#switchboard art

[thunderstruck9]

Edward Wadsworth (British, 1889-1949), Number Please!, 1942. Tempera on paper, 12 5/8 x 14 1/8 in.

[blondebrainpowered]

Communication, 2014

Artist: Laurie Lipton

[fehck]

[dinosaurwithablog]

There was an art to being a switchboard operator. They were some of the best multi taskers ever. They connected every call that came into a business manually. It was fascinating to watch them work. Another lost art. Alas and alack

[nexustermina]

Hi so qsmp enjoyers is there like. An easy way to catch up on everything that’s happened so far in the series that doesn’t involve watching hundreds-to-thousands of hours of stream VODs? I’m really curious about it but I have no idea what the simplest way to catch up on lore would be. Is there anyone out there who does like,,, episodic recaps in the style of Blueberrytv by chance???

[nnalien]

new oc "unnamed switchboard operator"

[highly-opinionated-art]

Early to the rendezvous

[fionabrennanartisttours]

Truly one of my favorite artefacts to talk about on my Queer Dublin tour was this - not a poster! - t-shirt featuring the Gay Switchboard.

The Gay Switchboard was set up in Dublin in 1974 as a helpline offering information and counseling. It is now the longest-running LGBTQ organisation in Ireland (Don't Queers just stay on the phone for ages!?). But, as usual, Irish society had a bit of a problem with the progress of the community. The Gay Switchboard was originally called “Tel-a-Friend” because the telephone company wouldn’t accept the word gay. It was yet another attempt to paint our queerness out of the public eye.

That’s why I really love this t-shirt. Somebody wore this with the word “gay” displayed on their chest. At the time that was pretty brave. But this t-shirt has made a comeback, and now can be seen all over town again! It even popped up briefly in and episode of the queer series "Work in Progress"!

[bebemoon]

look for the name INGA (requested by anonymous) | la perla brown sheer lace bodysuit (c. 199o's), simone rocha long embellished bow in pink, christian dior beaded pearl choker, enfants riches déprimés stockings and heels (a/w 2o24), carolein smit pearl-wrapped rat art piece (2o17), houbigant "le parfum ideal" eau de parfum (c. 192o's), french carved celluloid swan brooch (c. 192o's), pearlandi (on etsy) handmade turkish crucifix indiviulal gold charm earring, nell brinkley drawing of a girl on the phone with a cherub switchboard operator, antique victorian mesh slide garter w/ dangle tassels, oversized brown czech glass cocktail ring, antique french-style chased repoussé gilt telephone w/ carved jade inset

[random-brushstrokes]

Enid Abrahams - Firewomen Resting, London Blitz (ca. 1941)

This sketch depicts firewomen in the Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) resting at their quarters, unable to return home due to air raids. Their duties included transportation, administration and operating switchboards. Enid Dreyfus (née Abrahams - her name at the time of making this work), who studied at the Royal Academy Schools, regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions and with the New English Art Club. From 1939 she worked as an AFS driver as well as practising as an artist. She sketched from life during her shifts and was one of the few women artists whose work was displayed at Firemen Artists’ exhibitions, which were extremely popular in the early years of the war. (source)

[hoe4rairai]

Continuing with the scenarios between Raian and S/O ...

《 ♤ Let's goooo ♤ 》

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ Scenario 2 😈Raian teaches his S/O a simple kure technique, but she fails every time UNTILL...😈

▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎

Fast forward five years into their relationship. Now that everyone knows who she is and Raian made it clear, she is his property so everyone knew their limits & boundries with her.

S/O, isn't weak, she has been a martial artist for years but she might've been rusty since she never practiced any martial arts after her graduation and never in her life has she ever been engaged in fights like her boyfriend.

He was lying on the couch as usual lazy and naked in all his glory, just covering his lower body with a thin velvety cover. He is resting on his arm to the side. Their cat found its comfort spot next to him, while Raian mindlessly petted it gently while watching his favourite TV show. He is usually at home all evening after spending his entire day working out,training and visiting his personal business manager if there are any new hits to discuss and checking his assets and personal investments.

