its not a side effect and pete calling patrick love the day after all that stuff w jimmy cannot be a coincidence like patrick absolutely railed that man in their bus last night. and this morning. i know this in my heart

I am sorry but I respectfully disagree with your rationale for Ethan and MC’s relationship and particularly age gap being a barrier. In the game, nowhere does it say that the age gap is 10 years. It’s a natural conclusion but medical students and residents come in all ages. While there is an age gap, the length of it depends on the background one would presumably create for their MC.

I know you mentioned in your post that you don’t understand other people’s supposed OOC approach to Ethan. And that is your right. But even with the caveat you added to your response to that anon, the words you used to denigrate other people’s MC and Ethan relationship dynamics and experiences was insulting to those creators.

Hey, anon!

Thank you so much for coming directly to me and sharing your thoughts with me.

If it's okay with you, I'd like to go through this point by point.

You're right in that we don't know how old MC is in canon. Also, residents do come in all ages. Some people go straight through school after high school; some immediately go to making money and working after high school. Some people serve in our military while others go to school for a completely different career and choose to go to med school at a different time.

My concern wasn't age (even though it is a small factor); my concern for MC was her stage in life. A novice. Inexperienced. Hey, we all start out there one way or another, but we are talking about doctors here. I would never put them on a pedestal in comparison to other vocations, but they are a different breed, and an intern is unbelievably different from a well-seasoned diagnostician. That's all I was trying to say.

🚨TRIGGER WARNING🚨 (discussion of mental health)

This will probably be my only chance to explain myself, so I hope you don't mind if I use this opportunity to discuss my words and my intentions. I really do appreciate it.

In my original post, I wrote that I was "naturally curious why some may write these characters so OOC." I have been an active part of the Choices fandom for over 2.5 years, and I have seen all sorts of stories and stretches of the imagination. I do not say this flippantly or with disgust, but that we have a very creative fandom, and I want to know why people decide to go certain directions.

When I wrote out those descriptions of what people have done to LIs and MCs, I truly have no idea who specifically in the Open Heart fandom writes like this (I've only been writing OPH for about a year, and I'm on the outskirts of this fandom). I was thinking of what I have seen (and I have written myself) in the TNA and TRR fandoms, and they get awfully fluffy and awfully angsty and awfully OOC. I figured this must exist here.

What I have learned in my time here on Tumblr is that sometimes people make their LIs and their MCs and OCs OOC because it helps them cope (I'd like to reiterate 'sometimes'). It makes them feel good. Some people are obsessed with specific tropes because it makes them so happy. However, I have had the privilege of meeting people here who are either in terrible situations or they have been rescued from terrible situations, and it shows in their writing.

As an example, I personally write a lot of angsty situations. I have been asked all sorts of questions (some quite inappropriate) about my childhood because of my love of creating more emotional stories.

The point of all of this is some of these stories do come from darker places. I love that we have the gift of fanfiction to help some people cope and to get through those hard times. But, like I said before, "I just hope that if these stories are stemming from a sad or angry place IRL, I hope they are getting the help they need." Mental health is not something I would ever joke about. I truly do hope that the person who has darker thoughts and it spills it out into their writing: I hope they are reaching out to get help, whether that is talking to someone (a professional), joining a support group, or maybe even enlisting the help of a doctor and/or medications. My comment came from a place of genuine concern.

Now, having said that, to the creators I have offended, I would love the opportunity to talk with you and apologize. My intentions were never, ever to insult anyone. If you are one of those individuals reading this right now, I understand that you might not feel comfortable approaching me, and I understand. Please know that I would love to make this right, and I'm here to listen.

Anon, thank you so much for being brave and being honest with me. I really do appreciate your "ask" and your kindness.

Luck (Peter Parker x Male Villain Reader)

my line breaks wont FUCKING WORK TUMBLR IS TRASH

Luck is a superpower, you can disagree (respectfully) in my asks. I don’t know how to write “villain” villains, especially for the reader, so you’ll notice that I tend to give the villains a motivation for their actions. They’re typically redeemable.

Requested by: anon since requests are open and i like your writing, id thought id request something. perhaps you can do a spidey x villian reader where the reader and peter are dating but dont know about the others alter ego? 

Word count: 2265

"Peter, where's the black pepper?"

"Top shelf!"

You opened the cabinet looking up at the black pepper just barely out of your reach. Even on your toes, your fingers barely brushed the wooden shelf. Turning quickly to check if Peter was still in his room, you extended your arm just a bit and managed to pluck the little container off of the shelf.

"Are you almost done with lunch? You know we have to go to the city today," Peter said, walking into the kitchen.

He was just pulling his sweater down when you turned to look at him, a smile on both your faces.

"Yeah, just salt and pepper for taste. You know how spices work, right?" you joked.

He laughed and hugged your middle from behind, pulling away to grab the plates from under you and bringing them to the table. He started eating right away, his plate always just a little more filled than yours.

"Even now I'm always surprised because I already eat a lot. I don't know where all of that goes," you commented, gesturing to his body.

"My ass," he mumbled through a bite.

You laughed around your own food as he shrugged. Once you both finished, you did your normal elevator vs. staircase race. You had the staircase this time, and you were alone. So if he didn't see you somehow hop down entire flights of stairs without any injury, all was well. You tried to lean against the wall like you had been waiting for him forever, and laughed when he blew a raspberry in your direction.

"Come on, we gotta catch the train," he urged.

