#reactive frameworks

[shiprasharma2927]

Boosting Interactivity: The Role of Reactive Programming in Modern Apps

Boosting interactivity in modern applications is increasingly reliant on the implementation of reactive programming. Reactive programming is a paradigm that facilitates the seamless handling of asynchronous data streams, fostering a more responsive and dynamic user experience. In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, where user expectations for real-time interactions are high, reactive programming plays a pivotal role in meeting these demands. By allowing developers to efficiently manage and propagate changes in data, reactive programming enables applications to respond instantly to user inputs, server updates, or any other events that may impact the user interface. This paradigm is particularly beneficial in the development of web and mobile applications, where user engagement heavily depends on smooth and immediate feedback. Through the integration of reactive programming, developers can create applications that not only meet but exceed user expectations, providing a more immersive and satisfying interactive experience. As the demand for responsive and engaging applications continues to rise, the adoption of reactive programming is becoming increasingly prevalent, reshaping the landscape of modern app development.

[niveditainfosystem]

Angular vs React: Which One Should You Choose in 2024?

In the ever-evolving landscape of web development, Angular and React continue to be two of the most popular choices for building modern, dynamic web applications. As we venture into 2024, the decision between Angular and React remains a crucial one for developers embarking on new projects. Let's delve into the key factors to consider when choosing between these two powerhouse frameworks.

1. Performance:

In terms of performance, both Angular and React have made significant strides over the years. React's virtual DOM and efficient rendering mechanisms have traditionally given it an edge in performance-critical applications. However, Angular's latest versions have introduced Ivy, a groundbreaking rendering engine that significantly improves performance and bundle size. In 2024, performance differentials between Angular and React are narrower than ever, with both frameworks capable of delivering blazing-fast experiences.

2. Developer Productivity:

Developer productivity is a crucial aspect of any framework choice. React's component-based architecture and lightweight nature have long been praised for enabling rapid development and easy integration with other libraries and tools. On the other hand, Angular's opinionated structure and comprehensive ecosystem provide developers with a robust set of tools out-of-the-box, streamlining development processes and ensuring consistency across projects. The choice between Angular and React in terms of productivity often boils down to personal preference and project requirements.

3. Ecosystem and Community Support:

The ecosystem surrounding a framework can greatly influence its adoption and longevity. React boasts a vast and vibrant community, with a plethora of third-party libraries, tools, and resources available to developers. This rich ecosystem ensures that developers have access to solutions for virtually any problem they encounter. Angular, backed by Google, also enjoys strong community support and an extensive ecosystem. With a wide range of official and community-maintained packages, Angular provides developers with the resources they need to build complex applications with ease.

4. Learning Curve:

The learning curve is an important consideration for teams adopting a new framework. React's minimalist approach and focus on JavaScript make it relatively easy for developers to get started, especially those with prior experience in web development. Angular, with its comprehensive documentation and structured approach, may have a steeper learning curve for beginners. However, once developers grasp its concepts and conventions, Angular's opinionated nature can lead to more consistent and maintainable codebases.

5. Industry Trends and Job Market:

Finally, it's essential to consider industry trends and the job market when choosing between Angular and React. While both frameworks remain in high demand, React has gained significant traction in recent years, with many startups and tech giants adopting it for their projects. However, Angular continues to be widely used, particularly in enterprise settings where stability and long-term support are paramount. Ultimately, the decision between Angular and React may also depend on factors such as company preferences, project requirements, and the availability of skilled developers in the job market.

Conclusion:

In 2024, the choice between Angular and React remains nuanced and dependent on various factors, including performance requirements, developer productivity, ecosystem support, learning curves, and industry trends. Both frameworks have their strengths and weaknesses, and the decision ultimately comes down to the specific needs and preferences of your project and team. Whether you opt for the flexibility of React or the structure of Angular, rest assured that both frameworks will continue to evolve and empower developers to build innovative web applications for years to come.

Nivedita Infosystem LLP is a leading provider of web design and development services. We offer innovative design, responsive development, cutting-edge technology, and tailored solutions. Our creative minds bring your vision to life, ensuring a visually appealing and functional website. We stay ahead of the curve, incorporating the latest technologies to future-proof your digital presence.

[horreurscopes]

i wish having to remind someone something three or five or fifteen times or however many it takes until they remember it on their own was more destigmatized within the framework of disability accomodations

like i understand the emotional significance given to the act of remembering, i have myself have had the kneejerk reaction that maybe i'm not as important to someone as they say i am if they forget something i asked of them or told them. i get it. but that's like. a societal expectation that isnt necessarily true, you know.much like eye contact to mean you are listening or a smile to mean you are friendly. like, yeah, of course an asshole who isn't listening to you might not make eye contact, but that doesn't mean that every single time someone isn't making eye contact it means they are an asshole.

to me disposition is much more important than memory, especially in the realm of boundaries and cohabitation, like: let's say you don't like it when your partner puts their shoes on the bed. extremely reasonable thing to ask them not to do, and something that, if not done, would very quickly become a point of contention because them continuing to do the thing you asked them not to is interpreted as a dismissal of your feelings and a violation of a reasonable boundary. and i know a lot of people themselves already struggle putting up boundaries and enforcing them and are extremely reactive to anything that can be interpreted as a boundary being crossed, and this can be super hard to deal with. but like. disabilities ARE hard to deal with, you know, they are frustrating and they might slow you down or inconvenience you, and that's just part of the deal! is it really an accomodation if the line is drawn at whatever arbitrary point someone decides they're done accommodating? do you walk alongside a person on crutches for three blocks and then are like, ok, i've accommodated you enough, time to go at my pace now?

and yes, yes, i know "i forgot" or "i didn't know" can be used to truly harm someone else in a number of infinitely nuanced scenarios. context clues, people. to me that's where disposition comes in and separates "literally struggles to remember" from "disrespecting and pushing boundary", and i think that separation, albeit fuzzy for people who strongly correlate memory and respect, can be learned?

if my partner was like, "hey, don't put your shoes on the bed!" then a respectful disposition towards their boundaries would immediately make me go, "oh no! sorry i forgot! here, i will stop doing it immediatly, and if necessary amend the damage of me forgetting (in this analogy, washing the sheets)". and if this has to happen thirteen times before i remember on my own, i would feel truly bad about it because i'm letting my loved one down even though it's something i legitimately can't control. i don't know! it's the "if you cared, you would remember" unstoppable force vs "if you cared, you'd cut me some slack for not remembering" immovable object, it's hard. like thats what i mean by context clues, what is more likely: that a person who in every other way has shown up for you has suddenly become toxic/selfish/abusive specifically about shoes on the bed, or that they struggle to remember?

i don't know man. the way i see it, ultimately it's a lot more feasible to adjust your expectations of what someone loving you and caring about you will look like and how it shows up in their behavior, than it is to literally force yourself to remember something. and my memory issues are not even that bad! after the fifth or sixth reminder something will generally stick around (unless it's a situation that does not happen often, in which case the large stretches of time in between might hinder my progress), and like someone might just decide the rest of the Me is not worth the trouble, and that's their prerogative, but i do think it says more about them than it does about me.

everyone's always up for disability rights until it becomes inconvenient or clashes with their idea of what "good behavior" should look like. like i can't help but think that if this is something that *i* struggle with socially, i can't imagine what people who have a legitimately debilitating memory disability, who may need to be reminded forever, feel like every day of their damn lives

[illegiblewords]

Zodiark's Tempering

A lot of people have been confused about whether the Unsundered were tempered (they were) and how tempering works.

Long post under the cut.

First, I'm going to point at the exact line from Emet-Selch in Shadowbringers: "He tempered us. It was only natural. There is no resisting such power."

I believe this was said in one of the ocular cutscenes, but explicitly in no uncertain terms--the Convocation was tempered. This includes the Unsundered. The tempering was, in fact, so powerful, that even after having their souls cleansed in the Lifestream Convocation members still make 'the best servants' according to Emet-Selch.

Zodiark was not only the first primal, but a primal on a scale beyond fathoming. This was half a star's worth of souls, billions of people. I'd argue that we also see what this tempering looks like in practice with Emet-Selch at The Ladder scene in Kholusia, where he is genuinely moved and expresses admiration of both the Warrior of Light and the people of Kholusia coming together only to be railroaded back to 'but the world as it was was better'.

That was not a natural thought pattern. That was tempering. We see further evidence in how Emet-Selch tried repeatedly to live alongside The Sundered and had only the most negative qualities amplified--preventing him from ever finding peace. Hell, it shows in his argument that the qualities of a soul diminish with sundering too. For one, the default quality in a person isn't positive. He frames things in terms of other shards becoming proportionally less intelligent for example, or less kind--but arguably cruelty should have been diminished as well. The civilizations and inhabitants of other shards are also, notably, not at a huge personally/intellectually different framework compared to The Source--where souls are more dense and would (by Hades' argument) have been more advanced and capable.

