#i don't have the emotional capacity to go in depth right now but just to make clear and that we're all on the same page:

[thespacebetweenworlds]

A protest against Wattpad's new Content Guidelines

Recently, Wattpad has changed the Content Guidelines on sexual content, declaring that the age of consent is now 18. "Any sexual content between characters must abide by this age of consent and not be in violation of Canadian Law."

This is embarrassing for Wattpad. This is disrespectful to Wattpad users. This is a capitalist company conforming to conservative politics.

Wattpad is and has always been home to teenage writers. When I first learned of Wattpad at age 13, this orange app was everything to me. Wattpad is home to teenage writers and readers all around the world, with its many languages Wattpad is unique, and that is something to be proud of. Wattpad has given a creative voice to a generation and inspired young people to write and with multi media challenge our perceptions of the written word and literature. That is not nothing.

But the thing is, teenagers write stories about teenagers. Teenagers write sexual content that includes teenagers. Teenagers have sex in real life with other teenagers. To declare any of that illegal only has negative consequences.

Wattpad declares they want to create a safe space. They want to protect the community. If they really wanted to do that, then they wouldn't have these restrictions on WRITTEN, FICTIONAL sexual content.

Things that would make this a safer space and create and protect our community of global writers: - quality sex education - quality sex education in all languages used on Wattpad

NOW we are in a situation where WRITTEN FICTIONAL depiction of sex between fictional characters under 18 is not allowed. "Illegal sex acts" aren't allowed either. Should we thank Wattpad for clarifying that they mean "according to Canadian law"? Or should we wait with the thanking until they change it to local laws, or LGBT+ stories will be illegal as well?

[highlordofkrypton]

Time for me to say ONE LAST THING on all this drama, but it's important to me.

art is a form of therapy

you do not know other people's trauma, and you sure as hell cannot know a person even if they posted everything about themselves on their blog

no one holds the right to say what is valid or invalid

The ACOTAR fandom has an exquisite way of policing trauma as well as character and ship enjoyment. the fans pick and choose who is deserving of community, kinship and basic decency.

I speak a lot about empathy on my blog because I cannot know what a person is going through on the other side of the screen, and though I don't always agree, I have enough decency not to go out and make rules excluding people, insult others, while calling myself a positive space.

Just because your trauma means that you prefer to avoid certain topics or characters does not make anyone else who enjoys said character a bad person. some people, myself included, work through trauma through art.

My writing has saved my life, and the compassion I choose to give to "fictional "abusers (btw, victimhood and abuse does not come in one absolute form and you CAN be both a victim and an abuser with a capacity to change) is intentional. I do not glorify abuse, but I understand that art and humans are nuanced.

I also think it's a real privilege to look at other people's traumas, especially intergenerational trauma which is extremely hard to overcome, and say that 'nah, that person is just an abuser'.

I think it's hypocritical to claim fight against abuse, and fight for victims of abuse while carelessly flinging 'abuse sympathizers' and other insults to people you don't even know.

You realize that's a form of abuse, too? Invalidating, gaslighting, etc.

But thank you, ACOTAR fandom for teaching me:

Thank you for teaching me my trauma is only valid if I act like the way you think a victim should

Thank you for teaching me that I do not deserve respect, even if I take extreme care to create nuanced and emotional art because you don't like the character

Thank you for teaching me that if I face my abusers through art, I, myself am an abuser

Thank you for reassuring me that your fav, who is closer to my abuser almost to a R, deserves redemption because you love him more, and he is more attractive

I have never used my trauma as a credibility card to judge and be dismissive of real people in fandom. If you want to police something, police your fucking content.

People aren't content for you to consume, and vomit your unfiltered opinions on. It's time people remember what community means, which remembers interacting with other people who are not your abusers. Maybe take a second and fucking learn about other perspectives, grow as a person or whatever the fuck you need to be a decent person.

If you plan to reblog this invalidating/arguing what I've said above because blah blah you're still upset about your fav or ship, please take a second to read the post again 'cause you've lost the plot.

Now, I'm done. Peace out ✌️

Additional note: You know what I fucking do with my trauma? I make beautiful shit for everyone to enjoy. You don't don't have to read or care about my stories full of depth and nuance, but if you laugh at my fucking memes that are for EVERYONE and you turn around and shit on people, you suck.

[yandere-romanticaa]

@animeyanderelover asked: In your opinion, which Haikyuu!! characters would be most capable of sharing a darling since you already talked a bit more in depth about Akaashi and Bokuto?

These are just a couple of that I came up with on the spot. If you have any ideas, please share!

˗ˏˋ꒰ 🍒 ꒱ 𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐔 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐀𝐊𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐒𝐇𝐈 - another pair which is like day and night. Much like the day and night cycle though, they work seamlessly with one another and need each other to cooperate properly. Wakatoshi keeps the peace while Tendou keeps you on your toes. Quite the package dare I say!

Tendou keeps you happy and entertained. Well, as much as he can without freaking you out but he always somehow manages to do just that in the end. Sometimes it is intentional, other times it is not. It's just that kind of effect Tendou has on people and he can't really help it. You either like him or you don't.

Ushiwaka is the stable pillar of peace with a sprinkle of need deep inside him. He's not as touchy as Tendou is but he wishes he was. He fantasizes about holding you but you are usually left in his friends care so he's not in the picture.

When he is, he is awkward. Imposing, but he doesn't mean to be.

That is where the eccentric red head steps in to help his buddy. Unlike Ushiwaka, he actually does have the capacity for some emotional intelligence. Ushiwaka meanwhile is on par with a celery stick, Tendou knows this.

And Tendou can't just let his poor buddy to suffer like that now, can he?

The two of them have a long talk and come to a mutual agreement to share you amongst themselves. It is hectic and messy at first, but they will make it work. Both of them are set up with success and not many will dare to challenge them. Not with Tendou's monstrous reputation and Ushiwaka's imposing person.

I'd rate them a 6/10 on the danger scale. There's potential there for a higher score but since no one in their right mind will come close to you, all should be well. Unfortunately for you though, there are two obsessed fools joined to you by the hip and are not leaving any time soon.

˗ˏˋ꒰ 🍒 ꒱ 𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐎𝐘𝐀 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐊𝐀 - these two are like two peas in a pod, it's only natural that they get to share you!!! Both of them are attracted to you like magnets and have the mentality of "sharing is caring, but only with you because you're my best buddy!"

They are intense and there is no other word to describe it better. Neither one is shy about their affections towards you and are not against throwing hands if someone starts getting a little too chummy with you (which is, almost anyone really...) and their presence is beyond suffocating.

A solid 7/10 on the danger scale simply because you won't have anymore room to breathe.

˗ˏˋ꒰ 🍒 ꒱ This one is a bit of a shot in the dark and it has the potential to end up quite messily unless things are set straight from the get go. And who would that be?

Why, it is our beloved 𝐈𝐖𝐀𝐈𝐙𝐔𝐌𝐈 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐈𝐊𝐀𝐖𝐀 - my my, what a predicament!

Oikawa is too clingy for his own good which, in turn, makes Iwa so mad that he could punch him. The way in which he's always slobbering all over you makes his blood boil but he would rather nail his tongue on a wall than ever admit that fact out loud.

Oikawa knows better though. He knows damn well that his dear friend is fantasizing about not only brutally murdering him but about you too, and how could he not? The way you cheer them both on when they're playing would make anyone swoon but your overall attitude is just so attractive to them both that they can't help but to fall for you.

Iwaizumi is more subtle with you than Oikawa, promptly focusing on whether or not you've eaten. You haven't? Here, have his lunch. No, he's not hungry, be quiet. Here, take his jacket. If you catch a cold he will scold you.

Oikawa on the other hand is a shameless little bastard because, why shouldn't he be? He absolutely revels in your reactions but is always careful to never cross any lines which could land him in hot water. He's just a naturally touchy guy, it's not weird how often he holds you.

Although, it is a little strange how all of your guy friends started to avoid you once you befriended the pair.

On a scale, I'd give them a 9/10. Yes, it's that bad. The combination of Iwaizumi's brash attitude and Oikawa's calculative nature and charm there is literally no one they won't stomp over if they cross you, or them for that matter.

There is also the added danger of them being both naturally jealous individuals, which clashes badly on quite a few occasions. Both of them want to keep you and can't come up with a proper solution sometimes which leads to the air becoming much heavier than it ought to.

[yuurei20]

Short translation from Twisted Wonderland: the first novel.

In the aftermath of the overblot battle, Ace and Deuce visit Yuuya at Ramshackle.

"'Yeah. Last night, the housewarden called us all together and apologized,’ Deuce nods from where he sits on the sofa leaning over so far that his head is nearly touching his knees. ‘He said, 'My way of doing things was wrong. I apologize.' And he bowed real deep, like this. He really meant it.’

‘Well, even so, it’s not like everyone is gonna forgive him just like that.’

‘Huh?’ Yuuya responds, surprised. ‘Even though Riddle-senpai apologized so sincerely?’

Ace chuckles. ‘Duh. And especially not the upperclassmen who had to live in that messed up situation for so long. They’ve probably got a way worse grudge than we do. He can be all humble and apologize now, but it’s too little too late. A guy like that is gonna have enemies in the dorm and out of it.’

‘I don’t like how a lot of them would just complain behind his back without confronting the issue head on,’ Deuce responds, a troubled look upon his face. ‘Both sides,’ says Ace.

Realistic Ace; empathetic Deuce. Their personalities are clearly evident in their reactions. It’s not a question of which is right, but even when Yuuya explains this, Deuce still looks concerned.

‘But…things got so bad that he overblotted. I think the housewarden has his reasons. Clover-senpai won’t say anything, though.’

The amount of blot that a mage can withstand varies very little from person to person."

