So how stupid do you think the Hogwarts teachers felt back in Harrys first year when their traps and riddles designed to keep out Lord fucking Voldemort were beaten by three 11 year olds
So how stupid do you think the Hogwarts teachers felt back in Harrys first year when their traps and riddles designed to keep out Lord fucking Voldemort were beaten by three 11 year olds
I had a theory about this actually!
I mean, on the one hand, you could argue that they were exceptionally brilliant for their ages (which they were) but even then Voldemort was also brilliant so the professors should have really made the traps harder right?
Well, what if they did?
What if the traps that the Golden Trio faced were like 1/10th of the traps and were 1/50th of the difficulty?
What if the school itself knew that they needed to get to Quirrell?
And so the school itself changed up everything just for them?
And so help was given at Hogwarts to those who asked for it?
So how stupid do you think the Hogwarts teachers felt back in Harrys first year when their traps and riddles designed to keep out Lord fucking Voldemort were beaten by three 11 year olds
So how stupid do you think the Hogwarts teachers felt back in Harrys first year when their traps and riddles designed to keep out Lord fucking Voldemort were beaten by three 11 year olds
So how stupid do you think the Hogwarts teachers felt back in Harrys first year when their traps and riddles designed to keep out Lord fucking Voldemort were beaten by three 11 year olds
I had a theory about this actually!
I mean, on the one hand, you could argue that they were exceptionally brilliant for their ages (which they were) but even then Voldemort was also brilliant so the professors should have really made the traps harder right?
Well, what if they did?
What if the traps that the Golden Trio faced were like 1/10th of the traps and were 1/50th of the difficulty?
What if the school itself knew that they needed to get to Quirrell?
And so the school itself changed up everything just for them?
And so help was given at Hogwarts to those who asked for it?
So how stupid do you think the Hogwarts teachers felt back in Harrys first year when their traps and riddles designed to keep out Lord fucking Voldemort were beaten by three 11 year olds
I had a theory about this actually!
I mean, on the one hand, you could argue that they were exceptionally brilliant for their ages (which they were) but even then Voldemort was also brilliant so the professors should have really made the traps harder right?
Well, what if they did?
What if the traps that the Golden Trio faced were like 1/10th of the traps and were 1/50th of the difficulty?
What if the school itself knew that they needed to get to Quirrell?
And so the school itself changed up everything just for them?
And so help was given at Hogwarts to those who asked for it?
Also, like, I always felt like those traps and riddles weren’t really meant to keep Lord Voldemort out–more to be an annoyance and an inconvenience. Because the fact is, the mirror alone unguarded in a room would have been enough.
No one who wanted the stone for themselves or for their own gain could get to it. Voldemort certainly couldn’t get to it, nor could anyone who might work for him, whether through fear or actual loyalty, because they would be trying to get it for their own gain (that is, the favor of Lord Voldemort). The only way to get that stone out of the mirror would be someone with completely selfless intent–like Harry, who’s only motive was to get the stone to keep it safe and out of Voldemort’s hands.
If the Mirror of Erised had stayed alone and unguarded in the room where Harry first found it, Voldemort still couldn’t have gotten the stone. So I feel like the riddles and traps were meant to be annoying and time consuming (and even painful, in the case of the winged keys and the game of chess) and potentially deadly (if he had solved Snape’s riddle incorrectly), while the Mirror of Erised was the only true defense. And it worked perfectly.
Yup - they were meant as a distraction, to make whoever was trying to get the Stone think they were very clever and beating Dumbledore’s and the staff’s best efforts. But it’s just a time waster, something to trick the person into thinking there’s some way to solve the puzzle of how to get the Stone from the mirror, when they can’t unless they have completely selfless and pure motives for doing so. That, I think, is why Dumbledore placed Snape’s logic puzzle last - so that the mirror, with its backward writing, looked like another one, something that could be overcome with the right answer, rather than the right mindset and attitude. Quirrell could have stood in front of the mirror until he starved to death and never gotten his hands on the Stone.
These posts make me unreasonably cranky. So cranky, in fact, that every time a new one of these goddamn things crosses my dash, I’m just going to dissect them. Both for the edification of newer writers and because fuck these lists.
As mentioned in previous posts: These are not synonyms for whispered. You can’t use them interchangeably. Let’s go through them.
“Well,” she whispered, “I suppose I haven’t got a choice.”
The character is speaking in a voice so low it’s become words made of breath, probably because she doesn’t want to be heard.
“Well,” she murmured, “I suppose I haven’t got a choice.”
The character is saying this very quietly, but above a whisper. She may be talking to herself.
“Well,” she mumbled, “I suppose I haven’t got a choice.”
The character is speaking under her breath in low enough tones that her words may sound unclear or slurred. Also very possibly talking to herself.
“Well,” she muttered, “I suppose I haven’t got a choice.”
The character is speaking lowly, but more clearly than a mumble. She sounds angry, irritated, or dully frustrated.
“Well,” she breathed, “I suppose I haven’t got a choice.”