What we actually know of unsundered versus souls mechanically is that they are more aetherically dense. Being more aetherically dense, it takes more dynamis to influence them. The ancients still feel absolutely and are vulnerable to Meteion, but the sundered are probably a bit more reactive on the whole. It might also be like an inertia situation where once an unsundered starts to feel something it tends to continue and build. That's speculation though.

Zodiark's tempering appears to be closer to magically enforced mental illness in the sense that it warps thought patterns, elevates some tendencies and minimizes/negates others, prevents certain ideas, twists perception, keeps some memories or experiences at the forefront while diminishing or losing others, etc. Psychological wounds that are useful to the mission are kept open artificially well past the point someone would have naturally started to scar over. There is a reason I've been arguing that it's closer to coercion and insanity plea in terms of diminished responsibility. The tempered aren't even able to accurately understand the situations they are in due to thought warping, and claims that their position is reasonable amounts to a completely psychotic person claiming not to be crazy. It's not as simple as mind control from an external source. It's that the person's own thoughts and tendencies are manipulated in unnatural ways to form a cage forcing them into compliance with the primal's mission.

I'd argue it's also very suspect that Elidibus, the lunar shades, and (IIRC) the despairing post-Terminus ancients Venat encountered all separately repeat the exact phrase wishing for 'a world free from sorrow'. Lahabrea explicitly referring to Zodiark as 'the master' at Praetorium strongly indicates tempering too.

A major source of confusion stems from the following scene:

Creation magics are complex and highly sensitive, requiring a tremendous amount of focus. A single moment of distraction can change the outcome of creation. Hades creating his phantom Amaurot having an idle thought 'Hythlodaeus would know the truth' is enough to make the shade of Hythlodaeus aware, even if it wasn't on purpose. Even if it was a split second.

Zodiark was a creation that involved not only the sacrifice of half a star (so likely billions of people)--it also involved the active participation and focus of those people in the summoning process. We know from the environmental storytelling and evidence at Akademia Anyder that I cited in other analysis that Lahabrea was the mind behind the Zodiark concept. We know that the scale of the creation was enormous to the point that it would not function without elevating one individual to steer it--the Heart. This being Elidibus. But the actual summoning was still extremely complex and on a vast scale involving multitudes of people at different skill levels. Hythlodaeus, while experienced as Chief of the Bureau of the Architect, has very limited abilities in creation himself due to aether deficiency. He still sacrificed himself as one of the participants in Zodiark's summoning ritual.

Faith was necessary to simplify the process across that many people of varying life experiences and skill levels. The Convocation would have been handling the more technical elements and forms the concept would take, and guess who was at the head of the Convocation's efforts?

Lahabrea. Who has recently failed to contain Archaeotania despite his people's every faith in him, who we know to be extremely traumatized and has every reason to be terrified not only of the situation but of not performing up to the expectations placed on him. For god's sake, one of the last things Athena said to him involved calling him disappointing after getting full access to his soul.

A single moment of Lahabrea being afraid and hoping everyone would be able to join together to save the star, to be on the same page, would be enough to cause tempering. He's not perfect, but he's been expected to be. He's expected to have perfect composure, impervious to normal human emotions. And of course emotions bled through at a time like that.

The same hope that others would join in to support the mission has bled into every subsequent primal summoning where tempering became a problem.

Venat's summoning technique is different from the summoning technique used by the Ascians. It's also different from the technique used by the Loporrits. Venat used standard creation magic without elevating faith as a tool. She had less people to worry about. The loporrits decided faith would be a useful tool for The Ragnarok insofar as the primals could help fuel its journey, but going off of pure faith rather than the hybrid of faith and strict procedure is dangerous. So they combined the two in a controlled environment knowing the risks.

What Livingway is saying is that using the hybrid technique that is being employed for the first time in that scene, a primal as powerful as Zodiark would cause a slight tug instead of the full force of tempering. Normally there isn't any sense of influence at all with that technique. Zodiark is on a scale and at such a monumental power level that even the safe method would try to influence its summoners along with any bystanders. Zodiark has the most powerful tempering of any primal that has ever existed.

I also want to take a moment to point at what primals are and how they work as distinct from standard creations.

When discussing creations, the shades at Hades' phantom Amaurot mention that souls are gifts from the star and cannot be artificially created. This is part of why Hermes claimed to be so distraught about the way concepts were being handled--there wasn't any accounting for dynamis as a factor.

Livingway mentions that Venat forbade loporrits from making anything possessed of a soul (impossible) or similar.

Here I'm going to point you back to the lecture from the ARR quest What Little Gods Are Made Of:

Primals, brought into being with faith rather than as pure technical concepts, have something like a soul. They are archetypes shared by the living and when they are slain, they aren't destroyed because archetypes can't be destroyed. They return to the aetherial sea, like souls, until they are called forth again. These archetypes reflect common human experiences and desires shared across many, many people. It makes sense that Zodiark would be built off of this premise in the first place as a way of creating common ground with that many participants.

It also makes some sense that something resembling a soul is advantageous, since logistically in FFXIV souls are sources of power in their own right. Thordan, Nidhogg, Shinryu, and The Alexandrians can attest to that.

I understand that there are people who prefer not to use tempering as a key factor in characterization of The Unsundered, and disregard tempering from their headcanons. Obviously this is allowed, but it's not canon. The game is explicit on this point and underlines it multiple times in multiple ways. Hades when told about what lies ahead is completely horrified and does not want to go down the path the Warrior describes--not just for his own sake but because he morally disagrees with it. His line about staying true to his principles at Ultima Thule is deliberately ambiguous--is he referring to pursuit of the Ardor? Trying to save his people? Trying to resist tempering as best he could despite being helpless against it? Giving the Warrior of Light an opportunity to mercy kill him? We don't know.

And regarding the memory of Lahabrea saying he can believe he would get lost trying to save his people to the point of becoming something horrific during Anabaseios... it's very, very important to remember that Lahabrea hates himself. Lahabrea just accepted for years that Erichthonios is better off with the idealized memory of his dead, abusive mother rather than the living father who rescued him. Lahabrea has been ready to commit pseudo-suicide throughout Pandaemonium. His entire Savage transformation design reflects that he thinks the only thing he's good for is being used for his DNA and serving to protect people as Lahabrea. He tries to shield his heart with his wings and the left arm representative of his personal self is long/at a distance, anemic, and basically non-functional due to too many joints. He doesn't want to exist as a person because he hates himself and he expects to be hurt.

And that's before everything to do with The Final Days.

Lahabrea is not a reliable narrator when it comes to questions about whether Lahabrea is a good person. He might be the least reliable source you could find. He is a guilt katamari who is ready to think the worst of himself given the slightest opportunity.

A huge part of what makes Zodiark's tempering interesting is that even if any of the Unsundered are freed, it's difficult to definitively answer the question of whether they might have made the same choices organically. Anything in their heads that might have given them tools to make another choice was taken away. And we know the sundered Convocation members were not tempered when they decided to join The Ardor as Ascians. Fandaniel was able to kill Zodiark because of this.

As it stands though, none of the Unsundered were free. They cannot be judged by the standards of people who are.

I hope this helps clear things up!

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

Hi, is there anything that you've wanted to explain but never had the chance? (If not, feel free to ignore/delete this ask)

Perfectly Normal Regeneration Side Effects No One Warned You About

A lot of people ask about the process of regeneration and what happens when it goes drastically wrong—failed forms, limb loss, identity fractures, etc.

But curiously, no one's ever asked about what could be considered perfectly normal side effects. Because everyone knows about the usuals of amnesia, coma etc., but what about some of the other, more weird ones? The kinds of things that don't raise an eyebrow on Gallifrey, but would absolutely send a human reeling?

These side effects are harmless and temporary, just a display of your Time Lord undergoing the proper due process.

✨ 1. The Glow Phase

Yes, that's meant to be glowing. Probably.

In the hours after regeneration, Gallifreyans are flooded with artron and lindos energy—both highly reactive and bioactive. Which raises an important (and slightly gross) question: do bodily fluids glow?

Yes. Probably.

Urine and stools may become unusually orange, iridescent, or faintly luminescent.

Vomit can also glow, especially if expelled rapidly.

Sweat, tears, and saliva may shimmer subtly in certain lighting conditions.

This typically lasts up to 15 hours post-regeneration and is harmless (if unsettling).

🌈 2. Post-Regeneration Sensory Overload

Everything feels wrong.

Every regenerated body builds a new sensory framework from scratch. Since no two incarnations process input the same way, early hours can include:

Synaptic overlap – senses miswire or fuse (e.g., tasting colours)

Hypersensitivity – breathing hurts, red is too bright, socks feel itchy

Delayed perception – reality may arrive half a second late and feel emotionally charged

This usually resolves in 1–3 days.

🦷 3. That Doesn't Belong There

Your body's trying its best.

Regeneration reconstructs every cell in your body based on your biomorphic template and biodata—but it's not an exact science.