That is what makes it so dangerous: the more powerful a mage, the greater the danger of overblot. But a mage as skilled as Riddle had to have known that.

So how did it happen? There is a trigger: one that makes it more likely that an overblot will occur.

It is when the mage, floundering in the negative emotions of anger, sadness, fear or confusion, becomes overwhelmed. There will be a sudden, abrupt accumulation of blot, with the risk of overblot rising accordingly.

The headmage said that the monster that appeared behind Riddle had been a fusion of his negative energies and blot. It seems that the decision to detach it from Riddle had been correct.

After returning from the garden to Ramshackle dorm that day, Grim had had a black stain on his magestone. Just as the headmage said, it disappeared with adequate rest, and is now its usual, pale purple color.

Apparently sensing that Yuuya is peering at the stone on his chest Grim wriggles, asleep upon his back. Riddle had conjured enough excess blot to exceed the capacity of his stone. The depth of his sorrow and rage is simply too much for Yuuya and the others to understand.

‘So, what? Are you saying that you regret smacking him down?’ Ace asks, glancing at Deuce.

‘Of course not. If Housewarden Rosehearts had stayed like that, we wouldn’t have been able to follow him. If a leader is going to lead, they need to have the right qualities to do so,'

Deuce replies in his characteristic manner. Yuuya immediately agrees. ‘I don't regret it either.’

‘Well, that's Yuu for you,’ Ace grins in that usual way of his. ‘You know, Yuu, you might hate fighting, but…you hate it so much, you won’t stand down. You’re too stubborn.’"

[jinxed-sinner]

Analyzing Niffty Receiving A Lobotomy Because This Is Actually A Lot More Interesting Than People Realize

Alright so I've seen a lot of people theorize that Niffty suffered a lobotomy before she died and I'm here to add onto it because this is actually really interesting to analyze, to the point I hope Niffty canonically had a lobotomy because it just makes everything about Niffty make a hell of a lot more sense.

First of all, some trigger warnings.

Obviously, we're talking about lobotomies. If medical malpractice and abuse bother you, I would not recommend reading this post. Additionally, Rosemary Kennedy is used as an example of the effects lobotomies have; if you don't know Rosemary's story, it's frankly horrific and the details of her lobotomy is not for the faint of heart. Proceed with caution.

Now let's do some analysis. (putting the rest of this under a read more cut because lobotomies are absolutely horrific)

First of all, what is a lobotomy?

A lobotomy is a medical procedure that was introduced in the United States in 1935. It involves severing connections in the prefrontal cortex, usually by drilling a hole in the skull (although a technique that involved going underneath the eyelid, known as a transorbital lobotomy, was introduced in 1946). Multiple techniques existed. Lobotomies were used to treat violent tendencies, psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, and depression, among other things.

When lobotomies weren't fatal (and it's worth noting that in the 1940s, the mortality rate of a lobotomy was 5%; the average mortality rate* for modern brain tumor removal is approximately 2.3% for comparison), a person who received one usually had their emotions and cognitive and intellectual abilities stunted to that of a young child.

*Average because it depends on the type of tumor you're having removed, as well as how bad the tumor is

Rosemary Kennedy

The most well-known lobotomy victim is probably Rosemary Kennedy, who experienced seizures and violent mood swings. She received a lobotomy at the age of 23 in 1941 in response to these problems, which left her unable to take care of herself, and permanently at the mental capacity of a 2-year-old. Her lobotomy is described as follows:

After Rosemary was mildly sedated, "We went through the top of the head," Dr. Watts recalled. "I think she was awake. She had a mild tranquilizer. I made a surgical incision in the brain through the skull. It was near the front. It was on both sides. We just made a small incision, no more than an inch." The instrument Dr. Watts used looked like a butter knife. He swung it up and down to cut brain tissue. "We put an instrument inside", he said. As Dr. Watts cut, Dr. Freeman asked Rosemary, for example, to recite the Lord's Prayer or sing "God Bless America" or count backwards;... "We tried to estimate thus, how far to further cut, based on how Rosemary responded." When she began incoherent, they ceased cutting.

I want to point out that even in modern neurosurgery, keeping someone conscious during the surgery isn't uncommon. The brain doesn't have pain receptors, and therefore you don't feel pain on your brain. Keeping someone conscious, as suggested above, is an important part of making sure you're making the right incisions and not cutting into something you shouldn't.

What happened to Rosemary Kennedy is disgusting. I need to emphasize that. I'm not bringing up Rosemary Kennedy in my Hazbin analysis post just because; I'm bringing her up because she's the most notable case of what can happen when you survive a lobotomy (in my mind at least), and I think if you're going to discuss the theory that Niffty was lobotomized in depth, it's important to know what you're talking about.

Now let's discuss Niffty's behaviors.

Niffty

In my opinion, Niffty's most clear trait is her violent tendencies. Additionally, a lot her behavior is reminiscent of OCD. Niffty's behavior is also very childlike, which brings me to an interesting conclusion: as a demon, Niffty's personality and behavior are a combination of her pre-lobotomy self and her post-lobotomy self (violent tendencies and OCD that led to her lobotomy combined with the post-lobotomy personality of being more child-like and socially unaware). In addition to both of these, when I see her design I think of a transorbital lobotomy gone wrong.

Like her behavior feels like someone who got a lobotomy but eventually gained a form where they weren't as affected by that lobotomy. It's really interesting to me and it makes me kinda sad that I haven't seen anyone really analyze the theory that Niffty was a lobotomy victim beyond just "Niffty got a lobotomy when she was alive" because it just explains too much for that to not be the intention. Like I don't think it's a coincidence that she died when lobotomies were happening left and right and her personality fits a combination of pre- and post-lobotomy personalities.

Makes me excited to learn more about her honestly.

[mabelpodcast]

Aster here =) There is some relief here for me in being able to ask you a question again, as I trust the way you navigate through the world and the ways in which you experience it, so thank you for being here!

Quite honestly it's been a rough almost-three months. A former colleague of mine (I don't dare call them a friend, since we never established that type of relationship) disappeared on me despite very strong intent from them to stick around. I don't take well to being/feeling abandoned like this, but I also love them like the sun loves the horizon, like bones love the heart, and that is a truth in me that I cannot silence. There is truth here and I am not one to turn away from such things, but fuck this is also incredibly difficult

My question is, how do I navigate this? I've been stamping around so much trying to figure this out that the waters are now all muddy for me, and I'd appreciate an outside perspective

Hello, Aster! First of all, thank you so very much for the tip. I hugely appreciate it, and it is more helpful than you know.

As for your reading.

I'm so sorry it's been a rough few months. This is the truth: those who deserve your love don't disappear without warning and without explanation. Before you can work past this, you need to acknowledge the unfair fact that this person may not be worthy of the breadth and depth of your feelings for them. Sometimes there is a tendency to double down in moments like these - I love them deeply, therefore they must have been worthy, therefore there's something wrong with me, I am somehow at fault here, and if I just...understand better, give them more time, give them my patience, perform correctly, say the right things, do the right things, then they will reappear in my life and confirm their worth.

Another truth: feelings can be wrong sometimes. I'd go so far as to venture that feelings are regularly wrong. There is enormous freedom in understanding that emotions are not infallible, that they can absolutely be given attention and weight and never repressed or pushed aside, but they don't have to be our single guiding light. Sometimes we feel personally victimised when what we're really experiencing is the impersonal injustice of the world; sometimes we can be convinced in our hearts that our friends are angry with us when really they're just tired or busy; sometimes the people we love aren't worthy of the purity of that love. There isn't necessarily a deeper meaning to it. You love because you have a vast capacity for love. You heal when that love is abused or misplaced.

And you navigate this the way you navigate any trauma: by giving yourself time, by being honest with yourself, by turning your attention and your focus elsewhere, and by allowing yourself to grow through this. Sometimes people are fickle or thoughtless. Sometimes they make promises they can't keep. Sometimes we misinterpret their intentions, or the sincerity of their intentions. All of this may be painful, but I promise it is not an injury you can't recover from.

This feeling won't last. Some further advice? Try to distract yourself. Give yourself an outlet for your emotions, and then choose to move your focus elsewhere. Try not to dwell. I know it's not easy, but it will get easier. Everything always does. You're worth much more than this.

[thebibliomancer]

Essential Avengers: Avengers West Coast #53: THE PLAN PROCEEDS!

December, 1989

ENTER THE U-FOES!

They sure did enter. THERE WAS A DOOR!

I do like the U-Foes. Sorta. I like them in theory.

The Avengers fought them recently in issue #304, on Ellis Island, in a Very Special Episode about immigration. They ended up falling through a portal. I wonder how they got back.

The last times on West Coast Avengers reads like a trauma conga line for Scarlet Witch. All happening in only the past few weeks, as revealed by Wonder Man later in the issue!

Vision was disassembled and rebuilt without emotions. Wanda learned Vision's backstory was a lie. She was kidnapped by a Texas college and pumped full of racism goo. Her children were kidnapped by demons and turned out to be parts of Mephisto. She had her memories of her children wiped. She got kidnapped in an arranged marriage to a serpentine elder god.

And while returning from Atlantis Attacks, she lapsed into a catatonic episode.

Someone give this woman a warm beverage of choice and a blanket!

Relevant last times in Acts of Vengeance: several big name villains and also the Wizard have banded together to have supervillains fight heroes they didn't usually fight. While the Avengers were all busy elsewhere, robots attacked and sank Avengers Island.

Let's get into it, with Magneto's big yelly head and Definitely Not Loki's smaller smug head.

Before the main action of the issue, we look in on some of the "Prime Movers" of the Acts of Vengeance.

