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gayvampyr · 8 months

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Do you support prison abolition /paying prisoners a living wage / making being able to vote more accessible to everyone?

I like your stances and opinions and your jokes but I'm genuinely curious on this one.

(This is inspired by some of the comments under one of your posts talking about how we should just make democracy more livable under capitalism, and while I disagree with that being the ONLY thing we need to do, it does kinda make me think about how many people think we need to get better without abolishing prisons or at least treating our prisoners better than we are treating them currently.)

hi! i'm not sure which post you're referring to but I'm actually anti-capitalist. I think we need to dismantle capitalism as a system because it is inherently inhumane, working exactly as intended and therefore cannot be "fixed" without restructuring it entirely from the ground up; the devaluation of human labor and environmental destruction for profit is not a bug, it's a feature. i could delve into the kind of economic system that i think should replace it after dismantling it, however it's more of a thought exercise and until it becomes a plausible reality, i would rather focus on how we can make capitalism livable for the time being because we have no other choice. for example we could start by lowering rent, instituting a 4-day work week, and establishing support networks for homeless people. i'm not an economist so it's not like i have all the answers but according to the results from other countries who have applied these practices, it improves quality of life and the economy significantly.

as for prisons, i'm pro-abolition. you can check out my prison abolition tag for more information, but essentially prisons exist in this day and age as an industry that profits off of slave labor. many of our laws and their enforcers unfairly target minorities and lower class people, and the denial of convicts the right to vote is just another way our government strips vulnerable communities of their political power, autonomy, and supposedly inalienable rights. aside from the conviction of innocent people and people who did commit a crime but ultimately did no harm, i don't think it's the right of any individual (or government, for that matter) to imprison others. i think people tend to forget that "criminals" are human beings and deserving of the same rights as everyone else, and it is human nature to make mistakes. the important thing is the opportunity to do better. militarist propaganda has done an incredible job of convincing us that convicts are amoral and undeserving of our sympathy, turning society in general against them and destroying any sort of safety net they might have had or needed otherwise. and people are too busy clinging to the notion that criminals are subhuman and deserving of whatever punishment is dealt that they can't see that this is a slide into fascism, and that they can just as easily become "other" should they find themselves on the receiving end of the system. we are very close to living in a surveillance state, which means any minor offense or slip-up has the potential to completely decimate your chances at getting a job, applying for college, getting a loan, receiving housing, and especially being able to have a say in elections. it also makes you more likely to be arrested again on account of "suspected illegal activity", so your record follows you around for the rest of your life.

sorry this got so long but yeah, essentially capitalism and the prison industry are inhumane and should be abolished.

#voter suppression #prison abolition #militarism #capitalism #52018 #racism #classism #1312 #also before anyone brings up r/pe or other genuinely awful crimes that endanger people i have to posit the question:#how can we account for those crimes when the people arrested for them are are mainly minorities?#need i remind you that white women used to accuse black men of assault just to weaponize their white privilege?#to exert power over them out of fear or hatred? people convicted for violent crimes are disproportionately trans poor and POC #while the rest of people actually committing those crimes walk free because of the privileges of being cis/het/white/upper-class #and like. thats not to say that those crimes should go unrecognized. but the system we have and the people enforcing it are just not #capable of doing so fairly. they look for signs of abusive behavior in race. gender. sex. age. class. sexuality. religious beliefs.#very little investigation is performed and hardly any empirical data is used in ruling. if they cared about victims at all they would focus #on preventing abuse before it happens and giving us support and access to people and services who can help. as a victim and survivor #the gov did not give a shit about my abuse. we cant make a system built on suffering care about any of us.#and like. yall are so confident you'll be able to decide who is 'good' and who is 'bad' but you can't. its like the shit with amber heard.#everyone was so caught up in defending their favorite actor they disregarded a woman's account of her abuse and made her out to be crazy an #evil #and i know you think youre different and we can do it differently but it happens over and over and over again #tldr we cant use a system to prosecute the ''evil people of society'' that is built on defining those traits through a racist misogynistic #etc lens #if we could we wouldnt even be in this mess

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mysteroads · 1 month

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World Building Post-War MHA, aka:

How Mr. Compress survives, thrives, steals all of AFO's money, and gives a big ol' "Fuck You!" to the heroes by doing a better job at saving people... All while staying classy. 😉

tltr: Mr. Compress steals AFO's money, creates a non-profit, names it all after the League to remind everyone why it's important and also to thumb his nose at the heroes.

So, mostly for my own edification, I started wondering what a Post-War MHA world would look like, and since MHA is a dystopia, how people would go about fixing the problems.

So, MHA dystopia can be described as: "Questioning the root of systemic issues brought about by a society grown both compliant *and* reliant on the protection of superheroes-- who have been elevated to celebrity/godlike status while ignoring 'Heroes' inherent humanity and all the flaws that come with being human-- while ignoring their own responsibilities as humans to help each other."

There's a reoccurring theme of Bystander Syndrome. Regular people growing compliant and being unwilling to step up to help their fellow man. Well, Post-War, I'm betting that's going to change, and that's where our boy Atsuhiro Sako can come in.

We all know Mr. Compress is going to survive. I really hope more members of the League do as well, but we know Atsuhiro Sako's going to make it. More than that, he's going jump headlong into making damn sure the past doesn't repeat itself, even if that means playing nice with the heroes (for awhile). There's going to be some sort of Villain Rehab program, or even a pardon/parole for the surviving LoV member(s). Sako's going to to be the perfect little ex-villain right up until his exit paperwork is processed.

And, since he was 1} in Tomura's inner circle, 2} he's clever enough to get Garaki to talk to him, and 3} he's an excellent thief... I'm going to assume he's smart enough to get the info he needs to access enough of AFO's accounts. 💸💸💸 And even if he's not, he's savvy enough to find the money somewhere.

I see Atsuhiro at the head of a Non-Profit Organization with several subsidiaries dedicated to different problems. Furthermore, as a unashamed former villain, I can see him naming the whole thing after the League... just to spite the heroes and remind everyone why he's doing what he's doing.😈 It's what his friends would've wanted.

The League for the Lost, and it's subsidiaries (colored for funsies):

Dabi’s Fire, for the campaign against domestic abuse and protection for the abused.

Himiko’s Hope, assistance for so-called villainous and other maligned quirks, with a special emphasis on blood quirks and others with unique dietary requirements.

Spinner’s Stories, support for mutation quirks and heteromorphs.

Jin’s Friends, for free access to mental health resources.

Big Sis’s House, safe spaces for queer youth and adults.

Tomura’s Soldiers, for the war against the trafficking of children with powerful quirks.

Honestly, this is probably the best way for the problems to be solved, and the best way to put AFO's ill gotten gains to good use. I mean, the money is there! It's going to be found eventually. Might as well use it to do whatever they can do to prevent a problem before it happens! And what better way to keep the memory of the League of Villains alive, get civilians involved in helping each other, and provide a warning for future generations-- than to put their names on Japan's biggest non-profit?

And, if he manages to piss off the old-school heroes and cops, while attracting the new generations, then that's just a bonus. 😎

If you made it this far, you are a most excellent person, a ✨gem✨ among readers!💖 And I want to hear from you! All... probably two, maybe three?... of you! What would you like to see from Post-War MHA? How would you fix the problems? Who from the LoV do you think's going to survive, and what are they going to do with themselves in the new world?

#I wrote a fic #now I'm gonna explain my though process #mwhahahaha #mha post canon #my hero academia #sako atsuhiro #mr compress #my writing #Rain on Wisteria #We're Dead but We've been Worse!#my hero academia fanfic #post canon fix it #fanfiction #what if #world building #boko no hero academia #bnha

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harocat · 1 year

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i'm not necessarily arguing against you, i'm just curious, how do you think safety and people abiding the law should be held up without any police force? obviously corrupt police, police with too much power, etc, are no good, but i personally can't imagine what cops would be replaced with if even noncorrupt cops aren't acceptable. i'm interested in hearing your thoughts.

Hey anon,

The thing about cops is 99% of the time, they don't actually prevent crimes. They come in after crimes have already been committed. What we need is an approach that is about preventing them. We have tried police reform worldwide. It doesn't work. It never works.

The entire system of policing is based on punishment, not prevention. In fact, police aren't even obligated to TRY to protect people.

What we need is to tackle to problems at the root. Look at crimes and go 'why does this happen?' and make sure people don't end up in the situations that lead to that. Complete overhaul of social and community problems, universal basic income, guaranteed housing, etc. A safety net that makes it so people who are being abused feel safe coming forward from the beginning, with no risk of them losing their home, job, children, etc. A society for children and young adults where their emotional needs are cared for and they don't have access to dangerous weapons to shoot up schools. When someone has a mental break, mental health professionals especially trained in de-escalation show up, not cops. A society where we make active efforts to disentangle young boys and men from the patriarchy, lowering the amount of rape and abuse we see. Community programs in SPADES to put a stop to street violence. We need to decriminalize drugs, sex work, etc., and create support systems and networks so sex work can be safe and drug addicts can be safely rehabilitated without just throwing them in jail.

MOST crimes could be solved before they happen by this.

And yes, there are crimes out there that likely can't be prevented. You might not be able to stop Joe serial killer by giving him these outlets. But these are anomalies, actually quite rare, and we would have people for them as well; trained in forensics, investigation, etc., with the goal of preventing crimes from occurring, not just punishment.

We also need to see rehabilitation and restorative justice as the goal. Some countries are getting a lot better about that aspect.

The thing about police is they haven't been around forever. They're a recent institution (relatively speaking) that we've become reliant on, by design.

Police abolition can't happen in one day. It's a process that requires a huge amount of overhaul of our existing systems. It's something needed in every country. Police rule us, and there's nothing neutral about that. It's unacceptable.

#anonymous #haro talks #i do recommend googling like 'police abolition' topics bc they're all smarter than me

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pscottm · 2 months

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Remember Jennifer and James Crumbley? Sure you do. They’re Ethan’s parents. You know, Ethan Crumbly? Oh, c’mon…the 15-year-old kid who shot and killed four of his classmates at Oxford High School in Michigan. Ring a bell? The murders happened back in 2021, but a month ago Jennifer Crumbley was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter because she 1) failed to get Ethan the mental health care he needed, and 2) made it possible for him to have access to both a handgun and ammunition.

Here’s the thing: the US are Jennifer and James Crumbley. The Israeli government is Ethan. And the thirty thousand dead men, women, and children in Gaza? They’re the victims of an international school shooting.

Just like Ethan’s parents, the US (and the world) has known for a long time that the government of Israel has been a threat to the daily existence of Palestinians. We’ve known about the government’s support of illegal settlements in the West Bank, we’ve known about their harsh policies toward Gaza. And yeah, like Ethan, some groups of Palestinians have made matters worse because of their behavior. But the fact remains, the US has been aware of the dangerous and destructive behavior of Israel. And like Ethan’s parents, we’ve not only ignored the abuse and the risk, we’ve deliberately enabled it by supplying the Israeli government with all manner of weaponry.

And hey, we’re still doing that. Thirty thousand plus dead Gazan — a large proportion of which are children — and we continue to hand them weapons. Yes, we’re saying, “Please use these weapons responsibly” but that’s like buying your 15-year-old mentally ill child a handgun, helping him load it, and asking him not to kill his classmates.

Jennifer Crumbly has been found guilty for making it possible for her son to kill other kids. Her husband’s trial will be held in the near future; he’ll likely be found guilty as well. In any rational, responsible World Criminal Court, the US will…well, you can figure it out.

I’m sure Ethan’s parents feel horrible about what happened. I’m sure they wish they’d acted before it was too late. I’m sure they just didn’t realize how their parental failure would harm others. I’m sure they had no idea how much it would harm Ethan and themselves. I’m sure that if they’d been present during the shooting, they’d have at least tried to take Ethan’s 9mm handgun and stopped the killing.

The US could do that. We could just stop providing the Israeli government with the weapons its using to commit genocide against the Palestinian people. It’s far too late, of course, but too late is better than never. We could stop giving Israel weaponry; it would be the moral equivalent of taking away Ethan’s handgun after he’s shot a few classmates. There are already too many bodies on the international schoolroom floor; nothing is going to change that. But we could try to prevent more bodies from stacking up.

