#What is the format of a reflective essay? | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

reading-comp-posting · 3 months

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Have you ever considered using AI tools to assist with writing your responses?

Well no, because I'm doing this blog for fun. I'm enjoying writing out reading comprehension questions for posts, so why would I automate that away?

But let's say that I saw myself as some sort of arbitor of reading comprehension who needs to post as much as possible to enlighten the lowly tumblr masses. Let's say that I'm interested in upping my output of questions by any means necessary.

I opened up chatgpt and input a certain request, which would hopefully make it write questions about the last post I responded to:

Write reading comprehension questions about a Tumblr post, written by a user named "echoeyee," that reads as folows: "my take on shipping aromantic characters is that if you're aro you get to do whatever you want and if you're not you have to write me a three page essay 12 pt font times new roman double spaced explaining in detail why you believe entering a romantic relationship would be an interesting and worthwhile storyline for the character and how you believe their aromanticism would affect the way they experience said relationship"

And it certainly did write a lot of questions about it. Let's go through them, one by one.

1. What is the primary stance expressed by the Tumblr user "echoeyee" regarding shipping aromantic characters?

This one is good. If you look at the set I wrote, my first one is basically the same, just with different words and a less formal tone.

2. According to the post, what conditions must non-aromantic individuals fulfill if they wish to advocate for romantic storylines involving aromantic characters?

Again, this one is good. It's basically my 3rd question but, yet again, more formal.

3. Describe the format and specifications outined for the essay mentioned in the post.

This is the part where the questions get bad. The exact details of the essay are irrelevant, other than the fact that they imply a formal, academic setting.

4. In your own words, explain the user's perspective on the autonomy of aromantic individuals in contrast to non-aromantic individuals when it comes to shipping characters.

This question seems to genuinely be a product of chatgpt pissing on the poor. The purpose of the post (and specifically the essay within) is to ask people who ship aromantic characters without being aromantic themself to consider said character's aromanticism instead of erasing it.

Meanwhile, chatgpt seems to think that the OP thinks that people who aren't aromantic should be forced by law or something to write an essay if they want to ship an aromantic character.

5. How does the Tumblr post reflect the user's views on representation and storytelling in relation to aromantic characters?

I think that this one is a bit too speculative, but it does actually relate to the OP's intended takeaway.

6. Discuss the potential implications of the requirements set forth in the post for writers and creators in the realm of fiction and fanworks.

This one is just a bit confusing. Chatgpt seems to be going off the assumption that OP is issuing a decree as the emperor of the world.

7. Reflect on whether you agree or disagree with the sentiments expressed in the post and provide reasons to support your viewpoint.

This could have been a "discuss with a mutual" question, and I actually did initially write a question like this one, but I ended up removing it.

Aromantiscism is already controversial enough and I fear that a discussion of whether OP's take on shipping aromantic characters is valid could quickly devolve into discussion on whether aromanticism itself is valid.

8. How might the user's approach impact discussions and representations of aromanticism in media and popular culture?

Yet again, chatgpt is taking the essay thing way too literally. Yes, forcing every single writer who isn't aromantic but wants to ship an aromantic character to write an essay about it would most likely lead to a decrease in people erasing their identities, but the essay isn't the point.

9. Consider the broader societal and cultural context in which this post is situated. How might prevailing attitudes towards romantic relationships influence reactions to the user's perspective?

Obviously historical context is important to keep in mind when you're reading/listening to/watching/whatever a text, but this question has almost nothing to do with reading comprehension. You need to understand the post to imagine how people would react, sure, but understanding how people would react to the post doesn't help you understand this post very much.

10. What insights can be gleaned from this post regarding the importance of diverse and inclusive storytelling in media and creative works?

This could be a discuss with a mutual question. The issue is that it's a bit to broad of a topic.

#not reading comprehension questions #ask #self post

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cemeterything · 8 months

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im curious about your thoughts, would you talk a little about the theme of gender in the terror? i just enjoy your perspective!

okay i can't promise you the properly formatted essay with footnotes and citations i would love to write given the time and energy, but sure, i'd love to. because the theme of gender is central to the terror, particularly regarding the victorian ideal of masculinity, as a part of the greater overarching narrative theme of social constructions and structures being stripped away, and what and who remains after (crozier even explicitly remarks to fitzjames at the beginning of episode 7 that the remains of their civilization which they're clinging to for a sense of comfort and stability will begin to 'fall and drop away' as they travel further). we see this not just in the case of fitzjames, whose national identity and sense of selfhood we're given some insight into through the lens of gender, both with the iconic dress scene and his subsequent choice to dress as britannia, the feminine symbol of british imperial power, for carnivale - a juxtaposition which emphasizes the contrast between his private and public personas, and between the moment of vulnerability and honest self-expression in the scene where he holds up the dress and smiles at his reflection, and the ironic mask he dons for carnivale as a shield to conceal his doubts and insecurities, and any 'shameful' desires he might have - but also, for example, in the case of collins, who in the same episode seeks out goodsir, whose emotional availability and honesty have earned him the derision of his crewmates in the forms of scornful looks and derogatory comments denouncing his mannerisms as 'womanish' and thus shameful, but which only become increasingly necessary and shared amongst more of the men as they're forced to rely more and more on one another for support, and societal expectations of how they should conduct themselves become increasingly irrelevant, their fragility exposed and found wanting. collins is rebuffed and reprimanded by dr. stanley in episode 6, who dismisses his emotional distress, but in the following episode with goodsir he's encouraged to confide in him and, upon doing so, breaks down in tears and shares a desperate hug with him in full view of their camp; actions which would have been confined to privacy if they were allowed to be expressed at all earlier on. everywhere, cracks are beginning to show in this ideal construct of masculinity that the men were once expected and so proud to uphold.

silna's presence also highlights the themes of gender, and how they intersect with race and ethnicity; she is almost exclusively referred to as a 'girl' by the men of the expedition despite clearly being both a grown women and far more competent at surviving in the arctic than they are. the empire and its subjects' unwillingness to accept that someone who is both a native to the region and a woman could be more knowledgeable and better equipped than they are to deal with the situation leads them to assert their perceived superiority through how they address and refer to her, using the infantilizing language of 'girl', which although i believe the use of was more common in victorian england than it was today, nonetheless carries these implications, particularly when it's almost exclusively the only term they use to describe her. even those men who are more open to accepting the need to rely on the knowledge and support of the indigenous peoples of the region in order to survive there, such as crozier, don't begin to realize this until it's already too late. we also see the weaponization of femininity as a badge of shame of weakness with, as aforementioned, goodsir, and with hickey when he says to gibson that he "was such a good wife to me all these months" in order to get under his skin after gibson declares their relationship to be over.

we also see this victorian ideal of masculinity physically begin to 'fall away' as the men's bodies and minds deteriorate due to the extreme conditions they find themselves in. as sickness and despair set in, the men are no longer physically able to uphold this construction they've been told their whole lives it is vitally important that they strive to maintain in all their undertakings, further compounding the horror of their experience, but also liberating them. hickey again takes advantage of this, too, demonstrating his intelligence and quick, pragmatic thinking when he castrates irving's corpse after murdering him in order to threaten the remaining shreds of the men's masculinity and inflame them into rash, reactive action. and fitzjames comes full circle in his own gender-influenced narrative when he confesses his long-carried shame to crozier, finally unburdening himself of the idea of 'james fitzjames' that he built on the foundations of that masculine ideal the society he lived in values so highly and as a result is able to let himself lean on a fellow man for support and shed tears for the first time (that we see onscreen at least), and when he asks crozier to euthanize him to help him out of his suffering in his final moments - both poison and suicide have traditionally earned a reputation as means used by 'women and cowards' to escape the brutal reality of death, but they allow fitzjames to die with as much dignity and the least amount of suffering as the at that point truly desperate circumstances allow, and far more than the more ideally masculine, imperial british glory he once aspired to of death in combat or without any medical assistance to ease his passing would have.

#WHEW #posts all this then goes back to feminizing that man (james fitzjames) and dressing her in outfits #the terror #long post #suicide mention

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discord-lurking · 5 months

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Dungeons and Daddies Wiki Drama: A Greek Tragedy Told through the Medium of Forum Posts (Part 1)

Prologue

Greek tragedies are typically formatted in three or more acts interspersed with choral interludes, beginning with a prologue, and ending with an exodus. In these, protagonists often meet their downfall due to their fatal flaw, or hamartia: the ways in which the protagonists are their own undoing. Our own human failings are the things that bring us the most pain.

When considering a three-act Greek tragedy structure for this, my first thought was to use the Oresteia as a framing device, a trilogy of plays written by Aeschylus about Agamemnon's family in the aftermath of the Trojan War. Upon reflection, though, the themes of the Oresteia (revenge vs. justice, perpetuating a cycle of violence, honor and punishment) didn't quite fit the story I was trying to tell.