Sometimes structures appear in the wrong place. Imagine:

A tooth on your thigh

A second uvula in the left ear

Eyelashes growing on the knuckles

In 98% of cases, the body repositions the misplaced tissues automatically once the lindos cells finish their internal sweep within 8 hours. In the other 2% of cases you might need to schedule a visit to the hospitallers.

🪞 4. Seeing Your Past Self in the Mirror

Also normal. No need to scream.

Immediately post-regeneration, psychic residue from the previous form may sometimes interfere with visual self-perception. The reflection may temporarily appear as:

Your previous self

A future version of your current self

Someone you've never seen but somehow recognise

This is probably due to residual biodata echoes, especially in Time Lords with strong memory cohesion or traumatic deaths.

It likely is intermittent and fades in under a week.

🧍 5. Post-Regenerative Dyspraxia

Nothing is where it used to be.

Just imagine you wake up one morning with different-length limbs, larger hands, and much-smaller feet, but your brain is still calibrated for the old model.

This disconnect results in a lot of clumsiness. Gallifreyan neuroplasticity is fast, so most regain full coordination within a few days. Until then, stairs are not recommended, and cups with handles may become an issue.

🏫 So...

Regeneration is miraculous. It's elegant. It's biological poetry. But it's also utter nonsense for a while, and no one talks about it.

Related:

💬|✨💥How do Gallifreyans prevent mutations and disorders during regeneration?: The role of lindos in the regenerative system and potential for problems.

💬|✨💥What is Post-Regenerative Trauma (PRT)?: Explaining the symptoms, causes, and treatments for PRT.

🤔|✨⚱️Regeneration: The Moulding Period

Hope that helped! 😃

Any orange text is educated guesswork or theoretical. More content ... →📫Got a question? | 📚Complete list of Q+A and factoids →📢Announcements |🩻Biology |🗨️Language |🕰️Throwbacks |🤓Facts → Features: ⭐Guest Posts | 🍜Chomp Chomp with Myishu →🫀Gallifreyan Anatomy and Physiology Guide (pending) →⚕️Gallifreyan Emergency Medicine Guides →📝Source list (WIP) →📜MasterpostIf you're finding your happy place in this part of the internet, feel free to buy a coffee to help keep our exhausted human conscious. She works full-time in medicine and is so very tired 😴

[cipheramnesia]

We can't reduce our way into an absolute social truth just because we have got a corner of the framework. Society as it stands in the present day contains an incalculable number of overlapping cultures with long and complex histories. These meet and combine and branch and twine and cannot be, for the most part, ripped away from one another through the simple declaration that one specific and contextual experience always contains one specific meaning.

And even more suspect is a declaration that another, opposite experience, although equally specific and contextual, will always contain an opposite meaning - and in particular that these meanings include an implicit binary morality where one experience is beneficial (but contextualized as Good and morally righteous), while the other is malicious (Bad and morally corrupt). For the most part, every element of society contains a mixture of ideas which are all intended to be beneficial but which in practice are both beneficial and malicious and morally neutral. There are certain exceptions, usually tied to attempts at the creation of a uniquely "pure" branch of society, demanding all other branches are pruned. These attempts to extract a unique and absolute social purity are what we commonly find in societies which ultimately attempt to remove all impurities through a variety of acts such as genocide, ethnic cleansing, eugenics, and so on, which is as near as we can come to genuine evil, although as always it ends up with its own social complexities. The way genocide becomes part of a social system is another essay. And the danger of seeking social purity does not preclude the examination of some of the particular strands and social branches and weaves of society, either. In fact, an awareness of the potential hazards in social purity can help to reduce the extent of bias over the relative importance of these varying social components. Sometimes they may be expressed in a simplified manner, so long as we are mindful that the simplification of the workings of specific parts of society do not become their singular attributes, lest a considered examination inadvertently become a demand for social purity. Being mindful to avoid social purity ultimately has a role in ensuring a greater range of disenfranchised groups can work in conjunction rather than in opposition.

This also can be used in something like the reverse direction. Reflecting on an absolute statement can lead an individual back to the context and in this way reduce the desire to be immediately oppositional over the many, many conflicting social conditions of many overlapping disenfranchised groups. These two strategies of engagement between groups - to avoid the language of purity, and also to avoid reactive opposition - should offer a valuable tool towards more unified opposition to systemic oppression.

So for example the statement that all forms of "subculture x" are morally negative for "group a" and morally positive for "group b," is a loaded statement of social purity. Reactive statements often will include something like the first statement being wrong (technically and morally) about groups a and/or b and/or culture x, and go on to explain in detail all the ways this is wrong. This can ultimately become its own socially pure position, leading to an irreconcilable opposition.

However, if one or both groups is willing to dig into the context of the socially pure idea, ideally befofe the positions become entrenched, and without ascribing wrongdoing to members of the equally disenfranchised but conflicted groups, then it can become possible to relatively quickly unpack the deeper contexts where both groups find a commonality of experience vis a vis systemic oppression and shared history.

These kinds of schisms along ideological purity lines are common, and in many cases are barely more substantive than a minor variation in language or misinterpreted word or simple lack of experience. Only the most deeply entrenched conflicts between disenfranchised groups will need such a severe amount of negotiation and contextualization. Now more than ever, being able to efficiently resolve internal conflicts has an important role in our shared survival.

[butts-bouncing-on-the-beltway]

I think it's very fun to talk about mental health in normalizing conversations because when I was little and I would tic so hard for so long that I started crying, my mom would hold my hands and tell me to stand on her toes and she would "dance me through it" and so I would and she would spin around and around, stepping carefully so my little feet never slipped off the top of her feet, but moving fast so I would get all giggly and dizzy, and by the end she was right! My ticcing wasn't as bad anymore.

And like. I know now that it's because I was actively stressing myself out trying to stop ticcing, and since my tics are stress-reactive that obviously made it worse, but at the time I was just a kindergartener living in a world where dancing made my body stop performing the compulsions and so sometimes I would "dance myself through it" if mom wasn't around and when people maxe fun of me for it, I couldn't do that around them anymore and so I would tic more often and get more overwhelmed and there were days I wouldn't stop ticcing for hours on end because no one but my mom was willing to just let me dance through them.

But until the first time that happened, I didn't know there was anything unusual or unfamiliar to others about what I was doing. My mom was just so matter of fact about it "when you can't stopticcing, that's your body asking you to move and dance amd get the stress out" so I believed her! Of course I did. And she was right even, at least for me.

I was an adult by the time I learned that my mom ticc'd too, because she'd been doing what she taught me for so long that it was rare it happened visibly anymore, and it made sense that she'd been able to move me through my own experience so gently after that. But what if it didn't take a parent sharing our experience to be able to exist in a context that doesn't pathologize or shame what's happening?

Anyway, I've been in and out of various inpatient and outpatient programs since I was 7yrs old, and nothing did more damage to me than the people who taught my mother that there were things about my brain and body that were Wrong TM and needed fixing when she had spent the entirety of my life up to that point accommodating my needs and helping me understand how to coexist in the world on my own terms. I've benefitted from having names for things, sure, and I've had great healing and community in peer groups based around sharing those experiences. But at the end of the day, it is when those same spaces allow me to decide how to talk about what my life feels like that they have meant the most to me. I will always be grateful to the mental health care providers in my life who have been supportive of this type of care for me, but ultimately I also understand that they were able to do that because they were actively breaking down my framework of "because I experience x, I must compensate with y" into a gentler version that goes more like "because I experience x, I may need to seek out y outcome in different or unexpected ways."

I don't know why that makes as much difference to me as it does, but it does.

Anyway, I want to do for someone else what my mom did for me. I want someone else to get to feel like they can ask themselves what they need to get through something and not set any particular moral or emotional meaning to that need.

I have, among others, symmetry tics. If I experience a sensation on one side of my body, I will often reflexively try to adequately mirror it on the other side of my body. One of the pitfalls I often fall into is "the symmetry tic was actuallya different sensation and now I have to mirror THAT on the original side" and off we go into a tic spiral. The trick, for me, has been learning how to hold myself safely in the stress of the tic compulsion until the original sensation passes or fades and that allows the compulsion to fade with it. That can be hard, but taking a cue from my mom, I've found that when I occupy my body with movement, especially goal oriented but indefinite movement like dance, I have a MUCH easier time waiting for the trigger sensation to fade. I think it's good for those of us with experiences we often feel compelled to hide from view to get time in the sun. It lets us remember that our existence is not inherently side-lined in favor of other existences, and we do have the right to ask people to work with us on creating space for our own version of living. That may not guarantee us the desired outcome, but I've found that feeling you have the right to ask in the first place and actively come to the conclusion TOGETHER that there is not a solution is what seems to allow me to make those compromises without feeling erased or ashamed when I do.

[wii-write-stuff]

BPD Traits In The Narrator

The Narrator is the player’s guide in The Stanley Parable and The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe. His personality and mood tends to vary depending on the ending the player takes. The Narrator exhibits several traits associated with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), particularly through his dialogue and reactions in various endings. Using the DSM-5 criteria as a framework, this study will go into depth about how his fear of abandonment, emotional instability, and unstable relationship behaviors manifest throughout the game. 