He pulled you along until you got outside, both of you walking side by side to the station. The train ride always felt shorter with him, and he got off a stop or two earlier than you did every time. Even with your own extracurricular activities, you wondered if you would ever get to know what he did. You brushed it from your mind. If he knew what you got up to, he'd be upset. He was a huge supporter of the Avengers and similar "hero" figures, and even worked with and for them. You had to engage in crime just to get by. As you entered the building, you looked at the Avengers Tower a few blocks down. You turned away.

---

The sooner you got into your suit, the sooner you could join your companions in robbing the next bank. You knew whoever made the plans would get the most money, so you always planned things before anyone else could think of them. Without it, you wouldn't even be able to pay for groceries. Everyone else had a job, but you were younger and still in school, which made it much more difficult for you and they all understood. Despite the luck you knew you had, life was the one thing that could bring it down.

Just as you all left with bags, you stopped instantly at the sight of Spider-Man leaning against the wall awkwardly, much like you had done earlier that day. You almost laughed, but you had to leave with the money so you kept a straight face.

"So, uh... you guys ever think about the law? It's pretty cool sometimes," he said with an obviously faked confidence.

You pushed the bags towards your team and ushered them to move, swiftly moving towards Spider-Man. He darted to the side as you kicked toward him.

"Missed m- Oof!"

As he tried jumping for the ceiling, you grabbed the back of his suit and yanked him down, thanks to your luck. It left him winded for a few seconds.

"Sorry, dude. Just let me off this once," you said unapologetically.

He groaned as you ran back towards your team, two of them grabbing you into the moving van. The doors shut and you watched Spider-Man through the darkened window, just barely catching a glimpse of your vehicle as it sped away.

"Well, that was fast. Maybe you're right about your luck being a power," one of them snickered.

You hit her with a grumble, turning down to check your phone. A text from Peter said he needed snuggles, and you smiled a bit as you pulled your mask off.

"Is it that kid you're dating again?" she asked, pulling her own off.

"Yeah, drop me off in the area. Leave the money in the usual place and I'll come grab it," you said, beginning to pack your things.

"You got it."

"Thanks."

As you left the van, you waved at them, giving some of them a fist bump as you passed and hopped out of the van.

"I'll figure out our next location."

They waved back and you turned as the van doors shut. You went into the dark alley nearby to change, then walked the few blocks to Peter's apartment. Aunt May greeted you with a hug and a smile, then gestured you Peter who was curled up in a blanket in front of the TV, looking like he stayed up all night despite it only being nine at night.

"What's up?" you asked, sitting next to him and putting your arms around him.

"I feel like garbage and my body hurts," he mumbled into your shoulder.

"Exercising? Did you... fall down the stairs? Stand up after too many hours of playing video games?"

He snorted and pulled away for a bit, wrapping you in the blanket as well. You both laid down, and you took extra care to wrap your arms around his shoulders when he seemed to wince at the movement of his back.

"What exercise did you do?"

"No, I just... I decided to go to the playground with Ned cause there were no more kids there and my internship was done, so I was fooling around and climbing things but I fell on my back."

"Be a bit more careful next time?"

"Okay."

Aunt May was always nice enough to leave you food knowing when you didn't eat. You smiled at her as Peter moved closer to you when you pulled away to eat, and you both laughed fondly at his clingy behaviour. You left a few hours after that to get your money and go home.

---

After another afternoon of your antics, you had decided to run around on the rooftops for a bit. On one of the higher ones, you climbed the ladder quietly to find someone pacing on the edge. You almost reached out to tell them to step away when you realised who it was: Spider-Man himself.

"How does he always get away? And he beats me so quickly? It's like he has really good luck. That's so weird. That's not even a superpower, I think. Oh no, what if it is?!"

He paused as there was a response from his phone, and he sighed as if stressed as he yanked off his mask. You quickly covered your mouth in shock. How careless could any identity-hiding person be to pull their mask off when anyone in a building could look up and see him? At least your face was kind of covered. It was just your hood on and that lame mask that just covered the area around your eyes, but it was enough. His face was covered by his phone, but the messy brown hair made you a little sick when it reminded you of your boyfriend. You were only here because of your luck and your criminal actions. He was probably at his internship being a good, upstanding citizen.

"No, that can't be right. I'll check with Mr. Stark. He'll know."

"Hey."

He screeched and yelled a quick bye into his phone, making the horrible mistake of just shoving it in his pocket as he turned to look at you. Without his mask on.

"Put your mask on," you said, knowing it sounded a bit strangled, but you passed it off as just climbing over the small concrete wall that bordered the top of the building. "You should be more careful, you know?"

"You-you're that guy! I keep running into you! Who are you?"

"Well, that's the question everyone wants to know, huh?"

You walked over to him and plopped down next to him as he sat, his hands playing with his phone that was now back out. Peter did that when he was nervous, playing with anything in his hands. Once it was a book and he somehow managed to throw it and leave a small crack in the ceiling when someone scared him from behind.

"Tell me your secrets. What's got you so stressed about me?"

"What are your powers?" he blurted out.

How Peter of him to just ask right away.

"I'm lucky. Just not lucky in the rest of my life. I don't have enough money to pay rent and sometimes it's not even enough to buy groceries. I have to depend on other people and I don't want to do that. So I'm doing the best with what I can."

