![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Is this a shitpost?
Feb. 2nd, 2019 10:24 amI miss being active on here and it is apparently shitpost month but I am so rusty at this thing that I am drawing a blank on shitposting (and also I have to read like 50 job applications this weekend and I remember the terrible hope/despair of being on the academic job market and it's really hard not to mentally approach this as "well, shit, time to break the hearts and dreams of 49 people").
Anyway...anybody got suggestions on what I can shitpost about? (is this not in the spirit of shitposting?) Questions? Prompts?
Also also also every so often I look at my old folder of Stargate/other fic works in progress that hasn't been touched in years and I (1) get really nostalgic for LJ/DW-based fandom (2) get really nostalgic for being part of active fandom (3) get really nostalgic for when my brain had energy for creative writing (4) feel guilty about abandoning the stories (some of which I thought were pretty good in their un-finished form) and (5) wonder if I should just post these half-finished unpolished things or let them slowly disintegrate.
[and maybe it's the state of the world with our shit-tastic government and decaying environment but wow have I been craving re-reading some of the really good Stargate apoca-fic]
Wait, did I just successfully shitpost?
I...sure shitposted a lot then.
Anyway...anybody got suggestions on what I can shitpost about? (is this not in the spirit of shitposting?) Questions? Prompts?
Also also also every so often I look at my old folder of Stargate/other fic works in progress that hasn't been touched in years and I (1) get really nostalgic for LJ/DW-based fandom (2) get really nostalgic for being part of active fandom (3) get really nostalgic for when my brain had energy for creative writing (4) feel guilty about abandoning the stories (some of which I thought were pretty good in their un-finished form) and (5) wonder if I should just post these half-finished unpolished things or let them slowly disintegrate.
[and maybe it's the state of the world with our shit-tastic government and decaying environment but wow have I been craving re-reading some of the really good Stargate apoca-fic]
Wait, did I just successfully shitpost?
I...sure shitposted a lot then.
wheelchair buying tips?
Oct. 15th, 2018 06:14 pmI know there are folks on here with various experiences with wheelchairs...
We are looking at getting what seems to be called a "transport wheelchair" for my father - something we can use to take him to things that require more than ~50 meters of walking. We need something that is relatively easy to get in and out of a hatchback-style car. Intent would be to have someone pushing him (if he ever used it himself it would probably be the "push himself around with his feet" approach). He is fairly small and lightweight. We would anticipate mostly using it on pavement or inside buildings, but it would be nice if it could handle gravel, firm grass, woodchips etc.
We don't need to get the cheapest one out there but we're overwhelmed trying to find something that's going to be sturdy and reliable and easy to use. Any tips on what to look for or specific brands? (we are US based)
We are looking at getting what seems to be called a "transport wheelchair" for my father - something we can use to take him to things that require more than ~50 meters of walking. We need something that is relatively easy to get in and out of a hatchback-style car. Intent would be to have someone pushing him (if he ever used it himself it would probably be the "push himself around with his feet" approach). He is fairly small and lightweight. We would anticipate mostly using it on pavement or inside buildings, but it would be nice if it could handle gravel, firm grass, woodchips etc.
We don't need to get the cheapest one out there but we're overwhelmed trying to find something that's going to be sturdy and reliable and easy to use. Any tips on what to look for or specific brands? (we are US based)
Superheroes!
Jul. 15th, 2018 07:42 pmAfter the 2016 election I discovered Supergirl as my feminist escapist fantasy happy place (and, wow, it never stops pulling punches about that election and what's come since...) and from there the rest of the DC shows (also, omg Black Lightning!!!).
That said, having just finished the recent season of Arrow that finally showed up on Netflix (which is the DC show I watch for the sake of their crossover continuity more than because I like it) ... does anyone else feel like Arrow would be much better show without the eponymous Arrow? Like, the supporting cast is pretty much universally awesome, but wow is Oliver Queen a jerkface. (also, how many Band of Brothers actors are they going to bring in to play supervillian of the season?)
...and probably back to my regularly scheduled hardly-ever-posting
That said, having just finished the recent season of Arrow that finally showed up on Netflix (which is the DC show I watch for the sake of their crossover continuity more than because I like it) ... does anyone else feel like Arrow would be much better show without the eponymous Arrow? Like, the supporting cast is pretty much universally awesome, but wow is Oliver Queen a jerkface. (also, how many Band of Brothers actors are they going to bring in to play supervillian of the season?)