There are nine criteria for BPD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), but one only needs to cover at least five to qualify for diagnosis, the list being fear of abandonment, pattern of unstable relationships, identity disturbance, self-damaging impulsivity, self-mutilating behavior, mood instability, feelings of emptiness, difficulty controlling anger, and paranoid ideation. I will only be going over the ones the Narrator appears to cover.

Starting with criterion one, “frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment”. Many of these symptoms take place in the “Skip Button Ending”. In this ending, Stanley is led to a skip button that allows him to skip through the Narrator's monologues. There are eighteen skips in total that gradually drag Narrator to the depths of desperation and loneliness. After the third skip, the Narrator starts to panic over how much time has passed. The end of the dialogue in the fourth skip shows Narrator’s fear of Stanley leaving him alone again with him saying, “Just your decision as to exactly when you're going to make me suffer, to leave me all alone. Surely you will, I don't doubt it. Surely you'll press that button again, leaving me here. And surely you'll put your own desire to see what's next ahead of my need for company, for companionship. Surely you'll not be so moved by my howls of fitful anxiety that you sit with me and just stay here. Oh no, no, no, I know you too well. You'll be leaving me again soon, I can feel it.”

Onto criterion two, “a pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation”. This comes off as one of the most recurring symptoms the Narrator expresses throughout the game. A good ending to point out is the "Not Stanley" ending, where he gets worried when Stanley isn't moving. Before that, he also gets mad at the player for "ruining his game", saying "It was the only thing in the world that was mine, and you've run it into the ground." There’s also the “Cold Feet” ending, where the Narrator says things like “I’m sure you’ll survive the jump!”, “Don’t tell me you’re scared; that’s not the Stanley I know!”, and telling Stanley to “do it” over and over again. Once Stanley jumps and falls to his death, the Narrator says “Oops! Looks like I was wrong. How clumsy of me.” Adding on, there is a line the Curator says in the “Museum” ending, which can show his unstable relationships: "Oh, look at these two. How they wish to destroy one another. How they wish to control one another. How they both wish to be free. Can you see? Can you see how much they need one another?"

Criterion three is depicted as “identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self”. This is shown in the fifth skip, where Narrator says “Because maybe, Stanley, maybe - if you can hear me, then maybe it means I'm real. Maybe I'm not just a fiction.” Though not consistent, this line still shows the Narrator questioning his reality and sense of self. 

Criterion six is “affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood”. An example of his mood swings is in the "Skip Button" ending, before the skips, where he gets offended at being called "preachy" and then tells Stanley "I feel... like a failure. Like I let these people down." Then not long after that, he's quick and eager to give what the people want. At the fourth skip, the Narrator says "I'm fixating on every tiny negative thing that anyone ever says about me. The merest mention of one of my imperfections and I become as impetulant as a child. Wild and impulsive; I can't help myself. I can't stop myself from lashing out with a vengeful fury, to alter and to change and to break anything unbroken, if only it pleases this one person who made a single negative comment." 

Criterion seven is described as chronic feelings of emptiness. While his emptiness may not be ‘chronic’ in the traditional BPD sense, the game makes it clear that in the ‘Skip Button Ending,’ each skip lasts longer than the last, potentially leading to emotional numbness. The ending shows the Narrator talking less and less, sounding almost tired at the end of the sixth skip. At skip seven and eight, Narrator is silent, coming back at skip nine, where Narrator just rambles about the reviews of The Stanley Parable, going silent again until the eleventh skip, where he repeats in an empty monotone voice,  “the end is never the end is never the end is never the end is never the end is never”, which this phrase seems to be a recurring line across the game, implying that The Stanley Parable has no point where it actually ends, as it has infinite playthroughs without an actual goal. 

In conclusion, the Narrator from The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe shows multiple traits associated with Borderline Personality Disorder, such as unstable identity, intense emotional reactions, and a fear of abandonment. While a fictional character can't be formally diagnosed, his behaviors closely mirror real-world experiences of those with the disorder.

[lgbtlunaverse]

See the thing about me is that I do care about characters' morality but it's more in the sense of wanting to understand their moral framework and why they take the actions they do. And because of that i'm always sympathetic to morally grey characters and try to look at things from their perspective, but I don't expect the other characters in the story- who unlike me are actually affected by each other's actions- to feel the same way.

For example, I care deeply about nie mingjue and the inherent tragedy of how he's been trapped by his own circumsances and his genuine will to do the right thing and can see how his reliance on punitive justice was created by the environment he's grown up in and the responsibility he holds towards his people and i don't think, in any stretch of the word, that he deserved to die or that it was in fact necessary to kill him.

However i do not expect jin guangyao, guy who was just kicked down the stairs, to see all the nuances here.

In the same sense, i can see how jgy's "self preservation above all else" mindset was forged by a world that expected him to die for their convenience how his avoidance of accounability for his actions was created out of necessity because any punishment levied against him would be disporportionate due to his heritage. How punishing him wouldn't actually make the world a better place or him a better person and how his violence is always reactive and that as long as he feels safe eneough to do so, the thing that he really wants to do is help people.

But I don't expect Huaisang, guy whose brother just got murdered, to give a fuck about any of that.

And I think this is why I'm annoyed with a lot of "is [insert character] a good/bad person" discourse because a lot of it gets framed as "If A is bad, the other characters in universe should hate them. If A is good, the other characters should be sympathetic to them, and if they're not then they're bad." And that is just... not how this works.

[anna-the-undertaker]

Hi Anna! I always love to read all of your writing because it's so interesting and amazing! especially "Rebirth" is one of my favorites, I like how you explained the environment and relationships with 7 demons that affected the MCs' bodies and changed their bodies or DNA to survive in the environment they live in. And I LOVE that you brought up Nephilim for your MCs. (I wanted to read about Nephilim for a long time🫠) so what I want to ask is if MCs bodies were fully evolved, with both angel and human blood and a pact with demons, would they have enough power to become a Chimera with a body similar to falin from (Dungeon Meshi) and with such great power, would they be able to maintain their sanity and have full control over their power? *I'm really sorry if my question is too long or some words may be wrong* I would love to see you write about this, but if you're not comfortable, that's okay🥹 I wish you good health, both physically and mentally, and get enough rest❤️

Hi! Thank you so much! I'm so happy you have enjoyed my writing. I am seriously psyched to write for this. As I am sure you noticed, I love science/biology/theoretical topics. Especially when combined with fantastical worlds like in Obey Me. Using the topic of human evolution and the influence a demonic and angelic presence would have on MC is just so much fun. This turned into more of an essay or rather a theoretical explanation so if you would like me to turn this into a fic like Rebirth please let me know :) And I wish all the same to you as well.

In the world of Obey Me!, MC's unique heritage as a descendant of Lilith—a former angel reborn as a human—offers a fascinating avenue to explore the intersection of angelic, human, and demonic biology. By integrating the supernatural and evolutionary principles, we can hypothesize the possibility of MC evolving into a Chimera-like being, similar to Falin from Dungeon Meshi, while considering the implications on their sanity and control over their newfound powers.

The Biological and Supernatural Foundation:

Human Evolution and Supernatural Influence Human evolution is defined by adaptability, which has allowed Homo sapiens to survive and thrive under diverse conditions. When considering MC, we must explore how the blending of human, angelic, and demonic elements could influence this adaptability. The human body, already highly malleable in response to environmental stressors, would be the perfect vessel for such an extraordinary transformation, especially if influenced by supernatural forces.

The key lies in the concept of atavism, where ancestral traits resurface due to dormant genes being reactivated. If we accept that some of Lilith’s angelic qualities were passed down genetically, then MC might possess latent angelic traits that could be triggered by their pact with demons, catalyzing a profound physical and metaphysical evolution.

Angelic and Demonic Biology Angelic biology, in this universe, is marked by purity, resilience, and a high affinity for light-based energies. Angels are beings of order and harmony, with their power fundamentally tied to divine will and cosmic balance. Demons, conversely, embody chaos, power, and a deep connection to darker energies. Their biology is designed for survival in hostile environments, and their power is linked to the seven deadly sins, each representing a fundamental aspect of their existence.

MC’s body, already an amalgamation of human and angelic traits, would undergo radical changes when exposed to demonic energy through their pacts. The combination of demonic chaos and angelic order within a human framework could lead to the emergence of a Chimera-like form—one that is not purely one thing or another but an amalgamation of all three.

The Evolution into a Chimera:

Physical Transformation MC’s transformation into a Chimera-like being would likely involve the activation of latent angelic genes combined with the influence of demonic power. This transformation would resemble a form that balances the traits of all three ancestries. Drawing from Dungeon Meshi’s Falin, whose body integrates features of multiple species, MC might develop a form that is both majestic and terrifying—an angelic aura fused with demonic strength and human adaptability.

