#the kids are NOT alright

[seventeenthya]

I made this awhile ago and it's silly and not that good but I'm also sad and I always miss them. also crowley is a drunk snake and aziraphale is so done with them

[itsyveinthesky]

Leute was stimmt bitte mit unser Gen Z nicht.

[ayaisokay]

The Kids Aren't Alright

* ~ I'm sorry for making this ~ *

Doomers & Fatalism

Regardless of your age, you need a reason to move forward. You need hope. Yet, it's hard to find hope for teens and young adults.

Not a year goes by without an update on the planet's decline (at our hand), wealth is only feeling more unstable and unequally distributed, a pandemic destroyed any hope of sociability for some, and social media does more harm than good when it "connects" people.

There's no true community, nothing to take pride in, there's hardly motivation for ambition or wealth. Hell, we grow up being told we'll be a generation of renters, because it's a statistical improbability than any of us will EVER afford a home without working 3 jobs into our grave.

I can't speak for America, but I know my government haven't made any real effort to prevent renter's from taking that news and slowly inflating rent costs each month.

I'm a part of the generation that is thought to deal with the broadest range of mental health concerns; however, I'm also part of the generation that's most likely to be told to "deal with it," or "grow up," by the people perpetuating our suffering, or the peers that fell victim to toxic hustle culture— enabling the shitty circumstances.

When you start adulthood with so many problems that directly impact your life, most of which come at no fault of your own, you'd hope for help in addressing those matters, but it never comes.

We're told we're lazy, we don't try hard enough, and we've got it easy (which is a demonstrable lie). How is it any surprise we became hopeless doomers? At some point you just get the idea that we were destined to fail.

Threats of War

Now we're told to be ready for World War 3 and I'm struggling to understand why. What values am I defending? Why should I die for a country that doesn't care about me?

Sure, Ukraine and Palestine are in shitty situations, but saying that doesn't require me to do anything. Though they demonstrate something: the government will risk our lives for money, and turn a blind eye to genocide if it suits them.

All that matters is that we're made to feel like our interests align. They don't represent us. They represent themselves.

Don't get me wrong, I don't support either conflict, and I sympathise with the aforementioned nations; however, I am not willing to die for them— I don't think you are. So is it even fair for us to bother complaining? It's not like diplomacy has done a thing so far.

Whether we're roped into a war or not, it doesn't feel like we'd have a choice.

Hobbies and Corporations

Normally I'd propose finding an outlet for everything. I'm not sure that's ideal anymore. Commonplace hobbies like gaming, sports, martial arts, reading, and art, they require 3 things: time, motivation, and effort.

Thanks to hustle culture, holding 3 jobs, running a drop shipping business, and abandoning any meaningful social life is considered just enough and reasonable. That doesn't leave time for personal hobbies, entertainment, or time to actually live. A life like that is no life at all. You're an animal operating on the exclusive goal of survival. You're alive, but you're not living.

Among those of us too physically or mentally scarred to work like our peers, we compassionately took to pen and paper, or software and devices, writing stories, drawing and animating worlds, or making music.

I fear that pocket of joy is getting smaller. AI image generation has already impacted artists, AI voice recreations are already being used in place of some voice actors, and we've all seen the AI voice covers for songs— claiming "you don't need to learn to sing." It didn't take long for me to see "generative AI" being proposed as a source for track samples and stems in music production.

Considering such things, it's hard to motivate yourself to put your work out there. You struggle to justify spending time creating anything, and you're probably not ready to put the effort into producing enough algorithm optimised works per day. After all, no one will see it. No one cares.

That's how it feels.

Social Media

Maybe we still have digital spaces? Really. Are cespools like Twitter spaces you can enjoy? Even Tumblr is quite detached, with small accounts struggling to get so much as a couple likes— nevermind a reblog, and god forbid you get a comment or DM.

That's minor though, it's the relationships that bother me. The ability to lock someone out of your life, within 5 seconds, for the slightest of perceived infractions. You're sensitive and a snowflake if you need boundaries, and you're "rude" and "mean" when you're pushed too far for not establishing them.

You can join a fandom or community and run into those issues, but do you really need more trouble? Ive hung around with furries since I was 13 or 14. It wasn't a furry that SA'd me, and I've never been groomed. But as a child online, I was labelled as a dog fucking groomer (at 15), because I was in a furry community discord server. I don't like to think about how that made the young adult owner of the server feel.

Social media is good for "satirical trolls," who take pleasure in hurting as many people as they can, and then claiming it's OK because they're joking, and you should've known. Is it really worth the effort for anyone else? You know, us "normal people," not bogged down by million strong fanbases, actively managing parasocial relationships and morally questionable stalking.

Closing Statements

I'm not entirely sure why I wrote this post. I guess I'm just another girl crying on the internet when I should save it for the therapy I can't actually afford.

I want to be hopeful, to feel like there's something attainable to desire, or even just things to look forward to. It's been a long time since I woke up and felt there was a good reason to be awake or even alive.