Breathing words may mean relief, exasperation, or exhaustion, and sound half like a sigh. Oh, look—
“Well,”she sighed, “I suppose I haven’t got a choice.”
The character is almost certainly not happy. She’s speaking in a tired, heavy breath.
“Well,” she hissed, “I suppose I haven’t got a choice.”
The character’s words are coming out in low, very sharp breaths. She sounds angry, irritated, or maybe just in an intense moment.
“Well,” she mouthed, “I suppose I haven’t got a choice.”
The character is using the barest hint of her voice, if any at all. Her lips are silently forming the syllables.
“Well,”she uttered, “I suppose I haven’t got a choice.”
Using uttered in this particular type of descriptive sense actually just sounds awkward. That said, ‘utter’ sounds like a word that implies speech in low yet strong and loud tones, well-enunciated, like someone preaching.
“Well,” she intoned, “I suppose I haven’t got a choice.”
The tone of her voice is dull and flat, with little variance in pitch. She is saying this without much emotion (intentionally or not).
Fuck “susurrated”.
“Well,” she purred, “I suppose I haven’t got a choice.”
The manner she’s speaking in is silky, smooth, and particularly pleased; quite possibly smug. In this particular example, this implies she probably does have a choice about [whatever it is] and is being facetious.
“Well,” she said in an undertone, “I suppose I haven’t got a choice.”
This is bad, because an undertone is something that needs describing. That’s like saying “her dress was a color”.
“Well,”she gasped, “I suppose I haven’t got a choice.”
The character is speaking in a sharp intake of breath, probably brought on by surprise or shock. She could also be short of breath, being strangled or something.
“Well,” she hinted, “I suppose I haven’t got a choice.”
The character has particular (duh) hint-hint tones in her voice as she speaks to someone. One can just imagine her leaning over closer to their ear.
“Well,” she said low, “I suppose I haven’t got a choice.”
Her voice has dropped below normal pitch, but is above a whisper. There’s a certain amount of dullness in the tone, probably.
“Well,” she said, into his ear, “I suppose I haven’t got a choice.”
This implies nothing about the actual voice, just that she’s literally speaking right into his ear (perhaps at normal volume, which would be painful). It doesn’t, on its own, carry any connotations of tone or emotion.
“Well,” she said softly, “I suppose I haven’t got a choice.”
I have a personal beef with the word “softly” on account of writers in a certain area of a certain MMO that use that word for fucking everything; speech, movement, touch, footsteps, because it helps to passively describe their character as delicate and pretty or something.
It’s a personal beef. There’s nothing really wrong with the word. Moving on.
Saying something softly implies not only a lowered pitch but a certain gentleness (or at least lack of weight) in tone.
“Well,” she said under her breath, “I suppose I haven’t got a choice.”
This is very like muttered, murmured, etc — it sounds (dur) breathier, and is more likely to imply a person talking to themselves.
“Well,” she said in hushed tones, “I suppose I haven’t got a choice.”
Now you’re getting closer to an equal term for “whispered”; hushed tones could mean that, or half-whispered. It does imply a certain amount of whisperiness or breathiness. It also implies a deliberate attempt to be quiet.
“Well,” she insinuated, “I suppose I haven’t got a choice.”
Like with ‘uttered’, this feels grammatically weird in that it’s usually a thing a person describes another person as doing (“Greg didn’t say it, but he insinuated it!”), but whatever. It’s similar to hinting; it means you’re trying to imply or subtly convey something, but has nothing to do with actual whispers.
tl;dr Those words are all different, these lists are terrible writing advice and people need to stop pulling tangentially-related words from the thesaurus and saying they all mean the same thing.
as i tell my students:
“use the precise word, not the word that kinda sorta fits or ‘sounds more impressive’ ”
use exactly the word you MEAN
THIS THIS THIS OH MY GOD THIS.
I fucking hate those lists, they drive me batshit. Put down the thesaurus and back away slowly.
These lists always make me wonder if the same people do this with baby name lists.
Don’t always refer to your character as Jennifer! Instead of Jennifer, consider having other characters refer to them as:
I’d bet five galleons that George Weasley asked McGonagall out to the Yule Ball on a dare.
I bet that Fred popped up before she could reply and acted betrayed (“YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL, HOW COULD YOU?) and they proceed to have a fake fight over who gets to take her to the ball.
Meanwhile McGonagall is trying to be stern and not laugh because it reminds of when Sirius tried to ask Dumbledore out and had almost the exact same fight with James
@ white people who think wearing eagle feather headdresses is just a costume and doesn’t offend natives, I was at a powwow yesterday and one of the dancer’s who was a war veteran accidentally dropped an eagle feather while dancing and we had to stop the entire powwow, the head man and some other elders had to stop and pray over the feather before picking it up. The guy who dropped the father gave a speech, while almost in tears, about how sorry he was to have dropped the feather and how it represented the choices he had to make in combat and the lives of people that were taken, and he ended up passing the feather on to another young dancer instead of keeping it because he felt so ashamed. This is how much eagle feathers mean to a lot of our nations, and that’s how important it is to native veterans. Wearing eagle feathers as a costume or without having to go through combat is disgusting and you ARE offending our traditions and values. Stop. You cannot understand the importance of our customs and you do not deserve to wear eagle feathers.
