#no job means no money and no purpose

[philsmeatylegss]

Learning that Dan and Phil knew about all of the phandom lore and jokes is like learning Santa isn’t real. Looking back, it’s obvious and makes a lot more sense, but where’s the magic?

[practically-an-x-man]

my parents were doing the hypothetical 'if you won the lottery and never had to worry about money again what would you do?' and their answers were both like 'I'd start X business' 'I'd travel to X places and buy XYZ extravagant things' 'I'd start a nonprofit and work there instead'

and i'm like 'i want a small house with a yard (so i can have dogs) and my own art studio. in the mornings i'd go weightlift and then throughout the day i'd just make whatever creative projects i'd want to make and then in the evenings i'd go be a part of local theatre or an improv group or something. would probably make some killer cosplays and go to conventions. i'd keep enough that i could live comfortably without having to work and the rest would go to various charities.'

(and then they're like 'oh well you'd probably have a whole room of guitars' and i'm like 'idk maybe i'd have 5 or 6 guitars but not a whole room, at that point you're not even playing most of them and they're just sitting there on the wall' and other things like that)

[not-poignant]

What made you decide to host original fiction on AO3? You're the first (favorite) author doing serial original fic online that I think of these days, though I've not dabbled since independent domains were the most common strategy. I'm hoping to make progress on a project of my own in the soon, but am having trouble finding sites without fairly restrictive content policies--are there/were there other contenders for hosting Fae Tales that would have let you go so dark, or is it AO3 or bust?

Hi anon!

I think from your tone, you're starting off with the assumption that I was trying to be a professional writer and then chose AO3, and that's not the path I took at all!! No one in their right mind generally chooses AO3 if they want to make a profit off of their original writing for a lot of reasons, and a lot of fanfiction authors leave AO3 so they can make a profit off their original writing (and some do both - write fanfic under one name, and original fiction under a completely different name. My path isn't even the mainstream fanfic writer's way of breaking into original fiction, lol).

So my journey was basically that:

I was writing fanfiction on AO3 that became quite popular in its small fandom, and I put two OCs (Original Characters) into that story that got especially popular and started getting fanart during the fanfic. A few people at the time said 'I ship these two' and I was like 'eh I don't want to write it.' And then in typical fandom fashion eventually I was like 'okay I'll just give it a try.'

I wrote several PWP hatefucking chapters mostly to see if they even really worked as a couple (they did!) - since they weren't a couple in the fanfic, they were mortal enemies, lol - and these chapters popped off among a very small number of people and I thought 'you know what, these characters deserve an actual story, because I don't want their tale to have a tragic ending' (which it would have done).

So I wrote more of the story, and eventually I got a message from a reader saying 'hey can you open a Patreon account so we can support your original writing, because it doesn't feel fair that we're getting all of this for free.'

So I opened a Patreon account.

And then about 3 years later I thought 'actually...I think I can turn this into a proper job.' And I...tried lol. It's not a very 'proper job' by the standards of people who started original writing purely for income, but it is quite a proper job for me, lol. I still write fanfiction because I love it.

I never chose AO3 as a place to build a career exactly, I just put original fiction there because that's where the readers were who already liked the original characters, and it didn't make sense to put it anywhere else. I also never expected at the time to make a formal leap into original fiction, I was actually planning another fanfic and then got completely derailed because we were all enjoying Fae Tales so much.

I stay there because I can post any fictional content I like pretty much - no matter how taboo - without fear of reprisal from the site or fear of having my account banned etc. for content. I stay because the warning and tagging system is the most sophisticated in the world. I stay because the search system is also the most sophisticated in the world. I stay because I love the spirit of fandom, and the people who find my original fics there already understand reading serials and WIPs and ongoing stories. I stay because I really enjoy AO3 comment culture, which is uniquely different to anything else anywhere on the internet, but especially other free serial sites like Wattpad, Royal Road, Inkitt and more. I stay because having to invite people to come to my Tumblr to see my posts and excerpts and sometimes find out about Patreon is a feature and not a bug, because it means the people who eventually find their way to my Patreon probably want to be there more than the average reader who never needs to leave AO3.

I stay there because Wattpad needs incredibly short chapters and I like longer chapter lengths (and long serials). I stay there because the comment culture of Royal Road is a lot of 'um, actually' folks alongside some decent folks, and you really have to love constant constructive (and not so constructive) criticism even on your most viral stories, and I am baby. I stay on AO3 because my friends are there, and so are many other folks who I enjoy the thoughts and company of.

