#when millennials were not only encouraged

[sarasa-cat]

The youngest adult generation and the most online generation is frustrated with being surveilled and embarrassed by attention-seeking behaviors. This has instigated a retreat into smaller internet spaces and secret-sharing apps, as well as a mini-renaissance for Tumblr, where users rarely use their full names. (The majority of new users are Gen Z, according to Chenda Ngak, a spokesperson for Tumblr’s parent company.) The voice- and text-chat app Discord, known for a culture of anonymous and pseudonymous discussion, now has 150 million users; anonymously run hyper-niche meme accounts are suddenly the coolest, most exciting follows on Instagram. The group-therapy app Chill Pill offers a “world of future friends and better days” but does not permit the sharing of any personally identifying information. (I downloaded the app but can’t make a real account—I’m over the age limit, which is 24.)

Something has shifted online: We’ve arrived at a new era of anonymity, in which it feels natural to be inscrutable and confusing—forget the burden of crafting a coherent, persistent personal brand. There just isn’t any good reason to use your real name anymore. “In the mid 2010s, ambiguity died online—not of natural causes, it was hunted and killed,” the writer and podcast host Biz Sherbert observed recently. Now young people are trying to bring it back. I find this sort of exciting, but also unnerving. What are they going to do with their newfound freedom?

In part, the trend is a response to security concerns. During the Black Lives Matter protests in the summer of 2020, young people downloaded the encrypted messaging app Signal by the millions to avoid the surveillance they considered possible or probable on other platforms. The anonymous hacker group Anonymous made a buzzy return and was embraced by K-pop fans, many of them anonymous, while engaging in pranks that doubled as acts of civil disobedience. Other activists disseminated tools for blurring protesters’ faces in Instagram Stories, and tried to steer one another off mainstream apps and onto smaller, decentralized ones where users have more control of the data they create and share.

Anonymity can also be ideological. Crypto culture, now known as Web3 culture, was founded on the idea that transactions can be made online without the exchange of personally identifying information. It also has a newer norm of replacing one’s human face with a cartoon. In crypto circles, mentioning a very rich and successful person’s real name can amount to “doxxing,” and even those who aren’t well known are cautious about sharing the barest personal details. At a recent party sponsored by a new Web3 platform, a guest with about 5,000 Twitter followers explained to me that people online do know what he looks like—he “shows face,” as he put it—but that he has never shared a single photo of his girlfriend. Too dangerous.

But in the end, a return to anonymity is just a return to form. Hiding your identity has always been important for getting through the horror of being a person under the age of 24 on the internet. The gradual reveal of personal information, even building up to a “face reveal,” was once a give-and-take among people who shared the same online space for a long time, fostering trust. When Instagram and TikTok arrived and made it possible to make a lot of money from your face, personality, thoughts, beliefs, and personal trauma, young people forgot how good it felt to be no one in particular, or to try on various identities. In the past few years, they have been coming back around.

“It seems like Gen Z is getting really tired of presentation culture, as you might call it,” Zeke, a 21-year-old biologist and frequent Discord chatter, told me. “The idea that everything you do has to be a representation of your personal identity.” Obviously, he did not want me to publish his full name—he’s applying to lab-tech jobs right now, he said, and though nothing he was going to say to me would be scandalous or might put off a potential employer, he did not want to “risk it.”

Zeke does not have any active social-media accounts with his full name attached to them, but he is in many Discord servers pertaining to his interests, including art, writing, and science. He spends a lot of time there sharing interesting or funny photos of animals, and he met his longtime boyfriend while Discord-chatting under a pseudonym that is a play on Kermit the Frog. The site is “chill,” he told me. The servers that he likes best have 100 to 200 users, so the conversation is always lively, but it doesn’t get out of control or competitive. Sometimes people anonymously say disgusting things—the worst things he has ever read! (That well-established tendency has contributed to the collapse of anonymous social platforms in the past.) But mostly they just drop cool pictures and funny memes, and discuss or riff on them. “There’s an understanding that, like, you’re not going to kick each other, you’re not going to judge each other,” he said. “You’re not here to represent your identity; you’re just here to chill.”

The surprising recent popularity of Discord suggests a nostalgia among members of Gen Z for IRC and forum cultures that existed mostly before they were born. The return to Tumblr reflects a longing for the more recent past—just before the age of the influencer. “I’ve been on Tumblr for about 11 years because I was 11 when I got it,” Maya, an aspiring artist and photographer, told me. She asked to go by her first name only, as she does on Instagram. On Tumblr, where she feels most comfortable, she goes by the username coldstonedreamery—a reference to an episode of This American Life that she heard long ago in her mom’s car. She remains anonymous partly for artistic reasons: Being an enigma is good for world building and creating a mystique around her work, she said. She wants to be known for her point of view, not for her face or even her personality. “I mean, there are embarrassing YouTube videos of me playing guitar when I was 12 under my real name,” she added.

Being an enigma can produce strange results: Teenage girls on Instagram sometimes borrow selfies of Maya that don’t have her face in them and present them as their own. Most of the time, though, Maya sees her anonymity as being cozy. “I probably get 20 anonymous messages and questions a day, and I feel fine answering them and exposing all these intimate details of my life,” she said. “The people asking the questions probably don’t know what I look like, probably don’t know where I am or how old I am. I feel safer. There’s like a cloak over me.”

Even on Instagram, classic influencer culture is falling out of style. Among the well-known, generally beautiful faces who go by their real names, there are now thousands of niche meme accounts run by anonymous proprietors. Members of this latter group sometimes reveal their true identities when it becomes financially appealing to do so—if they’re offered a book deal, for example, they have to reveal themselves to someone. If they land a profile in The New York Times’ Style section, then everyone is in on the secret. But many more of them just post away from behind a curtain. (The more niche the content gets, the less likely it is that financial incentives will be in play, and the more likely the anonymity will last.)

The 24-year-old meme-maker behind an Instagram account called @neoliberalheaven makes pop-culture-inflected collages overlaid with parodies of online political discourse. (His profile picture is of the meme-literate musician Phoebe Bridgers.) He asked to remain anonymous for this story because he doesn’t want to limit future job opportunities and because being anonymous is part of his whole deal. The people who come across his feed can appreciate his work for its own sake, he told me, and they don’t care who he is. He also observed that anonymous accounts, by foreclosing on the possibility of becoming a personal brand, come off to some viewers as more “authentic,” or as “a new source of genuineness” online because they aren’t selling anything or trying to become stars. The internet’s prizing of authenticity has gone through the looking glass.

As a person who loves the internet, this all makes sense to me. Why should everyone have to live and write and think publicly at all times? Why should they be limited in that way? As a journalist who reports about the internet, I’ve found it frustrating too. In the past few years, more and more sources have been asking for anonymity on principle—not because they are afraid of specific or likely consequences, but because being named just doesn’t seem worth it. I can’t help but see this as unwillingness to say something and really mean it—and the portent of a sort of sad, slightly paranoid near future, in which everyone is cool, very cool, and impossible to pin down.

#technology #yet another way #that gen z is mirroring gen x #as a gen x #I remember being HORRIFIED #when millennials were not only encouraged #(by zuckbook) #to share all their RL deets online #but they actually -- gasp -- did #and then there was an attack of people in the 00s who remained pseudonymous #as SCARE QUOTES HiDinG SomEThinG #which is also why i retreated into fandom #and #refused to participate in #online professional expectations of broadcasting myself #(but- also- my employers were happy to have us NOT be brands online #for reasons of safety and other nonsense #because they didn't want news coverage #etc etc #) #...and I mean-- duh-- obvious there are people of all ages and generations #who were very pseudonymous online vs very PUBLIC online #there are always #TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE #but I have been welcoming this swing back #to my original comfort zone

[kakiastro]

The Numerology and Astrology of 1997

Numerology is my 2nd favorite thing to study besides Astrology. They go hand in hand in my mind. They’re interconnected with each other. You’ll see when I break it down for y’all in this post.

I specifically chose this year because well, I realized 1997 and 2024 are both 8 years. Let me break it down…

Add up the numbers

1 + 9 + 9 + 7 = 26

2 + 6 = 8

2 + 0 + 2 + 4 = 8

So if you were born in 1997, then you was born during an 8 year. 2024 is an 8 year as well. So this year is like a rebirth of some sorts or a karmic cleansing.

Keep in mind. This is different from life path numbers because you add your birth month, day and year. It’s a lot lol but we’re only focusing on your birth year only

8

-ruled by Saturn and Capricorn in numerology. These born natives may have had a tough or not easy upbringing. They may have had to grow up or learn some harsher lessons early in life than most. They were born during a karmic year so if you’re the type who believes in reincarnation, then you can say these native “have been here before” could be an ancestor that’s come back, I think a lot of kids born this year are “old souls” as well.

