#we can do better than a society we need to hide from information about
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Concerning the Vil-Epel drama: I'm from a Scandinavian country and even here we have dialects. I haven't heard them myself, but my mom has and she says they are literally impossible to understand and you need a translator to speak with them. And it's not a bad thing- we don't say those people are less than or anything of the sort- it's just like holy cow we cannot understand anything they're saying, how are we supposed to communicate like this (especially when they understand us since our dialect is the 'base' dialect). If anything, it's funny because of how a dialect can make the same language not understandable, and also disappointing/frustrating that we can't talk to them because we literally don't know what they're saying. So to me it seems like part of the reason Vil wants Epel to not speak in his dialect is simply so people can understand him better and so people can actually communicate with him. We've seen in the Harveston event (if I remember correctly) that the others have no clue what Epel says before they jump the gap, and they need to ask his grandma to translate. That's an example of how if he didn't remove his dialect people would not know what he's saying. I don't think it has anything to do with negative connotations towards the dialect (I bet Vil would encourage it if they were in a situation where it would be beneficial/welcoming), but rather Vil trying to teach Epel that it's not about hiding your dialect/culture, it's about being considerate to those around you to have them understand you (like how you pointed out his granny changed to polite speech when talking to the NRC boys). Don't you think even granny would have at some point taught Epel that? (Although not in the same manner or extremity as Vil).
There seems to be some discourse going on of which I was not aware!
Thank you so much for your perspective!! It is very interesting and informative and wonderful to know!
Yes, it does seem strange that maybe no one warned Epel about interacting with people outside the village, but maybe they did!
This gets into conjecture because we have nothing in-game to confirm either way, but it might be possible that they just assumed he would pick it up through personal experience, or he just wasn't able to make the connection between their warnings and what real-world experience would be like.
Marja herself has no problem with adapting to the time/place/occasion, but as Epel is still a child with limited exposure to people from other cultures, we are watching him experience this learning process in real time!
In a way, Epel's experience at NRC could maybe be interpreted as Vil encouraging him to be more like his grandmother :> Epel was likely aware that the older people in the village adapt their speech patterns when necessary, but maybe never made the connection about exactly why?
He knew it was polite, but when early-Epel shows up at NRC, he is already in fighting mode: he has no interest in being polite, which he might have seen as making concessions and, thus, a weakness.
Bullied his whole childhood for his appearance he decides he is going to set the record straight from day one at NRC so that people know not to mess with him, and then Vil comes in.
It seems like it all connects to Epel's arc as he learns that you can be conscientious of time/place/occasion (like his grandmother), but still be proud of your heritage and strong (like his grandmother).
And you can be beautiful (like Vil), but still be strong (like Vil).
(Because Vil is Vil his wording has a lot to do with the importance of beauty, but the more I think about it, the more it seems like Vil is just trying to prepare Epel for life in a society.)
There is an ongoing theme with Epel that we see in Book 5 and Halloween where he gets jealous of people who can do things that he can't, so he doubles down that he is right and they are wrong in order to make himself feel better about his shortcomings.
That might also tie in to his frustration with Vil's restriction of his dialect!
He has more difficulty expressing himself without it, so rather than do what Vil is trying to get him to do and work on it, by Book 5 he is still doubling down and insisting that Vil is the problem, not himself, despite how he was raised watching everyone around him do exactly what it is that Vil is saying he needs to do.
I really appreciate everyone's introspection!! The more you think about it, the more interesting Epel, his family, his relationship with Vil and his circumstances become! :> He is living through his own, personal coming-of-age story before our eyes!
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fantasy sometimes doesn't afford itself the ability to fantasize about a better world with many of the same problems of real life. thankfully ive found fantasy thatfantasize about things like gender roles, orientations, social status, etc. being more accepting, and the world kinder more often than not. question is, as hard as it is to find solid urban fantasy, are there anyworks you know of that use itself to imagine a optimal city for us urban nerds? magic public works, free dragon transit?
So there is a real problem in the fantasy and sci-fi genres that they often have a failure of revolutionary imagination, as I’ve termed it. We’re so used to not just the world as it is but also the public historical imagination of how change happens, that even in art that’s supposed to be about radically reimagining our world or new worlds, we often revert back to the familiar. (I find this tic particularly annoying in alternate history, which is supposed to be about imagining how the world could have evolved differently, but often reverts back to a retelling of (often bad) history with the numbers filed off.)
(A sadly rare counter-example.)
You raise a fascinating question about the potential for urbanist fantasy. This is often quite rare in urban fantasy, because often out of a desire to maintain the verisimilitude of urban life, they default to a masquerade scenario which renders it impossible to explore the impact of magic on transit, housing, and other aspects of urbanism because the central conceit is that people with magic are trying to hide and thus have no impact on the mundane world.
However, it does crop up sometimes in Magitech settings, because their central conceit is all about how magic would function in place of science and lead to new ways of organizing societies, urban and otherwise. For a popular example, look at how Arcane examines the social impacts of Hextech and Shimmer. My personal favorite example of urbanist fantasy is the plane of Ravnica from Magic the Gathering.
Ravnica is a ecumenopolis, a city-state that covers the whole planet. The city is governed by a guild council, each of whom are responsible for an aspect of the city’s physical and social infrastructure:
The Azorius Senate is responsible for running the courts and the legal system, and sometimes they run the police as well (although they have a jurisdictional dispute with the Boros Legion on that front).
House Dimir are couriers, messengers, journalists, private investigators, spies, assassins, thieves, and librarians, as well as the city’s clandestine intelligence service - if it deals with information in any way, the Dimir have a hand in it…or do they?
The Cult of Rakdos run the city’s entertainment, food service, retail, and labor recruitment (lots of shanghaing and press ganging goes on in Ravnica) - and they’re also a crazed juggalo bdsm blood cult who are responsible for keeping an ancient arch-demon entertained so he doesn’t try to destroy the city, again.
The Gruul Clans are an anarchist collective responsible for the planet’s wilderness areas, which they try to maximize by violent raids that tear down developed areas any chance they get - which also makes them Ravnica’s main demolition industry. The Boros Legion spends a lot of time defending built-up areas from Gruul rampages.
The Selesnya Conclave are a hippie nature cult commune who manage the city’s parks and other green spaces, as well as providing basic welfare services (food, “shelter,” clothing, etc.) to the city’s poor. They also use magic to do weird hivemind brainwashing in the name of harmony and unity, and they can raise giant Ent-Kaiju to defend the city in times of need.
The Orzhov Syndicate are a vampire banker mafia, and also one of the city’s biggest religions. They believe in debt on a spiritual level, and their religion fully embraces indulgences to their logical conclusion. The Orzhov preach that you can literally buy your way into heaven, and that debts to the (Catholic by way of Prosperity Gospel Evangelical) Church or its many front organizations and legitimate businesses will carry over into the next life; the Orzhov practice debt slavery on both living people and ghosts. And lest you think it’s all a cover for profit-making, they can summon dark angels to conduct rituals, lead services, and make war on their enemies. Something above is answering their prayers…
My personal favorite is the Izzet League, an institute of mad scientists and engineers and elementalist wizards who combine science and magic to research, build, and maintain the city’s infrastructure (as well as funding all tech R&D and theoretical and experimental research in physics, chemistry, and engineering) - the power grid, water and sewer systems, heating and gas lines, as well as the city’s mass transit and transportation/freight system, are all powered by their steam and fire and lightning and Magitech gadgets and robots and cyborgs made out of a magic metal named mizzium. Yes, a lot of their devices explode, and yes their golems and robots and elementals have a tendency to go rogue, but that’s the price of progress!
The Golgari Swarm are a subterranean necromantic cabal who run the city’s waste disposal, burial services, and do the bulk of the agricultural production for Ravnica’s hungry masses. All of Ravnica’s citizens are entitled to a food dole provided by the Golgari’s fungi farms as a form of basic income. Just don’t think too hard about what went into the compost heaps or what your rations might be made of…
The Boros Legion is Ravnica’s main police and military, led by a literal host of warrior angels. Imagine the combination of a police force entirely made up of noir detectives and loose cannon Dirty Harry-esque cops and an army with flying fortresses led by fiery angels who are all deeply dramatic lesbians. True believers one and all, the Boros are here to mete out justice and divine wroth upon evildoers wherever they hide. If they had their way, the Orzhov would all be in prison along with the Gruul and the Rakdos, but the damn bureaucrats in the Azorius Senate keep trying them up in knots with paperwork.
The Simic Combine are responsible for the city’s environmental quality, ensuring biodiversity and sustainability in a global metropolis; they are also the city’s universal health care providers. All Ravnicans have access to free health care, as long as they consent to the Combine’s biomantic research. See, the Simic are the other group of mad scientists/mages in the city, except they went into genetics, environmental science, and (marine) biology and they believe in individual and societal evolution through the use of augmentation, cloning, and splicing. After all, why stop at curing someone’s respiratory illness when you could also give them gills? Or giant crab claws? Or tentacles?
I love the world-building and the attention to urban systems and infrastructure in Ravnica. More than most, they’ve thought about what urban life needs to function and made it magical.
#fantasy genre#urban fantasy#revolutionary imagination#genre fiction#urbanism#alternate history#city-states#guilds#ravnica#mtg#arcane#magitech
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Getting more information on what the femmes do was very exciting (idk if that's the right word) but if it's not a spoiler I would love to hear more about the process when a femme finishes the preparations
(And it makes sense, find someone insignificant and reuse them to make someone new, someone potentially more useful)
The Grim Dark Archives: Statement #007 Cold Forged
[Statement taken from [Redacted] on [Redacted: Sensitive data] regarding femmes and what they do to their chosen subjects. Concerns have been rising after [Redacted] made it clear that Arcee can latch onto humans just as easily as she can another Cybertronian. Personnel working at the Autobot base have begun attempting to go on strike in an effort to escape.
