#why is all the irrelevant information highlighted

[keytaryourheart]

what the fuck is the ui ux of abc news site “we have a fresh look” THIS AINT FRESH IT STANK IN HERE

[nipuni]

Alright, time to share my opinions about Veilguard!! I have both criticism and praise so bear with me as I jump from one extreme to the other 😆 spoilers ahead of course!

The game has a very rough start with the dialogue being formulaic and rushed and the characters overexposing. It feels like a heavy handed attempt at summarizing all of previous games' lore for newcomers or in case you forgot but it's so overdone it feels coddling and trivializes a lot of previous events. Luckily this gets better once all of the introductions are out of the way, though the excessive hints and clarifications continue until the end sadly.

The locations are absolutely incredible and very diverse!! This is a highlight of the game for me. There is so much detail and care in every map and there are so many of them. My pc is struggling to reach medium settings and yet everything looks stunning. The verticality of the maps is so imposing and the graphics have a very dreamy quality that I love. I also enjoy the maze-like structure to the maps, it's more linear but makes everything look a bit more intentional. The color and light direction was amazing, all the visual development really!! it has to be one of the prettiest games I've ever played.

When I started I have to admit it did not feel like I was in Thedas and it all felt a bit theme-parky, if that makes sense. A lot of previously important and established world elements that made Thedas what it is were overlooked or made irrelevant. But the more I played the more it started to feel a bit more similar to Inquisition, for better or worse depending on what you feel about Inquisition. But!! this also feels like a selectively sanitized version of Thedas compared to previous games. In it's attempt to stay safe and uncontroversial in some aspects it loses a lot of substance and it changes the tone. The surface level politics, ignoring previously established major societal issues and a tell-don't-show approach makes the world seem more simple and shallow with no grey areas to explore. ( the humor also falls flat and out of place often too, and WHY is everyone always smirking, enough!! godlike beings are destroying the planet please this is not the time for Marvel banter aaaa )

The pacing at the start is a bit of a mess. It is so fast it felt like jumping from one world shattering discovery to the next with no time to process. The characters also seem to underreact to important information and major developments. It felt like the game was rushing me through all this to get to the part of the story it wanted to tell me while I was still wrapped in my shock blanket trying to catch my breath lmao. I really like all the key story points they touched upon, I just wish they dwelled more on them to give them more narrative weight. ( though blaming every bad thing to ever happen on the Elves was certainly..a choice )

I think the writing could have used more subtlety in the first half and more boldness in the second 😆 but I loved the thematic parallels between Rook and Solas and how every quest informs the main storyline. I do wish Rook was given more impossible choices and put in more difficult situations that forced them to lie or betray their own to better drive the point home though ( listen I just love a Trolley problem!! we need more of those, I'm the Trolley problem's number one fan!! ) I feel like they missed the chance to put Rook in Solas' role and be as vilified and hated for it as Solas was despite their best intentions which would make Rook's regrets stronger and in turn make their escape from the fade all the more impressive and give them a better understanding of Solas to either use against him or earn his respect. The line 'they called me the Dread Wolf, what will they call you when this is over' from the trailers was so good I was waiting for this!! But everyone just loves Rook no matter what!!

But I feel like I stated too many negative aspects in a row so moving on to some things I enjoyed!

The characters were very lovable to me. The romances weren't as long or impactful as I would have liked but I enjoyed all the companion quests. Emmrich is a delight and his quest is so wild and fun. I loved learning about Nevarra and I was awestruck by the Grand Necropolis. The mourn watch was so interesting, it showed a whole new side of Thedas' lore I knew nothing about! and I loved Manfred! Davrin is so charming, he became a favorite. I loved his quest too and learning more bits and pieces about the Dalish was great, I wish we got more. Seeing the Wardens through his quest also made me enjoy them a lot. Assan was very cute too and I'm glad he was treated as an animal and not turned into a goofy Disney sidekick too much lmao 😭 Lucanis is hilarious. The fantasy Spain/Italy was a bit silly and off at times but he is very sweet! and I love the Spite possession, that was so fun I'm glad they kept him that way! Bellara is adorable, her first backstory quest made me cry and I just love a nerd! I wish the second part of her story was written better however, and she sort of devolves into 'it's hard, I wish it was easy but it's hard' dialogues too often sadly. Anaris and the Forgotten Ones' portrayal was underwhelming and anticlimactic which was disappointing. Harding is also very cute and her Titan plotline was the most interesting to me, I bawled my eyes out in her quest!! I love the dwarven lore of this universe I'm so happy we got more of it!! ( she also fucking died in my playthrough?! I was devastated what the hell 😭 'whatever it takes' WEUEUGHHHG I'M SO SORRY) Neve was a slow burn for me because of my choices in game slowing that relationship down ( saving Treviso I mean, perdón amor 🙏 ) but I love detective novels and she is such a badass I ended up loving her. Taash was unexpected, I didn't think they would be so young. The coming of age story was sweet, though I found myself cringing a lot too at the handling of it I have to admit ( and the Lords of Fortune in general, and the Antaam...and que Qun..listen- kajshfgf ) but I also enjoyed learning more about the first expedition and the Qunari in general despite the messy writing and choices. I also loved Antoine and Evka! and Strife! And I haven't even read any of the novels they are in 😆 also Mila!!!! and her dad oh my god and Felassan haunting the narrative!! speaking of haunting, I would have loved for Cole to be in the lighthouse too I think it would have worked well 🤔 especially with the whole 'reading Solas' secret diary' thing the game had going on lmao

Everyone seems to get along except for a bit of friction that is quickly resolved at the start, which is hmm missed potential? I would have preferred more tension personally. I enjoy the drama! gives me more to work with and gives you a better grasp on everyone's personality by contrasting values. I think they wanted to speed run a found family trope for the new hero to establish some emotional stakes early on but it ended up making everyone seem like a group therapy session instead. The group meetings also have everyone either state the obvious or repeat the same opinion or conclusion to each other, I would have loved these meetings to have more bickering, have people get mad and storm out and also get to listen to different takes on a situation. Make Rook struggle more to take the reins and keep the team functional, learning how to be a leader.

Speaking of Rook! ( who in my case has a northern British accent that I loved so much 🥺) They seem to have a very established personality. I was expecting more of a blank slate but I'm lucky that the personality they went for kind of matches what I would normally choose in a first playthrough. Though the lack of range in the choices is irritating and takes away some replayability and role playing potential. Rook is very supportive and selfless, I wasn't expecting this tbh! But it all made my Rook turn into the team's weird supportive necromancer mom so it worked out in the end I guess lmao. I can't wait to draw her!!

I was so overwhelmed by the amount of information we got about Solas and his past!! I was expecting answers but not these many and not for them to be such an integral part of the plot!! The game feels like it's about him more than anything else. His arc is the best written out of all. He is mentioned in every conversation, he's the main advisor and the narrative foil, you get to talk to him often, you work for him and with him and go into his memories it all feels so surreal to me lmao I love him so I'm delighted ngl! but also making the other Evanuris so cartoonishly evil makes Solas into such an obvious choice of an ally, god of trickery or not, that it sort of takes the decision out of your hands and makes some dialogue options and companions' opinions seem almost nonsensical. I have no idea how this game would feel to someone who absolutely hates Solas' guts honestly. I suppose I will find out soon enough 😆

About Solas' story, I loved it! I somehow also feel that I knew it already, all the speculation and theories that Solavellan fans were crafting for years were so accurate that it was all very validating. Even the wildest ones! Solas as the Maker, the elves spirit origin, Mythal giving him a body, the war with the Titans, the origin of the Blight, Solas being on your side as advisor, I can go on, we knew!! Also I have to mention this I'm sorry but they made him look so hot!! unbelievable. And the bloodied teary eyed pathetic look in the end ouurghhh I'm cheering and clapping!!