...and probably back to my regularly scheduled hardly-ever-posting
Super heroes!
Nov. 29th, 2016 07:34 pmI'm really struggling to find any sort of equilibrium after the election results from a few weeks ago and I'm struggling to find a balance between staying informed and not living in a constant anxiety spiral (because every piece of news is worse...)
Anyway, the escape I found has been Superhero tv shows and Oh My God. Supergirl is my feminist happy place in so many ways - multiple women who have different goals and approach life different and are good at different things and each choice is acceptable? (it doesn't hurt that they talk about being "stronger together" and a female president). And then, because Netflix only had the first season, I switched to The Flash which is just as awesome.
But here's what I love - besides the superhero bit - both shows have women and characters of color (multiple!) who do a variety of jobs and are people. The Flash has a gay character who is just...gay. There is no "the very special gay episode" - it's just people living their lives and accepting those around them for who they are. Given the toxicity in the real world now, it's such a breath of fresh air.
Anyway, the escape I found has been Superhero tv shows and Oh My God. Supergirl is my feminist happy place in so many ways - multiple women who have different goals and approach life different and are good at different things and each choice is acceptable? (it doesn't hurt that they talk about being "stronger together" and a female president). And then, because Netflix only had the first season, I switched to The Flash which is just as awesome.
But here's what I love - besides the superhero bit - both shows have women and characters of color (multiple!) who do a variety of jobs and are people. The Flash has a gay character who is just...gay. There is no "the very special gay episode" - it's just people living their lives and accepting those around them for who they are. Given the toxicity in the real world now, it's such a breath of fresh air.
(no subject)
Mar. 5th, 2016 08:02 pmSo I gave into childhood-era nostalgia and put Fuller House on in the background while I was working. Having watched the whole season I have two thoughts:
1) It's not very good. I mean, I'm guessing if I tried to watch Full House now I wouldn't think it was very good either (I mean, it was a beloved sitcom - it was never considered groundbreaking or especially good story-telling). It couldn't let go of callbacks and references to the past instead of trying to be its own show.
2) For a show where the three adults lead are female, it was surprisingly rare for it to pass the Bechedel Test. I find that...kinda depressing.
I guess I should just go re-listen to Hamilton....again...
(which, to be fair, also isn't great at the Bechedel test, but 1) is amazing in enough other ways 2) has good historical and story-focused reason for it)
1) It's not very good. I mean, I'm guessing if I tried to watch Full House now I wouldn't think it was very good either (I mean, it was a beloved sitcom - it was never considered groundbreaking or especially good story-telling). It couldn't let go of callbacks and references to the past instead of trying to be its own show.
2) For a show where the three adults lead are female, it was surprisingly rare for it to pass the Bechedel Test. I find that...kinda depressing.
I guess I should just go re-listen to Hamilton....again...
(which, to be fair, also isn't great at the Bechedel test, but 1) is amazing in enough other ways 2) has good historical and story-focused reason for it)
Okay, everyone who has been raving about the Hamilton sountrack? You're right.
Now I just need to see the show someday so I can figure out better who is singing what when...
Now I just need to see the show someday so I can figure out better who is singing what when...
So, where's the good Harry Potter fic?
Oct. 17th, 2015 10:58 amI just finished a re-read of the Harry Potter books.
It's interesting - these books really became known in the US my senior year of high school (around when book 3 came out) and, in a way, they were my second fandom (Star Trek always and forever being number one) - before I knew what fandom was, before I really had internet. My friends and I joked about forming a Quidditch team (I was, emphatically, a beater). One day we were in our calculus teacher's office asking homework questions and saw he had Dumbledore quotes on his wall and for the rest of the year, he was our Dumbledore. When I started college, one of the first things my roommate and I bonded over was Harry Potter - I think I still have a copy of the book of spells she gave me (meticulously gleaned from the books).
Anyway, point being, I had a brief, furious, love for Harry Potter but while I loyally read each book as it came out, and watched each movie, that faded pretty fast, replaced by intense fannish-ness for M*A*S*H and Band of Brothers and the Stargates (god, I still miss that fandom and I still want to finish those WiPs...)