The devil came out to play when a devilish smirk formed on his face out of nowhere. He sensed her presence a few moments before she actually turned the house keys on. Assassin behaviour, alright... ! Hearing and sensing always heightened and sharp anytime, anywhere. This evening, he decides to make her his target, so it's unfair for her, though.

In a split of a second, just like a lightning strike, that was how fast he was. He jumped behind the door, switching all the lights from the main switchboard. He wanted to see for himself how she would react in protecting herself.

S/O knew his schedule. If he wasn't hunting humans, he would be home by now. She opened the house door, and everything was dark, unusually quiet and dark. Raian is usually home at the time. For some reason, the hairs at the back of her neck stood. She felt something was off. There was a presence of something, but she couldn't see any shadows. She quickly scanned the entrance of the house, not taking any further step inside. She then quickly with a panicking hand fetched for her mobile to call Raian but she was so predicable that her Boyfriend knew her moves all of them and in a very quick motion a hand reached to her wrist rough enough, she gasped while it pulled her roughly inside the house, the hand then covered her mouth in a criminal manner.

She dropped her phone , her mind froze, trying to remember her self-defense moves, and quickly move her body instinctively in an attack postion, but all her attempts failed.

She heard a click behind her and a cold yet sarcastic laugh while the lights come back on, and she was pushed away , Raian in a cold tone voice said : ( useless weakling...Cox could've fought better than you) Cox is the cat's name btw !!!!

He was disappointed and went straight to the bedroom without looking her way. She stood there shaking, angry, losing her grip, WDF just happened.

She rushed into the bedroom, and all she knew was she was flying literally across the roam, landing a flying kick on him, and to Raian's surprise, that was a decent kick but a childsplay for him.

Nice he thought, okay there is a zest in her still, he came close , she pushed him away still very angry, he didn't comfort her, Raian liked her anger it's a good drive to kick some ass but not his ass , she wouldn't even dare, no one would .

The night went on, not talking to each other, S/O didn't eat dinner, Raian went jogging. Now all she has is doubts and confusion, why he did what he did... ?

He came back, she was asleep on the couch not in bed, he smirked and pushed her roughly, it was 4 am when she opened her eyes, his face was not readable, dark eyes staring at her , head slightly tilted at her when he said : You r coming with me , wear ur gym gear OUT IN 5 ... !!

The confusion since the night before and the undoubtful fear in her heart of this unpredictable man exceeded , she asked him in a low steady voice, hiding her restlessness. Why ?

Raian : your rusty ass, my Bitch should at least protect herself, I am not around you all the time, or do you want to be a cheap easy meat to kill?? the last sentence he said while lowering his face to align with her's with the most cold gaze she ever seen in their past 5 years, was enough to sent shivers down her spin . She thought to herself This is fucking crazy ...

.. .. ... No you Fucking idiot, its called Mountain breaker .. Raian voice was snarling out of annoyance . He showed his S/O the technique few times. She kept missing up the form. Been a week and no progress yet. S/O strength is improving, muscle memories helping her to gain strength but the kure technique itself was kind of complicated for her to perfect.

Raian had a mission,but before he left, he took his S/O the night before his mission to a nearby, empty spot at the lakeside surrounded by thick trees. He ordered her to hit him using the technique, she did once, twice, 6 times , she was running out of breath but He did not even budge an inch, hand went resting on his waist whild watching her loosing not only her breath but her patience. Raian stood there low shameless voice : What a fucking usless shit. Kids 6 years old can kick your ass with this technique, he moved closer to her pushing her backwards with hid body, she hates his demeaning snobbish behaviour, that's her boyfriend who is doing this shit to her, though she understands his motive but he is a shitty mentor.

He kept talking down at her while still pushing with her with his body till she tripped and fell off. That was it, she thought .. she looked up at him , furious her gaze changed notoriously, she jumped on her feet took few steps back still within his range and rammed him with the mountain breaker, to his surprise made him move backwards. He laughed gleefully, ordering her AGAIN ... she does it again. He orders her again louder AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN ...

Raian's slightly bruised chest, S/O almost paralysed hands and soar torso ... they kept the practice almost all night. She only felt weak after all her adrenaline subsided and fell weakly into her boyfriend's arms.