-these natives life lesson needs to learn how to balance the spiritual world with the material world. They have a strong belief in a higher power(s) and believe that no matter what challenges they go through, they will succeed and flourish. These natives are the hard knocks kids. These are the first group of Gen-Z but they relate more to their older Millennials siblings. They remember what the world was like right before we entered into today’s digital world. They remember blockbuster and flip phones, hell, most of them probably had one themselves as preteens before smart phones took off😅

-another lesson these natives need to learn is to help out when they can. It doesn’t always have to be financially either, helping someone with bags of groceries, complimenting someone (helps their self worth), donating old clothes or money to a charity, giving out advice or encouraging words to people are also good. Do this out of the kindness of your soul and heart, not because you expect a reward. I will tell you this, 8 is a loop so what you put out will come back around one way or another. I know that cliche but that’s the energy 8 has. 8 is connected to the spirit realm and earthly remember that.

-ambitious and powerful individuals. They enter a room and you notice them immediately. If these natives do succeed materially, just know, it was through hard work, sweat, blood and tears literally and figuratively lol

- August is the 8th month of the year. This is one of the Summer months. August is late Leo and Early Virgo seasons. These natives exhibit warm energy which means theyre kind, and have a welcoming personality. They may be popular in their friend group or just well liked by people. They may constantly go through health issues in their life but these people are warriors, they can get through some tough situations. August is a late summer month, these people are considered late bloomers (not a bad thing!) and since they’re a Capricorn group, their life can become more lighter and easy going as they get older. They work hard in their early years to relax in there older years. Usually after their First Saturn Return and around 35 is when life can start to improve.

Astrology

-since this is a Saturn ruled year group, we need to look at what sign Saturn was in, in 1997.

-Saturn was in Aries during this year. Which means this group has Martian energy. They are warriors like I said earlier. Harsh upbringings but they push through. I wonder how many people born this year had to have surgery or suffered any burns growing up. Scars may be heavily present in these individuals during this year.

-identity and finding who they are outside off what they were taught to be will be a theme for them. They may struggle with self confidence during younger years but they find it as they age. I know I talk about age a lot but it is significant for this group since Saturn rules Age and time.

-since Saturn is in Aries, these folks 1h and Mars are the most important.

In 1997, Mars was in Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius and Capricorn.

-Mars Libra natives will learn the lesson how to balance the most. Working with others and being diplomatic will be lessons on what to learn. Marriage and partnerships. Family such as their grandmothers will important to these natives. They need to learn the balance when to pick up their sword and when they need to lay it down to negotiate. Aries oppose Libra. There’s always going to be a push-pull with these natives. I can’t stress enough, find that balance.

-Mars Scorpio natives will learn the lesson of vulnerability and intimacy. Aries is an independent and solo sign but Scorpio is how we connect on a deeper level with each other. Sex may be something they struggle with and will need to learn understand beyond societal conditions on it. Financials and paying off debt.

-Mars Sagittarius natives will learn the lesson of philosophy and beliefs. You may be the type to fight for them and don’t like to be challenged on them. Now you will need to learn others beliefs and this doesn’t mean you have to agree with them but it’s best to get well rounded on different viewpoints for your spiritual benefit.

-Mars Capricorn natives will be the main ones learning about hard work and ambition. I feel like this group may have it the hardest because you got that double Saturn energy in you that you have to learn. People may not respect you or you don’t get the recognition you feel you deserve. I promise once you learn theses old cycles, it will get better. Aries Sq Capricorn as well so this is not an easy but necessary lesson. Y’all got this!

8 is also ruled by Pluto. So this group will always be going through extreme transformation, this doesn’t always have to be a bad thing either. Their Pluto is in Sagittarius so their beliefs and world view will go through different phases. They have deep thirst for knowledge and truth. 8 is also co ruled by Mars so there’s that warrior energy again lol

These Natives are turning 27 this year!

2 + 7 = 9

9 represents endings and cycles. 9 is also ruled by Mars and in astrology is ruled by Jupiter.

Saturn is currently in Pisces. Pisces also rules over endings since it’s the last sign of the zodiac. They are also going through their pre-Saturn Return shadow period.

The Current NN Aries is conj their Saturn and numerology planet ruler. A small few is going through their Reverse Nodal return as well

This is also their 4h profection year. The 4h isn’t just about family, it’s connected to your soul and soul family.

-these natives are going to feel like they’re going through Deja vu while also going through new experiences. There’s a level of uncertainty thats filled with hope. My advice is to just go with the flow and take each day at a time. You guys are wrapping up 8 year another cycle. They are discovering who they are under in depth. They are exploring there faith and ideals and what feels right to them.

-This current cycle lasted from 2016-2024. Think back on those years, while still learning this one.

-This cycle will be from 2024-2033. 2033 is the next 8 year

Fun facts

When you all were born, Titanic, Jurassic Park, Men in Black were the biggest movies of that year!

The first Harry Potter was also released that year. It’s funny that there’s a tv show in the making during its return😅

#astrology #astrology community #knowledge #astro observations #love astrology #advanced astrology #kakiastro #tropical astrology #birth chart #numerology community #numerology #numerology by kakiastro

[alpaca-clouds]

BELLE and the fantasy of a non-corporate internet

Just a little thing I kinda want to end out this week speaking about democratized media on. Because there is this little thing in Mamoru Hosoda's newest movie BELLE... I am honest: I am not entirely sure whether it is something Hosoda and his team thought about when making this movie. But... this movie has this wonderful little anarchist moment.

BELLE is all in all not really an anarchist movie. Nor is it Solarpunk. But it picks up this theme, that goes through several movies Hosoda has done. His "internet triology" how I like to call it:

Digimon Adventure: Bokura no Wargame

Summer Wars

BELLE

Three movies that are not only connected in aethetic, but also in theme. All three of them having a plot that takes place online for good chunks.

And that theme is of the internet connecting people all around the world. Of allowing people all around the world to connect.

The Digimon Adventure movie focuses on the idea of the young millennials in that movie having access and understanding of this new virtual world, that the older generation lacks. In the Japanese version of the movie there is a prolonged gag sequence of Yamato and Takeru trying to get access to the internet with a lot of confused adults thinking about whether or not they have this access.

This shifts in Summer Wars, where the internet suddenly is a place that everyone uses over a lot of different access points. In the finale we see people use the internet via phones, laptops, high end computers and video game consoles. Though it also gives a warning of us not relying on it too much.

And then we have BELLE, which focuses on the internet as a place where people can truly be themselves and connecting with each other, while being unable to connect in the real world (partly because of distance), as well as the internet of a place to rediscover yourself and as a medium to help each other.

But all three movies kinda have one scene in common. There is a scene towards the finale where all seems lost and the character outmatched by the antagonist. (I am gonna say something about the antagonists in a moment.) And then... everyone gets together. And by everyone I mean everyone. In Bokura no Wargame it is the emails of encouragement and the spirits of all those kids and teens watching the battle that allow War Greymon and Metal Garurumon to fuse into Omegamon. In Summer Wars it is the fact that everyone risks their accounts by handing them over to Natsuki that allows them to beat the AI in hanafuda. And in the finale of BELLE it is everyone banding together to sing and no longer supporting the self-appointed moderators that allows Suzu to make Kei hear her voice. It is the connection of people via the internet that allows people to succeed in these movies.

But there is one thing in which BELLE differs from the other two movies - or rather all three movies differ from each other.

Bokura no Wargame still very much is set in Web 1.0, before social media and the bottlenecking of the internet. Again, the movie makes this big thing out of the internet being a thing for the youth.

Meanwhile Summer Wars is set within a very corporate "everything platform". And while this movie does have some message about "yeah, maybe having all that data within one system is a bad thing, actually", there is not really a comment about the company running OZ and whether maybe one company should not own the one platform that in this world basically IS THE INTERNET.

BELLE is different in that regard. Because BELLE makes a point out of the fact that U is an open source platform that was created to... basically run anarchical. There was not supposed to be an central control. That the users were supposed to have control over their experience on the platform. But because the creators also did not want to have "control" over it, big companies just took over and devided U up between themselves, creating that moderation team that is seen as the antagonists within the movie. And here is the thing: That big scene of everyone coming together and singing? Yeah, that is the scene in which the users take the control over the platform back from the companies. And since U is basically the the internet in this world... Part of the finale is basically the users taking back their control over the internet.

And... I don't know. I have not seen people talk about this so far. But to me it is the nice and utopic part in this movie.

The internet is such a great thing to connect people. And that is something that Mamoru Hosoda has definitely understood better than many other film makers. And we just... should not let big coorporations take this from us.

#web 1.0 #web 2.0 #democracy #anarchy #belle #belle movie #mamoru hosoda #digimon adventure #digimon #summer wars #take back the internet

[miru667]

Hiii Miru!!! ♥︎

How is your day going?