And it's interesting and weird re-reading them now, at age 33, because they are such different books than when I was 18. At 18 the tasks/expectations/freedoms that Harry, Hermione, Ron and the others went through seemed exciting and reasonable. At 33 I kept thinking "what the hell are these grown-ups thinking? These kids should be traumatized as fuck!" Along with things like "Quidditch makes no sense" and "these school subjects don't make sense - shouldn't they still need basic reading/writing/math/science?" And I identified with the grown-ups more, this time, and less with the kids (even when I occasionally wanted to smack the grown-ups). And I really noticed Lupin this time - how...sad he is.
Anyway. My fierce love of Harry Potter coincided with a time I was unaware of fic, which means I've pretty much never read any (I know, I know). Only now, I really want some. I want the kind of well-written, chewy fic I'm sure must be out there about how they all recovered from all the shit they had to deal with. Not the flowery "everything is perfect" epilogue Rowling wrote, 19 years later at Kings Cross (I Laughed So Hard the first time I read that), but the stories about rebuilding Hogwarts (McGonagall!), about Harry coming through this entire traumatic event, finding himself godfather to an infant of parents who died protecting him, and getting pieced back together. I want Neville finally, post-snake killing, thriving in everyone else recognizing his abilities and becoming the best herbology professor Hogwarts ever had. I want Hermione continuing her studies where her classmates are serious and she doesn't have to do anyone else's homework. I want Draco trying to figure out how to emerge from the fuckup of a life his parents forced his first 17 years into - the struggle with who he is and what he believes now that he doesn't have parents/Snape/Voldemort/Bellatrix telling him. I want Luna, so happy to have friends, emerging from the shadows. I want George figuring out how to run the joke shop without Fred (or with ghost Fred?).
But the HP fandom is huge and I don't know where to start. Anybody got recs? (self recs a-okay) (I have no idea how I feel about shipping in this fandom - except I know any student/teacher will make me backbutton so had my keyboard might break - and I'm not a fan of "good sex heals everything" - and I might even be happier if the fic is canon except for Rowling's ridiculous epilogue (aka: I am not married to cannon relationships))
It's interesting - these books really became known in the US my senior year of high school (around when book 3 came out) and, in a way, they were my second fandom (Star Trek always and forever being number one) - before I knew what fandom was, before I really had internet. My friends and I joked about forming a Quidditch team (I was, emphatically, a beater). One day we were in our calculus teacher's office asking homework questions and saw he had Dumbledore quotes on his wall and for the rest of the year, he was our Dumbledore. When I started college, one of the first things my roommate and I bonded over was Harry Potter - I think I still have a copy of the book of spells she gave me (meticulously gleaned from the books).
Anyway, point being, I had a brief, furious, love for Harry Potter but while I loyally read each book as it came out, and watched each movie, that faded pretty fast, replaced by intense fannish-ness for M*A*S*H and Band of Brothers and the Stargates (god, I still miss that fandom and I still want to finish those WiPs...)
And it's interesting and weird re-reading them now, at age 33, because they are such different books than when I was 18. At 18 the tasks/expectations/freedoms that Harry, Hermione, Ron and the others went through seemed exciting and reasonable. At 33 I kept thinking "what the hell are these grown-ups thinking? These kids should be traumatized as fuck!" Along with things like "Quidditch makes no sense" and "these school subjects don't make sense - shouldn't they still need basic reading/writing/math/science?" And I identified with the grown-ups more, this time, and less with the kids (even when I occasionally wanted to smack the grown-ups). And I really noticed Lupin this time - how...sad he is.
Anyway. My fierce love of Harry Potter coincided with a time I was unaware of fic, which means I've pretty much never read any (I know, I know). Only now, I really want some. I want the kind of well-written, chewy fic I'm sure must be out there about how they all recovered from all the shit they had to deal with. Not the flowery "everything is perfect" epilogue Rowling wrote, 19 years later at Kings Cross (I Laughed So Hard the first time I read that), but the stories about rebuilding Hogwarts (McGonagall!), about Harry coming through this entire traumatic event, finding himself godfather to an infant of parents who died protecting him, and getting pieced back together. I want Neville finally, post-snake killing, thriving in everyone else recognizing his abilities and becoming the best herbology professor Hogwarts ever had. I want Hermione continuing her studies where her classmates are serious and she doesn't have to do anyone else's homework. I want Draco trying to figure out how to emerge from the fuckup of a life his parents forced his first 17 years into - the struggle with who he is and what he believes now that he doesn't have parents/Snape/Voldemort/Bellatrix telling him. I want Luna, so happy to have friends, emerging from the shadows. I want George figuring out how to run the joke shop without Fred (or with ghost Fred?).
