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lobautumny · 4 months

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The rhetoric of anti-porn ideologues is as insidious as it is annoying. They use the fact that porn addiction is a real phenomenon to paint anyone who consumes porn to any extent as an addict, which is patently delusional, but calling someone a desperate addict is a really easy way to get random people who don't know anything about the person being attacked onto the attacker's side, because if the audience don't know them and they try to defend themself as not being an addict, then it's very easy for the attacker to just go "see? Obviously they're just in denial and need help."

Another thing is that they start at a reasonable premise: Yes, porn addiction is a real thing that some people succumb to in the same way that one can get addicted to anything enjoyable, and there are businesses that should be under scrutiny that weaponize that fact and actively try to pray on addicts, which can ruin their lives much further than the addiction itself would on its own. But then the anti-porn acolyte falsely equivocates this very reasonable stance with "all porn is inherently damaging to society, and anyone who consumes porn to any extent is an addict."

The fact that people who do this schtick genuinely get a lot of respect despite literally just being puritans who farm clout by harassing random people online is as depressing as their shitty, anti-fun ideology and this toy's sick of seeing them.

There's a popular Youtube video essayist who made a tweet a while back claiming that all fetish porn is inherently immoral and fetishes have no place in an advanced society, and his sources boiled down to "trust me bro." He doesn't even give any kind of coherent argument for his stance. He just kind of asserts, based on nothing, that kink is a major contributing factor to how much mental illness exists in the world and that 90% of the world agrees with him. He then goes on to call anyone who disputes his claims a desperate addict attacking him from degenerate subreddits, and he paints his detractors in this way specifically to avoid having to make an actual counterargument to anything they are saying, because then he would sound like a stupid pseudointellectual asshole (precisely what he is) because he doesn't have a counterargument in the first place.

And if you find yourself thinking, while reading this, "Hm, this all mirrors a lot of argument tactics commonly used by a particular group who are known for not being too terribly fond of minorities, especially jewish people," you would be exactly correct. This toy's not saying that every anti-porn ideologue is a nazi, but a lot of them are reactionary conservatives who, at the very least, are not fond of the LGBT, and most of the ones who aren't still use the same exact rhetorical tactics based on dogma and harassment that nazis use to prop their bigotry up and make anyone who disagrees with them look like some kind of sickly degenerate, and that should be a red flag for anyone. In fact, unironic use of the word "degenerate" to negatively describe others should always raise alarms in your mind.

It's really incredible how scared so many people are of sexuality. This toy thinks a lot of it comes down to projection. Like, yeah, it sucks that you got addicted to porn at an early age and it stunted your social development or whatever, but perhaps your personal experiences are not universal. This toy doesn't want to say "skill issue" to people who have had genuine struggles with addiction, but damn, some people make it hard not to.

#autumn rants

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wannaeatramyeon · 10 months

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You hit the nail on the head! I‘ll ask for more professional assessment: honest opinion on Crystal?

Following on from my ramblings about Sally Park. Oops! Edited to add in Zoe too.

Well written female characters in Lookism? Uhh...

When the bar is at an all time low, it's really not hard to step over it.

At this point, I've been pavloved to think that any female character that expresses a personality trait other than 'simp' is pretty good. Simp is fun when it's part of a list of characteristics (Zack, Ryuhei). Not so much when it's the only thing.

Long live PTJ, the greatest feminist. Anyway.

Female characters I like

Mary Kim

Love her. Empress of 2 seconds. Queen of my heart.

Surprisingly kept a platonic relationship with Vin Jin, showing quite a healthy mixed gender friendship. Sassy and smart. Loyal. Good taste in men (Jace). Is shown having a life and interests outside of a man.

On my hands and knees praying that PTJ doesn't ruin her. Kinda glad she hasn't appeared in a while so she is kept away from his incessant need to turn everyone into a love interest.

Lua Im

Once we got over the odd Johan panels, which I heard the Korean audience didn't like and I'm quite happy about, she's fine. And it's not that I care that much about Johan staying a single dog-dad, I just needed a coherent reasoning/build up why they would be interested in one another.

Lua has potential.

Sourcing intel, even impressing the likes of Gun? A little Muay Thai knowledge? Jake and Jerry scared of her? Lol. Ok. Good. Let's build on this.

Just please don't white knight her.

Crystal Choi (meh)

And Ms. Choi, because anon specifically asked. I really don't mind her? I know she's meant to be anti-Lookism but still judges people based on their looks eh. That's fine. Pretty realistic actually. Whatever.

She can be a bit bitchy for no reason. So can I. Handwaving all that.

What I do take issue with though, is her so called title of Business Genius. Please show me the chapter where she actually does something to earn that title besides the one where other people ooh-ed and aah-ed over her in the meeting with DG.

Wow she's sooooo gorgeous. Ok good for her. If that's the route they're taking her character then at least OWN. THAT. SHIT. Use her beauty and looks to sign deals and get what she wants. GOOD. DO IT.

