it also taught me how to work with different platforms and the art of jailbreaking. Installing custom firmware on my 3ds so I could pirate games when I was 16 taught me how to follow written tech instructions without any visual guidance. Pirating Adobe software on my MacBook in high school taught me about patching files on MacOS. All of this knowledge and inherent googling that came with it made installing the patch for my class software look like a tiny drop in the bucket in terms of complexity.

So why am I saying all of this? Am I suggesting people learn to pirate to become tech literate?

yes.

With everything becoming pay-walled, subscription services running rampant, the proliferation of closed-source "ecosystems" *cough* Apple *cough*, and (arguably) most importantly media preservation, piracy is a skill that will serve you well in the long term. It will teach you critical thinking in the tech sphere, and if enough people learn then we can solve this ever growing epidemic of tech illiteracy. I'm not really sure how to end this post, so if anyone has anything else they'd like to add please feel free to.

Thank you for coming to my ted talk.

[velvetvexations]

hi! hope ur doing well! i just wanna rant a lil in ur inbox if that's okay. i saw thebutchtheory post u rbed abt tmascs needing to "read theory" before we engage in discussions regarding transandrophobia and i cannot believe ppl still say that. like the first time i heard that it was 2020 and i was watching vaush (annoying leftist streamer, did some odd shit and is in general has a white savior complex). he would say that whenever he was annoyed with a leftist for not agreeing with him. that what "just read theory" has meant to me. go off and read theory until you come back and agree with me. if you read theory and don't agree with me, it just means you read it wrong! simple. either way, the person that "needs to read theory" is stupid and wrong. the problem with telling someone to read theory is that 1. not everyone has easy access to books (and before someone mentions e books/pdfs, not every book has a digital version of itself and also not every pdf is created equal some are hard to read), 2. not everyone is able read , illiteracy is still a common thing in america (not to mention intellectual disabilities), 3. not everyone likes read which is perfectly fine! no one should be forced to read if they don't want to, and 4. even if you make it past all that, sometimes the theory ur reading is hard to understand! like genuinely sometimes it can feel like ur reading abt quantum physics. also, have we considered that just bc it got published doesn't mean it's right? like it is perfectly fine to read theory and still go "hmm idk i think this guys wrong" also, authors have to cut out parts of their books due to publisher interference all the time! ofc im not saying that happens to every political author, but i wouldn't be surprised if many were forced to tone themselves down to get published. the only thing that differentiates tumblr theory and book theory is where its being said and legitimacy given to it by everyone else due to its environment.

love u velvet nation, ❤️

Love you anon. <3 It's completely absurd that it gets bandied about this way and has nearly made the word lsoe all meaning. There's no coherent definition of "theory" because you can't place them all in one single narrative tradition, it's literally just people getting their ideas out there prior to the spread of the internet at which point we stopped needing a publishing contract to do so.

[reidio-silence]

Furthermore, personal computers are no longer “universal machines”: their possibilities are limited by their assigned interfaces and programs so that they function only as the terminus of digital capitalism. This is justified as “user-friendliness”: anyone who uses a computer for reasons outside of research, development and production today is no longer supposed to understand what is going on in the device, and is instead made dependent on digital services. As with most productive forces within capitalism, the development of the computer is characterized by the fact that in dealing with them, the user does not learn any of the skills proper to the productive force. On the contrary, we find ourselves in a situation in which the widespread usability of computers is paired with an extensive digital illiteracy. Technological progress has become a source of social regression; the culturally pessimistic suspicion that smarter phones require ever dumber people is not that far-fetched.

this is such a silly argument that relies on vague concepts like 'digital literacy' while ignoring the change in what kind of people have access to computers now versus before and the purposes that they're being used for. someone who used a computer decades ago would be much more relatively likely to understand what's going on inside and directly programming it sure but they're also using it in a world where computers are used by much fewer people for more specific things. the people who went to a university with arpanet access in the 80s may be have gotten careers out of it and become the best C programmers, but that doesn't make them overall better at doing things with computers than kids fucking around online today.