Thanks,

- The Girl That Doesn't Exist

[theperpetualgrouch]

I am absolutely baffled this extremely mild take of mines has sparked ongoing discourses in the comments unrelated to my video, plus baseless accusations thrown at me. This all started when I was getting excommunicated by a lot of people over on tf tik tok for openly liking Getaway, which prompted me to make this very short, silly video. I can only say that it’s quite funny and sad that people can’t separate fiction from reality on there.

[kittenscookie]

Holy shit the new episode...HOLY SHIT THE NEW EPISODE! Let's focus on the Collector for a moment.

First off, this episode definitely proves that the collector isn't evil or a bad kid. He's just a kid, a heavily traumatized one at that. He can't be any older than 10 both mentally and physically—he likes sparkles, stuffed animals, and bedtime stories (good lord this child is adorable), most kids grow out of that around age 12. This is what happens when you give a kid that young who doesn't even understand the concept of death the power to warp realities. He doesn't understand his actions—the things he does to people—have consequences. That it affects them whether it be mentally or physically. You could also argue that he doesn't understand that they aren't on an even playing field. That mortals can't "play" in the same way he can. He understands to some extent but he doesn't truly get it—take the capture the flag idea for example. King has to remind him that the losers won't be able to breathe on the moon.

Now, that "Bedtime Story". The scene was so small but it gave so much. He isn't The Collector, he's A collector. As Lilith later states, he has predecessors, predecessors that wiped out the titans. Judging by the way his eyes look when it's brought up while he's spying on them he probably feels guilty about it. That book seemed like a textbook of sorts, something to teach him his kind's history and the things he's supposed to do. We can see why they're called collectors, they "preserve" species. But if it's anything like the puppet situation people probably weren't too keen with it, especially considering that if Hooty is a reliable example (and it might honestly be 50/50) he proves that people who get turned into puppets have at least the slightest bit of consciousness. Which leads us to this

"But should they meddle in our affairs we'll clean the planet and scorch the air"

...We can all agree that sentence alone doesn't allude to good things, especially considering the titan genocide. But also take the poor child's reaction into account

That is fear, panic, like a bad memory is about to be dragged up. Whatever he's actually "supposed" to be doing is probably much worse than what he currently is. What he's doing is already god awful, but this honestly (horrifyingly) might be the lesser of two evils. This poor child isn't just traumatized from long term isolation and Belos, he might also be traumatized due to what being a collector entails—he could have been there for the titan genocide. God and we thought Hunter had it bad...

[silentauthor96]

*Been angsting about this page for the last 20 minutes*

The way it's like he's still waiting, even after his sister has left the room, to see if she mentions it at all.

Then glances at the calendar as if to make sure he's not just wrong about the date.

Then puts away the food that [imo] he made for his own breakfast and saves it for his sister instead.

The way he never bothers reminding his family that it's his birthday because he has long since internalized that they do not have time to care

[Gakuen Babysitters Chapter 37]

[fabled-lady-twilla]

"So, how's the Jujutsu Kaisen/My Hero Academia fandoms doing right now?"

DANGER, DANGER! THIS IS NOT A DRILL. I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT A DRILL! ALL HANDS ON DECK! SPOILERS AND MISERY AHEAD!

WE ARE NOT OKAY!

WE ARE 100% ABSOLUTELY NOT OKAY!

IN THE SPAN OF LITERALLY LESS THAN FOUR DAYS, BOTH FANDOM'S BELOVED WHITE-HAIRED FAVORITES, WHICH GEGE & HORIKOSHI HAVE TEASED/HINTED/TORTURED US WITH POTENTIALLY GETTING A HAPPY ENDING, ONLY RIP THAT POSSIBILITY OUT FROM UNDERNEATH US LIKE NOTHING!

THIS IS LITERALLY THE CURRENT STATE OF BOTH FANDOMS:

HOW DO YOU THINK WE FEEL, TF? WE ARE EXPLODING ALL OVER TUMBLR/TWITTER/REDDIT/ETC. ALTERNATING BETWEEN YELLING AT OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER AND DROWNING OUR SORROWS IN COPIUM JUICE. 😭😭😭

[loptrcoptr]

Tumblr fandom logic these days: if two characters with different sets of genitals hook up, then they’re straight and cis and the ship is hetero and it’s all Bad and Boring and Problematic

My old tired bi ass:

“All that matters is what’s in your pants” is not the great woke take y’all seem to think it is!!!

[darth-sonny]

The regency au is extremely interesting, and I think it'd be awesome if the climax of Leo's arc is getting divorced. Mostly because I just generally like divorce but yk.

ANYWAYS, MIKEY! I think it's very cool that he's allowed a little bit more gay than his siblings. Just a smidge. I support him in everything he does.