Zoe Park (also meh... Wait)

Sorry anon, I think 'really well written' is a bit of a reach... She does have some decent character development, starting as quite a flighty, shallow girl and then showing that she has a heart of gold, liking both Daniels and. Huh.

Wait. You're right. She is pretty well written. She's selfless and kind and loyal to her friends, putting up with Logan's bullshit. There's enough of a character arc for her from the Zoe we're introduced to at first.

And I do like that she's good at maths too.

Wasted potential

Minseong Kang (Jake's momma)

Appreciate this is the older generation and from a much more conservative culture. Saying that, I am so over the slighted and bitter housewife rotting at home while her big powerful husband cheats on her.

And then some sort of marriage redemption cos they pop out a kid. Whatever. (Sorry Jake bb, I love you).

If you were going to do that, give me the most toxic red flag shit where they are constantly at each other's THROATS. Show me how they are equals. Can't live with or without one another. That's the good kinda shit.

Leonn Lee

I just. What the fuck was this.

A girl in Burn Knuckles? A group that reeks of testerone and (positive) masculinity? Show us why she joined! Show us why she stays. SURPRISE. Main character trait?? Having a crush on Vasco.

She could have been SO interesting. And she obviously trains, why not get her to fight?

Hate for irrational reasons

Joy Hong

Listen, she's not really in enough or significant enough for me to really feel one way or another about her. BUT. The reason I HATE her is because I was trying to write a headcanon involving everyone and then I got to Joy and I was STUMPED.

Sub in a plank of wood, and it would have the same depth of personality.

Truly. Who is she apart from Jay's sister and a Daniel simp? At least everyone else has something.

Others

I don't really think about them. Sera Shin has potential I guess.

And of course a special mention to Daniel's momma. She's not exactly a unique character, but who doesn't love her?

LET. THEM. FIGHT.

Lastly. Why can't we see women fight? Like the men's fights are realistic LOL. Ultra instinct? Smashing through walls? So why are women fighting men outside the realms of this.

And yes yes. Men are SoOoOoOo strong. But can they take a kick to the balls?

Are you saying Gun Park has been training his dick and balls and would be able to eat a hit there? He wouldn't go down like a heap of shit??

HUH. TELL ME THAT.

In Summary

Mary by and large is pretty well written. Lua has improved.

I don't care much about anyone else.

And I wanna see Gun, Goo, Sammy, Vin etc. get kicked in the balls in a fight.

#is this my most disjointed rambling yet? quite possibly #if you made it to the end you sincerely deserve a medal #sorry if i've completely forgotten about any female character development loooool my bad #and sorry every time I refer to the women as females it makes me feel incel-y #lookism #lookism manhwa #lookism webtoon #lua im #mary kim #crystal choi #leonn lee #minseong kang #joy hong #wannaeatramyeon

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monath · 8 days

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not to complain or anything but even just wanting to convert to judaism is not easy

as i've explained in another post the reform congregation i've messaged said they only convert people who have jewish partners. i will probably write them another email to ask if they're serious about that but if they truly are, then my options for finding another congregation are slim

where i live we have a few jewish communities. they're all orthodox, except for the reform one that i already messaged and a conservative one. the issue is that they're all really far away (2+ hour drive when using public transport, car is not possible for me)

the closest two are the reform one and an orthodox one (both around 40 minute drive with public transport). i think orthodox judaism is great in many ways, but i'm not the optimal candidate for it (gay, not quite cisgender)

so unless the orthodox congregation near me LOVES that i will have to use public transport on shabbat to get to shul and that i'm queer, my only options are to hope that the reform congregation was just playing or that the conservative congregation 2+ hours away will let me convert 🙂

or i pray that i coincidentally fall in love with a jew and marry them but i doubt that that will just happen because what are the chances lmao

#i dont really care what denomination i convert into they all have their pros and cons #but as beautiful as i find orthodox judaism #i dont think i would “fit” you know #jumblr #jewish #jew in progress #jewish conversion #jewblr #judaism #jewish convert

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allieebobo · 14 days

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heyy! first of all i LOVE your writing so much (actually obsessed), rayyan is on my mind 24/7 and somehow deepal ended up being my favourite character even though they're not an ro lmaoo

anyway i was just curious about some aspects of rayyan's religion, especially as a queer hijabi muslim with really conservative parents myself. i know you've answered asks about her sexuality before, but i was wondering what hijab means to rayyan? like, when does she wear it, does she consider it mandatory, etc

sorry if you've already answered another ask like this, have a great day / night <3

Hi! Aww thank you so much!!

Yes this is a great question that has been asked before, and I'd like to give a relatively detailed, but work-in-progress answer now, and invite thoughts, inputs feedback etc. from Muslim readers! This answer goes for f!Rayyan regarding the hijab, but both genders for the portion of religion.

Rayyan's relationship with Islam/religion in general is complex. They grew up doing everything they're meant to do - pray, fast during Ramadan, abstain from alcohol, go to the mosque etc. But as they've grown older they've come to see their relationship with these practices and festivities as more about culture and family and community than about personal belief.