The romance conclusion was so lovely 😭 the Loki and Sigyn ending we deserved to such a mythological epic!! and open ended enough for all of us to cook!! and we got to see him fight and transform into the Dread Wolf!! and whimper and cry!! and bleed and love!! that's all I ever wanted, incredible we were really spoiled what the hell I still can't believe it 😭 GDL acting was brilliant as usual! the visuals were also incredible and exactly what I had in mind when I imagined where the story may go, the eclipse, the giant wolf, the glowing eyes, the Elvhenan ruins, the statues, even the hair lmao it all aligned exactly to what I've been painting all these years but better I was thrilled 😭

Solas backstory with Mythal also offers players that didn't romance him a chance to see him act out of love and show a side they wouldn't be able to reach otherwise and I think it was smart! also very tragic and sheds more light into all of his choices and words and his relationship with Lavellan too and the parallels and reversals and uughh thoroughly enjoying the emotional distress 👌

Pleasing both the Solas lovers and haters at the same time was always going to be hard with him being such a polarizing character by design and the world states being so different but I think they did a good job! at least from my side of things.

I think my favorite part besides the Solas related stuff was the Blight. I loved how horrific and gross and threatening it was! I've always loved the concept of the Blights and I'm glad it was such a huge part of the story in this game. I also loved Treviso!! has to be the most beautiful city in Thedas ahhh and the Necropolis!! the gardens!! Vorgoth!!! Kal-Sharok!!! I can't believe we got to see it!! and a Titan!!! the giant floating face of Ghilan'nain in the clouds??? and the huge archdemons and dragons!! oh and that warden dragon trap in the shape of a griffon?? and the giant blight tendrils!! the siege at Weisshaupt was outstanding!! and the floating panopticon castle situation in Minrathous uughh there is so much I loved.

OH I also enjoyed the Varric arc even though I saw it coming since the trailer it was still played well and it was touching 🥺

The ending felt a bit jarring to me in tone though, a bit too cheerful considering...the horrors. Over half the continent destroyed and most of the problems Thedas had before the game are still there. Veil in place and all 😆

But I had fun!! I'm nitpicking really, the conclusion to Solas' story feels very satisfying to me which was my main worry so I'm happy. It is a good game!! with a sort of soft reboot feel to it and aimed at a younger audience which is probably what they were going for? You can sort of feel the struggle the team went through during production in the way the target audience seems unclear sadly. I also can't help feeling like this is an ending, so much was revealed and resolved!! but maybe I feel that way because that is what I felt after Shadowbringers / Endwalker in FFXIV once my favorite part of the story was wrapped? They can always pivot to a new continent and expand on the world and cultures we know almost nothing about, but that is always harder to sell so I have no clue where they will go from here 😵‍💫

Anyway I'm still processing a lot of stuff that I will probably talk (and draw) about later, this is already long enough!! for now I'll look up how to get the artbook because the art direction of this game is fantastic!! I would love to hear your thoughts too really, I'm curious about the experiences of players who made different choices and with different tastes to mine!!

[carriesthewind]

I saw these tags on my post about Mangione, and I thought they were really interesting, and want to talk about them:

(not tagging the poster b/c I don't know if they want the attention)

I obviously disagree with them about the OP of that post intentionally lying, but I do think they are describing a real and common path that many people fall down. I seriously considered whether I thought the OP of that post fell into this category, until I gathered sufficient evidence to convince me that they were lying. (Also to be clear - it's fine that the tagger disagrees with me. People can look at the same evidence and come to different conclusions.)

But these tags made me think: under what circumstances is it accurate and useful to describe as lying the act of repeating speculation as truth?

Because I think in scenarios like the original posts about Mangione I was responding to, it could arguably still be accurate and useful to say that OP was lying.

Because when we are talking about intentional deception in the spreading of misinformation, there are two layers. The first layer is the facts themselves. The tagger is arguing that the OP of the Mangione post may have honestly believed the false information they posted was true. And I disagree on that point, but I also think there is a second layer of the lie. Because the OP was presenting themselves as a reliable source of information, as someone who had facts underlying their assertions.

To take this away from social media for a moment, consider the following example: As a 6 year old in Ms. B's classroom, I hear another student speculate that, 'because it's such a nice day, I bet Ms. B will let us leave lunch and go right to recess!' And I take what they say as truth, get really excited, and tell all my classmates, 'Ms. B said we can leave lunch and go right to recess!'

And then the whole class gets in trouble for leaving lunch and going right to recess without permission.

Now, this is a pretty understandable misunderstanding, especially for a six year old. But i would still get in trouble, and all of my classmates would rightly feel lied to, because I pretended I had a source I did not have - I deceived them by leading them to believe I had heard Ms. B say we could leave lunch. The fact that I really believed she was going to let us do that is almost irrelevant.

And I expect people, by the time they are old enough to share information on social media - especially when they are sharing information presented as news, as facts that inform our understanding of the world in important ways - to understand that it's not okay to pretend that you authoritatively know something and remove the context of your (much less authoritative) source. Even if you genuinely believe the underlying facts you tell other people.

It's why I didn't call all the people in the comments misreporting the holding of Vega liars. I think they were wrong - dangerously wrong - but I think there is something fundamentally different in saying, 'Update! SCOTUS confirms you no longer have to be read your Miranda rights!' vs, 'I think SCOTUS said you don't need to be read your Miranda rights anymore and why I think that.'

Because I don't think we get to have it both ways. On the one hand, we cut people slack for repeating and sharing misinformation, because people (unfortunately but understandably) trust what they see in their social media feed. But if we do that, I think we need to also hold people responsible for the fact that when we put stuff in our own feeds - especially when we originate a claim on a new platform, or in a way that divorces the claim from its sources - other people are going to believe us.

And I feel like, in many circumstances, it will be worth highlighting the deliberateness of that act. Because people are making deliberate choices that make misinformation work. And maybe they are making those choices because we are socialized to seeing that choice as reasonable, the default even. But I question whether we change things for the better if we are not willing to point out that this is a deliberate choice (and we can change and better different, better, choices).

But I also don't think there is one single right answer. (And I absolutely have no expertise in reliable methods of fighting misinformation.) I think it's an interesting question, and may depend a lot on how you define lies, and the utility you think calling something a lie has. I am genuinely interested in other people's thoughts on this. :)

[2tcs]

Day 6: Forgetting an important date and offense

DeadTired: Tim

TheBloodSon: Damian

WingDing: Dick

PurplePower: Steph

Shadow: Cass

GlowStick: Duke

UndeadDrama: Jason

SpaceCadet: Danny

Alfred: Alfred

B Less Batchat

Feb 9, 11:15 AM

DeadTired

“I don’t think you understand the 

importance of getting a third

party to” bla bla bla

I sware. Some of these old farts

just need to retire already.

PurplePower

But if they retired then the world might figure

out that we don’t need them.

Shadow 

🤯

WingDing

Just a little longer Tim then your home free

DeadTired

Easy for you to say. I have three meetings

after this. And all of them could be covered

in an email. But I swear that none of these

Old hats even know what an email is.

SpaceCadet

ducks to be you

Ducks

Ducks

DeadTired

It’s okay. Take your time.

SpaceCadet

Fuds you

wtf?

PurplePower

🤣😂🤣

Shadow

😂

WingDing

Autocorrect strikes again.

TheBloodSon

Please cease this irritating conversation.

Some of us have important work to do.

GlowStick

This is kinda the highlight of my patrol.

But I remember when I was in school.

Don’t let the teachers see you texting.

TheBloodSon

Tt. As if they would catch me.

SpaceCadet

Aren’t you at lunch right now

Damian? Besides you could

just put your phone on mute.

PurplePower

Ooo Snap!

TheBloodSon

That is irrelevant. You all need to

focus on your duties instead of

complaining about frivolous things.

WingDing

Aw. Look how responsible you are!

PurplePower

Our little boy is growing so fast. 😭

Shadow

😢

DeadTired

Some day he will be all grown up

and too smart to hang out with us

simpleton.

TheBloodSon

I am already too smart for a plebian

like you Drake.

SpaceCadet

Lol

Sit down, pleb.

Oh before I forget

The 12 is my dd so I

won’t be available.