Sorry if I’m bothering you, but I just wanted to ask you something that was in my mind for a while, what’s your opinion about the today’s Once-ler Fandom?

I mean, the new oncelings (like me) and all the new stuff that is here, you probably think that all of this is so different in comparison with how the fandom was back in 2012!

And also… do you miss something from the fandom? :p

Something that you don’t see here anymore or not as much as it used to be?

Hiii suemooon! Today was yet another tiring work day =w= but my coworker gave me hot chocolate mix and marshmallows today as a christmas present so that was nice! I hope you're doing well too.

To compare today's onceler fandom vs 2012's onceler fandom...man I could talk forever about this haha! This is all just from my own point of view of course but I would say, yes a lot of things are different, but a lot of things are the same, too.

UHHMMM extremely long post so it's under a readmore LOL

For the differences, a lot of them are simply due to the way the internet has changed in 12 years. In 2012, most oncelings were in their early 20s, and if you were younger than 16 you were extremely rare and we would be like "WOAH?? THEY'RE 15?? I HAVE NEVER SEEN A 15 YEAR OLD ON SOCIAL MEDIA BEFORE". But today's oncelings are like, mostly teens now, I feel? I think it's because of tiktok, which didn't exist internationally until 2018, and also because of parents giving ipads to their kids at the age of 2. But yeah, to compare today to 2012 is like comparing gen z to millennials, the content and jokes were different and, due to 2012 being in the past, what was socially acceptable was different, too.

Another thing that's different is the way young people act towards characters nowadays, but let me specify some more. I really dislike the term "content" when referring to someone's personal creations because it just sounds so corporate. And I don't know how to feel when I see some new oncelings treat an old popular askblog character as if they're public property produced by some big company, instead of as an OC that someone worked really hard on. For example, Truffula Flu Camp Entre and Thneedville High AU are like "established media" to a lot of people out there now, as if they're well-known series recognizable to the masses (no, they're not). And as a result, I've seen people headcanon whatever they want on other people's OCs and ship them however they want without even knowing if the mods are okay with those ships anymore (it's better to be real careful, if you want my advice..). I've also seen new oncelings give other people's OCs to public merch-selling sites without the mods' permission, and I've even seen new oncelings try to take inactive askblog OCs as their own. Why? :( Just make your own OCs. You can do it! Hold my hand.

New oncelings don't understand what they're stepping into when they look at our old content from over a decade ago. Our personal feelings and our private friendships from those times, whether good or bad, are precious to us and I guess it's just a new phenomenon that we have to deal with now, so I don't have the answers for this yet. But I would encourage everyone to also look at new and current OCs in the fandom - which many people do, and I love to see that!! I also love seeing people making friends with each other and having fun with each other, that's what reminds me of the better days of 2012.

Another difference is the...landscape? We have tumblr DMs now and we have discord communities so a lot of things are hidden now from public view. RPs used to be public on tumblr but now we rp on discord and only people in the server can read them, and there are pros and cons to that. Also the fandom isn't dominated by only a handful of askblogs anymore. Things are WAY more balanced and evenly distributed now compared to 2012, where Swag Once-ler was the king of the fandom with 200 asks sent to him every hour and 4000 followers accumulated in just 5 months. (And I'm not dissing on Swag, I loved Swag too. I'm just stating my observations. In fact I miss him a lot ;-;)

As for what's the same...xD The excitement and passion that a lot of new oncelings have! I find that so cute. People being creative is the same, people gushing over the onceler and fandom ocs is the same, even if internet slang has changed. People being ambitious with projects is the same, even if those projects are never finished (but this is just general human nature). And PEOPLE BEING SWEET TO EACH OTHER is the same! I was nervous during 2020 since a lot of "ironic" fans joined that year but I'm happy to have seen some genuinely sweet people around in more recent years, just like there were in 2012. 😊

I also see a lot of the same movie analysis discussions each year, which makes sense since new people keep entering the fandom, haha! "The lorax movie could've been better", "the 1972 film is better", "I wish they kept biggering", "they should've expanded the factory scenes and taken out the car chase scene", "i hate the onceler's mom", "the movie's point gets muddled because too many people think his mom's to blame", "i can't believe zac efron and taylor swift didn't sing in the movie", and on and on, those never change, and I've seen these same discussions so often that I support the antithesis of each topic now, just to be a rebel. 😇 But usually I don't engage in those anymore, I just think "haha aww! they're having fun :]" and leave them be! But like, it truly reminds me of the earlier days. It's me who has changed, in this case.

And finally, "do you miss something from the fandom? Something that you don’t see here anymore or not as much as it used to be?" I mentioned Swag already, I also miss a lot of other askblogs that belonged to my friends, and most of all I miss a lot of my friends who've drifted away, and I hope they're all doing well. I had a lot of good times with friends over the years. Some of them were rp partners and I miss our rps and I miss their characters dearly, I can't think about it too hard or else I might cry. What else...I want to say that I miss the crazy nightblogging events we used to have but I don't know if I could keep up with those anymore if they happened again haha. Same with askblogs answering asks live, almost no one does that now because people want so much to make every ask pretty with a new pretty artwork. But like, even if that comes back, again I don't know if I could keep up. So I suppose everything had its place!

Things will continue to shift and change, and you never know what the future holds so it's best to just keep going. I'm still making new friends and new good memories in the fandom each year, and I'm grateful for that.

THANK YOU SO MUCH for this ask and thanks (and sorry) to anyone who read through all of this!!

#miruask #suemooon #i spent 7 hours typing this LOL #reference

[joesalw]

You really can't write this shit lmao...

TS's friend group consists of Miss 'idc about genocide and continue to employ a bloodthirsty zionist CEO for my makeup brand' and Cara D who's great grandfather created the Black and Tans which is a terrorist organisation that killed Irish people during the Irish War of Independence. A group that also sent their people to kill Palestinians in favor of establishing the state of Israel. Last night these 3 went to Ramy Youssef's (who Taylor probably met at the "Poor Things" premiere) comedy show in NYC and 100% of the proceeds would go to the Gaza relief fund. The thing is, Selena and Taylor are getting all the credit and praise for Ramy's activism. I've been a fan of her work for the past 10 years and her recent activities have turned me off of her completely. The turning point was that pathetic TIME interview.

I've always thought of her as this well-read individual who can masterfully express herself whether it would be public speaking or writing but I couldn't help but cringe while reading that article. She tries too hard to appeal to gen z and younger millennial crowd when she herself is practically pushing 40 atp. I feel like all of her 'intelligence' came from being around Joe Alwyn who's a notorious bookworm. The fact that she describes her Rep era as 'goth-punk' was the first strike, the 2016 hate train as a ' career death' was the 2nd and the whole patriarchy delusion she went into just hit the final nail in the coffin and I was like 'nope, not doing this shit anymore'.

I know that swifties have been comparing her to Beyonce lately saying things like 'well, Taylor writes her songs' or 'Beyonce can't read' and talking about how she doesn't give interviews so people don't know that she's dumb. And as a comparison I've found her Harper's Bazaar interview that she gave when she turned 40. And good God, I've slept on this woman for way too long. In the interview she talks about building her work ethic from an early age. The dedication of her life's decades (First decade was dedicated to dreaming, the teens were about the grind, the 20s were about building a strong foundation for her career and establishing her legacy, the 30s were about starting her family and prioritizing her own life over her career). She started her own management company at 27, in 2013 she started her charity foundation in which she helps hurricane relief, education, supporting minorities businesses, families with housing needs, water crises, pediatric health care and pandemic relief. She talks about expanding her business ventures beyond music industry, talks about setting boundaries in the world of celebrity culture, about her friends being a group of strong independent women, about the importance of mental health. She also says that she's most inspired by her parents ("My mother has always been my Queen and still is. She has always been so strong and is filled with humanity", "No matter how tired she was, she was always professional, loving, and nurturing."; "My father constantly encouraged me to write my own songs and create my own vision. He is the reason I wrote and produced at such a young age."). That woman is so well-spoken and genuine you can't help but feel warm while reading it and she doesn't feel the need of throwing unnecessary 'smart people' words to seem that way.

Reading Taylor's "Person of the Year" profile and Beyonce's 'Entering 40s' interview were completely different experiences. And as a result, one of them lost a fan and the other gained one. I wish Tree Paine would stop Taylor from giving these interviews because everytime she does, she comes across as tone-deaf, out of touch, mentally stuck overgrown teenager, try-hard bratty diva who can't stand being not the only one praised.

Anyway, I'd recommend to read the full interview and watching her new film. I've watched it yesterday and got the urge of turning my life around. That lady is truly such a light.

Taylor's friend list also includes 'Mr. and Mrs. plantation with slave cabins on the property wedding', 'a sex offender and a SA apologist as the newest addition', 'Ms. "I assaulted my own sister", ' an insecure and whiny music producer who likes to stir drama on Taylor's behalf'. And not to mention that she's dated a nazi this year and her newest flavour of the month is a fatphobic jock with a double digit iq, her father is also an avid republican voter. I think the people she surrounds herself with tell about her more than she does herself.

