we have moved on to persuasive speeches in comm class n bc we have so little time left in the semester they're gonna be partner debates, so i have grouped up with the guy in there with whom i started talking abt genshin a while back, n we're just like. "fuck it. let's just do the ethics of gacha games and whether they should be regulated like gambling in casinos"

Hey!love your account ,it low-key radiates positivity :)

If possible ,can you please share your opinion on people who apparently think marinette never suffers, always get what she wants...and low-key leads the perfect life just because she has someone to talk to..!?(I'm sorry it just feels pathetic to me :( )

Hi omg, I'm sorry I'm answering this so late, I haven't opened my ask box in ages.

Thinking that Marinette never suffers or goes through conflict is objectively false, as the show's entire plot hinges on that very exact thing. Marinette is the show's protagonist and usually anything that happens in an episode is directly tied to her so that, you know, the show's plot can function.

I've seen the other end of this argument too, saying that Marinette suffers too much, that is. This ask isn't about that, but both arguments stem from the same problem. Salters have a very warped perception of what punishment, suffering, consequences and accountability means.

So of course they'd see Marinette still having breakdowns even after having Alya to confide in and say that she never suffers. Of course they'd look at her being terrified and confused about several things she's not in control over and berate her for how that affects other people. They see Marinette going out of her way to fix her mistakes and being forgiven for that and see that as her escaping accountability.

(Accountability for what? Being 14? Not being able to read her partner's mind?)

Yes, Adrien has it hard in so many ways I could ramble on and on in another post about, but those things don't and shouldn't negate the fact that Marinette's life isn't perfect, even when she's lucky enough to have amazing parents (who have no idea that she is a superhero) and a support system in both Chat Noir and Alya (who are both...14 year old kids going through their own shit).

Adrien’s life being a train wreck and a half doesn't make Marinette's fight easier or non existent. They're both going through a lot and have very valid things holding them back from solving their problems that easily. They're not each other's competition. They're not each other's enemies. Marinette and her so-called "perfect life" are not the problem here, unlike what some people think.

so ive been thinking for a while now how bonkers it is that ochako has a floatation quirk and an almost identical hairstyle to inko midoriya, and now that we're closing in on deku mastering all 7 ofa quirks, I can't stop thinking that nana, a woman who has been textually compared to inko midoriya, ALSO had a floatation quirk. i wanna ramble about it a little bit:

inko's first introduction to the comic is her telling us that she can float small objects toward herself:

she's an older generation, so her quirk isn't all that powerful compared to the kids' quirks. this is apparent when ochako comes into play and can float much larger objects, but with less control over their trajectory. i think we're not ever meant to compare the two characters' quirks, since ochako is more powerful, and can also float herself. even further, inko doesn't seem to suffer any consequences for using her floatation quirk, but since we are only shown her using it once, there's no way to know.

(i find inko to be such a strange character. she spends so much time crying and being deku's mom that we forget that she is her own person. she's married. she has a quirk. what's her job? how does she pay the bills? how did she meet her fire breathing husband? does she have parents of her own? we know so much more about everyone else's parents than we even know about the main character's mom! this feels so deliberate, even beyond the fact that we are all wondering if deku's dad is somehow ~a villain~. like I don't care about deku's dad! what's up with his fucking mom!!)

so now we're so focused on ochako's journey to mastering her quirk and learning how to float herself in addition to huge objects that we almost forget how similar to inko she started out: her hair, her face, her kindness, her strength.

spoilers ahead: 

now, like 150 chapters later, we learn about nana shimura's quirk: float. deku knows what's coming, so he asks his friend ochako, who can float, for pointers on floating. this is excellent strategy, deku! good call! you don't know anyone else who can float themselves so you learn from ochako!

meanwhile, absolutely NO MENTION of how 'hey, my mom can float stuff too! weird coincidence!' despite him remembering all might's comparison of nana to his mother.

all of this leads me to have a few theories about the nature of afo & ofa, the relationship between ochako, nana, inko, and deku, and the major themes of legacy in bnha.