But the HP fandom is huge and I don't know where to start. Anybody got recs? (self recs a-okay) (I have no idea how I feel about shipping in this fandom - except I know any student/teacher will make me backbutton so had my keyboard might break - and I'm not a fan of "good sex heals everything" - and I might even be happier if the fic is canon except for Rowling's ridiculous epilogue (aka: I am not married to cannon relationships))
Icon unrelated
Apr. 21st, 2015 02:49 pm[Hi! Life has been busy. The new place is good and the new job is really good and I am fighting like hell against every single imposter syndrome demon popping into my brain to insist I will screw this up also. Anxiety can go jump into a very deep hole.]
1) I possibly spent March mainlining White Collar (all but the last season). For the most part, that was a lot of fun, especially when you could suspend your disbelief. By the later seasons they got really lazy about things like fingerprints, remembering Neil was wearing a tracking anklet with a 2 mile radius, and going very sideways of the law to catch criminals.
I also wish they'd made more use of their awesome cast of supporting characters, because Jones was amazing and I love Elizabeth and I would watch a show just about Diana forever. Instead it's the Neal, Peter and Mozzie show - which, I mean, is a lot of fun to watch and Neal makes for very nice eye candy, so I can't complain.
I do like that they stayed true to the core of who Neal is. In some ways he is Robin Hood-esque by stealing from the rich (if not necessarily giving to the poor). He definitely has a strong moral code and has no desire to hurt people but he also has no interest in operating within the laws/rules of society. It makes an interesting foil for Peter - essentially putting neutral good up against lawful good and seeing what happens.
2) Apparently I compensate for big moves by rewatching old tv. Last year it was SG-1. Now it's Sanctuary. I forgot how cheesy Will (and Will-vision) was at the beginning. I did not forget how awesome Helen is. Or how much I liked seeing the Helen-Ashley relationship (I still hate they ended that so soon) for the healthy, adult, mother-daughter dynamic you hardly ever see on tv. Also, so much <3 for Henry.
1) I possibly spent March mainlining White Collar (all but the last season). For the most part, that was a lot of fun, especially when you could suspend your disbelief. By the later seasons they got really lazy about things like fingerprints, remembering Neil was wearing a tracking anklet with a 2 mile radius, and going very sideways of the law to catch criminals.
I also wish they'd made more use of their awesome cast of supporting characters, because Jones was amazing and I love Elizabeth and I would watch a show just about Diana forever. Instead it's the Neal, Peter and Mozzie show - which, I mean, is a lot of fun to watch and Neal makes for very nice eye candy, so I can't complain.
I do like that they stayed true to the core of who Neal is. In some ways he is Robin Hood-esque by stealing from the rich (if not necessarily giving to the poor). He definitely has a strong moral code and has no desire to hurt people but he also has no interest in operating within the laws/rules of society. It makes an interesting foil for Peter - essentially putting neutral good up against lawful good and seeing what happens.
2) Apparently I compensate for big moves by rewatching old tv. Last year it was SG-1. Now it's Sanctuary. I forgot how cheesy Will (and Will-vision) was at the beginning. I did not forget how awesome Helen is. Or how much I liked seeing the Helen-Ashley relationship (I still hate they ended that so soon) for the healthy, adult, mother-daughter dynamic you hardly ever see on tv. Also, so much <3 for Henry.
1) So I watched the first season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine because I'd heard people raving about it and it was the right kind of brainless comedy I could half pay attention to while doing other things. There are lots of things I like - particularly the representation of non-male/non-white/non-straight characters (you know, between this and Parks and Rec, I think sitcoms are doing better at this than other media). But I am so so so tired of the young white male who can get away with being a jackass because he is supposed brilliant/good at his job. Does the main character get less annoying?
2) A few days ago I turned on the Battlestar Galactica miniseries. After giving up on the show in early season 3, I'd forgotten just how very good it was early on. The pure gravitas of Commander Adama and President Roslin. The realistic grittiness of the military setting and the strength of the supporting cast. How smoking hot both Starbuck and Apollo are. Too bad I still really cannot stand any of the scenes with Gaius Baltar.