To my knowledge, the only other place that allows really taboo content officially (i.e. not 'it's against the rules but everyone does it') is probably Ream, which is a subscription site like Patreon. And they're very recent. I will be setting up a mirrored version of my Patreon account there for all the folks who can't access Patreon due to like...credit card / bank reasons.

If you want to write a super dark, taboo serial, there aren't many free serial sites in the world where that's truly okay. I'm going to take some risks on Wattpad soon with the Fae Tales canon and we'll see how we go, lmao. AO3 is particularly unique because it started for many of us fanfiction writers who were getting banned and censored on other fanfiction and fandom platforms (like Livejournal Strikethrough, which was a huge historical event in fandom around censorship), so it literally - in many ways - was invented to protect and give space to the people who are writing adult or taboo fanfiction (and then later also original fiction). It is designed to be a safe haven for those of us who understand that fiction is just fiction when it comes to sexual fantasy content.

In the past year I have considered other dedicated serial sites for my content and frankly I don't believe any of them are 'safe' for me re: the nature of my writing (I don't feel my writing is as dark as some, but it certainly has 'rape as titillation' quite a bit, and pretty broad scale dubcon). Royal Road doesn't suit my genre/s, Inkitt is possible, but I'm not sure if my work will do well there, Wattpad is a risk but is huge and I'm not mad if my account gets banned there, Tapas allows some taboo, but is very clear that it wants no serials intended for the purpose of sexual gratification and requires 500-1500 chapters maximum, which is a bit of a downer for someone like me who has 3-10,000 word chapters, lol.

If you want to be a professional writer of adult sexual/taboo content who makes money off your writing, I wouldn't recommend hosting your works on AO3, I'd recommend publishing novels and when you have enough of a backlist, potentially offering chapters of future novels as early access on Ream (Patreon will actually also ban accounts with taboo content if you're hosting it on Patreon - and while most of us are safe at the moment, they get stricter over time).

AO3 is, imho, a great place for original authors who already love writing fanfiction or reading fanfiction, and already love fandom, and want to participate in the culture with original stories. Readers on AO3 are very savvy, clued-in people who are overall likely to be suspicious rather than welcoming of original fiction on AO3 in general (many refuse to read it outright), and who also can tell when a newcomer author is just there to try and make a profit off them. But they are also some of the most ride or die, wonderful, best readers in the world once they love your work. (I know this from experience as a reader too, lol, I am ride or die for a few authors there myself).

That doesn't mean it can't be done, it just means there's a steep learning curve re: fandom etiquette (thoroughly worth it, do recommend it, it just will take some time - months, not weeks - to feel it out). AO3 also strongly prefers/requires all original fiction there be posted 'in the spirit of fandom' - which has broad interpretations, but it does mean an effort needs to be made to at least understand and enjoy fandom.

But yeah if you're purely professional career focused, AO3 is not a first-line strategy imho. That's why...there's not many people doing it this way - even viral fanfiction authors don't do it this way, anon, when they decide to writing original fiction based off their fanfiction success. Use Smashwords, Ream, your own host site for direct sales etc. there are erotica and dark fantasy authors who are making WAY more money than I am using paths like this.

I love my path, I love it, and I do believe more people could use it and make it work, but I'll be honest with you - I know I could be making more money if I chose different paths, I'm on this path because it's fun.

[dickggansey]

getting really annoyed by my friend thinking she's more mature than me bc she goes to the gym and studies and works so that means she "has her life together" and straight up told me she's "doing better than me" like she's right but she didn't have to say it

[caffeinatedopossum]

I always feel bad for being even a little dissatisfied with my circumstances and then I remember that most of the people around me (both irl and online) would probably go absolutely bonkers in my circumstances

[cogentranting]

✏🖍

[khttrpg]

V0.2 Release Schedule

Hey all! Apologies for the long period on hiatus. Amongst other things I am now back on The Good Meds (fingers crossed no allergic reaction this time) and have gotten through the worst of several sudden tragedies in a row. So we're finally back on track to talk really seriously about KHTTRPG V0.2! (Sorry for the long wait!!)

Right now, the plan is to have the entirety of 0.2 released by May 31st, 2023 - about a month and a half from today. Whether I will release these in modular bits and pieces up to that point or if I will wait and release it all in May is currently tossed out to the voting populace, but regardless, this will be the final release date for all involved text!

