#but not slavery in specific that's not a thing

[paper-mario-wiki]

alright look i know my following is not the target audience for this kind of post but i wanna at least point something out about a scene in the Fallout show that i haven't actually heard a single person point out or comment on.

spoilers ahead.

in the scene where the ghoul is rewatching his old movie, specifically the scene where he originally protested about killing the villain.

the first layer is the obvious one: he is talking directly to himself. "you were strong, ugly, and you had dignity. i'll give you two out of those three." he remembers what happened at that shoot just as clearly as we did, and after he literally tells himself to his face "you're strong, ugly, and have no dignity" followed by him killing the man he originally wanted his character to save. this, of course, coming DIRECTLY after the person he sold into slavery earlier that day sparing him with life saving medicine while he's on the ground and telling him to his face that he only lives on because someone stuck to their humanity. very heavy! i bet he feels like shit, which he probably should because he's kind of a jerkoff! (but in a cool way that i like to watch)

the SECOND layer is the one i find way more interesting. the phrasing of his final line we didn't hear before was so dripping with importance that it felt like i was reading RPG dialogue and story relevant words were highlighted. "i hope you like the taste of lead you commie son of a bitch". as we'd already seen in episode 3, he despises vault-tec for everything he knows they are responsible for while he was their face. moreover, it's made clear that he doesn't just resent himself for being used for their image, but he resents the fact that he was the face of the propaganda which drove the war fever that caused the end of the world. the wild west ideal caricature of masculine wisdom from the movies as the spokesperson of the company who stood to profit from the purposeful decimation of the human race. he became The Ultimate Jingo.

and i really enjoyed how brief yet informative that detail was! i really enjoyed how the directors tell you what the characters are thinking intuitively and effectively through the camerawork and those little details make the whole thing a lot more fun to mull over and consider as a part of the whole of Fallout! i think it's neat.

#text #fallout show #im not joking when i say ive considered recording a podcast that's just a rifftrax over the episodes of fallout #but instead of making jokes i just do like. a reverse directors commentary. #i do an audience commentary where i point out what all the shit means and how cool it is

[batsarebetterthanpeople]

I don't think "everyone in the global north is personally complicit for buying a cell phone" is a useful way to understand the slavery and genocide involved in mining for phone parts. I'm not saying "oh you have to have sympathy for people in the imperial core" I'm saying that trying to argue that everybody is at fault based on the country they live in really let's the billionaires who set up the mines, decided to use slavery to produce the phones in order to cut costs, didn't look for another natural resource less deadly to mine to use to make the batteries, aggressively marketed the devices, used their little gig economy upstarts to make it so you literally can't get a job or navigate a city among other things without one, planned the obsolescence, punished people who try to repair their own instead of buying a new one, made it impossible to recycle the materials, and so on off the hook for what they've done. Like sure we all have cell phones, I'm typing this on one, but why do we all have them. And why are we expected to replace them every year. It's not because all Americans are greedy, it's because capitalism feeds off of suffering and there's very specific people at the top forcing that to continue.

[olderthannetfic]

https://www.tumblr.com/olderthannetfic/748370073567313920/i-think-for-me-one-of-the-big-stumbling-blocks-i

People in the replies are jumping to a lot of really obnoxious conclusions about anon that really just ultimately illustrate anon’s point.

There’s all this stuff that is *assuming* anon is pro censorship when they never say anything like that (and in fact, i thought they suggested the opposite). They’re talking about how sex positivity and anti-anti attitudes get weaponized or misused in some fandom spaces to make people feel like it’s wrong for them to be squeamish and want to *personally* avoid men who are really vocal about their love of lolicon and slavery isekai, because guys who are that vocal about it have in their experience, tended to have that reflect real world attitudes.

I think it’s good to point out that plenty of people like these things privately and you’ll never know, and it’s the being super vocal about it around uninterested people that’s the red flag here. But people just assuming that anon holds every attitude they associate with some stereotypical anti, and that their message indicates some thinking to BE CAREFUL! about… really just proves their point that a lot of people have a bad tendency to only see this in terms of how things work in their particular corner of fandom, and don’t recognize how what can mean one thing in one, primarily female and queer space, doesn’t necessarily translate well to a space with a lot of entitled cis dudes. Assuming that personal discomfort with certain kinds of fiction automatically translates into being pro censorship (what) when that person said nothing else to indicate that, is one such assumption.

(Also one person was trying to suggest it was racist of anon to “single out hentai”… maybe the reason they mentioned hentai is because they’re *specifically* talking about anime fandom?!?)

Idk, it doesn’t help proshippers if we can’t see anything except via the narrow lens of pro vs anti fights on Tumblr and AO3, be able to advocate our positions. We are aware of how fandom blinders can blinker people in the opposite direction—antis who don’t recognize that rhetoric that they think is just all about shipping is also used by right wing activists to advocate banning books and drag shows—but it’s true in both directions.

Being uncomfortable with a lot of “sex positivity” rhetoric because you’ve mostly seen it used to tell you you’re wrong to be uncomfortable with dudes who are super outspoken and pushy about their porn habits is a really common experience for lefty women IME, both outside of fandom and in fandom spaces with more cis dudes. Most women I’ve met like that are vocally anti censorship, it’s about being able to take charge of their personal boundaries and not have them shamed. Proshippers pushing them away by loading more unhelpful and inaccurate judgments on them aren’t helping them and are just shrinking their movement, making it more likely it’ll be dismissed as just “very online fandom drama” (and if you’re that clueless, are they wrong, really?)

Also it’s just helpful to better understand why some people might find your enemies’ arguments more initially compelling than they should be.

--

"Sexual liberation means sex with me specifically" was a plague in the 70s from what I hear, and I'm sure it has been a thing forever.

