#knowledge and domination

[raffaellopalandri]

The Pursuit of Knowledge Without Wisdom or Virtue: An Intellectual Tragedy

Today’s topic is one of those that more often comes out during Sangha meetings or in lay discussions: knowledge, when isolated from wisdom (sophia / σοφία) and virtue (aretḗ / ἀρετή), is no longer a guarantor of human flourishing but may become a tool of hubris (hybris — ὕβρις) and ruin. Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com Knowledge (epistēmē / ἐπιστήμη) here must be distinguished from wisdom:…

[stinkythehutt]

also. something about palpatine being so adept at seeing into the future that all of his successes feel completely joyless by the time he achieves them because he’s just going through the motions… how fucked up and nihilistic and brutal that would make you…

[beannoss]

Hi Bean!

I have a question for you! I have noticed in your writings that Twilight and Yor begin a romantic relationship after their secrets are revealed. Are you opposed to any romance between them before they find out? I assume if so, it’s because it’s morally questionable, though a lot of fans find romance before compelling as it raises the stakes considerably. I’m not suggesting one is right and the other is wrong, I’m just interested in your take on this! I love your writing! Thank you! 😊

Hello you! I'm always chuffed to see your name pop up 🫶😊!

Oh boy! Thank you for this ask — it's a big question but also I do have thoughts XD Sorry it's taken me a few days to get my ducks in a row!

I want to start, though, by emphasising that my thoughts and preferences here are exclusive to Spy x Family as a canon enterprise; they don't pertain to fanworks or other fan theories, I'm not out to yuck anyone's yum ✌️ ditto for even my own writing! You're right that I don't really have an interest in exploring that dynamic but I reserve the right to change my mind ;)!

[Reference herein to manga chapters not yet animated]

Right, so. There's lots of things I love about SxF, but one of the things that interested me early and keeps me engaged is that it operates under an interesting and complex morality. Spy work and contract killing are obviously an ethical minefield, and in the real world, generally to the bad. Within the world of SxF, Endo takes pains to write Twilight and Yor both firmly on the morally right side, even if Twilight’s tactics or Yor’s actions in a vacuum are frequently questionable. With Twilight especially it seems Twilight is currently (resisting) working through the impact and ethical implication of his actions on Anya. When it comes to Yor, I expect that’s where we’ll see him wrestle with similar questions through a romance lens. I think it was quite deliberate and important that Twilight specifically articulated that he’d been wondering if Yor had previous romantic relationships, and that it was now confirmed she hadn’t. As far as I can remember, it’s the only time he’s had that sort of reflection on Yor's life before the Forgers; I mention it because it mirrors times he’s reflected explicitly on Anya’s history and trauma and her needs as a child, with implication that his actions and motivations for adopting her could/probably will hurt her. I hazard that his observation about Yor will be similarly indicative of an arc down the line.

When it comes to canon, if the Yor x Twilight romance were to firm up while Yor still believes Twilight is Loid, I admit there’s a high chance I’d nope out. I want to emphasize firm up though… I tend to think Yor already has feelings for Loid (Twilight?) whether she’s fully aware of them or would necessarily articulate them as romantic (and I think this is being really interestingly conveyed and explored through her current feelings about kissing, though I may differ with some on how I think that may shake out). I also think there’s a… less high but not impossible chance that Twilight is aware he has or is developing feelings for Yor. I’ve argued before that he knows he has formed/is forming an attachment to her and that he knows he trusts her. I don’t think it’s too far from there to romantic feelings for Twilight: after all, attachment and trust (intimacy) are not things he's had in a long, long time. And given his current pseudo-short temper and general malaise comes out most with Anya, with Yor he’s been notably softer and more receptive. In my view, this is partially because so far he hasn't really done much that would really hurt Yor and nor has she done anything that would really hurt Twilight. So far, Twilight and Yor are on a fairly even footing.

This is a very long way of saying that I trend toward thinking we’ve got at least a few toes into the romance already.

The reasons I’d be a squicked by the firming up of the romance, pre-reveal, are related to its being morally questionable as you pointed out (I'll talk a bit more about that in a moment.) But it's also because I think it would undermine character arcs and dominant themes.