All of them. Everyone of the goddamned spectrum. Most of us spent too long feeling very broken or confused to later get told we dont get to be part of the one community we feel we relate to.
Sex repulsed ace? You’re great. I feel.you. I know exactly what that’s like.
Sex positive ace? Man thats awesome. Whether it’s just from a like casual interest or curiosity in it as a fascinating topic or as an active participant because you like how it feels. If you arent attracted sexually to people you’re ace too and still welcome here.
Grey-a? I bet that was really confusing to figure out man, im so glad you’re here. Don’t worry I promise you’re awesome too, youre not a “fake” or anything like that.
Demi? You go, dude. Being attracted to your partner or someone you have that bond with doesnt make you less a part of our community. It doesnt meanmyou were “never really ace” or that now you’re totally allosexual. Demi is just as valid as other orientations.
Basically anyone that feels like they are part of the ace spectrum is awesome and you belong here, fuck what other people tell you.
Unless you’re a raging asshole and like a murderer or something. Then you arent awesome.
But it’s surrounded on all sides by all those other small towns, and it’s where the courthouse is.
“You know how half the people from that seaside town always say the other half look a bit…off? Queer narrow heads with flat noses and bulgy, starry eyes? Well, we’ve finally got a discrimination case.”
“Alien mind control isn’t usually admissible, but if you can get one of their psy-beam operators to testify as an expert then we’ll talk.”
“I’m not signing a search warrant based on a dream you had, no matter how many people had the same one!”
“That case out of Punxsutawney has been on today’s docket every day for months. Did someone leave the groundhog on again?”
“Turns out a town made entirely of people who secretly worship Ba’al Berith might have some establishment of religion issues. Who knew?”
Your child pours all the toothpaste into the sink. Your kid cuts their own hair. Your baby gets into your lipstick and decides to put it on the dog. Your child cries because their crush doesn’t like them. That’s kids will be kids.
Your child calls other children homophobic, racist, or misogynistic slurs. Your child steals or tells other children that they’re not allowed to play in certain areas. Your kid punches their crush when that child doesn’t reciprocate their feelings. That is NOT “kids will be kids” and you as the parent or teacher need to put a stop to it.
You always talk smack about white people. That's reverse racism. If I said the same stuff about you, I'd be called a racist.
See that guy up there looking at you like you’re the crown ruler of all fuck ups? See how super white he is? Well, that ruggedly handsome devil is me.
Yup…I’m white. If I was Adam in the Biblical tale of Adam and Ave, God wouldn’t have made me out of dust/dirt. He would have made me out of Cool Whip and vanilla beans. That’s just how white I am. So, that puts an end to the whole “reverse racism” thing, doesn’t it? I’m a white man making fun of white people. You just got M. Night Shyamalan’d up in this bitch.
Also, racism doesn’t work that way. If a person of colour tells us we look like mayonnaise or that we’re weird as fuck because we don’t use wash cloths, that’s not racism. There’s no built in oppression there. That’s just commentary. Being mocked isn’t being held down. It isn’t being systematically deemed “lesser” by an entire group of people over years and years and years. It’s not based on anything. For racism to work (for want of a better term) there has to be that oppression. That’s why white people are so good at being racist. Also, white people being called out as racists isn’t racist. A person of colour saying “White people ruined hip hop” or “White people always steal pieces of our culture” isn’t racist. It’s the other way around. Iggy Azalea is racist. White people trying to pass durags off as high fashion is racist.
That’s why people hate us. Because we’re the most racist people on Earth and yet we don’t even understand how racism works.
I want educational Illiad, Odyssey, and Aeneid RPG games. They’re completely normal RPG games but the plot is a Classical epic–and accurate, too. If you beat the Illiad, you can get a code to load into Odyssey for better item drops or something. Turnus is the final boss of Aeneid.
talking about 9/11 with white people who weren’t personally affected is literally one of the most frustrating things ever because they won’t stop talking about their experiences (even if their only connection is being in the same country during the event), but when i, a middle eastern person, try to contribute to the conversation, i can’t get a fucking word in.
like what the fuck, if nothing happened to you on that day – which, you know, thank goodness – why the fuck do you insist on dominating the conversation? my daily life is still being affected by this even now, over ten years later.