No, this is a classic tale of hubris: excessive pride and its ultimate downfall.

After all, what position could come with more power than that of wiki moderator for a Dungeons and Dragons podcast series?

Act One: The Beginning of the End

The D&Dads wiki has historically been... unhelpful, at best. (Source: Myself.) Trouble had been brewing for a long time.

Forum posts from spring 2022 began noting issues cropping up around the wiki. First, it was a complaint about anonymous users "disrupting" the wiki (specifically on Jodie-related pages) while also fixing mistakes in articles.

I'm unsure what specific "disruptions" were meant, but the proposal to ban anonymous users didn't garner much traction.

March 21st, 2022:

After little activity for months (only one forum post, related to infoboxes), wiki user TwoRatner had a radical proposition: wiki migration.

December 17th, 2022:

TwoRatner suggested an alternate platform that would have different editing options, then made a potentially-prophetic statement: the wiki might be cursed.

This warning went unheeded.

December 27th, 2022:

Ten days after the migration suggestion, TwoRatner came back to ask if there were any recent changes. This went unanswered for months until new user Penguinwithafancytophat reported adding art to character pages (including Glenn, a main season 1 character since the start of the podcast in 2019, who incredibly might not have had any official art on his wiki page before March of 2023).

Spring of 2023 seemed to bring along a revival of the wiki, with new editors coming in, engaging with the forum, and attempting to make suggestions on how to improve wiki organization.

March 31st, 2023:

May 27th, 2023:

July 17th, 2023:

October 2nd, 2023:

Interestingly, the only administrator seen to be interacting with these enthusiastic new editors? Gaycowboyrats. Let's put a pin in that.

Enter: the drama.

It started out simple enough- a forum posts for administrators to discuss changes that needed to be made.

November 3rd, 2023:

76 replies.

Seventy. Six. Replies. Each deeply interesting in its own way.

However, this is a Tumblr post, not an Hbomberguy video essay, so I'll keep it brief.

The discussion started out as one might expect a wiki admin discussion to start:

Mods discussed blocks, deleting stub pages, spam, etc. Standard wiki business.

The first reply to ping my interest:

Removing cast pages from a wiki about their work seemed like an odd decision, in my non-wiki-editor opinion, but the last line is what really stuck out: "Besides, I hate the idea of someone vandalizing the pages to defame them."

Several questions arose for me:

Was this a known problem? Were people constantly vandalizing cast pages?

Would a vandalized fandom wiki page really defame somebody?

Isn't the point of wiki editing to remove vandalization on articles?

The administrators began to stand out to me as deeply invested in a very specific sense of wiki justice.

Users TwoRatner, Brazil86, and TheOneTrueGod41 agreed with Honic's take.

Another thing to ping my interest: these users seemed to share a similar odd, slightly stilted, writing style. Almost Tommy Wiseau-esque.

Brazil86 expressed optimism about users engaging with wiki pages, something that would begin to set them apart from other administrators.

As I read, themes began to emerge: wiki justice, and incongruous one-liners.

Quoth Honic Washington: "I just found a wave of nonsense fish. My backyard is full of them. Hey, TOTG41, do you like jazz? I like jazz."

Truly, modern poetry.

Administrator Marth8204 suggested giving people more time. More time for what? Unclear. It seems a plan was afoot.

TwoRatner came in with a hot take: "I feel like we need a community more right now, than adding links that people can search for in the search bar."

Brazil86 agreed: Changing the navigation was less important than getting people editing and making friends.

Another theme began to emerge: wiki community as more important than wiki functionality.

Gaycowboyrats had some (incredibly reasonable) objections to this, pointing out that the wiki was a resource for many visitors who might not participate- something that is generally true of wikis as a form of content.

Honic Washington responded to this, the signs of wiki-related stress beginning to show.

Honic posts a long rant about the thankless task of moderating a wiki, which goes largely unacknowledged.

Notable TwoRatner quotes:

"You can't crack open a few omelets without punching a few egg-rolls."

"Now Freddie will get more money. What do you all say? I think I helped quite a bit."

Another theme emerges: discontent in the wiki moderator ranks.

Honic reaches full Joker mode. Again, this goes largely unacknowledged.

Honic: "I am leader. I am a painter! Keep your rules. Keep your status. Keep your friends."

"Keep your status"- words that will reverberate throughout the rest of this tale.

The final theme? Wiki moderator status, and the maintenance of it.

After Honic's bomb drop, conversation about regular wiki moderation continued, with mods considering the addition of a bot to make edits.

Admin Discussion Zone, first started by Honic Washington, ends not with a bang but with a whimper.

Over nearly a year of forum posts, patterns emerged.

Firstly- users attempting to engage in the wiki, wiki administrators not engaging with these new users, then wiki administrators bemoaning the lack of user engagement.

The notable exception was Gaycowboyrats, the only wiki administrator to engage with new users in the forums. Gaycowboyrats, the administrator whose (incredibly reasonable) suggestions ended with Honic Washington's villain-esque monologues and denouement as a moderator.

Secondly- administrators putting forth large-scale, drastic solutions to real or perceived wiki problems. This includes Cheesoid4 wanting to ban anonymous users, TwoRatner suggesting site migration, Honic deleting cast pages to prevent vandalism, and more to come.

Thirdly- wiki administrators seeming to share similar styles of speech and occasional non-sequiturs. Interestingly, this mainly seems to include the wiki administrators who agree with each other.

Funny how that happens.

Chorus

Stay tuned for Part 2, where the forum drama really starts to heat up.

#dungeons and daddies

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ros3ybabe · 6 months

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Day 10 - 90 Day Challenge 🎀

I feel really good about today. I got a lot done despite trying to nap three times (I wasn't able to actually get any sleep), and the only reason I kept trying to nap was because I've been up since 3am. It's easy to get a lot done when you've been up forever.

🏋‍♀️ Physical Health

took a walk around campus outside

logged most of everything I ate into my food tracking app

cooked a healthy breakfast + ate a serving of fruit (red grapes)

🧠 Mental Health

morning guided journal

night time guided journal

retail therapy <3 (bought some makeup on the ulta app)

❤️ Emotional Health

read 2 sections of 101 Essays to Change the Way You Think

answered the journal prompt "what is one of my limiting self beliefs?"(realized I'm the reason I don't have many friends, need to change that)

📚 Intellectual Health

finished chapter 13 notes for psyc

completed all of chapter 14 notes for psyc

selected my articles for my reflection paper for my health and sport class + formatted Google docs for each article reflection writing

(This all took me 2.5 hours from 4am to 630am, the perks of accidentally waking up early as heck)

🏘 Adulting

organized my desk drawer

reached out + invited my older brother to come see me since he was in town (he'll be here soon!)

had a phone call with my dad

🥰 Self Love/Care

morning skincare

night skincare (just moisturizer, I was tired)

took a warm shower + brushed my teeth (as gross as it sounds that I don't do it every day, depression sucks and I'm proud of myself for even one win )

made my bed (trying to make it a habit)

let in morning sunlight until it began to get dim outside (keeps electricity costs down and boosts my mood when I'm in my room)

I am very proud of myself for today despite my lack of motivation these last few days. Hopefully, this carries over to tomorrow, and I can be productive at least a little bit before i have to go to work. There's still time in the day, but I'm satisfied with today, which is why I'm posting this a bit early in the evening. Thank you and much love to everyone who has been commenting encouraging and supportive things it makes it easier to be open and honest about my struggles, mental health, and overall well-being.

til next time, lovelies 🩷

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evasiveagaric · 3 months

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I have a physical reaction every time i think about the queercoding of Dave at the end of homestuck. My roommate and I were reading it and i kept having to take a moment to think “holy shit, is he coming out??? is that what we missed on the meteor round 2?”. I don’t keep up with Andrew Hussie news bc i don’t really like him as a person, but the whole talk with Egbert on the lillypad makes me think Hussie either was really close to a queer person or queer himself with just how accurately he wrote Dave talking about the queer experience, even if he doesn’t actually come out in that part. It doesn’t feel like queerbaiting either bc it bc fits with Dave’s characterization and how hard it is for him to talk about anything sincerely.

I don’t want to downplay the importance of Dave realizing the thoughts Bro instilled in him about how a man should act in favor of speculating about his sexuality tho. Not wanting to be a stoic hero of man who doesn’t have attachments or be soft with anyone is a huge part of Dave’s characterization and character arc. I think they go hand in hand tho, his struggles with toxic masculinity and his sexuality. I think the conversation was blatantly about both while Dave gave himself an out to pretend it was just about one. And he didn’t even do that.

I’m about to get hella pretentious and read way too much into things under the cut. More rambling about Dave’s character arc as a whole and nitpicking of dialogue towards the end of homestuck down below.

Future peepaw edit: this turned into a fucking play by play essay, my bad

Out of order but I also want to talk about his characterization as a whole.