I've compiled a list of all the updates under the cut so you can see what exactly took me so long! I've also included a few of the things I'm hoping to start working on after V0.2 comes out, life permitting. Examples of some of these will be posted in the next couple days to give a sense of what's coming, but feel free to ask any questions you may have! and keep in mind this isn't everything, just the big things! (:

Core Rules Changes

Major change to how Reducing a CR works, inspired primarily by Caltrop Core.

Addition of Memory mechanics.

Trading out and removal of certain redundant Talents for more useful ones.

Simplification of the Light/Darkness rules.

Less complex and more balanced levelling.

Addition of many, and better integration overall of, Abilities as a core part of the gameplay.

The return of EXP, but in a much simpler, easier to account for format.

Combat Changes

A pretty large, sweeping combat change – trading out of the “Attack Stat” for specific attack abilities that follow a code of Union Cross-inspired Power, Speed, and Magic Attacks; a generally more Ability-oriented combat system.

Complete rehaul of building enemies and how to run combat itself.

General attempts to find a middle ground between “my stats determine I lose this fight no matter what” and “this combat takes 7 full hours and 8 dice.”

A guide for how an MM can “map out” a battlefield to keep track of relative locations without losing the flow.

A specific list of damage types, and minor changes to the list of conditions.

More organized and elaborate options for combat rewards.

Classes

Adding passive abilities to the Keyblade class such as “able to open locks with a visible keyhole.”

Major changes to every class to account for the shift to a more Ability-oriented combat system.

A full recreation of the Witch class based on new Memory mechanics.

Magic

Adding an option to recharge MP through actions on your turn in addition to its passive gain over time.

Changes learning and upgraded spells to AP instead of stat-reliant.

Other

General language changes, typo corrections, addition of flavor text or examples to clarify unclear rules, etc.

Things that Won’t be in V0.2, but are on the docket for the future!

Weapon classes (as of right now, I have over 10 of these on the list to work on! These will likely be first priority after V0.2.)

Expanded shops/items

Gummi Ship rules, Synthesizing rules

NPC Ally rules

Further job classes (currently on list: Engineer, Berserker, Summoner, some sort of class based on Light/Darkness scores and neutrality)

Design updates...making it look pretty......making a functional pretty character sheet...........Art TM (maybe)

A new official name for the system, for "wait a second. this is kind of rude to the KH ttrpgs other people have made" purposes! (The URL will stay. I'm not giving up this prestige.)

[sleepygaymerdisease]

im trying to respond to people on my post who have questions or are confused but theres just so many 😭 i dont know how to explain the intricacies of classism or how hard it is to get a lawyer to start and WIN a discrimination case. especially since i dont know australian laws. but like... this behavior, denying someone a job for their outfit, is really common across the world. classism is pervasive and it's dangerous and it costs people their lives. we would have to change the capitalist system, change policies across the globe, and work on our internalized classist beliefs for the rest of our lives.

[corruptedsilence]

@bigveee​ -  idk how many issues you have had, but when it comes to things with ME plz dont think they were ever anything serious. Ya never were out of line or said anything offensive to me. Cleared things up very easily and you handled it all very well.

That’s the thing though Finn, I didn’t handle it well. I broke down and had a meltdown over worrying and letting my anxiety suffocate me and choke me out. I didn’t approach you until I literally had panicked for a while because I was terrified of situations repeating themselves even though as you said I shouldn’t worry with you, you haven’t given me a reason to, and earlier i was just terrified that if I say anything about my anxiety with anyone else they’ll take it as me assuming the worst about people which sadly is true.

I’m not feeling emotions like fear, it’s just anxiety. I’ve experienced it when i first started my last medication that I could *feel* my emotions and actually describe them as spesific things, but lately at the end of taking my last medicine (which was a second reason i stopped taking it) and right now I feel my emotions aren’t spesific, they’re just basic-- fear, anxiety. If I’m happy I’m happy but im nothing else and I’ve felt what it’s like to not be like that, I know it’s possible but now it feels hollow. It feels heavy. The emotions i had are no longer just emotions but they’re weights pushing me higher or plummeting me.

i dont know how else to describe it?? but i know what im feeling now isnt right, it doesnt have to be that way either but i dont know if i can outside of medicine access this and it’s why i need to talk with my therapist and why im sorry because i need to do better to actually realize this. It took breaking down talking with my GF (neeko) about a situation i cant speak about (this happened literally tonight) but makes me so enraged despite the fact i shouldnt be, what triggered it shouldn’t be a problem and i realize that but I couldn’t stop myself and I honestly was, and am, scared.