Shadow

👍

WingDing

👍

GlowStick

👍

DeadTired

👍

PurplePower

👍

TheBloodSon

Tt

UndeadDrama

QUIT SPAMING MY PHONE!

Alfred

Might I suggest you all return to your

duties?

Feb 10, 8:30 PM

SpaceCadet

Where is everyone?

Shadow

❓

SpaceCadet

I’m in the cave but no one else is.

DeadTired

Lol

Check the time.

Alfred

Young master. I can hear you all the way

in the manor. Please mind your language

And remember to place a quarter in the

jar.

SpaceCadet

Sorry Alfred

Feb 11, 6:00 AM

DeadTired

GUYS! I JUST FIGURED IT OUT!!!

I KNOW WHAT COFFEE SHOP

DANNY GOES TO!!!!

DANNY YOU ARE SUCH A SELFISH

AHOLE!!! THEY GAVE ME A 12OZ 

OF STRAIT ESPRESSO SHOTS!!!

Alfred

Master Tim. Master Danny. If you would 

please meet me in the kitchen at exactly 

6:30 am I would very much appreciate it.

SpaceCadet

Tim. I am sorry to inform you

that we are no longer friends.

DeadTired

GET BENT DEAD BOY!

SpaceCadet

Alfred? Tim hasn’t gone to sleep

since February 7th. He has set

up an alarm system to tell him

when you are coming up the 

stairs to the family wing so

he can pretend to be asleep

when you check on him.

DeadTired

YOU TRAITER!

SpaceCadet

Oh, hay! Thanks Tim! Now

I have my own theme music

for the day!

DeadTired

NO! SUFFER!!!

UndeadDrama

Why the heck is the Barbie song

playing next door…

Never mind. I just read the texts.

SpaceCadet

I′m a Barbie girl, in a Barbie world

Life in plastic, it's fantastic

You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere

Imagination, life is your creation

DeadTired

GO EAT A DICK!

SpaceCadet

I think Kory would unalive me if

I tried to eat your brother.

DeadTired

ALSKDJFA;OLSDIFJKA;SOLKDF

Feb 11, 9:15 AM

UndeadDrama

I hate to inform everyone but

Danny’s phone has unfortunately passed

away.

GlowStick

R.I.P.

What song was it playing?

UndeadDrama

Crazy Frog. Auto-tuned Crazy Frog.

WingDing

Isn’t that song already auto-tuned?

UndeadDrama

This was worse. So much worse.

Think Alvin and the Chipmunks 

level of pitch with the weird 

auto-tune echo.

PurplePower

On this day we say goodbye to

a good phone. Taken from us

too soon. Please light a candle

for our fallen comrade. 🕯️

WingDing

🕯️

Shadow

🕯️

GlowStick

🕯️

UndeadDrama

🕯️

GlowStick has invited (888) XXX-XXXX 

to the chat.

(888) XXX-XXXX  has changed their name to 

DieHard.

DieHard

🕯️

DeadTired

YOU WILL SUFFER!!!

Feb 12, 10 AM

GlowStick

Hay. Has anyone seen Danny?

He wasn’t in class today.

TheBloodSon

He is probably shirking his studies.

WingDing

Come on Dams. Danny likes that.

Hay Jason. Danny’s apartment is

Next to yours. Is he home?

Feb 12, 3:16 PM

UndeadDrama

Just woke up. I didn’t hear him get

back last night.

Feb 12, 3:30 PM

UndeadDrama

Just went through his apartment.

He’s not there and it doesn’t look

like anything’s been touched since

I was over yesterday.

Shadow

😱

PurplePower

That’s not like Danny. Sleep is sacred

to him. He would never purposely

Stay out later than his normal patrol.

GlowStick

He never showed up for class. I’m on

patrol rn so I’ll keep an eye out for him.

Shadow

🤕❓

WingDing

I don’t know Cass.

I’m coming to Gotham tonight

To help look for him.

UndeadDrama

I’m going to do a few rounds

in the alley. If I can’t find him 

before patrol, I’ll have some of

my men start nosing around.

Alfred

I will make sure the med bay is

prepped and ready. Please be safe

everyone.

DeadTired

👍

TheBloodSon

Of course.

WingDing

👍

PurplePower

👍

Shadow

👍

GlowStick

👍

UndeadDrama

Okay Alfi.

Feb 13, 7:35 AM

DieHard

Hay everyone. I just got

back in Gotham.

What did I miss?

WingDing

DANNY!!!

PurplePower

Danny! Where were you!

Shadow

🥺💔

DeadTired

WTF WAS YOUR TRACKER?

WHY WAS YOUR PHONE

UNTRACABLE?!

GlowStick

Dude! Are you okay?

TheBloodSon

Tt. I do not see a reason for you

all to be so concerned.

DieHard

DID YOU ALL FORGET

ABOUT MY DEATH DAY?!

DISSHONER! DISSHONER

ON YOU! DISSHONER ON 

YOUR COW!

Alfred

Young Master Danny. I am happy

To hear you are back. If you would

be so kind please come by the

manor, I would greatly appreciate it.

DieHard

Of course Alfred.

Feb 13, 2:50 PM

UndeadDrama

Danny! Your back!

DieHard

🖕

UndeadDrama

😢

DieHard

🖕🖕

UndeadDrama

😭

[dinasfavslut]

hello could you do a sal fisher x fem reader who is very confident but also really friendly?

Ok so I tried but I wasn’t sure if you wanted smut or fluff I guess it’s just more fluff and to be completely honest is was kinda lazy with it I’m sorry it’s not my best but I hope you like it (probably will delete later)

Sally Face x Fem!r

No major warnings slight smut near the end but just like leaving marks and neck kisses

I believe that he has many insecurities because of the trauma he experienced as a child and because of the mask he wears.

-

When you go to the beach, Sal normally doesn't get in the water; he doesn't want his mask to get torn or fly off by a large wave, and if he does, he makes sure it doesn't get above his knees.

-

As much as he adores you, he is also envious of your confidence and unaffected demeanor when you fall flat on your face in public. People fall all the time. So, if someone messes up your or his order when getting food, you call the waitress back so they may make the necessary corrections.

-

You met for the first time in college. You could say you were popular, but it was more about how kind you were and how many friends you had. You were well-known, but not everyone knew who you were or wished to be like you. So you were sitting in chemistry as the "popular" girl next to the "quiet" guy (it's always the quiet ones). "Woah, that's such a cool mask!"

"Oh, uh, thanks."

"Did you make it yourself or get it from somewhere?"

“It’s just prosthetic." He didn't want to give into too much information since he didn't want to scare you away too quickly. He was surprised you didn't ask him what the mask was for; that hadn't come up in a long time.

-

You've been dating for a few months but have only known each other for around a year."Don't you want to know why I am wearing this?"

"I mean, yeah, I've always wondered, but you haven't seemed at ease talking about why you wear it or what happened, but I think you'll tell me when you're ready."

It took him some time. He removed his mask totally about five months into the relationship. He was stunning. You couldn't help but run your fingers through his hair and kiss him like you'd wanted to for so long. His lips were surprisingly soft. Larry and Ash are the only people who have seen his face (his father is irrelevant). You're now staring at him in awe. "I knew you'd look lovely, but I really underestimated myself." He drew you back into the embrace. It was brimming with passion, love, hunger, and lust.

-

You feel like it was harder not to kiss him. Consider how many times he's wanted to pull off the mask and make out with you, but he couldn't be too concerned about how you'd scream in fright or slap him for leading you on for so long just to be mortified under his mask. He was well aware that they were ridiculous ideas.

-

It was dark and rainy outside, and he had planned to take you out to a nice meal. You had your hair done perfectly, your makeup was simple, highlighting your best features, and you wore a dress that accentuated all of your curves as well as a pair of sneakers to look attractive while remaining comfortable. He was driving with his headlights on, barely able to see due to the heavy rain. "Holy shit, Sal! Stop the car, Sal!" He pushed on the brakes, forcing himself forward as you jumped out of the car. A cat was frozen in front of the car; it was dark, wet, and shivering. You cloaked it in a hoodie.

