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Actual Spacefaring Penguin

@xshiromorix / xshiromorix.tumblr.com

BEWARE: FANDOM CRACK AHEAD.Occasionally, I have opinions about stuff.
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But don’t worry guys they got Asian actors so it’s perfect :) :) :)

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xshiromorix

While this is lazy and disrespectful in its own right, as a translator, this is to me also just another example of the cynical supplanting of skilled humans by AI in the creative sphere. Because, yeah, I doubt that anyone did bother to run this by an actual Chinese speaker. Why employ a knowledgeable human being when you can get a computer to half-ass it for free? Sure, the result is barely legible nonsense, but... profit!

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cy-cyborg

The Untrustworthy Fake: Disability Tropes

[ID: A screenshot of Willy Wonka from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as he limps towards a crowd using a cane. In the picture, he has a brown top hat in his hand, and he's wearing a suit with a purple jacket, multicoloured bow tie and cream coloured pants. Beside him is text that reads: "Disability Tropes, The untrustworthy Fake" /End ID]

Tell me if this sounds familiar: A new character is introduced into a story with some kind of disability - usually visible but not always. Maybe they're a seemingly harmless person in a wheelchair, maybe they're a one-legged beggar on the street, or maybe they're an elderly person with a cane and a slow, heavy limp. But at some point, it's revealed it's all a ruse! The old man with a cane "falls" forward and does a flawless summersault before energetically springing back up to his feet, the wheelchair user gets to their feet as soon as they think the other character's backs are turned, the one legged beggar's crutch is knocked out of his hand, only to have his other leg pop out of his loose-fitting tunic to catch him.

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I just have to say that one of the most annoying parts of being a wheelchair user is how random strangers will automatically start pushing you without your consent. Who taught people this was okay? Apparently the fact that it is wrong to do this is not common knowledge, so I will lay it out:

  1. If you see a wheelchair user, please do not automatically assume they need your help.
  2. If you’re genuinely concerned they need your help, please ask them first.
  3. If they tell you they’re okay on their own, please respect that.
  4. If they do need help being pushed, please do not assume you know where they need to go.
  5. If a wheelchair user is in the way of where you need to go, it is still not okay to push them without their consent. Make them aware that they are blocking your path, and they will move out of the way on their own.

It can be genuinely frightening to have someone you don’t even know come up behind you and start moving you around. It can also cause injury to the wheelchair user, if their hands get caught up between their wheels and the pushrims because they weren’t expecting their chair to suddenly move.

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to ask before pushing someone’s wheelchair. Treat their wheelchair like an extension of their body; you wouldn’t simply pick up an able-bodied person and place them where you want them to be, would you?

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xshiromorix

I am not a pushcart. Please do not treat me like one.

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pazzesco

The Bearded Vulture is the only known animal whose diet is almost exclusively bone.

The bone-eating giant bird which coats itself minerals like copper to get its rusty hue for unknown cosmetic reasons, most likely to show dominance. The brighter the hue, the more dominant the male.

They probably need the copper because its anti-bacterial properties. useful if you’re a carrion eater.

The bird has a 9 ft wingspan.

Bearded Vultures provide an indispensable service to the ecosystem, checking the spread of disease by consuming corpses. But the bearded’s diet is 95 percent bone. It can wait for the other scavengers to strip the body clean, then stroll in at its leisure to take its fill.

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arabriddler

important ! In recent years especially this year I’ve noticed a lot that the internet language picked up so many Islamic phrases and, from a muslim perspective, it makes the internet a little more welcoming. the thing is, a lot of the time with Islamic phrases you have to be careful about when and where to say them they hold their own weight and demand their own respect so here is a list explaining each phrase and some notes about it.

  • In sha allah

It means “ If God wills “. Muslims say it because we’re unaware of what future holds it’s actually blasphemous to claim to know the future, so saying so means “ If it’s the will of god it will happen if not it won’t “ and you’d say it about future events. side note, it’s also a polite way of saying No. for example, someone asks you to do something and you say in sha allah. Technically you’re not saying yes or no, and if it’s not in god’s will it won’t happen.