[ifdragonscouldtalk]

Not everyone needs a basic knowledge of psychology, or chemistry, or physics, or calculus, or geometry. Do these things enhance our lives and understanding of the world? ABSOLUTELY. But they should not be given the same weight/time as those things which our students DESPERATELY need to actually be a successful adult. The ability to perform basic math functions quickly, including percentage calculations. I literally cannot add two single digit numbers - nor does any of my 3 years of calculus remain with me. The ability to read a plethora of texts INCLUDING legal documents and news articles with a critical mind so that they aren't taken advantage of. An understanding of the natural world, how it works, and why it's important to preserve. Beyond that, we need to teach them right the FIRST time and not be required to just move on because of time constraints when they're still confused. Why are we teaching them about the food chain only to three years later tell them that's actually NOT how it works and its a food WEB now? It's no fucking WONDER students check out, think we're lying to them, and don't trust their teachers. I could have taught the entire 9 months to my tenth graders only on Fahrenheit 451. Instead we finished the book, they said they were confused, and instead of getting the time to actually clarify for them, to show them how beautiful and deep the book is, I had to say yeah, that's okay, here's a study guide for the test next week. I'm not saying the other subjects aren't important. I am saying that I've survived just fine without a lick of physics and we have a growing global problem with functional illiteracy and math struggles.

Why are the "core" subjects not given more time than the "elective" subjects? Double blocks at least. OR more freedom for teachers to move at their students' pace. I could have met every state standard requirement just teaching 451 for the whole year - but that ISN'T ALLOWED. I wish my math teachers had continued to drill us on simple mathematics because I literally struggle with one-digit addition and subtraction. This is more than just a systemic failure. It's the growing idea that everyone must have a basic knowledge on everything in the entire world, and it's unsustainable.

[beardedmrbean]

Hi, I’m a 23 year old zoomer working at Amazon and battling with ADHD, autism, depression, and diabetes.

Yeah yeah a mess, but one thing about a lot of zoomers…

That have main character syndrome, and well hollier than thou attitude

Yes I belive in working rights, but even in union run places. You are going to need to kiss a lot of asses.

Also the technology illiteracy, believe me I’m part of it. A lot of boomers and Gen x ( my father is the later) presumed that because my generation was born into the digital age we would know everything about tech.

But that like presuming a boomer now how to make nuclear weapons during the atomic age

Also a lot of people presume that most zoomers were in suburban and urban eras. Well my ass was born and raised in college town called Macomb Illinois for 7 years. I remember my family renting stuff from family videos. I remember vhs tapes, I remember putting those wires of the consoles I played with on those dvd/vhs combo systems.

Though I am atypical zoomers because my mom died I was 9, my tween years was a train wreck, fun fact I was diagnosed with autism and adhd AFTER I got into foster care at 11.

I’m in a financial and stable place now, well as you can get in the Chicago area.

But a lot of my generation….hmmm…damn I thought I wouldn’t say this.

But think a lot of zoomers the same ways you would see boomer hippies. I know a lot of working class boomers must had said “We are so fucked!” when they saw those upper middle class brats gain power

Sorry for my therapy session

That's the fun with lumping folks into generations, we're still all individuals with our own experiences so things are going to be wide generalizations.

Where doe all this stuff leave the Amish too, but that's more of a giggle and thought exercise.

Main character syndrome thing is a issue, that's every generation up till the next one catches up and the crossover happens just called teens/early 20's

be why every decade or so we get people popping up thinking they're the first ones to care about the environment and instead of coming up with solutions they just sling blame, that or the solutions are insane and wouldn't do any good, also that's not just the environment there's rotating wheel of agendas that goes round.

You start to see the pattern eventually.

I have great hope for Gen-Z though, just gonna take a bit for the lump group to hit it potential is all.