Furthermore, as they slowly begin to come to terms with their queerness, which places them somewhat at odds with some more conservative beliefs, I think it's reasonable to say that Rayyan is... still in an ongoing process of figuring out where they stand and what they believe.

That said, even while in Egypt (bearing in mind Rayyan was not too old when they move to America), their family belonged to a slightly more middle-class, educated, more Liberal-leaning segment of Muslim Egyptians, and based on my research: while wearing hijab is still mostly an expectation for women, there are apparently a significant number of Egyptian women who do not wear a hijab outside and especially during sports.

I'd say Rayyan is far more conservative in their dressing when they're home with family; in college they wear the hijab on social occasions, but not when they are playing tennis, and typically cover most of their skin / avoids immodest wear (though this is also a personal preference/style choice).

Before I end off, I also wanted to share some pics also of some of my fave Egyptian squash players (Egypt absolutely crushes at squash, by the way, it'a fascinating!)

From left to right: Nouran Gohar (currently world No. 3), Hania El Hammammy (current world No. 2), Nour El Serbini (current world No. 1) and my personal fave, Raneem El Weleily (former world No. 1, retired).

And also in spirit of Eid, thought it would be cool to share a video documentary short video on professional squash players fasting over Ramadan, which I could imagine Rayyan doing!

https://youtu.be/QrJDpVSVvLQ?si=seFQ-DAS3LTn_v63

#if #asks #interactive fiction #ct:os #college tennis: origin story #rayyan

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4thenookie · 8 months

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random hcs 3/??

do people even like these??

nina being the scene queen she is has racoon tails!! she bleached one into tobys hair one 3am, i havent decided how it went

liu drinks straight black tea but his coffee?? he might as well drink straight creamer

jeff has like..... patchy hair, like bald spots yk?? all that fire did a number on his hairline

puppeteer wants to play d&d but nobody wants to play with him

if someone pulls out cards against humanity i just know they all playin

guess who wins

guess

brian.

nobody expects him to find such filthy heinous shit funny but he does bc hes a tomfoolery enjoyer, a shenanigan causer if you will

BEN and toby both laugh at their own cards and then they're the most unfunny things ever

when people give tim an explicit card he has to turn away and take a deep breath before he reads them out in the most serious deadpan dad voice ever

you know the voice

and everyone finds this funny so they give him all their filthiest cards

brian giggles

nina can actually draw really well!! she does that emo art style the one that's all scribbly w the big eyes and skinny ass legs yk???

havent figured out who it is yet but somebody gives everybody piercings (who would this piercer be?? debate)

toby has quite a few because he can't feel the pain anyway,, im thinking snake bites, septum, lobes, helix, and maybe a tongue piercing??

jeff might as well make his entire ear one big earring at this point

if he took all his earrings out his ears would be riddled with holes lmao

nina has a couple ear piercings, as well as dolphin bites and a nose stud

BEN has piercings in his funny elf ears (which are very expressive btw!!)

ej has a stud in each ear (i think hed have pointy ears too! and they move like they prick up and droop and stuff!!)

speaking of ej... i think he also has really tiny horns, but he's so much taller than everyone else not many people actually notice them

also he doesn't wear shoes bc he has like demon feet idk

he has two fangs on the bottom that stick kind of out and up?? like you can see the points of them even when his mouth is closed

ok ill shut up about him now (i did a lil sketch of him a few posts ago if ur interested!!)

jeff and toby dumpster dive (the crust punk and his pet raccoon)

OK LAST EJ ONE FOR NOW.... he moves really slow to conserve energy, but when he runs jesus christ i pray for you

#creepypasta #creepypasta headcanons #jeff the killer #eyeless jack #ticci toby #nina the killer #ben drowned #am i getting any better at tagging??? im trying lmao

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joeythefrog · 26 days

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It feels less cold when cuddled up in a tiny bed with body heat for warmth.

Brooklyn feels warmer. Sweltering summers, hot stuffy speakeasy rooms with men in less clothes than is necessary to fight the heat. Suffocating heat in small rooms with smaller beds in the attic of the brooklyn lodge. They've done this a million times, made their own heat in the cooler winter nights, trying to melt the snow off the window by pressing an overheating body against it while they pray that if it melts it fogs up lest they be revealed to anyone below. It's a small chance but one neither man can afford.

In autum they celebrate the surviving men through harsh hands. Staying under blankets to conserve warmth as their hesitance grows. There's less excuse now. There never really was. But the heady hot nights of winter are gone. Now they brush up against each other under blankets. Not growing bold enough to look under the blankets and refusing eye contact as they silence any noises.

Spring comes, the leaves regrow and replenish. Spring is new. In spring they're slow. It's sickeningly romantic. Harsh hands turn to slow soft cups and kisses peppered across skin. It brings a hope that slowly fills them and spurs them to push into new territory. They kiss now -they've never kissed like this before. Slow and chaste, a tentive exploration.

Summer arrives as it always does. Days drag on slowly like molasses, gunked up by sweat and sticky- well you know what it is. If they could afford iceblocks they would deepthroat them in public to tease. But summer is soft. They lie above the old threadbare blankets occasionally touching themselves or the other because they're too sweaty and tired to do anything else in the small sweltering room that traps heat.