He caught her, gently whispered to her, well done .. keep it up while kissing her forehead quickly before she registered this soft side of Raian. He picked her up gently, walking back home, and had a long relaxing bath together. She was completely out of it but noticed how Raian gently massaged her body quietly.

Moments like this worth it all, she thought with a soft smile on her pretty face, he lowered his head to kiss that smile. Raian understands how rough he was with her but if she was to be attacked He wants her to destroy the attacker, no harm should ever come her way or all hell will break lose and no one will be safe from him.

Fast forward , a year passed and safe to say S/O has perfected few more techniques, but on her dead body, if her Bf would ever train her again.. Nope..

**arts belong to their right owners

[falloutconceptart]

Switchboard

Concept art for Fallout 3

Art by Adam Adamowicz

[longlivedelusion]

Marauders

I've managed for the most part to avoid JKR and her transphobic, horrible shit, sticking to my little corner of marauders fandom. I haven't really contributed to HP stuff in a while beyond that, which I know it's still engaging some, but regardless.

Recent months though, with everything that's been coming up with her the the franchise I feel like I can't even touch the content at all anymore. I haven't engaged in it monetarily since I was a teen, but even in a fanfic/fan art only way Im physically sick over what's transpiring, what she's ACTIVELY given money for, knowing that I'm actively engaging in it in some way. And for that, instead of my fics, I'm taking them down from my Masterlist, from my requests and stopping my engagement with it as of now. Thank you to everyone who has engaged with my writing this way, and if you have any requests pending, I'm sorry but I won't be writing them in the future.

I'm imploring you, that if you still consume any HP/Marauders content to at least do these things to fight against her bullshit:

- Do not buy HP content, watch it on tv, watch the reboot, or engage with it in any way that boosts her numbers of bank account. You are actively putting coins in her pocket this way, and as a turn investing in things that directly harm the trans community.

- Actively support our trans humans in the UK and outside. Here's a few ways you can/organizations you can support (some of which I pulled from this resource):

Share or sign this petition

Gendered intelligence: trans-led charity that works to improve the lives of trans people in the UK

Stonewall

ATK

Switchboard

Mermaid

LGBTQ+ Youth

Confused? How to start to educate on the situation -> quick breakdown

I'm not gonna shame you for consuming this content, that's not what this is. But I'm just am bringing this awareness to you. By engaging in her content in a public way, buying, etc, you are giving her and the people fighting to harm the trans community, power.

That's it. Stay safe my trans humans, I love you. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

[aninventoryofthepossible]

Inspirations for VOID 1680 AM

Earlier this year, I released a new solo TTRPG: VOID 1680 AM. In it, you use a deck of cards, a six-sided die, your music collection and a voice recorder to create your own late-night radio show.

The cards help you dig deep into your collection to reconnect with music you love; they and the die also help you create anonymous Callers and the concerns, hopes and obsessions that drove them to reach out to you, a fellow lone voice in the darkness.

I also included steps for joining the library of Callers for other players to use, and even to submit your full show for broadcast on the "real" VOID 1680 AM. You can see some of those Affiliate broadcasts here. They're genuinely very cool.

You can check out the game here, and I'm proud to say VOID 1680 AM is now a Judges' Spotlight Winner in this year's ENNIES.

Okay, enough table-setting. Let's get into it.

VOID was the culmination of a lifelong obsession with commercial radio; both the technology (which feels retro despite scarcely being over a century old) and the melancholy romance of lonesome voices baring themselves to an audience they'll never know the scope of.

This, to me, is an apt metaphor for the act of making something - anything at all. Speak into the Void, the back cover copy says. You never know who is listening. So it is with putting something you love into the world.

So what inspired VOID? I cite both Anamnesis by Sam Leigh and The Wretched by Chris Bissette in the book itself, two solo RPGs whose tones and methods did much to help me find my own.

But if I'm being truthful, VOID's inspirations mostly reside outside of games. Here are a few things that haunted me profoundly enough to drive me to respond.