I can't say I blame them, but [Redacted] was called to explain the process that femmes put their targets through to hopefully give us some answers. I suspect the higher ups just want enough information to weave a half baked like for the staff, but the information is vital nonetheless. The more we know, the better a chance we have of fighting back if need be.
Statement begins.]
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Femmes... yeah, I've known a few over the course of my life. Elita was one real piece of work. She wanted Orion when she was still Ariel, and she threw a fit when the Archives got him before she could. She wanted Optimus as well once she found out he had been Orion at some point. She nearly got him too. I think the only reason Optimus managed to get out of her clutches was because of his rather murderous tendencies. I don't know if he meant to or not, but he allowed Elita to try and claim him and then watched on as her abilities backfired.
There is a reason femmes only target the weak. If their will cannot overcome the will of the target, their abilities will kill them instead... and in a rather brutal fashion.
It was a shame. Elita, when she wasn't enthralled with her targets, was a good femme. She treated her cold forged well and was a brilliant tactician. She actually kept Optimus in line for a long time. She ensured he couldn't do anything nearly as extreme as what he does now. That's the good thing about femmes. They are good and kind to their targets. They fill the void in the bot's life that no other could have ever hoped to fill. It is a peaceful end for a mech that would otherwise be cast away by society. Elita was the companion Optimus needed, a level helmed and gentle being who served as his equalizer when his plans demanded more pain than required. I appreciated her for that, especially when I served as as a special agent-
Ignore that remark. No. Ignore it.
Do you understand me Witwicky? You will ignore that remark.
[Note: [Redacted] expressed a severe violent reaction the moment I made it clear that I had no intention of adhering to his wishes. He only calmed when he watched me scratch it from the records. Of course I added back the redacted information following the conversation, but [Redacted] has things he wants to hide it seems.]
Good.
As I was saying, Elita was a fantastic person. Femmes are more than capable of being normal members of society when they are tended to. In fact, they are even worshipped in some circles and given the lowly members of society so that they may be remade. But Elita aimed too high, she went beyond the bounds set by the rules of femmes. She tried to go after a mech who was too strong, and for that reason, she fell.
Femmes are of the line of Solus Prime, the first femme created by Primus. At least that's what the Primacy will tell you. I'm not all that sure on the theological stuff, but there are records pointing to the fact that Solus existed. Because of that, I am willing to pin the femmes existence back to her. I don't know all the details about the first femme. That's the kind of thing you'd need to ask Orion about. He always loved talking about the theological details of history. He always got so passionate about it...
Sometimes... I forget Orion isn't here to answer anymore. I mean, he is, but he also isn't. But that's beside the point. This isn't my forte. Sorry, its just seeing Optimus so often after so many millennia, it can bring back old memories yanno? I will get back on topic.
No one knows what makes a newspark become a femme. In fact, there are no signs at all until the newspark sheds their second armor set. They behave just like every other Cybertronian, and then sometime in their early adolescence, they start following a specific individual around. Usually their first target is someone very old or very young, the weak of society or those without enough knowledge to fight back. Once the femme has picked, that's when the Council steps in and slaps a sticker on them to denote what they are. The poor target is cut off from everyone and left to the femme. Why? Because the first target is always the one who suffers the most.
Femmes are highly territorial. They will never aid one another unless both their targets are in danger and cooperating is in their best interest. So every young femme is on her own, left to figure things out as she ages. For young femmes, they will pick their victims apart. There is no peace to be found as they sink their connectors into their target to try and tear apart their CNA and remake it. The process kills the target without fail. A more experienced femme knows that she must follow a ritual, a process of sorts. She must know her target, she must care for her target, and only once her target is open to her... only then can she dig her claws in and remake them.
Yes, yes I am getting to the actual process now. Calm down. I swear you fleshies are just as impatient as Cyberfelines sometimes.
First she will get to know her target and release a chemical, a pheromone as your kind call it. This chemical causes the target to become calm, more trusting, and it also weakens their immune system. It has some benefits, such as increased processor function and heightened senses, but all this comes at the cost of increasing weakness. Not to mention the increase in processor activity is largely so that the femme may attract her target's attention and push them into seeing her in a light that best fits what role she is aiming to fulfill until the time for harvest arrives.
Around a vorn into her work, the femme will start to introduce her coils, her touches if you will. She will start to touch her target as often as she can, and it is through this that small injectors in her digits will begin to input a specially made protomatter into her target. The target will feel no pain since the injections are so small. But over months, years, vorns... slowly her target will start to think less, feel less, until at last they start to collapse.
Femmes are not needlessly cruel in their efforts. She will be very gentle with her target in their dying cycles. When they begin to forget, she will remind them of the things they lost. She will help them fuel, she will take them places they enjoy, and she will allow them ample time to deal with their lingering affairs. Any living relatives will not be compensated, but that is because she sees her work as the greatest compensation any being could possibly receive. She is remolding the worthless into something greater, and for that reason she is both compelled to her work just as much as she heralds it as something sacred. It is her nature to be gentle in this stage, for by that point, her target will be carrying the beginnings of her cold forged, her perfect creation.
There is no set time for it, but at some point in this final stage, the femme will continue her injections of protomatter and her quiet indoctrination until finally, her target shatters. This can take various forms, usually some type of explosion or contortion of the frame, but the end result is always the same. The target dies, and from their corpse, a new being emerges. Much like a newspark, it emerges without armor, but unlike the newsparks from the Well, it will come forth with memory and a mission.
We call these things the Cold Forged. They are beings that completely lack emotion. Or perhaps the ability to empathize. It is hard to tell with them. They all seem to take sick glee in watching others squirm. But anyway, the Cold Forged have a purpose that their femme gave them, and most often, they do not care to reveal it. Those that have felt like giving up data have often been given a mission that amounts to a concept, a thought or ideal. The most common mission these beings receive is by far the most terrifying.
Perfection.
They are given one concept, and they live out their entire lives embodying and striving to reach it. The Cold Forged are Cybertronian by every single stretch of the word, but they are not... like us. Does that make sense? My kind do not really do the empathy thing. But they have SOMETHING. The Cold Forged don't even have that. They are true machines.
You know what's so funny about this whole thing?
The femmes don't even care about their Cold Forged. They make them, and then they move along to the next target. The Cold Forged are the closest any Cybertronian has to actually having a biological creation, and the femmes don't care!
[Note: [Redacted] laughed for a rather long time following this statement. He seemed to be... unstable while speaking on this matter.]
Sorry about that.
It's just, it feels so clinical to me even millennia after learning about the process. These femmes go through so much effort just to make a creature that they then throw away. Elita was a rare exception in this regard. She liked to keep tabs on her Cold Forged, and I think one of hers even ended up with the Elite Guard. Her missions to her Cold Forged were always super specialized too.
Yeah. Femmes. Cold Forged. It's a hot mess I tell you.
Jack will be fine. Arcee will care for him as best she knows how until his dying day. That much you can be sure of.
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[Statement end.
I am unsure how to feel about all this. Every detail I gather about these aliens tells me that there is something deeply wrong with them. I have my theories, but considering [Redacted]'s disposition and what info we have on everyone else, I think I can say that this race has been altered somehow. If [Redacted] is able to comprehend empathy, there must be others.
They are capable of feeling and being reasonable, but there is some factor that changes things for them. I shouldn't get involved...
But I want to know. I want to figure this mess out. I am just one man, but if I can put some pieces together, then perhaps there is something we can do to fix this. If nothing else, I want to understand these aliens. I want to know why.
Why start a war? Why do all this? And why in God's name would they shatter in such a way culturally? There must be an answer, and I have a sinking feeling that the only ones who can give me answers are going to be very dangerous.
Agent Witwicky signing off.
Recording ends.]
#transformers#maccadam#transformers prime#optimus prime#alternate universe#the grim dark archives au#elita one#ariel#orion pax#pre war cybertron#[redacted]#agent witwicky#statement recording#cybertronian culture#cybertronian biology#cybertronian worldbuilding
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Billie's new best fren!
Billie isn't fond of Hobie. Nope, the moment she saw him bite her big brother's neck that already gave her the ick. Even before, when she first met him, she didn't like how Miles gave attention and love to his boyfriend. Nope. Nope, she wants all the attention and love, and she's the only one that gives hugs to her big brother.
Now, Billie loves it when her parents aren't around and she's force to be babysat by her brother. Miles never complains about, he loves watching her. The only issues is when Spiderman is needed. Spiderman is a busy guy with huge responsibilities- and guess what! That's Billie's big brother! Yes, Billie's big brother, Miles is the cities' Spiderman! Ever since she can remember Miles had always taken her through the city and Spider Society fighting off bad guys or meeting up with other multiverse Spiderpeople.
Hey, she even have her own watch; it's a pink purple color with a flower spider design on it, and one of Miles' friend, Peter B. Parker gave her a cute pinkish purple Spiderwoman crochet mask. A gift from the lovely MJ, Peter's wife. Not to mention, she gets to play with the other kids Gerald, Jess' kid and Mayday, Peter's kid. They had to build a daycare if a mission is too sever for them to tag along.
Oh yes, that's one of her favorite days, going out to help Spiderman and seeing the universes. Now, her favorite part of the day going into Spider Society is meeting her best fren! Who is her best friend?
Well let's get into it!
Miles in his Spiderman suit had Billie in a baby carrier similar to Peter's but with a nice pouch to fit in baby wipes, an extra diaper and his phone. He jumps on one of the buildings seeing one of the anomaly's hiding in a warehouse. "Looks like we better call for back up, Boo-boo."