And concluding with two cents about Joe Alwyn. I'm glad she's out of his life. While I was a swiftie I've watched his interviews and he always came across as a very gentle, calm, well-spoken and a bit introverted man. And she's... well, her. I also think that she'd held him back in her job in regards of producers and directors not wanting their work to be overshadowed by 'Taylor's BF is in this' articles. I'm hoping he does more projects in the future or maybe dips his toes in writing and directing something because clearly he's a talented writer.

Sorry for the long rant, had to get it out of my system <3

I love reading your rants, keep it coming. they are so on point.

#anti taylor swift #swifties dni #joe alwyn

[thenyanguardparty]

Some other anon asked you about "good" vs. "bad" nationalism. My two cents as Ukrainian diaspora:

In WWII, propaganda appealing (among other things) to the nationalist identity of Soviet citizens to defend our nation and homeland was a big part of maintaining morale and mounting effective resistance against the Nazi invasion - who, because too many people seem to forget, wanted to wipe us the fuck out, in order to make plan for the glorious German expansion (Generalplan Ost, etc).

Decades later, the nationalist identity of the Ukrainian juxtaposed against the Russian was a big part of the propaganda campaign that convinced a generation of Ukrainian Millennials that going to war against (quite often) their own literal cousins, a nation with shared history, blood, and culture, was not only necessary, but morally mandated.

The other key question to ask is what is the nationalist character? Which values are being lauded as pro-nationalist?

During WWII, it was courage, loyalty, solidarity, selflessness, and all that other shit you want to encourage when you're being invaded.

In Ukraine since the 90s, the values the nationalist character considers to be virtues are.... your typical reactionary far-right shit a-la Svoboda party.

This is not because the people in WWII USSR were somehow inherently more moral or courageous than the people of post-Soviet Ukraine. It's because being invaded by a foreign force intent on eliminating all of you incentivizes solidarity and banding together against a common enemy, while grasping power in an economically struggling post-Soviet neocapitalist state incentivizes looking for a scapegoat among your own people. Whether that scapegoat is actual Russians or Ukrainians who are technically "ethnic Russians" (honestly, what a term) or Ukrainians who just speak Russian or Ukrainians who aren't rabidly anti-Russian or anti-communist enough, or anyone else who doesn't fit the Ideal Ukrainian bill (any minority, ethnic or sexual).

In both cases, "nationalism" is just the flag-colored pretty bow on top. The actual underlying values people claim are part of the nationalist character can and should be evaluated on their own to determine whether it's "good" or "bad" nationalism.

yeag. the matter to be investigated is "what function is this particular use of nationalism playing in this context"

#anonymous #asks

[qqueenofhades]

thank you for your post i’m doing my best to stay informed on the conflict and i’m very young. i feel guilty being quiet as i understand to uplift voices helps prevent their silencing but this has lead me to not critically think about what i’m spreading

it’s been a long month. i’m only a kid and watching the world go to shit like this has been awful, I always wondered how millennials who lived through post nine eleven imperialism coped and god i’m still not sure how.

I am as a white gentile in a position of privilege and mostly my own person is unaffected by the uptick in violence and evil in the world right now. But my friends who i see every day are in more danger due to this conflict and i feel awful that i cannot ever fully understand or fix the deaths of people.

Right now I’m being a bit too reactionary. I’m doing my best but in the end I am not immune to fearmongering and propoganda, especially in these last couple sleepless weeks.

So thank you and everyone who is keeping level heads and desconstructing what’s happening. I’m sorry and i strive to be better. Thank you.

To anyone living in fear right now i’m so sorry. I will listen when you speak.

Once again I just want to say that I am a busy and uninformed student, and I wish that i had more teachers and authority figures that had objective facts to tell me. It’s suffocating to have fake news everywhere but feel powerless if you don’t know anything

it’s ok if you don’t respond to this

Thank you for your post

Thanks for this message and for taking the time to put it into words and to reflect on your own actions and rhetoric. It takes a lot of courage and self-awareness to admit that you were wrong and that you want to do better, and I'm not going to rip into you or blame you or otherwise shame you for it. So I hope this gives you the confidence to read on without feeling like you'll be raked over the coals for it, and open you to hear some ideas for doing things differently.

First, I do have a ton of sympathy for you as a young person who feels overwhelmed and exhausted by all the evil in the world, and is wondering how to get through it, react to it, or otherwise make some kind of moral response in the face of this soul-crushing trauma. I will say here that I am a little bit older than your average Tumblr user (the majority of this site is in their early-mid twenties), I do personally remember 9/11 and its aftermath when a lot of people here weren't even born yet, and I am an academic historian with a doctorate. That does not mean I am better or smarter or More Perfect or whatever at what I say, but it means that I do have a considerable amount of institutional, formal, and professional practice at analyzing a lot of complex information, putting it into words, breaking it down for less-specialist audiences, pointing out logical fallacies, and so forth.

That is not a skill that everyone has, and in the face of nonstop 24-hour news-cycle social media information overload, it can be incredibly difficult to parse it or understand how you're supposed to respond to it or what your moral obligation in response to this knowledge might be. I wrote this ask the other day in response to someone else asking how to improve their critical thinking skills and be more discerning about what they understood, shared, and analyzed. I strongly encourage you to read it, as it addresses a lot of what you're saying about feeling negative, depressed, panicked, angry, and all the other emotions that are naturally evoked in you from reading this stuff nonstop and feeling like the only thing you can (or should) do is immerse your brain in it at all times. In short, that is absolutely the worst environment to do actual substantial analysis or critical thinking, and it is designed so on purpose.

It has been said before, but it bears repeating: the human brain simply is not designed to be constantly aware of all the atrocities in the world and thus (thanks to social media) feeling as if the only way they can do anything about it is to then post the Correct Opinions on social media (regardless of whether these are informed or relevant or otherwise useful). Especially now, the rush to demonstrate Correct Thinking has warped a lot of otherwise well-meaning young people into becoming eager disinformation mouthpieces. There are a TON of explicitly bad-faith actors and far-right fascists who are posting pro-Palestine content (factual or uh, otherwise) because they know that's an instant way to get an audience of said young left-leaning people who will then be suckered into and exposed to their far more dangerous content and mindset, because that is how radicalization works. Even in the support of an obviously worthy cause, you and everyone else ARE NOT IMMUNE to fearmongering, disinformation, and virulently anti-Semitic propaganda, especially when it's being eagerly and constantly offered in a deliberate attempt to radicalize you further into violence and conspiracy theories, turn you against other vulnerable groups and people, and explicitly disengage you from the electoral/political process, which will harm the Democrats and other liberal establishment parties in favor of more far-right radical fascist theocrats and otherwise make everything, everywhere, many orders of magnitude worse.

I know the feeling that you need to do something, and since you're a long way from the conflict, it seems as if posting on social media is the best and/or the only way to go about it. In that environment, and especially right now, you will make mistakes. I know it is difficult in an online environment where popularity or acceptance by your peers often rests on never being wrong about anything (i.e. saying the same thing everyone else is saying), but it always helps to think about what you're doing, what you're saying, and if you actually need the approval of people who are conditioning you, implicitly or explicitly, into negative and violent ideological nihilism.

The hardest thing to understand is that yes, there is a lot of terrible shit going on in the world; no, you cannot personally fix it and you have to accept that as a limitation; yes, there are many multiple and complex causes and reasons for its existence and there is almost never a black-and-white simplistic moral solution that just hasn't been magically implemented yet; yes, it is always worth it to take the time to inform yourself and consider what you're saying, where it comes from, who it helps and who it hurts, and why you feel the need to say it in the first place. Of course you want to help. Of course you want to stop the needless suffering and death that has gone on in the world for millennia and unfortunately, as long as humans are humans, will continue to do so. But even so, take it away Gandalf:

#anonymous #ask

[walkawaytall]

bring back the turkey, you cowards

Weird thing none of you know about me: from about 2015(?) until about 2019 or so, I had a very specific and weird obsession: Lisa Frank's social media presence (and, to a lesser degree, Lisa Frank's collaboration deals clearly made in an attempt at making a comeback).

Now, I will go ahead and correct a commonly held misconception amongst the people who followed me on Facebook at the time: I was not obsessed with Lisa Frank the person (as mysterious as she attempts to be, I think I have her mostly figured out), Lisa Frank the manufacturer of my favorite childhood school supplies, or even Lisa Frank the company as it stands today (though this Jezebel article, Inside the Rainbow Gulag: The Technicolor Rise and Fall of Lisa Frank, is wild and I think everyone should read it; it may not hold true today since they've had so much change and turnover, but it's still fascinating). My obsession was primarily focused on Lisa Frank's social media presence. And that's because Lisa Frank's social media presence was batshit insane.