[just-late-roman-republic-things]

Warning signs of fascist themes in history media

Fascism is a reactionary, authoritarian and nationalist ideology that opposes peace, democracy, and human rights. Fascists are sometimes attracted to history because they use it to promote violence and myths of racial superiority. Fascist ideas can be found in certain books, movies, social media, Youtube channels and more.

Here I'm going to talk about general patterns to help you recognize fascist shit when you see it, examples I've seen in Roman history studies, and suggestions for what you can do about it.

Fascist themes

I have focused on themes rather than specific dogwhistles, arguments, or symbols, because fascist rhetoric often disguises itself to appear more palatable, and varies across countries. Themes are also useful for analyzing books, podcasts, and other media where political bias isn't always obvious. For specific fascist code-words and symbols, see the links at the end of this post.

Not every item on this list will appear for every fascist, and not every person who does one of these things is a fascist. But any of them should warn you to be on alert.

1. Fascism is reactionary.

Fascism rejects the modern, changing world. Fascists feel like the "natural order" or "old way of life" is threatened and must be preserved. They may call themselves conservatives or traditionalists, but their methods and goals are more radical and disruptive than traditional conservatism.

Fascists often feel like they have been attacked, humiliated, or left out of their rightful place in society. They resent groups of people they believe are getting undeserved benefits or respect. These groups are usually minorities such as immigrants, Jews, queer people, women or racial minorities. The fascist may believe these groups are involved in a conspiracy to undermine or corrupt "decent" people, or to abuse children.

Be especially alert for antisemitism, which accounts for a large number of hate crimes, and has been a key part of most fascist movements.

The fascist portrays modern society as weak, corrupt, degenerate, or oppressive to people like himself.

In history media, this may appear as nostalgia for the past, "reject modernity, return to tradition," and romanticizing a primitive or traditional aesthetic. It can also show up as whitewashing the "heroic" culture and vilifying other cultures, or erasing the existence of minorities from history altogether. The fascist may downplay historical injustices like slavery and the exclusion of women from the workforce.

2. Fascism is authoritarian.

The "natural order" of the fascist is hierarchical, with some people mattering more than others. Those on the bottom of society are there because they deserve it, and their struggles and feelings don't matter. If they demand equal rights, assistance programs or respect, they are seen as entitled, lazy, whiny, and arrogant. Naturally, the fascist assumes his place is at or near the top of the hierarchy.

The fascist usually opposes ambiguity and crossing boundaries - mixed race couples, cultural exchange, women in mostly-male jobs, trans and gender-nonconforming people - because these undermine the artificial divisions in the fascist hierarchy.

A powerful central authority is seen as necessary to fix society. To be good requires obedience; to disagree makes you a traitor.

If the fascist has a leader, that leader is idolized and unquestioned. The fascist leader is typically charismatic, masculine, and "tough on crime." The fascist denies any wrongdoing from the leader, minimizes or tries to justify it.

Opposition to democracy, because democracy requires dissent. The legislature is de-legitimized as representing the people's will, and elections are called fraudulent without evidence. The fascist sees rule of law as a hindrance to "reforming" society. (This separates the fascist from the "mainstream" conservative, who usually cares more about upholding the status quo.)

Many fascists will project authoritarianism onto their opponents because they assume those opponents also view the world this way, just with a different group on top.

In history media this may appear as glorifying anti-democratic leaders, justifying violence as necessary, or denying that shameful events like the Holocaust happened. The fascist is also likely to portray democracy, defense attorneys, and civil rights activists as obstacles to doing "what needs to be done."

3. Fascism is nationalistic.

Fascists usually identify strongly with a certain nation, culture, or race. Different kinds of people are seen as inherently different in moral character, intellectual ability, or skills. You are encouraged to derive your worth from this group identity and to treat other people based on theirs.

This group is elevated at the expense of individual human rights. The fascist only values freedom of speech, freedom of association, and the rights of the accused for himself and his allies. People who are inferior or who disagree are not granted those same rights.

This offers a sense of identity and pride for people whose identity is feels unstable or threatened. It preys upon the lonely, the disillusioned, the failures. Historically, most fascist support comes from middle-class people who feel insecure about their place in the world, and angered by the rise of groups they see as beneath them.

4. Fascism is anti-intellectual.

Although fascists are attracted to history, they are usually more interested in using history as a prop for their mythic struggle of good and evil than in learning what history actually was.

Fascists will readily cherry-pick events and stories that feel glorious, exciting or romantic, or which feed their belief of being victimized. They will ignore or distort information that contradicts this, like historical multiculturalism and facts that make the "glorious race/empire" look bad.

The fascist may also combine myths, occult symbols, or historical details with no connection to each other, looking for a "deep underlying truth" that academics have missed (because it doesn't exist).

Fascists often try to discredit scientists, historians and the humanities. They may accuse "ivory-tower intellectuals" of being wrong, worthless, elitist or out of touch, or even creating a conspiracy to hide the truth. By framing intellectuals as the enemy, the fascist gives himself an excuse not to listen to them or doubt his fantasy of superiority.

When fascists present their own intellectuals, these intellectuals usually fixate on denouncing modern society and supporting fascist ideology, not on new discoveries or creativity. In the fascist mindset, all important truths are already known, all cultural and moral questions are already solved. Art can only conform to accepted standards, not challenge standards or create anything new.

Self-contradiction and hypocrisy. Fascist ideology appeals to people's feelings, not their logic. The enemy is both strong (to present a credible threat) and weak (so they can be held in contempt). The genocide didn't happen - and if it did, it wasn't really that bad. It's wrong for others to offend us, but we are justified in harassing or attacking them.