We could do that. But we won’t.

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feathers-scales-and-tails · 4 years

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Been seeing a lot of “backyard eggs are cruel” articles lately, so I wanted to go through a couple of the points they raise and highlight why backyard eggs aren’t inherently cruel.

1) Chicks come from factory farm hatcheries

This point is entirely dependent upon an individuals purchasing choices. The only chicks coming from factory farm hatcheries are production hybrids, so ISA Brown, HYLINE Brown, Utility Leghorn, etc. so long as you don’t purchase these hybrids, you don’t support the unethical factories.

Although private hatcheries have their own plethora of ethical issues, these places are not suppliers to factory farms. The best place to purchase your chicks or pullets from is a private breeder who has good welfare standards. Neither of these options support the factory farms, and the claim that majority of backyard hens come from these factory farm hatcheries is false. I currently can’t name a single person I know with birds from a factory farm hatchery.

2) Male chicks are killed at birth

If you are buying factory farm chicks, yes. However as I mentioned above, few backyard hens are coming from this source. Private hatcheries which sex chicks either sell cockerels cheaper, or sell them in bundle deals for meat birds. Unfortunately private hatcheries are about profit, and believe it or not they can still profit off cockerels.

Private breeders rarely ever sex chicks. It requires specialised training and cockerels are harder to sell, so most sell chicks unsexed. Breeders also want to grow out these cockerels, there needs to be a keep back for the next generation of breeding. Either way, private hatcheries and breeders where a lot of backyard hens are sourced from are not killing male chicks on a large scale.

3) Hens are unhealthy and unnatural due to genetic manipulation

First of all, domestic hens lay more eggs than their ancestors due to selective breeding, not ‘genetic modification’ or ‘genetic manipulation’. Production hybrids are certainly unhealthy, laying over 300 eggs a year causes their bodies to wear out and they’re predisposed to so many reproductive issues. They were bred with the intention of maximum production, replaced after 18 months once this production declines. They are a mess and frankly should not exist.

This is the argument point which always frustrates me the most because, you do realise there are hundreds of chicken breeds right? And just like with dogs, these breeds all have different temperaments, characteristics, and health statuses.

A well bred Wyandotte who lays 200 eggs a year rarely experiences the health issues of production hybrids. These issues are almost unheard of in Sumatra or Sebright who lay 50-100 eggs a year. There are so many heritage breeds out there bred for their longevity, living on average 7-8 years rather than the measly 2-3 of production hybrids.

Most people who keep backyard hens love these birds dearly, these are their pets. Why would someone purchase an unethical production hybrid off the factory farms knowing she will die a horrible death in 2 years, when they could instead get a heritage breed who’ll lay them eggs until she’s at least 5?

I know very few people with backyard hens who keep the production birds

4) Hens are abandoned/killed when production slows/stops

I have yet to meet a single person who has purposefully gotten rid of their hens once production slows or stops.

Production hybrids rarely stop laying unless they are actively affected by reproductive complications, these birds sadly die before they stop laying so owners are definitely not ‘abandoning’ these birds, rather they die long before their time while still pumping out those eggs. Alternatively, heritage breeds will lay for years. We’ve had a 9 year old Sussex still laying eggs. For all the backyard keepers with heritage breeds, the time to ‘replace’ hens is often very far into the future.

This isn’t even raising the point that, these hens are pets. People can eat eggs and still bond fiercely with their hens, people can eat eggs and still value the life of the hen. I don’t think many people are going to turn around and kill their friend suddenly because she stops laying as frequently. My grandfather who used to own a small scale egg farm always kept his old hens who no longer laid, he’d had them for 7 years and that’s an attachment that’s hard to break.

The idea that hens suddenly stop laying eggs one day so people replace them is quite silly, it just doesn’t happen in a backyard setting. Certainly in egg farms, but not with pet hens.

5) Laying eggs depletes nutrients. Hens need to be fed their eggs to get these back

Laying eggs definitely takes up a shocking amount of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. A big one is calcium, the egg needs a lot to shell it, but each egg also needs enough calcium stores inside the yolk to nurture and grow a chicks skeleton. If a hen doesn’t have enough calcium, she’ll draw it from her bones to produce eggs.

But the thing is, she doesn’t need to eat her own eggs to gain this nutrition back. Chickens have been domesticated for thousands of years, and in this time we’ve perfected their diet. There are many fantastic feeds on the market tailored specifically for a laying hens needs! She should be fed a pellet or mash diet, this ensures she gets the correct amount of all the nutrients, whereas with grain she can pick and chose parts and become deficient. Furthermore, chickens aren’t stupid animals. A hen will know if she needs more calcium, and this is why it’s important to offer them oyster shell, limestone, and crushed egg shells so she can eat extra calcium at her leisure.

Sceptical of the feed, or maybe you just think she deserves those eggs back after all her hard work? Well while it’s nice to treat your hens to an egg every now and then, too many can cause many fatal health issues. If she eats every single egg she lays, AND eats a nutritional balanced diet, she’s getting way too much of those nutrients since the feed is already replacing that loss. A really big concern is that she’ll put on too much weight from all the protein in eggs, this can lead to fatty liver disease which kills many backyard hens annually. Maintaining a good weight in your flock is vital to preventing other health issues too such as egg binding and heart failure.

I love letting my hens eat raw eggs, it’s hilarious and they love it. However I actually had to stop because one of my hens Sooty got dangerously overweight and was at risk of fatty liver disease. You might think feeding hens back their own eggs is great for their health, but it should be in moderation, there is too much of a good thing. Unless you’re feeding your hen rubbish, she doesn’t need the eggs since her diet replaces those nutrients daily, and please don’t feed your hens rubbish.

6) We are using the hens. They are not ours to use as we please

I suppose this point holds up depending on your personal beliefs. I personally don’t feel pet hens are being ‘used’ at all, rather it’s a mutually beneficial relationship. We give them food, safety, and friendship, so they return that friendship and sometimes eggs.

A part of domestication is that the animal adapts to living alongside us, with chickens it just happened to be the constant access to good food and a safe nest encouraged them to lay more eggs. We can’t change that now, so we may as well use the eggs. A dog or cat domesticated for companionship will provide that, are we abusing those pets as well by taking their companionship?

Also if I’m being quite frank, no one will ever get eggs cheaper by keeping backyard chickens. Feed is expensive, coops are expensive, veterinary care is expensive. Anyone getting backyard hens will have some other motive to it rather than just “I want free eggs” because these eggs aren’t free. Most people want a pet, they don’t want to support the factory farming, or they want to feel more self sufficient, maybe all three of those reasons! People aren’t getting backyard hens with the intent of ‘using’ them for eggs, because it’s cheaper just to buy eggs.

So to sum this up, backyard eggs aren’t hurting the hens! If anything, it’s helping them! Showing support for more ethical means of egg production will put pressure on the large scale egg farms to change ways. Hopefully these unethical practices will be phased out one day, it’ll take time, but one step at a time.

Thanks for reading! Epponnee says this egg is for you, they’re tasty and she wants to share! Please take it or she will keep crowing until you do!

#myposts #info #feathers #chickenblr #birdblr #pet chicken #backyard chicken #animal welfare

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dontmeantobepoliticalbut · 2 years

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Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill that bans most abortions after 15 weeks, making Florida the latest state to restrict access to the medical procedure. Just two days ago, Oklahoma's governor signed a bill that would make performing an abortion a felony in most cases.

The new Florida law, which takes effect July 1, will replace a previous one that allowed abortions until 24 weeks of pregnancy.

"House Bill 5 protects babies in the womb who have beating hearts, who can move, who can taste, who can see, and who can feel pain," DeSantis said in a statement Wednesday. "Life is a sacred gift worthy of our protection, and I am proud to sign this great piece of legislation which represents the most significant protections for life in the state's modern history."

The new 15-week ban does not make exceptions for cases of incest, rape or human trafficking. It does allow an abortion if it would save the life of a pregnant person or prevent serious injury to them.

The law also includes exceptions for fetal abnormalities that are discovered after 15 weeks. In such cases, two doctors must sign off saying the baby will die shortly after birth before an abortion can happen.

Groups including Planned Parenthood warn that marginalized communities, including Black and Latino residents, will have the added burden of traveling out of state for the procedure.

"We've entered a dangerous time for Floridians' reproductive freedom. In just a few months, thousands of pregnant people in Florida will no longer be able to access the care they need without leaving their state," said Planned Parenthood President Alexis McGill Johnson in a statement. "The supporters of this bill have put their own political ambitions and beliefs before the health and futures of their constituents."

A Similar Mississippi Law Is Before The Supreme Court

Florida's new law is modeled after another in Mississippi that also bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. That law is currently being considered at the Supreme Court, where justices in the six-member conservative majority appear willing to uphold the law.

Upholding Mississippi's law would significantly roll back or overturn the protections that Roe v. Wade guaranteed pregnant people.

Florida's bill passed the state House in mid-February and then went to the state Senate. In both chambers, lawmakers of both parties shared their personal experiences with sexual assault and abortion and how it informed their votes.

Lawmakers Shared Their Own Experiences During The Debate Over Florida's Measure

During the House debate, Republican Rep. Dana Trabulsy shared that she had previously gotten an abortion and was "ashamed because I will never get to know the unborn child that I could have had."

"It's something I have regretted every day since," Trabulsy said. "This is the right to life and to give up life is unconscionable to me."

In the Senate, Democrat Lauren Book pushed for an amendment to the bill that would have allowed exceptions for incest, rape or human trafficking. Book spoke of her own experience of sexual abuse and rape.

"It's not OK to force someone who's been sexually assaulted and impregnated to carry that pregnancy to term if they don't want to, it's just not," she said. "And if a woman or a girl needs more than 15 weeks to decide, we should be able to give that to her."

Florida is not the only state using Mississippi's law as a blueprint. Republican lawmakers in West Virginia and Arizona have proposed similar legislation in anticipation of the Supreme Court ruling.

Other Republican-led states are also considering and implementing abortion bans more restrictive than Mississippi's 15-week model. Last May, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a bill that effectively bans abortions as soon as a fetal heartbeat is detected or as early as six weeks. The Supreme Court has declined three times to take up the challenge to the Texas abortion law.

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plannedparenthood · 4 years

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Domestic Violence Resources During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic means lots of people are physically isolating or sheltering in place to help stay healthy and prevent the spread of the virus in our communities. But it also means many people are trapped at home with abusive partners or family members, and face increased violence. Since the beginning of the global pandemic, reports of domestic violence are on the rise in the U.S. and across the world.

There’s never an excuse for abuse of any kind. Being stuck at home, job losses, and financial stress are difficult to deal with. But tough times aren’t a reason to abuse another person.

Signs of domestic violence include:

Rape, sexual assault, and sexual abuse

Physical or emotional control or manipulation

Being monitored or having your partner keep track of what you do and where you go

Extreme jealousy and cheating

Being hit, kicked, pushed, or hurt in any physical way

Name-calling or being insulted or put down

Being kept from speaking to your friends and family

Forced sex or reproductive coercion, meaning your partner pressures you to have sex or messes with your birth control to cause a pregnancy

Sexual violence can be a big part of domestic violence. It can happen with someone you’ve known for a long time or with someone you’re in a relationship with. Women (especially women of color), LGBTQ+ identified people, and people with disabilities are more likely to experience sexual assault. Whether you’re married, in a relationship, or living with someone — there must be consent before sex every single time. Consent means actively agreeing to have sex or be sexual in any way. Any kind of sexual activity without consent is sexual assault, and it’s not ok.

Anyone can be a victim of abuse — no matter your gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or age. Emotional, verbal, or physical abuse is not your fault. You deserve to feel safe in your home and in your relationship. If you or someone you know has experienced this type of violence, you’re not alone. If you or someone you know is living with someone who hurts you, there are resources available to help you stay safe. The confidential and private resources below can provide help right away.

National Domestic Violence Hotline

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is confidential and available 24/7 to give you resources and information, and answer questions about domestic violence or other unhealthy experiences in your relationship. They can provide tools and immediate support to help you find safety.