but you’re not interested in hearing about how my fifth grade health teacher never again called on me or the arab girl in my class. you’re not interested in how whenever my family travels, all fourteen of us (a number that used to include young children) get “randomly” searched. you’re not interested in the fact that when i was asked to buy a propane tank for a barbecue, i spent the rest of the day stressed out and worried that the attendants at all the stores visited to inquire were all going to think i was making explosives (all stores in the neighborhood mysteriously were out of propane tanks in the middle of summer). you’re not interested in the fact that whenever my cousin prepares to fly on his own, his mother calls him to make sure he’s clean shaven so he doesn’t look “like a terrorist.” you’re not interested in the fact that when i was you’re not interested in the fact that i once witnessed a whole family of white people bypass the x-ray scanner for the old fashioned metal detector, but when i asked for the same treatment, i was denied; when i pointed out the (many) signs claiming that i had the right to refuse going through that machine, the tsa agent who mere seconds earlier berated me for my request went conveniently deaf. you’re not interested in hearing about how my sister was told “sorry about your leader” when osama bin laden was killed.
i could reference personal anecdotes until i went blue in the face.
there are countless people who have stories like this, stories that are grotesque and demeaning and terrifying. these are everyday occurrences.
but you’re not interested in any of that. frankly, you’re not even that interested when middle eastern and muslim (and sometimes non-muslim desi) people are subjected to extreme violence or killed. you guys got over chapel hill pretty damn fast. if you noticed it at all.
you don’t give a fuck about us, or our ongoing 9/11 stories. you just want to tell me about how horrible it was, sitting in class and listening to other kids get their names called on the pa system.
Gryffindors don’t give a shit about rules. The most hardline of them don’t even care about people. They care about justice. Right or wrong, black or white, there are no shades of grey. If it’s just, it’s always just; if it’s unjust, it’s always wrong. Hermione’s ruthlessness makes her a Gryffindor. She is absolutely sure that she is on the side of justice in everything that she does, and it’s such a Gryffindor trait.
Because Slytherins are ruthless, but they care about rules. Their own rules, usually, but rules nonetheless. They will impose parameters and limitations on themselves just so they have a framework to operate within. If doing something means violating their own internal code, then they’re not gonna do it. Even fucking Voldemort is like that. He broke every single fucking rule the Wizarding World ever put in place, but damn if he’d break his own.
And Ravenclaws? They hate rules. Fucking things just get in the way. They prevent creativity and keep people from accomplishing their goals. Ravenclaws are probably some of the most dangerous people in the entirety of the book series, because they’re brilliant and creative and ambitious and prideful, and when they snap, they do not have inhibitions. They will wreck everything that ever had the nerve to get in their way, and they will never once feel bad about it.
And then there’s Hufflepuffs. They emphasize equality. If the playing field is equal, then all other good things will come from there. People hear that, and they think that Hufflepuffs are pushovers. They cast them as the shy ones, the fearful ones, the insecure ones. Really, they’re none of these things. They are nice, accepting, friendly, this is all true, but they are also entirely willing to fight anyone that steps up to the plate talking shit. Hufflepuffs will defend themselves and other people until they drop dead, and it’s infuriating to see that only ever attributed to Gryffindors. Because the big difference is that a Gryffindor believes in acceptable causalties, and a Hufflepuff will knock your teeth down your fucking throat for even suggesting such a disgusting idea. For Hufflepuffs, there are no acceptable casualties; any loss of life is utterly unacceptable.
There are a lot of people that talk about House stereotyping, and then turn around and perpetuate further stereotypes. Gryffindors are not necessarily knights in shining armor; Slytherins are not necessarily callous villains; Ravenclaws are much more than just intelligent, and Hufflepuff is not the motherfucking potato House.
Griffindor Common Room - You’re sitting in a comfortable chair in front of the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room as the evening wind swirls against the windows. You’ve got a book to read and a cup of tea that you’ve charmed to stay warm and stir itself on occasion, and even though you have some homework left to do, you feel very much at ease > http://harry-potter-sounds.ambient-mixer.com/gryffindor-common-room
Slytherin Common Room - You are a 5th year at Hogwarts and you’re sitting in the Slytherin Common Room trying to stay awake and study but you’ve never been a very studious person so your eyelids are getting heavy and you find yourself falling asleep in a brown recliner while two other Slytherins are able to stay awake with the aid of coffee. There aren’t any windows for you to see outside, but since the common room is submerged under the lake you can faintly hear the sound of water just on the other side of the walls. > http://harry-potter-sounds.ambient-mixer.com/slytherin-common-room
Ravenclaw Common Room - It’s exam season, and you’re cramming for your NEWTs. The common room is full of Ravenclaws, wide-eyed and caffeinated. Pull up a chair, grab your charms homework and get studying! > http://harry-potter-sounds.ambient-mixer.com/ravenclaw-common-room