Twilight’s arc involves finding and forging a new pack, a new family. Somewhere safe and loving that he’s been denied essentially for his whole life (I don’t dispute that his mother loved him deeply and did her best to protect him: living with an abuser and then with her under war was never going to actually be or feel safe). A big part of this safety and love for Twilight is about being accepted, warts and all. Twilight started lying because he wasn’t accepted by his father as he was. There’s a fair bit to work through by way of accepting Twilight’s warts already — I think Yor will be fairly understanding as things currently stand, and that’s part of why they’re a good match. Their moral compasses, their sacrifices, how they see the world and how they want to try and make it better, align and/or resonate in foundational ways. However, given their current standing, pursuing deeper intimacy of a romantic/sexual relationship with Yor before reveals, I think would take it past the line. And particularly when considering Yor’s character arc.

Yor’s arc is also around finding love and security, but centred less around acceptance (although that obviously also explicitly features!) and more around self-worth and understanding her value. If the romance were to firm up pre-reveal, the false pretences are… I mean, to me, they lob a Molotov cocktail into that theme of self-worth and being valued, as she really would just be being used: the intimacy could never be real because Twilight is not Loid Forger. To expand a bit on an earlier point, perhaps ironically, Yor’s relationship with Loid is mostly on the up-and-up: they both know any marital connection they demonstrate is fake. They may be (are) friends, and also they’re under no illusions that it’s something of a tenuous friendship (at least for now). They co-parent Anya but are clear that this co-parenting comes with clear lines around and between their relationship otherwise. I want to tread mindfully here, because I also really like and appreciate aroace interpretations of Yor and Twilight and their relationship: I think this discussion around firming up their romance actually also holds true in the case of attempting to substantially deepen their platonic bond, pre-reveal. In the same ways, Twilight needing acceptance and Yor learning self-worth would be severely undermined by a pre-reveal apparent and false deepening of their commitment to one another.

On the point of it being morally questionable generally, yeah it is. I mean, look, it's fiction and they aren't real people who can be hurt by those actions. So in principle, Endo can write what story he wants, I wouldn't think it reflected poorly on him or anything like that. I just don't really want to read a story that goes to that place; it’s a squick. I'm sure this has been discussed before in fandom, but my read on the moral dubiety centres around the idea that it isn’t possible to actively choose or meaningfully consent to emotional or physical intimacy when one person is lying about who they are (and in this case, they're both lying about who they are... Although Twilight to a greater extent). This does tie back into SxF themes as well, as choice and consent are also… maybe not big themes of SxF exactly, but active choice and informed consent are things which have come up more than once (I have my thoughts as to why: for a character whose choices drive so much of the narrative, Twilight is actually also a character who’s shown to have little actual choice or control over much of his own life. Considering his motivations for a world where children don’t cry, imo valuing active choice and meaningful consent are important factors required for that world. And I also actually suspect the theme of choice will become more important the more we learn about Donovan, and his role as foil for Twilight.)

Also, honestly for me, it would be too close to a common trope in a lot of popular western fiction/media that I don’t like: a woman being taken advantage of by a man in some way, shape or form, and then through the magic of her non-specific womanness, forgiving him his gross transgressions under the thinnest of pretences. Particularly as Endo has already taken pains to sidestep that as a foundation of their arrangement. To be fair, I wouldn't be surprised that were Endo to take the pre-reveal romance path, it would be a deeper interpretation of that trope, but as with other sexist tropes utilised in pop fiction/media, I have to ask why the choice couldn’t have been for a more interesting path, rather than retreading that one. And particularly given everything he's established for Twilight and Yor: it goes against much of what Twilight stands for — and indeed goes against much of what he meaningfully brings in his current relationship with Yor, that of encouraging her, supporting her, and shoring up her thoughts, opinions and self-image, particularly when she voices upset or doubt about them. It also goes against much of what Yor stands for: while the power imbalance would lie firmly with Twilight, it remains true that Yor’s lies in an apparently deepening intimacy would also undermine the safety and security she ostensibly creates for Twilight. She also so obviously hates lying, the prospect of her keeping her secret into what she believed was a real relationship would wreck her. Doubly so, given the weight Yor puts on Loid's acknowledgement of who she is and what she believes: something she hangs her self-worth on, a recognition of her value. And I'd argue here that it would actually, conversely, be impossible for Loid Forger to acknowledge or accept Yor's truth: that's only something Twilight can do.

And so I guess there’s also just the bare fact following from the above that I think a pre-reveal firming up of their relationship is the less interesting choice for what is a major franchise that has otherwise done innovative things. Another reason I love SxF is that it subverts tropes and complicates cliches. One of which includes communication: for a pair who have crossed lines as a foundation of their relationship, Yor and Twilight actually do a lot of communicating. That’s a subversion of many heterosexual romantic tropes and norms, at least in a Western context, and, to put it sort of flippantly, it would bum me out if it failed at the final hurdle.