I haven’t spoken about it but these emotions, terrify me. It felt too similar to the (unintentional) suicidal action (i took 8x the amount of an over the counter sleeping pills i should have in a 24hr period) I had done earlier this month? (october or september i cant remember), i wasn’t in control, i wasn’t in my body, i was just this one single emotion, not a person not a human just this one feeling, and im really scared what’s going on. which is why I want to say im sorry for not realizing it sooner, and im sorry for damage or if I had hurt you and i realize i need a lot more help than i first realized. i thought i was doing okay, but i wasn’t and its hard to accept that

[sleepless-crows]

i had a routine interview a while ago in school with our guidance counselor and i went a little overtime and it suddenly became a counseling session instead lol

[girlscience]

I don't know if my life is just extremely charmed. but listening to my coworkers talk is so bizarre to me? the way that money is the only measure of success or good life that they care about blows my mind. we are talking about furthering our education and the only thing they are looking at is how much the salary for that field pays. I understand money is important, but that's honestly not something I've given even more than a passing thought to with the programs I'm applying for? I just don't get it? We do science, don't you care more about the work than the money? Am I just blind because I haven't ever had money troubles? I don't know.

[isildheir]

Honestly, my abuser saying Louis was just as bad as Lestat or basically implying they hate how people write Lestat off as more abusive than he is or that Louis was just as abusive was a red flag I should've put a lot more stock into.

[hardyorange]

listen, there are plenty of people on here that will give you good advice on how to communicate with others in a healthy way

well, I'm here to tell you, fuck that! my roommate wasn't picking up on my more casual statements about the unequal mess in our (my) house, so I just hid in my room and avoided them for four months (including cleaning out an old mini fridge and buying a personal microwave so I could stay 100% out of the kitchen) and now they're moving out! so, at least some of the time, avoiding your problems works!!!

(I absolutely do not recommend this for classwork btw, you will just get a bunch of zeros if you don't do it, plz just turn stuff in and talk to your instructor!!!)

[peachel-ayam]

“do you love your job?”

(photo by me)

Today, at a family gathering, a relative engaged in a conversation with me, inquiring about updates in my life, particularly regarding my job and achievements.

I explained my daily work routine, expecting the typical response of “That sounds like an interesting job, best of luck!” To my surprise, they asked a question I had rarely encountered in my life.

“Do you love your job?”

I was momentarily silent, and then they continued, “I mean, do you genuinely love what you do, or are you just staying for the paycheck?”

Uncertain about the answer, I replied, “Yeah, I think so,” with my mind still clouded with confusion.

It marked the first time I’d been asked such a question. It left me pondering — do I genuinely love my job? I realized I might be comfortable with it, but I couldn’t discern if it was genuine passion or simply the assurance of a monthly paycheck.

Furthermore, I found myself questioning whether it was acceptable to do my job solely for the money. Did I have to love it? Was it okay if, upon reflection, I discovered I actually despised the job?

In essence, my thoughts distilled into one overarching question: Why do humans need to have jobs?

Answering this question is complex because many individuals don’t have jobs, while jobs have been the traditional means to meet our needs for the past few decades.

For the money, duh.

Let’s face it, to function reasonably in society, some level of expenditure is necessary. It doesn’t have to be excessive, and you can reduce it by living frugally, but I haven’t come across anyone who has mastered the art of leading a decent life without money. Despite their flaws, jobs offer a seemingly dependable and regular income source.

The issue with money can be simplified. It’s a powerful motivator for getting people to work, but nobody enjoys feeling coerced. When we sense external control, our enthusiasm dwindles. Money has the potential to drain our intrinsic motivation for work.

The importance of compensation

We are not intrinsically motivated to work, which is why compensation is necessary. Money can serve as a powerful motivator for diligent effort. In some cases, such as piece rate systems where workers are paid a fixed amount per unit of work, employees may work intensely and take few breaks, sometimes jeopardizing their health. Piece work has been deemed detrimental to health and was banned by unions. Hence, most people worldwide are compensated based on time spent on the job rather than productivity.