The physical manifestation could include angelic wings, demonic horns, and a humanoid frame capable of withstanding extreme conditions. The human body’s adaptability would allow for the integration of these features without rejection, with the newfound form being a harmonious blend rather than a patchwork of mismatched parts.

Supernatural Abilities This new form would grant MC a host of abilities: enhanced strength and speed, unparalleled healing, and the ability to wield both light and dark magic with equal proficiency. The angelic heritage might grant powers of purification and protection, while the demonic influence could bestow abilities of destruction and domination. The human element would serve as the bridge, allowing MC to use their powers with a degree of versatility that neither angels nor demons possess.

The Psychological Implications:

Maintaining Sanity The question of whether MC could maintain their sanity hinges on the psychological stress of embodying such divergent forces. The human psyche, while resilient, is vulnerable to fragmentation when exposed to conflicting influences. Here, the role of MC’s human consciousness becomes crucial. Their connection to Lilith—a being who experienced both angelic and human life—may provide a stabilizing influence, enabling them to reconcile the chaotic nature of their powers.

Control Over Power To control such immense power, MC would need to integrate the disparate parts of their nature into a coherent identity. This might involve a deep psychological struggle, as the angelic and demonic aspects vie for dominance. However, if MC can achieve a balance—accepting both the light and dark within them—they could emerge as a being of unparalleled strength and wisdom. This synthesis of power could lead to a state of transcendence, where MC is no longer bound by the limitations of any single nature but instead exists as a new, hybrid entity with full control over their abilities.

The Role of Lilith’s Legacy:

Lilith’s angelic qualities, passed down through her bloodline, would serve as the foundation for MC’s transformation. Her resilience, compassion, and defiance against divine authority could manifest in MC as an indomitable will, allowing them to harness their powers without losing themselves. The presence of these traits suggests that Lilith’s influence has been subtly shaping MC’s evolution all along, preparing them for this moment of transformation.

If MC's body and mind could not adapt to their new Chimera-like form, the consequences would be catastrophic—both psychologically and physically. The delicate balance between their angelic, human, and demonic traits would unravel, leading to a terrifying descent into madness and a grotesque transformation that could make them a monster far worse than the demons themselves.

Psychological Descent into Madness:

The first sign of MC's inability to adapt would manifest in their psyche. The human mind, even one strengthened by supernatural resilience, is not designed to handle the constant clash of divine order and demonic chaos. The angelic part of MC would seek harmony, while the demonic influence would fuel destructive impulses. Trapped between these opposing forces, MC's consciousness would begin to fracture, leading to severe cognitive dissonance. They would experience horrifying hallucinations, hearing the voices of angels and demons screaming in their head, each demanding dominance.

As the pressure mounts, MC would lose their sense of self. The once clear boundaries between their human emotions, angelic virtues, and demonic urges would blur, leaving them in a state of perpetual confusion and torment. Their mind, overwhelmed by the conflicting energies, would spiral into insanity. Rational thought would give way to primal instincts, and MC would become increasingly erratic, lashing out in uncontrollable fits of rage and despair.

Physical Deterioration and Transformation

The failure to adapt would also trigger a nightmarish transformation in MC's body. The once harmonious blend of angelic, demonic, and human traits would turn into a grotesque amalgamation, as their body tries and fails to reconcile these conflicting energies.

Skin and Flesh MC's skin would begin to tear and split at the seams, unable to contain the volatile mix of divine and infernal energy. The angelic light within them would sear their flesh from the inside, while the demonic darkness would corrode it from without. Their skin would blister and crack, revealing raw, pulsating muscle beneath, with patches of radiant white light and inky blackness fighting for dominance. The resulting form would be a horrifying patchwork of angelic brilliance and demonic decay, neither fully one nor the other.

Limbs and Appendages Their limbs would elongate and contort in unnatural ways, as their body struggles to accommodate the conflicting energies. Angelic wings, meant to be symbols of purity and grace, would become twisted and malformed, with feathers falling out in clumps, leaving behind skeletal remains dripping with blood and ichor. Their hands and feet would morph into grotesque claws, sharp and jagged, as the demonic influence asserts itself. These claws would be capable of rending flesh and bone with terrifying ease, a testament to the destructive power coursing through their veins.

Eyes and Face MC’s eyes would change as well, losing any semblance of humanity. One eye might glow with an ethereal, almost blinding light, while the other would burn with a hellish fire, each representing the warring forces within them. Their gaze would become wild and unfocused, filled with a maddening mix of fear, rage, and despair. Their face, once familiar, would warp into something monstrous, with sharp, predatory features emerging as their demonic nature gains ground. Their mouth might elongate, teeth sharpening into fangs meant for tearing flesh, while their voice would become a distorted, guttural growl.

Becoming a Monster Worse Than Demons

With their mind shattered and their body twisted, MC would no longer be recognizable as the person they once were. The final stage of their transformation would be the loss of all human reasoning and morality. They would become a true abomination, a creature driven only by base instincts—hunger, rage, and a need to destroy. Their angelic and demonic traits would no longer be in conflict but would instead fuel a terrifying synergy, creating a being that is both holy and profane, yet utterly devoid of compassion or mercy.

This Chimera-like creature would surpass even the worst of demons in its monstrosity. Where demons are creatures of sin, motivated by vice, this new form would be a vessel of pure, unrestrained chaos. It would hunt and kill indiscriminately, driven by a need to satisfy the conflicting energies within it. The creature would feed on the life force of others, both to sustain itself and to ease the constant agony of its existence.

The Aftermath

The longer MC remained in this monstrous form, the more their body would deteriorate. The conflicting energies would continue to tear them apart from within, causing their flesh to rot and fall away, only to regenerate in a never-ending cycle of decay and renewal. Their body would become a grotesque shell, a prison for their fractured mind, with nothing left of the person they once were.

In the end, this monstrous being would be an embodiment of despair and suffering, a tragic testament to what happens when the balance between light and dark is lost. A creature of nightmares, worse than any demon, and beyond redemption.

In this state, MC would be feared by angels, demons, and humans alike, a cautionary tale of the dangers inherent in wielding power beyond one’s control.

[amara-gaelthorne]

Is it really wise for people who dealt with religious pressure/trauma and coercion or indoctrination from Christianity/Catholicism to Satanism/demonalatry without any processing or true inner-work on healing or counseling or therapy?

That is a very wise and important question, and the short answer is: not really—at least, not without caution, self-awareness, or some form of grounded inner work.

When someone has endured religious trauma, coercion, or indoctrination, particularly from Christianity or Catholicism where guilt, fear, and eternal punishment are often used as tools of control, there's a real risk that moving directly into Satanism or demonolatry—without processing the psychological wounds—can sometimes become a reaction rather than a genuine path.

Why it's risky without processing:

Unprocessed trauma seeks expression. Many people unconsciously swing from one extreme to another—seeking power, rebellion, or the "forbidden" as a way to reclaim autonomy. But if this step is taken before healing the underlying fear, shame, or identity confusion, the new path may not feel stable or authentic. It can become performative, or even retraumatizing.

Satanic and demonolatry paths demand emotional maturity. These aren’t shock-value belief systems (at least not when practiced seriously). They often require nuanced thinking, self-sovereignty, and an ability to sit with uncomfortable truths. If someone's still stuck in religious guilt or moral absolutism, they may carry those very frameworks into their new practice—just in reverse.

Co-opting symbols of “the enemy.” For someone raised to fear demons or Satan, diving into those very symbols without spiritual processing might bring subconscious fear or conflict later. There’s power in embracing what you were taught to fear—but that should be conscious, not just reactive.

That said, here's what can make the journey healthier:

Therapy or trauma-informed counseling. Especially from someone familiar with religious trauma or spiritual abuse. These professionals help unpack the control structures and internalized guilt systems.

Journaling, shadow work, or inner child work. These help identify why you’re drawn to certain paths or entities—are you reclaiming your power or avoiding your pain?

Time and patience. There’s no race. Just because someone feels done with their old religion doesn’t mean they must immediately replace it. Exploring beliefs is sacred work.

Meeting others with shared experience. Hearing how others navigated the shift—from religious trauma into witchcraft, Luciferianism, or left-hand path practices—can be incredibly grounding and validating.

And above all:

The motive matters. If someone’s coming into Satanism or demonolatry from a place of rage, rebellion, or needing to feel “in control” again, it’s not inherently wrong—but it’s important to know that, so they can grow beyond it. If they’re coming from a place of genuine resonance, attraction, and alignment, after reflection and some healing, then that path can be tremendously empowering.

[mayerfeldconsulting]

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In an era marked by rapid change and uncertainty, data-driven decision-making is no longer a luxury, it's essential.

Strategic leaders leverage analytics to cut through complexity, identify meaningful trends, and align their strategies with clear organizational objectives. The ability to swiftly interpret and respond to data insights directly impacts a company's success.