Keep in mind, when I first started following them on social media, they were not banking on Millennial nostalgia. They were still primarily selling school supplies. The adult coloring book (not adult like smutty; adult like...those therapy coloring books that were so popular ten years ago?) sold by way of an exclusivity agreement with Dollar General hadn't been announced yet, nor had workout gear or the SpongeBob collab (sold only at HotTopic). As far as anyone knew, Lisa Frank was still that rainbow school supply company whose target audience is nine-year-old girls.

Which is why all of the housemade "memes" were absolutely bonkers.

This is peak Middle-Aged Mom Humor, so why is it being presented to me by the company making pencils and folders for elementary schoolers?

Glad to know we are encouraging fourth graders to day drink.

This one isn't actually aimed at any particular age group; I just find it funny that captains of pirate ships are inherently pirates, so I don't know what this is supposed to mean.

He won't. He will not fly. He is a flightless bird. This is a terrible lesson and you are a homicidal mother penguin. (Also using slightly altered lines from poems without attribution is theft, but whatever.)

And the image that started my obsession:

This...isn't a joke??? What is this???

I don't know who was behind these posts, but considering how small the company was at that point, I always suspected that Lisa herself was recycling old artwork with the help of an intern or something and creating the social media posts...because it just sort of seemed like that's what was happening? I have no proof of this; it was just a vibe I got.

But, during that period of time, even though the posts were inscrutable and sometime just straight-up Minion Humor, they were at least interesting.

Well, I mean, sometimes they were interesting because they were like acid to the eyes.

Okay, and sometimes they were interesting but also sported questionable messaging about one's relationship with food and exercise.

Anyway, I digress. In 2019, Lisa's son Forrest Green (yes, her sons are named Hunter and Forrest Green) took over the social media presence and it became...very palatable for the masses, I suppose. It was a lot of photo edits of old boy band pictures with Lisa Frank designs superimposed on tshirts -- it was very nostalgia-driven and very much directed at Millennials and thus I lost interest, because if there's anything I hate, it's being the target demographic for a sales pitch.

Anyway, my point is that for several years in a row, Lisa Frank would post the same holiday-themed images, so I got used to seeing a certain Thanksgiving design that is, and I cannot prepare you enough, one of the most chaotic and hideous things you'll ever lay your eyes on. But it was tradition. They posted it like three years in a row, and then as soon as Forrest took over, this design was never posted again. And all I have to say on this Thanksgiving week of 2023 is: bring back the turkey, you cowards.

#it me #lisa frank #thanksgiving #i'm about to go save a bunch of images from the lisa frank facebook page because i think forrest forgot that these existed #and i don't want them to become lost media #there are so many more #they're all bonkers #and i love them #long post

[dgcatanisiri]

I saw a critique of Picard season three put forward as "a story about how only boomers can save the day from the bad thing," and... I can see it, I'm not saying that it's an invalid critique, but at the same time, I don't think it's altogether fair.

Like, for one, I feel like if there's any age-based or generational-base of the storytelling, it's in the realm of "being old does not mean you have nothing to contribute." Which is kind of a big deal when most of the time in media, you see Hollywood specifically trying to draw in and appeal to the demographics of youth, to hook them in and hold them for life. Meanwhile, Picard centered on a character in his nineties played by an actor in his eighties, and aside from Jack Crusher and Sidney La Forge, every major character and actor in the season was older than forty, at least, with the TNG cast all over sixty, with only two under seventy.

It's a pretty big deal, especially when you remember that the last time that Star Trek was directly addressing the aging of its cast, the characters involved were in the fifty/sixty range, and talking like they were near the end of their years of being able to contribute something, that they'd come to the end of their road and were just going to fade away soon after. So while the TNG characters weren't necessarily on the front line and acting as line officers, doing the day to day field work, they were also very clearly shown as being able to contribute to the world they lived in, being able to make the difference.

Plus the framing of Seven of Nine, I feel, makes a refutation of the idea as well - she is, despite being a returning character we the audience already knew, at the head of the "new generation," we see that throughout her framing, particularly in her relationship with Shaw. Not just with her advancement to captain, but also in particular in that last message from Shaw in the finale, where he acknowledges that he's representative of the old ways standing in her way and that if she's writing a new book, it's because the old one needs to be rewritten.

Now, maybe you could look at this in like a "boomers versus millennials/Gen Z" thing, but - and maybe it's just my general trend towards optimism, particularly in my Star Trek - but what I see is NOT generational conflict, but more of a call for generational UNITY. Y'know, the first half of the season, we saw how Sidney's faith and trust in Seven helped save the Titan, because she respected Seven to call her by her name, stopping the infiltrator. Although it was part of the Borg hijack, Jack's connected nature helped to save the day multiple times. And Seven also trusted that Picard and crew could do something against the Borg.

Hell, I could even take this further, and call this a metaphor AGAINST generational conflict, that it's saying that others will try to use generational differences to divide and disrupt, and we need to overcome that - this is something I KNOW I've seen talked about plenty on Tumblr, how we have all this stuff trying to pit millennials and Gen Z against one another, in the same way that millennials and the baby boomers are. That this is an effort by the forces of power (power that goes beyond generation) to keep the masses divided against one another so that they aren't a threat to that power structure.

Because sure, the Supercube and the Borg Queen were destroyed by the TNG crew flying in and saving the day, but Seven and company retook the Titan and held off the assault on Earth long enough that they could do that without Earth and the Federation falling, and a major point is that Jack had to CHOOSE to leave the Collective, that it had to be his decision. Everyone had to work together for that happy ending, rather than alone.

Maybe I am being overly optimistic and taking the best faith interpretation at the expense of something else being involved and at play... But then, isn't that something that Star Trek has always tried to ENCOURAGE, to believe the best in things?

#dg rambles #star trek meta #star trek #star trek picard

[apompkwrites]

October 18, 2022

Heartbeat Anon here! Okay, listen. I have about the attention span of a walnut. I swear I meant to actually send the writing thing I did of Lilia, I just. My brain wandered off. And didn’t come back until like a month later. BUT STILL! Also, I’m lowkey internally crying cause the Shroud update was released on my probably birthday!! (It’s complicated why it’s ‘probably’) Anyways! Here the Older!Vanrouge!Y/N ! I wrote the original mid October of last year, I need to blow off the dust this is copy pasted straight not straight gay haha from my notes so there’s also a tiny bit of me talking at the beginning.

I looooooove the ideas for Vanrogue!Name. While I do like them being a traveler from the get go, I also like them being the more sickly sibling growing up and seeing their brother do so much, maybe sacrificing so much of his future to help take care of them.

Vanrogue!Name seeing their brother do such amazing things for the fae, but also seeing him turn away opportunities to do even greater in order to stay near them at least some of the time and take care of them. They feel bad cause they’re the older sibling, but their little brother is the one taking care of them and not the other way around.

Growing up, they’d always been frail and sickly, always having to have someone watch them and be near them incase something happened. Constant checkups and doctors appointments were normal for them. They never could go outside and run around and play like all the other young fae children. They were stuck inside the walls of wherever their treatment was being held. Even then, it wasn’t the same, having to often move around to this or that doctor. The scenery changed. The people changed. The places changed. It felt like only they and their brother were the same. Only they, their brother, and the stories that they read while they lie in bed.

When both they and Lilia were still youth in fae time, they would read to Lilia and even make up some stories to tell him. He was always so cute listening intently to them spin tales like the great Thorn Fairy spun from the spinning wheel. His Ruby red eyes would sparkle with excitement, so much excitement that he accidentally made some objects in the room float a bit. They didn’t mind though. They just loved to spend time with their brother.

Lilia was at first hesitant to leave his siblings side by order of the Queen for all able bodied fae to gather and train to prepare for a war they seemed to be on the losing side of. Vanrogue!Name encouraged him. Even told him to become like the great fae heroes in the stories they used to read. Lilia promised to come back a hero for them to make them proud. Vanrogue!Name just smiled and told him he already was one in their eyes.

While Lilia was away, something seemed to change with Vanrogue!Name. At first, the doctors panicked, thinking it to be something bad and were preparing for the worst, to send a letter to the steadily rising star trainee telling of his siblings passing. It wasn’t bad though. The very opposite of bad in fact. It was incredible. It seems their body had been for some reason fighting against their magick. They don’t know exactly what changed or what triggered it, they not their doctors, but after one last very bad plunge, they seemed to soar higher than the clouds could ever go.

Their health improved, they could walk without losing their breath, they could perform magick that would render them unconscious when they were younger, they could even cast spells that some of the most advanced fae found difficult. It was odd, but also… freeing. Suddenly a whole new word opened up to them.