"Well, M- uh, Tony Stark has all kinds of internships and charities and stuff. I mean, I work with him so I would know. He could help! And he's always willing to help a superpowered person!"

"Spidey, things aren't that easy. I'm a criminal for a living and things like that don't just slide with most of the population. You tell them why you did it and you'll get consequences. My luck is the only thing keeping my team and myself safe."

"You could try! He doesn't judge and he's still friends with Captain America, who's currently a war criminal. Someone who's a thief isn't a huge problem to him."

"I don't take charity," you stated clearly.

"I mean it! He could really help," he replied.

"Peter!"

He paused entirely. Without the sounds of the cars below and the people speaking, it would have been completely silent.

"How... how..."

You pulled off your mask and your hood, giving him a sympathetic smile.

"I don't... take charity. Especially not from my boyfriend. I'll let you feed me once in a while, but that's the most I'll take. I can't do that to you, and I can't do that to your mentor who has definitely figured out my powers and knows who I am."

He was silent as you put the mask in his hand and stood up.

"You can text me whenever you want."

You left him behind on the roof.

Peter texted you the next morning, telling you to meet him at Stark Tower. You instantly knew that he had talked to Tony Stark about it, and both of them would search the entire world for you if you didn't go. Of course, that left you with the only choice of doing what he said. Peter was waiting for you in the lobby right in front of the building's security.

"Hey! Um, just follow me," Peter said quietly, his voice dying out as he turned to walk.

After an awkwardly silent trip in one of the elevators, he brought you to a large laboratory where sparks flew from the corner of the room.

"Mr. Stark! I brought my boyfriend for you to meet," Peter shouted over the noise.

Tony Stark himself sat up from his work to look at the both of you, his goggles now on his head.

"Tell me about yourself," he said, starting to walk towards you.

"You already know enough about me, don't you?" you replied.

He gave you a calculating look as he turned to a desk and pulled up a hologram. It contained information about you and your powers, but mostly your financial assets.

"I don't normally keep tabs on petty thieves, but when I found out how much you were annoying Peter, I had to find out," he said. "Kind of weird to be fighting your boyfriend every other night, huh?"

Peter looked away, his eyes instantly going to your arm. You knew he was fighting a blush, but you were busy hiding your own embarrassment. Tony started to push Peter out of the room, and he grumbled but left regardless.

"I saw his recording from his suit. I know you don't take charity, but I would do anything for Peter. All he wants is to know that you're safe from anyone who could be a threat to him or the people he cares about. How can you be safe if you can't even pay your bills?" Tony lectured. "The least you can do is stay here for a bit until you have enough money to stay at your own place. He already worries about being Spider-Man. He doesn't need to worry about you having nowhere to stay."

You stood for a moment, looking between him and the hologram.

"Fine. But for Peter. And the second I get a well-paying job I'm out of here."

"Well, you could always work here. We have great benefits."

"And work for Tony Stark? No way."

He barked out a laugh and opened the door again, Peter rushing in to grab your hand.

"What did you say?!"

"I said yes. Quit worrying," you laughed, kissing him quickly.

Tony tapped on a few things on the screen before turning to look at you both.

"Your stuff is being moved here within the next one or two days, and I let your landlord know. He's actually kind of cool. Oh, and after we move your stuff here, can we test your powers?" Tony rambled.

"No."

"Great, we'll start tomorrow."

Hey, lovelies. We wanted to make this admin note to let everyone know that we will be disabling the OOC discord server until Wednesday, October 7th. In the meantime, you are welcome to make occasional OOC posts using the hashtag #luxorooc to give group updates. We are going to ask that everyone please read this post thoroughly, as there are a lot of important things we want everyone to know.

To Start...

We have been running this RP for nearly 16 months and much like we said in our 1 year anniversary post, we are so grateful and excited to have had so many of you with us for so long. I have always taken an interest in groups with dynamic plots that actually progress as a real storyline and because of this, I have always felt so passionate about creating a fun space for everyone that has exciting plot drops, secret reveals and general plot progressions for you all to write and develop your characters within.

With that being said, within the past couple months, we have felt that there has been a shift in energy among the OOC interactions that we want to address. Please send an IM to the main saying, “completed ‘to start’” once you have completed this section.

Our Intention

We want this to be a safe space. We want everyone here to enjoy each other, each others characters, and we want everyone to feel involved and welcome. It is our responsibility to keep this group welcoming and safe. When issues are brought to us (off anon), it is up to us to resolve them and make sure that we can move forward better and happier than before.  Please send an IM to the main saying, “understand your intention” once you have completed this section.

Help Us Help You

At the same time, it is also up to our members (you guys) to make sure to let us know when you are unhappy with something so that we can try our best to get to the bottom of the issue and resolve it. When something is upsetting you, and it is causing you to feel negatively toward the RP or other members in the group, it is also upsetting to us. I, personally, take on way too much responsibility. I’m aware of this, and I’m trying to get better with that but what I don’t think will change is my desire to fix issues that arise.

If something is bothering you and you think it is going to effect the way you feel coming onto the dash every day or effect the way you treat other members, PLEASE bring it to us.

I feel so restless when I get hearsay messages from members about other people feeling uncomfortable but not wanting to tell us about it directly. I want to make sure every single one of you is happy and that you’re enjoying your time here. As a friend, I understand wanting to bring your friend’s concern to us but if they feel uncomfortable with us knowing, then there is nothing we can do. When something is brought to us (off anon), it is up to us to talk it out with everyone involved and make sure we’re all on the same page and can move on happily, but if we do not know about the issue or if we are being told through someone else as a result of the person involved not wanting to “make a thing out of it,” there is nothing we can do to fix that problem.