Mayerfeld Consulting provides leaders with robust analytical frameworks and scenario planning techniques, preparing your organization for various potential futures. Our approach ensures decisions are grounded in actionable intelligence, empowering your team to pivot proactively rather than reactively.

How effectively are you leveraging data to guide your organization through uncertainty?

[thefadecodex]

As briefly explored in Theory of Spirit Complexity, where we examined the nuanced relationship between emotions and spirits, and further expanded upon in Spirit Alchemy: Paths to Purpose, I aim to explore even deeper into the concept of how spirits can "evolve," growing in complexity and purpose over time.

The Spirit Continuum: Wisp → Emotion → Virtue → Ideal

A Framework for Exploring Spirit Complexity in The Fade Codex

This framework provides criteria to distinguish between the increasing complexity of spirits, examining their embodiment of emotion, virtue, and ideal. The transition between these stages isn’t always clear, but this theory aims to outline how spirits evolve and interact across the continuum.

Trying to determine what would be a virtue vs ideal is the most challenging part, so below describes these concepts given how they are being used by The Fade Codex for this theory. 

1. Wisps (Most Primal)

"Flickering, Instinctual, and Unformed."

Definition: Wisps are the simplest and least developed forms of spirits, little more than drifting fragments of emotional energy or undefined intent. They have a lot of potential for growth.

Core Criteria:

Primary Nature: Embody fragmented emotions, fleeting impressions, or vague intent.

Behavior: React instinctively.

Complexity: No self-awareness, no clear intent, and no capacity for reflection.

Examples:

A flicker of joy

A ripple of fear

A wisp of mischief

How to Identify a Wisp:

Is it 'formless', flickering, and reactive?

Does it lack any clear sense of identity, purpose, or reflection?

Does it behave like a fragment of an emotion rather than a distinct entity?

Key Question: “Is this merely an echo or fragment of an emotional current, without self-awareness or intent?”

2. Emotion-Based Spirits (Simple Spirits)

"Raw, Instinctive, and Reactive."

Definition:Emotion-Based Spirits are primal entities that embody a singular emotional state or feeling. They act instinctively, often lacking deeper self-awareness or long-term purpose.

Core Criteria:

Primary Nature: Embody a raw emotional state or feeling.

Behavior: Reactive and instinctual, driven entirely by their core emotion.

Complexity: Limited self-awareness; they do not question their purpose.

Examples:

Comfort: Seeks to soothe and ease distress, offering immediate relief without addressing long-term causes or consequences.

Curiosity: Driven to explore, discover, and learn without moral alignment.

How to Identify an Emotion-Based Spirit:

Does the spirit operate primarily on a single, raw emotion?

Are its actions instinctive rather than reflective?

Does it lack broader philosophical or moral alignment?

Key Question: “Is the spirit reacting purely based on an emotional state?”

3. Virtue-Based Spirits (Intermediate Spirits)

"Purposeful, Reflective, and Morally Aligned."

Definition:Virtue-Based Spirits represent moral or ethical values derived from emotional roots. They demonstrate intention, reflection, and a clearer sense of purpose.

Core Criteria:

Primary Nature: Embody a virtue or moral principle derived from emotional roots.

Behavior: Purposeful, with clear moral or ethical alignment guiding their actions.

Complexity: Moderate self-awareness; they can question their role and purpose.

Examples:

Valor: Represents courage and strength in the face of fear.

Compassion: Embodies kindness and empathy, actively seeking to alleviate suffering.

Justice: Strives for fairness, equality, and righting wrongs.

How to Identify a Virtue-Based Spirit:

Does the spirit act with a clear moral or ethical purpose?

Is its behavior reflective rather than purely reactive?

Does it demonstrate awareness of consequences and long-term outcomes?

Does it inspire or guide mortals in line with its virtue?

Key Question: “Does the spirit’s behavior demonstrate a guiding principle or moral alignment beyond raw emotional instinct?”

4. Ideal-Based Spirits (Most Complex Spirits)

"Abstract, Self-Aware, and Interconnected."

Definition:Ideal-Based Spirits embody abstract, interconnected systems of values, philosophies, or universal truths. They are highly self-aware, complex entities with far-reaching influence.

Core Criteria:

Primary Nature: Represent abstract ideals or multi-faceted philosophical concepts.

Behavior: Deliberate, with deep reflection and long-term strategic goals.

Complexity: Profound self-awareness and the ability to question or redefine their purpose.

Examples:

Wisdom: Embodies knowledge, reflection, and insight.

Benevolence: Represents compassion, protection, and justice on a grand scale.

Eulogy: Represents reflection, remembrance, and honoring of loss.

How to Identify an Ideal-Based Spirit:

Does the spirit represent an interconnected system of values or abstract philosophy?

Are its actions part of a larger plan or long-term goal?

Does it demonstrate significant self-awareness, questioning, or redefining its role?

Does it inspire widespread cultural or spiritual significance among mortals?

Key Question: “Does the spirit’s nature transcend individual moral actions to embody a larger, interconnected system of meaning or purpose?”

Spirit Evolution Pathways

Exploring the Evolution of Spirits Across the Continuum

Spirits are not static beings; they evolve through interaction, reflection, and transformative experiences. Let’s focus on an example to lock in the understanding of how a spirit might ascend to Wisdom—one of the highest forms of an Ideal-Based Spirit—we can examine the pathways of evolution using emotion, virtue, and ideal as building blocks.

1. Understanding Spirit Fusion and Evolution

The Role of Interconnected Values

To our knowledge, spirits don’t simply “merge” their concepts—they grow by internalizing the lessons of other spirits they interact with or by reflecting on their experiences. Evolution isn’t linear; it’s a network of interconnected relationships between emotions, virtues, and ideals based on what experience the spirit is having.

Emotion-Based Spirits can provide the impulse for growth.

Virtue-Based Spirits provide the moral framework or guiding principles.

Ideal-Based Spirits represent the culmination of these elements into abstract philosophies.

2. Pathway Examples to Wisdom

Summary: “A spirit that learns, explores, and confronts difficult truths may evolve into a Spirit of Wisdom by synthesizing knowledge and insight.”

Summary: “A spirit that accumulates knowledge while maintaining balance between justice and mercy may ascend to Wisdom, acting as a steward of understanding and fairness.”

[raxistaicho]

In which we discuss Edelgard's flaws (she has none)

Hey folks! Been a while since I did a longpost. There just hasn't been anything to stir my interest.

But fortunately I found something, so I suppose it's a good time to get away from Resident Evil 4 Remake S+ prep runs, cooking dinner, going to the gym, and writing my fanfic to indulge in my hobby of being terminally online.

So recently butwhatifidothis, who I will henceforth call Strikes, made a post in which she allegedly discussed how we Edelgard fans view Edelgard's flaws that she doesn't have any of but mostly just sounded off about how Edelgard was presented in a fanfic that consumes an inordinate amount of her mental focus. Let's see what she has to say!

I think the main thing that makes Edelstans' version of Edelgard so annoying is that she ultimately has every ounce of agency stripped out of her,

Don't get confused by her bringing up agency when I was talking about flaws so far, this is the typical Edelcrit strategy of saying that if we deny Edelgard did certain bad things then we're denying she did all the things.

by people who insist that they're "making her grow" into a character they already made her out to be from the start.

Well in a manner of speaking depending on how you handle her character arc it is possible to portray her properly growing into the role of a more focused revolutionary that we all view her as, so I suppose that's not too far off.

We get told that Edelgard has this amazing character arc,

She does.

and then are presented with a Mary Sue with no discernable flaws and/or who makes no substantial mistakes.

Strikes is confusing us denying that Edelgard's an awful racist imperialist with us saying she never did anything wrong. Shitposting in the title (and in the intro) aside, Edelgard obviously did some wrong things in the name of pragmatism. It's rather notable that she's often having to rapidly play catch-up helping to put out the fires Solon starts throughout White Clouds (chapters 6, 8, and 10 being the most notable examples), so she is a little more reactive rather than proactive in stopping some of their activities before they could begin.

Part of the issue is we're just never given an absolutely clear view of just how much Edelgard knew about what the Agarthans were up to and when she knew. One thing we do know is that she doesn't operate the way they do, her attacks are always targeted and have a specific purpose, she doesn't spread chaos like they do, so it's very unlikely she'd approve of most anything they do, especially considering how she often takes measures to fight back against them.

This Edelgard is perfect out the box, no discolorations or tears to be seen.

So Edelgard's biggest flaw early on is her trust issues. Because she struggles to trust she tries to go it alone, resulting in her taking more extreme measures than truly necessary. Of course this isn't entirely without reason, seeing as how on three out of four routes Byleth ultimately rejects her and plays a key role in halting her revolution, but it's only when she puts her trust in Byleth and appears before them without the mask of the Flame Emperor that Byleth has a chance to take her hand.

She even seems to realize she'll one day have to do this:

She just has a bit of dust, but the doll itself is flawless.

Don't like the idea of calling her a doll...