3) This season of Parks and Rec so far feels a little flat (especially after the last episode of season five felt like a really good show ender instead) - almost like it's some weird parody of itself. But the "Ron and Leslie" episode finally clicked for me and felt more like what I love about this show. I hope it stays with that.
4) I miss Stargate and Sanctuary and, okay, maybe I just miss regular doses of Amanda Tapping on my computer screen. Is there even any non-super hero science fiction out there right now?
2) A few days ago I turned on the Battlestar Galactica miniseries. After giving up on the show in early season 3, I'd forgotten just how very good it was early on. The pure gravitas of Commander Adama and President Roslin. The realistic grittiness of the military setting and the strength of the supporting cast. How smoking hot both Starbuck and Apollo are. Too bad I still really cannot stand any of the scenes with Gaius Baltar.
3) This season of Parks and Rec so far feels a little flat (especially after the last episode of season five felt like a really good show ender instead) - almost like it's some weird parody of itself. But the "Ron and Leslie" episode finally clicked for me and felt more like what I love about this show. I hope it stays with that.
4) I miss Stargate and Sanctuary and, okay, maybe I just miss regular doses of Amanda Tapping on my computer screen. Is there even any non-super hero science fiction out there right now?
Looking for travel ideas
Jan. 13th, 2015 02:49 pmI am planning some tourist time in February and still debating the details of what/where/when.
Please recommend to me places to visit in Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) and possibly Paris (I'm debating riding the chunnel). Any favorite things to see, restaurants, etc?
Also,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
loneraven can I maybe finally meet you?
Please recommend to me places to visit in Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) and possibly Paris (I'm debating riding the chunnel). Any favorite things to see, restaurants, etc?
Also,
loneraven can I maybe finally meet you?This is why we can't have nice things
Nov. 6th, 2014 05:45 pmI just had 2 male PhD students from my lab group insist that Elementary (which I haven't watched) is wrong wrong wrong because Watson could never be female and it makes no sense they could even consider making a male character female and it destroys the entire point of the story of Sherlock Holmes. When I asked for why precisely it was wrong the answers were 1) the main point of Watson's character is that he is supposed to be a military doctor and 2) Joan is a name only old people would have.
When I continued asking why, precisely, it wasn't okay to reimagine a classic story with a character's gender changed (and that there were female doctors in the military), it was pointed out to me that there's a reason we don't see "superwoman" or "spiderwoman" or "batwoman". I countered that there are, in fact, female versions of those super heroes I was told "not in the movies." Then they pointed out that the only way they could make Elementary more ridiculous would be to make Sherlock Holmes a woman - because who could ever believe there could be a "Sheelock Holmes"
I never did get an answer for why, well, any of this would be completely wrong or unbelievable. But I headdesked all the way back to my office.
When I continued asking why, precisely, it wasn't okay to reimagine a classic story with a character's gender changed (and that there were female doctors in the military), it was pointed out to me that there's a reason we don't see "superwoman" or "spiderwoman" or "batwoman". I countered that there are, in fact, female versions of those super heroes I was told "not in the movies." Then they pointed out that the only way they could make Elementary more ridiculous would be to make Sherlock Holmes a woman - because who could ever believe there could be a "Sheelock Holmes"
I never did get an answer for why, well, any of this would be completely wrong or unbelievable. But I headdesked all the way back to my office.
So I'm not really part of Marvel fandom and really not at all familiar with the comics. But I just read a spoiler for the next movie and ( I'm confused )
I have been watching way too much tv and movies, so there will be a post coming about, at least, Fringe and Jericho. But for now, I saw linked somewhere an amazing new Iron Man vid by Lim: Expo by Lim It is everything that makes vidding beautiful and awesome and so very much movie-verse Tony Stark.
On that note, I know there are people here in MCU fandom. I've occasionally been craving fic in that universe, but I'm having trouble figuring out how to navigate that huge pile of fic, particularly since I'm bouncing hard off of ship-fic and that seems to be a lot of it. That and I Do Not Understand the obsession with Loki, who is a power-obsessed mass murderer and I have no interest in any story that pretends he isn't.