"Hehehe," Billie giggles as she had her web shooter toy, multiverse watch on and her mask being ready.
"Hey luv, fancy meeting you here." Hobie appears from behind to hug and kiss his boyfriend.
Billie gasps then scowls, "No!" She aim her web shooter at him almost threatening him. "No, Obie!"
"Billie, don't do that!" Miles' hand made her put her arm down. "He's just saying hello."
"NO!" She scowls.
Hobie took a step back, "Okay. Okay, easy Billie-willie. I'm not touching your brother." His hands up in defense, still having a cocky grin on his face.
Billie set her web shooter down, then looks at her brother, "No, Obie!"
"I know. I know. But he's here to help us fight. By the way, I need to make a call to Miguel." Miles added, using his watch to informed of the anomaly in his world.
Hobie casually rolled his eyes, "Sometimes I wonder if you like his more than me." Being the jealous type, he already didn't like Miguel. That man is too strict, too much of a pain in the ass for Hobie's liking.
"What? He's our boss or leader? He handle this stuff. Don't get upset, mi amor." Miles pouts as he sent out an emergency single. "Besides, you should be worrying about this one not liking you." He lift his chin to his sister's direction.
Billie still glaring at Hobie. "She will love me, after all I'm the love of your life." Hobie chuckles having to give a quick kiss on Miles' cheek.
Miles blushes, "Yet you pick on her."
"NO!" Billie shouted with her hands waving back and forth being mad Hobie got close to her brother.
"Hey guys! What's up!" Gwen and Pav appeared being one of the first ones. "Miguel sent us and Peter out. He's late."
"As always." Miles said holding Billie in his baby carrier.
"Awe, look at her cute mask and" Pav gasps out loud looking at her feet, "her wittle booties! I so want kids when I get married to my beloved Gaytari!" He fantasize being a father with cute kids, especially more when Miles introduce them to his little sister.
"Hehe!" Billie giggles.
Pav playfully do funny faces and tickle her cheek. Billie likes Pav. He doesn't hurt Miles, he's goofy.
Gwen giggles, "Hey, Billie. How's it going?"
"Bueno!" Billies smiles happily at Gwen, she likes Gwen. Gwen doesn't pick on Miles for fun!
Then the portal open having Peter B. Parker with Mayday following along side him wearing a cute Spidergirl outfit. "Okay, May. Remember to stay away from dangerous. Your first task is to climb away from danger and stay close to my sight."
"Okie Dookie, daddy!" Mayday giggles then gasps, "Billie!" She happily skips over to see her cute baby sister. "Hi, Miles." Mayday view Miles as her big brother too.
"May!" Billie giggles at her older sister.
Miles chuckles, "Hey, May. How are you doing?" He squat to her level that way she can hug Billie.
Mayday sniffs Billie, "Good and she smells so good. Baby smell!"
"All baby's smell like that." Peter chuckles, "So what's the plan?"
"I thought Miguel gave you the plan?" Gwen asked.
"Well, you're all adults. I thought you guys can make up one. Who needs that Grumps' plan?" Peter asked out loud.
"Miguel is gonna get mad if we don't follow his plan...." Pav hums, as he squat to play patty cake with Mayday while Billie cheers them on.
"I like that. Let's wing it, eh? Come on, luv. We can do it." Hobie said to his partner with his hand on his shoulder.
Miles rub his chin, "I dunno know..."
"Come on! We can do it!" Peter said out loud. "Besides this is level two anomaly. We just go in and out."
Gwen shrugs, "I guess, but if Miguel come at us. I'ma put the blame on you. Your the oldest!"
"I'm not that old." Peter pouts.
Mayday turns to her dad, "Daddy, you're old!"
Pav burst out laughing. "May, why your mean like your mom?" Peter pouts again.
"Anyway let do this!" Hobie said.
The spider heroes group up, then each one began using their webs to swing to the warehouse. Peter said, "Miles. Hobie, you took east. Gwen and Pav. West. I'll come from the top. Remember stay quiet and hidden."
"Got it!"
This is where it got fun. Miles and Hobie stuck together being on top of the stairs out of the warehouse. Hobie peaks to find the anomaly eating something, being all hunched over. Billie saw a blue butterfly coming out of the warehouse, it landed on her nose. "Ohhhh, linda!" her big round doe like eyes gleaming at how pretty it is.
"It's doing nothing? Is this a level 2?" Hobie whispers turning to his boyfriend.
Miles shrugs, "Miguel sent the scan. We should be careful since Lyla seems to give warning to not upset it."
Hobie rolled his eyes, "It's always Miguel said this and that, luv."
"Hobie, he sent it." Miles side eyes him then place his hands on his hips. "Esta loco?"
Hobie sighs, "Sorry, luv. How about a kiss? Come on, I need to know you love me." He pucker his lips waiting for his boyfriend to kiss him.
Miles blushes, "Hobie, we're on a mission."
Billie felt Hobie's body getting way too close for comfort and it made her more mad that the pretty blue butterfly flew away. "NO!" She shoot her web shooter at Hobie's face.
"Good job, Billie." Miles giggles.
"Hey lovebirds! We're about to move close." Peter call them through their earbuds. "Hobie go in. Pav is already setting up the trap. Gwen and Miles, distract the anomaly."
"What do I do?" Mayday asked as she stood on the roof with her dad being excited to help.
"You stay here and be safe, honey. That's a big job."
"Aweee, you never let me help." She pouts.
"I promise you will but you still need to practice on your web shooting, and powers." Peter kisses his daughter's cheek, "Stay safe, remember." Her dad went in one of the holes of the old warehouse.
Miles and Gwen went inside of the warehouse, they saw Peter on top. "Okay, now." He said through their earbuds.
Within a blink an eye, Billie was already seeing pretty blue blasts. Her big brother being extra carefully because of her. Gwen shouting to give warning. The anomaly is all glitching, with a pretty periwinkle blue and white glow. Billie's eyes noticed blue butterflies around the small anomaly. "Pretty!" She said. Why did the butterfly look so small, too?
"Hobie, now!" Peter uses his web shooters to block the entrance.
The anomaly growls and glitch out sounding so afraid like a frail small animal. Hobie appears using his guitar to wack it. The Gwen uses her web to surround it. The anomaly look so scared, confused that it made Billie upset.
When Miles got close enough to use his lightening on it, Billie started to huff and puff. Big tears forming from her eyes as she saw the tiny anomaly whimpering in fear and pain. "Nononononono!" Billie wiggles having to burst out crying out loud!
"Billie? Wha-what's wrong?" Miles looking concern. "Are you hurt?" He quickly took step back to check on his sister.
"Nonononononono. Malo! Malo her-man-no!" She cries out loud with her hands smacking her brother being upset.
"Qué?" Miles trying to calm her down.
Hobie saw the anomaly quickly uses its blue bean to aim at Miles and Billie. "Miles, look out." He quickly pushes them out of the way. The beam aims from bottom to the top. Hitting the roof!
Mayday shrieks seeing the beam coming through. "MAYDAY!" Peter shouted, seeing his daughter falling into the warehouse.
"I gotchu!" Pav swing by to rescue her, catching her in his arms.
Mayday hugs Pat's neck tightly still feeling her heart pounding. That was too close for comfort. She will listen to her dad next time.
Peter saw the warehouse crumbling, "It's falling! Everyone get out." He swing out with Pav and Mayday.
Gwen quickly got out of window. "MILES! HOBIE! OVER HERE!"
The small anomaly scattered away from an opening getting away. Billie saw this and was proud to save it. "Come on, luv. Let's go!" Hobie carries Miles bridal style having to book it.
The group got out safely. Peter sighing in relief having his baby gurl in his arms, "Oh thank god, you're okay May." He almost fainted with relief.
Gwen crosses her arms, "So? Mission fail?"
"Mission fail." They all agreed.
Miles look at Billie being chipper than before. "What happen with Billie?" Pav asked having his chin resting on Miles' shoulder.
"I dunno know. She was crying and I thought she hurt herself? Maybe- I need to go to med-bay. Maybe she sprain something?" He's voice filled with worried.
Hobie said, "I don't think she's hurt... I think she didn't like what we were doing to the anomaly."
"What?" Miles blink in surprised, then again his little sister is smart like Mayday. They are more aware of things than most kids.
Billie merely glance up at her big brother then giggle. Gwen said, "I mean, that's kinda good? She's aware of emotions, right?"
"And bad, because she can't be in missions like this." Peter added having to hold his daughter in his arms being over protective.
Then their watches beeping from Miguel. Lyla's voice rings their ears, "Miguel wants to see you all!"
"UGHH!" Everyone except Mayday and Billie groaned.
"Yay, uncle Mig!" Mayday giggles.
Billie cheers out loud, "Tio!"
"I thought she would hate Miguel?" Hobie asked.
"No, she actually loves him." Miles casually say. "They're best friends."
Hobie stop following him being surprised, "What?" Almost in shock.
Billie laughs out loud at his expression. "Yeah, her and Miguel are like this." Miles crossed his fingers, "Same way with Mayday and Gerald. Hobie, why you're so surprised? Miguel is great with kids."
"It's just..." Hobie pouts at Billie, "Alright, lil one. I'll be your best friend."
"No!" She pouts. "Tio!" She chanted.
Miles laughs, "Oh now, you want her to like you. Why? Because Miguel?" He always knew Hobie would be jealous some way some how.
They all went to spider headquarters to face their leader.