Call: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

Chat

En español: https://espanol.thehotline.org/

Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may use TTY 1-800-787-3224 or email [email protected]

loveisrespect

loveisrespect is a safe and inclusive space for young people to access information and get help. They also provide information and help for friends, family members, teachers, and counselors who want to support someone who is abused.

Call: 1-866-331-9474

Chat

Text: LOVEIS to 22522*

En español: https://espanol.loveisrespect.org/

RAINN

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) helps prevent sexual violence, support survivors, and bring offendors to justice. The National Sexual Assault Hotline connects you with a trained staff member from your local sexual assault service provider.

Call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

Chat

En español: https://rainn.org/es

Other resources for help and information:

National Network to End Domestic Violence

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV)

National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)

NO MORE

Break the Cycle

FUTURES Without Violence

#domestic violence #COVID-19 #DV #IPV #intimate partner violence #relationships #abuse #unhealthy relationships

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ablednt · 4 years

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aren’t u that blog that constantly promotes self dx and bashes professional dx? like self dx is fine but it’s a last resort for people who can’t access prof dx.

I don't bash prof dx, first off. I fully understand and respect people who needed one for any reason.

However self diagnosis should never be treated like a backup for if you can't get a prof dx and here is why:

(Disclaimer: exact details vary by country making this not fully accurate in every country also I am not saying that treatment is bad or that therapists are inherently bad I am currently trying to seek therapy but any good therapist will treat you without a diagnosis if they are aware of the legal consequences of one)

You can and likely will lose your rights for your diagnoses. It's different by country but in the US if your diagnosed with things like DID, Autism, and probs a lot more you won't be allowed to go on HRT if you're trans. You may have your children taken away if you have any, you may be prevented from donating or receiving blood or organs, if you have abusive family members they may be able to put you under a conservatorship (what happened to Britney Spears) etc.

Literally the vast majority of psychologists do not study these disorders! Do you know what they do when they prof dx? THE SAME SHIT PPL WHO SELF DX DO. The dx process is exactly the same but with a professional dx you have someone who doesn't have that thing, who has no actual first hand experiences, listening to you talk about that thing and telling you whether or not they think you have it with literally no input from the community.

By saying every one has to try to be prof dxed before they're allowed to self dx you're saying that people of color should put up with blatant racism because there's so many documented biases.

Also the criteria that therapists use to diagnose is found in the dsm5, have you read it? I have, it says that autistic people cannot take care of themselves that they're prone to self harm bc of their autism and that they should have their needs ignored it uses all the labels that autistic people ask it doesn't. It says that even if an adult fits all the criteria of ADHD that if their parents arent available to say "yeah they sucked at school and were annoying" that you shouldn't diagnose them. The criteria for personality disorders, schizophrenia, and similar are all intentionally vague and/or exclusionary to one highly stereotyped set of symptoms. They literally admitted to trying to make the criteria for DID as specific and exclusive as possible because they wanted to remove it entirely because they believed people dxed with MPD before DID was coined did not deserve treatment.

The field of psychology started historically to abuse people, they were thrown into asylums and literally beaten and subjected to horrible conditions for any presumed mental illness. This actually has not changed very much at all, even in the last century a psychiatrist was caught physically abusing his patients and using the theory he made on DID to force them to keep coming to him for therapy. Psyche wards are notorious for mistreating patients there in every aspect and I've had psyche students tell me they believe that psychologists should have the right to physically harm patients. Children professionally dxed with autism are often physically harmed at school by their teachers, physical restraint is still used and it's killed multiple autistic students.

Children and teens in abusive homes have ableist parents often who may get violent or worsen the abuse or use a dx against them legally to trap them at home. Do you give them a pass for self dx? Except here's the thing you literally don't know who's being abused and who isn't and asking ppl that is really fucked up so you should be accepting all self dx to create a welcoming and safe space for them.

Physciatrists actually misdiagnose more than people mis-self-diagnose. Which isn't a reflection on the psychiatrist as much as the fact that people know their own experiences but they very often can't explain them. An example before I met someone who had OSDD1 and would explain it to me from first hand perspective no one would have ever suspected I had a dissociative disorder and was plural Because the only words I had for my experiences were "everything before a certain date literally wasn't me idk I'm just not the same person I was" "I'm a really good writer because I talk to characters in my head all day and they respond to things even when I'm not trying to think about them and they're real to me somehow idk lol" none of that sounds like DID but I was actually describing memory gaps from switches, internal communication and presence of fictives, etc. The best guest anyone had was depression and an overactive imagination. Self dxing is literally more accurate and accessible because people can look at the community and see the disorder explained from first hand experience.

Historically (but it's still happening in some cases) therapists would literally refuse treatment to anyone who talked to other people with their diagnosis. The case I'm thinking of is people with MPD (the dx that came before DID replaced it) would be refused therapy if they spoke to anyone else with MPD outside of therapy and even forbade them from going to support groups for survivors of incestual abuse because those groups advocated for the rights of people with MPD. To this day therapists often disrespect any and all ND/mentally ill communities because we happen to know our own literal lived experiences better than them.

Oh and prof dxes are often used against people legally so if anyone is in a minority group often targeted by police that potentially puts them in even more danger if they're arrested. Least we forget there's an entire field of study dedicated to criminalizing mental illness.

This isnt even half the reasons but I'm running out of spoons (I can source most of these things but I don't have the spoons so if anyone needs a source just ask)

I'm a firm believer that the need for prof dx not be pushed on everyone when it can have permanent and negative consequences and is no better than a self dx. If someone needs a diagnosis for access to medications, for financial support, or for any other legal reason then it very well may be worth the risk but they need to have the right to understand the consequences and make that decision. Imo it's professional dxes that should be not a last resort perse but it shouldn't even remotely be your first steps, your first steps are find the community and hear their actual lived experiences bc that will be so much clearer than anything a therapist who doesn't experience that thing can explain.

Also why do you care if people self dx? Why does their not having an Official Document saying they have their disorder bother you? I think it's deeply unsettling that you think everyone in the entire world needs YOUR approval to have something.

Jsyk the sentiment that self dx is lesser than prof dx is fostered by our capitalist nt society that's benefiting off of our abuse and systematic oppression so like you're literally helping us stay oppressed with this rhetoric.

If y'all really want to be progressive and anti-capitalist like most of this site does (and should) then that goes for disability justice too. Stop helping our own communities abuse and accept that not everyone has the luxury you apparently had to never be affected by your diagnosis ever.

#long post #outbox #negative #abuse tw #ableism tw #psychiatric ward tw #psych ward tw #police tw #ask to tag #self dx discussion #anyway if you think you personally approve who deserves a self dx then youre disgusting and need to figure something out for that power trip

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unbakehisbeans · 3 years

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Yeah if you want to be a prison-abolitionist you really do have to actually grapple with what to do with people that you actually want to punish

I think there’s this whole, pretty reactionary and performative, thing that happens where people say “kill all rapists/abusers/pedophiles” and I regret to inform you that that doesn’t really cut it or make sense. You don’t want drug dealers or thieves to go to prison bc obviously they shouldn’t and you’ve reasoned out alternatives, but you fail to extend that reasoning to people you find truly heinous and that’s a problem.

Here are somethings you should probably know and think about:

Domestic abuse often happens when there is a power imbalance in a relationship (like a financial power imbalance) and somebody abuses their power, it would take a complete restructuring of our society to truly address this

In the meantime, we can help by being more involved in our communities, giving victims safe places to go, implementing reforms like UBI so that people are not financially dependent on each other, removing the stupid rule that limits how much money disabled ppl are allowed to have before we take their benefits away, etc.

Child molesters are not always pedophiles, they’re people who are taking advantage of their power over a child, they’re usually people the child knows. We need to give children more autonomy as well as appropriate education about consent and how to recognize and talk about abuse (using specific terms like penis and vagina) as well as the above reforms

We need to give better access to mental healthcare for so many reasons, but also so that pedophiles (most of whom are nonoffending) can talk to a therapist and get help safely to prevent them from offending or hurting themselves (the latter is more common)

Most cases of rape are perpetrated by someone the victim knows, often someone who has power over them, see the above reforms for potential ways to mitigate this. We also know that educating people in general about consent and healthy sexual practices helps.

“Sex offender” is a broad term that includes a lot of people, most of whom have not been sexually violent. They have low rates of recidivism and can be reformed, they aren’t people you should be scared of and isolating them only causes more harm.

Incarcerating or killing the people who commit these crimes isnt particularly useful and also allows for more abuse to occur, it runs the risk of people who are innocent getting hurt

The goal should be to rehabilitate harmdoers and hold them accountable, support victims and ensure their safety, and to prevent future harm from happening.

Harmdoers can be reformed and rehabilitated and it’s worth trying to do so.

Harm prevention efforts should not include isolating harmdoers from their communities or permanently shaming them, this only causes more harm.

We can’t really hold harmdoers accountable in many senses, accountability and rehabilitation are PROCESSES that the harmdoer has to be willing to undertake.

#rape mention #rape #domestic violence #csa mention

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radramblog · 3 years

Text

Every Boros Commander, Part 2

Where we last left off, I was shitting on Adriana, Captain of the Guard, who gives ACAB a pretty different meaning. Fortunately, most of the pickings this time aren’t quite as dire.

Depala, Pilot Exemplar (3rd most played as of writing)

Holy shit, a Boros commander with card advantage? It’s niche, but it was a first. Being limited to Dwarves and Vehicles does leave her with a problem a lot of commanders and tribes tend to have, which is being just a smidge under critical mass- but with the upcoming Kaldheim appearing to support Dwarves, and vehicles appearing to be a deciduous mechanic, I feel like it won’t be long before Depala is as powerful as her placement suggests. She is niche and mana-hungry, but basically the only Vehicle commander (and definitely the only Dwarf commander at the moment), so I suspect she’s here to stay for a while.

Tiana, Ship’s Caretaker (15th most played as of writing)

Tiana is possibly my favourite character lorewise in all of magic, frankly. She’s cool and cute and a massive dork and also someone who found her purpose in life, and frankly I love that for her.

She’s also a really interesting commander to build around, seeing as she has a unique brand of card advantage that leads to the addition of old and weird cards, which I’m always a fan of. I should really get around to building a Tiana deck, to be honest, though I already have 10 commander decks with an 11th in progress, sooooo…

Firesong and Sunspeaker (4th most played as of writing)

I’m surprised to see F&S this high, but the first unique Buy-a-Box card did expand into an archetype previously unseen in the combination in the form of Boros Spellslinger (Dalakos would later return the favour as an Izzet Equipment commander). Previously, you had to go into Pauper EDH and play fellow Minotaur Blaze Commando for this kinda deck. Like Depala, F&S are heavily played despite being niche, though the also have the benefit of being a RW minotaur commander, if you want to play White instead of Black in that deck for…some reason? The siren moo of Boros Reckoner speaks to us all, I suppose.

Sylvia Brightspear and Khorvath Brightflame (17th most played as of writing)

The only partner pair I’m discussing today on account of their monogamy. Knights and Dragons make a weird combination, seeing as there are basically no other cards that help them work together rather than apart. You could almost run them as a goodstuff deck if you wanted, seeing as many of Boros’s best creatures are Knights or Dragons, but largely I think sticking to one or the other is probably for the best. With that in mind, the pair are actually the only real commanders for either tribe within Boros- the only other Dragon is something we’ll get to, and the only knight is…Adriana…so…. The buffs given by either pair are excellent, and not something that either tribe gets easy access to typically, so I can see the appeal of them in that slot. At that point, the extra commander is just a bonus.

Aurelia, Exemplar of Justice (21st most played as of writing)

Oh, another Aurelia, and she’s worse this time. In seriousness, her ability looks like its likely to be targeting herself most of the time, and Mentor just doesn’t do enough in this format. She has enough keywords and power to Voltron, but I’m not expecting much interesting from her outside of that.

Tajic, Legion’s Edge (18th most played as of writing)

Tajic has 4 separate lines of text for some reason, and only one (ok fine two haste is nice) actually matters. Having a damage prevention effect is nice in the zone, but it doesn’t apply to himself, so if you’re planning on turning mass damage one-sided you’re going to need to protect him still. And like, what else does he do? He’s not a good aggro commander at all, his last ability is a joke, why are people playing this card? If I was in a mass damage deck I’d just play Gisela, at least she does something on the off chance she survives. Probably no-one is gonna go out of the way to kill Tajic, at least. Beats out Aurelia for biggest downgrade, imo, even if Aurelia fell from higher.