The doctors say that their body may’ve been afraid of the powerful magick and that both were at war with each other, causing their poor health and weak magick. Something happened or something triggered for the two to conjoin and now they work so beautifully in harmony. The doctors say that they’re one of the most powerful fae in many millennia, especially at their age.

Of course, the doctors feared that this would be temporary and that the body and magick would war against each other again. Checkups became a bit more frequent before slowly dwindling down.

In their letters to and from their brother, they told him of the entire experience and journey, from the near death(to which he was tempted to abandon his post to check on his sibling, but Vanrogue!Name sternly told him not to and even threatened him with a few childhood secrets, to which he, albeit reluctantly, backed down), to their steadily growing health, to their surge in magickal prowess.

This is where I left it in my notes and past this is where I’m picking it back up

Both Vanrouge siblings grew in status and power, soaring up the ranks in multiple aspects. It was a change for both of them. And after the war ended, even more opportunities opened up, it was wonderful! Or… at least it should’ve been.

Vanrouge!Name was aware of how many opportunities in the past their brother passed up to be with them, to stay by their side, to take care of them. It wasn’t fair to him. And they know he’s going to go and do that again once they reunite. They won’t let him pass up these these chances of greatness, of wealth, of fame, of power, of happiness… even if they’re not with him.

They didn’t really have a choice before, their body being so weak and sickly, they couldn’t look out for or take care of themself, no matter how much they wanted. So Lilia did it for them.

But now they do. They have a choice. Their body is stronger than ever, healthier than ever, better than ever. And now they can look after Lilia, their younger brother who grew up looking after them. So they’ll do it. Even if it hurts deep inside, they want what’s best for their younger brother who threw away so many years taking care of the one fae who was supposed to take care of him. So they’ll do it for him. They’ll make their choice. And leave.

By that time, they were discharged for the hospital, but still had some light surveillance just incase of a relapse, so it was easy to disappear. Especially with their powerful magick that now worked with their body instead of against it. So they left. Packed up a few belongings and a treasured storybook that they and Lilia made when they both were younglings and disappeared into the night. The only thing signifying that it was they who left on their own volition, was a note to Lilia. Telling him to live a long happy life. To take life by the reigns for the first time and do what he wanted to do. That they’ve decided to travel the world and all the realms since their body is now good enough to do so.

When Lilia arrived at their shared home, when he saw that the house was empty, when he searched high and low for his sibling, when what he found instead was a note, he did not cry. He did not weep. No tears left his eyes. A pained mournful wail broke from his throat instead. No tears would fall, but his sorrowful cry broke the hearts of all those who heard.

Many years have passed. Lilia now has a son. He has a ward in an old battle compatriot’s grandson. He now watches over the Briar Valley heir apparent. He also now goes to a school called Night Raven College.

Many years have passed and many new tales are being played and have ended and have begun.

There are rumors of a mysterious traveling storyteller. Their appearance is unknown, all information regarding it is contradictory. So is their origin and even their species. The only thing known about them for a fact is that they can spin magnificent tales like the great Thorn Fairy spun from the spinning wheel. That and that they always carry an old book. When asked what the book is, they reply that it is a book of stories they and someone else made before they began traveling.

When asked what they did before they began their endless journey or who the author was, they’d just redirect the conversation with a story.

Many years have passed. Vanrouge!Name is now little more than a storyteller for all who wish to listen or will give a lending ear. They’ve been to many places. They’ve come up with more stories inspired by those places. They’ve basically become a legend in their own right.

They haven’t seen their brother in centuries. They tried to discreetly keep up with him, but that proved too difficult. They hope he’s happy wherever he is. They hope he took the chances he got since they weren’t in the way anymore.

They’ve been invited to visit a school as a sort of guest speaker. A strange bird like fae asked them while they were in the land of the Scalding Sands to come to the school he is the Headmage at. They don’t really know why the strange fae would want them as a speaker for… something, but hey, it’s a new opportunity. Maybe they can make a new story with their experience at the school. And so they make their way to be a guest speaker at Night Raven College.

————————-

Okay! That’s that! Wooo! Have that lil bit of angst type stuff! Hopefully my walnut attention span will let me come back sooner than a month later! Uh. I hope this was okay? It turned out longer than I expected…oh! Fun fact! I had planned from the very beginning way back months ago for the sibling to leave so Lilia could be “free” of them, and I somehow remembered that detail! I hope you like this writing, uh, blurb? This writing thing I sent. Feel free ofc to share your thoughts and opinions and even add stuff onto it if you wish! Hopefully tumblr doesn’t freak out from the long ask…

- Heartbeat Anon

hi omg it's been so long almost a year D:

absolutely obsessed with the idea that sickly vanrouge, after getting better, wandered the entirety of twisted wonderland and they collected their stories to tell people.

but their favorite story to tell is that of the fearsome briar valley general

#a pompk answers #black sheep #a heartbeat anon's rambles

[byersfanclub]

I feel like ppl need to understand when we are criticizing/ranting about ppl who compare byler to other non-canon mlm ships that most of us aren’t necessarily hating those ships themselves and most of us actually ship/shipped those ships as well but it’s the fact that we can differentiate between a ship that had little to no viability in the show (aka, the show was already obviously set up for f/m couples, it’s clear the mlm ship wouldn’t become canon, queerbaiting was used deliberately by creators and actors) and just because the creators/actors of show don’t mind mlm ships of their characters and encourage fan creations such as fan art doesn’t mean it’s going to be canon either. like you really need to sit down and actually look at the material being put in front of you instead of going off of gifsets/edits catered to your ship. are you actually being given canon material that makes sense for those two characters to actually be in love when they’re also being given straight love interests that work well? where it’s obvious they have feelings for one another? where their love story is being built up? this is where I draw the line between byler and other ships like this that it’s constantly compared to. mike and el are continuously shown to have relationships problems and are technically already canon? they aren’t having their love story “built up” it’s being brought down and being shown for what is really is. phony. fake. forced conformity. meanwhile mike and will’s relationship is what’s being built up, it’s not treated like other friendships within the show, it’s treated differently for a reason. it’s getting the classic love interest treatment in every other fucking show in the world, people just don’t wanna admit to it. maybe because it’s two younger boys they can’t fetishize, maybe it’s because it’s two boys in general and it’d be ridiculous for the duffers to cater to “the gays” even tho byler follow every detail of the trope for a well written childhood friends to lovers story. maybe it’s because people genuinely think milkvan is a good couple even tho they’re the worst written relationship in the show, and dustin and suzie have yet to even interact irl yet and they’re somehow better than mike and el. maybe it’s because reddit bros literally can’t comprehend that stranger things was never written for them in the first place. maybe it’s because Harry Potter millennials have let themselves be queebaited multiple times even when they were told to their faces their ships would never become canon and laughed at by the creators of their favorite show/book/movie. which is back to where we started. it’s not our fault you let yourself actually become disillusioned by ships you convinced yourself would be canon even though the source material never supported it and in one case (d3sti3l) only happened purely for fanservice and nothing more. 

#byler

[pureewhitesnow]

Heheee you were one of the chosen ones! Ask chain be upon youu! No pressure tho :3

List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last 10 people who liked or reblogged something from you! Get to know your mutuals and followers.

AHH !! ive been blessed ... thank you <3

5 Things that make me happy ..? Alot but i'll sum it up ;

1. Art in general , it has been my special interest in quite some time , i think 8 ~ 10 years ..? My family and environment support this dear hobby of mine , and with art .. i can make anything come to life , y'know ? it's ... a simple but powerful talent to hold on to <3

2. Music , music all the way !! i sleep with music or ambiance playing to calm myself down , and when i draw , when i play games , i'd always ... ALWAYS have music with me

3. Everyone i've met and the people / things i cherish / look up to . Even though my insane brain brings obstacles like making off - putting scenarios of them , they make me happy ... like a seretonin in disguise ... it's the reason i look up to them and cherish them <3

4. All the nice things people say to me ...? It's hard to think of something , but all the nice words people say whether they know me or not has been the reason for me to keep going ... i don't want the atmosphere to be sentimental all of a sudden , but ... they encourage me to love what i love , draw what i want , and all those ... nice things . their words flow like a wind that pushes me to keep running for that dream , y'know ? <3

5. This sounds REALLY stupid , but you know what ? Yashio Rui and Morfonica . i don't think i would find true happiness if it weren't for them ... i've never been this active in consuming my interest , but in a way , monica crosses the line ... and the only thing i've been watching and listening to has been monica , monica , monica ... even the live - band !! i love them all very dearly , they've pulled me out of the dark hole that is my life . *they* are the ones that make me happiest , especially rui . i really don't know what and how fate decided she would be a character i cherish , i'm still looking for the answer ... but she's the one that makes me happy , and when i feel down , i'd kindly ask my friends to send me icons and pictures of rui , just her in general ... she brings comfort , and i genuinely don't know how and why , but it's alright cuz i love her and her band utmost dearly ... and now i'm rambling like some stupid millennial about their high - school days ...