(Part 2)
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I think a lot of people don’t realize how similarly NPD and anxiety (specifically social anxiety) can look and feel, and yet they are treated and judged entirely differently by society. For me, I blamed many of my narcissistic traits on social anxiety before learning the difference, and I’m not the only person who did so. Let me give an examples of why:
I am have extreme anxiety about doing presentations in front of any group of people. I hate class presentations to an extreme degree, and subsequently, was given accommodations for my social anxiety around them. The accommodation I would most commonly ask for was to do my presentation privately just to the teacher, and this was generally agreed to. If you’re looking at this from a social anxiety lens, you most likely are assuming that I just am scared of talking in front of big groups of people, or that I’m afraid my presentation is worse than other peoples and they’ll laugh at how bad mine is, and that’s why doing it to just the professor is helpful.
While this is, in part, true, it does not tell the full story. In reality, when doing a presentation in front of a group of classmates, I find myself anxious that my ideas will go over their heads and make me look stupid, when I don’t feel like I deserve to. When speaking in front of a big group of people, I can’t accurately assess if they are understanding what I’m saying, or if I need to slow down or speed up how I present new information, or how they think of me after the presentation. The anxiety comes from a fear of other people not being able to understand my ideas, and therefore wrongly assuming that I am less intelligent or informed on a topic than I am. I am intensely afraid of being seen as less than. This is also why I feel more comfortable doing the presentation to a professor; there’s only one person for me to try to judge the opinions of, and I have more confidence in their ability to understand my thinking because they are probably more well educated on the subject than my fellow classmates.
Internally, there’s a pretty big difference there, but the outcome is the same: anxiety. Both thought processes deserve equal amount of accommodation, because really, it doesn’t matter why I’m having a panic attack in front of the class, it just matters that I’m having a panic attack in front of the class and deserve to not have to go through that again. No one deserves to be forced into a traumatic situation like that, it never makes the problem better.
However, if I was to tell the disability resources office that I need that same accommodation, but because I have NPD, and explained my reasoning for disliking class presentations, there is a high probability that I would be denied it. It doesn’t matter that I am still experiencing severe anxiety, because NPD is so stigmatized that people think we should be forced to endure genuinely traumatic experiences just for existing.
This is one of the main reasons why I have declined getting a formal NPD diagnosis. The world has not yet learned to have empathy and compassion for people with NPD, and until they do, it is often safer to stay in hiding. If someone tells you they have NPD, try to treat it like you would if someone told you they have anxiety, or depression, or another more accepted mental illness. No one is a bad person just for having a disorder.
#actually npd#actually narcissistic#actually cluster b#npd#npd safe#pro npd#npd info#narcissistic personality disorder#narcissism#npd stigma#anti npd#npd posting#cluster b#mental illness#actually mentally ill#social anxiety#mental health
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On Science, Denialism, and Community
These content warnings apply to 1 specific section, which is marked.
Cw colonialism, white supremacy, ableism, racism, eugenics.
✨✨✨information and trust ✨✨✨
I keep seeing people, who all have otherwise very thought out belief systems, saying things like “trust science” and “we wouldn’t have all these problems if people had better critical thinking skills” and “people just need to listen to the research.”
If you agree with one of those statements, I want you to really think it through for a minute.
Do you make all of your decisions based on research? Do you get all of your information from peer reviewed journals? If so, what are your standards for what you consider good research? Do you rerun all the numbers to make sure they didn’t make any mistakes? Do you check all the citations that the article your reading relies on and make sure that each of those is up to your standards? What about the citations of those articles? How do you know that the numbers they have you are true? How do you know the peer reviewers weren’t paid by the same company, or the same industry? How do you know for sure that there aren’t 100 studies that say the exact opposite thing that never saw the light of day because no one would publish them?
And like, of course you don’t do those things. You can’t answer all those questions. It’s literally impossible to always act on the best information available and always check everything. At some point, you are relying on trust. It’s just a question of how much trust, and who you are trusting.
Science denialism is one thing that can happen when that trust is broken. And, as I’ll describe bellow, that trust will be broken for anyone whose paying attention
✨✨✨Science as an institution ✨✨✨
I think it’s important to remember that the vast majority of what this society has called “science” over the years had been little more than propaganda pieces to justify colonialism, eugenics, and white supremacy. Anyone whose ever worked with data can show you how to manipulate it. But you don’t even need to manipulate it on purpose to do bad science. Hell, for most of the research that happens in this country, the grant selection process manipulates the data on its own. You can make science justify almost anything. The scientific method is okay as a framework, but it is not perfect. And the institutions that exist around it are very good at using the imperfections of the method to create their own propaganda. And they have a nice little shield of science to hide it behind.
But really, take a look around you. The scientific method has brought us many good results, but the idea of science has also justified the worlds worst atrocities. All social harms that exist today exist, in part, becuase they were given scientific justifications. Because at the end of the day, science will tell you whatever you want it to. Information that pushes back may come into existence sometimes, but it will be ignored unless it can be used to someone’s advantage.
[content warnings start here]
Even so called “good science” that genuinely is an attempt at finding truth and understanding reality is not morally neutral. Every advancement has its uses. Advancements in plastics might mean more plastic is made. Advancements in mathematics means more bombs. Advancements in psychology are used to propagandize you. Advancements in medicine are used to create more effective eugenics. Sure, sometimes advancements may help you a little. But the always help power maintain itself more. And sure, sometime s good science that isn’t useful to the system slips thru the cracks, but they will find a way to reincorporate it into the matchine.
And if that’s what the good science does, what about the bad science?
The sterilization and murder of disabled people, of black people, of immigrants, of indigenous people STILL happens in the name of science, separating indigenous people from thier families was done in the name of science. All of the fatshaming that we’ve propagated around the globe has been done in the name of science, and that has a death toll too. Capitalism is justified in the name of science. Incarceration is justified in the name of science. State power is justified in the name of science. Colonizing countries, destroying indigenous food ways, forcing people into sweatshops is done in the name of science.
The murder machine that is the USA relies on science, The propaganda machine that keeps people believing in it relies on science.
[content warnings end here]
And if you’ve ever tried to talk someone out of a belief that’s based in bad science, even committed and nuanced researchers, even using good data, most of them won’t change their minds. How could they? Because what’s the alternative? Aren’t the only two options to be committed to science or to deny it entirely?
✨✨✨Denial ✨✨✨
I think the reason we see so much total science denialism is because people start down the right track. They start to realize that a lot of what they were taught in the name of science is bullshit, and they are correct. You see this a lot with disabled people. Someone will realize, thru personal experiences, that doctors don’t know shit and are making most of it up as they go, and that even the research they do have is usually misguided or flat out wrong. And then they’ll say fuck it, I guess everything they say is a lie. And that’s where you get science denialism.
The problem doesn’t start with the denialists. It starts with the institution. And the more you tell people to just “trust the institution”, the more they will understand that you have no idea what you are talking about. You will push them further into their belief, because you are denying the existence of the very real problems they are pointing out.
But you know who is willing to listen? You know who is willing to understand them, and to teach them even more things that are “wrong”? The climate change deniers. The antivaxers. The TERFs. They are willing to soothe the part of someone that feels hurt, and betrayed, and lied to. They are willing to take that anger and give it a direction. They are willing to say “your right, and I’m sorry. Here’s what we can do about it”.
The only reason I didn’t go down that same path of denial is because I have a lot of free time to find and read academic studies, and I have enough training to understand most of what I read, or at least to know how to find information to understand. And also because I have a lovely community around me. But most people can’t do the research I’ve done, and even if they could, they wouldn’t have the time, and even if they did, no one person can be fully informed on every topic. And they shouldn’t have to be. But we literally cannot trust a single one of these institutions. Science has just as much blood on its hands as the church, and it’s trying it’s best to outpace it. Science is made of lies and propaganda. Can you really fault people for overcorrecting and going full denialist?
As long as we treat it as tho the problem is the denialists, we’ll just be creating the circumstances for more denialism.
✨✨✨ Community ✨✨✨
Remember what I said about trust? About how, at some point, you have to trust someone. Well, here’s the good news. You can actively choose who that will be. This is called community building.
For this to work, you have to be committed to reality. You can’t believe that things just happen, you have to understand that everything is causal, and you have to understand the causes of everything. You must be committed to making your worldview as consistent as possible, and you must be willing to foster that in other people.
Now, it’s not easy. And to do a good job of it, you have to have already interrogated a lot of your beliefs. You have to have a strong system of values and standards that you hold yourself and others to.
But if you have that, you can start to build communities of people you trust. You can split up some of the labor of coming up with ideas and unlearning, and then you can share it with each other. Now, you still have to be critical, even (especially) of the people you trust. You still have to put in work. But doing it as a community means that you won’t have to do so much work. You can share the load of unlearning and relearning. And you can use some of the information science gave you, but you have to verify it, and really think it through.
And when someone comes to you and tells you something, listen to the truth of it. Even if they are lying to you, listen for how they got to the point where they feel that they need to. Even if they are factually wrong, listen for the truth of the experiences that made them believe that. And comfort that part of them. Affirm their pain, affirm their mistrust, and don’t be angry with them. Instead, point them down a path that’s more grounded in reality, and introduce them to community.
✨✨✨closing statement✨✨✨
So many anarchists and likeminded folks realize that we must destroy institutions of power, and that the only way to do that is through community building. Science, heck, even Knowledge itself, is an institution. And of all the institutions we need to destroy and remake, it’s one of the most important. Because the institutions that we can’t live without, the ones that provide the most important services, are the institutions we must replace first. Our systems for food, housing, socializing, conflict resolution, and of course, our systems for making meaning, all need to be replaced before the old ones can be destroyed.
Revolution is not the act of chopping down the Great Tree of Power. Revolution is the act of growing a forest around it, choking it to death by removing its access to light and nutrients, until it is nothing but rot to feed our soil.