What I'm really in the mood for is a long, plotty character-driven fic I can sink my teeth into - relationships are okay but I'd rather they not be the main point of the story. Characters I am particularly interested in include Natasha, Hawkeye, Iron Man, and Bruce. Anyone have any good recs?
On that note, I know there are people here in MCU fandom. I've occasionally been craving fic in that universe, but I'm having trouble figuring out how to navigate that huge pile of fic, particularly since I'm bouncing hard off of ship-fic and that seems to be a lot of it. That and I Do Not Understand the obsession with Loki, who is a power-obsessed mass murderer and I have no interest in any story that pretends he isn't.
What I'm really in the mood for is a long, plotty character-driven fic I can sink my teeth into - relationships are okay but I'd rather they not be the main point of the story. Characters I am particularly interested in include Natasha, Hawkeye, Iron Man, and Bruce. Anyone have any good recs?
1) Years late to the party, I've finally been watching Fringe. I now understand why all of you were raving about Olivia Dunham. I love how she's a woman in a man's world in so many ways - she has some of Sam Carter's hard edges and defensiveness and "I can take care of myself" that comes with that. But she also has stereotypically female traits that she doesn't let get in the way. She has emotions, she has a nurturing side, she's good with people lots of the time. I love that we see her protecting the men she works with about equally to them protecting her. And I love that she wears clothing appropriate to her job - pants and shoes you can believe she could run in (none of that high heel bullshit).
I also really enjoy the rest of the characters (although, I just started season 2, and CHARLIE AH). Walter is fascinating and believably broken and everyone's patience/impatience with him just works. Astrid is awesome competent and infinitely patient. They particularly do a great job with Peter (and I'm not just saying that because my inner teenager is remembering her crush on Pacey). He's smart but one of his things has clearly always been people skills and they *show* that instead of telling it in all sorts of small ways - how he finds something to divert people's attention or connect with them somehow.
I really really really hope this doesn't fall down the "J J Abrams is a hack" hole that I've placed everything else of his that that I've seen.
2) I've also been reading. A lot. I tried to read some "popular" fiction - mainstream titles that I've heard the names of or were made into movies or made bestseller lists. And they kept being terrible. Characters with no emotional depth, very little plot, flat worlds. I kept reading stories of "boring undeveloped character is unhappy with their life, makes decisions with no clear reason, has suprisingly little reaction to changes in their life, keeps being vaguely unhappy" and then the story ends. Why do people read this stuff? Why does anyone publish it?
So I gave up and went back to genre and decided to finally give a try at Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. Now THAT is plotting and world-building and characters who have motivations and care what happens to them and those around them. They have such a vivid world (plus, well, it's always fun to read something set in a city you know really really well) and are so hard to put down, I don't care too much that the main character is a misogynistic chauvinistic asshole and the author has no idea how to write women. One of those cases of turning off my inner critic and enjoying the ride.
I also really enjoy the rest of the characters (although, I just started season 2, and CHARLIE AH). Walter is fascinating and believably broken and everyone's patience/impatience with him just works. Astrid is awesome competent and infinitely patient. They particularly do a great job with Peter (and I'm not just saying that because my inner teenager is remembering her crush on Pacey). He's smart but one of his things has clearly always been people skills and they *show* that instead of telling it in all sorts of small ways - how he finds something to divert people's attention or connect with them somehow.
I really really really hope this doesn't fall down the "J J Abrams is a hack" hole that I've placed everything else of his that that I've seen.
2) I've also been reading. A lot. I tried to read some "popular" fiction - mainstream titles that I've heard the names of or were made into movies or made bestseller lists. And they kept being terrible. Characters with no emotional depth, very little plot, flat worlds. I kept reading stories of "boring undeveloped character is unhappy with their life, makes decisions with no clear reason, has suprisingly little reaction to changes in their life, keeps being vaguely unhappy" and then the story ends. Why do people read this stuff? Why does anyone publish it?
So I gave up and went back to genre and decided to finally give a try at Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. Now THAT is plotting and world-building and characters who have motivations and care what happens to them and those around them. They have such a vivid world (plus, well, it's always fun to read something set in a city you know really really well) and are so hard to put down, I don't care too much that the main character is a misogynistic chauvinistic asshole and the author has no idea how to write women. One of those cases of turning off my inner critic and enjoying the ride.
you are the weakest link
Jun. 25th, 2014 10:34 pmI think I've just discovered the problem with moving to the UK after having grown up watching Doctor Who. The slightly robotic voices on various phone systems (like I just went through setting up voicemail on my new mobile) sound a little too much like evil alien robots taking over the world.