ENOUGH ME RAMBLING !! if you're that down to hear me infodump about rui go friend me on discord while also specify who you are ; [ somnusviolin ] ( jeez moth you and your shameless promotion )

this is so funny but embarrassing ... and it's ok i love what i love

not too sure if i want to send this to other peeps , but i really need to socialize ... i'll give it a shot ..!!

#tumblr asks #silly game idk #they call me yashio rui lovemailer for a reason

[piglet26]

A Year In the Mess and the Millennial Cross Rory Bears. SPRING

Hell, this might as well be the identity crisis.

I will give the creators this credit and it is well earn.... In many of their scenes they have heavy lifting to do. Think of a show being only 6 and half episodes long. Beginning, middle, and end. That's all you got. Give us something new to watch but give us nostalgia as much as you can. Find time for 40 odd cameos and find a justifiable reason for them to be there. This isn't even mentioning scheduling around actor's schedules. It's also a credit to the Palladino's that all of these actors wanted to come back and work with them.

Rory turns down a job she obviously needs because she thinks she too good for it. I see what you're doing show. Why doesn't Rory just work at McDonalds?! Is she too good for that or isn't she? There is a moment here to get into relatable territory. What happens when your designated career path shifts? Literally the industry just shifts such as your plant closes down, or the business declares bankruptcy. Or, they reduce staffing size because people don't read anymore.

Interesting storylines. Relatable. Instead, we got millennial bashing. Uneventfully Rory thought she was too good for not one but two jobs. ShaddySacks or whatever and a teaching position at Chilton. FUCK YOU SHOW.

Emily is being exceptionally rude with everyone now, including Rory, but she's grieving so it's fine. For now. Again, this scene below is a glimpse of the original Rory we see in this show.

The shrink Emily chose sucks. She doesn't encourage any talking nor does she direct Emily and Lorelai. It's literally Emily and Lorelai somehow flying even more blind than they did before. Their conversations are exhausting. Emily seems to be incapable of saying "Lorelai before I go, I would like to see you settled and married to the man you love." Instead, she scolds her. Lorelai actually got a lot accomplished on her own with the shrink. Like a lot accomplished. Emily also accomplishes a lot on her own.

I understand Emily's frustration though. Luke and Lorelai waste a lot of damn time not communicating when they should. Still. Maybe forever. Richard and Emily were couple goals. They are the only people to even hit a marriage anniversary on this show with the exception of Sookie and Jackson.

Does no one else find it odd that for a husband and wife to be long term functional collaborators they don't find happy couples interesting?

Paris: "Aw Chilton, I cannot remember the books I have read any more than the meals I have eaten even so they have made me" BEAUTIFUL.

It felt good to be back at Chilton. I missed the uniforms. It felt like revisiting a high school you actually enjoyed going to. This feeling was short-lived. Instead, you get the sense of Rory used to be and why you liked her. Paris is highly intelligent, witty and funny, but she's bullish and she runs her surrogacy company like a sex trafficking ring. Rory on the other hand was always gentle with people, passionate and likeable. Frankly, she'd make an excellent teacher.

Maybe that is the core issue at least in terms of Rory's character. Rory's inability to shift goals or career paths. Perhaps it's Rory dedication to her feminist stance. Hell, it's never made sense why she didn't marry Logan to begin with. She could've married him and achieved financial stability while pursuing her career with journalistic integrity.

Rory in so many ways is the heart of the show and I'm wondering what the show is getting out of going the route we're going. She's immature, annoying and unprofessional. WHY?!?!?!?! Dear God! Give us something. Something over the last 9 years that would've given us a clue as what the fuck is going on in this girl's brain.

Paris Gellar continues to be amazing. Tristan Dugray oh the story arc you should've had. It would have been better had Tristan and Paris actually slept together and that's what triggered the divorce with Doyle. Something other than Paris and Doyle are both just neurotic and ultimately need Rory to be in their third to function. Paris and Tristan honestly could work as a couple if Rory was their third as well. Rory seems to only be destined for side boo status at this point as well. By sleeping with the Wookie she's cheated on Logan AND Paul. Unless Logan doesn't care who she sleeps with at this point.

MAE WHITMAN!!!!!!! We love you. Good Girls 4 Life.

Doyle had me at hello and a part of me is thrilled that he's living his best sell out life in California possibly with a hot actress.

Logan also been given zero-character development up until this point. All we know is that he's seemingly success eating off his daddy's plate. Why? No idea. What's he do? No clue.

Again, they are trying, bless them, to fill out these gaps, but it's frustrating at this point. Like what's going on.

If this was a new show I wouldn't watch it cause this episode was all about creating the point that Rory (Millennial is entitled) You want to make a show that's a fuck you to millennials my fuck you back is not contributing to ratings. Alas, choice seasons of the original and characters will always have my heart.

#gilmoregirlsnetflix #lorelaigilmore #starshollow #love #laurengraham #alexisbledel #gilmoregirlsrevival #lukesdiner #connecticut #gg #lukedanes #gilmoregirls #rorygilmore

[bitchesgetriches]

10 Rad Black Money Experts To Follow Right the Hell Now

Rich and Regular

There’s a reason Julien and Kiersten’s blog is at the top of this list. If you’re looking to read one blog by a black couple seeking FIRE (financial independence, retire early), this is the one. They are exactly what’s on the box: charming, relatable, down-to-earth people who are also admirably transparent about their inspiring successes and rare failures. If I were building my fantasy neighborhood (which is like fantasy football, but for people who can’t leave their houses due to global pandemics), R&R would live no fewer than three doors down from us and we would catch all the neighborhood poop bandits together.

Home: Rich and Regular

I Love Me More than I Love my Job, So I Quit

Why Financial Rules of Thumb are Trash

Letter to Middle Class Black America

Interview: Paychecks and Balances Episode 139: Financial Independence Retire Early (with kids) ft. Rich and Regular

And if their blog isn’t enough for you, watch their show, Money on the Table. It’s part food porn, part #relationshipgoals, and 100% helpful if you struggle to communicate about finances. Julien can cook for me any time!

Paychecks and Balances

Rich Jones is a national treasure. His Paychecks and Balances blog is only rivaled by his podcast, The Mental Wealth Show. Some would say his swoon-worthy voice alone makes his podcast worth listening to, and they would be correct, yet they would also be fools! For this millennial money expert constantly delivers fresh takes on the real financial concerns of our generation. He is uncannily good at finding interesting voices to interview. (And I’m not just saying that because he had us on, though he did, yes we’re cool.)  More than half of the folks we’re highlighting today have been on his show.

Home: Paychecks and Balances

Let’s Have Some Real Talk

Finding Joy and Career Moves During a Crisis ft. Tiffany Southerland of the How Does She Do It Podcast

The Value of Awareness ft. Kassandra Dasent

Two Guys One Therapy (And Career!) Session (Seriously, the “casual” episodes are some of my all-time favorites. This one in particular is refreshing like mountain dew. Not Mountain Dew—actual dew from an actual mountain.)

Rich founded Paychecks and Balances with the equally awe-inspiring Marcus Garrett, who sold his stake in the biz in 2020. But Marcus is worth following too, and not just because of his inspiring debt pay-off story. That’s right! This one’s a two-fer! Which is why you should check the book Debt Free or Die Trying by Marcus Garrett post-haste!

Yes I Am Cheap

Sandy Smith is a pillar of financial wisdom and encouragement. She started blogging to hold herself accountable to her debt repayment goals, and over many years found it was her calling to help women and people of color get out of that same situation. She was honored all up and down the 2019 Plutus Awards for her tireless work helping others get out of debt and live their best lives, and she absolutely deserves the recognition.

Home: Yes I Am Cheap

Stay Out Of My Uterus

Charity Begins With You

Cheap? Frugal? Why Is There Even A Debate?

Interview: Journey to Launch Episode 146 – How To Earn More Through Alternative Income Streams, Side Hustles & Leveraging Your Skills w/ Sandy Smith

A Purple Life

I so deeply admire this amaranthine goddess that I got purple hair extensions to match hers AND I’M NOT SORRY ABOUT IT. Purple (as we are blessed to call her) writes about finance, traveling the world, achieving financial independence, and delicious food. Would you like to hear about how she’s retiring at thirty—yes, thirty, that number with the three up front and a zero at the back?? Yeah, you’d better! She is candid, courageous, methodical, and utterly aspirational.