Your hair was a mess, and what you thought was smear-proof mascara was running down your cheeks. "We don't have to go if you don't want us to."

“No no, I'll just put my hair up and clean my make-up." You walked into the restaurant, garnering strange looks as if you'd been living on the street. "sal table for two?"

The night finished with you leaving markings all over him and him biting into your neck, which was okay because you were willing to wear anything that claimed you as his.

[e32c-af6f]

I finished Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (KCD2). It was great. The story and the dialogue and the themes treated me like an adult. Quite refreshing.

KCD2’s throughlines explore the shifting standards of morality and honour. Henry’s ghost parents pretty much disown him at the end of my playthrough. Henry robbed, murdered, spread fear and hardship, and, though I, as Henry, had the opportunity to repent, I chose to defend my choices. I had already done so, internally, as the player, when faced with those decisions in-game, hours earlier. Feelings would be irrelevant at that point. My Henry understood that.

What I am focused on with this text here is my belief that many people are missing out on a rewarding journey because they immediately reject the game due to the inclusion of some optional romantic interactions (regardless of how inconsequential those interactions are to the overall story).

I know Gamers have been repeatedly burned by performative LGBT representation shoehorned into games by soulless company execs and, truly, those shallow, gutless simulacra should not be considered worthy of interest or investment. It is right to reject shitty, algorithm-driven writing meant only to distill and exploit for profit.

KCD2 does it differently, though. Their writers have put forth an exemplary and honest effort that pays off. This is how such concepts should be woven into a narrative without pandering. I am very impressed.

I loved KCD1 and avoided all information about its sequel. I never watched a trailer for it. (I have done the same with each Tarantino film since Jackie Brown, in fact.) That is how I like to take in art I care about -- blind as fuck. As such, I did not know about the gay. Once I became aware, though, I pursued the fuck out of it.

The first romance option to appear when speaking with Capon occurs after saving him from his execution. Acquiring his freedom means completing multiple timed fetch quests in an unfamiliar environment while avoiding numerous guards (who could smell me) and, all throughout, the city bells are tolling, every hour, counting down to Capon's death.

Capon is the literal reward for this stressful quest chain and that is why I undertook it. Henry and Capon quarrel and separate early in the story and, after several hours of side-questing, I wanted to interact with Capon again. He and Henry have fun dialogue and interactions. More of that now, please.

Once spared from the hangman's noose, Capon and Henry are talking and laughing again. I am pleased to have finally completed those awful tasks and gotten to this joyous moment. Relief washes over me. Capon apologizes to Henry for their previous quarrel. Emotions are flowing.

Here are Henry's dialogue options:

I read the lines aloud (I live alone) as I highlighted them and lingered on the second response for as long as the gif depicts. I selected "I care about you" immediately after reading the text because it is the right response, only processing the heart icon as I clicked.

I did all of these quests -- repeatedly until success -- because I do care about the character Capon. I enjoy him. He is reckless, but fun. He stresses me out and I enjoy it. He is my buddy from the first game and we have good times. That is why I put effort into progression. The past is the past and I worked to get to this present with Capon. Why? Because “I care about you.” That is accurate.

Regardless of the deeper sentimental implication denoted by the heart icon, I would have chosen those words. As for that deeper implication, I like that it was presented as an option and was quite stunned. I sat agape, in fact.

The sudden drop-off in hype surrounding the game after its release then made sense to me. As I said, I had avoided all information about KCD2 and, while I did not encounter anything negative, I did notice having to actively avoid KCD2 articles and posts far less often. They just stopped coming up. The enthusiasm had obviously dipped.

My enthusiasm, on the other hand, skyrocketed.

I decided to commit all of my game time to the main quest line (something I did in KCD1 only after dozens of hours of side quests). I was engaged by the story and the struggles it was inflicting on Henry. There were tiresome quests that blunted my interest (“Sneak around this place you don’t know! At night! Again!”) and, in those rare times, I chose to slog on just to see how far the game was going to take the Capon romance options.

All the way, is the answer. The game goes all the way with the Capon romance options, I discovered in awe. KCD2 commits fully and the (entirely optional) romantic subplot climaxes in a beautifully written and acted scene. It was a slow burn romance spread over 40+ fuggin hours of character development. This relationship is an organic product of the story and its characters rather than a gimmick tacked on to serve an algorithm. It is narratively and emotionally satisfying. Such a thing can exist without insulting the audience.

I was floored and fulfilled.

Romance options do exist for NPCs other than Capon, of course.

I had Henry have sex with Klara (?) in the forest within minutes of first encountering her character and I was rewarded with in-game titties. I enjoy titties and I like that the mechanics to get those titties exist in the game (which is why I engaged with them). Thank you for allowing adult choices.

In addition to many trips to the bathhouse, I had Henry sleep with a bath maid outside of her formal services for the purpose of gathering quest-related information. Again, this all occurred within minutes of her character being introduced. Henry seemed to regard all of these encounters as casually as I did, which is good.

Within the main storyline persists two other romantic options of somewhat greater (yet varying) importance. There is Rosa who is as fiercely protective of her family as she is frustratingly educated and there is Katherine* who has sharp edges, but is wholly devoted to the cause in which she (and Henry) believes. There could be depth here, but, through their dialogue, these characters are flattened into “The Sarcastic Chick who Reads” and “The Sarcastic Chick with Perpetually Dewy Bosoms”, respectively.

I am being overly reductive here, perhaps, but, in a game with so many richly developed side characters (one of the most memorable speaking barely any English), I am disappointed that these female characters are mostly defined by how they have been oppressed and/or hurt by men. Historical accuracy! Okay, I will accept that because I have to.

Meanwhile, Hans Capon has agency, is actively useful in battle, has a sense of humour, supports Henry’s choices, and has a character I want to see further developed. How could I deny Henry that?

Before the last quest chain – a suicide mission, really – Henry can spend the evening saying goodbye to Katherine or Capon. Having avoided even vaguely flirty speech checks with Katherine, I went to Capon’s room and was not disappointed. Such honest and tender dialogue and body language, while also being cognizant of the times, of what men in such a position would feel and understand and do. The scene is so well written and so well shot and so well performed and so gutsy... goddamn. I will not dissect it further. I was swept away along with Henry and Capon.

Love hurts

Back in modernity, I pirated KCD2 because I simply cannot spend $80 CAD on a video game. Once the game hits at least 40% off, I will acquire a legitimate copy and re-embark on the patched and DLC glory. The game is definitely worth the time and emotion (but not the groceries). [Edit: I now own the game along with the expansion pass. I haven't pre-ordered game content since The Sims 3.]

* I edited this post to update my purchase history and to correct Katherine's name which I had originally thought was "Elizabeth" -- you know, that other old white woman name.

[newlyy]

Lmao at my (male) coworker reading over a draft for a case where I included an alternative means of resolving the case that would dispense with a lot of analysis if we decide to go with it, and he responds something like “I’d advise to look at a case and try to parse it down to the critical issues and see if you can resolve any of those, to avoid a bunch of unnecessary analysis :)” first of all. What makes you think I don’t know that. What makes you think my law school education or my logic skills are less than yours. What makes you think i haven’t been going through the case investigating every fucking avenue of resolution to find the strongest. Bear in mind, I presented you with this argument and information that makes it seem like an easy resolution. It wasn’t presented so easily to me. This could easily have been one of many other dead ends. I had to research it and put in the work to get this framework that I so nicely laid out for you, for you to tell me “try to focus on the important issues first :)” how do you think I found out which issues were important. It wasn’t told to me like it was to you (by me). Also, did you black out in my email where I said “we could resolve it this way, but it raises this particular issue. Which may be nothing, so I’m including this analysis to get your opinion on it. I’ll run it by the boss later after I see what you and (other coworker) think.” You think I don’t know that going down this path would render all the other analysis irrelevant? Why do you think I titled this section (ALTERNATIVE) and highlighted it? Suggesting it might replace the other analysis? God damn

[prettystylinson]

So I don’t take too kindly to people being rude to my moots—especially not my friends and especially not me. Someone (inalltheirgorgeouscolors) decided to make a post about my friend after the drama had already died down… so naturally, I said something on my sideblog. Because why is someone over 30 dragging a 19-year-old over a disagreement? Be for real.