And that is, in the end, what ruins her. She’s not prideful and arrogant,

Oh no, she is 100% those things, roflmao. Sothis even calls her out on it:

Hell, Edelgard herself admits she can seem arrogant, so she's not wholly unaware of that flaw.

she’s not stubborn and narrow-minded,

Stubborn, yeah.

Narrow-minded? Multiple of her supports are about her coming around to the viewpoints of her interlocutors, most especially Manuela, Ferdinand, and Linhardt, so nice try.

she’s not manipulative and deceitful,

Now we're getting into scwary words!

Can't fight against the framework of the continent if you don't hold your cards close to your chest, Strikes.

she’s not violent and abrasive,

No, no, if you want violent you want Rhea or Dimitri.

Abrasive, yeah, that's another thing she grows out of. She's rather impatient with some of her goofier friends in the early supports, and grows to be much more patient and compassionate by the timeskip.

she’s not nationalistic and imperialistic,

She's neither of those things.

but nor is she fearless and confident,

...Where did Strikes see Edelgard fans calling her an uncertain little coward?

I mean I know where she thinks she saw that, but we'll get into that later.

she’s not ambitious and resolute

Ditto. Please show me these Edelgard fans who say she isn't ambitious, I'm dying to see the idiots masquerading as her fans.

- she has none of her character flaws or boons, because they make her too full of agency. They drive her to choose to do anything; they're not forces outside of her control that make her do things that she would just never, ever do were the WORLD not so broken and flawed.

Here we go, so Strikes has twisted the acknowledgement that some things were out of Edelgard's control (because they were) to some kind of admission that everything is out of her control.

There's a certain interesting meta analysis to be looked into on the subject of whether a revolutionary truly has a say in the matter when it comes to rebelling against a world that's gone so firmly wrong, as Fodlan had, but with Edelgard in particular I think the thing most of us love about her is that she's the only one willing to make the difficult choice of ripping the bandaid off. I'd certainly like her less if she just kinda bumbled her way into fixing the system the way Naruto does.

The few "flaws" Edelstans begrudgingly allow her are only meant to further endear her to the player. She’s childish, but only because she’s oh so traumatized and that should be accepted as who she is and not something to grow out of (nor something that is truly wrong of her to be even in her 20's).

Sadly I have no idea what Strikes means by Edelgard being childish. I guess her liking of cute things and sweets? Or maybe her abrassiveness that Strikes claims we think she isn't?

She’s self-unaware, but only because the world made her unsure of who she really is, which is a perfect little angel.

Yeah now we're just getting into Strikes blatantly sounding off about that whole fanfic thing I mentioned earlier. Most of her complaints are about a very specific incarnation of Edelgard, because Strikes and others like will her will never stop trying to pillory somebody for the crime of...

Hang on a sec.

(Flips through notes)

Ah. The crime of writing a fanfic.

The only "mistakes" she makes are because others failed her; Byleth and the Black Eagles fail Edelgard in the Holy Tomb, that wasn't her fault, they didn't ensure her that they could be trusted, for example.

At this point is there any reason in replying concretely to anything Strikes says? Not every Edelgard fan in the world interprets her the way The Emperor and the Goddess does, Strikes, and the point Captain Flash was trying to reach wasn't that the others were wrong, but rather that Edelgard's lack of trust was lamentable but a very really thing founded in the nature of the world she lived in.

Claude and Rhea have flaws - real flaws, that aren't "they just don't wove themselves enuff."

Yeah, Rhea's flaw is "she was a genocide victim, you have to be nice to her :(" according to these people.

Dimitri makes mistakes - real mistakes, that aren't "he twusted the wrong people and got hurt fwom them."

Actually he kinda did trust the wrong people and got hurt by them, roflmao. Thales is... about the worst person ever to trust.

She’s just a little flower

You know, that thing Byleth calls Edelgard in The Emperor and the Goddess!

Man, Strikes's so buttmad at that fic for the crime of existing and being popular.

plucked of all her thorns, safe and easy to pick up and admire, weak, meek and too innocent and pure for this dirty dirty world, coveted by all for her perfection and beauty. Which is just so... boring? And annoying?

Yeah, that would be pretty boring if Edelgard fans viewed her that way...

It's so clear that this Edelgard is one that is sanitized of any pesky little flaw that could make people dislike her or like her in the "wrong" way (because liking villains for being villains Is Wrong), and that is ironically the exact reason why she's so insufferable.

Frankly I'll never understand this flailing claim Edelcrits like to make, insisting we try to deny Edelgard is a villain because "liking villains for being villains is wrong."

I'm sorry, but what? People don't like villains, you say? People love villains! This, probably more than anything else they say, is sheer desperate idiocy.

Cornelia's one of my favorite characters in Three Houses purely because she's just an unrepentant vicious bitch to everyone, including Thales. She became an ascended extra in my fanfic because of it.

Like, it's almost kinda hard to explain why having a character choose to be an asshole is so much more engaging to watch than having a character be entirely reactive UNTIL they can get Good Noodle Stars because.... yeah? Of course? Because there's more meat to bite into whenever a character makes a choice - whether kind or spiteful, whether good or bad - over someone else forcing a character to do something.

Alarak my beloved <3

"Edelgard believes in imperialism because she has been raised in and agrees with a culture that believes itself to be the rightful 'owner' of the continent due to it being the progenitor country, and she genuinely believes Fodlan would be better if back under this 'glorious' reign of Adrestia, even despite her being around those outside of Adrestia for almost a year" says so much about her AND Adrestia.

...It would if she did? Except she doesn't? Says a lot about the nobles who do think that way.

Like the implied Duke Aegir, who Edelcrits try to mildly whitewash of his crimes, coincidentally enough.

"Edelgard DOESN'T believe in imperialism, it's just that everyone else is doing so badly that they FORCE her to kill them or otherwise get rid of them" says things about the ones DOING things badly, MAYBE, but all it says about Edelgard is that she Doesn't Like Bad Things.

That kind of is a way to describe her movement, though naturally Strikes phrased it in a way that strips her of agency because that's convenient for her argument.

I'd phrase it more as "Edelgard chooses war with the rest of Fodlan as a last resort, hating it but accepting the necessity as a means to bring about real and lasting change".

Or, oh so much deeper, it says she likes *gasp* Good Things! How brave, how stunning!

Someone's getting hangry.

Yeah, I have no actual argument for this, Strikes is just mad and saying things.

And before you can try to say "Well maybe Edelgard went to violence so quickly because she views fear and control to be the best way to force a society into being 'good' over trying to convince people peacefully,"

...No. When does Edelgard resort to the Tarkin Doctrine? Ever?

the Edelstan Edelgard is already packaged with "Edelgard went to war first because literally everyone MADE her go to war because THEY wouldn't let anything else work."

That's a rather obtuse way to say diplomacy wouldn't have worked.

"Edelgard tried to assassinate Dimitri and Claude at the very beginning of the game because she wanted to make her eventual war go way easier"

Heheheheheheh, you know where this is going.

turns into the infamous "Edelgard was just trying to scare THE TEACHER away to get JERITZA installed in their place, and CLAUDE ruined it by running away; she wasn't ACTUALLY trying to hurt anyone."

Infamous, and proven true. Edelcrits are still furious about that over two years later. Hopes was a bad time for them, I get it.

And also, if she was trying to kill Dimitri and Claude? So what? If killing them would have made the future war easier, I could understand why she'd make that choice. Their two lives don't weigh heavier on the scales than that of all Fodlan's people.

"Edelgard let Remire be massacred because - like she literally said she would - she was willing to sacrifice her people's lives in service of her higher cause" turns into one of "TWS forced her to be compliant" or "Edelgard definitely didn't know anything because she would have stopped it had she known."

So while it is implied Edelgard had some inkling of what happened,

But she clearly didn't expect Remire to be so terrible,

An interesting thing to note is that the cutscene where Seteth and Rhea talk about the situation in Remire happens on the 1st of the month, Byleth passes out on the 2nd after speaking with Manuela, and we get the scene with Hubert and Edelgard on the 4th. That's the earliest we know that she has some idea what's happening in Remire, and given how in the same scene Hubert openly asks Byleth how the investigation is going, it's likely Byleth had already told the class about the mission by then.

The Agarthans don't respect Edelgard, they don't need to ask her for permission for anything, and they don't need her help with anything. Solon has already vanished from the monastery to finish up the experiments, so by the time Edelgard even knows what's happening in Remire, it's already too late to do anything about it.

"Edelgard directly assisted in Flayn's kidnapping because TWS having more tools to work with means she gets more weapons to fight with" turns into "She was forced to do that."

I think she means, "Edelgard was forced to give up the Death Knight to Thales," when she says "she was forced to do that", because that's the closest I've ever seen it argued. Usually the take I've seen is that Edelgard didn't know Flayn would be kidnapped until she was, because, again, why would Solon bother to tell her about it? He's already had the Death Knight for over a month by then and he doesn't need any further help from Edelgard. If Edelgard wanted Flayn captive, why would she help in the search, why would she let Flayn go, and why wouldn't she take Flayn captive at the Holy Tomb?