Intolerance of disagreement and dissent. The fascist mistakes feeling uncomfortable for being harmed, and thus any statements that make him feel uncomfortable, must be attacks from bad people. Critics must be shamed, mocked, harassed into silence, or expelled. Changing your mind is a sign of weakness.

Black and white morality / intolerance of nuance. The fascist has already decided that some people are right, period, and others are wrong, period. There is no room for morally complicated situations or mutual responsibility.

In-group jargon and redefining words. The fascist may refer to his opponents as slurs, say "pedophile" when he means "gay people," or invent new slang, dogwhistles and acronyms. This word-shuffling builds a sense of connection with other fascists, helps to dehumanize the enemy, and allows fascists to deny that they're bad people because they're not using specific bad words. (A fascist may complain about "Zionists" when he means "Jews," use Norse runes instead of swastikas, or say he's "proud of his heritage" instead of a white supremacist.)

In history media, look for dogwhistles, narratives with clear "good guys" and "bad guys," claims of a conspiracy among intellectuals or bankers, and contradictions. Does the text try to persuade you with evidence and logic, or with emotional appeals? Does it downplay or erase facts that would undermine the author's argument?

5. Fascism is violent.

Glorification of violence and war. Fascists believe that violence against their enemies is both necessary and justified to "defend their way of life," or protect society. They exult in shows of physical strength and aggression, and see physical weakness as pathetic. Weapons may be glorified and fetishized as well.

This can also extend to sexual violence and domination. The woman is an accessory to macho fantasies: an object of conquest, a prize to be flaunted and defended, a symbol of the man's own success and competence. A man who feels humiliated or threatened by a woman, perhaps because she rejected or outranked him, may threaten rape to "put her in her place."

The cult of heroic death. To overcome people's natural instinct to live, fascism glorifies veterans and martyrs, and encourages people to identify with and fight for the nation/race. Courage and strength are equated with violence. The costs of war are ignored - homelessness, starvation, massacres, grief, lifelong trauma and disability for many - even on the "winning" side.

Opposition to peace. Pacifists and neutral parties are considered traitors. Compromise is seen as giving in to the enemy. "You are either with us or against us."

Fascist justice centers on punishment, enforcing obedience and purging "bad people" rather than rehabilitation, education, or providing adequate social services.

In history media, look for an emphasis on the military, weapons, symbols of power, brutality, conquest, and sexual violence. Are these things equated with masculinity, power or success? Are we encouraged to identify with the conqueror instead of the conquered? Does the narrative mention people who opposed the war, or are they erased or lumped in with traitors?

6. Fascism is mean-spirited.

You probably noticed resentment, insecurity, anger and contempt in the previous sections. Fascism appeals to these emotions within people, and tells them that their unhappiness is other people's fault.

In fascist communities and blogs you will often see these same negative feelings, and externalized blame. Less overt fascist spaces may seem supportive, friendly, or just like hobbyists having fun, and this draws vulnerable people in. But it's juxtaposed with a deep disrespect for those who are seen as inferior.

Fascist jokes and memes are usually predicated on smugness (at being part of a "superior" race or nation), contempt (for "lesser" people), anger, or violent fantasies. They have a mean streak and may appear ironic ("It's just a joke, lighten up"), for the sake of plausible deniability.

The fascist does not merely hate that the "Other" exists (although they often do) - they resent being expected to treat others with respect, empathy and equality. They may demonize empathy by calling others "special snowflakes" who are trying to enforce "political correctness" or restrict freedom of speech. These are deflections so the fascist can avoid admitting how unreasonable and hurtful his behavior actually is.

Pay attention to how specific communities and media make you feel. Do you feel like you're becoming angrier or more fearful of the world over time? Do you feel less respect for certain kinds of people than you used to, or see the world's problems as those people's fault? If so, those spaces and media may be unhealthy for you, and could be promoting prejudice.

Example red flags I've seen in Roman history studies

Exulting over the Roman empire's size.

War being portrayed as exciting, heroic or brave.

Arguing that conquest (especially Caesar's conquest of Gaul) was justified.

Praising the emperors Vespasian, Titus or Hadrian uncritically - all of whom were involved in brutal oppression of Jewish people.

Arguing that Roman slavery was "not that bad" compared to other forms of slavery.

Unironically calling non-Romans barbarians, savages, or primitive.

Erasure of Rome's cultural and ethnic diversity, the role of women in politics, and queer history.

Portraying the end of free elections, debate, and political opposition as a good thing, particularly under Julius Caesar or Augustus.

Attributing the fall of Rome to "moral decline" or "degeneracy."

Attraction to symbols of power and famous military leaders - legions, centurion armor, idolizing Caesar, even the word "fascism" comes from the Latin fasces.

Falsely claiming that the Nazi salute originated with the Romans. (It's a neoclassical invention.)

Now, just because you see these red flags doesn't automatically mean the person is a fascist. Sometimes people use a word or meme without realizing its implications, and older works often say things that would be offensive today. That's another reason why I focused on general themes.

Look at the underlying patterns in what a person or work is saying, and think about what they want you to believe. As a whole, does it seem reactionary, authoritarian, nationalist, anti-intellectual, pro-violence, and/or mean-spirited? Conversely, if the person or work seems to value open-mindedness, democracy, education, peace, empathy, feminism, and multiculturalism, and if they treat those who disagree with them with respect, those are all good signs.

How should you respond?

A full guide to fighting fascism is beyond the scope of this post. I suggest contacting human rights groups in your area for the best ways to counter fascism in general.

For media with fascist themes or by fascist creators:

Do not share, recommend, or give it a wider audience. Even if it's "just a funny meme," spreading it can give fascists more followers, and make them more confident to attempt violence.