Homestuck Mobile formatting jumpscare:

He’s willing to talk about another guy’s feelings. Romantic ones. for someone at the time presents as a guy. It doesn’t even feel like he’s joking. 13 year old Dave would never.

And this happens before all the stuff i mentioned earlier, showing exactly what he talked about. I honestly don’t think any other character has an arc like Dave’s. Which, seeing as Dave is a fully fleshed out complex character that makes sense, but I mean in general. I have consumed a lot of media, i’ve consumed a lot of queer media too. I’m really into the history of queercoding and how it relates to representation. I don’t think I’ve seen a character arc quite like Dave’s, especially in relation to sexuality and toxic masculinity.

Egbert assumes that Dave’s being a dick on purpose, and Dave rebukes it so strongly he uses an exclamation point. In a series where how people type is kind of a big thing, Dave’s frequent lack of punctuation is a nod to his “cool guy” facade, the lack of tone indication part of the “mystery” a cool guy has to be surrounded with. So, the fact that he feels strongly enough, or has loosened up enough on the cool guy show no emotions routine speaks to his self reflection. Of course this is stated literally a few more dialogue lines down, about how much time he spent on the meteor thinking about societal norms and his Bro’s teachings but the fact that it’s sprinkled in before hand too makes it feel less like it’s come out of the blue, or that it’s out of character.

“yeah we coulda talked about this” says so much. Not only to his relationship with Karkat (romantic or not, i’m a Davekat shipper but that’s not what i’m getting at here) but just how far he’s come with getting close to others. Not to mention the fact that it’s implied that they talk at least somewhat frequently about heavy and deep issues such as feelings for other people definitely feels like a major shift in Dave’s character, one for the better.

He’s probably been vulnerable with Karkat in a way that he never was with anyone as a kid. They talk about things. They talk about important enough things that Karkat’s past black crush on Egbert never coming up probably feels a little strange, hence Dave asking if he’s been thinking about it all this time. He has that connection with Karkat, which is important bc Karkat is masculine presenting. I’d bet money that Bro would not have approved, regardless of them just being friends or not.

That level of vulnerability? Not immediately calling Karkat gay and dunking on him? Treating what would be seen a gay relationship as completely normal and not even something to bat an eye at? 13 year old Dave WISHES he had the emotional maturity Dave has now.

He even encourages Karkat to hold on to those feelings bc Egbert expressed that they could hate people, at least platonically. Egbert even calls him out, saying he sounds like he’s being a dick about it and Dave says he’s being real.

Not to mention he kind of forgets that Egbert “isn’t a homosexual” at this point, that or he suspects Egbert isn’t straight in some capacity. I think he has less hang ups about queerness than Karkat does at this point. Or at least less hang ups about being honest. It feels fitting for his character and i’m sad that most of that character arc is off screen. I get it tho, writing meteorstuck round 2 would have made homestuck significantly longer most likely.

In conclusion: I like Dave and his character arc too damn much. I have to go to work now, i was not expecting to have this many thoughts about it and i’ve rambled enough.

#homestuck #dave strider #does this count as #character study #karkat vantas #john egbert #june egbert #i’m vague on pronouns for Egbert #peepaw story time

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thecurioustale · 5 days

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My New Book Is Out! | Tokens of Zeal

My new book is out!

Buy it! Buy it now!

That's right: In secret, on January 2 of this year I began writing a book of essays. Some of you may know that I have an online journal, which I created in the summer of 2003 when I was just 21 years old and have kept up with ever since. For my new book I went back to the journal and read through it, entry by entry, drawing out excerpts of interest that became conversation pieces for 81 various and sundry essays reflecting on my past life and past thoughts.

The essays are short, often very short. They are less challenging than my usual writing, I would say. My purpose was not to advance my personal frontier of philosophy and intellectual thought in 2024, or to reach a niche audience of deep thinkers, but instead to reflect sincerely on some things I've seen along the way and muse upon how my thoughts have changed and stayed the same over twenty years.

I mention this to you because I am a bit worried that anyone who reads this book might think there's not much to me as an author, and might be dissuaded from reading my works of fiction when those books eventually come out, so I'll lampshade that by adding that I wrote this book in two-and-a-half months. Make of that what you will. I told myself I wouldn't self-sabotage the book by needlessly saying negative things about it, and I am proud of it, not only the fact that I finished it at all, let alone so quickly, but of the actual contents too.

This book is "Volume 1" in a hypothetical series, as it doesn't cover the entire twenty years of the journal but only the first four months, from August to November of 2003—at which point the essays had reached "book length" (lol). So really this book is a snapshot of my life in the latter half of 2003. At that time, I was fading out of college due to financial hardship and other issues, and did not realize that I would never (as yet) return.

I have been wanting for years to go back and reread my journal, and writing a book out of it was the perfect impetus to finally do it. I think a few things stand out about the Josh of 2023:

First, my principles have remained remarkably consistent, but my awareness and understanding of the world has grown drastically, and so those same principles have led me over time to some different policy views and worldviews on some things.

Second, I was a 21-year-old arrogant block of cheese, full of hormones and self-conviction, and that definitely shows up at times in ways that I simultaneously am not proud of and yet which I admire for their sheer gall. There is something very magnetic about the old me which doesn't exist anymore.

Third, following up on that point, it was pretty inspiring and encouraging to revisit the old me, with all that native optimism and drive. I don't express those qualities anymore because life has worn me down and also because I have come to recognize that humanity's problems are a lot more stubborn and irremediable than I thought. By glimpsing into the past, I couldn't help but be cheered on by the old Josh's proud, utopian sense of human inevitability. It lifted my own spirits in the here and now!

I made the mistake of announcing the book on Patreon right after I finished writing it, i.e. back in mid-March. Then I had to wring my hands every week about how post-production was taking longer than expected. Between the irritating realities of formatting a book in software not properly equipped to format a book (never write a book in Google Docs), the complexities of my detail-oriented manner and strong vision regarding the cover design (and engaging for the first time ever with modern generative AI, and having to learn those ropes), and sustaining illnesses and other life priorities and so on, it would take me another two months in all to finally reach today, where I can now publicly declare:

The book is done! It is for sale right now. It is called:

Tokens of Zeal: Words from a Vanished Age

(Caption: Book front cover of Tokens of Zeal: Words from a Vanished Age, by Joshua Calars.)

You can buy it through Amazon in either paperback or e-book format. (I recommend the paperback version for aesthetics as it is much truer to my design vision for the book's layout and appearance, but my profit margin is actually a dollar bigger with the e-book version, so really just go with whichever version you prefer.) It is available in the US as well as in basically all the other countries that Amazon has expanded its publishing service into. If you need help finding a link to a particular version, give me a ping and I will point you there (if there is a "there" to be pointed to). This is my second published book, following Prelude to After The Hero in 2015, and the first book to be published in print.

If you do read it, first of all thank you! It's an honor that you would take the time. Second of all, I would love any feedback you care to offer. That's not a platitude either; feedback is hard to come by and I really would be interested in anything you have to say, good or bad. You can e-mail me, DM, reblog this, drop an ask, or tag me in an independent post. Whatever you like! Feedback will help me greatly when I eventually get around to writing Volume 2. And feel free to leave a review on Amazon, whether good or bad (though hopefully you enjoy the book); I am told it pleases The Algorithm. But most of all, if you enjoy the book, tell someone about it! Your word-of-mouth is currently 100 percent of my advertising budget, lol.

That's all. I wrote a book; it took four-and-a-half-months; it's done now; and it's the first time I've ever gotten to hold a book that I wrote in my hands as a physical thing, and that's pretty neat.

#Tokens of Zeal: Words from a Vanished Age #New books #Self-publishing #Shameless author self-promotion #Joshua Calars #I am trying on “Joshua Calars” as my new pen name with this book #“The Sinistral” that I used with the Prelude to ATH didn't quite sit right with me #“Calars” is a word in Relance that refers to sunset #They/he are my pronouns; “they” is what I prefer but I won't get mad at you for “he”

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zsakuva · 2 months

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How do you come up with so many intricate plots and characters? They seem so… human? I’m very surprised you don’t read much! I guess what I’m asking is, what’s your creative process? Do you take inspiration from aspects of yourself, or is it more of a form of escapism? When you write your plots, do you imagine yourself as the character, the audience, or both?

Another thing that truly amazes me and makes your channel stand out a lot is the way you give the listener a voice. It feels like each listener is so different and unique, and *actually* interacts with the character. It also feels like you’re never spoon feeding us information? All the questions do get answered, but it’s different style imo. Usually, in most ASMR RPs I’ve heard, the speaker will repeat what you said verbatim, (eg. “You think XXX?”, or “You want me to XXX?”), and the frequency at which these types of phrases are used makes it *seem* like a RP. Of course, it’s a challenging medium - the audience needs to know whats going on somehow, but you manage to achieve the same in a much more subtle way. It makes me wonder how long you spend planning out your content haha.