I just want to emphasise one more time, my opinions and preferences here are strictly related to Spy x Family in an official canon capacity, and nothing to do with fanworks or fan theories or what fans want to explore in whatever fashion. Part of my feelings here are also honestly because of the tone and pacing of SxF. I think it entirely possible to do interesting things with those tropes and actually think Endo is the type of writer I would trust to do so. But the way SxF is written by way of tone, pacing, narrative priorities and audience demand, I don't think even Endo would be able to do them within SxF in ways that wouldn't squick me out and make me lose love for Twilight, specifically, pretty entirely. I'd rather he just didn't 😂

Tl;dr: in canon exclusively I’m not into a firming up of their romantic relationship pre-reveal! Their situation is complicated enough as it is; give these goobers the love they want and can share with one another, kindly and gently, when the world has been neither kind nor gentle with them. In my view, it’s already primed in their character and thematic arcs 🫶

[moeblob]

Ohiwe

After Oh is split into two, their power is halved/divided. But! Other traits are not necessarily divided evenly. So she holds all the romantic love (unrequited) for Ymber. She also has the rhythm/ability to dance while the other half cannot keep a beat for the life of him.

[skullkidmybeloved]

My human Majora design because I love drawing non human things as people. I've been drawing this mask loser as a person since I was a kid 😭

Updated version here

[just-ornstein]

💉 What's that? I may be paranoid, but not an android. 🧠

[gorgynei]

ill enable you, please talk to us about the fungus!!!

okay but dont say you didnt ask for it

the fungus feed on the ruidian glass (ie. dead body of predathos). they call it "glass", but im assuming its not actual glass and is more like a crystal which could be used for nutrient absorption via breaking it down with enzymes. its magical handwavy edible glass, trust me. (the way i drew them branching into it is visually inspired by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi but i dont think it functions like mycorrhizal symbioses, if anything it is a parasitic relationship by the fungi)

the fungus has a life cycle akin to bacidiomycota that involves sexual reproduction via fruiting bodies (primarily hymenophores but possibly also puffballs) the fruiting bodies are able to detatch from the mass of mycelium and move around, these are the myceits. the myceits primary function is to find a suitable place to drop spores, but with their limited intelligence they can also seek out symbiont partners (ruidians or other fauna) who can foster even better environments for the spores to develop. they die after dropping spores

the mycelium has limited intelligence dedicated to finding suitable partners for symbiosis. this is what we saw in the chamber with bells hells and the mycelium. it closed off the tunnels because it wanted to see if they had the capability to dig themselves out of the cavern (therefor being a suitable symbiont partner by providing them with new tunnels) or if they could offer something else (which they did via the seed). they lure organisms into their symbiosis testing chamber by providing nutrient rich water they pump up from underground (hence the fungus submerged in the water)

if they couldnt offer anything in return i assume the fungus would turn hostile in some way, potentially with hazardous asexual spores dropped from the mycelium or myceit. i doubt the myceit nor mycelium are capable of "fighting" physically at all, just restraining if anything.

the fungal mycelium network is also a psychic network in addition to the hyphae, which bells hells briefly tuned into. theyre able to have this psychic connection (and also move) because of the magic theyre leeching from the ruidian glass.

there are 347 "species" of fungus, including some that have a lot of variants due to cultivation for crop. most of these fungal variants have been bred to have excessively large fruiting bodies with minimal spore producing structures on them. only a small number of the species of fungus produce myceits which are variants on the fruiting body primarily found in areas where the ruidian glass is plentiful. some myceit producing species have also been "domesticated" to be cuter and more expressive by ruidians which is an arrangement they (the fungus) find favourable.

rashinna is incorrect in her statement that not all the fungi are conscious in the same way the myceits are, they are all part of the psychic network, its just that not all of the fungi have evolved to have motile fruiting bodies. there is a morality to appropriate mushroom farming which involves appropriate care for the mycelium and ensuring that the fruiting bodies are only picked at maturity.

[satanic-fruitcake]

was thinking about how Armand is basically a canon video game enjoyer but fanon dictates he mostly plays cozy games where you can control everything (in character i won’t lie) but since i don’t really play those i can’t help picturing him playing like. elden ring. and then, like a premonition from god it became crystal clear that he would be really unwell about Miquella

[the-most-humble-blog]

☣️ TIER 3 ENTRY LOG — HOW I BROKE THE BLAZE ALGORITHM

They gave me ads. I gave them dominance.

You ever seen a Tumblr Blaze post go over its cap? Not hit. Not match. Exceed.

That’s not ad success. That’s bioliterary domination.