Hufflepuff Common Room - You’re sitting in one of the comfy chairs in front of the wooden fireplace carved with badgers, someone’s cat (You’ve named it fluffball) sitting beside you. The kitchens are in full force and in full raid by students. Occasionally you can hear someone’s footsteps by the windows, but you’re took focused on your charms homework. You’re a Hufflepuff and proud, and what would you be if not hardworking? > http://harry-potter-sounds.ambient-mixer.com/hufflepuff-commonroom
Game of Thrones
High garden Party - “At Highgarden we have many spiders amongst the flowers. So long as they keep to themselves we let themspin their little webs, but if they get underfoot we step on them.” > http://got.ambient-mixer.com/highgarden-party
Dinner in Winterfell -It’s been a long day of battle, you want warmth and the comfort of food, drink and conversation. The fire is roaring, fighting the chill of the cold castle walls. > http://got.ambient-mixer.com/late-dinner-in-winterfell
The Wall - "…It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night’s Watch, for this night and all the nights to come.” > http://got.ambient-mixer.com/the-wall
Kings Landing - The busy capital of Westeros welcomes you. You walk amongst rich and poor alike, people selling their wares as they are bartered for them, knights try out their new swords whilst their squires tend to the horses. Someone somewhere a harp is played. > http://got.ambient-mixer.com/king-s-landing
Doctor Who
Inside the Tardis -The doctor has invited you to take a trip with him in the Tardis, the world’s most famous blue police box!Don’t be fooled by the sounds of the engine in the background, the Tardis is way more than “just a machine”! > http://dr-who.ambient-mixer.com/inside-the-tardis
Run from Weeping Angels - As long as you see them, they can’t hurt you. Don’t turn around! Don’t blink! Or they’ll get you! Where is the Doctor when you need him the most?>http://dr-who.ambient-mixer.com/weeping-angels
Mines of Moria - After the fall of Moria, nobody know, why its happen. But few dwarves talking about Bane of Durin. When Fellowship enter the mines, they still do not know, that they will meet Dane of Durin face to face.… > http://lotr-sounds.ambient-mixer.com/mines-of-moria
The Battle - Forth! Down fear of darkness! Arise! Spears shall be shaken, shields shall be splintered! A sword day…! A red day…! And the sun rises! Ride now! Ride now! Ride! Ride for ruin and the world’s ending! Death! Death! Death!!! > http://lotr-sounds.ambient-mixer.com/the-battle-of-pelennor-fields
Woodland Realm - Company enter the woods of Elvenking - Mirkwood. Many stories were tell about this forest - enchanted water, strange animals and tricks of wood elves are some of them. Elves are good and helpfull, but between dwarves from Lonely Mountain and Elvenking is hostility, which can destroy all hopes for Thorin, his friends and people from Laketown. > http://lotr-sounds.ambient-mixer.com/woodland-realm
Supernatural
Riding with the Winchesters - Dozing in the backseat of the Impala on the way to a little town in Indiana where a woman was found missing a heart on the night of the full moon, you hear the sound of the Winchester’s trying not to wake you during the long drive. Sam is diligently working the case file as Dean keeps his eyes on the road. Hang tight, it’ll be a while before they stop for a re-fuel. > http://supernatural-series.ambient-mixer.com/riding-with-the-winchesters
Hunting with the Winchesters - You made a deal 10 years ago and now the Winchesters are here to save you! They have saved you twice tonight but not you’ve lost them in the dark woods. You run for your life as you hear the hounds approaching > http://supernatural-series.ambient-mixer.com/hunting-with-the-boys
Cheap Motel Room - Eventually, you reach a one-stoplight town and settle in for the night. The AC is broken, so the window is opened. You can smell the wet gravel outside, and warm summer-night air bleeds into the room, carrying with it sounds of the highway. > http://supernatural-series.ambient-mixer.com/cheap-motel–room
Research with the Boys - Instead of thinking of that pesky history assignment as an essay, pretend you’re in a motel room with the Winchesters researching for a big case. Noises include keyboard typing and mouse clicks, writing on paper, random chair creaks, white noise, and the sound of a knife sharpening for good measure. (Because we all know Dean’s a little obsessed with keeping his weapons in top shape) > http://supernatural-series.ambient-mixer.com/research-with-the-winchesters
Sherlock
221b Baker Street - You’re welcome into the home of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. John is typing up.. whatever it is he types up whilst Sherlock is stood at the window playing his violin. > http://movies-other.ambient-mixer.com/sherlock-s-apartment
Other
Loki’s Chambers - Loki takes some time for himself in his chambers, disregarding the outside world for a while in favor of literature. He studies and relaxes with only the company of his books. For once he almost could feel at peace, at least until Thor barges in, but for now the lyrical silence of Asgard is the only sound he hears > http://superhero.ambient-mixer.com/loki-s-chambers
Stark and Banner Lab - Because in Avengers tower, Tony and Bruce’s lab is the quietest place around. You sit in your comfy armchair in the corner of the lab and relax with your book, occasionally hearing Bruce scribble something and Tony sigh because 2048 is tricky. http://superhero.ambient-mixer.com/the-stark—banner-lab
It’s actually a little scary sometimes to hear cis straight people talk about how ~hard~ or ~impossible~ LGBTQ+ characters would be to write into their stories.
Like, the topic of LGBTQ+ representation comes up and you get responses like this:
“How could I ever write this character without them coming off as incredibly phony? I spent all the research and effort I could just to write for lesbians and I already had to make conceits for them not working the same way in my particular book-world; as a cis white guy, if I have to go further than that then I’m just pulling it out of thin air! Nobody’s going to respect it, least of all me.”