The post itself is irrelevant, but I’m going to highlight one specific comment—because that seems to be what lit the match here.

But if you have a problem with anyone older than 30 sharing their opinions on the internet, then you should probably just log off tumblr. Millennials built this website.

From my end, I was actually as respectful as possible—I asked a genuine question.

This person then decides to ask why I’m even on their blog, insisting it “clearly isn’t for me.” I simply responded that it’s a public post—so people are allowed to comment, right?

Instead of really engaging with that and acknowledging my points, they reblog their own post and add more onto it.

They even went as far as reposting my pinned just to take a jab at what I have on there.

That blog is where I share random thoughts and opinions on social topics—but that doesn’t mean I’ll stay silent when someone I care about is being disrespected.

So, I responded with this:

Let’s rewind for a sec and take another look at that age comment they threw in, yeah?

But if you have a problem with anyone older than 30 sharing their opinions on the internet, then you should probably just log off tumblr. Millennials built this website.

That section of their post suggests they’re at least 30, right? Which is exactly why I referred to them as “a 30-year-old.”

Their response? Right back to the age thing.

And you’re not talking about a “random 30 year old”. I never mentioned my age in this post. You did. You looked up my age in my blog bio- information I chose to provide out of respect to people who what to know about the people behind the anonymous account. You choose to bring my age and make it a problem.

Ah, but see—I didn’t bring up age first. You did. In your own post, actually, when you said, “if you have a problem with anyone older than 30.” So through a pretty reasonable assumption, I referred to you as a 30-year-old. You set that framing, not me.

You also brought up age first—right there in the very first part of your shading extravaganza.

One of the most cantankerous 19 olds in the fandom just blocked me

That 19-year-old blocked you because you flooded their DMs with long-winded paragraphs. That’s it. They chose to disengage after that—not to turn around and make a vague post shading you after the fact.

Furthermore...

"You chose to turn my own little rant for my own blog into 'age discourse' about how you think women over 30 should behave."

All I did was ask how it benefits you to indirect a 19-year-old over a disagreement about someone else’s sexuality. That’s it. That was the whole question.

I genuinely don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask why someone 30+ is shading a teenager on the internet? Like, that’s not “age discourse,” that’s just… an observation?

Please read your own posts before accusing me of starting something. I brought up age because you did. Plain and simple.

Anyway, I wish you the best in life. There’s really no need to be this bitter over a simple disagreement. Which, for those keeping score at home, was literally just about whether or not Niall Horan is queer.

Oh! and also, because this was quite comical...

Respectfully—and also very disrespectfully—go kick rocks, whatever the hell your name is!

[peachjagiya]

I am sorry but jkkers and so called neutrals who still somehow paint Tae as the thirdwheel should never be taken seriously. They watched that car conversation and still came out of it thinking jikook are the closest ever. Jk straight up said that they would not have met up if not for the show and I'm shocked that the editors actually kept that in as it made me truly side eye the way they promoted the show and the timing they chose for filming it.

Tae and Jk might not interact as much or be the main focus on cameras but no amount of weird editing, inconsistent narratives and cropping Tae out of the frame to exclude him and highlight jikook is going to change the fact that taekook have a relationship outside of work that they nurture and maintain even when their schedules are packed and jikook themselves admitted not making the effort hang out. This is the reality.

These people will continue to buy into whatever the company tries to sell because they think these men's lives and relationships become irrelevant when company cameras turn off. Seriously anyone who still believes Jikook are in a relationship or even the closest members played themselves and are stuck on a fantasy that BH sold them. They have no choice but to lie to themselves and make Tae the annoying third wheel because his relationship with Jk is always going to challenge that fantasy.

As Taekookers, we've known for a while that 2023 was a Jimkook desert. That conversation was, for us, confirmation of what we knew and we took it in the wider context that it's indicative of not only no ship but, in the most loving way, of no particular desperation to be around each other because both were out here making considerable effort staying close to other people.

So here's my devil's advocate though: I suppose you could read it, and I suspect this is why it stayed in, that they wanted badly to see each other and this trip was a long awaited relief for them.

That thought works... if you don't consider that JK made effort for Tae all year and Jimin for Yoongi. But I wonder if non-Tkkrs/Ymnrs actually engage with that information?

And remember this was filmed, and I'm going to suggest edited, before Tae dropped Hawaii. The narrative might have even felt different for us if we didn't know JK is the kind of guy to get on a plane for 9 hours for his person and managed to see his 97 Liners a good amount.

Does that make sense?

[the-hilda-librarians-wife]

so howd you like it what are your thoughts

Anon, I hope you don't mind it but I'm going to use this ask as an excuse to do my Full On Rambling post about my honest thoughts. I'll try to keep is as coherent as possible, but I can't actually guarantee it :')

Also putting it under a cut because some of it is going to sound negative (as I said, I want to exorcise any critiques I have so I can go back to Vibing asap) and I know many people (undestandibly!!) won't want to read that, and I don't want to burst anyone's happy bubble :) . And also because of s3 spoilers. Bear in mind that it's not a rant post, I still had tons of fun with the season. But since I'm going to be talking about the things I enjoyed forevermore and gonna try to keep all my 'didn't really like this :/'s contained in this post, it may come out sounding like I enjoyed it less than I truly did. Here we go, get ready for some Thoughts

-> Content

Okay, listen. This season was fun. I had a nice time watching the newest shenanigans. New characters (with one notable exception) were a joy to watch (yes, even the thing. We're in a toxic situationship) and I was greatly amused by their adventures; most of them kept me on the edge of my seat.

(ok, here's where the negativity begins. Please don't take me for someone who wanted everything to be done for Their Specific Standards or who thinks they know more than the professional and extremely skilled team that was behind the series. I'm just throwing around thoughts about how I feel, but in the end, the only thing that matters is that Luke Pearson and the team got to tell the story they wanted to. If that was achieved, I'm happy regardless)

However, I couldn't help but think that some of it felt... like it was "thrown" at us, in a way? To be fair, I think most of the negative points I'll discuss in this post are a consequence of this season being 6 epsidoes short of what the writers originally planned because, as I've mentioned before, I do think the show's writing is great and that the team puts their heart and soul into making this the best cartoon possible. Anyway, what I mean is that at times I thought the episodes seemed so worried with delivering all the information they could that a lot was left behind and some stuff didn't really tie together with the rest.

For example; I still cannot understand why aunt Astrid and Anders had to be these big surprises that had never been mentioned before if Hilda, the character who we see this world through, already knew about them? Don't misunderstand me, I am well aware that these nitpicks of mine are subjective and only my personal opinions that may very well simply be a consequence of not understanding what the writers were trying to achieve. I just feel like Johanna's family and Hilda's father are topics that have been discussed so at lenght in the fandom, precisely because they'd been so carefully skirted around in the previous seasons, that the reveal that nothing really dramatic had happened (between Johanna/Astrid and Johanna/Anders, at least) feels anticlimatic to me. It just feels (again, to me, personal opinion) that if this was going to be the case all along they could have mentioned these characters before, and it would have made the narrative make a little more sense.

(This is especially true to me in Anders' case. Bc it felt to me like they had been trying to highlight how irrelevant Hilda's dad was to the story in the first seasons by not bringing him up at all, by not even pointing out his abscence. But I can't really see the point in that if you're gonna bring out the man either way)

Ironically, at the same time I felt like some of the arcs were a tad overachieving, especially the Johanna's parents one. I just felt like it was Too Much Too Quickly, which once again is likely because of the season having been shortened. I feel like if they really wanted to do that arc, and that way, it would have been helpful to cut some other storylines so they could begin fleshing out this one earlier. They way it was done I just personally (can you tell I'm terrified of being taken as a hater?) felt like there was no time at all to get either used to the idea of Johanna being half faerie nor to get attatched to her parents. Like. I know the episode was the season's emotional peak, but it just didn't hit me the way I know it should.