While money is a potent means of controlling workers, it’s not the sole reason people go to work, and perhaps not the most crucial one.

There are people who engage in various activities purely for the enjoyment of the activity itself. For instance, anglers love to fish not necessarily for sustenance; many practice catch-and-release, demonstrating undiminished enthusiasm. Motivation theorists term this intrinsic motivation, where the activity itself is the primary driving force.

Something to do

Many individuals don’t utilize their leisure time for creative pursuits. They engage in activities like watching TV, attending sports events, dining out, socializing, or drinking, which are entertaining but may not fulfill a natural drive for accomplishment beyond recreation.

I personally believe that if the constant work-related stress were eliminated, people would discover their own pursuits to work towards. However, for many, it’s easier to simply seek another job.

Contribution to society

Individuals are interconnected with a broader collective. Most people, except sociopaths, share a sense of connection, whether it’s with humanity in general or with a specific culture or nation. Jobs, companies, and governments are conventional methods of organizing people’s endeavors for the betterment of society.

Work can serve as a distraction, whether it’s beneficial or not

In our society, work often becomes an overwhelmingly significant aspect of one’s identity. We begin asking children what they want to “be” from a very early age. Perhaps we should consider asking them what they want to “do for a living” instead. While the phrasing may seem insignificant, the broader point is that investing too much of our identity into our professions can have its drawbacks.

It gives us live purposes…?

Structure is beneficial for many people, and work provides that structure. Even if it doesn’t always feel like you’re saving the world, the routine and organization that work brings into our lives can be genuinely comforting. It can instill a sense of purpose.

The daily interactions at work help us feel essential, and on good days, appreciated. It makes us feel like our talents and skills are contributing to a worthwhile cause. While we might feel needed at home, work offers a unique opportunity to take our training and special skills and apply them to something tangible, which can be highly satisfying.

So… Why are we here? What is the meaning of life, then?

While there may be no definitive answers, that doesn’t deter us from pondering and forming theories. It’s possible that our job plays a role, or perhaps it simply keeps us too occupied to dwell on these questions extensively.

Those are some of the reasons why jobs exist and why many people pursue them. However, it’s important to note that these aspects can be fulfilled through avenues beyond the conventional concept of a job.

Unless you’re fortunate enough to be independently wealthy, you’ll likely need a source of income to cover your expenses. Even if you are financially secure, you may still seek ways to contribute positively to the world or find meaning in life. Jobs are just one of several ways these motivations manifest in society.

So it’s important for humans to work, right?

I believe every human needs to work, whether they love it or not. It’s a necessity, not just a choice.

Life itself entails continuous work and maintenance. To be healthy, maintain relationships, or excel at something, effort is required. Our ancestors, although not working for money, had to hunt, build shelters, and sustain their bonds, among other tasks, to survive. This universal concept of working to survive extends to all living beings.

Now, regarding the question of why humans put so much effort into earning money, it stems from the invention of money to ensure access to necessities and more. Money played a pivotal role in the advancement of our civilization. The monetary system’s key dilemma was ensuring equitable value for everyone participating.

Skills and work varied greatly in value, posing questions about how to provide equal opportunities for all, especially for those unable to work due to age, illness, or disability. Addressing these questions becomes the crux of the issue, as it touches on the essence of human worth and the potential pitfalls of money overshadowing its role as a tool for trade.

Our egoistic desires don’t lead to a happy ending, but there’s a fulfilled life beyond the ego. Recognizing how our ego takes us down a dead-end path prompts us to seek the true meaning of life — an eternal and perfect existence born from our growing awareness.

What if everyone simply went home and stopped working today?

From a social economy perspective, if everyone stopped working, the economy would likely collapse due to a lack of consumer spending and production. Quitting jobs en masse could potentially reveal the true priorities of life, guiding people toward more meaningful pursuits.

Large corporations have significantly influenced our lives, and many have become complacent to this reality. The trend of increasing mergers and acquisitions each year contributes to the growth of these corporations, which is often an inherent aspect of the system.

Many individuals today closely link their life’s purpose to their work. The question arises: how can one disentangle work from purpose? In contemporary times, many strive to infuse more purpose into their work, but perhaps the two are not mutually exclusive concepts.

In the end, it’s about ourselves

Regardless of our profession, our jobs offer insights into both the world and ourselves. Work represents our engagement with the world, as opposed to mere existence within it. The alternative to work can feel unenergetic and passive. Through work, we have the opportunity to shape the world rather than passively accepting its influence.