Do not spend money that will support fascist creators, organizers, or groups if you can avoid it. Don't buy their books, anime, hockey team apparel, whatever. Boycott them and tell people why.

Call it what it is. Fascist, racist, white supremacist, or whatever label applies. Don't use euphemisms for the sake of politeness - that only helps fascism appear respectable.

Post or share critical reviews that explain why the media is fascist. This will help others learn to recognize and call out fascism, too.

Sometimes people are attracted to controversial works just to be contrarian or to see what the controversy is about. You might decide it's more effective to avoid naming fascist works and giving them more publicity, and instead to call out the fascist ideas in them, to educate others. This is the approach I took in this post, but which method is better depends on the situation.

Don't use "fascist" for any bigot, conservative, or person you dislike. This waters the word down and makes it less likely to be taken seriously when a real hate group is threatening people. Fascism is a particularly violent, extreme, and anti-democratic type of bigotry. But when you DO see fascism, name and shame it.

If it's on social media or a blog, do not respond to it directly. Make a new post instead debunking it. This will avoid giving the fascists a broader audience, and they're less likely to notice and threaten you. Block and report them; try to get their communities removed from the platform. On a large enough scale, this helps prevent fascist groups from organizing and expanding their membership.

Read, watch, and promote non-fascist media and sources, like I do in my book reviews and favorites page. Bonus points if you can find sources for historical diversity and multiculturalism!

Further resources

This is an updated version of my older post, based on my notes from Umberto Eco's Ur-Fascism and Stuart Hood's Fascism: A Graphic Guide. I also found Miriam Griffin's A Companion to Julius Caesar anthology useful for understanding how fascism and other political movements have co-opted Roman history for their own purposes.

The Alt-Right Playbook video series deconstructs fascist and alt-right arguments, and explains how they gain traction in politics, particularly in the USA.

Subtler signs of fascism: What are dogwhistles? / List of dogwhistles (incomplete) / List of hate symbols / Early Warning Signs of Fascism

Art Spiegelman's graphic novel Maus is a memoir of the Holocaust from the viewpoint of an Auschwitz survivor and his son. It is much darker and more visceral than the preceding books, but also valuable for demonstrating what fascism looks like "on the ground" when it gains power, and the consequences if we do not fight against it.

If you or someone you love has gotten involved with hate groups, Life After Hate offers support and counseling. Also check out QAnon Casualties - Resources, even if the group isn't QAnon. Your past doesn't have to define your future.

For good sources on Roman history, I have a page of recommended media, including links to resources on queer history, Black history, disability studies, women in classical antiquity, and my tips for evaluating whether a history book is reliable.

I am not a historian or political theorist. If I got something wrong or if you have additional helpful info, please don't hesitate to say so!

#warning: this is like 2800 words #as usual i'm not a historian just an amateur trying to help raise awareness #correct me if i got anything wrong #good luck. i love you all <3 #fascism #media literacy #critical thinking #literary analysis #jlrrt essays #things to whack racists with

[justsigma-bsd]

A Blank Page, Torn From A Book Without Name

Well, I ended up trying to put the word salad in my head into actual, coherent words after all.

First of all, everything here is just my take on things. The theories and thoughts I've had on certain things. I don't think any of it is official, but if anything of it is, in fact, confirmed to be true or false, feel free to tell me!

Some of the panels were taken from a YouTube video, which I'll link at the bottom!

TW for: Human trafficking, dehumanization

Ok, so first things first, some of this stuff I've already written down a while back for writing reasons. I found some of my old notes, and noticed that, after rereading the panels, they make more sense than I previously thought.

Let's start here: what stands out the most to me isn't that he's in the desert, not even the ticket. No, it's the simple »[...] or even who I was«

Because who, indeed, is Sigma? Sigma does not have an identity. He has no history, no nothing. Just the clothes on his back, a ticket that seems to be useless and earrings, for some reason.

Without a name, you don't have an identity and without identity you don't have a name.

Then there is this, too:

»I gave myself a name. Sigma. A man of the casino«

I don't believe he had a name upon being created. I don't think he had one for a long time, because in the same panel that he mentions giving himself a name, he also mentions the casino- which came much, much later. Sigma existed for three years by the time the series started. However, the timeline is wonky as heck.

Because how long did he stay with the traffickers? How long was he on his own after escaping? How long ago did Fyodor find him? Questions upon questions, but since I've already mentioned the lack of a name and the traffickers, let's get to my thoughts on that, specifically:

»They captured and enslaved me« along with »And once they knew that I had a skill [...]« makes me wonder: how long did it take for them to find out?

I haven't researched anything about human trafficking, but it's basically slavery, from what I've gathered through the previous things I've heard and read. And he does say so himself, too.

Sigma, three days alive, spent his early life a slave. It's confirmed that he was shackled, seeing that he is wearing them in the panels.

(As a side note, I do believe that he has scars from the shackles around his wrist. He wears a tight, wrist-long turtleneck beneath his coat, and I think it's to hide the scars. Both from others and himself.)

His first human interaction was plain horrible. Did he know and understand that? Did he understand that this wasn't normal? I don't think he knew how wrong this was at first. I don't believe that he understood it immediately. If he didn't know who he was, why would he know that being treated like this is wrong?

I believe that he realized it at some point, but not as soon as it started. I think he lived like that for a while, thinking it was normal, before getting some sort of wake-up call. Perhaps through his ability, or a fellow prisoner. Maybe both, or neither.

He must've gotten whiplash, once people genuinely looked up to him when he was the manager at Sky Casino.

I also think that he, probably, does tend to forget that being treated like that is, in fact, not normal or okay. Our upbringing leaves some sort of mark on all of us, experiences define us, give us habits and a feeling of what's normal and what isn't.