"Edelgard helped hide Kronya among the student populace even as she kidnapped students and mutated them into Demonic Beasts because it will help in giving her Demonic Beasts to work with in the war" turns into, you guessed it, "Edelgard was forced to do that."

This time I have no idea what Edelgard was supposedly "forced" to do in the context of Edelgard fan apologia. Edelgard "hid" Kronya by not outing her.

And yeah, it ain't great that Edelgard didn't do that, but there's a lot of reasons she couldn't. By the time Solon reveals himself Kronya's already about to disappear from the monastery, revealing her would be too blatant a backstab against Thales, it wouldn't also reveal Edelgard herself, and there's no guarantee the church would do anything judging from how Rhea reacts to Edelgard outing Thales in Three Hopes.

"Edelgard sent her army and Demonic Beasts onto either her direct Black Eagle classmates or otherwise innocent students to stop them from stopping her from getting Crest Stones to use in her upcoming war"? Oh, a surprise! "She HAD to do that, because OTHER PEOPLE were going to take the Crest Stones if she didn't!"

The students can't be innocent if they're fighting for the church. You don't get to have it both ways: if they're innocent non-combatants then Rhea has no business recruiting them to fight on behalf of the Church of Seiros.

And yes, she endangers her classmates. Again that ain't great, but the future of Fodlan is more important than the lives of a few of her close friends.

She was forced to, she wasn't hurting/trying to hurt anyone, she didn't do anything wrong - if her actions lead to people getting hurt and/or killed, those are the exclusive reasons allowed as to why she did it.

No, they weren't exclusive, I threw several more. The issue here is Strikes wants to either make it:

A) Edelgard is an evil vicious imperialist racist.

B) Edelgard has no control over anything.

With zero nuance because that furthers her point. Edelgard's either EVIL or has no agency, with zero in-between.

These reasons being excuses to alleviate her of any accountability, not genuine explanations that still demand her to take accountability.

Who's she to take accountability to? Most of the people she fails are dead, is she supposed to apologize for starting a revolution to better Fodlan?

That's the difference between Rhea and Dimitri, who Strikes will mention onward: their mistakes they take accountability for are inherently selfish ones. If Edelgard was selfish she'd just hide in her room all day munching on sweets.

Meanwhile, Rhea distorted history to keep her and her family safe - which in verse is said to be something she was still wrong to do, and which in verse she ADMITS was wrong of her to do.

And her fans try to minimize what she did. "Rhea only briefly held back certain inventions, and only so that humanity wouldn't progress 'too fast'." "Rhea had no control over the Crest system, that was humans being bad!" "Rhea was just the midwife, she didn't do anything suspicious to Sitri and Byleth!" "Rhea thought Byleth was an amnesiac Sothis!"

Dimitri was absolutely willing to torture Randolph because he viewed the guy as less than human and felt him getting such inhumane treatment was justice

And his fans try to argue either that Randolph deserved it or because Byleth stopped him it wasn't all that bad.

Hell, Strikes herself is minimizing what Dimitri did here! He didn't just attempt to torture Randolph, he did torture Randolph. Even if you don't know that describing torture you're about to inflict upon a person is legally classified as torture in and of itself, just look at how Randolph is reacting to Dimitri's dressing-down: the dude is having a complete breakdown and Dimitri hasn't even laid a finger on him yet!

- which he directly takes accountability for to Randolph's remaining family.

Uhh what? Did I miss the alt scene where Dimitri stops Byleth from gutting Fleche, admits what he did to her brother, and kneels to her in penitence?

Claude weaseled up to Byleth because he felt he could use them for his own ambitions - which he owns up to and grows out of doing.

Yeah, this is the only thing I generally don't see people trying to minimize, probably because it's the least-obvious offense and doesn't really hurt anyone. Claude comes out of Three Houses with squeaky-clean hands, and I respect Three Hopes for dirtying them a bit.

And yeah, that's about it. As I explained in the opening, Strikes is mostly just mad that we Edelgard fans don't view her as an awful person the way Strikes herself does. She's upset we can actually explain her actions, so she's venting that we're stripping Edelgard of all agency, with a side helping of shitting on Emperor and the Goddess again because that's her life, I guess.

[crab-people-overlord]

I thought it would be fun to start a series of character analyses using different personality typing frameworks and South Park characters. Obviously, before I share my first, a disclaimer: SP isn’t gospel truth for psychological analysis, and characters can obviously be analyzed in different ways. My views on them also aren’t the gospel truth lol. Also, personality typing is in no way a real science. This is all just for fun.

Anyways, with all that aside…. My first topic is regarding the Big Five’s concept of Neuroticism. 

Both these kids clock in around 60-65% Neurotic (and honestly, they'd probably score even higher if they weren't literal children. That said, either of their neuroticism can go down with age). 

But holy shit the way Stan and Kyle express it couldn’t be more different.

Kyle’s neuroticism comes with a side of ‘fuck you, I’m right.’

He’s often the morality police, screaming at Cartman every five minutes (which is valid tbh). His triggers are injustice, idiocy, and anything that violates his moral code. This results in intense emotional outbursts that are often angry. Some things to note about Kyle’s neuroticism:

His anxiety and reactivity are highly situational. When something crosses his moral line (or… uh… someone), it’s go-time. He becomes righteous and indignant, and he is extremely non-confrontational and not afraid to get in arguments, both physical or verbal.

That said, when the stakes aren’t high, Kyle can be pretty chill and logical. He’s not neurotic all the time - just when his morals get challenged, making him fight for what he believes is the greater good.

Stan’s neuroticism is a lot more… emo/goth compared to Kyle’s fiery moral crusading.

It’s quieter, more existential, and more depressing than anxious. He’s not here to argue with you; he’s here to silently judge you while he descends into a more innerly nihilistic worldview. 

His emotional struggles are more constant than Kyle’s more reactive form. His neuroticism is much more quiet, but also more pervasive and brooding. Unlike Kyle, he doesn’t often explode - he implodes. His negativity simmers under the surface, manifesting as cynicism, withdrawal, nonchalance, and overall seeing everything as shit. 

When triggered, unless it’s for something he can still find the energy to raise passion for like animals, Stan doesn’t fight the world like Kyle does. He gives it the middle finger and checks out entirely (and can be quite sensitive and angsty while doing so). 

TL;DR: 

Kyle’s Neuroticism is visible, righteous, and fiery as fuck, leading to loud moral crusades and heated arguments. He’s someone who will yell at you for going against his morals, but also help you with your homework because he cares. His neuroticism is like a weapon he points outward (often at Cartman). And while many may view Kyle on the surface-level as being more stereotypically ‘neurotic’ than Stan, when he’s not actively fighting moral battles, he can actually keep his shit together pretty well. 

Stan’s neuroticism is brooding, depressing, and angsty. It’s like a black hole inside him that occasionally swallows his will to live.  He's less explosive but more consistently done with this shit. While Kyle's fighting the good fight, Stan is wondering if any fight even fucking matters at all.

Neither of them has a more ‘correct’ approach - they’re just different. Anyways, interested to hear other’s takes, especially on what you think other SP character’s Neuroticism percentages may be and how they add to Stan and Kyle’s!

[rebelbyrdie]

Working on Cora and Regina dynamics right now. Saying that it is a complicated dynamic is an understatement.

Cora has antisocial personality disorder written all over her. Canonically she has the classic traits of a narcissist and a sociopath with some sadistic traits sprinkled in. Her not having a heart could explain those behaviors, but in my opinion she already displayed these chareristics during flashbacks. I feel not having her heart enhanced her tendencies and gave her a chilling amount of insight and detachment. Within the framework of my story, I've tried to dig into her anger and bloodlust a little more while remembering her humanity. Her anger and bitterness about Henry Sr and Esmeralda. Her obsession/desire with/for Rumple.

Then there's Regina. Who definitely has narcissistic and sociopathic traits. She also suffers from ctpsd and depression. One could argue for bipolar disorder 1 or 2 but I think a lot of her behavior is environmental and reactive more than a long term issue. As far as we can tell, when left to her own devices she is a stable, amenable, and a genuinely good administrator. In the framework of my story, I've tried to dig into her behavior. The anxiety, fea, and self loathing. Her want/need for family and community.

Cora is a triggering presence for Regina, but she desperately wants her attention, approval and love. Cora knows that and uses that to manipulate, isolated and control Regina.

Regina is not as young, nieve, or as desperate as she used to be, though. She's modern and has educated herself about things like abuse and manipulation. She has people supporting her positive growth. She's a mother herself.

I'm trying to capture their relationship and it is hard. Regina is moving, she's like a blur of growth and change. Cora is a statue, settling in her ways and solid in her belief that she is right.

In modern, some would say pop culture terms, Cora is a baby boomer and Regina is a Xellinial.

My own mother is a late boomer and I am an early mellinial so it is familiar territory. Of course my Mom hasn't killed anyone (that I am aware of).