With that being said, you are more than welcome to keep your discomfort to yourself. What is your business is your business, but if you are deciding not to address and resolve something, you are also deciding that regardless of how it affects you moving forward, you will continue to act respectfully toward other members, as stated by our rules. Please send an IM to the main saying, “done ‘help us help you’” once you have completed this section.

The reason we are making this post

Within the past couple months, we think there has been a lack of respect amongst the members within this group, and it has been very upsetting to see unfold.

In order for this group to survive, in order for new members to feel welcome, older members to feel wanted and appreciated and for everyone to have a good time, we need everyone in this group to not only respect other's feelings, but also other's freedoms to express their opinions. We need everyone to remember that tone can be carried through text, and can sometimes be misunderstood, so please be cautious with your words, and please be slow to assume or find offense in things being said, as it isn’t always someone’s intention to upset others. 50% of online messages are misinterpreted [1][2][3]. And it’s important that if a message rubs you the wrong way or if something comes off as harsh to remember that it may not be meant in the way you are reading it.

Where I work, our management team has a system which is meant to create more understanding, safety, respect and encouragement among the employees. That system is the assumption that everyone who comes to work is trying their best and that everyone at work means well. So, when something arises, (not doing their job thoroughly, an argument arising between staff members, etc.) our managers assume that there might be something upsetting that staff member and extend empathy to them. They make sure that they’re okay, if they need time to step away, they ask what they, as management, can do to help them do their job, and most importantly, provide enough empathy to understand that these issues may very well have come up because there is something wrong that they are unaware of. I want everyone here to consider this with other members.

It isn’t anyone’s responsibility to uphold anyone else’s emotional, mental or physical wellbeing, other than their own, but it is everyone’s responsibility to extend empathy to one another and see everyone as a human being.

It’s dangerously easy to forget, when we’re upset with something, that the people behind the screens aren’t monsters, but multi-dimensional people. Please, please remember that.

With that being said, of course, this isn’t an excuse to fly under the radar, say whatever you want, however you want and expect that everyone just assume the best of you. 

It goes without saying that everyone is dealing with something. Things are especially stressful this year. Please remember that when speaking with one another. You truly have no idea how your words can effect someone.

RP is a means to escape our lives for a bit, to take a break from stress, a means to a creative outlet, and to find a way to be happy and have fun for a little while. It’s beautiful that every single one of you have chosen this group and have stayed with us for so long. We are all working together to create interesting and fun storylines with our characters, and we are all a part of each other’s escape. There is a reason each of us chose this group and are here together. Let’s ensure that we keep each other’s escape as easy as it should be, and extend that same empathy and respect back to each other, so that others can keep our escape easy as well. Please send an IM to the main saying, “I’ve read the ‘reason’” once you have completed this section.

The Admins

We also want to ask that when bringing issues up with the admin team, to please be respectful and patient with us. We all have family/friends, work and personal endeavors we have outside of this RP. Nora, Yo and I have made this RP a priority for over a year. That means that through all of the real life events that we have faced within the last 16 months, this RP has been in our mind and near the top of our to-do list. We have always tried our absolute best to meet event deadlines, quickly write up plot drops, working through our own stress from real life, and actively work together as a team to keep this RP thriving even at times when we don’t agree.

This is something that we decide to do. And with that comes the responsibility of having to resolve any issues that arise. For me, it is so important for people to have that space. It matters so much to me. But I will not deny that it is hard, and it does take a toll on each of us at times when our real lives are also hard, so please remember that yes, we are responsible for the group, but we are also people and sometimes we are going to need more time to resolve the issues that arise. Please send an IM to the main saying, “we see the admins’” once you have completed this section.

The Rules

The rules we have chosen for this group are ones we believe need to be maintained in order for the group’s long-lasting success.

We have recently added the rule that if you are uncomfortable with another member, to bring it to the admins to resolve it, as opposed to bringing it directly to that member. We implemented this rule in the hopes that if tension arises, the admins can act as a buffer to the tension, to prevent it from getting any worse. When we hear that matters are being handled between members without mention of the concerns with us, it brings us a lot of stress, worrying that the issue will escalate (as we have, of course, seen this happen far too many times).

Our intention in talking things out is to nip the problem in the bud right away and prevent it from progressing any further, and to hopefully make amends between people. We aren’t going to ask that you be friends with every other member, but everyone here is a mature adult and we expect that if you disagree with each other, that it can be overlooked for the sake of us, the admins, and for the sake of the group. Please send an IM to the main saying, “completed ‘the rules’” once you have completed this section.

If Any Tension or Concerns Arise

If you have any issues with other members, and think it will cause you to treat them poorly or be disgruntled coming onto the dash every day, we are going to ask that you bring it to us (off anon) so we can resolve it and bring us back to the safe RP we know and love. Please send an IM to the main saying, “I will do that if tension arises” once you have completed this section.

Going Forward

From now on, if OOC drama arises; if there is a general disrespect toward us or other members, we will no longer be lenient about this. We have given warnings for strikes before but from now on, we will be giving out strikes right away. Everyone is aware of the OOC rules. If you’re feeling frustrated, and feel the need to say something as a result of those feelings of frustration, and if those words would bring you some sort of relief from that frustration, we encourage you not to say them, especially directly to the people involved. Journal about it. 