Not sure if this was a me problem, but I felt like the audience wasn't given enough time to process what had even happened when they got stuck in the fairie island, nor to even consider that they'd truly be stuck there forever, much less to fully process the sacrifice Johanna was making when she left it with Hilda. I didn't get to get attached to Johanna's parents or to the dynamic they have with their daughter. I didn't suffer the way I wanted to when I saw them having to part ways, because I couldn't become invested in their bond when I was still trying to wrap my head around what their backstory even was and pay attention to the action heavy scenes that were to come.

What I'm gonna say here is way meaner than the people behind the show's writing deserve and I know, I can absolutely tell it isn't the case because you can see some of the foreshadowing once you have the benefit of hindsight, but it felt to me like some of Johanna's backstory was written for shock value alone. Which, considering the previous components of the season that I have already mentioned felt underwhelming, was even more jarring.

Another thing is that I feel like a lot was sacrificed in order to do these overachieving arcs. This maaay just be the side character lover and change hater in me, but I do feel like in order to present to us all these new concepts that would be necessary for the backstory to make sense, we were deprived of some elements in Hilda The Series that are arguably what the show does best. It felt like they all but scratched all of their previous stories, characters and components to switch them up for new ones. Pikablob has said it better than me, tbh.

However. I do feel like saying that none of the fears I had for the season came true. No character feels ooc, no one was left with an incomplete arc, and though I can't see how Anders contributes to the story, if he had to be there I feel like the way that was it done was the right one.

-> Pacing

Frenetic. Run for the hills kind of thing sometimes. Which, once again, I can't bring myself to believe was the writers' fault, not when they had other 6 episodes planned that they didn't get to do. I absolutely understand that they had to condense everything they wanted to show us into half the runtime. But it did become an issue (to me) when instead of the trademark Hilda Idyllic Tranquility I usually feel while watching (even plot and action heavy content like TMK), I felt like I was watching a completely different cartoon. Carmen Sandiego, or something like that (please note that I do also love Carmen Sandiego). Many times it just felt like there was no breathing space, which isn't necessarily bad when done well, but I hadn't gone into the season prepared for that.

It wasn't a problem that was all around present, though. I do want to point out that imo "The Giant Slayer", "The Laughing Merman", "Strange Frequencies" and even "The Forgotten Lake" still felt like Hilda to me. Which is where I realize what the main issue I had with the season was. That a lot of it just felt like a different show.

-> ~ vibes ~

I am bringing back the disclaimer that if the team told the story they wanted to, then good for them, I'm pleased as can be. I do enjoy that the series played with some different concepts. The musicality and colours in The Laughing Merman, for example, were absolutely delightful to me. Seriously, I want an entire Hilda musical now.

But some things I just couldn't help but feel were so disconnected from the previous feel of the show that it felt to me like they didn't belong. You can sum the rest of this post up by saying that season 3 would have been one of my favourite ever cartoons if it had been its own thing. But it's not, so I can't help but compare it and try to understand how all of the installments work when together.

The faeries, for example. I was so excited when I saw the trailer and knew it was going to be one of the plots, because I thought it was going to be another adventure of the day type of thing that would span over three episodes max. And listen, I've talked about how much I love Celtic folklore, and maybe this is just my consistency loving brain being annoying, but it felt a bit... clashing? that this season was based on tales and creatures and treaditions that weren't the scandinavian ones that inspired the rest of the series. It just felt like a major shift in tone that I don't really understand (once again, me problem, may very well be a skill issue on my part & I'm not saying they shouldn't have ventured so far just bc I didn't quite vibe with it). It just feels a bit off to me, knowing that Johanna's backstory was likely planned from the start, that there wasn't any celtic lore at all in previous seasons to make this sudden detachment from nordic folklore feel less out of the blue.

You know that joke that Disney movies like Aladdin and Raya take concepts from different cultures and smash them together like they're not completely different? I felt to some extent (bc OF COURSE Hilda is much better researched and has a lot better quality than that /gen) like they did that this season. But with white people. Which, fair, I can appreciate the irony.

Back to the topic of bold storylines, I understand what the Hilda team did with all the Johanna backstory. I understand that it's something that everyone wanted to see soo bad and they wanted it to be great (and it was). The thing I got stuck on is just that it ended up changing the vibe of the show to me. Whereas previous seasons feel like "slice of life in a magical place", I felt like this time I was watching a magic centered fantasy. Especially when they got into trying to explain the origin of magic and everything. Which is ironic, because I enjoyed the concept a lot and will explore it in the future, but it still felt like something that I wouldn't have expected Hilda the Series to tackle. Like there was a giant shift from folkloric to fantastic that isn't bad, but it is different and I hadn't been prepared for that lol.

God, I feel like I just wrote all of that and just to be A Bitch. I just wanted to get these thoughts out but I don't expect you guys to agree or anything. I genuinely liked watching this season, and I will continue to reiterate this in the future. And even if it doesn't beat s1 or s2 in my heart, I'm still grateful we got a final season at all, and everyone who was involved in it deserves all the praise <3

[literaryxbones]

How to Avoid Generative AI In Your Search Browser

I've seen countless people complain about generative AI in their search results. Whether it's google images, a sketchy website using CHATGPT, or a fake artist trying to scam you out of money, generative AI is unfortunately everywhere. Before I reveal my methods of banishing AI to the shadow realm, let's go over the basics.

Not everyone is familiar with tech terminology, or how AI actually functions.

What's the difference between AI and generative AI?

AI has been used for decades in programming, technology, and social media. AI used to be reserved algorithms and code, but now it's being used to generate content (texts, websites, images etc.) That's where the term generative AI comes from.

Why is generative AI bad?

Generative AI collects available data, stores it, and uses all of it to form sentences, a picture, or whatever else you want it to make. The problem is, this user data is taken without consent to train AI models.

A machine heavily references human input, using any combination of it to come out with the final product. AI can and does steal creatives work. It can't come up with anything original on its own.

Businesses, scammers, and reposters use AI-created content to profit off of internet content with NO EFFORT. Feeds hosting AI drive regular people away from seeing and engaging with something a person spent time making. That means that any person creating content on the internet is now losing money due to the AI's widespread acceptance.

The last issue I want to quickly touch on is that AI isn't always right. It does not understand whether the information that it's scalping is even factual. Generative AI interprets prompt keywords, not nuance or conversation. Even if an AI references a source, it may spit out irrelevant info or only highlight a piece of original text, leaving out a bigger picture.

How to Avoid AI:

Method 1: "Enter before:2021" after your search query. This is especially helpful in Google Images.

Method 2: Use "-ai" after you search. This only works for content tagged as AI, or that mentions it's AI generated.

Method 3: Avoid sketchy looking websites filled with lots of ads, buggy articles, and a choppy writing flow. Only read articles, journals, and publications from established websites that are known to hire human writers.

Those are my tried-and-true methods! In my experience, the before: command is the most reliable. I may make a post like this for AI content on social media, including Tumblr, once I figure out how to avoid seeing it on platforms.

[theflowergothic]

(Side note: Would anyone be interested in hearing/reading about my creative process in general? I'm willing to share! :D)// umm yes pls 💜 I'll take the whole process (what you're ok with sharing ofc) from how you chose a topic, research, script writing,filming,...

Sorry this took so long. It's been a very busy week here in Flowergothland.

But here's a basic rundown of my creative process! 🥰

Step 0: Picking a Topic

I call this "Step 0" because my ideas for videos come from all over the place. Like, seriously. My friends and I joke about this a LOT!

Sometimes they're things I've wanted to do videos on for a while, other times (like with M/K) I happen to stumble upon them and get very intrigued. It's a very random process and there's no real method to the madness. Only madness. 😈

Step 1: Research

This is when I gather as much information as I possibly can for the video. If it's about a movie or a TV show, I'll watch it and take notes. If it's about a person or group, I'll find as many news articles about them as I can.