Which means that his "normal" is skewed and he expects being used rather than kindness, probably even after learning that some people are genuinely kind. I'm guessing that his mindset is, due to that, a simple "If I'm alive I'm alright".

I don't think he'd complain about being treated wrong and or left behind, or admit when he's injured. Or at the very least attempt to keep it a secret as long as possible- especially from those he sees as authority figures.

However, I also think that he was isolated, as per this panel:

Not only the text, but also the background paint a picture that causes me to believe that.

I almost skimmed past this panel while making my analysis, before pausing and taking a closer look. I thought this was in Sky Casino at first, until I looked closer and realized three things:

1, the background does not match Sky Casino in the slightest

2, he isn't wearing shoes or his current outfit, but the old clothes he had when wandering the desert

3, the shadows aren't from the light of a window, they're bars from a cell

While I did believe before that the traffickers kept him isolated from others (due to wanting to keep him unaware of the wrongness of his situation as well as to make sure he doesn't learn things he should/other prisoners finding out things that Sigma got to know by accident), this sort of put the final nail in the coffin for me.

But, at some point, he did realize that it was wrong. Perhaps he'd had a bad feeling from the start. Maybe he hated being treated like this. Who knows? Point is, he escaped. This brings us back to this page:

»No matter how kind someone seemed, they used me and then tried to kill me for knowing too much«

Sigma, after escaping the traffickers, after escaping the life of a slave, probably still didn't know much about living.

And I firmly believe that Sigma is smarter than even he himself thinks. There's just one issue: Sigma is naive (at least in my eyes), and it's not even his own fault. He simply tried his best to survive, and what was the reason the traffickers kept him around? His ability, most likely.

Problem is that his ability truly is something people would love to exploit, and it seems as if they did. Which makes me believe that he has a talent for running into murderers thinking they're nice people, only to get a not-so-nice surprise.

»The last one to use me [...]«, this specific line is the reason why I believe Sigma to have been used a lot. We don't know how often, exactly, his ability was taken advantage of. But we know the latest person who did.

Fyodor was the last one to use him, which means that, at that point, he was probably used to it. Used to being treated like a pawn, and used to people trying to kill for knowing too much. And I believe that he was, quite plainly, exhausted.

Imagine, your entire life consists of being forced to aid others with crimes, with being shackled. You don't know the difference between working for someone and being used by someone.

If you were offered what you wanted most, wouldn't you accept, too? Even if you know that you're once again being used? I mean... this time around, you gain something for it. Doesn't that make it worth the risk?

It's a gamble Sigma took... and lost.

This page involves two quotes that give me pause:

»Don't you wish for a home?«

We don't know why or how he knows what a home and a family is, but he does. And he wants it. He says it was never within his reach. But it is perfectly clear to us, while reading the Sky Casino Arc, that he wants it. He wants a home and a family.

He'd rather sacrifice his own life than see Sky Casino fall. »Home« and »Family« are, to him, more important than staying alive. Because it's something he never had, and something he clings to. Simply because he doesn't have anything else.

»I, who was originally 'nothing'[...]«

Is the second line that makes me pause. Because like previously mentioned, Sigma was a slave with no name or identity of his own. We don't know when he found out about being created by the book (and I firmly believe that he found out one way or another), but I believe he didn't see himself as a human before, and this "confirmed" it for him.

Think about it, would traffickers care about their victims? Would they treat them as human beings? Call them by their name? What about a person who has no name to begin with?

He wasn't treated like a human being in the beginning, and thus considered himself nothing. Considered his home and "family" to be worth more than hid own life.

He was literally created from nothing. His story doesn't have a beginning. He has no memories prior to being created, he had no name nor identity. How his story will end is unknown. We don't know what's written on his page.

I believe this, combined with being with the traffickers, makes him doubt his humanity. Not only because he was created through the book, but also because for the first (months? Year?) of his life, he wasn't treated like a human.

His sense of self-worth is probably down in the dumps.

»In the end I never did understand what I was born for...«

I don't think he knows the details of his existence. The content of his page, the words that brought him into existence. He doesn't know why he was born/created. He doesn't know what things were predetermined.

He doesn't know what's real and what's just writing on a page.

Sigma, in three years of being alive, went through hell. He was enslaved, his ability was taken advantage of over and over, he was used by multiple people who all ended up trying to kill him and when he thought that he finally found a home? A family? It was taken away from him.

Genuinely, he needs a plate of cookies, a hug and a ton of therapy.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my little analysis and theories? I never did something like this before, so criticism is welcome!

Here's also the link to the video from which I got the screenshots: https://youtu.be/KwsSvFYAKjA?si=R_IvH-S8GYut_hrG

#sigma bsd #bungo stray dogs sigma #bungou stray dogs #sigma character analysis #sigma's backstory #character analysis #bsd theories #fan theories #ooc post #I had this title floating around but it matched literally none of the os I planned #so I used it for this #I also don't think he knew what hugs were and had to get used to them first #Also he's a self-sacrificial idiot (affectionately) #sigma headcanons #my headcanons

[navree]

is there a word for the kind of person who tries to fit every single question that has ever been posed online to their cause, no matter how inconsequential? cuz in the past two days i have seen "do people really believe someone goes to hell if they kill themselves" be answered with "people think that because of slavery" (no) and "why do we plant male trees instead of female trees?" with "because female trees bear fruit and would feed the homeless and the capitalist bourgeoisie don't want that" (also no) and i feel like i'm losing my mind

#personal #'it's because of slavery' it absolutely is not #i have no idea where you got that at all #the concept of 'people think you'll go to hell if you commit suicide' is a result of ubiquitous christianity yes #(because it's a combination of the concept of pride as a deadly sin and the 'thou shalt not kill' commandment) #but not slavery in specific that's not a thing #you're just making shit up

[brother-emperors]

CAESAR AUGUSTUS AND MARCUS LICINIUS CRASSUS

this is about the spolia opima that crassus was robbed of lmao. like, yeah okay octavian could've asked him not to claim it, but nevertheless. a kind of theft happened there.