theory one: Gramps For All

there's a massive theme in bnha of grandchildren of importance. first, we learn that tomura shiguraki is the grandson of nana shimura, a pro hero, one of the three factions warring for a place in post-quirk society. then we learn Eri is an instance of this: she's the granddaughter of an equally influential player. The comatose boss of the yakuza, one of the three factions warring for a place in post-quirk society.

there's all kinds of legacies in bnha: shouto, the son of the number 1 hero, a direct victim of hero society. iida, the younger brother of a hero who was victimized by a villain hell-bent on changing hero society. hawks, the son of a serial killer, a victim who perpetuates the cycle of victimization in the name of upholding hero society. all these legacies, but we don't know anything about their extended families. what are endeavor's parents like? were iida's grandparents pro heroes too? does hawks really have no other family?

and where are deku's grandparents? did they ever watch him while his single mom was working?

my theory is that afo is not dad for one, but actually gramps for one. he had children, more than one, and they each had their own children. inko is one of them, and izuku is the resulting child.

deku, grandson of all for one, one of the three factions warring for a place in post-quirk society. eri, shiguraki, and deku, each representing the groups most affected by post-quirk society: yakuza, "villains," and "heroes."

theory two: ochako & deku are cousins

why the hell does ochako look so much like inko midoriya and NOT her parents?

(in the anime, they look a lot like her, but in the manga...)

gramps for one had children, more than one, and they each had their own children.

i think that ochako may be adopted, or one of her parents is, or perhaps even inko was, so ochako's connection to biological relations is distant or non existent. she may not even know. we've seen that horikoshi doesn't make character design mistakes, and he's gotta realize that every time he draws deku & ochako in the same scene that he's drawn the same face twice.

so either he's trying to throw us off, or he's making a grander statement about who they are. he's a fan of star wars- he's already done a reverse of "I am your father" with touya & endeavor, so I think it would be interesting if he's set up this ochako/deku thing as a fun homage to luke/leia, too. but they're cousins, not twins.

(that's just deku times two, babey!)

inko, unconnected to her family as she seems, may never know if she had siblings or half-siblings. ochako's parents may never have known about ochako's biological relations.

this is a much weaker theory, but i think quirk singularity theory can make some sense of it. we have the original float quirk user, nana shimura. I don't think she is related in any way to inko or ochako, but her quirk helps demonstrate the generational growth of power. she was a hero before all might, meaning she's an earlier generation and had an arguably weaker quirk. but since she was a hero, she honed her quirk so that it comes across as incredibly strong, however she seems to have only been able to float herself, not objects or people.

float quirk user number two, inko midoriya, who can float small objects toward herself. she's the next generation after nana, so her quirk is still kind of weak, and in fact looks incredibly weak compared to nana's and ochako's quirks. inko is a nobody, not a hero, just deku's mom. she had no reason to hone her quirk. who knows? maybe if she'd gone on to be a hero, she could float entire buildings if she wanted to.

float quirk user three, ochako uraraka. ochako can float objects AND herself. she's a hero and a strategist, and incredibly strong despite being 16. she can float pieces of buildings and people and herself all at once. she's a hero. she's powerful. she's thoughtful & kind, yet willful and strong. she's the ultimate culmination of the other floatation quirks as well as inko & nana's personalities. but since we were introduced to these three float quirks all out of order, it's difficult to see the exponential power growth that happens each successive generation.

I don't think that ochako's ever going to be a major player in the end of all for one, or even the plot overall, but i think the THEME of ochako being the ultimate floatation hero in the series is a major player in the final story. ochako REPRESENTS the singularity. the generation after ochako will be so strong, perhaps her descendants would be able to negate all gravity in the vicinity, maybe on the planet. who knows! even if ochako isn't related to deku, let's say dechako happens, they have babies. that's a lot of float quirk in one couple! their kids are gonna have no bones! no muscle development because they never have to fight gravity! ochako's existence represents such a huge, yet nearly invisible thematic element of bnha.

tldr: ochako looks exactly like inko and has a cumulative float quirk reminiscent of both inko & nana, and i suspect the parallels between the three is deliberate for some reason. i just think that's neat.