We can transition from an egoistic approach of satisfying our desires at the expense of others to a new approach where our primary goal in work is to benefit others rather than just ourselves.

The key to uncovering the meaning of life lies in shifting our source of pleasure from within ourselves to the external world. This new perspective connects us deeply with our surroundings, leading to perpetual fulfillment and a sense of perfection and unity.

As social beings, humans depend on each other for survival. Work, often viewed as routine, is a vital element that facilitates interaction, enhancing and sustaining our quality of life.

So do we need to love our job?

While we need money, we often follow our life’s passion and label it as a job or career. Consider this: doesn’t it seem somewhat absurd to wake up each morning for the same repetitive job, receive a paycheck at month-end, and then struggle financially two weeks into the new month?

This cycle repeats for 25–30 years, followed by retirement on a state pension, potentially leading to decades of spiritual emptiness, whether financially secure or not.

So, to avoid a boring old life, consider this:

“Follow your passion, but also cultivate love for what you do.”

Based on the preceding discussion, having a job is vital for individuals, bringing numerous personal and societal benefits. If you love your job, that’s great — you’re focused on one thing. However, even if you don’t love it, as long as it’s not harmful or stripping you of your rights, consider cultivating an appreciation for it.

While also, you can still pursue the things you love. Maybe as a side job, but it’s also perfectly fine if it doesn’t. Anyhow, just find something that will make you feel alive and present and live one time at a moment. What’s crucial is understanding what you do, and with time, you may come to enjoy it with no burden.

[gremlingottoosilly]

Pregnant!Reader X Mafia!Konig??

Bring a baby to the boss wasn't something you wanted. God, you didn't even want to meet Konig in the first place - but a fleeing one-night stand, a simple contact because both of you were quite drunk and incapable of thinking, ended up with you sitting in his mansion, clutching to the pregnancy test in your hands. Now, Konig was ready to just give you money for an abortion and call it a day - he had done it before since babies aren't really his forte...then he starts to think. You hate him, you don't want to be with him, your only desire is to run away from him - but a baby will keep you clinging to him like a live leash. Pregnant girlfriend if a liability for a man of his status and reputation, so he keeps you locked up. Always make sure to wash away all the stray blood and gore from his body and clothes before entering your bedroom - a pregnant woman's nose is very sensitive, so he doesn't want to make you needlessly uncomfortable. He doesn't know how to take care of a lady like you, but he has servants for this - and he is willing to learn if that means that his adorable little lover can't do anything. It might be the only time when Mafia Konig isn't parading you around on his business meeting and doesn't make you watch the executions of his enemies. Call yourself lucky because this dangerous man is only soft with you. Presses a fleeting kiss to your baby bump and promises to come home soon as he goes to transfer drugs or do whatever else he does - poor thing, you're always so worried about him( even if only because you don't want the father of your child to die and leave you alone... He would only be even more gentle if you don't know about his job. Never allowing himself to be open about his work, he does his best to protect your adorable pregnant self from the truth - and if some enemy family decided to kidnap you for the purpose of threatening him, you might be sure that the illusion of a nice and kind husband is going to shatter, forever...at least he is still soft as he cradles your trembling body in his arms.

[hazard-symbols-that-fuck-hard]

Okay time for the PBS Kids essay

Read it under the cut!

:readmore:

In 1968, before there was PBS Kids proper, there was Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. While it came several decades before the children’s block, it laid the foundation for the themes and values present in every facet of the network’s history.

Mr. Roger famously hated children’s programming at the time. To him, it all was droll and useless. But he didn’t dissuade the medium entirely— he saw potential. Potential that led to a few smaller television jobs, and eventually the creation of Mr. Roger’s neighborhood.

Rogers didn’t invent educational TV for children, but he did perfect it. He poured real heart and soul into probably the most sincere, heartfelt program in history.

Honestly, he could have his own essay. The more things you learn about the real man of Mr. Rogers, the more you’ll like him.

Anyway, the biggest thing that makes PBS different is the fact that it earns money through grants, fundraisers, and private donors— not through sponsorships and merchandise sales. This way, PBS Kids can push programming that it feels is important, rather than programming that merely sells well.

This also means PBS is less afraid of pushing social boundaries. Money doesn’t go away when their shows become subjects of debate— and Mr. Rogers took full advantage of this.