[Edit: I want to say that i don’t think I did a perfect job writhing this, and I am very very thankful for any critiques. I think I make have expressed myself only about 65% of how I would like to. I appreciate any add-ins or critiques or thoughts about it]
#anti doctor#antipsychiatry#antipsychology#disabled#disability justice#physical disability#anarcho disability#anarchism#mutual aid#prefigurative politics#spoonie#cpunk#cripple punk#science#research#science denial#dual power#power
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Can we get some more bugler fics about bugler Ingo and Emmet with reader?
sure lmao
cw: poly, fem reader
Ingo was a respectable man.
Well, a hybrid, he supposed.
He watched his lady carefully as she had tea with the noble. Ingo would view his tea making and serving in a respectable manner. Leaning over to just tip the steaming liquid into the porcelain cup. The noble was a visitor of Duke Grimsley's, but he had obtained the butler's distrust by how he acted to the women and servants of the manor. The caramel coloured liquid sat beautifully in the cup while Ingo backed away. He moved to stand at your side as he intently observed the room.
The noble drank his tea with proper etiquette. You did the same, having learnt this all years ago. Ingo was elated to serve you, his childhood friend, and refused to allow any other, excluding his brother, the opportunity for such a role. It was the common manner to take a human as a personal servant, but you could not bear to part for such long periods of time from him, for he was your lover. The secret was closely guarded, held to yours, his, and Emmet's chest without any chance for such information to leak.
Naturally, there were rumours about a possible affair with your butlers, but Grimsley, a husband in name only, seemed apathetic to them. He knew, as well, but he cared not for what you did. The Duke was in much the same situation as you, preferring an improper lifestyle contrary to his position in society. He often left, going out to gambling halls and brothels. It was rare he was actually in the manor. Ingo did not mind, the ring hidden under his white glove was more than enough for him. He would be the one to give his lady children, not the Duke, who lacked interest.
“My dear, may I say that you must have a patient heart,” the noble speaks to you, tea cup clinking against the saucer, “I could not bear such a monstrosity at my side constantly. How do you do it?” Ingo felt offended, but the emotion never reached his face.
Cool, calm, collected. That is what made Ingo a wonderful butler, alongside his aptitude for nurturing and understanding.
“… He is quite an excellent butler, if you can look past his inhuman features,” you explained with a polite, yet dry tone, “Dependable. Kind. Harsh. I rely on him for much. I would dare put forth he acts more like a husband than Grimsley does occasionally.” The noble laughed at the supposed joke, blissfully ignorant to the truth.
“Ah, I see. I just would get annoyed with the slime trail,” he explained, “Why, your butler must spend half the day cleaning up his own mess. How annoying that must be.” Ingo gazed at the hardwood floor of the sitting room that you all currently inhabited. No slime was presently on the floor as he had got better control, able to hide if under his uniform. “If only I had got to you before the Duke, I would have been a much more attentive husband,” the noble offered, “My dearest Lady, you would never have to rely on disgusting creatures such as hybrids for affection.”
Both you and Ingo felt a shared annoyance between yourselves. Ingo grasped the edge of the sofa you sat on while your tea was set onto the saucer. You did not need an attentive husband, as you already had two adoring ones.
The noble left by the late afternoon, leaving you alone with the servantry and yourself in the manor. You took dinner in your room, with your butlers bringing the meal and serving it to you, Emmet having tested it for poisons before you ate. The twins joined you at the table, both lax from the reassurance of the locked door. It was a moment where you three could be open to each other about your love and relationship.
“I should be thankful for Grimsley leaving us to our happiness,” you spoke, patting some sauce away from your face, “Someone like that noble would never accept my relationship to you two.”
“Ingo told me all about him,” Emmet huffed, the Shelmet he captured for himself ready to be eaten, “How verrrrry annoying. If he doesn't mind his business, I might have to intervene.”
“Emmet, I already told you to leave it alone,” Ingo scolded his brother, “It is best we act content with what we have. It's already risky enough with what you did in the servant's quarters.”
Your memory was brought back to that night where Emmet had invited you to his private room. Taking the route through secret hallways, you eventually found yourself comfortably in his bed. Ingo was not calm when he found you together the next morning, but you did not care any more. He was just as guilty as Emmet, despite how he acted. Honestly, you did not think a human could appease as well as they did.
“No fun, Ingo,” the younger twin whined, “All work, no play. Ingo would have never married if you weren't for you.” The older twin flustered and stared at his brother with a green-tinted face. Your meal had gone forgotten as you watched the brothers bicker with a warm heart.
Your situation was unconventional, but you were happy to be married to your childhood friends. They always sought to guard and serve you, keeping you content and smothered in their secret love. Often, however, you wished to be open about your love for them. Proudly married to your bugtlers with a family of noble hybrids started. It was impossible, you knew. Society was just unprepared for such a showing.
Ingo looked ready to wring his brother's neck when you gently grasped his hand and pecked a kiss to his cheek, settling him down. Emmet giggled at his brother's reaction, then demanded your attention for himself.
Yes, you were quite content with your life.
#ingo x reader#emmet x reader#ingo/reader#emmet/reader#ingo x reader x emmet#ingo/reader/emmet#pokehybrid au
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So what do you think it is that John actually loves about Oscar? What made their relationship work for as long as it did? We never really see Oscar treating him all that well in the show, but I'm sure there have been occassions when Oscar has been fully on John's side too or otherwise he wouldn't have stayed so invested in him especially post breakup.
God. Okay. so this is one area where i would love S3 to spell it out a little more, for all the people who are Not insane and are Not making things up in their heads about these guys nonstop and seeing all the things etc. because until then i can only hypothesize and make shit up outright.
ergo. disclaimer as always that
🚨 THIS TUMBLR USER IS NOT NORMAL ABOUT THESE GUYS!!! 🚨
now. because of the very nature of john & oscar's story, we only see them in the midst of conflict — their very first intimate scene together includes oscar hiding information from john, and that information, when it comes out between them, drastically alters their status quo... at least for john, visibly. oscar is determined not to let it do that, but to john this is contrary to everything he wants and the way he thought he and oscar were living their lives together.
i do think john is drawn to oscar in an oscar-is-john's-type way. like the other two guys we can infer john is interested in are, guy who is physically similar to oscar but taller and cleanshaven, and, literally oscar wilde. oscar van rhijn is giving off a certain vibe and also approaches the world and their culture a different way than others, which sets him apart. at first glance it would be easy to assume oscar doesn't care what others think of him: he dresses and speaks in a certain way, he disregards etiquette norms, he seems to have, if not necessarily disdain for or disillusionment with his society, then a sense that he specifically knows better than and is above it. in fact oscar cares very deeply what others think but just has certain traits he does not seem to be willing or able to compromise about himself. but i think john, who by 1882 is so totally decided in his path to live a life that feels authentic to him, would be attracted to that — even if i am sure he comes to know soon enough that it sits on a bedrock of (largely warranted!) social anxiety. it still takes some combination of courage and not giving a fuck and lack of willingness to compromise yourself to behave the way that oscar does.
john, despite his personal beliefs and intentions, does not seem to be living his life such that it conspicuously challenges any norms or mores, in a way that could only be seen as intentional, the way that oscar is. his rejection of marian could be social awkwardness. his introversion — as with all recurring characters if it happens twice it's a habit ✌🏻 — is just a personality trait. his gender expression is giving 19th century masculinity ideal such that future confirmed bachelorhood would be easily explained as plenty of things other than exclusive interest in men. to another person, he simply would not seem to have anything to live with discretion about. there is nothing About john that indicates that the way he wants to live his life and the way he sees himself as a person is deeply incongruent with his culture, and if he needs to or chooses to he can actively pretend otherwise very effectively. i think there is an element of john's attraction to oscar that is tied up in their outward expression and what it takes or doesn't take for them to express themselves the way they do. john isn't the same type of guy as oscar but i still get the impression that if he wanted to be, he wouldn't or couldn't act the way oscar does, where he is trying to be one person throughout every sphere of his life with nothing reflecting or bearing on anything else.
BUT that is all reasons to be into a guy, but not necessarily to live with him for years and be totally in love with him and design your mental future around him. which is not to say that attraction is not important! like the sex is clearly phenomenal! but also, look at john with your eyes and tell me he couldn't have anybody else he wanted you know.
which brings me to.
first of all, i totally agree with your estimation that oscar must have been there for john in some way that john appreciated in the past that we just haven't seen. i also think it's safe to assume that there are Very Many aspects of their relationship that we haven't seen — in 1.08, john says he doesn't see why they can't carry on as Before, meaning before oscar was looking for a wife, meaning 1.01 was like, the tip of the iceberg for them, for us as an audience. we have not seen Before! they have known each other long enough aurora describes them as old friends and they're clearly obsessed with each other, there's a wealth of history there the audience just doesn't get to see.
and then digging into that... i actually think john and oscar could be really compatible and complementary and Good For Each Other under the right circumstances. opposites attract in this case! john is clearly very cerebral and very sensitive, and even under the circumstances we Have seen them in, oscar has demonstrated an understanding of that and how to draw John out of it when he needs to — "I am preoccupied but nothing's the matter", the entire 1.09 interaction; despite his steadfastly not listening to what John actually wants let alone acknowledging it in this particular topic when it Is eventually made clear to him, he clearly understands what will upset John: "never mind about that now" is bad communication when it isn't followed up on but good recognition of time and place and emotional needs. i think oscar not only Gets john but for the most part knows how to actually deal with him....