If any OOC tension exists between you or another member that you have decided can never be resolved, that tension is to always be left at the door. It has no place in this group. Please send an IM to the main saying, “ready to go forward” once you have completed this section.

With all of this being said

For the next week, we are going to remove the group chat feature in hopes of everyone taking a deep breath and remembering the fun aspects and other benefits that come with a group chat.

In the meantime, we want everyone to remember that inclusivity is a rule in this group. Please remember to plot with other people, welcome every new member that we get (message them directly, offer to plot with them). 

When the group chat re-opens, we hope that we will be rejuvenated and feel relief in the new beginning.

Please remember that if you want this group to last, we have to maintain its foundation, which is the safety, respect and inclusivity among members. When you are disrespectful to each other, remember that you are in turn, being disrespectful to the admins.

Please remember that online RP is about creating fictional stories together, and that everyone involved is just trying to enjoy themselves. Please remember that we are all human, we will have foot in mouth moments, we will say things based on emotion and we will make mistakes. We’re really all here for a common purpose, guys. Not just in RP but in life. The more we can see people as being alike to us, the more empathy and understanding we can offer to people, even when they upset us, the better the world is. 

We love you guys. All we have ever wanted is to create a fun, dynamic group for everyone’s creative outlet.

I LOVE coming on to see your characters every single day. I am so freaking thankful that I have the pleasure of knowing them and seeing them navigate their lives. I want to keep them here so I can see them continue to develop and grow. 

They feel like friends to me. And maybe not everyone feels that way, but for me, I will still remember and recall them even long after this RP closes. 

I also think of all of you as friends. And I will continue to remember and recall all of you even long after this RP closes.

Please send an IM to the main saying, “completed the post” once you have completed this section.

I just want all of us to get along and be happy together. That’s really all I want.

-- Mimi, Nora, Yo.

you say you will leave the spn fandom because of all the toxicity and then you go around and reblog stuff with your positivity shtick. that's being more than passive-agressive. and fake. i guess you're just not capable of expressing any opinion of your own except that you liked the finale. and you're obsessed with the winchesters. because fuck cas right?

Lol, okay. I just about had it. I'm gonna answer this one and then I'm gonna turn off the anon asks, close my inbox. Listen, I really don't need to justify myself to any of you for having an opinion, but here we are. Once you all read this, please do me a favor and block me or unfollow if you disagree or want to fight more. Firstly – I said that I'm thinking about staying of tumblr for a while, and in the tags I've mentioned that I'm thinking about blacklisting the Supernatural tag because of all the negativity and toxicity. In the end I didn't, because guess what – I don't come to tumblr only for Supernatural stuff.  Secondly – my positivity shtick? What the hell. I mentioned that in one tag (I actually had to go look for it), and it meant that I'm keeping the positive things I pulled or got from the finale and keeping it to myself. It is MY positivity. I didn't try to force it on anyone. Thirdly – I'm obsessed with the Winchesters. ... I don't even know how to answer this one. I am not obsessed with them, I have a Winchester preference, if you want to name it that way. I like Cass as a character, I do. And I love Misha. I just connected with the Winchesters more and that's my personal choice. I have faves in every show or movie I watch. In Supernatural, Sam and Dean are my faves. I have never said and will never say „fuck Cass“. I do not hate his character for fucks sake. And yeah, I am not a Destiel shipper so I'm not as invested in him or his connection to Dean as some of the people are, but that does not mean I was happy when he died or whatever else has happened to him throughout the show. On the matter of my opinion, fine. Here you go: I liked 15x19, even though the solution for dealing with God was a bit silly to me and maybe just... too easy? But hey, it happened and I liked the aftermath of it and the boys saying to him: You will grow old and you will be forgotten. Because that's a popular opinion in the old tales and myths etc., that that is the reason why there aren't any gods anymore. It's also basically in canon of the show? Remember the Paris Hilton episode? Remember the episode with all the other gods when Gabriel dies? Yeah. The thing with Jack being a power vacuum was messy because it wasn't really set up well, but it kind of worked. I've dealt with that and moved on. The finale – yes, I liked it. It made me really emotional to the point of ugly crying. I'm glad it did. One of my fears for the finale was that I just wouldn't get it or feel it and that this huge thing that has been a part of my life for the last 10+ years will just leave me feeling nothing. Luckily that did not happen. I've always had two ways the show could end in my head: 1. Sam and Dean being a sort of mentor figures to other hunters, like Bobby was to them. But still doing hunts, and basically riding off into the sunset in the Impala – because they have work to do. 2. Heaven ending. Yep. I was kind of leaning towards this one just because of everything that has happened in the show. There was no way that they both survive the final showdown and get to live happily ever after (even though they deserve it), but they would get to know peace in Heaven and finally be free. We kind off got a mix of both of these points, with them riding off into the sunset at the end of 15x19, and with them ending up in Heaven in 15x20. Some points I've seen thrown around I'm going to address so you can get my opinion as wanted. 1. Dean didn't deserve this ending Yeah, that is the whole fucking point. He did not deserve it and he got it anyway. Because that is just how life works sometimes. It's sudden and unexpected and it really isn't fucking fair. Just because we all love Dean and wanted better to him does not mean he would get it. He got to die by Sam's side, in the arms of someone he loves most in the world, his little brother and he got to say his peace. He was scared but he wasn't alone and he got to say his goodbye. Would I've liked it that both him and Sam got to grow old? Yes. Of course I would! Who wouldn't? But I also really understand this ending for him too. He died in a silly way. I'm sorry, but shall we count how many times they all could have died in an instant when they lose their weapons, get knocked over or pushed or whatever? We got a whole fucking episode about the sudden ways Dean can die (Mystery Spot) and we are still surprised that this could actually happen? It was sudden and unexpected and that was the whole point. One wrong thing happens and you are gone. And this time there is no one to heal you and bring you back because that is what life is. 2. Sam's ending I get this too. Dean made Sam promise, and Sam kept his promise. The woman was not seen properly, it wasn't Eileen etc etc. Also – that was the point. We got little flash-moments of his life to see that he lived it, he kept his promise to Dean. I understand people who are upset it wasn't done well (that wig was really atrocious) or that his wife wasn't Eileen, but I also understand the decision to not put focus on anything but Sam and his son. Concerning both their endings – people are saying – stupid endings because this is what the boys have always wanted or feared and it was exactly what they got. I get even that. What happened to Dean could have happened to him 10 years down the road. It could have happened to Sam. It could not have happened at all. It could have happened so that they both die on the same hunt. But the ending thought is this – they would always be reconnected in Heaven. The long or the short way round would always end up in the same place and this time we got what we got. The thought that they ended up in Heaven with everyone else, that's what counts the most for me. 3. This is a stupid ending Not for me. This is coming back full circle for me. I've read more than one time that this kind of ending negates everything they have done, but I respectfully disagree. They have done a lot. They saved so many people. They won a fight against God and ultimately saved the Earth and made it so that everyone had free will. That is fucking huge and so important and such a big legacy to leave behind, even though basically no one knows about it. And them ending up how they did does not make everything they have achieved any less important. Who they've saved, killed, loved, lost – this ending doesn't make it any less important or stupid. Not for me. 4. They didn't pay homage to any other character on the show ... but they did? At the end of 15x19? I mean, yeah, maybe they could have put Cass or Jack or Donna or Jody at the ending too, or whoever else you want to name, but they didn't. Why? Because ultimately this was a story about two brothers against the world. I understand that decision too, and actually I love it because we got to focus on them for the finale. Do I agree with everything in this season – no. Some things could have been done better. The writing was choppy at times and some things didn't make sense and yes, they could have mentioned stuff and people... But there are worse seasons that this last one, so that's saying a lot. In conclusion - I am allowed to have my opinion. I am allowed to love something even though someone else really hates it. I am even allowed to dislike or hate something that makes someone else really happy. Except I don't go around attacking people in their inboxes for hating on something I love and vice versa, I don't put my anger about a certain ending or a character arc onto others just to feel better. That's being a shitty human. And Supernatural, and so many many many other shows have thought us to not do that. Instead they've taught us (or tried) to be better, do better, to be compassionate and kind. I urge you to do that. Next time you want to rant and accuse and shit all over someone, I kindly ask you to take a breather and think about it, think about what you are doing to others and to yourself.  And do better. That's all I have to say. Take care of yourselves everyone. Be kind.