Magneto is part of this big supervillain mastermind scheme pile. Possibly out of character for a dude that's been trending anti-villain but here's the thing. He doesn't like superheroes but he's not involved to destroy them. He's involved to try to better mutantkind.

I don't know how on god's green but mostly blue Earth he thinks teaming up with people like Red Skull, the Mandarin, Kingpin, and Dr Doom will accomplish this. But the good thing is that he doesn't think that.

His real, real motive, revealed near the end of the event, is to backstab Red Skull for being a Nazi. Which he accomplishes.

Good on you, Magneto.

Anyway, the guy that is blatantly Loki smarms to himself about how Magneto is just a pawn and actually everything is going how he, the real mastermind, has masterminded it.

He goes to his fancy sitting chair and spies on the Avengers West Coast on his fancy scrying smoke hole.

Definitely Loki: "The time has come to look in once again on those whose very existence is the inspiration for these machinations."

If the complete Acts of Vengeance wasn't 50+ issues, I might cover it in more depth just because lines like this.

Not for the first or least time, Loki is exceptionally pissed off that he accidentally created the Avengers.

In modern times, his tone shifts to more of a bemused pride and he has named himself Basically An Avenger for his role in creating them.

But right now he's pissed and that's a big driving factor for this whole thing.

But it's 50+ issues and touches books way outside the scope of this liveblog. And I just finished Atlantis Attacks recently. So, sorry, no.

Anyway, over at the Avengers West Coast Compound, all that stuff I said about Wanda being catatonic. She is. She's catatonic. Just sitting on the couch, staring at nothing.

Hank admits that he has no idea what to do for Wanda.

... You think a guy with mental health problems of his own would at least have some ideas. I don't think Hank should handle it himself but... I mean, Tony was willing to throw money at the best therapists to help Hank when Hank tried to kill all his friends to prove he was a competent Avenger. Any thoughts on contacting any mental health professional? Even Doc Sampson, the world's worst therapist? Tony? You're in the room? Wanna throw some money around?

You all suck.

Except, oddly enough, Wonder Man.

Who has finally gotten over himself and has offered his brain patterns to help restore Vision's emotional capacity.

Wasp and her huge gloves are like gasp but you'd give up your chance to nail Wanda on the rebound! Because Wasp is horrible in this run! She was my favorite Avenger and now I'm revising the opinion!

Wasp: "Simon... are you sure? You love Wanda. Do you really want to surrender your chance with her? Are you sure that's the right thing to do?" Wonder Man: "More right than the way I've been behaving, Wasp. Whatever my personal feelings in the matter, the Vision is Wanda's husband. I have no business standing in the way of their happiness."

Feels like we're in opposite land.

Case in point: Vision declines the offer.

He's been logicing the situation and has decided that Simon's brain patterns wouldn't restore him to exactly as he was.

I mean, he's right. The memories are all gone. The only memories Vision has are Avengers' case files. All his personal memories were destroyed when his brain was disassembled or when the virus destroyed all the Avengers' Vision records.

He's also wrong because he seems confused about why the brain patterns wouldn't fix the situation. Vision says restoring his brain with the Wonder patterns would make him "nothing more than a copy of that former version of myself."

Wrong.

You can't even keep the plot straight, logic boy.

Whatever the reason, after all this time of Wonder Man watching Wanda emotionally spiral in the hopes that it would somehow lead to her dating him, he realized what a heel he was and offered the patterns to Vision. Who turns him down because he has no idea what's even going on.

I've heard that Wanda/Wonder gets pushed pretty heavily in later comics. Force Works and maybe sooner. So my guess is that Byrne realized that as things were, the fans would absolutely turn against Wonder Man for taking advantage of Wanda's grief.

This way, he got to be the good guy who offered but the offer doesn't change the trajectory of where this plot is going.

Vision also announces he's going to relocate to the East Coast Avengers.

Dun dun dun?

Meanwhile, a weird tangent in the 16th Century where Mary defeated Queen Elizabeth and took over the throne of England.

Elizabeth is about to be executed but Mary's advisor Immortus (!) declines to attend, as he has shit to do.

The shit he has to do is erase this timeline for being bad and wrong.

And now that he's accomplished this, he gets back to ominously commenting on the Scarlet Witch situation.

Something something, plotting, something something, become the true master of time.

God, I don't care.

Back to people I do care about, reluctantly.

Vision explains his robot brain logic. He thinks the East and West headquarters don't have balanced superpowers so he wants to go to New York.

Kind of baffling. The East Coast team has Thor, She-Hulk, Quasar, and sometimes Namor. They've got plenty of muscle. The West Coast is who needs help since a (supposedly) new Iron Man just joined, US Agent is barely around, robot Human Torch is also barely around, and Scarlet Witch is catatonic.

This is stupid reasoning.

But it's just more forcing the characters into the plot. So anyway.

Vapor just appears out of nowhere. And that's capital V Vapor from the U-Foes, as seen on the cover. She turns into cyanide gas and tries to kill Wanda.

And maybe if she hadn't jumped in with a one-liner, she could have done it before everybody noticed but villains gonna hold the villain ball.

Wonder Man tackles Wanda away from the gas and then Iron Man vacuums Vapor into his armor's holding tanks.

But apparently she knows how to turn into a monomolecular mist and infiltrate his suit?

So he expels her.

Then Ironclad, who is also here unnoticed somehow, grabs Iron Man and drags him under the floor.

There's action noises until Ironclad gets punched so hard he lands miles away from the compound.

Good job, Iron Man?

Well, no. Not a good job.

Ironclad lands in the city and decides it'd take too long to get back to the compound. He starts causing havoc in the city to lure the Avengers out to confront him and they never do in this issue.

So there's just a big metal man throwing cars around Los Angeles and nobody follows up on that.

Also, way not to help, anybody else.

INCLUDING VISION.

Outside, robot Human Torch Jim Hammond is talking to Ann Raymond who is still here for some reason.

At least it didn't start with Jim flying around.

Jim asks Ann to tell him again how Toro died, while seeming to have a weird little smile.

Jim. Why. What the fuck?

There's only three possibilities here and none are great.

Anyway, Ann wasn't actually there for it so she says, again, that according to what Namor said... Oh, a metal man just flew out of the main house. Phew, thank god, an out for this awkward conversation.

Jim Flames On and flies after the metal man.

Since he has no idea what's going on, he's thinking maybe the dude needs to be rescued but before he can get around to it, X-Ray shows up and blasts him.

Robot Human Torch: "Hard radiation! Can't... really damage my android body... but... hurts like the dickens!"

Well. Hard radiation can actually damage machinery. I was briefly fixated on the Chernobyl disaster for a bit. High radiation can fry electronics and even weaken metal.

Not that radiation is ever treated realistically in comics.

Realistically every superhero would have so much cancer. And that would be depressing so let's not.

Anyway, robot Human Torch and X-Ray duel in the sky while Ann watches from the ground and wonders what the hell is going on.

She goes to check on the rest of the Avengers and is startled when Wonder Man leaps through a window with Scarlet Witch and Dr Pym.

After Iron Man expelled Vapor from his armor, she went back to her old tricks so Simon evacuated the people who could die from gas inhalation. Also, Wasp is here. She followed under her own wingpower.

Inside, Iron Man and Vision are trying to contain Vapor.

Wasp advises Ann to get away from the building because Vapor can turn into any kind of gas, including-

Flammable ones, yes.

Meanwhile, Ironclad starts rampaging in the city to try to draw the Avengers to him.

Robot Human Torch Jim Hammond notices and wonders why the Avengers aren't doing anything about it. But he also notices the mansion is on fire.

Robot Human Torch: "Flaming fireballs!"

Walloping websnappers!

Robot Human Torch decides he's gotta take care of X-Ray fast so he can go help at the mansion. But he's saying this out loud so X-Ray puts him in a full nelson.

X-Ray: "You're not going to find that so easy to do, hot shot! You're not gonna kill me like you did Vector!" Robot Human Torch: "Kill...?? Who...??"

Yeah, what?

Also, I know that heat is also not often treated very realistically by comics but shouldn't putting a flaming man in a headlock hurt?

Anyway.

Back at the flaming mansion, Iron Man gives up trying to put it out. He's used all his fire-fighting capability but Vapor keeps feeding the flames.

... Isn't burning up bad for her? Isn't there a limit to how much gas she can turn into? Like, when gas burns, it does turn into another type of gas. But it also turns into heat and explosions so some of the mass is transformed into energy.

Dr Pym decides that their only hope at fighting exactly one lady who turns into gas -- seriously, I can't believe the Avengers are having this much trouble -- lies in smashing the win button.

But Wanda, the resident win button, is in a catatonic state.

So Hank decides to shock her out of it.

By whispering to her that Vision is in danger.

Wanda rouses from her catatonic state and looks around for Vision.

And sees him... as his classic red-skinned self. Because... she's hallucinating that he's been restored to his "real self"...

Huh. This is very a red flag.

But its funny how Wonder Man is just glaring from the background as Wanda pays attention to Vision.

Fuck you, Wonder Man.

Scarlet Witch does her thing and the fire just goes out. Not just that but Vapor is forced back into her human form.

Hooray, now they can bonk her on the head and throw her into arson jail.

Except, no.

Vector shows up, very not dead, and blasts at the Avengers so Vapor can flee.

Also, after Vapor and Vector regroup away from the mansion, Vapor actually explains why the U-Foes were attacking.

After they broke out of the Vault... dunno how they got there. I thought they were lost in another dimension. Whatever. After they broke out of the Vault, they split up to make it harder to capture them all and headed toward a secret base.

But when they got there, the place was smashed up and they found a security recording of the Avengers (West Coast) blowing up Vector.

So they all decided to go get revenge for their beloved leader.

But Vector explains he has no idea why there was a recording of that because it never happened to him. He was delayed and arrived after the rest of them.