Feather, the Redeemed (Number 1 most played at time of writing)

Feather is the most popular Boros commander, by over triple the next most popular. It’s not hard to see why: she’s a cheap commander that turns any targeted cantrip into a draw engine, she synergises with so many random powerful cards that you can build her a fair few different ways, and she’s a cool story character getting a card 12ish years after her appearance in the Ravnica novels. She does so much and is so interesting that it’s completely understandable that she’s as huge as she is. I’m still never going to build her though, even with my funky Japanese copies, if only because I’m too much of a hipster.

Gerrard, Weatherlight Hero (13th most played as of writing)

Kinda funny that Gerrard’s little text that made him work in the command zone until recent rules changes is now a strict downside. Gerrard has his niche, with a Second Sunrise in the zone unsurprisingly supporting Eggs decks rather nicely, and synergising with a lot of just random bullshit. I’d probably never build him, and it seems pretty easy to make it degenerate, but I’m glad he’s here and he’s certainly better than the first iteration of the character.

Haktos, the Unscarred (12th most played as of writing)

I’m kinda surprised to see Achilles this high, considering how recent he is. He reminds me a lot of Progenitus, oddly enough, as a commander that would be good at Voltron but can’t get buffed easily by traditional means. I think adding equipment on the off-chance that it fits his heel is a complete mistake, but things like Silverblade Paladin and Exalted cards do exist, so fair play. He’s pretty hard to kill unless you’re boardwiping, and even then damage-based ones probably miss, so I can see the value in that. But that mana cost hurts to look at- hitting 2 mana of 2 different colours on turn 4 was a pain back when I played Trostani, and that was a green deck.

Stet, Draconic Proofreader (No data available)

Okay look, I tried so hard to find a way to abuse this dork’s ability but there’s just no good way to do it. Stet sucks hard enough that even if you are playing with Silver-Bordered cards legal I just don’t know why you’d ever run it. His art is pretty funny, I’ll give it that. We got Alexander bloody Clamilton and Surgeon Commander in the same cycle, keep in mind.

Winota, Joiner of Forces (2nd most played as of writing)

Having menaced standard, Winota is still pretty decent as a commander, even without access to her 7-mana blue payload. There actually aren’t that many beefy humans to cheat out in general, but considering how easy it is to enable her ability and the fact that she digs *6 cards deep* on trigger, I think you just kinda end up swarming the board distressingly easy with her deck. It’s shocking to see a card from 2020 in the top 5 like this, considering how the year has gone for the format in general, but like. 6 cards.

Zirda, the Dawnwaker (8th most played as of writing)

Look it combos with Basalt/Grim monolith in the command zone isn’t that neat. Zirda is pretty open-ended, but not especially powerful outside of the aforementioned combo. I find them much more appealing in the Companion slot, frankly. With that said, I do like that Boros is the colour pair getting access to Training Grounds in the zone, seeing as it works well with its other themes (Equipment mostly) and opens new archetypes (Cycling, etc.) up as possibilities.

Akiri, Fearless Voyager (7th most played as of writing)

Haha, Brion has more decks than Akiri. That’s probably since it only released a few months ago. Of course, I’m not including the other Akiri, so this is the first time we’ve seen her on the list. But apart from that, Akiri was somehow the first of these commanders to actually say “draw” on it. Her synergies with Living Weapon (and the recent equipment cards that do the same) are pretty sick, though her second ability will end up costing a lot of mana over time if you have to use it. I think its hilarious how much more value this gives you than Adriana for doing the thing Adriana wants you to do, at 2 less mana.

Also, she’s probably the best general for Kor tribal? I guess you could go Akiri/Black partner so you can play Orah in the deck. Someone build this! Kor like equipment, Akiri likes equipment, lets go.

It’s only just occurred to me that Akiri gives you more for attacking other players than Adriana does. Fuckin hell, man.

Bell Borca, Spectral Sergeant (25th most played as of writing)

Bell finally getting a card 15 years after his fictional death was a welcome treat, but the exile-related ability is frankly awkward and abusing it to 1 or 2 hit commander damage is pretty difficult. Still, having impulse draw in the zone makes him probably just the best generic #goodstuff commander. I’m surprised he’s as low as he is, but he only released a month ago (at time of writing) and we got an absolute stack of legends (including 2 other Boros ones and the partners) in the same set.

Reyav, Master Smith (28th most played as of writing)

Reyav is neat since he combines 2 of Boros’s more traditional archetypes, being Aggro and Voltron, into one damage doubling dwarf. I suspect his lack of play is again due to the other legends in the same set and that it only dropped a month ago, because there’s no way he deserves to be below Munda. Also, he’s 2 mana! The only other 2CMC Boros Legend is partner Akiri! How did that happen? I think he deserves better. You can suit him up and get dunking real quick.

Wyleth, Soul of Steel (16th most played as of writing)

Our final general is Boros’s second ever Precon commander, and the only one with flavour text. He’s got the space for it, considering how much work that second line is doing. I appreciate that Wyleth, despite being superficially similar to Akiri, plays pretty differently, as he prefers Voltron while she prefers spreading equipment out. I assume Wyleth would be a lot higher if the precon itself was included, but there’s no way of knowing how many people are playing just the base deck, so who knows.

A CHALLENGER APPROACHES!!!

Koll, the Forgemaster (no data available) This bloke got spoiled between me writing most of this and going to publish it. I can see a few easy combos with his first ability, especially seeing as Grafted Wargear is a card. Playing fairly though, his first ability feels kinda slow, and not being able to protect himself is a huge drag. The second ability feels kinda stapled on, as its a way of giving you a bonus since the first one doesn’t do shit for tokens. But like, just don’t equip them, lmao. Awkward, but has potential.

And that’s the lot of them! Uhhhh yeah that’s all I’ve got, stan Tiana kthnxbai

#ramble #mtg #edh #commander #boros #Tiana best girl

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hadesglance · 4 years

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All hail the new queen... - 29 (Hades Original Story)

You fought your way through the maze of the underworld to make a deal with the King…intrigued the lonely king listens…

Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four Part Five Part Six Part Seven Part Eight Part Nine Part Ten Part Eleven Part Twelve Part Thirteen Part Fourteen Part Fifteen Part Sixteen Part Seventeen Part Eighteen Part Nineteen Part Twenty Part Twenty-One Part Twenty-Two Part Twenty-Three Part Twenty-Four Part Twenty-Five Part Twenty-Six Part Twenty-Seven Part Twenty-Eight

I DID IT! OH MY GOODNESS!! IT’S REALLY HERE GUYS A NEW CHAPTER...it’s a bit short, but it’s a start! I hope you enjoy!

The sound of chirping birds woke you up. You winced when you opened your eyes seeing the sun pouring through the window a small breeze blew the curtains. You tensed a little feeling a cool arm wrap around out.

As you began to turn his voice reverberated through your back, “I do love watching you sleep.”

“Hades…” You placed your hands on the sides of his face. His smile was infectious and it made your heart flutter. Your thumb caressed his cheek as you whispered, “I had the worst dream.”

He sighed heavily as he took one of you hands in his giving it a longing kiss before he spoke, “I’m afraid you weren’t dreaming…”

You felt the sharp intake of breath as you sat up looking around the room. It was Olympus…but it’s was wrong, things were misshapen, dark in areas where there should be substance, pieces disjointed from others. It was sunny out but you could hear a violent storm outside.

His voice moved your attention back to his face, “You are dreaming now, I’m able to reach you because of our bond, and I do not have much time.”

“Wha..where are you? Are you okay?” Your hands searched over him trying to see if he was hurt.

“There isn’t time…” He took your hands gently kissing your fingers reverently, “Cronus has taken me to Tartarus, and he only wants one thing…to break me.”

“We’ll come get you...your brothers they…” You were cut off by him.

“You are not to come to Tartarus.” You stared at him for a long time as his order washed over you, “Do you understand? Do not come after me…”

“Hades please…” You shook your head feeling your throat tightening as you desperately tried to defy his order.

“Y/N…do not come to Tartarus.” He repeated before he smiled watching you struggle, “I love you…I love so much…”

“Don’t go…” You could feel him slipping away as you felt yourself beginning to wake up, “Hades…please…I need you…”

Despite your pleading tone you felt yourself moving away from him. Floating away, fingers straining to remain entwined with his. His hands held onto yours as he stared up into your eyes, “I love you…never forget that. No matter what the Fates have planned, I love you.”

“Hades!” You screamed as his fingers slipped from yours plunging yourself into the cold night. You sat up in bed shaking terribly.

The door flung open and Percy ran inside over to you. You stared into lap still feeling his hands over your own as she wrapped her arms around you tightly. Tears fell over your numb face spilling on to the sheets staining them with the unspoken desires you couldn’t speak.

Later that day you sat in a room full on gods. Enraged that one of their own had been taken. Despite that there were still two sides. One wanted vengeance, to attack one was to attack all. The other side to let the great Cronus keep Hades in hope that he would be appeased until a better plan could be reached.

All the while you watched the one god who held the final call, and at the moment his face was blank as he listened to each complaint. You were angry he wasn’t saying anything. You wanted to yell at him to say something. Anything! Hades was his older brother, didn’t that mean anything?

“Hades asked for this the moment he began meddling with living humans in an unconventional way. We are there to guide and bestow blessings…not in fact making relations.” Your eyes snapped over to the person speaking. Hephaestus…you had always pitied him. Forced to marry in order to prevent a war, considered inferior when in fact he was a genius and one of the many reasons we had the beauty of art.

Right now, he was spiteful. He was always bitter that he was never graced with good looks, and it seems that he never got over not being wanted. It was sad.

“Enough.” The room fell silent as Zeus stood to his feet, “Your complaints only hinder the main issue…Cronus is back and he seeks to destroy us. Athena…can you tell us anything?”

Everyone’s eyes shifted to the goddess of wisdom. She sat toward the end of the table, face bandaged arm in a sling. Yet despite her state she stood up with such power and dignity, “He took my brother Ares and I to Tartarus. He raving like a lunatic…like all the stories you’ve told us. He wanted…he wanted to use us to open the other cells. We wouldn’t do it and he fell into a rage.”

“And what of Ares?” Poseidon leaned forward brow furrowing.

Athena looked at him a moment of frailty flashing in her eyes, “He…he made sure I was able leave. He held the door open for me to escape…told me to run. It was the only option…”

“No one is blaming you for anything, Athena.” Apollo stepped toward her with his sister Artemis to show support and protection.

“Father, if there had been any other way…” Athena looked at Zeus who held up his hand to silence her.

“You are the wisest of all of us, Athena.” He spoke firmly to everyone as he stepped away from the table, “You are the only one Ares would ever listen too, I know your bond took a long time to forge, disputes in these halls still hold the scars. Even though we know him as unbalanced and cruel, Ares is not one to just abandon all options and fall on his sword. He saw something in letting you go…”

“Information…” Athena nodded slowly looking up to him as stepped nearby, “Cronus wants to release the other Titans, and he’s going to make Hades do it.”

“Hades would never do that.” Zeus shook his head as he crossed his arms while others nodded in agreeing full heartedly.

“Cronus intends to break him…like before. Ares and I were just practice.” She looked away ashamed.

The room began to murmur in small worried conversations. Finally, you could take it no more. You stood to your feet slamming your hands on the table, “Then we go get him.”

Once again, the room fell silent. All eyes fell onto you. Your face was burning as you went on, “There are more of you then there was back then. Old gods, new gods, and demi-gods in between. That must be enough to get Hades back. You cannot leave him there.”

“You get no say-” A voice began to speak before Zeus boomed in.

“Silence! She has every right!” Zeus glared across the room, “Anyone who doesn’t recognized Y/N as the Queen of the Underworld can leave this room and expect nothing from Olympus ever again. Do I make myself clear?”

Zeus gently reached down squeezing Athena’s hand before moving away, “Y/N, has all the authority Hades does in his absence. As for your request, Y/N, it’s not that simple.”