Final question, do you prefer to type or handwrite your plans, scripts, etc? I’ve always preferred planning on paper, even though it’s a bit impractical haha. Also, would you mind showing us your handwriting? I think it says a lot about a person! There’s the stereotype that people usually have a certain handwriting that corresponds to their major/occupation, and if I remember correctly, I think you studied film? I’m just curious hehe. No pressure, of course!

Sorry for sending you an essay, I hope you have a restful and comfy Friday!

Thank you!

Honestly, I don't know how I do it myself considering my memory is absolute shit! Though I don't read much, I learn about characters through other mediums such as television shows and movies. I'll try and break this down for ease of reading!

~My Creative Process~

When making a character or series, it all depends on where my initial inspiration began. For example, with Niall, I wanted to create an M4M series exploring a character who carries trauma of being forcibly outed, betrayed by someone he confided in, and how those events affected him through his adult life. The core of Niall's story was confronting fears that manifested due to the Listener's actions in school, and finding that there was a way to heal, albeit slowly, and a hope to love despite external animosity. Niall exists because I wanted to tell a particular story.

With Zaros, he first came about because of The Noble Trials plot. I knew that he would be different from other characters, so I'm using this series as a means of testing my skill with a new editing style, story format, and new world setting. Although it's more work, I have the most fun with The Noble Trials and making its lore (though I'm always a sucker for that)!

I go into creating characters with the belief that they are all extremely flawed. Whether that be by nature or nurture, there will inevitably be some slew of events in their pasts that shaped the way they act in the current timeline. This also extends to the Listeners so they aren't rigid, boring, and an empty shell. Characters can clash, but they can also change with and for each other. A good example is Isaac's story. He was scarred by his past, and was willing to confine Pickle in the house if it meant not losing someone he cared for again. Pickle was also scarred with abandonment and instability, wondering if they would ever find a home. Isaac gave them a place to belong, and Pickle gave him consolation and courage to face the unknown.

When I write, the character's actions must reflect the backstory in which they were crafted, so I always need to dive into their heads.

~Listener Dialogue~

This requires much more thought to make interactions seem authentic, but there's a fine line between repeating words verbatim and not alluding to any sort of context. I dislike repeating the Listener's words so I try to indirectly insinuate what they were saying whenever possible. If I can do so with SFX alone, that's a bonus! But when scenes contain heavy dialogue, it can be difficult to get the message across without being heavy-handed with repetition, unless that's the purpose of a specific moment.

~Handwriting vs Typing~

I always handwrite my outlines! On some occasions, I can start and finish a script without the help of one, but my workflow tends to include writing an outline of some kind, and it has to be done on paper! I feel like the ideas manifest quicker that way.

However, I always type my scripts. It's much easier to edit, share with other voice actors, and there's a level of professionalism in formatting that motivates me to write more!

Here is an example of my writing. This screenshot was part of a Twitch stream!

#zsakuva #sakuverse #audio roleplay #boyfriend audios

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prosaic-dust-bunny · 2 years

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Envy and Jealousy Part 1

Genshin Vignettes

Genshin!men x Male reader

Characters featured: Albedo, Alhaitham, Ayato, Cyno & Diluc;

Content: Fluff and a little suggestiveness in the Ayato one.

Discussion: Envy and Jealousy are hard to work through. It is possible to end up projecting your insecurities on the people surrounding you if you aren't self aware. However, all these things aren’t inherently linked to possessiveness and toxic relationship patterns. Why am I writing all this? As I’m making silly littles vignettes on envy and jealousy about 2D characters, I want to clarify that those feelings can be traced back to the values centered in our societies - namely individuality and ownership in a patriarchal and capitalist system. Traced back, not excused. All in all, we often confound acts driven by jealousy as proof of love. Jealousy in relationships is common, but I believe the way it is addressed - with open communication, is a testament to one's ability to love. In other words, if someone reflects on their jealousy and recognizes their possessiveness or need for control as issues they need to work on, that’s the real commitment towards the relationship. Jealousy can be endearing, but left unchecked it can lead quickly to a toxic relationship.

Albedo - Seated at a table near Good hunter you had your nose in a book and from time to time you glanced over at Albedo who was sketching something in front of you, probably an unsuspecting subject that had caught his eyes. You were truly grateful for those times spent in his company mostly because you had reached a point you didn’t feel the need to talk and could simply enjoy the time going by slowly in his company.

After some time, Timaeus, who was operating the alchemical crafting bench on the other side of the fountain plaza, approached and interrupted Albedo’s creative process to ask him some questions about the technicalities of the procedures he used to brew a certain potion. You didn’t make out the details, but took the opportunity to leave for the bathroom since you had been sipping on lemonade all afternoon.

When you returned you noticed how Albedo seemed somewhat displeased at answering the growing pile of questions from his colleague. When Albedo noticed your presence, he immediately excused himself away from Timaeus and pulled you by the hand in direction of the Headquarter of the Knights of Favonius. He mentioned not being able to finish your portrait because he was disturbed by the other man and wanting to make a new one somewhere you wouldn’t be bothered by anyone. Nobody encroaches on his time spent with you, those moments are yours and only yours. Leading you to his private quarters, he made sure you were the sole subject of his attention.

Alhaitham - On an early morning in Port Ormos, you and your partner made your way into a dusty library in a secondary alley of the marketplace. You were looking for a particular essay studying the theological implications of the Sefer Yetzirah or Book of Formation and the author was said to have a position that dissent from the many scholarly theories on the matter. Sadly the book itself didn’t have a lot of print and it didn’t seem like a new edition would be coming. You pushed the door of the library which made the little bell attached to it resound into the small room filled with books from floor to ceiling. You and Alhaitham went toward two different sections, browsing for the desired book from shelf to shelf.

You were soon joined by the library clerk who seemed about the same age as you. He came up to you and asked for what you were looking for. Hearing the title of the essay, he smiled and nodded, impressed that you were looking for a book about a quite controversial subject. He smiled and added that he knew as soon as he first laid eyes on you that you looked like trouble. He left momentarily to go fetch the book in question from the backstore and brought with him a piece of paper and a pen. He took a second to scribble on it and mentioned how the topic itself was quite complicated and how the essay involved advanced notions.

As he extended his arm to give you the book and the paper with his name and address on it, he offered to give you some pointers and maybe take you on a date afterwards. He was interrupted by Alhaitham, who came up from behind you. With daggers in his eyes, he said in a monotone voice that since you were a very capable researcher in the field of philosophy, early mysticism and occult traditions, you wouldn’t need him to coach you. He added that as for a date, it was something reserved for him only; his arm reaching for your waist to add weight to his words. You paid for the book with as few words exchanged as you could, not to make the transaction any more strained. Once out of the library you raised a quizzical eyebrow at your partner who still had his hand on the small of your back, seemingly pushing you the furthest away from the library clerk as possible. When it was time for you to open the book later that day, Alhatitham insisted for you to rest on him while you both read your respective publications. He also made it clear that he was available at any time for any question you could have. When you teased him about whether he was confident in your reading comprehension skills or not, you could see him try to hide the plink flush of his face behind the hardcover of Aristotle's Physics.

Ayato - Getting ready for formal events with Ayato couldn’t be considered easy. Knowing that you would be hooked on his arm during the reception or meeting related to his functions kinda instilled in his brain he had to make the most of it. You were currently putting on the exquisite kimono he had custom made for you at Ogura Textiles & Kimonos. The silk felt sumptuous to the touch and the patterns sewn into the fabric were elegant.

You emerged from behind the folding screen and Ayato placed himself a few feet in front of you to admire the view. The commissure of his lips stretched into a smile and his eyes reflected fondness and a hint of pride. He closed the distance to adjust the opening of your kimono, taking the opportunity to feel your pecs under the fabric. His forthright action caused a tremor to spread across your body. You pulled him into a kiss to which he answered with impetuosity. Soon you were left breathless, letting him explore your jaw and neck as he was leaving trails of kisses. In the haze you left your neck fully exposed allowing the Yashiro Commissioner to seal his lips on the sensitive skin at the base of your neck and suction forcefully. So that’s what he was after from the beginning.

You lightly push against him and turn your head to get in his way. He paused to calmly look at you. He then tentatively reached for one of your hands and brought it in front of his lips to kiss it tenderly before closing it in a way that allowed him to suckle on your index finger - maintaining eye contact at all times. You giggled at the sensation and with a whisper you asked him what he needed to say to have your assent. A simple «please» escaped his lips and you used your free hand to part the silky material in a way that made your neck even more accessible. Ayato released your hand, but waited for you to nod and seductively expose your neck for him. This time, Ayato took extra care to make you feel even better trailing his teeth across your neck. He once more sealed his lips near your collarbone and sucked the skin while adding little nimbles and swirling his tongue on the yet to be bruised area. In the end, the hickey was only visible if someone paid you close attention. In a way, if someone had the audacity to look at you for too long, it would be clear you had someone in your life, and that was the man’s goal.