In summer, while draped across the moth eaten sheets stained with evidence of their year and sealed with sweat from the recent hot months that he dares to speak "Spot, I love you" He murmurs into the hot night, and he knows it to be true. It hangs in the air for a few minutes as the dank swampy heat does before it turns icy cool "it'll pass" comes the reply. Soft and accepting as he had thought spring had been. Laced with hesitancy and regret from autum. All he feels is the stinging numbness from winter and how fucking cold he felt. How his fingers would seize and flush without a place to be held. A place Spot provided.

it was never really about the heat, and any he thought he felt was imagined. But this cool would pass. it always does. like the seasons it'll leave and he'll find a way to push back into the nights lit only by desire and the fire inside him that he thought was mutual. it'll pass

#sprace #sprace angst #newsies angst #newsies #racetrack higgins #spot conlon #1992sies #newsies 1992 #newsies broadway #don't ask why I'm tagging the shit out of this #I just like attention

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brown-little-robin · 10 months

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You ABSOLUTELY do not have to answer this if you don’t feel comfortable doing so, but what is a “side b” Christian? I tried looking it up but the results were kinda vague :/

Hey, thanks for asking! (this ask is in reference to this post btw)

Okay, so, "side B" is a term that some Christians use to describe how they fit into the wide debate of how the Church should address same-sex attraction and gender dysphoria—basically, how the church should deal with LGBTQ+ issues. The term "side B" is used alongside the terms "Side A" and "Side X", which I'll explain to the best of my knowledge in a moment.

Before I start, though, I'm not an expert on the history of these terms. Here's one source that might get you started, but I have not done extensive research on this, so take this with a grain of salt! <3

Also, note: The topic of transgender people is a little bit blurry in these frameworks, with some people agreeing mostly with one "side" on attraction but agreeing mostly with another on gender dysphoria.

"Side A" Christians (the typically more liberal side) believe that the Bible (and/or God, in cases where people don't believe the Bible is the arbiter of truth) supports LGBTQ+ people acting on same-sex attraction and/or gender dysphoria. So, according to this worldview, same-sex attraction is not a sin; same-sex marriage and relations are not a sin; and so the Church should speak publicly about and embrace LGBTQ+ relationships, transitions, and/or lifestyles. In my experience, Side A Christians usually point out that the Greek word translated "homosexual" in the New Testament refers to pedophiles (instead of?) (as well as?) people living in homosexual relationships. Again, though, I haven't done full research on that one. "Side X" Christians (the typically more conservative side) believe that same-sex attraction and gender dysphoria are sins, and that therefore the Church should not speak about and/or should completely denounce same-sex attraction and gender dysphoria. They may believe in what's sometimes called "Pray the Gay Away": the belief that if you have enough faith in God and/or pray hard enough, He will take away your same-sex attraction and/or gender dysphoria. "Side B" Christians believe that the Bible says that all people struggle with temptations to sin, including, for some, sexual attraction to the same sex and/or gender dysphoria, and so the Church should not deny that these struggles exist or act like the people who struggle with them are any worse than anyone struggling with heterosexual lust or any other sin—but that the Bible also has a clearly stated framework that Christian marriages should fit into: one man and one woman, having sex only in a marriage. Side B Christians typically believe that the Church should not ignore the fact that there are LGBT+ Christians, nor should it embrace same-sex relations. Instead, it should acknowledge the struggle of having same-sex attraction and/or gender dysphoria and provide compassion, give life direction that is toward God and not toward the world, and just... you know... not isolate and whisper about such Christians like they're any worse than anyone struggling with, like, selfishness or jealousy or gambling or addiction or any other desire of the flesh. EDIT: A Side B perspective typically does not state that attraction or dysphoria themselves are sins. Those are temptations (and/or struggles), and like the post linked here (this post) says, temptation is not the same as sin (acting on temptation). Yeah, personally, I agree most with the Side B perspective. It seems the most Biblically sound perspective to me.

"Side A" and "Side B" are usually descriptors used only by Christians who identify with LGBTQ+ attraction and/or gender identity. So, people may call themselves "Side B bi", for example, as a shorthand for saying "I'm attracted to both genders, but I believe that it is only okay to have sex under the Biblical marriage framework". But I find the terms "Side A" and "Side B" a useful framework to describe worldviews in general, even for heterosexual people who identify with their biological sex. Use your own discretion about that one. I personally sometimes call myself "Side B" out of convenience, although I don't have same-sex attraction, but I strive to be respectful and compassionate to those who use "Side B" to indicate that they personally struggle with same sex attraction, and so I don't go throwing the term around willy-nilly. By the way, I do technically fall under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella: aromantic asexual here (although I hold those terms loosely) with a history of mild gender dysphoria.