Thank you so much for tagging me on this @kuriousaboutuzumakis and @mertensiana-tsuga!! ❤

Rules: List 10 things you are thankful/grateful for that happened in 2021:

1) We're safe. Seriously, we made it COVID-free this year, too. While the situation gets worse every day, we managed to stay healthy and this is very important, seeing as some in my family have serious health problems that could prove bad in case of them getting covid. I didn't much care for my health to be honest, but I'm relieved that my loved ones are okay.

2) I got a scholarship this year. I've been doing my PhD without pay so far, so getting some kind of payment was important for me to feel that it's worth something. It doesn't negate the fact that I'm in an extremely toxic environment, but it sure helped (that's me being materialistic this year, but hey, that's a coping mechanism too).

3) Speaking of toxic work environment, I decided that health comes first. I'm still working long hours, but I try to be more aloof and control my panicking more. I've claimed a few times that I won't get crazy over work, and I'm trying to stay true to my word (if I get sacked though, I'll let you know).

4) This scholarship allowed me to upgrade my gear, buying a much-needed new laptop and some huge-ass hard drives (seriously, I now own two 8-terabyte external drives, one of which is already full) for my work, so working from home has become easier.

5) I decided to help myself in terms of health this year. I'm your typical couch potato, working on a desk for 10 hours per day, and then I have no time to exercise. But this year I decided at least to be healthier. I consulted a dietitian and she got me on a good and lenient plan. I'm finally 20 kgs less, which makes me feel less back aches and stuff.

6) My sister's family now has an adorable (yet bratty) dog, who barely survived when they first got him at home. Snoopy is now healthy and adorable and I consider him my sister's fifth child. 🥺

7) I'm not one with high self-esteem, but on multiple occasions, people in my life let me know this year that I have an impact on their lives;family, friends, even people from my past,some of them told me they value my opinions and my advice and that seriously feels good, because I really want to help.

8) This year, I went to the annual Book festival in the capital. I didn't have anyone to go with all those years, but this time, my boyfriend took me there, twice (and knowing how self-conscious he is about the pandemic, he still walked through the crowds with me). He even helped me carry out the endless stack of books I bought without complaining (and he didn't flinch on the sight of me hopping from booth to booth like a kid on a toy store).

9) On the beginning of the year, I did a thing. I read a lot, but rarely talk about my reads with people, because who wants to hear me ramble about that? So, I did an Instagram account dedicated to reviewing books-i made lots of friends and had interesting conversations and learned many new things since then, and it's been a rewarding experience.

10) Last but not least, I joined this fandom after more than a decade. I rediscovered Tumblr and I found out about Ao3. I met some wonderful artists, writers, fans. I read beautiful pieces of work, and I felt safe enough to write things, too. I got lots of love and support from you, which is a huge boost to my ego, really. I'm not a stellar fanfic writer, but I've been having fun and I found out that writing stories quells my anxieties, too. So this is the year I've been rediscovering myself, to a point. It's important.

Most of you are probably tagged anyway, but go ahead @espoir-et-reves @galacticarmadillo @itsbrittneybiatchez @kalira @kakashis-kunoichi @sakuradeservedbetter91 @heartensoul @kakasaaku @sassysaku @misschih, and anyone else that wants to share this with us ❤

to be fair, what billboard asked in that interview was about bts songs reaching billboard #1 mainly thanks to massive bulk buying organized by the fandom.. which is the literal truth, and rm acknowledged it in his answer, although he predictably got defensive about it. whether you consider bulk buying to be chart manipulation is up to you though.

To me personally: chart manipulation is when artists or agencies use industry connections, direct pay offs to chart companies, streaming sites, journalists and other forms of direct tampering that has nothing to do with fans. Fans free will cannot be directly manipulated or used to alter to charts in my opinion unless an artist is directly influencing or stating to their fanbase to do so. I still believe Billboard is shitty and shady for that. Regardless of our views of BTS, their music is gold for family friendly content and spaces as well as children and decent top 40 radio.