Cyno - Who was that? Why were you walking with them in such a decontracted manner? Cyno knew your friends, but he had never met that man walking next to you. You were strolling down the streets of Port Ormos and often stopped at the various stalls along the way. He wasn’t really spying on you and he told himself repeatedly that you would never do something bad behind his back. Cyno had tailed you since he saw you in the distance with the other and couldn’t decide what was your relationship to him. Was he a former colleague? Someone you studied with? Maybe he was an ex of yours. That would explain your physical proximity and general openness. He saw you burst into laughter, not just laughter, you were cackling and needed to steady yourself by placing a hand on the unknown man's shoulder. He caught himself wishing you laughed like that to HIS jokes.

The General Mahamatra remained hidden for the rest of your stroll and watched you climb the stairs that lead to the higher floors of Port Ormos. Soon your destination was made evident, you were going directly to Shapur Hotel. A hotel of all places, the place of predilection for extra marital relationships. You weren’t married, but that wasn’t the point. You halted in front of the building and hugged the other man. Cyno knew he could trust you, but that was playing with fire at that point. You bid your goodbyes to the other and turned back.Cyno left his hiding spot and made it straight to your shared apartment.

Once he was home, he didn't have to wait long before you arrived. Cyno steeled himself in place; the interrogation was about to begin and he would have answers. As soon as he saw your face and even before you had the time to greet him properly he fell to his knees - panic stricken, and asked if you were seeing someone else. You looked at him in confusion, clueless at what would have prompted this until you put two and two together. You made him stand up and explain that you were previously with your cousin who was visiting Port Ormos and that you were showing him around. Cyno felt as relieved as he was embarrassed. He apologized and said that the outburst wasn’t really rational of him. You reassured him and hugged him tight, even though it was a misunderstanding you could feel that your lover was quite shaken about the idea of you leaving him.

Diluc - As part of the Mondstadt branch of the Adventurer Guild you had your fair share of commission and had gained a little bit of notoriety within the city of freedom. Even Katherine praised you for your versatility and hardwork. About one month ago after clearing some hillichurl camps, you took a commission from the Knights of Favonius for whom you had to make an inventory of the supplies and rations stocked at the Knights of Favonius Headquarters. You ended up being paired with Bernhard and the task took you most of your afternoon. Thankfully the knight was friendly and reliable and you were able to finish the inventory while making some arrangements to the procedures so that the inventory was systematically balanced based on consumption and replenishment of the stock. After that commission and for the following weeks Bernhard made sure that you would be asked personally to execute the Knights of Favonius commissions. Today you received one such commission from Katherine. You had to help Bernhard visit Mondstadters to raise awareness on the new evacuation measures in case of emergency in the city. The goal was to review the evacuation plan leading to the designated safety areas in case of fires or other natural disasters and what could be done for prevention and the different methods of control that minimize the damage and risks.

After all your hard work during the previous month, Bernhard wanted to emphasize that he was grateful for your help and gifted you with a basket of baked goods and sweets. You thanked the knight and left with the delicious reward to go meet your partner at Angel’s share. Diluc was already outside of the tavern and ready to go home to Dawn Winery with you. He gave you a chaste kiss as a greeting and led you towards the main gate. He noticed the basket you were holding and foraged into it trying to snag a snack for himself. You half slapped his hand saying those were gifted to you for your efforts and that if he wanted some he needed to ask for permission first. After he used the magic word you graciously offered him a flavourful moon pie.

Walking next to him you told him about your day and the commission you had taken and finally explained the gift was from Bernhard because you were the finest adventurer in all of Mondstadt. Since Diluc didn’t react at all to your playful boasting you elbowed him to get a reaction out of him. The red head apologized for lacking consideration and you continued the conversation thinking nothing of it. Your partner was probably tired after working all day. The next day you were woken up by Diluc bringing breakfast in bed. You asked what the occasion was and he answered he just felt like it. You were taking the day off so you had nothing planned and were able to enjoy the act of kindness. Your partner was a great chef and the grape juice was also a recognizable personal touch from the man you loved. In the afternoon, you were given a Cecilia bouquet most romantically and even if you tried to know what this was all about, Diluc deflected the question. In the following days you received many more gifts, little notes and it all culminated one evening when you received new gear for your adventuring duties and an invitation to spend the evening with him and a glass of apple cider.

Diluc brought you to the balcony adjacent to his room on the second floor of the manor. Once in the intimacy of his room, you stopped him in his tracks and demanded that he tell you why he was showering you with gifts. You liked everything he picked for you, but you stated you didn’t need all of it. Diluc took you in his arms and answered that he was reminded not so long ago that he had a wonderful boyfriend and it would be a shame if only some work colleagues were the ones to give him gifts. Not missing a beat Diluc suggested you both leave on the following day for a romantic getaway to Dornman Port where you could relax and spend time together without the pressure and responsibilities of Mondstadt.

#genshin impact x male reader #genshin x male reader #genshin impact fanfics #genshin headcanons #genshin fanfics #genshin fanfic #genshin ff #genshin fluff #genshin impact queer #genshin impact imagines #genshin imagines #albedo x male reader #al haitham x male reader #ayato x male reader #cyno x male reader #diluc x male reader #genshin #原神 #genshin impact

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hornyforpoetry · 1 year

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The Five Stages of Reading Albert Camus

1. The Discovery – ”The Stranger” (1942)

„The Stranger” is unquestionably the best choice for anyone who wants to get to know Albert Camus. It's so simple that it fools you at first. You think it's going to be an easy read, but when you finish the book and put it down, you don't even know your name or if it even matters to have a name. It will probably keep your mind busy for months and make you think about the true meaning of life. You will most likely never be the same person again.

2. Falling in Love – ”Betwixt and Between” (1937) // ”The Fall” (1956) // ”Exile and the Kingdom” (1957)

After "The Stranger" has had time to settle and stick in your mind (a process that takes about six months to a year), it's time to explore other writing. Camus doesn't use the same language in every book, so it's important to be careful what you choose to read after. The best options to fall irrevocably in love with this French philosopher are ”Betwixt and Between”, which is his very first published book, ”The Fall”, which offers a very interesting narrative perspective, or ”Exile and the Kingdom”, his only collection of short stories. After going through these, your heart will be caught in the nets of love for Camus.

3. The Surprise – ”The Plague” (1947) // ”A Happy Death” (written 1936–38, published 1971) // ”Summer” (1954) // ”Nuptials” (1938)

After the reader has gone through the above books, he will have the impression that he knows Camus. Now is the time for him to have the surprise of his life. Camus managed the feat of not giving the audience the same thing twice. That is why each of his writings is unique. Some are easier to read and digest, some are not. At this stage, it is time to get acquainted with its more difficult side. "The Plague" is a story that shakes you to the core and is difficult for even the best readers to get through. ”The Happy Death” should never have seen the light of day, being the first version of what we now know as The Stranger. "Summer" and "Nuptials" are dubbed essays and are similar in format to ”Betwixt and Between”, but here Camus approaches a completely new language, so poetic and refined that it instantly wins you over. Only after the reader goes through these books can he say that he understands a part of Camus.

4. Not just a writer – ”The Myth of Sisyphus” (1942) // „The Rebel” (1951) // Theatre Plays // Journalism Articles

Camus was not only a great French writer. He was also a philosopher (though he never called himself that), a journalist and a playwright. If you are interested in fully understanding Camus, you must also understand his writings in other fields. "The Myth of Sisyphus" is the essay that formed the basis of the formation of a new philosophical current called absurdism. "The Rebel" continues the work started by "The Myth of Sisyphus", going much deeper into the issues related to the meaning of life, art, war, etc. Plays like "Caligula" (1938) or "The Misunderstanding" (1944) are wonderful pieces of art in the history of the theater, while summing up the entire philosophy of Camus. His journalistic articles reveal a Camus involved in society, trying to change something in one way or another through writing. "Reflections on the Guillotine" (1957) for example was an important work that contributed to the abolition of the death penalty in France. Camus never confined his writing to a single specialization, and this can be seen in the skill with which he explored the power of the word in its various forms.

5. Camus the Human – ”The First Man” (incomplete, published 1994) // ”American Journals” (1978) // ”Correspondence (1944–1959)” // ”Notebooks”

At this point, after going through all these readings, we also want to find out who was the man behind the word. Camus put many things from his personal life into writing, but in this selection we have the most personal point of view. ”The First Man” was supposed to be an autobiographical novel, but Camus died before he could finish it. The remaining manuscript was revised and published years after the author's death. "American Journals" captures a highly sensitive moment in his life, an existential crisis in Camus's life. ”Correspondence” is an exchange of letters between Camus and the woman with probably the greatest influence in his life, Maria Casares. Finally, the "Notebooks" are a collection made from the notes that Camus wrote over the years in his countless notebooks. Every intimate thought, beginning of a novel, reflection, trace of feeling, all these complete the image of Camus as a man.