BECAUSE last but not least. the thing that looking at him with your eyes two paragraphs ago was Supposed to bring us to. john adams the gilded age is like, the absolute embodiment of He's A Ten But. this man has SO many emotional problems! i do not think they have ever like, Infringed on oscar in quite the way they do in 1.08 before, but i do think they must have Manifested and oscar was perhaps what John needed if not necessarily the most straightforwardly Supportive about it. i think oscar has a lot of what John needs and is in that position where he can draw him out and keep him grounded, up to the point where the issues are between them and relationship rupturing. and i think oscar is his own little brand of weird that means he not only puts up with it but even takes satisfaction in doing so — oscar clearly likes Knowing Better and taking care of the people he is close to, and john gives him opportunities for that, and that obviously could benefit john immensely too.
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hey, i'm a disordered autistic person and i think i'd like to be non-disordered. i want to be able to see my autism as just another part of me, rather than something that, at times, actively makes my life worse. is it possible to become non-disordered? if so, do you know how? sorry if this is a stupid question.
Now different people might have different opinions on this but imo the biggest thing is perspective.
There are undeniably many issues that come with being autistic in our society, but how much of that is inherent to being autistic? Evidence shows again and again that when the environment and the people around an autistic person are adapted to that person, the autistic person does better. There is more and more evidence that the widely accepted negative indicators of autism, eg meltdowns, are in fact not autistic traits but autistic trauma responses, and those raised by birth in the correct way do not experience the negative aspects of being autistic in the same way.
And even these negative parts, are you viewing it fairly? An NT some situations will struggle horribly too! You ever seen 2 people from very different cultures communicate? Its a struggle sometimes. Everyone has sensory limits and can and will meltdown if pushed too far. Their is very little about autism that does not have some analogous experience in NTs. But they are not judged so much when they hit a wall, because thats "normal", and they hit those walls less often because the whole world accomadates them. View you own burnouts and meltdowns and bad days with the same compassion you would anyone else.
Furthermore, everyone's neurotype makes their life harder at times. Even NTs. Those fuckers just cannot meet a deadline like I can with my adhd. And that can have serious consequences for them! But are they seen as disordered for it? Can NTs research and catalogue niche information like many autistic people can? Like hell can they! Must suck for NTs working in research, or writing essays for school. Their is no neurotype that gives you an easy ife.
And another important bit i think is self acceptance. You are who you are and you need to work with that. Do not aim for normal. Forget normal. Eg my kid hates the feeling of socks. So we dont make it wear socks. Sure there is more risk of blisters but with socks it is guaranteed sensory hell, so it risks the blisters. For a long time it didn't like its bed so we had sleeping spaces under tables and inside cupboards all over the house. It doesnt like the feel of shampoo so it doesnt use it. It doesnt like visual clutter so we hide food and drink bottles and controllers behind the sofa cushions. I've sewn buttons inside its sleeves for stimming and we cut the labels off all of its clothes. It cannot handle clothes very well, I could count the hours it has worn clothes over the past 2 years on my fingers and toes. Sometimes it doesnt like to speak normally so it only says the first syllable of words and thats fine. It has anxiety over owning things so I gift myself things it likes for it to steal from me later. You have to work *with* your quirks. You will not live a normal looking life but you will live one that makes you comfortable. And dont be afraid to ask people for help. We are a social species, we need to lean on each other.
Im sure plenty of followers have some takes so pls contribute.
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Prince Harry Takes a Stand for Us All: ‘If They’re Supposedly Policing Society, Who On Earth is Policing Them?’
The crisis and corruption in the British press is one of the biggest, ongoing scandals of our time. Byline Times tips its hat to Prince Harry
Hardeep Matharu
6 June 2023
A court sketch of Prince Harry giving evidence in his civil trial against Mirror Group Newspapers. Photo: Elizabeth Cook/PA/Alamy
“Democracy fails when your press fails to scrutinise and hold the government accountable, and instead choose to get into bed with them so they can ensure the status quo… The country and the British public deserve to know… We will be better off for it.”
Today, the Duke of Sussex was the first senior member of the Royal Family in more than 130 years to give evidence to a civil court. He also became one of the British establishment’s very own – a prince of the realm, no less – to expose what he alleges was illegal information gathering by one of this country’s major tabloid newspaper groups.
Will he receive the praise he deserves for speaking the unspeakable? Unlikely. With all his privilege and wealth, Prince Harry is painted as playing the ultimate victim by the press he hopes to hold accountable. In turn, these tabloids can then claim the victimhood they often hide behind when challenged. Who is a prince to tell the free press anything?
But, when someone with the experience, insights and access to the elite circles that Prince Harry has brings a claim such as the one he is in the High Court pursuing against Mirror Group Newspapers we should all take notice.
In many ways, his wealth and privilege insulate him – he has very little to lose, or gain, in any material sense from this case. Rather, it is the point of principle which he seems to be advancing in the public interest. Of all the people to speak of the importance of an accountable press for a healthy democracy, truth and decency, it is frankly remarkable that it is one of the British elite’s own. But his level of knowledge of the workings and culture of the British press is a testament to his commitment to bringing about change.
In his extraordinary statement to the court, Prince Harry said “I fully accept and agree with the fact that journalists and the media own the public square, in as much as, if you are in a position of responsibility and or are funded by the taxpayer, the media should have the power to be able to investigate anyone, anytime, for pretty much anything” but that “over the last 15 to 20 years, there are now incredibly powerful media companies who masquerade as journalists and who have, quite literally, hijacked journalistic privileges for their own personal gain and agenda. It’s an unbelievably dangerous place”.
How often do we ever hear anything about “journalistic privileges”?
The prince went on to say that “whoever you are, if you are of interest to the press at that time, wherever you are, whatever you’re doing – if you’re in private or if you’re in public – you are a target. You become a victim of their system”.
“They claim to hold public figures to account, but refuse to hold themselves accountable,” he said. “If they’re supposedly policing society, who on earth is policing them, when even the government is scared of alienating them because position is power. It is incredibly worrying for the entire UK.”
For the fifth in line to the British throne, this claim is about trying “to save journalism as a profession”. However unusual a turn of events that may seem, this newspaper applauds Prince Harry for daring to confront one of the biggest, under-reported, ongoing, scandals of our times: that we have an entire power bloc in this country, which can impact all of our lives, that receives hardly any scrutiny. Not of its owners, intentions or consequences.
“Journalists need to expose those people in the media that have stolen or hijacked the privileges and powers of the press and have used illegal or unlawful means for their own gain and agendas,” his statement said. “I am bringing this claim, not because I hate the tabloid press or even necessarily a section of it, but in order to properly hold the people who have hijacked those privileges, which come with being a member of the press, to account for their actions.”
In remarks that particularly caught the eye of the Daily Mail et al, the prince put it bluntly: “On a national level as, at the moment, our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our government – both of which I believe are at rock bottom.”
That it takes a prince of the British Royal Family to draw such conclusions publicly, rather than our press, says a lot about the current state we are in. Harry is one of the establishment’s own, and this is exactly why the majority of the established press – particularly the right-wing tabloids – are so hostile to him. In conjunction with the political class, they are also part of the elite – and to have one of their own call it out will be a little too close to home.
But the real question is: will anything fundamentally change? While Prince Harry has given his testimony and opened himself up to cross-examination, none of the journalists or editors who he says were behind the alleged unlawful intrusions into his life are giving evidence. Fielding questions about specific journalistic practices in tabloid newsrooms is not for the Duke of Sussex.
So will there ultimately be any answers or accountability from the press itself? Beyond some limited high-profile media coverage of the court case, which inevitably always frames the issue as historic phone-hacking allegations – rather than the distorting culture of some of our biggest newspapers and proprietors and editors that is really at its heart?
While the Conservative Government shelved the second part of the landmark Leveson Inquiry into press ethics and practices, which followed the exposure of the phone-hacking scandal, there is no guarantee that a change of government will help. Keir Starmer’s Labour Party swims in the same toxified waters as the current crop of politicians in charge does – will media reform be high on its list after more than a decade out of power? We will have to wait and see.
But it should be. Because, as Prince Harry has said, if newspapers “can truly believe they are above the law… it’s the general public that suffer. It’s really that simple”.
It is difficult to see how Britain would be in the position it is in now – weakened politically and economically both at home and on the world stage – if a truly independent and accountable press had provided the necessary checks on power all healthy democracies need.
I have never understood how being a journalist isn’t seen as anything but an immense privilege and responsibility. Excavating what is happening around us and why, getting close to the people and events that matter, and having the tools to expose wrongdoing is one of the most fulfilling and important jobs there is. But the truth is, it’s all too often not seen like this at all.
Too much of established British journalism remains an elite, closed club. Close to power and influencing it; while claiming to have none but playing victim when it is scrutinised in the slightest. That it continues to get away with its ability to distort our politics and society is one of the biggest stories, and scandals, of our time. Prince Harry is taking a stand for us all.
WRITTEN BY
Hardeep Matharu
Hardeep Matharu is the Editor of Byline Times
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Thursday Thoughts: Return of the Space Jews
Remember that time three years ago I wrote about how impressed I was with the way Captain Marvel handled the whole shapeshifting lizard people/“Space Jews” thing? If not, I recommend reading it here before continuing with this blog post, because I don’t plan to go through all the background information again.
I went to D23 Expo earlier this month. It was amazing. For about 99% of the time I was there, I had a smile on my face. The remaining 1% was in a specific moment. My friends and I were wandering the expo floor, trying to decide what to go see next, and we walked past the Marvel Studios stage. A video montage was playing on the big screen, showing clips and bits of cast interviews for upcoming streamed series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
One bit was about Secret Invasion. And as I watched and listened from across the aisle, my jaw dropped, and I said out loud, “NO.”