  • Ma sha allah

It means “ this is what god intended “ and it’s a compliment. Saying so is like saying WOW! But it’s also kind of a prayer of protection? If I see someone with pretty hair I should say “ Ma sha allah your hair is very pretty “ the ma sha allah protects the person from the evil eye. By saying that I’m also saying I’m not jealous I’m genuinely enamored and I don’t wish any harm to go to it.

  • Astagfurullah

it means “ to god I repent “ or “ from god I seek forgiveness” it’s usually used when you make a mistake but people also use it when they see something bad or when they want to avoid saying something bad. Like once my card refused to work and I’d say that so I won’t say any curse words and to calm down my anger

  • wallah/wallahi

okay this one is important. This one shouldn’t be used so lightly. It means “ by god’s name “ and it’s basically swearing in Allah’s name. You are only supposed to say it if you genuinely mean what you’re saying. It’s such a heavy word that I only say it very rarely and if you say it and don’t follow up on what you said you have to fast for three days as repentance.

One more note is that with the name of Allah you should also be careful it’s not supposed to be written on papers that’ll get stepped on or lightly used in art because it also has its own weight it’s regarded heavily. Like even in home decorations it should be elevated and not overshadowed. If I have to throw away a paper I have to sit down and color over the name of Allah or burn the papers so it won’t get thrown in trash.

another note is that those phrases aren’t Muslim exclusive. Some Arab non-Muslims use them as well. This is only my explanation from a Muslim perspective.

Another another note is this is what I can remember at the moment but if you have additions or enquiries let me know

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xshiromorix

"Subhanallah" (lit. "glory/praise be to God") - Muslims say this when we are surprised in the same way that a person might say, "Oh my God!" It can also be said like "astaghfirullah" when you or someone else makes a mistake, expressing the idea that only God is perfect.

"Alhamdulillah" (lit. "praise/thank God") - Muslims say this when expressing gratitude or relief for a good result - for example passing a test or healing from an illness. We also habitually respond with "Alhamdulillah" when someone asks "How are you?", expressing gratitude for our good health or good situation. Another related phrase, "Alhamdulillah 'ala kulli haal" (lit. "Praise/thank God in all circumstances") is said when we hear bad news or when we are upset by something, reminding us to be grateful to God instead of feeling angry or resentful.

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There’s a reason lots of good parents say to babies stuff like

“You’re excited to go to the park!”

“Oh, it makes you mad that we can’t go outside.”

And then when the babies get a little bit older the parents can say

“You seem upset. Are you sad?”

“Are you excited that gramma is coming over today?”

Which lets the kid (who is learning to utilize speech) respond with yes or no, which may prompt more questions, like

“So you aren’t sad, are you angry?”

“Yes, does it make you happy when gramma is here?”

And then, finally, when the child is learning to use language in a more complex way, the parents can say,

How does it make you feel?”

Why are you feeling like that?”

And it’s all about teaching emotional awareness. I really reccomend using the process on yourself. Learn to ask, “am I happy?” “Am I sad?” “Am I anxious?”

Then practice identifying, out loud or on paper if you can, “I’m happy.” “I’m upset.” “I’m sad.” “I’m anxious.”

Final step: “Why am I feeling anxious? I’m still thinking about that awkward conversation earlier.” “Why am I happy? It’s such a beautiful day outside.” “Why am I sad? None of my friends are responding to my messages.”

It really helps you notice patterns (“I’m more likely to be happy when I’m around this person.” “When I haven’t eaten, I often feel angry.” “If I don’t plan ahead, I get anxious.”) which is the first step in avoiding things and people that are bad for you and encouraging things and people that are good.

Basically don’t forget that you’re just a baby who got more complicated.

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lovelydeck

Not sure how to articulate what you are feeling? Try starting at the middle and working your way out to the more specific feelings!

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xshiromorix

Listen: this is so important. I am forty years old and my mother still does this with me and always has. I have alexithymia. It is extremely difficult for me to identify - let alone articulate - my own emotions. Am I upset? I literally don't know, but my mother can read my body language and tell that I'm agitated. She will ask me these kinds of questions until I can work out on my own what is going on with me and react appropriately.