Also, man, I think I'm due one of my periodic doses of live fandom. But I don't think I can swing the London worldcon and I vaguely looked at Vidukon but it looks crazy expensive for me to get to Cardiff. Gotta be something...
(Also, holy shit Orphan Black. That season finale is making me flail. I don't even know. It makes me miss the fannish conversation and dissection)
Also, man, I think I'm due one of my periodic doses of live fandom. But I don't think I can swing the London worldcon and I vaguely looked at Vidukon but it looks crazy expensive for me to get to Cardiff. Gotta be something...
(Also, holy shit Orphan Black. That season finale is making me flail. I don't even know. It makes me miss the fannish conversation and dissection)
(no subject)
Jun. 17th, 2014 10:12 amLast night I dreamed some sort of Sports Night/Parks and Recreation crossover. Early on I remember thinking "oh, yeah, I was writing this fic!" which I realized, upon waking, wasn't true at all. And now I really want that crossover to exist...
[This is the second Parks and Recreaction dream I've had in a matter of weeks. Apparently watching Orphan Black and Orange is the New Black makes me really want to watch Leslie Knope?]
[This is the second Parks and Recreaction dream I've had in a matter of weeks. Apparently watching Orphan Black and Orange is the New Black makes me really want to watch Leslie Knope?]
Adventures in boxing up your life
Mar. 31st, 2014 09:12 amI'm in the last stages of packing up all my stuff for the big move.
Which meant discovering my Stargate action figures had collected a lot of dust over the last few years. There is something surreal about giving SG-1 a sponge bath in the sink. Also, dust/dirt seems to stick more tenaciously to Priors. And to Cameron Mitchell. And to Vala's cleavage.
Also, why oh why, just as I'm finally moving, does the small local sci-fi con bring in BOTH Amanda Tapping and Nichelle Nichols, less than a month after I'll be gone?
Which meant discovering my Stargate action figures had collected a lot of dust over the last few years. There is something surreal about giving SG-1 a sponge bath in the sink. Also, dust/dirt seems to stick more tenaciously to Priors. And to Cameron Mitchell. And to Vala's cleavage.
Also, why oh why, just as I'm finally moving, does the small local sci-fi con bring in BOTH Amanda Tapping and Nichelle Nichols, less than a month after I'll be gone?
There's a meme going around asking for topics to blog every day in December. And I can't commit to every day but I want to blow off some of the dust around here. I miss being active here and the community and whatnot.
So, assuming people are still reading this thing, does anyone have anything you'd like to see me talk about? Anything is fair game, though I can't make promises about getting to everything and personal stuff might be friends-locked.
I'm also open to possible drabble prompts (I miss writing non-science things) though I make no promises. I keep thinking of trying to dust off my long abandoned Stargate WiPs I still love, but it feels like a lot of effort for a dying fandom.
So, assuming people are still reading this thing, does anyone have anything you'd like to see me talk about? Anything is fair game, though I can't make promises about getting to everything and personal stuff might be friends-locked.
I'm also open to possible drabble prompts (I miss writing non-science things) though I make no promises. I keep thinking of trying to dust off my long abandoned Stargate WiPs I still love, but it feels like a lot of effort for a dying fandom.
So yesterday Captain Awkward asked people to post The books you always find yourself recommending. And apparently ran into some internet disagreement with the part where she asked the post to stay spoiler free, recognizing that meant not warning for possible problematic content.
She ended up adding an ETA about content warnings, etc which hit the nail on the head with every problem I've had whenever fandom talks about triggering and content warning.
Because, people have different triggers and it's impossible to capture that variety with the handful of content warnings available at AO3 or in different fic exchanges or whatnot. Or, as CA says, "Even if we’d done this right from the start, people might warn for all kinds of stuff and still miss the thing that would bother or trigger you."