Home: A Purple Life

Her entire Countdown to Retirement series

I’ll Be Happy At Work When I Have [Insert Nonsense Here]

P.S. I’m Bi

Interview: Journey to Launch Episode 126 – How She’s Building a $500,000 Portfolio & Retiring Early at 30 Years Old (w/ A Purple Life)

Michelle is Money Hungry

Have you ever been so intimidated by a person’s aura of having-their-shit-together that you can’t decide whether you want to be them or be friends with them? Yeah, that’s how I felt when I beheld Michelle Jackson for the first time. This smart, thoughtful woman writes and podcasts about finance, debt, entrepreneurship, frugality, and all things money. Her ability to give speedy, helpful insights into current events makes her an invaluable follow. (Her ‘Rona coverage = without peer.)

Home: Michelle is Money Hungry

How to Become a Financial Ally and Why It’s So Important

A Candid Conversation About Race in America

How to Nurture Your Dreams During Chaotic Times

Interview: Paychecks and Balances Episode 145 – Money Hungry ft. Michelle Jackson

Greenbacks Magnet

Are you looking for the friendliest, bubbliest, sweetest person in personal finance? Good news, you found her. Miriam is a great everywoman money writer, as ambitious as she is easy to relate to. (Plus, she published the best interview with the Bitches you’ll ever read—sorry, it’s #SelfPromotionSunday somewhere.) If you come to BGR for our embarrassingly deep analogistic reads of financial wisdom through 90s pop culture, all five of you should leave now to read Miriam’s blog. She’s got us beat, beat, beat like Marie Antoinette’s royal mug.

Home: Greenbacks Magnet

My So Called Finances

4 Financial Futuristic Nuggets: The Economics of The Jetsons

Money Mayhem And Mishaps: Money Lessons From Adventures In Babysitting

Why You Should Always Trust But Verify

Wealth Noir

Damien Peters started this blog and community to “teach and preach” about the importance of accumulating generational wealth in black communities. He’s utterly brilliant, with the kind of tough love and no-nonsense advice that some of us just fucking need to hear. He’s an especially good resource for black folks working in tech.

Home: Wealth Noir

Is Financial Freedom Worth It?

4 Ways to Thrive During a Market Downturn

Will 2053 be the end of Black Wealth in America?

Interview: Building Generational Wealth ft. Damien Peters of Wealth Noir

Journey to Launch

Not only is Jamila a Certified Financial Education Instructor (which means she literally knows more than us on just about any topic), but she uses her blog and podcast to teach money lessons on the things she learned through trial, error, and discipline over the years. She’s had a ton of fascinating guests, and has helpfully broken them out by topic and demographic here, making it super easy to find the kind of voices you need to hear right now.

Home: Journey to Launch

Black Lives Matter & The Black Tax: The Cost of Being Black in America w/ Shawn Rochester (Episode 158)

How To Thrive in the Current Financial Market Turmoil & Better Position Yourself Financially with Jackie Cummings Koski (Episode 150)

How to Avoid Burnout On Your Financial Journey and Charging Your Worth with Sarah Li Cain (Episode 142)

My Debt Epiphany

Chonce Maddox started her blog to document her journey out of debt. Over time it became the heckin’ inspiring story of her personal transformation and finding purpose. I think she’s a great follow for anyone, but I’d particularly recommend her for someone who’s looking to develop a side gig and/or make money from home. Her listicles are actually good! Trust and believe: in this industry, that compliment is rarer than rocking horse crap.

Home: My Debt Epiphany

This Has to Be Said

70 Ways to Save More Money While Living Paycheck to Paycheck

Buying a Home in a Brutal Real Estate Market

Interview: How Single Mom Chonce Maddox Is Working Hard To Become Debt Free

Money the Wright Way

K. Wright does more than write about personal finance from the perspective of a millennial black woman: she questions conventional advice about budgeting, investing, and the one-size-fits-all approach to financial stability. Personal definitions of happiness are as rare and unique as fingerprints, but it’s easy to get lost in what you’re told everyone should want. She is a great writer for someone who needs help finding that definition and keeping it at the center of all their decisions. I kinda want her to do my thinking for me???

Home: Money the Wright Way

I Haven’t Bought a Latte in 2 Months. Why Am I Not Rich Yet?

Pay Inequality is Still a Thing

“I’m Bossy:” A Closer Look at Black Women And Money

What I Did During the Last Recession, & What I Would Do Now

#black money experts #black wealth #personal finance

[zesty-goblin-trash]

5899 days ago I made a yellow Lenny on Neopets wanting to paint him Pink to make him look like a flamingo. His name is xSpifftasticx because of course it is. It took me 16 years to get him Pink, but it feels good to see him in my lineup of pets. Oddly like healing my inner child or some nonsense like that. On top of that I've now got pets I'd never have dreamed of being able to have as kid. Probably helps that my adult brain can understand how to make neopoints efficiently now 😂 Anyways, the point of this is that they implemented some quests the other day (If you didn't know Neopets is actively working to update the site and stay true to what it was when we were kids, and honestly they're not doing a bad job with it.), and one of the tutorial quest things is to refer one person. Of course I didn't have this quest at the time and I've already forced encouraged my hubs to sign up and befriend me, so I cant use him for a referral now. So I dunno maybe someone will see this and wanna rejoin and be so kind as to use my link. I dunno if it automatically add us as friends if you use it, or if you're already signed up and just wanna add me, my user name is zepinky. (But please only add me if you're like, a mid-to-late millennial lmfao)

https://www.neopets.com/refer.phtml?username=zepinky

Kay that's all toodles

#neopets #90s #what the hell do i tag this as #come play stupid kids games with me #that isnt fortnite

[hanna-water]

Part 5 “I’ll Be Fine”: Talk about Popculture, Druck and Gen Z Popkultur Festival Berlin 2022, wednesday 24.08.2022 with Eren M. Güvercin, Nhung Hoang, Naomi Bechert (social media team during s5 – s6, writer of s7 and s8) Moderated by Aidan Riebensahm Naomi: (talks about how Gen Z gives her hope for the future and how the generations should work together to improve things. Then she says that millenials have kind of paved the way for Gen Z.) Eren: uhm wasn´t this also the generation before you, like your parents? Aidan: I wanted to add that actually. This were developments that took hundreds of years. And now things are finally progressing. Without putting all the pressure only on you because our age difference is not THAT big, right? Nhungi: I think that older generations also had a lot of similar demands but I think what is different is that we have been indoctrinated with this catastrophe-fetish. We get told “tomorrow the world ends.” all the time and then we say “shit tomorrow the world ends, then lets make the best out of it.”. And we try to solidars..... solidarise “damn shit”. (everybody laughs because she sweared) Aidan: “shit?” It´s ok I will allow it. Naomi: I`ve been told worse. Aidan: Eren said I witnessed ´68. (everyone laughs) Eren: I did not say you witnessed ´68 that was only a comparison. (laughs) Nhungi: yeah well, and because of the internet there is a lot of gun powder and we will try to change something. Eren: I think it is not like…. sometimes I think that our generation thinks too much of itself. And then I read about very interesting history, for example white boys (or wild boys?) 1920, google it. So many heavy things have happened even 100 years ago. Nhungi: do you remember? (to Aidan) Everyone laughs Eren: I think its important to think about who paved the way for the activism today. Aidan: (talks about how older generations were more forced to adjust and the younger generations are confident to just do their thing.) Naomi: (talks about how it is more normal nowadays to stand behind your values and the role of social media to encourage discussions) Aidan: How do you calm down and get the pressure off when everything is getting too much? Can you collect a few things? Nhungi: My best advice is to just go offline and go outside. See real people, learn to know real people, interact with them because what is shown on the internet and on your foryou page is not the reality. Its not what defines our society. I myself can easily lose myself in a rush of negativity, self-hate and negative thoughts when I don´t have a 15 minutes timer set up. And then I just turn everything off for a moment, go outside, talk to people, drink a coffee, meet my friends and its basically the best you can do. Its partly an avoidance strategy. Because then I don´t have to deal with those topics. But for me its like, how do I create a room for myself so that I can take this information in with a healthy mindset? Eren: I agree. I am more the type of person who likes to stay at home and does nothing. Turning the phone off, using no media in general and read a book and chill with it. Aidan: What are you currently reading? Eren: (laughs) recently I finished “21 lessons for the 21st century” by Yuval Noah Harari and now I start with “Feuchtgebiete” by Charlotte Roche (apparently the english title is “Wetlands”). laughter from the audience Aidan: I wrote a paper/essay about that in 8th grade. Naomi: That’s such a millennial book actually. Aidan: yes totally. Eren: I am fully excited. I am on page 1. Naomi: (talks about going to places in the nature to calm down) Eren: Or Falafel Halloumi. Around the corner of where I live, there is a Falafel restaurant where I just know, I can go there if I am not in the mood to do anything or if I have too much on my mind. Nhungi: support your locals! Aidan: support your local Fallafel Halloumi! Ok we will open for questions of the audience now.

#Druck #Eren M Güvercin #Nhung Hoang #Nhungi #Naomi Bechert #Talk #Popkultur Berlin #August 2022