When he realized they'd all gone off half-cocked to attack the Avengers, he went to go save them.

Vector: "Without me to formulate a proper plan of attack, however, you were certain to fail, and wind up being shipped back to the Vault."

X-Ray shows up and goes 'nuh uh' and boasts that he took out human Human Torch Johnny Storm.

Vapor tells him that's not Johnny Storm. And X-Ray goes uh well I killed a guy so I'm still cool. Except he didn't even kill a guy. Because the guy is an android. Vector explains that its the original Human Torch, who is an android from the 40s, and that Vapor and X-Ray are idiots.

Since Vector isn't dead, the three U-Foes fuck off to go retrieve Ironclad. Someone played them so they're not going to attack the Avengers until they figure out why.

Back at the mansion, Iron Man suggests going after the U-Foes but Hank says NO.

While all that U-Foe exposition was happening, Hank tried to make contact with Avengers Island and couldn't. So Hank wants to split up, gang. We'll cover more plot threads that way.

Vision, Wonder Man, and Iron Man are Team Go Find Robot Human Torch and Then Track Down the U-Foes.

Wasp, Dr Pym, and Scarlet Witch are on Team Find Out What's Happening to the Rest of the Avengers.

Scarlet Witch protests that she's going with Vision. Dr Pym says they'll need her if someone attacked Avengers Island. So Vision compromises by saying he'll go to New York. He wanted to do that anyway.

Dr Pym accepts this.

I don't think Team Find the U-Foes ever finds the U-Foes. I clicked through the rest of the Acts of Vengeance Avengers and West Coast Avengers issues on the wiki and the book just moves onto other plots.

This is frustrating because for an U-Foes/Avengers West Coast fight... it sucks.

Vector only shows up at the end because he's the reason for the fight. Ironclad gets uppercut out of the plot and nobody cares to go looking for him. X-Ray only fights robot Human Torch. And Vapor alone stymies Vision, Iron Man, Wonder Man, the Wasp, and Dr Pym. And mostly off-panel.

And even when Wanda enters the action by being shocked out of her catatonic state, the Avengers don't get to win the day.

The U-Foes just fuck off.

I feel like the Avengers have been mostly getting L's or heavily qualified W's lately.

The West Coast Avengers:

They couldn't do anything to Vigilance after they dismantled Vision except blow up their base. A base they didn't need anymore. And then insult to injury, the government sticks them with US Agent.

A Texas college jams Wanda full of evil goo and the West Coast Avengers never shows up to rescue her because they get distracted.

They couldn't stop Master Pandemonium from kidnapping and eating Wanda's babies and then get trounced by the guy, having to be bailed out of the Master P and then Mephisto situation by Agatha Harkness who takes the opportunity to wipe Wanda's memories.

And now the U-Foes of all people style on the West Coast Avengers with only one of their members and the Avengers don't even get to finish the fight.

Over with the East Coast Avengers:

The Lava Men nearly destroy Avengers Island and a giant Lava Man monster beats up the team. The Avengers don't win so much as run out the clock and Gilgamesh "dies" during the fight.

Then when the Avengers go looking for the Eternals to help Gilgamesh, they get beat up by Blastaar and don't win so much as run out the clock so that the Eternals show up to wrap things up

Avengers Island does get totally destroyed in Acts of Vengeance.

I don't know if this is building to something. Shooter had the Avengers get beaten up a lot and win by chance in his first Avengers run but that led to group drama and a restructuring of the team.

Byrne just seems not to want to write the Avengers actually winning.

Or in the case of the West Coast Avengers, he doesn't seem to want to write them doing anything except sitting around watching horrible things happen to Wanda.

I dunno. It's not so many examples but it's notable because Byrne is writing both books and he keeps writing three issue arcs which beat around the bush a lot and then end without the Avengers really doing much.

Maybe I'm just complaining.

As Dr Pym pilots a Quinjet to New York, Wasp asks him if he's upset by Wanda demanding to go with Vision.

And he says no. He just has a bad feeling about everything that's happening. The U-Foes attacking for no reason and Avengers Island going silent (hey, wait, they were broadcasting a distress signal... BYRNE YOU ARE WRITING BOTH BOOKS!!).

Hank is worried there's something bigger going on than just usual villainy.

He's right. Acts of Vengeance is going on.

But anyway.

Next post will follow Hank and co to New York for Avengers #312.

Follow @essential-avengers because how else will you receive just deep insight as 'comic book character comments that he thinks he's in a big event plot and is right'? You wouldn't. Like and reblog too, maybe. Can't force you. As far as you know. Maybe I have the power of telekinesis. You don't know.

[antisociallilbrat]

I agree, Eddie's death was such a 'Steve death' moment when he died in Dustin's arms after saying he loves Dustin. Also, all of those convos between Eddie and Dustin would normally have been applicable for Dustin and Steve instead, and as you said, it is obvious the writers killed Eddie to give Dustin a more personal grief arc for S4 and S5, else why make Eddie as Dustin's brother figure specifically and have him die in Dustin's arms? They didn't even let Dustin be there at the hospital scene with the other Party members. He was spending time grieving Eddie and talking to Wayne instead, like... there is a reason why they showed Dustin's grief over Eddie. He was practically the only one grieving over him with Wayne and he was the one whose grief we had to focus on as the audience. And I love Steve, but if the Duffers actually were open to killing their main cast, they would have killed Steve instead. That's why it's kinda 'of obvious' to me that Steve is pretty much the safest character out of all the other characters, he not only is a main character but also a fan favorite. But I think since Eddie became such a popular character, the Duffers will focus on his character more via Dustin's grief in the next season. I doubt they'd bring him back though, but they'd most likely give Dustin a more focused arc regarding Eddie, possibly similar to Nancy's grief regarding Barb.

Yeah we're definitely going to be seeing Dustin grieving over Eddie in some capacity in season five. Although with the supposed time jump, I wonder how much we'll see of it.

What I would like to see would be a scene with Dustin and Mike talking about Eddie. Dustin filling Mike in what had happened with Eddie and them grieving Eddie together because Mike also had a link with Eddie. Also I just want more Dustin and Mike scenes in general, let other characters interact with each other Suffer Brothers!

I'm also hoping that since it's the final seasons, characters lives will actually be at stake because what the Suffer Brothers are doing right now, giving the main cast plot armor, is a disservice to the audience, or at least ones that like good storytelling.

Yes no one wants their favorite character to die but the story is more meaningful? (I don't think thats the word I'm looking for) when there's real threats to them. You should be sitting on the edge of your seat as your fav is up against a threat, you shouldn't be able to just assume they're safe just because they're apart of the main cast.

Characters dying can add more depth to them or complete their arc, make them more well rounded. And I'm not saying the Suffer Brother should go all walking dead with the main characters, but it would be nice to actually have to hold my breath and hope that my fav makes it out alive. The threat to their life should feel real. You want to feel emotion as you watch a show. The Suffer brothers have done this already, the Max scene killed me but that's still not permanent death. We know she's coming back and I hate that we know she's coming back, ya know? Just like with Hopper in season three.

Also none of main cast dying makes the villains look so lame. If Henry Creel can't kill one of the main characters, he's a poorly written villain. This is entirely my opinion though. And no he didn't even kill Eddie technically so it doesn't count.

I'll say my last point on this. The Suffer Brothers took a lot of inspiration from Stephen King's It. If you follow my blog you've seen me talk about this. And that is so ironic because King kills main characters in It. We don't even get to see much of adult Stan because he dies before the adult characters reunion. Then there's Eddie who died in the final battle, showing the threat against them was very real. King only had to one character during that battle to show that.

ALSO there's like SEVEN main character's in It and he killed TWO of them. I'm just saying

Thank you anon for your thoughts, I always love talking about stuff like this!

[pacificwaternymph]

Fanfic writer ask game, sorry that this is a long list:

🥺 Is there a certain type of moment or common interaction between your characters that never fails to put you in your feels?

🤡 What's a line, scene, or exchange you've written that made you laugh?

🛒 What are some common things you incorporate in your fics? Themes, feels, scenes, imagery, etc.

🙋‍♀️ Do any irl people know you write fanfic?

🌞 Do you have a preferred time of day to write?

💌 How do you feel about comments and feedback?

💖 What made you start writing?

✅ What's something that appears in your fics over and over and over again, even if you don't mean to?

🧐 Do you spend much time researching for your stories?

🤲 Would you please share a snippet of a wip?

Any parent-child dynamic, especially of the found family variety, makes me go weak at the knees. Something about the unconditional love of parents, man. It just gets to me. So like any of Shrub and Xornoth's interactions in the Wolf Mother.

The chapter after the full moon detailing the aftermath, where Shrub learns that Xornoth jumped off the balcony and gradually grows more and more horrified as she realizes that once this kid actually becomes more comfortable being himself she is going to have her hands full? Had me dying.

I'm sure you'll notice hurt comfort is my BRAND. A lot of my works have themes of healing, dealing with complex emotions and trauma, and reconciliation, and put a heavy emphasis on deep interpersonal connections between the characters.

A good deal of my family does, actually. They've known about my writing ever since I've started. I've never let them, you know, read any of it, but like yeah they are aware of it. And as for friends, a fair number of my friends are also consumers and producers of fanfiction, so yeah they all know.

Not really? Whenever the motivation strikes. Which just so happens to be... right before I tell myself I'll go to bed.

Love love LOVE!! I adore hearing what you guys think of my stories, all of your ideas and suggestions and predictions, it's so so so wonderful to see that so many people read my stuff and like it, it's so surreal.

I had a really vivid image for a story in my head and was frustrated that I didn't have the art skills to draw it out. So I turned to using my words as an alternative. I've been doing this for about 5 years now.