And it took me a bit to explain to my friends why I was mad. Because I was, frankly, livid. And heartbroken. Because the MCU did so well before - so much better than I could have ever imagined they would. But I guess they just couldn’t resist.
Secret Invasion is about Nick Fury’s fight to win a secret war and save the world from the Skrulls, the shapeshifting lizard people who have infiltrated human society.
I wish it didn’t need saying again, but the whole idea that there is a group of people who have sneakily infiltrated our world, who look and act just like us but on the inside are not like us and are not really even human, who are secretly controlling the world and are out to destroy us, is WHITE SUPREMACIST IDEOLOGY.
Regardless of the intent of the filmmakers, stories like this perpetuate the philosophies that have me and every other Jew outside of Israel constantly walking on eggshells, wondering how the goyim around us will react once they learn what we are. This is not entertainment. This is not apolitical. This is a problem.
As I discussed in my blog post three years ago, the Skrulls as portrayed in the MCU to this point are an undeniable allegory for real-world Jews. Captain Marvel makes incredibly effective use of Holocaust imagery to cast the Skrulls as the minority refugees hiding from their fascist oppressors. Heck, the film even adopts a nigh-on Zionist message in the end, when Carol Danvers commits herself to helping these refugees find the homeland they so desperately seek, where they can live free from oppression and express their culture without fear!
If anyone tries to tell you that the Skrulls have nothing to do with Jews, feel free to laugh in their face. They are Space Jews.
But unlike so many examples of Space Jews, in Captain Marvel, the Skrulls were not an antisemitic stereotype. They were a subversion of that overused bigoted trope.
To quote myself from three years ago: “It would have been so easy for this film’s writers, directors, editors, and actors to just keep the Skrulls as the bad guy. There are years of ‘aliens infiltrating human society’ films that lead me to expect it to simply be the thing that just happens.”
And now, once again, it is simply the thing that has happened. The sneaky shapeshifting lizard people have returned in all their evil, antisemitic glory. And writing a story like this, when we all know that they’re perfectly capable of writing a story that is not only different but better than the stories of the past, is a conscious choice.
We deserve better than this.
#thursday thoughts#mcu#marvel#captain marvel#secret invasion#skrulls#antisemitism#lizard people#conspiracy theories#antisemitic tropes#antisemitic stereotypes#white supremacy
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Ask me Anything 2 -- Max
These answers can also be found here.
Do you pirate media? I feel like you wouldn’t but it would be funny if you did.
I’m not sure what that means. Give me a moment to… ah, I see. No, if I want to access media, I simply purchase it. Or trade favours for it, as necessary. I’ve never illegally copied things for unentitled personal use, and I stand by my claim that that whole incident with the hidden texts in the Nordja library was a massive misunderstanding and nobody can prove I made any illegal copies of anything. All evidence is circumstantial and their ancestor’s rather hilariously embarrassing personal diaries show no evidence of being tampered with, so the accusations are spurious.
I mean, I assume the diaries are hilariously embarrassing. I wouldn’t know, of course. Since I don’t have a copy.
From a magical research standpoint, are you glad you were caught up in Kayden’s nonsense and the Slow Destruction of Wizard Society, or do you wish none of this has happened?
Those aren’t mutually exclusive. Given that our world is on the brink of destruction, am I glad I know about it and can help us not all die? Yes, obviously. Do I wish said destruction wasn’t happening? Yes, obviously.
If you could have access to all the information the adults/council are hiding right now, would you give up being involved in the first successful human familiar creation in its stead? This is sort of related to the previous question lol.
Exactly what sort of person do you think I am?
We don’t know exactly how to save the world, but we do know that the information we need is buried in the depths of this school. It is extremely likely that somebody on the Council has this information. If we had access to all of their information, putting together a plan to save the world would presumably become far, far easier.
The successful experiment you refer to is not something I chose to do, it is not something I would have done if there had been any option. It puts my two dearest friends in danger, every day. I worry about them, every day.
And you ask me whether I would choose to have information that could save the world for the great cost of… my friends being far safer? That’s your question? What kind of attention-hungry hack of a scientist and simpering scummy excuse for a human being do you think I am? Do you think the prestige of that accidental accomplishment outweighs the danger to Kylie and Kayden’s lives, let alone the safety of the entire world?
This is a phenomenally stupid question.
Do you need a hug, buddy?
Ah. No, thank you.
You don't seem all that concerned about breaking yourself. Maybe you should talk to a counselor?
Unnecessary. No cost is too great to save the world, and honestly I got off really lightly here. I’m mostly relieved.
What is your theory on why Kayden is able to remain as stable as he has been, with the whole Familiar thing?
Magic inhabits humans far, far better than it inhabits anything else. Most of what we’ve seen from Kayden – the ‘clinginess’ of Kylie’s spell and inability to cancel the link, their exceptional range, his body adapting to take more and more magic over time – makes perfect sense with what we know about how spells and human bodies interact with each other. Of course, this affinity is also the reason that the spell should have burned him out and killed him within seconds of the ritual. Everything makes sense, except his resilience to its power, or their... harmony, I suppose. The obvious crutch explanation here is ‘Fionnrath’s Destiny is extremely clever, maybe it’s aware enough to be careful with him’, but smart spells have been tried before, without success. Besides which, a spell is ‘smart’ at what it’s trained to do – the Destiny is farseeing and communicative and more understanding of nuance than most spells, because of how it’s always been used. But it’s not usually linked to a familiar! There’s no need; it’s usually trapped inside its locus! If anything, it should be worse at this than most spells!
I’m forced to conclude that there must be something about Kayden, either natural or artificial, that helps to bind and tame and channel the magic. But I have no idea how that could even be possible. I certainly didn’t do that to him, and I know he didn’t, and if we’d already solved the problem of taming foreign magic within the body like that, there’d be other human familiars wandering around already. So I have no idea what could be going on here, other than ‘the world’s most miraculously coincidental affinity between a spell and a mage that doesn’t even qualify to wield it’.
And I don’t take miraculous coincidence as an answer.
Would you like this plushie I found of a panda
Ah, no, thank you. Ever since Magistus gave Kayden that giant teddy larger than his bed, I’ve been cautious about introducing plush animals to the room. We were able to abandon that monstrosity when changing rooms after Initiation; if Kayden gets it into his head to get another one now, we could be stuck with it for years. Best not to risk it.
Would you rather be locked up or go through the initiation once again?
I don’t entirely understand the question. Locked up by whom? For how long?
What do you feel about your family?
My family are fine. Good people, support my interest in science, want what’s best for me. All that.
Have you ever ran away from home?
Oh, no, I was never brave enough for anything like that! Could you imagine how Dad would react to that sort of thing?!
What is your favorite color?
Mustard yellow.
What is your favorite piece of media?
Neighbours, but only up to 2016. There’s simply no point without Lou Carpenter to carry the entire show on his back.
What do you hate the most?
I’m not a fan of that Tarada series that Saina keeps showing Kayden. He always comes back to rant about how terrible it is, and I’m fully aware of how terrible it is.
Would you rather have been born in a commonfolk family?
What? Of course not. I love my family.
You are a really sheltered person, do you realize that you know little about the real world?
Wow. Rude.
I know little about the real world? And just how much do you expect you know? I didn’t come here to be insulted by some jumped-up stranger who decides to simply assert out of nowhere that my knowledge must be lacking without examining their own. Do you believe that your knowledge is broader or more important than mine? Why? On what possible grounds do you assert that, and to what purpose? I’ve played these stupid little games with people a lot smarter and a lot wiser than you, stranger, and you’ve just proven to me that you’re not worth my time. We’re done here.
Kayden or Kylie, pick one to live with? (And no picking Kylie and using the fact the Kayden is a familiar to pick both) (no picking neither too)
I’m not picking anything. Leave me alone.
Can you pass Kayden's geas to another person with your spell? Or something like this?
I said we’re done here.
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Hiiii not babymonster related but I am having a depression or like being lonely I feel stuck like having a social anxiety how can I overcome this I feel that people don't like me because I am weird or not interacting of I am just a lonely person I feel I am just a back up friend always being left out there's a time I kinda what to die like drinking or taking pills committed suicide hope can I overcome this like society anxiety how can I motivated myself and be stronger
finally something not baemon related!
look, there are so many ways to light yourself up, to feel better.
although i don’t do personal readings because i don’t want to interfere with everyone’s energies altogether atm and i want to take small steps doing readings, i talked with my friend yesterday about shadow work. it’s about working with your unconscious mind to uncover the parts of yourself that you repress and hide from yourself. there are many ways to do it: medidating, brainstorming, even having shadow journal, there are many methods to do it.
you can start first with questioning yourself about the things you’re worried about. i can do always 3-card health related reading but if my interpretation doesn’t align with you, then what? the best answer about all your questions is deep inside you. you can cry if you find the long needed answers as long as you need and what but that’s the best way to understand the reason behind all this happening to you no matter how you do it.
after that, you have to accept yourself, your mistakes and actions. if that’s hard to you, then ask yourself why it’s so hard. try to accept everything that happened and is going on.
i did shadow work years ago without even realising it. the answer about gaining your willpower to live back might be in front of you without realising it.
atm i do have hardships to gain my willpower back, but i’ve decided to rest before feeling i have to gain it back because i feel better to not force myself but i prepare myself to do another type of shadow work just to gain my willpower back.
i do believe you should try doing shadow work. however, there are many blogs with different information about shadow work, so my best advice is if you’re ready to try it, align with what you’re feeling most comfortable with.
it’s not your fault that this is happening to you. however, we have to take in one way or another to be responsible and get over everything that’s going on.
i believe you should do shadow work first and then you can motivate yourself, think positive, accept yourself and do everything you need to make your life better. if you can’t try it, then what? everything is going to be the same, or even worse?
it can be hard to do everything in once. you can try with the smallest things, and later the bigger, to the point there is only one thing that you can fix and it’s the biggest issue you possibly have. if you’re not ready yet, you can rest and prepare to do it after a while, it’s whatever you need. but sooner or later, this might be your last chance. try it, i believe that you have nothing to lose.
after trying shadow work in its fullest potential you can reach and find willpower about living, then you can try to socialise.
maybe you can try to do some hobbies? distract yourself? there are always alternatives to feel better THAT ARE NOT INVOLVING DRUGS, ALCOHOL AND CIGARETTES. there is always another way.
don’t forget that you’re not alone. you can fight it, find your willpower and feel better. i believe in you. you’re stronger than you realise it.