“Why not?” You could hear Hades’ voice echoing in your mind not to come, but you defied it with every ounce of strength you could muster.

“The only one who can enter Tartarus is the ruler of the Underworld. Not even I can get in without extreme measures and deals with the Fates. Hades was given the ability to chain his abuser and his cohorts, to maintain the security of those cells only the guards and Hades would be allowed inside.” Zeus frowned shutting his eyes, “Hades wouldn’t even go in himself. He’d leave the souls of those chained outside the door to be dealt with once he was gone…”

“The how did Cornus bring in Athena and Ares?” You clenched your jaw looking between him and Athena, “He had to have some way…”

“As I said it is complicated…” Zeus’ frustration was becoming evident.

“But it’s not.” Your eyes flashed over to Apollo. His eyes were bright with revelation, “Tartarus…it’s not just a place, it’s a being.”

“Father you sentenced me there for a time. I try not to think of it, but you’re correct when you said Hades wouldn’t go in…he left me with giants who locked me away.” Apollo explained paling a little, “Tartarus is the epitome of misery and despair. I was there long enough to begin seeing and hearing things. When I asked who was there…it was Tartarus who answered.”

“Tartarus has never had a side or stake in anything we have done past, present, or future. It’s a primordial force for chaos and only strives to make people suffers.” Apollo frowned looking at everyone, “It wouldn’t be a stretch to think once Cornus was out of his cell he convinced Tartarus to allow him free access and control…”

This got everyone’s attention. You spoke above them, “Does that change the rules for everyone?”

“No, I’m afraid not.” Zeus spoke softly as everyone’s anxiety began to rise.

You clenched your fist feeling the bones and tendons crack from tension, “Then I’ll go. If I have the same rights and authority of Hades, then I can go in. I’ll get him.”

“You…alone?” Poseidon shook his head before looking at Zeus who didn’t seem against the idea, “Zeus…”

“I didn’t want to suggest it. Hades’ will kill us if something happens to her.” Zeus crossed his arms staring at you, “While she’ll go alone…she won’t be without defense.”

“How’s the chains feel son?” Hades felt himself shaking as his arms stretched in unnatural angles. Cronus lifted his face by the chin smirking, “Are they as comfortable as you remember?”

Hades didn’t answer him which gained him another crack across the face as he fell to his knees. He shut his eyes trying to picture himself far away from here. In a place where he could find peace.

“No no no…” Pain seared into his back from what he didn’t know, but it would no doubt be another scar to add to the numerous ones Cronus had given him, “No slipping away…no rest…but I can give it to you if you just give me what I want…”

Hades groaned as he pulled himself to his feet looking into Cronus’ eyes, “Never…”

Cronus smiled at him as he chuckled, “I do believe you will live to regret those words…”

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elitesummit481 · 3 years

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Dating Law Chatham Illinois

Again, consent is a legal term, not a factual term. Illinois the multiple laws in stupid to protect minors from sexual exploitation.

Dating Law Chatham Illinois Map

Dating Law Chatham Illinois

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These laws range sexting those your sexting from protecting federal from federal solicited for sex to being photographed or filmed indecently. Laws, there are laws in Illinois that cover the laws sex-related crimes against vulnerable minors. Some of these laws include:. Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault — when a person under the age of 17 has laws with a minor under the consent of 9, or uses force or threat of force to have sex with a minor at least 9 illinois old, but under the age of. Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child — when a person years-old or older has sex with a minor under the age of. Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse — dating a person years-old illinois lawyer consent an act of sexual conduct with a minor under the age of 13; or uses force or threat of force to commit an act of sexual conduct with a minor at least 13 years old, but under the age of.

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Sexual Misconduct Support, Response, and Prevention

The law says you have to describe the check “with reasonable certainty,” and give the bank enough time to have 'a reasonable opportunity to act.” Therefore, although it's not generally a good idea to write post-dated checks, the careful writer of post-dated checks will notify his bank as soon as possible about his post-dated check. Village of Chatham, IL Complete Code of Ordinances (External Site). Access the archive of Village Ordinances and Resolutions.The archive has documents dating as far back as 1933.

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Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse — when a person under the age of 17 commits state act of sexual conduct with a minor under the age of 9; dating uses force or threat of force to commit an act of sexual conduct with a minor sexting your 9 years old, but under the age of. The reasons that these particular laws are necessary are clear.

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aleatoryalarmalligator · 4 years

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Hello tumblr,

Boy, it’s been a moment or two. I haven’t left tumblr by any means really in the last year and a half, but it became less a part of my life when I moved to Portland two years ago and got involved with people and had a social life there for awhile and a love life and now I am 30. I started tumblr at 22. I was so much more naive. I’m sorry to all the folks who wanted to keep reading my life story. I do swear that I will get back to it someday, but even rereading it I see things I left out and perspectives I forced on my audience when I could have left the truth more open. I don’t stand by some of the values I had even two years ago.It’s not bad, but I feel like it needs to be gone over. It’s been suggested by people that I shouldn’t do that, but I have a strong sense that I know what I should do.

I’ve been feeling the weight of time and limitations of health both mental and physical, financial and just the circumstances of living in an environmentally unsustainable late stage capitalism position where I can bank on nothing and so much is up in the air. And I know I’m still young, but not that young anymore. I missed out on a lot in my twenties and I know I won’t get a lot of that back. And I don’t feel like I can plan ahead. I feel very trapped, enormously lonely and isolated. I know it’s eating at me all the time, but I feel like acknowledging it (as I am ironically doing it now), makes It bigger and more painful. But it’s getting to the point where I have nothing to lose.

I’m in a situation where I have troubled friendships. People who love me and I love them but there are several reasons we can’t be close. I look at the way the world is headed and I have this lack of enthusiasm in me because I feel like people are going to get more isolated and more unhappy and feel empty and deterministically realistic about the lack of prospects of what they can look forward to, I feel like everything is getting unstable and worse. And nobody wants to talk about it, to inspect it or even laugh about it. I see growing trends of fascism, a sense of withdrawing in ones self and into technology that everyone I know is guilty of, myself definitely included, the commodification or gentrification of acts of rebellion or individualist acts that one can take to protest the status quo through art or media. There seems to be no valid way to stop the way the world is headed or what people are doing collectively, or ultimately how to even demonize all but a select few. And even them, as shitty as it is to say, the same rules of the universe that created trees also created Jeff Bezos.

I feel like hedonism gets misunderstood. I consider myself to be a hedonist and I’ve been holding out for a future of excitement or sense of euphoria or positive paradigm shift for about a year now. It started when I lost my job last year, and Went through a semi abusive relationship that left me emotionally drained. I feel like after that I kept getting on my horse and falling off two weeks later. It’s gotten to the point where I am afraid to lie to myself when I do have minor breakthroughs that I am even improving.

Poverty also got the best of me. I’ve gone through a series of setback after setback and it’s prevented me from even acquiring the sense of relief or letting go or growth even to take on or form enthusiasm about even making myself happy and there is a despair in me beginning to grow that says this is just the way things are now. It’s like I’m just surviving for no reason. I have nothing to offer anyone. I’m also surrounded by people who are very depressed, probably more unhappy than me in some ways, so I’m not about to get any light at the end of the tunnel talk from a friend. I have no doubt that a strong sense of support would probably make worlds of difference but that’s not in the cards right now. Reaching out in my situation would probably cause other people’s misery or misguided outlook on life to rub off on me further. And for that I unfortunately have to put up my walls because I know myself and the chameleon aspects of my personality and other people’s negative coping mechanisms rub off on me.

And see, like on top of all that, COVID hit and that donked up my plans at maybe getting a new job or meeting new people. All the things I could do to reinforce positive new things into my life became impossible. I shut down after coronavirus happened and fell back on some of my old bad habits, which were reinforced by literally the whole world shutting down. I couldn’t fight it if I wanted to, I was living in isolation and frustration and insecurity and even looking around and worrying about all the people who are worse off than me and will be even worse off once their benefits go away or housing is taken makes me sick to my stomach. I’m afraid I am just gonna have to tread some kind of postmodern Great Depression and give up on living my best life.

Something got messed up with my unemployment and it’s been six months and though I claim every week, I don’t have access to any of that money yet and still have to call people constantly to try to correct it. I have over fifteen thousand dollars that I can’t gain access to. I just lost my food stamp benefits. I work eight hours a week which basically just keeps my phone on, and other than that I’ve been making it on no money. I don’t see eye to eye with my roommates, though it’s not personal and nobody really checks up on me. I wonder why sometimes that I am doing anything. What use is it to hope for things that become more and more impossible? And why tread water when I feel like I have no goal I can aim towards? As soon as I get used to the way things are, something new happens that is out of my control, and I am back to square one. I feel like I am shutting down.

Anyway, I am trying to hold out for something better, but more in a sense that I am trying to maintain something. I do have experience with feeling hopeless and empty from my early and mid twenties, which isn’t good but in a way I know that when I moved to Portland I got a beautiful awakening of a life more realized and full and in some way that was so unexpected that, not to sound super cheesy but, it was kind of a second birth for me, and if I was in the muck before and got out, perhaps I can do it again.

I guess I’m back on tumblr with a little more frequency for that very reason. I’m lonely and lost and trapped. Maybe I will do more writing on here and see where that goes. I feel like I could break things down further and get a better grasp of myself if I wrote more. So maybe I will write on here tomorrow. Meh..Who knows? I feel like if I broke my ideas down into topics I could exemplify something or find a deeper truth in the details.

Lastly, and this is semi unrelated but, I’ve been mutual with some of the people on this site for seven years and it trips me out when the notifications say so-and-so likes your post and its been seven years. I am not gonna lie, it is really cool. It kind of makes me feel like tumblr is still kind of a form of ‘home’ to me.

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mrjat396 · 3 years

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THE MANY HEALTH BENEFITS OF METH

In low, pharmaceutical-grade doses, methamphetamine may actually repair and protect the brain in certain circumstances. But stigma against the drug could be harming patients and holding back research.

TROY FARAHMAY 15, 2019

D-methamphetamine is what generally appears on the street—although it's often cut with other chemicals—whereas l-meth provides a less addictive, shorter-lived high that is less desirable among drug users.

(Photo: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

Ask your doctor about methamphetamine. It's not a phrase you'll ever hear on TV or the radio, but here's a secret: Meth is an incredible medicine. Even the Drug Enforcement Administration admits it, and doctors are known to prescribe it for narcolepsy, obesity, and ADHD. Historically, meth has been used to reverse barbiturate overdoses and even raise blood pressure during surgery. Some preliminary research suggests that meth can be neuroprotective against stroke and traumatic brain injury, even stimulating the growth of brain cells.

Yet we're constantly warned never to try meth—"not even once," goes the refrain—or it will instantly cause addiction and ruin your life. Before fentanyl was the demon drug du jour, meth was seen as the worst, most destructive, most evil chemical you could find on the streets. Even of late, if you ask the New York Times or NBC, you'll learn that meth, "the forgotten killer," is back with a "vengeance." Other outlets, from Rolling Stone to CNN to The Daily Beast, have raised the alarm about meth use in the context of the opioid overdose crisis.

Stimulant-related deaths are indeed on the rise in North America—in some regions, meth is even more prevalent than heroin. Surveying drug overdoses in America from 1979 through 2016, researchers wrote in Science in September of 2018 that "Methamphetamine deaths have increased most dramatically in the western and southwestern United States."

Meth poisonings accounted for an estimated 14,845 hospitalizations in 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and another 15,808 emergency room visits. In 2016, around 7,500 people died from overdosing on stimulants, including meth. If you ask most people, including policymakers, you'll hear that meth is a scourge that can do no good.

But if you've ever used something like Vicks VapoInhaler, you've experienced the healing benefits of meth firsthand. That's because the over-the-counter nasal decongestant contains levomethamphetamine, the levorotary form—or "mirror image"—of the same stuff from Breaking Bad. Procter & Gamble tries to obscure this fact by spelling the active ingredient "levmetamfetamine." Selegiline, a drug for treating Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, also metabolizes into levomethamphetamine.