Characters fearing being hurt in some capacity, only to be treated with kindness. This usually takes the form of a child character who is used to cruelty being adopted into a loving family, but also fairly frequently shows up as an antagonist I'm attempting to redeem expecting some sort of harsh punishment for their actions and instead being faced with, if not forgiveness, then at the very least a willingness to hear them out and a demonstration of the heroes' goodness.

Depends. Sometimes I'll completely wing it, like me not doing any research for my pirate au and just going by vibes alone, but for some specific things as well as topics I want to be able to give an accurate and respectful depiction of (such as disabilities, different cultures, religions, etc.) I'll go a little more in depth with my efforts.

Snippet beneath the cut:

Having wings was… different.

Xornoth wasn’t quite sure how he felt about them yet. Growing another pair of limbs overnight wasn’t exactly a pleasant experience, to say the least. He could only remember vague flashes, a searing pain in his back that wouldn’t abate no matter what he did. He remembered a hand in his hair and concerned voices surrounding him. But other than that… nothing.

He’d faded in and out of reality the entire time, horrific flashbacks so lifelike Xornoth almost could have sworn they were real plaguing his every moment. But the one thing he knew for sure was that his mom had been there the whole time. 

- The first couple of paragraphs from chapter fifteen of the Wolf Mother

[givereadersahug]

2022 Fic Round-Up (Again)

Am I doing another fic round-up? You bet! They deserved to be talked about. Why should I stop talking about them once I publish my work? Thanks for the tag @danpuff-ao3!

Rules:

Post the top 5 works you're most proud of that you released in 2022 (not necessarily your most popular),

your top 4 current WIPs that you're excited to release in the new year,

your top 3 biggest improvements in your writing over the past year,

your top 2 resolutions (ways you wish to improve your writing/blog) for the new year,

and your number 1 favorite line you've written this year!

Tagging - Anybody who see this post, go write ahead! I want to read about your fics and what you're excited for!

5 fics

I'm going to try to talk about fics I hadn't talked about before. Got to spread the love! And I feel like some deserve more attention, or at least an acknowledgement from me that -- yes, I wrote the thing and no, I didn't forget about you.

The Mirror of Erised (Harry Potter, Gen, 200 words) - This was written for a prompt community on Dreamwidth, which challenges you to write a drabble using 100 words or 200 words in total. The prompt for this work was 'shattered glass.' This was...different. I knew immediately I wanted to write a fic using the Mirror of Erised. I have a whole complex backstory for the mirror and how it came to be and what it saw through the years. And I knew how I wanted to end the story. The story would make for a heartbreaking, well-rounded fic if I had the capacity and the talent to convey the emotions I wanted to convey -- the devastation, the yearning, the complete loss, the possession. So I used this prompt as an exercise. Sometimes I do that --- most of my drabbles are slice of life fics that don't need more than a few hundred words to express. But for some --- for some, I want to see if the story is worth telling. Does it merit an expansion? An in-depth look? A second chance? It's a great exercise, imo, and I get my bazillion and one ideas out there in the world and not hidden away in my folder on my computer to never be seen again. The process of thinking about the world and editing the drabble and seeing it published --- it helps with figuring out which story is worth my time and which isn't worth my time. Maybe I will go back to it. Maybe I inspire someone to write something. Who knows? But back to this drabble. I'm proud of this drabble. I think. I'm proud of the story in my head that I have for this world. I do, however, want to change the wording and the pitter-patter, rhythmic way I wrote it. (Since I think the rhythm was lost a bit and certain sentence structures, imo, were wonky.) But the reception over on Dreamwidth was great. People really responded to it and I really love the story in my head. Which that's the problem, huh? If only we have a way to transfer the stories we envisioned directly onto the page. Now I'm just rambling. Back to the topic. I'm proud of this. It deserves to be talked about. There. <3

Peace (SK8 the Infinity, Matchablossom, 200 words) - This was also written for a drabble prompt community on Dreamwidth. The prompt was 'you know me.' Matchablossom. What can I say? They are my comfort ship right now. Unlike my other ships, this one is 'realistic' in a way that this could be my parents or my friends and their partners or the loving couple I know down the street. Just them. Being old friends who happened to be in love and do domestic things together and fight and be annoyed with each other --- without the fate of the world hanging in balance, or a chosen one prophecy, or complicated planetary relations muddling the waters. Comfort. It's the little things you do for the person you love, which I think I captured in this drabble. The little things that Kojiro does for Kaoru throughout their days together. (In this case, feeding him, since Kojiro runs a restaurant and Kaoru is a mess of a human being who forgets to eat and needs to be fed.) Action speaks louder than words -- the dynamics of their relationship, their feelings for each other. I was working on my 'showing, not telling' and I don't know. This drabble is one I often come back to to read. Most of the fics I read is all about the complexities, or the dangers of saving the world/country/universe/etc, the grit & harshness of a couple getting together. Which is great! But sometimes writing about domestic fluff and established relationships with no true conflict --- well, there are so few writers that can get that right for me. Each genre and each trope is complex in its own way, and everyone has different tastes, and sometimes you just have to write the fic you want to see in the world. This is a long-winded answer to just say that I know what I like, and I love this drabble.

Forgiveness (Harry Potter, Severus Snape/unnamed male character, 625 words) This was written for the hp-coffeehouse community on Dreamwidth for the prompt - coffee/tea in hot weather/summer. Old man Snape! Waiting in a teashop and asking for forgiveness from an old lover. I wanted to write a Muggle AU about regrets and...man, was this hard. I think I did okay. I went for a more lyrical style. I had no specific male lover in mind, since this was about Severus coming to terms with his past actions. I was reading Yoko Ozawa's works at the time (highly recommend her books) and I was trying to capture her style. I don't think I succeeded, but I'm happy with the outcome. Even if it took me a while to get this written. 🤣

Devotion (SK8 the Infinity, Matchablossom, 7316 words) I wrote Intricacies first. Devotion is a remix of that fic. I was dumb and thought - 'Huh. What if there was a fanfic that actually dealt with the real legal issues in Japan in relation to same-sex couples adopting?' Cause, let's be real here. Same-sex couples can't get married and they can't adopt. (Yet.) And there were a lot of fanfics about Kaoru and Kojiro happily married and maybe adopting a child, and I decided to throw cold water onto the parade. I wanted to read a fanfic about their struggles to get married and to adopt, and when I couldn't find one, I wrote it myself. In the end, this fic isn't even really about them adopting. It's about them coming to terms with each other and them being a team. Adoption and marriage (and to a lesser extent, citizenship, a whole other bag of issues Japan has) was just a vehicle in Kaoru and Kojiro being more Kaoru and Kojiro. You think that given I wrote the fic I have the words to express my feelings about it or talk about the emotions I wanted to convey, but I can't. 🤣 Anyway, I'm proud of this fic. Go fic!

Colours (Harry Potter, Snarry, 2268 words) This was written for the Liquid Luck Drabble challenge. The prompt was a photograph of blue butterflies on a fallen log. It's pretty simple. I just wanted to write a fic in which Severus gets railed by Harry. But I also wanted Severus to be hopelessly smitten? But yet in a Severus way? idk how to describe it, but I wanted to write how Mr. Darcy looked in the second proposal scene in Pride & Prejudice (2005). Completely enamored, enchanted, beguiled, besotted---- basically all the adjectives. 🤣 I wanted to create a sense of ethereal and grace in the story, cause the photograph (which is linked in the story) is such beauty and mystic and other-wordly. I know I'm not a plot-heavy writer. What I do want is to bring up certain emotions while you read and I wanted this fic to be like a dream you dreamed once.

4 WIPs

I'm not going to count my fest fics. Mostly, I just don't want to jinx myself. I have yet to drop a fest and I feel like the more I talk about them, the more I get insecure? Have second thoughts? Something goes funny in my brain, so here are other projects I hope to accomplish in the next year or two.

The Loneliest Time Project. I always wanted to write a series of fics based around a theme, so I figured new year, new project. The Loneliest Time is the sixth studio album released by Carly Rae Jepsen and it's my favorite album of 2022. It is also ripe for inspiration. Each song is an examination of different types of loneliest. There is cynicism in this album. There are heartbreaks, regrets, bitterness. I have a few ideas already. I just need a push to actually write them out.

King Severus. My bedtime story for Coco. I'll finish it! I promise, Coco! I PROMISE.

Your Name & Paranorman. These are two Snarry AUs I spoke about once or twice on Discord. I have the outlines. I just...hmmm. Something is holding me back, and I need to figure out what it is.

Restoration. My incomplete Snarry AUctoerfest entry. The one I dropped and wrote something else for the fest. I'm hoping to have this one done before the 2023 AUctoberfest, but who knows? *crossing fingers*

3 improvements

I got over my writer's block? That is a major improvement, I think. 🤣 Do I even need the other two?

Signing up for fests! That really helped in getting my mojo back. And participating in prompt challenges. I apparently like structure and rules, so fests & prompts really helped this year.

Learning not to worry too much about being perfect. English is technically my third language. I used to be obsessed over my fics having to be perfect before I even think about posting them online. I don't even care if my plot would be received well as long as my grammar is perfect. My grammar is farrrr from perfect. (I'm sure there are a bunch of mistakes in this post.) I have eccentricities in my writing style, the way I talk, the way I think. Nobody is ever perfect, so why should I be? And the edit button is always there. (Also, can I say again how tenses are the BANE OF MY EXISTENCE. arghhhh.)

2 resolutions

I want to crack that 10k mark. One of my fic needs to hit that 10k mark. Please?

Thorki, my love. My OTP. You are intimidating and scary to write for. I hope I can write something for you. So far I have dipped my toes in. I just need to submerge myself fully. Hopefully. Maybe.