"Side A", "Side B", and "Side X" are simply convenient terms for broad views on sexual morality and Christian perspectives on LGBTQ+ issues. I use them when they're convenient, but strive to meet every individual person and converse with people, not broad "sides", learning how each person interprets the Bible and what their individual church history and personal context is in order to learn how they think about Biblical, Christian, social, and LGBTQ+ issues. I find that the individual conversations are far more productive and less divisive than arguing along "party lines".

#long post #Robin speaks #faith tag #discourse sorry #OH I FORGOT MY TAG #drum roll... GENDER THOUGHTS

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theconstitutionisgayculture · 10 months

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I'm a bi woman who works with FOUR crotchety, old Boomers. They're religious and they're Trumpers. I mind my own business and don't take my personal life to work, but these are the last people on Earth who'd kill me for being queer (ik you don't care for that word, so I apologize). Like, I just know I could walk into work tomorrow and be like, yeah, I'm totally gay, and they'd be like, doesn't matter, Kid, just do your work.

My family is pretty anti gay, and I don't think they'd accept me, so I stay in the closet, but there is 100% no way they'd disown me, let alone want me dead.

Conservative friends just love me like normal, and it's not even a question in my mind if they care about my sexual preferences.

I'm sorry for every LGB+ person who's been abused. I know they're out there, I've been friends with some of them. I even know a guy whose parents sent him to conversion therapy in high school. It's terrible to know some people hate us.

But this across the board, black and white, right wingers want you dead mentality is nonsense. It's ignorant fear mongering. Spiteful.

Worst I've seen the conservatives do is threaten to pray for me. 😂

Of course, I don't have much of a victim card to show for. There have been times I was harassed or snubbed for my sexuality, almost always by other gay women. Liberals, at that. For the most part, though, people have left me alone, and you know what? It doesn't matter. I see the way you and others get treated right here on Tumblr, and I'm appalled.

My conservative friends, family, and coworkers would never talk to me the way these cowardly Zoomer brats talk to you.

And let's just say, I'm not remaining anonymous because I'm afraid of my conservative family and friends; as a matter of fact, there are libs (some I consider friends!) following me, and I don't need the aggravation of their whole, how dare you talk to that transphobic traitor schtick.

I don't think this is even the 20th ask I've gotten from someone in the original LGBT alphabet soup saying almost these exact same things. It's so weird how Republicans and libertarians hate us and want us dead, but instead of ever trying to harm us or attack us, they just...act like normal people as long as we do the same. It's almost like maybe a lot of bad interactions between gays and the right aren't because the right can't stop from hating us, but because so many gays these days are absolutely insufferable.

You're absolutely right and you should say it.

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valmare · 10 months

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I’m very occupied by summer job thoughts, so no in depth Chris thoughts unfortunately but I’d love a fluffy cuddly Chris Knight blurb! He seems like he’d cling to you if given the chance <3

- aviatorobsessed 💚

Awww, my dear! Don't stress. The Man Upstairs has everything under control and I pray you experience peace today and every day after! Here's just a cute snippet of Chris!

Needs More Lasers

You've been watching the clock perpetually since it rolled over to two in the afternoon, hoping that incessant checking will, somehow, defy time and space and actually move the afternoon along a little faster than it had yesterday.

However, only twenty seconds have passed since the last time you eyeballed the clock hanging over your office door. Groaning, you slump back into your desk chair, head kicking back over the back of it. Cheeks puffing in an exasperated breath, your head angles to consider the ceiling tiles above you.

They're suddenly more interesting than the marketing collateral in front of you, which demands attention, but has subsequently been frying your brain for the last three days.

White-knuckling the arms of your chair, your eyes move again to consider the clock. Twenty more seconds. How is that even possible!? Closing your eyes, you try to hone in on the mundane sounds of a normal California office––the ring of phones, the shunk of a printer, the soft mutter of office gossip and camaraderie.

The sound of fingers working computer keys has almost put you to sleep when the light rap of knuckles on the wall of your cube has you jumping upright in your chair. Startled, you exhale deeply and swivel in your chair, finding your coworker peeking into the space, smirking and shaking her head at you.

"Vick, you scared me," your press your hand against your chest, hoping it'll calm the jackhammering heart against your ribs.

"Sorry to wake you," she jibes, nearly snickering.

"I wasn't asleep," the defense is weak and you know it, and the way your gaze cuts to the stack of paper cradled in the crook of her arm tells it. They are familiar collateral, you'd proofed them yesterday. "Those going to Jen?"

"Mhmmmm sure," she ignores the question before her brow pop, "but yeah, I'm headed over there. Have anything you wanna send?" Nodding, you swivel closer to your desk and begin sorting an array of papers, standing to hand them to her.

Snapping them from you, she adds them to her cradle and then her head nods out of the cube, "Thanks, but that's not why I'm here though, honey," she steps into the cube, hand on her hip, "there's an awfully handsome thing in the lobby asking for you. He's got Casey at the desk completely enamored, but I'm not sure how long he's gonna be distracted by the cute doe-eyed look. He seems kinda....all over the place?"

Oh no. Eyes widening, you nearly lunge for the heels you'd slipped off beside your desk, working into the God-awful stilettos you've been trying to break in quickly, your face suddenly all-too flush with heat.