And “You ask a cis, heterosexual white female to write something she probably had no clue about” … “you have to try understand that not everyone knows how to write trans and gay people.”
(And yes, these are real, actual, word for word quotes)
and I’m just like…
We aren’t aliens? We’re people? Like normal, regular people?
Like, why is acknowledging the fact that we exist some difficult, herculean chore for cis straight people? Where does this bizarre lack of empathy and inability to see us as human come from?
Like, I’m bi. But amazingly, I’m able to write CIS STRAIGHT characters just fine. It’s not a problem for me? I don’t find cis straight people to be some unreadable otherworldly enigma whose inner machinations are unknowable.
So why? Why is it so unrealistic for us to expect cis straight people to be capable and willing to portray US in fiction and to portray us WELL?
Why is that scary? Its someone literally saying that they have difficulty accurately portraying LGTBQ characters in their stories.
If that scares you then you need to grow up
Listen, I’m straight and i don’t write about LGBT characters because im not a lesbian or bi so i cannot write about LGBT people because im not one of them. You think its easy but when you have no idea what they think or experience its hard. And if you are complaining about how other people write THEIR stories, you need to get off the internet or go write your own version of it with gay or bisexual characters.
Ok, but I’m a bi woman, and I’m able to write stories that have straight men in them.
How is that possible? How is it POSSIBLE that I know how straight men think or experience the world when I’m not one of them?
Because I HAVE written a book, and it’s not filled with white, cis, bisexual women from central texas who are oldest children and literally nothing else. I am capable of creating characters who are both similar and different than I am.
It is a skill that human beings are capable of.
yes but you are BISEXUAL so you are attracted to both sexes, plus you know how many writers get ripped on for adding gay characters in their story because they are either stereotypical or the author is not gay/bi themselves? You can write the mind of a straight man because you are attracted to girls AND boys and if you wrote a straight character you can still relate to them! Write your own fucking story and quit crying about representation when that SHOULD NOT BE THE POINT OF THE BOOK! If you write about bi or gay characters good for you! Don’t be telling other writers what to do with their talent! I’m a straight woman, i do not see anything attractive about other women so i DO NOT know what a lesbian or boy thinks about a girl in a sexual way, go write your stories but stay the fuck away from others if you can’t handle people not writing it for YOU! You can write all you want about them, but im not going to write about gay or bisexual characters and act like i know what they think and experience.
Are you seriously telling me that you are incapable of writing a straight male character? Because you don’t know what is attractive about women.
Because this is a hell of a ride.
actually im saying that you can’t know what a gay or bi person thinks or goes through everyday if you aren’t one. And yes its possible to write ABOUT them, but its difficult when you aren’t one yourself. I put them in my stories for representation, but i do not write ABOUT them because im not one of them. Some writers can do that, i cant its a weakness and if people think thats a tragedy, get over it every writer has a weakness and ive tried to overcome it but can’t. I will also quote the person whos response was the best because she is a writer as well and knows how difficult it is to write about someone who is different from you ‘
When a female writer write a male perspective, you have to get into the male mindset. If you are white and you want to write a non-white character you have to get into a different mindset. If you want to write a character that was abused but you yourself were not abused, its a different mindset. Writing a character that you don’t identify with is a challenge and almost all writers have done it at least once. So I would think other writers would be more understanding of that.
‘ So there. I never said don’t put them in your story, i just said its difficult to write about someone that is different from you. Once again, if you don’t agree, find another story to read or write one yourself.
So wait.
You’re saying that YOU, as a straight person, CAN’T know how a bi person thinks or goes through everyday, because your mindset is fundamentally different.
But I, as a bi person, “can still relate” to straight men because I am attracted to women like they are?
Do you not see the disconnect there?
And, as I TOLD YOU, I have written stories. I’m working on my second book.
dear bisexual / pansexual women and political lesbians,
you need to immediately disclose to any woman you plan on dating if you are, in fact, a lesbian, or if you are something else. some lesbians are open to dating bi / pan / PL ladies. some are not. withholding this information is harmful, deceitful behavior that can make lesbians feel unsafe and devalued.
picture it: you’re a lesbian, looking to start a relationship. you meet a woman who claims that she, too, is a lesbian. this signifies that you have, at the very least, a shared sexuality, and you can bond about your experience as a woman who is attracted exclusively to women, which is outside of the patriarchal, heterocentric structure of the vast majority of societies.
now, imagine that you, a lesbian who is incapable of being attracted to men, get a confession from your girlfriend: she discloses to you that, yeah, actually, she could possibly be with a man and feel emotionally and sexually fulfilled. she, as a bi- or pansexual, is capable of thinking about having sex with a man and not feeling revulsion. your initial feeling of intimacy and security related to the sharing of a sexuality - one of the most basic aspects of your being, which is essential to you - is gone.
wouldn’t that hurt? wouldn’t that make you feel insecure? wouldn’t you get angry, if you were put into that position?
You know what would hurt me?