It serves its purpose where it fits in and they aren't trying this shit with Olivia Rodrigo who came out of virtually NOWHERE like an industry plant blasting onto the scene. At least Meg the stallion slowly began her rise and we were given previews that she would be the new rap it girl as well as previews on Lizzo. I want to see the conspiracy theories from Billboard about her sudden rise cause she's being treated like a teeny bopper Dua Lipa and at least Dua started as a model and came on the scene slowly with Rules.

But I understand and it is a plausible question in general BUT the critical issue with Billboard everyone is overlooking is the Racism, Cultural ignorance, American elitest mentality and lack of accommodation as well as doing their homework. They are making BTS their bitch by basically showing that they are pushing the notion that America's music industry and system for determining top singles and chart line ups are determined point blank by how America judges sales, when that is unfair and does not even apply to how Korea measures sales.

Korea is literal and doesn't give a damn about the nuances like America does. Basically put, The #1 was reached. That is a fact and can't be disputed. I don't care if everyone burns spotify and YouTube out or Apple music out with mass buying and streaming, how the music is consumed and what the act of getting to #1 is should not negate the concrete outcome of what was reached.

So what everyone bulked buy and bulk stream? That means the fans are doing what they are supposed to do. The artist is doing what needs to be done. What is the difference between this and Michael Jackson thriller being mass sold out so fast? Damn. If he was young today and achieved that best selling record everyone would be pissy lmfao. America seems to have amnesia with how the record industry used to be. Stars back in the 2000s even would love for their fans to buy 10 Copies of their new CD. If they get platinum off that stupidity of their fans then hey its a win still.

BTS fans just know how to play the game and they stick their necks out to do it when other fandoms don't have the energy to do so or can't afford to (or don't want to spend)

No shade to Beyonce but aint it funny she pushes this monster chart topper image but her fandom cant even make the records happen for her that BTS fans do for them? And I personally do not want to hear "they are obsessed or kids" Beyonce has grown women who fight tooth and nail for her on LSA who can put in the same work.

To me its not chart manipulation. It's invitation but it's BTS winning by any means necessary. Billboard bringing this up like American artist haven't fucked for singles and radio play back in the day or sleeping with knows who to steal other artists songs.

If BTS got on Twitter and told the fans to do it or made some promise to them then yes I'd deem it that.

Point blank it's prejudice and a lot of lack of education of Billboard end on how this is perfectly fine and normal in Asia as their record industry works differently than the West. They still consume physical albums over there and KPOP is what it is cause you all KNOW and remember that when you buy a physical album the packaging is beyond gorgeous, it personally curated for the groups or artist image and it includes photo cards, posters, notes, stickers and other things. Albums aren't just a CD case and a booklet of writing credits with a matching photoshoot.

Billboard doesn't know this. This doesn't just apply to bts. It applies to generations worth of Korean idols and singers. This is why a new album promotional period is called "comebacks" over there. It's a whole damn tour and then some even without a tour.

Even if you buy 6 of the same album, no matter how idiotic it seems, you are purchasing the CD as well as the packaging and extras as a keepsake. Yes the album extras can be brought separately but kpop albums rarely are disposable.

What if Korea considered An American artist coming over there and directly talking all day long on Insta / twitter telling their fans what to do / mass remixing their single 10 times for a chart topper as manipulation? You all know America wouldn't have it and wouldn't deem that manipulation.

This reeks of white supremacy vibes to me and I'm not a damn army lmfao. BTS army most of them need to cut this shit out but nobody would dare speak against beyonce if the Hive would have put this energy towards Lemonade just cause she "queen b" so we gotta just accept it.

If it's chart manipulation for BTS I would hope Billboard keeps that same energy and exercises diplomacy for Beyonce too. An action is an action regardless of who does it.