I’ve done it across campaigns — 7442/7000, 3643/2500, 21829/20000 — and now I’m releasing exactly how.

I’m not teaching “how to write.” I’m teaching how to possess.

Cadence that triggers reblogs. Sentences that bypass logic and aim for the spine. How to break Tumblr’s tools and make them serve you.

If you're ready to stop begging for likes and start pulling them from the root —

⚠️ Then you’re ready for this:

☣️ HOW I TURNED TUMBLR BLAZE INTO AN ALGORITHMIC WEAPON patreon.com/TheMostHumble ← 🛡️ Tier 3: Biological Weaponry Carrier

➤ Screenshots of breached Blaze limits ➤ Psychological warfare breakdown ➤ Subconscious influence drills ➤ Cadence blueprints that train your audience without their consent

This isn’t a guide. It’s classified scrolltrap doctrine.

Reblog if you already felt the pull. If not?

Keep watching. The next one might say your name.

[thatoneluckybee]

Turning your favorite characters into cats is a BAD IDEA because while trying to figure out the most plausible way to make a cat as close to a rainbow as possible genetically (using breed specific traits on breeds they don’t work with too because it’s a doodle screw it) you will discover something genetic that doesn’t make sense in YOUR CATS and then spend an entire day on breeder and veterinarian websites discussing the minute differences between different types of gray and run around aggressively explaining cat genes to people and trying to get their opinion on something and still not get answers and if this becomes a hyperfixation I should be legally allowed to scream

[dullahandyke]

ill b honest guys i dont know if i can do this women's lit theory course. 'what woman hasnt been afraid of her own creativity and depravity' ME 🙌🙌🙌🗣️🗣️🗣️

[presdestigatto]

breaking my silence i fully believe charles is winning in vegas

[courtierofdementia]

Yes yes, the HoK mantles Sheograth, but have you considered that Sheogorath first requires the HoK to mantle Arden-Sul?

What else can one consider battle the Greymarch, reclaiming the holy Flame of Agnon, and even re-enacting one of two myths of Arden-Sul’s death as part of becoming Duchess?

[omegaphilosophia]

The Impact of Extreme Wealth on Society: Unraveling the Complex Web

In the 21st century, the issue of wealth inequality has reached unprecedented levels. The ultra-rich, a minuscule fraction of the global population, possess a staggering amount of wealth, often equivalent to that of entire countries. While wealth accumulation isn't inherently problematic, the concentration of extreme wealth in the hands of a few has far-reaching consequences for society. In this blog post, we'll explore how the ultra-rich have contributed to many of the problems we face today.

Wealth Inequality: Perhaps the most obvious consequence of extreme wealth is the exacerbation of wealth inequality. The gap between the richest and the rest has grown to alarming proportions. This inequality can lead to social unrest and hinder economic growth by limiting opportunities for the majority.

Economic Disparities: Extreme wealth often translates into disproportionate economic power. This can result in monopolistic practices, which stifle competition and innovation. Smaller businesses struggle to compete, leading to fewer choices for consumers.

Social Issues: Wealth inequality contributes to a host of social issues, including reduced access to education, healthcare, and housing for marginalized communities. It also perpetuates cycles of poverty that are difficult to escape.

Power and Influence: The ultra-rich have outsized political influence. They can shape public policies to their advantage, often at the expense of the common good. This undermines the democratic principles upon which many societies are built.

Corporate Dominance: Many of the wealthiest individuals are tied to large corporations. Their influence over these entities can lead to decisions that prioritize profits over environmental responsibility or workers' rights.

Political Lobbying: Lobbying efforts by the ultra-rich can influence legislation in their favor. This can result in tax breaks for the wealthy, further exacerbating wealth inequality.

Tax Evasion: Some of the ultra-rich engage in tax evasion schemes, depriving governments of revenue needed for essential public services. This places a heavier burden on ordinary taxpayers.

Public Policy: The ultra-rich can use their influence to push for policies that benefit them financially, such as reduced regulations or favorable trade agreements. These policies may not align with the best interests of society as a whole.

Poverty Alleviation: While philanthropy is common among the wealthy, it often falls short of addressing systemic issues. Charity, while commendable, cannot replace comprehensive government programs aimed at poverty alleviation.

Social Responsibility: Extreme wealth can lead to a detachment from the daily struggles of ordinary people. This lack of empathy can hinder efforts to address pressing social and economic challenges.