Alexithymia aside, though, this is something that a lot of people struggle with to varying degrees because they were never encouraged or taught the skills to examine their own mental/emotional well-being. And it is a learned skill - one that can make such a difference in the ability to cope with stress and to set healthy interpersonal boundaries.

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catsofyore

In 1944 a kitten named George (short for General Electric) was saved from drowning by a U.S. Navy crew member. George was then photographed and given a liberty card and detailed health record. Source.

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howieduet

Nationality: pussy

I can't decide which is funniest: the nationality being pussy, how many 69s there are, the cat's religion being Catholic, or nervous system saying "worries hell out of everyone"

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Everything is like “QUEER history” and “List of QUEER young adult books” or “Top 10 QUEER movies” and queer this and queer that and for the love of god please just say LGBT.

But queer is more inclusive

And faster to pronounce if you are talking instead of writing.

It’s not more inclusive, and if your excuse of using a slur as a blanket term is “it’s faster to say”, GENUINELY what is wrong with you

It’s called economía del lenguaje.

It’s also the respected academic term?? The acronym isn’t static and it’s usage is varied by things like generational difference, location, and knowledge of the community. Even just in the U.S. in the last few decades the common usage gone from GLBT to LGBT to LGBTQ, to LGBTQA/LGBTQIA/LGBTQIAP/etc (Which, let me tell you as someone who has given presentations in the past using these updated acronyms, are all real mouthfulls), to LGBT+.

Also yes, queer is more inclusive! Especially coming at it from an academic standpoint, people didn’t always use or identify with the terms we use now and you can’t always try to cram them into our modern perceptions of sexuality. We can argue for years about whether a famous historical figure was gay or bisexual or straight and trans or whatever, but if we can all agree that they were somehow queer then using that term allows us to move past the debate and into productive discussion. And not everybody everywhere shares the same terms for sexual and gender identity, or even the same concepts of those things, so queer really is a more inclusive term in a lot of cases.

Like yeah if you’re talking specifically about gay or trans people you can just say gay or transgender, but if you’re talking about more than one identity or someone who doesn’t conform to our perceptions of ‘LGBT,’ or a person or people whose identity you don’t know, queer is just the better word.

“That’s SO gay”, “Oh my god, you’re not a LESBIAN, are you?”

Your words are slurs, too. Why do you get your words, but I don’t get mine? What makes you so special?

I’m here, I’m queer, go fuck yourself.

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levynite

queer is not a slur, stop drinking the TERF koolaid

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darthsuki

every time one of you fools spout about ‘queer is a slur’ a terf laughs because their fucking plan to make that word ‘taboo’ is fucking working you dipshit.

I did not get my degree in queer literature for you all to keep pulling this bullshit.

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moki-dokie

baby gays,,,, i beg of you to learn your queer history and stop listening to terf bullshit

every single one of our labels has been used as a slur against us.

terfs and -phobes are always going to try and hurt us with what we identify as. but the fact remains these are OUR labels and always have been.

we’re here, we’re queer, get used to it.

I don’t know if this is just because I’m not American but I’ve never heard queer used as a slur. Ever. Meanwhile gay was the insult in the 2000s here. Everything you didn’t like was ‘soo gay’. Queer wasn’t even a word most of us knew back then.

It just baffled me that people would think an identifier is automatically a slur just because someone uses it to mock someone. If we did that gay would be a slur. Stupid would be a slur. Autistic would be a slur.

The reason people are upset about the word queer is that it’s a unifying term. You can say you’re queer and all people will know is that you’re part of the community. But you can’t say you’re LGBT, you have to say you’re gay or trans or ace. They don’t want you to be ambiguously queer. They want you to say which kind of queer you are so they can decide whether you’re undesirable.

yeah in the 90s and early 2000s kids would call each other “gay” as an insult. But no one ties themselves in knots over whether “gay” is a slur. So yeah, please ffs learn your history.

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rabidchild67

They want you to say which kind of queer you are so they can decide whether you’re undesirable.

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xshiromorix

Reblogging for the bolded text, because we need to stop pretending that divisive gatekeeping within the queer community as well as without doesn't hugely impact who is included in the acronym of the day and allowed to identify with it.