He can't be here.

Chris can't be here.

He's never showed up to your office before. You haven't been ready to introduce him to your work peers. Not that nobody in this office wouldn't like him, because he's CHRIS, but––you're not ready to explain the glaring age difference between you and Pacific Tech's resident egghead.

And this is a conservative office. A stuffy office.

And nothing about your boyfriend is conservative or tempered, quiet. Professional isn't even in his vocabulary, you don't think. Chris Knight is the breathing definition of living color, and he'd be an amazing marketing brain for this firm, but, he's not a marketer––he's a scientist. A genius.

Eyes fluttering closed, you can just imagine him standing at the front desk in one of his adorable t-shirts, playfully flirting with Casey, the college intern.

Worst of all? He knows it.

Biting at the inner wall of your cheek, you straighten your glasses and attempt to brush at the front of your shirt, as if it will dispel the wrinkles acquired from sitting at a desk for eight hours. Grabbing your security badge, you clip it to the front of your shirt and hurried slip by Vick, thanking her for the information and taking your material to Jen, the project manager.

Hustling down the hall, counting your steps and putting all too much effort into not rolling your ankles in the stiletto's, you're suddenly thankful you're not on one of the other floors.

You'd been moved down to the first floor to be closer to your boss, which only meant good things for you, and you try to remember that as you twist and weave your way through the bowels of the building, the lobby your endzone.

Pushing open the thick security doors, the lobby is suddenly awash with sunlight streaming in from the pane glass windows. Blinking to adjust your eyes, your gaze immediately lands to Chris, who's leaned heavily on an elbow against the front desk, foot crossed over the other.

Still wearing his wayfarers, his hair is feathered back like it always is, looking envious and golden in ways that make your fingers nearly ache with want to touch it. Your brow pops as you lean partially through the door––he's in trousers and his stereotypical slip on shoes, but that banana-and-red International Order for Gorillas is somewhat cleverly hidden beneath that cardigan you love. Casually spinning the keys that belong to his dad's shitty little Toyota pickup on his finger, he looks like a full out vision.

Sure he's younger than you, far more gorgeous than you are, but a small flame of pride flickers behind your ribs next to your heart. He's your boyfriend. He's here to see you, despite how beautiful Casey looks behind the desk with her hair ribbon and perfect makeup.

Mouth emptying of any and all moisture, you square your shoulders and step through the doors brightly, heels ticking off the marble floors.

All the nerves of Chris being here, among your work peers, evaporates like a vapor over water. Genuinely glad to see him, you hurry across the floor, ignoring the receptionist's wrinkled look of confusion entirely.

"Chris, honey––what are you doing here? I can't believe you're here!"

Your smile brightens when his attention flicks immediately from Casey to you. Seconds, maybe, and his brows lift into his hairline as he straightens up from the desk, spinning his keys once more before stuffing them into his pocket.

"Gorgeous! Hi! Jeez you look amazing today--I was in the neighborhood and remembered this is where you slave behind a desk all day, so I thought I'd, you know, swing in." For some reason he emphasizes the word "swing" like it is somehow scandalous as he pushes from the desk to hurry up to you.

Rocking back on his heels as you wrap your arms around him in a hug, squeezes you tight for a second before kissing your cheek soundly, with an audible smack. His finger finds your badge and flicks it, studying the portrait of you with a wrinkled brow.

"Your hair was different," he notes. "I kinda like it short, pretty girl." His brow wags, eyes tracking your face, "I think I'd like it even if you didn't have any, y'know, but, short is cute. Hey! You should get your hair just like mine, I can show you how to style it, and....yeah. I think that would look amazing."

You giggle, his arm lingering around your waist as you smooth the gorilla on his shirt with your hand, "Yeah, it's longer now," you confirm, despite the fact that it's pulled back into a braid today, "I'll take the hair advice under consideration. What are you doing here, Chris?"

His head cants to the side. "What about the sentence didn't you understand? I was downtown and thought I'd come see you. I'm morbidly curious about your office and what you do, how you make all that big money, pretty. What constitutes 'marketing', all that. Scientific, of course."

"Of course." You wrinkle your nose. He loves when you do that and mimics you, lowering to rub his against the tip of yours lovingly. Giggling, you can't stop the bright smile on your face as your chin lifts a little, eyes moving to consider him for a second.

You can feel Casey staring, and your eyes cut to consider her. She's slackjaw behind the desk, looking at the two of you like something out of a movie. Your cheeks darken with flush as you smile at her, wiggling your fingers in a hello, since you hadn't even bothered to say hello to her this morning when you'd come in with Vick.

"Hi, Casey," you nod to her. She doesn't move in her chair. Turning to Chris, you ask him if she'd provided a visitor's badge. Proudly plucking it from his pocket, he beams that yes, she did, and you move to take his hand in yours, "You can mark it down that he's with me, I'll walk him back down when we're finished. Thanks, Casey!"

"Thanks, Casey!" He chimes, turning on his heel to face her, "Definitely think on what I told you about UCLA. You really should transfer into more of an Ivy league, there's a way better payout at the end!"