I also get books on the subject for most of my videos. I've found they can give you perspectives, information, and quotes that are harder to find online, especially if the subject in question existed since before the internet.

In fact, that's why I have an ungodly amount of James Bond books. I did two whole videos on the movies!

I usually try to get physical copies because I can highlight important information in them. But sadly, that's not possible sometimes. In those cases, I've usually had luck with Scribd/Everand.

Once I gather the facts, I do a rough outline of what I want to talk about, and then...

Step 2: The Rough Draft

This is when I gather all my research together, come up with a thesis, and write a rough draft. For this, I use Obsidian. That way it's easy to flip between the draft, the outline, and the notes I take. For example, here's what my folder for the Heathers video looked like on Obsidian:

The rough draft usually takes me around two weeks-one month to finish. But, the M/K draft is currently longer than my last two big videos combined. So that might take more time to complete. 🤷

Step 3: The Final Draft/Script

This step is also known as "Flower attempts to justify her purchase of Final Draft".

Final Draft is a writing software mostly used in screenwriting, but it's also useful for my content. It gives me a rough estimate of how long my video will be, and it also lets me save separate PDF files for quotes that will be read by other people! For example, here's a portion of one such file for my Sita Sings the Blues video:

(I originally got Final Draft for college, fun fact!)

While writing the final draft, I cut out any of the "fat" from the rough draft. That includes details that might be irrelevant, tangents that go on for too long, etc. This takes about 1-2 weeks at the most.

I then send it to some trusted friends to look over, retool some things according to their feedback, and then we get to...

Step 4: Filming!

This is the most fun part for me! I dress up in my silly costumes, grab my ring light, and record the parts that require me to be on-camera!

This is also when I contact my friends and mutuals to see if anyone wants to contribute their voice to my work (yes, for money). And, this is when I record my own voiceovers for the video.

This part usually takes about 1-2 weeks, and I film most of it after work. How? By wearing something I can easily change out of! Or by just wearing the costume to work if it's something more toned down. For example, here's what I wore the day I filmed Frederik, Mary, Max and Kelly.

(Yes, I wore the makeup I wore in that video to work. No, no one cared lol)

Once I'm done filming for the day, I import the footage to my computer and make sure it's usable. Anything corrupted or low-quality gets re-shot.

And after that, we get to editing! That's a beast of its own, though. 😅

I'll probably do a part 2 for this when I have the time to detail that!

[sunstranded]

INTJ: Accused of Arrogance

I enjoy intellectual conversations and socratic-esque discussions so much more than small talk and aimless conversations. Despite my preference, I am capable of small talk— I just slowly die inside. Yet I am cursed with being called arrogant. No matter what intricate string of words I craft, no matter how docile my question sounds, the moment I critically challenge someone is the same moment a logical conversation becomes personal? Good heavens isn't this a special kind of hell.

I am, once again, gracing my grievances with a post full of complaints.

People find me arrogant. I can be proven wrong; I can make mistakes; and I can recognize this margin of error. If anything, I seek to make it as small as possible. This is why I always seek that challenge that sharpens my thinking and points out things I failed to see or establish.

People always argue that I need to know when I should criticize and when I shouldn't. I also learned from my rookie mistakes that being the first shot doesn't guarantee the blow. If anything, it is an announcement— a blowhorn of your own progress. Among other things, this is why I keep to myself.

Hence, when people start asking for me to speak only to be on the receiving end of an accusation less based on reality and appropriate context, I am absolutely and utterly pissed about it. As much as I am pissed with yes-men and sorry-men.

Do not apologize for learning when someone critiques you with something you can work on. Do not just agree and say yes to every information. Moreover, do not use your feelings and personal matter as a shield for everything— even deflecting the good things.

But let me define arrogance as I have defined humility. Arrogance is dominating over someone else with non-substantial or fabricated claims or putting one's self-importance and impact above others by means of overestimation.

I am the person who tends to be precise to a fault. Even my goals, my present moment skills, and the orchestration of my forward life plan are precise in respect of what I want to be and what I am now. So when I am called arrogant and I, like any accused, would ask for evidence only to find irrelevant emotions.

I acknowledge the chances of people losing their cool and/or having an off-day. I understand this, and I also have such chances. If anything, those are what I usually apologize for. Forcing myself when I am not in a good state of mind; letting my restraint loose; all of which, I would understand.

However, in the interest of my complaints, I highlight the people those individuals that have the gall— the audacity— to call me arrogant for giving constructive criticism, for answeing their question, and for defending someone who is unjustly accused.

That is the aggravating part. If you are butthurt for being proven wrong, if you had no clapback after a retaliation to your challenge, do not start appealing to pity. It's not going to work on me, and I have been used to social exile because of my coldness and cruelty. I keep my principles, I will not fall for an informal fallacy, nor will I fall for weaponization of emotions.

I can apologize for maybe losing my cool and having raised my voice, but I will not apologize because I made someone cry. Truth hurts, I cry about it too, but I am not so shameless to solicit pity, so my mistake would be excused. Like everyone, I seek to be understood; but unlike everyone, I only seek to be understood by those who want to do so.

[pollhit]

Event Registration Form Best Practices in 2025: How to Maximize Signups and Streamline Attendee Management

In today’s fast-paced, digital-first world, hosting successful events means ensuring every step of the user journey is seamless—starting with your event registration form. Whether you’re organizing a webinar, conference, workshop, or fundraiser, your registration form is the first impression attendees have of your event. In this guide, we’ll explore event registration form best practices in 2025 that will help you maximize signups and streamline attendee management effectively.

Why Event Registration Forms Matter More Than Ever

https://blog.pollhit.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250623_1144_Digital-Event-Registration_remix_01jydpmvqefztvnz68ftvarc47.png

First Impressions Impact Conversion

Your form reflects your brand. A confusing or outdated interface can make users abandon the process, while a sleek and intuitive one boosts conversion.

Data Collection for Future Marketing

The right questions help you understand your audience and improve event experiences. This data also aids in post-event marketing.

Best Practices for Designing Event Registration Forms in 2025

1. Keep It Short and Focused

Only ask for information you truly need. Stick to essential fields such as name, email, and event preferences. Forms with more than 5 fields tend to have lower completion rates.

Pro Tip: Use conditional logic to show only relevant fields based on user input.

2. Optimize for Mobile Devices

With over 70% of users accessing websites via smartphones, ensure your form is responsive, touch-friendly, and loads quickly on all devices.

3. Use Multi-Step Forms for Better UX

Instead of one long form, break your registration into steps. For example:

Step 1: Personal Info

Step 2: Preferences

Step 3: Payment (if applicable)

This approach reduces user fatigue and improves completion rates.

4. Leverage Autofill and Social Signup

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5. Display Progress Indicators

Progress bars help users know how far along they are in the process and reduce abandonment.

6. Include Calendar Integration

Allow users to add the event to their calendar with one click (Google, Outlook, Apple). It improves attendance rates.

7. Highlight Event Details Prominently

Don’t assume users remember the event details. Add a quick summary with the date, time, location (if offline), or platform (if virtual).

8. Use Clear Call-to-Actions (CTAs)

Instead of a boring “Submit,” use action-based CTAs like “Reserve My Spot,” “Register Now,” or “Get My Ticket.”

What to Avoid in Event Registration Forms

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Overwhelming Users with Too Many Questions

Asking for irrelevant data like job titles, company revenue, or full addresses can drive users away.

Lack of Confirmation

Always show a thank-you message and send a confirmation email. Tools like PollHit make this simple.

Not Testing the Form Before Launch

User-test your form across devices and browsers. Check for typos, broken links, and UX issues.

Using PollHit to Build the Perfect Event Registration Form

Why Choose PollHit?

PollHit’s event form builder offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, customizable templates, and seamless integration with CRMs and email tools.

Built-in Templates: Start with proven layouts and adjust as needed.

Real-Time Analytics: Monitor signups, bounce rates, and completion data.

Automated Emails: Trigger confirmation, reminders, and follow-ups.

GDPR-Compliant: Secure data collection with encryption.