Congratulations! If you have reached this point, you have managed to go through all the stages of knowledge and you can call yourself a true fan of Albert Camus. Now go and spread his teachings to other little outstiders. And don't forget, the only purpose of life is to be happy (reading Camus together).

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graysoncritic · 13 days

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A (Negative) Review of Tom Taylor's Nightwing Run - Conclusion

Introduction Who is Dick Grayson? What Went Wrong? Dick's Characterization What Went Wrong? Barbara Gordon What Went Wrong? Bludhaven (Part 1, Part 2) What Went Wrong? Melinda Lin Grayson What Went Wrong? Bea Bennett What Went Wrong? Villains Conclusion Bibliography

Though it may not appear so given the length of this essay, I did try to be fair to Taylor and Redondo. I focused my criticism on Taylor because my knowledge of written storytelling far exceeds my knowledge of visual storytelling, especially when it comes to sequential art. As such, I did not think it was my place to criticize something that I did not feel entirely comfortable addressing.

As I implied in the introduction, this essay was both an intellectual exercise and a cathartic one. Much of the information in it were reworded discussions I had with other Dick Grayson fans throughout the past couple of years. I must also thank them for allowing me to quote them when appropriate, as none of this would have been possible without their contribution. The essay itself was written in the time span of months, and sometimes I went weeks without even opening the document, only doing so again when a new issue came out and I wanted to vent.

As I worked on this, I was able to articulate a frustration that has been building up inside of me and, I know, many Dick Grayson fans for years. These frustrations are not exclusive to Taylor's writing. Rather, Taylor’s writing is but the most obvious and prominent example of said problem, with new and old symptoms drawing glaring attention to themselves on a monthly basis. The real problem behind all of these grievances and, quite frankly, the hurt Dick Grayson fans feel at the moment is rooted in the fact that DC Comics as a whole seems determined to undermine, if not completely erase, the importance of this amazing character.

There are other ways in which this can be observed. One of the Dick Grayson fans I know has been collecting examples of this erasure that span decades. I, myself, have thoughts on the motivations behind these actions and how they are reflective of a societal dislike for those who are othered, and especially those who challenge patriarchal ideals, the gender binary, and heteronormative culture.

Perhaps one day I will address those subjects. Or perhaps not. As cathartic as writing this was, I do want to write more about the things I love rather than the things I hate. But I also believe it is important to express dissatisfaction when experienced, to vent when required, and to critique when necessary.

If you stuck around this far, then I do not believe that this needs stating, but just in case, I must assert that I reject any claims that comics should not be analyzed in this much depth. I do not, for a second, believe that comics are above serious criticism simply due to their format or their content. Comics, like every form of storytelling, are worthy of being examined and dissected. They are a part of our culture. They are literature and as such, they deserve to be studied.

This essay explored Taylor’s current, ongoing run of Nightwing. I believe it proved not only its failure as a good story, but also as a good Nightwing story. Taylor’s superficial characterization, weak plot, and simplistic morality that undermines the story’s stated themes, demonstrate that Taylor does not care about Dick Grayson. He does not see Dick as a character worthy of his care and attention. At the very best Taylor lacks the knowledge to understand Dick. At the very best, Taylor has no interest in getting to know him, nor any respect for his predecessors to learn how they handled Dick and incorporating their work into his continuity. At worst, he despises the character so much that he wishes to re-invent him into something different, tossing away everything that was special to his fans in order to bring in a new crowd that never cared about Dick Grayson before he was made palatable to them.

And that attitude is not isolated to Taylor. It is, I believe, observable throughout much of DC. Not all current writers, editors, and artists are like this, of course, but for years — decades, actually — there have been attempts to erase Dick’s importance to certain characters, to replace him, to downplay his achievements and his uniqueness in order to prop up others, and to water him down until he becomes but a shadow of who he was. Sometimes, it feels like DC is trying to kill Dick Grayson, remove his parts and give to other characters. This character gets his unique relationship with Bruce. This character gets to keep Dick’s relevance to Robin. These characters can have Bludhaven. For how long, I must wonder, do Dick Grayson fans have to put up with this silently? Must we just quietly watch this continue until Dick is all hollowed out and is only a memory living in the hearts of those who love him?

Because we do love him. We love him for all the special characteristics that made him different, that did not make him into a blank canvas, an every-man hero. I do not hate Taylor personally, but I believe that his clear disinterest in Nightwing is not an isolated case, and that DC, at this moment in time, is unwilling to engage with Dick’s character and his fans. They want a brand new and palatable hero to step into his place, not the long standing bastion who has been around longer than most of DC’s characters. They don’t want Dick Grayson. They do not respect or care for him. And as such, I believe Dick’s fans have a right to be angry and to feel like DC does not care or respect them.

I do not know how long these attempts at erasing Dick will last. I do not know how long-lasting the effects of Taylor’s run will be. But trends come and go, and Dick has been around for nearly a century. He’s a strong enough character to survive this long, and I believe, despite previous and current attempts, that he will survive this as well.

And as he does, I will be there, cheering him on.

#nightwing #dick grayson #anti tom taylor

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mx-information · 8 months

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These Are The Silt Verses: TSV, Media, and Narrative

Is this how you format a tumblr essay? I don’t know. Whatever. I’ve been thinking a lot about this series and you all are going to bear witness to those thoughts.

The Silt Verses, throughout its whole run, is a show that has always delighted and excited me with how intelligent it is, particularly in its approach to narrative and storytelling. These latest two episodes specifically have given me a lot to chew on and I really can’t think of anything that’s so just… smart in how it approaches stories and their sociopolitical relevance.

The Silt Verses is a story about stories, and that is eminently aware of itself as part of that (“These are The Silt Verses, and I name its disciples thus…”). We’re constantly reminded that this is a constructed narrative, and rather than treating that glibly (“Look how self-aware we are! Aren’t we so very clever?” Insert smugly assured winks towards the audience as you see fit), it instead uses that awareness to interrogate itself about what it means, where it fits into the literary landscape, and how the literary landscape in turn fits into the wider spheres of culture and politics.

The news broadcasts at the beginning of S3E3 offer one vision of narrative: as a tool of the neoliberal capitalist status quo. An endless deluge of gratingly sensible centrists (some 10 degrees to the left of center, some 50 degrees to the right, some pretending to have no inclinations at all) chattering on the radio, offering thoughtful debates and news hours and radio serials that all ultimately offer only the illusion of genuine discourse and serve one purpose: that of legitimizing the existing social order.

Capitalist society relies on violence to uphold itself (in the world of The Silt Verses that’s the Greater Glottage Police Force, the Neshite Municipal Force, the militaries of both countries), but it also relies on a very specific narrative: that this is the way things are, and this is the way things must be. We can make minor tweaks to the system, adjust the dials, but when you peel away everything else, a god must feed, a god must be fed.

On the other hand there’s the Many Below, Paige and Hayward’s glorious revolution. This too is a cause in need of a narrative, and the lie of the Widow of Wounds serves well enough as that tool. But is it perhaps a faulty tool? That’s the question Paige and Hayward have to reckon with, because it’s a good story, but can you really build something new and better when your movement gains its power from a lie?

In a sense this is The Silt Verses, an eminently leftist series, holding the mirror up to itself and interrogating its own limitations. What can an invented story really do? The lie of the Widow, however useful, is killing Paige, it’s taking away her agency, reducing her to another heartbroken lover in the eyes of the world. It parallels Shrue’s version of the Promised Bride story in some very interesting ways, invented, crowd-pleasing widows. What does it say that those are the stories people are compelled by?

And yet, for all these questions, the best part of The Silt Verses is its continued refusal to give into easy, knee-jerk nihilism and declare snidely that nothing matters and we can’t change anything. That all the stories we tell are ultimately for nothing. Positive change is hard and unpleasant, but it’s not impossible, and there is power, for good and for ill, in a narrative. It never looks away or softens the reflection of our world it depicts, never shies away from holding itself to account and questioning its own use as a revolutionary text, but never compromises on its basic principles, its belief in the fundamental worth of people, either, never gives in to blind defeatism.

I think Paige’s budding nihilistic streak is, among many other things, a commentary on us as an audience. We’re conditioned by a thousand stories of revolutions failing or going too far or what have you to believe that unquestioningly. It’s one story with a lot of sway over our political discourse indeed. The idea of hoping for anything *beyond* the narrow confines of the neoliberal project? That’s almost sacrilege.