hey i’m sorry if this is a controversial question but i haven’t seen anybody talk about this. i have wanted to convert for years and i’m finally in a place where i can start taking steps to convert. but i was wondering if i would be turned down for being non zionist and criticizing the state of israel. i don’t want to have antagonization with the rabbi, but i’m afraid they might lash out at me or kick me out when the subject inevitably comes up.

Hi anon, 

Yep, I generally have a rule that I will just delete questions about Israel (regardless of the perspective of the person) because I don’t want I/P discourse on this blog. 

However, this is a valid question and it’s been asked respectfully, and so I will answer it as neutrally as possible, once. I’m going to preface this answer by saying that it is based my own experiences in Jewish community and intra-community discourse, despite my effort to keep my opinions out of it. Other people’s mileage may vary. 

———–

So it really depends on what you mean by “non-Zionist,” how you are criticizing Israel, and what community you seek to be a part of. 

First of all, what do you mean by non-Zionist? Here is a great summary post of what people actually mean when they describe themselves as Zionist/anti-Zionist. In general, however, I tend to agree with the folks who are uncomfortable with non-Jews using either term to describe themselves, since both have been weaponized against the whole Jewish community in various ways. So you may want to clarify and re-articulate how you approach the issue for that reason alone, and then revisit how you personally identify later, if you do end up converting. 

It also depends on how you go about criticizing Israel and what you mean by that. Here is a good post to check through and see if you are inadvertently using antisemitic tropes. 

As for which community you want to join - it really depends on the community and the rabbi. There are some Jewish communities that are a lot more ambivalent or straight-up opposed to Israel in its current iteration. On the liberal side, that could be for reasons related to human rights concerns and in particular, aligning themselves with the Palestinian cause. On the far right, you’re going to get some communities that do not think we should be living in Israel until Moshiach arrives (but ultimately are Zionist when that day comes.) 

Most moderate communities, however, are pretty staunchly in favor of Medinat Israel existing, but individual opinions vary greatly beyond that. Some individuals are horrified by the current government and some support it. Some are pro-settler and some are against the settler movement. Some are just concerned about the family that they have living there. It gets very nuanced and requires a high level of knowledge and sensitivity to engage with, and people often avoid it in conversation for this reason. 