Promoting Your Event Registration Form

Embed on Landing Pages

Add the form to your event landing page using PollHit’s embed code. Make sure it’s above the fold.

Share on Social Media

Share short links with strong CTAs on platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.

Use Email Marketing

Include the form link in your newsletter or drip campaigns for personalized targeting.

Partner with Influencers and Communities

Let industry voices promote your event and link to the form directly.

Post-Registration Strategies

Send Automated Reminders

Tools like PollHit allow you to send timely reminders to registrants to reduce no-shows.

Collect Feedback

Post-event surveys help measure satisfaction and collect suggestions. Use PollHit surveys to keep feedback loops active.

Recommended Outbound Links:

Event Marketing Best Practices – HubSpot https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/event-marketing Learn how event marketing strategies drive attendance and engagement.

Google Forms Help – Create an Event Registration Form https://support.google.com/docs/answer/6281888 Google’s official guide to creating forms, including event registration.

Event Planning Checklist – Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/blog/event-planning-checklist-ds00/ A useful reference for pre-event, during-event, and post-event organization.

GDPR Guide for Events – GDPR.eu https://gdpr.eu/checklist/ Ensure your event registration form is compliant with data privacy laws.

Benefits of Online Event Registration – Cvent Blog https://www.cvent.com/en/blog/events/benefits-online-event-registration Why digital forms simplify event management and improve attendee experience.

Final Thoughts

An event registration form is more than just a box-ticking exercise. In 2025, it’s a critical part of your event marketing strategy. By implementing the above best practices and using tools like PollHit, you can streamline the registration process, improve attendee experience, and collect actionable insights for future events.

Start building your event registration form now with PollHit and take the first step toward event success!

[njschooljobs]

Unlock Your Educational Career Potential: Register on NJSchoolJobs.com Today

In the world of education, finding the right opportunity can be just as challenging as hiring the right professional. Fortunately, NJSchoolJobs.com bridges that gap with a user-friendly, highly effective job portal designed exclusively for New Jersey’s PreK–12 education sector. Whether you're a certified teacher, paraprofessional, school nurse, or administrator, registering at NJSchoolJobs.com/register is your first step toward meaningful, impactful employment.

Founded in 1999 by former educators Todd Lawrence and Pete Barone, NJSchoolJobs.com was developed with the core mission of streamlining the hiring process for New Jersey’s public and private school districts. With over two decades of proven success, the site continues to connect top-tier education professionals with schools looking to build strong, capable teams.

Why Register at NJSchoolJobs.com?

When you visit https://www.njschooljobs.com/register, you’re entering a community designed to help education professionals succeed. Registration is completely free for job seekers and takes just minutes to complete. Once registered, users gain access to a wide array of tools and benefits, including:

Customized Job Alerts Receive tailored job postings that match your interests, certifications, and desired location. Whether you're seeking full-time, part-time, or substitute positions, NJSchoolJobs.com ensures you never miss an opportunity.

Resume Upload & Profile Builder Upload your resume or use the built-in profile tools to create a polished professional presence. Highlight your credentials, experience, and skills—making it easier for districts to find and contact you.

Direct Application Portal Apply for jobs directly through the site. No redirection, no complicated steps—just a clean, intuitive application process designed to save time.

Save & Track Job Listings Bookmark jobs for future consideration and track the status of your applications, all from your personalized dashboard.

Wide School District Network With hundreds of New Jersey school districts using the platform daily, your profile gets exposure to employers who are actively hiring.

A Trusted Resource for New Jersey Educators

Over the years, NJSchoolJobs.com has become synonymous with education employment in New Jersey. Schools trust it. Educators rely on it. And because it’s a localized platform, job seekers are not bogged down by irrelevant postings. Every opportunity listed is within New Jersey, giving candidates confidence that each posting is targeted and legitimate.

Registering also gives users access to niche positions that may not be advertised elsewhere—roles in charter schools, private institutions, and specialized learning environments are often first posted on NJSchoolJobs.com before anywhere else.

Simple Registration Process

Signing up is easy. Just follow these steps:

Go to https://www.njschooljobs.com/register

Choose “Job Seeker” as your account type.

Fill in your basic information, including name, email, and desired role(s).

Create a secure password and agree to the terms.

Check your email for a confirmation message, and activate your account.

Start applying, saving jobs, and customizing your profile!

You’ll also have the option to receive email notifications, which ensure you’re always up to date with the latest postings in your area of expertise.

Make Your Profile Work for You

A complete profile increases your chances of being noticed by hiring administrators. Be sure to:

List all your certifications and endorsements.

Upload a PDF resume.

Add references or a teaching portfolio if available.

Include any special skills such as bilingual teaching, coaching, or technology integration.

Much like choosing a professional epoxy floor coating near me or seeking trusted epoxy contractors near me, hiring schools are looking for candidates with professionalism and polish. A well-crafted profile sets you apart.

Beyond Registration: Stay Engaged

After signing up, don’t just wait—stay active! Set weekly or daily alerts, refresh your resume periodically, and apply to jobs consistently. The education job market can be competitive, but with NJSchoolJobs.com’s integrated tools and responsive design, you’re always one step ahead.

Conclusion

Whether you're a recent graduate, a seasoned educator, or looking to return to the classroom, NJSchoolJobs.com is your career partner in New Jersey education. Registration is quick, easy, and 100% free for job seekers. Visit https://www.njschooljobs.com/register today and open the door to hundreds of career opportunities.

[mailhipaasoftware]

Why May You Choose to Opt-Out of Direct Mail Marketing?

Direct mail marketing is a powerful tool used by businesses to engage customers and drive conversions. However, not everyone is eager to receive promotional materials through their mailbox. Understanding why someone may choose to opt out of direct mail marketing helps marketers improve their targeting and respect consumer preferences.

1. Privacy Concerns

One of the main reasons consumers opt out is concern over data privacy. Many individuals are wary about how companies collect and use their personal information, such as addresses and buying habits. When people feel their privacy is compromised, they're more likely to unsubscribe from future mailings.

2. Environmental Impact

Environmental consciousness plays a significant role. Many individuals opt out of direct mail to reduce paper waste, conserve natural resources, and lessen carbon footprints. Sustainable practices are increasingly important in consumer decision-making.

3. Clutter and Inconvenience

Physical mail can become overwhelming. Junk mail and irrelevant promotions contribute to mailbox clutter. For consumers who receive a high volume of unsolicited mail, opting out becomes a way to simplify and declutter their lives.

4. Lack of Personalization

Generic and poorly targeted mail often leads to disengagement. When recipients feel like they are just another name on a mailing list, the material is more likely to be discarded. Poor personalization can drive consumers to opt out permanently.

5. Digital Preferences

In a digital-first world, many consumers prefer emails, apps, and social media for communication. These channels are often faster, more interactive, and easier to manage than physical mail. Opting out of direct mail reflects a broader shift toward digital communication.

6. Security Risks

Some people worry that physical mail could be intercepted or stolen, especially when it contains personal offers or sensitive information. Opting out reduces the risk of mail fraud or identity theft.

7. Lack of Relevance

Poor targeting results in consumers receiving offers for products or services they don't need. If businesses fail to segment and personalize correctly, recipients may see no value in the content and choose to opt out.

8. No Clear Value Proposition

When direct mail doesn’t clearly communicate its benefit or call-to-action, it often gets ignored. Consumers are more likely to disengage when they don’t see what’s in it for them.

9. Negative Past Experiences

If someone previously responded to a direct mail offer that led to spammy follow-ups, poor customer service, or unwanted solicitations, they might choose to avoid all future mailings.

10. Regulatory and Opt-Out Tools

Consumers now have easier access to opt-out services like the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service (MPS) or national do-not-mail registries. These tools empower them to control their marketing exposure.

Conclusion

Opting out of direct mail marketing is often a personal decision driven by privacy concerns, preferences, or values. For marketers, it highlights the need for respectful, targeted, and relevant communication. Companies that offer easy opt-out processes and align campaigns with customer values are more likely to build lasting trust.

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