The Silt Verses being willing to carry that hope, through despair and bloodshed and our heroes fucking up and getting knocked down a hundred times, that’s not nothing. Being able to tell a story that is able to say “Yes, yes revolution is difficult and painful, yes we will fail at a dozen different turns, yes we will be lost and confused and we won’t know just what’s waiting on the other side. We won’t know if we’ve chosen the right path until it’s too late to turn back, and we won’t have a roadmap to tell us what to do along the way. We should do it anyways, we should at least try, because a society built on cruelty and suffering and neglect cannot be allowed to stand.” That’s a pretty radical thing.

The Silt Verses understands narrative like nothing I’ve quite seen before. A story is a limited, imperfect thing, liable to manipulation and recuperation, like the Promised Bride changed from a story of liberation into one of blind nationalism, unable to capture the full complexities of the world we live in. We have to tell them anyways, because if people can’t imagine a world beyond capitalism, if people can’t believe in that possibility, how are we ever supposed to make it real?

#the silt verses #tsv

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crippled-peeper · 3 months

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I largely support your post (no one is obligated to unconditionally like all marginalized people because marginalized people are people and thus capable of assholery) but I would like to add that generally assholish behavior is often magnified in the eyes of other if the perpetrator is a minority. So yes you are perfectly allowed to dislike a trans woman or a black man or a disabled teenager if they’re assholes, but we should also ask ourselves if we would be as offended if they were abled white men and did the same thing. Yanno?

I’m not talking about taking offense to what someone said. I’m talking about literal acts of violence and interpersonal abuse. I don’t need to sit down and analyze my privilege after being raped by someone or after my romantic partner beats me. That is not an appropriate thing to ask of someone nor is it productive.

Abusers use their marginalization as an excuse for their harmful and violent behavior all the time. It is not a kind of violence if someone cuts abusive & violent people out of their life. They don’t need to submit an MLA formatted 12 point font essay to anyone who asks, explaining the specific acts of violence committed against them and why it’s ok to dislike the marginalized person. They don’t owe you an intense reflection or a monologue about their privilege. They don’t owe anyone an apology or begging for total strangers forgiveness because cutting off their abuser or attacker MIGHT be perceived as bigotry.

There is a time and place for reflecting on your privilege and when you’re in danger or trying to protect yourself from violence is probably not it

#rape #abuse

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metalichotchoco · 10 months

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The similarity and differences between Peter Parkers in these movies ( ones specifically named ‘Peter Parker’) is wildly fascinating to me

Welcome to the Peter essay (sorry no mla format)

The most obvious connection the movie wants you to make is between Ripeter and Pb. They are introduced one after another, they are one of miles’ biggest relationships in the film and both have their faces shown and out during most of it. Pb’s nickname literally is a reference to a -b list actor. He’s the second, not as good one.

Neither of the two meet but I’m so burningly curious what they’d even say to each other. It’s like staring at a warped mirror, your own face reflected back at you but it’s off.

We will never get these answers because this isn’t Peter’s story or movie and that’s a good thing. But that’s exactly what fanfiction is for. Anyways let’s talk about the other Peter that shows up in itsv.

Spiderman noir himself, in contrast to the first dynamic this one is barely even grazed. Mostly because noir doesn’t take off his mask besides one flashback and two they are so wildly different in comparison to Ripeter and him. He’s not standard spiderman all that but he also lives in a completely separate time period so it’s hard to see him as a Peter if he just did things differently or lived a bit longer but rather as his own entity entirely.

For the record I’m not going to be talking about lizard Peter as he’s got so little screen/ reference time in these films but it is important to note his insecurity, his vulnerability and the fact that this is most Peter’s experiences in highschool without powers. He’s an origin point but he is his own character as well.

Pb is jaded that is the best way to describe him, he’s self centered, self destructive, a cynical burn out who’s world weary, emotionally compromised and sarcastic especially before he gets his life back together. We don’t get much of Ripeter but the directors made him to be as competent as possible, snarky, determined, heroic, quintessential spider stuff, but he is tired, he’s trying but it’s not enough, he literally breaks down on a Christmas album he’s recording.Noir is “hard boiled, he’s rebellious, dramatic,hardworking but fight happy,chaotic and quick to adapt,genuine but suppresses his own emotions. He’s meant to be a love letter to those films but he’s got so much more to him than a couple gimmicks. The way he so freely says I love you and means it isn’t a trait either of the other spiders would do. It’s not indicative of the genre either.

The thing that connects all these people besides their names is the trait of being weary, ranging from being exhausted Ripeter to a straight up burnt out peter b. Noir is tired too but he’s not constrained the same way the others are, he’s tired of the tragedies that go on not the repetitive nature of being a spider for a long time,he’s angry. He loses everything but he lashes back at the world. The tiredness he feels motivates him in a way. Pb shuts down when the people he loves leave or die, he essentially regresses to being that same weird nerdy antisocial kid all those years ago. Ripeter doesn’t have any of his family and loved ones die or leave so he ends up being the one to leave them but you can see how he could very well be pb if that were to happen to him.

Lastly I wanna talk about their relationships to miles, being the only character to have interacted with all of them

Ripeter’s relationship is also interesting to look back in hindsight since the news that if he hadn’t been bitten, Peter wouldn’t have died hurts miles the most out of all the things Miguel says to him. Miles was a fan of Peter, not to the extent ganke was but he looked up to him and throughout the film he spends the majority of it trying to make good on Peter’s last wish/ words. He literally tries to emulate him, seen in the fact he buys a Halloween costume of his outfit when told to hide his face. Peter for his part is so relieved and happy to know he’s not alone, this event is likely what would’ve stopped him from being pb. He recognizes that there’s danger and doesn’t expect him to do things alone like he did, he wants miles to not have to go through what he had to. Miles ends up having to go through what he had to very intentionally ironically. But the way that Ripeter is and what he represents to miles is why Pb is setup for disappointment. The arc is wrapped up when miles uses one of his old suits and spray paints something new with it. Becoming a hero in his own right but having his legacy being the thing that backs it. The suit being critiqued in spider society is interesting because it can be read that he’s just a pale imitation, crudely painted over top of something he was never a part of. Something perfect that he ruined.

Peter b and Miles’ relationship is essentially the entirety of the first film, and to a certain point it’s half of the second too. Peter’s advice aren’t things you really wanna know as a superhero but they are valid. It’s boring and practical, not the flashy excitement miles was hoping for. In the end he does seem to take hold of it though judging by miles’ baby powder sponsorship. From initially ditching him to being his biggest advocate, Peter’s opinion shifts quickly for the kid. It’s an arc that resolves in the second movie when he literally has fixed his relationship and had a kid because of miles, one he’s absolutely crazy for. He becomes a pseudo father figure to him in a sense. One with a completely opposite approach to it than his actual father, miles in turn learns from both, the boring parts too. It’s why Peter’s betrayal hurts more, we don’t know his exact reasons but we know he doesn’t hold any actual malice towards the kid and he doesn’t agree with the chase either, their relationship will need repaired but I believe these two can do it.

Noir and miles don’t have a ton of one on one interactions but we do see the dynamic they have which is more than some. The way he regards miles and his situations are very interesting. The most obvious scene is when we get “surprise attack!” Where he is sparing with miles in order to get him ready for what kingpin has in store for him. There’s a clear difference between this scene and one where noir is fighting someone else or even miles fighting another spider, this isn’t noir beating up miles and taking his lunch money this is a warm up. He encourages miles even when he’s asking if he can close off his own feelings so that he doesn’t have to bear the weight of his morally ambiguous actions. He wants miles to be ready to be a spider, with all that entails. There’s a lot of unpleasantness that comes with it which isn’t something either of the other Peters truly bring up. When they all huddle together Peter brings up they are doing this right in front of him, sorta confused. I think it’s fun to see that noir personally probably would’ve just said the things he was thinking and concerned about to miles directly. His poor kid line from pb and miles argument sounds like he can relate to his feelings of frustration of wanting to do more but not being ready to. His reaction to miles freaking out over the fact that the prowler is his uncle is to say that’s a pretty hardcore origin story, not realizing that’s insensitive before peni elbows him. It’s like telling a kid that a scratch will heal into a cool scar. Making good out of bad. The last one is when he leaves, he in no uncertain terms, tells him that he loves them all. There’s no caveats to it, there’s no conditions there’s just unconditional support. Nothing in the second movie complicates this either, he is not in spider society. He never chases him,he never lies or sells him out and he is one of the first responders when miles is in trouble. It makes sense since he’s not in a lot of movie but miles’ relationships to other characters with similar screen time are actually wildly different.

Most of the Peter’s in this movie are dead, like half. Technically more than half of you think noir has been revived already in this canonicity. They’ve also got really confirmable ages. Pb is 38 in itsv, Ripeter is 26 when he died. To me noir is tricky but I always draw him in the 21-35 age range it’s funny if he’s young .

Tell me if I missed anything I have severe brainrot for this series in general

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slamdunktheories · 29 days

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Slam Dunk: So Who Won the IH after Sannoh Lost?