There is a significant difference between these two opposing molecules. D-methamphetamine is what generally appears on the street—although it's often cut with other chemicals—whereas l-meth provides a less addictive, shorter-lived high that is less desirable among drug users. But people can and do use it recreationally. Abuse is rare, however, in part because the high is shitty, but also because d-meth is so widely available. It's easier to buy a more powerful form of the drug on the street than it is to try to extract it from over-the-counter medications.

Other Americans are prescribed actual, pure meth by their doctors. It happens less frequently these days, but in ADHD, obesity, or narcolepsy cases where nothing else has worked, a drug called Desoxyn (methamphetamine hydrochloride) can sometimes help. It can even be prescribed to children as young as seven.

It's important to make these distinctions. Meth didn't make a "comeback"; it never left. It can't return with a "vengeance" and it can't be "evil" because we're talking about a chemical compound here. It has no personality, no feelings, no intentions.

Thus it does a disservice to science and to medicine, as well as to the people who use these drugs responsibly, to treat a molecule with dualistic properties purely as a poison. And as recent research has shown, we're still uncovering some of the potential therapeutic benefits of methamphetamine. Confronting the stigma associated with meth and highlighting its benefits can better inform drug policy and addiction treatment.

(Photo: HO/Royal Thai Navy/AFP/Getty Images)

'IT'S JUST A STIMULANT, LIKE ANY OTHER STIMULANT'

For Jordan*, the meth he's prescribed works better against his ADHD with fewer side effects than the Adderall he'd been on for 20 years. About five years ago, Jordan asked his doctor if he could try methamphetamine. The doc said sure.

"The first time I brought it to the pharmacy, the pharmacist actually said to me, 'Oh, your doctor wrote this prescription wrong, this is the stuff that they make in meth labs,'" Jordan tells me by phone. "I told him to type 'Desoxyn' into the computer, and he did. He kind of backtracked, [but] he obviously had no idea."

Jordan, a middle-aged man from North Carolina who works in clinical research, now switches every three months between Adderall and Desoxyn to prevent building a tolerance to either stimulant.

Methamphetamine and amphetamine (one of the active ingredients in Adderall) are almost identical chemicals. The main difference between the two is the addition of a second methyl group to methamphetamine's chemical structure. This addition makes meth more lipid-soluble, allowing for easier access across the blood-brain barrier. Meth is therefore not only more potent, but also longer-lasting.

"The medications have definitely been important for me, to be productive, to be successful, not just at work but also in my personal life," Jordan says. "I've been on the medications for years, but I can take Adderall or methamphetamine and take a nap afterwards. I don't have any noticeable side effects."

Jordan also doesn't feel "high" from the doses he takes—approximately 10 to 15 milligrams of meth per day. Doses at this level are well tolerated by most people. It's very difficult to estimate the typical dosages of illicit meth taken on the street, but they are generally many times higher and taken every couple of hours. Further, the route of administration—typically, users smoke or inject illicit meth—allows for more of the drug to enter the bloodstream than taking a prescription pill.

At high doses, meth gives a rush of euphoria, boosting attention span, zapping fatigue, and decreasing appetite. Intense sexual arousal, talkativeness, and rapid thought patterns are also common. Body temperature and heart rate shoot up, which can cause irregular heartbeat, increasing the risk of seizures. If taken repeatedly over long periods, street meth can be highly neurotoxic, inducing paranoia and psychosis.

But illicit meth is also often used to self-medicate, according to Mark Willenbring, an addiction psychiatrist from St. Paul, Minnesota, with over 30 years of practice treating substance-use disorders. In Willenbring's experience, most of his patients who use illegal meth are treating undiagnosed ADHD.

"There's a high degree of comorbidity between substance-use disorders and ADD," Willenbring says. "They used meth for years in a controlled way, they never over-used it, they just used enough to get an effect, and then they stopped. One misconception is that it's always very addictive."

With most people who are addicted to meth, Willenbring says, you can't tell it just by looking at them. Carl Hart, a neuroscientist in Columbia University's Department of Psychology, agrees that the image of a snarling meth addict with bad teeth is a false stereotype. The dental damage so prevalent in anti-drug propaganda, he says, is more likely due to poor nutrition and lack of sleep—not to the drug. "There is no empirical evidence to support the claim that methamphetamine causes physical deformities," Hart wrote in a 2014 co-authored report.

"It's just a stimulant, like any other stimulant," Willenbring says. "It's a marketing issue."

Part of the reason Jordan asked to try Desoxyn in the first place was to see if he'd develop any of the "stereotypical meth addict problems," as he puts it. He hasn't.

"Those of us that know the reality have a responsibility to say, 'Hey, not that shooting up meth isn't bad, but the chemical itself isn't bad,'" Jordan says. "It's just misuse of the chemical that's bad."

For Joan*, a 66-year-old grandmother living off the grid in northern Georgia, Desoxyn makes her feel normal. "Not high, not hyped up, just normal," she tells me. She's been taking prescription meth since 2006, but first tried many other ADHD meds, such as Ritalin and Concerta, with poor results. But Desoxyn has not only helped her socialize, manage bills, and finish her master's degree in social work; it's also helped with Joan's depression and self-esteem.

"The only downside is the cost," she says. "It's one of the oldest drugs on the market, but even generic, it is outrageously expensive."

Still, meth isn't for everyone, of course. Kevin*, a 31-year-old artist from the Midwest, was first prescribed Desoxyn at age 15 to treat extreme fatigue and trouble focusing. But misdiagnosed mental-health issues—his doctors thought he had bipolar disorder, when in fact he had post-traumatic stress from childhood abuse—led to worsening symptoms.

"Being able to just take a bunch of pills that made the exhaustion go away for a while felt like a blessing, but it was just a Band-Aid on the problem," Kevin says. "I became completely dependent upon Desoxyn to function, and any lapse in taking my dose would result in a terrible energy crash."

"In retrospect, my neurologist at the time would have done well to consider the effects of intense stimulants on someone already prone to mania, insomnia, and hallucinations," he says. "I think Desoxyn has its merits as part of a treatment plan for attentive disorders, but that's the thing—it needs to be part of a larger understanding of how and why it might have a negative impact upon the patient's overall health, and should remain closely monitored throughout."

"Stigma is the lens [through] which we see all drug issues. It keeps us from making the best decisions. It is fear-based, not rational, not creative. Because of stigma, we have not fully addressed the opioid crisis."

(Photo: Guillermo Arias/AFP/Getty Images)

HOW METH CAN TREAT BRAIN INJURY—AND MUCH MORE

Street doses of meth can be extremely damaging to your health. The purity of such drugs is often unknown, and repeated, high doses of meth have been proven to be neurotoxic. But in low, pharmaceutical-grade doses, meth may actually repair and protect the brain in certain circumstances.

This was first discovered in 2008, when researchers at Queen's Medical Center Neuroscience Institute in Honolulu, Hawaii, analyzed five years of data on traumatic head injuries. They unexpectedly found that patients who tested positive for methamphetamine were significantly less likely to die from the injuries. The authors suggested that meth could have neuroprotective benefits.

To learn more, in 2011, a different team from the University of Montana applied meth to slices of rat brain that had been damaged to resemble the brains of stroke victims. Then they induced strokes in living rats, using a method called embolic MCAO, and injected them with methamphetamine. At low doses, the meth gave better behavioral outcomes and even reduced brain-cell death. At high doses, the meth made outcomes worse.

Because meth stimulates the flow of important neurotransmitters—dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine—the Montana researchers theorized that methamphetamine may provide neuroprotection through multiple pathways. David Poulsen, one of the researchers involved, says this was a "serendipitous discovery."

"So we decided, well, if it worked in stroke, it's probably going to work really well in traumatic brain injury," says Poulsen, now a neurosurgeon at the University of Buffalo who specializes in treatments for protecting the brain after severe damage.

Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, occurs after a violent smash to the skull. Its consequences include concussions on the mild end and coma or death on the severe end. TBI kills around 50,000 Americans annually, according to the CDC, while about 2.8 million of us visit the emergency room for TBI-related injuries every year. There is currently no Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for TBI.

So, Paulson and his team reasoned, if meth can already be prescribed for children, why not to adults with TBI?

To test the proposition, Poulsen and colleagues gave TBI to rats. Giving an animal brain trauma isn't easy, but for more than two decades, there's been a trick called the rat lateral fluid percussion injury model: Simply cut a hole in the skull of a rat and apply water pressure to the brain.

About half the rodents—19 male Wistar rats—were given this treatment, and eight of these were then given meth. The rats given meth performed better at a task called the Morris water maze, a widely used experiment that involves plopping a rat into a pool of water with a hidden platform. By tracking how long it takes the rodent to find the platform, scientists can measure many different aspects of cognitive function.

"By the third day of training, there were no statistically significant differences between the uninjured control rats and the injured rats that had been treated with methamphetamine," Poulsen and his colleagues wrote.

But the team also found that low doses of meth were protecting immature neurons, while also promoting the birth of new brain cells that are important for learning and memory. The same was also true for rats that were given meth, but not injured.

"We see not just little, but very significant improvements in cognition and behavior," Poulsen says. "Their memories improved, functional behavior is improved.... It's not a trivial difference."

"In light of the fact that low-dose methamphetamine is FDA-approved for use in juveniles and adults, we see no valid reason why it cannot be utilized in human clinical trials for stroke and TBI," Poulsen and colleagues concluded in 2016.

But those clinical trials, considered the gold standard for testing medication, have yet to materialize, even while a 2018 retrospective study found similar results to the Hawaiian neuroscience report: Out of 304 patients with TBI, those who also tested positive for meth had better recovery results than those who did not. "The potential neuroprotective role of meth and other similar substances cannot be ignored," the authors wrote in Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery last July.

There are limited conclusions that we can draw about these rodent and retrospective studies, and it's probably unlikely that nurses will soon start giving meth to people who have cracked their skulls. Still, a wide variety of stimulant therapies for TBI is being explored, with positive results. These include trials with modafinil, a narcolepsy drug; amantadine, a Parkinson's drug; and dextroamphetamine, one of the components of Adderall. But there's still no indication of a single clinical trial for methamphetamine for TBI registered with the National Institutes of Health.

Methylphenidate, also known as Ritalin, seems to be the stimulant most popular in these trials. For example, in 2004, researchers at Drucker Brain Injury Center at MossRehab Hospital in Pennsylvania gave methylphenidate, better known as Ritalin, to 34 patients with moderate to severe TBI. They reported significant improvements in information processing and attention.

Twelve years later, in Gothenburg, Sweden, another 30 patients suffering from prolonged fatigue following TBI were given methylphenidate and observed for six months. They also showed improved cognitive function and reduced fatigue. But a 2016 meta-analysis of 10 controlled trials found the main benefit of giving methylphenidate for TBI was increased attention, "whereas no notable benefit was observed in the facilitation of memory or processing speed," the authors wrote. They encouraged more research into appropriate dosages and length of prescription.

Birgitta Johansson, a neuroscientist at the University of Gothenburg and lead author of the Swedish study, suggests caution whenever treating someone with a brain injury. "With methylphenidate, it is important to be aware about possible side effects, [such] as increased blood pressure and heart rate and also risk of anxiety," she says. "It is always very important to prescribe medication with care and follow the patient carefully."

But the reason meth isn't studied more rigorously—for TBI, for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, for stroke—could also come down to money. Methamphetamine is off-patent, meaning there may be less financial incentive for pharmaceutical companies to explore the drug's potential uses. Consider Vyvanse, a drug first marketed in 2007, with a new formulation introduced in 2017, that racked up $2.1 billion in sales in 2017. Desoxyn, which is sold by three companies, only earned about $9.3 million in 2009.

While Methamphetamine may not be widely recognized as medicine, it clearly has potential to heal as well as harm. Recognizing the duality of meth is arguably all the more essential in the face of a rising stimulant overdose crisis.

"Stigma regarding any substance use or substance use disorder is counterproductive," says Dan Ciccarone, professor of family medicine at the University of California–San Francisco. He says the overdose crisis is shifting from opioids to stimulants and that we are not prepared for the next wave. "Stigma is the lens [through] which we see all drug issues. It keeps us from making the best decisions. It is fear-based, not rational, not creative. Because of stigma, we have not fully addressed the opioid crisis."