Personally, if you are comfortable with them as a branch in general, I’d recommend going the Reconstructionist route if you do decide to pursue this. They are the ones who make the most room for anti-Israel opinions and I actually personally know two well-respected Reconstructionist rabbinic students who are proudly and vocally anti-Israel. 

As for other movements? Some will engage you on the topic and just make sure you’re not antisemitic or converting to prove a point or to give your advocacy (if you engage in it) more weight. Some will be very leery of you, but ultimately go ahead with the conversion after making sure of the same. Some won’t do it at all, seeing it as a lack of loyalty to the Jewish people and antisemitic unto itself. However, depending on what you actually mean and what your actual opinions are, you may find that your sponsoring rabbi actually agrees with you!

Questions you will want to be able to answer for yourself (don’t feel like you have to answer questions from anyone else who’s not your rabbi or beit din, honestly): 

Am I converting for the right (i.e. - non-political in this case) reasons? 

Have I thoroughly explored the antisemitism I’ve absorbed from society and made sure to purge it from my opinions on this topic? 

Where does my information come from? Am I using only sources that are biased in the direction of my existing opinion? Am I willing to fully explore the other sides’ rationales to make sure I have answers at least for myself as to why I disagree? 

Am I willing to sever ties with friends and people in my activist communities who are antisemitic? If not, how am I going to navigate being Jewish in these spaces? 

How do I relate to loyalty to the Jewish people and Jewish identity, apart from Israel? 

How do I relate to the many traditions that are rooted in the land of Israel and/or the diasporic Jewish dream of returning to it? 

Definitely feel free to approach a rabbi prior to having any answers to all but the first two, and even if those answers are shaky or need further examination. Do your homework on the congregation and the rabbi to make sure you have an idea of what you’re getting into before you go, and regardless of how much you’ve been able to discover ahead of time, definitely bring up the topic in a non-antagonistic way. 

Do not expect an outright rejection, particularly from more liberal rabbis, but do expect to be asked to really think through your opinion and make sure that you are speaking from a place of genuineness, love for klal yisroel, and basing your opinion on facts. If you’re doing all that and find the right rabbi, you should be fine. 

And one final point/recommendation? Go into this with an open mind. I came into this expecting to fully and solidly come down on one side and ultimately came to an opinion that was much more nuanced, tentative, and basically the opposite of what I’d expected. You may find that your opinion changes, doesn’t change, or that it only grows stronger. I wish you the very best in your exploration!

It’s well known and well documented how awful both Jessica Alba and MW were on the Dark Angel set, and the majority of that was aimed at Jensen. He was way nicer and understanding about it both then and now than he needed to be. Yes, Jessica was under a ton of pressure and in a toxic relationship at the time, but that does not excuse her taking her issues out on Jensen and other cast and crew members. Jensen came off of Dark Angel known for being a super nice, easy to work and get along with, professional guy despite all he had to deal with on that set.

Hey Anon, thank you for giving me this information. I do truly appreciate it. Actually, can I ask, are there certain blogs or receipts for this? I tried googling it myself after the interview but only the podcast interview was all that came up once the media got wind of it?

No, I totally get it and you're right, he has been way nicer about it than he needed to be. What bothered me about this recounting of the issue in this podcast was the way it was told. To me, it was done in a very weird way that makes me think, wait, if she apologized to you, why are you crapping on her, 20 years later? Because it was the way he told the story. It just left a not so great impression with me. Because it was told in a very 'yeah, look at what I said in response, the crew loved it' kind of way.

I'm not defending Jessica Alba or Michael Weatherly (especially Weatherly) at all. I don't know anything about Jessica (past Dark Angel) and I do not care for Michael Weatherly (at all). I just felt that the way this came across seemed to be a little petty. Like I said, he is completely valid in how he feels about that treatment and he is free to talk about it but it was just the way he did that I think made me go 'wait...'

I still appreciate and respect Jensen as a performer and will still support him; I just was simply stating my opinion and how hearing those particular portions of the podcast made me feel. People are always free to disagree as long as they do so respectfully.

Thank you for the info and hope you have a nice weekend.

I saw your header and had to make a comment. ADC in fact did not know that accepting the role of Lexa was also accepting to play a lesbian character. We know she is a private person. I genuinely believe she did not feel comfortable becoming an icon to the LGBT community BUT not bc she doesn't support it, simply bc we almost always put those actors on pedestals, and just doesn't feel like representing something she doesn't get? I think people need to lay off of her for not speaking much on Lexa.

Hey.Allow me to re-address your points because I've talked about them tenfold but you might have missed it so no problem. 😊I have spoken at length about ADC accidentally playing a lesbian. Her rabid fans accused me of accusing her of being lebian/homophobic. But it's true. It's a irrefutable fact that she had no clue Lexa would be a wlw. I also know she's very private. But, anon, she pursued a career where your privacy being invaded is an occupational hazard. Not that that is right in any way, but she certainly didn't get into this buisness with her eyes closed. What does being private have to do with becoming an important figure in the lgbtq community? Anyway, I've talked about how it is beyond clear she is not comfortable with the "type" of attention playing and dying as Lexa has brought her. That's what almost my entire ADC discourse tag is about. Does this stop the attention? Does her discomfort make her any less a figure in the community? No and no. She doesn't "get it" THANK YOU. Finally someone understands what I've been screaming into the void since this summer. She. Doesn't. Get. It.And?This excuses everything? Her willfull ignorance is why my ADC discourse began. Because I was pretty miffed about how tone deaf she has been. Do you have to be starving to know hungry ppl need to eat? Do you have to be black to cry for those unlawfully slain by the police? No.... And no. You do not have to be a part of the lgbtq community to, on an intellectual level, understand what we go through and why Lexa was so important to so many. And why her death was so harmful to so many.I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you. Instead of laying off, I think someone should outright ask her about her dismissiveness.