If I was in a relationship with a lesbian and her finding out I am bi was some sort of horrific secret that must be confessed like some shameful pox.
The fact that bisexual women are seen as being dirty or alien because we have or feel the capacity to be in intimate relationships with men is HARMFUL. It is biphobic and it is disgusting.
The entire notion that bi women are less valuable and less desirable as partners because we have and/or have the capacity to be intimate with men is so blatantly biphobic and bigoted that I can’t believe I even have to explain it.
How about THIS: Biphobic lesbians who would feel betrayed and insecure because of a bi partners identity have an OBLIGATION to disclose that they are biphobic assholes when they enter into a relationship, in case any bi woman they are interested in was unaware of what an asshole they are.
7000 days = about 19.4 years. According to the comics, Joe gives his wives three chances to give him a male heir with no deformities. Let’s say that Furiosa got tossed in 3 years, and it took her 3-6 years to climb the ranks.
That still leaves a group of maybe 13 year old and younger War Pups who’d only ever known of Furiosa as Imperator.
Nux spoke of Joe like he’d barely ever seen him, or only from a distance, maybe through binoculars. There were two other Imperators near Joe.
What if these other Imperators were as distant and aloof? Are they also black thumbs, or do they simply delegate, or only come out for war?
We know Furiosa probably modified her War Rig herself (see: kill switches and hidden weaponry), which means she HAS to have been in the shop and garages. We know from the film that the War Pups are in the background everywhere. We know there’s no way Furiosa could have been cruel to these children given the systematic way we’re shown her empathy; we also know that there’s a systemic pattern of cruelty, deprivation, and put-downs in the general War Boy culture (’mediocre’, being un-witnessed, witheld water and general human needs, the quick way that Nux blooms under the least bit of kindness).
So think about this generation of War Boys who knows in their hindbrains that the safest place to be (both physically and emotionally) is around their Imperator. Their’s because it’s the Imperator that they see the most, in the shop. The Imperator that Joe trusts on his most dangerous runs. The Imperator that is spoken of by older War Boys like Slit with fear and awe.
Is it any wonder the way they say her name?
furiosa: den mother of the apocalypse
you know, considering that, her takeover isn’t so much a coup as a natural succession. she’s the highest ranked warrior with loyal followers.
And it didn’t even occur to her. She didn’t even want it. Didn’t realize that if she went back to the Citadel that her face would be enough.
And even more: Max realized. Went out first so that everyone else were safe, and somehow knew that they needed to see her. (Though maybe it was one of the others? Or at least, he agreed enough to implement it.)
This post has been going around again and I feel the need to give a caveat that I tried writing the language in the original post very carefully. In no way do I think that Furiosa was actively nurturing or performing traditional motherly roles, there’d be no room and no safe space for it in the toxic environment of the Citadel.
However, I do think she was probably the least bad thing in a very bad situation, and that she’d be fair if you give her fairness. The War pups would be in no position to harm her; and if they deal with her honestly, I don’t see her giving them any less credit and responsibility and fairness and thanks than she did for Max.
The way that she got Max to stand down and to help her out willingly, even gladly? Other meta have pointed out that its a skill, and like most skills have been honed. (She treated him like he had trauma, and gave him things to do to be useful, and responsible.) And I wouldn’t be surprised if she used these same skills on the War pups as well as she did her own crew.
The comment continues in typical mansplaining manner but I want to address this first bit specifically. Because the assumption that the women are framed that way because it’s an action shot is wrong from a technical standpoint.
There is a difference between Wanda gesturing with her hands almost having no space for her head in a composition that highlighted her breasts …
…and the way Tony is given ‘headroom’ while gesturing with his hands (see: any Iron Man Trailer). He still has his face prominent at the sweet spot of the Golden Ratio (for more discussion on what/where this is scroll down to the diagrams), his hands are on the other sweet spot, and it’s a very dynamic pose with great use of diagonals both foreground and background.
There is also a difference between Natasha almost having to bend her head so that her face stays on the screen while her chest and hips land in the sweet spots…
And the headspace that is given Thor. Thor’s face lands on upper Third (Rule of Thirds). They are both holding/threatening with weapons.
But wait! you say, what if we want to emphasize the weapons?
Yeah there’s a way to do that too, without sexualizing your character and smashing their head almost off the frame…
I enjoyed Age of Ultron, but these are some very excellent points. Also, am I wrong in thinking that in Iron Man 2, when Natasha is going down that hallway, beating the crap out of the guys in it, that a lot of the focus is more on her face? Not entirely, but more than it is here? Oh…
oh.
I just looked it up (thanks Tumblr for the the new gif feature!)
….my eye goes to her face but also her boobs. It’s hard for me to analyze in a moving gif though why hat is, other than the top with a great big triangle of flesh screaming LOOK DOWN. (the coloring may or may not be altered in this gif, too, like an upped contrast that is aiding that, idk)
She’s also more off-center than I realized in this shot. It’s like this technique is so common I can’t even see it unless I’m looking for it o_O
The term you’re looking for here is diagonal composition. Where are the diagonals pointing?