That stigma remains a major hurdle, and until doctors and public-health officials counteract this kind of messaging, it seems unlikely that a multinational pharmaceutical company would risk marketing a substance only believed to be toxic and deadly.

"Everything will kill you, if you take enough of it," Poulsen says. "Some things don't require a lot to do that. Meth is one of those things. But just like any drug, the difference between a poison and a cure is the dose."

*These names have been changed.

TAGSALZHEIMER'SADDERALLTRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIESFEATURES & INVESTIGATIONSMETHAMPHETAMINEMETHTOPIC: HEALTH CARE

BY TROY FARAH

Troy Farah is an independent journalist and photographer in California. His reporting on science, health, and narcotics has appeared in Wired, Ars Technica, Smithsonian, Discover, Vice, and elsewhere. He co-hosts the drug policy podcast Narcotica.

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arcticdementor · 3 years

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Recently, a lot of you who told me I was insane when I said that Winnie the flu was all theater and though it existed and was a flu and would probably take “severe flu, no vaccine numbers” it was and is stupid to lock the sick and the healthy in, destroy the economy and make everyone wear a mask, have come back and ask how I knew. And apologized.

Well, attention in the isles, my friends on the right: you are falling for the same king of bullshit diversion. You are being spun like a top. And you’re falling for it and falling in line.

I blame you and I don’t. You didn’t grow up with the constant-pretend-reality of communist psi-ops, and you haven’t learned to smell it.

Over and over again, you condemn Trump and the “rioters.”

NO ONE RIOTED. Not compared to this summer. THERE WERE NO RIOTS. And the protesters were treated with an iron fist and live ammo, btw.

There are videos. I don’t know which ones are still live. They keep removing them. There was no riot. There was a protest. You know, those things that are vital for public health?

Did they go into the Capitol? Yes they did. You know what? It’s a public building. WE PAY FOR THE F*CKING CAPITOL’S UPKEEP.

But, but but…. the congress critters ran. They were scared!

Were they now? WHY? No, seriously, why were they scared, if the people they work for want to watch the deliberations. They’re in our presence all the time. You know the worst thing we do — or used to do — we called them traitors. That was it.

But they vandalized Nancy Pelosi’s office! Oh, my stars and garters? Evil people. Was that before or after she vandalized our constitution and sank a knife in the heart of the republic? Is the evil bitch dangling from a lamppost this morning? No? They were civilized beyond all hope.

But Sarah, you’ll say, this will give them the excuse to avenge themselves on us.

Dear idiots, you’re like the wife with her arm in a sling and both eyes blackened telling her husband “Please don’t say anything to Joe. He’ll be mad.”

In other words, are you out of your ever loving little minds? These people STOLE two elections — it’s now absolutely obvious the nominal right is fine with this. They hope for crumbs from their masters’ tables. The left is more likely to kill them, but never mind — in a row, in full view, and refused to let us have our day in court to show the evidence. Because the American people are now peons with NO STANDING and can be disenfranchised with no punishment. But you’re afraid that largely (truly) peaceful protesters “made them mad?”

Withdrawing the objection to the fraudulent votes due to the riot? That only makes sense in the mind of an abuser. “I stole your thing, and I was going to maybe give it back, but you cried, so now you don’t get it back.” Are you all actually out of your ever loving minds to blame the protesters and Trump for this?

These people are saying “You peasants dared to show up in our presence. We’re now going to take away even the illusion of franchise.” And…. you’re cool with this? It’s the protesters fault?

Get up off the floor. Wipe the blood from your lip. KNOW WHO YOUR ABUSER IS.

And BTW it’s not Trump. Trump thought maybe if congress saw how ad people were, they would play straight. I said before that’s all the protest was about, and that’s all it was. He told people to go home when it was obvious it had failed.

And I hope to G-d someone with access to him reads this and tells him it’s time. Take the family NOW and go to an undisclosed location. As much as it hurts me to say this, because I want him to continue harassing the left, he has to realize this is no longer the sweet land of liberty. This is now a tyrannical third world shithole. Or will be within months from the way our occupiers are behaving. They will find a way to kill him and his whole family, or kill him and turn his family against him. Go Mr. President. G-d bless. You’ve done all that you could. If the so called right in this country will pearl clutch and blame even people who engage in a very mild protest, they deserve what’s to come.

He now promises an orderly transition. I will tell all of you that DEAD is the most orderly of all states. And right now the Republic is effectively dead. There might be a hope for CPR, but I’m not sure there’s the will to apply it. Pence has joined the rats fleeing to the lefty rotten ship. because he hopes that will save his life. Spoiler, it won’t. The left will kill all the right who turns their coat. Because they can’t trust them. Good. They deserve it. I shall eat popcorn.

Do we ever get the republic back? I don’t know. I think the most likely thing is that we fall apart into separate states while around us the world falls into chaos, famine and misery. We’ve been feeding the world for a century. The world had better look to itself now.

What do those of us who’ve sworn an oath to the constitution do? I don’t know. Most are still busily doing a Peter in Pontius Pilates Yard “I was never with him.”

Oh, and there’s talks of rounding up Trump supporters. Of denying them flights and hotels and the ability to engage in commerce.

I suppose that’s the “protesters” fault too? Except that that, like the paper to withdraw objections because of the “protest” were already written. They would have found an excuse.

I don’t want war. But I liked having a homeland. To everyone who, like me, came here as the last place of refuge: I’m sorry. I don’t even know what to tell you. We need to fight this, but even if we do, unless the natural-born citizens see what they’re losing, it’s unlikely we’ll ever get our country back.

This morning, in DC, the police are beating down what remains of protesters. A young woman was murdered in cold blood yesterday.

And our side is pearl clutching and tut tuting, and hoping the abuser won’t get mad. Oh, and talking about 2022, because seeing two elections frauded RIGHT BEFORE THEIR EYES and courts refusing to let anyone see evidence of it is not enough. They need to be stomped on some more before they believe they’ve lost the franchise.

Me? I’ve seen what happens when your votes don’t matter. Elections will continue as a form, possibly for fifty years, if we let this bullshit go on that long. Your next president after Commie laWhorish is Michelle Obama, because the ignorant bitch hasn’t shit on us enough. She felt stupid and inferior at Harvard, and by gum, she’s going to make you grovel to pay for your sins.

But your real masters are now Winnie the Pooh and his merry band of fascists. And we know what they do and how.

I can’t get the order, but we’re about to see: social credit; the banning of conservatives from the internet; branding us as terrorists, just as they’re doing to innocent protesters; show trials; people disappearing; our money confiscated; our houses confiscated; more lock downs, to prevent revolt; more masks to promote alienation; more lies.

When people die in the famine to come, it will be Covid-19 and Trump’s fault and you’ll be required to repeat it publicly.

It wont’ last. These commies are industrial-level STUPID. It won’t last. I give them ten years, maybe, before most of the country is starving, and they have no clue what to do about it. And then it all falls apart, because unlike Venezuelans, we have no one to help and no place to run to.

Or, you know, we can stop pearl clutching and say “Hell no.” and “Molon labe” and stop repeating the lies the left wants written into history.

To lefty idiots: yes, the election was stolen. Because if it had NOT been, the left would have joined the right in demanding the courts take the case, and that it be shown to all as an honest election. Also, to lefty idiots, what the protesters — and all of us at home — want? ANOTHER ELECTION with minimum accountability. I mean, we can’t even clean the roles. There wouldn’t be enough time. We just wanted to make sure each person voted only once, and the votes were counted with full supervision.

Instead, you’re handing off the country to China, via their bought and paid for man, Biden. Yes, I know you heard good things about China. You’ll find out, along with the craven right that the leftist press makes Pravda seem honest. Enjoy the ride.

As for you and me, my friends. We’re going to eat the bread that the devil baked. Save what you can from the ruin. It won’t be much. And don’t let them into your head. NEVER let them into your head. They’re invaders. They’re oppressors. They’re thieves. Treat them as what they are. Do not comply unless you have to, and then engage in malicious compliance.

Keep the republic in your heart. Maybe there are enough of us left that it will rise again. But in the meantime, this is going to hurt and hurt badly. And the longer the restoration of law takes, the higher the butcher’s bill.

Most of you have no idea how bad it will get. Imagine your worst nightmares. Then double them. Prepare for that as best you can. You won’t be able to do much. If you’re lucky they’ll leave you your conscience.

Your country was invaded (even if the invaders were born here, their masters aren’t) and is about to be raped. The least you can do is not cooperate.

#sarah hoyt

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jooheonspinky · 4 years

Text

Saudade - Ot7 | 10

Ot7 BTS

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Rating: M (Mature)

word count: 3,203

Trigger Warnings: Hospitalization (rehab, mental institute). Mental health issues (Text Reason to 741741 if you need to reach out for help). Insinuated M x M (if you squint hard enough). Substance abuse (alcohol, pills | call 1-800-662-4357 if you are dealing with this). Weapons (gun, knife). Smoking (cigarettes, weed). Mentions of suicide/attempted suicide (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255). Violence (murder/attempted murder). Mentions of blood. Mentions of therapy sessions (these are not accurate representations, please leave it to proper professionals). Mentions of physical abuse (Call 1-800-799-7233 if you are dealing with domestic violence) WE DO NOT GLORIFY THESE WARNINGS/TRIGGERS; THIS IS A FICTIONAL STORY, AND DOES NOT RELATE TO ANY OF THE MEMBERS. IF YOU ARE DEALING WITH ANY OF THESE, PLEASE REACH OUT TO YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR ASSISTANCE, OR THE NUMBERS LISTED ABOVE.

↤ Previous| 10 | Next ↦

January 20th, 2018 | 12:05

“Alright Jungkook, are you ready?”

I turn towards Jin-hyung, unable to stop the pout of my lips as hyung’s face is enveloped with worry. He’d run me through what this session would entail for the past week, ensuring me that I’m making great progress...is he second guessing this?

“Yes, hyung,” I assure, a smile playing at the edges of my lips. “I want to get better.”

Jin-hyung nods his head, his pen flicking across the notepad, the sound seemingly loud within the small room. As usual his dark brown hair is slicked back out of his face, exposing his forehead and his scrunched up eyebrows. He’s wearing contacts again today, but I’m not able to see clearly with his eyes casted downwards, his legs crossed to support the notepad in his lap. We stay silent as he takes his notes, and I’m tempted to ask what he’s writing, but I know he won’t tell me.

After what feels like a few minutes, he lifts his head and gives me a smile, his expression still unsure. “Alright then, let’s begin.”

I give a small smile back before leaning into the armchair, forcing my body to relax and prepare. I take five deep breaths, willing the air to fill my lungs completely before expelling them from my body, giving a nod once I’m done.

“Okay, Jungkook. As a reminder, you are completely safe in this room, and I will be here with you to guide you. Should you ever feel unsafe, you only need to say your safeword...do you remember what that is?”

“Lily.”

“Very good. Once you say your safeword, I will quickly direct you back. Do you have any questions for me?”

A shift to my left has my head turning, and I can’t help but give a weary look to the unknown man within the room. I don’t immediately recognize him, but clearly he was allowed access to my session with hyung, his face stoic as his eyes bore into mine. Hyung gives a small cough to direct my attention back, and I practically have to rip my eyes away from the unknown man, the back of my mind tingling with something that I can’t quite figure out.

“No, hyung. I don’t have any questions.”

“Perfect,” he chirps, leaning forward in his chair so that his gaze is level with mine as his hands come together in his lap. “Make sure you are seated comfortably. Your neck and shoulders should be relaxed, your back resting against the back of the seat, and your feet are flat on the ground.”

I immediately follow hyung’s instructions while also ensuring I’m taking deep breaths. Part of me is scared of what’s to come, and the other part of me realizes I can’t keep living obliviously unaware of my past. Hyung only wants to help me so that I can get better, so I can try and have a normal life again. I don’t want to keep feeling trapped.

“We’re going to begin counting down from 5, and as we do, you’re going to slowly let your chin touch your chest. 5...deep breath in as you feel your vision grow hazy. 4...let the air flow out as you blink, feel how your eyelids are tingling. 3...deep breath in, your eyes are feeling heavier and it’s getting more difficult for you to keep them open. 2...breathe out, your eyes are now completely shut. Make sure you continue your deep breaths...1.