"Chris," you roll your eyes, trying not to snort, "come with me," you tug him along, toward the secure door. Swiping your badge, the door unlocks and you pull it open, Chris coming up behind you to rest his chin on your shoulder, arms lacing in front of you.

"Where you taking me?"

"To my cube," you inform quietly, noting that his octave hasn't changed at all despite the hush settled over the office space, "I'll get my purse and we can go get lunch."

"But but buuuut-– I don't want lunch," he inserts, moving to stand beside you, hands in his pockets, "I want to see what you do, meet all your friends, that kind of thing." His brow pops up as his head cants, hand coming to fold over his chest, "unless this place is absolutely boring and you've just overexaggerated your job?"

There's a beat of silence as you smile at him, then his eyes track to your shoes. "Ah! The heels of death!" He looks thrilled, voice echoing off the walls, "I love when you wear them, but aren't they like super unpractical for this massive office?"

Shaking your head, you slip your arm through his and he bends to press a kiss into your hair, whispering, "They make you look amazing, baby."

"Thanks, Chris," you angle your head to brush your nose against his cheek, his hand moving to interlace your fingers casually, "You wanna see my favorite room in this entire building?"

He pulls back, his face twisting into one of scandal. But his brows wag as his smirk grows, and you can nearly tangibly feel the heat pooling in the depths of your gut as he lifts your hands and presses a kiss to your knuckles. He looks positively wolfish, even if you had been entirely serious about actually showing him your favorite space on campus. He obviously has other ideas.

"Now that sounds interesting," he winks, slipping the sunglasses off and clipping them at the front of his shirt, "though I think any room will serve my purposes just fine,"

"Knight," you half hiss, half giggle, trying to keep your voice down.

He winks again, beaming with pride. "Y'know what this place is lacking, gorgeous?"

You can only imagine as you lead him around the corner. "What's that?"

"Lasers. This place needs more lasers, honestly." Taglist: @cherrycola27 @thedroneranger @mayhemmanaged @desert-fern @startrekfangirl2233 @soulmates8 @chicomonks @angstytalesr-us @dakotakazansky @books-are-escapes @sarahsmi13s @cassiemitchell @lovinglyeternal @bobby-r2d2-floyd @that-one-random-writer @horseshoegirl @lavenderbradshaw @bradleybeachbabe @roosters-girl @footprintsinthesxnd @chaoticassidy @roosterisdaddy36 @callsignharper @hisredheadedgoddess28 @ohgodnotagainn @moonchild-cupcake @aviatorobsessed @kmc1989 @imp-number-3

#chris knight #chris knight x reader #real genius #real genius 1985 #real genius imagines #val kilmer #answkered asks #ask a meerkat #top gun roostette

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redditreceipts · 3 months

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Hi Varona, i may be dumb, but why atheism is a terf? can't figure it out

hey :)

so I've used the term "atheist" as in "a person who does not believe in or is agnostic towards the existence of any higher power or immaterial essence". That would include agnosticism towards things like a soul, karma, an afterlife, etc. I know that this is a broad definition, because some sources define atheism as the absence of a belief in god(s).

So is the gender identity belief compatible with atheism?

A transgender person is, according to the Oxford dictionary, "a person whose gender identity does not correspond with the sex registered for them at birth". So that would mean that some males think that they are women, and some females believe that they are men, right?

No, it goes further - the second assertion is that by expressing one's gender identity, or by only identifying as that particular identity, the person becomes that what they're identifying as. Many even go as far as to say that a person does not just become a different gender by identifying as such, but they also retrospectively change the reality of their gender category. So for example, if I say today that I identify as a woman, I am a woman - but if I tomorrow assert that I am a man, I will always have been a man, even if I was a woman yesterday. If you point out the inconsistency and draw parallels to the fact that we have always been at war with Eastasia, you are an evil TERF bigot nazi and deserve to be punched in the face.

A person can by virtue of their identity also lay claim on certain priviliges or services that are reserved for one sex. So there has to be a damn good reason for the assertion that by mere identification, you change your gender category, right? Because it isn't true for any other category. If you identify as Asian, you are not therefore Asian, and if you identify as working-class, you are not therefore working-class. So what makes gender identity different? Why are you a woman because you identify as such? What benefit does this definition provide?

I've searched the internet up and down, right and left for an answer. I have found none. What I have found instead are tons and tons of people accusing those who ask questions of bigotry, being a dick, being a TERF or a nazi. When they are asked to define womanhood themselves, they say that it is some nebulous concept, that there exists some kind of "gendered soul" or "gendered energy", that you possess or don't possess.

So yes, believing that by mere identification or assertion you become that thing is magical thinking. Believing that you will become a woman just by identifying as one, with no material referent, is no different than believing that you are the chosen people or that you will get rid of cancer by praying. It is, in the end, a spiritual or religious belief and therefore not atheist. If you think that you can change reality by mere assertion, then you are no more atheist or rational than a person who beliefs that the spirits of the earth try to talk to you.