There are a lot of theories out there as to who actually clinched the Inter-High championship after Sannoh took a shock loss to Shohoku. What we do know is that Inoue 1) has a specific school/winner in mind and 2) most likely had decided who it was by the time he drew the IH bracket in the manga (he's shared this in another interview that I'll post about another day). Let’s look at who might’ve won the IH today :)

The biggest hints come from a 2017 interview, where Inoue was asked who won the IH and he stated that it was a team that was never depicted in Slam Dunk.

Clip of the interview here; question starts around the 5:10 mark. No English subtitles there but I've transcribed the interview:

Q: By the way, who won the national championship? A: Ah, about that... Q: Oh, should I not have asked that? A: Well, it's not that. It's just... (hesitates) Q: Kainan was #2, right? A: Kainan was #2. Q: So my guess is that maybe Meihou won the championship? A: Oh no, that's not the case. Q: Oh so there is a champion [in your mind]. A: Yes, in my mind there's a specific winner. Q: Mm... A: But the winning team is not one that has ever been described or appeared. Q: A team that has never appeared? A: (nods) It's a team that has never appeared. And if Meihou won the championship, that would be pretty annoying. Q: Yes. A: They have the talent and capability, but I think to let such a team win would really be pretty annoying. Q: I seem to have gotten the best answer, no?

Someone from Hong Kong then did a hyper detailed analysis in Chinese to get to the bottom of it, and deduced that the eventual champion was...

Hakata.

I read the essay in the native format (see essay here) and loved it because it made a ton of sense, then I tried to do a Google translate to see if the English was ok. Answer: IT WAS NOT. It came out completely garbled. But if you want to try reading the article, I'd recommend using ChatGPT; both the free and Pro versions translate a lot more smoothly and accurately than DeepL, which in turn is a cut above Google Translate.

For a super simplified/condensed version of the article, the main logic for a Hakata win goes as follows:

According to the IH bracket, there're 5 seeds for this year's tournament and we know the seeding reflects the performance of the previous year's IH tournament. The top 4 seeds this year are the top 4 teams of the previous year and those seeds can be easily identified in the bracket as they got to skip the first round matches this year.

The bracket shows the top 4 seeds being: Sannoh (top left quadrant of bracket), Kainan (bottom left), Hakata (top right; but in the English translation there's a weird typo showing "Hakuta"), and Meihou (bottom right). Note: Meihou wasn't a top 4 team last year; Aiwa was, according to Maki. So presumably, since Meihou beat Aiwa this year to take the #1 position in their prefecture tournament, Meihou took their place in the IH seeding too.

The 5th seed who also got to skip the first round match was Rakuen, somewhere in the middle on the left side bracket. They were probably the best performing team amongst the Top 8 last year so got the 5th seed this year as a result.

We also know that last year Sannoh was the champion and Kainan lost to them in the semi finals. And since Aiwa was #4 last year, Kainan must have been #3 as it's impossible to lose to Sannoh in the semis and be any higher than #3. That means the one team remaining (Hakata) must've been #2 last year, after facing Sannoh in the finals but had clearly lost.

With Sannoh out of the way this year, it’s entirely feasible for a strong team that already has the experience of playing deep into the IH tournament to actually win the championship this year. There may have also been sentimental reasons as to why Inoue picked Hakata as the winner - Inoue is a Kyushu native (having been born and bred there) and Hakata is also in Kyushu.

IMO not depicting the eventual champion is a really great approach and is a testament to Inoue's storytelling skills. In the minds of many SD fans, the national champions that year ought to be a team that's more impressive than Sannoh and Shohoku because even with Sannoh out of the way they'll still need to beat plenty of strong teams en route.

How would/should such a team look like? It'll be impossible to convey the power of such a team with just a few manga panels - especially since every SD reader will have their own expectations of what such a team would/should look like.

So Inoue goes for the opposite approach: offer nothing. Without depicting the winning team at all, he preserves the reader's ability to imagine everything and anything they want to about the team. The canvas stays empty, and we have the paint.

#slam dunk #takehiko inoue #anime and manga #スラムダンク

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stagehunt · 10 days

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AUTHOR PORTRAIT ...

get to know the author behind the blog! repost, don't reblog.

Basics

NAME: vos AGE: 23 PRONOUNS: they/them YEARS OF WRITING: that definitely depends on what you classify as writing but i discovered rp as a concept in 2010 which was probably just a bit after i got into writing little short stories and things as a kid. i was writing them by hand in a little notepad that somebody in my family handed over to a school teacher, extremely mortifying ordeal to me at the time lmfao

Reflection

WHY DID YOU PICK UP WRITING? i’m pretty sure i first started by writing shitty warrior cats fanfics actually, and i didn’t know that fics or fandom in general was even a thing at the time so u could say i was destined for this sort of brainrot fgdjkh little nine year old me also encountered rp for the first time by searching for warrior cats flash games (i guess?? idk what i actually thought i’d find) and instead wound up on some random webpage with a chatbox. moved on from there to writing awful, horrible (but very fun) naruto oc’s on a website that i think was called chatango some years later, dabbled a little on imvu, and started writing on tumblr around 2015 iirc

DO YOU HAVE ANY WRITING ROUTINES? i wouldn’t say so? sometimes i’ll listen to like… instrumental interludes from certain albums or smth that i won’t enjoy too much because i find music very distracting, not just for writing but in general, and sitting in silence is a weird feeling to me too. when it comes to other things i need a podcast or video essay or something similar to be at all productive but it’s hard to focus on writing with someone yapping in your ear. i used to save writing for nights even when i have free time throughout the day, because i tend to feel bad about sitting at a computer screen all day, but with my activity in its current state i have to sit down and get it out the moment inspiration and energy align themselves for me.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WRITING? sorry to steal your answer but i def have to agree with what layla said re the community aspect of rp actually. it’s so nice to be able to just click with someone over a shared (sometimes niche) interest and love for certain medias/characters/dynamics/genres etc. the feeling of finding someone who shares your vision. and also stemming from the same thing, i’ve always felt that my favorite and most “solid” muses are the ones that i’ve gotten the chance to develop alongside another through plotting. love shared canon, love affiliated oc’s, love group verses. allllll that good stuff.

THREE THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR WRITING. gonna break the format we’re following here because i have to ramble and idk how to break all this into three titles, so obviously being succinct isn’t one of the answers here kfdjghd

i always try to capture a different flow and style (???) of prose depending on who i’m writing, and i’m never sure if that really comes through for others or if i just seem inconsistent, but whenever i look back at old blogs i can see it for myself and that at least keeps me content :) i want to read my writing back and feel that it has character outside of just the spoken dialogue.

i like to spend a lot of time with a piece of writing, which realistically is not to my benefit in terms of activity, but i do just really enjoy drafting and redrafting, rearranging, nitpicking at everything until it’s as close to being what i want to be as i can get it. so that’s more about the writing process than the writing itself, but i think it’s still important to allow myself to have fun with it fkjghd

pulling a blank on a third thing bc this is actually a really difficult question but i’ll come back and edit it later if something pops into my head kfjgdh

A question for the next person

HAVE YOU MADE ANY STRONG CONNECTIONS / FRIENDS DURING YOUR TIME WRITING? for sure. one of my dearest friends in this world is not a writer but someone who i met as a mutual friend of my first rp partner. i’m not really in touch with that person who introduced us anymore but i simply couldn’t live without my bestie and i consider writing the only reason we really met and she gets to kinda "beta" some of the things i do write dfkgjhd i’ve also traveled to the states a couple of times in my teens to meet a rp buddy who i’ve known since i was around ,, twelve or so i believe.

wouldn’t be right not to shout out @ohchosen here either because i was very close to leaving tumblr (and also probably rp) for good when we became friends, and writing/plotting tmkz together has been one of the best experiences i’ve ever had on this website, where friends and mutuals tend to come and go. you never did. you’re probs the funniest person i’ve ever spoken to, craft the most beautifully written responses imaginable, you put a world of effort into developing your muses and you let me derail every single one of conversations to talk about music instead gfjhdg sorry i’m so mean to you. ily a lot.

there’s also a handful of mutuals who i don’t necessarily talk or interact with very much anymore but have been around for years at this point and i have fond memories with too. always so so so glad to see you pop up on the dash, it makes me smile every time so i’ll use this as an opportunity to wave at you, you know who you are <3

NEW QUESTION: where do you draw the most inspiration from when writing? music, other medias, ur fave author, a dream you once had etc.

tagged by @oneireth tysm <3 tagging val take my love letter as ur tag, also hi @heliador @loetise @tiderider @yeonban @pearlcure @deathsmaidens @sungracd !!!!!

#this shouldn't have taken so long to do . i'm nothing if not a yap #sorry if you've already been tagged i haven't been perceiving the dash too much lately 😭#❝ 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧 ♤*´. ── dash game.

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