Fact and Fiction: Crassus, Augustus, and the Spolia Opima, Catherine McPherson

#this is one from the vaults I started a few months ago and finally finished. it’s always the furniture details that put things on hold lmao #the former co consuls are fightinggggg (?) #rome is built on top of other people. this is about both the imperialism-slavery machine and the way that all these guys would #politically devour their own generation to sit on a throne. etc. anyway. octavian specifically sits on a throne of other people’s #accomplishments. that’s a specific kind of debt to carry around your neck. or theft depending on who is doing what #this was theft. anything involving Agrippa was a gift so there’s an obligation to succeed which is it’s own kind of currency so to speak #sugghrhfh. every crassus always has to be like this. in my heart i always root for whoever decides to go up against rome #and then i'm stuck with the guy who should've got a spolia opima like. congrats on your win. i guess. i think. RIP. #ACTUALLY YOU KNOW WHAT. while im talking about this crassus. domina fucking sucks. what an absolute clusterfuck of a show #anyway. if anyone ever does augustan age politics again. octavia would be a great character if you want to invent shit #but also more importantly octavian should seduce crassus for this. thank you. #octavian #marcus licinius crassus.....christ how do i write down that he's the grandson of my crassus. i'll figure it out later #roman empire tag #drawing tag

[bananonbinary]

there's a weird thought ive been trying to chase down for a few days, and it's something like, "the words used to describe evil as inhuman are misleading."

very specifically, i keep thinking about the words often used to describe slavery - dehumanizing, objectifying, treated like animals, etc.

but that's not actually true is it? people would never trust an animal with complex tasks like "watch over my children," and they never react to objects with the emotional/mental abuse slavery engenders. the weird truth is, we don't really have any good comparison for slavery, because it is, by it's nature, a violence that can only be perpetuated *against other humans.*

these word choices imply that the crime is one of mistaken identity, as if the slaveholder is simply Factually Wrong. i understand that they are useful shorthand a lot of the time, but i worry that sometimes it's used to imply a lot more passivity than actually exists here.

#maybe its just the autism and taking things too literal #but i feel like if someone simply Didnt Think someone else was human #that would be easier to correct #than the reality that they just dont *care.* or worse. actively enjoy it. #i guess this is partially just my musings about every time peta tries to get cute with the slavery comparisons #and why. specifically. thats so wrong

[sporkberries]

no but genuinely i think about the arcade gannon legion ending so fucking much its on my brain all the time. I think its one of my favourite endings in the game and it’s not because it’s a “good” ending. its an awful tragic one. It manages in just a few sentences to expand on both Arcade and Caesar’s characters in really interesting ways. Caesar not only kept Arcade alive for years but MOURNED him. I think it says something about how completely lonely Caesar is. Joshua is gone and sure Caesar has his “subjects” but those aren’t people he can confide in or discuss with. Not only because they see him more as a god than a man but due to the Anti-Intellectualism he himself has fostered in the Legion. And that’s not even getting into Arcade’s own personal tragedy here. Someone who values personal freedom so much being enslaved and offing themselves so brutally at his first opportunity. Seeing everything he believed in everything he hoped for burnt down in flames. “do no harm”, Arcade the philosopher vs Arcade the physician vs Arcade the man.

#no body look at me im going through things #i have so many thoughts on this subject specifically #i love u arcade #arcade gannon #fallout new vegas #spork says stuff #edward sallow #fnv #sui #slavery tw

[books-apples-socks]

(...) Silver had terrible hard work getting up the knoll. What with the steepness of the incline, the thick tree stumps, and the soft sand, he and his crutch were as helpless as a ship in stays. But he stuck to it like a man in silence, and at last arrived before the captain, whom he saluted in the handsomest style. He was tricked out in his best; an immense blue coat, thick with brass buttons, hung as low as to his knees, and a fine laced hat was set on the back of his head. “Here you are, my man,” said the captain, raising his head. “You had better sit down.” “You ain’t a-going to let me inside, cap’n?” complained Long John. “It’s a main cold morning, to be sure, sir, to sit outside upon the sand.” “Why, Silver,” said the captain, “if you had pleased to be an honest man, you might have been sitting in your galley. It’s your own doing. You’re either my ship’s cook—and then you were treated handsome—or Cap’n Silver, a common mutineer and pirate, and then you can go hang!” “Well, well, cap’n,” returned the sea-cook, sitting down as he was bidden on the sand, “you’ll have to give me a hand up again, that’s all.” (...) Silver’s face was a picture; his eyes started in his head with wrath. He shook the fire out of his pipe. “Give me a hand up!” he cried. “Not I,” returned the captain. “Who’ll give me a hand up?” he roared. Not a man among us moved. Growling the foulest imprecations, he crawled along the sand till he got hold of the porch and could hoist himself again upon his crutch. Then he spat into the spring. “There!” he cried. “That’s what I think of ye. Before an hour’s out, I’ll stove in your old block house like a rum puncheon. Laugh, by thunder, laugh! Before an hour’s out, ye’ll laugh upon the other side. Them that die’ll be the lucky ones.” And with a dreadful oath he stumbled off, ploughed down the sand, was helped across the stockade, after four or five failures, by the man with the flag of truce, and disappeared in an instant afterwards among the trees.