1 line

Hmmm. I only have one line? But..hmmm. Okay, for this bit I decided to randomly choose one fic from SK8 the Infinity and one from Harry Potter and pick a line from there. (Or in this case, a paragraph.)

Devotion - (SK8 the Infinity, Matchablossom, 7316 words)

This moment at the tail-end of Kaoru’s rant, him voicing all his anxiety filled thoughts he must had have obsessed over – this moment with Kaoru’s flushed cheeks, his hair out of place from all his gesturing, and his eyes filled with heated passion and the deluge of pure emotions cascading from every pore – Kojiro thought he was in love with Kaoru before but this. This was the moment Kojiro knew with absolute certainty he was head over heels, couldn’t live without, shout from the sun and moon and stars and heavens he was totally, devastatingly, hopelessly in love with Kaoru – the most infuriating man Kojiro had ever known, and the most caring man Kojiro had ever known. He would have fought the world before for Kaoru, but now he would fight Kaoru if he himself got in Kojiro’s way in making him happy.

Dragons - (Harry Potter, Severus Snape/Charlie Weasley, 2659 words)

Dragons were misunderstood; people always saw them as violent creatures when they were anything but violent. Hulking and snarling, they were gentle creatures at heart. They react with brutality and sheer force when backed into a corner. I knew how to handle the beasts; I am reaping the reward for bedding one.

[doctormastertardis]

RE: "Freedom of Speech" and how it plays a role in AUTONOMY, ANARCHY, LIBERATION & OPPRESSION (an essay)

The mentality of an abusive bigot is usually that of, "say it respectfully or don't say it all" when it comes to criticizing establishments, politicians, the government, and bigoted people... such mentality is all about PR (public relations = social "image"). Sorta like how COLONIAL Christian churches --or any other restricted religions for that matter-- would instead LIMIT "God's words" to what they consider "societally acceptable," rather than expand their vocabularies to further their consciousness.

TONE POLICING is a tactic that a lot of oppressive people do, because they don't have the capacity to critically understand and/or willfulness to empathetically connect things together. America is even worse because people here are obsessed with SUING people for practicing freedom of speech. A lot of willfully bigoted folks care more about their own PROJECTION of their self-image than actually learning, listening, and practicing comprehension --this is how to differentiate intellectuality from academia. The former provides an open space for exploration, while the latter perpetuates stagnancy and OPPRESSIVE STATUS QUOS.

What OPPRESSIVE people need to know is that the threat of a "libel law suit" can only go so far as to prove the real consequences of CLAIMED "defamation". See, freedom of speech is meant to protect citizens from OPPRESSION. Freedom of speech is meant to PROTECT THE TRUTH and/or FACTUAL NARRATIVES--there is no such thing as "facts"-- just the FACTUAL NARRATIVE of how people ACTUALLY correspond to perspectives or "beliefs" (interpersonal vs. individual).

This is why I value literacy more than politeness. Being polite is a "good man's" tool. There are MANY rules to politeness that an honest person would NOT be able to "follow". And often times, MOST HONEST PEOPLE don't have rules. They have DISCERNMENT. Niceness is a surface mechanism-- it is essentially "customer service" without the ACT of servicing the customer. "Niceness" is what coloniality is all about. A clear example would be COLONIAL Christian missionaries who impose their RULES on people they oppress or "conquer," instead of integrating & connecting with the locality of "morality" and/or SPIRITUALITY.

Ironically, the "politeness" of "customer service" exists merely to SERVE the interest of the "servicer". Many "modern" (capitalist-made) jobs, such as waitressing, help preserve the mentality of "niceness". TONE-POLICING is the tool of the oppressor. The main aim of "niceness" is the perpetrator's intent to impose their perspective only. It serves the maintenance of establishments that profit from the mental, emotional, and physical labor of the oppressed.

Kindness is emotional depth, which is the very essence of humanity. It is about understanding and compassion, and MOST IMPORTANTLY about DISCERNMENT. See also: the fundamental difference between moral values/moral codes VERSUS societal conventions/social cues.

Now, I am not saying that being nice (e.g .sweet words and loving actions) is oppressive. So STOP RIGHT THERE if you're already projecting your "trained morality" and BINARY THINKING on these exemplifications. Being nice is always appreciated. It is a social bridge to understanding one another. But using "niceness" as a tool to shut down important discourses on dismantling oppression BURNS THAT BRIDGE.

So, about freedom of speech...

Speech can only be a "danger" or a "threat" if it's of a VIOLENT nature, i.e. if the speaker is clearly THREATENING to harm. A lot of BIGOTED people usually project their insecurities on those who actually practice true freedom of speech.

For example, when a person says, "If Trump doesn't exist anymore, we'd have a better cultural environment because he encourages ignorant people to do harm" -- usually, a bigoted person would reply with their own fear/projection to "if" statements. They'd say something embarrassing like, "that dangerous man wants Trump dead!!!" (virtue-signaling), OR "that man wants to kill ALL OF US Trump supporters!!" (victim mentality). Do you see the projection of insecurity? They would then LABEL the Truth-speaker as "dangerous" all the while fostering authoritarian speech.

Another example would be if an individual says, "I would like to visit (location) and try to meet (so-and-so) because I would like to tell them in person just how much their inconsiderate/oppressive actions contributed to the violence that I (and/or my community) have experienced, so they can truly understand where I am coming from". THIS is an example of community-building and accountability-seeking, which usually takes in the form of group protests or interpersonal dialoguing, which a lot of OPPRESSIVE and ABUSIVE people avoid and/or condemn.

This is where literacy is very important, because majority of Americans pursue "formal education" ONLY to absorb information and mimic teachings-- they want the career and the social status to feed their narcissism, but NOT actually pursue inner-individual and interpersonal-social PROGRESS. Cognitive dissonance plays an important role in oppression, as the "modern world" today relies heavily on PUBLIC PERSONA, SOCIAL TRENDS, and MARKETABLE SELF-IMAGES. Progressive concepts like "autonomy" or "anarchism" are thereby surface-defined usually by those who benefit from SYSTEMIC and STRUCTURAL oppressive "societal rules" (usually through identity politics).

Point is, absolutely anyone can perpetuate systemic oppression. It doesn't matter what color your skin is, or what nationality you hold. We, as individual people and as collective societies, have the INTERPERSONAL-to-STRUCTURAL-to-SYSTEMIC power to uphold and perpetuate oppression through our individual AND group ACTIONS.

Liberation is about DISCERNMENT: who has the social, systemic, and structural PRIVILEGE/power OVER others? The answer is often DISCERNED through hierarchical AND intersectional practices. How do individual and group actions impact the oppression that different groups of people experience? How do we dismantle an oppressive system in the realms of interpersonal dialoguing?

Freedom of speech is just that.

[introspectionofaqueer]

it feels so strange to have a *casual* crush on someone

Like not strangley obsessive or weird? Like I just enjoy talking to her and getting to know her? Part of me isn't really sure if I'm just not able to tell romantic vs platonic attraction. Like what if since it just feels good and normal I'm just mistaking platonic for romance? Just bc she's pretty? But another part of me feels like maybe this is how it's supposed to be. Not all consuming for once. Like isn't it a good sign when your nervous system feels relaxed around someone? Instead of like butterflies and nerves? Or does that just mean you don't like them in that way? I'm confused because I feel kind of like, there's no reason for me not to like her that way. But idk if there's like "the spark" or whatever. I'm so not sure how this is supposed to feel. Mistake 1 is believing in a "supposed to" when it comes to this sort of thing, I guess. It doesn't really even matter, I'm just doing my thing regardless. I don't necessarily have the capacity for a romantic relationship right now anyway so either way it's going to be a long time of building friendship first anyway. No expectations and no pressure, I'm just excited to potentially have another good friend I can trust. It's hard really only having one true friend. I love her dearly and wouldn't trade her friendship for the world, but it would be nice to have a support system so the burden doesn't all fall on one. I think I'd be content with two mutually loving and compassionate friendships. I think I have really high standards for friendships which is why 2 is plenty. Like I just want emotional reciprocity and mutual love and understanding and care. Sometimes I feel like my standards for friendship are closer to partnership standards to most people, but I honestly think it's the bare minimum. Like I just want genuine care and affection. Love is everything, I want people who I can share it deeply and profoundly with. And if we cannot be vulnerable together, how are we to experience the depths to which love goes? I don't want surface level. I love loving and just want special people to share it with who want to love me all the same.

[xcziel]

i feel bad for not fully engaging with certain things i still love on here this past little while

and it's purely because i just don't have the mental or emotional capacity for angst right now

it's a weird feeling: i see a post go by that really would hit and has depth but it's like i can only paddle in the kiddie pool

[harway]

Having a huge argument with a friend. Free drama read.

Through Discord text chat. The start of the argument was over if the VTuber, Koseki Bijou, sounded younger than 7 or if she sounded 12. My argument was the former, his was the latter. I am bias against high voices and I am deathly allergic to girls that speak high and cutesy perpetually.

It was a decent length argument going back and forth, and my friend said the VTuber sounded older than 12. He would know because he went to a 12 year old's birthday party.

Meanwhile I recently went on vacation that included children ages 2, 7, 9, and 11. The VTuber sounded younger than 7 pit against them. If you're reading this, you can look the VTuber up and make your own judgements.

Anyway, I made a really dry joke that I was sorry the 12-year-old my friend knew was disabled. (The high voice being the 'disability'.) He got really offended because apparently that's his goddaughter and I shouldn't assume she's disabled because she has a high voice.

Now, being upset I made a mean joke is perfectly reasonable, what's not reasonable is how he handled shutting down the conversation which was strong-armed. Words like: "Stop. No, we're not talking about this." "The conversation is over."