Look again at the background spaces behind Thor and Tony, the arches are pointing at Thor’s face and the architecture is pointing at the repulsor. Now go look at what the edges of the building is doing for Wanda and Natasha.
Im on mobile and on a break, but Google “diagonal composition in photography” if you want to look into the effects of diagonals more. It’s a bit more advanced than golden rule framing but not by much. (Though I would hesitate to do composition analysis on that shot off a cropped gif, you still can’t get away from the diagonals.)
Ooh thank you! That actually makes total sense to me, because I’ve worked in picture framing before, and a lot of that is about: “are you bringing the eye in, or out? What are you drawing the eye towards, if you are drawing it in or out?” (because you don’t want to draw the eye towards the frame, usually – you want to draw it towards the picture or objects, or a specific part or aspect of the picture or objects). Though in the case of picture framing it’s usually more simple, in that it’s more on an actual outline or series of asymmetrical outlines it still serves the same function: to point the eye towards what’s in the “center”. So now that you’ve pointed that out, I can see it at work. :)
This also makes me suddenly realize that the reason they make so many female characters’ tops zip down is…even MORE male gazey than I thought >_> “hey look, my clothing is not only showing actual boobflesh, it’s also pointing towards my waist and hips and crotch!”
Getting off my ass and finally posting these because I’d finally gotten a free picture editor that did what I wanted it to. All AOU caps come from the main trailer, The IM2 screencap comes from one of the trailers.
(the rest of the discussion including how some of the most potentially objectifying moments in Fury Road is subverted by composition/blocking/lighting)
but seriously though i’m sick and tired of those masterposts that are like “here! A reference site on Greek mythology for all your needs! Look it has all fifteen Greek gods on it!” And I’m like. tHERE WERE LIKE HUNDREDS OF FIGURES IN MYTHOLOGY YOUR CRAPPY HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL BIBLIOGRAPHY SITE MEANS NOTHING TO ME
if you want a basic outline of Greek mythology okay sure fine??? but like. if you want an extensive fucking reference site you are looking in the wrong goddamn places
as a self-declared greek mythology snob my reference site is fucking alwaysthis fucker right here. almost every single figure ever mentioned in a Greek text is on it, it has the most obscure gods, spirits, nymphs— it’s GREAT. You really wanna extend your mythological knowledge past the basic 12 and like four others? USE THEOI. plus plus PLUS everything is cited so you can actually read the source material written about whoever it is you’re looking at.
fucking signal boost this. i’m so sick and tired of writer’s helpers blogs referring people to sites with as much information you would get from opening a third grade mythology book jesus chriiiiiist
can we just talk about the time that Lupin was recovering from a full moon and Snape taught the DADA class and made all the students write essays on how to kill werewolves for Lupin to read when he got back I hate Snape so much it’s not funny
Lupin gets back and he feels like crap and suddenly his best friend’s son is writing an essay about how to kill him like that is so fucked up
Bear in mind that an ex-Death Eater does this tosomeone who was in the Order, risked his life fighting against said Death Eaters and lost his best friends to the Death Eater’s genocidal leader, for the sole purpose of screwing him over, and as far as we know he experiences no consequences whatsoever for doing so.
And if that wasn’t enough, he made them write those essays hoping some of them would realize Lupin’s a werewolf. And one did, but Hermione is a fucking DECENT HUMAN BEING and said nothing. Apparently the ‘insufferable know-it-all' can keep her mouth closed, when it’s for something important. Just like Snape didn’t do at the end of the book.
I’m getting mad, so here’s something I’ve realized while reading The Order of the Phoenix again. (Please keep in mind that my books are in Italian and some concepts might be hard to explain, I apologize for my English mistakes)
In chapter 14, when The Trio talked with Sirius, he said that two years before Dolores Umbridge had written a law against werewolves that made it almost impossible for Lupin to find a job.
Now ask yourself this question. Why two years?
What had happened two years before? During Harry’s third year? Oh, right. The Magical World had discovered that one of Hogwarts’ teachers (someone who was in constant conctat with their children) was a werewolf. Does that ring any bell?
But that’s not all! If we take a look at chapter 15, in the Daily Prophet article we can see a familiar name: Remus Lupin.
In a newspaper. Where everyone can read it. “The werewolf Remus Lupin”. No wonder he couldn’t find a job! And it’s not the first time the Daily Prophet has written about him, as it’s stated in the article itself. There must have been a huge scandal when it had all come out.
So basically, when Snape decided he couldn’t bear not having what he wanted (for example, SIRIUS BLACK GETTING KISSED BY A DEMENTOR) and spilled the secret, he didn’t only tell the whole school. He didn’t only tell the kids’ parents. The told the whole Magical World.
He told the whole Magical World that a man who had kept his condition secret all his life was a werewolf.
And the Magical World responded with a law against werewolves.
So, basically, Snape didn’t only ruin Remus Lupin’s life. He ruined the life of every single werewolf in the UK.