The DragonBall Super ANIME and MANGA outright BASHES my favorite characters, while making other beloved characters horribly out of character and unlikable. The Series DESERVES fan hatred.

I was wondering when I was going to get someone ranting in my inbox like this since I put up that positivity post. Took longer than I thought, surprisingly.

I’ll agree with you on the manga there, that one does outright bash the characters. At worst, I think the anime has only ever intentionally taken some lighthearted jabs at somebody once in awhile, nothing purposefully malicious. And hey, Toriyama has never been above having a laugh at one of his characters expense for the sake of a good laugh, so that’s not anything too new.

If you feel that way then that’s your right, I’m not going to argue that hard with you. For the most part I think most of the cast are more or less in character most of the time, maybe with an off moment here or there especially if they get a writer who’s not sure what to do with them. Same thing could happen in Z filler scenes from time to time.

Goku I think is out of character about maybe 20% of the time, but personally I think he’s more or less fine the rest of it. Maybe Vegeta sometime gets his qualities exaggerated for comedy once in awhile, but Super is a more light hearted and comedic series bordering on cartoony in it’s breather episodes, so it kinda fits. And a lot of these moments are amusing. I wrote up a whole post once about how Chichi’s character early on in Super actually makes sense following up from what she went through in the Buu saga and such. Master Roshi had his worst traits turned up to eleven in episode 89 and that was definitely an annoying mess, but thankfully outside of that scene with Puar he’s been pretty decent in his scenes outside of that and has had some good moments. Hopefully they actually have his attempts to overcome his perverted instincts stick as actual character development, then at least we’ll know we never have to go through that again.

Videl’s not as spunky or tomboyish as she used to be, but that’s consistent with her development late into the Buu Saga and her EoZ portrayal, and she’s older now and married. So while I wish she still had more of that spunk, it fits. Episode 74 shows her old personality didn’t fade away anyway, she’s just matured. Krillin’s had actual character development that acknowledges the mental impact that being a punching bag for so many powerful villains, a few of whom had killed him previously, along with a constant inability to keep up with Goku and several of the other Z fighters would realistically have on a person, and it makes sense since if you look at some moments in Z close enough you can get the idea that he might have some mild depression brewing under the surface. And he’s overcome that and is back to his good ol’ self.

Android 17 has had years of off screen development to justify his growth and changes in personality, and if his interaction with Ribrianne proves anything he still has a lot of his old cockiness deep down. Android 18′s personality is closer to how she was in the manga version of the Buu Saga than the anime version for the most part. The only moment that was unquestionably OOC was the opening scene of episode 100, which was definitely a bad writing moment, but other than that she’s been great. Just needed more chances to shine before now.

Mr Satan, Gohan, Piccolo, Goten, Buu, Future Trunks, etc are more or less fine. Trunks is a bit less cocky and not as much of a brat as in Z, so maybe that makes him less charming to some people, but I don’t really care that much about Trunks so I don’t notice it that much. He could annoy me occasionally in Z though while not really in Super, so to each his own I guess.

But that’s just me, I really don’t want a serious debate about this right now because everyone’s riled up and I’m specifically trying to avoid fandom drama right now. I just want to get away from discourse and encourage some positivity in people’s lives.

I just bothered replying to this because I’m annoyed at your tone. You came into my inbox with an ask phrased in a very argumentative, accusatory tone, and it feels like you’re trying to shame me for liking the anime or saying anything good about it. Look dude, people are fully allowed to dislike the show and criticise it in their own space. That’s your right and every other detractors right. I’d like to just avoid the drama sometimes, because I disagree with you and I don’t think the show deserves the level of hate it gets and I think it’s pretty good despite it’s flaws, even though it was never going to be as good as DBZ.

For the most part I just stay in my lane and just interact with people I can have civil conversations about with the franchise in general. Positive or negative about Super. The very few times I’ve said something out of line I’ve apologized for it, and usually I just agree to respectfully disagree with people with different opinions than me.

I don’t go into people’s inboxes on anon and try to pick fights.

I only answered this so I could tell you that you’re not going to accomplish anything by coming into my inbox and trying to start a fight. Especially if you aren’t even brave enough to do so off anon. I don’t put up with anon hate. Feel free to dislike the show or take umbrage with how it treats certain characters. But don’t go around getting ticked off and throwing shade at the people who do enjoy it in their own personal space. If you’ve done that with other people, then I’m telling you right now to stop and act like a grown up. if people want to have a serious discussion with you about these topics, then go ahead and do with said willing participants. I don’t feel like having a real debate right now because you’re clearly not looking for a fair conversation and just want to try and either bait me, or shame me. Well good luck, all you’ve really accomplished is making a jerk of yourself, buddy.

Can no one else please comment or this post and try to start a debate about who’s in character and who’s not? I only just started using this site regularly again yesterday and I’m still not feeling up to this stuff. I just want to move on with my day and think positive, maybe another time. Besides, you’d just be playing into this anon’s hands.

i’d love to know who this guy is though.