The first is Talk Radio, specifically Oliver Stone's adaptation of Eric Bogosian's play. The movie's tagline is "the last neighborhood in America," which to me frames radio's persistent relevance and puts social media - often called a "town square" itself - in proper context as one piece of the many ways people find connection with others, for better or worse.

Contra the VOID DJ, Barry in Talk Radio is very, very aware of how his audience receives him (hint: not well). Barry must be heard, and so must the similarly damaged souls who call in to dump the poison in their brain into his... and everyone who's listening in, besides. It's a host of people who want to connect but don't know how, spiraling in decaying orbit around each other until something awful happens.

VOID 1680 AM was originally much darker before I decided to pull back and let players pick their own tone, and Talk Radio is why.

Oxenfree is a narrative video game about a small group of teens stuck on an island haunted by hungry ghosts who can be tuned in and out of reality with handheld radios. There's more to it than that, but I'll leave you to discover what on your own - because I would recommend this game to just about anyone.

Insofar as VOID 1680 AM can have a "soundtrack," it is this one by scntfc, created using WWII-era radio equipment.

The Vast of Night is a quietly alarming lo-fi/sci-fi set in a small town in New Mexico in the late '50s. A radio DJ and a switchboard operator pick up strange signals, and then... things happen.

This specific radio station (stylized in the poster above) is what I picture for "my" VOID 1680 AM.

Then there's Stevie in The Fog, played by Adrienne Barbeau. She's the bridge between VOID 1680 AM and my earlier solo game, Lighthouse at the End of the World.

She is, yes: a late night DJ. And her radio station is, yes: in a lighthouse. She's living my dream, at least until the ghost pirates show up.

Spoilers, I guess?

But the most important influence? VOID 1680 AM cover artist Jordan Witt's fan art for the podcast King Falls AM years ago. This image took up residence in my head, so much so that I still use it as phone wallpaper despite never having listened to the show it's for.

When it came time to partner with a cover artist, who that cover artist would be was never in question. Entirely unknowingly, Jordan took all these loose ideas in my head and gave them something to cohere to. A beacon, if you will.

They spoke something into the Void, and I listened.

Fun fact: Jordan even jazzed up the original logo I made for VOID 1680 AM when that title only applied to the AM transmitter in my garage. Here's my original - you can plainly see the influence of Jordan's art on that O. It all really came full circle.

Those are the biggest ingredients in the stew that made VOID 1680 AM. It's fun to talk about stuff I like, but also I hope it might nudge someone - anyone - to get going on something they're after.

(That's you. I'm talking about you.)

A project finding its voice is a wonderful thing, but there's no real miracle to it, no outside influence that will tell you what to do. It's just things in your head magnetizing to each other until they got a shape that - with coaxing - can stand on its own.

See you on the dial.

[barbatusart]

i dont think id be considered healthcare frontline as a switchboard operator for a hospital but i started during covid (and still work the same job though we're definitely not as busy as we were that first year) and i do gore art sometimes so it was funny seeing those other asks. i guess it makes sense we'd touch the medical field.

honestly naah switchboard operator for hospital is still healthcare, it’s facilitating patient care imo - and also hello and thank you for all you do when us internal dumbasses forget the number for radiology for the 5thousandth time lmao. i think also it’s pretty common for healthcare workers to have crossover with enjoying horror, ive definitely run into a nonzero no. of physicians & RNs & the like who love the splatter stuff & even really enjoyed my old psycho gore collab comix - i remember i finally showed one of my favorite MDs some panels from SAD SACK during my 2 week notice at the covid gig & they were like THIS IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL 8O with zero ick factor lmao. working so closely with and on The Body absolutely desensitizes one to human blood & i can only hypothesize it’s not too far fetched to say that extends to horror and gore media as well, tho everybody’s mileage will vary of course

[aktivistaverein]

Rowlings Anti-Ace-Kommentare: eine klassische Strategie von Rechtsaußen

Dass der Internationale Tag der Asexualität (International Asexuality Day) sowie die Ace Week ihre Berechtigung haben, bewies pünktlich zum IAD 2025 J. K. Rowling. (Es berichteten z. B. Mannschaft und PinkNews.)