#one of the most compelling aspects of black sails as an adaptation is that it absolutely plucks out these threads and weaves them #in an even clearer pattern #there is no merit in a civilisation that metes out humiliation to the ones it deems dishonourable and the connection between the two #and basic human kindness #same as i would argue there is no personal value to people that engage in the same type of behaviour on the interpersonal level #(as seen through dufresne) #disfigurement and disability as spectacle and spectacle as punishment and the system of values that upholds both #which leads to the weaponisation vulnerability in the face of brutality #(this among many other things extends to jack's character arc and his relationship with masculinity as represented by blackbeard) #but also in specific relation to disability #the imagery billy foists over silver's name without permission as part of his propaganda #has direct roots to the impact of the original material #to the one legged demon jim hawkins conjures up in his mind #and to the belief systems inherent to the success of chattel slavery #there is no ideological difference between a belief in racial purity and ableism #the two are always hand in hand #anyway look at the violence inherent in the system etc #black sails #treasure island

[leroibobo]

the paradesi synagogue in kochi, kerala, india. the first synagogue on the site, built by the city's longstanding malabari jewish community, was destroyed by portugese who'd colonized the area in their persecution of locals. it was rebuilt in 1568 by spanish and portugese jews who fled persecution and later expulsion, hence the name "paradesi" ("foreign" in malayalam).

these sephardic jews and a community of jews of mixed african and european descent who were formerly enslaved ("meshuchrarim", "freedmen" in hebrew) joined the malabari jewish community of kochi and somewhat integrated. they were later joined by some iraqi, persian, yemenite, afghan, and dutch sephardic jews. the middle eastern and european jews were considered "white jews" and permitted malabari jews and meshuchrarim to worship in the synagogue. however, in what seems like a combination of local caste dynamics and racism, malabari jews were not allowed full membership. meshuchrarim weren't allowed in at all, but were instead made to sit outside during services and not allowed their own place of worship or other communal rights.

as the "white jews" tended to be rather wealthy from trade, this synagogue contains multiple antiquities. they include belgian glass chandeliers on its walls, hand-painted porcelain tiles from china on its floors, and an oriental rug that was gifted by ethiopian emperor haile selassie.

#india #architecture #interior #worship #jewish #sephardic #mizrahi #abrahamic kerala #my posts #this seems like a combo of european racism & s asian casteism but idk anything abt castes so idk how right i am #imo the attitude of the paradesi sephardim sort of echoes what went on w/ portugese & st thomas christians #though they were also influenced by ''jewish racism'' (someone not being an ''authentic'' jew or 100% jewish in lineage) #also its interesting that most paradesi jews who left india went to other commonwealth countries while most malabar jews went to occupied #palestine (for the same reason indian muslims went to pakistan more or less). something something the west's unwanted refugee dumping groun #also i'm not saying the portugese didn't persecute against locals who practiced other religions just that there was a Very Specific type of #persecution st thomas christians and malabari jews faced from them #one more thing: i think most americans dont know (and western europeans like to forget) that the transatlantic slave trade went into #western europe as well. even if most w euro countries outlawed slavery before the us did #and also that ‘white’ has never had a linear definition (yemenites are very not ‘white’-looking to the average american) #its really interesting to me how the sephardim who ended up in w europe or euro colonies ended up being richer and more exclusionary than #balkan or most mena sephardim. probably bc more money = govts get off their backs

[moobrvoobl-moobmoob-oobmpoobroom]

I just find it mind-boggling that some people will reblog things like “Anakin didn’t care about Rex and his men, he wouldn’t listen to Fives just because he was friends with Palpatine” and then in the next post be gushing over Rexwalker/Rexanidala like???? so you agree. Anakin does care about Rex?

#some people will literally hate on either Anakin or the Jedi council for reasons that explicitly contradict the point of the prequels #and then YOU'RE either toxically positive or condoning abuse for liking all the characters and having a nuanced view of things #the takes I mentioned in the body of this post literally wiped out the fact that Palpatine groomed and manipulated him for Years just so- #-they could say “wow the clones didn’t deserve what that horrible guy Anakin did to them” #me: okay. so you’re saying they didn’t deserve for him to show kindness and friendship and help reinforce the mindset of individuality they #-already had and that the majority of jedi encouraged because they are a group who treasure individuality and have compassion on everyone & #-all things??? #Anakin could be a shit person but he wasn’t to the clones and I will die on this hill #“he enslaved them” you’re pinning that on ANAKIN. a literal former slave. not the Republic or the Kaminoans? #he would have 0 reason to enslave them because he knows what that’s like. he’s been through that #why. WHY do people blame Anakin or the Jedi for 100% of everything going wrong instead of Palpatine. #you can blame Anakin for the choices he made and the Jedi Order for the oversights and legalism they started to have during the war #but enslavement of the clones??? not listening to Fives because of Palpatine??? #if you want to blame Anakin for the clones being slaves you have to blame the rest of the Jedi too #and we all know how rare it is for ‘Anakin antis’ to also be ‘Jedi order antis’ #quotation because there is a certain connotation and generalisation that comes with those phrases these days #I just don’t understand why Anakin is to blame for that specifically. blame him for being angry and violent and obsessive and turning to th #dark side logic+morals be damned to save one person yes but slavery??? he didn’t know about the chips and if he did you bet your ass he- #-would hate them just as much as the slave monitors on Tatooine #anyway #I want to see both sides of the debate i really do because some people have really good points on character motivations etc #but it’s getting ridiculous at this point. I always try to be a calm and positive space but some of y’all’s takes are contradictory bullshi #Fandom salt #swift talks #Swift rambles in the tags #vent #Jedi positive #meta #ish? #jedi positivity

[obessivedork]

So the Sole Survivor is definitely a synth Shaun had programmed for a specific purpose, even if they don't know it, right?