I don't have "normal" triggers. I don't necessarily enjoy violence or rape in a story, but those things don't trigger me. Nobody will ever think to warn for my triggers. The first time I was ever triggered was while watching the first Star Trek reboot. There's a scene where Spock is in command of the Enterprise and Kirk thinks he should be in charge. So, in front of the crew, he manipulates Spock and uses Spock's emotions against him so he can take Spock's command from him. In the movie, this is presented as the good, correct thing for Kirk to do.
And that emotional manipulation, that taking leadership away from someone who isn't failing at it because you want it? The idea that it's a *good* thing? That triggered the hell out of me. And it took me multiple days before I even realized what was going on and why my brain was so wonky.
Last year I was watching the most recent Batman movie. And there's a scene where a character enters an apartment with a spray painted x on the door. Another character is inside, holding a framed picture with cracked glass and commenting that a family used to live there. And, bam, suddenly I was in New Orleans. But this time I knew to recognize what my brain was doing and had techniques, hard-won in therapy, to pull myself through it and be okay.
I guess what I'm saying is, triggers aren't obvious or standard and sometimes a person doesn't even know they have them until something goes off in their brain. I'm all for making it easier for someone to keep themselves safe, for people being willing to content-screen if someone asks, and I think it's great if people want to warn for common triggers. But all too often these conversations seem to assume a specific set of triggers (or equate "content I don't like" or "content that upsets me" or "content that makes me angry" with "content that triggers me" which, really really fucking not the same thing) and I see people get righteously indignant because [specific common trigger] wasn't warned for, and it makes me feel like my triggers are being invalidated. Like my triggers don't get to be real because they aren't on some specific list someone identified as the warnings that should be given.
Look, having a minefield in your brain SUCKS. It isn't fair. And it means sometimes you have to take a risk with a book or movie or, well, doing anything. But ultimately I can't expect anyone besides myself to be responsible for protecting me from that minefield. I can ask people to help, but I can't expect everyone to always be watching that I'll be okay. And it's pretty damn privileged to assume otherwise - to assume it's even possible.
She ended up adding an ETA about content warnings, etc which hit the nail on the head with every problem I've had whenever fandom talks about triggering and content warning.
Because, people have different triggers and it's impossible to capture that variety with the handful of content warnings available at AO3 or in different fic exchanges or whatnot. Or, as CA says, "Even if we’d done this right from the start, people might warn for all kinds of stuff and still miss the thing that would bother or trigger you."
I don't have "normal" triggers. I don't necessarily enjoy violence or rape in a story, but those things don't trigger me. Nobody will ever think to warn for my triggers. The first time I was ever triggered was while watching the first Star Trek reboot. There's a scene where Spock is in command of the Enterprise and Kirk thinks he should be in charge. So, in front of the crew, he manipulates Spock and uses Spock's emotions against him so he can take Spock's command from him. In the movie, this is presented as the good, correct thing for Kirk to do.
And that emotional manipulation, that taking leadership away from someone who isn't failing at it because you want it? The idea that it's a *good* thing? That triggered the hell out of me. And it took me multiple days before I even realized what was going on and why my brain was so wonky.
Last year I was watching the most recent Batman movie. And there's a scene where a character enters an apartment with a spray painted x on the door. Another character is inside, holding a framed picture with cracked glass and commenting that a family used to live there. And, bam, suddenly I was in New Orleans. But this time I knew to recognize what my brain was doing and had techniques, hard-won in therapy, to pull myself through it and be okay.
I guess what I'm saying is, triggers aren't obvious or standard and sometimes a person doesn't even know they have them until something goes off in their brain. I'm all for making it easier for someone to keep themselves safe, for people being willing to content-screen if someone asks, and I think it's great if people want to warn for common triggers. But all too often these conversations seem to assume a specific set of triggers (or equate "content I don't like" or "content that upsets me" or "content that makes me angry" with "content that triggers me" which, really really fucking not the same thing) and I see people get righteously indignant because [specific common trigger] wasn't warned for, and it makes me feel like my triggers are being invalidated. Like my triggers don't get to be real because they aren't on some specific list someone identified as the warnings that should be given.
Look, having a minefield in your brain SUCKS. It isn't fair. And it means sometimes you have to take a risk with a book or movie or, well, doing anything. But ultimately I can't expect anyone besides myself to be responsible for protecting me from that minefield. I can ask people to help, but I can't expect everyone to always be watching that I'll be okay. And it's pretty damn privileged to assume otherwise - to assume it's even possible.