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how is it ableist to tell a grown woman not to glorify anorexia to her largely child audience lol
i'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt here and assume that you're actually willing to listen to me explain this shit (which honestly shouldn't have to be explained but sometimes that's how it be), but i will absolutely block you if you read what i'm about to say and continue to be bigoted.
the first thing i feel the need to address here is that you have already whipped out a very commonly used straw man about this topic. you say that she's 'glorifying anorexia.' how is she doing that, exactly?
has she ever talking about eating disorders in a positive light? no.
has she ever talked about eating disorders at all, expect for instances in which she's being forced to defend herself against harassment? only when she was sharing pieces of her ED story after heavy public pressure to do so, and when she did, she was non-explicit and only ever portrayed her ED as a negative thing that she needs to get better from.
has she ever said, or even implied, that she thinks that thinness is superior to fatness? no.
since Eugenia has never actually done anything to 'glorify anorexia,' unless you can prove me wrong with information that i have somehow missed, i can only assume that you're implying that she's glorifying anorexia by showing her body.
this is an argument that was brought to popularity by the youtuber Onision. if you're talking about Eugenia like this than i believe it's safe to assume that you know who Onision is, but even if you don't, it barely matters because he's still the one who popularized your narrative, whether you're aware of it or not. the premise is, 'Eugenia has a body that is not possible to achieve without severe malnourishment. her body is visible in many of her videos, and people are seeing her body and wanting to be like her. this is her fault for making her body visible in the first place.'
i do understand where that argument is coming from. i used to think similarly, if im being completely honest here. but if you actually apply any sort of human decency or critical thinking to it, it very quickly becomes apparent how absolutely vile and disgustingly dehumanizing it is.
Eugenia is a human person. She's an adult woman with interests and a personality and aspirations and people she loves. She has a pug named ginger who she loves dearly. She's an amazing makeup artist and outfit stylist. And she happens to have an eating disorder. She did not choose to have an eating disorder, no one chooses to have an eating disorder. She did not choose how severely her eating disorder would impact her. She did not choose to have a body that reflects her eating disorder.
i think that at least one critical piece here that you might not fully understand is that you don't choose to be mentally ill. not even anorexia, which is a disorder that can seem to BE nothing but a series of unhealthy choices.
Eugenia did not choose to give herself the body that we see today. her eating disorder chose it for her. and she is still a human person, with or without the disorder, and that's still her body, with or without the disorder.
is it not cruel to tell someone that they can't do certain things because of something they did not choose for themselves? is it not ableist to tell someone that they need to hide themselves away in shame because they have an illness that makes them too unpalatable to be seen by the public?
it is absolutely ableist to tell someone with a chronic disorder that they need to hide themselves or that they're tainting society simply by publicly existing in a body that is sick. fucking period.
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Step 1 - Spiritual Principles
If I've been thinking about using or acting out on my addiction in some other way, have I shared it with my sponsor or told anyone else?
I have mentioned to my sponsor and the instructor for the class I'm in for probation when I've been stuck in having a lot of cravings. Luckily, they've eased off.
2. Have I stayed in touch with the reality of my disease, no matter how long I've had freedom from active addiction?
Yes. I know in my heart that if I allow myself to have a single hit, I'll go straight back to using just as much as I was before I started recovery.
3. Have I noticed that, now that I don't have to cover up my addiction, I no longer need to lie like I did? Do I appreciate the freedom that goes along with that? In what ways have I begun to be honest in my recovery?
It's very freeing to not have to hide my addiction anymore. It's so much easier to be able to go to someone helping you in your recovery and be able to say "Hey, I'm really struggling right now. I need your support." It took me months to finally be able to call someone and tell them that. But now that I can, it helps so much.
4. What have I heard in recovery that I have trouble believing?
That we have to abstain from all substances; including alcohol and marijuana. I struggled with alcohol as a teenager, but was able to overcome it with will power. Now, I only drink very rarely. Marijuana, I view as medicinal. I believe it can be very beneficial for someone such as myself, that struggles with anxiety, eating enough, and sleep problems. Although I do understand that as an addict, we have a higher risk of abusing things that we enjoy.
5. In what ways am I practicing open-mindedness?
I am willing to give suggestions a try, even if I don't agree with them. I understand that others (with longer recovery time) in NA have a better understanding of how the program works and that they would not steer me in the wrong direction.
6. Am I willing to follow my sponsor's direction?
1,000%. I know she would only give me helpful information and advice. I know she has my best interest at heart.
7. Am I willing to go to meetings regularly?
Yes. I keep a weekly alarm on my phone to remind me when to sign into In The Rooms (intherooms.com) to attend my favorite meeting.
8. Am I willing to give recovery my best effort? In what ways?
I am. And so far, I have given it my best effort. I regularly talk to my sponsor, and we go over my Step answers as I finish sections. I also regularly attend my meetings because I know my sponsor isn't the only person who can help me in recovery.
9. Do I believe that I'm a monster who has poisoned the whole world with my addiction? Do I believe that my addiction is utterly inconsequential to the larger society around me? Or something in between?
I believe I'm somewhere in between. I believe that my addiction did affect some people, but more so the people close to me, rather than the rest of society.
10. Do I have a sense of my relative importance within my circle of family and friends? In society as a whole? What is that sense?
Within my friends and family, yes. I believe I do have some relative importance. Not as much in society as a whole though. I feel like I don't offer society as much as other people may.
11. How am I practicing the principle of humility in connection with this work on the First Step?
By realizing that I don't have the answers to everything in recovery. That I have to rely on others to help guide me in the right direction.
12. Have I made peace with the fact that I'm an addict?
Yes. I knew a long time ago that I was an addict, and have since made peace with it.
13. Have I made peace with the things I'll need to do to stay clean?
Yes. I know it involves Step Work, attending meetings regularly, and asking for help with I need it.
14. How is acceptance of my disease necessary for my continued recovery?
If you do not accept that you are an addict, you cannot fully work the Steps and begin to heal.
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Talkin' About Poop
(CN: Hashimoto's disease, chronic dehydration, mental health, suicidal ideation and yes, poop. Mostly poop.)
Why have I decided to talk about poop today? I think it's something we need to destigmatize, so that people can ask for help, and spread knowledge for the benefit of others.
As a bit of an aside, I always find it funny when the young'ns make fun of Activia commercials. You don't think you'll be talking about your poop with your middle-aged friends/family some day? HAHAHA! Almost everyone in my life has some sort of borderline traumatizing poop issue.
Here's mine: People with Hashimotos are chronically dehydrated, which causes chronic constipation. (I feel I like I should address that really severe constipation can lead to a medical emergency, but I'm not talking about that today.) Constipation can be ridiculously uncomfortable and often pretty damn painful, but here's something else I learned recently: It can cause anxiety!
I found an article from Pubmed Central (through the US National Library of Medicine) stating, "...the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders in constipated patients is much higher than general population..." I looked that up on a hunch. The hunch was that last night, after a week of taking mega doses of laxatives with no results, I started spiraling into anxiety and depression, thinking everyone hated me, and experiencing passive suicidal ideation. Then I pooped.
I didn't have any idea the two were related, but being physically comfortable without respite for a while can certainly have a negative impact on your mental health. And then there's this:
"...A person's stomach or intestinal distress can be the cause or the product of anxiety, stress, or depression." (Harvard Medical Publishing) So yeah, it's kind of a which-came-first situation. Anxiety certainly doesn't make it any better for me.
I was so unfamiliar with being healthy when I was younger, I didn't even talk to doctors about my gastric issues for years. I only talked to them about my most outwardly noticable symptoms, which at the time was that I was having migraine related seizures that I couldn't hide. It didn't even occur to me that ALL systems need to be working for the body to function properly. We have this basic understanding with vehicles, but we don't do this for ourselves. We wait until we're falling apart, when we know we've had a pain, something feeling off, or, ya know, weird poop for a month.
A lot of us in the US feel trapped because there's just not an emphasis on healthcare in our society. Sometimes, our only option is to crowdsource for health solutions. I think that sucks, but if that's what you're doing right now, here's *my advice for healthy poops:
1. Eat your ruffage (leafy greens, lettuce, cabbage, kale, brussel sprouts, etc.)
2. Look for fiber content in food or suppliments. Here's a guide to healthy amounts of fiber. (It's the first one that popped up when I googled it.)
3. For the love of God, drink lots of water. Myself, I drink a minimum of 64oz of water a day, in addition to any fluids I may get through foods. But really, I drink way more than that.
4. Consider the possibility that certain foods may be related to your discomfort. You might try eliminating certain foods for a couple of weeks to see how it makes you feel.
5. De-stress - whatever that means to you. Your mental state can absolutely affect your gut.
*I am not a medical professional! I just have gut issues. If you can talk to a doctor, I highly recommend that. Never withhold important health information from your doctor, even if it's a bit embarrassing!
Get your poops healthy!
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