Divorce Arcs are the pinnacle of entertainment, yeah. unfortunately, divorce was not possible (or more accurately, near impossible to get) in those times, especially for a lady. so a divorce for these two is not in the works

doesn't mean they won't work around it though~

and yeah, Mikey is allowed to be a little bit more open in being gay, but not too much, though, as it was a death sentence to be open and out. he can't go to molly houses either (places where gay and queer men showed up to hang out, or for sex) since he's still young. so he flirts occasionally every now ad then with staff. but in a way that is seen as playful as to not give anything away

not a lot of freedom, but definitely a lot more than what Donnie gets

[trinityalps]

luffy, usopp, and sanji all obsessively worry about abandonment. luffy and zoro both obsessively worry about the safety of their loved ones. nami and usopp both obsessively worry about helplessness. zoro and nami both struggle to rely on other people and over-accept responsibility. zoro and usopp are both very unused to having loved ones close by and involved in their life. zoro and sanji have equal-and-opposite trauma regarding gender roles. nami and sanji both obsessively hoard money/food respectively.

[drawing2cope]

yeah, seeing the signs of depression in adrien's room... and how chat got angry and almost cataclysmed dark owl... im worried about what's gonna happen to him and marinette that will lead to kwami's choice :(

[vivalaplutodraws]

song: smoke & trouble by society of villains

[solarmagickstar]

I've been hearing a lot of "gen alpha can't read cause they're iPad kids."

But like are we asking them what they *can* do?

Or how *they're* feeling even?

I distinctly remember adults when I was a kid saying we'd all be "brain dead" because of tv or texting or the Internet or some shit. And we couldn't defend ourselves cause we were literally children.

It's like this every time.

And every time each generation has to prove they're worthy of adulthood.

And this gen isn't even all in middle school yet and y'all are calling them failures right in front of their faces. It's not ganna help. If anything it'll make this much much worse.

I'm a Gen Z (well I'm in the transitional area between millennial and Z but most millennials tell me I'm gen z so fine.) I have gen alpha kids. And a lot of them (classmates and the like) are anxious asf about the world.

I wonder if they're putting up a tough front to keep the only control they have in the world as children.

Or living free before they have to become the overworked adults they see in their lives.

Or ya know death by school shootings if they're in America.

Or idk die from a once in a century plague cause their parents won't let them get vaccinated.

Or maybe it's something we could never describe or understand since we're not in that position.

Honestly every commentator I've seen on this topic hasn't asked a child how they literally feel. Like you don't have to put them on camera obviously (maybe don't actually for their safety) but like just ask? Or find ways to ask, kids can be shy about their true feelings sometimes. Especially if we keep pretending like we know them.

Teachers are over worked, parents are over worked. But haven't they always been? (Maybe we should actually do something about that? Like a lot have already been saying, but like actually do it? Maybe baby sit your friend's kid or go to the grocery store with them to help chaperone them? And try and do it for them for free, I get it if you can't but those who can should. I'm also not saying your should steal baby supplies, I'd never say that, I'd also never say to just steal food and hand them out, or to steal teaching and school supplies and just give em away or anything of course not! And I wish I could put the proper tone marks on this but for legal purposes I am being sarcastic.)

And doesn't each generation come with more problems or perceived problems because that's life? We're always going to find something wrong with the younger generation, we're constantly evolving and we're constantly looking for ways how.

Last thing.

What is intelligence?

Is it *really* being able to read?

Is it *really* scoring high on tests for studies?

Didn't we *just* talk about how standardised tests are wild and are often not very good at displaying what kids can actually do? Or are often hard to grade because of lack of staffing? Something something Pearson? Something something my history text book was older than me something something "Bill Clinton the president everyone is looking forward to!" Written on the back page Something something coming home to see late night TV making jokes about his shitty behaviour but making it more about the person who was literally harmed by this and making fun of her well into the 2000s..... (Oh has our education system and environment for kids always been kinda shitty? No way almost like it's a never ending battle.)

Have we truly figured out if the kids are alright?

Have they ever been?

Do we even know what that fucking means????

[frenchiefitzhere]

how close/far from a mental breakdown are the listeners?

[mischiefisme-amess]

It’s when you’re eighteen and “lucky to have a job”, because the economy is in shambles and you work in a middle school in one of the smaller classes that have kids with disabilities and behavioural issues. You have no training and there is only actually six years between you and them, so what authority do you even hold? And you keep getting called a whore and a bitch and a fag and every other name under the sun and you can do nothing about it and you can say nothing about it other than “that’s rude” and you just have to smile and in the end say “okay, please try to concentrate on the math question, we can go over it again together if you’d like”. And you smile at this twelve year old who has violent episodes you are not equipped to handle and all the while your head churns and hurts from the vents being loud and kids yelling and then when you get home you still have to do things. And still you’re lucky to have a job at all.

[kittenscookie]

What Probably Goes on Behind the Scenes:

Dana Terrace: *sips coffee* So...How shall we traumatize the children this episode?

Alex Hirsch: Let's lure them into a false sense of security and then rip it away brutally

Dana Terrace: Nice, who should get the blunt of it?

*small bit of silence*

Everyone: Hunter

Dana Terrace: Alright, Alex call Matt. We're completing the Possession Trifecta, and killing the bird

Ricky Cometa: You sure? The fans will probably hate us for weeks

Dana Terrace: Eh, they got over us traumatizing King with the knowledge that he's most likely the last of his kind, they'll get over the death of Flapjack as well