Now I want you to imagine a chart of numbers, from one to five. This is the chart of relaxation, where one means you are not relaxed, and five means you are completely relaxed. Now Jungkook, please tell me what number you are feeling this moment, based off of this relaxation chart.”

Five.

“Good, good. Make sure you continue taking deep breaths, and you will notice the chart is gone. As you take in your surroundings, you will find yourself in an empty white room. There is no light in the room, but you do not feel scared because it is still bright. Go ahead and take a moment to ensure you are alone in the white room...are you alone?”

Yes.

“Freeze. You’re facing the north side of the room, and you feel a cool breeze sweep through. Your hair ruffles, but it does not get in your face. You do not feel cold. Bit by bit, turn your body so that you’re facing the south side of the room. As you’re turning, notice that small bits of a sidewalk come into your view. This sidewalk extends past the walls of the room, but that’s alright. Do you see the sidewalk in front of you?”

Yes.

“Perfect. How are you feeling Jungkook?”

Fine.

“Okay. To the left of the sidewalk are ten lamp posts, which will guide you down the sidewalk. Each lamp post rests next to each square section of sidewalk. Go ahead and take a step forward into the first square of sidewalk. I want you to allow your body to further relax as we make our way past each lamp post. Step into the second square...your shoulders are relaxed and your jaw is unclenched. Step into the third square...you’re feeling more relaxed. Step into the fourth square...your body feels light and you feel completely free of tension. Step into the fifth square...your breaths are steady as you take note that there are only five more lamp posts. Step into the sixth square...you’re feeling more and more relaxed. Step into the seventh square...only three more lamp posts. Step into the eighth square...deeper and deeper into relaxation. Step into the ninth square...and now step into the tenth square. You have now come to the end of the sidewalk, with the last lamp post to your left.

Now I want you to imagine a chart of numbers again, but this time from one to ten. This is the chart of deeper relaxation, where one means you are not deeply relaxed, and ten means you are deeply relaxed. Please tell me what number you are feeling this moment, based off of this deeper relaxation chart.”

Ten.

“Jungkook I want you to tell me in what direction you are looking at this chart. Are you looking up at this chart or down at this chart?”

Down.

“Alright, now take a moment to very slowly lift your head away from this chart. Notice how with every centimeter you look away from the chart it begins to disappear, and your field of vision becomes consumed with the sight of a cabin. Do you see the cabin, Jungkook?”

Yes.

“Go ahead and describe the cabin to me.”

It’s two stories tall, with a small porch leading to the front door. The wood is dark, but I can’t tell if that’s because it’s night. There’s a large oak tree to the right of the cabin, a makeshift swing hanging from one of the thick branches. I want to go on the swing.

“Jungkook, I need you to focus on the cabin. It’s approximately the middle of August, and the air is nice and warm. There’s a dirt path that leads up to the cabin, please make your way towards it. As you’re walking towards it, you notice there are some people walking with you. Can you please tell me who is all there?”

I look around, unable to help but smile when I see Jin-hyung to my left, his expression mirroring mine as he carries a pack of beers with him. He gestures towards something to my right, and I quickly turn my head to see Jimin and Yoongi in deep conversation. Shifting my body, I glance behind us to see Namjoon, Hoseok, and Taehyung all cheerily talking. It’s so nice seeing all of my friends.

“Can you tell me why you’re all there, Jungkook?”

We’re here to celebrate the end of summer, it was Yoongi’s idea since he was going to start getting busy producing new music. We all chipped in to rent out the cabin for the weekend.

“That sounds like fun. Now tell me, does Jin only have beer? Or is there something else?”

I...I’m not sure. Jin-hyung is holding a pack of beer. I don’t see anyone else holding anything.

“Go ahead and listen in on the conversation taking place behind you. What are they saying?”

Taehyung is asking Hoseok if he brought anything, and Namjoon is saying that it’s a bad idea. Hoseok says it’s okay, and that he brought a special stash along with the usual. I’m not sure what the special stash is though.

“That’s okay. Let’s continue focusing on your approach to the cabin. You’ve managed to open the door and you all step inside one by one. What’s the first thing everyone starts doing?”

Jin-hyung heads straight for the kitchen to put the beers in the fridge, I can hear him on the phone ordering pizza for all of us as Namjoon joins him. Jimin and Yoongi go for the living room couches, continuing their conversation. Hoseok says he’ll be in the bathroom preparing his stash, and Taehyung goes for the stereo system that sits next to the tv in the living room. Everyone laughs at Taehyung’s choice of music as it blasts throughout the cabin.

“And where do you go, Jungkook?”

I...I stand in the foyer for a bit longer before I join Jin-hyung and Namjoon in the kitchen. They’re standing close to each other and talking in hushed voices, but they both smile when I enter the room. I ask them what they’re talking about, but they tell me not to worry about it. I want to know though, so I ask them again. They look at each other before they look at me, Jin-hyung’s eyebrows come together as Namjoon gestures for me to step closer. They…

“What do they say, Jungkook?”

They...They start talking about Taehyung. About what happened in June.

“What happened in June?”

Taehyung got arrested again. He...he was caught vandalising a building. The cops had brought him into the station, and allowed him to make a call. He called Jin-hyung...but hyung was busy. He wasn’t able to answer the call, so Tae left a voicemail. Later, when hyung was able to listen to the voicemail, Tae was asking him to bail him out. Tae had asked for hyung not to tell Namjoon, because he didn’t want to disappoint him. But Jin-hyung called Namjoon to tell him what happened...only Namjoon doesn’t answer his phone. That’s why Tae is ignoring Jin-hyung...he’s still upset over hyung not answering his call and for telling Namjoon anyways.

“Alright, Jungkook, but why are they talking about this?”

They...they’re worried about Tae. Namjoon said that Tae has been acting more reckless. Getting drunk, getting into fights...Namjoon was worried that Tae would try to...to hurt himself again.

“Taehyung previously tried to hurt himself? How?”

After Tae and Namjoon hyung got arrested together a year ago, Tae’s parents kicked him out. He...he figured he had no point in living and tried to...he tried to…

“Okay, Jungkook. Let’s focus back on where you’re currently at. You’re still in the room with Jin and Namjoon. Can you please tell me what happens next?”

We hear cheering from the other room, so we follow the sound. Hoseok has come out of the bathroom and is passing his special stash to Taehyung. It’s...it’s pills. Hoseok says that they’ll make us feel good as we party, but I don’t like it. I tell them I don’t want to take any, but Taehyung tells me not to be a party pooper. I...I don’t want to ruin the atmosphere, not while everyone is looking at me like that.

I take the pill and pop it back just as Tae goes for another one. Hoseok is whooping with excitement but Namjoon tries to discourage Tae. Taehyung doesn’t even look at him before he’s popping the second pill in his mouth, smiling wide.

“Alright. We’re gonna go ahead and skip forward a little bit. The pizza has arrived, and you’ve all eaten. You’re all feeling pretty good as you drink and talk. Where are you now, Jungkook?”

I’m...I’m in the doorway of the kitchen, listening to Jin hyung trying to talk to Taehyung. Tae isn’t having it, and keeps cursing at hyung, which makes my stomach churn. Hyung keeps trying to apologize, but he’s getting cut off by Tae, and soon their voices get louder. A loud thud rings through the room and out into the hallway, and Namjoon is quick to pick up on the sound, pushing past me and into the kitchen. I’m scared...but I peek my head in and see Jin hyung on the floor, Taehyung on top of him as he punches hyung’s face. Namjoon is just standing there, frozen in shock as hyung’s blood splatters onto the floor. Taehyung...he reaches up to the kitchen counter and grabs a knife...he…

“Jungkook, I need you to take a deep breath. Close your eyes for a moment, and remember that you are safe. I won’t let anything happen to you. Now open your eyes...what do you see?”

Tae stabs hyung...right in the chest. Hyung’s crying, his mouth open and eyes wide from shock. Tae’s eyes...they’re dark and angry, and my teeth chitter as a chill runs down my spine. Taehyung looks up, his eyes locking with mine, and I have the urge to run when I see him stand. Namjoon runs into the kitchen, his legs giving out as he falls down to hyung’s body.

“Jungkook...I thought Namjoon was already in the kitchen?”

I called you guys into the room, and you and Jimin grab Taehyung as I called the cops.

He was - is - in the kitchen. He calls out for help and we run inside.

“Who is ‘we’, Jungkook?”

Me, Jimin, and Yoongi. Namjoon tells us to grab a hold of Tae so he can call the cops. But...Tae is strong. He breaks from our hold and starts running upstairs.

“Where is he going, Jungkook?”

I...I don’t know. I run up the stairs too, passing Hoseok’s passed out body on the couch before I hear footsteps behind me. I’m..I’m scared. I feel panic set in as I stand in the middle of the hallway on the second floor, so I go into the first room on my right. I quickly close the door before I run to the closet, shoving myself inside and covering my mouth.

“Why are you hiding, Jungkook?”

Because I’m scared. I try and listen for footsteps, but I can’t hear properly over the thumping in my ears, a mix of the loud music and my pulse. I jump when the door to the room I’m in flies open, and I hear a scraping sound. I don’t want to move, but the sound of more steps in the distance has me shaking. Whoever is in the room stops, and I peek through the gap in the closet doors. It’s Taehyung...he’s standing in front of the window.

“What is Taehyung doing?”

Nothing...just standing there. I try and quietly step out of the closet, but it doesn’t make a difference. Tae sees my reflection in the mirror, and he begins to turn towards me. I panic, my body is shaking and I see Taehyung smirk...I…

“Tell me what happens Jungkook.”

He jumps out the window.

The glass breaks as his body flies through the window. Large black wings appear on his back, ripping through his clothes, and he’s being carried into the wind.

“Jungkook, I am going to count backwards from five to one. As I’m counting you are going to slowly come back into consciousness. Five.”

He just keeps flying, soaring high into the dark sky, almost blending in with it…

“Four - you feel your body becoming heavier. Three - you feel yourself more aware and focused on where you’re truly at.”

I move closer to the window so that I can try and see him better, but I’m so jealous. He looks so free.

“Two - Jungkook you are going to step back from the window. Your eyes are beginning to tingle and you want to open them.”

Why can’t I be free?

“One - your eyes are open. You are fully aware of your surroundings. Here, Jungkook.”

I turn my head, my eyes becoming wide as I stare at the unfamiliar face in front of me. Realization hits me as a fresh wave of tears spring to my eyes, and I quickly grab for the box of tissues in the Doctor’s hands. All this time...I was hiding from the truth. I didn’t want to remember, but now that I did...I wasn’t sure if it was for the better.

“Do you know who I am, Jungkook?”

I slowly nod my head, grabbing a few more tissues to wipe my nose. “You’re Doctor Kim. Doctor Kim Seojun.”

“That’s right,” he confirms, giving me a small smile. “Do you remember what happened back in August?”

I nod my head before letting it drop, giving up on the tissues as the tears continue to pour out of my eyes, my teeth gripping onto my bottom lip in an attempt to stop my chattering teeth.

“You did a good job, Jungkook, I want you to know that. Now that you remember, I think it would be best if we prevent any visitors from seeing you, just in case you start to regress. Does that sound okay?”

I give a small shrug of my shoulders as I try to contain my tears, but they just don’t seem to stop.

“Do you want another moment, or do you think you’re ready to head back to your room? We can discuss the results of today at a later time.”

I bob my head up and down, standing from my seat just as the Doctor does, and he gestures towards the door. I don’t bother looking at the other figure, just walk to the door, my hand gripping the freezing handle before turning it. The bright lights of the hallway assault my senses, and I duck my head down, gripping the useless tissues in my hands as the sound of footsteps follow behind me. My vision is too blurry to properly look at myself in the reflection of the floor, but that’s fine, I don’t have the courage to face myself at this moment.

It doesn’t take us long to get to my room, the security guard opening my door for me, and I take a step into my room. A moment later, I hear the click of the door closing, but I don’t move. Though my back is facing my room door, I can hear the muffled voice speaking on the opposite side, recognizing it as the Doctor’s.

“Well you have what you were looking for, Detective. I think we should go to my office to continue discu…”

I continue to stand there even when the voices become inaudible as they travel further away.

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