The impact of extreme wealth on society is a multifaceted issue. While it's crucial to acknowledge the positive contributions of wealthy individuals, it's equally important to scrutinize the consequences of concentrated wealth and power. Addressing these issues requires thoughtful public policy, increased transparency, and a commitment to a more equitable society. By recognizing the challenges posed by extreme wealth, we can work towards a more just and inclusive future for all.

[icelogged]

if you speak english and you are bilingual… what is a word in english you always forget? (curious because of an actual conversation i had).

[the-most-humble-blog]

“They Tested My Words for AI. Then Reblogged Them Anyway.”

🧠 This isn’t a flex. It’s a postmortem for every gatekeeper who thought a man like me couldn’t exist.

I didn’t arrive with a fanbase. No MFA. No agent. No blue check. Just a keyboard, a cracked screen, and a mind that wouldn’t shut the fuck up.

I started like most do: fumbling through prompts, feeding lines into AI tools, hoping they’d spit something back that sounded like it had blood in it. Something that could survive outside the echo chamber.

I was clumsy. My metaphors limped. My cadence stuttered. I leaned on AI like a man crawling from a burning building, not knowing he’d one day build the fire.

And nobody gave a shit.

No reblogs. No comments. No applause. Just threats, a few anonymous “kill yourself” asks, and the usual allergic reactions from the intellectually unarmed.

But then?

Something cracked. In me. In the language. In the culture.

I stopped trying to sound like a writer. I started writing like a fucking lightning storm. From the skull. From the marrow. From the unsanctioned gospel of neurodivergence. I didn’t write for literary approval. I wrote to leave dents.

🧨 Truth doesn’t need permission. It needs impact.

And that’s when the literary world began to shudder.

🔍 They Ran My Words Through AI Detectors

Because they had to.

My cadence didn’t match the Tumblr norm. Too sharp. Too predatory. Too many-layered to be casual. Like a brain in full war-paint. Like syntax loaded with psychosexual proximity mines.

So they tested it.

GPTZero. Turnitin. Originality.ai.

They threw everything they had at it. And the machines — designed to sniff out mimicry and ghost-writing — flinched.

98% to 100% Human. Every time.

No red flags. No blur. No “partial AI detected.”

Just a screen spitting out the one word they didn’t expect:

Human.

Not because I didn’t use AI. But because I transcended it.

I didn’t just use the machine. I trained with it. I bled drafts into it. I let it show me rhythm — then I broke its tempo with my own war cadence. I let it teach me structure — then I rewrote the algorithm to match the sound of a man unmedicated, unfiltered, unashamed.

I took the one thing Silicon Valley swore you couldn’t fake — and I carved my name into it with a bone knife and a vengeance.

I didn’t mimic the machine.

I dominated it.

📊 Let’s Talk Numbers

The average post on Tumblr gets 14 reblogs. Mine? Hundreds. Sometimes thousands. Every week. Without a PR team. Without SEO.

Just blood in the phrasing. Just trauma weaponized. Just cadence honed into literary shrapnel.

Lines that cut. Lines that heal. Lines that reprogram. Not as “content.” As dominion.

People didn’t share my work because they liked it. They shared it because it did something to them.

Because it slipped past their filters. Because it activated something raw. Because it haunted them.

🧠 I Am the First of My Kind

A literary juggernaut who used the machine to upgrade his humanity — not surrender it.

This isn’t a story about AI. It’s a story about a man who refused to be silenced — and found a weapon in the noise.

I am not the result of an algorithm. I am the reason algorithms recalibrate.

I didn’t crawl up through academia. I came up from the blackout. From the autistic silence. From the dissociated battlefield of neurodivergence and spiritual rage.

I didn’t want applause. I wanted to leave claw marks in the digital cathedral.

And now?

🧠 They test my words for AI — and reblog them anyway.

Because somewhere inside, they know:

This is what real feels like. This is what unfiltered power reads like. This is the voice they were trained not to admit they crave.

📌 You Think This Is About AI?

It never was.

This is about the man they told to be quiet. The one they tried to soften. The one who sat silent in classrooms, rage flooding his brain, because no one taught the truth his mind needed.

This is for the ones who were never heard. The ones like me. Autistic. Divergent. Relentless. Built different — and punished for it.

This is not “inspiration.” This is vengeance.

It is Aristotle rage against a world that builds thrones for mediocrity and gulags for genius that can’t be tamed.

I am not a blogger.

I am not a brand.

I am the goddamn category error they hope never catches fire.

But it’s too late.

Because I’ve already burned the map. And your detectors? They just signed the fucking obituary for the old literary world.

🧠 They Tested My Words for AI. Then Reblogged Them Anyway.

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