For context, this was 1969. The Jim Crow era had just barely, barely ended. Pool segregation was still very much legal.

Mr. Rogers sharing a pool and a towel with the Black Mr. Clemmons was a pretty big deal at the time— especially on a show made for children.

Rogers was far from the untouchable sacred cow of today. When he was alive, he had a large number of detractors. Let’s just say that scene didn’t fly nicely by everyone.

Just one year after the debut of Mr. Roger’s came Sesame Street.

While Mr. Roger’s was made for all children, Sesame Street had the explicit goal of supplementing the education of underserved communities— especially inner-city Black (and later Latino) children.

While it was made to be accessible to children of all races and income levels, they definitely went the extra mile to make it something special for inner-city Black and Brown kids. (Why do you think it it’s “Sesame Street” and not “Sesame Cul-de-Sac”?)

At the time, a wholesome, sweet show set in a brownstone street was practically unheard of.

Jon Stone, the casting director, deliberately sought to make the cast as rich with color as he possibly could, bringing on a huge amount of Black talent such as Loretta Long, Matt Robinson, and Kevin Clash, as well as featuring Black celebrities as guest stars. Later, the show would expand its horizons, bringing on actors from Latino, Asian, Native American, and many more backgrounds.

White actors were and still are a minority on show.

In addition to letters and numbers, the purpose of Sesame Street is clear: make kids of color know that they’re smart, beautiful, and loved.

It doesn’t get more explicit than this.

I want to point out this comment because it’s funny

You’re telling me this bitch isn’t Hispanic???

Anyway, these two were followed up by Reading Rainbow in 1983. And guess what?

That’s right. Non-white focus.

These three shows, (along with other, lesser-known programs like Lamb-Chops Play Along, Newton’s Apple, and Shining Times Station (who featured Ringo Starr himself?? seriously how did that happen and why does no one talk about it) and some other nostalgic favorites like Bill Nye the Science guy, The Magic Schoolbus, Arthur, and Thomas the Tank Engine) aired on the new PTV block, which evolved into PBS Kids in 1999, bringing along Between the Lions, Dragon Tales, and many more.

Arthur is another stand-out that I’d like to talk about— it doesn’t have the same racial focus of Sesame Street, but it does focus on different income levels. The characters have various housing situations, from apartments to mansions to no home at all.

It also takes cues from Sesame Street and Mr. Roger’s in regards to talking about tough topics, though as Arthur has a slightly older target audience, it discusses things through stories rather than talking directly to the audience.

Cancer, religion, workplace discrimination, along with current (at the time) events such as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina are all discussed on the show.

Another big focus on Arthur is disability. For once, they don’t stick a character in a wheelchair and then pretend he’s not in a wheelchair. A striking number of major characters either develop or get diagnosed with physical disabilities and/or neurodivergences, such as asthma, severe food allergies, and dyslexia, and they deal with them in very realistic ways.

A handful of minor characters have more obvious disabilities, and THANK GOD they go beyond the trite messaging of “disabled people can do everything abled people can do! everyone clap now!”

One episode in particular has the awesome message of “holy shit stop trying to help me all the time— it’s patronizing as fuck. I can get around just fine without you stepping on eggshells and trying to be the hero all the fucking time”

There are sooo many other shows I could talk about, but I can’t write about them all. I’m definitely gonna point out some more standout ones, though.

Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat

Created by Chinese-American woman Amy Tang

Dragonfly TV

Features a multitude of female and non-white scientists to foster an interest in science with kids in those groups

Maya & Miguel

One of the network’s first Hispanic-led shows

SciGirls

I shouldn’t have to explain what the goal of this one was.

Molly of Denali

When was the last time you saw a show that treated Native Americans as people? Much less a children’s show? 90% of the cast is Athabascan, and the show revolves around Athabascan culture, not shying away from topics like boarding schools and modern-day racism. Most of the writers are also Athabascan, and the show even has an official Gwich’in dub!

It’s this commitment to real, authentic social justice that makes PBS Kids so much different from its competitors. Could you imagine the Paw Patrol dog looking at the camera and earnestly discussing what happened to George Floyd? I don’t think so— but Arthur talked specifically about it, Sesame Street did an hour long special about race in general, and the network itself made a 30 minute special.

Disney Jr. could never. (Other than trying to teach colorblindness, of course.)

I’m gonna have to cut this into two parts, since I just hit the image limit