And for the record! I personally do believe in some whacky shit like crystals or the energy of the moon. I am not an atheist. There are spiritual beliefs that I personally follow. The difference between me and a gender ideologue is that I don't want to make it a law that people can only cut their hair when the moon is waning or some bullshit like that. People can believe in whatever they want. But if they want to pass laws and socially ostracise people for not following their personal religion, that's where I draw the line.

These people are no better than conservatives who want to ban abortion because in their personal belief, life begins at conception.

#gender critical #radblr #radical feminism #radical feminists do interact #radical feminists please touch #feminism #terfblr #gc feminism #gc feminist #gender abolition #radfems please touch #radfems please interact #radfem safe #atheism #atheist

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dawningfairytale · 3 months

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yeah, okay, i'm going to be a bitch. was this post inspired by fandom bullshit that i don't know if i'm going to main tag? sure, but i also stand by it.

so queer christians exist. that's just a fact. queer people of any religion exist. because, even when one of those identities makes us feel pushed out of the other's community, religion is not exclusive to allocishet people.

exhibit a: i am a bisexual christian. when i realised i was bisexual and actually remembered it, i didn't stop being a christian. but, by that same metric, my going to church and praying and reading my Bible didn't stop me from liking girls.

exhibit b: i'm a bit more of a progressive christian than other people i know in real life, but i also know more conservative christians who. are queer. and aren't much older than me. they have different outlooks on how they practise it (for example, my main concern with dating someone of the same gender is not being super out, while theirs is more theological).

my christianity is a core part of my identity. personally, it is the primary part of my identity. however, the secondary aspects, like my gender, my sexuality, my upbringing etc all inform my faith, how i interpret the Bible. in that same way, my faith informs those things, like how i see my sexuality and what it means to me.

christianity is not a monolith. a character, yes, even a hyper-religious christian character, can discover they are queer. furthermore, a deconstruction arc for them doesn't have to end in them abandoning their faith, but reshaping their faith from what they have been brought up with in context. if they know a lot of queer people, it's also possible they recognise their behaviour as queer more quickly than they would in a different environment, even if they're trying to repress themselves.

#also there's more than one way to read a line #mutuals who know exactly what i'm talking about should i put this on the main tag #or. *not*#bc i relate heavily to religious characters. and i make them queer bc. hi. also they can have a lot of bi energy. and who am i to deny them #and myself #that

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doctornerdington · 4 months

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I've been voluntold to write something to be read at my aunt's funeral. (I'll be watching the livestream; I can't afford an astronomical $1,200 plane ticket, unfortunately.)

The thing is, I have a lot of thoughts and feelings about my aunt, but I don't know that I want them shared with that audience. Or perhaps, I'm not sure her funeral is the appropriate venue for them because they're just as much about me as they are about her. I'm gonna take a first stab at it here, and we'll see if anything can be made of it. Maybe I'll just decline.

My aunt was a very religious woman. She started out conservative Mennonite, and moved to the more mainstream religious right from there. And because of that (and for other reasons that involve my mom and her processing of childhood trauma in pretty disastrous and destructive ways), I was never emotionally close to my aunt. She lived three provinces away and when we went to visit, things were stilted. I felt claustrophobic and wrong-footed. Couldn't wait to get away.

My aunt strongly disapproved of most of my life choices. She wasn't okay with queer people. She wasn't okay with divorce. She was grieved until the day she died that I had left the church, and prayed, daily, that I would reconsider.

And through all of that? She wrote me letters. Faithfully. Boring, rambling letters about how many buns she baked that week and how the charity shop was getting along and whether it was raining very much and how her flowers were growing. She sent cards for every holiday and birthday. Never missed. (In fact, my brother just received a card in the mail yesterday -- 6 days after she died. I guess that will be the last one.) She always sent a card, and she always heavily underlined the pre-printed words that meant the most to her. It was so cheesy and so heartfelt. When I had kids, she started sending them cards, too, with their own special underlining. When I divorced my ex, she sent me money at Christmas to make sure I could afford gifts for my kids. When my car died, she literally bought me a car, out of the blue, because she didn't want us to be without a car in the winter.

She disproved of so many things about me so strongly, and that never stopped her from loving me, from consistently acting with kindness and generosity and love to me and my children. And I loved her too, and I hope she knew it and felt it. Even though I'm queer, and divorced, and even though I'm never returning to the church. Even though loving her felt like pressing on a bruise. She lived a life of love and integrity, in whatever way she was able, and I admire her for that. Despite the bruising.

So now she's gone. And I keep thinking about these lines from the Spoon River anthology:

Just because you no more could love me, Nor pray for me, nor write me letters, The eternal silence of you spoke instead. And somehow from that hour, I had a new vision.

And it's not like I have a new vision now or anything like that. It's just that it's so strange to think that she's not out there right now, sending unwelcome prayers my way. She'll never send me another bizarrely underlined letter. Her silence will speak instead, I guess. That's love too.

#writing stuff #I guess #I don't think this will work as a public tribute #it feels very private #except for all my dear strangers on the internet haha

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