Ali & Ro

Ali: hey, what you reading? Ro: White Nights, the Dostoyevsky short story, at present Ali: Ooh, nothing like some Russian realism on a pleasant Summer's day Ali: cool you down better than any cheap fan Ro: Quite Ro: The sun is fiercer than my determination to finish this volume Ali: Let me know if it's worth a read myself Ali: Idk how you concentrate with Bea and Fraze going on Ro: I don't think you'd enjoy it, but of course, you're always free to make your own mind up Ro: It occurs so often it's essentially white noise, no? Ali: Valid Ali: Clearly I'm just nosy 😜 Ali: gotta know who I'm rooting for on this one, like Ro: Have you picked a side yet? Ali: from what i can ascertain Ali: Bea felt left out when Fraze and his friends went to the pub without her Ali: so, I can see that Ali: but also, when you're glued at the hip as much as they are, I also see the benefits of having some time apart, of course Ro: Oh Ro: How foreign it feels to align with Bea on, well...frankly any subject Ro: Of course I won't voice it and disturb the equilibrium Ro: Pleasant summer's day and everything, as you said Ali: Pity it can't be on something more happy-making Ali: Why not? They've got no problem doing so Ali: Add another voice to the conversation, babe Ro: Such is life, connected only in misery alas Ro: They barely want to hear what each other are saying, any contribution I made would only be lost in the fray Ro: Much like how Bluebeard has treated my kind offering Ali: Doesn't have to be, get in touch with your anger and there'd be endless bonding material Ali: He is a cat with very little manners Ro: That is one area I may never come close to competing with her and thus, shy away from the attempt Ro: True, not a faithful companion but a constant one nevertheless Ro: In so far as there is light coming through the leaves where I reside Ro: But I doubt anyone can compete with Rocky's loyalty this afternoon, talk about joined at the hip Ali: Fair, she's a pro Ali: Not enviable, really, but impressive nonetheless Ali: Who doesn't love a bit of komorebi? He's big into wabi-sabi too, VERY Japanese in his philosophy Ali: Bless, its so sweet, he's ALMOST being cute Ali: He might be a little demon but he does remember his Ps and Qs, nice one, Ma Ro: Fraze certainly is impressed by it. I however, don't know which is more abhorrent, when they fight or make up Ro: Though I am sure that if they insist upon kissing I'll have to take my leave Ro: Indeed Ro: Enviable of him, at least Ro: We can't accuse him of wishing Carly off your lap to take her place, that's years past his fancy, so he must like her without ulterior motives Ro: Tess is being rather well behaved herself, though it is undeniably problematic that she finds more happiness when you have a girlfriend instead of a boy in your life Ali: I think even they'll have the good grace to wait 'til after the festivities for that one Ali: Or find somewhere a bit more private 😂 Ali: Summer lovin' baby, can't fight that high note Ali: Right? Wouldn't be caught dead, nevermind if I got the pictures out to show how he used to let us dress him up Ali: that'd be a real brawl, take note guys Ali: Yeah, ain't looking that gift horse in the mouth though Ali: if she's happy so am I Ro: Well she certainly appears to be so Ro: Perhaps she'll take Rocky home with her, we'd have a solid few minutes before he was returned, I'm sure Ro: Less if you did get the pictures out and his mood took a turn Ali: He'd be buzzin' Ali: Endless supply of other kids on the site Ali: but I give it less than that 'til he wrecked their van, her parents would not be wid it Ro: She actually does live there then? Hard to separate the facts from the school lead fiction sometimes Ro: I mean, it makes sense but Ali: Yes she does but perhaps you're still working under other misapprehensions if that 'makes sense'? Ro: She has the aesthetic the sort of girl who would live in a caravan, or perhaps old van in times past Ro: That's all I'm saying Ro: It would make sense if her parents were travelers Ali: She isn't, though if you need her to have an exotic culture to get behind then feel free to labour under it Ali: I certainly hope we don't have the aesthetic of the sort of girls who live in the suburbs Ali: or the narrow mindset Ro: I don't need anything from her and I wasn't trying to give or take any traits for or from the girl