Being treated in such a way triggers me really badly. I don't handle being treated like that very well and it snaps something in my brain. It manifests as anger like a fire that sucks out all my oxygen and my head shifts into a hard "you should not exist in this world" / "I don't want to live in a world with people like you in it." I get heavily suicidal, and go insane. I have enough consciousness to not start destroying things or committing to self harm, but the feeling is there—and this only happens when that type of language is used against me.

Should probably get therapy about that type of reaction—why it is and how to avoid situations like that—but that's not important right now.

Anyway, since I got triggered really hard, I ended the conversation and left for the night; I can feel when my sanity is slipping. I had to extract myself from that conversation because I didn't want to say anything I regret. I considered him a precious friend. I said something along the lines of that I was enraged and that I was getting off for the night.

The reason I used the language of "enraged" is because that's what I felt at the time! The feeling is extremely visceral and can be difficult to explain as a result.

Off the computer I was wailing to my friend about it—screaming—Friend B didn't even take me seriously until I dug my fingers into his sides and shook him as hard as my little arms could. I was very not okay. Sliding off the deep end, but he talked me into calming down until I returned to normal after bitching and crying for several hours about it.

End that event.

Six days later Friend A messaged me. At this point I'm extremely stressed because of my job. My boss was asking me to move across the country for an unreasonable amount of money (45k a year), but the company is a start up. The stress of that, I did not have the emotional capacity to explain to my friend he triggered an extreme mental breakdown. How do you explain that to someone anyway? "I had a mental breakdown and it's your fault"?

I did my best to allude to that it was more than just anger, but also firmly said I couldn't talk about it and didn't have the emotional bandwidth. I would discuss it with him later when I did.

I also went over with him in-depth about the other major stressor in my life in which he gave absolutely no sympathy towards. He moved across a few states for an (apparently) bad wage at a hospital (not a start-up company), and lived with a family member in his current state until he could get a house. (I have no family or friends where I would have been moving aside from my boss who has has a wife and 2 kids; I'm not staying with them.)

Also, something, something, I made some assumption and Friend B says that I need to stop making assumptions. He has a habit of lecturing me about how I should be. How I need to use words around him to dictionary definition to prevent misunderstandings. He needs to be interacted with in a precise way and if I don't, I get a small lecture about how I'm interacting with people wrong.

End second event.

Back to the main point, it takes a lot of time for me to think of a super triggering event like that and not go into a flurry of insanity just at the thought. It was important for me to have space so I could get to a point where I don't get suicidal thinking about the event. So three weeks past and I messaged him today asking if he's going to play Armored Core. I know it's within his special interests and it's a good question to test the waters with.

His answers were really short. Okay, fine, I know things aren't good between us, so I just bluntly ask if we're just not going to talk anymore. His response is exactly, "I'm talking with my parents. Not everything revolves around you."

There was not even a hint that he was busy doing something else, only that he was being short. Last time he was short too, which creates the assumption he's angry. These are normal assumptions, and people make and draw conclusions naturally.

But the "not everything revolves around you" really fucking ticked me off. My assumption was a symptom of a greater issue (us being on bad terms) and I explained that.

And then later he writes back to me the giant thing about how I was taking advantage of him, how I have no self-awareness, and goes on this huge rant about how pretty much he makes so many sacrifices to make our friendship work. So patient and tolerant. He even says he wasn't even mad that I insulted his goddaughter. He was drawing his boundaries and calmly letting me know and tried to move the conversation away. If you've forgotten already how that went, he shut down the conversation hard and refused to talk about pitch and age corelation of high voices. If it didn't make him mad, why did he have such a violent reaction to it?

So then I wrote him a 3 page essay response about what happened during event one, how it made me feel, and that if anything I actually felt betrayed. Not too long ago we were talking about hwo we enjoyed each other's company. There were things we could talk about that we couldn't any other. He was also happy I didn't freak out over alone-together silence and generally I was super grounded.

I have no clue what he was talking about regarding everything else. And so, more context:

Friend A was a very special friend to me because he was one of the first people to treat me like a person and want to do things with me back when no one would talk to me in high school. To me he was like a shining sun and I had a lot of fun, happy memories.

I pay special attention to how I talk to him as a result to preserve who he is and our relationship.

I never want to shame him for his hobbies—like once he was really into painting his nails; I encouraged him to do it if it made him happy. I don't really like that in a guy, but my opinion doesn't matter when it comes to his happiness.

I do my best to listen to him talk about games he's interested in, at the very least keep an open ear even if they aren't my kind of game. He does the same for me. I am admittedly bad at engaging and have bad auditory processing, but I will never tell him to stop talking about them even if I'm not all that interested.

I even talk to him about topics he doesn't feel like he can talk about with others. The appreciation for good doujin or weird web comics. I think they're fun too and it's enjoyable!

I don't really like table top games, but I gave Lancer a try for him. It went really badly for me in particular, but the group and story was just not a very good for introduction for a newbie. I ended up having to withdraw and did my best to explain it wasn't their fault, I'm just not used to TTRPGs enough for it.

During this event Friend A actually got upset for not going to him for help. He is just not someone great to ask for things to be explained to from, and last he tried to help me with Lancer it wasn't a very good learning experience. Also I have a lot of trouble with self learning and focus.

Meanwhile he's great at it! Tried playing Kingdom Death with him. I tried to talk to him while he was reading the rules though once and I get a really terse, "I'm not done reading the rules" in the same tone a parent might tell a child that they're busy and to go away because they're a child. Then while playing the game he insisted we follow the rules to a 'T' rather than focus on making the game fun for us. Friend B was there too and not having a great time.

And another great interaction with Friend A was when we were talking about VTuber rigging. He said that IRYS' first model wasn't expressive enough and that was the fault of the modeler. I said that it was the fault of the rigger and 2D rigging is similar to 3D rigging (my main trade), which is how I know. He insisted that it was the modeler's fault, but we both didn't know enough about Live2D to argue about it. He was going to ask another friend who made and rigged her own model. I didn't bother arguing with him about it, but later he said his VTuber friend said it was the fault of the rigger. OK. I don't even think I rubbed it in that I was right or that it was how I said because I'm not looking to pick arguments.

And then us not being able to play a game together he's complained about, because I used to move games a lot... Well, we had different schedules so I just stopped inviting him to try different games. I wasn't going to make a big deal of it. Says it's my fault, whatever, maybe in the future if there's a game we both really like—shelving the idea.

I'm just griping now honestly. Friend B says I shouldn't be friends with Friend A if he brings no joy to my life. The idea of Friend A is probably where the joy is and we have just such different communication styles we probably should just stop being friends.

In the end though, the start of this whole damn thing could have been avoided if he communicated his boundaries with different phrasing. I don't have a problem with his boundaries, but I also got mine. No one else I talk to treats me like I'm below them, even my boss.

It got worse because I needed to look after my mental health since I could easily become actively suicidal. Maybe I didn't communicate that well when I was overwhelmed and stressed. I'll take that L too; I need to get better at controlling my emotions and handle stress better.

But seriously, how are you supposed to tell a precious friend "Your language towards me caused a serious mental breakdown" when just the thought of it caused insanity to ebb at the edge of the mind?

[beyondthetemples-ooc]

multiples of 6

Thanks for the ask, Nonny! This'll be fun. Though I really hope I'm doing my math right, I'm challenging myself to answer this without looking up a chart. :P

6: Do you sleep with or without clothes on?

Straight-up without, as often as I can get away with it. Always when I'm at home.

12. Ever stuck a foreign object up your nose?

Oh yeah, I did it a lot as a kid. After kid-dom: Does using tweezers to pluck nose hairs count? Or nasal allergy spray? Also, I can stick my tongue up my nose a little. I used to do that to freak people out.

18. Do you believe in karma?

Do we mean the bastardized Western "karma" or the actual Buddhist samsara-involved karma? Because I don't think the universe has any default rule for "if you're a jerk, bad things will happen to you in the very same life, just because you're a jerk", I've seen too much evidence to the contrary, but I do believe in reincarnation, and I believe that the way you act in previous lives affects how you experience this one.

I believe good and bad things happen to everyone regardless of how kind or selfish you are, life can be hard or easy for anyone if they make it so, and it's really more about how you spin it. Attitude, gratitude, and all that.

24. Do you have a collection of anything?

See prior ask! (tl;dr Many things: CDs, Evanescence stuff, Pokemon stuff, Teen Titans stuff, rocks/etc., bird feathers/bones, and books.)

30. Stick your right arm out; what do you touch first? Do the same with your left arm.

Right arm: Misdreavus plushie. c: Left arm: My everyday messenger bag.

36. Define Art.

Something that can be practiced and turned into something else, or otherwise change something because of the way one thinks, feels, and expresses it beyond their own mind. I see language as an art. I see cleaning as an art. I see thinking as artistic.

(Cut because there are Many and it got Long!)

42. Do you like the smell of gasoline?

I actually used to like it a lot more. I loved the smell as a kid. Now it smells kind of overwhelming.

48. What’s your sexual orientation?

Do you want the easy answer, or the in-depth technicality-ridden microlabels?

Easy answer: asexual

Technical microlabels: Demi-gray-pansexual. (Demi because I absolutely can not feel any sort of sexual attraction without an emotional bond first, gray because even when that criteria is met it's exceedingly RARE for me to feel any sexual attraction, and pansexual almost as an afterthought because gender doesn't even factor into it for me. I have the capacity to be attracted to any and all genders.)

54. What’s the last thing you purchased?

I bought groceries yesterday. A lot of groceries. Specifically: Mostly fresh fruit and veggies, some salad fix-ins, gluten-free bread, a couple different drinks, and a perhaps ridiculous amount of different candies. Also bought some folders for tax purposes and some scissors/glue for household purposes, as well as knee-high nylons because the ones I have are all breaking, and hairties and a new brush because the ones I got from Walmart were simply Not working.)

60. Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you?

Uhhh... The aforementioned Misdreavus plushie has pink on the ends? There's a Mismagius one too, also with pink ends! Some deflated balloons from the birthday "party" Mom and qpp and my niece decorated our place with. (It was months ago but it made my heart so happy, you have no idea!) Also some candy packages, raspberry-lemonade kombucha drink cans, and the memory foam pillow that came with an obnoxiously hot pink cover that I'm probably going to put another case on. Also some Mother's Day gift baskets I still haven't given people.......

66. What is your heritage?

Mostly English and German, some Scottish, and various Lakota tribes with more Cherokee than all the Lakota bits combined. I don't really "claim" any of it, though. It's my ancestry, but I wasn't really raised with any ideals or customs that are unique to these cultures.

There are more aspects to this that involve past lives that I consider a part of My Heritage, but I'm not comfortable delving into that on a public blog with 800+ followers.

72. You are at the doctor’s office and she has just informed you that you have approximately one month to live. a) Do you tell anyone/everyone you are going to die? b) What do you do with your remaining days? c) Would you be afraid?

Well, I'd write up a will, for one. I'd handle the practical stuff first: Telling people my desired funeral arrangements (dear god do NOT pump my physical vessel full of formaldehyde). Make sure my pets have a good home lined up (probably my ex-roommates in Massillon or Nana tbh, wouldn't be terribly hard). Probably give my collectibles away to people who I know would cherish them.

I would tell people, yes, because I'd want them to know what's happening, and why I'm about to disappear. I'd only tell my job (because I'd be quitting), and my dearest loved ones. Anyone else who cares to ask what happened to me can hear about it from someone else.

I'd spend the rest of my time saying goodbyes, probably sending letters to creators that had the most impact on my life, and wildly and recklessly trying to post as much content from my stories as possible! No way in hell would I be able to write everything up completely, but I'd probably... put it all in a dA st.ash collection or something, and put links absolutely EVERYWHERE so anyone who wants to Know What Happens to my OCs can read their stories, even if they're not narrated as prettily as I'd like.

And no, I wouldn't be afraid. I've never been afraid of death. It's an inevitability I've accepted, and really, I see both necessary cruelty and awe-inspiring beauty in it.

78. Can insanity bring on more creativity?

Anything can, if you're creative enough! In my experience though, it's harder to create things coherently when you lose your grip on reality. Now, colloquial "insanity", as separate from the clinical definition, i.e. doing things most people won't do, gives you inspiration most people won't have. It gives you more to draw from. But you don't need to have "insane" experiences to have an "insane" imagination!

84. What is a saying you say a lot?

"If it works, it works." (If it's effective, it works for me. / It's doing the thing I want it to do, so that's good enough for me.)

90. One night you wake up because you heard a noise. You turn on the light to find that you are surrounded by MUMMIES. The mummies aren’t really doing anything, they’re just standing around your bed. What do you do?

It's about to get mystical.

The first thing I'll do is try to "feel out" if they're sentient or mindless drones. If they'll let me, I'll touch them to get a better read on it. I'll also try to see if I can "feel out" any individualism in them, any remnants of who they were in life.

Once I know it's okay: Probably cackle because Past Life Nexus Nonsense.

And then maybe see if I can get them to answer any questions, whether that's verbally or via divination. I can't speak ancient Egyptian, but maybe I can work out a communication method.

Worst case scenario, they're mindless and aimless and I call a museum to say "Hey can someone come identify these guys?"

96. Do you have any relatives in jail?

Yeah. I'm not sure they'd want me sharing their story though. Let's just say I'm kinda used to it.

[fizzingwizard]

Also stopped in on an English book sale at Kinokuniya.

It was fun, but I struggled to find something to buy. Modern trends in literature treat any sentence longer than eight words as purple prose. I'm so sick and tired of writing that just states and never conveys. Let me feel something! Let writing be artistic.

I feel like so many modern writers rely on first person POV to do all the emotional heavy lifting. There are many very good books in first person that I love. But I think some writers who use it don't know why they're using it: they just know it's trendy. There's more to first person than just writing "I" a lot.

And I don't need to be slammed in the face with flowery emptiness, but I do hate the current popularity of the minimalist approach. It can be useful when the purpose is to create distance between readers and characters, or reflect the characters' apathy for life. But I swear it's just everywhere now. I read a book jacket and it's some version of "After losing her job, Sarah is forced to move back home to quiet Nowheresville, Washington, but her world turns upside down when upon arrival she's accused of murder." And then I start reading and can't care about Sarah at all. Midway through she could disappear from the text and I wouldn't even miss her. Too bland to remember. A murder can't make a character interesting. Only the text can do that.

Speaking of murder. The other reason I struggled to find a book was because everything was about a murder! Or a war, especially a fantasy war. Even books that weren't thrillers had some deadly "thrill" involved. I love action stories and thrillers, and most stories need a plot, but my gosh, can no one think of anything else to write about it? Once again it seems like a go-to "This will hook the audience!" but it fails to hook me. Every hero is jaded, every heroine is strong, every dead person is more interesting dead than alive, and all are forgettable to me.

So what I ended up buying was Heaven by Kawakami Mieko. And the reason I bought it was because I opened it and instantly felt I could relate to the characters. Their emotions hit me on the page without melodrama. I know your capacity for that is a matter of taste, trend, and culture. It's not like there's a true right and wrong in terms of how much emotion is too much (or too little). And while it might be tempting to say it's because "women's writing is emotional,and men's writing is about action," it's clearly not true. No one can read Goethe or Kafka - let's not even get started with poets - and come to that conclusion. If anything, it's about trends in men's writing, which are no more than trends. It's incredibly silly to say women's writing is bad because it doesn't follow the trend in men's, especially since when things trend the other way, we'll get some variation of "men have more emotional depth than women who are just hysterical." Seriously, there is nothing you can do as a woman to "win" through the lens of patriarchy. Don't even bother.

I've just begun the book, so I can't say for sure what I'll think of Kawakami in the end. Obviously, this book is translated, but a good translation reflects both the skill of the translator and the artistry of the writer. I also found this article in the New York Times about Kawakami, and there were a few bits I wanted to share.

I'm a fan of Murakami Haruki. He's popular for a reason, and it's nice that that reason isn't that he writes bland, toneless stories. There's so much individuality and voice and deep characterization in his books. But he does get critiqued for his one-note female characters. According to the Times article, Murakami praised Kawakami's work, and Kawakami is a fan of Murakami's. They had this interaction:

This sort of thing is the exact point where men and women find they can't understand each other. For so many straight male writers, a women is sexuality, because that's what women meant to them growing up as men and what effect such a comment from a woman could have. And women are left to wonder what these female characters do when there isn't a man around to make strange sexually-charged comments at, because they don't seem to have any other traits. A woman in men's writing is often more symbolic than she is human. It's not inherently wrong. Anything can be a symbol. But it is noticeable (to women anyway) when a writer uses female characters over and over in the same way without also offering women characters who clearly exist as themselves even when men aren't around.

When you read a romance novel, written by straight women for straight women, you'll probably find something not too dissimilar: a male lead who is more a symbol of the female protagonist's desire, both in a romantic/sexual sense and also in a practical one: if he isn't able to offer her emotional support at first, he learns how to. He fills the gap. He's something of a fantasy more than a human, and he may have interests outside of his lover... but he'll certainly pick her first.

But that's romance novels. They tell you right off the bat that they are a fantasy. They aren't pretending to be deep, raw, philosophical studies on society and the human condition. Novels which aspire to something so lofty should have a higher standard for how they depict their characters, regardless of gender or any other supposedly distinctive descriptors attached to them. You can have your symbolic Sexy Woman, fine, but only if you're clear that that's what you're doing and have other robust female characters who aren't the literary equivalent of the statue of Venus de milo.

The article goes on to say that Kawakami wanted to distance herself from the label of "feminist writer," and to do that she created a male protagonist. It's hard to miss the parallel: Murakami writes male protagonists and leaves symbolism to the females, while Kawakami writes female protagonists and generally avoids male ones. It's only natural that a man would write mainly from the point of view of a man: it reflects his life and growth. And equally, it's only natural that a woman would write about her life and growth as a woman. Neither Murakami nor Kawakami are at fault there. The difference is that Murakami's works don't get labeled "the male perspective" - instead they're held to be intriguing and enlightening to anyone. While Kawakami's works have been called "the female perspective," interesting only to feminists, and garner comments from men such as this beauty:

I think it's important for women world-wide, regardless of where you live or your culture or your privilege, to know that there are men like Ishihara. And that they may be politicians capable of legislating against you. Many men are wonderful and as able to admire a talented female writer as they are to write captivating, reflective novels themselves. We can love them while also being wary of the ones like Ishihara, the ones who throughout history have wielded sexuality, pregnancy, and motherhood as tools to keep our perspectives anything but mainstream.

Many a timeless male writers has written with love and eloquence for humans. Women writers, even when they write exclusively about women, are just the same.

Finally, a slightly unrelated quote, but one that made me smile:

like my goodness, isn't this the point of art? To have Breaking Bad as well as "Breaking Bad but not a macho drama." What's art if you can't break it into pieces and put it together again and have it come out completely different? Th experience of gender isn't immaterial, but is no more than an experience. Not a wall. Why do people limit themselves in what they read (or admire) because someone's "experience" isn't the same as their own? I still remember the revelation to me that was a la mode. Always loved pie, so I thought, what does it need ice cream for? One bite opened up a whole new world. Whenever I hear of people like Ishihara, I figure they must hate pie a la mode.