J. K. Rowling, international bekannte Anti-Trans-Aktivistin, teilte und kommentierte eine Infografik des britischen Switchboard-Hilfetelefons für queere Personen in Not. Switchboard hatte für den 6. April eine Kachel mit „International Asexuality Day“ gepostet. Der Rest der Infografik besagte in etwa: „Asexualität bedeutet, dass eine Person wenig bis keine sexuelle Anziehung verspürt. Asexuelle Menschen können tiefe emotionale Bindungen und Beziehungen aufbauen, aber empfinden sexuelle Anziehung nicht auf die übliche Art und Weise.“

In ihren eigenen Posts dazu bewies J. K. Rowling, dass sie diese Information entweder nicht gelesen, nicht verstanden oder willentlich ignoriert hatte. Sexuelle und romantische Orientierung wurden munter zusammengewürfelt. Was, um Laura Westford im Online-Magazin Medium zu übertragen, „ein weiteres homofeindliches Motiv aufgreift, welches homosexuelle/LGBT Menschen als ausschließlich sexuell und zu keinem Gedanken an Romantik und Liebe fähig darstellt.“

Rowling jedenfalls wünschte in etwa: „Einen frohen Pseudo-Unterdrückungstag allen, die völlig Fremde wissen lassen möchten, dass sie keinen Bock aufs Vögeln haben.“

In Großbritannien kann von Pseudo-Unterdrückung keine Rede sein. Laut einer jüngst veröffentlichten Befragung von 400 Personen durch das King’s College in London glauben immerhin 30 % der britischen Bevölkerung, dass Asexualität heilbar sei. Aus einem anderen Blickwinkel: Sie glauben, dass Konversionsmaßnahmen angebracht sind. Derartige Haltungen sind auch in Deutschland verbreitet, und zwar zu allen Minderheiten-Orientierungen. (Siehe erste Ergebnisse von „Unheilbar Queer“ beim BzgA.) Konversionsversuche können die Betroffenen krank machen und sogar Suizide befördern. Deswegen sollten verantwortungsvolle Therapeut*innen und Seelsorgende davon abraten.

Und passend zum von J. K. Rowlings geäußerten Missverständnis übers „Vögeln“ teilen zwischen 24 und 41 Prozent der Befragten aus der erwähnten Studie eine exklusionistische Meinung: Sex zu haben scheint ihnen mit einer asexuellen Selbstbeschreibung nicht vereinbar.

Derlei Fehlinformationen gefährden die Sicherheit und körperliche Unversehrtheit von Aces. Solange so viel Unkenntnis und Verachtung im Umlauf sind, werden wir den IAD und die Ace Week begehen müssen.

Eins beweist dieser Ausfall der an Ausfällen reichen Xitter-Historie Rowlings: Der Versuch, Hass auf trans und nichtbinäre Personen (wieder) zu staatlicher Politik zu machen, ist nur der Anfang. So wie die Trump-Administration versucht, das T aus dem klassischen „LGBT“ verschwinden zu lassen, so soll offenbar nun der Rest der mühsam erkämpften Buchstabenkette schwinden. Die Britische „LGB Alliance“ hat jedenfalls keine Lust, sich als „queer“ vereinnahmen zu lassen oder gar auf ein T oder ein Plus im Akronym. (Quelle: https://lgballiance.org.uk/dont-call-me-queer/, absichtlich kein Link.)

Dem Faschismus geht es am Ende darum, klare Kategorien zu schaffen und die Kernfamilie zu stärken, für immer neue Arbeitsbienen und Soldaten. Da kommen Feministinnen und lgb Personen, die gegen trans Personen wettern, genau recht. Und zwar genau so lange, wie sie sich instrumentalisieren lassen.  (Vergleiche dazu auch die Analyse von geschlechtmachtwissen bei Insta.)

Ganz nach dem Motto „teile und herrsche“ wird hier versucht, zwischen einzelne Gruppen der LGBTIQAPlus-Community Keile zu treiben. Seien wir uns dieser Tatsache bewusst und halten wir zusammen. --

Dieser Text unter CC BY-SA 4.0. Edit 2025-04-14: Link zum richtigen Switchboard eingefügt, Medium erklärt.