#IK they're not SUPPOSED to be in FO4 Cannon but. No this is my fucking truth for the main story sorry not sorry Bethesda #if you wanted me to think otherwise you should've tweaked some things lmfao. Let me have this it's enhancing my experience with Mike #My theory for this is he hoped this specific backstory would somehow lead to them being a more effective Corsier #& to take down the railroad given you basically have to go to them at some point to get to The Institute #because otherwise buddy what was the fucking PLAN??? Actually taking SOSU at face value buddy still what was the fucking PLAN #were you hoping that paternal feelings would carry you through the fact that you've helped build and uphold a society based on slavery?? #Something they probably were propagandized to believe they were fighting AGAINST in their prewar life???? LMFAOOOO #genuinely do not see what was wrong with simple nonsentient bots as menial workers HOW does this shit advance humanity?? #Bethesda give your main story more rewrites challenge apparently. At least I UNDERSTOOD the Enclave's motives in 3 #The Institute still make 0 sense with their motivations etc. I've explored every nook and cranny talked to every npc I can. I DON'T GET IT. #fallout 4 #fo4 #fallout #kat plays fallout 4

[datastate]

god it makes me so mad when people use the “i’m illiterate” or “i never learned this [in school].” excuse for their own ignorance while they’re online. you have access to so much more information than was once available. you don’t even have to physically go to a library to find books on the history of racism, homophobia/transphobia, and ableism. of course, with this comes the fact you must verify the sources you read on your own (usually by reviewing multiple statements), but it’s so much simpler than some people make it out to be today. you have so much information at your fingertips. you can research anything. you can learn languages from across the globe, you can find out information of the deep sea and space developments, you can do so many things with technology that were never so easily available before. and yet some people have the gall to claim it’s out of their reach.

this isn’t even bringing into account how illiteracy is a legitimate issue that causes people to struggle with connecting with their community and interferes with everyday living. since most of these people acting oblivious and “illiterate” are usamericans, i’ll bring in this example which you should’ve learned (or at least heard of) in school: in the fight to ban slavery (& its associated laws) in the usa, access to education was something incredibly important to push for. enforced illiteracy which kept them from reading their own rights & (later on) barred them from higher-paying jobs. and even actualized illiteracy in modern day is from lack of education, learning disabilities, (mandatory/voluntary) immigration to a foreign country (possibly intersecting with one of the previous points), etc.

point being: illiteracy isn’t for lack of trying, as is so obviously the case with many of you who are passively victimizing yourselves. those who throw up neurodivergence - specifically adhd, i’ve noticed ... it is a weak excuse against learning and listening to people’s genuine concerns regarding bigotry.

i personally have trouble with articulating my thoughts and, on occasion, cannot process what i am reading. when i’m struggling with the latter, i either bookmark it somewhere to read later or i ask one of my friends to condense the text for me, if they are willing. this is more manners, but you should not confront the op demanding a “tl;dr”. additionally, you shouldn’t solely rely on language trying to appeal to audiences with common phrases/words used in leftist spaces. they may be repurposing their shitty ideas under a more progressive wrapping, and if you are agreeing uncritically (whether you couldn’t process it, or didn’t read the full post because of a short attention span, or whatever else), you... frankly, don’t care about these issues as much as you think you do. you are simply doing this to keep up appearances, rather than providing genuine effort to reexamine your own biases or make a change in your community or do the bare minimum of listening to people who are asking you to heed them regarding the bigotry they’ve experienced from a system you may benefit from. make an effort. please.

#jestersvaguely #negative #but idc if it's rbed #this is just a general thing but there was a post that reminded me of some. past associates. that i regret putting up with. #specifically when it came to racism in sw & nintendo but WE do not have time to deal with that. atm. #it's not cuuute it's not cute acting like the passive victim in this... #slavery

[totalspiffage]

Give us the One Piece presentation

God you have no idea how bad I want to LMAO I love this series a lot despite its many many flaws (which I could also go on about) but I think the core message and connection that I have to it is important and meaningful.

Tldr; one piece is a very long running manga/anime about a kid who has a dream and loves his friends so, so deeply. It's also about how the bonds you make are more important than what you're born into.

#gonna give you a heads up though it deals with some shit and it's also not great with certain things!!! #there is a few parts where it gets transphobic specifically with one character #and also there's discussion of slavery #like yeah this is a shonen but holy shit it gets dark #it might? be getting better with trans stuff but tbh i do not give the creator any credit for it

[prettyboysdontlookatexplosions]

the perils of not being thoughtful about race-bending casting is like, ok. so unity kinkaid is now black. but she is also still an extremely wealthy british woman who was a child in 1919, and no one is like, do we need to maybe revisit this aspect of the story that's already being amply reworked to consider that the casting we have gone with has made the previous set-up somewhat implausible. i mean i am not an expert on race and class in pre-war england. maybe i am bringing my american bias to this. but. so then they're like, we need to have a line explaining why she is rich though, because, and kudos to @unbornwhiskeyy for this observation, nothing on this show (about dreams. it's a show about dreams) can ever just Be or Happen, it all has to be Explained and having a reason Why (in a show, to reiterate, about dreams). and the explanation they go with for why this person who was a black ten year old in 1919 england is very wealthy is that: her family owned a sugar company. and then my head exploded and i couldn’t watch anymore because i was dead

#turns out my suspension of disbelief line is somewhere before #‘black owned company in early twentieth century england for the product arguably most associated with #the specific brutality of british slavery’ #like. what. why. porque. #honestly i think if they hadn’t mentioned the sugar thing i wouldn’t have even registered that things hit Different now #or if they had gone with idk literally any other option besides fucking SUGAR!!!! #you can be me when i'm gone