Ro: Just making conversation Ro: I thought you'd appreciate me trying to discover more about her Ro: Now that she's such a presence in your life Ali: Now's your chance, whilst she's actually here herself Ali: even my perspective is still secondhand, if fairer, in my humble opinion, than playground gossip Ro: You know I don't listen to that Ro: I have my own first hand experience of the unfairness of it Ali: I know that, but I also know we're all prone to forgetting to be objective in the face of a bias we want to confirm Ro: Agreed Ro: But I know too that you yourself are bias and inevitably see what you wish to, when it comes to her Ro: To an outsider, which I am, she appears quite different Ali: Are you honestly worried about how my misinterpretation of her might affect me? Ali: An outsider, by your choosing, might I add Ro: Of course I am Ro: That's all I'm worried about Ro: Are you honestly suggesting that you wish for me to included when your actions suggest otherwise? Ro: In spite of your prior words, might I add Ro: Not to mention Carly's own. I very much doubt she would aspire to join me in a sewing circle or tea of an evening Ali: I appreciate your concern but its unwarranted, I can assure you Ali: I'm not loveblind Ali: and surely you see the possibility that because I know her better, I know things that negate appearances from the outside and first impressions? Ali: Of course I do! Trust me, none of us take great joy in you exiling yourself Ali: Just because she's different, doesn't mean you don't have things in common Ali: Being good people, one of them, but more than you are giving credit for, by the way Ro: I can see lots of possibilities, believe me Ro: But you do love her? Ro: Or have I made another wrong impression about that also Ali: I do Ro: Okay Ali: That doesn't mean you have to buy a nice hat and really lean in to getting along but Ali: she's going to be my friend now, whatever happens with the romance side of things Ali: so, you're going to need to learn to live with that idea, for your own sake more than mine but yes, it would be nice Ali: I don't like seeing you like this, 'nor do I like arguing with you Ali: At all Ro: I'm sorry Ro: I hate arguing with you too, more than anything Ro: Definitely more than any reservations I may have, misplaced or otherwise, about Carly Ro: Do you two have plans after the BBQ winds down? I'm willing to try and be more social if she is indeed staying Ali: I'm sorry too, not for being with Carly but that you're feeling this way Ali: I'd really like to rectify that so that sounds perfect Ro: Maybe we could read her tarot for her? Ro: Do you think that's something she'd like Ali: That'd be awesome, I've told her about some of our exploits Ali: We can teach her Ro: I hope not all! Ro: Her believing I'm offering tea to poison it is not the idea Ali: 'Course not Ali: We still have our secrets, Posy Ali: but I'm glad to know you're not scheming on the sly 😉 Ro: I would never Ro: She has yet to do me that wrong Ali: Did you know Laoise beat her up the other night? Ali: Over literally nothing, she's not learnt her lesson AT ALL 😒 Ro: Oh my god Ro: In that case we absolutely must teach Carly some things Ali: 😈 Ro: I try not to hold hatred in my heart for anyone but that girl is a test Ali: Loving her would make Jesus cry Ali: and not in the #goals way she reckons Ali: You're not that kinda bad, honey Ro: Who won the fight? Ro: I hope it was Carly Ali: Sadly it was more of a close call kinda affair Ali: gotta teach her how to land a decent K.O. amongst other things Ali: but you leave that one to me 🥊😘 Ro: Having a common enemy may not make her my friend but I'll admit to having more affection for her now Ali: See? I told you, more in common than you thought Ali: Not gotta be besties but its at least worth a laugh at Laoise's expense Ro: Yes Ro: And Carly really does seem very happy to be here Ro: with you Ali: I hope so Ali: Her life isn't filled with enough happiness, so whatever I can do Ro: And I promise I'll try to do what I can as well Ro: If only blessings on the sly Ali: Thanks, Ro Ali: it feels right having you back on side Ro: For me too Ro: Although I also promise that I always am when it comes to you Ro: I might be slightly put out of joint, sometimes, but never off side Ali: And the same is returned tenfold, you know that Ro: I love you, Ali Ali: I love you too