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The thing that abled people who advocate for the disabled community don’t get is that there are times when disabilities/accommodations clash. Horribly.

Like I spent years having to come up with a solution to get therapy dogs into a series of residence halls. Why years? Because we had to decide who got to stay and who got to leave: the people who needed therapy dogs or the people with severe allergies to animals. Who got the alternative housing? 

Things like fidget toys might seem great for some disabled people but having them in the room could be distracting/overstimulating for others. The same goes with stimming. It can’t be helped but neither can the anxiety that another person in the room feels as they watch/hear it. Additionally, something like a weighted blanket might immediately calm one kid down and send the other one into a panic attack due to the claustrophobia it causes. (*Points to myself*)

Every Metro bus in New York City has a series of seats at the front that can be lifted up to accommodate people in wheelchairs but if I’m in one of those spots then someone with a cane/walker has to journey even further to sit down.

The flashing lights of a fire alarm are there to help deaf/hearing impaired but if they’re not properly timed, they can also cause a person to have a seizure.

The worst part about all of these is that there is rarely a concrete solution that makes everyone happy/safe. And I’m not here to offer any because I don’t know them. I’m just here to remind you all that as you’re taking your education/health classes, as you’re reading your textbooks, as you’re preparing to go be an advocate, just remember that there is rarely ever such a thing as a one-size-fits-all solution to advocacy and that something you do that can help one disabled person might actually hinder another.

Food for thought.

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amaditalks

Gaslighting isn’t the same as lying.

Gaslighting also isn’t lying a lot, or lying and deflecting the lying by shaming the victim for not believing the lie.

Gaslighting is a long con. It is a practice of ongoing emotional/mental abuse, that doesn’t just involve lying, but manipulating or altering someone’s reality in order to make them question both the truth, and more importantly, question their own mental and cognitive wellbeing.

The reason that it’s called gaslighting is because the tactic was demonstrated in a 1944 film called “Gaslight” starring Ingrid Bergman. In the film, Bergman‘s character’s husband tries to make her have a mental breakdown.

  • He tells her that she is having blackouts (she’s not) and doing things that she didn’t do.
  • He steals things from her, and tells her that she lost them herself.
  • He makes noises in the attic of the house, then tells her that he wasn’t in the house at all.
  • He steals things from other people, puts them where she will find them, and then tells her that she stole them.
  • He puts his pocket watch in her purse and tells her that she stole it from him.
  • He isolates her from the world by telling her that her behavior is too erratic to be safe near others.
  • He encourages their housemaid to be cruel to her and to repeat his lies about her behavior.
  • And, to apply the title, he repeatedly causes the gas lighting (it’s set in 1875) in her bedroom to go dim, then comes into the room, and when she says that the lighting is dim, he says, no, it’s perfectly fine.

It goes well beyond just lying. Gaslighting is a setup to make the victim so confused that they’re unable to trust themselves and their own perceptions of the world around them or even themselves.

It’s beyond time to stop calling run of the mill dishonesty gaslighting.

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This one comes with the extras and also the original writing/editing/worldbuilding credits, and the lists of hundreds of names of Elysium characters, geographical entities and assorted concepts that fill the inside covers of the printed copy. Hours of unrestrained fun with the lists alone.

And footnotes. So many footnotes. And fayde checks everywhere because you wouldn't believe the stuff that was canonized in English by the game to begin with.

Btw if it can be in any way helpful, I wrote chapter-by-chapter summaries the other month that try to sort of frame which way the plot is going without spoiling further events.

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i read CS Lewis’ A Grief Observed one time years ago and i’m still not recovered from it

A Grief Observed: part i-ii, C.S. Lewis x

I need y'all to understand that he wrote this famous passage in the middle of her brief remission -

'Do not let your happiness depend on something you may lose.' 'Don’t put your goods in a leaky vessel.' 'Don’t spend too much on a house you may be turned out of.' There is no man alive who responds more naturally than I to such canny maxims. I am a safety-first creature. Of all arguments against love none makes so strong an appeal to my nature as “Careful! This might lead you to suffering”. There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket — safe, dark, motionless, airless — it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.
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